First day of school

Day 68 - Monkey started school today!  Such a big girl.  She was nervous, but very brave.  She held my hand walking into the school but once she saw where her hook and cubby was she ran off to set up.  She looked right at home.  I got a wave and a "bye" as I headed off to work. 

I am so proud of my girl.

Pink nails

Day 67 - My "baby" starts school tomorrow!  In celebration of the big event we packed her back pack, made a special lunch and painted her nails a soft pink.  Tomorrow she has a new outfit for school - very hip - and we'll do her hair into something funky. 

She seems excited.  And I'm so happy for her!  My Monkey is growing up.  <3

Awww...

Day 66 - This photo was taken yesterday.  Today I have two cranky kids on my hands.  Where did my sweet babies from yesterday go?!

Camping prep

Day 65 - With Mr. Penguin still gone and him, me and the baby going camping with friends for the long weekend, I had some prep work to do on my own this weekend.  Well, Monkey helped.  I have only been camping once before with Mr. Penguin - and that wasn't a great experience as I got really sick - so I thought erecting the tent would be challenging.  But I did it all on my own!

PS - Costco sells GREAT camping gear.

Sushi

Day 64 - The girls and I met my parents, my Aunt and two cousins at the buffet place in town.  They make excellent sushi.  YUM!

I had sushi tonight in celebration of me booking and paying for my sushi making class!!  I'm so freakin' excited.  It's in November and taught by the owner of a major sushi chain.  And I get to bring home enough for 6 people!

She's perfect

Day 63 - She's absolutely perfect.  A sweet child who loves her family and is always smiling and laughing.  Curious about the world around her, pretty set in her routines but willing to help out anytime.  My Monkey is a great girl.

Distractions

Day 62 - We're school supply shopping for Monkey...sort of.  Baby and I got distracted.

Balloon

Day 61 - On our way back from the airport (the girls and I dropped off Mr. Penguin in the wee hours of the morning) we spotted this.  It's the local hot air balloon which makes two flights a day - sunrise and sunset - although it is in the shape of a special balloon character this morning.  It's advertising the upcoming balloon festival.

It was just over 2 years ago that Mr. Penguin and I took our first flight in that very balloon basket.  Such good memories.

She's BACK!!

Day 60 - This is Val.  She's the shop technician for the company.  Best shop technician EVER.  She was on holidays last week - hence all of my additional work - and was missed greatly.  But today she is BACK!!

I hugged her when I came in this morning.  Life (and work) can now go on. 

Sleepy Head

Day 59 - My sweet little sleepy head.  Her and I had an eventful time visiting my parents this morning/afternoon.  Tuckered the baby right out.  We then picked up Mr. Penguin (who worked overnight last night in the office), some coffee and went for a long drive in the country.

VCR

Day 58 - Baby Penguin likes to explore the electronics in the living room.  She scoots around pushing all the buttons hoping something will light up or open.  It's one of her favorite past times and also why I have to make sure I take the discs out of the Wii when I'm done.  LOL

This morning I'm still sick.  We had breakfast and then I brought baby into the living room with me.  I put a movie on (for me) and let her explore and play with her toys.  I looked up to discover this.  This is a suce stuck in the VCR - and yes, I still own a VCR.  Good thing it didn't FIT in the VCR!!

Sickiness

Day 57 - I'm sick and my road trip to see my BFF is canceled for tomorrow.  Water and bed.  Goodnight.

Missing my man

Day 56 - Today was insane at work...I barely had time to sit at my desk let alone think!  Which meant that my messages with Mr. Penguin were few and far between.  I missed him all day.

Meltdown

Day 55 - My baby girl is 1 year old.  She was told that she couldn't hold my cell phone (which she was pointing at).  This is her reaction.

Isn't she the sweetest?!

Tilapia

Day 54 - I don't particularly care for seafood.  It's surprising really, considering I'm a Maritimer.  But I am slowly adding fish into my diet for the health benefits.  I have at least one fish based lunch a week (I am addicted to the Spicy Thai Chili tuna cans on rye crackers with some mayo.  YUM!!), and am starting to add in a supper option too.

Last week at the grocery store I bought 2 packs of fish.  Tilapia (pictured) and salmon (yet to be tried).  The instruction are to take a serving out of the freezer and place in a pot of boiling water for 8 mins.  The serving is in a bag with the seasonings and dressing, just serve with whatever you'd like.  Simple enough.

Tonight I made the tilapia and served it over a cup of brown rice with some warmed zucchini pieces, mini corn cobs and tomato.  Not bad!  I could definitely eat it again.  Now to try it on the kids...

