New House.......

Our new home is a bungalow again, just like our last home.  There were a few reasons we bought this house.  The size, it's around 1,400 square feet with two bedrooms, a large living area, a kitchen/diner and bathroom on the main floor.  A large family room, a laundry/storage room, another bathroom and bedroom in the basement.  Plus the all important two car garage.  We dh has a lot of stuff/tools etc.  It has a lovely front porch where we can sit and because it is at the end of the street, lots of windows that make the house light and airy.

A big selling point is the park for the grand kids.  It's right across the street, but far enough away so not to be too noisy.  You can't see it now, but the residents of the subdivision flood part of the grass to make a community ice rink in the winter. 

There is also a pond and a green space across the road as well. 

The location was also a big draw for us.  Although we have moved 30 minutes north, we are exactly the same distance and time from dh's work, as he wants to continue working for a couple of more years.  We are on the edge of a city but only 10 minutes drive from all the stores I love!!!  Due too all the green space around us it feels as though we are in the countryside.

We are a five to ten minute drive from our son's home.  We are a 75 to 90 minute drive to our daughter's home depending the day of the week and the time of the day.  We use the 400 and 401 highways to get there which are major highways around Toronto.  Then we are probably 80 to 100 minutes away from "R" and the other three grand kids.

So far we are loving it here and it's beginning to feel like home now.  

Another visit with our little Princess....

We went to see our little Princess on Sunday as they were kept in hospital an extra day; something to do with bacteria (?) but nothing serious. 

Couldn't get her to open her eyes for the camera, but they are dark.  She has the laid back temperament of her dad and is going to be tall like her mothers side.

She's feeding well and sleeping well, so that is also good.

I don't know where the last few days have gone too, as I knew on Tuesday that "R" was going in to have the baby on Thursday; then she got pushed back to Friday as the hospital was so busy; so the last few days have revolved around waiting to meet our little Princess.

The hospital was that busy on Friday night that they had to make six women go to other hospitals to have their babies.  Things have changed a lot since we had our children.  We had to sign in and out of the ward.  Also they don't call it a Maternity Ward, they call it Post-Partum.  I had to ask someone as we couldn't find the Maternity Ward on the listing. 

When I had our kids we kept them on a strict four hour feeding, that doesn't seem to be the case nowadays.  Also they kick you out of hospital after 24 hours unless there is a problem.  I was in hospital for seven days with our son, granted he had jaundice but if I remember rightly five days was the norm for your first baby.  Even when I had dd I was in 48 hours and that was a straight forward delivery.

One thing that I did think was neat in the room "R" is in there was a sofa that turned into a bed, so that "M" has been sleeping there are well.  I thought that it was lovely that both mum and dad get to bond with baby all at the same time.  There wasn't that option when our kids were born.

Do you think things have changed a lot since you have had children?

Olive and Rhubarb

Dd sent me this photo of Olive and Rhubarb, sitting in amongst the laundry that had just come out of the dryer.  Olive doesn't look too impressed with it all (in front), does she?

Dd's boyfriend gave her a Cricut for her birthday and she has used it a number of times.  This is the top of a box of cookies she has put together for her friend.  She makes cookies to give to a number of people as Christmas gifts.  She enjoys baking at this time of year.

I haven't heard this song in years:




Managed to get some more stud walls up in the new basement when dh got home on Monday.  It's slowly coming together.  Also got the cats and Molly's presents wrapped.  We actually have a real live rabbit hanging around outside.  Never see him/her until we go to bed, then Molly sees him/her and then starts barking!!  Got to love Molly, you are just dropping off to sleep when she starts!!

I called ds on Monday to see if he remembered he had a mother!!!  He's a busy bee, was going to do his Christmas shopping on Monday night........he only has to buy the one present and that is for his sister, as his sister takes care of all the other presents he has to buy!!!  I wish my Christmas present buying was as easy!!  Can't wait to see them both on Christmas Eve.

Unblocking toilets and other things.......

