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Patio and Birthday
Published May 31, 2009 @ 14:26 in Being Mommy

Happy Birthday Tanya!!!!

Today is my friend Tanya's birthday. I am leaving in a few minutes to go and join them on a patio downtown. It is a little cool and windy, but should be nice.

I got her three books for her birthday (don't worry! She won't be reading this today):

1. The Book Thief
2. Twilight
3. New Moon

I am so in love with Edward Cullen right now that if I could figure out how to make myself a fictional character and join him in the story, I would leave my husband. Except that I may not have a shot again Bella...

I know that they are silly teen romances, but at least it is better than Sweet Valley High - which I read as a preteen. The writing isn't strong, but the story is intriguing. And it takes you back to that obsessive, all encompassing first love. Completely unrealistic, but good summer escapist reading.

I hope she enjoys them!

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George W. Bush and Bill Clinton in Toronto
Published May 29, 2009 @ 21:24 in

This afternoon I was one of the 6000 people who attended an event at the Metro Convention Centre to see former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Thank you to my good friend who got the tickets for my mom and I.

Before today, I really wasn't a fan of George W. Bush. I had seen Oliver Stone's movie "W" and if anything, I felt it was pretty kind. To me, George was just too dumb to be President of possibly the most influential country in the world. I never really believed that he won the first election over Al Gore, and I was never impressed by anything that I saw or heard about him.

I also wasn't a fan of Bill Clinton. I thought as President, the least he should have been able to do was keep it in his pants for 8 years. Can't say I admire Hillary for standing by her man either. Last time Bill was in Toronto speaking, I was able to attend and I found him too practiced and cold.

Today's event was really enjoyable. The only issue was that it started 30 minutes late... There was a program of the event containing biographies of the two men. It was funny to read - Bill's was detailed about all of his humanitarian and volunteer efforts since leaving the White House while George's contained information like how he met his wife at a BBQ and the names of their dogs...

Bill Clinton spoke very well, and I thought related to his audience better today than he had on his last visit. He was smiling, relaxed, and funny. At times you could tell he was guarded; he always chose his words very carefully and was always thoughtful of his wife's position in the current administration. A comment I heard about Bill, and that I think is very accurate, is that he uses 40 words when four would suffice. I thought his response to Frank McKenna's question about his failure to act and the Rwanda Genocide was sincere and showed the pain and regret that he will live with because of decisions that he failed to make as President. You realize the enormity of the burden these men are under, when Bill Clinton admits that if he had been able to send in 20,000 American troops, he might have saved 250,000-400,000 lives.

George W. Bush was very light and bubbly, and in my opinion, really stole the show with his charm and sincerity. He didn't seem to be putting on any facade, but instead seemed to react to the questions from Frank and the comments from Bill with whatever thoughts popped into his head. The event was sponsored by TD so they had the big green leather comfy chairs on the stage, and it sort of looked a little like Big Comfy Couch. It was funny when Frank asked George what he thought of the chairs, and George said, "well, they don't match my tie." Frank said something about them being from their sponsor the bank and George replied, "well then I love them!"

Both men seemed to be on very friendly terms, and appeared to admire one another. Even though Frank McKenna's questions could have prompted debate, they both supported their differences of opinion. There was a little too much of them patting one another on the back.

Frank McKenna did well as the host, but really let the two former Presidents be the stars of the show. The only error I noticed was that Frank seems to have forgotten about the War of 1812 when he talks about our peaceful 200 year history with a shot never being fired over our borders.

The protesters were such on a non-issue; it is disappointing to see the media paying them any attention at all. While I support their right to protest, I was completely unimpressed by the showing. Maybe 300? Maybe 500? Versus the 6000 people in attendance inside the event. It was nice to see the police on horseback - those are beautiful animals!

George W. Bush - you have a new fan! I didn't like you as President, but I think you are generally a decent guy who was out of your league and did the best that you could have. You should have had a few smarter people in your administration helping you out, but you know what they say about hind-site being 20/20. You aren't evil, and you probably had more tough decisions to make than most. I was pleasantly surprised by how funny you were! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Bill Clinton - you are a very bright man, but you, too, made some dumb mistakes. I guess that makes you human, right? It looks like you have found a role for yourself going forward, and I hope that you and your foundation do a lot of good for a lot of people all around the world.

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Off to see the Presidents!
Published May 29, 2009 @ 10:49 in

I am off this afternoon to an event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to see George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Should be interesting. I read somewhere that this is a debate, and another place that this will be the first time that the two former United States Presidents will be seen together since George W. Bush left the White House. The tickets don't give much away.

Maybe today I will find out if I am just as irresistible as Monica...

I will let you know what was said later tonight.

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New Respect for First Aid Kits
Published May 29, 2009 @ 07:31 in Being Mommy

I am pretty lax when it comes to first aid. As a scout, baby sitter, and now mom, I have taken courses including St. John's Ambulance and CPR often enough that I feel up to speed on minor mishaps. I have dealt at home with bleeding, choking and sprains. However, I don't think that I have given the idea of first aid kits much thought until now.

As a mother, I naively believe that saliva and a Dora or Spiderman bandaid can cure all. However I have a friend who is a little more thoughtful and concerned about first aid than I have ever been. And two incidents recently show me that it isn't a bad idea to have a well stocked first aid kit handy.

The first time that we used the first aid kit was at our women's hockey. This friend brought a first aid kit and we actually needed those ice packs that get cold when you break them when one of our teammate fell and broker her wrist. In our hockey first aid kit we keep a few of those, along with a cell phone, my inhaler, and an emergency contact list for everyone on the ice.

Last night was the second time we used the kit. My son was doing wind sprints across a gravel baseball diamond in the rain. He fell, and got a pretty nice scrape to his knee. Again this mother had her kit handy, with antiseptic wipes, gauze and tape. He was patched up and back on the pitch in minutes!

I recommend that every mom out there put together two first aid kits for herself - one for her home, and one for the car. Some cars and mini-vans come with there own, but check the contents to see what you need to add. Two small Rubbermaid containers are all that you need - you can get the rest of the supplies at any drug store.

Here are some recommendations:
Bandages of assorted sizes
Gauze, tape and scissors
Antiseptic wipes
Tensor bandages
Breakable Ice Packs

Check out the Canadian Red Cross for more recommendations.

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Hockey - Week Four
Published May 28, 2009 @ 12:26 in Being Mommy

Last night was our fourth week of hockey. For me, it was the best week so far. I even had a little fun, some of the time. But I don't exactly love it yet.

We did our usual warm-ups, then started onto some backward skating and passing / shooting drills. I actually nailed a few of the drills' and almost nailed a few of the other women on an errant shot on net. I wasn't sure what to yell. Fore! didn't seem appropriate, so I just yelled, "Watch out!"

I had never seen the coach laugh so hard. He explained to me that I really wasn't shooting hard enough to actually hurt anyone. Gee - thanks!

I also had my first fall last night, and didn't get hurt at all! I guess all of that extra equipment really does serve a purpose. Husband's parting line to me before hockey, each and every week, is always, "Remember to fall forward!" I took those parting words of hockey wisdom to heart, and fell forward. It felt like kneeling into a pillow! Of course, I lay on the ice until everyone had stopped moving. I was concerned that if I tried to get up while someone was skating by I would just get knocked down again.

The key to my success last night was finding a few kindred spirits; other women who want to learn to skate a little better, but really just want to get out, have some laughs, and socialize.

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Morning Rush Hour
Published May 27, 2009 @ 09:25 in Amazing Kids, Around the House

We were doing so well this week. I actually had the boys to school really early, and was considering starting to walk them in the morning if they kept getting up this early (we are almost 2 km from school, so a bit of a hike for them. We walk home on nice days, but the mornings are a little busy.)

Then this morning...

Those boys of mine are sneaky! Today they woke up and went into my bedroom, keeping the lights off, and turned on cartoons. I thought that they were still sleeping, so I let them be. Then I went up to check - surprise, surprise!

I had twenty minutes to get three of them dressed, fed, and out the door. No problem.

