times are a changin'

so in early march jim had to make a decision...go up to Fort-Mac...or to stay here in taber and find a new job...well what we chose to do was enroll into school at SAIT (weekend PLC courses)...he had to quit his job at Pyramid since they were going to send him to fort-mac and that would have had him not be able to go to these classes in calgary on the weekends...he would not have been home to do so...so this is our new plan...jim is Mr. Mom...he is staying home with the kids and i have been able to get a decent amount of shifts at the hospital for the month of march...while at home jim is finishing some much needed reno's...i can finally shower in my upstairs bathroom...the tile in the kitchen is finished just not grouted yet...the drawers in the kitchen are not falling out anymore...that was a $2.50 job...jim said to me...'why did this take me so long to do...it was only $2.50 and it took me like 10mins to do'...ARE YOU KINDIN' ME???!!!!...if only i had whinned a little more then maybe it would have gotten done sooner!...the smallest things are the hardest to get done...the downstairs bathroom got a makeover too...hooray for unemployment, right???!!!...well jim was not totally unemployed he did work a day here and there doing odd jobs...which was nice for him(and me) to get out of the house...one morning jim decided to go to leth and drop off some resumes...we didn't even know that he was gone until he called and said he was on his way home...well a week after he dropped off the resumes he got a call from 'MPE engineering' for an interview...that same day he got an email offering him a job...WOW...what a blessing we were thinking we would be unemployed for at least 3 months until jim was done his SAIT courses...when he is done his courses he is supposed to be working at a programming company in Calgary...he was offered a job there too...but...he didn't have all the programming credentials they wanted...so they said the sooner you get them the sooner you can work for us...so here we are waiting for jim to finish his courses and see what's up with the calgary job at Sigit...and what lethbridge can offer us in the future...jim has a 5 month contract with MPE...ends aug 31/10...so we have options again and we will get more info when we are supposed to get it...since Apr.7/10 jim has been going to work in regular clothes and street shoes...SSSSOOOOO different than blue coveralls and work boots...he is working in an office and is really enjoying it...as for me...i worked lots in march and have been home most of april already...but this is good too...the kids however miss dad...it didn't take long to get used to dad being home a lot...it was nice...
Easter was fun too this year...the kids woke up Good Friday to treats that the easter bunny left...movies and candy and chocolat...then we went swimming with the Christensen/Alston family at the taber pool then to the stake center for dinner...i was able to see my BF robyn...it has been 2 years since we've seen or talked to one another...a long long time...nice to be able to pick up where we left off though...then we decided to go into coaldale and spend the rest of the weekend at gramma and grampa's house...easter bunny stopped off there too...more treats and new spring clothes and books...we had an easter egg hunt in the back yard...the kids got some moneys to put into their piggy banks...we missed the eckville robisons this year...gage was sad that they didn't come...he remembers from last year that they were here at easter time...we just told him the easter bunny went to their house too...he was satisfied with that answer...easy...this weekend was also conference weekend...what a special time of year to hear about the savior and how we should remember him and have easter all at once...it was great to listen...sort of...to the talks and spend time with the robison family...monday april 5th was jim's interview in leth...so we all went with him...i drove around town with the kids and wasted time...then we jim was done we went to Henderson Park...got to see a cray fish and walk on rocks and see all the geese...the geese were the high light...we tried to feed them and one really nice girl gave gage and addi some bread to feed the geese and one came right up to gage, pecked at his hand and snatch the piece of bread right from it...he said that didn't even hurt...but i think it scared him a bit...he had fun and of course i did not have my camera...i never have my camera...what else is new...we went to gramma and puppy's house after the park and had lunch there, played in the sand box, jumped on the trampoline and had another easter egg hunt...SPOILED or what...we have so much candy we are sugared all day long!!!it's so much fun around here!!!one day gage said...'who popped the easter?' and then addi replied 'me did'...i was the funnest thing ever!!!!...and of course i did not record it or get it on film either...gage starts soccer this month...so we are looking forward to getting to be outside more...so far 2010 has been eventful and interesting and challenging...til next time!

