Date Night!!

On Saturday, we had a much needed date night. We went on a double date with our best friends, Dee and Layne. It was absolutely fantastic!

Chris and Layne went into work on a Saturday to do some "housekeeping" stuff- welding some shelving units for the shop area. Layne made a deal with their GM Jeff that in exchange, they could take their wives out for dinner. Jeff agreed, but probably should have put a price limit on the meal....probably would have been cheaper for Rigwatch to just pay the guys for their time.

This Saturday work happened way back at the beginning of January, but it took quite a while to try to get babysitters on the same night. The four of us almost never get to go out together because we are either eachother's babysitters or we can't get sitters on the same nights. We often spend time at eachother's houses with kids in tow.

Finally, March 28th was the agreed upon day. My mom came to watch the boys for us, and Donny came along with her to play with the boys. Luca and Donny had another sleepover in Luca's room. They are such cute little cousins! Dee and Layne were able to have Layne's mom watch their kidlets. Another hurdle that had to be overcome to go out was that Dee needed to get Jack to take a bottle. She worked at it last week and was able to get him to take one, so she was able to go out for a bit.

I (and Dee) was so excited to get to dress up and go out. If you are a stay at home mom, you know that there are so few reasons to dress up in everyday activities. I used to dress up when I was teaching but the effort seems to be lost on my boys.


Here are Chris and I all dressed up and ready to go out. I'm showing off my new shoes.

We had reservations at a place in downtown Calgary called Divino's. It is a wine and cheese bistro. Chris and I were a little bit skeptical when Layne made the reservation, but it turned out to be an absolutely delicious meal.

When we arrived, we started with glasses of wine. I don't really like wine, but had the server recommend a mild one to me and it wasn't bad. I didn't love it, but I did drink most of my glass. It really did taste better paired with my meal though.

The we all shared a platter of the chef's selection of cheeses. I can't remember what it was that we tried, but we tried 5 different cheeses that I wouldn't have otherwise tasted. Probably ever. I know what I like and I like what I know. I have a hard time trying new things. So, this was a big night for me as you will find out. Anyway, I digress. The cheeses were fantastic, served with a little whole grain loaf of bread and some Rosemary Fig jelly. Mmmmmm........

Our appetizers arrived looking and tasting scrumptious. I ordered Gnocchi, which was absolutely delicious. Chris had a very large plate of mussels, Layne had calamari and Dee had lobster and scallops. If you know me, you know that I do not like sea food. I will eat tuna from a can, but that's about the extent of it. But everyone was commenting on how perfectly cooked their appetizers were, I had to try. I tried Layne's calamari and was pleasantly surprised. I had tried calamari before, but it was quite rubbery and I just couldn't get past the texture. I guess that's the difference between an upscale restaurant and an average restaurant. I had tried lobster in Cuba and didn't think it was too bad, so I tried Dee's lobster, too. It was delicious, as were her scallops. And this is only the appetizers.

Our main courses left nothing to be desired. Layne and I both had bison striploin, cooked a perfect medium with baby roasted potatoes, greenbeans and to die for onion rings, stacked in a neat tower. My entree was spectacular. I can still taste it.

Chris ordered baby pig rack, which was served with roasted potatoes and green beans as well. I didn't taste it but his commentary assurred me that it was mouth watering. Dee had grilled salmon and risotto. I tried both and wasn't too big into the salmon (it tasted too "fishy" for my liking), but the risotto was amazing. Creamy with a nice lemon grass flavor. Delicious.

After all this food, there was still dessert! I had a raspberry tart, served with raspberry sorbet. All I can say is that it was a perfect end to a perfect meal. Layne had caramel chocolate cake and Dee and Chris both had carmelized lemon cake. Of course, they all had much fancier names than that.

It was such a great evening. Great food and conversation with our best friends. And having the meal paid for didn't hurt, either! :)


AND....Chris and I are going to Edmonton on Wednesday evening for 2 nights sans kids! Chris has some meetings that he has to attend on Thursday and Friday, so we thought it would be nice if I went with him. Pat and Joanne are coming to our house to stay with the boys. It will be my first time leaving Levi overnight, but I am ready for it. I am just so excited to have some time alone with my husband to go out for dinner, see a movie, maybe do some shopping and just spend time together without the responsibility of kids. Should be a great time!

I am also hoping to purchase a new camera while we are in Edmonton (since we can shop without kids), since I dropped mine and killed it. :(

MOPS 2009-2010

As you all know, I absolutely LOVE my time at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and look forward to the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.

Earlier this week I was speaking to the coordinator of MOPS for Crossfield and she asked if I would be interested in being on the steering team next year. Of course, I said yes! I had a choice of which position I wanted, as a few were opening up. I was optioned finance, publicity, newsletter or TLC.

I chose TLC coordinator, which means that I will be gathering up meals from the other MOPS moms to distribute to those moms that need some help. This could be moms that have just had a new baby, or those families that are going through tough times. Providing meals is just a small but important way to help families. I will also be giving baby gifts to the new babies born to our MOPS moms. How fun is that? And the best part? Dee is going to be the other TLC Coordinator, so I get to team up with my best friend, too!

I am so excited about this opportunity. In June, the steering team goes on a planning retreat for a weekend to plan the year's MOPS events. I hear that this is a very fun-filled weekend and I am very much looking forward to it!

So, anyone in the Crossfield area (Calgary counts, I think) that is a mom of a child up to 6, come join MOPS in September! It is a fantastic way to meet people, get a bit of a break from your kids for 2 hours and get some advice from other moms going through the same things. (Natasha- This means you!!!)

