Updates from August, 2008 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Tamara 10:02 pm on August 30, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Saturday Stuff 

    So far the long weekend has been great:

    This morning Marshall and I went to the market and then the mall for some walking around and looking at things, while Rick did some house-tidying and organizing.  Marshall and I shared some fresh strawberry-orange juice, and a cookie.  He didn’t want any of my breakfast sandwich.  We picked up some curd cheese and some samosas to bring home.  We watched the balloon man for a while and Marshall wanted a Spiderman balloon – pics to come soon.  It’s great :)   We went to the mall and walked around and looked at toys but didn’t buy anything.

    Oh and the only bad part about today was when I bent my thumbnail back worse than I’ve ever done it to any other nail before.  It was when I pressed the buckle-button to let Marsh out of his car seat.  (*note to self:  do NOT do this again)  I managed not to cry or scream, although I did let out a strange noise and then a bunch of Peter (family guy) noises, and Marshall looked very concerned, and there was some blood involved.  DAMN THAT HURT (still does).

    We came home for lunch and nap, and when he woke up, we felt like doing something and decided to take a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach.  I’ve been feeling bad that we haven’t taken him to the beach all summer and Shediac is only 20 minutes away!  It just seemed like there was crappy weather or stuff going on every weekend this summer…  So we went – arrived at close to 6pm, but it was still nice, and we didn’t have to pay to get into Parlee.

    Marshall thought the beach was pretty cool but he didn’t want to go swimming or put his swimsuit on.  In fact, he didn’t like it when Rick and I took turns swimming.  And while Rick was swimming, I asked if he’d like to put his swimsuit on, and I guess that was the last straw.  He started crying and getting upset and started walking up the beach to the parking lot saying he was going on the slide.  *L*  I had to drag him back to the blanket 2 or 3 times before I finally took him down to the water to try to distract him.  We saw a kittycat made out of sand – that was the best!  *L*  Then Rick was back and we talked him into getting his swimsuit on so we could all go swimming together.  The water was beautiful and warm.

    I carried him out to the sandbar and he clung to me and wouldn’t let me put him down.  I sat down in the sand (and about 6 inches of water) and he still wouldn’t let go.  We played the daddy splash-me game for a bit and then it was getting a bit chilly so I told him he had to stand up so I could get up and that worked.  He was standing in the water!  So then we played splash-daddy for a bit and then walked back through the water to the beach.

    We capped off the evening with some clams and fries in the car – Marshall had the paper bag with a few in it and he loved them, and of course we followed this up with some ice cream treats from DQ.  It was a perfect evening. :)

    We got him to bed a bit late tonight, but he’s going to sleep really well with all that salt air.

     

  • Tamara 9:46 pm on August 30, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Win a Beco baby carrier!

     

    • Eden 10:18 pm on August 30, 2008 Permalink

      That looks a lot like the Trekker we have, which is awesome!

  • Tamara 9:34 pm on August 28, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    new title 

    You may have noticed the change in title… that’s Rick being optimistic ;)

    As many of you know, I’ll be writing the CA exams (the UFE) in a couple of weeks – September 16-18.  This is the 4th and FINAL time I will ever write them!  I am really looking forward to the sense of relief on September 18th at 1pm when I am finally finished, pass or fail.  In Nova Scotia, you can write the exams 4 consecutive times*.  Other provinces allow only 3 times* but anytime.  I got a special waiver for 2006 when we had Marshall.  So it’s been 5 years now that I’ve been working on this.  I started the CA program 4 days after we got married, and it hasn’t stopped since.

    I’ll find out on December 5th whether I’ll be a Chartered Accountant or not.  At this point, I’m kind of just tired of all the rigamaroll, and I’m just looking forward to having it done for good.  If I don’t pass, I may look at signing up for the CMA (Certified Management Accountant) program which is what Rick is registered to do next year.  It would be kind of fun/insane to do it together wouldn’t it?  Or, I might just get on with my life.  There are, after all, more important things than accounting. heh.