2010

jim has been home since mid Jan...has started to work again here in taber...yay...he worked for a week and then the kids and i took off to BC for 10 days...we visited my sista and her kids and my dad...we got to see gage and addi's nanna too...we were there just before the olympics started and got to see all the construction and cool colors...flying with 2 kids is a challenge but at least the flight is short...the kids had so much fun in bc...they played hard with their cousins and enjoyed antie drina and robbie and gechan...we don't get to see them often...and the kids were not as shy as i thought they would be...hooray...gage got a t-shirt from his cousins' dad...i has a helicopter on it and it is his most very favorite shirt in the whole world...he wears it non stop...he'll sleep in it and then wear it the next day then again to bed and then again the next day, if i let him...eventually he lets me wash it and we start all over again...oh well...i think it's kinda cute and reminds me of jim when he was kid...i guess he had a fav. shirt too and pretty much did the same thing gage is doing now with his shirt...like father like son...we have been home now for a few weeks and we are just settling back into routine...gage had one canskate lesson last week and did so much better than he had been doing...he missed 2 classes while we were in BC...so i was a little anxious about him going back...we did get him to wear smaller size skates and voila...he did so much better...i think he will be on his way in no time soon...addi is talking so much more than before and both are a broken record at times and it drives me crazy, crazy, crazy!!!!...i found a white hair the other day and pulled it out...then last night i found another one and left that one alone...i am so tempted to pull it out too but i don't want another one...i am too young for WHITE!!!!!!...i am trying to be more fit and workout in the mornings...so me and the kids do some stretches and a little pilates and then rest...but it is so funny to watch my kids copy me...they are so delightful when they are not yelling or talking back to me or fighting with one another...addi is getting better at going peepee on the potty...maybe she will be trained by 2???...cross fingers...gage can now put his own shoes on and clothe himself, all by himself...he hardly asks me anymore to help him...hooray...i was getting really tired of having to get him dressed when i knew he could do it himself...and now he is so proud that he can do it that we always give high fives and he loves it...he is slowly getting confident!!!it's fun to watch addi try to dress herself...everything goes over the feet first...pants and shirts!!!...when she runs she gets up on her toes and runs really fast and wriggles her behind...really fun to watch...gage uses an 'ife' to cut his meals up now...we did some mug shots of each of the kids and jim too...so here are some recent pics!...that's all the new stuff for now...at least that's all i can remember for now!!!ciao

christmas and newyears

christmas started with jim coming home a day early and surprising me almost to the point of peeing my pants...the next day i went to the temple with the third ward youth and that was so fun...i had only gone once before to do baptisms for the dead and so this was a great refresher and experience...i was asked if i was a youth or an endowed member...to their surprise i told them i was endowed...so i got a special outfit...then i was able to be baptised...that came to a surprise to me...i was totally not expecting it so i didn't bring any hair stuff or my EYELASH curler...and i was so concerned that my eyelashes would go dart straight if i was to get baptised and they did, but not as much as i thought they would...so that was cool...the next day was saturday and i think we went shopping for christmas presents...then i worked quite a bit during the christmas holidays...so jim was home lots with the kids...the wednesday before christmas we went to my sista's house jen...we had supper there and ate way to much and so that was the beginning of the christmas binge...we exchanged christmas presents with one another and had a great time visiting and eating...the next day was christmas eve...i worked and then that evening jim's parents and scott and michelle came out and we ate some dips and chips and chocolate stuff that i made...we also got to open our pajama's...gage was super excited to wear his that night that i was not able to wash them before hand!!!...too bad cause i am a little anal about washing stuff before wearing it!...christmas day we opened presents here at the house and then we packed up and headed into coaldale...dave and les came down from eckville and we were able to open our presents there...then it was off to jim's uncle ken's house...all i had to bring was pickles and buns...it was great...we had the traditional turkey and all the trimings...plus ham and cabbage rolls...it was so filling...after visiting for a while and forgetting to pack diapers for addi...we headed home to coaldale...addi had to wear her cousin's pull-up's like 3 sizes to big...it was dang cute, they were so big on her...but let me tell you how greatful i was regardless of size...addi pee'd so much i thought i was going to loose the diaper for sure...but lucky for me leslie had pullups and i was saved...anyways...after addi had a poop i decided that we needed to get home and addi into her little size 3 diapers...boxing day was fun...we woke here in taber again then went to coaldale and then to leth for some shopping...we mostly stayed in coaldale for most of christmas while jim's bro and the cuzs' where here...on the
30th the eckvillians came to taber to go swimming at the pool...gramma and grampa and scott and michelle were here too...the kids had pizza afterwards and the adults had ribs and rice and salad and veggies...new years eve we got the kids dressed up to go to the church for a dance...gage was warned that if he hit at the dance that we were coming home...gage ended up hitting me at the dance right after we ate some pizza...so we had to come home...we went to see if walmart was open cause we were still hungry...but they were closed...so we went to panago and got pizza's again...mmm...mm...mmm good...jim bought some movies...after supper we sent the kids to bed and watched our movies and then went to bed too...jan 2 and 3 i had to work so jim was responsible to get the kids ready for church and get them there too...we changed to 9am church...so he said he ran out of time...a couple of people commented on gage's hair...i guess gage wanted to do his own hair and look like jack frost...so his hair was really spiky all over the place...i guess people noticed it enough to comment on it...unfortunately i didn't get any pictures but just imagine what might have looked like...gage likes jack frost!!!jim had dinner for me when i got home from work except we had to wait another 3 hours to eat...a frozen roast in the crock pot for 3 hours is not nearly long enough...oh well the thought was there...we ate around 6pm...and it was delish!!!today is jan 4 and jim is gearing down to go back to work up to wabescwa, today!!!poor us...gage stole dad's tooth brush and ran away...he thought that if dad didn't have his tooth brush he couldn't go to work...clever boy!!!...but today is the day and jim will be gone for another 10 days...gage starts joy school again tomorrow and can skate too...i am thinking about putting addi into gymnastics but we will see...

