A normal, boring woman as usual……

I would love to post pics but unfortunately, we forgot the camera at home, but next year, we will, when we have two kids there to see the moment over and over again.

Saturday, we had to be there early before 11 so we could find the parking spot and then get the good sighting spot.  And it was EASY, all the people in the crowd spreaded out evenly without any problems at all.  When the parade began, the RCMP officer rode on the RCMP Harley Davidson motorcycle and DS loved it as the officer was doing the rounds, checking the crowds as well as making sure the parade went smoothly without any problems.  The highlights of the parade that we saw:

-The local shriners club performed their riding performance on their mini cars and quads, and it made DS laugh.

-the local high school marching band played and DS was dancing to it, which caught the attention of another mom with her two young DDs.  They told me that his dancing melted their heartsLOL.

-A long time group of friends DH and I knew had their Clydesdale horses and wagons in the parade and cheered at us for being there (one rancher friend was bugging DH about trading his cowboy hat for DH’s nice cap from his work LOL).

-A float full of teddy bears and dolls attracted alot of kids’ attention.  DS spotted one of the BAckyardigans characters, and it is TYRONE!

-Treats were given out, and they were mostly FREEZIES!  PERFECT! LOL

-Antique and classic cars passing by which was a hit for DH.  WE love classic cars and trucks.

-Tractors and machineries made DS’s eyes WIDE OPEN to the shock of how big they are. (DH’s boss is kicking himself today because he didn’t have the time to get the new models in the parade this year with three other rival dealerships.  HE said,”Remind me next year so I can get my truck and put all of your kids in the back!”)

We were in the sun, but the weather was kinda hot.  By the time the parade ended after an hour of fun, DS was so tired that when we got home, he went into the house, needed help taking his shoes off, and he walked towards his Spiderman toddler bed and fell asleep.  Wow, he’s smart.

Well, let’s start with Saturday afternoon,…..

DH, DS and I went to our hometown for our friends’ 50th Wedding Anniversary Social.  We pulled into town and went straight to the Legion Lounge (my dad’s usual “coffee row” place with DH’s uncle operating this place, and hey, kids are allowed in there) and DS loved going down the slope towards the lounge.  Dh’s uncle was excited to see all of us as he haven’t seen us since February, at MIL’s funeral.  DS had to sit on his Grandpa’s lap to drink his “coffee” (don’t worry, it IS orange juice) while I had OJ myself and DH on his favorite beer.  I knew my mom was working that day so before the lounge closed, DS and I walked down the street to the hotel and took the back door to the kitchen where mom worked.  the best thing ever happened is when DS saw Grandma, he laughed and ran towards grandma at her “coffee break” area.  Mom loved it every minute as she adored her special grandson.  Dad and DH came in later, so mom asked what we were planning for supper and I said,”Hey, how about the popular burger and fries?”  She had no problem whipping it up, and packaging it for us to take back to mom and dad’s house.  Mom was getting off early as she and dad were attending a wedding social for our long time neighbour’s son and their “spoiled, rotten, selfish” DIL (to make this story short, when their son decided he did NOT want to get married in Jamaica, because he rather have the wedding take place here in the hometown and then have a honeymoon in Jamaica, she threw a ” Terrible Twos’ temper tantrums” at him, and he gave in).  So later that evening, DH, DS and I went to the Anniversary social, and we kinda had fun, but to the couple that celebrated their anniversary, DS was a hit because of his “dance style” that got the attention of alot of guests.  He danced from polka to Johnny Cash songs, you name it.  DH was catching up with good times with his longtime friend he hadn’t seen in 13 years, and I was having a good talk with our close friend, who was working the bar (she was having a break while her DH ran the bar).  By the time it was two hours later, DS was exhausted from all that cute dancing, so I hoped he will sleep easily all night.  WRONG! He was staying up until 1 AM.  GAH! LOL!