    So, I’m basically turning into a giant stressball and taking all kinds of vitamins and anti-stress potions and omega-brain-boosting capsules, and anti-anxiety water additives to combat all that stuff.  I also have some massages scheduled and I’m getting my hair done etc, so it’s all good.

    I’m stubborn and I’m going to see it through to the end.  Hear me roar!  or something like that.

    Today I took exam comp a.k.a. McLovin off of the interweb for a couple of reasons – one, so I won’t surf instead of study all day, and two, so it won’t do any internet automatic updates.  My compy is all locked down for exam writing. 

    I’m so excited that I only have 3 more comps (5 hours = 1 question) to write… EVER!  Whooooot!!!!

    I have been looking for some kind of motivational quote or mantra or something to post up in front of my computer.  Any ideas?

     

    *there is actually a way to get another 3 or 4 shots at it, and that is to re-register in the “CA program” and start over from the beginning.  You know, the program that weeds out half the applicants before they get to the exam?  You know what I think about that?  NO WAY MAN.  I’m just not THAT stubborn. *LOL* But there are people out there that do it.

     

    • Lana 3:12 pm on August 30, 2008 Permalink

      Hey guys, I am now officially blogging. You can add me to your blog roll if you want:)

      http://www.savingmommymoney.com

      Curtis is designing it….only a stock template for now..but you wait!

  • Rick 4:05 pm on August 27, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    If I (Rick) produced a podcast, would you listen to it?

    View Results

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    • mitchellirons 3:45 pm on August 30, 2008 Permalink

      i wonder about the duplication-of-content sort of thing. What would you podcast? Why would the podcast be better than a blog entry? What can the podcast offer that the written word cannot, etc etc?

      [i'm wary of podcasts. i find them to be less user-friendly that simple text-based media.]

    • Rick 8:20 pm on September 1, 2008 Permalink

      A few reasons for the idea:

      1) I used to be quite involved in campus radio, and enjoyed that community.

      2) I would be doing it with a buddy of mine from that community (he’s currently in Bridgewater), which makes for 2-way dialogue rather than more 1-dimensional blogging (yes, I know about comments… not the same). I think a conversation would be more rich than me trying to think of something to type.

      3) I’m really in to listening to podcasts… I find them much more portable than blogs.

      4) I would like to craft my own theme music/jingles/etc. using my piano.

      I’m not saying I would stop blogging altogether, but I’m having more luck with microblogging right now than long-winded entries (Twitter, etc.) and a podcast seems like a good way to supplement that.

  • Tamara 9:40 pm on August 22, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Summer fun 

    Last week I had a lovely week off with Marshall – I sure missed him!  We had an energy audit done on the house, we went to the zoo one day, we went to Shediac Cape to a friend’s cottage another day, did some shopping, and spent one day at home playing toys, you know, like puzzles and cars and kitty cats and watching some Thomas on the tv.

    Then our friends JC and Kelly came to visit for the weekend!  We haven’t seen JC since last summer and Kelly was last here in November, so it was really really nice to see them again.  Marshall did some shopping with me and Kelly for a bit, then Rick and JC took him for lunch and put him down for his nap, while Kelly and I shopped for some maternity clothes for her.  She’s due in December and was getting pretty uncomfortable in the few maternity clothes she had.  We had a lot of fun.  Rick made some delicious coffee steaks on the barbecue for us.  On Sunday I hemmed a pair of Kelly’s pants for her – the stupid machine is still bunching up the thread so I did it by hand.

    This week he was back at daycare.  I was worried how he’d handle it, but when we got there, he just said “bye mommy” and went inside to play toys.  hehe.  When we drive to daycare he points out the “Tim Hortons” where we “get donuts mommy!”, and the McDonalds where we rarely ever go, but for some reason children just know about it.

    On Wednesday Gram was working in the area and brought us some pizza and fingers.  Marshall loved it.  Then he got to stay home with Gram thursday morning and play and go for walks.  I came home at lunch and took him back to daycare for the afternoon so Gram could get to work for 4pm in Sackville.  We had tomato soup (mommy’s favourite) and “toasted cheesies” and dipped our sammies in our soup. 

