Homework Time. It looks peaceful but this picture lies. Those Chung Chungs are a bundle of demands/needs. It never seems to end! The girls need help with their homework, the dishes from snack time need to be cleared, Sophia wants to draw, and I still don't know what to make for dinner. I haven't taken a shower all day and the house is a mess. And I didn't have to work outside of the house like most moms do. How do moms who work outside of the house keep sane?

Those hamster/rodent things on the table are zhu zhu pets. It was the first time in 6 1/2 years that Rachel begged me to buy her something from London Drugs today. They have so much 'junk' already but I caved and bought one for her and her sister. Rachel has been so off for weeks now. Ever since she had the pneumonia, she's lost her mojo. Has no appetite, is very emotional, coughs still and now has a bladder infection. Oh man. So I caved and bought it for her. She started antibiotics today and I'm hoping that she feels better soon. Alex went to school all by herself today (so proud of her). It wasn't the first time that she did this but still I am amazed that she feels comfortable enough in her class without her sister around. So good to see.

I'm really looking forward to the long Easter weekend. I'm burnt out with all the kids' activities. We missed music class on Monday, dragged myself to Alex's ballet class yesterday and I'm so happy there is no soccer this Saturday. I think this weekend will be one to re-charge and re-energize so we can continue ahead with the next 3 months of school and activities until summertime.

** After writing this post and reflecting while making some fried rice at the stove....I have to admit that I have nothing at all to complain about. Sure the kids are demanding but they are sweet kids and I am so lucky to be their mama. **

Time goes quickly right?

I have excitement and nervousness in my tummy. I'm going back to school full time in September. Aaghhh! I haven't been to school in YEARS! Like I'm talking...let's see..it's 2010 right now and my diploma is dated 1996. So yup, it's been a long time! haha. It's not the most perfect time to go back to school since Sophia will only be 2 years old but it's only for 5 months. From Sept to January 2011. To be certified as a Teacher's Assistant. Then afterwards I can look for a job that will coincide with my kids schedules. That would be a dream job for me. To work during the day while the kids are at school and then come home around 3pm every day AND to have spring break, Christmas holidays and summer holidays OFF! So I have officially applied, called both the CEGEP and University to send my official transcripts but there are still some hurdles to cross. The lady told me that since I haven't had a math, english and computer class in the last 7 years that I would have to take these courses as a pre-requisite. No way! I told her. So she said that I could 'challenge' that rule by taking the exams up front with no course. So I told her all confidently that that was what I would do. What if I don't pass them?!! That would be hilarious. Well I would definitely walk away with my tail between my legs but I'm still going to go for it. I'm excited about this new adventure. I'm nervous about leaving my Sophia during the days but she will be with papa for Monday and Tuesdays so basically 3 days a week she will be looked after by someone other than family. It will be short term and in the long run it will be worth it for my family. Wish us all luck!

Spring Break 2010

This is what Spring Break looked like at our house.

Papa asked the girls many many times for massages. They walk on his back when he can convince them to stop coloring for a couple of minutes. He has trained Sophia very young as you can see. Alex can't be bothered. haha

Then I got a brilliant idea to paint the toy room. It was so exciting choosing the colors, buying the paint, taping up the walls and moving the toys to the centre of the room.

Everyone painted together. The girls loved it.

But by the 2nd day it wasn't so fun anymore. There was so much mess! I wanted to organize every single drawer, put every toy piece back in it's original game box, group all the barbies together, all the puzzle pieces together, etc. etc... you get the picture. But by the 3rd day I was scooping things together and getting them out of sight because boy oh boy there was too much STUFF!

But now, the toy room looks like this! Yipee! Yahoo! And by the way the girls are not allowed to play there ever again so it stays like this. :)

Papa wanted to go somewhere for the weekend. Like Vancouver or Seattle or something. Sounded stressful to me since Sophia screams in the car if we drive for more than her naptime. So instead of traveling far and spending lots of moolah I suggested that we just go to a hotel close by that had a pool. We went for one night and it was FUN! And there was no screaming in the car which was great.

Hotel lobby. Girls loved throwing pennies into the fountain and making wishes.

On our way to the POOL!!!

Love Sophia's bikini. Too bad she has to wear swimming diapers...the bottoms would look so much better without them.

No one was in the pool. The pool was GORGEOUS. If I win the 6-49 I know exactly how I want my pool to look. It is 3 feel all around so no deep end. Eventually I let the girls take the water wings off (that say that they are for kids aged 2 to 4 haha).

Look how gorgeous the hot tub and pool is. With a great view. I want to live there!

Sophia having a grand old time. She really has grown up so much in the last few months.

A picture of all my Chung Chungs this morning before having brunch at my favorite place. Oh so delicious.

The girls had a feast and so did Papa and I. Stress free getaway. With 3 young kids it's the perfect way to have a little 'vacation' right in your own backyard. The kids don't know if you actually left to go see a different place, all they care about is that they swam in a pool and threw coins into a waterfall. Back to the normal routine starting tomorrow. Spring Break 2010 is officially over.

Weekend with Friends

Only a few more weekends left to ski. I can't believe how quickly winter has gone by. We had a great start to spring break with a weekend visit from some friends. We skied, we went for a walk and we played. 6 kids played! All weekend long and no one fought. Amazing.

One funny story....while we were getting ready to get up to the hill, Papa was lecturing/yelling at the girls on wearing proper waterproof boots. Alex was sad because Papa was talking in a stern voice and she asked me why he couldn't talk more nicely. Anyhow when we got up to the hill guess what shoes papa ended up wearing? His dress shoes for work! haha He was so busy loading up the car that he grabbed the first pair of shoes by the garage and then ended up wearing those shoes. We gave him no sympathy and laughed at him. Luckily our friends who came to visit had some snowboard boots so papa didn't have to wear his dress shoes up at the hill.

It's not You, It's Me

I've been messing up a lot these days. It's hard to catch up with life. I've been forgetting important dates, mixing up dates completely, etc... So it's a miracle that the girls got to their skating performance on Tuesday night. In the right costumes. It was right down to the wire trying to figure out what their routine was, what they had to wear and where to be at what time. Anyhow, in the end we made it. The girls did great and had lots of fun.

Alex skated to Annie's, It's a Hard Knock Life. Had to dress like an orphan and carry a bucket.

Rachel skated to Mama Mia's Money Money song.

The pictures of them actually skating came out blurry because Sophia is a wiggly squiggly kid and she jumped around between me and Papa. (just on a side note - I spilled my delicious Starbucks coffee that I desperately needed to keep me awake and I was sad)

It was almost comical how much I didn't know what they were suppose to wear and do. We were sick people and we obviously missed the memo! And I was blaming the skating teacher for being so disorganized and not emailing me all the details, etc... when I told her that I didn't get the memo. But then when I got the dates mixed up for the girls school skating day which I thought was on Wednesday but ended up being on Thursday. Then I didn't even know about the open house Parent/Teacher night held at the school yesterday. Well you get the idea. It must be ME ME ME that is so disorganized and not 'getting/processing' the information that is coming at me.

But at the end of the day, when all the kids are asleep and I hear their peaceful breathing sounds, I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to be their mama and everything is good.