New Skates
Published September 28, 2009 @ 16:19 in Being Mommy
My feet were hurting so much at this morning's hockey, that I actually had to take them off half way through and massage my feet. I've spent $40 on SuperFeet insoles, that just made my feet hurt even more! I tried two different kinds of Dr. Scholls insoles - also a bust. I decided that enough was enough. I was going to buy new skates.
I explained my plan to Husband, pointing out that I go through two new pairs of running shoes a year at $230, and skates should last me about 5 years. He told me that if I spent $1300 on skates he would leave me. Promise, or threat?
I went to Dukes, the hockey mecca for the west end of Toronto. I explained to this lovely young man that I have terrible feet that are really wide, with high arches and a high instep. He measure me and pointed out that the skates I was wearing were the wrong size and shape for me feet. "Wow! You really do have wide feet!" He exclaimed. Thanks, sonny.
I found a pair of Grafs, USED for $120. Not bad, eh? We'll see how comfortable they are tomorrow night. Honestly, I don't think that they could be worse.
When I showed Son One, he said, "Oh! Those are just like mine!"
True enough. He also has 503 Grafs. However, though his were on sale, they still cost over twice what mine did. To be continued after hockey tomorrow night...
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Cynical Seven-Year-Old
Published September 28, 2009 @ 16:14 in Being Mommy
I am often pretty impressed with my driving, and really I am the best parallel-parker I know. Two days after we got our mini-van, I parallel-parked it on Bloor Street West in the middle of busy Saturday afternoon traffic.
Today, I was tempted just to pull into a spot in the green P to go to the library, but instead I decided to save myself the 75 cents (since I owed $1.80 on a overdue book) and parallel part on a near-by side street.
I pulled up along side a black Mazda, reversed until I was at a 45 degree angle, then straightened the wheel until I pulled perfectly back in. Viola! Amazing.
I said to Son One, who was sitting in the back of the van "See? Now that, my friend, is a perfect parallel parking job!"
"Yeah," he answered, "but it is a pretty big spot."
Gee! My seven-year-old isn't even impressed. Guess I need to learn a new trick.
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Stinky kids
Published September 27, 2009 @ 19:03 in Amazing Kids
I was in the change room today, dressing Son One for a hockey game, and boy, did it stink! The smell was so bad that my eyes started to sting. I kept reminding myself to breath through my mouth, and I even put a cough drop in hoping I wouldn't taste the smell. Yes, it was that bad.
I went to dress Son One, and I couldn't even have him put on his underarmer it is was so bad. Right now I am doing a load of laundry that includes his socks, jerseys, underarmer and jock. Too much information?
The weird part is that when we got home from the game, I unpacked all of this equipment piece by piece in the living room, and smelled each piece by trying to stick it up my nose. It really wasn't that bad.
Could it have been that the dressing room was that bad? Or maybe it was the kid beside us?
A few nights ago we were all lying on my bed after putting on our pajamas... and I smelled something. It wasn't me. Turns out, it was Son One's feet - he was lying with his head near the foot of the bed and his feet near my face - MAN OH MAN! I tried to convince him to go and wash his feet in the tub before bed, but no dice.
Someone once told me that kids don't start to smell until puberty. I am not so sure about that. I love my son, I think he is adorable, brilliant, funny and kind. But he is turning into a big, stinky kid.
Husband and I seem to differ a little on the issue of stinky kids. Maybe his nose isn't as sensitive as mine, but he doesn't insist on showers or hair washing. I, on the other hand, don't go for that crunchy salt-filled hair style, and think that seven is old enough to start shower after sweaty physical activities.
Another funny thing that Husband does is he dresses the boys in their clothes the night before an early morning hockey game or practice. TO SLEEP IN! Son One used to wear pajamas and just bring something to change into after, but some of the kids would make fun of him. Great solution! It saves time in the morning having the child already dressed. Husband can be so damn practical / logical. However, did I mention that they wear the clothes which they slept in?
Maybe this is a boy - girl thing, sort of like being dirty and not caring. Husband is always showered, clean and wearing clean, fresh clothes. However, when it comes to the kids, I can tell that I am going to be the one enforcing hygiene and cleanliness standards.
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Best Body Bootcamp - Week Two
Published September 26, 2009 @ 09:48 in Being Mommy
This week was my second week of Best Body Bootcamp, and it was a weird sort of "get to know the other participants" kind of week.
For some reason, getting up at 5:20 seemed a lot earlier this week. Friday was my first time even pushing the snooze button and debating with myself if I should really go. Of course, I went. Monday and Wednesday were hot, humid, sticky and gross, while Friday was cool and crisp. The best news is that because it is still so dark in the park, we didn't do suicides this week - YAY!
When I say it was a weird sort of "getting to know you" kind of week, it is because we did some odd moves. The first was on Wednesday, a wheelbarrow push-up. For this, your "partner" had to grab your legs and lift them so that one of your legs was on each hip, while you had to do push-ups. The weird part? The closer to your pelvis that they got, the easier the push-up. Oh yeah. I didn't even know my partner's name.
