Oh my sweet 9 year old who is growing up, (parents say it with me) TOO FAST!
I know she does not like bows in her hair, but every once in awhile I still try. We were getting ready for church on Sunday morning and she was wanting a plain, simple, nothing fancy, run of the mill pony tail! I put her hair in a pony and grabbed some ribbon and asked her if I could put the ribbon around the pony. To which she replied, "are you kidding me Mom?" With the look of put it in if you want, but the ribbon is not staying! I was kidding, and I do like to tease her about ribbon in her hair, but at the same time it makes me realize that she is growing up. I do look forward to it, and it makes me a little nervous, but still looking forward to it.
At least I still have one who likes to have ribbon in her hair:) But I am sure that it is only a matter of time!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Yup, only High School....
Every once in awhile I will need to fill out a form or be asked what my highest level of education is....and normally with a slightly shameful tone to my voice I reply high school. WHY am I embarrassed or ashamed for that split second? Our society holds such a high regard for the educated....but in my opinion just because you go onto higher education does not make you smarter! I know some idiots that could retain information and were able to get a college or university degree. On the other hand I know a lot of very well educated people who have great jobs and are not idiots!! And a lot are moms.
I am very thankful for not going onto college and it was a personal choice. I knew I wanted to be a stay at home Mom. I personally did not see the point on continuing my education when I knew I would not be using it. So instead after high school I got a job, worked and saved my money! I know moms who struggle with going back to work after maternity leave because they spent so much money on their education that they feel they need to keep working. I am thankful that the only thing I had the choice to go back to after my first born was a part time job at Zellers...not really a struggle for me.
I know I can not change the way society in general view people with or without education or Moms who choose to stay at home and raise their children, but I can change how I respond and feel! I am what I was called to be... A MOM!
I am very thankful for not going onto college and it was a personal choice. I knew I wanted to be a stay at home Mom. I personally did not see the point on continuing my education when I knew I would not be using it. So instead after high school I got a job, worked and saved my money! I know moms who struggle with going back to work after maternity leave because they spent so much money on their education that they feel they need to keep working. I am thankful that the only thing I had the choice to go back to after my first born was a part time job at Zellers...not really a struggle for me.
I know I can not change the way society in general view people with or without education or Moms who choose to stay at home and raise their children, but I can change how I respond and feel! I am what I was called to be... A MOM!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Balancing Act of Motherhood!
Wow! What a very busy week!! I know it has been over a week since I last posted, but this past week was crazy busy, and to be honest I don't like being so busy! I don't mind a few things on the calendar for the week, but something everyday was a bit much! Here is how my week went...
Monday - a very delicious Thanksgiving meal at my sister in laws
Tuesday - school trip for my daughter in grade 2 and Awana after supper
Wednesday - doctors appointment (which only took up my morning:) )
Thursday - school trip for daughter in grade 4, then gone in the evening
Friday - school trip for my son in SK and bible study in the evening
So, somewhere in their I also had to keep up with laundry, meals, cleaning, helping children with homework, and spending quality time with them. I know that this is the norm for so many busy Moms, but for me I just don't like it so hectic! I'm very thankful that the week is done and a more relaxing one is ahead.
Throughout this past week, when I was home I struggled between the balancing act of spending quality time with the kids vs. all my other motherly chores that had to get done. I read a book (can't remember the title) a few years ago, well actually I was a new Mom so it would be 9 years ago, and it talked about the balance between spending time with your children vs a clean house. As I was busy folding my laundry I would think of my 2 year old downstairs watching Thomas, and struggled with how much house work I should do and how much quality time I should be spending with him! Another thing that has really stuck with me over the years from that book is, although I am physically at home with my children, am I mentally their and spending time with them? Although I am physically at home, if I am always on the phone, the computer, cleaning, etc. what good am I to my children? Motherhood certainly is a balancing act! I say balancing act because it is very important to have a (somewhat of a) clean house, clean clothes for your family, a good meal, but in the same breath our children need us so much, and they need our full attention! Trust me, I struggle with this too, as I know lots of Moms do. I just want to encourage you to try and find that balance and if you have been busy try and sit and read a book with your toddler, go to a quiet room in the house with no distractions with an older child and just have one on one conversations. When our children are all grown up and out of the house what are we going to look back on and remember, or what will our children remember about their childhood? Quality time with Mom or that Mom had a really clean and tidy house all the time?
