Simple Inspirations

So this morning it is only 9:07.  Already Asher proven himself to be force of destruction and chaos to be reckoned with (albeit a very cute one, but I say that grudgingly at the moment).  He has…

• Woken up bright and chipper, smiling, calling my name and full of kisses..at 4:30 (which is a sin, I am sure its in the bible somewhere) only 2 hours after I went to bed….
• stepped on a tube of toothpaste,
• poured out a whole bowl of fruit loops on the floor,
• dumped over a drawer of my scrapboking supplies,
• played with the toilet brush,
• chewed on the loose circle of paint out of a watercolor set, 
• thrown around a glass cup (which by Gods grace did not break),
• unpacked the girls school bags,
• eaten one of Chey’s lunch snacks,
• pulled some pages out of her theory book (don’t tell her..shhhhh)
• pulled two of his sisters hair,
• dumped out a toybox,
• taken a #2 break just to let me rest,
• thrown the shoes over the gate into the basement,
• moved the whole shoe rack around and spread out the gravel underneath it throughout the front doorway,
• assaulted Abby’s barbie,
• made a run for the road while my back was turned,
• eaten some rocks
• laughed about it all. 

Now he is with mother in law…..BWHAHAHWHWMAMAA. 

I feel old.

No one.  Its a proven fact.  So when you want to know if your two year old should be able to count to 10, or if your 10 year old is old enough for allowance and makeup, or even if your 16 year olds moodiness is normal…. where else would you go than to other Mom’s….millions of them.  Topics open right now include potty training, healthy living choices, recipes, seizures, conception..you name it it is there! There is this site you need to check out MAMAPEDIA. You can ask anything..anything and get answers from the pro’s quickly and easily. You can search by topic, question of age of your children.  There is info on health, finances, home life…or even an all about Me (thats us Moms). You can even join your local group and make friends, read reviews of businsses and services, receive free coupons and discounts for great Mom owned businesses, and its free (and easy..yay!).

They say it takes a village to raise a child (two if they are as wiley as Asher) so take advantage of the resources that you know have great potential to help you and make life less complicated!

True story.  Please don’t judge me. 

Last night we were all home, all of us.  I got the girls bathed, finished up sweeping and the dishes, Got Asher bathed and dressed and was throwing the last cup into the sink after a quick perusal of shelves and cupboards where cups like to hide when Wendell sees the neighbour Tracy approaching the house with a gift for us.  He chose that moment to get the laundry in the basement, wanted me to get all the glory I guess.

Tracy looks around the yard slowly, thinking we were probably outside somewhere..I mean that would make sense.  The gift she was carrying….my 18 month old son.  Who got out of the house and wandered into her yard in less than 2 minutes.  Someone did not latch the front door perchance and he managed to slip out silently and take on the big world by himself. 

I was so embarrased and trying to explain rapidy that I was not a bad Mom and that I really did take care of my children and was so thankful that she brought him home to me.  All the while Asher sits in her arms and smiles, not a little smile but a smile that says "Mom, I am going places.  I want to see the world..one yard at a time."

Yikes.

Through the wonderful Mom Central I was privy to a little pre-taste of summer.  Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches.  They got their own sentence…they are THAT good.  I mean it.  I was skeptical enough to hold off on buying them myself, if something is not bad for you it tastes like it is.  Semantics.  But I was more than pleasantly suprised. 

These yummy treats are creamy, chocolatey, smooth and big enough to feel like you have splurged (when you haven’t). They come in six flavours (the mint and the cookies and cream are DELECTABLE) but I almost tried to the chocolate peanut butter.  Of course if you are a little more traditional there is old favorites of mine too..strawberry shortcake, chocolate, and vanilla. They have 140 calories each and only 2g of fat!  2 grams?!?!?  Its almost unreal (but this does not mean you can have two if you are watching your waistline, cheating is cheating). 

If you want something that is yummy buy won’t break the diet bank….try them…seriously.  They have become my summer treat staple. If you want more of the dietary info click the link in the beginning of the post.

In a bid not to spend 12 hours every day at the park this summer while his wife works away at her school work my husband has been on a mission to fill the backyard with awesome toys for the kids (recall earlier posts about the pool, play structure etc).  The newest addition was for Abby and Asher (although it has gained popularity even with the oldest and self proclaimed "coolest" of the kids). He has totally spoiled them this year….(not in the picture are the new dark out tunnel slip and slide and wading pool with canopy for asher…)

There was a girl named Cheyenne.  When she was a baby her mother dropped her on her head (or so she claims when its convenient).