    Today we slept in a bit.  First, Marshall woke up at 6am crying for mommy.  I went in and asked him if he was wet. “yeaaaah” Then: “I bumped my head!” ooooooh ok come here, mommy kiss it for you. “yeah, mommy kissit!” Want mommy to change your bum?  “yeeeeeaah” ok. there you go, now do you want to go back to sleep?  “yep” In your own bed? “yep” and he hopped in and snuggled into his pillow.  I put the blanket on him and he was gone.  Ah bliss.  He slept until after 8!

    So we had a lazy start today, and decided to treat ourselves to donuts at Tim Horton’s – got M his own little box of 10 to share with mommy, and a box of 20 for the kids at Cathy’s.  He was happy as a clam.  Until we got to Cathy’s and it was time for me to leave.  He got really sad and asked where his kitkat was, and started crying.  But by the time I was at the car, Cathy ran out to tell me that he was fine now and was happily eating donuts.  *L*

    Today I scored us some tickets to see Caillou at the Pays de la Sagouine.  I got 4 tickets for $25 on kijiji, so I’m going with my neighbour from across the street and her son, Marek.  Should be a nice day for it!

    Tonight Marshall did some swimming and splashing in his pool… we’re uploading videos now and pics to come!

    Oh, and I’ll let Rick tell you all about his new ‘puter. ;)

     

  • Tamara 2:14 pm on August 13, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Garden 

    I forgot to mention that we’ve been enjoying some of the bounty of our garden!  We have been picking lettuce, and a few radishes.  This week I was able to pick a GIANT zuchini!

    Back in June, when Marshall spent his first overnight at Gram’s by himself, we spent a few hours getting the garden hoed and weeded and planted.  I added some pics of this in June 2008 here.

    We’ll be taking some current pics of the garden and our produce soon.  We need to find some time to stake our tomatoes and do a little weeding one of these days…

     

  • Tamara 10:10 pm on August 12, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Lots of pics added 

    We’ve been really busy lately!

    Marshall has been having all kinds of adventures and growing and learning so fast we can’t keep up with him.

    My sister Stacey arrived (from Calgary) July 10th, so we had a nice visit. She was back and forth between here and Fredericton, and brought Marshall with her! They spent a few days at Gram’s place and gave me and Rick a nice break. We actually went out to dinner with some friends and went to a movie.

    She brought him back in time to have his 2nd birthday party with lots of friends and family. He seemed to enjoy himself, and he got lots of presents – thanks everyone!

    My brother-in-law Cris arrived after the party (from Calgary) and got to meet Marshall for the first time. I had to go on a course in Halifax for 3 days the sunday after his party, so Stacey and Cris got to spend some quality time with Marshall while Rick was at work and I was in Halifax. They took him to the Hopewell Rocks.

    I arrived back from my course just in time to say goodnight to Marshall on a Wednesday night. Did a little work Thursday morning, but now I’m off work until September 22nd – yay! Unfortunately, I have to study ;)

    Friday, the 25th was our 5-year anniversary. We had some more friends arrive from Halifax for a visit friday night on their way to Ontario on a Highland Games circuit (John plays pipes). We ordered in some thai/vietnemese food and drank some wine, and had a nice relaxing evening. We had breakfast at the market the following morning, and Rhia got to stay with us a bit longer until Marshall and I were ready to head to Fredericton to meet up with John, and to visit with my mom’s cousins the Reeses Pieces ;) who were down from Ontario.

    Monday we took him to Magicuts to get his 2nd haircut, and this time he sat in the chair with the little cape and he was worried and I held his hand, but he made it through without getting up. What a good boy!

    I had to leave again the following Tuesday (29th) to go on another course in Halifax. That was a long one. Stacey and I finally left Moncton at 4pm. (there was a lot of packing and organizing to do!) We arrived, shopped, and checked in to the residence and discovered that I had scored a double room – sweet! Stacey left the next day for Bridgewater to visit my aunt (visiting from Hong Kong), cousin, and her 2 girls, and I got down to business. I saw Stace one more time Thursday for lunch before she headed back to Moncton with Val.

