Sunday, July 19, 2009

The Elimination Diet

This past week has brought a new eating regime into our home with hopes that we will be able to detail exactly what foods are triggers for W's ADHD. So, it also means that the whole family has been eating differently and it's gone extremely well! The boys and I haven't had one slice of bread all week! That's amazing.
So, for seven days eggs, sugar, corn, wheat, peanuts, oranges, chocolate, food colorings and dairy have been eliminated. It's quite entertaining to prepare hamburgers or pork chops for breakfast combined with a bowl of oatmeal (which W won't touch!) and fruit.
After seven days of this I will start adding one of the above foods a day at a time and charting behaviors each day. For example, on Tuesday eggs will be reintroduced, which is a good thing as W loves them....Bup not so much.
I'm looking forward to this week and seeing the results. Will keep you posted!
By the way, this Elimination Diet is found in a most helpful book; 12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD child: Drug-Free Alternatives for Attention-Deficit Disorders by Laura. J. Stevens, M.S. So, far I've found that it is a worthy read.

The Elimination Diet

This past week has brought a new eating regime into our home with hopes that we will be able to detail exactly what foods are triggers for W's ADHD. So, it also means that the whole family has been eating differently and it's gone extremely well! The boys and I haven't had one slice of bread all week! That's amazing.
So, for seven days eggs, sugar, corn, wheat, peanuts, oranges, chocolate, food colorings and dairy have been eliminated. It's quite entertaining to prepare hamburgers or pork chops for breakfast combined with a bowl of oatmeal (which W won't touch!) and fruit.
After seven days of this I will start adding one of the above foods a day at a time and charting behaviors each day. For example, on Tuesday eggs will be reintroduced, which is a good thing as W loves them....Bup not so much.
I'm looking forward to this week and seeing the results. Will keep you posted!
By the way, this Elimination Diet is found in a most helpful book; 12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD child: Drug-Free Alternatives for Attention-Deficit Disorders by Laura. J. Stevens, M.S. So, far I've found that it is a worthy read.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Bup-isms

Our Bup has a little to say lately. Which strikes us as rather funny & cute. Some of his most common sayings are:
"Ah mad!" with a hit of his arm against his leg.
"Are you mad, Bup?"
"Yes."
"Why are you mad?"
"Cause."
"Are you made because the Oiler's fired McTavish?" obviously he's chatting with his dad right now.
"Yes!"

"Ah bite!" then he bites his fingers usually.
"Kisses! Kisses!" give them a kiss and he's all better.
W: "Bup needs a shirt that says, "I bite!" lol...where does he get this stuff?!

And Bup sings....
"Tickel, tickel...star... up high."

"Bop, bopbbopbopbop....."
W: "Are you singing the Bop-Bop song Bup? I like that song. It's my favorite! Keep singing Bup!"
All while driving on Thursday afternoon. Too cute.

"Narner! Narner! Sing!"
"What Bup? No, you sing. Sing the Bop-Bop song."

"Mommy. Ma! Sing!"
"What do you want me to sing, Bup?"
"Pum". I wish I had never sang this song. We sing it over and over and over and it used to be one of my favorite Christmas carols, not it's just old and over-done. By the way, Pum is The Little Drummer Boy.

Bup-isms

Our Bup has a little to say lately. Which strikes us as rather funny & cute. Some of his most common sayings are:
"Ah mad!" with a hit of his arm against his leg.
"Are you mad, Bup?"
"Yes."
"Why are you mad?"
"Cause."
"Are you made because the Oiler's fired McTavish?" obviously he's chatting with his dad right now.
"Yes!"

"Ah bite!" then he bites his fingers usually.
"Kisses! Kisses!" give them a kiss and he's all better.
W: "Bup needs a shirt that says, "I bite!" lol...where does he get this stuff?!

And Bup sings....
"Tickel, tickel...star... up high."

