Updates from December, 2008 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Tamara 3:25 pm on December 29, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Xmas 2008 

    On Monday (22nd) we had quite a storm. It was pretty well cleared up and had stopped blowing by the afternoon though, and we met up with a group of families from our area that were carolling at a local seniors home. There were probably a couple dozen of us altogether – lots of kids. We went down each wing and sang Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Xmas. We sang a few others along the way too. When we finished our little concert, the kids handed out artwork that they made to each of the residents and wished them Merry Xmas. Marshall really enjoyed himself once he got going. He stepped right out front and shook his bells and bounced back and forth like he was the star of the show.

    I was finished work at 2pm on the 23rd which was nice, and we had a little “party” at the office (snacks and drinks). I picked Marshall and Rick up early and we headed home.

    We dropped Rick off at work on the 24th and headed out for some last minute shopping, to pick up the turkey we had ordered (fresh and local) and drop off some gifts. It was already snowing at 830am so we wanted to get it all done in a hurry. We were home in time for some lunch and a late and long nap. Marshall got to stay up late on xmas eve since Uncle Jamie and Grammy were coming to visit.

    Some of our neighbours, Brenda and her daughter Morgan (13) dropped by with a gift for Marshall and to sell Morgan’s babysitting services (and visit with Marshall) as she just took her babysitter’s course.
    We had some snacks and stayed up really late – once Marshall got to bed, Rick and Jamie had to do some wrapping and put a train set together. Mom and I got busy doing dishes and making a breakfast casserole for the morning.

    Christmas morning, Marshall woke up around 7am and went into Gram’s room for a dvd and a cuddle. We sent the alert for Grampy to come over around 8. We came downstairs and brought Marshall out to the livingroom and he saw his train table (that Santa brought) and let out a little gasp and a squeal and started playing with it right away. After that it was hard to get him to open any gifts! *L*

    We all received really great gifts :) Thanks everyone!!!

    Rick got the turkey dinner together with Jamie’s help, and mom and I did the cleanup.

    Pictures of everything here.

    We stayed put for a couple of days and went out to the boxing day sales on Saturday (stores aren’t open on the 26th here) to pick up some clothes.

     

    • LANA 3:38 pm on January 8, 2009 Permalink

      Too funny, Ethan got a train table last Christmas too! We put it in his room, so that when he wakes up early he can play with it (so we can sleep a little longer:) Glad to hear you had a good time!

    • LANA 12:40 pm on February 11, 2009 Permalink

      OKAY….you haven’t updated for a while..stop twittering and post pics, already!

  • Tamara 1:23 pm on December 22, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    White Xmas 

    I’ve been a bit slack with the photo-posting due to all that’s been going on around here… we have a big storm today so I’m at home, but will be going into the office this afternoon.  Looks like we’re going to have a white Christmas after all!

    See November and some December pics here.

    Enjoy!

     

  • Rick 3:30 pm on December 11, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Official newspaper announcement for our new C.A. 

    PDF File of the ad to appear in the Moncton Times & Transcript on Saturday, December 13 (Adobe Reader or compatible viewer is required to access this).

     

    • Bertha 6:25 pm on December 11, 2008 Permalink

      That’s awesome!! That’s an especially attractive picture of Tamara as well!

    • Tamara 12:03 pm on December 12, 2008 Permalink

      Us accountants are sexyhot! :P

    • peterobrien 5:15 pm on January 22, 2009 Permalink

      Tamara: Congrats. Now Richard is challenged to make a “major” accomplishment as well. You must be proud of your success.
      Regards

      peter O’Brieni

  • Tamara 10:15 am on December 9, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Thanks! 

    I just wanted to thank everyone for the congrats and kudos and hoorays and all those wonderful things.  :)

    Supporting cast:

    I especially want to thank Rick for putting up with me and taking up the slack (house stuff, paying the bills, extra Marshall duty etc) over the last 5+ years so that I could get to this point.  You stuck by me babe, no matter what decision I made and I appreciate that.  I know it was rough at times!  (good thing I married you before we started this journey)  Now it’s your turn :)

    Thanks to my mom and dad who also had to put up with my grumpiness and tears and insanity and helped give me time to study when needed by looking after Marshall, or giving me a lift to the exam or buying me dinner or getting me a special treat.

    And of course special thanks to both my parents for passing on that stubborn-as-all-get-out gene. ;)

    Thanks everyone!  I feel special. :)

    Love, love, love,

    Tamara, CA

     

  • Tamara 11:59 am on December 7, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    On a cloud 

    Friday morning, the marks (pass/fail) for the ufe are released at 9am and normally I call in to find out.  You can go in person (in Halifax) or wait until the mail comes (sent at 3pm) or until the names are posted on the website at 10.

    All week I geared myself up for a 4th failure and tried to think about how I didn’t care and how I was moving on, and what the real important things in life are like family and health and not this stupid exam. 

    Finally Friday morning came and I called in at 9.  busy. busy. ring!  My stomach was in knots.  I steeled myself for the response.  “Sorry we haven’t received them yet, still not ready”.  Crap.