Except we have this weird thing in our house. Daddy eats cereal as a late night snack, and has gotten the boys into the habit. Unfortunately, they don't put their cereal bowls into the dishwasher. I am not sure exactly what happens, but I think that Merlin, our cat, licks the bowls clean. This actually causes some milk spray, which dries and adheres the bowls to the table.

In the morning, it is a bit of fun trying to un-stick the bowls. You have to exert just the right amount of pressure. Some times it actually takes quite a bit of force, like Daddy strength; other times the kids can handle it.

Son One tried first, and couldn't get the bowl closest to him un-stuck. So I grabbed and did it, "Now eat!" I barked. We should have been in the van two minutes ago.

Son Two must have been eating his spinach. He grabbed the second bowl (maybe it wasn't stuck at all - he just expected it to be) and flung it over his head, about six feet into the air. It crashed behind him on the floor. He looked like he was about to cry.

Great. Now I have a shattered bowl to clean up and we should have been in the van three minutes ago!

I cleaned up the mess and got the boys to school on time. Luckily, traffic was light.

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From Coffee to Herbal Tea
Published May 27, 2009 @ 08:03 in Being Mommy

Hello. My name is Tania and I am a diet coke addict.

I don't know when I started drinking diet coke, but I could have litres a day. When I was pregnant with Son One, I gave it up completely. However, after each pregnancy, I went back to it. I can't drink diet pepsi - too sweet! If a restaurant is a pepsi restaurant, I get water.

After the kids, I added coffee to my morning. One or two cups a day.

A few years ago, Son One started becoming interested in the pop that Mommy and Daddy were drinking, so we made a decision not to keep it in the house (except when we have guests - good hosts always ensure to keep their guests happy.)

Last year at my annual physical, my Dr. mentioned that I should limit myself to three caffeine sources a day; this includes coffee, diet coke, and chocolate. I pushed that limit, always failing to calculate the "chocolate" into my daily totals, and drinking the 500 ml bottles of diet coke as one source.

Last Monday I said good-bye to diet coke, just to see if I could. I have been tempted, but still haven't had one. I also said good-bye to coffee and chocolate. I think that my system is caffeine free - and I feel pretty good. For some strange reason, I actually find it easier to get up in the morning.

I added caffeine-free herbal tea when I feel the need for a hot beverage, like on rainy mornings like today. I don't know how long this coffee and diet coke-free me will last. Like any addict, I have to just take things one day at a time.

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The End for Jon and Kate Plus 8?
Published May 26, 2009 @ 17:07 in

I've never watched an episode of this show, so I find it easy to judge. I am sure that the kids are all wonderful and adorable, as kids are. I am sure it is crazy and zoo-like trying to manage all of those young kids. I know that normal parents yell, and we don't all have the stresses of all of those children to care for. But the chaos of the show never appealed to me, and I never related to either of the parents, or found them particularly likable. The kids all seemed like a swarm, not individuals, and while I am sure a certain "factory" parenting style is necessary for order, it really turns me off. And now they are "angry" at the media... Really? 'Cause you sort of invited them into your lives, didn't you?

In the past I have written about excessive fertility treatments, and while I support every woman's right to determine her own reproduction, I feel like the medical profession needs to abide by a code of ethics - six children at a time is not OK.

Jon and Kate married young, by today's standards, and started their family young. It seems like as soon as they found out about the sextuplets they looked for an opportunity. This "family" doesn't seem like a family to me at all, but a business. Kate has had surgeries paid for by producers, Jon has had hair transplants. They have been given more free stuff than any parent would need, including round the clock nannies. Kate runs around the country promoting her book, while Jon goes out with young women to bars.

Bad decisions? Yes. But did you expect anything more from a couple that turned their family into a business, capitalizing on their children as a money making endeavor?

I hope that initially the decision was made not for fame, money, or self-promotion, but in fact to be able to give their kids a certain life. But it has obviously failed - to be expected with a house full of strangers running your lives for profit. Now that their marriage is in shambles, why don't they walk away from it all and try to fix their family?

I feel really badly for those children. They have been exploited, a form of abuse. And as we all watch to see what Jon and Kate have really been up to, who is watching out for their best interests?

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The Cinnamon Buns
Published May 25, 2009 @ 17:39 in Amazing Kids, Loving Daddy

Last night, as I was picking up milk and stuff for school lunches, I saw a box of six gourmet cinnamon buns at the grocery store.

My kids, and Husband, love cinnamon buns. Especially the "gourmet" kind with cream cheese icing instead of the sugar and water glaze. Normally I buy them from Cobs, a great bread store in our neighbourhood for $2.50 each, or $10 for Husband and the three kids (I don't partake).

At Sobey's they were $4.79 for 6, and they looked really good. I am nothing if not a value shopper. The boys split one yesterday when I got home, and then asked for one each for their breakfast this morning. Three down, none for Daddy. Daughter had one after lunch. Two left.

I could see both Husband and Son One eying them at dinner. Son Two had a hard boiled egg for dessert, and ran outside to play. Husband suggested warming the buns up a little in the microwave for himself and Son One. As he was warming Son One's, Daughter took the last one and started eating. It was hard to witness Husband's disappointment. You could tell that he had been saving room all through dinner for that cinnamon bun!

Son One took his bun and ran out the door to eat in the backyard. Daughter sat at the table, oblivious to Husband's laser stare scorching her back as he loaded the dishwasher.

"Honey, can you please give Daddy some of your bun?"

She broke off a piece the size of a dime. Did I mention that the buns are about 6 inches by 6 inches, or significantly larger than Daughter's face?

"Gee, honey. Do you think you could have given him a smaller piece?"

She broke off another piece, this one the size of my pinky finger nail. I forget that at age three kids are literal - no comprehension of sarcasm.

Now Daughter is out playing with her brothers in the backyard, and Husband is sulking in the basement watching the news. And there is half of this cinnamon bun just sitting at the kitchen table staring at me...

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Daughter and her stroller
Published May 25, 2009 @ 12:54 in Amazing Kids

On our walk today along Bloor Street, daughter pushed her stroller with her "baby" (doll) inside. She is a pretty good walker, but a few times I had to remind her stop at corners or watch out for things.

Except she took out a homeless man. He was stumbling along, disheveled, smelly, in a winter jacket and likely sobriety-challenged. For some odd reason, Daughter suddenly veered left and caught him right in the ankle with her doll stroller. He tripped, but didn't fall, and then gave Daughter a very dirty look and mumbled some vague obscenities under his 90 proof breath. She hadn't actually hit him very hard, but I think she just threw off his stroll. Daughter walked on, oblivious to the destruction of her path.

Now, this is where I am evil I didn't say anything to her. Later, when she bashed her stroller straight into a sandwich board, I told her to be careful. I wasn't worried that she would hurt herself, just that she would wreck the stroller or the sign. See? Evil, aren't I? She practically injures an innocent homeless man and I say nothing, but crashing into some plywood and I tell her to be careful.

Later I was pleased at how my brain worked faster than my mouth. We passed someone, dressed to the nines, and one of the only women of a certain age without either a baby bump or a stroller. I wasn't sure if she was a transvestite or simply too enthusiastic about make-up and accessories, so I said, "Honey! Watch out for the people walking on the street!" Pretty proud of myself for avoiding that potentially dangerous situation there.

As adults, saying, "Watch out of that woman!" would have worked equally well for transvestite or badly dressed female; with kids you just never know. They are so quick to point out errors, they may have instead yelled, "That's not a woman! That's a man dressed like a woman."

At least I avoided one potential pitfall on our walk.

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Pregnant Women Everywhere!
Published May 25, 2009 @ 12:30 in Being Mommy

You how when you are pregnant you suddenly start to notice pregnant women EVERYWHERE? On my walk today it seemed like every second woman I saw was sporting a baby bump of some size or another. I am a little glad to see that pregnancy fashions have evolved over the past few years and at least now most bellies seem to be covered.

