We Use a Lot of Bowls and Spoons

I have noticed lately that we use a lot of bowls and spoons in our house. We always run out of those two items before anything else. We eat a lot of cereal/oatmeal, yogurt and soup so I guess this explains all the bowl use. Sometimes it's frustrating because I'm not ready to run the dishwasher but all the bowls are used so I have to. There is no way I'm handwashing anything. That's for pioneers man. This is probably fascinating to all of you reading this. Does anyone else have this problem?

All Kids Know The Macarena

Hanna had a school program two weeks ago and the theme was "Cultures of the World" or something like that. She decided, with a little help from me, to talk about Canada. We did a presentation in the class and then she had to memorize some facts about Canada for her program. They performed dances from around the world and one was The Macarena. She thought it was so hilarious when they wiggled their butts. I started crying during the program which now seems to be my response to any emotion. Luckily it was dark in the gym most of the time.

Here is a movie of her facts:




Hanna is the last kid on the right. Notice how she is smaller than all the other kids in her class.

Three Solid Reasons to Marry

Hanna and Grace were in the car talking about boys (this happens more than I'd like) when I heard Hanna say she and Landon (Kristin's son/ex neighbor) were a perfect match. I asked her why and these were her reasons:

1. We are both hilarious
2. We both like Spongebob
3. We have both lost one tooth.

She then said, "I think this makes us a perfect match."

I called Kristin and told her about it and she said she hopes that they will one day reunite and get married. I'd be cool with that.


Landon, Grace, Hanna & William at the water park.

Heading to Wendover, NV

I'm going to gamble me up a storm! I've set a limit of $10 and you know what can happen with that kind of money. Kristin consulted the magic 8 ball and it looks very good for us.

Oprah Invades My Dreams

I had a dream last night that Karen and I went to an Oprah show. After the show we got to meet Oprah and she was hanging out with us. She gave Karen and sample of some Vera Wang perfume and in my dream I thought she was more friendly with Karen. I told Oprah that she should do a show about small women who can't find clothes that fit them. She didn't seem that interested. After we left Oprah, Karen was super stingy with the perfume samples even though Oprah told us to share. I don't know if I like Oprah being in my dreams.

My "Celebrity" Look-Alikes

I took off Sally Struthers mainly due to how she looks now. At one point she was pretty cute but lately not so much. Becky are you jealous that I look like Linda Hamilton? You know you are. I did one for Ryan but the best of his were Rick Shroeder, David Soul (Hutch) and Mark Hamil (Luke Skywalker).

Try It!

Magrath on Myspace. Would the Founding Fathers Approve?

Someone has set up a myspace page for my hometown of Magrath, AB. Check it out.

Home Sweet Magrath

Are You Happy Now Andrea?

I put a recent photo on my profile for you. I took it with Photo Booth so it's not the greatest quality but you get the idea. Notice my apathetic expression. I'm pretty much too cool for photos. Van Fleet out!

Finished the D@mn PTA Budget

I could write a book here about my crazy PTA relationships. Hopefully they aren't internet geniuses able to find a hidden blog and end up reading this. I kind of think it would be amazing if they even knew how to work a computer but I could be wrong. I signed up for the PTA last spring thinking it would be a great way to be involved in the school but instead it has recently turned into a nightmare. I really didn't have any problems with it in the beginning and then the whole Evie thing happened and they were nice enough to give me all the time I needed before I came back. It's been the last couple of months that have given me a window into the president's soul and I declare it to be devoid of tact. When they were handing out tact this woman was off yelling at God for not doing his job right. I probably should have resigned after Evie was born but I stuck with it and I do a half-assed job. Two of the women in the presidency basically live at the school and that is great for them. I am not one of those mothers who wants to be at the school 24/7 unless I'm getting paid. So when I say I can't do something, I can tell they are secretly judging my parenting. Heaven forbid I actually have a life outside of PTA and my children's school! I might as well just reserve Hanna and Grace a cell at the county jail because that is where they are going to end up. If they don't see me at the school 3-4 days a week I'm sure smoking meth is right around the corner. Ok I'm getting carried away but it is probably one of the strangest situations I've ever put myself in. This is a typical conversation:

President: Three weeks from now will be the book fair. You need you to be there every night to count money and make the deposits. (notice I am not asked but told)
Me: I think I'm available. (Not always knowing what my schedule is 3 weeks in advance)
Vice Pres: We NEED to know for sure. If you can't be there then we need to rearrange our schedules so we can be there.
Me: I'm PRETTY SURE I'll be there.
Me: Oh I'm going out of town on the Wednesday so I won't be able to do it that night.
Pres: But you can be there every other night, right?
Me thinking: Holy Moses lady! You really are nuts! (edited version)
Me: Yes I'll be there every other night. (mentally rolling my eyes)

Ok I realize this doesn't demonstrate the tactlessness that I wanted it to but I get a lot of phone calls that verge on harassment. She came to the house one night after book fair when I was in bed sick and talked to Ryan. Ryan said if she ever talked like that to him again he'd punch her in the face (sure toughy). He also used a not very nice word to describe her which I tend to agree with. As a result of this years experience I will not be volunteering for PTA again anytime soon. If this is the kind of crazy I will be dealing with I'd rather skip it.