Friday we did another crazy drill. Everyone had to lie in a row in plank position on their elbows, then the first person jumped up and jumped over everyone like mini-hurdles. Then the next, etc. etc. back and forth. Yes, it is just like grade six gym class, except without the bullies.
We also did partner sit-ups, where you interlock your feet and clap when you come up. 50 of them (25 each side.) Again, felt a little like grade school. I was the loser who didn't have a partner, so I got the instructor. This meant that I couldn't cheat.
While it was much, much tougher this week to force myself from my cozy bed in the pitch black early morning, once I was there the actually camp seemed to fly. Either an indication that I am enjoying it more and doing better, or my brain is on auto-pilot because I am still asleep.
Either way, I am half-way through the four weeks of bootcamp. I am started to get a comment or two about looking better, but I don't believe them. And my pants aren't tight, but they aren't exactly falling off either.
The highlight this week? The cute little raccoon who joined our bootcamp in an attempt to steal the instructor's powerbar breakfast. He was cute, young and small, but apparently our instructor has had a run-in or two with raccoons in the past, and was concerned about their viciousness.
Two Days off...
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Toronto Drivers
Published September 25, 2009 @ 16:39 in Being Mommy
OK. I am excellent driver. Yet twice this week I was almost in an accident. Why? Because two idiots stopped at a green light!
You know those PEDESTRIAN WALK SIGNALS that count down until the light changes? LAZY drivers are now using them to time the lights. Every now and then you get behind someone who stops as it counts down to ONE, instead of actually watching the light.
The problem is that SOMETIMES, a driver, like me, in a slight hurry, may also rely on the WALK SIGNAL, and may actually SPEED UP in an attempt to ensure that we make the light.
Do you see where I am going with this? Bad news.
SO - PLEASE DRIVERS - Watch the LIGHTS, not the pedestrian signals. Those are, by definitely, for pedestrians.
Green light means go - not stop, just in case in case it may change to amber.
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Remembering Terry Fox, A Great Canadian
Published September 25, 2009 @ 16:13 in Amazing Kids
Today school kids celebrated Terry Fox by having a run in his honour. It is the least we can do, for one of the greatest Canadians ever.
In 1977 Terry Fox, an athlete, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. At that time, the only way to treat this condition was to amputate the leg. Three years after losing his leg, Terry Fox decided to run coast to coast to raise money for Cancer Research; this came to be called The Marathon of Hope. Terry's goal was to raise $1 from each Canadian.
Terry Fox started his run by dipping his leg in the Atlantic, and running from St. John's Newfoundland. He ran about 42 km per day, the distance of a regular marathon.
On September 1, 1980, 143 days and 5,373 km into his run, Terry was forced to stop just outside of Thunder Bay. His cancer had metastasized to his lungs.
This summer, on route to Thunder Bay, we saw a marker where Terry Fox stopped running.
Here my kids are admiring the great Canadian Hero. Today, the boys proudly wore their red and white and went to school to do a short run and remember Terry Fox.
Terry Fox died June 28th, 1981.
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I get around...
Published September 22, 2009 @ 19:49 in Being Mommy
People always know me, or at least think that they know me. My standard response when someone asks, "Do I know you?" is always, "Possibly. I really get around." Husband says that I need to revise my answer.
The thing is that with three kids involved all over the place, and with the things that I do for me, I really know lots of people from lots of different places. Last spring I was in an elevator downtown when a girl, fluffing her hair in the mirror, turned and stared at me. "I know you," she said.
"It's possible." I responded, having no idea who she was. The weird thing is that I am actually really good with names and faces. However, since Mommy-Brain (don't believe the myth that it has been disproved) my mind is often blank.
"We went to school together," she continued.
"Where?" I asked. I went to two elementary schools, two high schools, and sort of two universities, plus other miscellaneous classes.
"Huron," she answered. I swear, all this while we were going only 3 floors.
Ah - it clicked into place. I think we only had one class together in the two years I was at Huron. She lived on my floor in first year. After a successful breast reduction, she walked around in a bra all of the time. Now I remember.
"Ah, yes," I answered, "you name is L." (leaving her name out to protect her identity)
"I don't remember your name," she answered, in a tone that said, "and I don't care either," as she went back to checking her hair in the mirror. Really, it was too much hair, but who am I to judge?
Picking up on her tone, I felt like saying, "Hey! You were the one who started talking to me!" Fortunately, the elevator door opened.
I actually have encounters like these all of the time. It is odd, because people always seem to recognize me, but they don't seem to really care if they know me or not. What does that say about me?
Also, I meet people who swear that they know me, but after my, "I get around, do you play hockey? Live near the park? Dance? Soccer? School? T-Ball? etc, etc, etc" we realize that we have never before set eyes on one another. Now I realize that I must have at least two or three doppelgangers out there, impersonating me or something.
If you see me walking down the street, and you swear that you know me, unless you can offer proof (preferable photographic evidence) please don't stop me. My brain just can't take any more of these, "I know you" quizzes, and my, "I get around" line really has to stop.
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Volunteering
Published September 21, 2009 @ 19:20 in
This year I decided that with the boys in school, I should do some volunteering. A job opened in our hockey association to be the novice convener, so I said that I would do it. Why not?