The power of Google

If you read this regularly, you will have read the poem that I posted a while ago. In case you missed it, here it is.

Anyway, this morning, I received an email notice that someone had commented on it. I opened the message and this is what I found:


"I am the author of this poem, and was just showing my son the power of Google this morning, when we found my poem on your blog! I am so honored that you posted it ... thank-you.

Enjoy your beautiful boys ... my boys are 11 and 10, and my daughter is now 6 ... time flies very quickly with little ones as markers.

All the best,

Bev Suntjens"

Ok- how cool is that?!?!

I actually got the poem from our monthly Crossfield MOPS newsletter and loved it so I had to share. I have no idea where the lady that writes our newsletter got it from, I'll have to ask her.

I just had to share this little tidbit. I thought it was pretty neat. I'm sure her son thought it was neat to see someone else showing his mom's work. I hope my boys would be proud of me.

I just did some "googling" of my own and discovered that Bev Suntjens is a fellow Albertan, from Stony Plain. Here is an article on her written in the Edmonton Journal last Mother's Day. Now I know where Beth from MOPS most likely got the poem from- the Chicken Soup from the Soul book.

This week's blessings

Ok, I must admit that this week I have found it quite tough to see the blessings through the muck. It just seems like it was a long, "blah" week. It took a while, but I was able to count my blessings this week.

- The boys and I spent a gorgeous day at the zoo with my mother in law. Not only was the weather beautiful, but the animals were all active and fun to watch. Going to the zoo never gets old for us, and it is nice to be able to share our enjoyment with others that don't get to go often as we do.

- I am thankful for a washing machine so that I can wash my son's poopy underwear. Ok, ok, I know, that one is a bit tongue in cheek, but I'm trying to find the humor in the seemingly constant lumpy underwear.

-I am thankful for my cousin Michael who through his business was able to hook us up with a fantastic new mattress set for a great price. I had been waking up every morning with a sore back and had been tossing and turning to get comfortable. Last night was our first night in our new bed and I can't remember the last time I slept so well.

-We are also blessed that Shawn and Carrie were coming to Calgary this weekend and were able to deliver our new bed from Edmonton. Without them we would still be a few weeks away from a good night's sleep.

-I am blessed to have 2 beautiful sons. As frustrated and tired as I can become with them, I must never foget how thankful I am to have them. They make my life complete.

The Mother of Boys

By Bev Suntjen

I am the mother of boys.

I play goalie as I make supper.

I can dribble a ball as I answer the phone

and can assemble a train as I nurse a baby.

I am the mother of boys.

I measure a good day not by the weather or

the company, but by the number of bugs caught,

the quality of the sticks found,

and the depths of the puddles splashed.

I am the mother of boys.

Fascinated ears listen to me tell

tales of alligators, dinosaurs and fast cars.

I do load upon load of blue laundry;

the only pink item to be seen is when a red sock

makes its way into the white load.

I check all laundry for reptiles and rocks.

I am the mother of boys.

I most frequestly say "Not so rough",

"get down, please" and "Watch where you're peeing".

I get dizzy watching little bodies run

circles around any inanimate object.

I am the mother of boys.

I wipe forever-dirty faces and hands.

At night, I am amazed by the many new

bruises and scrapes.

I join in prayers that thank God for

Airplanes and pirates and

Smarties candies.

I am the luckiest mother on earth.

I am the mother of boys.

Interview with a 32 month old....

Here is a conversation that Luca and I had this evening while I was preparing supper. He answered each question with such certainty, which was so funny, as you will see from some of his outrageous answers. It is so fun to see what little kids come up with.





What does Mommy look like? princesses



What does Mommy always say to you? Blast off!



What does Daddy do? Driving



Where does Daddy work? at Calgary "prolly" (translation: probably)



What does Daddy look like? Ummm....Saturday



What color are Mommy's eyes? (after inspecting them) Broken



Who is your favorite person? Daddy's my favorite!



How old is Mommy? BIG!



How old is Daddy? 7



How old is Papa? He has a chocolate maker



Where is Gramma and Grampa's house? Pa-lo-ka (translation: Ponoka)



What does Papa look like? Blue



What do you like to eat? Red food



What does Mommy like to eat? Salad



What does Daddy like to eat? Pasta



What does Levi like to eat? salad



Who is your best friend? Papa is my best friend. He is.



Do you have a girlfriend? Uh huh, she's at playgroup



What does Loki do when we go to playgroup? goes outside



What does she do outside? Bangs heavy things. (This is sort of true- she "throws" her bone on the deck and it is very loud)



What does Mommy do for you? She puts away stuff and opens things. Uh huh.

Amazing story...

I was reading a blog that I follow of a friend of mine and read this story. It is a woman's amazing tale of emotional survival. Although I didn't meet this woman, just reading her account really touched me. It forced me to remember that no matter how rough one of my days seem, there is always someone out there struggling with deeper problems.

I'm not sure how I would be able to cope if I were in her situation- the loss of an infant, then a husband shortly before the birth of another child. Wow. I can't even begin to imagine the grief.

I believe that some people (or some people's stories) are brought into our lives to teach us something. I don't know what that story was meant to show me, but I do know that it made me think about just how grateful I am to have 2 healthy boys and a healthy husband in a happy marriage.

Take a minute to read this woman's story. It is truly incredible.

25 Random Things about Me

If you are on Facebook, you may have seen this, but not everyone is, so maybe you will learn something new about me....




1. I love the color purple

2. I like to travel but am very afraid of flying. I am always certain that the plane will fall out of the sky. I just don't get how something so big can "float" up there. I try not to think about it.