hooray...what a day

so jim gets to come home today...he has been gone for 10 days...it went by fast and slow at the same time...we are busy with parent preschool program on mondays...tuesday and thursdays we have joy school...so we have been busy in the mornings...and filling the afternoon's with stuff...wow i have no idea what we have been doing all week long...let's see...we've had lots of play days monday afternoon i did a tupperware party...tuesday was mutual and gramma came out and stayed with the kids...that was super awesome of her...oh ya...gage spent the night at gramma's house sunday night, then she brought gage home monday afternoon...i borrowed her vaccum and she needed it back so it was a fair exchange...wednesday...it was quiet...gage was invited to go to gymastics with his friend evan...he had a blast and said it was 'soo cool, mom'...and today jim gets home...he left camp around 1pm and will drive about 9hrs to get here...he's in a van with some other guys so i'm thinking they will take turns driving...i didn't tell gage dad was coming home yet...otherwise i won't hear the end of it...and i get tired of telling him the same thing over and over again...we put a sticker on every day before chirstmas until christmas and we are also keeping track of how long dad is gone...we colored the square when he comes home...so later tonight we will put a sticker on it and he'll know that dad is coming home today...i asked gage if he wanted to go into gymnastics or learn how to skate and he choose skating...so in january he will start skating...i am so excited for him...i can't wait...addi had a hoot at gymnastics too...she really liked the balance beams...and the music!...jim will have to go back up to wabisca on tuesday but won't have to stay the whole 10 days...hooray...but still we have to do it!!!!...we've aslo had our japanese exchange student here and he has been an awesome help and company...the kids really like him and they have fun together...i just hope he's been having fun with us too...well can't wait to see jim tonight!!!

