Happy Leap Year

Tonight I have nothing even remotely intelligent to say, we are in the midst of prepping our house to be painted (more on that nightmare later) still having showings, (there are two booked for tomorrow already) and Way Cooler teaches all weekend.

So, what on earth am I doing blogging?

I really just wanted the February 29th time stamp on my blog.  That's all.

We now return to my cleaning and organizing frenzy.  

Yee Haw.

There's a Mouse in the House

Well, actually he's in the garage, but it's attached to my house, so for me, that's just waay too close.  Mind you, mice in the neighborhood is too close.

You see, last week I was taking a diaper out to the garbage and I saw something scurry from under my van.  Scurrying makes me nervous.  So, I looked a little closer and there it was in all it's disease-carrying glory; a mouse.

Mice don't really scare me, they just make me mad.  The only living things allowed to live in my house are those that I gave birth to or those who help pay down the mortgage.  If a creature doesn't fall in the above categories, it is not invited to stay.  

So, Way Cooler was instructed to set the traps.  

A side note, these are not the humane traps where you catch and release, I spent two years in Texas and like the philosophy down there, "if you are uninvited in my home, I have the right to kill you."  I just choose to limit this policy to the non-human invaders, unlike some Texans.

You'll be pleased to hear that we caught two mice within a day and I haven't seen any since.  This is especially good to know considering we are trying to sell this house and if people think the blue walls are a bit of a turn-off, I have a funny feeling they'd really have issues with a mouse.  

Miscellaneous Monday

This post will be a random scattering of events from the house of Geek.

* We went to our town-to-be this weekend again. It was MUCH better this time as my parents took the boys so we could pick out blinds and church shop hunt in peace. I tell you, it was almost zen-like. We even ate quiet meals together, dare to dream.

* We bought a house about two weeks ago. After the house hunting fiasco we starting looking at spec homes with the same builder that built our house here. Ironic isn't it? We didn't have the best building experience with the builder, but we do love the finished product so we are hoping that by going spec everything will be tickity-boo. We shall see. Either that or we are gluttons for punishment.

By going with a spec home we do not get to pick our colours or features so our new house will be generic yuppie colours. Apparently this is better for re-sale as our current paint colour is deterring some of our potential house-buyers. They would prefer generic yuppie colours. Go figure. Boring clones.

* As you may have detected, we have not yet sold our house. I am still having to clean waaay too much.

* The incessant cleaning did lead to one blog-worthy event, for the first, last, and ONLY time, my house was cleaner than my mother's. Much like Hailey's comet, this is a once in a life-time thing.

*Today the washing machine died (and miraculously came back to life for the 40 dollar service call) as well as the upstairs TV. Way Cooler is rather leery of me being near any more electronics as all kicked the bucket in my presence.

* Roll up the Rim is starting. For Canadians, this signals this beginning of the end of winter (as well as over-consumption of coffee.) You really have to check out Catherine's blog during RUTR as she keeps a running tab of her winnings. The people in her office even create spreadsheets to track what they win. What can I say? It's been a long winter, we trick ourselves into thinking this is fun.

* We are all well again. I almost hate to write that. It's like an instant jinx when I do. So, if the kids puke tonight, I have no one to blame but myself.

*It's going to be a good week. I know it. The spellcheck works again on blogger, the snow is melting and my kids gave me numerous hugs and kisses throughout today. What more could a girl ask for?

If You Give a Sprout a Sandwich

(With apologies to Laura Numeroff, the author of the fabulous "if" series.)

If you give a Sprout a sandwich, he will throw it up.

Because you are talking to Sprout's daddy you won't see it right away and Sprout will be bored.

So, he will decide to finger-paint with his puke.

You'll take him upstairs to clean off.

You will have to leave for a second to get a washcloth.

He will be bored.

He'll root through your bathroom cupboard looking for something to do.

He'll try to drink the bubble bath.

So you'll give him a cup.

You'll have to rinse out his clothes leaving him with only his cup for company.

He will be bored.

He will solve the boredom business by using his cup to transfer water from the toilet to the tub.

He will be mightily miffed when you take away the cup and wash his hair.

He will decide to throw himself backwards which will cause him to bang his head on the wall.