3. The last flight I was on I threw up

4. I get motion sick easily. When I was a kid I always had my "puke bucket" whenever we went on trips. Even now if I sit in the backseat and can't see out the front window I get car sick.

5. I don't like boats

6. I want to get laser eye surgery but am afraid to

7. I have never broken a bone

8. I wish I had ridiculously long hair

9. I wish my hair was curly

10. When I am pregnant I get a large freckle on my right cheek that goes away a few weeks after the baby is born. Weird.

11. I love movie theatres but rarely get to go

12. I am a sucker for romantic comedies, even predictable ones

13. I love 5 cent type of candies

14. I don't love chocolate. I like it but I can do without

15. If we had a girl her name would have been Jenavieve Lynn. With a J, not a G because Chris didn't want her to be G.G. We would have called her Jenna for short

16. I hate, hate, hate any kind of amusement rides. See #4

17. I am ALWAYS cold. I plan my outfits based on layers. I can often be seen wearing long sleeves in the summer.

18. I like to sleep with socks on. See #17

19. I can not sleep with pj pants on. Too uncomfortable

20. I am very close with my Daddy

21. I like the smell of paint and gasoline. And dirt.

22. Saskatoons are my favorite fruit

23. I wish I was more artistic

24. I am a worrier

25. My biggest fear is tornadoes. I actually have anxiety attacks during the stormy season and it is worse now that we have moved to Crossfield. The storms come off the mountains fast and vicious.

Random Photo Post

Once again, another idea taken from my Aunt's blog....She has such great ideas and interesting posts, I just have to "borrow" them myself!



I randomly opened a file and chose a picture from our many, many photos. So here it is and the memories that go with it:

This photo of Luca and Hope was taken on December 26, 2006 at our house in Ponoka. Luca was only a few days away from his 6 month birthday, and obviously, it had just been Christmas the day before. Luca's first Christmas!

Luca wouldn't be crawling for another month yet, but was finding ways to get around on his tummy and by rolling. Here he is laying on the new toy from Auntie Jessica and Donny- a very noisy, but well loved toy! And you can see a talking Mater (from Cars) under his arm. Little did we know that 2 years later "Cars" would be such a hit for him!

Luca didn't yet have any teeth, his first would sprout a few days later.

And our faithful friend, wonderful protector Hope nearby, as she always was. By this point she had gotten used to Luca being around and was really quite fond of him. She was such a good dog and she is very missed. I'm glad I got so many pictures of her and Luca.

So, that's my random photo post. It's fun to relive some past photos!

This week's news...

Well, this week has been busy and it was a short week!

Chris left after the boys were in bed on Monday night to head to Fort Nelson. He made it to Stoney Plain, slept and then headed out for the day long drive. He hasn't had much cell reception so I haven't been able to chat with him much this week. :( Luca loves to talk on the phone and also likes to leave messages so he has been leaving Daddy some messages.

It is getting increasingly hard for Chris to be away. Luca is old enough that he really notices now, especially in the evenings. This morning at breakfast he was pretty quiet, then he looked up at me and said "Mommy, I want Daddy to come home for supper." It was so sweet and sad all at the same time.

Then this evening we went to Dee and Layne' s for supper. Being that Layne and Chris work together, when we have meals together the men usually arrive at the same time. Luca was a bit disappointed when his Daddy didn't come in the door after Adelynn's Daddy did.

Jessica got her driver's license last week (she's only 23, her learners was about to expire...no big deal! haha) and her and Donny came here this week. They arrived on Tuesday morning and stayed til this morning, Thursday. It was nice to have some company while Chris was gone.

The boys had fun together and Luca had his first real sleepover, with Donny sleeping in his room. I wasn't sure how it would go, I thought that they would be up late fooling around, but they were both tired enough that they fell right asleep both nights. Luca was so excited, he told me that "him and Donny had a sleepover"! I had hoped to get a picture of the boys in their beds in Luca's room, but no luck.

The 5 of us went to the zoo on Wednesday to see the animals and of course, the new Koala exhibit (til September, I think). We had great weather the the boys had lots of fun. Of course, we always enjoy the zoo, as you know.

Last night Levi had his first major injury. Or, actually, what could have been a major injury, but thnkfully wasn't. Luca has now mastered opening doors of all sorts. After supper, in the chaos of cleaning up, I didn't realize that Luca decided to go downstairs to the basement to play. (He was supposed to be heading upstairs for a bath). Well, as I have mentioned in previous posts, Levi loves to follow his big brother around. And he did. Right down the stairs. All the way to the bottom. Around the curve and everything (we have a curved staircase). The poor guy was sitting at the bottom, crying, looking up the stairs like he couldn't figure out what happened. He was ok, apart from a bit of rug burn on his forehead and nose. I was most definitely in worse shape. It's hard on a Mommy to see their little ones hurt. I asked Luca if he saw Levi fall down the stairs, and he replied with a very enthusiastic "Yup!". Guess he didn't really get the meaning of my questioning....

I guess we can be thankful that it was the basement stairs, which have been newly carpeted and are quite cushy and not the stairs from the second story to the main floor as ceramic tile greets you at the bottom of those ones.

Luca also decided this week that he was ready to wear his big boy underwear. I wasn't thrilled with the idea, being that Chris was away and I knew that we had a busy week ahead of us. But, I wasn't going to say no when he was asking. So, into underwear he went. He has done really well so far, with only 2 accidents the first day and none today! Of course, "George" has to go pee, too, when he does. In case you don't know, Luca has a Curious George stuffy that he loves to bits. They are best buds. So, of course, George needs to do what Luca does too. It is so funny to listen to Luca reminding George to tuck his penis in.....LOL

Luca saw Donny standing up to pee this week and thought that was pretty neat, but he told me he wasn't a big boy like Donny yet. Thank goodness, cuz that just seems like a lot more clean up to me!!! And a question for you experienced mothers.....what to do when a little boy is terrified to poop on the potty??? He has a few times and it is quite traumatic for him, he cries and is afraid to go again. Advice???

