Dear world, I have a problem with how you have made sports need to be such a competition. Why can't we just let them PLAY? It seems that there is such a push to make our kids "the best" and I see people putting them through practice after practice to compete and be the winner. Don't get me wrong, a little competition is a good thing and so is practicing, but come on! Do they need to be consumed by it in their lives? Seriously, just let them play and have fun! My favourite is when they're pushed into it and the parents say for them "oh they just love doing it!" - sure, they might, but maybe it's a little bit because they aren't given much other option?
Anyways, circumstances are of course different for every parent/child relationship, but none-the-less there is a huge push in society to be the best, and I hope my kids are able to just enjoy many different activites, and if they're really good at it, great! We'll cross that bridge when we get there. But i'm telling you we likely won't pick just one sport for them to in, but rather a variety until they're older and if they so choose to venture into something more specific then great!
Things I want my kids to try at least once:
Swimming lessons (and i say once, but I think everyone should know how to swim so my kids won't really have much of a choice here LOL they'll take lessons until they know how to swim without assistance)
Gymnastics
Soccer
Softball/Baseball
Archery
Horseback Riding
Cooking for kids (offered in Cochrane)
Piano lessons
Another instrument (i'd really like one of my boys to learn Violin)
That's all I can think of off the top of my head.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Nighttime
Unsure what to do with that baby of mine at night. Every 2 hours or LESS he is waking up and wanting me to nurse him, or if not nurse him he wants cuddles which eventually turns into a 5 minute nursing session (maybe that's because i'm so tired?). This weekend we are going to go buy the bolts for his crib (they have gone MIA since the move, was hoping they'd turn up) and I just am going to have to put him to bed and let him fuss a little because frankly he just is acting strangely. I thought it was growing pains the way he wriggles and rolls around, and I guess it could be, but for 2+ weeks, EVERY night?
Yup, i'm just complaining lol, that's the joys of having a blog :)
Yup, i'm just complaining lol, that's the joys of having a blog :)
Monday, March 12, 2012
This past weekend in Magrath
We made a expected/unexpected trip to Magrath this past weekend to Michael's uncle's funeral. He sadly passed away from Pancreatic cancer (he lived quite a lot longer than his given expectancy which was wonderful for his family!). It was a really good weekend with family. He was a well loved man and had a large service full of support from friends and family. My father in law gave his euligy (i think they're called) which was well recieved! I know he was a loved man and will really be missed.
It got me to thinking about things. I certainly would have a hard time losing my parents. I hope I have a few more decades with them! I watched the family at the funeral and they were all doing really well (by appearance anyways), and aside from having the gospel in their lives, I think as my friend Nikki put it, they were all "running on adrenalin". I think that the week of the funeral isn't as hard as the first year would be in losing someone. Those "firsts" will be challenging I would think. Like if I lost one of my parents, the first Easter and Christmas, and the next birthdays (theirs or mine) when they call and don't actually call, and then all the firsts/concerts/events with kids that you can't call to tell them about...What a hard thing!
I have firmly committed my parents to live forever :)
It got me to thinking about things. I certainly would have a hard time losing my parents. I hope I have a few more decades with them! I watched the family at the funeral and they were all doing really well (by appearance anyways), and aside from having the gospel in their lives, I think as my friend Nikki put it, they were all "running on adrenalin". I think that the week of the funeral isn't as hard as the first year would be in losing someone. Those "firsts" will be challenging I would think. Like if I lost one of my parents, the first Easter and Christmas, and the next birthdays (theirs or mine) when they call and don't actually call, and then all the firsts/concerts/events with kids that you can't call to tell them about...What a hard thing!
I have firmly committed my parents to live forever :)
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Taxes
Did my taxes...didn't save, have to redo. Boo! Really straight forward taxes this year - a few medical receipts, a T4, and tithing receipts.. that's more or less it! We should be getting a few grand back and that will go straight to our debts! I'm excited - just have to sit down and redo, then submit. Sadly we can't submit our adoption receipt until we have a dependant to submit it against... so that could be a few years really I have to hold onto it!
