June 25, 2009
· Filed under Kids, Life in General
Today was The Boy’s last day of school. They had “Sportnik” day where the 8th graders put on a fun day outside for the elementary school. It was lots of fun. Thinks like throwing the water balloon back and forth without breaking it, carrying the sponge soaked with water and squeezing it out into a bucket relay race style, tug of war, parachute games, etc. It was the perfect day too, sunny, but a nice breeze to keep you cool. We have all had way more sun that we are used to though, The Baby is still sleeping!
Since I’ve last put pictures in my blog, wordpress has changed the way you put pictures in now, so hopefully I can figure out how to make it work, and make it a nice sized photo, not a thumbnail or a giant huge one either. I’m kind of computer dumb.
Usually this time of year we are making our annual trip to the Okanagan for Canada Day. I’m really feeling the void of not being there this year! We have got on 3 years in a row now…. it will be a little strange to be home on Canada Day. Hopefully we’ll find some festivities to partake in around home. We are usually at the Osoyoos parade, I think I will miss that most of all. Although, not the heat. The last 2 years it’s been 40 degrees on July 1st! My friend from Westbank messaged me the other day asking if/when we’re coming. I guess a lot of people are feeling the financial crunch this year and not making trips. I’m going to miss seeing them most of all. We used to rent a condo from some people we know when we went to Kelowna. It’s on a beautiful golf course and has an awesome unheated pool (soooo nice when it’s 36 above!). They’ve sold it now, and bought property in Pheonix instead. I’m really going to miss staying there, too. Sitting by the pool… ahh! I’m getting choked up. Our friends in Westbank offered that we could stay with them, but it’s a loooooong drive for 3 kids under 6, and we’re already going to Prince George in August for a family reunion. (Another looooong drive) I’m really excited for the reunion though. It will be fun to get together with the family, I haven’t seen lots of them in quite a while!
We got news the other day that our good friend from Scotland is coming to visit again! He came when The Boy was a baby (almost 6 years ago!) and wasn’t able to come again until this past November. We had such a blast! He is going to a wedding in Toronto in August, and said he wouldn’t come to Canada without coming to visit us! So he’s making the extra trip to come out west and stay for a while. I think we might take him to Drumheller this time, check out some Dino’s. We went there last year… there’s these dino’s all over the city, so we went to everyone we could find and took a picture next to them. It was a fun adventure. (I tried to add pictures after this paragraph, but they want to group in the “gallery” with the other pictures above. I can’t figure this thing out!)
Oooh!! MyKidsGrandmaM just dropped by with freshly baked cookies! Must go eat them!
February 27, 2009
· Filed under Christianity, Kids, Life in General
I wanted to pose a question to other Christians and especially Christian Moms: is it profitable to a Christian and especially a Christian mother to get plastic surgery? (considering a mother’s decisions affect the way her children think and learn)
The reason I’m asking is this: My body has been completely destroyed appearance-wise by having my 3 kids. My belly button is almost permanently popped, and I have stretch marks from my chest down to my thighs. I always thought I would consider plastic surgery once I’m done having kids (which I am!) but I’m starting to feel convicted that plastic surgery is not in mine or my family’s best interest. I used to have a body that I was very comfortable in, I was happy to wear whatever I wanted and I always felt attractive. Those days seem to be few and far between lately, as with every child I got a little more stretched and saggy, a little more lumpy and bumpy, and a little more dissatisfied. I’ll admit I haven’t done everything I could in regards to exercise and eating healthy, but I am active, and I don’t drown myself in 27 chocolate bars all day. The thing I always go back to is no matter what I eat or do, nothing will change the stretch marks. Many women have said that they are “signs of love” or something else sentimental and I just can’t get myself to see it that way.
What I’ve been feeling lately, is that while it’s not “wrong” to want to look nice and present yourself fit and healthy, (even the proverbs 31 woman dressed in fine linens) fit and healthy comes in all different shapes and sizes. I’m starting to feel like I need to “get over myself” and move on from the quest to have my old body back. I also have been wondering how I would teach my own daughter and sons about what to look for in a woman: outward or inward beauty? And do I teach them that if you don’t like something about your body, just go ahead and have it changed? Also, what about contentment? Aren’t we supposed to be content in all circumstances? (Phil. 4:11,12, 1 Tim. 6:6, Hebrews 13:5) And lastly, probably the most important, vanity. My body is like dust (Psalm 103:14), I am only here for a flash in time. Is plastic surgery something that I should be spending my time thinking about, and spending my money on? Surely there is a more profitable cause to give thousands of dollars to than “fixing” a body that really doesn’t need fixing, a body that won’t last much longer.
