We finally got to see the Backyardigans today.  As many of you may know, the first show was cancelled because the performers were trapped on a ferry that was stuck in ice in the Sydney harbour for 2 days.  Unfortunately, I did not find this out until we arrived at the Confederation centre for the show (the first time).  Today was the rescheduled show and they actually put on 2 shows this time.  I think they dealt with ALOT of upset parents the first time around.   The show was well worth the wait.  Grace had an awesome time.  She was up on her feet dancing and singing and really getting into it.  I enjoyed the show too.  I took a few pics even though they announced at the beginning that cameras were NOT allowed.  Who are they trying to kid? We are talking about the Backyardigans here and the lights flashing from people taking pics was unreal.  I tried to limit it to a few pics while other people were really going camera crazy!!  There were alot of younger kids there and I must say I felt a little guilty about not taking Gabby.  Then again, if I did take her, I would have to put up with Grace picking at her every 5 minutes and Gabby screaming in frustration.   It was nice just to have a few hours alone together, just Gracie and myself.

After the show was over, we went to Mcdonalds for supper and then headed home.  What a great day!

Grace enjoying the show.  The sound guy was right beside us!

Me and Grace before the show

It’s time once again for spring cleaning.  There is sooo much to do, I don’t know where to start.  I found a great website article entitled streamlining spring cleaning that will give me some guidance.  I know the basics of spring cleaning, but having a list and a deadline to complete the task makes things much easier.  I also signed up for CPO’s 28 day boot camp challenge for decluttering and I am in the process of making up a “sparkle kit” of my own.  Great job Cara on your sparkle kit!

Making your own sparkle kit

Below is a list of tasks I will be working on in the next month.  I’m giving myself plenty of time!   

Step 1: Cleaning Windows 

Save this job for a cloudy day (the sun’s rays cause streaking) and start indoors. Just spray the panes with water and wipe clean with one of the versatile new microfiber cloths, which work by trapping dirt between the fibers. When the cloth looks dirty, rinse it in warm water. (If your water is hard, substitute distilled water.)

We have a pressure washer which works great for cleaning the exterior of the house.  Our house is white, so you can really notice the dirt.

 Step 2: Cleaning Blinds and Drapes

Begin by dusting the valance and frame, then vacuum top to bottom, using the upholstery attachment for drapes, the brush attachment for blinds (close them first). 

Our blinds are very dirty, so I am going to soak them in the tub with a bit of vinegar and then wipe clean with a cloth.

Step 3: Cleaning Kitchen Cupboards

Start by emptying the contents onto a cleared table. Wipe the shelves with a damp micro-fiber cloth or, if they’re extra-dirty, attack them with a multipurpose cleaner and a scrubber sponge.

If you use liners, fit food shelves with a washable, strippable liner; for shelves holding glasses and dishes, try a resilient plastic mesh liner, to reduce breakage. Wipe down the cupboard exteriors with a microfiber cloth and you’re done.

This will allow me to reorganize everything in the cupboard also.

Step 4: Cleaning Upholstered Furniture 

If you’re dealing with mostly superficial dirt, home cleaning can work a big improvement. Remove all cushions and, with the crevice tool, thoroughly vacuum nooks and crannies; use the brush attachment to clean and smooth any fabrics with a nap; use the flat attachment for smooth fabrics.

I put blankets/covers on our couches.  A trick I learned from my mother.  If there is an accident, I just take the blanket, wash it and put it back on.  A blanket will definitely help protect your furniture, especially when there are kids and pets in the house.

 Step 5: Cleaning the Computer

First, shut the computer down and unplug it. With a standard mouse, unscrew the bottom and remove the ball; blow dust from the casing and wipe the ball and interior with cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol. Let dry, replace the ball, and close.

Now turn over the keyboard and gently shake it; clean between the keys with a special computer vacuum or a few blasts of compressed air, then wipe with a microfiber cloth moistened with all-purpose cleanser.