home and gone again

we had jim home for 4 days...and they were fun filled days!...he came home on thursday night while i was at my first tupperware party(i am a consultant now)...the kids were being baby sat and jim came home earlier than i had thought...i was on my way home anyway so when i got there the kids were in bed(what a great sitter)and jim was still in his work clothes...so i rushed and gave him a kiss then out the door again to drive the sitter home...mean time jim showered, thank goodness...no dirt in my new sheets!!!!!...we were up for a long time talking it was really nice...then we fell asleep...friday was a lazy day...jim woke up with the kids and made eggs, hasbrowns and bacon, while i stayed in bed...we all ate breaky together and then he went and layed down again...i had no idea he was tired...i am the one that was supposed to be tired...all week long by myself with the kids and they were both sick and not sleeping well...anyway...long story short...addi fell asleep on the bathroom floor while i did my hair and make-up...so i put her into her crib...gage fell asleep with dad in our bed...so i went downstairs and cuddled on the couch with the phone and remote and a bag of mini oreo cookies...mmm..mmm..good...i talked to my sista drina for like an hour while she looked up jobs on the internet and i watched a show on hair extensions...i really want hair extensions...since addi was born, my hair just will not grow as fast as it used to...and i am way to impatient to let it grow so slowly...so i want to help it along and get extensions...but jim won't let me!!!not sure his reasons why...he just won't...anyway we went to leth in the afternoon when everyone woke up and then to our ward supper...great food and a fun program...the MC asked if anyone wanted to sing a solo, so i asked gage if he wanted to sing 'jingle bells' and he got so excited and he started to walk up to the front where the mic was and we all followed him...addi was even excited... we had to wait our turn and when it was finally ours gage went up to the MC and told her he was going to sing jingle bells...then she announced it to the audience and asked them to give him a round of applause...and he got stage fright!!!...he turned around and burried his head into jims chest and sort of sang from there...so it ended up being jim and i singing with a little help from the kids...it was so FUN!!!...the next day i was up early and went to cardston with my friend chandra to a womens relaxer...it was so fun to laugh until i cried...learn how to belly dance...learn to live in the moment and slow down...and enjoy...got some great door prizes...got a massage that brought back germany memories...just overall had a great relaxing time and will do it again next year...oh did i mention how great the food was!!!...and lots of it!!!...then our husbands met us in cardston with the kids and chandra's little sisters bsat the kids while we went to the Temple...what a great and long day!!!...sunday was stake conference...and too bad they don't record the talks and then give them to you later like gen conf...cause i spent the whole meeting chasing kids around and making them sit still and be quiet...exhausting!!!...too bad i didn't hear any of the talks though...we then went to gramma and grampa's for supper and had a fun visit...monday was another lazy day...jim did laundry and finished packing...played with the kids lots...addi had to get her booster H1N1 shot...now she is terrified of needles and doctors' offices...(that is another story all together...)...i actually made a really nice supper...well jim started it and i finished cooking and preparing...we had chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and broccoli...the kids raved over it and i thought it tasted pretty good myself...i need to cook like that more often!!!haha...i get into cooking moods...anyway...jim went to sleep with gage and i stayed awake for as long as i could then woke jim up around 12:15am...and he got ready to leave for work again...he left around 01:30am and drove with 2 other guys back to wabisca...they got there the next morning before the bus left for site and worked...we are able to talk on skype so it's really making it much easier than i could have been...today is thursday and he comes home next thursday, dec. 3rd...busy week...tues joy school and i was the helper...preparing for the christmas party at school...i have to work 3 days this week...so that's been hard on the kids and me...no sleep and tired and cranky don't really mix together...one more day of work then we have our japanese exchange student coming to stay with us for a week or so...his name is Daiki...it will be fun to have him here while jim is gone for the next week...so off to bed to try and get some sleep before the morning comes to soon!!!!

what a week

well...let me tell you about my weeks...jim left for a camp job last thursday to wabescaw...somewhere up north...and that same night gage decided to throw up every where...then the next day again throw up and diarrhea in the morning twice...the next day, sat...no puke, but diarrhea x2...then sunday diarrhea again...but this time it was less...thank goodness...the kids wanted to go to church that day so we went and survived all 3 hours...had left overs from the day before and that was sunday...that night addi decided to be awake from 2:20-5am...slept til 6am then again till about 7:30 and that's when gage woke up too...she decided to puke up breakfast all over the kitchen floor and cupboard and sink...it took a heck of a time to clean it up and get the smell to go away...then she decided to go and have a nap after all that cleaning...so when she woke up from her nap she had some apple juice and next thing you know we are all in the hallway...i am holding addi and gage is right in front of me and wham...puke...addi puked on gage's hair and all over his clothes, so i rushed her into the bath tub, cause by now gage is screaming 'she puked on me!!!!', at the top of his lungs and then started heaving himself...so i rushed him into to the tub too and they were puking together in the tub with all the bath toys i forgot to put away!!!!!...so another GREAT day!!!!...it was a monday for sure...then after lunch addi thought she should puke one more time...and then she was done for the day...and so was i!...i did 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the carpets and the whole upstairs bathroom...and the day still was not over yet!...tues was better and we were all free from diarrhea and puke, thank goodness...it was a crazy 5 days...now i am frantically trying to get ready for my first tupperware party...i am a consultant now and it's tomorrow night...i am almost there!...jim is coming home tomorrow night and we are all looking forward to seeing him...we talk on the phone every night...the internet has not been working for him up there...he is finding the work easy and long...but the food is good!!!...they work 12 hour days....the kids have fun talking to him on the phone and addi chats a lot, it's pretty fun to listen to her tell stories!...

