The End is Near

Here we are - April 30th..... Jamie's last exam is tomorrow. And he graduates May 8th.

We did it.

We managed to endure the 1 year (intensive!!!) MBA program at the Richard Ivey School of Business. (#2 business school in Canada!!) http://www.ivey.uwo.ca/

Jamie was asked to do a blog post on his being an "MBA Dad" and here it is!
http://www.mba.com/mba/service/blogarticle.htm?var1=blog&var2=7265831754

It has been a major learning experience for me. We had to manage 2 households for a year. Often times being apart. I was unable to work even after Audrey was born, so I have seen how the Lord has blessed us and answered our prayers.

I will be very happy when we only have to run 1 household!!! And I can finally finish furnishing my house! It's been 2 years this May since we moved in. :)

Knitting

Who the heck knew knitting would be so hard?! lol

I crochet. My mother taught me to crochet. Why not teach me to knit?!

OK - Here's why I want to learn to knit.

For Christmas 2006, Jamie bought me this perfect book for knitting baby clothes. And, because I didn't know how to knit, I never used it!

So, for over 2 years, I have had this book staring at me. And it only goes up to 2 years old. SO. I made up my mind to knit.

After 5 hours of failure, I turned to Jamie red-faced, exhausted, on the verge of crying and nearly ripping my hair out because of the headache I had built up. :) Quite the picture, ain't it??

Now, a few months later, I gave it another go. 2 knitting how to books and youtube later and we are GOOD TO GO! I have 11 of 24 rows completed for the back of the little......... I have sat here for 3 minutes trying to remember what it's called.... Oh my hecker, I have to go look in the book - SHRUG! lol I am making Audrey a shrug. I sized it for 9 months. She is already wearing 9 months clothes and she's 6 months this week, so I hope that it will still fit her!! lol That is, if upon completion, it looks like it CAN be worn! Haha This is going to be great. Seriously great.

Cheerios!!

Angela looooooooves her Cheerios.

She also loves to share with Audrey.

1+1=2.

Need I say more?

Haha. Okay, so Audrey tried grape juice the other week, thanks to Angela shoving her sippy cup into Audey's mouth. It was pretty funny. It looked like she'd tasted lemon!

Well, now that Audrey is almost mobile, Angela needs to stay further away with her food. Unfortunately, she has not come to grasp this concept yet.

Angela sat down this evening with her little bowl of Cheerios and Audrey kept reaching for it. I really wish I could find my camera because it was really funny. Anyhow, Ange slowly moves back each time until finally, as she lifts her spoon, Audrey pounces like a cat and smacks her hand scattering Cheerios all over the floor. Ange yells "CHEERIOS!!!!!!!!" and moves out of the way so I can see the damage.

Audrey is sitting there with her excited little hands and she is scrunching milky wet, soft cheerios in her hands and into the carpet. It was quite hilarious.

I really wish I'd had my camera!

To Apartment or Not To Apartment?

That is the question.

While I have many a  thing to complain about apartments, I have come to see how they could be slightly beneficial too. I think if we had lived in a new nice apartment like down on Kipps Lane, I would have been happier to stay and visit in London.

All in all however, I do not think I would ever live in an apartment again. Unless it was like at the Ritz and I had a private entrance and all the amenities. And we were older and had no kids to lug around. That... Would definitely be excellent living!! 

I am definitely very excited to finally be able to live in my house again. Jamie graduates May 8th, have I mentioned that? Hee hee

Whenever I go home and cross the threshold, I get a sweet whiff of the new house smell. And it's like buying a new house every time! Until you unpack and realize you left garbage under the sink for a month. And veggies in the fridge..... And didn't do the laundry before you left last time so you have to pile that on to the other loads you brought home..... But! I get to sleep in my very own lovellllllllly bed. And shower in my clean, new shower that no other random unknown people have used before! And I'm not afraid of any hidden cameras because no one else lived there! <--That is one of my biggest fears...

