It made me smile.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
it brought a smile.
Something that I found while I was sorting through a pile of papers on my shelf.
It made me smile.
It made me smile.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Ottawa Vacation 2009
As promised, here's my story of our trip to Ottawa :)
So we left at 8:49 on Monday morning, July 13, 2009. Our van looked slightly less packed than what it normally looks like on family vacations..probably due to the fact that we were down two passengers and we NOT actually camping this time :D I of course, being highly prone to car sickness, called the front seat and downed two Gravol pills before we even left the driveway :P (it's called being prepared for a 6 and a half hour drive ok? :) So anyways, we drove for a couple hours until the pregnant mama in the front seat, along with the two sisters in the back seat had a very strong urge to use the facilities at a rest stop. (as a side note...one advantage to working for a landscaper, is you learn to hold it ALL day :P) After we were all seated and comfortable back in the vehicle we were on our way again. We ended up making two more stops before shouts of excitement and (most likely huge sighs of relief from Dad who had to deal with loud, laughing, and hyper girls in the back...although I guess I wasn't much part of that seeing as I slept for about 3 hours :D)
Don't you just love it when you see the blue sign along the highway that says your destination? There it was..."OTTAWA"! WE'RE HERE!!!"...on second thought...maybe not. A few feet farther was another sign...'OTTAWA 45 km.'..maaan! So we still had about another hour to go..our excitement was dashed for several minutes and the books were opened up again... the van became silent.
When we actually did arrive in Ottawa...we were all wide awake, taking in the sights and smells (of the bakery downtown) of downtown. So many people of different race, different class. There were hotdog vendors, bus kiosks, there was that man (i'm not sure whether he could be classified as a cute little old man or not :S) he had a beard that straggled down to just beneath his neck with thick gray hair to match. He had this sort of pouty look on his face, but he was incredibly short and walked with a kind of lonely swagger. I still don't know what to think.
We arrived at our hotel and went through the excitement of going up and down the elevators walking through each floor..finding out where the vending machines were and how to get to the pool and work-out room...We all headed to our room to get settled and then went back down to do some sightseeing before dinner.
I don't think I'm going to go through each day and everything we went to and saw, 'cause believe me...my feet are gonna need a massage for two weeks straight from all the walking we did. We did get to see Parliament, the changing of the guard, a tour inside the House of Commons and Senate....we went to the Notre Dame Basilica, the Canadian War Museum, Civilization Museum in Quebec, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Byward Market, 24 Sussex Dr. (Stephen Harper's residence), and Rideau Hall. Unfortunately, Michaelle Jean was on a family vacation as well, so we didn't get to see her...but we did tour her house as well as her grounds.
This is where our trolley bus FORGOT to pick us up. Mhm...and what was even more frustrating was that Rideau Hall is all the way the down in the opposite direction of where our hotel was. So we went for a LONG walk back..at the time you wouldn't have seen too many smiley faces on the Kroesbergen family :P... that didn't last for too long though I promise :D
Some humorous and entertaining highlights from our trip...one that MUST be mentioned, would be the fact that my sister..forgot that she carried a pocket knife in her purse (for who knows that purpose..lol). In order to get in to the Parliament building you have to go through security. Let's just say her knife got confiscated...definately something that got a bunch of laughs from all of us. My sisters were highly embarrassed with me when I tried my hand at walking like a sentry guard down the street of Ottawa :D...let me tell you, it's pretty fun to do I'm not gonna lie..although I advise not doing it with other people around..you might get some looks :P
There's alot of different languages that get spoken down there...Mostly English and French I guess, but there were a bunch of people with British accents...so..me being me, pretty much talked the whole day in a British accent, as well as mixing the highly minimal amount of French that I knew into that..resulted in some jabs and punches and my sisters trying to hide themselves in embarrassment of their big, most mature sister Naomi :P
When the sun goes down in Ottawa, I think it's the prettiest. On Thursday night, there was a gorgeous sunset over the river...people we're walking up and down the lamp-lit sidewalks, and Parliament Hill was lit up with all strategically placed little lights. It was incredibly beautiful!...lots of picture perfect moments for sure!