You will have to stop washing his hair to calm a screaming, snotty Sprout.

He will use this opportunity to tell you that after all this work he has a"hun-gy tummy".

 So you will give him another sandwich.

In Case You Didn't Know That I am a Geek

We got a call today booking a  house showing for tomorrow night.  Normally showings (with appointments) make me very happy, (let's just sell this puppy) but my first thought was OH NO!.

You see, all week I have been looking forward to two things.

A) The Democratic Debate

B) The Premier's Debate.  

It's kinda like heaven for a political geek, two major debates in one night.  I had a date with a bowl of popcorn and the remote.

Now I'll be entertaining my kids on the mall at 6:30 instead of watching my debates.  Sigh. 

I wonder if I can tape them?

The Geek Expresses an Opinion

Warning: This post is about politics. The views expressed within this post are solely those of the Hapy Geek and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the rest of her family (or province for that matter).

Recently I have been reading a lot of Republican bloggers who are all stressed about who they are going vote for in the primaries. I really want to comment on their blogs and say "it doesn't matter!" I refrain however, Americans take their politics quite seriously and I don't need all the cranky rebuttals I might get.  But honestly my Republican friends, do you think it matters at all? Are you actually convinced the Republicans might win this election? As a Canadian outsider, I gotta tell you, unless they run a Santa Claus/ Easter Bunny ticket, there is no way there will be a Republican in the White House in 2009.

Now, I am neither Republican or Democrat. I can see the merits and pitfalls of both parties, it's not that I want one or the other to win, I can just see the obvious. The US economy has really seen better days. There is a mortgage crisis and the war in Iraq appears to be going nowhere.

I understand that all of these things are big complex issues and it is foolhardy to blame it all on the current administration.    That being said, I am certain that most Americans are not happy with the way things are and are looking for someway to enact chance. For many of them, their only option will be the ballot box.

On the flip side, if this was the state of the country at the end of a Democratic reign, you can bet that the GOP would be headed for 1600 Pennsylvania Drive. It's not a reflection on the party as much as on the need of average citizens to do something. If Washington is anything like Ottawa, it's a big messy bureaucracy that leaves the average person feeling a bit powerless, so we exercise our right to vote as our way of making our voice heard.

So, my Republican friends, you've got 8.5 months to get ready for it, but yes, chances are VERY good  your next commander in chief will be a woman or man whose middle name is Hussein. Several of you have lamanted the possiblity of both in your blogs, but you know what, one of the two are going happen and to me that's not necessarily good or bad, it just is.

Sure, Come On In

Last Thursday the doorbell rang.  My kids have a Pavlovian reaction to the  doorbell, they go racing towards it certain that Papa and Nana are on the other side.  This time however, Papa and Nana were in Yuma where there is no snow.  Grrr.    Instead, there stood a relator with two clients in tow.  Double Grrr.

Now generally, relators call ahead of time and make an appointment.  This one THOUGHT she did, but trust me, no call had been made.  So there I stood, not 100% certain if I had even brushed my hair yet, with my two children in various states of undress.

I do dress my kids in the morning, but the floor seems to attract my children's pants faster than a picnic attracts ants.  They don't stay on for long and this is just not a hill on which I am willing to die, or even really climb.  As long as their pants stay on in public, I let it slide at home.

ANYWAY, there I stood semi-naked children at my side and the entire contents of my fridge on my kitchen counter as I was in the process of cleaning it out.  "Sure come on in" came out of my mouth, but those were not the words running through my head!  Looking back, I am utterly grateful that the thoughts in my head stayed there, as they were not entirely gracious or welcoming.

But then it occurred to me, it could have been far worse.  They could have come the day before.  You see, the day before at about that time, I had finally gotten the boys in front of Veggietales and ran upstairs for a quick shower.  I would not have heard the doorbell, and the relator, she has a key.

The boys were in the basement and she would have thought no one was home.  They would have commenced the tour.  So, I am grateful that the only half-dressed people they saw were under four.  Unbelievably grateful.   As I am certain they would be too if they knew what they narrowly missed seeing!

There's Something in the Air

Unfortunately, it isn't romance.

Currently at the house of Geek, the air is full of coughing, puking and germs in general.

