AND THEY KEEP GROWING

S.W.'s gift from my sis was a "rock star make over".


They went out shopping at Urban Planet (cool clothes, discount prices). Then they went to see he friend the hair dresser. She colored the tips of his hair aqua and red. She also ran it through with a straightener. He is hoping to save up for one now. He lives his cool new look. I am glad he went with my suggestion of coloring the tips as it requires less to no upkeep. However hr ignored my advice against the aqua blue cuz it doesn't hold.

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GETTING READY FOR THE WINTER SCHOOL SESSION & MOVING

I thought we would resume school after moving but now it looks as though we will not move until the end of January. This would just be way to long. I think we will do math, writing assignments, reading history and unit studies.

i have some unit studies from currclick downloaded and not yet used. i will make good use of the library, Cartoon history of the Universe or our DK Romans box set. I need to keep the amount of supplies limited, like when we are traveling.

The idea of packing is overwhelming. We are going to get a dumpster. This is a comfort to me but I would happily tart the dumping process NOW. I will feel better when the packing is well under way. I am of the opinion that anything in boxes (except photo albums and keepsake boxes) should be gotten rid of. I am not sure everyone agrees.

In the mean time I am having a bit of escape making unit studies. I did one on snowflakes last night. Much more complex then I imagined. I found this great Snowflake site. I pretty much copy and pasted info into my word program to make this for the kids. Yes I sometimes make unit studies this way, but you know what, it is the easiest way to condense the info for my kids. i don'thave the time to study it, and then rehash it for them, but it is a good study. Do other Moms do this? I would love to hear, do you write them completely for your kids or is there some (or lots depending on subject and day) copy and pasting going on?

Anyway, at the end I used Discovery's puzzle maker to make a crossword puzzle. They call them "criss-cross". I thought it would be more enjoyable then answering a work page of the same questions :)

So this is my January plan. I still have to fit the math into it all. I am hoping it gets us through the month with lots of newly acquired knowledge and practice of skills. wish me luck :)

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY OF 2010

Ina's 2010 Christmas toy review (prices in canadian dollars)
again we are in a very thankful household for the lovely things that have been received. Here is my review on the toys the kids will be playig with this year thanks to the gifts given.
Sunny Not's haul: She received a new phone called the Sony Ericsson Vivaz pro (she was eligible for a full upgrade). The phone takes gorgeous pics, has good music sound. It isn't a smart phone but it does do Internet so you don't buy a data plan but you do buy a reasonably priced internet/msg add on that was $5 more (Rogers) then the unlimited txt add on. So that is cool in my world. Not cool on the Mom front is the constant phone use (yeah yeah I'm a hypocrite).












She received Lady GaGa headphones (Thanks to DH's friend and his free sample pairs). I am not sure of the cost to buy them...let me check... Ok, so to buy them at Best buy they are $79.99, on sale this week for 49,99. WOW :O so glad we got them free! Oh and not as shiny as the commercials. Cool though and she likes 'em. Now are they worth full market price? Well if I paid $79.99 it would be thumb down cuz I would (at the least) want some sparkle.


Also an eyeshadow kit form Shoppers drug mart at only $12! with tons of beautiful colors.













Everything gets two thumbs up. (one down for price on the headphones) Of course if your childs make-up drives you crazy you would probably give the eyeshadow two down, but in Sunny Not's hands it is all good. And the fact that we paid a total of less then $50 on her gifts (yes all together) is several thumbs up for us :)







Chillin' with S.W.'s stuff: Real teen stuff this time. (they grow up so fast*sigh*). Beanbag chair that when you sit on it, has a back. They call it pear shaped. Way more comfortable then your average beanbag chair. Wouldn't decorate my living room with them but for a kid, in his room it's great. He has hauled it up for board games and is happy with it. However they are over priced in my opinion.





Item number two was a surprise to him (thanks to eBay and me sitting waiting for those last minute deals- $35 , no S&H). We got him an iPod shuffle. He wanted a touch but they are way to much. Anyway he is thrilled with it. Of course it does half of what any other mp3 players of that price range (in store $59.99)would do. Which means the only reason to buy one is the name.




I give both of S.W's gifts two up (they both function perfectly, in the manner they are designed and the child is thrilled) BUT I give both one thumb down on price. I do not think either are worth their full market price (glad I didn't pay that). Of course I knew this when I purchased them.

Ko-Ko got her cake... mini pool table, make-up and a skateboard. The mini pool table I found at shoppers drug mart. I had told her I probably wouldn't find one as these are (in my opinion) usually garbage. This one is well built, a little larger then usual and getting well played with. The wood is actual wood, the wooden cues have some weight to them it was only $20 and built better then most items of that price. Two (surprised) thumbs up. So glad too cuz she really wanted this.


Make-up is make-up. In the hands of this child it is a little goth in make-up preferences; Not thrilled but it isn't hurting anyone, she doesn't do it daily and this one time punk isn't a big enough hypocrite to take issue. So I am grateful the kit was $8. I give no rating to this item. $8 make-up in the hands of a goth chic ten year old, is what it is.













The skateboard came with a cool skate shirt (for girls). I should have looked at the tiny print better cuz it is 30cm. I showed her when it arrived and suggested we find another. She was sure she could still use it. DH (who has never used a skateboard) agreed with her. I suspect that come spring I will be buying a new board when everyone realizes size does matter. Two thumbs down. Whats the point of it? But one up, she likes the shirt and who knows. If spring proves me wrong I will let you all know.