The past few weeks have been busy. First, I had to input the email addresses and names for 130 kids. I was impressed with myself when only 9 bounced back. Then I organized the evaluations, and lists to go along with them. Lots of emails. Special requests. Coaches. Team selections. What fun!
My neck is killing me from the hours at the computer. I feel pretty good about how it is coming together. Wait until the teams are posted, then I can start listening to parental complaints.
Next year, instead of volunteering, I may just give myself 39 lashes and be done with it.
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Dawn of the Mosquitoes
Published September 21, 2009 @ 19:12 in Being Mommy
6:05 AM this morning. I am running through a dark park, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. Remind me why I am doing this again? Oh yeah. The seven pounds I gained this summer. Here's a thought - since it isn't exactly that I want to be athletic, I just want to lose weight and look better, how about if I stop this crazy AM bootcamp workout, and just stop eating. How's that for a plan?
Damn - the bugs were horrible! And it was humid and sticky and gross out. The last official full day of summer. Still dark at 6:30 am.
I brought bug-spray, but it doesn't seem to deter these crazy blood suckers. The woman beside me had a profound thought - we wouldn't hate these mosquitoes quite so much if they were sucking out our fat instead of our blood. Get on that - you genetic engineers - why don't you? That would be useful. Fat sucking mutant mosquitoes. You'd probably have to make them at least the size of a chihuahua before they would make a dent in my hips.
YAY! Because of these flying vermin we get to skip the abs part of the workout. We never skip abs. Sure, I'll do them as soon as I get home...
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Best Body Bootcamp - I survived week ONE!
Published September 19, 2009 @ 08:32 in Being Mommy
I just finished my first week of Best Body Bootcamp, and the good news is that I survived.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, I woke at 5:30 am, got dressed and went to the park with my yoga mat and resistance band to exercise. Monday I was keen, and almost threw-up from my enthusiasm. It was fit test day. First, I stepped on the scale to measure weight and body-fat; not good news, but at 6 am I was too tired to care. Then I was measured - arms, chest, waist, pantsize, hips, and thighs. The only measurements that weren't scary were arms and waist...
After measurements, the fitness test began. V-holds, push-ups, planks, sprints. It is the sprint that almost made me vomit, and that was my first real taste of the bootcamp experience, as the wonderful instructor yelled, "DON'T SIT DOWN! YOU WILL FEEL WORSE! GET UP TANIA! GET UP!" Wow - 6:30 am and she remembered my name...
Her remembering my name is actually the theme of the week - she gets to use it a lot. "TANIA! GET YOUR BUTT DOWN!" "TANIA - KEEP GOING!" "TANIA! GET THOSE KNEES UP! TANIA! FASTER! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!" I think I must have her favourite name or something. Either that, or I need the most pushing in the class.
Wednesday was a little early after Hockey on Tuesday night, but I made it with almost a smile. It was arms day, and my arms were jello before I left. The class starts with a warm up jog, followed by different series of exercises broken up by suicides. I realized that it has been about 20 years since I last ran suicides (we used to call them shuttle runs, I think). It has been more than 20 years since I did jumping jacks.
Every day at bootcamp takes me back to my fitness tests in high school, only without Mrs. Barrett and her whistle. Eroca, our wonderful instructor, pushes everyone to their individual limits, with the right balance of encouragement and kick-in-the-butt. We do abs with every class, and crazy push-ups for fun.
Really. It is hard work, but sort of fun in a weird way. There is also an amazing feeling of satisfaction when you are done.
Friday was really early. I woke and get dressed, and while tying my running shoes, I thought to myself, "Who will care if you skip it this morning and go back to bed?"
Then I answered myself, "COME ON YOU LAZY-BONES!" Was that Eroca's voice in my head? Then I called myself some not-so-nice names for actually thinking of quitting after just two sessions, grabbed my water bottle and headed out the door.
Greeted by mosquitoes, the moon and stars, and Eroca, I got there on time. My body is sore and tired, but it feels good to push myself. I need this. My body will thank me for this, I am sure of it.
Who can do Best Body Bootcamp? Anyone and everyone. The beauty of the program is that it is like having a personal trainer, but in a class of 10. You get pushed to your individual limits, and you get individual attention and correction.
Honestly, I am thankful for the two days off. But I am almost looking forward to Monday. Almost.
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Ballet is for Skinny People
Published September 17, 2009 @ 07:29 in Being Mommy
Last night I realized why I never did ballet as a child - Ballet is for skinny people.
Really, it is.
Last night was my first adult beginner ballet class. I'd love to be able to tell you that there were men and women of all shapes and sizes, from 18 through 60, but there weren't. There were no men, and the women, though probably range in age from 20 - 45, were all skinny. Or at least very slim. GREAT! Some even wore the leotards and other "Fame" worthy outfits. Me, in my running pants with white T-shirt, just didn't look as cool. Add to that those HUGE mirrors all over the room, it was just not a flattering picture.
The good news? It is really much of a cardio workout (yet) so at least I didn't have to look at myself sweating and beet-red on top of everything else.
The best parts of the class were the amazing and entertaining instructor, and the LIVE accompaniment. Seriously, there was a guy sitting at a keyboard in the corner who played live music for us as we did our exercises. How cool is that? I want to hire him to follow me around.