A few months ago I lied to the dental hygienist implying that I might have been pregnant to get out of x-rays. Last week I had to come clean that I wasn't actually pregnant, so I had the x-rays done. No cavities!

For sure I am not pregnant, but every way I turned today, another pregnant woman! And if she wasn't pregnant, chances are she was pushing a stroller. Ran into the mother and her kids from Play-date from Hell - baby number four on the way!

Is there a baby boom going on that I don't know about?

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Oprah gets it wrong...
Published May 24, 2009 @ 10:17 in

Oprah is not infallible. I liked her supporting Obama, yet I am not impressed with him. Come on, Obama! Do SOMETHING! This is the beginning of your presidency, this is when you make waves! You have over three years for the waters to calm!

Now, I really think that Oprah needs to give her head and shake - Jenny McCarthy? Are you kidding? There is a great article from the National Post a few weeks ago, Junk Science Gets A New Cover Girl about Jenny McCarthy, and her ridiculous position on autism and vaccines. Oprah, as smart as she is, is giving validity to craziness.

I spoke to another mom I know, whose son has Aspergers Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is the most loving, committed, kind and patient mother I have ever seen. Her son is a sweet and loving child. This mother is upset by what Jenny McCarthy is saying, and that is Oprah is giving her the platform to say it, because it is simply not true: 1) Autism is not caused by vaccinations; and, 2) Autism cannot be cured.

Jenny McCarthy claims that her son is "recovered" through alternative therapies. This mother believes that this gives false hope to families with autistic children. The two families who I know personally with autistic sons are so devoted and committed to doing anything and everything that they could possible do for their children. It is almost like Jenny McCarthy is telling them that they are obviously not doing enough.

A few of my favourite quotes from Arthur Allen's article, featured in the National Post on May 12, 2009:

"McCarthy dropped out of nursing school in 1993 to become a Playboy bunny and later starred in an MTV show that focused on her bodily functions."

"If vaccine companies are not listening to us, it's their f---ing fault that the diseases are coming back. They're making a product that's s---." - Jenny McCarthy

I guess we are to blame. We give celebrities this pulpit to stand on, then listen to them regardless of what information they spew, largely misinformation, and in this case, actually harmful. We trust Oprah, she has worked for decades developing that trust. I feel like this is an abuse of that trust.

Families with autistic children need our support and understanding. Let's not even get into the harm that comes from societies without adequate vaccinations. What was Oprah thinking?

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Mommy Needs a Hairstyle
Published May 22, 2009 @ 07:48 in Being Mommy

B.K. (before kids) I used to get my fair done regularly, at least once every 3 months, more often for special occasions. I am blond, whose hair has darkened over the years for a dark, drab dishwater blond. I was really light as a child, but it started to darken. Now when people ask me where the kids get their blond hair from, I want to scream! Both husband and I are fair, and I assume that any fool knows that kids with blond hair often darken as they age.

I highlight. Not drastic highlights, but enough to give my hair some interest and colour. I go for natural, subtle highlights that really could be mine if I had a pool and spent all day year round sitting out.

The problem is, since kids, that going to hair dresser for 3 or 4 hours to sit through highlights and a cut is just a lot of time. Not to mention money ($200-$300 for highlights and a cut.) My visits have dwindled to just two or three a year. The last time I was there was early November; yes, about 7 months. Husband gets his haircut every month, but it is only $15 a visit and takes about 15 minutes. Maybe I should visit a barber and just ask for the number 2. My hair is now so bad that my "nicer" sister (of course both of my sisters are WONDERFUL, however one insults you then says, "I was just being honest") pointed out that it was time for a visit to the hair salon.

Here is my current debate - do I stay with the highlights? Or should I try a subtle, all-over colour close to my natural shade so that I don't have to worry about upkeep? Note: there is grey now to consider! And the highlights seem to help camouflage it. Also, hairstyle. I need wash and go, but the current, blunt just past the shoulder look isn't really good for anything but a ponytail. I have also been warned by some non-mom friends to be sure to avoid the "mom" haircut - but I am not even sure what that is!

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Bad Mommy Move #5613
Published May 22, 2009 @ 07:34 in Being Mommy

Son One is in grade one. Every Monday he brings home a homework book, and every Friday morning he takes it back complete and has a spelling test.

I was thrown a little this week, as there was no school on Monday. Last night I tried to have him sit down to do his homework for this morning, but he couldn't find it.

A few weeks ago he lost his school library book (still not found). We have thousands of books in our house - I love books, the kids love books. The phrase needle in a haystack is fitting here. Losing things really bothers me, maybe neurotically so. I am not sure why, but it drives me crazy thinking that something is there and I just can't find it. Even worse is losing something outside the house and knowing that it is gone for good.

Still annoyed with Son One about the lost library book, I had him spend 45 minutes looking for his homework book. The kitchen (the usual place for homework), his bedroom, the living room, even the minivan. No luck. I probably snapped at him 5 times about how upset it makes me when he loses things.

He tried, he really did, but no homework book. Then he came to me and said, "Mommy, I don't think that we had homework this week."

I called another mom in his class, who also thought that there was no homework this week.

Hmmmm..... 45 minutes wasted looking for homework that didn't exist - and he STILL didn't find his library book!

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Hockey - Week Three
Published May 21, 2009 @ 09:59 in Being Mommy

Last night was our third night of women's hockey. When I got home I was so sore that I could barely walk up the stairs. Every week I seem to come home hurting in different places. This time it was my calves.

Husband is laughing at me (not with me, a subtle yet distinct difference.) He doesn't understand how I, a non-skater and hater of most team activities, actually believed that I would be able to play hockey after three 1-hour sessions. I just thought that with good coaching, I could do anything. I also seem to have forgotten that I am going to be 35 in a few weeks - not 18. Reality bites.

I cannot skate with the puck. I cannot skate and watch where I am going. I can't shoot. I can't skate backwards. I can't turn. I still can't stop.

The good news is that I haven't yet fallen, yet somehow I am not afraid that I will get hurt. I managed to dress myself last night with minimal help and without pulling any muscles. Also, my equipment is starting to stink, so now I feel like a real hockey player, even if I can't play.

Let's hope that I am at least getting a good workout. Seven more weeks.

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The Book Thief - BEST READ
Published May 20, 2009 @ 13:59 in

Just finished reading The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. This is definitely the best book that I have read in months.

The Book Thief is the story of a ten year old girl, Liesel, in Nazi Germany. She is abandoned into foster care, losing her brother on route to her new home. After her brother's burial, Liesel sees a book on the ground in the grave yard and steals it, though she cannot read.

Liesel steals more books; her foster father teaches her to read, and she helps others with her reading. The lives of those on Himmel Street are hard, but the characters have their victories.

The story is narrated by Death, and despite the subject matter, I didn't find the novel depressing. It was sad at times, and terrible in others, but Liesel's spirit is strong.

Very well written, I breezed through the over 500 pages in three days. I loved this book.

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Congratulations Big Sis!
Published May 20, 2009 @ 09:04 in Family and Friends

My older sister is expecting baby number four in October. WOW! She and her husband have three boys; the oldest will be seven in a few days.

Husband has a cousin with four boys. Their oldest will be seven in a few days as well. My younger sister has two kids; her oldest will be three in a few days. Husband has two sisters - the older one has two teens, and the younger one has three children (her middle will be four in a few days). Whenever we have birthday parties, our kids are just allowed to invite a friend or two as by the time we get all of the cousins together, it is enough for two hockey teams! Don't ask about my Visa bill this month with all of the birthdays...

It is fun to see them all together. Some get along better than others. I had four cousins growing up, and only one male was even close to my age - the rest are about 10 years younger. It would be nice to be closer to my cousins, but it is not the same as a same-aged cousin.

When we get all of the cousin's together you see the family similarities, in personality and looks. And they all live within an hour of us, so getting together isn't a problem.

I come from a family of three girls, and Husband has two sisters. When Son One was born, my father exclaimed, "But we only have girls!" Not anymore, Dad. On my side the boys outnumber the girls 6-2. On Husbands, the it is a tie at 4-all.

