In The Cat Cave

There’s no other way to say it except that the weather can really get you down in Newfoundland. Our winters are incredibly long - you have to find a way to make your own sunshine.   Twenty-seventeen is starting out with  a consistent snowfall and then back to back blizzards in February. March brought a wind storm that nobody has seen in 60 years.  Winds were clocking at 160 km/h and we saw siding flying off our house. It’s days like this that you question why it is that you live here. Then you put on your snowsuit onto go out to shovel but your neighbour has already done it for you. 
Then you remember... 
I love this place & the people in it. 

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 

I made it to Sunday.
Truth is I've been busy.  Too busy.  Soon I must say no to things. Not the fun stuff though. I like the fun stuff.

I started the morning at 6am by creating a project for the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team.  It's a great way to start a Sunday morning actually but I didn't like my project.  And I still don't.  You'll see in a few weeks. With that, I wanted to truly torture myself by creating a YouTube video. They are tough to do and time consuming but I need to do a better job at keeping my channel filled with new content.


Once the 13 minute video was completed I took a quick look to make sure that my camera wasn't upside down... That has happened too many times to count. Nope.  Not upside down.  But did it cut off... it sure did. Perfect. Bloody f*#king perfect.

By now the kids are up. At 4 and 6 years of age, they can occupy themselves for a little while.  I need to remember to put the orange juice lower in the fridge so that I don't get nagged to death in the mornings for a drink.


As always, we typically have at least one big breakfast with the whole family on the weekends. Its a small thing but I always look forward to it. This time I was in charge and I made a smorg-ous-borg of meat.  It was nice.  The four of us just slamming some eggs and toast. But the hustle was about to begin.


All four of us piled in the car at 10:30am to make the first drop off as Jane went to gymnastics for three hours.  Next was Ryan to go to soccer. First game of the season, he says.  Jack and I were left to kill a couple hours.

Costco it is.
Bad call.
We quite literally parked in the second last parking spot.
That should have been a sign of the bump and grind games I'd have to play inside.


Quick fact here.  Newfoundland. That's where I live.  Picture a large remote island in the Atlantic Ocean with approximately 500,000 people living on it.  On the whole island... now you tell me how its possible that we have one of the top busiest Costcos in the World.

Alright. I'll tell you.
Because we are downright wingnuts.
And its hard to get good produce.
And we plan our weekends around Costco.
Not me.  Not anymore.
But man.  The grapes were great today.  So were the strawberries but not for $5.79.

With still some time to kill, we ran to Michaels as I had a couple things to pick up for friends. It was worth going there just to see Jack in his element.  Man. This kid loves to shop.


I picked up the other child and back home we go.

Immediately I have declared a "Mommy Gets a Time Out." Nobody is to enter the bedroom for 20 minutes. Costco did me in. Or was it my kids? It's so hard to tell.



I love my bedroom and I love this view.  I basically re-mortgaged my house to get the house fitted with drapes and blinds last summer but it was worth every penny.  Someday. Someday... I repeat... someday I'll finish putting up the wall paper....

You could probably tell it was raining today.  
Oh and that black magic ball was wrong about the snow being gone by Friday.  That dirt pile was still there irritating me on my lawn. I wish I can tell you that the rain would beat it down... but I live in a much higher elevation than rainy Costco-land. It's snow here. It won't last but for certain it's a bummer.



I am reminded that I haven't moved much all week.  I need to make this a priority.  I know that but I always just don't make it a priority.  Yeah. That's true.  I should do something bought that. With the dreadful weather, there's not much motivation to get up and go.

However, I walked and then I ran.  Walked some more and ran again.  A solid fifteen minutes of running is quite enough for this girl.  Rooney the dog joined me and as always was a perfect companion.



Before we all headed to bed Jack joined me in my craft room to make a card for his friend William.  He seems to be more interested in holding a pencil these days so now I just roll with it. He's carefully making sure that he destroys the nibs of every single one of my Stampin' Up! markers.  Thank you Jack.


Good night Sunday. Until next time Week in the Life.
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

Welcome to the A Paper Pumpkin Thing Blog Hop!  This blog hop is brand new and was generated from the excitement of the April 2017 A Sara Thing Limited Edition Paper Pumpkin kit.

I am so happy that you have joined us!

My supper was atrocious. Perogies and insta rice with microwaved peas and carrots. Boo.  I have to remember to meal plan and get groceries.  Lately it seems I don't have time for the tiniest of things... no planning has been done all week.