Carter
Carter is a truly wonderous baby boy! This morning I put him downstairs with Logan and went up and had a shower. Got back down and Carter was no where to be seen - slight panic moment, then Logan's tent started to wiggle. lol, yup, he moved across the room and somehow got INTO Logan's tent! I still would love to know how he did it!
He really is a great baby tho! My only "complaint" is that I wish I could figure out how to get him to stop nursing so much at night, and I really would like to have him sleeping in his crib. (Michael lost all the screws presently, so we can't set it up yet)
Anyways, he love love loves his brother, and he is pretty laid back, and he eats EVERYTHING (so weird how truly different him and Logan are, I'm wondering what he'll be like as he grows up!).
Just love my baby :)
He really is a great baby tho! My only "complaint" is that I wish I could figure out how to get him to stop nursing so much at night, and I really would like to have him sleeping in his crib. (Michael lost all the screws presently, so we can't set it up yet)
Anyways, he love love loves his brother, and he is pretty laid back, and he eats EVERYTHING (so weird how truly different him and Logan are, I'm wondering what he'll be like as he grows up!).
Just love my baby :)
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Move
Whirlwind month - we moved a week ago! Bought our new home, and ta-da! Here we are. To date I am unpacked, but I am not organized. lol, does that makes sense? Give me this week and I should be ready to roll.
The actual move went pretty smoothly. I've decided it's virtually impossible to pack EVERYTHING. lol, I went back for like 3 days getting boxes of things it felt like! Cleaning supplies, random throw carpets, garbage cans, bits and pieces of things from the storage room, etc. And my mom and mother in law were throwing things into boxes as the move was happening. So it had snowed the night before and sprinkle snowed the day of, so the old house was tracked in and out of with wet shoes (definetly needed carpets cleaned). We had like 7 men helping us out so it went really smoothly.
At the new house, the upper level is carpetted so I refused to let anyone wear shoes into the house- we had enough help that I had people bring to the door, then trade off to the inside crew. despite the complaints of some of my movers, I stood firm - I wasn't going to clean the carpets in both houses! Anyways, I am a little OCD organized so every box was labelled with its contents and where it was to go in the new house, so people just took the box to the respective room and I realy didn't have to haul boxes around much after the fact.
This new house gives us 600 more square feet then the old place PLUS a garage so bringing in all the boxes it was crazy to see all the space we still had even with the boxes. I am insanely in love with our new house (despite the fact I miss our old basement, it was a bigger space to play in) - but I now understand the excitement people feel! I've been excited for people buying homes, but I find that until I've experienced it it just doesn't seem as exciting - like when people were getting married I was happy for them, but after I went through a wedding when I found out about engagments/weddings I was even more so happy for them!
The items we have to get for this home are washer/dryer (which arrives this coming Thursday), something to sit on in the mainfloor sitting room (ordered 2 leather love seats), and then as of this evening a new table - which I Was hoping we would be able to wait until next month or the month after to get as my credit card is going to max out before I know it! We haven't had any debt for a few years, so suddenly I am feeling a little poor LOL.
Oh, cleaning the other house! My mom and mother in law cleaned the upstairs, and then I went back on the Monday and cleaned with my friend Mindy for about 3 hours, then I went back Tuesday and finished. We got our damage deposit back in full (which basically bought our washer/dryer) and returned our keys just tonight actually because I had to finish one repair on Logan's wall.
Verdict: Move went well! Boys have adjusted well - Logan has had a few rough nights, but Carter's doing well. HE wil be transferred to crib once we get it built. The hardest part has been we are all now sleeping on the same level and when Logan wakes up and has one of his night time fits it now wakes up Carter! We're working on it... We are happy home owners and I look forward to many years in our home!
The actual move went pretty smoothly. I've decided it's virtually impossible to pack EVERYTHING. lol, I went back for like 3 days getting boxes of things it felt like! Cleaning supplies, random throw carpets, garbage cans, bits and pieces of things from the storage room, etc. And my mom and mother in law were throwing things into boxes as the move was happening. So it had snowed the night before and sprinkle snowed the day of, so the old house was tracked in and out of with wet shoes (definetly needed carpets cleaned). We had like 7 men helping us out so it went really smoothly.
