Friday, December 30, 2005
Birth Announcement
My friend Holley had her second boy last week. Isn't he gorgeous??? I love new babies. They are so perfect. Wow. Yeah, I know, we have seven kids already and they are driving us nuts.
Don't worry - Eric has had the big "V" so we are ok.
Christmas Wrap Up
Good things that happened in the past week...
1. We had a really nice Christmas Eve here at our place with all of the kids present (yes, all 7 of them!) and my father plus my brother Phil. We played games and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" one of my favorite Christmas movies. Eric made dinner - a taco salad - and it was really good. Later Dorothy and Zoe made chocolate chip cookies. We let everyone open one or two gifts because Eric's kids were leaving to go spend the night/next day at their moms place.
2. Christmas morning - I got up with my kids - (Eric slept all morning having stayed up all night playing his new video game!!) and we had a nice time opening gifts together. It didn't really matter that Eric wasn't there, as I am the one who had planned and purchased most of the gifts anyway. I am learning to go with the flow more and more each year.
3. Dad and Phil came back for brunch with us. It is our "tradition" (for about 6 years now) to make home made belgian waffles for Christmas day - we have them with icecream and strawberries. Yummy. I also heated up a ham to take over to Dan's house for dinner.
4. We went to Dan's house for dinner where most of our extended family had gathered. They had turkey, potatos, stuffing, carrots, turnip and salad which was all delicious. We brought the ham and some broccoli (Dorothy can't eat orange/red veggies due to allergies) and a pumpkin pie. My sister Melanie brought a home made apple pie - and my mom brought cute mini cheesecakes, both of which were to die for.
5. Boxing day - we slept in really late for the first time. That afternoon, most of us went to see the Narnia movie. It was wonderful - we loved it. Even if you haven't read the books, it is excellent. I hope they do the other ones too. I have to say that Peter looks an awful lot like a young Prince William.
6. Eric came with me to my office and we worked for at least 5 hours on my new accounting system for my law practise. Have I ever mentioned that I HATE MATH!! We took the tutorial together and were able to start entering the financial data (including billing) - we got a lot done - had a few questions - made some mistakes - but then learned how to correct mistakes... overall it was a nasty but necessary exercise. Afterwards, I took Eric out for dinner as a reward for his moral support.
7. Last night we went to visit some friends for dinner and to play Catan. Had a great time and Eric won! (he doesn't win very often) We brought Suki and she was well behaved. It is so nice having an adult dog who other people can enjoy. The other dog (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent) is still behaving quite badly. Besides chewing everything, he has taken to barking in the middle of the night - usually because one of the cats has walked by. It is very annoying.
8. Today was my official day to be at the office. We decided to open for three days this week with "reduced" hours. The problem is that the people who called wanted action and they weren't my clients so they were quite annoyed when I couldn't help them. I was little more than an answering machine which did not solve their problems. Next year I would recommend that we just close the office for the week. I did get some stuff done including seeing two clients which is usually nice and was nice today.
Tomorrow I am trying to get an annoying errand done. Eric and I have to go downtown to apply for new health cards for both Owen and Oliver. My problem is that I can't find Owen's birth certificate. I know I have it, I just don't know where. I am sure it is some place safe....???
Oh well... and I forgot to mention that Eric and I have been watching Season 4 of 24. It is pretty good so far. We love this show.
1. We had a really nice Christmas Eve here at our place with all of the kids present (yes, all 7 of them!) and my father plus my brother Phil. We played games and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" one of my favorite Christmas movies. Eric made dinner - a taco salad - and it was really good. Later Dorothy and Zoe made chocolate chip cookies. We let everyone open one or two gifts because Eric's kids were leaving to go spend the night/next day at their moms place.
2. Christmas morning - I got up with my kids - (Eric slept all morning having stayed up all night playing his new video game!!) and we had a nice time opening gifts together. It didn't really matter that Eric wasn't there, as I am the one who had planned and purchased most of the gifts anyway. I am learning to go with the flow more and more each year.
3. Dad and Phil came back for brunch with us. It is our "tradition" (for about 6 years now) to make home made belgian waffles for Christmas day - we have them with icecream and strawberries. Yummy. I also heated up a ham to take over to Dan's house for dinner.
4. We went to Dan's house for dinner where most of our extended family had gathered. They had turkey, potatos, stuffing, carrots, turnip and salad which was all delicious. We brought the ham and some broccoli (Dorothy can't eat orange/red veggies due to allergies) and a pumpkin pie. My sister Melanie brought a home made apple pie - and my mom brought cute mini cheesecakes, both of which were to die for.
5. Boxing day - we slept in really late for the first time. That afternoon, most of us went to see the Narnia movie. It was wonderful - we loved it. Even if you haven't read the books, it is excellent. I hope they do the other ones too. I have to say that Peter looks an awful lot like a young Prince William.