The worst part (besides feeling like a dancing elephant) was that there was a tap class going on in the studio above us. Seriously! Here we are doing slow, gentle, pretty movements, and it sounds like one heck of a cavalry could fall through the ceiling at any moment.
At the end of the class, you bow to the pianist and to the instructor. They might just turn me into a prima ballerina after all.
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Trying to Buy a Bat
Published September 16, 2009 @ 07:40 in Loving Daddy
Son One has become obsessed with buying an aluminum baseball bat this week. He had a perfectly good (cheap) wooden one, but somehow, thanks to the kids on his T-Ball team all having their own aluminum bats, he decided that he needed one.
Husband, generous of spirit, drove to Sport Chek, Sport Mart, and THREE Canadian Tires in an attempt to purchase a 26" bat for Son One. Son One was shocked that they didn't have lots in stock, to which I explained that the season is OVER and why the heck are we buying a bat?
FINALLY, Husband tried Play it Again Sports on the Queensway, and found an orange and silver, 26" aluminum bat for $25. I was out in the van with the kids, because after their behaviour in Sport Chek, we weren't letting them out.
Apparently, when Husband went to purchase the bat, the store-guy (owner, employee - who knows) asked with complete seriousness, "Is this bat for a child of yours? Or do you intend to use it for home protection?"
Um... actually, I find the Louisville Slugger much more effective for home protection...
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Exhausted - Explained
Published September 16, 2009 @ 07:33 in Being Mommy
OK. I wasn't being completely honest yesterday when I was complaining about exhaustion. Really, I know exactly why I am so tired.
I can't fall asleep, and I am not used to waking up.
Most of the summer I sort of got to sleep in. Now, I have to get up, and get three kids ready and out the door. It isn't that much work, I am just not used to it.
I am also not sleeping well. I'm not sure why. I just can't seem to fall asleep. I stick to 2-3 caffeinated sources a day, and don't drink coffee after 2 pm. Apparently caffeine has an eight hour half-life - who knew?
I have also bitten off an awful lot for September. I have volunteered to help run Son One's house league... Sunday night I inputted 120 names and email addresses. I still have my women's hockey - that started last night. Now I will be going TWICE a week. And then there is my three times a week bootcamp at 6 AM (must have been drunk when I agreed to that one). Oh, and tonight I start Ballet.
I guess this fall I decided instead of over-booking the kids, I would over-book myself. My motivation was the seven summer pounds. Goal - gone my Thanksgiving.
Tonight, after Ballet, I think I may take a gravol to help me fall asleep. Nothing like self-medicating. On the plus side, I am also out of Diet Coke, so maybe if I don't buy anymore, that will help too.
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Exhausted
Published September 15, 2009 @ 12:34 in Being Mommy
OK. I am not complaining. But I assumed that when the boys went back to school, I would have more time. Time to relax, read a book, get myself organized, clean the house, do laundry, etc. (Yes, in that order.)
I was wrong.
Can't quite figure out what is going on, but I am EXHAUSTED. Yet I can't sleep. I am staying awake at nights thinking about everything that I have to do, and really too tired during the day to get anything done. I know - you hate complainers. We are all too tired. True. I am just surprised. This wasn't the vision I had for myself with the kids in school.
The activities are not even in full swing yet. Still, I am rushed, busy, and my house is a disaster. S.O.S.
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Best Body Bootcamp
Published September 13, 2009 @ 08:52 in Being Mommy
Tomorrow morning, 6 AM, I start 4 weeks of Best Body Bootcamp.
I signed up hoping that this is the kick in the pants that I need to get back into my regular workout routine. I've heard great things from friends who have tired it. But I am still worried.
Tomorrow morning I have to step on a scale to be weighed and have my body fat measured, I will have measurement taken and perform a "fit test" to find my fitness starting point. Then, for the next four weeks, I will go Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 am to a bootcamp.
I've always wanted to try one of these "Bootcamp" programs, but I really didn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn, drag my butt somewhere to be yelled at. Apparently, Best Body welcomes people of all fitness levels (I qualify!) to "have fun in a great social setting while working towards your Best Body." Sounds perfect.
Lately I've been slightly obsessed with shows like X-Weighted and Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp. Except in my case, let's be honest, it would have to be "Last 15 Pounds Bootcamp." After Daughter I was in great shape - I ran a half marathon and was svelt. It really helped that she nursed until she was 23 months and I was running 5 times a week. Somehow, I've never managed to find that same intensity with my workouts, yet my meals reflect an activity level that I just haven't achieved...
For the past two weeks, I have been walking and eating very well in an attempt to lose a few of my summer pounds (BBQs, Ice cream, Fudge, etc.) before stepping on the scale. I am down two pounds! Two weeks of work for two pounds! It really wasn't worth it. Last week I had a dream about peanut butter ice cream and pizza.
Can't wait to see how the next four weeks go with this workout. OK, so I am a little scared. And frankly, I am just tired thinking about waking up at 5:30 am 12 times in the next month. But it will be worth it! Tonight, I step into my work-out outfit for a picture and tomorrow morning are measurements. Won't report the success (fingers crossed!) until after the last session. Extreme bravery / results and I will even post the pictures. Deal?