    I kept busy on the trip so I wouldn’t miss my boys as much. Wednesday it was dinner with the book club girls (miss those meetings!). Thursday, Kim (a fellow 4th time writer who took the same year I did off and had a baby boy) attended a fitness class, had a long walk and a well-deserved couple of drinks out. Friday, I got to see Joel Plaskett play at Alderney Landing in the mist which was amazing. I went to the annual ASCA UFE PREP Pub Crawl Saturday (which just made me feel old), and had pre-crawl martinis at the Fireside with my friend Mark. Sunday I went to Bridgewater and had a really nice visit with Brenda, Ang, Dominique and Kate. Got up Monday and had a nice (but short!) visit with Kelly, Mandy and Serena on my way out of town. Monday night was a massage, then beer and burgers with my fellow students (a work function). Tuesday wine and dvds in my room with Kim. Wednesday a gathering of friends (Annette, Joyce, John) at Onyx for mojitos and appetizers. Thursday another massage and packing. And finally Friday.

    Don’t get me wrong – there was a lot of school stuff going on, but that’s boring.

    Friday was our last day. I got to have a quick visit with John & Rhia, and then stopped in to see Erica who had arrived from Ottawa the night before, and I got to see Connor & Rod too. I arrived home at 11pm!

    Saturday I unpacked, did laundry etc, and then hit the road for Fredericton once again. Finally got to see my boys! And also my aunt Brenda from Hong Kong and aunt Bonnie who was down from Ontario. We headed home on Sunday, and seems like we’ve all been exhausted ever since. We left mom the car she had loaned us, and drove back to Moncton together.

    I’m enjoying a week at home with Marshall to myself, but soon I have to hit the books. Annoyingly, the weather hasn’t been great. It’s been really humid and rainy, so not fun for doing the beach or the zoo. We’re hoping to get to the zoo tomorrow! And the beach on Thursday! But it seems like it’s never going to let up.

    In the meantime, they’ve been digging up the roads all around us. I think they’re saving our block for last. Marshall has been enjoying all the diggers and dozers though.

    We decided that since he was away and hadn’t slept in his crib all that time, and since I’m off all week, we’d try him in his big-boy bed. Rick took it apart and put it away so he wouldn’t see it, then started putting the new bed back together while Marshall tried to help. He was really excited about the new bed and immediatly got on it and laid down and said “I’m sleepy!”.

    The first night it took a little more work than usual to get him to sleep, but we’re really proud of him. He’s been napping there pretty well too.

    He’s been talking up a storm. I couldn’t believe the difference after not seeing him for 12 days. He likes to sing along to some songs…Frere Jacques is the current favourite. He was doing a little of Doe a Deer (sound of music) for a while but then decided he didn’t like it any more for a while. Now he’ll do a bit here and there. He also recently re-discovered his leapfrog alphabet fridge magnets and started singing along with the abc song.

    He’s also started getting a little devlish. He likes to test us. For example, running away in the store. Not funny Marshall! Luckily right now we can still outrun him.

    I have just added a gazillion pictures. Stacey took a lot! I have added them all to July 2008 in his 3rd year. It includes all pictures from July though (including his birthday pics). Have a look!

     

    • lana 5:44 pm on August 14, 2008 Permalink

      WOW guys, unbelievable how much changes in a few months! Marshall looks a lot like you, Mom. You have all been so busy…Happy belated birthday to Marshall from his relatives in Ottawa…would love for the boys to meet now that they could play together.
      Lana

  • Rick 9:32 pm on August 1, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Road trip! 

    Marshall, Daddy, and Uncle Jamie are kicking off a 7 day road trip early tomorrow morning. Marshall and Daddy have already made it as far as Fredericton, and spent some time at the playground down the street (see current photos) despite the overcast skies. Ann made us a terrific steak dinner, and we’re all looking forward to heading to Quebec for the week. Meanwhile, Tamara is spending some time in Halifax in preparation for her upcoming accounting exam next month.

     

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