Author Archives: Nicole

Right Now…

Proud of this

I can actually share something I helped create while doing my day job. Months and months of work finally came to fruition. This is only a peek – the full internal version of the film was 15 minutes long. (I tried to share before but the links weren’t working for some reason. I also added a second link).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1OemWNG6ls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUZqfnZ0l8

Loving This

And This

She makes me feel like I am transported back in time. I seem to have a thing for British artists.

Wish I could afford this…

http://www.oliverjeffers.com/shop/print01.html

Unsure about this…

My new blog look. Hmmm. Maybe I need a new picture at the top. It looks like I’m advertising a night club.

P365 Day 320 – November 16th 2008

Birthday party time again. This time a combined party for two little girls from daycare. The party was at the local community center which is within walking distance of our house so I didn’t experience the usual getting out the door frenzy of other parties. We also knew most of the people who attended and they did a book swap instead of presents so this was probably one of the most relaxed parties I’ve been to.

The other bonus – a huge gym for a group of three year olds to run (and drive) around in.

Happy birthday “Camellia”.

P365 Day 319 – November 15th 2008

Two things I want to do this year. Do more arts and crafts with Thomas to keep him from going loopy when we are kept inside during the cold and wet Winter, and actually make (and send) a few little Christmas gifts. Enter Christmas project 2008. Thomas and I made the most of Samuel’s naptime and made a few ornaments to send to family around the world. I wanted to make pretty coloured christmas ball decorations. Thomas wanted the penguin and the bear. Thomas won. Oh well, at least we got a chance to make them a little fancy with the glitter glue.

Renewed faith in humanity

The end of a very long week. Kei is out of town so I was on my own getting the kids up and ready for daycare. I dropped them off and was already running late for work but HAD to stop at Starbucks for coffee. This was definitely a strong coffee morning.

Standing in line to order and a man comes in, taps me on the shoulder and says “do you know you have a flat tire?”. I look out at my poor little car and, sure enough, the front tire is looking sad – totally deflated. I ordered my coffee and started contemplating my options before deciding I would drive the short distance to work, call AAA and wait for them to arrive.

I headed out to the car and the same man who told me about the flat tire walked by and said “I can change that tire for you”. Really? I told him I was happy to call AAA but he said “no, that will take too long and I can change it for you much more quickly”.

And so this stranger who seemingly had nowhere he had to rush to on this Friday morning, decided to drop everything and help me – just to make my morning a little easier.

THEN Les Schwab replaced my tire for free because they couldn’t fix it. It was a used tire with the same amount of tread, but it wasn’t a broken down flat tire.

AND I can be grateful that I made it to work at all. Apparently I had been driving on the tire for some time – probably the 20 or so miles of freeway that I travel down to work every day.

So the day turned out to be one filled with happiness and gratitude – for my untouched bank balance, for my safety (and my kids’ safety) and especially for the good Samaritan who help out this damsel in distress.

P.S. I know my feminist side is letting me down here – I cannot change a tire and have no intention of ever learning. That’s why I pay $50 a year for AAA membership.

P365 Day 318 – November 14th 2008

We’ve resorted to bribery. (at this point I should warn you that potty talk follows). Thomas has peeing worked out. It is rare for him to have an accident these days and when he does it is only a small accident and then he manages to hold it until he gets to the toilet. He even pees standing up.

Unfortunately he refuses to do the number 2 on the potty. Thankfully he’s past the stage where he just did it wherever (I was SO over that). Now he waits until we put a diaper on him at naptime or bedtime. It’s so frustrating. He knows when he needs to go, he just chooses not to.

Enter The Wiggles. These are our latest bribe tactic. One wiggle of his choice each time he poops on the potty. Those who are familiar with The Wiggles will notice that I have only photographed three of them. Sam (the yellow Wiggle) is missing. That’s because Thomas has him. Seems The Wiggles may be working – or at least helping. They should. I had them shipped all the way from Australia.

I can see the other side

No, not dead people. The other side of this crazy crazy time at work. I have been busy before but I have never had this many projects all come to fruition at the same time.

A couple of days ago Thomas was looking at Samuel and said “His eyes are black”. I replied “well, they’re actually a very dark brown and they’re the same colour as your eyes. What colour are Mummy’s eyes?” He takes a long look at me and says “your eyes are red.”

Here’s one of the projects that is finally (nearly) done. This is only a small portion of the 15 minute final product and we’ll be posting more on You Tube next week – well the parts that we can show outside the company anyway. I am so happy with the way it turned out… and so happy that it’s just about done.

For some reason it (the internet) won’t let me embed the video. Here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUZqfnZ0l8

P365 Day 317 – November 13th 2008

Samuel’s view from the high chair. Not quite big enough to see over the top and he has trouble staying upright. Still, I can’t believe he is already eating solid (well pureed) food. 

P365 Day 316 – November 12th 2008

I love that Thomas will spotaneously burst into song. No fear, no shame, just an enthusiastic rendition of whatever’s in his head at the time. Often it’s a Wiggles tune, but on this day it was “You are my sunshine”, standing on a chair and using a drumstick as a makeshift guitar.

I came home from work a few days ago and as soon as I walked in the door Thomas stood on his chair and sand “You Are My Sunshine” to me from beginning to end. It was just so adorable that there were tears in my eyes.

We were driving in the car a couple of days ago and Thomas was sing “Frog went walking”. When he had finished the song he said “that one’s in my head”.

Ours too buddy. Ours too.

P365 Day 315 – November 11th 2008

This is the balloon that won’t die. More than three weeks and it’s still floating on the ceiling. In fact I don’t even notice it anymore – it’s become part of the furniture. I am tempted to pop it but I think I might just wait and see how long it will stay inflated. Call it my own personal challenge. Yes – sometimes I lead a very dull life.

P365 Day 314 – November 10th 2008

Apparently we don’t wear matching socks anymore. I’m not sure when this happened. Thomas just woke up one day and decided that odd socks were more fun. And you know, he’s right. Besides, there’s no need to match the socks after doing the laundry anymore.