So, we have had a pretty adventure- filled week. And still 2 more days to go before Chris comes home.... :(

About Us....

Another idea stolen from my Auntie Karyn's blog...

Here are some random questions and answers about Chris and I:

Q. What are your middle names?

A. His: Warren (after his father)

Hers: Lynn (same middle name as my mom)

Q. How long have you been together?

A. This May we will have been a couple for 10 years. Its hard to believe that it has been that long! We were married on September 7, 2002, so this September we will celebrate our 7th anniversary.

Q. How long did you know each other before you started dating?

A. About 3 years....some of our friends were in the same circles. I originally met him when we were each dating someone else and we had a double movie date. We dated very briefly in high school, and then we got back together about a year and a half after that.

Q. Who asked who out?

A. I'm not entirely sure. We were good friends and at some point we started dating.

Q. How old are each of you?

A. Chris is 28 and I am 27

Q. Whose siblings do you see the most?

A. I think it is pretty balanced....we see both of our families fairly regularly. I speak to my sister Jessica quite regularly and Chris' sister Jacquie quite regularly.

Q. Do you have any children together?

A. Yes…..Luca is two and a half and Levi is 9 and a half months old. We also have 2 angel babies that we lost through miscarriage.

Q. What about pets?

A. 2 years into our marriage, when we were living in a place that allowed pets, we brought my dog, Hope to live with us. She lived in our home from 2004-2008. She was 13 years old when she passed away in April, a week before Levi was born. I had almost always had a dog in my life, so I was really missing having a dog around. So, when Levi was a mere 3 months old, we welcomed a black lab/sheperd cross puppy into our home. Loki was 10 weeks old when we got her (crazy, I know!!!). Loki is now almost 9 months old and we adore her and so do the boys.

Q. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

A. I would have to say that finding time to be alone together is the toughest. Any parents with young children can relate, I'm sure.

Q. Did you go to the same school?

A. We went to the same high school – Ponoka Composite in Ponoka. Chris was a grade ahead of me.

Q. Are you from the same home town?

A. Depends on what is considered your home town…..I lived in Blackfalds from the time I was 2 until I was 14, but I actually consider Ponoka my hometown. I lived there from age 14 until I moved away to attend University. My parents still live there. Chris lived in Ponoka from age 4 until he graduated high school and moved to Edmonton. His parents also still live in Ponoka.

Q. Who is the smartest?

A. We both excel in different areas, but I think if we were to take an IQ test, he would definitely score higher. He is so very techinically and mathematically minded, while I lean more to the Humanities side of things. Chris has a fantastic memory for facts and trivia but can't remember where he put his keys. LOL

Q. Who is most sensitive?

A. Most definitely me. I am a crier- I cry very easily and my feelings get hurt very easily. I internalize a lot of things and take things personally. Sometimes I have to remind Chris to show some emotion.

Q. Where do you eat out most as a couple?

A. We don't eat out as a couple very often- Chris gets to eat lunch out fairly regularly at work and if I am going to eat out, it is usually the choice of my son, so McDonalds is usually the winner.

Q. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

A. We went to Cuba on our belated honeymoon 2 years after we were married (once we were no longer students and could afford to go somewhere). We went to Las Vegas January 2008 on a "babymoon" before we were the parents of 2 children. We have also been to Toronto together.

Q. Who has the worst temper?

A. Hard to say- I get frustrated and angry more often than Chris does, but when he does, he is usually pretty upset.

Q. Who does the cooking?

A. I do, but mostly because I am home to make the meals. Chris usually cooks on the weekends. Him and Luca love to make pancakes or waffles together so most weekends we have a brunch prepared by them. Chris is a wonderful cook.

Q. Who is more social?

A. I am. Most definitely.

Q. Who is the neat freak?

A. Me. I remember when we were first married thinking "What have I done? I can't live with him!". Mostly it was dishes that drove me crazy. I have become more and more picky about neatness since I have been a stay at home mom, since I am living in it all day.

Q. Who is the most stubborn?

A. My first instinct is to say most definintely Chris, but I suppose I have been called stubborn....

Q. Who hogs the bed?

A. Me. No doubt about it. I LOVE to sleep in the middle of the bed, or when Chris is gone, diagonally across the bed. Poor Chris sleeps right on the edge most nights.

Q. Who wakes up earlier?

A. On weekdays, Chris gets up at 5am for work. But on weekends, it is almost always me that hears the kids first and gets up.

Q. Where was your first date?

A. Don’t know if you’d call it a date…..the first time we dated (briefly, when I was in grade 11), my parents were in town (Ponoka) doing something at the church. Chris picked me up and took me to Tim Hortons for a while to hang out. I was to be back at the church at a specific time so my parents could drive me home. I was late. Quite late. My punishment was to clean dog poop out of the kennels, which was quite a big job since my parents raised Beagles at the time.....That is the only reason why that night was memorable.

Q. Who has the bigger family?

A. Chris has 4 siblings. I have 2.

Q. Do you get flowers often?

A. When we were dating I did, but now it is pretty rare. Although I did get flowers on my last birthday, which was only 2 and a half months ago, so not too bad.

Q. How do you spend the holidays?

A. With our families. Most often with Chris' family because my parents both work and schedules don't always allow get togethers on holiday days.

