...after 14 hours give or take...

Of studying today...

its official...I've lost all feeling in my butt.

But I sure know how to do logarithmic functions!!!!

I just like writing that word..."logarithmic". It should way more fun than it actually is. It sounds like I should be groovin' to music or something. Definitely not drawing on graph paper. That's not fun. Not in any way, shape or form.

Yours in algebra...

Love Tanya

...back in time.

Have you ever thought..."if only I could go back in time and do it all over again..."

Would you make the same choices? Would you be the same person? What would you do different?

What were your best years? Was it when you were one and a half years old and you didn't have to wipe your own butt? Or how about 3 years old and everything was yours and you didn't understand the concept of sharing. The world was your oyster and you could cry if you didn't get your way and people thought that was kinda cute and gave you want you wanted. That was a good age. How about when you were 10 and you got to stay home by yourself without a babysitter for the first time? Was high school good for you? Did you have "wicked, awesome" friends that you shared everything with? Your parents still gave you money and cooked your food and washed your laundry and all you had to do was get your homework done and clean your room twice a month. That was a good time, wasn't it? You didn't have to worry about getting a job yet or balancing a budget or looking after kids. Then came college. That was fun...going out to the bar the first time was AMAZING! Not having to come home for curfew took some getting used to. But suddenly you were worrying about things like money and what you could cook for dinner. That sucked. But then you had your first serious relationship, and maybe got married. That was fun...for awhile, but then life smacked you in the face. Hard.

So, was it pre-school, or elementary school, or high school or college or post college years? If you could, would you like to go back to those "best years" to experience it all over again?

Well...believe it or not...I am getting that chance. Again. In 2009, I went back to college. I left my husband and two kids and traveled across the continent to West Virginia to take my final semester of college. Five months of getting to be a college student again. That was fun, and difficult, all at the same time.

And now, in 2011, I get another chance. But I'm going back even further. High school. Yup.

Here's how it happened.

I applied to enter the Medical Radiography Program at the local Institute of Technology (BCIT). I want to become an X-ray techy. I put together this great application package and mailed it off. A few weeks later, I receive an email. It said that I didn't have the required pre-requisites to be accepted to the program. What!!!! What do you mean? I have my Bachelor of Science degree, courtesy of my 2009 trip back to college. The only pre-requisites listed were Grade 12 classes. I had those and more...way more. I questioned BCIT. And they told me that I had taken those classes more than 5 years ago. I said yes...I'm a mature student...I went to college and got a degree, that is why those classes are more than 5 years old. Well...they said, you need to take them again.

My head almost exploded!

I argued, BCIT shrugged.

I pleaded, BCIT ignored me.

Then I gave in and signed up for Biology 12, Math 12 and Physics 12 through Distance Education. And now I am back in high school.

Here's the kicker...I have until February 11th to complete these classes.

That gave me just over 3 weeks to finish 3 grade 12 classes.

So...I've been studying like crazy. Cursing BCIT the entire time.

I'm going to do this and shove their pre-requisites down their throats.

I might not see my kids or husband for the next few weeks and I might go crossed-eyed from studying, but I am going to ace their stupid grade 12 classes and show them just how freakin' awesomely smart I am and how they can't afford to not accept me into their program cause I can do high school all over again in under one month!

Anyways, I will see everyone when I resurface on February 11th. Until then...wish me luck!

...New Basketball picture.

I haven’t been keeping up with my blog. I find that I don’t have a whole heck of a lot to say lately. We’ve been keeping busy with basketball and soccer. Other than that, we’ve just been living our lives and who wants to hear about that?

So, until something exciting happens or my kids, or husband, does something that totally exasperates me, this blog is going to be pretty lame. Hopefully they don’t keep me waiting.

Until then...

Happy New Year and Basketball...

Well, its a brand new year. I hope it is going to be a better one than last year. I can't pinpoint exactly what was wrong with my year last year, but it was just a little off...

But 2011! 2011 is going to be an awesome year! I can feel it.

So Happy New Year to all my friends and family.