I think it is fun and important for the kids to grow up with an understanding and appreciation for family, and extended family. We feel lucky and blessed to have such a big family, and for the opportunity to be so close to them. Our kids not only have all of their grandparents, but they have two great grandmothers as well.

Family is great. They can be good for your health. Especially when taken is small doses.

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A Visit to Primrose Trout Farm
Published May 19, 2009 @ 11:03 in Family and Friends, Kids Activities

On Saturday we were invited up to visit a friend's cabin in the woods. On our last visit, my boys were very interested in fishing in their pond. Alas, they explained that their pond was fish-less! We decided to bring them a hostess gift of trout to stock their pond.

On route, we stopped in at the Primrose Trout Farm. We purchased 20 8-10 inch trout for the pond, and carried them away in a large plastic bag nestled in our blue bin.

If you have youngsters who want to try fishing, consider a trip to the Primrose Trout Farm public fishing ponds located at Highways 89 and 10, about an hour from Toronto. They have a catch and release fly fishing pond, as well as other ponds where you and your kids can try fishing and come home with rainbow trout you can eat! Kids under 10 are free, and fishing licenses are not required.

My boys really want Daddy to take them back so they can actually catch fish next time, instead of just buying them. At this time of year the woods around the ponds were filled with beautiful white trilliums, and a few mosquitoes.

At our friend's cabin, we released the 20 fish into the pond. Two of them didn't look too good after the drive, and didn't make it. But somewhere in the pond the remaining 18 are happily swimming along!

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And the winner is...
Published May 19, 2009 @ 10:57 in

Thank you everyone for your comments and product suggestions. There are definitely some that I will need to try out. This morning I wrote out your names, and placed them in a hat. Then daughter picked one, and the winner is...

NATALIE!

Natalie, since you did include your email address on your comment, I will send you an email requesting your mailing address for the prize.

On another housekeeping note, my webmaster has done a little renovation on the site. If you can't see the changes, please be sure to press F5 to refresh, and viola!

Again, thanks everyone for you comments. To recap the suggestions:
Alison wrote about the Norwex Toothbursh
Gen loves the Kiehl's products
Juliana likes the Mary Kay medium coverage foundation
Techno Mom likes the Apple iTouch
Natalie lover her LUG handbag

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Daughter got her ears pierced! What a tough cookie!
Published May 17, 2009 @ 20:07 in Amazing Kids, My Rules

Before we were married, Husband I took a marriage course on the strong recommendation of the priest who was going to marry us. I think it was prerequisite to him performing the ceremony. We had already been living-in-sin for three years, so we wanted to do whatever we could to stay on his good side.

We both really enjoyed the course, and came out with a plan for our marriage - fighting strategies, mission statement, rules for our kids, division of household chores, the works! (I need to find that contract somewhere because I am pretty sure I didn't sign up for 99% of the laundry!)

One of the things we discussed was if we had daughters, when they would be allowed to pierce their ears. Husband's family is Canadian, CANADIAN, CAKE-CANADIAN, if you know what I mean. They seem to see a girl piercing her ears a right of passage for preteens (there was a letter to the Today's Parent editors in a recent issue saying how our girls our growing up too fast and their cover model child shouldn't have her ears pierced.)

I come from a more ethnic background. My ears were pierced before I spoke, so I know that I didn't ask for them to be done. I think in some cultures it is considered a way to differentiate between girl and boy babies, so it is often done around 6 months old. Honestly, I was never a fan of those bald little heads with earrings and those silly elastic headbands. Then I had a bald baby girl who was often called a boy, and I was tempted.

Husband and I had reached an agreement. We would allow our daughters to have their ears pierced (single hole - not cartilage) when they asked. We would not do it when they were babies, we would wait until they expressed an interest and actually wanted to have it done. I think we both thought this would come sometime between age 9 and 13.

Daughter must be an early bloomer. Friday night at 8 pm she decided that she wanted her ears pierced IMMEDIATELY. She asked, she didn't demand. And since we had already decided almost a decade ago our position, I said it was OK with me if it was OK with Daddy. Daddy told us to go ahead, but he didn't want to come and watch. I knew that he thought I would be home an hour later with Daughter's ears still hole-less, likely with a crying or hysterical little girl.

Instead, I came home an hour later with a little girl with pretty blue cubic zirconias in her ears to match her eyes.

I considered taking her to the local tattoo and piercing parlour (isn't there one in ever neighbourhood nowadays?) but my goals wasn't to scare her. So we went to Sherway, our closest mall. At 8:30 pm there was no one in People's Jewelers who could pierce and Mappins was recommended.

At 8:40 we arrived at Mappins, 20 minutes before closing time. The woman who helped us was AMAZING! She got down on one knee to ask Daughter her name, her age, and if she really wanted it done. She exclaimed that three was the perfect age to get your ears pierced, and took Daughter by the hand to pick out her first earrings.

This woman showed tremendous patience getting the location for the earrings just right. She starts with a marker, and then the special gun. I had her correct each marker dot three times. Daughter got the hiccups, and I thought we were in trouble, but they went away when the first earring was shot into her ear.

Daughter was a little surprised and upset by the pinch, but the saleswoman quickly grabbed the other ear and put the second earring in place before Daughter could think too much about what was going on.

PERFECT! Two little earrings, 25 minutes and $45 later. Daughter was stoic and determined. She didn't flinch, and never even considered crying. This is were my Husband's stubbornness gene really pays off - once my children have made up their minds, they just go for it.

I am still getting used to my little baby walking around with earrings. It makes her seem like such a big girl! I was so proud of how she handled herself, and I think she looks cute.

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Consider this a twitter tweet
Published May 16, 2009 @ 10:09 in Being Mommy

Sort of sounds like trick or treat, doesn't it?

Can't write much. Our power was out for HOURS, and now that it is back on I have lots of running around to do. We are going to visit a friend's cottage, so I have to pack, buy cat food, pick up a hostess gift and beer. Perfect May 24 Weekend! As the weather doesn't look like it will cooperate, we may be watching movies and playing board games all weekend.

Notes:

• DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT ON THE KIEHLS POST FROM TUESDAY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE FREE PRODUCT GIVE AWAY!


• Daughter got her ears pierced last night - photos and story to follow...


• Husband and I laughed until we cried at Son One - story to follow...


• Special hostess gift of live trout - story to follow...

Hope everyone has a happy a safe long weekend!

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Friday Night Movies
Published May 15, 2009 @ 19:21 in Kids Activities

Many families have a Friday Night Movie tradition. They may order pizza, pick up a few DVDs or BlueRays and some popcorn, and cuddle up on the couch to decompress from their busy work weeks.

We have a movie night a few times a month, but with the kids 3, 5 and 7, it is sometimes hard to find a movie that they will all enjoy. The older boys like anything action or adventure, but Daughter still prefers Disney movies with anything princess.

A few of our favourites that keep everyone entertained:

1. Cars
2. Kung-Fu Panda
3. Night at the Museum
4. Star Wars (any of them)
5. Harry Potter (the first three)
6. Indiana Jones
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth
8. The Neverending Story
9. Dr. Dolittle
10. Ratatoullie

There are more that we watch - Mama Mia is Daughter's favourite but Husband would rather peel his eye-balls than watch it again.

What are your favourite movies?

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How not to behave on a play date
Published May 15, 2009 @ 16:18 in Amazing Kids, My Rules

Picked Son Two up from a play date, and the mom said with, "Now I need to tell you something, but I am not angry with your son."

The boys were playing with some glue, and she left them alone for just a few minutes. Then my son came up to her and told her that they got glue on the hamster.

The mom told me that the hamster and her cage were covered, and she needed to clean them out. I felt terrible! I was also shocked and surprised that Son Two would do this, though I know how lines of right and wrong get blurred so easily with kids this age when one starts to do something.

She is the most adorable dwarf hamster - about 3 inches long and maybe 5 ounces. She had glue still in her fur, though she had taken her dust bath. Her back had glue, her belly had glue, and little ear was glued to the side of her head. The glue was non-toxic (at least for kids), and she is still OK today. I picked her up and she run up my arm with energy and affection. Sweet little soul!