Q. Who is more jealous?

A. I guess I am, although jealousy isn't an issue for us.

Q. How long did it take to get serious?

A. Chris gave me a promise ring after we had been dating about a year.

Q. Who eats more?

A. He does

Q. Who does the laundry?

A. Usually me because I am home to do it.

Q. Who is better with the computer?

A. HA! Most definintely Chris. I am kind of a computer dummy.

Q. Who drives when you are together?

A. Chris does. Unless he has had a drink or 2. Or 3..... Then I am the driver.

Well, there you have it. Some random facts about Chris and I.

This week's blessings

I am borrowing this idea from my Auntie Karyn's blog... I love to read her weekly blessings, and thought maybe I should do the same. Besides, remembering the good things that happen to you make you a happier person I think than if you were to dwell on the negative.

So, here it is. My blessings for the past week:

1. My mom came to babysit so that Chris and I could have an evening out for Valentine's. It was nice to have the date night, but also very nice for my mom and the boys to spend time together. Unfortunately, her work schedule doesn't allow for many visits, especially for her to come here. So, not only were Chris and I blessed with time together without kids, I know that Luca and Levi enjoyed having their grandma come and spend the night.

2. I have the world's greatest husband. I don't really need to elaborate beacause he is always wonderful, but I will. For Valentine's Day, he decided that I needed a new diamond necklace! And yes, new, meaning that I already have a diamond necklace from him. What a sweetie. So thoughtful.

3. Another reason that I have a fantastic husband: we woke up this morning to 11 degrees in our house. Overnight our furnace had stopped working. Brrrrrrr! I am so thankful that I have a competent husband that was able to get it fixed!

4. I am so blessed to have a best girlfriend like Dee. Today we were able to go for pedicures (my birthday present to her), lunch and some shopping. Without children. It was lovely. No day is wasted when it is shared with Dee. I love her to bits and couldn't ask for a better friend.

5. Not only do I have a wonderful friend in Dee and Chris has one in Layne, but our children really and truly love eachother. Adelynn had been away all week with her grandparents but we babysat her and Jack this evening while their parents celebrated Valentine's Day. Luca and Adelynn were playing potato heads when I heard Adelynn say to Luca: "Luca, I missed you". Then at bedtime, after sharing a hug and a kiss, they told eachother that they loved the other. It was just so sweet. They really do ask about the other when they haven't seen eachother for a few days and little moments like that make me realize just how lucky we are to have a family that we are all close to. They are not only our friends, but our family as well.

Well, those are my blessings for the last week. I am going to try to make this a weekly entry, so please check back often. And comments are always welcome so I know who has been reading! :)

25 Random things about being a MOM

If you are on Facebook, you will probably have seen this note going around. I thought that I would change it up a bit and rather than it being 25 random things about me, I thought I would make it about being a mom. So, here are my 25 random thoughts on "Mommydom":

1. Not so surprising, but I know without a doubt that I would do anything for my children.

2. I don't always feed my kids nutritious meals. Sometimes I let Luca pick his lunch which isn't usually a very good choice....cookies and dry cereal anyone?

3. I love nap time. I need some quiet time to myself.

4. Even though my pregnancies weren't great, I loved knowing that there was a person growing inside me and loved feeling the movement. I missed my big belly.

5. I actually think that labour wasn't that bad. (Don't hate me- I had short, uncomplicated labours. They were pretty good relative to the months of sickness I endured)

6. I was afraid when I was pregnant with Levi that I wouldn't love him as much as I love Luca. Don't worry- I do love him just as much!

7. I check on my boys at least once per night to make sure that they are breathing. I actually need to feel their breath or see them move or else I can't sleep.

8. I am terrified of my boys becoming teenagers. I worry about them and the things that they will inevitably try with their friends and the trouble that they will undoubtedly get into.

9. I don't want my boys to ever get their driver's licences.

10. Ok, can you tell that I don't want my children to grow up!?!?!?!

11. I get teary thinking that Luca is only a few years away from going to school. Technically, he could go next fall to preschool, but I think I may wait til he's 4.

12. I can't remember what it was like to have only 1 child.

13. I would choose to be the one sick if it would spare my kids. Puking and coughing kids make my heart hurt. I'd rather be the one to be miserable.

14. I wish I could save every piece of artwork that Luca makes, but its just not feasable. I get sad everytime I have to throw away a scribbled on piece of paper. He is so proud of his crafts, and I never let him see them in the garbage because I worry that it will make him as sad as it makes me.

15. There are days that I wish I could hide from my kids just to get a few minutes to myself.

16. If anyone told me that when I had kids I wouldn't even be able to go to the bathroom alone, I wouldn't have believed it. How hard is it to close a door, right? HA! Its easier to have a party in the bathroom than to listen to the crying on the other side of the door.

17. I had no idea I would be so excited for someone to pee and poop on a potty!

18. I wish stretch marks went away when the baby came out....

19. I had no idea I would miss sleeping in so much! Now 8:00 am is sleeping in on a good day.

20. Being a mom has made me a baker. One of my favorite things to do now is to bake cookies or muffins.

21. Somedays I want to just stay in bed and read all day like I used to.

22. I enjoy shopping for my boys more than I like to shop for myself...quite a change from a few years ago. Haha

23. Having kids lets me do things that I secretly enjoy doing, but that adults just don't do...like playing playdough!

24. My kids are my source of a social network now....without them I couldn't go to playgroup or storytime or MOPS, and that is where I get to chat with other moms.

25. As much as I miss some things from my pre-baby days, I wouldn't trade all the ups and downs of motherhood for ANYTHING.