On the way home, we stopped by friends of ours for a few hours and then were back on the highway home. We stopped at around 5:30ish for dinner at a rest stop and then got back on the road. By then we were all ready to be home so we were pretty giddy, hyper and over-tired..made for a very pleasant drive home :D
We arrived home at around 9:20 I believe. Unpacked the van and dumped our suitcases and coolers and sleeping bags and food and whatever other junk was lying around in the van into our rooms and the kitchen and headed to our beds.
Such a nice feeling, falling into your OWN bed at the end of a week of sharing a double bed and cot with three girls every night. :P Good bonding time some say...
So that was our vacation. I'm sure I missed a whole lot, but this is gonna have to do for now :)
So we left at 8:49 on Monday morning, July 13, 2009. Our van looked slightly less packed than what it normally looks like on family vacations..probably due to the fact that we were down two passengers and we NOT actually camping this time :D I of course, being highly prone to car sickness, called the front seat and downed two Gravol pills before we even left the driveway :P (it's called being prepared for a 6 and a half hour drive ok? :) So anyways, we drove for a couple hours until the pregnant mama in the front seat, along with the two sisters in the back seat had a very strong urge to use the facilities at a rest stop. (as a side note...one advantage to working for a landscaper, is you learn to hold it ALL day :P) After we were all seated and comfortable back in the vehicle we were on our way again. We ended up making two more stops before shouts of excitement and (most likely huge sighs of relief from Dad who had to deal with loud, laughing, and hyper girls in the back...although I guess I wasn't much part of that seeing as I slept for about 3 hours :D)
Don't you just love it when you see the blue sign along the highway that says your destination? There it was..."OTTAWA"! WE'RE HERE!!!"...on second thought...maybe not. A few feet farther was another sign...'OTTAWA 45 km.'..maaan! So we still had about another hour to go..our excitement was dashed for several minutes and the books were opened up again... the van became silent.
When we actually did arrive in Ottawa...we were all wide awake, taking in the sights and smells (of the bakery downtown) of downtown. So many people of different race, different class. There were hotdog vendors, bus kiosks, there was that man (i'm not sure whether he could be classified as a cute little old man or not :S) he had a beard that straggled down to just beneath his neck with thick gray hair to match. He had this sort of pouty look on his face, but he was incredibly short and walked with a kind of lonely swagger. I still don't know what to think.
We arrived at our hotel and went through the excitement of going up and down the elevators walking through each floor..finding out where the vending machines were and how to get to the pool and work-out room...We all headed to our room to get settled and then went back down to do some sightseeing before dinner.
I don't think I'm going to go through each day and everything we went to and saw, 'cause believe me...my feet are gonna need a massage for two weeks straight from all the walking we did. We did get to see Parliament, the changing of the guard, a tour inside the House of Commons and Senate....we went to the Notre Dame Basilica, the Canadian War Museum, Civilization Museum in Quebec, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Byward Market, 24 Sussex Dr. (Stephen Harper's residence), and Rideau Hall. Unfortunately, Michaelle Jean was on a family vacation as well, so we didn't get to see her...but we did tour her house as well as her grounds.