What do you all think?
Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”.
April 4, 2008
· Filed under Kids
Yesterday we went out with a friend to an indoor play park. It was crazy busy with it being Spring Break and all, but I didn’t think it would be THAT busy. Anyways, The Boy is always excited when we go to the park and he usually says something like “maybe I will make a new friend!”. He loves meeting new kids and always finds someone at the park to run around and play with. So far, he’s been very good at making new friends. Well, as usual, he immediately had a friend or two with only minutes of being there. Today his choice of friend was a little girl who was very close to his age, if not the same age. They seemed to be having a great time together. A while later they were chasing around and as they walked right past me, The Boy tripped and scraped his hands. He started to cry a little bit, came right up to me and told me his hands hurt. Almost immediately he quit crying and I looked at his hands and declared him fit to go back and play. I never babied him or kissed him or anything. He ran off to find his friend to play again. Well. Once he found her, she started calling him a baby. He got really upset and told her he wasn’t a baby and started crying again. I looked up and noticed him crying and upset so I motioned for him to come over. He came and sat down next to me and was crying so hard I couldn’t even understand what he was saying. Finally he managed to tell me that she was “calling me a baby, but I’m not.” I tried to handle it simply as no big deal, and told him “yeah! You’re not a baby right? How old are you?” “Four.” “Right, see, you’re not a baby! That girl is just being a mean bully, and you don’t need to play with her anymore. There’s tons of kids in here today, just go and find someone else to play with! If she talks to you, just tell her that you don’t play with bullies.” And after that, he just sat there next to me, with my one arm around him and whimpered and did the gaspy breathing that people do when they’ve been crying too hard. After a few minutes I asked him if he was ready to go play, and he just quietly told me “I think I’m ready to go home.”My heart broke. He never wants to leave when we go places like that, and for him to say he wanted to go home was a serious sign that he was deeply hurt. (Besides the big ugly cry) I tried to convince him to stay, but he just wanted to leave. So we left. The whole time I was trying to think of the lasting effects and consequences of leaving and sort of “running away” from the problem, but I was also thinking of how it would feel to stay. You see, I was That Kid. I was the one that people made fun of in elementary school and even at home. And I never felt protected (in regards to bullies) by the adults around me, I felt very alone. I never ever want my kids to feel like that. I never want them to feel like I think that someone picking on them is “no big deal.” Lots of adults would tell children to “just ignore them” or some other piece of misguided advice. To a child who is being bullied it is a HUGE deal. Once you are an adult you can rationalize and see a little more clearly about your situation, but as a child it is the end of the world. And if a child could ignore it, believe me, they would. So, I confirmed with him that he really wanted to leave, and we left, with tears in my eyes too. I hope that this is something that won’t happen often to any of my kids, but you never know. I just hope that my kids at least feel safe and bully-free at home, and that they feel understood and protected. I’m not sure what the right approach is, whether you leave or stay, confront or ignore, or what. I’m sure there’s advice out there… sometimes I think adult intervention only feeds the bully’s fire though. Anyone have any positive experience?