So all in all, house living is my preference. 

Beautiful April!

I just love the spring. I love the fall more, but spring is all full of happiness and excitement for a good year. I think the new year should start in April! Who feels renewed and excited for a new year when it's snowing and cold outside?! In April I love to open all the windows and air out the house and clean, clean, CLEAN! Everything feels new and great!

Even though it is only April, I feel like so far this year has already been a roller coaster! I hope the rest of the year is more like sailing on a sunny and breezy day. :) Knock on wood.... Now it's never going to be like that! Haha

The newness of spring also makes me feel like doing service for others. I have had some opportunities to help others in the last couple weeks and I am really grateful for it. I feel so blessed that I am able to help others since so much service was given to my family while I was pregnant and while Jamie has been in school. We have such wonderful neighbours, friends and family who have taken care of us without hesitation.

I am overcome with gratitude for all that we have especially in these times of trouble.

There is a show that was aired in the winter and it was called "Secret Millionaire". Now, these millionaires would leave all of their luxuries for 1 week and spend it in a chosen area of poverty. They would live off of the normal welfare amount for that area etc. Often times they would have to find odd jobs to make enough to sleep in a roach infested motel. Anyhow, they were to find 3 people who they could help. They had to donate at least $120,000 of their own money. It is such a great show!!

Back to life - Jamie is finished on the 25th of April. His last class is a Saturday... Weird! He has learned a lot and this experience has definitely been a trial of faith for me. And I think I have only come to grasp everything the last couple of weeks. I have to say that I think this experience was totally for my benefit! In my whole life I have never had a better understanding of faith. And after the experiences we've been through I will never be able to say that I was forgotten.

My gratitude is kind of sickening so I will stop! lol

The girls are doing great. Audrey is getting so big! I miss my little babies. Angela is so awesome. She is so fun! We sing the Wonder Pets theme together and I say "What's gonna work?" And she says, "TEAM WORK!" Haha, it is so cute. She tries to dance with Audrey. I have to hold Audrey though because when she's done she just lets go!

We were walking through the mall and Angela was pushing Audrey in the stroller. We went in to Garage, and the girls thought Audrey was a doll! Haha, they were all gushing over how cute they were. Ange loved being in the spotlight and she LOVES Garage! Definitely my child.

I am now in the process of cleaning the apartment. We have to have it all cleaned when we leave, so I figure if I get all the heavy duty stuff cleaned it will make it easier in the end!

Wish me luck.

Lovely time of year!

I just love this time of year! Even though this morning it was chilly and there were some random flurries, it is my favorite. It's warm enough to get away with some jeans and a sweater and cool enough not to be uncomfortable. It is my favorite! <3>

I am so grateful this week. I have been having such a wonderful year and I am so grateful for so many things. I have not felt so happy in a long time. Even though I've fallen off course a couple times, I am able to jump up and get right back on! 

I have the most wonderful family. Jamie is such a hard worker and I cannot say enough how much I love him and how grateful I am for him. :) He has helped me be a better person in many ways and he is such a wonderful example to me. 

Angela is such a delight. Just today Jamie asked her a question and she stood up, put her hands up and out and said "Why not?" Where did she learn that from?! Haha. She is so wonderful. If Audrey is crying, she tries to help her by rubbing her back or playing with her hands and feet and tries to make her laugh. It is amazing how she can be so young and yet so completely in tune with the emotions and feelings of other around her. She sometimes cries when others cry, and tries to soothe when others are sad. Or she'll come and laugh and play with you if she sees you're happy. It is so wonderful. She is growing up so fast and yet it seems like just yesterday she was born and held in our hands.

Audrey is getting so big. She is over 17 lbs and she is now 5 months 1 week. She is so happy. Last night she sat beside me on the couch for an hour and for 35 minutes we just laughed together. She is so fun!! Even when we went to bed, she just lay beside me and smiled until she finally fell asleep. It is the most wonderful age. And it is such a blessing to be trusted with these sweet little spirits to raise and teach. I hope I can measure up and be a good mother. 

