Life as Yu

I am so excited!!!

2012-01-15T20:39:00.001-07:00

I can't wait! I hear the open house is slated for August!

Found Another Cute Video to Share

2012-01-02T13:19:00.002-07:00

Heber J. Grant

2011-12-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

I love these videos!

A Canadian Merry Christmas!!!!

2011-12-05T14:00:00.003-07:00

I know, nothing for a long time.

BEST NEWS EVER!

2011-08-22T20:24:00.000-06:00

I just found out that my best from high school is moving to Canada! After graduation she moved to Malaysia, Australia and England. Now after ten years she is headed back!

I can't wait! Ed and I have already planned a family trip to Vancouver next summer.

Miss you Carms and I can't wait to meet your Chinese Ed and throw vaseline at people, sleep in a closet together, crowd surf and whatever crazy things we did together in high school.

Peppy La Pew

2011-08-21T21:11:00.000-06:00

Over a month ago I did a very bad thing... but really it's not my fault and this is why.

Our town will only collect three bags of garbage once per week. That's fine. Between recycling and our composter we don't produce more than one bag per week.

However in the Spring when all the snow melts I get this itch to clean up and clean out. (From what I hear on CBC radio this is normal for most Canadians, hence the massive amounts of yard sales in the the Spring.) During the month of April we produced more than three bags of garbage per week. (Can you say purge?)

I went to college and I can count to three. I assumed (I know that's never good) that I could put four bags of garbage in our garbage box in the alley have three picked up one week and the week later have the fourth picked up with the new two. It made sense to me 4-3=1 1+2=3

So this is what really happened.

Three bags of garbage were removed. The fourth was left with a red tag stating it was too much and I should consider recycling. This is fine and I added my two new bags of garbage. The next week only the two new bags of garbage were removed. Then we had a snow storm and I continued to purge. (You have to remember I also go a bit crazy in the Spring, don't try talking any sense to me.)

Anyway I will make a long story short. I accumulated a total of three red tagged bags. So I left those lonely bags out with their tags on. Only THREE of them and waited one week for them to be collected. No such luck then I had a back log of garbage from the previous week. It was a mess!

I finally figured it out, they wouldn't take the garbage if they saw a red tag on it regardless of how many bags were in the bin. So I pulled out all the garbage, pulled off the red tags and left only three garbage bags in the bin. What to do with the other bags of rotting garbage? I did only thing I could think of... leave them in the backyard. I know stupid but it was all my Spring fevered brain could think of as a solution.

Later I was in the backyard and noticed that the bags had been torn open by some sort of animal. "Cat" I thought immediately. I had seen one in the backyard a week ago and set a trap for that little bugger with no luck.

Then a few weeks ago right before we headed to San Francisco my neighbour told me he saw a skunk in his backyard and it had ran under the fence to our yard. Ed and I thought that we had smelled a skunk around.

Then things got really bad. Our backyard started to smell like a "grow-op" as someone put it. We saw signs of the skunk digging under our fence and Ed saw it come out from under our shed while he was out there with the kids. Eeeek!

This was war! We had to get rid of the skunk before we left, and he moved the rest of his family in. I called an animal removal guy and he was going to charge me something like $250 to get rid of the skunk. Ed said no way we went to work.

We went to the dollar store and loaded up with LED lights and cheap perfume. At dusk we were lucky enough Mom and Dad came to watch the kids while Ed I went outside. We were geared in skunk clothing and headlamps. Ed and I were both scared to look under the shed for the skunk. Ed was armed with an open umbrella and I had my back turned while we shoved LED lights under the shed. I poured cheap perfume everywhere possible to cover the skunk's scent.

We left a day or two later and thus far we have seen just a trace of a skunk. It appears we ruined his home and he is not coming back.

It was a time we won't soon forget, and I learned my lesson about garbage pick-up.

