When will I learn?

So I went for a hair cut on Monday, sadly the first one in nearly a year. I have been wearing my hair in a ponytail almost everyday for at least 10 months I figured it was time. So I go to the lady with absolutly no idea what I want, I don't look through magazines to see what I like, I really have no idea. I think I sort of assume they will know what will look best with my head/face shape. So the only thing I say is, I DON"T want it so short I can spike it other then that do what you think will look best. The result......well I don't think I like it. I have bangs now, I haven't had bangs since my first year of College. And my pony tail is long gone. There is no hope of trying to gather what little hair I have left to put up, but it is too long to spike so that is good. The other problem...it is not a wake up and go kind of haircut or even a shower and go haircut you have to do it, and if I put on a hat I look like a boy. Oh well I guess it will grow back soon enough. One other thing I notice with this haircut is how dark my hair is now. All traces of blonde are completely gone, even the light brown for that matter, I think I will get it highlighted soon. The sad part is next time my hair is that long I will probably do the same thing- go to someone with out a plan.

Ready or not

Weather I am ready or not it would appear young Samantha is ready to Potty train. I feel like I should read a book or somehow come up with some sort of plan or strategy. Samantha does not agree. Since Sunday she has had 2 # 2's and 1 # 1 in the potty. I have to say I am a little torn, on one hand how great to not deal with diapers but on the other hand we will need to be near a toilet at all times. Yikes I am thinking about the upcoming ball season and that could be a problem, when is it okay to teach them how to squat?

Where did the time go?

Wasn't Nathan just born??? It truly seems we just brought him home....How in the world is it possible the boy already has his first tooth? Yes it is true, we discovered the boys first tooth yesterday. First one on the bottom and it looks like the second one is not going to be far behind. I was hoping time would go a little slower so I could soak in this precious time, but I guess what they say is true..Time flys when your having fun, and were having lots!

Grandma J - Part 2

Generally speaking I would say I am a person of action. I would say for the most part I act rather then thinking about acting. Although sometimes this trait leads to retarded purchases and such, for the most part I am glad I am this way. Especially this week. On Thursday morning at 10:40 I talked to my mom who had just been to the Hospital the night before. She said Grandma J was looking very pale and weak. After hearing this I told my mom I am coming to Medicine Hat right after lunch. So I hurriedly packed for myself and the kids and got Fred to bring home lunch and away we went- on the road by 12:40 me and the Kids.

We got in Medicine Hat just in time to pick up my mom from work then head to the Hospital. As soon as we walked in the Hospital Grandma instantly recognized us and smiled. She was just on End of what we assume was another Heart attack. So they were giving her morphine and Nitro. She was fighting to breath and also fighting off sleep. The family had decided at this point the goal was to make Grandma as comfortable as possible rather then poke and prod. So we declined the EKG and blood work and such that is why I say we assume it was a heart attack.

As I was driving down, I was a little nervous to see grandma in the Hospital. I thought I would rather remember her full of life, but I still went. Yes Grandma was very week, and it was very hard to see her like that but here is what I will remember. I will remember her big smile through her Oxygen mask as I held Nathan next to her and he smiled and cooed and laughed for Grandma. I will remember the smile on her face as Samantha blew her kisses and she tried to wave back. We stayed at the Hospital for about three hours. I am shocked at how well behaved the kids were. Samantha only knocked down one oxygen container and it was totally by accident. She deffinatly lightened the mood with her round of "knuckles" a trick learned from her cousin Cam. I also believe Grandma loved that they came.

Grandma left us at 10:30 that night. I am so glad I came when I did. I will miss her a lot, but I am very thank full this was not a long drawn out battle. She left us all with a lot of wonderful memories that we will cherish forever.

There will not be a service right away, late next month probably. Grandma had 84 direct descendants - not including the spouses. Nathan was the youngest. So as you can imagine everyone will want to come so we are having it later.

Productive yet relaxing weekend

We had a very productive weekend yet somehow we still feel relaxed. Friday night was spent at home just playing with Samantha and Nathan and watching TV. Saturday we spent most of the day at Val & Dave's(sister and brother inlaw) helping put up siding - Fred mostly-- I think I got to hand fred a tool once or twice. On the way home we stopped by homesense and found a awesome lamp for Nathans's room. Once home the kids had a nap and we started to clean the garage- well again Fred mostly but in my defence it was mostly his mess. Saturday night we again just hung out at home. Sunday church then after Fred finished cleaning the Garage! Yahoo It has not been that clean in ages. Saturday night we got to enjoy a good game of Catan with Stacey- She won AGAIN. Today we did a dump run then drove around the neighbourhood looking at houses- no reason just for fun. Then we came home and Fred installed a new tap that we got for Christmas. Then we had supper and bathed the kids and cut Fred's hair. All in all a great weekend. It is so nice to have things off the to do list! I love long weekends! The kids and I both love the extra full day of Daddy at home.

