New Blog Site

Sorry to make you update your info on us, but we are changing our blog address.

Come and read about our incredible lives at:

http://templemansoverexposed.blogspot.com/

See you there!

The {City} Pumpkin Patch

It's that time of year again . . .



A few years ago I went to a farm and had the boys dress in costume and pick out their pumpkins in the patch.


It was pretty crazy. Jayden was 3 and Jackson was 1. I found myself lugging Jackson (with 6 extra spider legs) and a heavy camera around on a tractor ride and through the pumpkin patch. That was hard enough on its own . . . but trying to juggle two fair sized pumpkins as well . . . that was tough!


This year, I wanted a similar shot, but with much less work. (And since the farm now charges $8pp entrance and about $20/pumpkin, I wanted it a bit cheaper too.)


So, we went pumpkin picking like city folk.


We went to a local garden centre and picked from their oodles of huge pumpkins for half the farm price.


We had a great time. There were so many to choose from, and they were all pretty large.

We searched high, and we searched low. We looked for pumpkins with nice smooth fronts, and of course I looked for three varying sizes that would look good grouped together on my porch.

In the end, we walked away with a "small", "large", and "extra large" and a lot of bickering between the bat and the monkey (aka: Jayden and Jackson) as to who got to carve which pumpkin.

Personally, I wouldn't want to carve any of them! They are all huge. But the massive one (and I do mean massive--like 60 lbs worth, no joke) the boys have claimed stake on. I still don't know if we will really carve it. That's a whole lot of pumpkin guts to scoop!

Our massive pumpkin on the cart.

The little bat looking for the right pumpkin victim.

Why I Love Jackson's Preschool

In one 2.5 hour class, they did two worksheets: the letter "O" and the number "2",



made an "octopus",



and made a pet rock. (Jackson named him "Mr. Knuckle.")




They do such a great job there--all for $8/hr. And Jackson loves it.



When he walks in, he enthousiastically calls out,



"Hi Guys, I'm here!"



And then he wiggles his way in to where ever the rest of the group are sitting and joins them. (Okay, sometimes he just takes their stuff, but that's kind of joining them at this age.)



Yesterday he sat down and asked who knew how to say, "Au rawr" (aka: Au Revoir en francais). Apparently, they have a French part to their preschool. I think it is supposed to be only for morning students, but it must be seeping into the afternoon because Jackson comes home with new French vocab almost daily.

I've Been Tagged . . .

Never have been tagged before, but here goes. (Thanks, Meri.)



8 TV shows I love to watch:

The Office

Grey's Anatomy

American Idol

So You Think You Can Dance

CNN

Saturday Night Live



(Do movies count?)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

Count of Monte Cristo





8 places I love to eat:

Cafe Rio (when in Utah)

Olive Garden (When in Buffalo)

Old Pancake House (When in Michigan)

Jack Astors (at home)

Canyon Creek Steakhouse

Bistro 77

Greentree Marche

Macaroni Grill (When in the States)



8 things that happened yesterday:

How about 8 things that happened since Friday?

Worked out at the gym

Went and looked at some houses

Out to dinner with Brad's employers

Lounged around Sat am

Went to a tennis lesson with Jayden

Made breakfast for dinner

Went to bed early

Church Sunday morning



8 things I look forward to (in no particular order):

Time with Brad

New seasons

Long Weekends

Tennis lessons

Skiing

Christmas

Vacations

Buying a house and settling down somewhere . . .



8 things I love about fall:

The colours of the leaves

The crisp air

THANKSGIVING--turkey, pie!

Back to school buzz

Sweaters

Apples

Halloween costumes

Pumpkins



8 things on my wish list:

Only 8???

Nikon SB 800

A house ;)

Black ski pants

Subscriptions to Vanity Fair and Rangefinder

New Jeans

Cuisinart Brick Oven

Some new cartilige for my knees ;)

Le Cruset 5.5 qt dutch oven in lemongrass . . . Anyone taking hints for Christmas??



8 people I'm tagging:

Mark

Tricia

Jasmin

Heather B.

Paige

Lauren

Shelley

Heather M.

Boris and Bella

If you are looking for a great Halloween book for kids, look no further!

I came across this one at my favourite store (PBK, of course!) and didn't have a chance to read it. I searched online to find better pricing (amazon.com $12 hardcover, Borders: $6 paperback, and amazon.ca $13 hardcover, with 1-3 months ship time), but then walked through PBK the other day and it was on sale.

I snatched it up and let me tell you . . . I was not disappointed in the least.

Very cute. Very sweet. The illustrations are just grusome enough for kids. And the story line will lend itself so well for our Halloween Party--or any Halloween party for that matter!