Cute Little Girls

2011-08-15T19:16:00.000-06:00

While we were staying at the hotel in San Francisco Ed took the girls swimming as often as possible. They got so excited to put on their little swimsuits and ride the elevator down to the pool.

One night they were particularly excited and ran down the hall to the pool entrance which happened to be right next to the exercise room. The girls ran up to the door and Ed let them in... they ran in screaming... everyone looked down at them from their exercise bikes and treadmills. Whoops wrong door. Cali figured it out and turned around, but Lexi was still squealing and running around in her swimsuit with her little water wings on.

It was priceless, we laughed about it for a while.

San Francisco

2011-08-14T22:33:00.000-06:00

Our family just back from San Francisco last night. We had a great time down there and learned about the city. So if you are ever to plan a trip there here are a few pointers.

- The weather is cold in the summer, feels like fall or early spring. Be sure to pack sweaters, long pants and a toque.

- No need to rent a car if you stay downtown. The transit system is awesome, and everything to see is in the downtown core within walking distance.

- San Franciscans are so friendly and so willing to help us out with directions and our kids. At one point on the trip both girls were hurt and crying and I was trying to comfort both of them by myself and a kind lady approached me and started distracting the girls. After she gave me a pep talk and told me I was doing a great job as a mom.

- Do not miss the Aquarium of the Bay. I didn't know what it was like and convinced Ed to take me just because I love aquatic animals. I thought that there were just a few tanks and we were done. I had no idea in the basement you get to walk through tunnels with fish swimming all around you. If you look up you just might see a shark swimming over your head. We loved it so much we went through twice.

- Make sure you train a bit before walking up Lombard Street. That was quite hike pushing Lexi in the stroller. I was huffing and puffing as Ed ran along pushing Cali.

- Chinatown is awesome and huge, one of the biggest in North America. The R&G Lounge was the best Chinese Food we found. Believe me we ate a lot of Chinese Food. I think we had Dim Sum 4 or 5 days in a row. I got to try lots of new foods.

- Also there is a little Italy, little Chile, and a Japantown. The pasta was so fresh in little Italy... I can't go back to Boston Pizza!

- Do not enter Neiman Marcus unless you are dressed for it. We went in looking for parts to our stroller... won't be doing that again.

Overall we had a great trip. I don't have any pictures yet as Darryl was the official family photographer. When he sends us a few I will be sure to post them.

Ghetto Booty

2011-07-21T09:26:00.001-06:00

I asked Ed to put on Lexi's swim diaper before we went to the pool on Tuesday.

We get to the pool and Lexi is walking around and Ed commented on how big her bum looked. I looked but underwater I thought it was an illusion or extra air in the swimming suit.

Then Lexi walked over to where the water comes to her knees...

hehehehe

Ed had put the swim diaper OVER her regular diaper!

Lexi was walking around with an extra 5 lbs of junk in her tiny trunk!

She had the cutest ghetto booty I had ever seen.

I took Lexi to the change room to take off her diaper, she was so glad to have the thing off! That diaper seriously weighed a ton. I couldn't even wrap it up it was so full.

Lesson learned babies need only wear the swim diaper in the pool.

I wish a had a picture!

Self-Reliance

2011-07-15T16:36:00.000-06:00

Learn it, live it love it!

Wicked

2011-07-12T11:51:00.000-06:00

Last week Ed and I went to go see Wicked the musical. It was fabulous! I was so excited I was crying, which Ed thought that was weird, but he didn't see me at the New Kids on the Block concert. Anyway we had a great time. "Defying Gravity" gave me goosebumps!

My most favourite song was "Popular".

Two years ago I read the book on which the musical was based. Let me tell you the musical was a million times better.

I spent two hours getting ready to go and had a friend take our picture at the theatre, however some reason or another it wasn't save on my phone :( We were there though I swear I have the shirt to prove it!

An Enchanted Call

2011-07-11T23:42:00.000-06:00

As a member of Disney Movie Rewards I was able to have a Disney Character call Cali tonight for free. It was so cute!