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Mommy is Sick
Published September 13, 2009 @ 08:02 in Being Mommy
I've been feeling under the weather since Thursday. Sore throat, stuffed nose, low grade fever, burning eyeballs. Just general malaise. I am not sick enough to be stuck in bed, but I also don't feel like doing anything. Unfortunately, Mommies don't get a sick time.
Husband is wonderful. Friday he let me stay in bed in the morning (after I got up to prepare lunches and snacks, get the backpacks packed, and the boys dressed and off to school, of course) and he event went to the drugstore to get me some medication.
But there was no question that he would be going into work, leaving me to keep up all of my chores and jobs.
Sure, I can skip laundry and non-urgent cleaning, but I still need to feed the kids, get them dressed, organize their activities, buy birthday gifts, put them to bed, etc. all the while feeling like what I really want to do it stay in bed with tea and a book.
Another friend had some oral surgery this week. I've been there - all she asked of her husband was to drive her home form the surgery and come home early from work; 8 pm is not early. She had a great line - she told him that 10 years from now work will not remember that he stayed late to finish a report, but she would remember him not coming home to help her when she needed it.
As Moms, we are expected to suck it up and get on with it. But who takes care of us? Maybe when the kids are older we can ask them to be quiet so that we can rest, or feed themselves. But at the age it doesn't work.
I know, I know... I sound like a whinny mommy. But my eyeballs are still burning and I just want my throat to feel better!
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More Cuts - Unsactioned!
Published September 9, 2009 @ 16:59 in Amazing Kids
Oh no!!!!
OK. Yesterday I went to Staples to buy some back-to-school supplies for the boys, and myself. Don't you just love school supplies? So shiny and new and exciting! There were pencil cases, erasers, pencils sharpeners, glue and SCISSORS!!! There was a two pack of pink and blue scissors that Daughter insist that I buy.
This afternoon we had a play date. Daughter opened her new pack of scissors - pink for her, blue for her brother (Son Two). Then I lay down to try to get the kink out of my neck. Can you guess what happened?
The kids went outside to the backyard and played HAIRDRESSER!
My fault completely. First, I bought the scissors. Then, I had been cutting my kids hair myself lately. DARN! DARN IT!!!
Son Two's isn't too bad - a big chunk is missing over his left eyebrow. Daughter is another story. Long on the sides, short in the back. You know the hair style kids favour when they cut their own hair! I am trying to get some pictures to show. Short, sort of "punk-ish" in the back. All those beautiful curls, GONE!
I offered to "fix" it for her, or to take her to the REAL hairdresser. Unfortunately, she turned into a teenager, "NO! LEAVE ME ALONE! MY DADDY SAID HE LIKES IT!"
"YOUR DADDY LIED!" I yelled back. OK, not great parenting, I know, but I was in shock.
Totally serves me right. For months I have been going on about Son One's long hair that he refuses to cut telling people how it is just hair, and it doesn't matter. Nothing to argue about - let him assert his individuality. Really came back to bite me, didn't it?
The scissors are officially confiscated. I know that it is just hair, it will grow back.
I had to call the other mother. She said that her daughter was due for a haircut anyway, and hers didn't look too bad...
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Kink in my Neck
Published September 9, 2009 @ 07:48 in Around the House
Last night (or very early this morning, 12:42 am to be exact) Daughter came into my bedroom looking for a drink.
I got out of bed, got her some water. She wanted me back in bed with her. I grabbed my pillow and lay down beside her.
Normally, I sort of "fake" sleeping with my kids. I lay there until I am sure that they are asleep, and then head back to my bed. Last night, I am not sure what happened. I must have been really tired, but I ended up sleeping in Daughter's bed all night. This morning, I can't look over my right shoulder. Wicked kink in the back of my neck.
Also unfortunate, Husband had already left for work before I had even woken up, so I don't even get a little massage to try to fix it. This means that there is a good chance that I will be stuck with this kink for most of the day. Man, this really bites.
Son One had a kink the other day, probably from sleeping on it funny. He assumed that he had whiplash. Hmmm.... first Son Two with his sore leg that "will break later today", then Son One with whiplash. Am I raising hypochondriacs? But my neck really, really hurts!
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First Day of School
Published September 8, 2009 @ 18:44 in School
I love back to school. A time to get organized, start fresh.
Today both boys went back to school - Son One into Grade Two, Son Two into Senior Kindergarten (SK).
It was a little crazy this morning. Everyone was up, excited, and LISTENING! Son Two's only request was a wardrobe one - NO CARS! He is now done with Lightening McQueen. Since I haven't done any back to school shopping, they wore their regular clothes. I had to run around a little remembering a pencil case for Son One.
We drove, as we left a little too late to chance the walk. We almost ALWAYS drive in the AM as we are rushed, and it is about a 30 minute walk when everyone is cooperating.
The school yard was a zoo. This year the school decided NOT to tell us on the last report card who the student's teacher would be the following school year, so it was sort of chaos. There was this dad standing behind me who said, "You know, if a man had been organizing this there would be colour coded grade signs." Yeah, sure buddy...