At the new house, the upper level is carpetted so I refused to let anyone wear shoes into the house- we had enough help that I had people bring to the door, then trade off to the inside crew. despite the complaints of some of my movers, I stood firm - I wasn't going to clean the carpets in both houses! Anyways, I am a little OCD organized so every box was labelled with its contents and where it was to go in the new house, so people just took the box to the respective room and I realy didn't have to haul boxes around much after the fact.
This new house gives us 600 more square feet then the old place PLUS a garage so bringing in all the boxes it was crazy to see all the space we still had even with the boxes. I am insanely in love with our new house (despite the fact I miss our old basement, it was a bigger space to play in) - but I now understand the excitement people feel! I've been excited for people buying homes, but I find that until I've experienced it it just doesn't seem as exciting - like when people were getting married I was happy for them, but after I went through a wedding when I found out about engagments/weddings I was even more so happy for them!
The items we have to get for this home are washer/dryer (which arrives this coming Thursday), something to sit on in the mainfloor sitting room (ordered 2 leather love seats), and then as of this evening a new table - which I Was hoping we would be able to wait until next month or the month after to get as my credit card is going to max out before I know it! We haven't had any debt for a few years, so suddenly I am feeling a little poor LOL.
Oh, cleaning the other house! My mom and mother in law cleaned the upstairs, and then I went back on the Monday and cleaned with my friend Mindy for about 3 hours, then I went back Tuesday and finished. We got our damage deposit back in full (which basically bought our washer/dryer) and returned our keys just tonight actually because I had to finish one repair on Logan's wall.
Verdict: Move went well! Boys have adjusted well - Logan has had a few rough nights, but Carter's doing well. HE wil be transferred to crib once we get it built. The hardest part has been we are all now sleeping on the same level and when Logan wakes up and has one of his night time fits it now wakes up Carter! We're working on it... We are happy home owners and I look forward to many years in our home!
Disneyland Vacation
So we survived our trip! Every vacation we go on I journal 1-2 times per day to make sure I don't forget anything - even those "tiny" details are fun to remember down the road! (ex: Michael and I went to this arcade/buffet place when we were down in San Diego 2 years ago and I was able to reference it to see if there was any close by where we would be, which there wasn't but still!)
People have come up to me and asked me how our vacation went, and I don't really know how to answer that! I hum and haw and say "it was okay" because that's just it, it was just okay. There were enough things that weren't -perfect- to allow for it to be an amazing time. However! I loved being away in a nice warm climate that we were in.
Lets start with the flights. It all started a little bit crazy! We got away on time but then realized my wallet got left behind, which would leave us without my drivers licence and credit card - both of which could be important while travelling (had passports), so we turned around and were basically pushed back 15 mins, even though we are to be to the airport 2 hours ahead for international, we had only planned to be 1hr 30mins early because our flight left at 8am - so we left Cochrane at 6 to arrive at 6:30 - but push us back 15 mins it was a little bit hectic. It might not have been, BUT! when we got there the conveyer belt computer things that they check baggage went down and there was a HUGE line up for a least a hundred people waiting to get through. We were those people that they came out to find and pull from the line to the front of the line to get us through so we wouldn't miss our flight! lol THe moment we arrived at the airport we were just rush rush rush - thankfully our kids were fresh and not worn out from the trip so they just moved with the flow.
The actual flights: Carter timed his naps fairly well to sleep most of the flight there, and Logan enjoyed the first flight. We had a layover in Denver (just an hour so basically enough time to jump off the plane, eat lunch and hop on the plane). By this time it was lunch time and we had woken Logan early so he was really tired and ready to nap, so we forced him to just stay awake until we got on the plane. He slept the plane ride mostly til the end where he woke up just in time to throw up during the decent. Carter also just prior to that desroyed an outfit lol which we changed in the airplane bathroom - an experience! He was FAR to big to be laying on their change tables... but alas, we were now in Sunny California!