Happy Valentine's Day:)

For our romantic dinner tonight; Lipton's Chicken Noodle Soup. Yea, we like to live it up around here. To show we really know how to party, we threw in some Ritz crackers with peanut butter. (Only for the poeple who were not hurling.)

I am currently the healthiest of the bunch. I had the tummy flu on Monday but it appears to have been short-lived. However, the boys did not want to miss out on the action so they both currently have croup. Their dad has a nasty cold as well. It's not even a man-cold, this is the genuine deal.

Spud is one of the sickest I have ever seen him. The boy can usually puke and then go run around the living room for half an hour or cough up a lung and then eat a couple of sandwiches.

Not so this time. He is not eating, running or talking. Since these really are the three main things he does ALL day, every day, (with gusto) he's a very different kid. All I can say, is thank heavens for Treehouse TV and cold mist humidifiers.

So, from the house of germ Geek: Happy Valentine's Day! May your chocolates be many and your colds be few!

Public Service Announcement #7

Should you wake up in the middle of the night with the stomach flu, do not by-pass the nearest two bathrooms with the misguided intention of not waking up the rest of the household.  Go straight to the nearest bathroom unless it is your idea of a good time to be scrubbing your carpet at 4:30 in the morning.  In that case, carry on.  

For the rest of you, sometimes it is OK to think of yourself first.  This would be one of those times.

Africa Anyone?

Shannon and Sophie are now in Uganda!  If you read nothing else this week, make sure you check out their blogs!

House Hunting is Not for Wussies.

Way Cooler and I believe that schooling does not necessarily  make a person smart. Last weekend proved that. Between the two of us there are 15 years of post secondary education and we still decided that it would be fine to take the boys with us on a whirlwind househunting trip. Educated and stupid.

So, early on Saturday morning we loaded the van and drove three hours down to our new city. We then spent the next six hours driving around the city scoping out the various neighborhoods. With the exception of two 15 minute jaunts into showhomes the boys were locked into their seats for nine hours. We even ate lunch in the car.

Somehow, we thought we could do this all over again the next day, only this time we would be with a realtor actually walking through homes. Ten houses in 3.5 hours. This means ten times of hauling kids out of their carseats, ten times buckling them up and ten houses where we were in constant fear they might touch something. Oh, did I mention, it was -10 (c)?

By about the third house the boys had withdrawn our nomination for parents of the year, by the sixth house it was doubtful if we would ever get presents for our birthdays and by house number nine they were plotting about our nursing home situation.

Our relator was young and childless.  I'll bet she never forgets to take her pills EVER again after last Sunday. 

So, of course after this exhausting morning we went for lunch and then just headed home eh? NOPE. No, we thought we would spend the afternoon looking at more showhomes and whenever we spotted an open-house Way Cooler would run in while I entertained the boys in the car.

Ever entertained rabid wolves? That would have been easier.

Oh, and as a side note, if you ever find yourself running a showhome, a basket of toys in the corner is a great idea, but if your definition of toys is a few broken playthings from the 1950s that look like they were last used by a dog and have never been washed, ever, maybe skip the whole toy basket thing. Thanks.

So, did we find anything?

Hahahaha.

All we learned is that real estate agents are really great creative writers and those who are dumb enough to take their kids house-hunting with them deserve not to find anything.

The Winding Road

Sometime ago Antique Mommy wrote a post about her life's journey and how she has taken the road less travelled. She asked what our journey has been like. That question seemed to stick with me so I thought about it a lot.

If I had to sum up my life's journey since I have been an adult in one word I would have to say "surprising".

You see, I am a planner. I imagine things out, then work my life around those dreams and set goals related to the dreams. Then reality hits.

As I have mentioned before, we have moved a few times. I never saw a single on of those moves coming. Each was a surprising change from "My Plan." Each move has stretched me, enriched me and made me better, even though many have not been easy or what I thought I wanted.

The House of Geek is about to embark on a new twist in the road. Way Cooler is shifting careers and we are returning to a place I never once thought I would live again. I am going back to my hometown.

With this new career comes a lot of changes and adjustments, it's not like anything he's ever done before (he even has to go back to school) but I've rarely seen the man so excited. There is nothing like sharing the unbridled joy of someone you love.