April 2, 2008
· Filed under Kids
My oldest baby starts kindergarten this fall. We have started the process of getting him into a school somewhere. It just seems so overwhelming and scary! It’s such a major decision. Right now he’s attending Preschool at a Christian school, and we’d ideally like to keep sending him there for the rest of elementary school. I know he’s comfortable there, and we really appreciate the christian programming. We went for an interview yesterday and it was really encouraging. They gave us the impression that he is in, without actually saying it. It seems like their mission is really to show the children how God and Christ fit into everyday learning and life. I truly can’t believe how fast time has gone. It seems like just yesterday he was my sweet little baby boy, just me and him. Life was so quiet then… sleeping in each morning, lazing around each day, spending lots of time with each other and just soaking in every minute. How I miss those days, and having that special time with him. I think each child holds a special place in a mother’s heart, and there is something very special about the first child. Now it seems like I barely have time for him. I’ve been working on spending more quality time with him. It’s hard to get time in with him, when the other two children have such immediate needs. The Boy’s needs are more social, all of his physical needs he can mostly do himself. (Getting to the toilet, getting dressed, grabbing a snack or a juice box, etc) He’s starting to act up lately, and it took me a few days to fully understand why. The only way for him to get immediate attention, all be it negative, but nonetheless, is to throw a fit. I feel bad that it took me 6 weeks to recognize that I’m not taking enough time for him. It’s “in a minute” here and “one second” there, and then the end of the day comes and I realize I haven’t really spent much time with him. A week ago we made a behavior chart together, me and him. On one side we have “right choices” and on the other side we have “wrong choices”. We want to teach him that each time he reacts to something, he makes a choice – a right choice or a wrong choice. When he makes a right choice, he gets a reward sticker on his chart. After 3 reward stickers in one particular choice (truthfulness, respect, kindness/love, obedience, manners, and good behavior at school) he gets a “privilege”. He gets to choose what it is (getting toys back that have been put away, watching TV, playing video games, etc) which really helps him to feel like he’s earned it. On the other side, whenever he makes a wrong choice he gets an X, and after 3 X’s on any category (combined) he gets a privilege taken away. So far, after one week, he’s earned about 10 privileges, and only had 2 taken away. This is HUGE for him, he’s doing so well with it, and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s really helping me to remember to recognize his good behavior, and to not make a huge deal out of the bad behavior, that way he doesn’t see it as a way to get attention. I give him more attention for the good behavior. If any of you are having behavior issues with your older child, I highly highly recommend this kind of system! Last night I got to have some special time with him before he went to bed. His hands have been really dry lately (I think he’s not rinsing the soap off well enough after he goes to the bathroom) so I got some lotion and rubbed his hands for him last night while he was lying in bed. I could tell it was relaxing him, and we just sat and talked for a few minutes. While it’s sad to leave each stage of childhood behind, it’s exciting to experience the next stage alongside him. I think that’s what I love most about being a mother. Having the opportunity to experience the true joy in childhood and the excitement that goes along with. Everything is new and exciting and wonderful, it’s very refreshing. Lately when I look at Little Man I get a little sad thinking that this could be the last time I look into those baby eyes and watch those new little smiles! I just want to hold on to these moments for as long as I can! Because that is just what they are… moments. And they disappear so fast!I was going to leave a picture of my big Boy but it won’t accept my photo program today for some reason. *shrugs*
March 25, 2008
· Filed under Kids
So, last week, we officially did the switch with Lil’ Miss to her Big Girl Bed. She’s really into Disney Princess (gag) and so I bought her some toddler bed sheets for her bed. I told her that if she threw out her soothers she could have the sheets. And she did. I was sure that when she threw them out she would realize what she did and be really upset about it, but she wasn’t at all. She has cried for it only once or twice, and it was more of a whining for it, after a little reminding she got over it. I’m so proud of her! She seems so HUGE now, sleeping in that little bed with no soother in her mouth. Another success, I am currently sitting with Little Man lkkllklkpoopooooopopooppop – Hah! I just walked away from the computer for a second to answer the phone, and that is what Lil’ Miss typed while I was gone. Apparently she likes poop. With a stutter. Anyways, I’m sitting here with Little Man in the sling! I had bought a few a while ago to try with him, and he hated every minute of it, so I didn’t think I’d get to use them at all, which I had really wanted to. I actually make the pouch style ones, so I had one around that I had made, so I thought I’d try it, and sure enough, he’s snoring!! Hurray! I can actually get something done! Except that I’m sitting here instead of cleaning something. I really wanted to do laundry today, but our sewer backed up again last night. We have some shrubs out front of our house that keep growing into the pipes and blocking the drainage. The crews are coming this afternoon to chop it out, but until then I shouldn’t use a lot of water. The gross thing is that I had a bunch of clothes on the floor, right next to the drain where it comes out of. Ugh. This weekend I went shopping and got in on some sweet sales. Old Navy is moving a bunch of stuff at 40% off, and Tommy had 25% off all kids stuff. I’m trying to stock up on stuff for this summer. It used to be that I had closets full of stuff for each season that was all given to us, but it’s all gone now. It’s hard trying to buy a wardrobe for 3 kids!! People always comment on how well dressed my kids are, but I rarely rarely ever pay full price for anything. I almost always get stuff on clearance, 40% off the lowest price or whatever. You just have to go look!! Lots of times Old Navy clearance is cheaper than stuff you’d get at Wal-Mart or Zellers or anything! Same with the Children’s Place when they clear stuff out it’s usually pretty cheap! And lastly, a clever joke told to us yesterday by The Boy.”What does a PoliceMan get for Christmas?”"Uhmm, I don’t know! What?”"A Stocking!!!” ”Oh… uhmm… ok!”Followed by The Boy laughing at his own hilariousness. And MyKidsDad and I looking at each other trying to figure it out.
