ok, this is my second blog of the day.....but

this was just too funny this morning... Dad was sitting having his coffee before breakfast, and Pika was cuddled up with him, snoozing. When it was time for dad to make his way to the table, he picked up Pika and gently placed him in the basket of his walker.... where Pika stayed for over an hour.....

Grey's is a repeat tonight.....

What a busy week. And long. I can't believe its only Thursday.

This weeks news..... our new principal has been announced. Mike Baltzer. That is incredibly exciting and a huge relief to the staff. It was just one of those things that everyone was on edge about since about Feb 15th. But not many admitted it. We were all willing to discuss our worries, but we didn't really acknowledge that the stress of not knowing who was coming, and the stress of fearing the unknown, had blanketed our staff through the entire Feb/Mar season (you know, report cards, March Break, parent/teacher visitations... stressful enough at the best of times). BUT.... Mike. Former teacher, one of the best we had, and great with kids. One of those cool teachers, who seemed to have a relationship with the kids that was unmeasurable. He has been principal at Bridgetown for the last 5-6 years. We are blessed and relieved. We will miss Heather and her energy, positive attitude and her female twist on most things. Mike will be a different leader, and that is good, because you just can't replace someone like Heather.

Fiscal year end...... oh my..... that is my week. Three of them. How is that possible to have 3 year ends? I ask myself that too. I hold three different set of books. One of them is only temporary, until Libby comes back, which will be next week I think. But, regardless, I have the year end fun, and will hand her over a brand new year. My own books consist of school books, which hold all the teachers classroom funds, and fundraising, grants, trip money etc. And then there's the School Board books... which is all purchase orders and operating cost stuff.... both unique and fun, until this very week. Then they all funnel down into the same sort of soup pot which I must chop, dice, slice, stir and mash until they are both done. And.... I am one day away. The last bank deposit goes in today, and the last bills paid today, and the books are then done tomorrow and sent away. The board money....done. bills and PO's....done. Cafeteria....done. almost there.

Healthy Snack Grant....done...except for Chantal's approval. Then it will be faxed today... so we can buy more little snackies for the kidlings.

When off to Clare tomorrow (Mixed curling bonspiel) , right after work. So tonight I must cook and prepare lots of lunches and suppers for dad, and rearrange the fridge so he can find things. I have to pack and prepare some weekend food, and ... that's it, I think.

My cold has transitioned into a coughing cold, instead of a "no breathing" cold. That is just lovely for the weekend that I will be sleeping in a cottage with 3 other couples. *cough, cough, cough*.... I wonder if I drink lots, will I cough less..... I will try that tomorrow night.

One weekend away from Easter... starting to plan some activities for the weekend. I love to plan fun things for the whole family to get involved with. Our Easter weekends are always one of my favorite weekends. So this year I have something very special planned. I have 28 windows in the house, and the family would have so much fun, washing them all, inside and out. Just like last year. Many hands make light work. As well, I have a dresser that needs to be stripped and painted, and at least 4 to 5 of us can work on that one. There is yard work too, and the outside of the house can be washed... you know, from all the winter gunk that is on it... and old spider webs and stuff.... I love it when the whole family comes home.

Highlights from last year....first you color the easter eggs, and then what do you do with the leftover egg dye. Well, you dye some wool, don't you.

ok, I am off to get stuff done. Oh, and there isn't a new Grey's Anatomy until April 19th, by the way. I was talking with the producers last week, on their PodCast.... so, I have all evening to get stuff done, and no excuses to sit and watch tv and eat junk tonight.

Purse Club

Purse Club was fun today, and we were only missing 3. Donna G's house is so amazing. It is just so warm, and comfortable. There is absolutely no way to describe it better. And I, myself, feel that is the highest, absolutely highest compliment one can give a home. Thanks Donna. Heather GR won the purse, which leave 3 left to win. Donna G, Ardith and Joy. Heather was hoping to use her money (if she won later in the year) for some trip clothes (her girls weekend in Bar Harbour) but since she won this month, she is thinking about some shoes for Spring...

Cricket, who won last month, presented us with her purchases.... she bought the sweetest little pink Ipod shuffle and a mountain/road bicycle. How fun is that. She was just so sweet when she presented her purchases, thanking us all for the money... she is so cute.