When the phone rang I told Cali to answer it. When she picked up she was a little nervous because she didn't know who was on the line. Then when Sleeping Beauty introduced herself Cali's eyes got as big as saucers. Sleeping Beauty told Cali it was getting close to her bedtime and she needed to go to sleep so she could dream about dressing up her dolls.

I would like to say that Cali hopped right in her bed afterwards and fell asleep, but she was too excited and had to give me all the details of her one sided telephone conversation. Right before she fell asleep Cali told me that she wanted Snow White to call her tomorrow night. (Fat chance at $2.50 per phone call.)

It was really cute though, I would love to be able to able to take the girls to Disney while they still believe!

Overdoing It

2011-07-03T12:30:00.001-06:00

I took the girls to Calaway Park with some friends last week. I think I may have overdone it. I ate a snow cone, hot dog, slurpee, a bag of popcorn and a bag of cotton candy. Then of course we did a few rides. The roller coaster was even better than I remember.

Anyway I paid for it that night...

Speaking of night time trips to the bathroom Cali has been pull-up free for three nights now! She told me one night that she didn't want to wear them anymore and so far we have been good. We are so proud of our big girl!

Our Camping Trip

2011-07-01T10:50:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted any pictures yet of the camping trip I took the girls on. So here are a few thanks to my friend who thought to bring her camera.

Cali cooking a hotdog over the fire. Hers turned out best as she was the most patient. I tend to just stick mine in the fire and get it over with quick. Of course I end up with a black hotdog. But really it there any thing better on a cook out?

Cali snuggled in her sleeping bag. She was so wound up, both of my girls were that night that they wouldn't settle. They kept running around the tent, eventually though they did fall asleep.

My girls on the beach playing in the sand. They had such a great time! Cali was calling the water the ocean, and her friend thought it was the sea. These poor prairie girls!

Cali taking a dip in the cold water. She ended up getting soaked by the end and Lexi's diaper was pretty near dragging on the ground. All and all it was a great trip and Cali keeps asking when we will get to go again. Hopefully soon Cali-Belle!

Don't let the bug bites bite

2011-06-30T15:39:00.001-06:00

I love the way kids talk. It's sad when they stop saying words in their special way.

The other day Lexi walked into the kitchen:

Lexi: Mommy, are you?

Me: I am over here Lexi.

Lexi: O-tay

And last night when Cali was helping put Lexi to bed she said,

"Good night, sleep tight, don' t let the bug bites bite".

When Cali asks you something doesn't say "how do you do" something, she says "how don't you do" something. I am quite used to it but sometimes it catches me off guard.

Cali: Mommy how don't you do you do the dishes?

Me: Ummm, I just leave them by sink hoping your Dad will do them.

What was really cute was when Cali couldn't say "knife", she would say "life" instead. She would say things like:

"Mommy I need a life"

"Mommy you need a life for that"

or my favourite

"Lexi can't have a life, she's just a baby!"

Speaking of words, Cali is a big fan of the show "Word Girl" on PBS. So one day a few months ago she asked me to draw a picture of Word Girl and Captain Huggyface on the chalk board. I drew my picture and came back later to see that Cali added a little something behind Word Girl. I started to laugh, take a look...

Cali explained to me that she added air behind Word Girl to make it look like she flying really fast. That's not what I saw. What do you see?

Our Barbie House

2011-06-29T19:33:00.000-06:00

Last summer I found a great barbie house on Kijijii (love that site by the way! I swear I will never buy anything new again!). Anyway I just needed to take it home to fix it up to our girly standards.

Here it is before:

And after I pinked it up:

All we need now is some new furniture... I will leave that task up to Santa.

An Apology

2011-06-27T23:21:00.001-06:00

I apologize for the horrible typos in my last post. I was madly typing while breaking up the fights of the two monkeys climbing all over me. Thanks for your comments, I am glad to know that you can read through my errors.

