The Oldfield 6

Well it has been 2 weeks since I last typed and man has it been a busy couple of weeks. I don’t think I can remember everything that has gone on.

 D’Arcy started his new job 2 weeks ago and I think he really likes it, although he has already come home late (10:30 pm) one night, I have a fear of things to come. I will deal with it when it happens, be there done that before.

After my rainy day car shopping trip I went into my area car dealer (family friends) and told him what I had decided on for a van and to see if he may have any leads, no rush though. As soon as I told him what I wanted he handed me a pack of pages of over 300 vehicles, I got look through them to see the prices and make and models I might be interest. There was only 2 in this lot that were what I wanted. So he told me to come back friday and we would see what was coming up for auction the following week. On friday I got a list of over 80 vehicles I exactly want, all the same only differences were mileage and colour. It is a little hard to pick one or 2 out of that but I managed to pick 9. When I saw him on Monday we narrowed the field to 4 and then D’Arcy took one of those out. So he went to the auction with our price limit and our 3 choice, our #1 choice was one of the early ones up. I did tell him not to worry if we don’t get anything we can always do it again next week.

Then at 2:30 I got a call telling me that I had got my #1 pick of vans and that it will be at his lot that day or the next, it was there that night but it was my first ball game with Josh, I will get to that later,  so I couldn’t go look before hand. The van did show up at about 5:30 and D’Arcy saw it first. After the game I stopped by to at least get a look at the exterior, it is gorgeous in prefect condition, sadly I would have to wait tell the next day to see the inside.

The next day we had appointments in the morning and when I went by the van was gone so I figured they were checking it out. Our friend called asking for financing info and if I could bring in the plate papers so they could transfer everything. So by the end of the day on Wednesday I was able to go pick up my Van. I was excited but sad, I loved my Suburban and this just wasn’t the same and I was loosing about 50% of my storage that I had before. I know I will manage and I am a good packer but not that good some times.

 Anyway I ended up with a 2004 Pontiac Montana Extended with built in DVD, mileage was really low. The van is in amazing condition, I don’t think I have ever owed anything this nice.

 So lets recap that is 2 vehicles purchased in just over 1 month, there goes all our summer holidays, but on the up sided I have enough money to pay for the campsite in Florida in February, (yes I am insane camping at Disney with 4 kids).

Now for Josh’s first ball game , he actually played his second one tonight. For those that don’t know I am coaching my oldest Josh’s Atom ball team, the team is made up of 90% new kids only 1 out of the 14 played last year so we are at a bite of disadvantage compared to the other teams. So we show up to our first game and the other team is huge, they look like most are in their second year of ball and I just cross my fingers that they don’t totally slaughter us. The kids tried their best but we lost, I tried not to let them dwell on it since they worked hard and were a little shell shocked but alot of them were upsest. We have practices Thursdays so I had a talk with the kids then about the game and not to be upset, they had done good for their first ever game. So that practice we worked on some basic skills and teaching them how to hustle, for young kids they really don’t like to move.

Tonight was their second game and by the looks of the other team we were a little better matched, so with my fingures crossed we started the game. We did pretty good the other team got ahead of us after 2 inings we were a few runs behind but then we picked up speed and heading into the last inning it was 12 to 7 for us. Only problem I had to put in a back up pitcher because one of the early ones had be hurt, I felt really bad for this kid as I hadn’t worked with him alot at the practice. He did good but the other team got in 10 runs so we were down by 5 and needed 6 to win. We hypped up the kids and managed to get in 4 runs, the kids were sad that they had lost but then I told them that in the last game they had only 3 runs compared to the 16 this time, that was fantastic and that information improved all of their moods. So in the end we lost by 1 but we hugely improved our game.

Oh, did I mention my son is on cloud nine because he got a home run from a base hit, thanks to an over throw from the first baseman, he had a huge grin on his face (previous times up to bat this game and the last he had struck out). I am so proud of him and amazed at how well he did. Although my assitant coach told the kids she would bring tim bits if they got a home run and we had a few so she owes them, I think I will bring some juice as a treat for them as well.

Also, I may be loosing it totally, I am considering playing ladies ball, it was mentioned to me and I said no but I am thinking of it,  maybe next year when life isn’t so busy…… hahaha like that will ever happen.

 I think that is all, although I didn’t write that I had a great Saturday Mothers Day with my Mom and Sisters, we did pedicures and went to dinner, it was alot of laughs and fun.

