Today in Saskatchewan is Family Day. This means that the boys are home from school today (and all this week!). To celebrate Family Day, we plan on completely cleaning out the toy room, watching movies & eating popcorn. Fun right??
I remember our very first Family Day, way back in February 2002. I was 8 months pregnant, and we lived in Hinton, AB (in the mountains, SO pretty!). My sister was visiting, so the 3 and a half of us headed out to one of the local regional parks for their Family Day festivities!
There was a giant wiener roast, hot chocolate, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, & luging. It was so fun! We couldn`t luge, but we did watch. It was crazy! And would have been so fun, if I didn`t have such a large tummy! We did go cross country skiing though, & I learned that when preganant, I have the balance of a dead cat, haha! I could not stand up for longer than 3 minutes at a time.
The entire weekend was amazing. We showed my sister all kinds of places to explore! We drove to Tanlge Falls (on the side of the highway on the way to Banff), and watch some guys ice climb up the frozen falls. We went to Athabasca Falls & walked along the trails. We walked around downtown Jasper, and checked out the ice sculptures.
Every year on Family Day, I remember our awesome weekend in the mountains. I always miss "my" mountains this time of year! When we lived in Hinton, every weekend was spent exploring. We`d pack up the baby, a picnic lunch & just drive. We always found a new place to explore, somewhere different, somewhere prettier than the last place. Family Day weekend gave it the magical winter glow, seeing everyone out enjoying the majestic beauty of the mountins.
One of these years, I`d love to take the boys back to Hinton. To visit friends, to see the mountains. To experience a true Family Day, and what it is to me. The ice sculptures in downtown Jasper, the frozen waterfalls, hot chocolate & cross country skiing. Not to mention the Young Outdoor Classic in Edson, at G`s aunt & uncle`s house!
Every year, on the Family Day weekend, G`s uncle puts on his Outdoor Classic. He has built an Olympic sized rink in their yard, dressing rooms, HEATED bleachers, it is an amazing sight! There are beer garden & concessions (with proceeds that go to things needed in the community, this year it was for the new Spray Park in Edson). It is amazing! The kids love it, the adults love it, it`s a great way to spend a Family Weekend!
My dream Family Week? We would head to Edson for the Classic, then spend 5 days or so in Edson/Hinton/Jasper, visiting friends & family (G has an aunt & uncle, 3 cousins with families, & his brother/sister in law & their 2 little ones there), going to the parks we used to visit, & enjoying the mountains. Now to hope hockey doesn`t ruin my plans for next year!
Whatever you do to celebrate Family Day, I hope you are with the ones you love, doing something fun & exciting! Enjoy your time together, and Happy Family Day :)
Monday, February 20, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Heart Day!
Happy Valentine`s Day!! I hope you all are having a great day with your loved ones, no matter who they are! Do you have any special plans? Do anything specific, or have any traditions?
I always make a big, yummy supper for my boys. This year it`s sweet & sour meatballs with rice, salad and glazed carrots. I also make a couple Valentine themed desserts! This year, I am trying my hand at red velvet cupcakes (granted, it`s a cake mix this time!), and I am also making my favorite cake mix cookies, chocolate cherry chip!
Thanks to my Pinterest addiction, I am also ramping the decorations! I have a few ideas that I am going to try, so we will see how that turns out. I will share photos of all my Pinterest hacked ideas as well ;)
Valentine`s is very special in our house. G proposed to me on the 11th (his plans for a fabulous Valentine`s Day was disrupted when my sister came to visit on the 14th, so we celebrated early). We try to go for supper on the 11th, as "our" Valentine`s celebration, and then celebrate with our boys on the 14th. This is a great way for the boys to know it`s not just for married people!
This year was 10 years since we were engaged. It`s hard to believe that SO much has happened in that short 10 years! Two babies, a province move (with 3 days notice!), a house & all of it`s renovations, and a kitty! There are many days where it seems like yesterday that we were waiting for our little red haired baby to be born, and now he is 9! What a ride the past 10 years have been, and I wouldn`t change it for anything!
And now, to work on my babie`s Valentine feast!!
I always make a big, yummy supper for my boys. This year it`s sweet & sour meatballs with rice, salad and glazed carrots. I also make a couple Valentine themed desserts! This year, I am trying my hand at red velvet cupcakes (granted, it`s a cake mix this time!), and I am also making my favorite cake mix cookies, chocolate cherry chip!