Help or Hinder

Samantha loves to be a Helper. Today she was helping Dad do some plumbing! I think it made Daddys job a little harder, but he didn't complain.

Grandma J

I have only one living Grandparent. My great Grandma Johnson. She is 95 years old. Yesterday she had a heart attack. At first the Dr thought it was a major heart attack and that her kidneys were failing, later the family was told it was minor and that her Kidneys were fine. All in all Grandma is in amazing health. She has had both knees replaced and she is finding it more and more difficult to hear, even with new hearing aids. Grandma has always been a part of our lives, even though I only get to see her a couple times a year. Samantha, my mom, and I took a trip to see her in September. We played cards (rummy) and she totally beat my mom and I. We stayed for lunch and got to visit for a afternoon. I am amazed by her. She has such a sharp memory and she talked about her growing up and about her 50 year marriage- my great grandpa died when I was 1. It is weird to think that this women who has always been a part of my life had a whole life before that.
It is crazy to think about all the changes she has seen in her life.. imagine what things like phones, cars, computers, cities were like 95 years ago. I also think about all the Joy she has experienced and all the heartache. She has probably been to more weddings then anyone I know. Held so many newborns, received so many drawings and homemade cards from loving grand kids, great grand kids and great great grand kids. Can you imagine the size of her photo albums with everyone yearly family and school photos? She has now lived without the love of her life for nearly 27 years, buried a daughter and 2 son in laws and 3 grandchildren, and 4 siblings and even more friends. Heart Breaking

I am told Grandma is doing good today, just a little trouble breathing. As much as I don't want to be without Grandma, I pray that she is not in pain. Here is a picture of the last time I seen Grandma. She got to meet Nathan in December.

Common Terms and Phrases

So Lately I have been hearing a lot of terms and phrases, and I have been wondering where the saying came from. So today as the kidlets nap I decided to google it! There are a multiple of Websites out there so I won't reference them, but here is a couple of the ones I found interesting.

Frog in my throat - Medieval physicians believed that the secretions of a frog could cure a cough if they were coated on the throat of the patient. The frog was placed in the mouth of the sufferer and remained there until the physician decided that the treatment was complete.

Mind your P's and Q's-In old England ale is/was drunk in pints and quarts. So when customers got unruly, the innkeeper would yell at them to mind their own pints and quarts and settle down.

Spring Cleaning- The layer of hay in the kitchen, was finally hauled out of the house when the weather turned warm in the Spring

Son of a Gun- After sailors had crossed the Atlantic to the West Indies, they would take the native women on board the ship and have their way with them in between the cannons. Some of the women the sailors left behind would have boys, who were called sons between the guns.

Getting your Goat- This apparently refers to an old English (Welsh?) belief that keeping a goat in the barn would have a calming effect on the cows, hence producing more milk. When one wanted to antagonize/terrorize one's enemy, you would abscond with their goat rendering their milk cows less- to non-productive.

Hey Stace are you sure you had a frog in your throat on Sunday?

ART BY SAM

So Samantha created her first of what I am sure will be many Fridge Masterpieces. I know this is a little late but she has never had any interest in coloring before- just the taste of crayons. So lastnight we got her some markers (washable of course) and a pad to start. She loved it! I think her Daddy might be right- we may have a lefty. Fred has noticed it when she eats she mostly uses her left hand and today she would only color with the left, I even tried to put the marker in her right hand and she switched it.

Circumcision

For those of you who have had a boy in recent years, you have been faced with the decision on weather to have him circumcised or not. It is no longer Medically recommended and from what I gather it is about 50/50 for those who do and do not get it done. There is a study out that shows that Circumcision can help reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV, through intercourse. Full article HERE

Although I pray my son will never be in a position to risk becoming infected at all, I find the article interesting and wonder if it will come back to be a recommended procedure

Say No

We knew the time would come, but we didn't expect it so soon. It is time to teach Samantha to say NO TO CRACK.

Jumping on the Blog Wagon

Welcome to The Next Best Thing! Thanks to Stacey for the name! The next Best thing to what? Well I am not sure, I just liked the sound of it. Maybe the Next Best thing to Living Life is writing about it. Or Maybe The Next Best Thing to enjoying life with us first hand is reading about it here. Whatever it means I hope you enjoy it. I can't promise to have the most thought provoking posts, or anything remotly of interest to you, but I can promise to try. I figure I have been lurking for too long and it is time to give it a try!