Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

What a great Easter!

We had a lovely Easter weekend. We went to John's parent's for dinner on Sunday, along with John's Oma and Opa who were visiting from Chateauguay. It was a really nice day! The kids had an outside Easter egg hunt and got way too much candy. We had a great dinner and everyone was very well behaved. It was nice to have a relaxed family day for once.

I even tried my hand at an edible arrangement - I think it turned out pretty well!

What's New?

Tons!! We have been so busy here lately! Now that we know 100% for sure that we are not moving, we are settling into plans for our future here. Which is great. The kids are happy they don't have to move, I am happy I can go to school here and John is happy that we at least have a game plan. Our first order of business is to pay off the consumer debt we have. Fortunately, it is not an astronomical amount, so it shouldn't take too long. We recently started a new cash only budget and it is working really, really well. If anyone is interested, here is the plan we are following - http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/ She has some really great ideas and a fabulous interactive budget planner.

The kids also started back in swimming lessons last week. They are having lots of fun and can't wait for soccer to start next month!!

We're Staying!

It's official! We are not moving! After much debate and serious discussion, John and I decided to stay put in Oshawa. It would be much too expensive to try and sell our house in the current market, especially considering the new harmonized tax the provincial government is proposing and with how much the house up the street is on the market for. We would easily be taking a $35K loss just on list price alone. It's just not worth it. So I have been researching college programs here and I think I have found 3 that I could be happy in. We are still doing the renos to the house, simply because we have found that in the little bit of work we have done, we are so much happier. All in all, life is good :)

Painting,painting, painting!

All in prep for selling the house, we have been painting like mad all weekend. Corbin's room is finally done! It looks amazing! A very light blue with white trim. Very little boy, but also neutral enough for a potential buyer. We also started repainting the kitchen. As I just did it a year ago, it's difficult to see all the hard work covered up. But the cream on cream does look really nice and bright. We are hoping to finish that today. Then a few days off! Yay! Of course that means a few days to do homework and not paint, but I'll take it. We are also now waiting to hear back on how Big J did at his interview yesterday. They advise you by letter in two weeks if you passed or not. So weird. He feels confident that he did well. We are just hoping the offer is something we can accept.

Happy Monday Morning!

Well, today has already started off on a good foot! John and I decided that due to some new financial obligations(explanation to come) that we should sell our UFC tickets for next month. I was able to sell them within 3 days via the website www.stubhub.com and I mailed them via FedEx this weekend. Well, as of this morning, we have a tracking number that is working and an estimated delivery date! YAY! The sooner they arrive at their destination, the sooner we get paid. Good news story number 1!

In other great news, and a bit of an explanation about why we sold the tickets, John recieved a call from the OPP this weekend to set up his interview! He has to call this morning when he gets back from court to get it all organized. This is where the whole financial obligation comes into play - if he gets this job we are moving and we need to get the house ready to sell. Meaning we have to sink some money in to get any money out. I am not looking forward to doing any of these renovations, especially the painting, but the sooner I get started the sooner I will be done. I'll try to blog about things as they progress and maybe even add some pics of the transformed areas of our house!

All this plus school work, plus family life and the surrogacy. Man, do I ever need a break!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yet another fun Valentine's Day in our house! The kids are fighting, John is sleeping and Marley has taken over 3/4 of the couch! LOL How is this different from any other day? Well, it's not. Except that we bought cards for some family members and the kids are getting a new movie today(Madagascar 2!) And we are going to Auntie Cory's for dinner tonight! WHOO HOO!

One Busy Day

Wow! Have I got a busy day ahead here. I have 2 English essays to finish, a Chemistry unit that needs some time and a French unit that needs practising. Some days I really do feel like I am back in school. Well, except for the constant cooking, cleaning and caring for the kids! We also have Corbin's homework to complete, appointments that need to be made and paperwork that needs to be taken care of. Does it ever end?? I am almost looking foward to bedtime and it's only 9:30am! lol

Updated

I updated the surrogacy blog! Check it out - link to the right :)

Coffee and Chemistry

So this morning I was able to get out for a bit for a coffee with my friend Diane. It was so nice to be out and having grown up conversation! And she didn't even make me drive!(Diane is my driving instructor) We had a great talk, got all caught up and are making plans to go shopping next week.

And then the chemistry. My first unit came today. I nearly cried when I opened it, it looks so hard! I don't know how I will ever be able to do this. I committed to finishing King Lear this weekend(John's working so I can watch the movie in peace after the kids go to bed) and starting the chemistry either Sunday or Monday. Corbin has offered his Magic School Bus videos and books as resources for me if I need help. He is so sweet!

French Toast

This morning was my morning to sleep in. John and I try to take turns when he has days off, so we each get at least one day where the other gets up with the kids. I was excited! Even more so, when at 9:30 the kids came in to tell me I should get up because Daddy was making us all French Toast. Daddy is making us breakfast? Really? Now this is surprising because John is a man who can make sandwiches and that's about it. Regardless, the french toast was DELICIOUS, much appreciated and a super way to start a Sunday! :)

Math and Science

Wow! I am really amazed at the differences in admissions for colleges in Ontario. I was doing some research last night, trying to figure out where to apply to college, and it became apparent that my choices were much more limited than I first thought. Not that I am not smart enough, but at 28, I know enough to know that there is no way I would pass Calculus and Vectors now! I was never really great at math or science to begin with, but the realization that that will play a role in how I go about my post secondary education is a bit rattling. Because it's not scary enough to think about starting college at nearly 30. So, I will do what I need to to upgrade my transcript. Even if it means Chemistry. I shudder writing that. Here's to hoping that 10 years out of high school somehow made the math/science part of my brain kick into gear!

Ever Wish You Were Funny?

I know I do! I follow a few other blogs, not just ones of people I know, but a few complete strangers. And they are certifiably hilarious! I giggle every time I open a new post and am rarely disappointed. I wish I could be funny like that. So funny that complete strangers bookmarked my blog and came a checked it regularly to see if I had added any more of my delightful wit for them to enjoy. Yeah, cause that's ever gonna happen! I am fairly certain that posting about taking your kid to school, what you plan to bake and apologies for not posting enough don't qualify as even close to funny. Well, I should at least try, right? So I will begin my quest for a funny blog with one of Corbin's new favourite jokes. Hey, if it's funny to my four year old, it's funny enough for the internet!

"What kind of cheese is not yours?"
"Nacho cheese!"

Yeah, that's all I've got. I'll work on it!

For Colleen!

Just because I know some people (Colleen!) need an update! lol I don't have too much right now. The kids are good, Corbin goes back to school today. Hurray! I never thought I would be this excited, but he has been driving me nuts lately. I am waiting for the college to call me back so I can find out where exactly I should be in terms of getting my French Certification. I am hoping for at least Level 2 without having to write the assessment test. We are also having our real estate agent over this coming weekend to give us a quick breakdown on everything that needs to be done to sell our house. My SIL has expressed an interest in buying it, so that might be interesting to pursue.

Ok, Colleen, that's all I have! I promise to try to post more often!