Update on The Graham Family

Well, Levi is a pro at getting around now which means that we have a gate up at the top of the stairs and another blocking the back of the house and the formal living room. Barricades everywhere! Levi was only crawling for a few days when he discovered that he could pull himself up on things. At this point he is only up onto his knees, but he has gotten a foot under hiself a few times so I don't think it will be long before he's on his feet.




It is much to Luca's dismay that Levi is so mobile. Levi loves his big brother so much and wants to follow him everywhere and do what he does. This includes playing with the toy(s) that Luca is playing with. Often throughout the day I hear "Levi! Don't!" or "Levi, that's mine! LEAVE ME ALONE!". It's actually pretty funny, but so frustrating for Luca. Gone are the days that he could just move to another spot. Now he moves and Levi thinks it is a game to chase him!

We have had some fantastic weather, which has meant walks and even a trip to the zoo. The day that we went to the zoo it was 14 degrees in Calgary- fabulous! And there was hardly anyone there, except for a school group. We love to go on a weekday morning, when the animals are active, having just been fed and when there are significantly fewer visitors to the zoo, giving us a better and longer look at the animals. As always, the hippos are the biggest (no pun intended!) attraction for Luca. I don't know what it is about them, but Luca looks forward to seeing the hippos every time.

We ventured into the Canadian Wilds section this time, which we normally run out of time for and Luca was thrilled to be able to feed the ducks. He thought it was so funny that they were slipping and sliding on the ice! We're looking forward to Spring so that we can spend probably a morning a week at the zoo. A zoo pass has most definitely been the best entertainment money that we have spent this year!










I am making an effort to eat better and to be more active in hopes that I can shed these last few pounds that have been clinging to my body since I was pregnant with Luca. And if you know me, you know that I LOVE sweets, especially candy. So, this is a challenge for me, but I am really making an effort. Dee and I have been walking our dogs at least once a week for a nice evening walk after our kids are in bed. We seem to be able to make it out for about an hour. The weather has been crisp but nice. I am also trying to be more motivated to excercise at home, either with my elliptical trainer or the Wii fit or my dancing videos. (Don't laugh- I love them! Its the only time I can dance and not care that I look like a fool!)

There. Now I've said it publicly. Now I really do have to stick to this goal now that everyone knows about it. Hopefully before Jessica and Brock's wedding this fall I can feel truly comfortable in my bridesmaid dress!

Chris has been busy at work, with 2 trips to Houston in less than 2 months. He is also beginning to really need to take his week per month and head out to rigs to do his Quality control job. So, he will be gone next week. :(

I have been keeping busy with playgroup on Monday mornings, Storytime on Wednesday mornings, playdates and MOPS every second Thursday. Our mornings are ususally quite busy, but then it also usually makes for a nice, quiet afternoon while the boys get a good nap in. In the afternoons I try to take some time to myself to sew, make cards, or just watch tv. I also use that time to tidy up, vacuum and get some laundry in as well. Then before I know it the boys are up and it is time to get supper on the go. Chris usually makes it home by 6 and we have supper, a bit of playtime then the boys are getting ready for bed. Usually by 8pm our house is quiet and Chris and I can spend some time together.

Oh yes, I almost forgot Loki.....she is becoming such a good dog. Really obedient and so very gentle with the boys. Levi is fascinated with her, especially her mouth and face. But, Loki just takes him poking and pulling at her. I think she actually likes the attention! She is also a good excuse for me to get out and walk. She is a big girl and still growing and I feel bad if she doesn't get some exercise, and she really likes to get out.




Well, that's about it. We are just keeping busy, waiting for Spring to arrive so we can be out doing different things like playing at the park and splashing in puddles! :)

Levi's finally crawling!!

After what has seemed like forever, Levi has finally started to crawl! This is very exciting for me as he has been crying whenever I leave a room. This way he can follow me or Luca and keep himself occupied a little easier. I am already remembering as I type this that crawling isn't always the best thing, as Levi is trying to get under the desk to play with the computer cords. With independence also comes discovery, which isn't always the safest thing. I thought our house was pretty child proofed, but maybe I need to go through it again with the eye of a newly mobile 9 month old.

Thoughts on Christmas

Wow, I can harldy believe that Christmas is only 5 short weeks away! Time to haul out the boxes and get decorating!

Yesterday I was able to leave the boys with Dee and get the rest of my shopping completed. It is such a good feeling to be finished the shopping and now I can just concentrate on the gifts that require a bit of handmade love.

I have so many thoughts of Christmas this year. To be so blessed with 2 wonderful little boys fills my heart. To have a husband that is my rock, my best friend and partner in every sense of the word makes me feel so very blessed. I'm not sure why but Christmas brings out those thoughts of appreciation for those in our lives. We should feel that way all year long, not just at Christmas.

This Christmas especially I am missing my Grandpa. I so wish that he could have met my sons. Some days I can still hear his voice, the way that when he said hello it sounded like "yellow". The way that he always cleared his throat. His comfoting arms when he pulled you in for a hug against his soft belly. The talent he had for laying down to "rest his eyes" after a meal and promptly fell sound asleep. "Grandpa cheese" (Velveta) on toast in the mornings with coffee. But most of all I miss the love that radiated from him. There was never a doubt of his feelings for his family.

So many things remind me of Grandpa, and as my dad gets older and is now a grandfather himself, he reminds me of what I saw in my Grandpa Johnson. I know that my boys have as special a Grandpa J as I did...afterall, my dad had a great role model in his dad and inherited his soft heart and comforting presense. This is something to be truly thankful for.