6. Eric came with me to my office and we worked for at least 5 hours on my new accounting system for my law practise. Have I ever mentioned that I HATE MATH!! We took the tutorial together and were able to start entering the financial data (including billing) - we got a lot done - had a few questions - made some mistakes - but then learned how to correct mistakes... overall it was a nasty but necessary exercise. Afterwards, I took Eric out for dinner as a reward for his moral support.
7. Last night we went to visit some friends for dinner and to play Catan. Had a great time and Eric won! (he doesn't win very often) We brought Suki and she was well behaved. It is so nice having an adult dog who other people can enjoy. The other dog (who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent) is still behaving quite badly. Besides chewing everything, he has taken to barking in the middle of the night - usually because one of the cats has walked by. It is very annoying.
8. Today was my official day to be at the office. We decided to open for three days this week with "reduced" hours. The problem is that the people who called wanted action and they weren't my clients so they were quite annoyed when I couldn't help them. I was little more than an answering machine which did not solve their problems. Next year I would recommend that we just close the office for the week. I did get some stuff done including seeing two clients which is usually nice and was nice today.
Tomorrow I am trying to get an annoying errand done. Eric and I have to go downtown to apply for new health cards for both Owen and Oliver. My problem is that I can't find Owen's birth certificate. I know I have it, I just don't know where. I am sure it is some place safe....???
Oh well... and I forgot to mention that Eric and I have been watching Season 4 of 24. It is pretty good so far. We love this show.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Christmas with Exes
Our holidays are so much fun. First of all, Eric and I have to deal with our own exes, in terms of sorting out who has the kids on what days.
We also have to deal with our own parents marital issues. For example, this will be the first Christmas dinner that my parents have spent together for over 30 years... everyone is anxious about how that will go. Eric's parents have new partners and there is tension involved with them too.
Now we have to deal with Eric's ex's ex. To clarify, Eric's ex-wife broke up with her partner a few months ago and now her ex is trying to involve us in their ongoing dispute (which partly involves Christmas). GRRRRRR.
Next year we are leaving town. (Kids optional)
This world is too darn complicated.
We also have to deal with our own parents marital issues. For example, this will be the first Christmas dinner that my parents have spent together for over 30 years... everyone is anxious about how that will go. Eric's parents have new partners and there is tension involved with them too.
Now we have to deal with Eric's ex's ex. To clarify, Eric's ex-wife broke up with her partner a few months ago and now her ex is trying to involve us in their ongoing dispute (which partly involves Christmas). GRRRRRR.
Next year we are leaving town. (Kids optional)
This world is too darn complicated.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Christmas Countdown...
OK, so there are 5 1/2 shopping days until Christmas, are you ready?
I am NOT. Every night I have been wrapping a few gifts and I did pick up a couple of things over the weekend. But, I don't even have Zoe's list yet.
I usually love Christmas shopping - finding just the right gift for each person, something that they will love or at least appreciate. This year I have been so busy I am not finding any joy in it.
After a big snow storm hit us on Friday (almost 10 inches of snow) we all stayed home and had a "snow day". I told the kids they could stay home as long as they shoveled the driveway by dinner. Amelia, Zoe, Oliver and Owen spent about an hour out there. They did such a good job that I gave them each $10 (x 4 kids).
Holiday plans are slowly unkinking... so far plans include:
Monday - shopping
Tuesday - Eric's birthday party
Wednesday - going out with friends for dinner
Thursday - Christmas Carol party at friends
Friday - relaxing at home??? (last minute shopping)
Saturday - getting food ready for Sunday so I won't have to cook on Sunday!
Christmas Day - my kids with us
Boxing Day - Eric's kids with us
I am NOT. Every night I have been wrapping a few gifts and I did pick up a couple of things over the weekend. But, I don't even have Zoe's list yet.
I usually love Christmas shopping - finding just the right gift for each person, something that they will love or at least appreciate. This year I have been so busy I am not finding any joy in it.
After a big snow storm hit us on Friday (almost 10 inches of snow) we all stayed home and had a "snow day". I told the kids they could stay home as long as they shoveled the driveway by dinner. Amelia, Zoe, Oliver and Owen spent about an hour out there. They did such a good job that I gave them each $10 (x 4 kids).
Holiday plans are slowly unkinking... so far plans include:
Monday - shopping
Tuesday - Eric's birthday party
Wednesday - going out with friends for dinner
Thursday - Christmas Carol party at friends
Friday - relaxing at home??? (last minute shopping)
Saturday - getting food ready for Sunday so I won't have to cook on Sunday!
Christmas Day - my kids with us
Boxing Day - Eric's kids with us
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Funny or Sad?
5 things most people don't know about me...
