A long lost Hello

I know, I know... It's been a day or two.

Life is incredibly busy. In an effort to get more and better sleep, I have tried not to take my computer to bed. We typically go to bed early, just after the kids do, and watch tv or read. If I take my computer to bed, I inevitably end up doing something meaningless well past the time I meant to turn it off and go to sleep. And I think it prolongs the time it takes me to fall asleep if I use the computer right beforehand. So, I leave it in the kitchen. Which means I don't have my usual blogging opportunities.

So what's new?

Nothing, really... more of the same.

Steve has been accepted as a coach of the Nova Scotia team for the Canada Games in 2011. It's a great opportunity for him, a great experience and a lot of fun. For me, it's more weekends of single parenthood, but that's okay, the kids are getting older and easier to manage alone - most of the time. His contract at work was extended another year, but also altered so that he can work flex and have every other Friday off. We're excited about that, especially through the summer.

I've been busy with work and life in general. My 'new' obsessive behaviour (I seem to go in phases of daily practice of one thing or another such as writing a blog) is gym time. I started running again in March (or February?) and trained for a 10km run in the annual Bluenose Marathon this year. It was on Sunday, and the previous Monday I threw out my back. Three sessions of physio, two sessions of massage therapy (the hurtful kind, not the relaxing kind) still didn't get me back in shape in time and I had to walk instead of run. I can't describe the disappointment and frustration of that lost opportunity... seeing everyone else running just made it worse - there were several times I thought I'd cry about it. But it's over now, and all I can do is sign up for another one... let's hope I'm healthy that time. The silver lining is that since we had alerady asked Steve's mom to watch the kids during the race (Steve had a coaching clinic he had to go to) she came to be with the kids. While I walked the race, then took Rook to the park, then showered and fell asleep on the couch, she played with the kids, did my laundry, cleaned the kitchen, cooked dinner and enticed the kids to clean their rooms. Seems like a good trade afterall.

Jack is growing up day by day. He has his first loose tooth, which grosses me out but is exciting for him. I suspect by his nature and personality, it will be loose for a very long time. He has been struggling with tantrums lately, and has had a few more blow outs similar to the one in which he locked me in his room. Screaming, crying, defiance and nastiness... it's as quick as a switch (both on and off) and unpredictable. Then he has moments like this morning where, when Elliot cried b/c he wanted the Superman plate, Jack took E's plate and switched with him without being asked by E or myself, just to make his brother happy. He's so sweet most of the time, makes those evil moments worth it.

Elliot is registered for Primary and excited to go to school in September. He's busy, never stopping, never quiet. He has discovered basketball for real and will spend hours shooting hoops in the net in our living room. (yes, we have a bball net in our living room). He's good too, with a very high percentage shot, nice form and persistance.

Paxten J is a doll, most of the time. She seems to be growing out of her baby talk and improving by baby steps in her whining. She is proud of her 'long' princess hair and excited to be able to wear dresses in the longer weather. She's a girlie girl but definitely not a delicate flower. She pairs her feminine dresses with Spiderman sneakers, moves like a brute and laughs, talks, screams loud and aggressively. She and AnnaWen are inseparable and actually get along much better than they were, though they still have their fights.

AnnaWen continues to amaze us. She grows on a daily basis, and learns so fast. I think she will have some learning disability in school, may be one of those kids who benefit from more direct instruction and learns less through "osmosis", but when taught she learns fast and remembers it well. She is comfy enough with us now to exhibit a good dose of attitude which is good to see while not fun to deal with. It's hard to believe she's been with us for eight and a half months - where has the time gone? We've had her almost twice as long as we waited for her (once we knew who she was, that is).

My Rook, the pup and first born, is getting old :(. We get to the park once on the weekend and for that hour he acts like a 6 month old puppy, running, playing, splashing, swimming, tearing around like a fool, but he hurts for a day or two afterwards, sleeping it off and limping around. He loves it though so I can't not take him...

N