We left the anniversary and got to my parents’ house, and around the same time we got there, my parents got home.  They didn’t seem to have a good time at all when they wished they would have been at the anniversary instead (they and the couple known each other for years).  Mom told me that the mother of the groom (our neighbour) was pretty much busy all night, preparing everything with the bride’s mother, and even earlier, the bride’s uncle told my mom that everyone was doing the set up for the social EXCEPT the bride, whole was too busy “buffing her nails and complained that she did not want to sweat from lifting the chair”.  I assume that the groom will suffer a mental breakdown from obeying his new wife with everything she wants HER way.  Poor him.

And then yesterday,……

It was DH’s day off for Canada’s Day, and the weather was windy and hot but we can smell the smoke from the Northern forest fires, which wasn’t very pleasant at all.  We attended the Family picnic day at the museum grounds, and actually, we didn’t stay long at all.  DS was running around the grounds so much he was yawning and rubbing his eyes.  I guess it was the right time because the grounds was getting overcrowded so we left.  I know we were supposed to have fun, but with my pregnancy and the smoke, I was feeling dizzy, so oh well, hopefully next year, Canada Day will be better for us.

I hope this weekend will be better if DH wants to check out the car show at the lake out of town.  We need a break from the small city life for one day.

Crafting and sewing, that is.  It is therapy to me, but lately, I have not picked up the sewing machine nor the jewelry pliers OR the scissors for cutting out squares for making quilts at all?  Could it be summer that is keeping me away from the “therapy sessions” or is it the fact my mind needs a break from crafting?  Or is it the fact that the house will always remain messy and have to clean up as usual that I will never have the time to sit down and do it?  Or is it the fact that DS is still the “handful” one that distracts me from doing so?

Yesterday, DS and I went to pick DH up from work and when DH came out with co-workers, they looked like they were in distress.  DH told me that his boss could not give him a raise because “it was not in the budget”.  On the other hand, a 22-year-old guy, recently a new father, was given a 2-dollar raise (3 dollars more than what DH made), which got the whole staff SHAKING their heads, why?  For starters, this 22-year-old guy was ALWAYS late for work (believe me, when I passed his house after dropping DH off at work, he was out of the house into his truck the TIME his shift STARTED), and always leaves whenever he pleases (which got the foreman mad!), and one day two weeks ago, he had to deliver an auger to a farm 25 miles from the city, and he got into an ACCIDENT which the RCMP found HIM at fault, as he was SPEEDING carelessly, and not only he lost control on the highway, the auger flipped and the car behind the truck and auger, ran into the ditch and flipped, too.  The driver of the car walked away with little or no injuries (thanks to the seltbelt!).  He was fined $225.  And the farmer who bought the auger was ANGRY that he had to pay extra to replace the auger he originally selected.  And he GOT a RAISE?  DH’s other co-worker is a father of two, same age as DH (32) and is a HARDWORKER. And he was denied a raise the whole three years he worked in.  He can’t figure out WHY.  So tomorrow (officially) is his last day, and is going to work at another rival dealership (which my dad normally gets his tractor parts from) starting this Monday.  When DH’s co-worker told his boss that he was leaving, he simply said,”nice working with you”.  Dh and his foreman are keeping themselves ZIPPED until they find something better.  I know DH worked hard to work in a company that he has exact qualifications for, but to be able to gain more experience that he liked, but for a pay 2 dollars more than a minimum wage?  We made sacrifices on this part.

I know from earlier posts that other moms convinced me to take up part time work, like selling Avon and MK, as well as Partylite and Discovery, but there are so many moms PROMOTING themselves in this city, how do I go about winning more customers from them?  Meanwhile, I will trying to keep going with crafts and hopefully sell them out.

I hope life gets better for all of us.

And that is where the “Frugal Living” board comes in on CPO.