We went to pick up our rental car which I bought with my airmiles and learned that the insurance I bought with them was not something National car recognized so we had to buy additional insurance (still not resolved on getting our monies back). We drove a 2011 fully loaded Grand Caravan - it was pretty slick. I was covetting a little lol. We borrowed my mom's GPS which we couldn't get online right away, but finally it started working and we found the hotel! Hooray!
The Hotel was actually pretty good - it had a covered pool which we swam in the hottub a few times - even Logan wouldn't get in the cold swimming pool part! We did this trip with my sister in law Tami and thus we rented a room that had an additional bedroom - which wasn't exactly a bedroom, just a sliding door/curtain to seperate off the living room space which turned into a bedroom if wanted. Anyways, we made it work! We stayed at Peacock Suites.
We did 4 days at Disney and 2 days not. I think the most disappointing part of the trip was that Logan realy didn't love Disneyland! And he might have liked it but honestly he really is a home body. I have the HARDEST time getting him out the door - he just likes to be home with his family and friends. I might have loved it more if Logan loved it. He wouldn't go near any of the characters, which I also wondered if he would as he wouldn't go near Santa Claus so I figured there was a chance he wouldn't but hoped otherwise! In the end we basically dragged Logan and Carter around onto rides and into things, some of which he liked, some of which he didn't. It was really busy the week we were there! I have friends who have gone the past 4 years and were there the same time we were, and said they've never seen it that busy before. We waited at least 30 mins for rides (which is super hard on a 2 year old). The whole time Logan just kept asking to go back to the hotel!
I will tell you though, I was quite fascinated with certain aspects of Disney - the animatronics are incredible! The characters they portrayed looked like real poeple or real animals or real creatures! I was blown away by that. Oh, and so there were height restrictions on some rides, and the 40" rides Logan could sometimes go on and sometimes not - depending how he was standing! Sad right? My favourite rides were the "tour" rides - I am not a thrill seaker and I do not like to spin in any way shape or form. Sadly the rides were so short for the amount of time you actually waited. We made the best of it and found places Logan loved to be and really took advantage of those moments to let him play around. ...he realy enjoyed the one parade we went to, it was fun to watch!
The other 2 days: we did one trip to LA and took a Hollywood double decker bus tour. We rode the bus to Santa Monica and along the way got to see the sites. Sadly on the way home it took almost 2 hours (we didn't realize it did as big a loop on the way back) but that was the only downside! Logan loved the beach and such. So much so that we did a second day at a beach! We drove out to Huntington beach and spent0 a half day there - the other half day we did some shopping (which was my biggest excitment of going into the states). I was able to find some clothes but still notas much as I was hoping.
As for budgeting while there - we did pretty well! I only had to dip into my credit card the last day there. We bought and made our lunches and ate out at new restaurants each night (Cheesecake FActory, Red Robins, IHop, Captain Kidd Buffet and Captain Hooks cove in Downtown Disney).
Carter did really well as long as he was being held. He was teething something fierce a few of the nights (it looked really painful in his mouth, really swollen). He loved being in the carrier, and it took him afew days after getting home to get used to just being on the floor again lol. My boys went to bed at 7 or 8 every night per our usual routine, and they mostly slept really well. I typically stayed at the hotel with them as there wasn't any way I could leave Carter specifically because he's truly a mamas boy and there are other details as to why but this blog isn't for that :) ...anyways, he really just was along for the ride and did as I expected he would. I was hoping hed sit in stroller more but no such luck.
