For people who like to use information off my website against me, you should note that the camera phone I own was given to me for free from Matchstick, a buzz marketing company in exchange for promising to use the different features and to review it. I DID NOT BUY THE PHONE. The last time I turned my pockets inside out or shook my wallet upside down, $350+ did not fall out. I would not have bought the phone because it’s about $345 out of my budget.

If it seems implausible that someone would give me a phone for free, you can read about other people in Canada who have received the same deal from Matchstick such as Rannie (who also mentioned the criteria required to get one yourself right here) fellow Montrealer Long, and other Toronto folks like Kelly, Blaine, Sameer, and probably countless other lucky people if you search on Google for it.

I get over 400 hits a day and I fit their profile of bloggers that they were looking for to spread the word about the phone. And that is the only reason that I have it.

If people would like to continue taking things from my website, making assumptions, and holding it against me (or my family) in any way, their IP will be added to my blacklist and thus banned from reading this site. This website is a place for me to talk about how awesome my kids are, poke fun at my own life from time to time, and to express myself in a creative venue. Thanks to this blog I’ve been able to find the confidence to seek out publishing opportunities, something I might have not done in the past. Unfortunately for me, if keeping this site no longer becomes fun because of these people, I will just have to shut it down altogether because it’s frankly not worth the fucking hassle.

Sorry for the delay in getting the photo requests up. I was busy and intended to do them yesterday but I’ll post an entry later explaining why Saturday was not a stellar day. Here are requests from Heidi and Sueellen from the comments and from Elise who was shy and emailed me instead. Again, if you have any requests, please leave a comment here or send me an email. I really have a lot of fun doing this so I’d love to have more requests.

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Hayley had a dentist appointment today and she was incredible. There are days at home when she drives me up one wall and back down the other, but often she is a well-behaved girl in public. Today she was no exception. All around I could hear kids of all ages crying or yelling and Hayley just sat quietly in the chair, spoke politely with the dentist, and co-operated in every way. She even did well with having her x-rays done. I was pretty proud of her. She was also very proud of her gifts. She got a new toothbrush and the dentist was so pleased with her behaviour that she got out the “special” surprise box. Usually they give kids a couple of stickers or erasers, little things. Hayley ended up with a choice between a Barbie sticker album with stickers or a Dora bracelet. I was sure she’s go for the stickers but Dora won, and Hayley came home with a new accessory. She wouldn’t even take it off for bed.

Sometimes she’s such a big girl.

Breanna did well too. She’s teething and going through separation anxiety all at once (not to mention her neverending quest to walk and then rule the world), but I didn’t want to bring her in unless I really had to so that I could concentrate on Hayley. I left Breanna with George’s dad and she was pretty happy. He told me that first she sat in her carseat and laughed at him while he rocked her, and then she fussed so he picked her up and walked her around, showing her all the bright pictures. She was fine right up until a minute before I came out, at which point she missed me and started crying. I came out to the waiting room and heard her crying and saying, “Mamamamamama!”

And yes, she’s been saying “mama” for me and to me for about a week now. She started saying it awhile ago but now she attributes it to me. I hear it every time I leave the room unexpectedly, and she’ll start crawling madly after me, calling for me.

And if you keep reading, I have some videos up at YouTube. One is Breanna grooving and dancing to Aaron Pritchett’s “Hold My Beer” (I’m starting them young on the country music), and one is the crazy stuff that goes on in our home sometimes such as George, Breanna, and Hayley rocking out to Alice Cooper before bed. My camera phone doesn’t always get the best quality for video (although it does great pictures in good lighting; that picture up top was taken with my Nokia), but I think they’re enjoyable nonetheless.

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Recently I was sent a copy of Why Moms Are Weird, the second novel by Pamela Ribon. You know. Pamie.

I read Squishy back when there were no blogs and everyone hand-coded their online journals and I loved her writing then. I loved her first novel, Why Girls Are Weird, and the way that she managed to take some of the best Squishy entries and fit them in the story (hello, tiny wooden hand, I am looking at you and waving). When I knew her newest novel was out, I was very excited.