One sad part of the day was that Jill couldn't make it today. Midnight, her long time friend and dog, passed away this morning. Midnight was pretty special in our house. She was Mollie's absolute best friend (next to Jill, of course) Mid was her first grown up friend, and Jill babysat Mollie for 2 weeks when she was just young, which established that connection pretty solidly. Mid has spend many a vacation at our house too, and was part of the family and fit in to the routine without any trouble. Especially 10pm walks and snack time with Grampa.

Midnight was 12 years old I think... oh we will miss her greatly. Our hugs are with you JillyBean.

Saturday morning question for the Blogging Community!

Ok, I received a question from Terry's mom, who babysits two beautiful kids (3 year old twins). The boy half of the pair is having some toilet training issues and Joan's question is (since its been a few years since she has had to toilet train a little boy)
Do little boys stand up to pee at 3 years old, or is it the "in" thing to have them sit and pee?

Now, I have never toilet trained a boy, and the little boys I deal with are beyond that issue. Soo......Chantal, get on the horn (or blog) and ask your friends, Josee.... mom of a boy, you must have an opinion, and I know there are a few other little boys in your family. Jill, you have a nephew and I am sure your friends have little ones... Lets help out Joanie, and give her some advise.


By the way, the sleepless nights still prevail, but I am now owning a cold. I think maybe that was the problem with my week. It is here now, and I can deal with it better, now that I know what is up with my body. Somewhat of a relieve, really.

Friday... a Good Day All Around

The best part, really, is that is FRIDAY...

Well, interviews are done for our new principal. A few at work seemed to think we would hear something today.. but I don't think we will hear anything until Monday. Its been a long couple of months for all of us at school. But especially Linda M. She has really been a trooper, stepping into the principalship when Heather got the call to come to the board. I think she took on way more than she ever wanted to, and did well to keep things in check. But its time for her to go back to what she loves doing, because its taking a toll on her, and in turn the rest of the staff. Should be interesting when we hear who our new leader will be.

This week has been hectic, and although I LOVE my new morning schedule, I do feel a bit out of touch, but arriving at work right in the middle of mayhem. I am use to starting the day with a few minutes to organize my thoughts before the "crazy" begins. But now, I walk into the job at the height of noise, confusion and Oh Canada. A little unsettling. Its so hard to center myself to get to work after that sort of entrance. Sleep is not happening to me this week. Not sure why, but the whole week has been long "toss and turn" nights, and waking up exhausted. Work Stress, maybe, and I will solve that this weekend. I am planning a marathon work weekend. That will end my stress and better my sleep.

FAMILY HIGHLIGHTS
**Terry's Dad, Frank is doing much better than a week ago. He is back to himself, personality wise, and his body is starting to cooperate with the meds and he is feeling so much better, and eating and sleeping too.
**My dad, doing pretty good. He is now managing the stairs a couple of times a day, and feeling pretty good about it.

**Stephanie is enjoying the company of Michelle and Scott this weekend. She keeps us all updated on her goings on, via her blog

**My oldest niece, Grace, ( I have two nieces named Grace, how lucky am I. One is 16 and the other is 5)landed her first job today. How exciting is that. She will be working in THE SHOE COMPANY, Bayers Lake. She will be the gorgeous Chicklet that will shyly but sweetly serve your shoe needs when you go to visit her there. Just tell her Donna sent you and she will treat you extra special.

**Caliegh, her younger sister just got a pair of Pink Converse Shoes from the Shoe Company today.

**Aubrey, my niece from Ottawa got a new little Guinea Pig this week, named Moe. Her first little guy passed about just a month ago, and she had him for over two years. This new little one is just a couple months old.
**Gillian made a beautiful snowman using that snowman kit I bought for her from the Books are Fun guy before Xmas.

We try to take a group Picture every year that the 6 grandgirls get together. Its getting harder and harder to get them all together (now that three of them have jobs). This was the latest this summer, and the girls are Gillian (age 6), Caliegh (age 11), Aubrey (age 11), Grace (age 16), Michelle (age 19) and Stephanie (age 22). Two live in Ottawa, two in Halifax, One in Fredericton, and one in Antigonish/Greenwood.

Wedding Song anyone....