"Bop, bopbbopbopbop....."
W: "Are you singing the Bop-Bop song Bup? I like that song. It's my favorite! Keep singing Bup!"
All while driving on Thursday afternoon. Too cute.

"Narner! Narner! Sing!"
"What Bup? No, you sing. Sing the Bop-Bop song."

"Mommy. Ma! Sing!"
"What do you want me to sing, Bup?"
"Pum". I wish I had never sang this song. We sing it over and over and over and it used to be one of my favorite Christmas carols, not it's just old and over-done. By the way, Pum is The Little Drummer Boy.

Pregnant on the Outside

Being pregnant brought once in a lifetime exeriences. I loved feeling the baby move. Did W ever move! I recall my brother-in-law and I watching TV one evening and he could see my whole stomach shift from across the room. Baby H was executing Eskimo Rolls, I'm sure. Just practicing for when he was out and old enough to Kayak on his own.
After having the babies I missed feeling the movement. However, lately I've been feeling it on the outside. I feel pregnant on the outside! How? Well, just sleep with a 2 yr old or a 3yr old and it all returns in a hurry. Little size 9 or 12 feet poking into your stomach as you slumber....over and over again. Why do they insist on sleeping sideways in the bed? Why do they insist on sleeping in our bed?! It's been one of those weeks, where a young son is up with bad dreams or a sore chin from a painful fall or just wants to be near his parents. Of course, this is all because we had such a great experience sleeping as a family in one room while on holiday. They loved it. Oh, I hope it ends soon, because I am exhausted! Not to mention the bruises from little feet!
In a recent post, I discussed W's love for his bean bag chair which he was sleeping in on his race car bed.
Well, it's gone one step further. He's cozy, snug and naked (uh, pyjamas are an absolute no-go for this little man lately.) in his "bean bag bed" within a 3man tent....when he's not traipsing into our room at 3am. It's a great spot for quiet time and sleep.
Now I just need to convince him it's the place to go when he doesn't want his sweet brother about...rather than complaining loudly that Bup is in the same room as him. (Poor Bup!)
Go to your tent!

Pregnant on the Outside

Being pregnant brought once in a lifetime exeriences. I loved feeling the baby move. Did W ever move! I recall my brother-in-law and I watching TV one evening and he could see my whole stomach shift from across the room. Baby H was executing Eskimo Rolls, I'm sure. Just practicing for when he was out and old enough to Kayak on his own.
After having the babies I missed feeling the movement. However, lately I've been feeling it on the outside. I feel pregnant on the outside! How? Well, just sleep with a 2 yr old or a 3yr old and it all returns in a hurry. Little size 9 or 12 feet poking into your stomach as you slumber....over and over again. Why do they insist on sleeping sideways in the bed? Why do they insist on sleeping in our bed?! It's been one of those weeks, where a young son is up with bad dreams or a sore chin from a painful fall or just wants to be near his parents. Of course, this is all because we had such a great experience sleeping as a family in one room while on holiday. They loved it. Oh, I hope it ends soon, because I am exhausted! Not to mention the bruises from little feet!
In a recent post, I discussed W's love for his bean bag chair which he was sleeping in on his race car bed.
Well, it's gone one step further. He's cozy, snug and naked (uh, pyjamas are an absolute no-go for this little man lately.) in his "bean bag bed" within a 3man tent....when he's not traipsing into our room at 3am. It's a great spot for quiet time and sleep.
Now I just need to convince him it's the place to go when he doesn't want his sweet brother about...rather than complaining loudly that Bup is in the same room as him. (Poor Bup!)
Go to your tent!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Book 3, Chapter 7


A new chapter. A fresh start. New beginnings.
It's Book 3, Chapter 7 of my life story.
Happy 37th Birthday to me!

It's an interesting feeling surrounding this birthday. Other years I have enjoyed celebrating with friends and family, publicly if you will, yet this birthday felt more private to me, more personal. So here I am blogging about it! That's private & personal, don't ya think?! Anyway....my sweet husband had plans to invite friends over for cake, and when I found out I asked if we could skip that. Just an immediate family celebration please...and no cake, no not even a giant cinnamon bun, thanks anyway. Not that I wanted to skip the whole birthday business, I just wanted it to be quiet and introspective.

