Back in the belt...

Got in last night. Had a great trip home. Trying to get everything back in order, clean out fridge, groceries, catch up on my shows, unpack, etc...

This morning, Callum went back to work and Geordie went back to school. There he goes with his new 'packpack' from Nana & Grandad. Geordie loves that there are 'Canadian maple leafs' all over it! He was very excited. Didn't even want to eat breakfast here, wanted to eat it on the way.

Once back to normal life I will be around to visit!

A LOT going on in the coming weeks... I'll keep you posted!


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Thursday Thirteen #6

Here are 13 things that have kept me away from the computer while 'vacationing'...

1)The sights and fresh ocean air!

2) Going oat and a-boat with friends without little people!

3) Cooking Lobster

please take note of my father's white legs

4) Eating lobster

Geordie actually backed out on the trying of it. I tried a bite...still don't like it!

5) Going 'down Bayswater' (the cottage)

6) Skipping rocks

7) Hangin' with the Uncles!

Which, by the way; Uncle Russell will be on CMT tonight as a judge for the Karaoke thing

8pm Easter/ 9pm Atlantic / 9:30 Nfld.

8) Eating freezies and spending time with family and friends!

This one is a twofer

9) Shooting off potatoes!

10) Forgetting your age!

11) Geocaching

12) Seeing how fast we can get our grandparents to fold!

and of course...

13) Skating with the dudes!

Here's to more busy days! We have five more sleeps left...here's hoping I get everyone in!

Thursday Thirteen #5

Here's to my fifth TT!

I'm home for a bit so a little out of the loop. I apologize if I have not been 'round to visit!

Here are 13 thoughts, discoveries and/or tidbits of information...

1) When living away from a bilingual country you forget that labels have two different languages on them.

2) Oil on the street can look very much like snow to a four year old.

3) When travelling with a child under 5 by yourself ALWAYS use the car seat on the plane, bring a DVD player and a book for yourself!

4) Pack less snacks than you think you need for the travel day. Less to carry around and you still end up with snacks left over! If need be you can always take out a loan and buy something at the airport!

5) The whole 'only under 2 can bring a juice box through security' rule is STUPID!! A parent did not make up that rule; the least they could do is have 'healthy drinks' once through security! Preferably for free as yours were just taken from you! AND WATER THAT COSTS LESS THAN $4 A BOTTLE!

6) Green grass rocks!!

7) hhhhhmmmm... Smarties!

8) It's really nice to have someone else do your laundry and clean up behind you after you cook!

9) I reply to everyone that comments on my blog. Just found out that it doesn't always get to everyone! If you don't leave your address I can't do it! You wouldn't believe the amount of messages the 'no-reply' folder must be getting from me!

10) EVERYONE here has an accent...and it's very easy to fall into it, even without a drink!

11) Why is it that you can get ready so much faster when you are not home?!?

12) The difference in price between the States and Canada is insane!

Just before we came home I had to go out and get school supplies for Geordie. I went to Walmart as the list said that certain things are there ( I am not normally a Walmart shopper, the whole political stuff about the company bothers me but really I just feel 'dirty' when I come out of there!) I had to run to Walmart here the other night as it was the only thing opened and I desperately needed a fan!

I was walking by the school supplies and I wanted to compare prices. This is what I found... the same box of Crayola crayons that was $0.77 in the US was $2.14 here. The same box of Roseart crayons that was $0.22 in the Us was $1.16 here. Isn't that insane?!?!?

13) It is nice to be around your family. Question is...would they drive you crazy if you lived around them?

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Not Too Bad!! Beware bragging happening!

I'm home! My accent is back to prove it!

Travelling was great! Yes...I said great!

Weather here is awesome! Sure when we arrived and walked outside a part of me did think about taking out my fleece but I faught it! I can adapt...to cold weather anyway!

Then yesterday there was drizzle! I love drizzle!

Geordie is quite a little traveler. He should be he's done it enough!

People even commented on how good he is.

The flight attendant in the first flight was gushing (yes, gushing) about how great he was to the pilots in front of me.

The second flight we had a pilot sitting next to us and at the end of the flight he commented on how good a traveler Geordie was.