March 17, 2008
· Filed under Kids, Life in General
Does anyone want to play “Talking Lego”?? Huh? Huh? Anyone?????????? I think I’ve played about as much as I can for one whole lifetime. The Boy is in looooove with lego and specifically, Star Wars Lego. He’s only 4 so usually he much prefers playing with the mini figures and having conversations with them than doing very much building. Although lately, he has starting to “build with his imagination” as he calls it, and make different planes and vehicles with random pieces, which I think is GREAT. I must have an imagination problem though, because my Step-Mom sat down to play with him a few weeks ago, and used something else that was on the table as a planet base, and her and him had this whole planet and stuff set up out of nothing. And then they played and had force fields and caverns and all kinds of great stuff. I was kind of in awe a little bit. She does have a 7 (or 8? Oops.) year old boy at home, so I guess she has a few years of practice. Maybe that’s all I need. Practice. Oh, wouldn’t he be pleased if I told him that!! Today I was playing PacMan (I know, I know, I should be cleaning or doing something else constructive) and The Boy asked who the little critters were that were following me around, and I told him they were my enemies. And he told me that we need to love our enemies. It was awesome. I love how much he is started to put stuff together and really have understanding about stuff. With Easter coming up there has been a lot of talk between home, preschool and Sunday school about “Jesus died, but he’s alive now!” (in his words) and he’s really starting to get it I think. Even Lil’ Miss has been talking about it in her 2yr old chopped up language.Speaking of her, we were going to do the big girl bed with her this weekend, but decided to put it off until next weekend. There was too much going on this weekend (out late nights) to take the time to put it together and get her to bed in it! This past week she skipped her nap 2 days in a row. I know it’s almost time for her to give up the nap but with a 6 week old in the house I really appreciate that time that I get with my boys and to rest a little bit. Little Man mostly usually (hah!) sleeps during that time, and The Boy and I get in some good talking lego time… and sometimes I even get to nap for 20 minutes. She just requires so much more energy and supervision. Which I love, but it’s nice to have a break during the day too.I officially need to get up off my butt now. I’ve done nothing but sit on it allllll day so far. I think today should be the day I finally start doing my Pilates. It only takes 20 minutes. Maybe it needs to replace that aforementioned nap.
March 13, 2008
· Filed under Homemaking, Kids
So, Lil’ Miss is FAR too attached to her “Sooey-Blankey” (soother and any receiving blanket) and I’m ashamed to say that at 26 months old she still requires them to get herself to sleep. MyKidsDad and I have been talking for a while now about finally putting her into a toddler bed (she’s still in a crib) but I want to get rid of Sooey-Blankey first. MyKidsDad thinks it should be done all at once, but I’m afraid that it would be too much of a change for her, that it might be better to conquer one at a time. I doubt there are very many people reading this anymore, but I’m open to any suggestions anyone might have that pops on here! I’m also working on simplifying my home. I think I really need to start this FlyLady stuff that my sister has been doing – I only seem to get 10 minutes at a time between all 3 of my kids needing something from me. I’m trying to purge all the clutter, and reorganize, in the hopes that having a “place” for everything will help it get easier to put everything away and keep the place tidy. We are at an all time low right now when it comes to disaster zone in this house. That picture a few posts ago doesn’t even begin to scrape the surface of how gross my house is right now. My mom, bless her heart, is going to start coming over one night a week to help me get stuff done. It’s hard to figure out the balance between housework and time spent with each child and personal time. I also need to squeeze in some personal time in there so that I can start exersizing again. How do you spell exersizing? I can’t figure it out. Brain. Doesn’t. Work. I bought a new pilates mat in hopes of finding the time to do it. I definitely feel the energy and motivation to, it’s just finding the time. Speaking of energy, my sweet, sweet little baby slept 7.5 hrs in a row last night!! Woot woot! He’s right on target to tie the other kids at mostly sleeping through the night by 6 weeks (which is tomorrow! Wow!). But I better not talk about it too much, he has an incredible sense for these things, and I just KNOW that he will aim to prove me wrong! Kids are supposed to be sleeping but are screaming now. Better go!