Thanks to my Pinterest addiction, I am also ramping the decorations! I have a few ideas that I am going to try, so we will see how that turns out. I will share photos of all my Pinterest hacked ideas as well ;)
Valentine`s is very special in our house. G proposed to me on the 11th (his plans for a fabulous Valentine`s Day was disrupted when my sister came to visit on the 14th, so we celebrated early). We try to go for supper on the 11th, as "our" Valentine`s celebration, and then celebrate with our boys on the 14th. This is a great way for the boys to know it`s not just for married people!
This year was 10 years since we were engaged. It`s hard to believe that SO much has happened in that short 10 years! Two babies, a province move (with 3 days notice!), a house & all of it`s renovations, and a kitty! There are many days where it seems like yesterday that we were waiting for our little red haired baby to be born, and now he is 9! What a ride the past 10 years have been, and I wouldn`t change it for anything!
And now, to work on my babie`s Valentine feast!!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A Week Off = No Rest
The boys have their February break coming up (Feb 20-26). Why go somewhere during then when you can stay home & SPRING CLEAN?? Yep, that`s right! We are staying put, & cleaning out this ENTIRE house. All 1600 sq ft. I plan on getting rid of a LOT. We will even be going through the storage room (yikes).
In doing this, I am hoping that my house will stay cleaner, longer. I plan to put my Pinterest shenanigans to good use, finally, to create in & out boxes for the boys, to create storage systems for school papers, & to organize my jewellry, just to name a couple ideas!
I also plan on reinstating my cleaning schedules, but involving the boys. They need to learn that laundry doesn`t magically go from their bedroom floor to their dresser, all clean again. That dishes don`t clean themselves overnight. And I don`t mean just the kids ;)
Here is my room by room plan. Hopefully, if I write it all out, it will motivate me to get it all done during the boys` week off!!
Kitchen
- clean out fridge & freezers (wipe down with bleach), wipe down the outside surfaces
- clean stove & oven, wipe down outside surfaces
- bleach out microwave & dishwasher, wipe down outside surfaces
- clean out pantry, dust shelves
- clean under sink
- wipe down walls & cupboards
- OrangeGlo woodwork
- clean windows
- dust everything
Living/Dining Room
- clean out furniture
- dust/clean all surfaces
- wash windows
- deep clean carpets
- go through magazines/catalogs
Office/Entrance
- clean out coat closet
- go through desk surfaces
- sort through craft supplies
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
Toy Room
- sort through all toys (donate donate donate!)
- scrub down shelves
- bleach toys as needed
- disinfect floors
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
Bathrooms
- DEEP CLEAN ALL SURFACES
- sort through vanities
TV Room
- dust all surfaces
- clean out couches
- sort through movies
- deep clean floors
Bedrooms
- go through closets & dressers
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
- deep clean floors
- reorganize my jewellery
Wow. That is a HUGE list! And I don`t even the storage room on there! So, if you don`t from me that week, please look in the toyroom, it will most likely have swallowed me whole!! Should I survive, I will be sure to share the Pinned Projects I have used! And maybe even (finally) post after photos of the house!
In doing this, I am hoping that my house will stay cleaner, longer. I plan to put my Pinterest shenanigans to good use, finally, to create in & out boxes for the boys, to create storage systems for school papers, & to organize my jewellry, just to name a couple ideas!
I also plan on reinstating my cleaning schedules, but involving the boys. They need to learn that laundry doesn`t magically go from their bedroom floor to their dresser, all clean again. That dishes don`t clean themselves overnight. And I don`t mean just the kids ;)
Here is my room by room plan. Hopefully, if I write it all out, it will motivate me to get it all done during the boys` week off!!
Kitchen
- clean out fridge & freezers (wipe down with bleach), wipe down the outside surfaces
- clean stove & oven, wipe down outside surfaces
- bleach out microwave & dishwasher, wipe down outside surfaces
- clean out pantry, dust shelves
- clean under sink
- wipe down walls & cupboards
- OrangeGlo woodwork
- clean windows
- dust everything
Living/Dining Room
- clean out furniture
- dust/clean all surfaces
- wash windows
- deep clean carpets
- go through magazines/catalogs
Office/Entrance
- clean out coat closet
- go through desk surfaces
- sort through craft supplies
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
Toy Room
- sort through all toys (donate donate donate!)