I was thinking tonight about how many times in a day Lexi hits her head. While I was writing this post she fell off the chair and hit her head on the kitchen table, an hour earlier she climbed up on the toilet and fell off that. Honestly there are about two to three good whacks daily to her little noggin. It's a good thing babies are made out of rubber.

We spent most of the day outside today with the nieghbours's kids. Cali and James rode their bikes up and down the sidewalk, I don't know how many times. I am sunburnt, dehydrated and exhausted. I love summer!

I will leave you with video of Lexi from Christmas on her pony. (Please note Cali's bedhead, I love it!) This was Lexi's favourite present needless to say. And yes she has fallen off it many times and hit her head. Poor kid! She seems to be doing fine despite the numerous head injuries. Today her favourite word has transitioned from "no" to "why". She certainly is growing up with more teeth on the way.

Cali Turns Four

2011-06-26T14:27:00.002-06:00

Way back in May our little three-year-old turned four. Here is how it went down two months later...

It was a big day here for us. Cali woke up early in the morning fully aware that this was the day she was no longer three. We woke up and had waffles, Cali's favourite breakfast. After breakfast we drove to Costco for a hot dog, Cali's favourite activity. Then after we got home we had to call everyone Cali could think of to tell them Cali was now four. Aunt Jean was the first on that list!

That evening Cali had first soccer practice, with her Dad as coach. While introducing herself she was pleased as punch to say "My name is Cali and I am four".

We went home after and "cheese girl sandwiches" (grilled cheese sandwiches) and french fries. Cali's favourite meal. Of course we ice cream for "a-zert" (dessert).

A few days later Cali had an official birthday princess party with five of her friends. We made crowns, hit a pinata, open presents and ate cake. All her friends came dressed as princesses. It was a blast!

Cali getting
ready to blow out four candles.

Cali next to her Barbie pinata that I paid way too much for.

Cali's princess birthday cake. Which I am so proud of! I think that it turned out great!

Summer is Here!

2011-06-24T08:53:00.001-06:00

It seems like on June 21st summer decided to grace us with its presence. We have had a great the past few days. Two days ago we went to Heritage Park. As a teenager I thought that there wasn't much to the park but it has really changed in 15 years.

Cali loved taking a ride on the train and in the horse drawn wagon. Her favourite part though was the merry-go-round. Lucky for here there weren't many kids around and she got to ride it again and again. I have to admit it was my favourite ride as a kid too.

Lexi cracked me up on the ride, Lexi was clinging to the horse and our conversation went like this:

Me: Lexi are you having fun?
Lexi: No!
Me: Lexi do you see the horses?
Lexi: No!
Me: Lexi do you like going up and down?
Lexi: No!
(The ride ends)
Me: Lexi the ride is over, time to get off.
(Lexi clings even tighter to the horse)
Lexi: NOOOOO!

So despite her protests I think that Lexi had a good time too. The kids fell asleep before we even got out of the parking lot, and Cali continued to sleep through the rest of the night. I figured we must do this again sometime soon!

No More TV

2011-06-21T09:05:00.001-06:00

Ed and I signed up for cable this year when Shaw had their promotion on for cable for only $10 a month for the first 6 months. So we signed up in December.

Really I didn't find myself watching it too often and if I did I would end up watching reruns of Sex and the City; nothing I haven't seen before.

TV has changed a lot in the past twenty years. I remember years ago having a favourite sitcom and wanting to watch it or a TV drama. However it seems like there is nothing good on anymore. There are more reality shows than you can shake a stick at, which I find mildly entertaining, and fixed I am sure of it they are all fixed!

Really I only thing I may miss is PBS kids. I love all the shows and enjoy watching them with the girls. However I discovered that you can watch them all online at pbskids.go.org So maybe I won't miss them after all! There is also the library where I can take all of the shows out on DVD. Really who needs cable? Since the weather has improved we are outside most of the time.