This Christmas, I am going to make sure that those around me know how loved and appreciated they are. Many of my gifts this year are homemade and were chosen with great thought and love for the recipients. I am going to try to get back to the true spirit of Christmas and not let it become so much about the actual gift but the thought that went into it to show our love. I challenge you all to do the same.

Wishing you a blessed and love-filled Christmas season.

XOXO

Over a year since my last post...sheesh!

Ok, ok, I've had comments from more than a few people to update my blog already, so here we go....



How to cram a year's worth of stuff into one post so it doesn't become a novel?



Well, let's start back where I left off.....



Last September I was just beginning my new job as a Resource Teacher in Airdrie. It was very quickly proving to be an intense experience. While I was enjoying the children that I was working with (for the most part) and was forging new friendships with coworkers, I was having a very difficult time leaving Luca at his dayhome every day. I was also finding that the job I thought was my dream job quite simply wasn't. I won't go into details, but that combined with having to leave my little man every day made going to work difficult.



Chris and I were very surprised to find out around our 5th anniversary in September last year that we were expecting! This came as a bit of a surprise to us as most of you know, we had suffered a miscarriage at the beginning of August. And, with me having started a full time teaching job, we had sort of decided to wait until closer to Christmas to begin thinking of another pregnancy so that I could finish the school year before the baby would be born. Little did we know I was pregnant before I had even taken the job at the school.



So, another layer to my unhappiness at my job- feeling sick ALL THE TIME made it difficult to want to get up in the mornings, get myself and Luca ready for the day and be on my feet all day. Needless to say, I was really looking forward to Christmas vacation! :)



And, vacation we did. Chris and I went to Las Vegas on January 1 for 4 days. It was wonderful to spend the time together and experience a new place together. We knew that with a new baby coming that the opportunity for us to get away alone would probably not present itself again for a while. We had a wonderful time seeing the sights of Vegas and taking in some shows. We very much look forward to going back one day. The warm weather was certainly nice, too as it was cold and snowy at home.



As my pregnancy progressed and work became more stressful, I began to have cramping around my 28th week. I was sent for an ultrasound that didn't show any major issues except that the baby was measuring quite large- a few weeks ahead of schedule. My doctor was just keeping tabs on my growth, but after a few weeks, when the cramping didn't subside, I was instructed to take a medical leave from work. Obviously, this was not necessarily a bad thing as this meant that I would get to spend more time with Luca before the baby came and I wasn't really enjoying my job anyway. So, at 30 weeks, on March 1 I began the day by having a leisurly breakfast with Luca and just hanging out. It was fantastic! :)



I was so thankful to be able to spend some quality time with Luca. We were able to paint his room (Curious George theme) and get him into a big boy bed without much turmoil. I then started on the nursery, which I really enjoyed designing and decorating.



To no one else's knowledge, just after Christmas, Chris and I had actually found out that we were having another boy. We decided to keep that we even knew a secret from our families and most of our friends. It proved to be a tough secret to keep, especially when decorating the room. I think though, that somehow we managed to keep people in the dark. I know that there were definitely some bets that we were getting ready to welcome a girl! :)



On April 25th, 2 weeks before my due date, we welcomed our little Levi Allan. It was a rather dramatic arrival, with only 3 hours from the beginning contractions to delivery, a fast drive down the QEII highway and 14 whirlwind minutes at the hospital. Levi was in a hurry to make his entrance, that's for sure! :)



Luca was curious and nervous around his new brother. Once we were home with Levi, Luca began to be more comfortable "checking him out" and was very quick to inform us if he was crying.



Now, with Levi 5 1/2 months old, Luca loves talking to him and kissing him and Levi equally loves to watch his big brother and babbles away at him. It warms my heart to see the love that they have for eachother reflected in their eyes. I hope that they turn out to be the best of friends as they grow up.





As if we weren't busy enough, we decided to get a puppy. Life just wasn't the same around here after the death of our beloved Beagle, Hope. Plus, I never realized how much food needed to be swept off the floor after a meal without a dog to clean up the crumbs! haha



So, we found a black lab/ sheperd cross puppy and brought her home. She was 10 weeks when she joined our family. We named her Loki. She is growing so very quickly that I can hardly keep up buying her new collars to fit her growing neck! She will surely be a large dog in the next few months. She is a gentle girl that has fit into our family nicely and the boys both love her. Our family is feeling very complete. :)




Now with fall upon us, we are going to playgroups, I have joined a mom's group called MOPS, I have also joined a card club making cards. I am also enjoying working on my quilts, a fairly new-found hobby. I have realized that I can't be a good mother without taking some time to be myself once in a while as well.



And, one of the most exciting things to happen recently is that our best friends, Dee and Layne and their daughter Adelynn have moved to Crossfield, just 17 houses away from us! I am so excited to be able to spend much more time with them, especially with our children so close in age and being best buds.



Now it is almost time to begin thinking about Christmas......



I promise to try to update my blog a bit more often in the year to come! ;)

Ok, ok, I know its been a while....

I've been getting some flack for not updating in a while, so here's the new post. Although I noticed that others haven't updated in nearly as long, either (Victoria!)...

We have now been in our new house for about 5 weeks. We are fairly settled (there are still many unpacked boxes in the basement, but we like to not think about them). The first few weeks here were a bit lonely for me. Being in this small of a town, people look at you strangely when they don't recognize you but aren't necessarily willing to chat. So, trips around town and into the grocery store were a bit strange. I am used to always seeing at least one person that I knew at the grocery store and stopping to chat for a while. Not knowing anyone is a bit of a change.

