first day blues

So, yesterday was my first day back at work...leaving the kiddies....facing the music! And it was AWFUL! The anticipation has been pretty intense leading up to the big day but I never realized quite how sad I would actually be. After 13+ months though, it was time.

3 am, Nicholas wakes up with a bad dream. Daddy goes in to soothe him back to sleep and that was it, I was up for the day. Tossed and turned but nope, not one more wink. Lovely. Woke up the kiddies before 6, Sydney as well since she was going to Catherine's for the day. Shane, as always, put on his biggest grin and well, Nicholas, was not so easy to coax out of bed. That is going to be a continual challenge! And impressively, Sydney was up and showered and ready to go for 6 am!!

For the next month at least, Auntie Cheryl, will be watching the boys. Thank goodness....I think we all know how our nanny, Tasha, was denied a visa and we have since been looking into quality daycare. Not easy in our small town but I'm on it!

I can't remember when the tears started (I know...a whole lot of boo-hooing)....but they sure didn't go away for the better part of the day. I actually had to leave a pre-job meeting first thing so I could go and compose myself. Man...it was a ROUGH day!!

But apparently, only a rough day for Mommy. After work, I drove over to Auntie Cheryl's...walked in the door and our little Shane-man was all BIG smiles to see Mommy which lifted my spirits totally....but no, not Nicholas. He took one look at me and started wailing...I don't want to go home, I don't want to go home!! Ya, not exactly the greeting I was hoping for....lol.....especially with him telling me how much he doesn't want me to go back to work the past few days. And then he proceeded to tell me that he didn't miss me. Boo-hoo. So, getting into the truck I told him that even though he didn't miss me, I missed him very, very much. He says.....I was having so much fun, I didn't have time to think about you Mommy. Bless his heart.

So, here we are....day two....and it's a MUCH better day! Yay! And funny enough, if all of my vacation is approved, I will be off as of 330 this afternoon until August 12th!! It's a rough life ;o)

on the road again..

I've been told that I'm getting slack with my blogging so here goes.....hehehe...

Another busy week here...Danaka (Andrea's daughter) celebrated her second birthday with a party last Sunday so we were able to enjoy that with her and the rest of the family. Tuesday, I packed up the boys and our gear and headed to Presqu'ile Provincial Park. A friend of mine, Lisa, that I met through OPG is camping there for a weeks holiday and invited us out for a night. We had a wonderful afternoon at the beach and then back to her site which was overlooking the lake and what a gorgeous view it was! The night was perfect with the campfire and a clear, starry sky and a bright moon that was just one night short of being a full moon. What a fantastic park and just close enough that we could go as a family for the day or I may even tempt an overnight camping trip....tent and all. Back in the day, I loved tent camping but now with two munchkins, I'm thinking it will be much more challenging. Hmmmm....maybe we should wait until next summer when Shane is running around and when Sydney can join us. I'm sure she will be thrilled to rough it - what 14 yr old wouldn't be? ;-)

We had a bit of a struggle getting out of the park.....we woke up to a raging thunderstorm which was bad enough. I certainly didn't need Nicholas to be in the mood that he was....GGGRRR....little tyrant he was. Once it stopped raining and Mommy being completely frustrated, he was sent to sit in the truck while I finished eating and getting us packed up.....not to mention that he also lost his dvd privileges for the drive home (sometimes I should just think that through a little more thoroughly before taking that privilege away....hehe). Anyhow, we are all strapped in, good-byes said and ready to hit the road again.....and just what you don't want to hear....an engine not turning over. Battery dead. Anyhow....it all worked out. Note to self though: have some booster cables stored in the truck. Even Lisa who had her hubby's truck with her and has his own mechanics shop....did not have cables! Neighbour to our rescue and we were good to go.....now we just had to make it to a gas station with my low level fuel message screaming at me and a dead cell phone! Nicholas and I finally found a station and we were giggling as we raced to make it to the "pits" before running out of fuel. We made it.

Last night was a night out....I invited Andrea out for a belated birthday dinner. Before marriage and children, Andrea and I used to spend many times sitting on patios talking and dreaming away. It was so nice to get her out and have some girly time again.

