Monthly Archives: December 2008

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

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…and so ends 2008.
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This is a day to reflect on the year passed.
A year that tested my strength and challenged my weakness.
A year that brought more joy, love and happiness than heartache.
A year of new beginnings, fresh starts and second chances.
And so I say farewell to 2008, which was undeniably the greatest year of my life.
And I say hello to 2009 – may our families and friends be blessed with health, happiness and love.
***
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne?
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Goat-child

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We decided to brave the Boxing Week crowds yesterday so that I could accomplish some things on my to-do list.  
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Our first stop was to return some overalls the girls got, and to exchange them for these sweaters.  I also found a swimsuit that was reasonably priced!  However, I did NOT appreciate the fact that I had to buy a SIZE 12!  Ummmm … I hate bathing suit manufacturers.
I went to MAC Cosmetics and bought this and this.  They have a recycling program where you bring in 6 full-size empties in exchange for a full-size lipstick or eye shadow.  I rarely have to purchase eye shadows!  I love it!  
We also went to the public health centre to have the babeez weighed and measured.  I don’t know if I mentioned this, but C-boo lost half a pound when she was sick, down to 14lb 6oz!  I am happy to report that she is now back up to 14-14, thank goodness.
Kit-kat, on the other hand, was hell-bent on making me look like a bad mom.  First, she pooed on the scale.  Ewww!!  Then I noticed all this white gunk on her gums, like canker sores.  Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be WRAPPING PAPER and TAPE!!  Little sh*t!!  I did a full scrape and got most of it out.
But, as it turns out, that was not the end.  We were at my parents’ house later that afternoon, and I was trying to get her to nurse.  She was wailing, inconsolably, and I noticed more white gunk on the roof of her mouth.  I held her down and did a mouth scrape, only to discover a TOBLERONE WRAPPER!
MY CHILD IS A FREAKIN’ GOAT!
Looks like I have to watch her a little closer from now on…

No pain…?

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I expected to be a lot more sore than I am.
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I ran last night for the first time since late August.  It was hard, but I managed to get to my 30 minute goal.  I was definitely going slower than I’m used to!  I only ran 4.2k in 30 minutes … ouch!
I stretched and did some SMR on the roller for my quads and IT band, and overall I feel pretty good today!
Plus, the babeez slept better last night!  They were only up at 12:45, 1:30 and 6am!!

Running

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With all my new fitness toys, and the New Year looming on the horizon, I decided that it was time to get serious about training again.
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I am going to try and run tomorrow night when I am at the gym, for the first time since the end of August.  
Beginning in January, my goal is to run 3 days a week.  My dad is bringing me one of his indoor bike trainers, so I am hoping to cycle at least once a week.  
I have my Chariot, so when the weather warms up, I will have no excuses!
I’ll be blogging about my journey on my running blog – hopefully the posts will be plentiful!

Gratitudes + Feast!

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I was waaay to tired to Feast on Friday, so I’ll do it today!
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End-of-Year Positivity:
1.  What is one really cool/useful/nice thing you purchased for yourself this year?
I got a lot of cool/useful/nice things this year!  My camera lenses and Photoshop (and some actions!) have been well-used and well-loved.  I think the greatest purchase of 2008 was Constance.  She was much needed and she is well-loved!!  I am so happy with our decision to trade in my Jeep for her.  She may be a little expensive in the monthly payment arena, and she may suck gas, but she is one of the great loves of my life and she has made my life so much easier!
2.  What is one area of your life that you really improved this year?
I am much more confident in myself now.  I think it took having 2 babeez for that to happen, and I’m glad that was the result, because I know having children can do the opposite to your self-esteem!
I also became more self-motivated.  I’m far from where I should be/need to be, but I am getting better!  I have embraced my stay-at-home self as much as possible, and though I am far from Martha Stewart, I am trying my best :)
I also improved my friendships, I think.  I’ve taken more time and made more of an effort than I used to.  I’m still impossible to get ahold of on the phone, but I’m working on it!
3.  Who (or what) was a regular source of encouragement or inspiration this year?
Leith, hands down.  I would not have survived this year without his love, support and encouragement.  He was (and continues to be) my rock.
4.  What is something nice you did for someone else this year?
I bought my mom flowers in November :o )  I took care of my babeez and loved them every day.  I made sure to make Leith sleep downstairs when he needed a full night’s rest, because while I love his help, I know that he has to work all day whereas I have to sit all day!
5.  In what ways was 2008 better than 2007?
2008 was the best year of my life.  My babeez were born healthy, and I have been so blessed with the opportunity to watch them grow.  2007 was stressful and emotional, betweenfinishing school, the wedding and the pregnancy.  2008 was an improvement from day one!
play along at Friday5.org
***
Gratitudes:
-Family and friends that live so close, so that we can celebrate with them.  I have seen almost every person that is important to me in the past week.
-For all the gifts received, and for all the gifts we were able to give.  After a long year of trying to make ends meet, my busy November/December meant that I was able to spoil my family in the manner to which I have become accustomed!  I did not want to give measly gifts (regardless of how much love), and I managed to work enough to make that happen!
-For the good food, in abundance, even though it is not helping my weight-loss goals!  Especially for my mom’s roast turkey and stuffing – hers is the best, and I haven’t had it in years because we have been deep-frying our Thanksgiving turkey for the past 3 years.
-For Santa Claus!
-For the time spent with my family.  I know I already mentioned that, but I love my family more than anything.  I love Leith and my girls, and I love my parents and my sister.  I am so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life!
-For my camera, with which I am able to capture all the special moments in our lives.  I am also grateful for the new speed light that I got with the camera!!!
-For babeez!  They complete my life and fill my heart with joy.
-For continued health and happiness.