Over on Expat Mum's blog she is talking about unblocking toilets and children.  As I was saying there I am an expert on this subject.  I just hope my dear darling children are going to read this.  Oh and a warning if you're eating DON'T READ THIS!!!

So two houses ago, we moved into a brand new house.  We had an ensuite bathroom, so the kids were the only one using the main bathroom.  The builders had installed the low flush toilets, which we thought would be great as we paid for our water usage in the city.

Almost from day one, the kids' bathroom toilet was blocking up and overflowing.  Where did it overflow you ask, under the floor into my above stove kitchen cupboard, and if I was really lucky.....into the above stove microwave........whoever is saying icky, icky, icky, I so agree.

So why did our toilet not overflow, because unlike our dear darling children we do not use half a roll of toilet paper everytime we went to the bathroom.  I mean I bought caseloads of the stuff, as we were forever going through toilet paper.  They would go through a toilet roll in their bathroom every day.

Then on one overflowing session, dh took off the toilet and it was full of Q-Tips.......yep they were shoving Q-Tips down the toilet........duh.......that also blocks the toilet!!!  We eventually had to change that toilet to a regular flushing toilet and things were fine after that.  Still went through as much toilet paper, but the water flushing through the toilet was enough to get rid of big wads of toilet paper.  Oh the joys of having teenagers in the house!!

Here is a photo of Molly, she is laying on the mat in front of the fire:

She brought me a present the other evening a dead bloody mouse!!!  She looked so sad when I was jumping around in a panic, and she looked as mad as hell, when I threw it out.  So much so I sat down with her and told her that although I am very proud of her, her mummy isn't too keen on dead bloody mice in the house.  She still didn't look too happy, but a day later she seems to have forgiven me.

Now when Molly is outside she is always on a leash, as with her being a Beagle she has a habit of following her nose regardless.  So it came as a surprise the other night, when I called for her to come in, she trotted up to the patio door, minus her collar and her leash........

It was even a bigger surprise on Monday morning, as I was doing some ironing and looked up to see her wandering around the fence........her leash doesn't reach that far....on further investigation, it turns out her leash had snapped in two.  So dh is making her another leash this time out of aircraft cable which is stainless steel and shouldn't break.

I was talking to someone on Monday and her friend is fostering a 3 year old Dachshund............I have always loved "sausage dogs"  Its a little girl and to my mind would make a perfect friend for Molly, but dh doesn't think its a good idea...drat!!

Did you remember to put your money in your pot for the Daily Savings Club today?

Today's Money Saving Tip:


Make sure all your electrical devices are on a surge protector. This is especially true of your entertainment center and your computer equipment. A power surge can damage these electronics very easily, so spend the money for a basic surge protector and keep your equipment plugged into such a device.

Quillows..........

A quillow is a pillow and a quilt. When it's all folded up it looks like a pillow like this: (as always click on the photos for more detail)



When you unfold it, it is a quilt, with a pocket where you can put your feet into, like this:



I first mentioned back in June of this year on this post
that I was going to be making quillows for my two nieces and nephew for Christmas. It had taken me this long to finally get them made. I must say by the time I had made the third one, I had got it down to a fine art. I used this pattern to make them. Here's hoping that they will like them?

The following photos, sort of show you how to fold it back into a pillow. I made all three of mine out of flannel, but regular cotton material would be fine as well.







I still haven't finished the child's quilt I spoke about last week, will post photos of that when I get it finished, hopefully some time this week.

Toys for boys, and how I really need to get a life.......

Last week Dh came in the house with one of those GPS systems for his truck. I said "oh, that's good," however honestly I couldn't have cared less, other than it kept him out of mischief for a few hours, while he played with it and read the instruction book.

Yes, I am married to one of those, the one that actually reads an instruction book/manual, I know they are few and far between, but yes I am married to one.

Anyhow back to this new toy of his. I personally couldn't care two hoots about this new toy of his, as one, I never go anywhere, and two if I am going somewhere that I have never been before I either go to Map Quest and print out the map, or better still get directions!!!

So fast forward to Saturday night when we had to go to pick up ds and his girlfriend from the airport, as they had spent the week in Las Vegas (they had a great time.) So dh set up the GPS thingy for my benefit, now I have to say I have been in a car before with a GPS so have seen it before.