And now today, I'm waiting on hubby to get home and my old neighbour and friend, Cathy, to arrive so we can get busy stripping the deck. With Shanes 1st birthday party next weekend, we are trying to get the yard where we want it and the deck definitely needs a facelift. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

And apparently....there may be a poker game in the works for later this evening! Perfect.

honey, we're home..

Just a quick post today....the boys and I got home a short while ago from our visit to my cousin, Tiffanys and then from there, to my Aunt Tootsies home in Greely (just outside of Ottawa). I figure with my return to work looming (of which I literally feel sick to my stomach), it's an opportune time to do some mid-week road trips. The boys and I really enjoyed ourselves and it's always so good to spend time with family. We enjoyed the pool and the company...and Uncle Butch, I'm here rooting for you and for good things to come!

And, of course, with the boys and I being away, Daddy had more time to get some work done around here. Oh wait, sorry, did I say work?? Ahem, one word for you....Golf. LOL.

open houses

GORGEOUS weekend here....loving it!! Yesterday, once Johnathon was home from his presentation at work...and a morning golf game, we decided to head out to some Open Houses around the area. Yes, we still have every intention of selling our home but we have slowed down the process for now since the summer isn't the best time to sell not to mention, the very slow market. However, we are very interested in seeing what is out there in our price range.

Anne, we checked out the house near you....and we all really liked it, in particular the gorgeous yard and the largest master bedroom ever, fireplace and all! But, were we laughing our asses off when Nicholas walks in and out of his mouth "Now, THIS IS A HOUSE!!! That's for sure." LMAO....we were all rolling. And then at another home, we were on our way down to check out the basement. Well, the realtor tells us that it's not finished but it's quite large. We go down and Nicholas scopes it out (his favourite room to check in homes) and informs us all that this is not large at all. That's for sure. hehehe. Okay, one more story....we are driving by another home just out of B'ville and they have an Open House sign up. I wasn't impressed by the look of the house but Johnathon mentioned how big the property was. Of course, Nicholas chimes up....yes, Mommy...look how big that yard is. We should buy this house. I would have all kinds of room to play....I NEED to buy this house! He then starts persuading me with....well, you know Mommy, you would have alot more room to plant all your flowers. hehehe! That child is just too precious.

Picnic at the Park

Just a short drive from home, there is a Provincial park with beautiful picnic areas and a massive beach on Lake Ontario....not a clear, white sand beach but a great beach nonetheless. To celebrate Canada Day, we packed up a picnic lunch, dressed in our red and white and headed there for the afternoon. I would like to say that I went for a swim as I'm usually one for taking a dip in the coolest of waters but OH NO....NO WAY.....wasn't happening that day!!!! I'm talking frigid, polar bear cold! So, we agreed that we will be back in August and by then, we should be able to go for a swim. Growing up on Lake Ontario, I should know that you don't get in the water until late July earliest!! (that's us testing the waters....BBRRRR!!).

!Happy 141st Canada! I couldn't wish for a better place to live..

a day at the zoo

This year, Bowmanville, which has been my hometown since I was 6 years old, turns 150! I know, I know...I live in Newcastle now but as much as I enjoy it here, Bowmanville will forever be my 'hometown'. Anyhow, through the year there will be various celebrations and festivities. This past week, we took the boys to 'Ribfest' which had a small midway....Nicholas really enjoyed the rides. And you would think that we would feast on ribs at Ribfest but instead, Johnathon and I really enjoyed some jerk chicken.....which was a daily staple for us in Jamaica. Yum!

I also took the boys yesterday to meet Auntie Cheryl and the Jackster at the Bowmanville Zoo...in honour of B'ville's 150th, they had free admission and rides. I must have been to this zoo over 15 times and I enjoy it each and every time.....and the boys had a lot of fun! I was very happy to see some changes they made, in particular with one of the lions and tigers.....very, very pleased to see them in a more natural, spacious setting than in their previous, smaller caged home. Bongo would be extremely pleased.

And today.....Happy Birthday Canada....we are off to Darlington Provincial Park for a family picnic!