work has arrived

we found out on Tuesday that Jim is going to be going to Wabesca, Alberta...what does this mean?...he will work for 10 days and be home for 4 days...we are excited for work but bummed that he is so far away and we think that 2 of his days off are going to be travel days...so that means he will have 2 solid days home for sure...we will know more after this first shift!...today is Thursday and jim just left for Nisku with another guy that he works with...so that was a blessing that he didn't have to drive by himself...yesterday we took advantage of the work news and another day off and went to calgary...yesterday was rememberence day...i got to go to ikea and spend my birthday money...i am so excited to sleep in my new sheets and cuddle with the kids...we probably will be sleeping together lots since jim is gone...bad habits starting again!!!...oh well it will be nice to have someone next to me at night!!!!...the kids took jim leaving well...i don't think they fully understand what is happening!...hopefully we will be able to skype in the evenings!...the place jim is going to supposidly has internet, so we will see what happens in the next few days!!!...keep fingers crossed!...otherwise we will have and enormous cell phone bill!...i have become a tupperware consultant now so i am hoping to be busy while jim is gone and keeping the kids occupied too...lots of movies and popcorn is in the menu!...we were able to go and see auntie rose and roland and mckinley while in calgary and have supper with them...i was a short visit...the kids were tired, especially gage...so we left earlier than i wanted to, but that just meant, home sooner too!!!...the kids slept most of the way home and then were up early this morning...i think addi gets sore bum sitting for so long and gets uncomfortable sleeping sitting up...so whenever the van slowed down she would wake up and fuss for a few minutes and then find her thumb and 'b.b'...and fall back to sleep...until the next time...gage stayed asleep until we arrived home and then went straight to bed...i hope addi changes soon to be like gage and sleep as good as he does!...

more stuff

so...we have found out that jim is going to fortmac...to albiansands, shell...but...we have no idea when he is going...it seems as though monday is the day...nov 9,2009...we decided to take the kids to a lethbridge hurricanes hockey game this week...it was really fun...we all dressed up in our oilers clothes, went to visit bachan then to dinner at swiss chalet...the kids got a kids meal to share and they had leftovers...hard to believe...but true...then on to the hockey game...we had so much fun...the lights, action, music, and twister(tazamian devil)...twister was gages fav!...the kids had a great time watching the game...they lasted 2-1/2 periods...they actually watched the game...we had fun eating popcorn and sharing a pop!...the next day i made jim work on the house again...i have trim around the bathroom door now and painted pantry doors(second coat)...jim was working on the pantry and was outside using the table saw...AND...2 pieces of wood came back at him and hit him in the face!...a scratch on the cheek and bruised gums and a cut lip and swollen...we are so thankful that jim was wearing safety glasses at least and wasn't hurt as bad as he could have been!!!...jim says "i broke my face!"...i really don't think he'll let me take a pic...so i guess we will have to leave it to the imagination...addi and gage have been so excited to have dad home this week...they are having such fun with him and spending lots of daddy time...it's been really nice!...we are really enjoying our basement...the couch is pretty cumfy...but it has a static problem...but still we like it lots...gage learned more about his feelings this week at joyschool...the one feeling that stuck out the most was 'mad'...he says 'aaaaaa' when he's mad now!...it is the weekend again...time is flying by soo fast...addi is getting so smart...when you say...'addikins, addikins'...she says 'ra,ra,ra'...grampa robison started that and now she can do it too...it is so sweet...it could go on and on...but i need to spend time with the kids!!!til next time!j