As this year, feels like a new chapter to me. A chapter of new, improved health. One of looking inwards and seeing results on the outside. Moving forwards in a healthier, happier, not so whiny way. Let's hope I can keep the momentum up for more than a day!

So, to celebrate my sister and I went out for our traditional birthday breakfast. That's what we do. A three hour breakfast sans enfants! Now, that's a treat. Then it was home to lunch, an In-Home Parent Educator visit, naps...and oh yes, we all napped....then off to dinner with Favorite Husband...again without the children. Can a day be any more gifted than this?
Oh yes, as in the garage waiting for me is a shiny....new .... red....cruisin'....bike (no not a corvette!). A retro style of bike with a seat built for ladies' bottom, tall handle bars, and all. No white walls though*sigh*.

Can't you just see me gliding along with gerbera daisies in the basket and a bottle of something refreshing? It'll be so fun! Hopefully soon there will be a chariot to bring the Littles along too.

So, here it is the beginning of B3C7. I look forward to a year of positive change and all the rewards that come with it.

Book 3, Chapter 7


A new chapter. A fresh start. New beginnings.
It's Book 3, Chapter 7 of my life story.
Happy 37th Birthday to me!

It's an interesting feeling surrounding this birthday. Other years I have enjoyed celebrating with friends and family, publicly if you will, yet this birthday felt more private to me, more personal. So here I am blogging about it! That's private & personal, don't ya think?! Anyway....my sweet husband had plans to invite friends over for cake, and when I found out I asked if we could skip that. Just an immediate family celebration please...and no cake, no not even a giant cinnamon bun, thanks anyway. Not that I wanted to skip the whole birthday business, I just wanted it to be quiet and introspective.

As this year, feels like a new chapter to me. A chapter of new, improved health. One of looking inwards and seeing results on the outside. Moving forwards in a healthier, happier, not so whiny way. Let's hope I can keep the momentum up for more than a day!

So, to celebrate my sister and I went out for our traditional birthday breakfast. That's what we do. A three hour breakfast sans enfants! Now, that's a treat. Then it was home to lunch, an In-Home Parent Educator visit, naps...and oh yes, we all napped....then off to dinner with Favorite Husband...again without the children. Can a day be any more gifted than this?
Oh yes, as in the garage waiting for me is a shiny....new .... red....cruisin'....bike (no not a corvette!). A retro style of bike with a seat built for ladies' bottom, tall handle bars, and all. No white walls though*sigh*.

Can't you just see me gliding along with gerbera daisies in the basket and a bottle of something refreshing? It'll be so fun! Hopefully soon there will be a chariot to bring the Littles along too.

So, here it is the beginning of B3C7. I look forward to a year of positive change and all the rewards that come with it.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

We Did It!


Our trip to the Island was spectacular! Better than we expected and wished for.
The boys slept while we travelled overnight. In fact on the way back, they slept from Hope to Banff! Wuhoo!
As well, they loved, loved, LOVED exploring the beaches and rain forest. I could spend every day there. Even in the cool, windy evenings or early mornings. There is just something therapeutic about the ocean.

There were crabs to chase. R named his 'Buddy". Rocks to throw. Waves to run away from. Bald eagles that stopped us in our tracks as we watched it fish. Picnics to have.




Family to visit. Spanish to learn. Colombian food to enjoy. Swing sets to play on. Rocks to climb & paths to explore.



And a "family bedroom" to siesta in. The four of us shared a room and it went really, really well. It was the sweetest sight in the morning to look over and see W & R all snuggled up together, sound asleep. There was even some sleeping in until 830am! All that travelling and beach time exhausts a little guy.

And then...then we had to leave. Sigh. Sniff.