Yesterday we tried to talk to Son Two about the incident, but he shut down. I tried again today after school. I explained about how the hamster would feel, how he would feel if a friend hurt our cat, and how our cat would feel to be hurt.

"Why didn't you tell me before I went on the play date not to put glue on the hamster?" he yelled at me. Hmmm... Good question. Maybe because I didn't know that they had a hamster, let alone that you were considering putting glue on her? Probably because it would take me days, or even weeks, to tell you everything that you are not supposed to do, and you would probably still do it! (Like sticking your fingers in random holes; I am sure that you've done that at least three times, and though I have told you not to do it again, and you still did it yesterday!)

I could tell that Son Two felt really bad about what he did and that he understood the it was wrong. He also promised never to put glue or paint on anyone or anything without permission.

The good news is that the hamster wasn't seriously harmed, and Son Two has learned a valuable lesson. I hope.

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Off to Book Club!
Published May 14, 2009 @ 19:39 in Being Mommy

If I could Twitter, that is all I would say.

This is the 6th anniversary of my book club. The book is The Wreckage by Michael Crummey. I am pretty sure that this is only the third book that I haven't finished before meeting. It took four tries to start, and now I am almost getting into it on page 147. Unfortunately the book has 356 pages and I have only 17 minutes left. That is over 12 pages a minute!

Instead I am blogging. On the plus side, tonight I am bringing a Trapuche Broquel Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.

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Second Night of Women's Hockey
Published May 14, 2009 @ 16:34 in Being Mommy

Last night was our second of 10 hockey nights. I was dreading it! Look, I am not a hockey player and I never will be. The only reason I signed up was peer pressure; I love being social and hate missing out on things. These women are a lot of fun, and many of them are really, really great skaters!

Before going last night, I was actually thinking that I could get pregnant again to get out of the remaining sessions without looking like a drop-out.

I think that I only pulled one muscle dressing myself, so an improvement over last week.

On the ice we started with a repeat of last week's drills, and a promise by the coach that he will take our falls more seriously after one mom fell last week and broke her wrist. (I feel so terrible because I convinced her to try it out! At least she had a cool answer when the Doctor asked her how she got hurt!)

I wasn't having fun. My feet hurt, I was sweating, my head was itchy under my helmet, and I am not very good. Plus I somehow got in the "good" row with all of the really fast, really skilled skaters, so I think I just looked worse.

Then we started this drill where you push out and pull in almost making waves all down the ice, and I started to get the hang of it! Later we did a passing drill that my partner and I rocked!

So, by the end, I wasn't completely hating it. But I am buying myself some Dr. Scholls inserts for next week.

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No cross-checking in T-Ball
Published May 14, 2009 @ 08:13 in Kids Activities

Right now both boys are involved in hockey, soccer, lacrosse and T-ball. I am thinking that the number of rules involved with each individual sport are overwhelming, and increasingly hard for them to compartmentalize.

Oh so I tell myself to explain why Son Two was cross-checking in T-Ball last night.

They were doing this drill where one child hit the ball and three or four other children tried to field it. Their job was to catch the ball and throw it back into the coach.

First I have to brag a little - MAN! Son Two has an arm on him! Accurate and far, he could throw from the fence in the outfield to first base with only one bounce and straight to the coach every time!

However, I think we have to go over the rules a little.

Son One and another boy ran for one ball, and got there at the same time. They tussled for it, and then Son Two crossed check the other kid and knocked him flying. The other boy, not one to be pushed around, jumped up and into a kung-fu ready stance. He kicked out trying to get Son Two, but my son jumped back, narrowly avoiding the kick. Son Two pounced forward, hand holding the baseball ready for the knock-out punch. Luckily, he missed.

The coach was focused on the hitter, so I ran out in the field (yes, in my red heels with my purse flying) and dragged Son Two off for a "water break", and a brief lecture on the rules. I felt like Tom Hanks in A League of Their Own, "There is no hitting, kicking or pushing in baseball!"

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Fight Night in High Park
Published May 13, 2009 @ 19:58 in Kids Activities

We were early for T-Ball practice tonight, so I took Son Two over to the playground for 20 minutes. There I witnessed a fight between a mom and a grandmother that I didn't understand. This is what I saw, peppered with my judgment of the situation thrown in.

The kids ranged in age from 18 months to about 2 years old, so very young. For some reason two girls were playing in the sand under the apparatus instead of in the sandbox. Suddenly, the 18 month old infant grabbed the two year old's hair in both fists and was pulling hard. The two year old was screaming, and I thought it took the mother of the 18 month old a little long to respond.

A grandmother (guess? caregiver? older mom?) came running over and grabbed the girl who had had her hair pulled and then another child, who also looked about 2, who was playing nearby (twins?) The grandmother was definitely too far away to really be supervising those two. Grandmother yelled; Mother yelled back louder, and with much more aggression. I was worried that I may have to call 911 to report a fight.

I thought the mother of 18 month old hair-puller would have shown a little more shame in the behaviour of her daughter, instead of jumping to defensiveness. But minutes later I learned that there was more to the story as the grandmother was dragging the other two kids back.

I was curious as to what would happen in round two, but torn because I didn't want Son Two to be late for T-Ball, I left before all was resolved. Now I have to make-up a really good story as to why the kids were fighting, and why the mother seemed so evil. But a good story is always more interesting than the truth.

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Dog Owners - PICK UP YOUR POOH!
Published May 13, 2009 @ 12:57 in

I am so angry right now. We were walking home from school, and Son Two stepped in some dog pooh in his BRAND NEW RUNNING SHOES! These shoes are 4 days old.

I know most dog owners are wonderful people - but the sucky dog owners are so awful that right now I am so in hate with all dog owners. I can't blame the dogs - they have to pooh! But last I checked the law says that owners have to clean up after them.

My kids generally stick to the sidewalk, but because of some City construction, they had to walk across a lawn. I had the wagon so I walked on the road.

Last fall dog pooh ruined my kids' traditional fall fun. Some dog had poohed right in the middle of the leaf pile that Husband had raked up for them to jump in. We only have one, small tree on our property, so once those leaves were gone, they were gone. Not to mentioned the work gloves which Husband used to clean up the leaves - another $12 in the trash because some imbecile didn't clean up after their pet.

To add insult to injury, while I was outside with a trig trying to clean the 1000 crevasses on the sole of Son Two's BRAND NEW RUNNING SHOES, Daughter peed all over the kitchen floor because she couldn't get to the bathroom without me.

So - ignorant a$$hole of a dog owner who didn't feel responsible for cleaning up after his own pet - I had 2 messes to clean up thanks to you. Karma, jerk. Karma.

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Are you Smarter than a First Grader?
Published May 13, 2009 @ 09:18 in Amazing Kids

Daughter can easily answer yes...

Last night, after bath time, I went down to the basement to wait for my pajamas to come out of the dryer. Husband followed, to watch a few minutes of a hockey playoff game (any game - he didn't care, just wanted some quiet time). Then came Son Two, dressed in his pajamas and ready for a snuggle.

Son One showed up, his bare butt hanging out as he had barely wrapped himself up in his towel. "Can you get me dressed?" I swear, this is Son One's favourite question. He is 7 years old! What is it about first borns? I thought that they were supposed to be independent and responsible.

"Did you bring any pajamas?" Husband asked.

"No."

I know the kid is smart. Yes, of course, all of us gave birth to little geniuses. But he is a smart kid. He is just so lazy sometimes! He will ask a question, that if he thought for even two seconds he could figure out the answer himself.

5 minutes later daughter showed up, buck naked, but carrying her pajamas. "Can you please get me dressed?" she asked, in her sweet little voice, handing me her pajamas.

Yes, Daughter is in fact, smarter than a first grader.

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2 Boys, 2 Baseball Bats, 1 Bump
Published May 12, 2009 @ 21:57 in Amazing Kids

Earlier this evening, Husband was going to take the boys up to a nearby field to practice baseball.