Our husbands also need us...but I will save that one for another blog ;)
Monday - a very delicious Thanksgiving meal at my sister in laws
Tuesday - school trip for my daughter in grade 2 and Awana after supper
Wednesday - doctors appointment (which only took up my morning:) )
Thursday - school trip for daughter in grade 4, then gone in the evening
Friday - school trip for my son in SK and bible study in the evening
So, somewhere in their I also had to keep up with laundry, meals, cleaning, helping children with homework, and spending quality time with them. I know that this is the norm for so many busy Moms, but for me I just don't like it so hectic! I'm very thankful that the week is done and a more relaxing one is ahead.
Throughout this past week, when I was home I struggled between the balancing act of spending quality time with the kids vs. all my other motherly chores that had to get done. I read a book (can't remember the title) a few years ago, well actually I was a new Mom so it would be 9 years ago, and it talked about the balance between spending time with your children vs a clean house. As I was busy folding my laundry I would think of my 2 year old downstairs watching Thomas, and struggled with how much house work I should do and how much quality time I should be spending with him! Another thing that has really stuck with me over the years from that book is, although I am physically at home with my children, am I mentally their and spending time with them? Although I am physically at home, if I am always on the phone, the computer, cleaning, etc. what good am I to my children? Motherhood certainly is a balancing act! I say balancing act because it is very important to have a (somewhat of a) clean house, clean clothes for your family, a good meal, but in the same breath our children need us so much, and they need our full attention! Trust me, I struggle with this too, as I know lots of Moms do. I just want to encourage you to try and find that balance and if you have been busy try and sit and read a book with your toddler, go to a quiet room in the house with no distractions with an older child and just have one on one conversations. When our children are all grown up and out of the house what are we going to look back on and remember, or what will our children remember about their childhood? Quality time with Mom or that Mom had a really clean and tidy house all the time?
Our husbands also need us...but I will save that one for another blog ;)
Friday, October 9, 2009
My Man knows Me:)
Today was a rainy day.......
It came time to go pick up the kids from school and sometimes my husband is able to come as well, and today was one of those days:)
If he comes, he normally parks and I walk and get the kids, but not today.
As he was turning into the parking lot he turned to me and said, "do you want me to get the kids, and you can save your hair?" And of course I happily agreed:)
As he left the van, I smiled to myself and thought of that Mr. Wonderful doll. Do you know the one I mean....you push the button and it says all sorts of wonderful things like, 'we should cuddle tonight.'
I appreciated the fact that he knows how important my hair is to me:)
Thanks Honey:)
It came time to go pick up the kids from school and sometimes my husband is able to come as well, and today was one of those days:)
If he comes, he normally parks and I walk and get the kids, but not today.
As he was turning into the parking lot he turned to me and said, "do you want me to get the kids, and you can save your hair?" And of course I happily agreed:)
As he left the van, I smiled to myself and thought of that Mr. Wonderful doll. Do you know the one I mean....you push the button and it says all sorts of wonderful things like, 'we should cuddle tonight.'
I appreciated the fact that he knows how important my hair is to me:)
Thanks Honey:)
puddles, bikes & skateboards....
Yep, I have 2 boys:)
My boys are 5 and almost 3....they are at a stage where they are fearless and of course can attempt and make full execution on anything they do or try! Having boys has been well, how do I say fun, but yet nerve wrecking and a big wake up call after having 2 very much girly girls?
Yesterday we were at the park and do to the rain the night before there was a very large puddle...and somehow I caught myself saying to K (my 3 year old), "look at that puddle, you should jump over it, come on you can do it!" What was I saying?? I kinda laughed to myself and thought, yep you are definitely a mother of boys! When I was showing K the puddle, I was showing him at the narrowest part of the puddle, but when he was backing up to take his big running jump over the puddle, he attempted the largest part of the puddle and didn't stand a chance! He got a wet shoe, and looked a bit upset for a minute, until he saw his big brother jumping back and forth and he continued to jump, but this time at the narrow part. If this was before my boys and it was just me and my girls at the park, I know I would have encouraged walking around the puddle. And here I am encouraging to jump over?