Give the same wipe-down to the computer exterior, and finish by wiping the screen with a cloth moistened with plain water.

You can purchase cans of compressed air at your local Walmart in the stationary section.

Step 6: Cleaning Bathroom Grout

Ordinary cleansers won’t make a dent in mold or mildew. Spray with a specially formulated mildew treatment, then scrub with a grout brush or a toothbrush. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse and repeat if needed. When the walls are dry, give the grout a final misting with the mildew formula for prolonged protection.

You can prevent mold buildup in damp bathrooms or those in humid climates by running a squeegee over the tile after a shower. The same trick will eliminate soap buildup on glass shower doors.

The biggest challenge we have is getting rid of hard water stains on the tub and sink in our bathroom.  If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way!

 :)

___________________________________

So there you have it! My spring cleaning plan is underway.  It’s a pretty simple guide and will hopefully help to put me into”springcleaning” mode.  If you haven’t signed up already, be sure to check out CPO’s 28 day boot camp ~ a guide to decluttering.  

HAPPY CLEANING/DECLUTTERING EVERYONE!!

Wow, I am sooo exhausted! What a trip! The conference was amazing. It was a leadership training course and we covered such topics as diversity, culture and leadership essentials. It “sounds” boring, but it was pretty interesting. The instructors were a hoot and we played some practical jokes on one another. I learned lots and met alot of great people. I was also lucky enough to meet up with cpo’s one and only ladybug_mom aka Cara. Let’s start from the beginning shall we?

MONDAY

We left PEI at 9:00 am and made it to Fredericton a little after noon. It took us 15-20 min to find the Delta after arriving in Fredericton. We were only blocks away too….I wish I was a little more familiar with the city!  We spent the afternoon learning about diversity and then headed to Franks diner for supper. I had the “quick catch of the day” which consisted of fish (haddock), fried clams, french fries and coleslaw. It was delicious! We followed supper by a tour of the new store on the other side of the bridge. It sounds weird, but any time we are away for conferences, that’s the first thing we do!! It’s actually interesting to see how other stores are set up and how the differ from your own store. After leaving the store, we got lost. We must have circled the same area for more than 30 minutes. I was starting to get car sick, but there was just NO WAY I was giving up my delicious supper!  After driving circles for what seemed like hours, we FINALLY made it to the hotel. Our district manager has a GPS for travelling, unfortunately for us it was NOT in the car!

TUESDAY

After what seemed like an endless day of learning, we heading to the Regent mall for supper and a little shopping. I had Japanese at the food court. It was delicious!! I love sticky rice. I wish I knew how they make it. Once we were through, it was time for another quick tour of the older store in Fredericton and then my favorite…..SHOPPING!!! My first stop was the Children’s Place. I really hope we get one on PEI soon!

WEDNESDAY

We were a little more active this day of our conference. It’s nice to get up and move around a little. Sitting for 8 hrs straight is agonizing! After the course, I met Cara in the hotel lobby and we headed to the Diplomat for supper. It was funny to find out we both LOVE lobster. She ordered the lobster sandwich and I had lobster chowder. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the waitress brought our desserts. M-m-mmmm……cheesecake. It was soooo good!!! I had cappachino and Cara had turtle cheesecake. They even drew a pic of a turtle out of choc/caramel sauce beside the slice of cheesecake.  You’ll have to check out her blog for that pic!

After taking a few more pics, we said goodbye and discussed getting together over the summer. Feeling absolutely stuffed, I decided to go for a walk to work off some of my supper. It was absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t get over how warm it was outside. I took pics of the saint john river, a bald eagle and a very curious grey squirrel.

I headed back to the Regent mall for more shopping. I was a little leary of how to get there and decided to take a cab. BIG mistake. I ended up getting this creepy guy named Kevin, who asked me to refer to him as “LUCKY” because he could “get er done!” I’m not sure exactely what he was referring to nor was I going to ask. He told me to be sure and ask for him when I called for a cab to go back to the hotel….ah, no thanks!!!! I used a totally different cab company who perceeded to take all the back streets. Made me a little nervous, but he was very pleasant to talk to and I made it back to the hotel safe and sound. I didn’t sleep very well the night before so a few of my co-workers headed down to the pub for a brewski (coors light)…..mmmm, did that hit the spot!! I think I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow!!!