Logan. After he was sick on the plane, he broke out in this awful ezcema all over his body. I wasn't sure what it was - and after talking to my mom we've come to the conclusion that it was from stress. People say an allergic reaction but he HONESTLY didn't eat anything... like, he wouldn't eat because he said he had a bit of a stomach ache so he really just didn't eat that day. Also, people break out in Hives from stress, why not ezcema? Anyways, with that and already havingn a cold to start, and then add different elevation, etc, etc he just started out a little rough. And the tantrums. Holy Cow. We had 1-3 full blown freak out tantrums per DAY. It was quite an experience. The one that was the worst he was just so out of control that I had to sit on a bench and hold him screaming. I even had people come up and tell me "your'e a good mom" "you're doing a good job" "don't worry, it's just a phase" ...lol, I surprisingly kept my cool and I wasn't even really embarassed, I just wanted him to stop! I was prepared to sit there all day.. lol. That was the worst day - he realy just didn't want to be at the park.
Verdict: Would I Go back to Disneyland? Nah. It wasn't our thing. I'd much rather stick to all inclusive beach resorts or cruises. Logan would enjoy that more, I would enjoy that more, and I can't say for sure but I think Michael would too (he gets stressed out when Logan acts like a 2 year old lol duh, he's 2!). I don't think Logan was too young, I just think it's not his fortay. I don't have a crazy desire to have my kids experience Disneyland, so truly I doubt we would go back unless someone was paying our way and taking us.
Would I go back to California? Definetly! I actually said to Michael him and I should do a weekend trip there sometime (like a 4 day weekend) and see some of the LA sites and beaches that we can't enjoy with kids.
People have come up to me and asked me how our vacation went, and I don't really know how to answer that! I hum and haw and say "it was okay" because that's just it, it was just okay. There were enough things that weren't -perfect- to allow for it to be an amazing time. However! I loved being away in a nice warm climate that we were in.
Lets start with the flights. It all started a little bit crazy! We got away on time but then realized my wallet got left behind, which would leave us without my drivers licence and credit card - both of which could be important while travelling (had passports), so we turned around and were basically pushed back 15 mins, even though we are to be to the airport 2 hours ahead for international, we had only planned to be 1hr 30mins early because our flight left at 8am - so we left Cochrane at 6 to arrive at 6:30 - but push us back 15 mins it was a little bit hectic. It might not have been, BUT! when we got there the conveyer belt computer things that they check baggage went down and there was a HUGE line up for a least a hundred people waiting to get through. We were those people that they came out to find and pull from the line to the front of the line to get us through so we wouldn't miss our flight! lol THe moment we arrived at the airport we were just rush rush rush - thankfully our kids were fresh and not worn out from the trip so they just moved with the flow.
The actual flights: Carter timed his naps fairly well to sleep most of the flight there, and Logan enjoyed the first flight. We had a layover in Denver (just an hour so basically enough time to jump off the plane, eat lunch and hop on the plane). By this time it was lunch time and we had woken Logan early so he was really tired and ready to nap, so we forced him to just stay awake until we got on the plane. He slept the plane ride mostly til the end where he woke up just in time to throw up during the decent. Carter also just prior to that desroyed an outfit lol which we changed in the airplane bathroom - an experience! He was FAR to big to be laying on their change tables... but alas, we were now in Sunny California!
We went to pick up our rental car which I bought with my airmiles and learned that the insurance I bought with them was not something National car recognized so we had to buy additional insurance (still not resolved on getting our monies back). We drove a 2011 fully loaded Grand Caravan - it was pretty slick. I was covetting a little lol. We borrowed my mom's GPS which we couldn't get online right away, but finally it started working and we found the hotel! Hooray!
The Hotel was actually pretty good - it had a covered pool which we swam in the hottub a few times - even Logan wouldn't get in the cold swimming pool part! We did this trip with my sister in law Tami and thus we rented a room that had an additional bedroom - which wasn't exactly a bedroom, just a sliding door/curtain to seperate off the living room space which turned into a bedroom if wanted. Anyways, we made it work! We stayed at Peacock Suites.
