Saturday, November 27, 2010

Christmas Market day!

Well, we made it back from Halifax; Dalton did well with his chemo and spinal tap a gain, and the doctor on  duty was one he hasn't seen since last summer. Dr. Price had gone on Maternity Leave, so it was nice to see her back. She had a young resident with her, and was overjoyed to see how well Dalton was doing, explaining to him about his Summer when he first came to IWK... and being the textbook case of everything-that-could-go-wrong-did kid!
He is always a bit grumpy and unsure of examinations down there, but when you consider he's always cut of food when they see him, I guess he has good reason to be grumpy! Thankfully, a great visit from Buddington the clown cheered  him up.
We checked out the Halifax Citadel on this visit...it was freezing cold up there! and we went to the Freaky Lunchbox...a little shop we were told about that specializes in retro-candy and odd practical jokes. Right up Dalton's alley!  Of course, we went to IMAX and saw the new Harry Potter movie. Dalton loved it...kind of sad the one next summer will be the last one in the series. Dalton has grown up on Harry Potter and his friends; and end of an era in his childhood for sure. How sad!

Dalton's pal Malachi went in for his next lung surgery Thursday, and appears to be doing well. He is such a strong kid, but I have learned all these kids are incredibly brave in their own way.
Sara got her wish granted this week! Pretty exciting! She'll be headed to Jamaica next spring.

Now off to get ready for Christmas Market.Dalton has been busily getting things ready...chocolate lobster suckers, reindeer candy canes and he'll have some craft kits ready to go for the kids. I'll have lots of Close To my Heart deals for you, and many, many stocking stuffer treats!
Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Simplify

I had a great conversation yesterday with our librarian about life, and ways to SIMPLIFY.
I got thinking about it, not for the first time, but reminded, shall we say, last year while living at my aunt's. She is such a great believer in this, and I even bought her one of those country folk signs for her entry way with just that...SIMPLIFY.
So what does that mean? I think it means to slow down some. I'm not sure yet if I think it means do less. My mother in law has always jokingly said "Heather has more hours in her days", as if to suggest I am doing way too much.
When I sit back (hahaha...that meaning on my drive to work in the morning...all of five minutes, since we live so close to school) and take the time to take stock of life, I try and decide what needs to give. But in the run of an average day, I am not sure what that is. Seems to me, we get up in the morning, check email, pack lunches,get breakfast, get Dalton's pills ready, and then head out the door for school. Of course that is non stop! As a guidance counsellor, I don't give myself "prep periods", because that quite literally is my whole day...preparing for someone else, or the next school wide activity.
So I can't simplify there, unless I step back from the job. I have tried leaving the schoolwork in my office at the end of the day...which I am getting better at.But it is Midterm and report card week. So much for that! 
Then we get home by 4:30-5 pm. After stopping a the store for whatever errand needed to be done, so it's more like 5 or 5:30pm.
Mom, what's for supper?
I am slowly trying to  a better grip on supper and teach Dalton some of that responsibility. Not that we have glorious meals every night, but I am also much more conscious of nutritional value, and trying to cut back on the processed foods. Of course that often means more preparation time.
Once we get that done, there seem to be only two or three choices for the evening...What time does Dalton have to be at his next activity (because HE sure ain't slowing down!) Do we have enough clean clothes to get us through one more day? and WAIT! I still can't find the craft room.
At least the last one is improving. But only because I am trying to squeeze in extra hours for Christmas market preparation.
Now to get this Christmas Card class under way.
Simplify.
Yes, I will only do one class.
maybe two. but that would mean I would have to take some time to look at my calendar for five minutes and find a suitable date! good luck with that. It's much SIMPLER to go back to Facebook and see how everyone else is wasting their time!!
good grief!