Hello Lucky Fans

Jen Herman let me know today that you can't see some of the birthday pictures. I'll try and fix it but it's almost 10 and you know that means I'm about to turn into a pumpkin. Maddie and I are "motoring to Roblin" (as they say in the Roblin Review) this weekend. We'll be heading to Birtle on Saturday to see my Grandma (who has been in the hospital since last spring) and Stephanie has graciously agreed to come and help me while we're there. Maddie's cute, but not so cute when she's unplugging someone's life sustaining device...

Stay tuned for shots from that adventure.

Have a good weekend everyone.
j

50 points to Jolleen for adding a profile picture!

Story:

We've started "time out" b/c Maddie keeps poking the dogs. They are not like lovely patient golden retrievers who let children yank on ears and step on tails. The Beags would really just prefer if she left and often make comments insinuating as much. I'm worried that they will actually bite her to tell her to buzz off, hence the time outs. With Lisa and Morgan's help, we found a neutral spot (upstairs hallway, dog gate blocking her in). Maddie hates it which I take as a good sign.

So, we've been using the time out, but really not that often (the most was twice in a row I think and since then it's been one or two times). I honestly don't even know that I've said the word "time out" to her.

But apparently I have:
This morning Jason was driving her to daycare when she shouts "Daddy, turn off the radio". Then she tells a long story (all in jargon) and ends with "Mommy put me in time out". Hee-larious.

Then tonight she spent about forever putting Bitty Baby into time out. She would set her in the little chair, wag her finger at Baby and say "have a time out!".

oh dear.

night kids,
j

Did I tell you about the crazy balloon man we saw? Maddie was invited to Sophie's birthday (girl from daycare) and they hired a balloon man. (insert spoon man melody here). I know what you're thinking: oooh, poodles and giraffes...whoopy do. Nope. This guy was crazy. This butterfly (which is a hat and already down a wing) is the simplest thing he did. I have pictures on my work computer if I can figure out how to get them onto here. He made a mermaid, a beer for a dad, a monkey, and octopus. Crazy stuff.

Angus - Britt's dog. He stayed with us for a week. He's such a beautiful dog. We were thrilled to discover what a well behaved, non barking dog is like to have around.

Jake - Lisa and Jayson's "lap dog". He was with us for a weekend. The same weekend that Angus was here. Yes, it was a lot of dogs. I think we broke some kind of health bylaw. When Sammy wants on the bed (which is all the time) it is a major production and you better get up and witness the whole thing thank you very much. But not so with Jake. Even though he is easily twice the size, he just - poof- appears on the bed right beside you and settles in for an early morning nap. Very sweet.

Remember "Bosco Buries a Bone"? Well, looks like Maddie has attended the same Hide and Seek Academy.

Madeleine's Birthday Celebration!

Can you believe she's two?

The ladybug (although pink and not red) was a huge hit. I made it early and we ate it all week. On her birthday she ate cake for breakfast. That's what happens when you're the mom. You get to make these cool rules.

January 22, 2008
The Celebration Continues!



Lisa has this great tradition of having a balloon bouquet waiting for her kids on their birthday. Hope you don't mind that we have taken on that tradition, Lise.

For Maddie's birthday we bought her a train set which, as you can see, is a huge hit.

Maddie was also very busy with lots of calls on her birthday. Those of you that have had the pleasure of talking with her on the phone know that it looks better from this angle. In reality it's just a lot of heavy breathing and "NO MOMMY" when I try to pry the phone from her hands....

Weekend Wear - Winter 2009 Collection

Yes folks, jammies with feet and pink rubber boots are all the rage. Complete this look with fingerprinted sunglasses for a stylish statement.

Are you a shoe lover? Our new winter collection has something for everyone. Can't decide what to wear? Our Premier Designer, Madeleine, suggests wearing one of each.

Maddie spent at least 20 minutes quietly preparing this delicious feast for Jake.

Uh oh, why is the high chair on the floor? Maddie, taking a page out of Claire's book I'm sure, has decided that the high chair is "so 2008, Mommy". Great. So now she stands/kneels (kneal? neal? seal? wheel?) at the table. So far it has actually been really good and we haven't missed the restraint feature that the high chair offered as much as we thought we would. But...just in case...the high chair isn't too far away.