We left with a bang too.
A full-out melt down because W didn't want to leave... so he ripped a doily and book off the table, kicked me in the knee after locking me out of the house, escaped to the paths, returned to the house, at which point I caught him & picked him up to start trekking across the acres to the van, both of us crying, me stomping down hill in my sassy red shoes at which I fell down, then seat belts on, tears wiped, apologies made, hugs given, and we're off to catch the ferry. Whew. Ugh. As I said, we left with a bang. That was the only downside of our trip. The only melt down. So, it needs to go into the dark recesses of my memory as the trip was a true success and although it was short, it was so worth the effort.

Until we can return, I will treasure the memories, keep in touch with our family, stroke our seashells,, and be thankful that we have two little super travellers.

We Did It!


Our trip to the Island was spectacular! Better than we expected and wished for.
The boys slept while we travelled overnight. In fact on the way back, they slept from Hope to Banff! Wuhoo!
As well, they loved, loved, LOVED exploring the beaches and rain forest. I could spend every day there. Even in the cool, windy evenings or early mornings. There is just something therapeutic about the ocean.

There were crabs to chase. R named his 'Buddy". Rocks to throw. Waves to run away from. Bald eagles that stopped us in our tracks as we watched it fish. Picnics to have.




Family to visit. Spanish to learn. Colombian food to enjoy. Swing sets to play on. Rocks to climb & paths to explore.



And a "family bedroom" to siesta in. The four of us shared a room and it went really, really well. It was the sweetest sight in the morning to look over and see W & R all snuggled up together, sound asleep. There was even some sleeping in until 830am! All that travelling and beach time exhausts a little guy.

And then...then we had to leave. Sigh. Sniff.



We left with a bang too.
A full-out melt down because W didn't want to leave... so he ripped a doily and book off the table, kicked me in the knee after locking me out of the house, escaped to the paths, returned to the house, at which point I caught him & picked him up to start trekking across the acres to the van, both of us crying, me stomping down hill in my sassy red shoes at which I fell down, then seat belts on, tears wiped, apologies made, hugs given, and we're off to catch the ferry. Whew. Ugh. As I said, we left with a bang. That was the only downside of our trip. The only melt down. So, it needs to go into the dark recesses of my memory as the trip was a true success and although it was short, it was so worth the effort.

Until we can return, I will treasure the memories, keep in touch with our family, stroke our seashells,, and be thankful that we have two little super travellers.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand We're Offf!


Off to the races! Not the chuckwagon races....even though it is Stampede time here in "Cow Town". We are off on a quick holiday to visit family on "The Island". I'm so excited about our grand adventure and am refusing to think about the reality of a 12+ hour drive with two little boys. I am convinced they will sleep through out all dark hours and be happy during all daylight hours.

Delusional?! Ack! I should say not.

Optimistic? Why, yes!

The blogging shall return, once I do.

Enjoy your week!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand We're Offf!


Off to the races! Not the chuckwagon races....even though it is Stampede time here in "Cow Town". We are off on a quick holiday to visit family on "The Island". I'm so excited about our grand adventure and am refusing to think about the reality of a 12+ hour drive with two little boys. I am convinced they will sleep through out all dark hours and be happy during all daylight hours.

Delusional?! Ack! I should say not.

Optimistic? Why, yes!

The blogging shall return, once I do.

Enjoy your week!

Monday, July 6, 2009

The Dress Up Box

Remember Mr. Dress Up's Tickle Trunk? It had all the cool stuff!

Well, I removed all the toys from the toy box and replaced it with costumes, since we have a plethora. The boys are loving it! And me too. So much easier to clean up a few costumes compared to a pile of toys that are just being stepped on and not really played with.

In fact, we had two little neighbor friends over and then suddenly I had a cow, lion, tiger, and ladybug about the house. It was adorable to watch & hear their giggles.

If you look closely as you drive by, you may even see a lady bug riding his bike in the back alley or a lion looking out the window. Roar!