I have been tagged by Ms. L... to share 5 things that most people don't know about me. This is really tough. Most people know that I am a parent of 4 children, step-parent to three. They know that I teach sex education to youth at the Unitarian church. They also know that I recently became a lawyer after being a social worker for about 15 years. But they don't know that...
1. When I was about 10 - 13 years old, our family was a gospel singing group called "The New Bethany Singers" - we travelled around Ontario, Quebec and New York state singing at churches and festivals. We all played musical instruments - I played the drums!
2. I love singing and acting, but am too shy to do it in public. The thing I like most about church is singing. If I had time, I would join the choir. I guess I get some gratification through my kids, who are involved in musical theatre.
3. I am part of a huge extended family. My parents had 4 kids, then split up. Then my dad remarried and had 4 more kids. I am the first one who moved to Ottawa back in 1982. Slowly most of my huge family ended up here. Now, both of my parents live here, as well as my sisters Kim and Melanie, as well as my brothers Phil and Dan. My sister Dana used to live here, but moved a few years ago to California. There are now 10 grandchildren. When we get together it's very crowded!
4. I love horse back riding. I hardly ever get to do it, but I try to at least once a year. It is just so expensive. When I was a teen, I got to spend two summers on a ranch. It was wonderful. I always wanted to own a ranch or farm and have my own horse. Oh well. I don't think that will actually happen, but I continue to admire horses greatly. One of my favorite movies is Hidalgo.
5. I won an award for a paper that I wrote in 2000 - from the Canadian Department of Justice, for my paper on mediation and children. This was before I went to law school. If you want to see it, look here. I also wrote a non-fiction book in 1990-91 called Caring About Families. It is mentioned on this website.
I would like to tag: Holley, Andrea, Kim, Terri and Scott.
If anyone else wants to play, join in - and leave a comment so I can check out your answers!
1. When I was about 10 - 13 years old, our family was a gospel singing group called "The New Bethany Singers" - we travelled around Ontario, Quebec and New York state singing at churches and festivals. We all played musical instruments - I played the drums!
2. I love singing and acting, but am too shy to do it in public. The thing I like most about church is singing. If I had time, I would join the choir. I guess I get some gratification through my kids, who are involved in musical theatre.
3. I am part of a huge extended family. My parents had 4 kids, then split up. Then my dad remarried and had 4 more kids. I am the first one who moved to Ottawa back in 1982. Slowly most of my huge family ended up here. Now, both of my parents live here, as well as my sisters Kim and Melanie, as well as my brothers Phil and Dan. My sister Dana used to live here, but moved a few years ago to California. There are now 10 grandchildren. When we get together it's very crowded!
4. I love horse back riding. I hardly ever get to do it, but I try to at least once a year. It is just so expensive. When I was a teen, I got to spend two summers on a ranch. It was wonderful. I always wanted to own a ranch or farm and have my own horse. Oh well. I don't think that will actually happen, but I continue to admire horses greatly. One of my favorite movies is Hidalgo.
5. I won an award for a paper that I wrote in 2000 - from the Canadian Department of Justice, for my paper on mediation and children. This was before I went to law school. If you want to see it, look here. I also wrote a non-fiction book in 1990-91 called Caring About Families. It is mentioned on this website.
I would like to tag: Holley, Andrea, Kim, Terri and Scott.
If anyone else wants to play, join in - and leave a comment so I can check out your answers!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Big day in court!
Yeah... that's me... I am now offficially a "real" litigator. I was in court yesterday, presenting my first real motion. For those of you who don't know "legalese", a motion is when you make an argument in front of a judge -- generally you are asking for relief or help from the judge, like requesting a court order. Next the other side gets to make their argument, then the judge makes a decision. Ideally, they make an order in your favour.
It was soooo nerve wracking. I had a bit of a panic attack on Monday night, but several experienced lawyers talked me through it and after working hard on Tuesday preparing for the motion, I felt pretty good on Wednesday morning as I went into court.
In the end, I won! Not only did we get the orders we were asking for, we also won "costs", which means that the other side has to pay me a hefty amount of money, 'cause they were being darn unreasonable about the issue at hand. I can't mention what it was about, but it is the first real step in a case which looks like it will last for one or two years. And did I mention that we won? Yay!
Saturday, December 10, 2005
JR OWL Overnight
Tonight we had a Junior Owl overnight program. We covered relationship skills including consent, decision making and peer pressure. Then the group had a fun filled evening of games, movies, pizza and playing sardines in the church.
Thankfully, three other leaders offered to stay overnight and I came home to get some sleep. I am returning in the morning to do a pancake breakfast for them all.
Thankfully, three other leaders offered to stay overnight and I came home to get some sleep. I am returning in the morning to do a pancake breakfast for them all.