This is where our trolley bus FORGOT to pick us up. Mhm...and what was even more frustrating was that Rideau Hall is all the way the down in the opposite direction of where our hotel was. So we went for a LONG walk back..at the time you wouldn't have seen too many smiley faces on the Kroesbergen family :P... that didn't last for too long though I promise :D
Some humorous and entertaining highlights from our trip...one that MUST be mentioned, would be the fact that my sister..forgot that she carried a pocket knife in her purse (for who knows that purpose..lol). In order to get in to the Parliament building you have to go through security. Let's just say her knife got confiscated...definately something that got a bunch of laughs from all of us. My sisters were highly embarrassed with me when I tried my hand at walking like a sentry guard down the street of Ottawa :D...let me tell you, it's pretty fun to do I'm not gonna lie..although I advise not doing it with other people around..you might get some looks :P
There's alot of different languages that get spoken down there...Mostly English and French I guess, but there were a bunch of people with British accents...so..me being me, pretty much talked the whole day in a British accent, as well as mixing the highly minimal amount of French that I knew into that..resulted in some jabs and punches and my sisters trying to hide themselves in embarrassment of their big, most mature sister Naomi :P
When the sun goes down in Ottawa, I think it's the prettiest. On Thursday night, there was a gorgeous sunset over the river...people we're walking up and down the lamp-lit sidewalks, and Parliament Hill was lit up with all strategically placed little lights. It was incredibly beautiful!...lots of picture perfect moments for sure!
On the way home, we stopped by friends of ours for a few hours and then were back on the highway home. We stopped at around 5:30ish for dinner at a rest stop and then got back on the road. By then we were all ready to be home so we were pretty giddy, hyper and over-tired..made for a very pleasant drive home :D
We arrived home at around 9:20 I believe. Unpacked the van and dumped our suitcases and coolers and sleeping bags and food and whatever other junk was lying around in the van into our rooms and the kitchen and headed to our beds.
Such a nice feeling, falling into your OWN bed at the end of a week of sharing a double bed and cot with three girls every night. :P Good bonding time some say...
So that was our vacation. I'm sure I missed a whole lot, but this is gonna have to do for now :)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Home at last :)
So I'm back!...After 7 hours of sitting in the vehicle, I'm a tad bit sore but very happy to be home again. I had an awesome time up in Ottawa with the family, and I'll make sure I tell you all about it soon with pictures as well!
For now though...
I'm GOING TO BED :P
night all :)
For now though...
I'm GOING TO BED :P
night all :)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
A day in the life of...a nanny.
So I really feel like a mom.
My parents were laughing at me this evening at the supper table as I was telling them about my day....not because of my story, but more the fact that I'm so much like my mom..in ways I NEVER thought I was..lol.
Driving a jeep with car-seats in the back, disciplining children...teaching them to cook, baking while they're still asleep, practicing reading and teaching piano...riding a bike with two little ones in front and one in the baby seat on the back...putting those wilted but ever so sweet wild flowers that Rueben picked for me in an cup on the the windowsill...folding loads and loads of laundry and changing numerous diapers throughout the day...it seems like alot when you actually stop to write it down, but really, when you're actually doing it...you come home feeling like you actually accomplished alot. I love my job so far..I really do.
So that was my day today...tomorrow I plan on grocery shopping with the three kids..should prove to be...INTERESTING :P...
Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers..they are MOST appreciated!
My parents were laughing at me this evening at the supper table as I was telling them about my day....not because of my story, but more the fact that I'm so much like my mom..in ways I NEVER thought I was..lol.
Driving a jeep with car-seats in the back, disciplining children...teaching them to cook, baking while they're still asleep, practicing reading and teaching piano...riding a bike with two little ones in front and one in the baby seat on the back...putting those wilted but ever so sweet wild flowers that Rueben picked for me in an cup on the the windowsill...folding loads and loads of laundry and changing numerous diapers throughout the day...it seems like alot when you actually stop to write it down, but really, when you're actually doing it...you come home feeling like you actually accomplished alot. I love my job so far..I really do.
So that was my day today...tomorrow I plan on grocery shopping with the three kids..should prove to be...INTERESTING :P...