- scrub down shelves
- bleach toys as needed
- disinfect floors
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
Bathrooms
- DEEP CLEAN ALL SURFACES
- sort through vanities
TV Room
- dust all surfaces
- clean out couches
- sort through movies
- deep clean floors
Bedrooms
- go through closets & dressers
- dust all surfaces
- wash windows
- deep clean floors
- reorganize my jewellery
Wow. That is a HUGE list! And I don`t even the storage room on there! So, if you don`t from me that week, please look in the toyroom, it will most likely have swallowed me whole!! Should I survive, I will be sure to share the Pinned Projects I have used! And maybe even (finally) post after photos of the house!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
If/Then
Do you ever wonder "what if"? Do you ever think of what could have been? What should have been? I watched Grey`s Anatomy tonight, then talked to an old friend. It got me thinking. A lot. And of things that made my heart sad. And happy. And overjoyed. And sad again.
On Grey`s, Meredith talked about her what ifs. What if she had loving parents, that pushed her, loved her, were there. She showed her "what if world". She was engaged to Alex, who was still as slimy as ever. Addison & Derek (Mcdreary now) were still married & expecting. Christina was evil. It was all twisted up & crazy!
But, at the same time, you saw the characters interact with their true loves, & they knew. They were meant to be. It didn`t matter what path you took, you still ended up where you belonged. Sloan swooped in, the father of Addison`s baby. Torres & Arizona bonded over saving a child`s life. Meredith & Derek? Just a boy & a girl in bar. Together.
It was a crazy show, & I was all, ahh! Can you imagine? What if?? But at the end, all was as it should be.
Tonight, I posted a photo on my Facebook. A friend posted it, & I loved it, so I stole it (er, shared it). It was sweet, a tiny bit sappy, but, also fitting in that it is my life.
I then put this caption underneath, "I have 2 of them. And they are my most precious gifts ever. Never have I been so proud & amazed at something I have accomplished. They are my world."
They are my world. They are mine. They are my 2 greatest achievements in the world. How did I get so lucky to get chosen as their mom??
I posted that tonight & then received a message from a friend. She called me inspirational. She recently had her first baby. She is in the "new mom" stage. She wonders how, at 30, she will do it. And wonders how, at 20, I did it.
Yep. I was a Teen Mom, folks. My oldest was born when I was 19. And my 2nd was born 1 day short of 2 years later (seriously people, the boys were born April 14, 2002 & April 13, 2004). I can`t even remember how I did it.
Anson was born in Hinton, Alberta. We moved there when I was 8 weeks pregnant. We were 10 hours away from family. He was a very easy baby, slept when he was supposed to, loved playdates with his baby group friends. Swimming, the park, we had a blast!
When he was 13 months old, we moved home. Ryden was born 11 months later. G`s parents lived down the street from us. He was a "difficult" baby. He was premature & in the NICU. Colic. The child had to be in OUR house by 6pm. If he didn`t, he screamed for hours. He was lactose intolerant (mommy couldn`t eat chocolate, WHAT?!?!). He crawled at 4 months, & learned how to climb at 6 months.
I think by the time Ryden was born, I was so exhausted, I just got through the days on autopilot. G worked long hours. My inlaws worked. I just, did. Because I had to. We needed to eat, so I learned to cook (and cook well, may I add!). We needed clean cothes, so I did laundry.
Baby group was a guaranteed outing a week. Summers meant swimming lessons & playdates at the spray park. Winter meant hockey & skating & sledding. Toddler classes, then preschool, then Pre-K, then kindergarten. All of a sudden, I am looking at the last 5 months of my 20s, my babies will be 8 & 10 in 2 short months, & we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage next month.
On one hand, I cannot believe I have been a mom for 10 years. I am only 29! But then, I can`t imagine life any other way. My classmates are just getting married, & having babies. They are dealing with poopy diaper explosions, sleepness nights & potty training. I have moved on to girlfriends, hockey injuries & cell phone debates.
Tonight, contemplating the "what if" of my world? I couldn`t imagine. I honestly can`t picture my life without my babies. I guess the "what if" me would have a job (what`s that?? I haven`t worked outside my home in over 10 years!), and probably a bigger house. But, I love my 10 years of domestic bliss. I love my cute little character home.
