No gnus is good gnus, really.

Well letsee, nothing huge happening in the world of kids, fabric and calamity. I did my women's retreat, nearly killed me. I thought we did 2 hours of yoga but was later told it was more like 3.5 hours. Then the hour of zumb fitness with skinny pretty way too young, had to hate her just 'cause girl and then the 4/5 hours of belly dance. I really did enjoy it and the property! Whoo! Who the hell has a full size soccer field with bleachers in their backyard?? Plus swimming pool, hot tub, hammock, hammock chairs, pool house with outdoor changing rooms, a yoga studio but has just converted the barn loft into a bigger studio, plus 400 acres of land. Really rich people do. The place was beautiful.

I'm going on vacation by myself this summer. Himself would not commit to going and did his usual *I'm mute* trick when I tried to bring it ups. Numerous times. I have explained again and again that being a fencer does not mean you *have* to fence from 9am to 9pm with no breaks. You can take a day off or just go for a couple of hours but apparently not. If you can't Ironman it, why do it at all.

Well I warned him last summer if he pulled the no vacation, sit at home and play video games all week, I wasn't sticking around. I don't know when his time of is and it doesn't matter. The 1st week in August I will be camping with friends in Pennsylvania. My bff who I haven't seen since my wedding day (cause she lives in Japan) will be there. I'm going. I've paid my pre-reg and it looks like I'll have a ride with one of my Windsor buddies. My SIL and Sis have both offered to take the girls so I don't have to worry about them. If it is not his week off and I'm sure it won't be, he will still have to work so I had to arrange child care. I might check to see if the daycare is open for the summer and if I can save spots for them just in case. But I think we'll be ok. Plus I'm sure Grandma would take them for a bit too.

The sad part is I *want* to go on a proper family vacation, I want us all to pack into a car and drive way to far, fighting all the way, everyone in tears and daddy ready to "turn this car around!" But he's following in his father's footsteps of not taking time off. So be it. We'll go without him on day trips this summer. Next year when the girls are older if he still won't come, we'll go without him. My sis would come along to help if I needed it.

There. What an outpouring. And all for Nicole;)

Motivated and learning how to sleep.

Worked a convention for the Sisterhood of Celebration. Many many women, mostly red hatters but a few sunflowers. Overall a very very good weekend marred by only a few, they aren't happy if they aren't bitchin' types.

The sockhop Saturday night was hysterical watching all these elderly ladies in poodle skirts and pony tails shaking it.

Friday night I bellydanced with my wonderful teacher and her troupe. I'm not part of her troupe, can't be but am friends with all of them so it was a nice treat for me even though we did all have to kinda do improv on the spot during the dance so as to not scatter the brains of old ladies about the Holiday inn ball room with our flailing canes.

Saturday I vended and caught a bus. Literally. Chased that sucker down the driveway, banged the door at the road and made it go back for the ladies it had left behind.

Sunday, done early, but had to listen to various ladies complain at me about stuff. Oh deal.

While vending at the convention I met another vender, a strikingly beautiful woman whose name will return to me at 3am. She sells Mangosteen juice. Xango? I think its called. Its another miracle cure all fruit. And tastes ok.

Anyway she asked to see my baby blankets, said she liked them, thought the price was good etc but I made the mistake of answering her "They will sell" with, "Hopefully."

Man, she turned into Yoda! Told me to sit down and basically said "There is no hope, there is no try, there is only *I WILL*."

C'mon, total Yoda moment right? The lecture lasted a good 15 mintues but thats the gist.

Then in the evening there actually was a motivational speaker hired by the convention. She was good but the best part of it was she told us how to sleep.

Take a hot shower...stand under the spray..whether you clean up or just stand there is up to you. Get out of the shower eventually. An hour after your shower your body temperature will drop...thats the time to go to bed. Keep cool air around you, open window, air conditioner, fan, whatever, Don't use too many blankets, stay cool but comfortable and you'll sleep well.

Well darn if it doesn't work! I've had the best couple nights sleep in freakin' ages.