At coffee Monday, well actually it was drinks and food for 2 of the girls birthdays. Anyway while I was there my playdate buddy asked if I wanted to go to the Lion Safari with the twins and her daughter, I quickly called my Mom and asked to borrow her van since I don’t trust my truck for that drive, she said yes. She then asked if we could bring on of the other ladies along with us since she was being babysit at the grandparents that day, she said yes as well… So as long as the weather was not rainy we were off to the Safari for some play time.

 I got up Tuesday at a run, I had to get the older 2 up and out the door and the twins dressed and ready for swimming, as well as a lunch packed for the Safari and all the required clothes and such. After swimming we dropped my Mom off at work and headed home to grab a stroller and snack bag. We met just inside the gate at 11am 2 ladies and 4 2yr olds…. I don’t think we thought this through too much.

Since the Safari had just opened the previous weekend and something weren’t yet running it was a pretty quite day the kids had the play ground to themselves, we got a private train ride and only had to share the bus around the animals with 6 other people, you have to love that.

The kids were able to check out the deer and goats in the petting zoo and since it was the beginning of the year they were more then happy to come and see all the kids. One of the goats was actually chewing Allistars fingures and he got more mad when we made it stop then when it was being chewed.

I think my worst thing about the day was that Konnor and Allistar refused to stay with m e but with no one around it wasn’t a big deal as long as i could see them. We had some pizza with our lunch and then headed to the buses for a drive around the safari to see all of the different animals.

The kids loved all the animals but the monkeys were the most fun and the one Giraffe, that came right up to the bus and started licking the window, was a hit as well.

We got a little bit of sun and were a little tired since the nap for the day was 15mins in the car on the ride back home… We were only there for a few hours but it was a great afternoon…..

Now totally off topic but I went and talked to my friend and gave him instructions to start looking for a van for me so hopefully in a week or maybe 2 he will have something… Keeping my fingures crossed.

What a day to pick to go car shopping. It was sprinkling when I left the house, although I did know it was supposed to rain all day but I didn’t want to hold off another week.

So I left the house just after 9 and stopped to get gas, while paying I realized I never received my new license from when I renewed in January and the temp. one I had expired April 22. oopps. When I picked up my Mom I made quick call to the one MTO office I knew would be open and it was and of course I had to go in to find out what happened. We left my Mom’s and headed to the MTO, firguring I wouldn’t be allowed to drive any vans with an expired license and it should only take a few minuites if the line up wasn’t bad. Well was I ever wrong, I got up to the desk really quick and since they couldn’t help me they had to call a help line which meant being on hold for about 20 mins or so as I sat fumming to the side, not a good way to start what was supposed to be a fun morning of car shopping. So after a total wait of 30-45 mins I was told they mailed it out and I would have to pay $10 for a replacement card since I never got it, personally that makes no sense to since I filled in all the papers right, paid my $75 and they were the ones that screwed up. But I paid it and got a new temp. slip and as they hand it to me they say to make sure and come in before it expires if I don’t get a new one, I just looked at her. Mind you I had already done some loud complaining about having to pay more and it not being my fault, no yelling or cursing just loud (I was a drill instructor as a teen so I don’t always realizde how loud I can get).

From leaving my house just after 9am I finally got to the first car lot at 11am, and not in the best mood, not a good start to the day. Of course I pull into the lot and all they have are 2007 vans nothing older and about $7000 or more higher then I want to spend. Finally a sales guy comes and shows what I am told is only 1 of the 2 vans in the price range I want. So I look and one of the guys is using it to move right now so the rear seat is out and there are empty boxes in it, oh well I take it for a drive to see how it is and see if I even like this make and model. The other one they have just came in and  can’t see it until Monday, no I won’t go back Monday with all the kids to see 1 van I am not insane. So as I leave this dealer thinking their website is very deceiving I find a second lot belonging to the same company with about 5-6 more vans in it and in my price range, not too impressed, I just left to go some where else.

From this point on my day got better but the rain got worse. At the next one we drove a gorgeous van, little older then I want but in better condition then the newer ones and really low mileage. Drive was great and I really liked it, next place I took out a newer vehicle which drove nice but I wasn’t impressed with the interior set up or anything.

