Wallowing

Walking around all day today feeling very sad. Tried to shake it. Finding it hard. Feeling sorry for myself. Feeling all round unhappy. My children, however are the antidote. Their laugh, their hugs, even their screeches pull out of the very sad place I let myself go today.

Today marks the 7th anniversary of my mother's passing. Incredibly, sometimes it's still raw. I think being back in the city where I was seven years ago has brought back a bit more of the bite. I don't know. Maybe it's just the mood I'm this year.

I know that on a day like today, more than ever, it's important to celebrate the life we have and those around us that we love. I know it, but right now I think I'd rather get some chocolate, popcorn and a really sappy movie and just cry. maybe a couple of screams, you know, for good measure. While I don't want to be alone, I don't particularly want anyone to be near me....I do want to be close enough, so that when my kids laugh I can hear it.

I want to indulge my feelings of melancholy. Is that so bad?

How do you deal with those times when you want to wallow.

Germs!

Just read an article that says the hands-free faucets carry more germs than the old fashioned ones. Innovation isn't always all it's cracked up to be!

Better not let my kids find out about this though...any excuse NOT to wash their hands!!

Random Acts of Kindness

A big thank to my very own neighbourhood Mary Poppins!

On the way home from the park Little Mr. Man took a bit of a spill on his scooter. As little ones do, he started to scream...and scream....and scream. My neighbourhood Mary Poppins stopped her car and asked if I needed a band-aid. My first reaction was "no" (because there really was no need for a band-aid: no blood, etc), however I quickly said yes, knowing that would bring the screaming to an end.

She got out of her came over and gave Little Mr. Man a Band-Aid AND offered him a tic-tac!!

Thank you!! The screaming ceased and we are able to continue along our way home!!

Our full potential?

A whirlwind week has just flown by and the reality and a semblance of normalcy has returned:

Kids fighting, rain, laundry, dishes, high fevers, you name it, we've got it!

Amidst all the chaos and bedlam I am struck with the realization that my baby boy, my baby that really not that long ago, was growing inside me, will be turning four. Ya think, I'll be saying the same when he's about to turn 40 (assuming I live that long, probably!).

It's amazing. Absolutely amazing to see how much they develop and grow in such a short time. I mean, look at yourself. what have you learned in four short years? That's what I thought!

If we are capable of so much at such a young age, why do we stop? Imagine what we could accomplish if we continued to learn and develop at such a pace? I suppose if anyone ever tried they'd be encouraged to slow it down, lest they make the rest of us look bad. Shame really.

An honest product review

By mistake I grabbed a box of Kraft *Smart* Mac & Cheese out of the pantry instead of the regular Annie's that we usually use.

I cooked it up, set it in front of my darling children and Mister-almost-four (MAF) pipes up and asks: "Is this a different kind?"

Being honest, I reply "Yes"

MAF responds with: "it smells like pee"

Again, being honest, I reply: "there is no pee in it so shouldn't smell like pee"

MAF comes back with: "it still smells like pee"

And, well, he's kinda right. The Smart in the pasta is cauliflower. Cauliflower on the best days, while tastes yummy, doesn't always smell that great.

Couldn't have been all that bad though, as both kids ate said mac & cheese, but I think I'll stick to giving them their 1/2 serving of veg the old fashioned way. And when I buy KD, I'll stick to the original, because frankly, the nutritional value of KD & Annie's is probably about the same. Ah, and here's someone who's done the work and, well it is!

Of course, if I was a really good mom I would make them mac & cheese from scratch, I know...but i'm not and i don't ;-p

growling = rain; nose picking = fight picking

My son growls. He growls at me. He growls at his Dad. He growls at his sister. He growls at strangers.

Strangers don't really know what to do when he growls. Sometimes they keep on walking, pretending that the half pint next to them on the sidewalk did not just growl.

Others laugh and try and make him smile. This usually results in more growls and sometimes a bit of air punching (which is followed by more laughs from strangers)...

Today however a woman asked him please do not growl because she didn't want it to rain. I've heard that if you kill a spider it'll rain, I've never heard that if a kid growls it'll rain. So Vancouverites, be forewarned that the rain will probably never stop, because my son likes to growl.

Keeping in line with advice from strangers:

My son picks his nose. Incessantly. He will sometimes have both nostrils occupied at the same time. He also really likes to eat what he finds. Oh please, before you "oh gross"-me and close the browser, check your own kid, I"m sure they have the same predilection. So the other day, while waiting for our 'treats' and caffeine from from the drive-thru Starbucks (bless North America!) the window barrista told my DS that it was gross to pick your nose, followed by: "where I come from, if you pick your nose, it means you want to fight. And I've never lost a fight". This of course was rebutted by: "Batman will come and he'll eat you up. Batman is the fastest. You can't beat batman. Nope. He's the strooongest."

ah, the wisdom of strangers....

Happy 2011

OK, so I know, you probably thought I dropped off the face of the earth. Well, if the world was flat, that's actually what would've happened ;-)

Late August we moved from beautiful, sunny & lovely Sydney, Australia back to beautiful, not so sunny, but also lovely Vancouver, Canada. So, I've been a little busy. Yes, I know, not a valid reason for not updating my blog. I know and I'm sorry. I will work on doing a better job this year. Although, consistency has never been my forte and this year looks to be freaking busy.

Again, I know, this is my problem, not yours ;-)

OK, enough of the apologies.

Hope 2011 is being good do you. If it hasn't, it's still early enough, you do a start-over and ta-da, 'what a year'!

So far it's been great to me!!

- We hosted a New Year's Day Open house and had a blast! Even though I spent 6 hours in the kitchen prepping, I managed to remain ALMOST stress free and the kids even behaved (most of the time) and got to see some friends I haven't seen in over 4 years!

- Kids are still playing with new Xmas toys - Hooray, the novelty has NOT worn off!

- Started running and am REALLY freakin' enjoying it. Gotta love endorphins ;-)

- Hubby went back to work for 2 days and boom we're off on a holiday tomorrow. Going skiing for an extended long weekend. So, the holidays aren't over in our house!!

- Little Miss is talking up a storm and I'm slowly learning her language. Technically this should result in a lot less screaming in my house!!

- Little Mr. Man, has for the most part, realized that it's really just not cool to pee in your pants. Today, is not a good example (2 accidents - but I'm PMSing and this is no fun for anyone in the house!!)

- Still liking the sound of the rain

Did I mention I started running? All this 'happy shiny outlook" crap is a result of the endorphins. See if you can spot the the upcoming posts that are post-run and those that aren't ;-)

Wishing you all the very best in 2011!!