Why Moms Are Weird is a fun read, the kind of book I wish I could have read all in one sitting, curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee and some snacks. It’s unfortunate that the kids would not agree to that, so it took me a little bit longer to read it all, but I enjoyed every page.

Benny lives on the opposite end of the country from her mom and sister, living her own life in California. She’s busy keeping the boys at bay to avoid the eventual heratbreak and working at a mediocre job when she simultaneously meets a great guy and gets a call informing her that her mother was in a car accident that broke her leg. Benny ditches the guy and flies home to live with her mother and sister temporarily in order to feel like she’s helping out. She ends up desperately trying to declutter her mther’s house, but discovers there’s more emotional and mental clutter than anything else.

The conflicts and misunderstandings are both bittersweet and incredibly hilarious. More than once I found myself laughing out loud and was relieved to be reading at home and not on public transit. But it’s not all funny and light. In between the giggles, you might find yourself thinking “I’ve been there” or “GOD I hope that never happens to me.” The choices Benny must face are believable and Pamie’s way of writing takes you right into the turmoil. One moment in particular was heartbreaking enough that I found myself near tears. Not everyone can write something that will make you laugh and cry in the same chapter.

I loved it. I know it’s one of those books that I will grab off my shelf again when I need something good to read.

Don’t be shy, go ahead and ask me for things you’d like me to take a picture of (of course they are subject to a big fat NO at my discretion). In the meantime, here are some of the first requests.

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I thought I’d ressurect an old – but good – meme. Make a request, or two, or three, whatever of things you’d like me to take a picture of and I’ll post it.

Yes, I do need some inspiration. If you decide to do this meme on your own site, let me know and I’ll come check it out too.

Two days ago, Breanna started standing up without pulling up or holding onto anything, just crouching and then standing straight up.

Yesterday, she learned to clap (and I totally forgot how cute babies are when they start clapping).

Today, she is trying very hard to take a step without holding onto anything.

And *I* am freaking out.

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I was unloading some clean clothes from the dryer and I took one armful to the bedroom to fold later. When I came back, I found that Breanna had decided to help me out by yanking clothes out and tossing them on the floor. She’s starting young. Maybe by her first birthday I can teach her to wash dishes.

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“What do you mean I’m not supposed to fling them on the floor?”

Today I changed the litter box after George got home so I could do it without any “help” from Hayley and without worrying about Breanna climbing into the dirty litter box. When I was done, I decided I’d better take the garbage down immediately because it defeats the purpose if you leave a smelly bag of litter lying around.

As soon as I opened the door, Breanna started charging for the outer hallway and I was so busy trying to contain her that I wasn’t paying attention to myself. George came to watch Hayley, who wanted to run up and down the hall and to let Breanna crawl after me. It was then, as I stood out in the carpeted hallway that I looked down. Bare feet. Oops.

Sherry: I don’t know where I thought I was going without my shoes.
George: Loser.
Sherry: I was busy watching my baby.

George then looked down and noticed something else missing. He was standing in the wide-open doorway of our apartment. In his underwear.

George: Oh shit!
Sherry: Yeah. Who’s the loser now?
George: Shut up.

Karma’s a bitch. I’d rather be out in the hall in my bare feet than in my underwear.

The scene: Hayley is putting pieces of wood (from a mini Jenga game) into a plastic cup.

Hayley: When I grow up, I’m going to get married.
Sherry: Really?
Hayley: Yes, I’m going to get MARRIED.
Sherry: Who are you going to marry?
Hayley: Well, I don’t know yet. (the tone was the equivalent of “DUH Mom”.)
Sherry: Okay.
Hayley: I have to practice.
Sherry: Practice what?
Hayley: To get married!
Sherry: I know, but what is it that you’re practicing?
Hayley: (holding up the cup) I have to carry my flowers when I get married.
Sherry: Oh, I see.
Hayley: *walks away humming the Wedding March.*

Clearly she’s been paying attention to the episode of Little Bear where he and Emily pretend to get married. See? Sometimes telelvision isn’t all bad, especially when you turn it off and see what creativity got sparked.