Way Cooler tends to be a tad private (those of you who actually know him know this to the understatement of the century) so I will not be blogging about what exactly it is that he will be doing but if you know us in real life, give us a shout, we'd love to fill you in.

I am in the midst of selling my house and the sheer pleasure that is keeping it in show-home-like state with two VERY active preschoolers. I am so thankful I am not a perfectionist or I think I would be hitting the bottle every evening right about now.

There are lots of good things about this move (To my seventh home in 11.5 years) including blog fodder. I won't have writers block for months I am certain. I probably won't have a lot of free time to blog either, but I will certainly try or I may have to pull out the previously mentioned bottle:)

All joking aside, this certainly isn't the biggest move we've ever made, but it's a change nonetheless, and all this week as I've been thinking about it, this song has been running through my head.

"All the Way my Saviour leads me

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt his tender mercy,

Who through life has been my guide?"

So, lead on Jesus, I'm looking forward to seeing what is around this bend!

Guess What

I have huge news.





Huge.







You won't believe this one.







Sometimes I have trouble believing it.

















Oh, did you think I was going to tell you today?





Nope.





Stay tuned.

Things I Have Learned Since Having Boys

Until I had my kids I never knew that storytime is a contact sport. Mommies may get bruised occasionally while reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

* I did not know I would learn to be an expert in book repair. I am working on my second roll of book tape. I never thought that a one year old could rip a board book, but I have been proved wrong, time and time again.

* I didn't realize that I would sweep the floor 4 times a day.

* I did not know that if a three year old gets a large enough goose egg on their head it will drain down and leave said three year old with two black eyes.

* I had no idea that someday I would refer to my pretty underthings from La Senza as "gaunch".

* No one told me that I would play soccer at 6:30 in the morning with one son while nursing the other.

*When I was still childless I had no comprehension how much joy burping and flatulence would bring to my off-spring, no matter who does it.

* I could not fathom how much noise can be generated by only two children. It really makes me want to lay in a lifetime supply of earplugs for those with more than three boys. I'm praying for you all.

* I would have never believed I would write an ode to bleach or a letter to my washing machine.

*I never would have believed how much a two little blondies with crewcuts could work their way into my heart so that the mess, the noise and the bruises fade into oblivion with just a smile from my boys.

It's Finally Over

67. I once went to Six Flags all by myself. It was a truly fun day. I loved not having to worry about what anyone else wanted.

68. I am a people pleaser. If this bothers you, I'll change.

69. I have lots of friends, but can't really say that I have ever had a "best" friend.

70. I have a "best" sister though and cannot imagine how awful life would be without her.

71. My favorite flower is the sweet pea, but the fragrance of them now gives me a headache.

72. If we had had a girl her name would have been Tenaya Joy.

73. I love all kinds of ethnic food but cannot eat Korean. I do not understand this either.

74. I hate bananas and tomatoes.

75. I don't even like ketchup; it tastes too much like a tomato.

76. I love rollercoasters.

78. I have yet to read Pride and Prejudice. I want to though.

79. I like to camp, I don't like all the work involved in getting ready. If there is lots of work, then it is not a holiday.

80. This is why sailing holds no appeal for me.

81. I do not like competitive sports. Watching and playing. It's a game people, not real life.

82. I really want to go to Africa someday.

83. I love learning about history.

84. I hope someday to be involved in a political campaign.

85. I have Interstitial Cystitis. It gave me grief through my early and mid-twenties but now I pretty much don't even know it is there. My urologist rocks.

86. I sin a lot.

87. Being late gives me hives. I cannot stand to be running behind.

88. In elementary school I was usually picked last for team sports. Can't say I blame the captain.

89. I am a follower of Christ and am so thankful that He forgave my sins, of which there are many. I cannot imagine my life without Jesus.

90. I can often be found singing praise songs in the car. My kids now ask me to stop.

91. I can remember trivial details really well. I know when and where I saw a movie 15 years ago.

92. I often lose my keys.

93. I hate snakes. I refuse to do the reptile wing at the zoo. Yes I know they are behind glass, they are still looking at me and that gives me the willies.

