Rainy Day Tuesday

Today was a rainy day.  A very rainy day.  We went to gymnastics this morning and it felt like the rain was going to come through the roof. 

Gymnastics was very cute.  They had Drew working on the bars today.  He's learning how to pull his legs up and touch the bar while he's hanging.  They are amazing teachers.  He even has to "present" before and after everything.  So.  Freaking.  Adorable.

After gymnastics we drove to Burlington to have lunch with a friend to celebrate my birthday.  We went to East side marios.  My kids love east side marios.  Drew's addicted to the croutons and Hunter loves the tomatoes and bread (they eat other stuff too, that's just what keeps them happy at the table).

Today was different though.  We had what could only be described as the WORST waitress ever.  My friend ordered the "all you can eat" trio (soup, salad and breadsticks) and within the 45 minutes that we were there, she was served 1 soup and 1 salad.  Now, I don't mean to brag, but I know that I could eat a hell of a lot more than 1 soup and 1 salad.....I'm pretty sure that she could too.  Not really the "all you can eat" she was hoping for.  Not to mention the fact that I asked for more croutons and more bread on several occasions and did not recieve either in a timely manner.  If it were just the two of us, it would have been one thing, but with the kids...a nightmare!  I must have been asked, "mom, where are my croutons???" a million times.  After speaking to the manager, who wasn't the nicest person in the world, I was reassured that our bill would be adjusted.

The bill was NOT adjusted.  And by the time we got the bill, it was time for us to leave, as my friend had to go back to work and my kids were tired of sitting.  I think East Side Marios might be getting a letter.

We headed straight for home.  Hunter had a bit of a nap....ok, maybe 30 minutes...not much of a nap.

The afternoon was spent playing trains, playing tractors, baking (pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting) and reading stories (of course, the usual treehouse tv was in there too).  We didn't get outside at all, it poured rain most of the day.

I chose to stay home today (as opposed to going to nana and papas) thinking I'd give them a break as they babysat last night while I went to a parent's council meeting at Drew's school.  Mom called me at 5 wondering where we were and why we weren't visiting them. 

We will be there tomorrow night, and I hope there is some of my birthday cake left.

Happy birthday to me!

On friday (the 24th) we picked monkey up early from school and hit the road for the cottage.  We had a pretty uneventful drive (by uneventful, I mean, not too much screaming and no puking - yay!).  Went straight to costco.

At costco, we picked up some fruit and some bacon (costco has this maple bacon that is seriously the best bacon I've ever had......it is wonderful!  James cooks it on the bbq, and it's so perfect....we only eat it at the cottage though, because if we introduced it to our diets at home, we would have some serious heart problems)  We also had dinner there.

15 minutes later and we were at the cottage.  Everything was as we left it, which was good....always worried about something being stolen or the roof flying off or something crazy like that (it'd been a few weeks since our last visit).

We hung out a bit, went for a walk, and then it was bedtime for the boys.  They both slept through the night, Hunter for 12 hours!!!  Best birthday present EVER!!!  James and I opened a bottle of wine and watched, "Post Grad".  James was glad for the wine.  I actually enjoyed the movie.

Early saturday morning (my birthday), James and Drew went to "DooDoo's" to pick me up some buttertarts (my favorite!).  We spent a quiet day playing, fishing, canoeing, and then James took us all to East Side Mario's for dinner.  We got there at 5, thinking we'd beat the rush and then be home early so that Hunter wouldn't fall asleep in the car on the way home. 

WRONG

The place was PACKED.  I think there was a hockey tournement or something.  Hunter started screaming, and Drew was being loud while we waited.  A very nice waitor came over and told us that if we sat in the bar area we could be served dinner there.  WooHoo!!!  See, sometimes it pays to have screaming children! 

After a fun dinner (and free cake!) we headed home.  Both boys made it home awake.  After bedtime, James and I polished off another bottle of wine (well, James did, I fell asleep) and watched Harry Potter and the half dead prince (or something along those lines, can't remember the exact title...I fell asleep).

Sunday morning was a bit stressful.  We had to be back at the airport for 2 (when James' shift was starting).  We had to pack up and get the kids fed breakfast, and fit some fun in there too!!  Drew had fun with Ryan (one of the other cottage kids) for most of the morning.  Hunter, Drew and Ryan were playing spies, and then ended up playing Thomas trains in our cottage for a long time!