Grandma Pollock - do you remember this kettle? I bought it at a garage sale at your house and I'm sure I paid 25cents. Or, more likely I paid nothing and still owe you the 25 cents... Anyway, I've kept it all these years and love it still. It totally matches my red kitchen chairs and the inside of my pantry!

Flower Fairy: The Morning After....

I am sure I don't talk on the phone all day, but this kid ALWAYS has a phone glued to her ear.

Ok, I have to tell this story. I'll get some pictures to go with it, I promise. Anyway, here we go. Mom and Dad gave Maddie a great high chair for her Baby. But the highchair is too big for Bitty Baby (and Bitty Baby isn't so great at sitting) so Mom bought "Catherine". When Catherine arrived she had beautiful brown hair, lovely brown eyelashes, and a cute pink snow outfit. Within minutes she was naked, and within 48 hours she was bald and down one set of eye lashes. Poor Catherine. And about the name: I overheard Mom telling Maddie that this baby should have a special name like Catherine or Elizabeth. I guess Mom picked Catherine. Maddie had other plans. When you asked Maddie (until Mom had sufficient time to brain wash her) what the baby's name was she would say:

"Blue"

Although "she" looks more like a "he" with a burr hole now, Maddie loves putting "Calf-Rin" in and out and in and out and in and out of the high chair. Maddie sure does love her babies and the more the merrier!

Wow! The Fan Club is up to a 8 members! 15 Bonus points to Randa for being the first to have a profile picture...

So I think we're having Maddie's birthday party on Saturday. The TV says that it will be around 1C so I think it's a good time for a TOBOGGANING party! Lisa - BYOT! I'm sure it will take longer to get all three kids dressed and over to the hill than to actually toboggan...but a mom can dream can't she?

Yawn. why does work keep cutting into my nap time?

Jason is feeling better, BTW. He started talking normal again on Sunday and went back to work on Monday. He says it's still sore, but seems to be healing well. And he still isn't snoring (touch wood).

Steph -
Now that I know you're safe I'll say: Get out in your canoe and take some pictures of all that crazy flooding!! (I'll give the rest of you a link to her blog once she does it...)

Pam -
Totally remember the snow candy from Brownies...and it was hard to find a recipe. Not even sure if this is the same one b/c I basically tried to go from memory (you're right all the ones online had maple syrup. Who the hell is going to make $15 snow candy???)

What I didn't say on the other post is... (and this should cement my Mother of the Year status): I told Maddie we were going to eat the candy until we made ourselves sick. I got sick. Maddie didn't. Part of being a kid, I guess.

nighty night kids
j

You know the old saying...
"When winter gives you snow - make SNOW CANDY!"

Steph - I know you'll love this. You have to try it with all your snow out there.

Boil: 1/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup corn syrup for about 4 minutes
Drizzle over a bowl of packed snow. Let it cool (should be chewy)
Eat until your tummy hurts.

Enjoy!

GROSS ALERT!!!

Icky tonsil pictures below...you've been warned.


















Jason before.

Me now. (My uvula was getting jealous)

Jason's dark, snore free, pits of pain.

Happy New Year!

and I won't say "Welcome Back to Work" b/c I know that none of you would even consider using precious work time to check this blog. Heavens no. Hope you all had a great holiday. Ours was VERY quiet after Jason had his surgery. We've pretty much been on lock down since we came home from the hospital on tuesday. The combination of Jason feeling like shit and the temperature sticking around -30 all week has kept us in the house. By friday I was seriously starting to get Steven King's "The Shining" in a whole new way...

But, in the meantime, we did manage to fit in some good times and as always, Maddie kept us laughing:



Making Daddy's birthday cheesecake.
"I lick that." (not a request, btw)

Maddie is modeling the new January line. She created this outfit entirely herself. It was very quiet in her room and this was the result.

Jason and I spent about 30 minutes in Maddie's room watching her pull every single t-shirt out of her drawer and put it on like a skirt. Every single one.

I don't even know what you'd call a skirt/shirt.
Shkirt?