Shit Bureaucrats Say

If you work in Government, you will most definitely have a good laugh over this one! I feel as though this video was shot specifically for me, but I know there are thousands of other civil servants out there that feel the exact same way.

If your a civil servant and need a reason to smile, watch this!




If you can't view the above video ...  you can try this link: http://youtu.be/OtLL7pLM-yE

 

Hunger Games Virgin!

This weekend marked the opening of the movie Hunger Games (in Ottawa), and a few days ago, my besties asked me if I wanted to join them to see the movie.

I accepted the gracious invitation... not because I've read the book and was dying to see the movie, but because I was dying for an excuse to have a night out and a little break from my Mommy duties.

I think I am probably one of the rare few who were in the theater and had never heard of Hunger Games, let alone the names Katniss and Peeta. I went in blind, totally blind, and... I LOVED IT!

My besties are die hard Hunger Games fans... as they were Twilight fans! I never got into Twilight - my interest was not once peaked by the whole vampire love story. The whole Hunger Games movement is also one I did not jump on. I have to admit if it weren't for the odd snippet of info on Ellen and the entertainment pieces on my local radio station, I don't think the words Hunger Games would mean anything to me.

However, I really thought the movie was fantastic... super intense, and although based on a semi-unrealistic storyline, it was totally believable to watch. I loved the character of Katniss... she was phenomenal on all accounts.

Having enjoyed the movie so much, I am actually thinking about adding a copy of the book to my nightstand in hopes of reading it before... 2022!

Thanks to @erinseller and @ericaclapp for putting up with my virgin HG questions, but also for insisting I join the party! It was a great night out, followed up by some good laughs at Moxie's!

I am so pumped for Catching Fire... (whatever that means)!

 

Family stickers for the back of your car window!

I have had these stickers on our family car for close to a year now and I have to say, I get asked a lot of questions about them from random strangers.

Mainly people just want to know what they are, where I got them, and what they mean - they have grown in popularity over the last year or so, and now you can find all types of these family stickers in just about any kids stores.

I had to laugh at one gentleman who inquired about them in the Costco parking lot... he said 'Weird question, but what do those stickers mean, are they part of a special group?' When I laughed and told him no, they were just stickers you buy at a store, he started laughing and he said he wanted to say 'what cult do you have to be in to get those' but didn't want to offend me!  No cult necessary!

I do find that I like them because it lets other drivers on the road know that I have a family and children in the car - and its a little more fashionable than the baby on board sign I use to have. However, PC does receive a bit of flack for his sticker - its not exactly his style!  With all of the options out there these days, I might consider upgrading to something a little more trendier for all of us!

These stickers use to be a little difficult to track down, but I did notice a version of them in the dollar store a few weeks ago. I ordered mine online from Snuggle Bugz.  They have a wide variety of them... if you play specific sports, have family pets, you name it, they have the sticker for your car.  I have also seen other versions of these, for star wars fans, disney fans, or even smart asses!

The ones we got are really easy to put on, are very durable to all weather types, and the best part is they don't ruin your window if you want to peel them off down the road.

So there you have it, the low-down on those family stickers you see on the road!

 

Guidelines for Posting Pictures to Facebook

Whether there is a written rule about it or not, to me there should be some clear guidelines for posting pictures to Facebook. I'm not talking about who can and can't post pictures but rather I'm thinking that someone who is fairly tech savvy needs to come up with an app that tells people which of their pictures are worth posting and which of them are pure crap! 

I love looking through other people's pics - I'm not a stalker by trade, but I do like to comment and 'like' some of the fun pictures that people in my circle post.  However, what I really get annoyed at is people who come home from an outing or trip and basically just dump their memory card into a Facebook album and hit share. I'm talking 160 photos to an album when maybe 30 to 35 photos are actually half decent shots that tell the complete story of the event.

People - no one wants to see the five or nine takes you went through to get ONE great shot of your kids, pets, or backyard adventure.  And frankly, we you have to click through the outtakes it takes away from that one shot that actually is half decent.

My tips or guidelines for posting pics to Facebook are as follows:

1. Less is more. Nobody wants to see the 'I almost got the shot' photos, show us the real deal or show one of the lead up shots that might illustrate what you went through to get the great shot but leave the almost great photos on your hard drive, not your Facebook account.

2. Flag the best ones (either in iPhoto or in a separate folder on your desktop) and then share only those ones that you consider good or great.

3. Don't be scared of a little editing, there is lots of great free software out there can help you touch up photos that may be a little over exposed, or under processed. You don't have to be a graphic designer or a photographer extraordinaire to play around with your images just a little.

4. It's never too late to post pictures... so take your time and go through your pictures and delete the ones that aren't focused or that you wouldn't bother printing for an album. The ones that are left are probably the ones worth sharing on Facebook.

