*SIGHS* OF RELIEF

I know that I have been slack on writing the last few weeks, but when I get stressed this seems to be the first thing to go. I have had a lot of panic and stress moments, or so it seems. First we had to write a curriculum for the driving school. The guidelines were vague, or just downright confusing. If we called the ministry of transportation to try to clarify what they wanted, they left me more confused than when I called. After a lot of writing and editing, we had something we could live with (but we didn't like). It would at least allow us to operate in April when the rules change. We sent it in with the understanding that it would take 4-6 weeks approve. This meant the we should hear about it at the beginning of January. We didn't hear about it in January. With plans for a baptism in play, I tried to push it to the back of my mind. We had a meeting with CAA to see if we might be interested in using their curriculum. They had not even been approved yet, so the decision to call the MTO was made. I was informed that they had not even seen ours yet, it was still in the pile. We knew it was not up to the level that we wanted it to be, but didn't know where to start editing it. That, mixed with the uncertainty of what happens in April if we haven't heard from them, had me right flustered.

With planning the baptism, we had to wait until the day before to get a baptismal interview. (the Branch President has a strange work schedule). It did not occur to us until after we returned home form the interview that we did not know who was presiding at the baptism. I began calling branch presidency members to see who it would be, only to learn that the ball had been dropped. The BP was working,and both of his counsellors (father and son)were going on holidays. I was told I might just have to rebook to the next weekend. After informing them that that was not an option, with grandparents already here and aunty J. already on the plane, a scramble was on to sort this out. In the end, it was decided that the second counsellor in the Elder's Quorum would both conduct and preside. It still felt a bit crazy and disorganized, but we did it. (YAAAAAY!)

After sadly returning family to the airport to go home, we shifted focus to income taxes. I had to ensure that paper work was in order, not sure if I had even entered things into the books correctly. That has been a fiasco that I think we have finally found a way around, and then we found out that the date for our new curriculum was pushed back to September. Small Sighs all along, but I still did not know how to fix the curriculum we did not like. We received an email about an opportunity to learn about an approved curriculum, that is available for us to purchase. This was exciting, but with undertones of stress, as we had a ministry audit to ensure compliance on Friday. We were fine, but I had to make sure all the paperwork was in order.

This weekend we spent with family in Kitchener, as we had decided to attend this information session in Scarborough. I was going into this thinking and hoping it was an answer to prayer. Dear hubby went into this thinking he would buy theirs, and use it to fix ours, making it our own. After hearing what they have to say, we realized that it is what we have been looking for, and more. It would not benefit us in any way to make it fit ours, as they are calling it a "Living Curriculum". This means that as changes are made by the gov't, and in technologies, they will send us updates and how to use them. These will be sent via email, therefore making them free to receive. The cost would then only be incurred if we "chose" to print it off the email. (the choice would be ours.) The cost is only $5 per student, as opposed to the $50 per student that CAA wanted. It is such a relief to me to know that we are able to switch to a new approved curriculum that meets all our needs, and they will provide us with all the technical, and learning support we need. We have decided to switch to this new curriculum in June. This allows our old students to make up any classes they are missing, prior to the change. I can now start to look back at the pictures and moments of fun over the last few weeks, and start to put the memories together. I will be putting pics up next time.

Count Down

The kids are so excited that this week has finally come. I have been asked almost every day this last week, are they coming today?? Now we are down to one more sleep until we go to the airport. Then we get to go at the end of the week, and all of the cousins are coming from Kitchener. Oh the excitement from the smallest member of our house is about to explode out of the windows.

no more snow

After all the snow we got last year, we were relieved that they were forecasting less snow this year. I guess they changed their minds. These two pictures are looking out the front window at the snow on the front lawn. This is the approximate height the snow was last year at the END of March. The plows push thesnow onto the sidewalks here. That would mean that there can be no more snow here this winter. This is not what the weather is forecasting. On the plus side, it is supposed to be warm most of next week. Some of the snow will melt while the grandparents are here. Unfortunately, it is currently saying that it will cool off the day aunty J comes out. She has already been warned to bring a sweater, old houses are drafty.

We are sure excited to see the family, even with the snow and/or slush.

I'm still here

Just a quick note to say that I haven't forgotten about the blog. It has been a little stressful here trying to keep our finances in order. With Zac losing his job, it put unexpected strain on us. He just found out that EI has approved his claim, and that a cheque is in the mail. He will get enough to cover his bills, and start to pay off some of his debts (mostly to us).

Home at last

We just got in from visiting family in Kitchener. What a crazy drive home. It snowed all the way home, the plows were out and oh so slow. It took us two hours longer than normal. We did enjoy our time there though. I had an opportunity to get together with the ladies involved with reenacting the Revolutionary War, and learn about the requirements for those costumes. The helped me with patterns, and I am starting to get an idea of fabrics and patterns. It also takes a bit, because their ideas on matching colours and patterns differed greatly from ours today. While I was learning (and planning), the boys went skiing at a nearby hill with a brother and cousin. We also managed to get to the temple while in the area. Before we really got on the road to go on Friday, I had to drop some stuff off in Kingston. I took the opportunity to go to best buy, and bought a camera. I did take one picture, but I still have to load the cd on the computer to read the manual. I will get around to that this week, so I can start taking pics again. Well, I am tired of sitting, so we'll chat later.

CRAZINESS!!!!

So... I went to the doctor before Christmas, because the orange spots around my eyes were starting to spread. I was very quickly told that they are cholesterol deposits. My doctor ordered blood work, and made a referral to another doctor. The good news is that the spots can be treated with lasers, or chemical peels, and I managed to lower my bad cholesterol to a normal range. The rest is leaving me a little stressed out. It turns out that my good cholesterol is very low. I now have to get a special ultrasound on my carotid arteries (neck), to check the levels of plaque build up. My doctor also orders ekg's when ordering blood work, and this one came back different from the last one. So, I now have to go for an ecg. I feel like I am falling apart, and part of me would like to just go back to my ignorant bliss, where my biggest concern was that I still have 20 pounds to lose. At this point that is the only one that I can do anything about. I will just have to continue to get my but out of bed, watch what I eat, and be consistent. For those who didn't already know, I committed to this back in September, and lost 22lbs between Sept. 29 and Dec. 13. We all got sick, and I had to stop for awhile (its hard to work out when you are coughing). I put 5 back on during the holidays, so that means I still have 15-20lbs. to lose. That will put me at 150-155lbs. Right about where I was in highschool.

I have also been looking at various cameras, and starting to decide what I want. We will definitely have one before Parker's baptism.

Sooooo Tired

Hi everyone. Just thought I would send you a note to let you know what we have been up to. We spent New Year's Eve with friends in Kingston. They used to live right across the road from us. We had a pajama party with them last year, and decided it was so much fun that we would join them again. Then we decided to get dressed up, on Friday night, in our reenactment clothes and go see the lights at Upper Canada Village (it is like heritage park, but bigger). We got up real early today (Saturday) and took the family skiing at Titus Mountain. Kierstan and Parker took lessons, and they all had fun going down the hills all day. I sat in the lodge where it was warm, and read and made jewelry. Sadly, I do NOT have any pics, because my camera has decided to die. It will only take 1-3 pictures on a set of batteries, and then flashes low battery. We have been having this problem for awhile, but it has gotten so bad now that I cannot hardly take a picture anymore. We will have to save up and see what we can find for a new one.