Party pooper

 

Day 190 - HAPPY NEW YEARS!!  Goodnight.

Off into the world

 

Day 189 - My postcards ready to go out for my Postcrossing!  I love getting these things in the mail.  Such a simple (and cheap!) way to get a little happiness.

Our sad tree

 

Day 188 - I figured I should take a picture of our sad looking tree this year before I took it down.  I didn't decorate the house at all.  I barely even put up the tree.  I'm a terrible person and I've made peace with that fact.  I was in the Xmas spirit, just not the decorating mood.  With all of the prep work going on for January 10th, I barely had energy to do anything.  I'm glad I did put it up though.  And Monkey made me put the lights on every night, it was cute.

Oops

 

Day 187 - Someone was playing with my phone...good thing she's cute!!

Big girl bed?

 

Day 186 -  I saw this bed advertised in a local flyer.  It's an interesting concept.  I thought it could be neat for baby Penguin's first big bed.  She'll be moving out of her crib in 2011, so time to start planing!

Shopping

 

Day 185 - I got a Costco membership for Xmas!  The girls and I went shopping to break it in.

Merry Xmas!!

 

Day 184 - Merry Xmas!  We had dinner at my parent's place to celebrate.  Turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings.  YUM!  The girls were so cute together all night.  Here's a shot of their hugfest.

Another Secret Santa

 

Day 183 - We had a Secret Santa at work.  I received a lovely blanket with penguins on it!  It's so comfy and warm.  Love it!!

Last Day!

 

Day 182 - It is Baby Penguin's last day at daycare today!  All the kids and providers are having a pajama day and a little party for Xmas.  She chose her monkey pajamas and I did her hair in pigtails (my little girl has HAIR!) and we decorated cards to give to the providers.  I hope she has an excellent last day!

Merry Grinchmas!

 

Day 181 - No words are needed.  hehe!!

Bath bubbles

 

Day 180 - Bath time fun!  Baby Penguin likes to swish around on her belly in the bubbles.  I love watching her splash and squeal with delight.  She's at such a fun age - everything is new and exciting!

Secret Santa

 Day 179 - I joined an online forum gift exchange this year.  People from all over the world are exchanging gifts with others they have never met.  Today, I got my Secret Santa gift!  I love it...I wonder why!

Family

 

Day 178 - We had family over to celebrate Mr. Penguin's 30th birthday!  Two buffet meals in one day...I am so full!!

Picnic fun

 

Day 177 - The girls had a play picnic this morning.  Too cute.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

 

Day 176 - Mr. Penguin turns 30 tomorrow!  He also has an exam to write in the evening.  So the girls and I gave him his gift early.  I surprised him with a PS3 that I've been saving up to get for months.  He was pretty shocked.  

Irony.

 

Day 175 - On my way to pick up a rental car for the week, I passed this sign: "Change your oil, keep your engine" Ironically, Suzuki was testing to see if a lack of oil was the cause of my engine issues.  It was not, and I AM covered under the warranty!!  Bunny is getting a new engine free of charge! *happy dance*

Here's hoping!!

 

Day 174 - My extended warranty on my car doesn't cover the engine as I'm apparently under the Suzuki powertrain warranty.  Bunny has been towed to the Suzuki dealership and is now under diagnostic to determine if it was negligence on my part as to why there is an connecting rod THROUGH my engine block.  Crossing all my fingers, toes and anything else I can!!

And then the snow came...

 

Day 173 - Winter has arrived.  Damn.

From Turkey

 

Day 172 - Another postcard from postcrossing!  I've been a little lazier in my sending of postcards, but I hope to pick it up again more in the New Year.  All part of my Happiness Project 2011.

Busy Baby

 

Day 171 - We had a lazy play date today at home.  Baby was all over the place and into everything.  Exploration is a great form of learning!

Staff Party

Day 170 - So this evening was interesting...I had my company Xmas party.  We went to a local restaurant, got dressed up and had the LONGEST. MEAL. EVER.  Seriously.  We were all there by 7:30pm and we left the place at 10:45pm.  And not by choice!  Service was SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW.

Oh yeah, and then my car caught on fire on the way to the after party at my boss' place.  Man, do I know how to have a good time!

First Haircut

 

Day 169 - Baby had her first official haircut tonight!  They trimmed her bangs, evened it all out at the back and even layered it a bit.  She received a certificate, a photo to mark the occasion and also some of her hair clippings - all while sitting in an orange airplane seat!  Love the baby attitude going on...

WTF?

 
 Day 168 - The picture is sideways, but whatever.  This is a photo of one of the sheets I took from the girl's colouring book.  Look closely.  The woman is making the man dinner - no problem.  The man is sitting at the table with his utensils waiting for his dinner.  In a children's colouring book...WTF?

It's Xmas

 

Day 167 - The girls in the office decorated today.  It looks like a tinsel factory exploded!  However, it is very festive for the customers.  I like it/

Books with Daddy

 

Day 166 - Tonight Mr. Penguin was home in time for Baby's bedtime routine.  Baby had her story read by Daddy!  She was thrilled.