happy halloween

what a day...cleaning up leaves in the WIND...halloweening at gramma diana's...and aunt jens...picking up a sectional couch at the brick...which by the way is the same owner as united furniture...bringing the couch home and almost not being able to get the sucker in the house...what a gong show...thank you missionaries for being there at the right time...is anything easy any more???...getting ready for our party...which only 2 friends showed up to...it was still really fun even though we missed all the rest of our friends who didn't come...gramma and grampa robison were here handing out candy, third year in a row...might i say tradition starting...and michelle and scott came too...our basement is now finished...well as much as we want to do for now...it's been a long month...gage and addi had fun with their little friend tristan tricker treating up and down our road...it was worm but really windy...but who cares when theres lots of candy, right?...gage was a 'kung fu' and addi was a lion...what does a kung fu guy carry around with him?...a lightsaber of course...just ask gage...and what does a lion say...'arh'...says addi...what a couple of kids...all sugared up and wild...love it...well the couches are in and comfy, cozy...i was mini mouse this year and jim decided to be the hot cowboy...thanks to all the help today and good memories made...we love having family so close to share these special occassions with...now on to the next month and tonight we turn the clocks back!

continuation of last post

so on with the week...i was a wicked mom who had to pry off gage's coat and sleeve to get his flu vaccine...note to self...have the coat already off, and let the older kid go first...he saw how addi reacted when she got her shots and had a melt down...it was sad and it almost made me cry, but he will at least be protected now...after the long 3 hour wait we went to dairy queen and had super and ice cream, since the kids were such good sports...i felt really bad and it ate me up inside for that whole night...i do hope gage forgets the pain when he has to go and get his next one...and that is in 3 weeks...we are moving with such speed these days, that everything is a blur to me...the next day was joyschool, gage is learning about feelings and what they are... when gage leaves the van and goes to school, addi repeats his name over and over, you can tell she misses him when he's gone...jim continued to work on the basement after work, his dad came out to help...and then the missionaries came by and gave a lesson on how we need prayer,scriptures,and church to have balance...we need all three and can't just have one or 2...or one without the other...i have been working out 2wice a week...sometimes we sculpt the muscles...other times we do cardio...i am working out with some friends...it's really fun and i am feeling great and eating what i want and not feeling guilty...this week we worked on the finishing touches to the basement...the trim and cleaning and shampooing the carpets, getting rid of the drywall dust...man that stuff gets everywhere and fast...and it lasts and lasts...we finally were able to go to leth and look for a couch...we got rid of the sectional we got from jims parents like 3 years ago...and the fancy pink couch from jims gramma went to the thrift store...we are excited to say that after going to 5 furniture stores we found one that will suit us just fine...we had our japanese exchange student with us helping us look for couches...he was a huge help with watching the kids while we(jim and i) shopped...what a trooper...once we found the couch and bought it, it was late and i had brought the kids' pj's with us so we dressed them into their pj's at the store...it was kind of strange but it worked...we just pretended it was our house...we found a couch and voila...home!...now today is friday oct.29, 2009...the basement is back to normal and the tv is working with all our little game's...ninetendo...atari...n64...the satellite and the dvd...wires everywhere...but you can't see them...that's the cool part...hence the electrician who lives here...handy, dandy...today i found out that jim is going to go to fort mac on the 9th of nov...a 2 week on 1 week off shift until about feb...so we are excited that he gets to stay with pyramid corp...but sad that he has to leave...we told gage tonite and he had a really sad face...but gage was happy when dad told him that we would talk on the computer every nite...so lets hope that will make the time pass more quickly...oh ya...ever since gage got his 'flu shot', every time we drive by the place where it was he asks me if we are going to get the 'flu shot' and i say 'no, not today' and he says 'ok, tomorrow?'...and so i just tell him it's closed everyday so maybe he will forget about it all together and put it in the past...cross fingers...we do have to go and get a booster for the kids in 3 weeks...but then i heard today that there may not be enough vaccine and that they are saving it for the comprimised and that they may not even need the booster...hooray to that!!!...gage had fun tonite baking and decorating halloween cookies with his friend evan...they had a sugar high...holy cow...supper hyper!...but fun...will post pics when i know how...well it think that's a week in a nut shell...now lets hope i can keep up to this blog thing!