It took about 20 minutes past the bell, but finally the kids were all in. Son One didn't get any of his closest friends in his class (for a second year in a row), and seemed a little down heading in. His teacher wasn't exactly warm and fuzzy either, but I hear that she is good.
Son Two's SK class is almost identical to JK, but with a few faces missing and a few new ones. He got a sticker today for being so good, but when asked, admitted that everyone got one today.
Snacks were all eaten, so I did well with packing the lunches. Yay Me! And both kids are fine tonight so I guess the day went well.
Turns out Son One is in a split - 2/3. He wants to know if this means that he gets to skip grade three. I asked if he was doing all of their work on top of his grade two work - "No" he answered. There's your answer, kiddo!
So how was your back to school? Yes, I almost cried. But I got over it. Next year all three of them will be gone. What will I ever do with myself then?
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Momma had a baby and her head popped off!
Published September 8, 2009 @ 16:34 in Amazing Kids
Daughter loves her babies.
It is sort of funny, because by the third child, I felt like we had enough toys crowding our house so we really didn't buy anything new. We had lots of puzzles, games, balls and building toys, along with the million or so cars. I wasn't trying to turn her into a girly-girl, so I didn't bother with a doll.
One Saturday morning we were out for a walk, and we passed a garage sale. Daughter wasn't even 18 months old yet, but from her stroller she started yelling and pointing, "Look, Mommy! Babies!!!!"
Sure enough there were two very well loved dolls. For $2.25 we got both dolls and some clothes. One of these dolls, still nameless but who Daughter calls, "Baby" is still her favourite in the entire world. Now she has others, more expensive dolls. But the first one she saw and picked out is still the one.
Daughter now has 3 cradles, 3 strollers, and two chairs for her "babies." She loves them, and pretends to be a mother. Her brothers, for some strange reason that only boys may understand, like to grab her dolls and bash their heads against stuff.
My boys aren't particularly violent, but there is something about the soft bodies and the hard heads that seem to make them want to do this. Fingers crossed they will outgrow this long before becoming fathers.
A few minutes ago, we were all sitting in the basement when Son Two grabbed one of Daughter's dolls, a Cabbage Patch, and used it to beat another doll to death. Really - he knocked her in the head and it popped off!
Husband and I sat, still as could be, waiting for Daughter's reaction. Luckily, this wasn't her favourite baby, but it was still a treasured one. Son Two froze, head in one hand, body in the other. Son One jumped into action, "Cool! How did that happen?"
I quickly jumped in with, "I'm sure that Daddy can fix it!"
Thank goodness Daughter didn't start to cry. I think she may be in shock. Now the boys are singing, "Momma had a baby and her head popped off!"
Kids are morbid.
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Back to school!
Published September 8, 2009 @ 07:46 in School
One hour and twelve minutes... The boys aren't even awake yet. I am making and packing lunches. I can't wait! I am excited for them. Really I am. They get a new teacher, a new classroom. Today they get to find out which of their friends are in their classes. YAY!
Don't you just love the first day of school?
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Playdate From Hell - Update...
Published September 5, 2009 @ 11:03 in Being Mommy
Last week we had some fantastic news... The Play-date from Hell people have moved OUT OF PROVINCE!
Son Two is thrilled. He still refers to that neighbour (now, thankfully, ex-neighbour) as the kid who bit me. Husband thought I was harsh by not agreeing to any more play dates. He even said that it was unfriendly Torontonians like me who were probably part of the reason why they moved. If only...
At least I won't have to rush past their home anymore, lest someone come out and try to talk to me. Is that terrible?
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Spending Time with the Kids
Published September 4, 2009 @ 08:37 in Amazing Kids, Being Mommy
As a stay-at-home-mom, I spend a lot of time with my kids. But recently, I've started noticing that the kids, boys especially, need more individual attention. I had always heard it to be true, but at time this summer their acting out was getting bad.
The past few evenings after dinner, I have taken a walk with Son One. I invent something that I need to do - pick up a book at the library, buy waffles, and he and I "sneak" out so that it is just the two of us.
For my biggest trouble maker, he is the sweetest kid in the world. He holds my hand, and talks to me about lots of stuff. At this point mostly insignificant, but last night he noticed a smoker and had lots of questions. We talked about peer pressure and how someday one of his close friends is going to call him chicken for not wanting to smoke. We talked about the black second-hand smokers lungs we tried to pump air into at Science North, and we talked about street people (he thinks if they didn't drink so much coffee they would haven't to beg for money.)
Son Two and I have had some quiet Mommy-Son time the past few days as well. He isn't as obvious about his need to attention, but two nights ago he asked to sleep with me. As husband wakes at 5 am for work, I said sure and kicked Husband to Son Two's twin bed, while I held Son Two's hand and heard a little more about his hockey camp until he feel asleep.
Daughter and I had an amazing morning yesterday. She crawled into my bed half asleep, and we cuddled for almost an hour, until my bladder was screaming at em to hurry up and get myself into the bathroom! Really I wanted to stay cuddled with her forever.