The Dress Up Box

Remember Mr. Dress Up's Tickle Trunk? It had all the cool stuff!

Well, I removed all the toys from the toy box and replaced it with costumes, since we have a plethora. The boys are loving it! And me too. So much easier to clean up a few costumes compared to a pile of toys that are just being stepped on and not really played with.

In fact, we had two little neighbor friends over and then suddenly I had a cow, lion, tiger, and ladybug about the house. It was adorable to watch & hear their giggles.

If you look closely as you drive by, you may even see a lady bug riding his bike in the back alley or a lion looking out the window. Roar!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

The Cozy Spot


One may think a bean bag chair is a not-so-useful piece of furniture.

For medicinal purposes I have been wishing for such a cozy chair for our W. He loves them! Every time we go to the AB Children's Hospital he spends his time at Emily's Backyard where upon picking him up he is found snug in a bean bag chair...playing a hand held video game no less (a completely different post on that topic later.).

The chair envelopes him to provide a calm environment which would be ideal at home. A place to de-stress, calm down, stop the vibrating! They are a godsend for kids with sensory issues. Bean bag chairs are hard to find, but today thanks to my friend...."Thelma"....we brought home a cozy BB chair. It is a hit! Jackpot!

In fact, as I write this W is sleeping in said bean bag chair, on top of his bed, with his two best dogs, Lucy & Midnight; his beloved blankets, Polka dot and Gramma G; as well as a huge down duvet. He's hard to find him in there! Maybe though....just maybe....this cozy little nest will mean that he stays in his own bed for the whole night and doesn't arrive in our bed after 1am. Maybe it means we will have calmer moments throughout the day as well. Regardless, he's thrilled and so are we.

Thelma, you're my lifesaver. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Cozy Spot


One may think a bean bag chair is a not-so-useful piece of furniture.

For medicinal purposes I have been wishing for such a cozy chair for our W. He loves them! Every time we go to the AB Children's Hospital he spends his time at Emily's Backyard where upon picking him up he is found snug in a bean bag chair...playing a hand held video game no less (a completely different post on that topic later.).

The chair envelopes him to provide a calm environment which would be ideal at home. A place to de-stress, calm down, stop the vibrating! They are a godsend for kids with sensory issues. Bean bag chairs are hard to find, but today thanks to my friend...."Thelma"....we brought home a cozy BB chair. It is a hit! Jackpot!

In fact, as I write this W is sleeping in said bean bag chair, on top of his bed, with his two best dogs, Lucy & Midnight; his beloved blankets, Polka dot and Gramma G; as well as a huge down duvet. He's hard to find him in there! Maybe though....just maybe....this cozy little nest will mean that he stays in his own bed for the whole night and doesn't arrive in our bed after 1am. Maybe it means we will have calmer moments throughout the day as well. Regardless, he's thrilled and so are we.

Thelma, you're my lifesaver. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Friday, July 3, 2009

...and then I watched Oprah.


The last month in regards to my infrequent blogging, has been an example of feeling poorly...conflicted....completely exhausted...and unsure as to whether people really want to continue reading about my thoughts and experiences on life and motherhood. I've been negligent in the blogging area while avoiding posting yet missing the lifeline it provides at the same time.

What's going on? Nothing unusual. Basically the norm. However, sometimes my norm becomes a smidge negative in my head and then the "Really? Do people want to read this drivel?" takes over. So, hence the quiet on my blogging front.

"....and then I watched Oprah." Today. Which is a miraculous feat in itself as it's on during dinner prep. I realize some people really dislike her, but I don't!
This re-run episode reminded me that I am normal (ack! cough! cough! define normal) and that I blog for me, for a multitude of reasons and miss it.