We did 4 days at Disney and 2 days not. I think the most disappointing part of the trip was that Logan realy didn't love Disneyland! And he might have liked it but honestly he really is a home body. I have the HARDEST time getting him out the door - he just likes to be home with his family and friends. I might have loved it more if Logan loved it. He wouldn't go near any of the characters, which I also wondered if he would as he wouldn't go near Santa Claus so I figured there was a chance he wouldn't but hoped otherwise! In the end we basically dragged Logan and Carter around onto rides and into things, some of which he liked, some of which he didn't. It was really busy the week we were there! I have friends who have gone the past 4 years and were there the same time we were, and said they've never seen it that busy before. We waited at least 30 mins for rides (which is super hard on a 2 year old). The whole time Logan just kept asking to go back to the hotel!
I will tell you though, I was quite fascinated with certain aspects of Disney - the animatronics are incredible! The characters they portrayed looked like real poeple or real animals or real creatures! I was blown away by that. Oh, and so there were height restrictions on some rides, and the 40" rides Logan could sometimes go on and sometimes not - depending how he was standing! Sad right? My favourite rides were the "tour" rides - I am not a thrill seaker and I do not like to spin in any way shape or form. Sadly the rides were so short for the amount of time you actually waited. We made the best of it and found places Logan loved to be and really took advantage of those moments to let him play around. ...he realy enjoyed the one parade we went to, it was fun to watch!
The other 2 days: we did one trip to LA and took a Hollywood double decker bus tour. We rode the bus to Santa Monica and along the way got to see the sites. Sadly on the way home it took almost 2 hours (we didn't realize it did as big a loop on the way back) but that was the only downside! Logan loved the beach and such. So much so that we did a second day at a beach! We drove out to Huntington beach and spent0 a half day there - the other half day we did some shopping (which was my biggest excitment of going into the states). I was able to find some clothes but still notas much as I was hoping.
As for budgeting while there - we did pretty well! I only had to dip into my credit card the last day there. We bought and made our lunches and ate out at new restaurants each night (Cheesecake FActory, Red Robins, IHop, Captain Kidd Buffet and Captain Hooks cove in Downtown Disney).
Carter did really well as long as he was being held. He was teething something fierce a few of the nights (it looked really painful in his mouth, really swollen). He loved being in the carrier, and it took him afew days after getting home to get used to just being on the floor again lol. My boys went to bed at 7 or 8 every night per our usual routine, and they mostly slept really well. I typically stayed at the hotel with them as there wasn't any way I could leave Carter specifically because he's truly a mamas boy and there are other details as to why but this blog isn't for that :) ...anyways, he really just was along for the ride and did as I expected he would. I was hoping hed sit in stroller more but no such luck.
Logan. After he was sick on the plane, he broke out in this awful ezcema all over his body. I wasn't sure what it was - and after talking to my mom we've come to the conclusion that it was from stress. People say an allergic reaction but he HONESTLY didn't eat anything... like, he wouldn't eat because he said he had a bit of a stomach ache so he really just didn't eat that day. Also, people break out in Hives from stress, why not ezcema? Anyways, with that and already havingn a cold to start, and then add different elevation, etc, etc he just started out a little rough. And the tantrums. Holy Cow. We had 1-3 full blown freak out tantrums per DAY. It was quite an experience. The one that was the worst he was just so out of control that I had to sit on a bench and hold him screaming. I even had people come up and tell me "your'e a good mom" "you're doing a good job" "don't worry, it's just a phase" ...lol, I surprisingly kept my cool and I wasn't even really embarassed, I just wanted him to stop! I was prepared to sit there all day.. lol. That was the worst day - he realy just didn't want to be at the park.
Verdict: Would I Go back to Disneyland? Nah. It wasn't our thing. I'd much rather stick to all inclusive beach resorts or cruises. Logan would enjoy that more, I would enjoy that more, and I can't say for sure but I think Michael would too (he gets stressed out when Logan acts like a 2 year old lol duh, he's 2!). I don't think Logan was too young, I just think it's not his fortay. I don't have a crazy desire to have my kids experience Disneyland, so truly I doubt we would go back unless someone was paying our way and taking us.
Would I go back to California? Definetly! I actually said to Michael him and I should do a weekend trip there sometime (like a 4 day weekend) and see some of the LA sites and beaches that we can't enjoy with kids.
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