After a fun time at the park it was time to go home and have some lunch. After lunch, we decided to go outside and ride bikes in front of our house, (we spend as much time outside as we can these days, because soon the snow will be here, and I won't be so eager to be out). Another difference between boys and girls is how they ride their bikes. My girls enjoy just the plain and simple ride, with their hair blowing in the wind, nothing to fancy, scary or dangerous. Not so much for the boys! G (my 5 year old) has blown 2 tires in 2 months due to him going full speed and slamming on the brakes and skidding. My husband and I get a little chuckle watching him outside with the neighbourhood kids, who are all girls. He gets such a thrill and joy, and you should see the mischievous smile on his face when he is biking towards them and they all start to scream. His sisters don't so much scream, they roll their eyes and yell at him not to do it again. (The neighbour girls don't have brothers) He also now has a bike jump and he can get a foot of air!! It is pretty impressive for a 5 year old. Even K stands at the back of his trike (the classic red and white one) and gets a bit of air and then falls back onto his bottom, gets up again and tries again.
As we were outside, some teenage boys on their skateboards came down the street and both my boys just froze with their mouths open(you would have thought they were in a candy store) watching the teenagers in amazement! They can't wait until they can do all those tricks too. They do have a skateboard, (and ALL the protection it comes with), G is just working on riding it and learning his balance, no fancy tricks yet, but I'm sure it won't be long!
There are lots of times when I don't want them to do something, and they certainly give me a run for my money some days! But all in all I have to realize that they are boys...and I really do love them:) It certainly isn't always easy, and trust me it has taken me awhile to relax a little bit and let them get dirty, explore and have fun the way that little boys like to. Mind you if we are on our way to church or somewhere that we are suppose to arrive at clean, I can get a little naggy at them, but I am honestly working on it!
My boys are 5 and almost 3....they are at a stage where they are fearless and of course can attempt and make full execution on anything they do or try! Having boys has been well, how do I say fun, but yet nerve wrecking and a big wake up call after having 2 very much girly girls?
Yesterday we were at the park and do to the rain the night before there was a very large puddle...and somehow I caught myself saying to K (my 3 year old), "look at that puddle, you should jump over it, come on you can do it!" What was I saying?? I kinda laughed to myself and thought, yep you are definitely a mother of boys! When I was showing K the puddle, I was showing him at the narrowest part of the puddle, but when he was backing up to take his big running jump over the puddle, he attempted the largest part of the puddle and didn't stand a chance! He got a wet shoe, and looked a bit upset for a minute, until he saw his big brother jumping back and forth and he continued to jump, but this time at the narrow part. If this was before my boys and it was just me and my girls at the park, I know I would have encouraged walking around the puddle. And here I am encouraging to jump over?
After a fun time at the park it was time to go home and have some lunch. After lunch, we decided to go outside and ride bikes in front of our house, (we spend as much time outside as we can these days, because soon the snow will be here, and I won't be so eager to be out). Another difference between boys and girls is how they ride their bikes. My girls enjoy just the plain and simple ride, with their hair blowing in the wind, nothing to fancy, scary or dangerous. Not so much for the boys! G (my 5 year old) has blown 2 tires in 2 months due to him going full speed and slamming on the brakes and skidding. My husband and I get a little chuckle watching him outside with the neighbourhood kids, who are all girls. He gets such a thrill and joy, and you should see the mischievous smile on his face when he is biking towards them and they all start to scream. His sisters don't so much scream, they roll their eyes and yell at him not to do it again. (The neighbour girls don't have brothers) He also now has a bike jump and he can get a foot of air!! It is pretty impressive for a 5 year old. Even K stands at the back of his trike (the classic red and white one) and gets a bit of air and then falls back onto his bottom, gets up again and tries again.
