Thinking of others...

Of late, Robbie has been challenging us with behaviour that is very self-focused and wild. Yesterday was particularly testing and we laid the old parental "you need to think of others before yourself" credo on him. This morning the wee boy decides that perhaps donating the money he got from organizing all our recyclable bottles/cans/tetra's could be given to the Food Bank and SPCA. This is the money he earned towards buying a big remote control truck he's wanted for awhile. He looked up at my husband and asked "Is that thinking of others before myself?" Sigh.....

How?

Lately, Catie's naps have begun to be very busy. She is trying some interesting sleeping positions.

Someone did it right!

Thanks to another on-line group I'm part of, I received a link to this amazing montage that completely speaks to how I feel about my daughter, Catie. If you'd like to check it out go to:


http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=88b31728ac885d830e7be&sou

Have tissues handy!

Puppy Love

Jazz has settled in and finally is over his diarrhea. The big problem right now is balancing Jazz's time inside with the family and Catie's time playing on the floor. As Catie does not walk, the floor his her domain. Jazz terrifies her by coming close, sniffing, licking and generally being puppy crazy. He also wants to steal all her toys. He spends time in his crate, then when Catie is in her high chair, he comes out of the crate. It's a tricky balance. I can't take him walking with her in the stroller yet, because he's too untrained. Fortunately, it's summer and we can find time to build all of these things in. Best moment of the week had to be Jazz's ungainly landing coming down a flight of steps with wet feet. It was like watching Bambi on ice - all four legs went out. He looked so surprised!

Country life - for real

Twelve days into permanent residence in the farmhouse and it could be called a nuthouse. We purchased a lab pup who is keeping us up nights with "the runs". The children seem happily settled, but we've driven into town more than I would like. However, I am writing as a side job, fulfilling a life-long dream. Slowly this will start to settle and we'll get more stuff unpacked. It's too late to add more now, but I'll post soon.

Adventures in Web 2.0 with students

My latest adventure in Web 2.0 has been getting my grade 6/7 class involved in a google group to practice reading and writing French. I'm hoping they'll add pictures and try linking to some translation activities so that they can build their confidence using basic phrases. We'll still do oral and with luck add that to the group files. Wish us luck!

Boxes, boxes everywhere and many germs in sight

Everyone is home sick with a cold and today has been an exercise in task priorities. Articles written for magazine - check. Questions chosen for Battle of the Books - check. Agenda for meeting tonight - check. Daycare arrangements for tomorrow - check. Boxes packed and laundry done - fat chance!
With 5 days until we move most of our belongings to the new house, my husband gently tells me that it isn't important to get boxes packed - we'll mostly be moving furniture. Riiiiiiight. It'll only take a couple of days to pack up most of this stuff (and now you hear the sound of me laughing maniacally). Breathe, breathe slowly and remember not to sweat the small stuff. At least we don't have to move the appliances. I won't have appliances for a while, but that's OK - I can go with the flow. OK, breathe into the bag now - slowly.