New Star Holiday Gala
Today Owen and Zoe performed in a Holiday Gala. The first half of the show was full of Broadway hits, such as "Anything You Can D0" from Annie Get Your Gun, "I just can't wait to be King" from the Lion King and "Oom Pa Pa" from Oliver. The second act was mostly Christmas songs, with one Hannukah song. My sister Melanie and my mother also performed.
Overall, a nice show.
Overall, a nice show.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Real or Fake?
The kids have started to ask when we are getting a tree. For over twenty years, I have insisted on a real tree - I love the smell and the look of real trees.
In recent years, the kids aren't so excited about going to get the tree, let alone decorating it. Last year I had to beg people to help. So this year we are having ongoing discussions and negotiations about whether we should give up and get a fake tree.
When I was young, we had a fake Christmas tree. After my parents split up, my mother always insisted on getting a real tree, so maybe it was my dad who liked fake ones. Or maybe they were just a fad in the 1960s. Usually we didn't get our tree until very close to Christmas day, and we would keep it up until all of the needles fell off. One time, we had our tree up until the beginning of March!
My husband's family always had a fake tree, which they set up every December 2nd, which was his brother's birthday. They took it down right after New Year's. I never really liked their tree - it seemed very fake and flashy.
One of my sisters has a modern fibre optics tree with the lights built right into the tree. While very spacey and cool, it just does not feel like a Christmas tree.
We have always gotten a real tree, sometimes from tree farms, sometimes from local lots, often from lots where charities were fundraising. We have even tried to get trees from IKEA, as they sell them for $15 and give the money to local charities -- but usually they sell out on one weekend and we rarely make it in time.
What do you think? Real tree or Fake tree?
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
'tis the season to be jolly?
what a week... and it's only Wednesday...
Sunday... was supervising youth group - we started planning the youth conference our church will be hosting in May... lots of fun... great group of youth...
Monday...
- I have no idea what I did that day... my mind is blank... I know that I was still sick after almost a week... maybe I just fell asleep.?? nah. I don't think so.
Tuesday...
-visiting
-took Sarah shopping for winter boots for her birthday to the biggest mall around... several hours later we got to go home...
Wednesday...
-hung around court for the morning trying to solve a problem for someone...
-took Zoe shopping for a "nice" outfit for the Holiday Gala this weekend... several hours later she finally finds something she can live with...
In the next few days, I hope to figure out gifts for a few people. Also, we are planning to take my mom with us (Owen, Zoe, Eric and I) to see the new Narnia movie next week.
Zoe and Owen are performing this Saturday in a theater production - a broadway revue with some Christmas songs thrown in.
Also, there is a youth sleepover this Saturday night. I am not actually sleeping over, just making sure they have dinner, and pancakes for Sunday breakfast.
Sunday... was supervising youth group - we started planning the youth conference our church will be hosting in May... lots of fun... great group of youth...
Monday...
- I have no idea what I did that day... my mind is blank... I know that I was still sick after almost a week... maybe I just fell asleep.?? nah. I don't think so.
Tuesday...
-visiting
-took Sarah shopping for winter boots for her birthday to the biggest mall around... several hours later we got to go home...
Wednesday...
-hung around court for the morning trying to solve a problem for someone...
-took Zoe shopping for a "nice" outfit for the Holiday Gala this weekend... several hours later she finally finds something she can live with...
In the next few days, I hope to figure out gifts for a few people. Also, we are planning to take my mom with us (Owen, Zoe, Eric and I) to see the new Narnia movie next week.
Zoe and Owen are performing this Saturday in a theater production - a broadway revue with some Christmas songs thrown in.
Also, there is a youth sleepover this Saturday night. I am not actually sleeping over, just making sure they have dinner, and pancakes for Sunday breakfast.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Beware of Words: they can come back to haunt you
OK, so twice in the past 24 hours my own words/comments to others have gotten me into a bit of trouble. You never know where your words may end up... kind of like in the telephone game... where something you say gets passed along and changes in meaning along the way.
In one case, it was something that I said on more than one occasion about someone that I know. ie. "Betty has a history of suicidal thoughts. This is how you can deal with people who are suicidal". It is not like I put an ad in the paper, I just mentioned it to close friends and family members, in order to help them deal with Betty. In the other case, it was something that I said in an email to a close friend about a person at our church that is on a committee with us. "Cindy is upset about X".
In neither case was the comment mean or hurtful, just an observation about what is going on with someone. Anyway, I ended up having to explain myself (as did Eric actually) to try to smooth things over.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Wise up. Wear it. Where's Yours?
Don't forget... today is World Aid's Day. Light a candle for all those who are suffering with this disease. Especially remember all of the millions of children in Africa who have lost their parents and now have to survive on their own. Let your politicians know that the west must take action to deal with this epidemic in Africa. It's the right thing to do.