I told Ed he could get cable again next December so he can watch the Stanley Cup playoffs. Other than that who needs it? Honestly when you take DVDs out of the library for free, or watch TV online... I think that if cable networks want to stick around they need to start putting on some better shows.

The Sneaky Chef

2011-06-20T12:11:00.002-06:00

Things have been busy needless to day. I find the spring always a bit overwhelming, I am not sure if it the fact that the snow has finally melted revealing a disgraceful garden in need of attention, the call from my closets begging to be de-junked, or the fact that I feel like a single mom this time of year with Ed being so caught up with writing exams, tutouring his students, badminton finals, hockey playoffs and other things that keep a husband busy.

Knowing how last spring went I was proactive in preventing a break down like I had last year. This is what did:

- cut back my hours at work
- dropped my exercise class
- stopped answering the phone
- took the girls away as much as possible
- invested in a slow cooker recipe book
- froze meals in advance
- left chores for July that could be done in July
- did not get pregnant or have a baby

Last year was just plain awful. See for yourself: http://edandmegyu.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=47

I can't tell you how many times I was crying in bedroom. I hope to put all of these guidelines in effect for next year as well. Yes, especially the last one. Not being pregnant or being attached to a baby is so freeing. As much as we love our kids, Ed and I need a break. This is our first summer without a fetus or a new baby since we have married and it has been fabulous thus far.

Since my hours were cut back at work I also started to have more fun in the kitchen. I found this great recipe book "the Sneaky Chef" at the library. I had it out for about 9 weeks and took out again... so I decided to splurge and purchase a copy for myself.

It gives you ideas in how to add vegetables into any meal. It takes a lot of prep but if you happen to have a four year old daughter it can turn into mother daughter bonding time. Cali loves to help steam and puree the vegetables to add to our meals.

Anyway that it about it from here. I will try to add some pictures from our camping trip last week. Yes I took the girls camping... but I wasn't alone a friend came too with her daughter.

Cali is playing Soccer

2011-04-28T22:11:00.000-06:00

As it turns out Cali will be the only girl on her soccer team this year...

You don't think that she will stick out, do you?

Remember This?

2011-04-02T20:29:00.000-06:00

I sing this song every night to Cali while I brush her teeth.

Now for a full episode.

Our Life Since December in Photos...

2011-03-25T08:08:00.000-06:00

Once I figure iPhoto out I will have post more photos.

Cali and Lexi sledding for the first time.

All the excitement wore Lexi out.

My girls in their Christmas dresses.

Cali dressed as "Married" riding her horse. Note the wedding dress, veil, and beautifully arranged flowers.

My girls being cute.

Cali and Lexi were sharing noodles that day. I will have to add a video of it later.

One day Cali pulled out her hamper and trapped Lexi in it. Cali them filled it with toys and dragged her sister up and down the hallway. A great time was had by all!

My beautiful cake that Cali chose for me. Things have changed since last year's Dora cake.

Cali taking care of her baby sister, making sure she doesn't miss out on the cake!

Things are Looking Up

2011-03-16T09:23:00.001-06:00

Guess what?!?!? I have been able to decrease my hours at work for the next year! Hooray!

Also after two weeks it appears that Lexi may have taken a bite of her Red River cereal today of her own freewill.

The weather has been above zero for a few days now.

I found the cord to my new camera so I can post new pictures of the girls when I get a chance... maybe even today...

I think that one of the security guards from work has moved into the house down the road from me... it's hard to tell because he now appears to have a dark mustache... he caught me staring at him yesterday and quickly slipped into his house... perhaps he is now undercover... I am not sure but, if it is him I will be very happy to have him as a neighbour.

The kiddie pool in town is now open.

I finished my ACLS course and passed! Good for another two years, experiencing an unstable cardiac rhythm? We are out of the way, but worth the drive! (So we are told anyway.)