So off we go and "Daisy" starts to talk to us. Now it seems "Daisy" wants us to go one way and dh wants to go another way???? So after about 10 minutes of driving and "Daisy" forever saying recalculating I say to dh "I feel sorry for that poor woman in that box, she has the patience of a saint."

Dh looks at me as though I have gone totally loopy and says "there is no woman in there?" I say "I know that, but just imagine if it was me in that box, I wouldn't be saying recalculating."

The first time I would be saying "okay fine, you want to go another way, here you go."

Second time" what the hell.......FINE....here you go."

Third time "bloody hell, why did you bother switching me on, if you don't listen."

Fourth Time "that's it stuff you, I have better things to do with my time, and they say women are indecisive!!"

We have a new stretch of highway, and it seems the poor GPS system doesn't know about it yet, so basically we are driving in no man's land for a minute or two, then all of a sudden it starts shouting out instructions and telling us to go here, there and everywhere, on roads I have never even heard of. A minute later it calms itself down and all is well again.

Now we are going to the States next month, so I guess "Daisy" will be chit-chatting away to us on our trip down. Mind you I may be having a quiet word to her, and tell her not to bother talking or giving directions, as dh never listens anyway!!!!

***READ THE COMMENTS FOR A COUPLE OF FUNNY STORIES***

I think there was something in the water around here....

as we have 8 little boys all around the 2 to 3 years of age that live within a few doors of me.



"R" lives next door to me and will be 3 in September. He is a cutie, love him to bits, and its been a joy to see him grow up. He was only a week or so old when he moved in with his family next door to us. He has a super imagination, he was digging for treasure the other day, while me and his mom were talking. He then recites his A,B,C's for me. Then he decided to water my rocks. However poor old "R" is a klutz, every time I see him he has another boo-boo, I don't know. He also gets on well with dh, which thrills dh to bits, as dh loves kids. His sisters are also great neighbours.

Now behind me are twin boys "M" and "C", along with their big sister "Y" They had their third birthday party yesterday. Now they are not identical, but are very similar. I generally can tell them apart as "C" has curly hair, and is more rambunctious, in fact "C" can be a little devil when he wants. One of his tricks is to hurl toys into our back yard. I don't mind the balls at all, but when he throws toys over, that's a different thing.

So last time I saw him do that, I went to talk to them (we have a six foot fence all around our yard, its a standard thing up here), and asked them who threw the toys over (I knew is was "C"). So both "M" and "Y" shout it was "C", so I told "C" that if he threw the toys over again, I was going to give the toys to boys and girls who wanted toys, as obviously he didn't want them anymore. Well, that worked for a while, but I see I have toys in the back yard again......oh well, they are cuties, and had stunning deep brown eyes.

Two doors down from the twins, is another couple who have a boy and a girl. The girl will be around 5 or 6, and is called Melissa,, and the boy is around 3 and called Mitchell. I hate those kids' names now, as the mother is constantly screaming at the kids, as they are both little devils. They also have the Chihuahua that is constantly yapping, the one I keep saying I am going to wring its neck!!!! I am a dog lover, but this one never stops yapping.

Opposite me, there is a couple with two boys, "K" was 3 in March, and his younger brother "N" was 1 in May. Don't know them that well, but from what I see "K" is a bundle of energy, and keeps his parents on their toes.

Next to them is "N" and he is a sweetie as well. You don't see much of them, but when I do see "N" he generally has his toy cars or trucks with him.

We then have a couple of other boys who will be 3 going on 4, living in two houses. Both sets of parents are Filipino's and keep to themselves.

Girls are few and far between on our street it seems. We also have triplets on the other end of the street, I think its two girls and a boy. They are oriental and its generally the grandparents walking them in the triple stroller, and they speak little to no English. They will be coming up to a year old I think.

Our street is a mix of people from all ages. There are young couples starting out with no children. Couples with children and a couple of empty nesters like me and dh. It makes for a nice mix of people.