THURSDAY

After another day of learning, we headed back to Franks diner for some more delicious grub. We didn’t get AS lost this time and narrowed our driving time down to only 10 min of confusion. I guess the saying “the third time’s the charm” is true, because we made it back to the hotel without a hitch!!

FRIDAY

Our last day! It was nice to get away, but I was really starting to miss my family.  I had a great week getting to know my fellow peers and we had a blast!!  Next month, we have a district meeting for our division only. It’s only one night away, but I am REALLY looking forward to it.  We are a pretty crazy bunch, so I am definitely bringing my camera! Not only to record some funny moments, but I figure I may be able to use the photos for black mail at a later date…BAAHHHAAAWWW!  

Below is a pic of the whole crew!

Cara aka “ladybugmom”

us outside the hotel

the bald eagle

nosey squirrel

saint john river

Tomorrow I am heading to Fredericton for a week and even though the trip is work-related…I AM SOOOO EXCITED ABOUT GETTING OFF THE ISLAND!!  Don’t get me wrong, I love my little island.  But being here all winter and seeing SO many pictures of exotic vacations lately (I manage a photolab ;) ), I am completely stir crazy!!!!

I’ve started to pack a few things, but I plan on finishing up this afternoon.  The weather here is dismal, so I can pack without any distractions. If it were nice outside, I would be heading to my parents place at the beach.  I’m hoping I don’t forget anything. I’m the type of person that will overpack, just so I know I haven’t forgotten anything.  I will be taking my laptop also.  I would be going thru serious withdrawals if I was without my computer for a week! 

I’m nervous and excited to go away and be on my own.  Sure I will miss my family terribly, but I know everything will be looked after. Hubby is great that way.  The housework will be done, the kids will be looked after and the animals will be fed.  The only thing that concerns me is that he will forget to water my plants. So i’ve given them some water today and I’ll try to remember to water them again tomorrow morning. That way if he does forget, at least they will still be alive when I get home on friday.

It’s been so long since I’ve been to Fredericton.  Almost 6 years to be exact.  The last time I was there was when I was pregnant with Grace and it was also a work related trip.  Gotta love free trips!!!  I have cousins that live in the city and I’m hoping I can see them while i’m there.  Cara and I are getting together also which I am REALLY looking forward to especially after seeing mandi’s pics. You guys look like you had a blast!! 

I am a little nervous about the drive over. My sil was there last week and mentioned there were alot of deer on the highway.  I love wildlife, but I’ve seen what kind of damage a deer can do to a vehicle. So i’m hoping the deer will be content to stay on the side of the road and not venture out into the highway.   I’ll have to make sure I have my camera in the car, because I will DEFINITELY snap some pics.  There are no deer on the island, so I consider it a treat to see them in the wild! ;)  If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a total NATURE NUT!!

Stay tuned for my next blog entry which will include the details of my trip and meeting up with CPO’s one and only ladybug_mom, Cara!

Spring, in my opinion is the best time of the year. The days get longer, the weather is warmer, the birds are out and about and….the dairy bars open for the season!!!!  Where else but in PEI would you find a parking lot full of people freezing their butts off standing in line to get ice-cream!!

Last night my friends and I went for a walk on the board walk. It was a great night for a walk.  It was a little chilly by the water, but we kept a steady pace to keep ourselves warm.  Afterward the girls wanted to head over to the dairy bar for ice-cream.  Ah, hello? i’m trying to LOSE weight… but if you know me, it didn’t take much convincing to get me to tag along.  I endulged in a soft serve “baby-cone” while the girls splurged on a brownie sundae.  As long as I’m exercising, I don’t feel there is anything wrong with a little “splurge” now and then.  The tricky part is to keep the splurging down to a minimum, which is difficult for me sometimes.   Especially when you have a dairy bar located only minutes from your house.  I can see the local dairy bar from my front window and the smells that come from it during the summer are divine!!!! My favorite is the fries with the works (minus the peas - blech!!!) and the scallop dinner.  I wouldn’t be a true islander if i didn’t love seafood!