Today's show was about motherhood. The REALITY of motherhood. The need for honesty and for mother's to support one another. The support system of our mother's days are long gone. Families are global = little or no physical support. There is PRESSURE to do it all. Work out of the home. Work from the home. Stay at home. Single mothers. Gay mothers. Nuclear mothers. Love every bit of it. Cook. Clean. Create. Smile. Laugh. Be happy. Raise the smartest, cutest, most well-behaved typical children. Have the perfect marriage. Never swear, not even in our heads. All of it.

The Pathological-Liar Mother's Club. Have you heard of it? It exists. These are the mothers that look perfect as do their clean faced, smartly dressed, well behaved children. Don't you know one or two of these wonder-moms? Don't you feel judged? Inadequate? I do. I have. But then it came to me. The epiphany. It's the club! The P-LM Club. Not to be mistaken with the PMS group. Totally different. Anyway, these women were fooling me wholeheartedly and fooling themselves. In all honesty, we are all a little like the mom's that were on Oprah today. The feeding their kids pizza for breakfast, bringing home fast-food, listening to their kids cry and not intercepting, only showering twice a week moms. Watching this episode brought me back to reality. It's okay to be where I'm at. Have my feelings. Own them. And that's what I'm going to do. Own them. Support my mom friends. Not judge or care if I am judged. And if all that doesn't work, I'll just remind myself that every mom poops too. That'll do it. Forget, picturing them naked (you know...public speaking advice)...we all poop.

And that's part of why I haven't been blogging so often. Judgement. Of myself. And concern that readers will judge. But you know what, that's okay. If you're here, be prepared for the honesty. The open-ness of it. The ugliness of it. The humor of honesty. I hope that you find a shred of hope and gratitude in that you are not the only one with wild antics in your mothering life. I hope that you read my experiences and laugh and gasp out loud in shock and gratitude that THAT didn't happen to you or your kids and never will!:)

If you are one of those readers that is certain I exaggerate in regards to motherhood, here's some reading material for you:

I Was a Really Good Mom before I had Kids by Trisha Ashworth & Amy Nobile....one of my favorites! These authors were on Oprah today. I read this book eons ago and can so relate!

The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neil. Hilarious fiction. After my own heart...remember coconut rum or rum in place of vanilla?

Toddlers Gone Wild! by Rebecca Eckler. Canadian author, journalist, mother. She annoyed me years ago when I saw her on a local breakfast television broadcast advocating "the pro-cesarean & I- won't- breastfeed"for convenience phase...and I still don't agree with that (there I am judging). Her book is okay. Some funny points. Some of it doesn't relate to me....she's too fit, too chic, too big city compared to me...but funny too...and I just can't get past my bad attitude and judgement. There you have it. I judge too.

Anyway, grab a good book and some quiet time. You know...quiet time... in the sacred, door locked bathroom or while your husband is sleeping and graciously letting you read with the light on.

Enjoy your book...your quiet time.

Live in the moment of your mothering. Every wacky, frustrating, loving, tear jerking, heart-string, child hugging moment of it.


...and then I watched Oprah.


The last month in regards to my infrequent blogging, has been an example of feeling poorly...conflicted....completely exhausted...and unsure as to whether people really want to continue reading about my thoughts and experiences on life and motherhood. I've been negligent in the blogging area while avoiding posting yet missing the lifeline it provides at the same time.

What's going on? Nothing unusual. Basically the norm. However, sometimes my norm becomes a smidge negative in my head and then the "Really? Do people want to read this drivel?" takes over. So, hence the quiet on my blogging front.

"....and then I watched Oprah." Today. Which is a miraculous feat in itself as it's on during dinner prep. I realize some people really dislike her, but I don't!
This re-run episode reminded me that I am normal (ack! cough! cough! define normal) and that I blog for me, for a multitude of reasons and miss it.

Today's show was about motherhood. The REALITY of motherhood. The need for honesty and for mother's to support one another. The support system of our mother's days are long gone. Families are global = little or no physical support. There is PRESSURE to do it all. Work out of the home. Work from the home. Stay at home. Single mothers. Gay mothers. Nuclear mothers. Love every bit of it. Cook. Clean. Create. Smile. Laugh. Be happy. Raise the smartest, cutest, most well-behaved typical children. Have the perfect marriage. Never swear, not even in our heads. All of it.