We have two bats - one is wood, one is foam. Son One held the wooden bat, while Son Two held the foam bat. We should have made them trade. You see, if anyone were to "accidentally" hit someone with a bat, my money would be on Son One.

"Be careful with those bats, boys," Husband said. "Make sure you don't hit each other." Come on! Even to me that almost sounded like a dare!

2 minutes later, Son Two screams and clutches his face while Son One runs inside the house yelling, "I am going to my room! I'm going! I'm going!" (Isn't it great when they learn to discipline themselves? Sort of hope that it leads to self-discipline in the future.)

I brought Son Two inside and peeled away his hands. He had a slight red mark on his forehead. I pulled out the sports ice pack, and had him sit and hold it to his head. After 5 minutes I checked, and there was a definite goose egg forming - sort of a 2-inch oval above his left eye. We switched to some new ice, and he held it on for another 10 minutes. It actually was looking a lot better.

I went upstairs to talk to Son One, who was crying is his room.

"I know that you are crying because now you don't get to go to the park to play baseball with Daddy," I said. "But you really should be crying because you could have killed your brother!"

Son One gave me some story about how it was accidentally because he went to look you to see a helicopter that he heard flying overhead and when he moved his arm he forgot that he was holding a bat. Completely accidental. And I would have believed him, too. If I had been born yesterday.

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Mother's Day
Published May 12, 2009 @ 10:47 in Amazing Kids

Here are the best quotes from my Mother's Day:

"No! You can't have breakfast in bed. We are only allowed to eat in the kitchen, remember?"

"No Happy Mother's Day. I HATE MOTHER'S DAY!"

"If you aren't nice to everyone on Mother's Day than we kick you out of the family!"

"Mommy! I love you SO MUCH!"

"You are the best Mommy in the world!"

Other highlights:

Breakfast in bed with my daughter, served by Son Two.

Running with my mom.

Afternoon nap.

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Kiehl's - My New Favourite Cream!
Published May 11, 2009 @ 10:10 in Shopping and Stuff

This is my absolute new favourite cream!

Like most moms, I think I wash my hands about a million times a day. Every winter I end with terrible dry and itchy hands. Not sure that my skin is really that sensitive, but with all of the washing and scrubbing my hands hurt and sting with most hand creams.

Kiehl Pharmacy has been an institution in New York City since 1851, where they have "been dedicated to serving customers formulas for skin and hair made with uniquely efficacious, natural ingredients."

A friend is a Kiehl's ambassador; this means that she shops there enough to get invited to special parties like new product launches. Last week she took me along. We got a free mascara, just for attending, plus I got a hand massage and treatment. I found my hands getting irritated even with their gentle, organic cream. Then I saw and tried the one for babies.

Nurturing Cream for Face and Body is a pediatrician tested cream for babies, and I thought that if it were gentle enough for a baby's face, it could work on my hands.

I AM AMAZED!!! It is wonderful. If I could figure out a way of taking a picture of my own hands, and of not offending anyone with my lack of manicure, then I would show you. My hands are soft, smooth and silky.

GIVE-AWAY TIME!
Add a comment to this email, and I will enter your email in a draw for a full-sized Kiehl's Baby Nurtuting Cream for Face and Body ($21) value. Tell me about your favourite new product find - either for you or your child, or just why you want to try Kiehl's Nurturing Cream. I will put all of the names in a hat, and draw one next Tuesday May 19th. Send this link to anyone who you think may benefit from a cream to sooth their hardworking hands (probably any other mom that you know).

Kiehl's dot com

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Opening Day at High Park
Published May 11, 2009 @ 09:35 in Kids Activities

Saturday was Opening Day for the High Park Baseball Association, arguably the premier little league in Toronto. It was founded in 1952, and has represented Canada in the Little League World Series.

Saturday was a dog's breakfast as far as the weather was concerned. It looked like it would hold off, but almost as soon as the Opening Parade commenced, thunder boomed and the field was cleared for safety reasons.

We live in the area, and this is out first year with the boys registered at High Park. It is yet another sport that my kids are involved in, but Husband was a pitcher through his teen years, and I think that our kids will enjoy T-Ball this year. Son One has an arm! When he was 8 months I first noticed it when he was sitting on the floor throwing his toys at me. He hit me between the eyes with amazing accuracy, over and over again.

My little spitfire - Son One - is playing for the Jays. The coaches are AMAZING! I hope he has a great season... just like our Toronto Blue Jays. At least it is fun, exercise, and fresh air.

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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!
Published May 10, 2009 @ 13:22 in

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Boys of Summer - Soccer in the City
Published May 9, 2009 @ 08:44 in Kids Activities

Last year the boys played soccer on a Toronto City Parks and Recreation soccer team. It was great. They got full uniforms, refs and coaches, and medals at the end of the season. The age was 4-6, so as Son One was 6 and Son Two was 4, they actually got to play together.

As they grow up, the 22 months between them will mean that they won't be playing on the same teams anymore. This year they are even playing in different leagues because of how the schedule worked out. Sort of makes me a little sad... I love watching them play together. Son One is actually very considerate, often passing the ball to his younger brother to try to help him score. He is much less considerate to his brother off the field.

Soccer is starting up again, and it is such an amazing sport for getting your kids active. I am so not a soccer player (so please don't be offended) but as far as I can tell, there isn't even much skill required at this age. You run, you kick. Simple as that. Everyone loves to score, and no one seems to notice, let alone care, who wins.

Toronto dot ca

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Rosary Beads...
Published May 8, 2009 @ 14:23 in Amazing Kids

Son Two came home from church Tuesday with a plastic glow-in-the-dark rosary.

First I was like, who makes novelty religious items? When will Son Two need to pray the rosary in the dark? Then I remembered how popular those Mary's are in the cabs.

Daughter assumes it is jewelery, and therefore hers for the taking. Son Two doesn't want to share. Normally I settle disputes over toys like King Solomon - if you can't figure it out yourselves (share, take turns, whatever) it goes into the garbage.

But I just can't throw out a rosary. I settled for asking Son Two what Jesus would do if His sister wanted to wear something of His. My kids obviously need remedial Sunday school - I had to explain that Jesus would not knock his sister over and grab for His rosary.

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Mother's Day gifts
Published May 8, 2009 @ 12:24 in Being Mommy

The first Christmas Husband and I were together (as university boyfriend/girlfriend) he asked what I wanted for Christmas. I wrote out a short list (about 7 items) and gave it to him. HE BOUGHT ME THE WHOLE LIST! At the time, I made the mistake of telling him that he didn't need to get me everything off of the the list. Young, in-love fool!

Now I give him a list for Christmas every year, and a few suggestions for birthday. My husband is many wonderful things, but buying the right gift often stumps him. I don't agree with the stuff about, "if he really knew me, he would know what I want." Half the time I don't even know what I want! A list works well for us. Sometimes, he does deviate if he sees something that he thinks I would really, really love. Mostly it is the list.

This year I decided to give him a Mother's Day/Birthday list. My birthday is early June, so this gives him some notice.

Here is the list:

1. Gap Jeans - size, fit and wash details provided


2. Lululemon gift card


3. Rest of Twilight Saga books (I actually had ordered them from Chapters online already, and read them when they arrived this week)


4. Kids to be fed all day, meals planned, kitchen cleaned


5. Laundry done


6. Neat house


7. Some family activity planned


8. Birthday Cake

I reminded my husband that Mother's Day and my birthday both fall before Father's Day and his birthday. So, depending on how well he does, I could be in New York City shopping on Father's Day with a friend.

My mother never expected anything from my father on Mother's Day - she was positively offended when he gave her a gift and would say, "I am not your mother!" Personally, I love the idea of being celebrated for all of the work that I do and the stuff I put up with, at least one day of the year!

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GD tulip theif!
Published May 8, 2009 @ 12:10 in Around the House

On Tuesday my sons went to church with school to celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mother, since May is the month to celebrate mothers.

