Robots are cool

Today we made robots! A fun craft to fill up the time between 7:30 and 8 am. I altered an idea from a kiddie magazine so I could use up all the milk jug lids I had been saving. I am a habitual collector, and I can't throw the milk lids out. There are so many colours and they are such a neat size, I knew I would find something to do with them! The same goes for egg cartons, foam trays, popsicle sticks and the like. Most of these things cannot be recycled and I feel bad tossing them. Granted most of the crafts we make end up getting tossed after a while, but at least the kids have fun making crafts before the reused items get trashed :)
 

After that we walked to the library for a puppet show. It is only about 4 blocks away, but a longer walk than the girls are used to, since we usually take the stroller. I am working on getting them used to walking more, since 1) they need the exercise and 2) I'm tired of pushing a 75+ pound stroller around. I also want to get them built up for the summer so we can go places without always having to pack the stroller. Mercifully, they are both napping now, so all that walking turned out good. I think we will go for another walk around the block this afternoon!

On a job-related note, I finally got official word back that I didn't get "the job". Oh well, now I can start planning my trip out west with the kiddies!! I can't wait to see my Drayton Valley friends! We are looking at the first two weeks in April, which will cover the Easter holiday.

"The years go fast and the days go slow..."

... that is my favourite line from one of my favourite Modest Mouse songs (Heart cooks brain), because it describes the paradox of getting older so perfectly. How can the days seem to pass so slowly, but the years pile up so quickly? I suspect this happened when I was younger too, but I didn't notice. but anyway I digress.

The girls' favourite pose. And that's a pull-up on Amelia's head, btw.

I hope everyone is surviving winter in your respective home province/country. We are weathering the weather here in NS and looking forward to spring (didn't the groundhog predict only 6 more weeks? could it really be true!!???) I found out that this winter is considered a good winter - it's usually colder and more slushy/icy/rainy so -phew, thank goodness!**

Amelia slipped just moments before I took this photo. That glare on the driveway is sheer ice, the darker patch is where the car was parked, so no ice there. That's Ember way back by the house, where it's safe.

We have been keeping busy here with colds (eye infections, runny noses, coughs, strep throat), baking goodies, making crafts, and going outside as often as possible in addition as the usual activities. I am taking inspiration from my friend Theresa, who actually lets her kids make a mess in her house. Like she said (I'm paraphrasing), the house is a mess anyway, so they might as well have fun with the crafts and baking too. I actually broke out the sparkles and lifted my ban on baking with toddlers!! We made some lovely Valentine cookies and cards for Daddy and our friend Izzy. Unfortunately I wasn't with-it enough to make cards in advance to send to family and friends like some of you did. Thanks to all our loved ones who sent V-day cards to the girls!

Baking cookies

Ember in her almost-too-small snow suit

We also made a trip to the Discovery Centre this past weekend to see the "Grossology" exhibit and find out just what is in those boogers (you don't want to know) as well as farts, burps and other gross bodily functions. It was awesome!! Next on our to-do list is to try some simple science experiments (also inspired by Theresa) We have been reading a lot of books about bodies, general science, nature-inspired science and after a trip to the science centre we are ready! All I have to do is get organized. 


In regards to my job interview, there is a big nothing on that front. I contacted them last week to let them know I'm still interested, but there is no decision yet. Maybe this week. But aside from not hearing, I don't think I got it. None of my references have heard from them and the more I think about it, the worse my answers to the interview questions seem. But I'm not feeling bad; if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be. If I don't get the job, I will potentially be making a trip out west with the girls around Easter, which would be nice. We miss our families and friends and would love to hang out there for a bit. Ron may take some time off around Easter, but as always with the DND, you can't necessarily choose your vacation time, it gets assigned to you. And even when you have vacation they can still decide to give you duty. sigh.






**That's sarcasm - there really needs to be a special sarcasm font, don't you think? 

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes....

Are there changes in our future? You can guarantee there will be. There is now a new potential for some changes coming sooner than I thought.

I applied for a two Library Tech jobs a couple of weeks ago and I landed an interview last Friday. The positions are at Nova Scotia Community College, the same position at two different campuses.  I felt pretty good about my resume, considering it's been 4 years since I wrote one (how can that much time have passed!!) And the positions are nearly identical to my job at Queen's, so I knew I could easily do the work. I've been thinking about going back to work for a while, but like nearly all moms I was torn.

I don't worry about putting my kids in daycare, I know that they will be treated well and they will excel wherever we find childcare for them. My concerns are mostly that I will miss them and I especially don't look forward to the hectic lifestyle of two working parents. I'm basically afraid of the change. It seems so drastic. I will miss our days spent in pj's until 8am (or later), going to the library, the grocery store, the gym, our regular play dates. I know I can still do these things if I'm working, but it won't be the same.

When I got the phone call for the interview, the first thing I did was look on Kijiji for childcare. When I called the YWCA for information on finding accredited home care, I told the woman on the phone that I had been thinking about doing home child care. I had thought about it a few times in the past, but all of the sudden with the potential of a "real" job, I was desperate to explore the option of a home-based business.

So now the woman from the YWCA is coming on Monday to talk about what is involved and to see if our house would be appropriate.  They offer support, training, a toy-lending library, the whole she-bang. If I don't get the NSCC job, I do have this as an option. Or maybe if I do get the job, I might still want to follow this option. My thoughts have been swinging wildly back and forth from one camp to the other. One minute I want to stay at home, 20 minutes later I want to go to work.

Even though the money would be better with a "real" job, the thought of home-based childcare still holds a lot of appeal. I knew I always wanted to stay at home with my kids. Really, you only get so much time with them when they are little, right? Five to six years and then they are in school, then it's after-school activities, music, sports on the weekends, hanging out with friends, then BOOM they graduate and leave. *sigh*.

Although some days are so frustrating I wish I could put them into day care until they are 18, most days I wouldn't give up staying at home for even the highest salary.

Does this mean the decision is made? Maybe. No. Yes. I don't know. I guess I'm going to wait and see if I get the job offer and go from there.

I will keep you posted.