First week of school!

The boys' first week of preschool was a success. No tears, no accidents, just fun times playing, learning new songs, and getting used to the teachers.

Starting new routines like getting the boys to bed earlier, packing their lunch bags, waking up earlier making breakfast and getting them dressed were easier than I thought it would be... so far.

I enjoyed the five hours I got to spend with each of my boys alone this week.

Yann's first day seemed to have taken longer than two and a half hours. I caught myself wondering whether or not he was having a good day. I dropped him at eight thirty like I was supposed to, talked to the teacher  a bit, and put away the school supplies we were asked to provide for each one them. He said bye and just walked away without even bothering looking back or waving. It made me a bit sad but knowing that he was ready to be at school, wiped the sadness away.

Marc and I went for a drive and did some shopping then headed home. We had FUN together just playing, reading, laughing, cuddling, and watching an episode of a show on Netflix. Time came to pick up Yann, so we got ready and did just that. Yann was happy to see us, and told us all about the fun he had, and the things he did. However, just looking at him, I could see that he wasn't his own self. I asked him if he was feeling okay, and he said he was just tired from all the fun. Once we got home, he went directly on my bed and had a nap. He had a fever, and couldn't hold anything down. While he had a good first day of pre-K, the rest of the afternoon, he just slept. Poor thing!

Tuesday morning came, Marc was excited! He knew it was his first day of school. He didn't start until twelve thirty so Yann and him had time to play. Marc's reaction to finally staying at school instead of just dropping his big brother was different. He was smiling form ears to ears, and couldn't contain his excitement. He wave us goodbye and took off.

Yann and I had a great time together as well. We came home, had a late breakfast, went for a walk, did some shopping, played, read books, cuddled and watch an episode of a new tv show on Netflix. Then of course, we picked Marc up when it was time. Marc had a lot to tell us. He was so happy to see us that he hugged Yann and gave us kisses not caring about all the parents looking, smiling at him.

Their second day of school were about the same. Fun, happy, exciting, etc...

I had to make "mailboxes" for both of them to leave in the school, so I got my card stocks, and craft supplies out so I could get them done and delivered to the teacher this week.

I love them being at school! I am glad they're both in pre-K this year. My favorite thing about it all is the amount of time, they both kept asking me when we were picking the other brother. They missed each other a lot. They were so happy to see each other at the end of school.

With parent preschool program (PPP),  karate class, and my celpip class, we have something to do everyday except Thursday. 

All is done!

We saw our lawyer today to finalize the sale of our house. We signed a few papers and reviewed the financial aspect of it. We walked in his office at 8:20 am and left at 8:32 am. It went fast! It took more time printing our ID's than it did actually talking to our lawyer.

We left his office with bigger grins on our faces and great relief to know that there is no going back now. The deal is sealed! We were quite surprised to learn that we would make even more money than what we initially thought we would. I could have danced on the sidewalks!

We're happy all is done now! This is probably the last post I write about this.

Pre-school!!!

Next Monday my big boy starts pre-school! And the day after, it would be my little M's turn.

Seriously, where did time go?!

I am happy for them! Marc and I truly think that they are ready for it. If we didn't, they wouldn't be going.

Karate-do Shotokai!

Yann started his first class of kds karate yesterday. We were all quite excited! He did so great, it got me patting my own back for submitting his registration form in.  I ordered his uniform (gi) through his club, Taber Martial Arts Academy, and cannot wait to see him in.

I grew up in the world of boxing and kickboxing, etc (martial arts). I was in heaven yesterday watching my son and reviewing with him the things he learned. Marc wanted to go and be with the other kids. I cannot wait to register him for next year.

The kiddos are growing! I want them to do some extra curricular activities but just a couple of them each or even just one that they really like. I want it to be fun for them, not just enrolled them in sports because it looks cool. I am not willing to bully them into something they do not want to do. We asked Yann about karate and he said yes so karate he is doing. They both want to do soccer too, so I have to remember to register them next year, remember being the key word here since I forgot to do it last year.