If only they knew what he was like normally... ;)

Once landed in Halifax he was beyond excited. When we were at the top of the escalator he quickly picked out Nana and Grandad in the crowd. I let out a sigh of relief. I always have a small fear that he's going to forget what everyone looks like.

He wanted to run so I told him I would hold his 'packpack'. He went running to them. As he passed the security guards they laughed and said, "aaahhh, someone saw their Grandparents!"

That night bedtime was 10:15 for Geordie. Wake-up call on Monday morning was 6:00 AM. See picture above for 7:00PM, Monday evening when in time out!

This morning found Geordie up before 6! Luckily he fell asleep around 8:30 and woke up around 10:15. He is now enjoying his toast and tea! When in Rome and all!!

So far Geordie has gone through 2 bikes, first one was too big so another one was needed. Now he is in heaven! Everyone who has come 'round has had to watch him (first) ride his new bike (second) see him do tricks on his scooter and finally see him do tricks on his skateboard!

Last night Lynn came over and it killed Geordie to go to bed because "everyone was going to have fun without me".

He's in heaven! So many people so little time!

This afternoon...

SKATEPARK HERE WE COME!!!

Sunday Song #5

NO MORE SLEEPS!!! Today we're going home for a visit, this seemed appropriate!

Thursday Thirteen #4

Geordie and I are going home in three more sleeps, Callum in eight!

Here are thirteen things that Geordie wants to do while home...

1) Go to the skate park.

2) Hang out with Uncle Russell and Uncle Greg


3) Play with Ben & Keighan

4) Go 'down Bayswater'


5) Go to the beach


6) Ride the mini bike


8) Cook a Lobster with Grandad

9) Have a fire and eat marshmallows on a stick. "cause that's what you do when it gets dark!"

10) Get freezies and gum from Nana!

11) Go to Bud the Spud

12) Get a haircut with Grandad.

13) Wants to go to the playground with Grandad & Nana, "not nobody else, just Nana and Grandad and me!"

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This is why I'm probably not going to give the sex talk!

There are not many things that we would do differently when it comes to Geordie.

The only thing that we might question is how we put him to sleep. Yes, we ate our words, and would sleep with him.

Up to a month a go we would still be laying down beside him and then once he's asleep we would leave. This also meant that if he woke up during the night we would have to lay down beside him and 'sleep' until he did. Many times we would just end up staying in his bed because we fell asleep.

Thing is for the most part Geordie was a really easy baby and still is. Sure he's got some badass tendencies and he can be very mischievous but he is easy going and not high maintenance.

So, after the Canada Day long weekend (July 1st) Geordie started sleeping by himself. We would do the whole bedtime routine, wash, brush teeth, read a book, talk about the day and then tuck him in.

We had no clue how this would go. Geordie is a people person. He needs to have people around. We always joke that he's so independent he could live on his own for a week but being alone would kill him.

First week it went pretty well. Yes, there were some tears but he went to sleep on his own. He has 3 friends to sleep with now, Sasa, Beary and Michelin Man.

Second week, one night when I was putting him down this conversation happened;

Geordie: "Mummy, I don't like sleeping by myself. When does it stop?"

Me: "When you're married!" (said flippantly; thought I was being funny; forgot that G doesn't get that humour yet)

Geordie: "What's married?"

Me: *uh-oh* "Well, Mummy and Daddy are married that's why we get to sleep together. Nana and Grandad are married, Grannie and Grandpa are married..."


Geordie: "Uncle Russell's not married!?"

Me: *uh-oh* "no"

Geordie: "Uncle Greg's not married!?"

Me: *uh-oh* "no"

Geordie: "So they sleep all by themselves too!"

Me: *uh-oh* "uhm, uh, yeah."


Geordie: "Well, how do I get married?"

Me: "You meet someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with then you have a big party, then you're married!"

Geordie: "I could married Nora Jane...or Olivia...no I think Nora Jane"

Sunday Song #4

I absolutely love Sheryl Crow and have since Leaving Las Vegas. I've been listening to her new CD. It took me awhile to warm up to it. It's quite political but I really like it!

Why is it not acceptable to feel someone's sweaty armpits?!?

