http://www.livinginthegray.com There's so much more of it than I have been led to believe... Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:43:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This will be the fourth time I’ve started this post.  It turns out long days of travel and nights in small hotel rooms with two small children are not conducive to blogging. (I know! Shocking!)  I was tired in the evenings and since we only had one computer and I wasn't ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/07/03/dear-north-dakota-i-hope-we-dont-see-each-other-again-for-a-long-time/ This is my last official Canadian post! As of tomorrow morning we will *hopefully* be American residents!  Cross your fingers for us that all goes well at the border. I am so nervous. Now, on to official business... ********************************************************* Dear Avery, I knew it was a very, VERY bad omen when you fell ill ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/30/letters-from-canada/ I'm starting to feel that this holiday, as wonderful as it has been, is becoming a kind of exquisite torture for the kids.  Especially Kieran is having an increasingly hard time managing the running around from place to place, meeting endless bunches of new (to him) people and constant late nights.  He ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/27/im-the-one-who-suffers-in-the-end/ There are so many things I want to be writing about these days but we have been so busy spending time with many wonderful people here in Saskatoon. It has been such a pleasure to spend time here at "home" before we make the transition to living in the states. ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/22/public-service-announcement-re-the-many-uses-of-duct-tape/ Ok, none of these words actually rhyme with crazy. But they all capture the spirit of the Cray-zay that is my life right now. Home: Driving from Winnipeg to Saskatoon today was truly enjoyable in a way it has never been before.  The main reason I've never appreciated it before is ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/17/words-that-rhyme-with-crazy/ My parents have a fairly new house. It was built almost 5 years ago now. It is lovely and modern and has room for us to visit for lengthy moderate short periods of time.  My mom is an excellent housekeeper and her house is always spotless. I hardly feel I should ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/15/arachnophobiaaaaaaaaaaaaaah/ Haven't posted pictures lately and I've been feeling a bit sluggish in the writing department so you get picture day, you lucky readers, you! He's just so TWO right now! He recently discovered pockets and has decided they are the BEST. INVENTION. EVER. He constantly fills them with pebbles (his second favourite ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/15/the-picture-post/ After witnessing Avery throw two hissy fits in ten minutes (over the highly volatile issue of a barrette falling out) her daddy mumbles a comment about Girls! and Their Hormones! and That Time Of The Month! "Honey," I quipped, "If there's one thing you should have learned after being married to ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/12/every-day-is-that-time-of-the-month/ ”If you’re not from the prairie, You don’t know the wind, You can’t know the wind. Our cold winds of winter cut right to the core, Hot summer wind devils can blow down the door. As children we know when we play any game, The wind will be there, yet ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/12/blown-away/ This week I had the opportunity to bring the kids to visit my mom's class of grade two and three students.  Kieran sat beside his sister looking dumbfounded. Avery enthusiastically answered a variety of questions from the students about where she is from and what her various "favourites" are.  When ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/11/an-avery-a-day/ I was looking through the local phone book for the number of a hairstylist as I wanted to get a haircut while I am living in the lap of luxury staying at my parents' house.  I flipped to what could ostensibly called be called the "yellow pages" although they are ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/08/one-more-reason-to-love-small-town-manitoba/ Ok, maybe y'all misunderstood me. When I asked you to enlighten me on the cultural differences between Canadians and Americans I wasn't joking! I really want to know what you all have experienced. I'm left to speculating as to why no one is sharing. Either a) you ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/06/no-really-im-serious/ A mosaic that represents me. Well, kinda.  The pictures I wanted to select were always copyrighted. Doh! The concept: 1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search. 2. Using only the first page of results, and pick one image. 3. Copy and paste each of the ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/05/another-page-from-the-book-i-am-writing-called-a-million-and-one-ways-to-waste-time-on-the-internet/ Number of different homes we've slept in since Thursday: 4 Number of kilometers driven since Friday: 2, 386 Number of minutes it took for Avery to ask if we are "there yet?": 5 Number of times Avery asked if we are "there yet": 1498 Number of birthday cakes Kieran had on his birthday: 2 Number ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/06/04/my-life-in-numbers/ Hell itself would tremble in the face of my fury and stress-driven hysteria. The look of pure anxiety coupled with tension strikes fear into the heart of both husband and children. They run from me the way they would run if I was wielding a fistful of butcher knives. But ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/28/sos-please-send-chocolate/ Because it is so darn inconvenient!  Plus, my husband, in all his well-intentioned and hard-working glory, always messes up my plans. I had PLANNED to wait until today to pack my handy microwave egg-cooker gadget that looks kind of like this: Because there was one egg left and I'll be damned if ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/27/another-reason-why-i-hate-moving/ As of today it's official. We have an actual destination in mind when we discuss moving!  We've spent the last twelve months speculating and dreaming all kinds of crazy dreams. So before I tell you where we are moving....let me tell you where we are not moving! (This ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/26/the-long-anticipated-moving-post/ This week in meat: BBQ-a-palooza 2008 has come to an end as SOMEONE (an adult male in my household, possibly my husband) left the BBQ on last night after we cooked our burgers. When we got home at one in the morning from a friend's house the propane tank was, ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/25/meatfest-cancelled/ Because I love shiny objects jewelry all of you I am going to share something really cool with you. For Mother's Day I was given a string of simple beads that I really like. They look like this: Pretty, right? Well these beads happen to be made from recycled paper ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/24/with-love-from-me/ I was all set to make the official announcement about our move...but the papers that need to be signed STILL haven't come and because I have a raging case of superstition am cautious, I just can't bring myself to say it until it's all official-like. So, instead, let me whine about ... http://www.livinginthegray.com/2008/05/23/i-could-go-off-at-any-moment/