I just wanted to share a cool picture of Aislinn playing ball just before Christmas. Doesn't she look like a giant compared to that little blondie?

We ended up winning our Fall Season tournament. It was really exciting, we won in overtime. The kids were cheering like crazy, but I think the parents were going to have a collective heart attack.

It was a great way to finish our fall season. And now we are gearing up to start the winter season. I'm sure we are going to have some more exciting finishes.

Anyways, when I get some pictures of our family trip to Prince George I will post again.

Love Tanya

...Tuck on a treadmill.

He he ho ho! He's getting better at it, with more practice.

...the start of December.

Technically, it was still November, but it seems that we had a little taste of winter last week.

But in better news!!!

Take a look at my new toy! An early Christmas present from Frank to me and me to Frank.

We wrestled it into the upstairs bedroom (it was really heavy! and we had to kick Aislinn downstairs, again, to accomplish this). And then we took pictures and each had a try on it.

Since yesterday, I have already logged over 6 miles on it! Don't believe me? Ask my knees...they'll tell you. Ouch!

Even Tuck had a try. After a few stumbles and crashes into the wall behind the treadmill, he got the hang of it and really enjoyed it.

Oh! And what's even cooler? This machine comes with a wireless iFit membership that allows you to load up Google maps so you can run actual routes, like in real life! I can load up the Boston marathon, or a local route, or a crazy hill run through the Alps. And when I hook up my laptop and place it on the console I can even watch as I run those routes on the street view of Google maps. Isn't that crazy? Awesome!

This morning, when Frank got up to go to his 7am bball practice, Mackendra woke up and decided to go for a little walk on the 'mill. Isn't that weird?

So, we have no excuses any more. We can't say, "Ohhhhh, its raining," or "Oh, too bad, its too cold, and dark," or "I don't like having to get all dressed up to go running." Now, we just walk across the hall...we can even run naked! Ha ha ha!

So, as an early New Year's resolution to match my early Christmas present...I'm going to run more often.

...being a kid sucks! (According to Aislinn)

Actual conversation that took place yesterday after school and its consequences:

Mom: Aislinn, take Tuck outside for a bit and, I don't know... throw some snowballs for him or something.

Aislinn: AWWWWWWWW Mom! Do I have to? (Imagine her voice set at the register that automatically grates on your last nerve).

Mom: **gritting my teeth and speaking through them** Yes, you have to. Just for 15 minutes. He hasn't gone out today.

Aislinn: **with an extremely pained look on her face and a voice that has turned up that dial another notch** I don't want to, I have to....go....clean up my bedroom. **this last bit said triumphantly**

Mom: **nodding because, yes, its true, Aislinn has to go clean up her bedroom, she was told to do that....3 days ago!** Yah, but take Tuck out first.

Aislinn: ** as she's walking away to her bedroom** I can't!

Mom: **turning to Dad with a murderous look in her face that prompts Dad to take action before Mom's head explodes** Frank!!!

Dad: Aislinn, get your ass outside right now!

Aislinn: I can't!

Dad: AISLINN!!! You have 3 seconds to take your dog outside before you spend the rest of the afternoon in your room!

Aislinn: You can't make me! **Starting to look worried but still determined to win this unwinable (is that even a word? not according to spellcheck) battle. Now, running away from Dad, holding her ears** Owww! Don't!!!! Letmego!!!! **as she's being dragged to her room**.

Dad: Mackendra! Will you take Tuck out for me?

Mackendra: Sure **all angelic-like, she knows she's getting bonus points here**.

Dad: Good, now Tuck's your dog.

Aislinn: WHA???!!!! No he's not!!! You can't do that!!! That's not fair!!! Well....if she gets Tuck then I get the hamster...and....and...and... THE HAMSTER IS GONNA DIE!!!!!

Mom and Dad: ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Consequences: Aislinn spent the entire afternoon and evening in her bedroom alone. No one talked to her and she doesn't get to go on the school bowling trip.

Outcome: Agreement. Being a kids sucks.