Christmas

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We had a wonderful Christmas.  It was the best “First Christmas” we could have hoped for :)
We spent time at my parents’ house on Christmas Eve:

Leith learned to play a little Guitar Hero:
(…and if I never hear “Social Distortion” again!)

Then, we went to bed.  Or tried to.  A couple little babeez decided that an all-night screaming match was a much better decision.  I guess it’s karmic pay-back for all the years that I got my family up at 5 in the morning … but this was exhausting!  We were up at 7am (which is late by my standards!) to open gifts.  Santa brought the babeez some Christmas morning jammies:
Then we had some breakfast.  My mom makes this nasty breakfast casserole that my sister looooves, but I gag.  So this year, she made me some wicked tasty French toast.  Yum!!  Then we were on our way back home to see if Santa visited while we were gone.  The girls decided to nap a little:
When they got up, they tackled the presents that Santa left for them:
Leith gave me a speed-light (external flash) for my camera.  Now I can use flash in a nice way, rather than a flat, washed-out way :)  
The girls spoiled me with a GPS heart-rate monitor.  I think they felt bad about last week…  It was a big surprise!
And then there was the Chariot!  My parents bought us a Chariot Cougar 2 – a very big surprise, even though we had hinted at the lower-end Cabriolet.  Wow.  It will log many miles this year as I prepare for my duathlon and half-marathon this summer!  We are going to go this weekend to get the jogging kit and bicycle trailer kit, using some of our Christmas money.

We gave Leith a new Camelbak, along with a day of ice climbing when his arm is better.  The girls bought him a necklace to wear so that he can have a reminder of them when he has to be away for work.  He also got a small photo album of the girls to take with him.  We made copies of the same album for the grandparents, great-grandparents, and Aunty Jocy.
All in all, it was more Christmas than I’ve even experienced!  We were also spoiled by Grandma & Grandpa Dickert, and by the great-grandparents as well.  The girls shouldn’t be bored for awhile!!  It was a wonderful Christmas.  We were able to spend it with both families, and a great time was had by all :)

Gratitudes – On TIME!

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What a wonderful weekend :)
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There is so much to be grateful for:
-I spent the afternoon and evening today with Miss Krista!!!!  The highlight of my week, by far :)  I have missed her SO MUCH – I haven’t seen her since I was in the hospital, and she hadn’t met the babeez until today.  I feel so happy and content.
-The worst of my flu bug is over, I think.  I was still queasy this morning, but I am feeling much better tonight.  Leith is just getting it now though, poor thing.  He’s not a whiney man, and it makes me want to take care of him all the more.  I don’t like feeling so helpless…
-I was able to cancel my sessions on Thursday when I was the sickest.  I really appreciate the flexibility in my job during times like that!
-I have wrapped all the presents that I am giving, except for the babeez – I need more ribbon and bows!  Looking at our tree, I truly feel blessed!  We are so lucky to be able to give so much (even though it feels like so little), and we are even luckier that we have family to share the season with.
-I do not have to work again until January 5, 2009!  I may have one or two sessions early this week, but that is it until the new year!!!
-I am very grateful for my doctor.  She is very difficult to get in to see, but when you do get an appointment, she takes you very seriously.  I told her about the back problems I have been having, and she immediately got me a requisition for an x-ray, and said that we would do an MRI if necessary.  I was a little taken aback, but comforted in knowing that she will examine all possibilities first, rather than brushing me off.  She is definitely worth the frustration of trying to book an appointment!
-I never have to cross-stitch again, as the stockings are fina-freakin-lly done.
-Lastly, I am grateful for central heating (again)!  It is so bloody cold for December that I shudder to think of what January holds for us!  What happened to global warming?  And thank goodness for Constance’s new car starter :)
4 more sleeps til Christmas!!