Pick up a copy for yourself before they sell out so you can enjoy it this year!

Break-Neck Speed

I like to live in the fast lane.



I am always impatient to get to my destination. Once there, I look around for a few minutes, and then I am on to something new. A newer, better, more interesting place.



But life for me is starting to break the sound barrier, it seems.



I don't understand how I was barely done "back to school" shopping in August (well before school was starting), and then somehow missed the sale (let alone first crop) of Halloween costumes the first week of September.



Next thing I knew, Christmas decorations were floating around amidst Thanksgiving decor. (And it wasn't just Costco--they seem to be thinking of Christmas in July.)



Perhaps I could try to ignore all the commercial signals that speed life up, but still, my life seems to move at mach 2 and keeps getting faster. All the busyness, the running around that I do on a daily basis . . . sprinting to school, running errands for 2.5 hours and then sprinting back . . . and popping in the house for a bite for lunch and then shuttling the kids somewhere else . . . Well, time flys by at break-neck speeds already.



When does it slow down?



I'm sure life gets a bit slower at 60, but I'd really like to savour the moments I live in right now.



Like sitting at the table, dunking cookies into milk and chatting with my kids about their day.



Or taking the afternoon off to go to a pumpkin patch and hand pick out our own pumpkins.



Or just being a little more relaxed and able to be more patient when someone can't run out the door without tucking each new bug into their proper "bug bed"--in the garden, I hope.



How do you slow life down?

Creepy Crawlies

Well, it was inevitable.

Afterall, we have two boys.

In a row.

The love affair with bugs was bound to start some day.

I think this one started back in June when they decided to go skinny dipping with grubs.

Later this past summer, I discovered left over dinner and dessert remnants under Jackson's bed. Why? To feed his pet beetle.

This was disturbing enough, until he introduced me to his "friend" . . . a dead, dried up potato bug.

Later, Jayden discovered his inner scientist and began mutilating any and every bug he could find.

Today . . . I caught them smuggling, into my house, a pocket full of worms and an old bubble bottle of about a dozen creepy crawlies.

I tried to convince them that bugs belonged outside and needed to stay there. I even tried to scare them into leaving them outside, saying, "If you bring those bugs in they will crawl out of the bottle and crawl into your ears."

But I was still met with tears and a screaming match.

"I need my bugs!" "If they can't come in, then I won't stay in." "It's too cold for them outside."

(Roll eyes.)

I think I got them all out. But I really can't ever be sure what they might have smuggled in when my back was turned. (Shudder.)

Judging

On my walk to school the other day I followed behind two young men, probably in grade 8 or so, who were dressed "with the times."

They were approaching three of their friends, one of whom was a minority . . . and in this area, very probably from a recent immigrant family.

I overheard their conversation as they looked upon their "friend" commenting on his new look, which seemed to mimic theirs.

They chuckled and ridiculed him about how odd he looked with an over sized sweat shirt and long jeans, saying that he looked like a man on top but a girl on the bottom.

I had several thoughts run through my mind.

First off, I am normally discusted with people who change their identity just to please someone else. However, I am always cheering on the person who is trying something new and trying to find their identity. I chose the latter road this day.

Secondly, I thought about myself and our society and about just how quickly we are to judge, and judge harshly.

How many people are out in the world, desperate for some approval or a little nod of encouragement from us? And how easy it is for us to bite our tongue, smile, and perhaps offer those few encouraging words?

I Broke Down . . .

After three years of head banging, several reports of teachers who find him to be longer lasting than the energizing bunny, and a gymnastic instructor's complaint that he can't be disciplined . . .
I bought this book:

*photo curteousy of Amazon.com

I feel a bit like a failure buying this book, but at the same time, reading it has really helped. I have only started it but have been able to put into practice the first few chapters of new tools.

The labels section really helped. Each day I try to see Jackson in a more positive light. He is not stubborn, but determined; not troublemaking, but curious and creative; not over emotional, but passionate . . . the list goes on.

In addition, I have tried harder at seeing things from his view. Instead of ripping him away from staring at the pebble on the ground because we are late, and then getting into a huge screaming match that makes us even more tardy . . . I now take a few moments to acknowledge how interesting the pebble is and go quickly on our way.

And do you know something surprising?? Life has become much more enriching! I never realized how many specks there are on pebbles. ;)

Do you know the most surprising part of this whole "Spirited Child" program? In the book there is a quiz on traits expressed by spirited children. There is also a quiz on traits expressed by spirited adults . . . and somehow, I scored higher. :0

That may come as no surprise to most of you, but it sure surprised me.