Cookie goodness

 

Day 53 - Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies! (and milk).  My reward for mowing the lawn.  LOL

Love Day

Day 52 - Today is Love Day.  3 years ago today, Mr. Penguin confessed his love to me.  <3  We weren't dating at the time and had yet to even kiss...it was very romantic. 

These are some of the cards I've received from Mr. Penguin over the years.  I thought they'd be appropriate to show the love on Love Day.

School cut

Day 51 - We're continuing the preparations for school!  Today we went out and got the Monkey's hair cut as she was having trouble seeing through her 'shaggy dog' bangs. She did so well and even let them blow dry it!  Much better.

Shower curtain

 
Day 50 - It's FRIDAY!  I'm finishing up my work week (and bringing some extras home for my weekend - woo) and all I want is a really long, really hot shower to wash away this week.

This is our shower curtain in the ensuite.  Isn't it pretty?  I can't wait to get home, have dinner, put the kids to bed and take a long, hot soak.  Tonight is all about relaxing. 

...And maybe doing more of my cross-stitch.

Love wall

 
Day 49 - It was confirmed today that my Penguin will be leaving again at the end of the month for business for a week.  He starts school in September and has a business idea/service to sell to some clients.  It's exciting, but I will miss him and his warm snuggles.

This is the wall above our bed in the master bedroom.  It was a gift from me to Mr. Penguin for his birthday 2 years ago.  We lived in a rented condo at the time and couldn't really decorate.  I gave it as a gift to add to the excitement of one day buying a house and putting it up - which we did 6 months later.  I love it.

Work shoes

Day 48 - I had to start wearing steel-toed shoes today at the shop/office.  I was sad that they didn't have any pretty ones at the store to match my skirts.  I ended up with these.  I can't really go around telling my tech boys that they need to wear them if *I* don't, now can I?!  So here they are.  Woo.

...I miss my heels.

Monkey Face

Day 47 - This is a picture of a picture, but it is one of my favourite shots of my eldest daughter and I want to use it for today.

Today we received her speech delay evaluation.  Nothing we didn't already know, but it does label her officially and make it easier to get help with speech services.  My darling baby doll has gone through so much in her short 5 years and is still such a happy child through it all. 

The therapist at the provincial office loved her and would be thrilled to be her official therapist once she hits that program in the spring.  Now to get her ready for kindergarten!

Life moments

Day 46 - I love this quote.  This frame hangs in our hallway and it makes me smile as I pass it on the way to my bedroom each day.

Today's moment that took my breath away?  I received a bonus for my work last week that saved the company money.  It was unexpected and I am extremely touched.  <3

Mr. Penguin

Day 45 - Mr. Penguin.  <3

Our family

Day 44 - It's a lazy Saturday at home today. I don't have much going on and it is absolutely WONDERFUL.  

This is a frame that hangs in the upstairs hallway.  It's one of my favorite things in the entire house (I probably say that a lot, but we really do personalize every inch of our home).  This is our family.  Can you see the resemblances? 

The top left corner is me - age 3.
The top right corner is Monkey - age 2.
The bottom left corner is baby penguin - age 2 months.
The bottom right corner is Mr. Penguin - age 5 months.

And it starts

Day 43 - Well. Baby has always been fascinated with what she shouldn't touch. But now she can pull herself up on furniture and get to even more stuff she shouldn't have.

This is baby penguin standing and turning the TV on and off. We don't have cable (the TV is for our video games), so she was basically doing it because she liked the sound it makes when turning on and off. LOL

Finished

Day 42 - I did it. I reviewed, corrected and balanced the PST. And I saved the company mega money. It makes the past 2 days worth it.

Now to catch up on the stuff I had to put on the back burner!

PST stuff

Day 41 - I am swamped at work. The person before me messed up some things pretty bad. And with the Government! Awesome.

Today was spent trying to correct 8 months worth of PST remittances. Joy. This is my desk through it all. Hopefully in the end I can save my company money.

Homemade chili

Day 40 - I actually made this chili yesterday. But I always make extra to bring for lunches.

I just finished my bowl and am now ready to take on the afternoon.

Upside down tomatoes

Day 39 - I've been eyeing upside down tomato plant growers for a while now.  I thought I had found something good when I discovered these at a local store one day, but I still held off on actually buying anything.

BUT!  Today I found something better.  They were at the local SuperStore and were on clearance for $5.64 each.  They are hard plastic (like an actual planter) and have a watering reservoir built in.  My back desk is about to get a whole lot more fruitful.  ;)  Score. 

Jogging buddy?

Day 38 - Today before I went out for my Sunday walk, my eldest voiced that she'd like to come with me. We walked the hills and neighbourhood streets and then she started jogging. Kinda funny as that's my training plan.

Maybe she'll be my future running buddy.