So much has been going on in the last few weeks I don’t even know where to begin. I guess I can start with my favourite piece of news…Corey started a new job yesterday! He wasn’t really looking for a new job right now but an opportunity arose and he took it. The best part is that he will be working Monday to Friday again on a day shift instead of 8am-8pm on a continental shift. I know that this change will be a huge positive change for the whole family and I am super happy. Already I can feel the difference in myself. I have been suffereing from insomnia for the last year or so and been sleeping on the couch. Last night I slept in my bed for the first time in about a year. It feels good knowing he will be home in an hour and a half instead of 6 hours to go.

Now that Corey working a better shift I have been thinking about getting a part time job a few evenings a week. I am not sure if that’s what I really want to do or not but we could sure use the extra money. Plus the kids can stay home with their Dad and have special time with him too. I am not sure what I would want to do though. The most recent work I have done is restaurant work but I am not sure if that’s an industry I want to get back into. Maybe I can get a job at one of this city’s many Tim Horton’s. I would really love to start my own home business but I really wouldn’t know what to do or where to even start. That could be a possibility though.

My MIL’s wedding is coming up in a couple of weeks. The kids are both in the wedding along with Corey and I am taking the pictures so we’ve been pretty busy preparing for this. Corey is also providing the music for the reception afterwards so it’s going to be a busy weekend for us. To top it all off, the groom fell off an 18 foot roof a week and a half ago and shattered 2 vertabrate and broke both of his wrists. He is in good shape already and will be okay to attend the wedding, but it was an extra added stress on an already stressful situation. I hate weddings with a passion, so having to be so involved in this has been a challenge for me. It sounds selfish maybe but I just don’t get it…and it’s just so much effort for something so trivial. I can’t believe how crazy some people make themselves planning for a wedding!!

Last week we took the kids to the Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. They both really enjoyed the visit. We first walked through the small museum containing old artifacts and lots of information on aviation and the war. Then we made our way to the hangar where about 30-40 planes are on display. After that we went to the observation deck that overlooks the Hamilton International Airport and got to see some planes taking off and a helicopter fly overhead. There is also a little coffee shop facing the airport so you can grab a bite to eat and watch planes come in. It cost us $10 per adult to get in and we spent a good 2 and a half hours there so it was worth the visit for kids of any age. Hayden and Lily just liked looking at planes close up but older kids would appreciate the history too.

Both of the kids are feverish today so we are taking it easy. Yesterday we took a nice long walk so it’ll be alright if we spend the afternoon inside today. Plus, I hear it’s a hot one today so I don’t mind staying indoors.

Hayden has never been a huge fan of swimming, even as a baby. This summer I have been avoiding the whole swimming experience because I just didn’t want to deal with the outburst. I try to avoid those at all costs…because often with him an outburst includes plently of screaming and vomiting. Not that I blame him for being a sensitive child…I just know that I would rather not see him get that upset.

I realized that my attitude wasn’t going to make anything better, so I finally decided it was time to get this kid into the water. Wednesday we packed up the van and headed to the pool.

We were walking up to the fenced in area and as soon as he saw where we were going he dropped to his knees and said “I don’t want to go there”. What was I supposed to do? Force him to do something he didn’t want to do? I never do that to him. I let him do things when he is ready. But at that point I was afraid that if I turned back that it would reinforce to him that there was something to be afraid of. So I carried him inside.

I felt way too bad to take him in myself so Corey took him in. He started crying as soon as Corey picked him up actually and as soon as his toe touched the water he started the shreiking. I couldn’t handle it so I grabbed him and tried to settle him down but it wasn’t working. I passed him over to a girlfriend of mine who also gave it a try but soon he started asking for me again. He continued to cry and tell me he wanted out. I felt so bad but I just kept telling him to trust me and that I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him.

After about 15 minutes we decided he’d had enough so we went over to the concession to get some fries. I was ready to go. I didn’t want to try and get him in that water again…

We walked back towards our blanket and what does my crazt little man do? Goes for the water and says “I wanna go swimming Mom”. Woohoo! I don’t know exactly what happened in those 15 minutes it took us to eat our fries, but all of a sudden this kid was like a fish out of water. I could barely keep him out. By the end of the day he was putting his mouth in the water and blowing out to make bubbles and playing on the shore with his friends!

When we went to leave he was actually upset!

We decided that we would go back the next day while it was still fresh in his mind…hoping it would be another good time. And it was! He was so excited to be there and I had to hold him back from the water until I could get his shoes off and some more sunscreen on!

I am so relieved that he’s enjoying the water now and we can’t wait to take him back! The best part is though that HE can’t wait to go back either!

Wow! I hadn’t realised how long it has been since I posted in my blog! How is it that absolutely nothing happed in the last 2 weeks but I am still as busy as ever?? You’d think I would have at least something interesting to report about, or some exciting news…maybe a movie or a book review. But no…nothing.

I had started reading a book which I received from cashing in some BzzPoints and it is called “Rebels on the Backlot”. So far it’s quite interesting actually as it is about the rebel directors from the 1990’s like Quentin Tarrintino and their contribution to the movie industry. I am a big fan of Tarrintino’s movies so I am enjoying reading about his life and the back story to some of my favourite movies.

I also started a craft project that I picked up from Mary Maxim when my sister was visiting. It’s an embroidery project with a quote from “Footprints” on it. So far I have only completed a tiny bush. I wish I had the talent and patience to do things like that. After 30 minutes struggling with this darn little bush I gave up and put the project on the shelf. I haven’t even looked at it since. The project my sister bought at the same time is already completed and ready for display.

I also got my order in from my home party! I was super excited to get my stuff so I could try a recipe my girlfriend gave me. It’s for ‘Extraordinary Cheese Dip’. I will share the recipe with you and although it calls for Epicure products, I am sure you could find a suitable substitute at a grocery store.

Extraordinary Cheese Dip

Mix all of the following in an oven safe bowl and bake for about 20-30 minutes at 350.

1 package of spreadable cream cheese
1 cup of mayo
1 cup of shredded cheese (I use marble)
1 tbsp of VE Lemon Dilly Dip Mix
1 tbsp of VE 3 Onion Dip Mix
1 tbsp of VE Cheese, Chives and Bacon Dip Mix

I love this dip with those little mini pita pockets. Mmmm…was it ever a nice treat last night! I think tonight I am going to make a Guacamole dip with my new Guacamole Dip Mix. Delicious!!