Newlywed Game Claims Another Marriage

Last night we got together with some friends and played a newlywed type game that Amanda made up. We've been involved in a few of these games over our 12+ yeas of marriage and we are never the ones who win. I should realize that this means our marriage is a horrible farce and we should just go our separate ways. Instead it just makes me more determined to win next time. As a result, over the years I've had conversations with Ryan as to what our answers should be to predictable newlywed game answers. The one I actually remember talking about a few times is what our song is. Ryan and I did not have a wedding song since at the time we were married I was too cool for anything wedding like. Because of this I've had to make up "our song" so that someday we can get that answer right. I decided a few years ago that it would be Today by The Smashing Pumpkins. It seemed to be playing a lot when we were dating/newly married and it reminded me of Ryan. So I told him that this would be our song and to remember it always. You'd think he'd put that somewhere in his brain and hold onto it for such a night as last night. When the question was asked to me I thought I had this one in the bag. We'd had this conversation and there was no way Ryan would forget "our song". I'm sure you've realized by now that he did not remember it and that I basically yelled "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME!" The good news is we did win the newlywed game by one point and so apparently our marriage is the greatest marriage in the history of married people. Go Van Fleets!

Mimi Smartypants Made Me Laugh Out Loud

I'm linking her recent post about her daughter Nora getting sick and throwing up for the first time. I think this is amazing since Nora is between 3 and 4 and by that time my kids had hit me a few times with projectile vomit. Also for how young Nora is she really knows how to throw up. Unlike Grace who ran into our room last month, bypassing the bathroom and threw up all over Ryan. I had to laugh because I too lose my sympathy quickly which probably means I'm up for mom of the century.

Nora Pukes With Dignity

Been Busy

I've taken on a few home projects this week plus it's been super nice outside which means I don't have much time for blogging. I re-painted our bedroom from institutional sage green to a warm brownish/olive green. It made me strangley happy to paint away that green. Ryan was true to his word and did not help one bit with the painting. He did help me move some furniture and take down the blinds. Karen's family came over monday night for FHE and I could tell John was quite bored with the Samuel the Lamanite skit I produced and the kids acted. So he said he'd cut my edges for me. You know it's a bad FHE when someone would rather cut edges than continue. That got me started and I finished the next day. Yesterday I bought some of those white stackable storage cubes for Hanna's room (with cute baskets to put in them) and made her a nightstand with one and American Girl doll storage center with the other. This afternoon I decided to rearrange her room and do a deep cleaning. This kid is a collector and has some sort of fascination with ripping paper into tiny pieces. She later told me they use it as money to play store. Also I found little box filled with candy wrappers. I filled up a garbage bag with little Hanna "treasures". I put her bed against the opposite wall and moved her bookcase too. I also put a lamp on her nightstand which she thought was fabulous. So I'm feeling satisfied with my efforts this week. I'm subbing Thursday and Friday in a grade three classroom which I hope goes more smoothly than my grade one job last week which left me thinking: When did kids become so evil? I'll take some pictures when we get all our furniture put back in place.

Fun Times

I'm doing a picture wall in our house and I wanted a baby picture of me so mom mailed me a few last week. I thought it would be fun to share some.


This is me at three months. Except for big eyes, I don't really see a resemblance to the girls.


My favourite baby picture of me. My grandma made me this dress and I still have it. Could I be any cuter? I think I look a bit like Hanna here. I'm 15 months.


I think I'm 18-24 months here. I can see Grace in my eyes. I love this dress.


This picture is awesome just because of my mom's hair. Also Monti's suit is pretty swell. I'm guessing mom made all our clothes here.


In this picture I was sick. Mom said I was very listless. Apparently picture taking was more important than my health.


I don't like this picture of me. Notice my tongue placement. I was saying "cheese" but because I had a lisp it came out "cheeth". Mom thought this was adorable. Wasn't so adorable when I was missing math to take speech in grade three. Mom made this dress also and I have to say the fabric is pretty fabulous.