Well, lately, it has been bothering me that DH was looking at homes for sale online and whined that he was sick and tired of renting, and announced it was time to own a REAL home.  My reaction?  DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN?  I can remember the time when my bachelor-farmer uncle passed away from heart failure due to cancer and diabetes, he loved us 10 nephews and nieces that he left us the inheritances, just enough for me to put to a down payment towards the house.  But the bank was so unsure of our credit history and suggested we have a co-signor, which my Dad was the only person who agreed to doing it.  But when my dad was about to co-sign, he had to read the terms and conditions of CHMC, and he DECLINED.  Actually, I don’t blame him.  We have been warned before by our family members who battle CHMC and lost, forced to pay the money which should have been used towards renovations and repairs.  But my dad had a better way.  With my inheritance and his inheritance ( life insurance beneficiary money) from my uncle’s estate, we bought the house in FULL (through a private sale without the use of realtor) with DH as the non-owning spouse.  It was cheap, but it was better than as what dad said,”better to have it our own than to have some bank own something”.  We were planning alot of renovations and budgets (so far, we got the plumbing replaced, from copper to strong PVC piping that improved the clean water quality and made the flow of the water FASTER, as well, it was DARN CHEAP, nothing leaked at ALL, as well as painting the walls to the colors we love).  Well, suddenly, I was laid off from the cooking job and the wife of the boss did something to tick me off, so I was not called back to the job, which upsets me.  But my doctor told me that I need to take it easy since I was pregnant at that time, so I couldn’t work at all.  My DH worked with dad as a farm hand to make ends meet, and we did ok.  DH actively updated his resume to the mine every week, and it was a constant chore that after eight years of updating, he gave up.  The mine office administration would NOT look at the locals’ resumes at all, they were looking for resumes coming from OUT of PROVINCE.  After DS was born, we were experiencing problems with the whole town in GENERAL, from jobs to people.  And when one day the power was cut off for one day due to missed payment, my MIL angrily paid the power bill to get it back on.  It was to the point that night after the power came back on, I put DS to bed and DH and I sat down and talked about our future living here in town.  I said,”If no one are willing to hire us, then why are we still here in town?  We may as well leave!”  So it did not take long to make the painful decision to leave town for the city, with the house on the market PRIVATELY (the local realtors wanted too much money for  fees and closing costs, in which we will never anything in return).  My dad and MIL were angry at us for our decision to stick to, but my mom and FIL were very supportive as we have to do what right for us as a family.  So we went back to renting in the city, and it is a fourplex townhouse at a reasonable rent rate.  Four months after we moved to the city, the house was finally sold to a distant cousin of my DH, who decided to moved back to his hometown after living in Ontario for 35 years, and was recently widowed (his wife died and had to be travelled back here to be buried with her family members).  “W”, the cousin, asked us what was our plan for the house, so we told him about the renovation plans, and he pretty much did what we told him, replace the old carpet in the living for hardwood flooring, and installed new carpets in the two bedrooms.  I find that selling the house privately was much proved difficult because of potential buyers and their style and their likings.  But it is all over for now, and I am not sure if I miss the house or not, it is the hometown I don’t miss at all.  I wish I could swear and make offensive comments against the town, but it is all over.

Until now,……

DH is waiting for the inheritance to come through from his mom’s estate, but I doubt it will be much, as when MIL found out she had cancer two years ago, she was on a lifetime of going on a spending spree, from buying a huge camper to brag to her camping neighbours, to buying a handycam that we can never afford, as well have the house renovated (my FIL didn’t want to, as he hated change) to buying things that we can never afford.  Dh believed that FIL can help with the co-signing now that she is not here anymore, and I still have doubts, STILL.  I would love to go to work to bring more money home, but I have to pay for childcare and all that.  But I still have nagging doubts to wait LONGER than usual, but still put away more money as usual.

Ugh, I don’t want to ever think of going through the process of buying a house again ever, even with the non-stop rising prices of homes.

And I am craving for FREEZIES!  Sounds crazy, but it is a warm day and I am queasy LOL.

Today, my neighbours (a young couple) are moving out of the fourplex to move in to a house just a 5 minutes’ drive from here.  They are happy but SCARED at the same time as they noticed that they will be making payments in monthly at 900 dollars, 400 dollars more than what they pay for rent.  I asked if the house is well maintained and fixed up, ready to move in and they said no, because they are going to the bank for renovation loan to replace old drywall and floorings before placing their new appliances in.  I wished them luck (no, I did not ask about the water heater and furnace because that would freak them out! LOL)

My DH was thinking yesterday that since he is there at his job for three months, never have been late, always did the tasks like his boss ordered him to do (didn’t bother him at all, gotta keep himself busy), learned new things that he could do it easily from his two seasoned co-workers, worked a bunch of Saturday mornings as scheduled, that he was going to ask his boss for a RAISE today.  I have to wish him luck, too.  If not, he is planning on applying at the canola-crushing plant because it is better money and benefits.  So I will see what happens for sure.