It can't be bed time without a selfie with Mom.


Much of the night I was designing projects and cutting wedding programs... its a regular thing in my life.


Good night Saturday.
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 

I never slept enough.

But I laid out the cereal boxes with spoons and bowls on the table the night before so that we were ready for breakfast.  It's a good idea that I rarely do.  This is probably one of those 'ah ha' moments that I should remember when Week in the Life is over. #touche

The kids got up at 8 am and were occupied with each other. From my chair I watched them pass around the cereal and contemplate mixing chocolate milk with their Vector cereal. One did.  And it was a mistake.


The bulk of the morning was me cleaning, taking work calls and making sure that everyone was happy. Jane ripped the tags off her new tank top and couldn't decide what pants to wear with the big socks... Life is hard, I know.  After she selected the perfect pair of pants, 'I know the perfect sweater. I just love this hoodie because of the J. C. on the back.'  Her initials, of course.

Natalie was hanging off the chin up bar waiting for Jane to go play on the balance beam.  Friends are so awesome.  These two are so much alike. I love them to pieces.


It's now 11 am and I've got to get to Staples and run some errands.
Oh. And yeah. We had McDonalds for lunch... then ordered pizza for supper.
Boom.
It was that kind of day.


To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017

What is Week in the Life?:// Week In the Life is a project created by Ali Edwards where by you document a snapshot in time. Capturing mundane details of your everyday and perhaps your not so mundane moments.  This is my story and my photos for #weekinthelife2017. To see my #weekinthelife2016 stories and photos you can check out it here: #weekinthelife2016 

My house is in shambles.
My computer is slowing down because there's no more space on it.
The overwhelm continues.
But like yesterday, today we are going to see icebergs.... right after I go to the dentist for a regular teeth cleaning. That's the plan anyway.


I did manage to wake a good hour before Jane hopped out of bed.  When she came downstairs Rooney the Dog followed.  Three of us cuddled on the couch for a half an hour.  It's so fun to watch Jane connect with the dog.  Rooney adores her and its because of the attention Jane gives her these days.  I wonder where she gets her "ohhhh, you are such a good Rooney Dog.  You are okay. You are okay.  Just breath Rooney." Then I realize it's me. She's me. She may not look like me but she's for certain me.


Once Jack got up, both kids began building a City.  This room is just off the porch and is constantly look like an explosion happened.  But if you look closely you can see that there are little figurines placed carefully inside plastic containers, which are then placed inside a truck or an Octonaut pad. You will see like-minded toys lined up together ready to 'Save the Day'.  Today, Jane was working on an airport for Jack's lego helicopter... which looks nothing like a helicopter.

This room sends chills up my spine with all its unorganization and disarray but it's also like a piece of art.  I just wish I could walk through to grab a coat off their cubby hooks.  Here I am remembering that some day they won't be playing with toys and to just let them play... turning a blind eye.


My teeth are clean and it's time to make the 35 minute drive to Ferryland where the massive iceberg is floating.  We planned to take in the drive, check out the ice and grab some fish and chips on the way back.


The photos will never do these icebergs justice but the size of them were unlike any I have seen before.  I am disappointed in my myself that I couldn't find my fancy long distance camera lens.  But that's life at the moment.  The kids thought they were cool but they thought the rocky beach was even cooler.  Beach rocks are pretty cool... so soft and round.  Perfect. The beach was not quiet. You could heard the beach rocks rolling into the beach.  So cool.

Tonight would prove to be something new for us. Jane has one of her friends sleep over. This is definitely not unusual but it is the first time that Natalie would sleep over.  It just so happens that her brother is Jack's bestie also. We swapped kids for sleepovers.

Here's the kicker.. Jack has never slept over anywhere besides family and is very much a lover of his own bed.  "I am not sleeping over Mom.  I just want to stay a couple days." He says.  Makes sense Buddy. We assumed we'd be picking him up at some point but we didn't expect any problems and we were right. Soon the boys were filled with candy and popcorn. By 10 o'clock, William drifted off to sleep while Jack was still playing with toys.  Finally he says, "Can I go to my house now?"  God love him.  He's so predictable but I am so proud that he got that far.

I can't even deal with their cuteness.

The girls fell asleep around 11pm and I spent the next two hours in a state of chaos.


I stayed up too late tonight. I'll pay for that tomorrow.

Goodnight Thursday,
Cathy

To see all my 2017 Week in the Life stories and photos, you can click here to see them together: #witl2017