We left in time, had lunch at McDonalds and then headed straight to the airport, we made it with about 5 minutes to spare...phew!

Took the boys straight to nanas, where we hung out and the my parents and brother took us out to swiss chalet for dinner.  Headed back to the Glen for presents and ice cream cake........

A perfect weekend.  Still having a hard time with the whole "31" thing though.

I'm a big boy now!

Yesterday started out like any old day.  We went to the gym.  Hunter screamed, I stayed in the kids area with the boys so he wouldn't freak out, James worked out a bit, then I got to shower there while he stayed with the boys.

From the gym we headed to Costco.  We buy our baby wipes from costco, the kirkland brand.  We find they are inexpensive (well, compared to the other brands, anyways) and each package has a top on it, so there is no need for an extra "container" to put them in. 

We also love the food at costco.  For lunch, we got the boys and ourselves hotdogs, fries and we brought some veges (peppers, broccoli, carrots).  As we were sitting there eating, nearly every person that walked by did a double take.....some did a triple take.  I even heard one person whisper to her friend (look at the vegetables they are making their kids eat.....). 

Really? 

Now, I'm not pretending to be this wonderfully healthy parent or anything.  The reason we bring cut up veges with us when we go out to eat is because we go out to eat ALL THE TIME.  We get hugs when we walk into McDonalds from the staff there and when we're not there for a few days, they worry about us.  The vegetables make us feel less guilty.

What annoyed me was that other people were judging us on trying to get our kids to eat some more "colours" than what we could provide them with at the costco store.  Again with the judgement!  Gotta love parenting. 

After costco, we decided to head to square one to hit Melonheads to get Hunter's first hair cut.  It's a great place, with fun seats for the kids to sit in.  They are great with kids, there are toys to distract the kids as their hair is getting cut (even bubbles!) and when it's your first haircut, they give you a certificate, take the kid's picture, and give you a lock of their hair.  We had Drew's first haircut done there, so I felt the need to get Hunter's done too.  It's pricey, so from now on, Hunter will probably get a first choice hair cut.....but he did great at Melonhead's for his first time!  Of course, Drew had to get his haircut too (there was a Thomas the train chair, how could we not let him get his hair cut???).

Before....not too sure about this...

After...what a big change!!!  So frickin cute!

There's a Thomas chair!!!

After square one (Drew and James played in the Apple store, Hunter and I browsed in the gap and checked out Aritzia - our property was used as a backdrop for some photos in their fall catelogue....the shots look great!) we headed to the Glen.  The boys wanted to show off their new hair cuts to Nana and Papa.  They were planning on heading to the bank, so naturally Drew invited himself along.  Drew left with them and James and I took Hunter to the grocery store.  It was thursday, so Papa was heading to the auction sale (near our house).  He dropped Nana and Drew off at our house and headed there.  We had dinner with Nana (very exciting for the boys!) and then we walked to the auction sale to see Papa. 

After the sale, Nana and Papa headed home and the boys went to bed.  I should mention here that (knock on wood) our sleep "training" seems to have worked this 2nd time around.  Hunter has slept through the night more times this week than he has his entire 14 months that he's been alive.  Yay for him, Yay for me!!!!  I'm so proud of him (and of us for giving it another go!)

Grey's anatomy started again last night and the premiere was great...although if Meredith and McDreamy break up again this season, I may have to stop watching.

2 Moms in the City

Wednesday, galpal Laur and I hit the road for Toronto.  I had gotten tickets to be in the audience for Cityline.  Laurie left Hadley with Grannie-Annie and the boys stayed with James (well, Drew was at school).  I picked Laur up at her mommy's house at 7 and off we went.  Traffic was terrible and it took us an hour and a half to get to Yorkdale (yikes!  Much longer than I was anticipating).  We hopped on the subway to the Dundas exit and found our way to the City tv building.

Once there we were given our tickets and then escorted upstairs for the pre-show and were given the chance to ask Nanny Robeena questions we had (we were taped).  I asked one about putting the two boys to bed by myself (it gets a little crazy here at bedtime when James is at work). 

We were then walked downstairs and seated for the show.  We were in the front row!

The show was great, we got a few giveaways (magazines, vitamins, a mommy calendar).  We met Dr. Dave (of momshow fame) and tried to clap and smile when we were supposed to (and not pick our noses or yawn when we weren't).

