Merry Christmas everyone!

I'm in Courtenay...aka, the flooded land...where we might not have a white Christmas, but it sure is a wet one. I was feeling a little mopey yesterday about not having a white Christmas and then thought about how most of the world doesn't have a white Christmas. So really...

Stockings are opened.
Breakfast eaten.
Presents shared.

And now...
puzzle.
movie.
dinner.

all to recognize this...

(thanks to carleigh for this one - I miss my davey family today!)

just when you need a little pick-me-up...

The other day I was sitting with Charlee, reading her favourite book. It's a large board book about the different types of farms...complete with flaps. Under those flaps are anything from moles to mice to kittens...it's pretty much every 4-year-old-girl's dream book.

So, for the 50th time this week, we were looking at the book, and Charlee created a little story about the animals. She decided she and I were characters as well, and pretended we were two farming dogs. To clarify, these dogs were were dressed in sweaters and made to look like "human animals" - if you get what I mean - think "Little Bear" or "Arthur" - and if you still don't get it, you probably don't hang out with children watching Tree House on tv.
And that's okay.

Upon Charlee's decision that I would pretend to be a very masculine looking Farmer Joe "dog-man", I turned to Charlee and said:
"Wow, I'm kind of ugly, huh?"

To which, with much concern in her face, she quickly looked me up and down and said:
"Oh, no, Kaleen, you're very pretty!"

Quickly realizing she hadn't fully "gotten" that I was in pretend mode, I thanked her for the compliment and explained how I was pretending. I'm not too sure she got it...but I have to say, it was sweet.

makes me cry every time...

blogger's block strikes again

How is it that when I'm working four days a week, working on my masters and fulfilling volunteer duties, I manage to keep my blog updated...and then when things slow down, so does my blogging?

I hereby solemnly swear to post something wonderful within one week.

Stay tuned.

a year's worth...

maybe we do...

Today I stayed home from work - an attempt to kick this flu bug in the heiney once and for all.

Carleigh needed to run out for a bit, so I came upstairs and spent some "school time" with Charlee and Bodhi at the dining room table. While they were practicing their hand-eye coordination copying lines on paper, Charlee was spouting off some silliness, so I said "do we need to send you to the looney bin?"

...to which Bodhi replied:
"I live looney bin!"

"You live in the looney bin?" I turned to him.

"Yup!" he grinned at me.

So I guess it's true.
We are the looney bin.
Welcome. Come on over.
Just be prepared....for whatever.