To me, using some or all of these guidelines will go a long way in helping you preserve the best memories of your friends and family, because the pictures that you and your circle of friends will look back one in a few months/years will be the BEST ones.

My advice only, take it or leave it, but if you leave it, know that I am judging you just a smidge the next time I see a photo dump on FB!
;-)
 

Little brother!

Oh to be the little brother... its a tough job! You have to accept that your big brother can do things you can't, and at times you just have to sit on the sidelines and watch the fun unfold...without you!

My baby boy is quite eager to join his big bro in everything that he is doing, and its a fine line between letting H share in fun that E is having versus giving E enough space to be able to be independent and enjoy some time to himself.

This was one of those days, when I decided to let E enjoy some time with his Daddy outside, while Hudson and I stayed in... but H was all about keeping tabs on what was going on outside with Daddy and E.

Soon enough Hudson, you'll be out there running the show! Hang tight my little man!

 

 

So long preschool!

Hard to believe, but E had his preschool graduation and is now ready to rock kindergarten in the fall.

E has been attending the little preschool program at the Family Center here in Embrun.  I have come to really love this program for him because it has prepared him very well for what to expect when he starts kindergarten in September.

The teachers are very energetic and E has loved his time with them each and every week. Through the program, he has been able to experience show and tell and other useful skills like cutting with scissors, writing his name and numbers, and writing his colours and shapes.  Every week since January, he has come home with a new concept, and activities to show what he has done during his time away from Mom and Dad. He has even been proud to tell us that he has homework!

The program could not have gone better. The teachers put together a little graduation ceremony as part of the final class, and E was super excited to perform with his class.

Here are  a few pictures from the festivities.
Thanks to the Embrun Family Center, Ms. Nathalie and Ms. Tanya for a great program.

Aliens from .... Embrun!

Sometimes when there is nothing to do, we do some silly things around here! Since E has discovered the photobooth application on our macs, he is all about 'taking those fun pictures'. We had some pretty good laughs over them! They are so many ways photobooth can distort your face - its actually scary, and at times a good motivator to eat well and exercise!

Here is a sample of our silly creations. Don't worry, no one was harmed during the making of these masterpieces!

 

Houston... we have a ROCKSTAR

Having a three year-old means enduring some pretty good laughs during our day. Seriously, before I had kids if someone had told me you would laugh constantly, I would not believe them, but E has definitely dispelled that myth. 

He is always up to 'something' and its usually not making trouble, but rather inventing new ways to get a laugh out his Dad and me.

These pics are from a few weeks ago, but I just got to posting them now.  He got this rockin' guitar from his Auntie Erin for Christmas, and it sparked a rockstar cord in him. I am not sure what his stage name might be, but judging by the second pic, it may be something like 'Safety Dawg'! Keep your ears open for his first hit!

Happy St. Patty's Day

It's that time of year to break out the green and consider ourselves Irish for a day! When I was in University, St. Patty's Day meant you were in for a foggy evening and a miserable hangover, but since I've had kids, its more about finding some festive shirts and an excuse to snap a few pictures.

This year's shirts came to the boys via a bestie's mother (shout out to Mrs. Vicky Boyd), who designed these sweet little shamrock tie shirts.  I LOVE them, and the boys did too! Since they were white, I saved them for today to ensure they stayed white, but yesterday, I sent the boys in some other festive green shirts with a batch of shamrock cookies for their daycare friends.

We are having fun celebrating the luck of the Irish... and I hope you do too!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

 

The sap is running: Sand Road Maple Farm

I love March... actually, that's not true, I despise March and all the chaotic weather from cold and miserable winds to warm and wet slush. However, the bright point in this month has got to be opening of the maple syrup season and of course our family favourite spot to be is none other than, Sand Road Maple Farm, off Hwy 138, in Moose Creek, Ontario.

Sunday, we decided to head down to Sand Road for a tasty and filling brunch, followed by a crisp yet sunny walk on the maple trail.  As always, Sand Road does not disappoint. With the sap running early this season, there is lots to see and do on at the maple farm! Next weekend, the horse and sleigh rides will be running, so after a taste of maple, you can enjoy a ride that promises some great scenic photo opportunities.

The boys absolutely loved it at Sand Road... and when they are smiling, PC and I are able to have some fun soaking up the fresh air while taking a hike through the maple trail.  E decided to run the whole trail on foot, and after H had his first taste of maple taffy, he was loving the sleigh ride courtesy of Daddy. I know it must have been a great day as we arrived home with two sleeping boys and two equally snoozie parents!

I am still nibbling on some maple sweetness as I type this post. It's one of those tastes you can never get enough of. Here are a few photos from our fun day at Sand Road... if you are thinking of hitting a sugar bush this season, keep Sand Road on your list! Good eats and tasty treats for the whole family!

Thanks to Scott and Ange for a fun day at the maple farm! We'll be back again soon.