Downpour

This afternoon, I took all three girls on a little outing. I had a couple of errands to run, and then we had to go to Safeway. The first stop was to Shaw to return all their equipment. I decided it would be easier to leave the oldest two girls in the car and just take CeCe while I ran in. It was mid afternoon, so I had brought along a snack for them to occupy their time just in case I had to wait a couple of minutes. It wasn't super warm today, but I thought I would crack the windows just to give them some fresh air. It had been cloudy all day, but nothing was really happening. So I had them all set up, took CeCe and the cable box inside, and had to wait in line for a minute. Then the sky opened up. I'm talking torrential downpour. Out of nowhere with no lead up. Just sheets of rain. I'm standing there with CeCe and I realized that I left the windows in the car open. Now what to do? There was a bush between the window and the car so I couldn't actually see them, but the direction of the rain looked like it shouldn't be too bad. I decided to wait. It took a few minutes until I was done, and then I threw a cloth shopping bag over CeCe's head and ran out. From the building out to the sidewalk I was soaked. I opened the car door and realized that perhaps I should have came out sooner. The girls were in hysterics. "The windows are open! The windows are open!" I got them shut and me and CeCe in and then proceeded to try and calm them down. They weren't wet, so that was good. Had I left CeCe in the car too, she would have been soaked. Eventually the wails turned to sobs and then to sniffles, and then to just tear stained cheeks. Boy, did I ever feel like the good Dad. I waited a few minutes more before driving away because the windshield wipers couldn't keep up. The storm sewers couldn't keep up, there was water up on to the sidewalks. It was a serious storm. It was over in ten minutes, but it was nasty. It just had to happen for those particular ten minutes. There was no sign, I mean, I wouldn't have left the windows open if I thought it would rain. Crazy. Just another reason to get rid of Shaw. Later.

Shaw out, Sasktel in

Sasktel is back, and it is awesome. Even Julie noticed a difference in the TV picture. I put on a football game, and she commented on how crisp and clear the picture was. Ah yes, I am in heaven. And for the next three months we get all the channels, extra HD channels, movie channels for free. It may be hard to give all that up. But I'm sure once we see what it would all cost, it will be easier. Jorja is happy too. She thanked God tonight that we got our old channels back. Well, so did I for that matter. Later.

Christmas in July

We got back from my parents' place yesterday. We had a good trip - the visit was dubbed 'Christmas in July' because everyone was there - all my siblings, spouses and kids, as well as my grandparents. It's getting harder to all get together, especially at Christmas, so we found a weekend in the summer that worked for everyone. The weather cooperated too, which was a blessing (there are four of us in the family, plus my parents and grandparents and then 8 kids). It would have been awfully crowded if it rained. The girls had a blast playing with their cousins, and we had a good visit. The ride home went remarkably well too. CeCe had a 2+ hour snooze, and the other two girls both slept for over an hour, we stopped once to feed CeCe, and everyone was fairly well behaved.
We were barely home five minutes, and I had changed two poopy diapers already. Ginny never pooped the whole weekend we were were away, and CeCe only did once. I too suffer from this problem quite often. Some of Julie's friends call it 'holiday lockdown.' When I was still working, they were talking about it on the radio one morning too, so I know it's a real problem. Anyway, Ginny has been cleansing ever since she's been home - twice yesterday, and four times today. Did I mention that my Mom makes really good bran muffins that the girls both love and ate quite a few of on the weekend? I think everyone is pretty much cleaned out now though.


I made the call today to switch back to Sasktel. I just can't believe how crappy Shaw is. Last night when we were watching the Bachelorette (I know), even Julie said how glitchy and pixely it was. That was the final straw. Not to mention, I couldn't go through a whole CFL season with the picture we had. So July 29, we switch back. They've got quite a good deal on too, for people who are coming back from Shaw. Plus, Sasktel has the Playhouse Disney channel, which Shaw doesn't offer. That means no Strawberry Shortcake, Carebears, Handy Manny...It was a bit of an adjustment for the girls. So today I told Jorja that we were getting it back and she was ecstatic. Tonight when we were saying our prayers she thanked God that 'Daddy talked to those boys and that on July 29 we are going to switch TV.'