Chris was on holidays for 2 weeks shortly after we moved so that definitely eased the loneliness that I was beginning to feel. We did some camping, went to the zoo and did a bit of stuff around the house. The 2 weeks went very quickly but we enjoyed our time as a family. Our original plan was to go to Kelowna or somewhere in that area for holidays, but with the move and other things happening this summer, we decided to stick closer to home.

We camped with my parents a weekend in August near Bowden. It was a bit cool that weekend and we had been saying that we would like a bigger trailer maybe next year so that there was room for Luca to play when it was cold or rainy outside. Being in a 14 foot trailer just wasn't conducive to playing in. We had forgotten diaper wipes and were in need of some more wood so Chris and my dad went to Innisfail to get some. While they were gone, Luca and I had a nap, only to be awaken by Chris saying that he had a surprise for me. I stepped outside the trailer to see another, larger trailer hitched to my dad's truck. To my great surprise, he had purchased a new (to us) trailer while he was in town. I wasn't too sure how I felt about that until I heard the great deal that he got on it. After selling our smaller trailer, we only paid $300 for a 17 ft, 9" wider, fantastic condition trailer. So, we moved all our stuff into the new trailer and slept there for the rest of the weekend. It was an eventful weekend, indeed!

I had applied for a few teachign jobs in the area, adn hadn't heard about any, so had assumed that I would be subbing again this year. Then, I got a call for an interview! I was so excited, but not really getting my hopes up as I have had a few interviews that did not result as I had hoped. I went for the interview and was offered the job!!!! Chris and I were beside ourselves with excitement! It is practically a dream job for me, so I couldn't let the opportunity pass me by! It was very tough to think about having to leave Luca, but things have all worked out.

Here is an overview of my job:
I am teaching a supplementary resource program for Grades 5-8 which is essentailly life skills, functional math and functional reading for those that are low functioing disabled. I will have between 3 and 7 students at a time.Our mornings will basically be Math and Language skills with the afternoons being life skills based programs such as cooking, work experience, social skills and health and safety topics.

All of the students will be integrated into their own homeroom classes for subjects such as phys ed, art, and music. They will participate in some science and social activities in the regular classroom with our assistance when they are able. Any field trips that their regular calss takes they will participate in with the assistance of either myself or an aide.

While this all sounds like an easy ride, I assure you, it isn't. Besides dealing with some of the behaviour and emotional issues that some of these students have, there is a ton of administrative work. I need to write an Individual Program Plan for each student (and help write for the other 50 or so learning disabled students in the school). An IPP is essentially the studen't curriculum, which tells us the skills that need to be worked on as well as academic functioning, formal assessments, medical interventions, etc. They are time consuming and not easy to write. I have to be completed these by September 30th, so this month will be very busy trying to get to know the kids so that I can write a plan for their year.

As well as lots of paperwork, I must attend a meeting monthly with psychologists, social workers and the family school liason to discuss each and every student with an IPP in the school as well as those studnets that are "at risk".

This week has been very long with meetings nearly all day, every day. I am really looking forward tot eh kids coming on Tuesday and getting to know them.

As for childcare, I was very fortunate to find someone that I really liked to watch Luca. She lives near the school, and has had a dayhome for many years. Before that, she was a teaching assistant at a private school in Calgary and up until recently was a foster parent. She was recommended to me and I felt immediately at ease with her and Luca seemed very comfortable there. I am so relieved that I know that Luca will be happy and safe while I am at work. Thanks so very much to Dee, who I couldn't have lived without for the last week. Luca has enjoyed spending the days with her and Adelynn and it has been so comforting knowing that he was with someone that loves him so dearly.

Tomorrow is my mom and dad's 25th anniversary. On Saturday we took them to Edmonton and had photos done at the antique photo parlor and then went out for supper. It was very nice to spend the day with our immediate family, as too often we are busy and are not always together. We had a fun evening, and some great photos, too!

Our 5th anniversary is coming up on Friday. Hard to believe that it has been 5 years, but them other times it feels like we've always had eachother. Every year with Chris just gets better and better. I couldn't have asked for a more caring and devoted husband and father for Luca. I know that every year to come will continue to be fabulous!

Sorry about the lack of pictures, I really need to put them on the computer from the camera. Unfortunately, I just don't have time right now, as I should be prepping for school tomorrow. But, I did tell Auntie Karyn that I would post this weekend...... :)

I will try to get some pictures up again soon. I know, I'm falling behind!

My personality test

Wow, this is freakily true.....quite interesting. Try it yourself- it only takes about 10 minutes to complete. Check mine out:


My personalDNA Report

Well, in case you didn't know, we ARE moving....in 10 days! Everything has been finalized now and we are in the packing stages. We did get the house that we wanted in Crossfield.

It has been a long and sometimes tearful process to get to where we are today. It will be very sad to leave this home, but we are looking forward to our new house and especially to having Chris at home every night.

We did meet the family that is moving to our house- they seemed very nice. They are not too much older than us, they have a boy, 7, and a girl, 4. We were glad to hear that there was a family moving in here, there is lots of space for a family, and we hope that they will love this house as much as we do/did.

The husband actually came here from Ottawa to work and purchased the house alone, while his wife and kids were still in Ottawa. So, the wife and kids were very excited to have a peek at their new house last weekend. They said that the floor plan was very similar to their house in Ottawa, and the wife was very happy with the house.

It is nice to know who will be living in our house, it makes it a bit easier knowing that the family really likes the house. We hope that they will have as many good memories here as we do.

As for us, we don't officially have a mailing address or phone # yet- Telus has to phone us back with a new number and we can't get our post office box until we have the land title. As soon as we have all our new information, we will pass it along to you.

We're looking forward to welcoming visitors to our new house soon!