So for any of you gals visiting this summer, make sure you get a chance to dine at one of the local dairy bars.  You are in for a real treat!!! Oh and just a little heads up….some of them don’t accept debit, so make sure you have cash with you! ; ) 

The frosty treat ~ Kensington, PEI

Scooter’s Dairy Bar, Miscouche

My cousin’s funeral was today and while it was a sad day, we shared some laughs during the eulogy.  A family member wrote the eulogy and he did an amazing job. He shared some great stories and really captured the essence of who my cousin was. 

After the funeral I drove to the sitter’s to take Grace to Kindergarten. On the way out the door she was complaining her stomach was sore. So I’m thinking, “does she not want to go or is she really sick?”  I decided to play it safe and took her home.  Thank goodness I did because within half an hour she was throwing up.  I put her to bed with a bucket and went in to check on her every half hour or so.  When she fell asleep I changed into my bathing suit and went outside on the deck for an hour to enjoy the sunshine. I left the patio door open so I could hear her if she called out for me.

When Braeden got home from school, I went back into town to pick up Gabby and some ginger ale for Grace.  After arriving home, I took Gabby out to enjoy the fresh air. It was just too nice to stay inside!! The snow in the front yard is almost melted, but it will be a while before the snow in the backyard is gone.  Hopefully we will have much more of this gorgeous weather. It’s too bad Grace is under the weather. She loves playing outside. : (    I hope that she will be feeling better tomorrow.  

the front yard:

the back yard:

my little artist:

posing for the camera:

a close up ( i love this one!)

It’s sad how we only stop to appreciate life when we see someone else’s end.   Time is precious…..please don’t take your loved ones for granted.  

CHAPPELL
The death occurred at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Charlottetown, on Friday, April 4, 2008, of Wayne Chappell, of Charlottetown and formerly of St. Eleanors, aged 54 years. Born in Summerside, he was the son of Prowse and Bertie (Dawson) Chappell. Survived by his brother Ron (Sue) Chappell, Sherbrooke; sisters Debby Chappell (Rainer Zenner), Summerside and Cindy (Ronnie) Carragher, Charlottetown; nieces and nephews Carla, Alexander, Emily, Patrick and Shannon Chappell and Mark and Scott Carragher. Predeceased by his grandfather Alexander Chappell. Resting at the Moase Funeral Home, Summerside, where funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Interment later in Peoples Cemetery, Summerside. Visiting hours Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Memorial donations to the Children’s Wish Foundation or the International Children’s Memorial Place would be appreciated.
www.moase.ca

 Happy 14th Birthday Braeden!

Today we celebrate my son’s 14th birthday and I am left thinking where has the time gone?  I remember feeling scared to death yet excited to meet this new little person that had been growing inside me for 9 long months.  When I discovered I was pregnant, I was 21 and a full-time student.  I had just transferred to an off island university the previous year and I was looking forward to heading back in the fall.  Little did I know how much my life was about to change.

I found out I was pregnant in July which meant a due date the first week of April.  If anyone of you are familiar with university exam schedules, April is the month of final exams.  There was no way I wanted to go into labour during a final exam.  I decided to go to school until christmas and then finish the rest of the year at home via correspondence courses.

My due date was April 2nd and on April 5th, I went into labour.  I think I was in labour for almost 10hrs and was only dialated to 4cm.  The doctor decided to start me on the drip which enabled me to dialate to 10cm.  At 1:03 am thursday morning Braeden was born. His father was in the delivery room as well as my parents. It was all pretty exciting!    