The Pathological-Liar Mother's Club. Have you heard of it? It exists. These are the mothers that look perfect as do their clean faced, smartly dressed, well behaved children. Don't you know one or two of these wonder-moms? Don't you feel judged? Inadequate? I do. I have. But then it came to me. The epiphany. It's the club! The P-LM Club. Not to be mistaken with the PMS group. Totally different. Anyway, these women were fooling me wholeheartedly and fooling themselves. In all honesty, we are all a little like the mom's that were on Oprah today. The feeding their kids pizza for breakfast, bringing home fast-food, listening to their kids cry and not intercepting, only showering twice a week moms. Watching this episode brought me back to reality. It's okay to be where I'm at. Have my feelings. Own them. And that's what I'm going to do. Own them. Support my mom friends. Not judge or care if I am judged. And if all that doesn't work, I'll just remind myself that every mom poops too. That'll do it. Forget, picturing them naked (you know...public speaking advice)...we all poop.

And that's part of why I haven't been blogging so often. Judgement. Of myself. And concern that readers will judge. But you know what, that's okay. If you're here, be prepared for the honesty. The open-ness of it. The ugliness of it. The humor of honesty. I hope that you find a shred of hope and gratitude in that you are not the only one with wild antics in your mothering life. I hope that you read my experiences and laugh and gasp out loud in shock and gratitude that THAT didn't happen to you or your kids and never will!:)

If you are one of those readers that is certain I exaggerate in regards to motherhood, here's some reading material for you:

I Was a Really Good Mom before I had Kids by Trisha Ashworth & Amy Nobile....one of my favorites! These authors were on Oprah today. I read this book eons ago and can so relate!

The Secret Life of a Slummy Mummy by Fiona Neil. Hilarious fiction. After my own heart...remember coconut rum or rum in place of vanilla?

Toddlers Gone Wild! by Rebecca Eckler. Canadian author, journalist, mother. She annoyed me years ago when I saw her on a local breakfast television broadcast advocating "the pro-cesarean & I- won't- breastfeed"for convenience phase...and I still don't agree with that (there I am judging). Her book is okay. Some funny points. Some of it doesn't relate to me....she's too fit, too chic, too big city compared to me...but funny too...and I just can't get past my bad attitude and judgement. There you have it. I judge too.

Anyway, grab a good book and some quiet time. You know...quiet time... in the sacred, door locked bathroom or while your husband is sleeping and graciously letting you read with the light on.

Enjoy your book...your quiet time.

Live in the moment of your mothering. Every wacky, frustrating, loving, tear jerking, heart-string, child hugging moment of it.


Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Happy Canada Day!


142 yrs! Aren't we getting old?!


How did you celebrate our nation's birthday?


We attempted Dominion Day at Heritage Park but the line ups before the park had even opened, were to the parking lots and hundreds of people long. So after many tears, some kicking and loud crying...the boys calmed us down & we buckled back up in our seats, went for breakfast and then off to Fish Creek Park for some wonderful adventures in the woods.

These included finding Alberta Roses in bloom, throwing rocks in the river and finding an old dock where we sat for snack time. It was a beautiful day!
I'm glad our country, and city has such special spots to celebrate in.

Happy Canada Day!


142 yrs! Aren't we getting old?!


How did you celebrate our nation's birthday?


We attempted Dominion Day at Heritage Park but the line ups before the park had even opened, were to the parking lots and hundreds of people long. So after many tears, some kicking and loud crying...the boys calmed us down & we buckled back up in our seats, went for breakfast and then off to Fish Creek Park for some wonderful adventures in the woods.

These included finding Alberta Roses in bloom, throwing rocks in the river and finding an old dock where we sat for snack time. It was a beautiful day!
I'm glad our country, and city has such special spots to celebrate in.