I've been blogging a lot about Geordie and his sk8er dude ways lately as it seems like that's all we've been doing.

Yesterday when we were leaving the skate park he says;

" I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, sweaty! Here, feel my armpits!"


Don't you just love innocence?!

Geordie making his favourite snack...a smooooooothy!

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We've been watching the Olympics each night. I think it just might be my first time ever really watching them. I'm not a fan of watching sports...loved playing them...just not really into watching other people do it! Of course, I always watched the skating in the Winter ones! I AM CANADIAN!

As far as I know from what I have seen Americans compete in EVERYTHING (which is very close to the truth), Geordie Bush is there (and every time they put his mug up on the screen Callum says, without fail, "get me a pretzel and a beer!"), China is competing, Russia is competing in gymnastics, Canadians usually come in second last in swimming finals, and there are a few Australians who are swimming.

Getting to my REAL point...

Do you think this is how Michael Phelps started?!?
Check out the dive and the breaststroke!

Thursday Thirteen #3

I know I'm always going on about how down here is not a good fit for us!

So, today I will list thirteen things that I do like about living in the 'burbs of Atlanta!


1. My friends - I have made some great friends who accept me for my eccentric ways.

2. Atlanta - I really enjoy parts of the city. It's great! It's big but has a small feel to it. The streets seem more twisty then grid-like (which I enjoy). I do believe (we both do) that if we had lived in Atlanta our experience here would have been much different!

3. The Square - This is the centre of downtown Carrollton and even though if you blink you could miss it, it's great!

4. Corner Cafe - amazing hole in the wall restaurant on the square. Looks kind of dingy, service is so-so, can some days have a musty smell, but...
the food is amazing!!




5. The Carrollton Recreations Department - they have awesome programs, amazing facilities and are reasonably priced.

6. BBQ - Remember BBQ down here is a type of food.

7. There is quite an artistic community here - in the Rec Dept. there is a great cultural arts centre. There is also a respectable Art program at the University.

8. We are in between two race tracks...45 minutes from Talladega and an hour from Atlanta.
This is actually not one of my favourite things but I felt like I had to put it in!

9. We are 7 hours away from Wilmington, NC which is where Wrightsville Beach is...as well as Callum's parents! ;)

10. SALES!! This country knows all about a sale. You can go in to a store and buy $350 worth of clothes for under $100.

11. Which leads me to The Shopping. It's just 'out of this world'! Whatever store you can imagine is here.

12. Everything that is in commercials you can actually get!
I know this sounds silly. Thing is when we were young, hell still, we would be watching and American channel and a commercial would come on for something new. Do you think that we could actually get it?!? No...we usually had to wait at least a year. Down here, I can get it right away! (ie. fruit loop cereal straws. I made it look like Geordie wanted it but really, it was me!)

13. The experience (with all the good and the bad) of living in another country!

I forgot...global warming isn't really happening!

How is it acceptable in this day and age to sit in your ford truck for well over an hour with it running?!?!? This was yesterday!

Every time we go to the skate park there is at least one vehicle that stays running for the entire time we are there. One day it was over 2 hours! It was one of those Redneck trucks.

It's always a truck, SUV, or van.

Meanwhile...I sweat my bells off!!

It's so hot there; no shade and with it being the summer in the south and all. I roll down all the windows AND once in awhile I will turn the key a bit so that some incredibly hot air can blow on me.

It drives me bananas!!! See, it's making me go back to my old ways with exclamation points!
Sorry Rachel!

At first I thought that it was the children, teenagers who were hanging out. Then the door opens and out comes middle aged men and women.

When we moved down here, almost five years a go, we couldn't get over the lack of recycling that was done...NONE! Beer bottles are thrown out!
Every time we see that happen we think how my family would react!

In public there are only garbage cans with one hole for garbage...no paper, no bottles.

Unfortunately, over time, we have come to the ways of the land. Yesterday, I threw a wine bottle in the garbage.

I apologize!

Today, I opened 8 cans... they are in a bag waiting to be recycled.

We are changing our ways.