Jamie is finished in 1 month at Ivey. It is miracle we have been able to make it through this program maintaining 2 households and having a baby at the same time. It truly is. We have been so blessed to have had this opportunity for Jamie to further his education. And as he is completing a phase of his, I am starting to regret not continuing with mine when I was younger. I will go back to school but not right now! I think I'm exhausted just from watching Jamie do his! 

Anyhow, this time of year, and new growth springs forth, life seems to brighten up after a dull and dreary winter. I can't wait for the fun we'll have this summer! 

Potty Training

My life consists of cleaning, feeding, playing, reading, driving, crafts and all sorts of baby related items. I need to get out more.

But that's not the point of today's blog. That is just a reminder to myself of why I write about things such as potty training!

Angela was fully #2 potty trained in November 2008. And then we moved more permanently to London, and she was like "HECK NO!" and refused to go potty. Considering the move and change of things I did not pressure her. Occasionally we would have a successful potty go.

So, I went out yesterday determined to make this work. This week = Potty training. We had our Princess potty seat, so we bought a DORA step stool. We bought chocolate treats that are taped on to the wall across from the potty. We bought cute panties!! Her first little panties, I'm so proud. And we bought DORA Pull-Ups. So, we're set!

After discussing the issue with Jamie's mum, I felt confident and ready to go!

So, as soon as she woke up from her nap, she went on the potty. 5 points.

I gave her copious amounts of water, and when she would have no more water, we moved to juice! 2 cups!

I asked her every 5 minutes if she needed to go potty. She started to get annoyed and would run away when I asked - Haha!

I threw her on the potty every 30 minutes. And when I walked away at 7PM to get something, I heard the tinkle!! WOW! I was so proud! Never was hearing a tinkle such a delight. 5 points!! And she got to pick her treat off the wall and flush. That's the best part, she flushes and waves and looks into the toilet and says "Byeeeee"

30 minutes later, more harassing and on the potty, and tinkle!! YAY! 5 points.

Well... That's when it all went downhill.

She was playing in the kitchen (Thank goodness) and just started to pee!!! lol She was running around stark naked for easy potty accessibility and she just peed.... Oh my hecker, it was funny though. Good lesson too, haha! It was easy to clean, so no problemo. - 5 points

Well.... Not 5 minutes later, whilst sitting on our hand made wedding quilt on the couch, does she pee AGAIN!! -5 points lol I am actually happy she did because otherwise she would have peed on the futon and that would have been a disaster, but still..... It's our favorite quilt!

So, that is pretty much what my life is like right now.

In other news, I am VERY excited to be making Ange some dress up clothes. Just wish I had my sewing machine here!

You know, back in the day, patterns were .50 cents! 50 CENTS. Now, they are $15!!! 15 BUCKS!! It is actually cheaper to buy the clothes than make them yourself. Unless you stocked up on fabric and patterns in the 80s. lol

Oh, lack of sleep makes me laugh at everything.

We are all great. Well, maybe not Jamie. Poor guy has been up late every night this week, 1AM, 3AM last night, working at school with his group on their project and presentation due Friday! And then he wakes up at 5.30 to go to seminary. He is going to sleep in on Saturday, that's for sure!

Audrey is getting so big. She is 17 weeks and she is wearing 6 month clothes!! :( Makes me so sad, and want another baby! lol I loved hugging her and snuggling and smelling her little cheeks and hair and kissing her little nose and chubby cheeks. I have the best girls. She is so fun to play with too. When Ange went to sleep last night, we hunkered down for some American Idol and she was smiling and laughing and I was kissing her cheeks really fast and she was just hysterical! It was great! I miss it already. Why do they have to get bigger?! :(

Anyhow, I have a list of things to do today while I am confined to the apartment potty training Angela. Better get started!

Oh, and here are the cute costumes: