So my daughter celebrated her 10th Birthday this week (have I mentioned I have a daughter in double digits...it's sort of freaking me out!). If I'm being honest, I had no idea what to get her this year as a birthday gift. When you ask her what she wants, her responses are generally either that she wants something cool or that whatever we get her will be just fine. Great answers, but completely not helpful when I'm standing in the toy store.
It finally came to me as I was reading through Twitter posts. Someone mentioned travelling on ViaRail - what a perfect gift this would be for my adventure seeking little girl! Yes...I was gonna be the cool parent when she got this one (I don't get to be the cool one very often; usually that is reserved for my husband!)
So today was the day. We woke up bright and early, and headed to the train station. Best part - we hadn't told her what we were doing. The look on her face (and subsequent squeals of delight) was the best reaction I could have asked for.
We took the train to Montreal for the day. We hit the Biodome (one of my new favourite places), rode the Metro, and walked until we could walk no more. Hubby and youngest daughter drove and met us for lunch...the fact that we got to spend some time as a family this afternoon was the icing on the cake.
It truly was an amazing day - getting to spend time solo with each of my girls is so precious to me. We talk like no one is listening, giggle like schoolgirls and skip instead of walk. All the things I hope we continue to do as they get older - maybe minus the skipping part cause my knees might give out!!
What amazing days have you all had recently?
Friday, October 26, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Happy Birthday Monkey!
All my life the only thing I ever knew for sure was that I wanted to be a mom. My dream came true ten years ago when my beautiful daughter was born. Up to that moment, I knew what love was. I had an amazing family, I had married my Prince Charming and I had a circle of friends who I adored. Even with all that, nothing - and I mean nothing - in this world even comes close to how big my heart swelled when I laid eyes on that perfect little face for the first time.
Don't get me wrong...for 38 hours leading up to her arrival I wasn't the happiest camper on earth. And I'm sure my husband got more than an earful from me. In discussing it today, he said "we should remember it as a time when we had a mutual understanding of what we needed to accomplish and leave it at that." Well said my love! And, as any new mom would tell you, there were moments when I was sure my sanity would be the price of being a mom. They would also tell you that they would not trade being a mom for anything in the world...and they would be right.
Marianna, the day you were born I knew what it meant to have my heart beat outside of my body. I knew true joy; I knew real fear. I truly understood what the term "mama bear" meant. You have brought so much joy into our lives my munchkin and we love you more than we will ever be able to express in words. I know you are excited to be in double digits, but try not to grow up too fast. And remember no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby girl. We love you sweet pea - Happy 10th Birthday.
Don't get me wrong...for 38 hours leading up to her arrival I wasn't the happiest camper on earth. And I'm sure my husband got more than an earful from me. In discussing it today, he said "we should remember it as a time when we had a mutual understanding of what we needed to accomplish and leave it at that." Well said my love! And, as any new mom would tell you, there were moments when I was sure my sanity would be the price of being a mom. They would also tell you that they would not trade being a mom for anything in the world...and they would be right.
Marianna, the day you were born I knew what it meant to have my heart beat outside of my body. I knew true joy; I knew real fear. I truly understood what the term "mama bear" meant. You have brought so much joy into our lives my munchkin and we love you more than we will ever be able to express in words. I know you are excited to be in double digits, but try not to grow up too fast. And remember no matter how big you get, you will always be my baby girl. We love you sweet pea - Happy 10th Birthday.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Lessons Abound
So those of you know my daughter know that she is pretty quirky. She reacts strongly to things - both good and bad - and takes everything to heart. We have been working with her on how to handle when bad stuff happens to her, and have talked alot over the past few months about appropriate reactions.
Her experience this year seems to be better. She is remembering to take deep breaths, and trying really hard to keep things in perspective. Alot to ask from a 10 year old...there are adults I know that could use that lesson (and there are occasions when I include myself in that bucket). While we were going through these life lessons, we were also talking about the importance of not getting pushed around ,and the need to let her emotions out. I wanted to make sure that she knew it was ok to blow a gasket once in awhile, especially if she was feeling threatened or picked on.
I'm thinking we are rock star parents - lessons abound at our house! Uh huh right. Tonight I found out there is a bit of a conundrum in our package of lessons. When someone pushes you out of the way and you get up and push them back, is that sticking up for yourself or being aggressive? And when someone takes something that is yours and you chase them and grab for it back? Where does that one lie on the spectrum? Man I hate it when the hard questions get pulled out around the dinner table.
So whats the answer? I wish I had some enlightening response but I was a little dumbfounded. While I don't want the solution to be to bottle everything up (been there, done that and the results were not good!), or to report every little incident, I also want to give her an easy way to figure out when its ok to stand her ground. So we push on and deal with situations as they come up. We remember to treat people as we want to be treated, and we remember to think before we act. You know...easy stuff.
For me, I continue to teach those lessons (even when I have to muddle through them) and I keep passing out the hugs as long as she'll take them. All I can do, right? If anyone has any words of wisdom, bring them on please!
Her experience this year seems to be better. She is remembering to take deep breaths, and trying really hard to keep things in perspective. Alot to ask from a 10 year old...there are adults I know that could use that lesson (and there are occasions when I include myself in that bucket). While we were going through these life lessons, we were also talking about the importance of not getting pushed around ,and the need to let her emotions out. I wanted to make sure that she knew it was ok to blow a gasket once in awhile, especially if she was feeling threatened or picked on.
I'm thinking we are rock star parents - lessons abound at our house! Uh huh right. Tonight I found out there is a bit of a conundrum in our package of lessons. When someone pushes you out of the way and you get up and push them back, is that sticking up for yourself or being aggressive? And when someone takes something that is yours and you chase them and grab for it back? Where does that one lie on the spectrum? Man I hate it when the hard questions get pulled out around the dinner table.
So whats the answer? I wish I had some enlightening response but I was a little dumbfounded. While I don't want the solution to be to bottle everything up (been there, done that and the results were not good!), or to report every little incident, I also want to give her an easy way to figure out when its ok to stand her ground. So we push on and deal with situations as they come up. We remember to treat people as we want to be treated, and we remember to think before we act. You know...easy stuff.
For me, I continue to teach those lessons (even when I have to muddle through them) and I keep passing out the hugs as long as she'll take them. All I can do, right? If anyone has any words of wisdom, bring them on please!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Thankful
There is one weekend put aside every year for us to make a list of everything we are thankful for. For Canadians, that was this weekend - and although I do make a conscious effort to count my blessings often, making that list can become a good reference point for those times when we feel overwhelmed or are having multiple bad days in a row.
So here goes...
I am thankful for the continued health of both myself and my family - without health does anything else really matter?
I am thankful that I have more happy days in my life than days that get the better of me.
I am thankful for the smiles I get every morning from two awesome little girls (admittedly, there are days the smiles are harder to come by, but they come out eventually!).
I am thankful for the fantastic group of ladies that I consider my good friends (and their husbands who accept that sometimes we just need our porch nights!).
I am thankful for my craft room - the place I go when things get a little crazy and my ladies are not available for porch night.
I am thankful, on occasion, for white wine and chocolate.
I am thankful that I work with people who understand that the most important things in my life are my family and friends - and that work will always take a back seat.
I am thankful that this year my sisters both had dreams come true - one got to experience the amazingness of motherhood for the first time, the other married her prince charming.
I am thankful for my prince charming - the man who always knows what I need to hear, who is my rock when I feel like things are out of control and who supports me unconditionally (even when I come up with hair-brained ideas). He also provides IT support which, in my life, is a big deal - I get impatient with IT and he just makes it work for me. Love you hon!
As I detail out all that I'm thankful for, I am realizing that the list could get quite long. And this is a good thing. I am truly blessed in my life - I know this. Doesn't mean I don't have days when it feels like the world has turned on its head, or days when I just want to crawl under the covers and watch the Twilight Series. But it does mean that when all is said and done, and I get myself centered again, the life I've got is pretty full of things that make me grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone - and don't forget to make your lists!!
So here goes...
I am thankful for the continued health of both myself and my family - without health does anything else really matter?
I am thankful that I have more happy days in my life than days that get the better of me.
I am thankful for the smiles I get every morning from two awesome little girls (admittedly, there are days the smiles are harder to come by, but they come out eventually!).
I am thankful for the fantastic group of ladies that I consider my good friends (and their husbands who accept that sometimes we just need our porch nights!).
I am thankful for my craft room - the place I go when things get a little crazy and my ladies are not available for porch night.
I am thankful, on occasion, for white wine and chocolate.
I am thankful that I work with people who understand that the most important things in my life are my family and friends - and that work will always take a back seat.
I am thankful that this year my sisters both had dreams come true - one got to experience the amazingness of motherhood for the first time, the other married her prince charming.
I am thankful for my prince charming - the man who always knows what I need to hear, who is my rock when I feel like things are out of control and who supports me unconditionally (even when I come up with hair-brained ideas). He also provides IT support which, in my life, is a big deal - I get impatient with IT and he just makes it work for me. Love you hon!
As I detail out all that I'm thankful for, I am realizing that the list could get quite long. And this is a good thing. I am truly blessed in my life - I know this. Doesn't mean I don't have days when it feels like the world has turned on its head, or days when I just want to crawl under the covers and watch the Twilight Series. But it does mean that when all is said and done, and I get myself centered again, the life I've got is pretty full of things that make me grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone - and don't forget to make your lists!!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Where to start?
So this is what happens when I wait a really long time between posts...where do I start to recap everything that has gone on? Let's see if I can some things up without rambling too much.
Celebrations this summer centred around a wedding - my middle sister got married in August. We were all so happy for her - she finally found her other half. The day was not without hitches (and subsequent freak outs), but in the end it was all about family and friends getting together to celebrate with them. And yes I had to do another speech...and no I didn't make it through without crying. It really was a fun night, and I could not be happier for her and my new brother in law.
We also managed to get away this summer for 3 weeks. We spent them in South Florida. Easy to sum up this part of the summer - it was hot, it rained and the shopping was fantastic. We are lucky enough to get to go south every year, and every year we come back wishing we could just stay there. Totally could picture myself being there full time...pretty darn sure it will be part of our retirement plan to move there!!
After I blinked, September was here. That means back to routine (which I secretly love) and back to school for my girls. I'm not gonna lie - after all the drama in the school yard last year with my oldest, I was a little (ok alot) apprehensive about what her year would hold for her this year. Would the mean girls still be nasty to her? Would she spend more time in tears this year than smiling? We talked alot about how to deal with "the girls", and worked on accepting that not everyone would see her as the quirky, sweet little girl that I adore. Glad to report that a few weeks in, things seem to be going better...not perfect but better. From my point of view she seems to be dealing with it better which is all I can ask for.
My littlest daughter started Grade 2 this year. She is my little social butterfly and seems to be able to flit from group to group without batting an eye. She is a chatterbox, so there have already been some discussions about keeping quiet during class time. Plus she flies through her work in class...is it bad that I want to send extra work for her?
Along with school comes all the fall activities - and my girls are only in two things each! Hubby and I looked at our calendar for September and October - and discovered we already needed a nap. Things are pretty nuts, but everyone is healthy and happy which means we can handle the nuts.
Wow...so much for promises about no rambling. I haven't even gotten into any of my "opinion" posts. Guess I'll have to keep those for another day.
Parting thought - I've seen real strength in some pretty amazing ladies recently. Hats off to all those dealing with "stuff", and still manage to smile and keep a brave face. Know my door is always open, the coffee is always hot (or the vodka is always cold depending on what you need) and my ears always sympathetic. For those of us who have it pretty good, we should just say thanks and leave it at that.
Celebrations this summer centred around a wedding - my middle sister got married in August. We were all so happy for her - she finally found her other half. The day was not without hitches (and subsequent freak outs), but in the end it was all about family and friends getting together to celebrate with them. And yes I had to do another speech...and no I didn't make it through without crying. It really was a fun night, and I could not be happier for her and my new brother in law.
We also managed to get away this summer for 3 weeks. We spent them in South Florida. Easy to sum up this part of the summer - it was hot, it rained and the shopping was fantastic. We are lucky enough to get to go south every year, and every year we come back wishing we could just stay there. Totally could picture myself being there full time...pretty darn sure it will be part of our retirement plan to move there!!
After I blinked, September was here. That means back to routine (which I secretly love) and back to school for my girls. I'm not gonna lie - after all the drama in the school yard last year with my oldest, I was a little (ok alot) apprehensive about what her year would hold for her this year. Would the mean girls still be nasty to her? Would she spend more time in tears this year than smiling? We talked alot about how to deal with "the girls", and worked on accepting that not everyone would see her as the quirky, sweet little girl that I adore. Glad to report that a few weeks in, things seem to be going better...not perfect but better. From my point of view she seems to be dealing with it better which is all I can ask for.
My littlest daughter started Grade 2 this year. She is my little social butterfly and seems to be able to flit from group to group without batting an eye. She is a chatterbox, so there have already been some discussions about keeping quiet during class time. Plus she flies through her work in class...is it bad that I want to send extra work for her?
Along with school comes all the fall activities - and my girls are only in two things each! Hubby and I looked at our calendar for September and October - and discovered we already needed a nap. Things are pretty nuts, but everyone is healthy and happy which means we can handle the nuts.
Wow...so much for promises about no rambling. I haven't even gotten into any of my "opinion" posts. Guess I'll have to keep those for another day.
Parting thought - I've seen real strength in some pretty amazing ladies recently. Hats off to all those dealing with "stuff", and still manage to smile and keep a brave face. Know my door is always open, the coffee is always hot (or the vodka is always cold depending on what you need) and my ears always sympathetic. For those of us who have it pretty good, we should just say thanks and leave it at that.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I need more time!
So the summer has come and (almost) gone and I haven't churned out one post. Not a single one. And even this one won't have anything too revealing in it...it is more just to say I put a blog entry up during the summer months.
This summer has been a little crazy at our house. Not to say it doesn't always feel crazy but for some reason this one caught up with me. I've swooning over my new nephew, I was a single parent for almost 2 weeks while my husband was away on business, and we've been planning my middle sister's wedding.
We did manage to get away on vacation - we just got back from 2 weeks in south Florida. Love, love, love being able to go there every year. It really is just what we need to re-charge. Now I'm back in crazy mode. The wedding is this Friday, and the kids go back to school next week. Looking forward to just getting some ahhh time at some point.
Off to finish a speech - please no lectures about procrastination. I work my best under pressure!!
This summer has been a little crazy at our house. Not to say it doesn't always feel crazy but for some reason this one caught up with me. I've swooning over my new nephew, I was a single parent for almost 2 weeks while my husband was away on business, and we've been planning my middle sister's wedding.
We did manage to get away on vacation - we just got back from 2 weeks in south Florida. Love, love, love being able to go there every year. It really is just what we need to re-charge. Now I'm back in crazy mode. The wedding is this Friday, and the kids go back to school next week. Looking forward to just getting some ahhh time at some point.
Off to finish a speech - please no lectures about procrastination. I work my best under pressure!!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
I'm in love with a new man!
No one panic...my husband is still my number one guy, but about a week ago I fell in love with a new man - my brand new little nephew. I've been waiting since he was born to gush about him, but needed to wait until my sister and her husband officially introduced him to the "web world" on Facebook. That happened today, so let the gushing begin!
Evan is a perfect little angel, and my heart melts whenever I see him. I was lucky that my sister let me help her alot this week - that meant lots of auntie-nephew bonding time. I will admit that the thought of how nice it would be to have another baby crossed my mind...in a fleeting sort of way :-) Then I just figured I could get my baby fix, then head home to sleep. The best of both worlds!!
I can't wait to watch him grow up, and I wish him as much love and laughter as he can handle. Can't promise not to be an over-protective aunt, but I figure you can't have too many of us watching out for him.
To my sister and brother-in-law, I promise I will spoil him. I promise to always be his loudest cheerleader. I promise to be here to help whenever you need me. I promise lots of babysitting services so the two of you can go for sanity breaks. I promise to love him (as I do all my nephews) like he is my own. I promise you lots of pictures (care of my hubby) and lots of scrapbook pages to document your favourite moments. In a nutshell, I promise to be the kind of aunt/sister/friend that you are to my children.
Tell me this is not the cutest face you have ever seen...I am totally smitten!
Evan is a perfect little angel, and my heart melts whenever I see him. I was lucky that my sister let me help her alot this week - that meant lots of auntie-nephew bonding time. I will admit that the thought of how nice it would be to have another baby crossed my mind...in a fleeting sort of way :-) Then I just figured I could get my baby fix, then head home to sleep. The best of both worlds!!
I can't wait to watch him grow up, and I wish him as much love and laughter as he can handle. Can't promise not to be an over-protective aunt, but I figure you can't have too many of us watching out for him.
To my sister and brother-in-law, I promise I will spoil him. I promise to always be his loudest cheerleader. I promise to be here to help whenever you need me. I promise lots of babysitting services so the two of you can go for sanity breaks. I promise to love him (as I do all my nephews) like he is my own. I promise you lots of pictures (care of my hubby) and lots of scrapbook pages to document your favourite moments. In a nutshell, I promise to be the kind of aunt/sister/friend that you are to my children.
Tell me this is not the cutest face you have ever seen...I am totally smitten!
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