As we were outside, some teenage boys on their skateboards came down the street and both my boys just froze with their mouths open(you would have thought they were in a candy store) watching the teenagers in amazement! They can't wait until they can do all those tricks too. They do have a skateboard, (and ALL the protection it comes with), G is just working on riding it and learning his balance, no fancy tricks yet, but I'm sure it won't be long!
There are lots of times when I don't want them to do something, and they certainly give me a run for my money some days! But all in all I have to realize that they are boys...and I really do love them:) It certainly isn't always easy, and trust me it has taken me awhile to relax a little bit and let them get dirty, explore and have fun the way that little boys like to. Mind you if we are on our way to church or somewhere that we are suppose to arrive at clean, I can get a little naggy at them, but I am honestly working on it!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thankful to be Canadian
Well, we got yet another phone call today from our 'friends the USA'.
It all started 7 months ago when my family went to the USA for a hockey tournament. While at the tournament we all ( hockey players, coaches, spectators, etc), got carbon monoxide poisoning. The rink was evacuated and everyone was sent to the nearby hospitals. Long story short, we have received bills from the hospital and ambulances. It has been a long road of phone calls, from the hospitals, the ambulances and our insurance company, and thankfully our insurance IS paying our bills....$9000!!! This whole experience and realizing how much hospitals charge in the USA makes me so thankful to be in Ontario, Canada! I am now having our 5th child and have had great care while in the hospital, and not one worry of 'how will we pay for this?' I have taken children to the hospital 5 times for stitches. I walk in and wait, and yes I wait a LONG time (5 hours) to get my child's stitches, but then after we are done it is so cool....I walk out with NO BILL! Sure it is annoying waiting that long, but not to have the stress or worry of having to pay is worth it! You just have to remember to take a few snacks to help you through. So next time you are sitting in emerg, and it has been awhile and your patience is starting to get slim, remember at the end you are walking out with no stress or worry how to pay the bill.
It all started 7 months ago when my family went to the USA for a hockey tournament. While at the tournament we all ( hockey players, coaches, spectators, etc), got carbon monoxide poisoning. The rink was evacuated and everyone was sent to the nearby hospitals. Long story short, we have received bills from the hospital and ambulances. It has been a long road of phone calls, from the hospitals, the ambulances and our insurance company, and thankfully our insurance IS paying our bills....$9000!!! This whole experience and realizing how much hospitals charge in the USA makes me so thankful to be in Ontario, Canada! I am now having our 5th child and have had great care while in the hospital, and not one worry of 'how will we pay for this?' I have taken children to the hospital 5 times for stitches. I walk in and wait, and yes I wait a LONG time (5 hours) to get my child's stitches, but then after we are done it is so cool....I walk out with NO BILL! Sure it is annoying waiting that long, but not to have the stress or worry of having to pay is worth it! You just have to remember to take a few snacks to help you through. So next time you are sitting in emerg, and it has been awhile and your patience is starting to get slim, remember at the end you are walking out with no stress or worry how to pay the bill.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
well, here's my first blog....
Well, I guess I am starting a blog...why I really don't know. Well, truth be told I was reading a friends blog and noticed the words 'create a blog' up in the top right corner. So out of curiosity I clicked on the link and her I am.
I can't promise how often I will post, but I will try my best.
So, get ready for the every day life of a stay at home mom. They are days that are filled with getting to know and loving my children, a lot of laundry, cleaning, cooking and of course my favorite baking:)
I am thrilled with the opportunity and thankful that I am home. And yes of course, I do have a 'bad day at work' sometimes too. I will be the first to admit that being a Mom certainly comes with its challenges, but the great times definitely out weigh the rougher days.
I look forward to sharing my everyday life with you......
I can't promise how often I will post, but I will try my best.
So, get ready for the every day life of a stay at home mom. They are days that are filled with getting to know and loving my children, a lot of laundry, cleaning, cooking and of course my favorite baking:)
I am thrilled with the opportunity and thankful that I am home. And yes of course, I do have a 'bad day at work' sometimes too. I will be the first to admit that being a Mom certainly comes with its challenges, but the great times definitely out weigh the rougher days.
I look forward to sharing my everyday life with you......
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