Jorja's fifth birthday is coming up this week on the 22nd. We're having her party on Saturday, so that should be draining (there will be 7 little girls in the house for two hours). She's pretty excited though. One little girl that she invited wasn't able to come, so there were tears over that this morning. It's a rough life. Later.

No naps

The past two days, Ginny has gone without a nap. It all started yesterday afternoon. Julie had to go to a physio appointment right after lunch. So I went to put Ginny down for a nap. She is so independent these days, and if she can't do something herself, it results in huge hysterics. Falling down on the floor kicking and screaming. Going totally limp when you are trying to carry her. Where do kids learn that? Is it instinct? It's very effective at any rate. I forget what set her off, but she was not happy. We always start time by singing a couple of songs, which she picks. She didn't want to pick any, and did not take kindly to any of my suggestions. So finally I had had enough, and just put her into bed. But you can't put her into bed, she has to get in herself. Now she sleeps in a toddler bed, so it's like six inched off the ground. Well, you'd think she was scaling Mount Everest to get in when she doesn't want to. Yet she can climb to the top of the play centre in the backyard with no issues. Funny how that works. Anyway, we were getting nowhere with going to bed, and CeCe was waking up and ready to eat, and I was by myself, so I finally told her that if she wasn't napping to go downstairs. Julie got home about an hour later, and everyone had calmed down by that time. She said she never would have guessed. At least it appeared that I had everything together. So when I took Jorja to soccer, Julie stayed home with the other two, and had Ginny in bed and asleep before 7:00 with no issues.

So we thought we would try it again today, and it went reasonably well. If this does work out (and I know enough not to let two days be enough of a trial), it will be nice to have more of an evening without children back.

The Shaw guy came today, and the internet seems to be better, but I'm still not happy with the TV. I'll have to call again once I calm down.

Anyhow, it's late, and I should be sleeping. Everyone else is. Later.

Parakeets

Let me start by saying we had internet troubles today. When I say troubles, I mean it didn't work. At all. I called Shaw, who we switched to last week, and they couldn't do anything over the phone. They have to send a technician out. It just so happens that one was already coming tomorrow. Our HD TV kind of sucks. The sales guy said it would be better than Sasktel, the installer said it would be better. It is no where near as good. It's all pixely and very disappointing. So I called about that this morning, and they said they would send someone out tomorrow - they probably need to boost the signal. Julie said she was surprised that I called, and I said I don't like my HD being messed with. I hope all this gets sorted out, because so far I'm regretting switching. They're coming between 9 and 12.

Tonight was the first soccer game, and I forgot the camera. I took Jorja by myself just because Ginny wasn't having a very good day, and we didn't want to try to contain her for the whole game. The team name is the Parkridge Parakeets. Really? Really? The parakeets? Could they have come up with a lamer animal. It didn't seem very intimidating playing the Caswell Cougars. I couldn't believe how much bigger Jorja looked than last year. Her shin pads actually fit. The shorts didn't come down past her knees. She looked pretty good. I won't go into all the details, but there were some tears, some coming and trying to sit on my lap saying she was tired, some saying I have to pee. If you remember my piano lesson post about how she doesn't like to try new things and not be good, it will make sense. Anyhow, I talked her into going back, and there was one brief shining moment when she actually kicked the ball. Twice. While on a breakaway. It went wide, but she actually ran and touched the ball. It's already better than last year. I guess we'll see what the rest of the season brings.

Anyhow, I've got to go watch Glee now, which we have PVRed. That's the one thing I am enjoying so far. Later.