We use reusable bags and organic cleaners. I'm a bleach nut but luckily our grocery store sells chlorine free bleach so I still get my bleach! We try and eat organic as much as we can. Although I find it hard to do here. There isn't that much of a selection and what is here isn't always in stock! We are eating meals without meat and the meat we do eat is organic.

Our air conditioning is not on high. AT ALL! Believe me...I would be sleeping a hell of a lot better if it was!

I map out where we are going and what we are doing so that we use the least amount of gas. Callum has become a little bit of a Hypermiler, minus the speed limit rule.

I do have a problem with water. I try! My showers are cut down, I only put on the dishwasher when it is full. We have a front load washer and we don't water our grass. But I still find that the water is on too much and for too long. That's something that I need to work on.

Trying to teach Geordie about these things is working well in our house, but outside of it it's hard. We discuss how there are choices to make, good and bad, and for us good choices are reduce/reuse/recycle.

Funny thing is...many times we have overheard people here saying;

Global Warming is not real.

I had always heard that there were people who didn't believe in it, I had just not come in to contact with one. Now, I know of many. One of my favourites that is said is how the Democrat's have used Global Warming as their religion.



Since when does a political party need a religion?!? ;)

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Sunday Song #3

Geordie wanted to pick today's song. So, here it is! and are you surprised?!?!?



I actually prefer this one...




Funny thing is Geordie can tell the difference between the two and he's never seen either video!!!

I'm a knitting machine!

We are going home in 16 more sleeps. The weather there is much different than here and Geordie is going to need a sweater.

So... here's hoping that this will turn into something that not only will Geordie want to wear it but that he actually will!








Meanwhile, I made this. Planning on holding the 'in process' sweater in it!

Thursday Thirteen #2

Here's to my second Thursday Thirteen!

So, lets raise a glass and yell 'sociable' to my

THIRTEEN FAVOURITE DRINKS!

Sweet Tea
I have come to really love this drink.

McDonald's Orange drink
Years have passed since we used to have it at school functions and brownies but I still love my McDonald's Orange drink. Sometimes when I'm really thirsty it's the only thing that will quench my thirst. It's also great for hangovers!

Earl Grey Tea
Must be hot of course. It's quite funny when people come to my house here
(in GA) and see my kettle.

Malibu Rum & Pineapple juice
Great as a little summer refresher

The double dark rum and coke!
Afavourite back home, my father calls it a Stevedore drink. It just takes me back to my Shauna and Amber days!

Keith's
Need I say more!

Appleton Spiced Rum
This was a special treat for Shauna, Amber and I!

Taboo & Lemonade
In 1993 I went to Halifax, England with Halifax (NS) Schools Symphony Orchestra and the Percussion Ensemble. While there we checked out some places. We had some drinks. Many of us really enjoyed this drink...at age 16! When I tried it about 8 years later...ugh! it was disgustingly sweet! Even though I will not drink it again it will always be thought of as that great drink that we could not get in Canada!
(by the way...the lemonade part was just a Sprite-like drink)

Whisky Sour
I was introduced to this by one Mike Cutcliffe who will be forever in my thoughts! He bought a round one night when with Shauna and Amber (do you see a trend?!?).

Vodka & Mountain Dew
Don't knock it till you try it!!

Purple Haze
One of those funky martinis that you used to be able to get at The Argyle on Thursday night.
It's probably horrible now but at 19 it was great!

Rolling Rock
Since we can't have Keith's in the States we have to settle for Rolling Rock.
It's actually not that bad!

Lemon Drop Martini
This is my new fad. Sweet & sour! Some might say, 'just like me!'

Ma' boy can float!

Yesterday Geordie floated for over a minute.

Look closer; check out the look of concentration... as well as that Tanner ribcage!

Oh no!! I'm sewing up the burnt bra!!

I just realized I am setting the feminist movement back...

No joke!

The other day I wasn't really in the mood to make the meal;

Me: "Callum, you can make supper tonight!"

Geordie: "Mummy, you're silly, Daddy doesn't make food! He can't do that, he's a Daddy!"
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A couple of days later, Geordie was talking about how he wants to try lobster;

Geordie: "Can we have lobster?"

Me: "How about we wait until we go to Halifax and then you and Grandad can pick out a lobster and cook it?"