After the show we hit starbucks for hot chocolates and then headed back to Yorkdale for some lunch (pickle barrel and some browsing in the kiddie shops.....)  I don't think we even looked at one thing for ourselves (oh how times have changed!).

It was a great day.  It's been a long time since we've had the chance to spend the day together without a child (or two, or three) in tow.  We got to catch up and gossip and remember old times.  I love our children (and our husbands), but I love my friend too....and I hope there are lots more days like this in our future! 

Thanks Laur, for a great day!  Love you!!

xoxoxo

Yowza!!

I forgot to mention in my last post that I'm in so much pain.  Because I stopped nursing Hunter cold turkey my body is going what the f@#&#???  and is still producing a lot of milk.  I am so engorged, I feel like I'm carrying around rocks on my chest.  Rocks with jabby knives attached to them.  I'm sitting here with cabbage on my chest, apparently that's supposed to help, according to the experts on the internet....they are always right, right?

I tried pumping a bit, just to relieve a bit of the pressure but that hurt so much.....hopefully it passes soon.  I hate the smell of cabbage.

So, last night wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  As I said in the last post, Hunter went to bed after about 30 minutes of screaming (not fun, but better than what happened in March).  He woke up at his normal times during the night (every 2-3 hours) and would scream...we did a check each time, and waited.  Before the 10 minute check each time, he was asleep.

Tonight, I did the same routine as I did last night and he only screamed for 5 minutes before falling asleep.  Knock on wood, he's learning to soothe himself.

This morning, Drew had gymnastics, then we headed to McDonalds for lunch (we have coupons, what can I say.....it's an addiction, I guess).  After McDonalds (where we ran into Brenda and Allie, a great surprise!) we headed to Springridge.  Had a GREAT time there.  Drew passed out on the way home, napped for a few hours and then we all hung out in the playroom for the afternoon.

It's so great to have James home.....a great day today.

A big day for both boys

All set for his first "FULL" day of JK!

Today, Drew had his first "full" day of JK.  James took him (he was writing a test this morning, so it was on his way).  Apparently, he said goodbye and just walked in the door again, no questions asked. 

Hunter and I were to meet my mom at Timmy's at 9 (after her bus run).  We got there a bit early, ordered her coffee and muffin for her and waited.  At 9:20 I was a bit worried that we were at the wrong place.  I packed up Hunter and headed out the door, back to the van.  My plan was just to go to the Glen and wait for her (had forgotten my cell phone).  Once out in the parking lot, my mom's boss shows up.  She tells me that my mom had been in an accident in the bus (she is fine) and would not be able to meet me.  We took her coffee to her at the scene of the accident (she was a wreck). 

Hunter and I spent the morning at the georgetown mall (woohoo!).  We got home and there was a message from my mom that she wouldn't be able to drive Drew home today (he rides her bus home from school)....I was in tears.  He has been looking forward to Nana picking him up from school since he found out he is going to big school. 

It turned out that Nana finished all of her paperwork and whatever else she was requried to do in time for her afternoon run, so Drew was able to go on the bus afterall! 

James, Hunter and I met Drew at the Glen and what did my little man have to say when he saw me afterschool???  "Mommy, can you go home so that I can play with nana??"  "I missed nana today".......WHAT ABOUT ME!!?!?!?!!?

After his first day of JK....not sure where his vest is!

James, Hunter and I went for a walk around Glen Williams (SO want to move there one day, even have my house picked out!  LOL) and left the little man with his nana.

We left at around 5, went to McDonalds for dinner and then headed home to spend some time outside on our climber and in the sandbox.

We are "sleep training" Hunter now (we tried in March with no success).  Tonight was the first night.  I've cut him off from my boobs too.  Today was the first day of that.  Poor little man.  Put him in his crib after a few stories and some songs.  He screamed for about half an hour (with me doing "checks" every 5, 10, then 15 minutes).  He's sleeping now, we'll see what happens for the rest of the night.  Up until now, I would nurse him to sleep and then whenever he would wake up in the middle of the night (every 2-3 hours) would nurse him back to sleep.  NO MORE!  He's almost 15 months old, I want my body back!  I also would like to not feel like a walking zombie every day......cross your fingers that this sleep "training" works this time!