    I asked Rick if he’d go out and get us some coffees.  I put my new favourite song on (Jason Mraz I’m Yours) and sang at the top of my lungs and Marshall helped me by playing the piano and dancing and singing along with me.  9:15 came and my phone hadn’t started ringing (the partner at my office can call in and get the mark at 9 too) so I figured I was right about failing and just wanted to get it over with.

    busy.  busy.  ring!  I give my candidate number.  “It’s a pass”.  “WHAT!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” “um, yep that’s what it says”.  “ok, excellent.  um. ok thanks!”

    “MARSHAAAAAAAAALL!”

    Marshall came running and stopped a few feet away.  “YEAH?”

    “MOMMY’S A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT TODAY!  GIVE ME A HUG!”

    And he did.  And I couldn’t believe how choked up I was. 

    Then Rick came in the door and I could barely contain myself.  And I don’t know what he thought at first because I was crying but smiling, so I guess he knew what had happened.

    SO. HAPPY.

    I then called my coach for the summer who helped me through it and told her.  She was thrilled.  Then my mom of course, and dad and then I woke up my sister in Calgary.  I also got a call from my aunt in Calgary who is a CA and who knew the significance of this day.  She also woke up my sister and got my cell number so she could call to tell me she saw my name and was thrilled for me.

    Then I realized I’d probably better call my office and let them know.

    Roseanne answered very soft and quietly, like someone had passed away.  “Hi Roseanne!  It’s Tamara!”  “Hi Tamara.” “um, I passed!”  “YOU PASSED!  SHE PASSED!”  *great cheers and hoots coming from around the office.  (apparently Joan had checked the NBICA site and my name wasn’t there so everyone thought I hadn’t made it…she says she’s never going to live that down heh)  “Get your butt in here Tamara!”

    I took my time anyway, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a mistake and my name was posted on the website.  I posted on facebook, chat boards, pretty much everywhere.  I started an email to pretty much my whole email list and waited and waited.  Finally I found the site and my name was there and I hit send.

    Rick was already showered, dressed and waiting for me by this time and Jordan (my study partner from last year) texted wondering where we were.  M was so keyed up and having such a grand time with mommy jumping around the house that he didn’t want to leave.  *L*  We finally got him to Cathy’s place – she was also teary and excited – and headed for the offie.

    What a feeling.  We came down the hall and could see everyone in the office on the other side of the glass doors ready and waiting for us with their cameras out and everything.  When we walked in, there was congratulations and applause and people started hugging me from left and right every woman in that place pretty much.  There were flowers, and champagne was uncorked.

    I have never experienced anything like this before.  It was insane.

    We all went out to lunch and drinks at a local pub, then Rick and I headed home for a fairly quiet afternoon involving putting up xmas lights/wreath and a little mall walking, followed by his work xmas party which was a nice turkey dinner, with all of our kids.  We walked to the party with the wagon and M’s foldaway table for the kids.  M rode his trike.  It was a wonderful day all in all.

    I was yawning by 7pm and could barely stay awake!  All that stress and then relief and excitement is exhausting!

    Still, I can’t help but think of a couple of friends who didn’t make it and how crappy they must feel.  I know because I’ve been there.  And one of them it was her last try as well.  But it really isn’t as important as all those other things are.  So far, not much has changed.  I still have to do the dishes.  I still do the same job on Monday (except hopefully with a raise).  I still have the best little family.

     

    • Melanie 3:16 pm on December 8, 2008 Permalink

      I was so happy for you when I read the news on Facebook. What an exiciting day, and a super Christmas present. You deserve every hug and drop of champagne after all that hard work!

  • Tamara 11:17 am on December 5, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Finally 

    This has been a lot of work and a long time coming. [fyi for those who don't know, I started the CA program in 2003 (4 days after our wedding) and wrote the exam in 2004, 2005, 2007 and the last and final chance this year]

    But I finally. finally. finally. PASSED THE EXAM!

    I still feel like maybe it was a mistake, and I’m waiting to see physical proof on the website.  And YEP, it’s there!

    *does a little CA dance*

     

    • mitchellirons 1:37 pm on December 5, 2008 Permalink

      congrats!

    • Bertha 2:56 pm on December 5, 2008 Permalink

      YES! I know how hard you’ve worked on that! Super big congratulations Tamara!!

    • simpleabundance 2:09 pm on December 6, 2008 Permalink

      Congratulations Tamara. I am so happy for you. Your perseverance has paid off!

      Sandra

  • Tamara 2:59 pm on December 3, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Oskar for Ethopia 

    Something I came across on April’s blog:  Oskar for Ethiopia

    You can buy his cards on Etsy

     

  • Tamara 1:02 pm on December 2, 2008 Permalink | Reply  

    Do some good this Christmas 

    check this out

    We are considering making donations in place of some Christmas gifts this year. 

    Although gifts are fun, we would also appreciate donations, if you are thinking of doing the same.

    xo

    Red Cross

    Unicef

    Christmas Daddies

    WWF

     

    • mommyknows 1:38 pm on December 2, 2008 Permalink

      This is a great idea. I will spend the next 3 Saturday mornings and a few weeknights helping in the kitchen at an inner city shelter. It’s important to remember the less fortunate at this time of year (any time of year really).

    • mitchellirons 3:24 pm on December 2, 2008 Permalink

      yeah, i’ve been pushing this on my friends and families for some time now. i kinda feel like i don’t want/need more stuff that I can’t borrow, so instead of getting me some token that might sit around, why not give it to an org than can do a whole lotta good with it?

      happy christmas, many happy returns, etc etcn..

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