Decorations

 

Day 165 - We're starting to decorate for the holiday season at work!  This is one of the walls in my office.  Too cute.

Silly face

 

Day 164 - Silly faces before bed.

Hats

 

Day 163 - Anything can be a hat...just ask baby.  She loves to do this with the place mats - doesn't matter what shape (we have round ones too).  Pretending is so much fun!

Uh oh...

 

Day 162 - My new addiction...damn you Mr. Christie!

Another fit

 

Day 161 - Baby didn't want to eat, she wanted to play.  So she threw a fit.  Again.  This is such an 'interesting' stage!  LOL

Sister hugs

 

Day 160 - My girls love each other.  Like REALLY love each other.  They are not truly happy unless they are annoying the crap out of the other.  Tonight before baby went to bed, Monkey gave her giant hugs and she returned the gesture.  My babies are adorable!  <3

Getting there...

 

Day 159 - Almost there...the new office is taking shape!

PENGUIN!

 

Day 158 - I got another gift at work from my coworker.  Mondays aren't so bad after all!  Isn't he cute?!

Playroom

 

Day 157 - We rearranged the toy room today.  Baby loves it!  She pulled out all the toys and ran around playing for over an hour straight.  Then she pulled out a pillow and blanket, laid down on the carpet and declared "do-do!"  She's too cute.

SUSHI!

 

Day 156 - I took a sushi making course today.  This is a shot of my nigiri  (fish on top) sushi.  The class was a ton of fun and I got to make and bring home so much.  Mr. Penguin and I had it for lunch...I am so full!

Monster gloves

 

Day 155 - We went off to IKEA tonight to meet my parents.  Baby was playing around with Mr. Penguin and wanted his gloves.  They may be a little big...

A gift to me

 

Day 154 - I splurged a bit and bought myself a nice notebook today.  It's for the coming changes.  It's all becoming so real!

Such a big girl

 

Day 153 - We had parent/teacher interviews tonight for Monkey.  She's adapting well to kindergarten!  She's a bright girl who's speech delay shows, but the teacher knows she's trying and that she understands the material.

I am so proud.

Non-kitty

 

Day 152 - We have a non-kitty.  He lives on our covered porch.  He's not very old and he chatters like no cat I've ever met.  He's also very skittish.  We've named him "Boo" and feed him as it's getting cold.  He now lets me pet him and pick him up (Mr. Penguin too) and talks to the girls from a distance (as he's a stray and I'm not sure if he's had shots).  Tonight he came into the house and let me close the door so he could warm up.  

Maybe I should be an animal tamer!  ;)

Monday

 

Day 151 - Boring day today.  I'm highlighting and completing financial statements. Woo.  But it pays the bills!

Family room?

 

Day 150 - Not quite what I envisioned for our new family room...but at least now it sort of has a couch in it!  LOL  Slowly but surely.

Space for toys

 

Day 149 - I moved things around all day today.  More room for toys, more space for playing and more arranging for our cozier family room.  I can't wait until my vision is complete!

Coffee

 

Day 148 - Coffee was needed today.  It may be the only thing that gets me through this day!  I've been working so hard on my side project at night that sleep is lacking.  2 milk, 2 sugar and 1 cream please!

Xmas cards!

 

Day 147 - I went on an errand today to Costco.  I picked out the company Xmas cards to be mailed out to all customers and vendors.  This one is for the vendors.  It's actually coloured all the way through.  Very nice.  Now we have to sign them all by hand!

Monkey art

 

Day 146 - Monkey made a painting in Kindergarten.  She was so proud that she dragged me down to her class after school on Monday to point it out as it dried.  

It melts my heart that my baby wants to share things with me.   <3  I hung it proudly in her room so she can see it every day.

Out with the old...

 

Day 145 - I sold the old winter tires for the van.  Now to buy new ones for Bunny!

Cozy

 

Day 144 - My new home office space.  It's cozy and out of the way.  I still have to move some of the plates and set up some more frequently used items, but for now, it's working out great!

I cleaned.

 

Day 143 - I cleaned the entire house this weekend.  I even washed floors!  (see what a new vacuum can do!)  It needed it.  I got into the corners and scrubbed everything, sorted old stuff and tidied up toys.  Ah...smells so fresh.

Suction!

 

Day 142 - I bought a new vacuum today.  The old one used vacuum bags and with 2 small children and the inevitable possibility of sucking food up, mold happened.  This vibrant, little thing was on sale at Walmart.  Cyclone technology, no bags to deal with and a main filter that can be rinsed under the tap and air dried...PERFECT.

I am secure enough in my domestic-ness to say that I <3 my vacuum.  It makes me smile. 

More purchases

 

Day 141 - I made some more purchases today!!  Things are starting to fall into place.  January is going to be a giant month of change and I cannot wait.