Go take a shower.:)

Maybe famous

My child may be famous. Well sort of. We did Westfield as usual on Sunday. Not as usual a local artist wandering about took a liking to the girls. In particular to Shaughny in her bonnet with the eyelet lace shadows on her cheeks. He took many many pictures of the wee ones and even a couple of yours truly. And has emailed to say he feels a portrait coming on. It would be cool I must say.

Its a rainy dreary day. I may just nap it away. So far one kiddie has the same idea. Today was supposed to be a dance practice however, himself has to work so that was the end of that. Also Shaughny was supposed to go to a birthday party. Luckily I have not mentioned it to her so she doesn't know what she is missing. Really even with the rain I would have taken her but a good portion of the party is at the johnson centre pool. No himself means I have to take both girls with me. Both girls into the pool? Nope. Only one? Which one? Which one sits on the sidelines and has a temper tantrum because she's not in the pool with Mummy? Better to not go. We'll give her friend his present on Thursday at gym class.

Recently I have read that blogs by mums are exploiting children, revealing person things about them, and will of course result in teenage resentment and distrust.

Um...isn't that just the mindset of all teens anyway? :) In my case I would have loved to read what my mum was thinking/doing when my sibs and I were so young. It would be a huge insight into her personality. And really I keep these records so my kids will know me..or even grandkids can look back and say, "So that was my grandma. A crazy woman raising 2 kids and bellydancing around the house when no one was looking."

Mix up in departures!

And today... Shaughnessy starts yelling. You all just knew it would be a Shaughny story right? She stood up on a kitchen chair, leaned her knee against the back railings, pop! her knee slips through and is stuck fast. I came running downstairs to find himself trying to wiggle her knee back through. Honestly when I first cleared the babygate I thought he was checking her knee for damages and from the way she was yelling, figured we were on our way to Emerg. But nope, just stuck. So I stick my hand in the butter and slather up her knee while Shaughny is yelling, "Whats that supposed to do??" Then I gave a bit of a push slide to her leg and TADA freedom! Honestly. My kid is out to turn my hair (more) gray!Within 2 weeks she has give herself a fat lip running into the stationary gate we pass every single day and got a nice bump on her nose from running to the window crank into the church nursery. Now this. I'm telling ya, there was some mix up in departure, I got my sister's kid!

Shake it!

I survived my bellydance performance. Funny enough my brain could not remember what move to do next but luckily the rest of my was on autopilot and did what it was supposed to do. I looked pretty decent too I think. Plus it was early early in the program so I then got to sit down, watch and enjoy myself. The dancers were wonderful, the young girls too cute. My friend Lee has been living alone far too long as she was drooling over the one male bellydancer. I admit, watching him dance is a wonderful thing. Lee however had more horizontal persuits in mind.

There's a mom to mom sale coming up. I managed to get a table. And paid to bring my rack with me. I figured I had a boatload of stuff. Well, I don't. I have 2 boatloads of stuff. Big huge luxury cruiseships. To that end I have secured another table. We're selling the bassinette...and most likely the hop-n-pop thing. Evil thing giggling all the time. I won't miss it. Also, free space in the basement! Woot!

Was told by organizer to bring my baby blankets. Had planned to do so anyway but now won't feel sneaky about it. Also was told asian clothes sell well and as we all know (or at least I do) I have loads of that stuff too due to my obsession with collecting clothes from different countries. I would of course like to keep them all but really...we're out of space.

Tomorrow. Living history museum. Hope it doesn't rain. Have mended 1860's dress and shrunk it a bit. Still a tad long but just don't feel like worrying about it now.

Shhhh....Be vewy vewy quiet.....

Both girls are asleep. This is a rare and wonderful thing. I should be cleaning my kitchen during the lull but please! Computer or kitchen? No contest. I have another order for a blanket and its made already. Baby polar bears playing hockey, sporting Toronto Maple Leaf jerseys. Works well up here in the Great White North.

I got a wild hair (along with the usual handful) and began painting celtic stencils on the post in the hallway. I do think painting random things keeps me partially sane. Since I actually have no artistic talent I paint walls and stencil stuff. Oh well, someone, someday will buy this house after going WTF? at all the random painting.

I think I want a coffee.