I wish I could find..

MISSING!

one size 5 awesome green toddler shoe. (just the one shoe)

one ziplock bag with son's "home reading words"

one library book (okay - from last year)

one toddler's birth certificate (really!)

blank cheques

one old cassette tape with my dad being interviewed on it. (subject : goldpanning)

wedding ring

the list goes on...

and may I add, I am actually quite organized.

Where oh where have all these things gone?

This is what makes me nervous to toss too much, as I may toss the " hidden" object.

Exactly what book did the birth certificate get tucked in?

Smell what I'm cooking?

These missing items play on my mind too much.

I'll continue pray to St. Anthony, my buddy.

"The fame of St. Anthony's miracles has never diminished, and even at the present day he is acknowledged as the greatestthaumaturgist of the times. He is especially invoked for the recovery of things lost, as is also expressed in the celebratedresponsory of Friar Julian of Spires:

Si quaeris miracula . . .
. . . resque perditas."

And so it goes.

On a happy note, I took the time to enjoy tea and a mini (very colourful) make-over session with my daughter Sunday night! Loving LIFE!

Boo! Halloween Party

We had an awesome Neighbourhood Halloween Party yesterday!

This was our FIFTH ANNUAL party for Halloween.

A few things we never change. Our invites are a paper ghost. We print out the info on white card stock and then cut it out to look like a ghost. When you are invited, you find a ghost taped to you door or window. BOO! Yes, occasionally they do blow off in the wind. Sad to hear about that after, like when your friend finds it months later... you know who you are!!

We always have CRAFTS for the kids. It is my kids' favorite part, and I try not to let them know what they are before the party.

This year the kids made:

Lollipop spiders and ghosts.

Window Hangers "stained glass" that the kids coloured with permanent markers instead of paint, and this worked wonderfully!

Fun Popcorn Hands

They made Halloween Bracelets also

We also had an assortment of foam pieces and pumpkin cut outs that they could decorate how they chose.

Quite pleased with our drink offerings this year! We would not tell what exactly it was either. I did have to make clear to a few of the boys the PRETENDNESS of the "poison".

We also made a gross PUNCH with tapioca "frogs eggs" and "eye of newt" at the bottom. I added some food colouring to the water for each when I made the pearls. This too was a hit!

Made some FUN cookies and some Yum cookies.

Top tray are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip. I must say these are a new fave!

Good old sugar cookies underneath. I used chocolate chips and licorice for the faces, just cut it.

I do not know if you can tell how awesome this is on your monitor! It is some kubasa ( or garlic coil/sausage) with cheese around.

The cheese are half a cheese string, with an almond slice "nail" attached with cream cheese. (you need to cut a little slice off the top of the cheese to flatten that spot) Then using a pairing knife, made some "knuckles".

Kids LOVED THESE fingers!

Tried to catch a picture of my favorite little skunk... always moving!

All the kids dressed up - it was GREAT!

I think everyone has a great time. It is such a TREAT to meet all the neighbours. So many are surprised to discover just how many kids there are around. We have a lot of fun doing it, and plan to keep at it. The kids are getting even more involved in the planning and food prep now. Thank you everyone for coming!

This brings us together as a family, and then a community.

It is all about TAKING THE TIME!

if I had my life to live over ...

I would make a big change. For myself, I would buy only one style of socks. Yes, that's right, just one style, and then about 20 pairs of it. All the same colour. Then, never would I have to sort. match, hunt... and if one had a hole, I would only toss that one. ( or use it for dusting if you are an eco-queen)

Repeat process with entire family of five. Everyone gets their own colour.

Imagine the time I would save if I did not have to sort through a monstrous pile of socks. Oh the things I could do. Like vacuum. Or dishes. Maybe take a walk. Save the world. Cure some awful disease. I could make a difference! Instead... I must do my time at the sock pile. And so it continues.

THANKS.

there it is, for you.

I'm giving it.

so take it.

photo challenge

Go into your 9th photo folder and pick out the 7th picture, in honor of today's date of course. Share!

I know, gtcha wondering just how exciting the rest of our photos are.

me myself and I

me : had half my thyroid our last Thursday evening... one week has passed now

myself : had to accept I could not do everything I wanted - care for kids, clean house, eat

I : feel a lot better now.

Just yesterday I began to feel like myself. Today I worked half a day, snuck in a business meeting which I may add involved a VERY delicious cup-cake (yay me!). Then I came home, had a snack and a rest, and played yes PLAYED with the baby! How fun. Hmmn... toddler really I guess. Does that officially change when they are one? or begin to toddle? he does toddle. Super cute toddle in fact!

Anyways... I FEEL BETTER!!!!

I was surprised at how lowsy I actually felt. Maybe from going under- I just could not snap out of it. I was able to cut out the strong pain killers after the first day, and still I felt dopey. Dizzy and pukey actually. I thought it would vanish when I moved onto plain tylenol - but nope... still there. I never did vomit, but felt like I was fighting it. I still feel like someone is choking me, but it is starting to diminish.

My incision is just wee ( still covered with some steri-strip) and maybe an inch and a half at most. This pleases me. It itches. This does not please me.

I can shower. This pleases me. I need to stay out of water, like a pool. This does not please me. Two invites to great outdoor pools since surgery. SIGH

I lived through it. This quite pleases me. And life goes on.

Will get thyroid levels tested in three weeks. Then we'll see what is next.

I am blessed.

Busy Me...

Have had a couple super busy yet wonderful weeks!

Had the kids in a nature camp half days last week - that was well worth it! They really enjoyed it, and aside from holidays/trips, they are free of commitments for now. Yay us!

Had the absolute pleasure of being present for my new nephews birth - I can see how that is addicting! Such a high! What a gift that was they gave me.

Back at work a bit... Street Sale and Art Walk was this weekend, so that was busy!

Lost my cable for my laptop, using husbands... really REALLY need the files on mine for the postcard info... must find it!

Flipped and painted the kids rooms. Rooms look great, but there is a plethora of forgotten toys in the hall and my room... and we have not traded their closets yet...

See? It's been too busy to do it!

Cleaned many toilets and tubs this week... never ending....

Bought some new shelves to address some of the problems.

Took a great workshop on composting - must quit putting things into garbarator - since I cannot even spell the word garburator... see?

Wishing I had a magic wand....

Or at least an easier time parting with things...

Love using these three little dots....

Bet they have a real name....

Anyone know it?