At any rate, if you find yourself at wits end with your incredibly energetic and "curious, creative, determined" child, you may enjoy reading this book. I know it has made a huge improvement in our communication, outlook, and has even improved behavior issues . . . on both sides.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

It's hard to believe that my baby is one.

I worked so hard, dragging my feet, doing everything in my power to keep her small and baby-like. (It's funny that I would feel that way, since with Jayden I just couldn't wait for him to start growing up the minute he came out of the womb.)

Maybe it's because she is number three and I have wised up about just how quickly that first year really goes. Maybe it's because she has been an absolute dream. Maybe it's because she is our little girl.

At any rate, here she is, one whole year today. And, I am finally at peace that she can no longer be called "a baby." The exciting milestone of walking last month has really helped, I think.

Instead of reflecting on a year of firsts that will never come again for her, I can focus more on the lifetime of firsts ahead. And just how exciting those will be!

When I think back to this past year, I can honestly say I enjoyed every minute of it.

Those first few nights when she was only days old I would lay her beside me in bed and she would just stare at me and smile. (Yes, smile, no it wasn't gas.)

All the late night feedings. I really didn't mind.

She was a pleasure to cart around on errands, to dinners and movies, and even to Europe. Her sunny personality was a true delight.

Even sitting in the hospital for five days when she was a month old. Though it was painfully boring and hard to be away from the boys, it was so nice to have five whole days of one-on-one time with my baby.

Avery has been such a breath of fresh air for us. I can't begin to expain how much fun I had breaking out "pink" for the nursery, or gathering cute little dresses and girly outfits. Or how just having a female temperment has been delightful in our house. A great way to balance all our boys.

We are so lucky to have her as part of our family.

Happy Birthday, Avery!

A Recount

"This may be the first time in US history where the winner of the election asks for a recount."

I can't take credit for that quote, I heard it on one of the CNN commentaries. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one.

But, I think it might be true.

What a mess the next president gets to tackle head on.

And then there is the Bailout Bill . . . that has passed the senate at $850 billion. I've tried to do a bit of research on this bill and the implications it has for the US, and subsequently the rest of the world. Unforutnately, my studies in microbiology and chemistry left little time to study economics in depth, so I have a handicap. I'm not sure it would make a difference though since all the experts in economics can't agree on whether this is a good idea or not.

I think I would have to lean towards not passing the bill though. It seems like they would postponing the inevitable, and possibly make whatever is coming our way far worse. The longer we put off a recession, the more likely we'll be faced with a depression. It might be better to rip the band-aid off quickly and deal with the pain.

And on the other hand, I feel like it is somewhat noble to at least try to fix the economy rather than just go like a lamb to the slaughter.

I am just so glad that I am not faced with having to make this decision and taking responsibility for it.

The real problem though is looking to who will take over the presidency. Every election there always seems to be some grumbling about how "unfit" the candidates are to lead the country. Both Obama and McCain have their flaws. But have you seen Palin's interview with Katie Couric??? It is down right terrifying.

Check it out here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/24/eveningnews/main4476173.shtml

Ican't imagine a more terrifying situation for the American people: having a really old president in a stressful, cardiac-arresting economic crisis, and a VP who thinks that being geographically close to Russia and Canada makes her a good foreign relations negotiator.

Is it too late to re-do the Republican and Democratic primaries? Where is Mitt Romny when you need him?

A lot of you may be wondering why this Canadian is taking such a deep interest in American economics and politics . . . especially when we are having our own election in two weeks and sadly, I haven't really studied anything about our own candidates.

Well, American politics are far more interesting, even if they are scary. (See Palin's interview. Even SNL's spoof on it made Palin sound more intelligent.) Secondly, we have an expression up here: "When the US sneezes, Canada catches a cold." What ever happens in the US will come up to Canada and hit us even harder.

That's pretty scary given the doom and gloom predictions for the States right now.

However, there was an economist interviewed on CNN last night who was asked about the accuracy of leading economists in predicting recessions/depressions. He said, "Economists have predicted 9 of the last 5 recessions." (Meaning, they always predict the worst and it doesn't always work out that way.)

Here's to hoping that things won't unfold as badly as they are predicting.

700 Billion Bail Out

If any one is in the dark about this bill, check out the link below. It's a summary of the bill.

http://media.npr.org/documents/2008/sep/bailout/economic_act_summary.pdf

For an analysis, click here
http://media.npr.org/documents/2008/sep/bailout/economic_act_analysis.pdf

For the whole 110 pages, click here
http://media.npr.org/documents/2008/sep/bailout/economic_act_draft.pdf

And for a (hopefully) unbiased review of the pros and cons, see
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3087027/Financial-crisis-Good-points-and-bad-points-of-US-bail-out.html
and
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/29/miron.bailout/index.html