94. When I taught in Texas I was the only Caucasian at my school the second year I taught there. The rest of the school was predominantly African-American with a few Hispanics. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

95. I have always been quite shy.

96. Texas basically cured that. I got very loud and in-your-face. I now tend to stay out of people's faces, but I am still a great deal more outgoing than before.

97. I have no plans to ever teach again. I'm a great person, but not really all that good of a teacher. Plus, the parents almost did me in.

98. People often think I am younger than I really am. At 30 I was carded at the library. (I know; my coolness is overwhelming sometimes.)

99. I had laser eye surgery after Way Cooler got his PhD. It was his thank-you present for putting him through five years of school. I have never gotten a better present. Ever.

100. I am done!

And the Winner is...

The New York Giants.

Oh, you were wondering about the contest!

Well, in that case, the uber-cute outfit retailed at 32.00. I got it for 4.99. The skirt was 2.99 and the top (it has lace embellishments-so it seems a bit priceier) was 2.50.

That's a savings of 83%.

The closet guess was Taya at 5.25.

Congratulations.

Hey, tomorrow, the last bit of my 100 things!

Whoo-hoo.

It's been a very very very long weekend, so good night all.

very very.

35-66

As promised, here is installment two of things you never wanted to know so didn't bother to ask.

35. I have always been hearing impaired, it was a side effect of a difficult vaginal breech birth; it took a while for me to get breathing.

36. I am unbelievably thankful that this was the only thing affected it could have been so much worse.

37. I think my hearing loss is tougher on those around me than it is on me. I turn the TV up too loud, I am loud and people may think I am ignoring them.

38. My favorite TV series is Star Trek Voyager.

39. This does not make me a trekkie. Although, I have been to Vulcan. Still not a trekkie. I just want to be Captain Catherine Janeway when I grow up.

40. I don't floss. I know my teeth will fall out eventually; it's a risk I am willing to take.

41. I used to take piano lessons. It took 7 years for me to reach grade two Royal Conservatory. Paying for my lessons may not have been the wisest investment my parents ever made.

42. I am also tone deaf. If I tried out for Canadian Idol, I would get on TV. Guaranteed.

43. I lived for two years in a little bitty town of 2500 in the middle of the forest.

44. This was probably one of my favorite two years ever.

45. I hate shopping for shoes.

46. I have an unbelievably vivid imagination. I've learned to tone it down now, but when I was in grade 5 I pretty much thought I was Anne of Green Gables.

47. I don't wear make-up. This is not due to religious reasons, allergies or that I am insanely beautiful and don't need it. I am such a klutz I cannot properly apply it.

48. My favorite book series of all times and forever is Anne of Green Gables. I re-read it at least once a year. My copies are actually wearing out.

49. In the last 12 years I have probably woken up less than ten times and not been in the middle of a dream. I dream constantly. They are vivid, wild and often involve terrorists. For five years after leaving my job in Texas I still dreamed that I was in trouble with my boss.

50. I do not craft. The klutziness is to blame for this as well. I really should not be allowed around scissors.

51. My camp nick-name was Crumb. I keep telling myself it was in reference to my size and nothing else.

52. I do not like coffee but the smell is utterly heavenly. The stuff just tastes like battery acid.

53. When we were in Texas I fell in LOVE with Southern Cooking. Sometimes I read Boomama just for the references to fried chicken.

54. The mere mention of BBQ can have me salivating.

55. Before I was married I attended the same church my whole life and lived in three houses. Two of them were in the same neighborhood.

56. Since being married I have moved 5 times. In a week, we will have lived in this house for 2 years. That will be the longest in any house so far.

57. Fire freaks me out a bit.

58. I have never smoked. Who in their right mind puts something on fire in their mouth?

59. I hate cats.

60. I have only had sunburn about 5 times in my life.

61. I slather my kids with sunscreen, but I often "forget" to put it on myself. I love how dark my skin gets. (Both of the women who I call mom, please forget you read this.)

62. I read Clive Cussler and Tom Clancy.

63. I'd rather watch a blow-em-up shoot-em -up move than a chick flick. I really do make a lousy girl sometimes.

64. Before dating Way Cooler I rarely cried.

65. I now cry at the opening of a Kleenex box.

66. I have never made pie crust.