For anyone who doesn't know this about my two girls....they are accomplished string instrumentalists. They are sadly out of practice now, but have both played violins, violas & cello for 12 years. One of the things they did in their older years (13-17 years old) was performed at several weddings. They have played for back yard weddings as well as church weddings.... from Bridgetown to Halifax .... and the common wedding song of choice for the procession to the altar is Pacebel Canon in D. This consisted of one girl (usually Danielle Dorais) on Cello, and 5 others on violins... This song is a 9 minute song in its original composition, but the LONGEST walk... at any wedding they performed at was less than 1 minute. Therefore, the girls would re arrange the song to suit the bride and the length of walk.
This is a very long story.... and all I mean to say, is.... Pacebel Canon, is my absolutely most favorite strings song... but not for a wedding song. More because it brings such beautiful memories for me, of my young girls playing violin!!...
Both girls have said to me at different times that they no longer have any nice feelings for this song.... check out this new version of Pacebel, that even they would love.

Some days you just need to crash...

Its been an extremely "action" packed few days for me. But nothing so big that it warrants an explanation. Just busy...
My new morning routine goes like this..... up at the same time as usual, 6ish and hit the shower. Get all ready for the day... you know, hair, makeup..ok, no makeup... hair and well.... thats about it. Then a nice lull in activity where Terry and I veg for 20 minutes on the couch with coffee and toast and mostly stare at one another. I am much more talkative in the morning than Terry and after 20 odd years I have given up talking to him in the morning, because I usually have to repeat myself again sometime through the rest of the day. He is not a morning person. Ok, so that is normal. Heres the new part..... at 6:50.. Mollie begins her tail spin of excitement, because she has already concluded that by my clothing chose of the morning, we are going for a walk. I am not in PJ's or Work clothes. I am the sacred "walking" outfit, and once I make the slightest motion that I am done with coffee and toast, she springs into action bringing my my shoe (any shoe) and the lease and her breakfast cup, a magazine, anything..... anything that will get me up from the chair. And we bundle up to brave the "spring" mornings...brrrrrr. Off we go by 7 and hit the cold roads. I listen to my Harry Potter Book 6, and we try for a 30 to 40 minute walk. Yesterday was a wet cold walk, and on my return, had to re do my hair. Once I get home again, depending on the time, I do a quite "weights" routine, and my normal stretch of yoga and then get dressed for work. It is now 8am and I am ready. Dad is up, and I hear the shower going and that is when I move down stairs and load up Dad's fridge with all his daily stuff, like lunch and teabags, afternoon snacks, etc. By 8:30 he is done his routine, and after some chatting, he is settled for breakfast and coffee and I am off to school by 8:45. How fun is that..... yipee. I am so excited to have a long morning to take care of myself, the dog, and dad, plus make all the lunches (mine and dads, sometimes Terrys) and clean up around the kitchen, and even get a start on Supper. The new later morning start time means that I have to stay at work until 4:00 (officially) which isn't too much of a stretch, but I usually have time to get a head start on supper anyway, so thats cool too.

So, here it is 7:40am, and I haven't walked this morning. Nope, too cold. Not my thing, and I did that two days in a row. So instead, just did a nice long yoga routine, and I had 20 minutes extra, so I thought I would blog.

Happenings....curled last night, and didn't curl well myself, but we won the game just the same. That was kind of fun. No curling tonight, due to a bonspiel. Our black car is going to the vet... no the mechanic... for a check up and diagnoses. Its at the stage now, do we fix it up for safety, or do we replace it with another beater. Today will tell.

Terry's dad, still in hospital, but is now receiving Chemo every two weeks. He just had one this week, and the doctors would like to keep him in hospital until after his next treatment, to make sure he is settling in ok with all the stuff happening to his body. So, at least two more weeks in hospital. When he gets out, and is home, Terry will take a week to spend with him at home, being his flunky, and company for him all day. So, I am thinking probably in three weeks terry will go up and do his part.

My kids... busy with school, and you can read Stephanie's blog to keep up on her activities, because I can't even begin to list her happenings. Michelle and Scott are going to Fredericton this weekend coming to visit the Fredsville group and Scott is hoping to get some shopping done for new clothing. I imagine Michelle will be hopeful to do the same thing. Who doesn't love to shop (except me, of course!).