In the middle of a Canadian spring (an extension of winter without the snow) she decided enough was enough.  She had watched the new pool fill for days but with no prospect of above 10 degree celcius weather…she decided it was time to take things into her own hands. Her father gently helped her in…

The water reminded her she had been born part goldfish (gulp. gulp, gulp for air)

Then she remembered that she was too cool to not look cool in front of other earthlings….

She wiped her ears out and did her best not to look like she was having a bad hair day, as an epiphany overcame her she spoke three words which shared the momentousness of the occasion.   IT WAS COLD.

Mommy can you help me wipe my bum?

Yup bend over.  You did a great job Abby its ALL CLEAN!

Okay Mom..now its your turn…………Asher can help me.

Mom Central is always throwing the best project our ways!  I heard about this AMAZING bok through them, and I assure you its a keeper!  Making choices, even small choices can affect the rest of your life.  Tennage motherhood, not planned.  Altered my life (in a great way).  Whether to buy the pool now or when you have saved some more?  Do you go back to work or take a year off with the kids?  Wha to give the kids for snack and how they spend the afternoon…all choices we make, some everyday.  Every choice is a domino and set into motion something we cannot even see yet.  Enter the transforming (witty and humourous too) book 10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea.

The author is none other than best-selling author Suzy Welch.  Not just a know-it-all-in-a-suit but a true blue woman/mother warrior: mother of four and a columnist for BusinessWeek and O, The Oprah Magazine.  Now that is quite a feat, is it not?  She uses examples from her life and lessons form the lives of others as well to illustrate how simply using the 10-10-10 method can remove the emotiolurking fear and uncertainty from decision-making, be it large or small.  Though not always simple (and not always getting the result you think you want..do I really want to buy 35 cheesecakes with the grocery money this month…) consider all of the available options and consider their consequences in ten minutes, ten months, and ten years, and then compare them to your own set of values, morals and desires. You will not only feel better for having thought through the actions of your choices carefully, but will be better able to explain your choices to yourself when you need that reminder, your family, your boss, your friends..whoever!  No more stumbling over words to vindicate yourself (ain’t that a load off). Think..your postive choice making will impact the life of your child and the dynamics that result from this simple process will build better relationships within your family!  You can pick it up here at Amazon today!

This may seen like a no brainer, but the idea is presented in a refreshing way that we all need to hear (you too..)

Thought I would do a quick post an update everything that has been keeping me away from my beloved readers (my mother and father in law,,LOL).  We got the big ass play structure up, pardon my french.  It took Wendell a few (three about) days on non stop slave type labour..but he got it done.  It was a work of love, from the frame, to the structure, to the sand and rocks he worked HARD….I helped wheelbarrel some of the stones from the driveway..you can see my rocks in the far right corner of the picture. It is gorgeous and the kids LOVE it. Freedom and Abby would never leave if they didn’t have to sleep in the house. Zoe spent hours going through rocks to identify new ones for her collection.

Wendell also got the pool up and it is WAY bigger than I pictured it!  I would take a picture but I need a reference person in the picture to really illustrate its size!

Just a few more tidbits of Hildebrand info..Chey is all healed up and her cast if off (yay she can help with dishes again!  ROCK ON!!). Zoe said her all-years scripture verses (8 different "verses" all 8 to 12 verses long) and was the first one done in her class.  Asher is getting quite the vocabulary..he says Dog, Mommy, Daddy, puppy, Zoe, Mama, papa, bottle, dipi (diaper), nummie, bath, night night, bye bye, HI!, jam, more, some.  Well a bunch of words anyhoo. He is a real mimic (which is funny when you tell him no.and tells you no).

I woke up on Saturday and the first thing I saw was Freedom watching me sleep, she had abviously been waiting for me to wake up.  I open my eyes and she is bursting with excitement.  "Mommy!!!  I just watched a long commercial and I have to tell you something Mommy.  I NEED TO GET YOU THAT FOR MOTHERS DAY!!!  You can lose 3 inches in 14 days!"  Nuff said about that.

Gave up on myself…might as well focus my attention on something with potential (haha). Studying art history (napping intermittently and walking around to make sure I stay awake for 5 page intervals).

Just a quick share…I know it is far away but is this not a freaky deaky deer?  It’s hide looks like a horse..but its a deer.  We saw it eating just off the highway by our house.  Odd.

Cute cousins……best friends.  They even wear matching colors almost every day.  Awww……..

And is this not the cutest little man ever?   (argue with me and it could get uggggggggggly)