and so

this is the last day of November.


one more month left in 2008.


hard to believe.





we are ready!








i try to complete Christmas shopping before December. it is just so crazy everywhere! and i find the whole holiday more peaceful if we have the "busy" month to do fun things. or at least try.





my very last official holiday shopping stop had a memorable ending. one of those situations when i was stuck in traffic. {busy holiday traffic already!} leaving a parking lot. stopped at a stop sign. sitting behind the stop line. signal light on. apparently if you drive a big truck you are allowed to make the rules of the road. stressful. it was a good reminder of why i avoid shopping in December. did you ever see this movie? not that far from the truth....

there have been a few days where Kiara is insistant that she is "not tired, mommy" for her afternoon nap.

this is what "not tired" looks like right before supper time. on the good side it did let me have some peace while i prepared supper....



life with a four year old.
never. a. dull. moment.
this is what happens when i ask, "Aidan, could you help Kiara put on her sweater?"



yeah. funny.
note to self: remember to take more photos of moments like these....proof of his "f"ing fours when he is forty!



and when Aidan is forty....I'l be...

we won't go there.

however, at times this is how i appear.

deep in thought?
maybe thinking about how i can prepare myself for the next tantrum?
or maybe just contemplated the menu?
or perhaps dreaming about a sandy beach....clear, blue water....peace...? let's go with that one!


until tomorrow!

free gift!

this one is only good for a short time....

go HERE and download some free MP3 Christmas songs!

{thanks Wilna for posting this super info!}

p.s.

wish lists are funny.

they tend to grow. and no exception here!



there must be some good secrets here! i am wondering if they could apply to my non-scrapbooking life too?!

and this would be a welcome addition to my stocking....i've heard that this is a good one!

now that life is quieting down somewhat....at least for a couple of weeks!....i'm hoping to spend more time enjoying our mild winter weather and taking photos. long overdue. i feel like i can take those full breaths again.....

Aidan has had given us some challenges. and yet at the same time he amazes us. he was a little pooper for our babysitter this weekend. and listening to her, it sounded like the same kind of challenges we get. {at least he is showing his true colours to everyone he cares about?!} his consequence was to spend some time in his room thinking about his behaviour and what he could do about it. which is hard to know how that could go. but apparently it went very well in this case. when he came out of the room he was very calm and thoughtful about the evening. he made a card for her to apologize which was very mature and thoughtful for a four year old - we think. and then he delivered the card in person. unfortunately she wasn't home, but he later called her to talk. we also paid her well and bribed her with chocolate....so hopefully she will come back!

Kiara is our terribly sweet one these days. which probably causes strain on Aidan and his issues these days! she is still a monkey. and probably will always be one. she is most proud of her potty training skills. and it is definitely a novelty for her! i guess it is the only time in one's life that a toilet could be so awesome. we'll let her have her share!! we are amazed at her comprehension and vocabulary too. we are giving credit to Treehouse. she could not have possibly learned this from us. really. if i could just be able to get her to nap every afternoon that Aidan is away at school...the original plan. yes, i admit that it is convenient on some days that she doesn't nap. but some days i would love to have a few quiet hours to do something without having to listen to chatter....which i have to listen to because it always involves questions or statements that i have to agree to...which gets scary if i agree to something i wasn't aware of!

i FINALLY made it back to school to visit the kids i taught for their first school experience. they were an amazing group of kids. really. it does help that their parents are amazing too! i miss my teacher assistants. i wish they could be with me at home every morning...they are like my walking reference books when it comes to preschoolers. every mom should have one. or two. or even three if you are lucky. anyways....the kids remembered me too. phew! i can't wait to go back and sub for a whole morning with them.

i tried to glitter a Martha Stewart snowflake with Kiara today. i'm questioning my glittering skills. how would Martha do it? the two of us were sparkly for the rest of the day.

anyone else used Martha's glitter? any tips? is there really a trick to it all? i need to know!