Ok, I am wondering, is the morning sickness not as bad on second and third pregnancies as the first one?  When I was on my first pregnancy, I was so sick, and had edema as well as high blood pressure for the whole time.  But with the third pregnancy, I am queasy for an hour but I will be fine for the next three hours and then get queasy and dizzy for and hours and then I will be fine for the rest of the day.  And I never get queasy overnight like I used to.  Somebody share your experience with me! LOL

For now, I should take DS out for a walk to get some fresh air.

My family doctor told me I am pregnant!  But I haven’t announced it to everyone just yet, but we chose to leave it later during the time. DH already knew and is very excited, and I told my cousin “D” that I am, and she was very excited, too (she has two grown kids of her own), but when I told my Mom, she looked nervous, but I told her not to tell the rest of the family as DH and I will do it later.  She was ok with it, but I can tell she is a bit worried about me and everything, from how well the pregnancy goes, to how we will manage raising the family financially and emotionally.  For now, DH, DS and I will cherish every moment of my second pregnancy (and LAST!) as usual.  Does this means I hafta give up coffee and Coca-cola for the next nine months or LONGER (depending on how far the baby will depend on breastmilk)?

Oh, bathroom break!

Ah,..there, I feel better now.  I wonder if going up and down the stairs for bathroom breaks will help me stay in shape during pregnancy?

And the ‘ol grouchy cat is not looking forward to the fact that DH has to remember to clean the litter box every weekend, since she knows he forgets and I normally did when I was not pregnant LOL.  Sorry, cat, but you hiss and snarl at him about the litter, not me LOL.

Well, I should go do dishes and then get the place cleaned up so that way I can finish up the rag quilt.

I just have to wait around and take care of myself until I see my hometown family doctor.  And I hope I don’t go through the same ordeal like I did last October.  I have posted about my retained miscarriage in the Pregnancy loss (somewhere if I can find it!) but I am hoping for the best since DH and I just want another and LAST one so the family is complete. So I will keep my fingers crossed for the best.

I don’t want to tell alot of people I know, including my parents and FIL, just yet until later when I find out if it’s viable or not.  But even if I am pregnant, I still do not want to announce it AT ALL to people that have been very negative to us (SILs, my sister, and those who don’t like kids, and those who complain about the cost of raising kids:S)  So why my DH and I feel that way about not announcing to those people at all?  For starters, when I first found out I was pregnant with DS, instead of getting a congratulations from them, we were cut down for several ridiculous reasons:

-”Pregnant?  So, when are you getting rid of the cat? And when are you going to get rid of the fish?”(my sister)

-”Pregnant?  And my brother is going to be a father?  Yeah right, as if he is going to teach this kid to drink beer at a young age.” (SIL)

-”Pregnant?  Well, you better starting for someone else to care for your child, because it is HARD work, and you rather be working your career than to be a mom”.  (the other SIL)

-An ex-friend of DH looked at him and said”You knocked her up?  Oh great, that means I have to pay more taxes to put towards CTB cheques for you guys to go and spend on luxurious toys that are crappy and useless?”

-Another ex-friend of DH got mad at him for not being careful with birth control.  He told him that DH should be be doing more time with his buddies than to be with the baby and I.

-And lastly, people accused me of getting pregnant to catch up with other women with kids to “fit in the group”.  To me, I never liked these moms from the hometown, anyways, because their snobbish, nose-upper personalities are still the same.

Sounds pretty cruel?  Well, these comments are coming from a hometown that is pretty CLOSE-minded and open-discriminated to hurt other people verbally and emotionally.  But here in the city, people we talk to are respectful and open-minded to issues.  So glad to be away from the small town life for the better.

But, for now, the waiting for appointment continues,………………..