And while I, at times, feel I have been stagnant for the last 11 years, I just look at my boys. They are reason I learned to cook. The reason I go to bed laughing, & wake up to crumbs all over the kitchen. I may have started early, but to all of my friends starting out? Your next 10 years will be amazing. Filled with joy, tears, laughter, probably a little bit of poop & bodily fluids (okay, who am I kidding, there will be a LOT!), & sticky snuggles. But at the end of 10 years? There will be no "what ifs". There will simply be the knowledge of your greatest accomplishment in the world is because you followed your path, and that it was meant to be.
On Grey`s, Meredith talked about her what ifs. What if she had loving parents, that pushed her, loved her, were there. She showed her "what if world". She was engaged to Alex, who was still as slimy as ever. Addison & Derek (Mcdreary now) were still married & expecting. Christina was evil. It was all twisted up & crazy!
But, at the same time, you saw the characters interact with their true loves, & they knew. They were meant to be. It didn`t matter what path you took, you still ended up where you belonged. Sloan swooped in, the father of Addison`s baby. Torres & Arizona bonded over saving a child`s life. Meredith & Derek? Just a boy & a girl in bar. Together.
It was a crazy show, & I was all, ahh! Can you imagine? What if?? But at the end, all was as it should be.
Tonight, I posted a photo on my Facebook. A friend posted it, & I loved it, so I stole it (er, shared it). It was sweet, a tiny bit sappy, but, also fitting in that it is my life.
I then put this caption underneath, "I have 2 of them. And they are my most precious gifts ever. Never have I been so proud & amazed at something I have accomplished. They are my world."
They are my world. They are mine. They are my 2 greatest achievements in the world. How did I get so lucky to get chosen as their mom??
I posted that tonight & then received a message from a friend. She called me inspirational. She recently had her first baby. She is in the "new mom" stage. She wonders how, at 30, she will do it. And wonders how, at 20, I did it.
Yep. I was a Teen Mom, folks. My oldest was born when I was 19. And my 2nd was born 1 day short of 2 years later (seriously people, the boys were born April 14, 2002 & April 13, 2004). I can`t even remember how I did it.
Anson was born in Hinton, Alberta. We moved there when I was 8 weeks pregnant. We were 10 hours away from family. He was a very easy baby, slept when he was supposed to, loved playdates with his baby group friends. Swimming, the park, we had a blast!
When he was 13 months old, we moved home. Ryden was born 11 months later. G`s parents lived down the street from us. He was a "difficult" baby. He was premature & in the NICU. Colic. The child had to be in OUR house by 6pm. If he didn`t, he screamed for hours. He was lactose intolerant (mommy couldn`t eat chocolate, WHAT?!?!). He crawled at 4 months, & learned how to climb at 6 months.
I think by the time Ryden was born, I was so exhausted, I just got through the days on autopilot. G worked long hours. My inlaws worked. I just, did. Because I had to. We needed to eat, so I learned to cook (and cook well, may I add!). We needed clean cothes, so I did laundry.
Baby group was a guaranteed outing a week. Summers meant swimming lessons & playdates at the spray park. Winter meant hockey & skating & sledding. Toddler classes, then preschool, then Pre-K, then kindergarten. All of a sudden, I am looking at the last 5 months of my 20s, my babies will be 8 & 10 in 2 short months, & we will be celebrating 10 years of marriage next month.
On one hand, I cannot believe I have been a mom for 10 years. I am only 29! But then, I can`t imagine life any other way. My classmates are just getting married, & having babies. They are dealing with poopy diaper explosions, sleepness nights & potty training. I have moved on to girlfriends, hockey injuries & cell phone debates.
Tonight, contemplating the "what if" of my world? I couldn`t imagine. I honestly can`t picture my life without my babies. I guess the "what if" me would have a job (what`s that?? I haven`t worked outside my home in over 10 years!), and probably a bigger house. But, I love my 10 years of domestic bliss. I love my cute little character home.
And while I, at times, feel I have been stagnant for the last 11 years, I just look at my boys. They are reason I learned to cook. The reason I go to bed laughing, & wake up to crumbs all over the kitchen. I may have started early, but to all of my friends starting out? Your next 10 years will be amazing. Filled with joy, tears, laughter, probably a little bit of poop & bodily fluids (okay, who am I kidding, there will be a LOT!), & sticky snuggles. But at the end of 10 years? There will be no "what ifs". There will simply be the knowledge of your greatest accomplishment in the world is because you followed your path, and that it was meant to be.
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