Son Two, being in JK, was asked to bring a cut flower to put into a vase as an offering to Mother Mary. Of course I remembered the morning of as I was getting the boys dressed. Luckily, we had some daffodils and tulips blooming the in back. Son Two selected one red and one yellow tulip to cut. Just as my mother did when I took our flowers from home to someone, I wrapped the stems first in a wet paper towel and then in aluminum foil. Off he went.

This morning my mother came by to pick something up. "Oh!" she said, "I guess some else needed flowers for school."

I looked out front - someone has cut all of my tulips from my front yard and taken them! First I have to deal with the thieving squirrels stealing the bulbs in fall, and now this.

I am outraged. I get upset with my children when they pick one little flower off of a flowering bush as we walk home from school. But to come into someone's front yard and cut and steal all of their tulips, that takes an especially big set of balls! What kind of people are there out there? GD TULIP THIEF!

I could hope that it was some poor person who really wanted a gift for their mother for Mother's Day but couldn't afford anything. But I know it's not.

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WANTED: Laundry Fairy
Published May 7, 2009 @ 11:13 in Around the House, Being Mommy

This is the pile of laundry in my bedroom. Each child also has his or her own hamper, and there is another one in the laundry room. I should be too embarrassed to show you this, but I am feeling brave that you won't judge me on my laundry. Before the cleaning lady came yesterday, this laundry was actually spread out all over the floor of my bedroom. I am afraid to throw anything else on top lest I topple her amazingly engineered structure.

I need a laundry fairy - someone who miraculously picks up every item of clothing off of the floor, washes it, folds it, and puts it away before I can trip over it.

Any ideas what something like that would cost? I swear - if I didn't have to do laundry, I would be a happier person. Maybe I should invent disposable, biodegradable clothing. You'd just have to watch out in the rain!

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Women's Hockey Night in Toronto
Published May 7, 2009 @ 10:57 in Being Mommy

You've all been waiting patiently to hear how my hockey went last night, haven't you? Well, I was such a rockstar that the NHL called this morning asking if I could throw my hat into the ring for the next draft. Seriously, I was that good!

Here is me in my hockey gear. This is also the first official photo of me on the website.

OK, all kidding aside, I am not great. But I didn't fall. I think was concentrating so hard that I forgot to relax and have fun.

Here are some things which I learned last night that men don't tell us about hockey:

1. All of that equipment is really, really hot. This explains why their equipment stinks so much. I was glowing like a pig.
2. Hockey pants are not flattering. I tried them on over top of my jeans and they fit fine. Last night I could barely get them over my shin guards.
3. It is really hard to get dresses. We had to help one another. I couldn't bend over to tie my skates! Forget about doing up my own helmet (thanks Coach Kyle!)
4. It is harder than it looks. So many skills, all at the same time. I have a new found respect for all hockey players.
5. Communal water bottles. They go from the trunk of the car, to the bench, and back into the garage pausing only to be refilled. No trip to the dishwasher?

I am so sore today! I think I pulled at least two muscles just trying to get into the equipment, and there are definitely little muscles all over my thighs that have never been used before. This is going to be more painful than I thought.

It was a great night! Our coaches were amazing, and the group of women are just the best! Some of them are real rockstars, and can do hockey stops and everything. Last night we worked on stride and side stops. At the end the instructors even let us try to skate with a puck. (However, as I couldn't master the stop or the turn, if I lost my puck I had to just keep going without it.) Honestly, I barely could handle holding onto a hockey stick with my hockey gloves on.

I will improve. I hope. If not, at least I will have fun!

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Bicycle Falls...
Published May 6, 2009 @ 20:13 in Amazing Kids, Kids Activities

Why is it always worse when our children get injured when someone else is supervising them? I am sure that my mother remembers the daggers I glared at her when Son One fell down her front cement steps. Luckily my children seem to be born with unusually thick skulls which so far (touch wood) have kept them safe.

Tonight Daughter was riding her new two-wheel bike with training wheels while Husband watched (I was at the first night of summer hockey with the boys - yes, hockey, it really never ends.) She is madly in love with her new bike - it is pink with a basket on it. She also picked out a new helmet with fairies on it and that lights up. Could she be any more of a girl? Daughter has asked me three times already to remove her training wheels. I keep telling her that she has to wait until she is four. Here are a few pictures of the proud girl on her new bike. Yes, she learned to ride it wearing a dress.

When I came home tonight and Daughter was crashed on the couch, fast asleep. Husband explained that she had fallen off of her bike and scraped both knees, and in her pain cried herself to sleep. Sad, isn't it? I wasn't even home to hold her and dry her tears. I asked Husband what first aid he had done - polysporin or spray bandage. Nothing.

At least my Husband is super safe when it comes to protecting their little brains. All of my children are so used to wearing their bike helmets that they routinely wear them through lunch. So her little head wasn't hurt. My poor angel!

Son Two had a wicked bike accident last year, also not under my supervision. It goes down in history as the quickest treatment we have ever received in an Ontario Hospital - in and out in less than an hour. Here is the picture I took of him that night as he slept. Again, he was wearing a helmet (that we replaced the next day). Surprisingly, he still rides a bike - though not the one from the accident. He is one tough kid.

Looking at the picture still is so upsetting. I guess as moms we have to realize that we can't always be there, and our kids may get hurt when we are not around. It is such a feeling of guilt that not only weren't we there to prevent the pain, but we also weren't there to kiss it all better.

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Last Day of Speech
Published May 6, 2009 @ 08:07 in Amazing Kids

Today I am taking Son Two downtown for his last day of speech therapy. A few months ago, we started an intensive form of speech therapy called, "prompt." This is where the therapist touches the child's face and mouth to teach them how to form properly to make the sounds.

Months ago I felt like this was our last chance to help Son Two through his speech issues. We were now working with the top in the province, and she seemed experienced and enthusiastic. After the first session I felt that if this didn't work, then nothing would.

Except Son Two hates her, and that is putting it mildly. Their personalities just didn't mesh, and every session has become a power struggle. I am not even sure it is about his speech anymore. While the therapist obviously knows her stuff, I would have thought that after about 25 years of working with kids, she would have been able to handle Son Two. To us, he is the easy one. To her he seems to be a behavioral problem, and the words, "non-compliant" get thrown around a lot.

Part of me is a little impressed that my son has enough self control not to have bitten her. I am sure if someone was sticking gloved fingers into my mouth, they would be taking their chances. OK, so maybe I haven't bitten the dentist yet, but I only have to put up with him once or twice a year.

We took Son Two out of his JK class twice a week and for the past 10 weeks we have seen her every Monday and Wednesday (illness exceptions).

Son Two's speech has improved, but not as dramatically as I had hoped. However, many of you read that a few weeks ago we had a diagnosis from an Otolaryngologist of velopharyngeal incompetence that explains his speech issues.

Monday, our second last session, was a reassessment to review progress. The therapist said, "One more session after today. How do you feel about that?"

Why did she ask? Son Two is 5 years old! You get an honest answer.

"And then I never have to see you ever again!" he exclaimed, not even trying to hide his joy. "We are finished speech FOREVER!!!"

"It's nice to be loved," she said, sarcastically.

Husband and I have decided to give Son Two some time off. We will reassess in the fall, and see if we want to go the private route, or if there is something that the school can do for him.

In the meantime, it is going to take all of Son Two's self control to sit through today's half hour session. I can already picture him bouncing in his seat and watching the door.

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Hockey - almost time!
Published May 5, 2009 @ 20:32 in Being Mommy

26 hours and counting. Tomorrow, 10:15 pm, I will learn to play hockey.

Today my stomach was so anxious all day it was filled with butterflies. However, that didn't seem to stop me from eating anything that I could fit into my mouth. Nerves.

I am worried about falling. The last time that I slipped on ice and fell I broke my sacrum. I am worried about making a complete fool out of myself. I am claustrophobic about wearing the helmet and the cage. I am worried about being the worst mom hockey player out there! Besides, the hockey pants make my ass look really, really big. What was I thinking?

Tomorrow night, if I can get online, I will let you know how it went. 25 hockey moms learning how to power skate. Should at least be entertaining - for the coaches.