Son One is only 7, yet already I can see that he would rather spend time with friends or playing some sport than with me. They grow up so fast, and I need to keep myself relevant in their lives, as more than the laundress, chauffeur, cook and cleaner.
I don't just love my kids, but I really, really like them, too. They are such cool little people, with crazy fun ideas. I love listening to them - but sometimes the noise and the hustle and bustle of the house is too much.
This school year I am going to keep making an effort with the boys for some one-on-one time with Mommy. And I don't think that taking them to the mall to help me look for shoes will count.
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More Haircuts
Published September 2, 2009 @ 19:04 in Amazing Kids
I guess I did such a great job with Daughter's hair cut that Son One decided he wanted one.
Today, Son Two came home from hockey camp with a hair cut. No - another kid didn't do it during the arts & crafts session - Daddy had picked him up and taken him by the barber. Son Two really likes to get his money's worth out of his haircuts - and he only goes three times a year. I was just getting used to his long, shaggy do, but now he is back to my cute, clean-cut little boy.
Son One, on the other hand, wanted to keep his long locks. He needs a trim, but is afraid the the barber will take too much off. This is why he asked me to cut it.
I got my scissors ready, along with a comb, a glass of water to wet his hair, and a towel for his shoulders. We sat out on the front steps. and I started.
Here was son's hair before:
(Son One is the shaggier kid on the left)
Again - no working camera, so no "after" haircut. However, as he was very insistent on keeping the long hair, I took off an average of half a centimetre.
Yep, that's right. Half a centimetre. Husband didn't see the difference. However, as I am neither a haridresser nor barber, I didn't want to risk giving him a really bad haircut; and I thought that the chances were pretty good that I would end up taking him somewhere tomorrow for a "fix" and I didn't want to blow his chances of keeping the shaggy mop.
Unfortunately, half way through the haircut his nose started bleeding. Third time today! Luckily, as we were sitting on the front stairs, I just handed him a paper towel and kept cutting. There is currently a blood stain on the stairs. I read that highway patrol officers use Coke to wash the blood off of the roads because it is corrosive enough and cheap. May have to try that...
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Toronto Public Libraries
Published September 2, 2009 @ 16:49 in Shopping and Stuff
Growing up, I used to love the libraries. I am not sure bookstores were quite as prolific when I was kid, before Chapters, but I always loved to read and loved the feel of books.
One of my dreams as a girl was to grow up and have a house with a library; a separate room with floor to ceiling shelves filled with every book imaginable. I wasn't looking for first editions, or hard cover - just books that I had read and loved.
There are books the I love, and reread over and over. Often I lend these out, never to get them back. I think that I have purchased at least three copies of both, The Princess Bride and Not Wanted on the Voyage, yet I currently don't have a single copy of either of these. I am actually so in love with reading, that I don't even care.
Some books I read just once, and gladly give them away. I am not emotionally attached to all books, just those amazing ones that I can read 10 times and still find something delightful and new.
My Chapters bills were getting out of hand, and I decided that I no longer had the funds to read a book a day and dispose of it. So I discovered the Toronto Public Libraries website. I used to love ordering from Chapters online - getting brown card board boxes filled with something new and great to read. The first books which I ever ordered from Chapters were the second and third Harry Potter books, over 10 years ago.
If you go to the Toronto Public Libraries website, you can place "holds" on books - just like ordering from Chapters (except that you have to pick them up!) I get an email when the book is in, and I have 7 days to swing by the library to get it. Then I have three weeks to read it. AMAZING! Of course if the book is popular, I may need to wait awhile. And for some book club books, if the wait is long, I end up buying it anyway. However, thanks to the library, there are always at least 3 books on my night table waiting to be read.
This year when I opened my renewal envelop from Chapters for my iRewards, I had to laugh. iRewards memberships now cost $25, and according to the wonderful Chapters marketing department, last year with iRewards I saved $17.98!!! Wow - they should really pull all the letters where people spent more on iRewards membership than they saved.
This year, I've already saved $25 by NOT buying the iRewards. Membership at the Toronto Public Libraries - FREE! Oh, and they have GREAT NEW DVDs TOO! We are lucky here in this city - our libraries are actually some of the most used libraries in the world. Next time you need a book, give it a try.
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Bicycle Safety
Published September 2, 2009 @ 14:29 in My Rules
OK. Bicycle Safety 101 - WEAR A HELMET!!!
This may make me unpopular, but I am so annoyed at the news coverage about the events in Yorkville earlier this week. I've lost count of the number of times I have been sworn at, yelled at, or had my vehicle banged on by a bicycle courier driving around downtown Toronto. I am safe driver. I don't change lanes erratically. I always indicated. I check blind spots, and give all vehicles on the road - cars, vans, trucks and bikes, lots of room. However, that doesn't seem to stop most cyclists in Toronto from believing that they are somehow above the laws that govern vehicle traffic, and most don't mind weaving in and out, and using intimidation for perceived slights.
Listen, I have nothing against cyclists, and I am trying hard not to lump them all together. I have seen wonderful cyclists who wear proper gear (helmets, reflective tape), stay to the right side of the road, obey traffic laws while be better for the environment than cars. And I have witnessed many terrible drivers who break laws and are dangerous. However, I have seen too many bad cyclists with entitlement issues to ignore them as a big part of the cyclist / motorist wars in this city.