Well, we put on a multi-family yard sale despite the strong wind weather, and we managed to sell ALOT of items to reduce the clutter but, to me, not very much for lots of space, but that’s alright, because my BIL and his wife are putting on the garage sale shortly as they are planning to move to Winnipeg (so that is what their plan is,………) and they told us to bring the unsold items over to their house for the garage sale. So far, the high chair is sold as well as the exersaucer, lots of newborn clothes, lots of babies’ toys, and the stereo equipment that we couldn’t use due to space.  It helped with the reducing of clutter but still not quite.  It was sad to see most of the baby stuff go, but it was for the best to move forward and see that DS got a new outfit and a couple of new toys, using some of the proceeds from the yard sale.

Today, I had to get two bags of soil to fill pots ready for flowers, but realized I need to get ONE more bag because three other pots are still empty.  In two long planters, I planted salad greens and herbs.   In some clay pots, I planted the seeds of marigolds, zinnias and Stocks.  But I will find more variety of plants at the local greenhouse to add to the pots later on. 

Well, I counted my days on the calendar and realized I am six days late, no period.  Hm,…….. 

I’ll wait and see what happens.

Well, yesterday morning, DS crawled into our bed at 5:45 AM and slept with DH and I for a while.  Then by 7:30, DH told me to sleep in while he took DS to the kitchen for a little breaskfast.  So it was nice to sleep in for an extra hour.  After getting up and took a shower, I came out to find that DS fell asleep AGAIN in the couch after being grumpy with DH.  So DH made me a nice breakfast and did up the dishes.  How nice he did for me.  He even did one load of laundry.  How nice of that, too.  Until lunch time comes around,…….

He didn’t make lunch and supper at all, and it wasn’t about the fact that he had no clue how to make the meals.  It was the fact he was stressed out over the fact that because I have tried to save the last 100 dollars for this week’s groceries, but he ended up spending it on the tools needed for work and didn’t listen to me about getting a few groceries for this week.  Sure, we have enough meat, rice and potatoes, as well as oranges and PLENTY of diapers, but no vegetables for five days as well as how can I spend $3.25 on something I have to decide between eggs and 1 litre of milk?  So I ended up being creative with lunch and supper with whatever I can make the two guys full and satisfied.  And he didn’t do the supper dishes at all.  I even had to fold up the laundry he started.  Sigh, so much for Mother’s day.  Next year, I won’t bother with the fact that there is Mother’s day.  Call it just another day.  Sorry to say it, but I just can’t win and just can’t get my way at all.

Well, time for me to pull out the sewing machine and do some more sewing projects, if DS will let me LOL.  I hope Pocoyo keeps him occupied.

It is Friday, and the weather is cloudy and cold.  I want it to be nice and sunny, but I feel down without sun.  But I think I can mange getting the soil I had from last year to plant herbs so they will be ready for use year-round.  DH is worried if we have enough food to get us for a week before his next paycheck, but since I did some baking yesterday, which I made raisin scones (I love them!) and chocolate chip cookies (DH loves them!) and I am still looking for another recipe that is simple and cheap (I could do snickerdoodles, but DH thinks he is tired of them after a week) but I will keep looking.  I have bought two warehouse meat packs that were priced to reduce (pork steaks, in which I make the marinade from scratch to make kabobs) as well as mild italian sausages (my dad craves them) so that should get us through this week, since last week, I bought a three-pack whole frying chicken (priced to reduced, too) and since I used one up last friday and another one last night, I will leave the last one for next week.

Later the next night,……..

DH and I rummaged through a whole bunch of stuff that were stored away in the storage room since either we moved in or since the last garage sale in August of last year.  Or was it when I had to find the snow shovel to clean the sidewalk with the neighbour because the resident manager was useless and lazy to do it?  As we were looking through the stuff, I found more crafting items that I almost forgot I have them and that I will put them to use for the farmer’s market this summer, as we’ll hold another yard sale later in the summer, depending how much stuff is sold.  I still love yard sales still, but this year, I will only find what I NEED, not out of impulse that I don’t need LOL.

So tomorrow is Mother’s day.  I get the day off tomorrow from housework and cooking.  I wonder if this will give me the chance to do my crafts without any interruption?  Stay tuned!