Thank you all again for your thoughts and prayers..they are MOST appreciated!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Look whose back :)
Wow, I've definately been lacking in the consistency side of things with my blog. I apologize for the lack of new posts, and HOPEFULLY I'll be a little more up to-date from now on :S
So, now I have the problem of coming up with something to write about :P I guess I could start off with telling you about my new job :)
Starting Monday Lord willing, I'll start a full-time job as a nanny of three children; two boys and a girl: ages 2,6 & 8. To be honest, despite what alot of people have told me about me would happen, i.e. ending up being stressed out, having too much work and not any extra time, being overwhelmed with everything....this has always been a dream job for me. I've always wanted to do this sort of thing, and honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. It's such a blessing to finally have something full-time, as well as something I love. I'm so excited!
So what does this "dream job" include? Most mornings I'll start the day between 5:30-6:00 a.m. and end it between 5:30 - 6:00p.m. For the summer, I'll have all the kids home with me, so groceries with three children, laundry, housework, coming up with meals for the day...and most exciting...POTTY TRAINING :P (Mom loves to tell people that I'll be so good at it that I'll be able to teach my new brother or sister when he or she enters this world...but she's allowed to dream right? ;)) and keeping the kids occupied and happy should prove to be a challenge, but I truly believe that it will be one of the most enjoyable challenges. (So if anyone has any suggestions for exciting things to do with them, or recipes that I should try, any advice for making a child stay on the potty..anything!...I would LOVE to hear it!)
In the fall, I'll be taking the two oldest to school in the mornings, and I'll have the youngest with me through-out the day. I decided that I didn't want to just quit all my piano students, so I'll be trying to fit lesson times in through the day as well as after I come home in the evenings, to get them all taught each week. I'm sure I'll be extremely busy with it all, so that's why I'm warning you now, and apologizing if I ever seem like I never time for anyone anymore. I promise you I'll try my utmost hardest to keep in touch and not be an "I can't go out tonight cause I wanna go to sleep" type friend..:D
So...that's my life right now, and Lord willing for the next while. Who knows what will all happen, but for the time being, I'm so excited to start!
If you could, I would love for you to keep me in your prayers. I'm going to need them I know.
So, now I have the problem of coming up with something to write about :P I guess I could start off with telling you about my new job :)
Starting Monday Lord willing, I'll start a full-time job as a nanny of three children; two boys and a girl: ages 2,6 & 8. To be honest, despite what alot of people have told me about me would happen, i.e. ending up being stressed out, having too much work and not any extra time, being overwhelmed with everything....this has always been a dream job for me. I've always wanted to do this sort of thing, and honestly, it couldn't have come at a better time. It's such a blessing to finally have something full-time, as well as something I love. I'm so excited!
So what does this "dream job" include? Most mornings I'll start the day between 5:30-6:00 a.m. and end it between 5:30 - 6:00p.m. For the summer, I'll have all the kids home with me, so groceries with three children, laundry, housework, coming up with meals for the day...and most exciting...POTTY TRAINING :P (Mom loves to tell people that I'll be so good at it that I'll be able to teach my new brother or sister when he or she enters this world...but she's allowed to dream right? ;)) and keeping the kids occupied and happy should prove to be a challenge, but I truly believe that it will be one of the most enjoyable challenges. (So if anyone has any suggestions for exciting things to do with them, or recipes that I should try, any advice for making a child stay on the potty..anything!...I would LOVE to hear it!)
In the fall, I'll be taking the two oldest to school in the mornings, and I'll have the youngest with me through-out the day. I decided that I didn't want to just quit all my piano students, so I'll be trying to fit lesson times in through the day as well as after I come home in the evenings, to get them all taught each week. I'm sure I'll be extremely busy with it all, so that's why I'm warning you now, and apologizing if I ever seem like I never time for anyone anymore. I promise you I'll try my utmost hardest to keep in touch and not be an "I can't go out tonight cause I wanna go to sleep" type friend..:D
So...that's my life right now, and Lord willing for the next while. Who knows what will all happen, but for the time being, I'm so excited to start!
If you could, I would love for you to keep me in your prayers. I'm going to need them I know.
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