Geordie: "Grandad can't cook a lobster! He's a boy!"

Doesn't this picture just scream out...GET ME A BEER! (07/04)

When we moved down here and I became a 'legal alien unable to work' we decided that I would do the meals. For the most part, it's fine. I don't mind doing it and the rule is if you don't eat what I make you either starve or have to make your own.

Geordie would probably make his own, but he doesn't really know the rule.

Callum on the other hand would rather eat something that he did not like than starve or have to make his own meal.

All is not lost...Geordie does know that all major decisions go through me!

A Little of This and a Little of That...

So today I was ordering some flowers and I was checking out the website of the florist. They have a little film showing you the different times in life that you can send flowers.

I wasn't really paying too close attention until I heard, right between 'get well soon' and 'finding happiness';

"Getting out of jail"

Yes, getting out of jail is a GREAT time to give flowers!!

Seriously?!? Check it out for yourself!

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I came across this a little while back...I found it incredibly funny.

This is what is written on the back package of the famous dolphin condom.













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Finally, a bit of an un-eventful weekend. We really didn't do much of anything.

No organizing, even though I have a couple of rooms left and they are just 'killing me'. Now that all my other rooms are still organized the ones that aren't I can't bare to go in.

Callum and Geordie put together a solar system;



Final results;




...and they played.

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Setting; Mummy, Daddy & Geordie at the table eating supper...

Mummy: "blah, blah, blah... blah, blah blah... blah, blah..." [as according to Callum]

Geordie: "HEY!!! Slow down Lady!"

Callum is still laughing over this one.


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Sunday Song #2

This song is 'on top'. There has been a lot of talk about it. Not just what's in the news but I've heard people around me talking about it.

Some are not into young people hearing a female sing, "I kissed a girl and I liked it!".

My question is; would you feel the same way if...

a male voice was singing it?

or

the lyrics were, "I kissed a boy and I liked it!"?

What do you think?

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I can spend hours on youtube watching videos...mainly of the music kind.

I've decided I'm going to use my Sunday's to share my findings with everyone else.

I'm addicted to WEED!!

Seriously!

Love the show! Highly recommend it...




With summer being summer and Deadliest Catch over there really isn't anything to watch so we started renting DVD's of programs from Showtime. We finished The Tudors last week. Also good as long as you are not a psycho history buff because they do take some leeway with the story line.

Next, we moved on to Weeds. Started off a little slow but does it ever get going. The first plan was to watch one show a night.

Nice try!

We're doing 3 a night and only stopping because it is after midnight.

I'm thinking we have a problem!!

If at first you don't succeed...keep trying!

Two things we really wanted to do as parents was;

(1) Make sure our child did not 'give up', especially before even trying something.

and

(2) To not rush, there is nothing worse than when I child rushes through everything.


Both of these things I've seen too many times and I really did not want to see our child fall into it.

Unfortunately were not all that great with #2! I'm a last minute person, therefore I'm always rushing to get ready and get out of the house. I try... but I don't always succeed. Okay, I hardly ever succeed!

As for #1

I find it so hard to hear a child automatically say, "I can't do that" to something that they have never done before. Or, simply stop after trying once.

I blame the parents! If a parent does it, watch the child...they won't be far behind.

Because I am NOT a perfectionist I will try anything and everything. Callum's a perfectionist on most things but he is still willing to try things even if he won't be perfect at them.

We do suffer, like most, from giving up. Really, who doesn't?!?

Only thing is...we really try to hide this from Geordie.

I think it's working! I have proof!

Yesterday we were at the skate park. Now, Geordie is great on the scooter and we can't get over the things that he can do on it. Even when he falls down he gets 'right back up'.

He came over to me three times and said;

"Mummy, I just fell REALLY BAD! But I dusted myself off and tried the jump again!"

Lately he has been practicing on his skateboard.

He started in the grass, and has now moved onto the concrete.

Here's the first try...

and finally after practicing for 10 minutes...

He went on to practice for another 10 minutes to perfect it!

And here is the end of the day...well, close to the end. My battery ran out and I didn't get the really good one of Geordie 'pumping' and riding it all the way down!
I apologize for my horrible camera work!