 So after a few more stops I came down to two final choice for the Make and Model of van I will be asking my friend to find me at the auction.. I liked the Dodge Grand Caravan Ext. and the Pontiac Montana Ext., with captains seats for the second row, built in DVD if possible and tow package(put I can add this after if I have to). I told D’Arcy this when I got home and he said no to the Dodge but figured he would be fine with the Pontiac. He has also told his Dad what we are looking for because his Dad has a dealer that he gets vehicles from all the time but D’Arcy also told his Dad that we want to see it before we agree to buy it this time because we are being really picky about certain things. I think his Dad was a little insulted we wouldn’t trust him but neither D’Arcy or I are happy about getting a van, so we want to like what we are getting and not just settling. We bought my Suburban sight unseen and it was great but things are different this time.

So next Saturday I am going to go and seat down with the dealer that I know and see what he can find for me, ideally the sooner the better although I am not in that big of a rush to have a new loan payment.

 All and all it was a good day although I could have used with out the down pours but at least the temperature was warm.  On to another week of being stuck at home, at least the weather is going to be nice, maybe I can get some yard work done…

Tell next time……

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Well I am taking a little break from my Clutter Club Day 4 of boot camp, check out the before and after. We are still under renos and I am on hold to fully finish my entry  way until D’Arcy gets the last of the wiring done but it is pretty much what it will look like just no cloest doors. I still need to pick up a floor shoe rack and a hangy thing that isn’t for stuffed animals, like the one currently there but I will have to wait tell I can use the car as the truck was acting up yesterday.

 And that brings me to my mini anxiety attack or at least that is what I think it is because there is no other explanation for it then that. I was headed to town with the twins to do a bunch of running around, wasn’t worried about the truck as it had behaved on the drive to Titia’s the day before, one of the things I had to do was head to another village via back roads. So as I started out a did my first stop no issue (5min from house) then as I am headed to town doesn’t the truck, I don’t no how to explain it almost like it down shifted, the whole truck and me rocked forward and slowed just a little but kept going. To say the least my heart was in my throat and pounding a mile of a minuite. I was ready to cry, this was the frist time anything had happened while I had the twins with me. So instead of going to the back roads I kept going straight to the city maybe another 5mins and to my Mom’s work to see if I could borrow her Van to finish up my running around, she wasn’t there.

 So with my heart still pumping and my chest feeling tight and holding back tears I turned the truck around and headed straight for home. I stopped at the community centre to let the boys play a little and try and calm down but it didn’t work at all. After 45mins  at the park I still felt awful and wanted to cry so I loaded up the boys and drove the last 5 mins home.

I didn’t do anything yesterday just sat in my room, looked at the computer and took care of the boys (lunch and nap time so not that hard). I just couldn’t get out of my funk and my chest was tight all afternoon, it didn’t calm down tell after dinner when my oldest and I took the car to town to do some shopping I didn’t get down earlier in the day.

To say the least my Mom is booked to come out with me Saturday with no kids to test drive vehicles. We are going to keep a fact sheet so I can go to my guy and say this is what I want and what I would like to pay or better, find it, and the best part is that he probably will.

Anyway just had to share my stress and now back to moving all my winter gear to the basement closet for the final step of todays work. 

Well it seems that I will be writting here maybe once a week if time allows.

 From my last post after over $300 in repairs my truck is back in the driveway, did they fix it, not necessarily. They checked it and found things wrong and probably the reason why it wouldn’t start but no idea why it stopped in the first place. D’Arcy took out the alarm system this weekend and I have started cleaning it out. I figure by the mid to end of May I will be looking for a new vehicle full force. I just can’t trust my truck anymore and I am terrified that it will stop on a highway somewhere and I will have 2 or 4 of the kids with and no way to get home.

D’Arcy wants to get another Suburban but even though I don’t like mini vans I think that is what I am leaning strongly towards. He likes the truck idea and the storage room and such and so do I but I don’t think we will be able to afford the gas to go any where it by summer. So, for at least the next few years I will be driving a mini van. So I think my blog over the next few weeks will be about the joy of car shopping and picking out just the right one for me. One positive thing is that we have a family friend who owns a used car dealership so he will be able to get me whatever I want for my price once I decide what I want.

So I will keep you all posted on my joys and down falls as I look for a vehicle…. Test drives start next weekend I hope…

Ok so those of you who are reading this and don’t know what has been going on in my family I will give you a quick update… nothing serious just fustrating..