What you got Runner? A Nerf stampede gun. Which takes six D batteries *gasp* however it is insanely fun. 3 thumbs up for fun. However 1 down for the batteries. Really Nerf? You couldn't have made it battery optional? Or use A batteries?



Mouse trap. Also fun. And deserving of 3 thumbs up. Truly a game that has stood the test of time.












Lego. Can you ever go wrong with Lego? Nope. It is my fave kid toy. We usually get building blocks but this year got him a mega blocks halo set, well priced, $18, don't ask me how, it is now priced (same store) at $49.99. It gets 4 thumbs. My kids ages 2-14 all play Lego. Can any other toy claim that?













Indy's toys: Indy received a playdough set and has played with it several times a day. Another toy you can never go wrong with. Also 4 thumbs high!













Thomas, another classic. This time he has a remote control. Endless fun, sound is driving people nuts (I tune it out or sing along - they're 2, they're 4, they're 6, they're 8. Shunting cars and hauling freight ...) 3 double A batteries still going strong. Easy toddler design remote control with front and back action on an arc. 3 thumbs (maybe an extra for driving certain family a little crazy;)















Plush Diego doll. . He doesn't *do* anything but I think that is good for kids. Simple create your own play kind of toy. They go on adventures, and this kind of play is priceless. And he is cuddly for night time. 3 thumbs up.













The toys of grown-ups? Dh got the Kobo e-reader (has wifi now) and is thrilled. An added bonus is that he can download for free from the library. The down side is our library doesn't have much of an e-selection yet. He is going to ask his Aunty for her library card number in Toronto. Bet they have a good selection. Nice, comfortable to hold, and good battery life. 4 thumbs up.











So that's all folks. My opinions on the families haul of Christmas goodies. Hope it helps, or is at least entertaining!

Skating 0. Hot chocolate 9

My brother in law and I took my 5 kids and his 2 girls skating downtown at the rink at city hall.






Ko-Ko cried she was cold. She didn't wear the two pairs of socks I told her to wear. Left her hat in the van and her mitts on the bench.





Sunny Not says her ankles were bothering her.





S.W. Stumbled happily around the rink pulling people down every-time he fell.






Runner made it around whining that his cousin little miss#1 is better.





We got Indy on the ice and he started saying "why me on ice!? Why me on ice!?". He decided he was happy to watch.





When we were done our skating adventure we headed across the street to a local diner. We had a nice cup of hot chocolate.





It was cold. -9C with a wind chill of -17C (1.4F). So it was a really cold day out there. Maybe we need to wait for a warmer day but there may not be many if those. And I have to say (just between me and the blogosphere) my Achilles tendons (that I injured this summer) were in loads of pain skating but I kept it to myself. Perhaps there will be more sledding then skating this year or perhaps they will get over This. I do think Ko- Ko did this same thing last year.





Now the big ones are listening to music and the little ones are playing with playdough.

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WE GOT A HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS

A story of faith

As my readers know we put an offer on a house a short time ago and our offer was accepted. All that was left financing and a home inspection.

We were not worried about the financing since our broker had been working with this one lending guy who had given us mortgage approval in order to get the Native First time home buyers grant. The first time home buyers grant is a government funded grant ran by various organizations. We applied for the one specific to Native families and managed by Native people. The lender had approved many mortgages for the first time home buyers grant. We then met all the financial requirement needed for a mortgage for the amount we were asking thanks to our savings and my parents.

Then on Tuesday we heard we had not been approved for the mortgage. We were shocked and asked why. The broker said the lender hadn't done one of these grants before. We again were surprised. We had been told he had. The broker said "yes but not one that is only open to Native people". And then he told us he would approve it if we could come up with the grant amount (30,000) on our own (another 22,000 more then we had come up with). In order to get the house we would have to do it my Friday. It was currently 10pm on Tuesday. We said we would talk in the morning. We were to hurt about being turned down because we are Native. That's when bombshell number 2 hit. Apparently this was our brokers part time job, he wouldn't be available till the later afternoon.

We decided we had to continue to believe this house was ours. So I wrote none of this. Wednesday Morning Grandma Claus phoned her friend who works in the program. 30 minutes later we had a new broker, one who had gotten 30 mortgages for people in the Native first time home buyers grant program.

I walked by the house and placed tobacco on the property by a tree (our prayers) and thanked creation for our home.

Thursday we went a head with the home inspection. We just had to act like it was ours, believe that it was ours. Then the word came through. We had the financing. From Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon we had it! We went out to celebrate with a family dinner, DH's siblings were down so we all went.

This morning the home inspection passed. There is not a thing to fix, replace or upgrade. Our possession date us moved to Jan 19th as the grant needs ten business days and they are closed till Jan 3rd.

So that is what we all woke up to this Christmas eve morning. I an very thankful that we are a traditional family who believes in faith and thankfulness. I believe that all peoples of faith have power in their thoughts, prayers and thankfulness.


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EEYORE HAT FOR CHRISTMAS

My sister in law is a huge Eeyore fan and a collector of Mr. Potato head.

So for Christmas I got her an Elvis Potato head and for her birthday (December 27th) I got her the Iron Man 2 Potato head.

However her secret Santa at work got her the Elvis one so I was left at a loss. So I asked her and she asked if I would make her an Eeyore toque. I said yes and she handed me some purple polar fleece.


I think it turned out great. The tail on the back has black grow grain ribbon on the bottom but SW's shirt is black. Oh an pretend you don't see him in this pic, just Rudolph. I would have modeled it on Ko-Ko but she has a tiny head and Aunty Claus gas a very large head.


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