I don’t remember sleeping much that night, but I do remember the pain in the morning. My whole body ached from the physical stress of the delivery. I felt as though I had been hit by a semi truck!  When the nurse came in to check on me, I questioned her about feeding Braeden and she told me the doctor would be in to see me.  What?  I had no idea what was going on.  The doctor came in and told me they had discovered what was called a “skin tag” at the back of Braeden’s throat. The nurses had tried giving him formula through the night, but had problems. It wasn’t until they actually seen the skin tag did they contact the doctor.  He told me they had to take him to the IWK to run some tests before removing it. I was scared to death and very upset because they would not release me so I could go with him.  That morning they took him by ambulance to Charlottetown and then flew him to Halifax.  The next day when the doctor came to check on me, I had to BEG him to release me so I could be with my son in Halifax. He did and within the hour, my parents and I were heading to the IWK.

When I arrived, it was heartbreaking to see my little baby in the incubator hooked up to all these tubes.  I wasn’t able to hold him.  The only comfort I could give him was stroking his cheek and holding his little hand. 

After a cat scan and a MRI, the doctor came to tell me they were going to operate to remove the skin tag.  What a relief!! The doctor was absolutely amazing!! He was very friendly and compassionate.  He explained what they were going to do and that he would come talk to me after the surgery.   The next few hours were excruiciating, but when the doctor came to tell us everything went well and that we could probably go home in a few days I was estatic!!  It had been a long and very stressful 2 weeks.  I thank God that it was only a minor surgery and that Braeden was going to be fine.  We had talked to other parents during our stay at the IWK and my heart really went out to one couple who had been there for 5 months.  I can’t begin to imagine the emotional turmoil they were going through.   On the positive side of things, I got to see first hand what an amazing hospital the IWK truly is. 

So….here we are 14yrs later and Braeden is a thriving typical teen with a love for movies, video games and music.  He has recently reconnected with his biological father and has 2 other siblings and another on the way.   His is an amazing kid and I am truly lucky to be his mother.  

I’ve been pretty slack when it comes to exercising these past few weeks and let me tell you, I’m noticing a big change.  I’ve gone from having so much energy to laying on the couch most evenings.  So tonight when my friends called me to go walking, I wasn’t about to turn them down.   I left braeden home to babysit grace and took gabby with me to the newly named “credit union place” to make use of the indoor track.  I use to go quite a bit when I was on maternity leave, but I hadn’t been there in a while and I didn’t realize how much I missed it.  We walked and chatted for about 45 minutes.  It was great to catch up and get a little exercise at the same time. 

So after tonight, I decided to commit to exercising at least 3 times a week. I feel so much more relaxed and energized when I exercise.  Not to mention, I LOVE the “high” or the rush it gives me.  Let’s just hope I can stick to my plan.  We all know what it’s like to try and squeeze a little “me” time in.

SNOW???  I guess mother nature played the best “april fool’s” on all of us.  I’m not overly surprised there is still snow on the ground.  I remember a snow storm in May a few years ago.

Wow! I can’t believe we are into the month of April already? Where have the months gone?  April is a crazy month for birthdays in our house. Between our two families, there are 7 birthdays this month!  Mine is the first, followed by my son’s.  This monday he will be 14….14!!!! I still can’t believe it.  I remember that age all too well…good times!!  Then I am left thinking, what on earth do you do for a 14yr old kid’s birthday?  My mom suggested having pizza and cake at the new cottage with all the family.  A great idea except they haven’t put the stove in yet.   My father has been trying to convince my mother that the two of them can move the stove out themselves!!  A very BAD idea if you knew my father…he is the most accident prone person on the planet!  With his luck, he would get trapped underneath it or something.  Fortunately, my cousin lives down the road, so we will be able to use her oven to cook the pizza’s….yeah!  So there you have it, dilemma solved. 

I keep thinking at what age do you stop having a birthday party for a teen?  Each year when I ask him what he wants to do for his birthday, I’m relieved that he still wants to spend it with his family : )

Here’s to family and birthdays!!

Cheers!