March 10, 2008
· Filed under Homemaking, Kids, Life in General, Pregnancy
While some people are unplugging* from the internet in order to get back in touch with reality, I’m unplugging from reality in order to get back in touch with the internet. I am constantly blogging in my mind, and I figure it’s time to get the thoughts out in order to free up some mental space. I’m running at max capacity right now, mentally, and I figure I could use all the space I can get. The only obstacle is finding the time… I don’t want to lose my grip on reality entirely, only now and then. So, on the rare momentus occasions that I find myself with nothing else better (better is like beauty, it’s in the eye of the beholder) to do, I will take time to enlighten you, the Internet, on all of my unleashed knowledge. *scoff, scoff* Aaaaanyways. Yes, baby #3 has arrived, thanks for asking! 
He was born on his due date (who knew!) Feb. 1st at 2:01pm. He was 9lbs, 6oz at birth, the exact same weight as his big brother who, by the way, adores him. And, for the purpose of this blog, he will now be referred to as Little Man. There is a link to his picture if you look at the bottom of this post. Life is going in super fast motion now, I often write blog posts in my head while I’m showering, as that is the only time it is quiet enough to think. I knew having 3 kids would be tough, physically. Y’know, staying up all night, then having to deal with the other two, but I never thought it would be so mentally challenging. As in trying to keep sanity while having 3 (and sometimes 4) people wanting/requiring your attention, time, love, and services. It feels like I entered into one of those careers where your phone rings all day long and you are constantly being pulled this direction and that…only I don’t get to go home at the end of the day. The end of the day is the end of the day! I love being a Mom though, and I still think it’s the most important job in the world. *I’m not insinuating that she made a wrong choice! I think it’s great! Good for her! Go her! Little ManAnd yes, I’m aware that this is one big run on paragraph, but I can’t figure out why it won’t separate the paragraphs for me like it used to. I guess I have been away too long…
November 11, 2007
· Filed under Kids
While making supper tonight, The Boy came running into the room, with his button up shirt undone and in the process of taking it off and shoving his chest out in a very Superman/Spiderman type fashion. Underneath the button up shirt he was wearing a plain white t-shirt. I laughed and asked him if he was pretending he was Superman.
He said:
“No, I’m WHITE MAN!!!”
Well, of course, he was wearing a white shirt under his button up shirt, not a superman shirt. What was I thinking????
I’m still giggling just thinking about it.
Funny Boy.
August 22, 2007
· Filed under Homemaking, Kids, Life in General, Pregnancy
With that kind of headline you might think that this post is about some quirky personality survey. Like, if you keep your forks in the drawer next to the refrigerator then you’re a meat-loving animal killer.
Well, sorry to disappoint you. I was just wondering because in this chaos that we call home I can’t seem to find a clean one right now. Right now, when I really really need one. I figure if I’m going to stab it in my eye, I at least should use a clean one. I wouldn’t want an infection or anything. So I guess the only thing holding me back from stabbing a fork in my eye is … well … not having one. A fork that is, not an eye. I have an eye. In fact, I have two. One on the left, one on the right. It between is my nose, in case you were wondering.
Yes, I am babbling and avoiding the subject of why I might want to put a fork in my eye. No, not put. Stab. Stab. MyKidsDad has been away less than 48 hours and I’m about to go bonkers. My kids are so loud. They don’t stop for a second. And I can’t keep up. And it’s exhausting. And now, not only are they tiring me out with all of their activity, I am starting to feel the baby move too. I can’t even lay down and be still by myself, because there is still movement going on inside of me. Is there any rest for the weary? I’ve heard not.
Does anyone have some rubber cement that they can teleport to my house right now? I need some, and I don’t feel like taking these monkeys out of the house. I suppose I have no choice. Do you think the people at the store will look down on us if Lil’Miss’s hair is all messy, and her shirt is all jammy from supper? Do you think they will care if my eyes are all red and puffy and there’s mascara smeared on my white sweater? I think today, I am past the shame. I don’t even care.
I’m sure I will run into someone I know. That’s just how these kind of days work. I’ll keep you posted.