About January I decided that my summer family holidays was going to be a 2week trip down east. I had been there as a child but no one else in my family had every been east, we were going to hit NB, PEI, and NS. Well about 4 weeks ago D’Arcy’s truck started to die so as of 3 wks ago he decided to buy a new vehicle, cleaning out our savings at the time and my money back up for the holidays. I told the kids weren’t going to be able to go out east over the summer but secrelty I was planning and hoping to still go. Then 2wks ago D’Arcy decided to except a new job at a different plant meaning he most likely wouldn’t be able to get all the holidays paid for the summer. So then I decided to just do something fun closer that wouldn’t require much travel time. Now the whole time this was going on with him my truck(the only vehicle to fit the whole family) had also been to the garage due to stalling problems…

The newest issue has now araised, my truck stalled out again this time I was going about 80 or so km and it just died no power brakes or steering , I was just happy to not end up in the ditch and get it to the side of the road. I am know totally frustarted with my truck and do not trust it at all, I have been lucky to not have any kids in the truck when ever  this has happened but I have a feeling my luck is running thin. Just talked to the garage and they hope they can find something this time around but no gaurintee but it looks I will be shopping for a new vehicle that can seat 6 or more. And since we just bought a car for D’Arcy I don’t think I will be getting another Suburban since it isn’t really in the budget. Looks like I will be looking at a dreaded mini van. I know alot of people have them and love them but I loved my big truck and the fact I could haul stuff with it and carry everything we needed for camping including family and the dog. But I am slowly excepting the fact I need a new vehicle and soon which will be a van.

 Okay that is my complaint now to get on with things of the day….. 

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Well I don’t think I have alot to say about the whole night that the pictures don’t tell.

The night started as I rushed to get dinner done  for the family, showered, dressed and attempted to tidy the house since we had company coming the next day. Well I go it all done and D’Arcy arrived home at 4:58, I asked he be home by 5:00pm. Then I tried to sit back and relax and waited for my ride and of course the minuite I walked away from the door guess who showed up….. And we were off to find Shelley

 After a quick drop off of Myles and Mandy, and of course we picked up Shelley when we dropped off the others, it was then off to the resturant to meet up with Cara, who was waiting on us.  At the resturant we expected to have to look a little but there at the front waiting on a table was our red headed friend, you couldn’t miss her, although Titia didn’t see her right away…

Dinner was great, food was wonderful, the drinks went down easy and the company was easy. We all chatted like old friends, about families, friends and of course CPO. The time flew by and if it wasn’t for Shelley commenting about the kids who knows when we would have gotten up from the table. After some hugs goodbye and a few more minuites of conversation we bid Cara a farewell, her hotel was right next to the resturant, and the rest of us headed off to pick up kids and drop off everyone at home. 

But I have to say that it was wonderful to get to met Cara and put a person to the name in realy life. I can’t wait for our next get together, I so wish I was heading East this summer I would love to meet more of you all

Now that my house is quite and everyone is in bed I am going to try and right a little bite and get a good start to this blogging thing.

As I mentioned in my last post, Monday nights are my coffee nights with my CPO girls. Just over a year ago (Dec 2006) I went to a playdate that was planned on CPO and met up with a bunch of different women. Out of that playdate 4 of us became really close, lets see if I can remember their CPO names, AidenLucy(she changed it recently), AndreaM, Aislinsmommy and me Momof4boys, we were all SAHM or on Mat leave so we got together once or twice a week for playdates with our little ones. Slowly though some started to go back to work and playdates got further apart but events still did happen and we got together for fun stuff like Easter parties, these were also with other Moms from CPO such as MMummy, AmberV, Bratmom and I can’t remember everyone elses name on CPO, oh while. Anyway when the summer of 2007 came to a close the 4 original ladies decided we needed a set night out just us to get away from home and life and that is when Coffee Night started on a regular basis. As of December we added another CPO Mom (her name is too hard to remember this late), so now we are 5, we have our ups and downs but we are women after all but we try to put everything aside to sit and just relax for a few hours every Monday night. Once AidenLucy gets back from training for work I will try and get a picture of all of us to post here….. Although on a sad note out of the 5 women I am the only one that is a SAHM, as of today, AidenLucy went back to work so I am now on the search for some new playdate friends for during the week…

Hi, all, well as I seat down to write my first blog all hell is breaking loose around my house as little ones run by screaming and older ones are asking 20 questions about homework. I guess I am going to have to sit down while children are sleeping to get a good start but not tonight. Tonight is my beloved CPO ladies coffee night, off to Kelsey’s tonight so I will try to write again tomorrow.