Meltdown at the mall

Today we had a few errands to run. Julie had something to take back to Sears, and I had to take our TV and internet stuff back to Sasktel. We switched to Shaw today - they had a really good deal that lasts for a year, so we thought we'd try it. So far so good. I love PVR - it's awesome. Anyway, back to the story. There is a Sasktel store in the Confed mall, and the Dollar store there is a Sears outlet, so that's where we went. Julie took CeCe into the Dollar store, and I kept the other two girls with me. We were done slightly before Julie, so I was letting them play on those little loonie rides in the middle of the mall. Julie came out shortly after and wanted to go into Mark's, so I let the girls keep playing. There was a 'hotdog truck' that had a front seat, and a back seat off to the side that had some buttons by it that still made sound even without putting in any money. Jorja had decided that she was the driver, and that Ginny should sit in the back and not push the buttons. Yeah right. Ginny was pushing buttons and Jorja was reaching back trying to tell her to stop and pretty soon hands and pony tails are flying everywhere and they are both screaming (and I mean screaming) at each other. That was the end of playing in the truck. I pulled Ginny out and told Jorja to get out as well. She said no. I told her that if she didn't get out, I was going to take something away (we've been having some listening issues lately, but that is another whole story). She again said no, so I told her that she couldn't do any puzzles tomorrow. Well, then the wailing really started. I said we were going to find Mom (because I didn't want to keep all this joy to myself). So we set off for Mark's, me holding Ginny while she was crying and Jorja pulling up the rear, still crying. We get to the entrance to Mark's, and Jorja refuses to come in. I ask her if I need to take something else away. Well, then the wailing really starts. It's a good thing we were in the Confed mall, and since Walmart left, the mall is pretty dead. Shorty after Julie walks out and says she recognized the wailing from the other end of the store. Everyone gets calmed down, and we head to Safeway (still in the mall). Pretty soon Jorja and Ginny are sprinting down an aisle. Needless to say, I took the two of them out to the car and Julie finished getting what we needed. Ahh, what a fun day.

It's the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine.

I was getting a little worried this morning - the day was shaping up to not have much to write about. I guess that's not a bad thing, it would have meant no drama. But all that changed after preschool.

We all went to get Jorja today - we loaded Ginny and CeCe up in the wagon, and off we went. When we were getting packed up to come home, I noticed Jorja's backpack was leaking. It turns out her cup that she keeps in her lunch pack was broken. It was a princess cup with a second lining and the middle is filled with some sort of liquid and glitter (kind of like a snow globe around the cup). Well, pretty much all the liquid was gone. I say liquid because I don't know what was in there, all I know is that is was made in China, so let's just hope it wasn't toxic. I think it was leaking on the outside, and not the inside, so we should be all right.

Anyway, back to the drama. I asked Jorja if she was sad about the cup, and she said no. She was trying to put on a brave face, but you could tell she was fighting back the tears. We played outside at home for a while, and then she finally let go. She cried...and cried...and cried. That was her favorite cup. Ginny tried to console her, "It's all right Jorja. Why are you crying. It's all right." In the end, it was decided that we would make a Walmart run after supper to get a new cup. I needed new socks anyway. I've been wearing black ones now for three days in a row, and although Ginny feels they are 'pretty', I prefer white for every day.

I finally fired up the BBQ this evening for supper - the first time this year. Too bad all we had to go on it were hot dogs. Oh well, the girls and I enjoyed them. I made six, and they asked for more. Julie had left over sausage. She finally started eating BBQed hot dogs last year, but then a coworker of mine (who is taking food science) ruined them for her by saying they are mostly organ meat. Sheesh.

We found a suitable replacement cup at Walmart this evening - several princesses on it and some jewels. This one is even dishwasher safe, which the other one wasn't.

When we got home, a Shaw salesman showed up. We're going to switch from Sasktel - TV, internet, and phone. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, we're sitting at the table filling out the paper work and Ginny asks, "Who's that boy?" Julie replied that she didn't know his name, he was the Cable Guy.

That's about it I think. There's nothing on TV Friday nights. Lots of hockey, but the Oil didn't quite make it this year, so it's not that exciting. Later.