Is it dangerous being a bicycle courier? I am sure it is. How many of them wear helmets? I don't know the details, but was this individual wearing a helmet? My kids know not to get on a bike without one, but every day we see adult cyclists, weaving around cars, racing through red lights and stop signs, cutting up on to sidewalks, not wearing helmets.
I have never seen a cyclist stopped from going through a red light or a stop sign, nor for riding on the sidewalk (last summer Daughter was almost run down on the sidewalk by a speed cyclist - with no helmet; I was almost run a few weeks ago crossing at a green light by a cyclist.)
Son One has heard the story on the news, and is asking a lot of questions. I am not a Liberal Party Member, and have no strong affection toward Michael Bryant. And I wasn't there - I don't know all of the details.
However, here are some things I believe:
- Drivers need to share the road with cyclists
- Drivers need to be aware that bicycles are smaller, and be looking for them at lane changes and turns
- Cyclists need to always wear helmets
- Cyclists need to obey all road laws, like stop signs, red lights, stay off the sidewalk, indicate turns, not pass on the inside of a right turning vehicle, etc.
I've explained to my kids how careful they need to be cycling. They all love their bicycles and go for regular rides. There is this animosity in Toronto between downtown motorists and cyclists - and Toronto City Council doesn't help. I am sure both motorists and cyclists alike will be following this story.
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Forecast: Sunny with Potential Broken Leg Later Today
Published September 1, 2009 @ 11:21 in Amazing Kids
I was just down on the floor picking up a thousand scraps of paper smaller than postage stamps. Daughter had discovered her brother's scissors yesterday. "Aren't I a good cutter, Mommy?" "Yes, you certainly are!" Curse you, scissors! Why is cutting stuff into little pieces so darn appealing to kids?
At least I stopped her from cutting a hat, a library book, and the living room rug.
Down on my hands and knees, picking up the big scraps before I try vacuuming (luckily Son One is big and strong enough now to bring the vacuum up from the basement) Son Two walks into the living room.
"Just so you know, this leg might be broken later today, Mum," he says, pointing at his right leg. "It hurts every time I walk on it."
"Honey, come here and let me see where it hurts."
"That's OK. I'll show you later when it breaks," he says, as he turns and leaves the living room.
Gee - either he is psychic, or over dramatic about a sore leg. Let's hope it's the latter.
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My Hockey Experience...
Published September 1, 2009 @ 09:59 in Being Mommy
Before I met Husband, I had never watched a hockey game. I had zero interest in hockey. With only sisters, none of us played. My mother used to watch Hockey Night in Canada, though I never understood the appeal. To me, though hockey was our national obsession, it was a bunch of goons with sticks.
I never wanted to date a hockey player. Word around town was that they drank, were aggressive, cheated (slept around) and general treated girls / women poorly.
Then I met Husband. He is the anti-goon. Intelligent, soft spoken, strong but gentle. Even as a large defense, he would get a penalty maybe once every 5 years - and never for fighting. I fell hard for Husband watching him skate, before I even got to know him. The power, speed, agility translated to such grace.
I started attending as many of his games as possible. I really enjoyed watching him play, though I still didn't watch it on TV. With work I got to attend some Leaf Games in the box, but I was really there for the free food.
Husband warmed me up to hockey on TV. We would watch the Olympics - Men and Women, and the Juniors. It was much nicer hockey to watch then the NHL. Now, he will even have me watching the Stanley Cup playoffs, but it was a long road. Heck, last spring we even let the boys stay up late on a school night to watch the finals!
It is funny how much time I now spend thinking about hockey. The boys both play, and select tryouts for both of them are coming up. Daughter wants to play, and Husband just packed up his equipment for his first practice of the season.
Now even I play hockey. I really don't know how that happened. Never in my entire life did I want to even learn to skate, let alone play hockey. This fall, I am talking about playing twice a week! Are you kidding me? Twice a week?
Girls, when I was growing up, didn't play hockey. I still remember lawsuits of girls trying to play in different leagues which were all-boys, and having to go to court to fight for their rights of equality. Ringette - what a crazy sport! Why didn't they just get to play hockey? Not to mention all of the girls who did figure skating just because they wanted to skate, hating the short skirts.
It always makes me laugh when people outside of Canada ask me to clarify our hockey as "ice hockey". Can you imagine boys here playing field hockey? (I once heard that Men's Field Hockey was the only Gold Medal that India has won in the Olympics... fact or fiction?)
Our group is looking to run some daytime hockey in Bloor West on Monday mornings. And I have signed up for the second hour. Huh? How the heck did this happen?
I guess I have the equipment. And since I really suck, maybe the extra hour will help me out. Plus it is sort of fun - at least to socialize...
However, learning to play hockey has made me appreciate it so much more. The skills required to puck handle, skate, and play the game - WOW! My kids made it look too easy. Will I ever be great? Nope. I just hope that this helps me skate a little.
I managed to grow up without hockey in life. Now, hockey is such a major part of my life and my family's. Yes, we are a Canadian family obsessed with hockey - the bug has bitten.
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