It's so much fun to see your kids growing!

Did you make anything?

Here's that other question people have kept asking us since last month. Did you make money on the sale of our house? How much money have you lost? Etc, etc... Well here's my response to you: "NONE of your friggin business!!!" HAHA, just kidding! I thought it sounded fun to say it that way. But honestly, it's none of your business.

We didn't make the amount of money we thought we would when we first listed our house but we STILL made money. Recuperating every penny we invested in our home and more. We would be grinning when we see our bank account. The end for this post.

How we did it!

As I mentioned it previously in this post, we have often been asked how we were managing having to pay a mortgage and rent and all the bills related to our house on top of groceries, gas, car maintenance, etc....

When we first moved to Taber, we were fortunate enough not to have to pay rent in the farm house, just the utility bills attached to it with the water that was delivered in every couple months. For eight months we did this, and in July of last year, we decided to move to an apartment right in town where we only had to pay rent.

After Marc was offered the job in Taber, we reviewed our finances, crunched a few numbers before ever deciding whether or not we would accept it. We wanted to be sure that we had at least two years worth of saving that would help cover paying all the bills mentioned above in the event we didn't sell our house right away. And how happy we are to have done that. Marc and I budget everything! Every penny we spend is recorded manually in what we call our budget book (B.B) and we have done this for many years now. Don't get me wrong, I don't think we are the best at budgeting but the peace of mind it bring us is worth all the troubles.

A few years ago, we heard one of President Gordon B. Hinckley's talk about debts. He counselled members to live within their means, to be self reliant, to discipline themselves in their spending and purchases, to avoid debts and/or pay them off as quickly as they can if they have them.  We heard him loud and clear and have strived ever since to live that way. There would always be something that would require you to spend your hard earn money, right? Being wise with your finances is a great stress relief.

We live our lives quite modestly and love it that way. We tell ourselves, sometimes, it would be nice to have this or that but when we seriously ponder about it, we just smile knowing that this or that is not necessary to live a good life. We spoil ourselves with the things we need and not necessarily with the things we want. But we are happy and hope to continue to live happily that way. We do splurge here and there but never excessively. So here you go. That's how we did it! It wasn't without worries. Seeing our saving account deplete was not a fun thing to see but Heavenly Father carried us through it all, and continued to bless us.

Turning the page!

On June 28, 2007, Marc and I moved into our new house in LLoydminster! It was a happy day for us! We made so many memories in, worked so hard fixing it, had many fun times with family and friends, and brought our sons from the hospital to this home of ours.

After over a year and a half of trying to sell it, the house finally sold. It was a happy day for us as well!

We are finally closing this chapter of our lives. While we danced our happy dance after hearing the house sold, and jumped over the moon because of the excitement and relief we felt, we wouldn't do anything any different. This trial has confirmed to us that we are living the way we should be. I will explain this later in another post.

It was sad to see it all empty, with no trace of us having ever lived in. We slept in our house all the days we were there, and enjoyed our last breakfasts and lunch there before turning the keys in and saying goodbye to our beautiful home. We were happy to leave behind an empty canvas for this new family to paint memories in, that will last them a lifetime, like it did for us.

The Fyfes came to help us with a trailer to finalize the move. We were once again grateful for their friendship and their help with this. Our friends in Lloyd lent us their muscles to load the trailer, and their homes to seat, eat and relax. It felt great to know we had these great friends. We've missed each one of them so much.

It's my home away from home that we sold! It was my happy place, an anchor for me who came to live in this country. It wasn't just a shelter, it was a safe haven where I planted my roots as a permanent resident.

When we moved to Taber and having had to pay a mortgage and rent at the same time with all the bills related to our home, people would often ask us how we did it. And as soon as people heard that we we have sealed the deal, one question seemed to always come up. Did you make any money?
People are so curious to know things that do not concern them HAHA.