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Trouble at School...
Published May 5, 2009 @ 20:06 in My Rules

Today I got my first ever phone call from the principal at my sons' school. I may mark Son One's first crime in his baby book.

First she said, "Don't worry. The boys are fine."

Then she launched into her story. A girl from Son One's class was eating pretzels at recess (let's call her "Kay"). When Kay put the bag of pretzels down, a boy from my son's class grabbed the bag and ran away. The principal said that my son, along with a few other boys from the class, then ate the pretzels. As their punishment tomorrow they would all be staying in from recess.

I am shocked! Son One doesn't even like pretzels! I was torn between standing up for him and punishing the heck out of him for getting involved. Instead I just said, "I appreciate your call. I will speak with him when he gets home."

Son One has this habit of following other boys, even when he knows it is wrong. I explained that when his teenage friends decided to steal a car, if he was with them then he would go to jail, too. Fear isn't a bad thing, is it?

He was very upset when we talked about it. I know he knows that he did something wrong, I just don't know how to give him the tools and the strength to walk away. Son One thought that as long as he didn't take the pretzels, and he didn't eat the pretzels, he wouldn't be in trouble. How can you really expect a 7 year-old to stand up to his friends? I am trying to teach him just to walk away. (Next time he may decide just to eat the pretzels - if you are going to do the time, may as well do the crime.)

His punishment at home included no TV tonight, he had to finish all of his homework (due Friday) and he has to give the girl a bag of pretzels (that he will pay for) tomorrow and apologize.

His remorse has made for a peaceful evening at our house.

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My favourite time of day...
Published May 4, 2009 @ 07:51 in Being Mommy

I set my alarm to wake me at least half an hour before anyone else. Sometimes I get dressed, but mostly not, and I come down stairs to make myself a coffee and check my email.

Many of you probably share a similar morning ritual. I don't know how it started, but I like the quiet time before the chaos.

The coffee is definitely part of the ritual, but I came late to coffee. I grew up in a home with tea - we never even had coffee in the house, except for some frozen instant in case a guest was ever insistent. I made it through five years of university without needing the morning caffeine to make the 8 am classes I always ended up in. Then I tried it a few times at mother's coffee mornings after Son One was born, and when I went for walks in the village with other moms. But it didn't become a morning habit until recently.

Some days I don't even get to finish my coffee before everyone is up and demanding breakfast. There are lunches and snacks to be made, school bags to be packed. I try to explain to my kids that if I get just a few minutes to myself every morning, to do what I want, then we would all be happier. They just don't understand.

This morning I got to check emails, write this blog, and relax for almost 30 minutes before anyone else was awake. But now I have to run. Have a great day!

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Computer Trouble
Published May 3, 2009 @ 17:11 in

BTW - I am having some computer trouble. Sorry if you miss me! I will get it figured out ASAP.

I feel so disconnected. I try to check email, but I can't. I try to tell you what is going on in my life - no dice. How will ever know what is going on in the world without Yahoo News? What if Brangelina really are on the outs? Tomkat pregnant again? H1N1 cases on the rise?

Who invented these crazy computers anyway? We bought the extended warranty. I think it expired 8 months ago. Is anything built to last?

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Today I raced...
Published May 3, 2009 @ 16:54 in Being Mommy

OK, maybe saying that I "raced" is over-stating it just a little. Today I ran - The Toronto Sporting Life 10 K 10th Anniversary Race. Me and 12,800 other people.

If you are in Toronto, it is the spring run. Starting just north of Eglinton, you run down Yonge Street. This year the course went west on Richmond, south on Peter, west on Front, and south on Bathurst to end up at Fort York.

The start was very well done this year. Different colours for different finishing time estimations. The race started at 8 am, but I was in the 8:05 start time, and then walkers could go at 8:10 am. A little early for a Sunday morning, especially with the subways not running until 9:00 am.

The finish was terrible! It took us 20 minutes from crossing the finish line to get out of the finisher's exit. COME ON!!!! I am guessing that they won't finish at Fort York again.

I did come away with a nice finisher's medal. I love it! I come home and Son One says, "did you really win?"

First I lied, "Yes! Yes I really won."

Then he wanted more information. "Really? You were first? Are you sure you weren't second?"

I had to come clean. I was in the 9000s. But I had over 3000 people behind me! I like to run, not race. I couldn't explain to my son that my chances of winning are somewhere between nil and never-gonna-happen. Today I felt good, and isn't that what I want him to get out of sport, too?

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Feeling sick? Stay Home!!!
Published May 1, 2009 @ 10:42 in

I was just watching the news about this swine flu - to be renamed H1N1 so that people stop associating it with pigs. Schools are being closed in Texas, and now in BC to combat the spread of the illness. I think there is even one closed in North Toronto.

PLEASE - If you are feeling ill, stay home! Keep your kids home!

There seem to be some stupid women in Port Perry who came home form Mexico sick, when straight to the ER and then to a casino over the weekend because they claim the doctors at the ER didn't tell them to isolate themselves. Are you kidding me? How stupid are you?

Last week I had a doctor's appointment. I was annoyed when I was called and told that she was sick and they needed to reschedule me. When I went in yesterday, she told me that she had been on a cruise and their last port was Mexico. She wasn't feeling great, so as a precaution, she took the week off and then wore a mask for a few days. My doctor wishes she had taken a swab, just to see. Thank goodness!

I was last in Mexico in 2003 with Son One and Husband. We had an amazing trip. However, first with the killing of Canadians and now this flu, I can't see myself ever returning there.

Do I think that there is a some unnecessary panic? There are 176 dead in Mexico, so that sort of scares me. Besides, don't we all like to panic a little? I am going to be a extra careful for a while. I already wash my hands so much that the skin flakes off, but I am not ready to run out and buy a mask.

Stay safe everyone!

CityNews dot ca

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Hockey Equipment Shopping!
Published May 1, 2009 @ 07:55 in Being Mommy

Six days and counting until we start our women's hockey. Did I mention that we hired a coach that looks a little like Sidney Crosby? And he is bringing a friend, as our numbers have ballooned. We have 25 women signed up, and a wait list of 3!

I feel a little crazy doing this. All of these women are so enthusiastic, but I have a confession. Never in my life have I wanted to play hockey. Before I met Husband, I hadn't even watched a hockey game. I know it is our national obsession, but I curled in high school - and had an ER visit with that sport.

We watch the figure skaters practicing on the ice beside our sons hockey. I would do that if I could, not hockey. Those cute skirts! Looking graceful leaping around to music. I would like that.

Yesterday I went shopping for hockey equipment. Didn't know that it could be depressing. I could fit into youth XL pants, or men's small. I am not that big (I am not that small, either), but I do have to pull them up over hips! Men don't have hips. I wasn't going to buy men's medium - I just couldn't go there. Then the shoulder pads. Guess what else men don't have? The kid in the store thought that I could fit into a youth large. I read the size on the label - chest size 34 inches. "Who knows their chest size?" the kid asked. Uh... any woman who puts on a bra every morning, you idiot. I am not a 34.

I ended up with men's small pants and shoulder pads. Now I am worried about the helmet. We have a few extra helmets at home so I haven't bought one, but it suddenly struck me last night that I am claustrophobic, and I don't think that I can wear a cage. I need to have easy access to my puffer, just in case.

As we count down the days I oscillate between excitement and terror. I can't really skate, and I have never been on hockey skates before. I don't want to get hurt. I don't want to make a fool out of myself. I am scared.

Anyone know of a nice ballet drop-in studio in the city? I think that is more my thing.

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Rain Delay
Published May 1, 2009 @ 07:51 in

T-Ball was canceled last night. They called the game at 5:55 pm - it was meant to start at 6 pm. This is what happens when men run things! Women, we would have at least had an email out at 5:30 pm.

At least I sent Husband. I would have been annoyed. Especially if I got mud on my shoes. Still haven't bought myself a pair of those cute printed rubber boots. Maybe I'll get them for Mother's Day. And I need a new umbrella, too.

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