Martini Momma

My top 30 ...almost

Thank you to the ladies that have already given some advice to curb the "attitude" in my house, keep it coming.  4 posts back, ladies, this blog is on fire, I only wrote it last night. 

So, the end of July already, still waiting for the hot weather although I think we may have to look to next summer for that.  39 days till school starts, although kindergarten doesn't seem to get into high gear until what seems like Christmas.  Seriously, my son needs school, none of this "take-it-slow, let-them get their-feet-wet" preamble.  Jump in, I say, the sooner the better!   

So with 39 days left, I am giving you a checklist of Winnipeg's wonders to explore.  We are trying to day trip as much as possible, it's fun and there are no sleeping issues on a day trip.

Top

1.  Boonstra Farms-raspberries are ready for picking

2.  Children's Museum- not my fav but kids ADORE it

3.  Stonewall Quarry days

4.  Manitoba Museum - went yesterday, kids had a hoot and even Sadie can wander

5.  Selkirk boat museum- again nothing like a big boat for kids to explore, they run and run and run

6.  Lower Fort Garry-took our kids last year, they enjoyed the old fashioned stuff more than we thought

7.  Birds Hill Beach-if we ever get a nice day, kids can wade in forever

8.  Bridge Drive Inn

9.  Half Moon

10.  Fort Whyte

11.  Oak Hammock marsh

12.  Mini Golf -painful for parents but fun for kids

13.  Goldeyes game

14.  Bomber game

15. Horse back riding- Birds Hill is good for trail rides and they have a "little" animal fam, too

16.  The famous Grand Beach

17.  Bruce's Station in East Selkirk for homemade drumsticks (call ahead, they've been out the 2 times we were there)

18.  Camp in your backyard- beds are not far in case it doesn't work.

19.  Make smores in backyard on camping night

20.  Visit Gimli - great day trip, eat fish and chips at a great place, (can't remember name)

21.  Rainy day-Aviation Museum

22. Library-another great rainy day activity, kids loe to take out books as much as buying them.

23. Visit the Forks and go on the boat tour-interesting for parents and kiddies love it

24. Tinkertown - so much fun for little kids and big kids, like dads, too.

25. Pine Point Rapids hike in the Whiteshell -still my favorite from when I was a little girl

26.  Visit Pine Ridge Hollow's farmer's market on Saturdays

27.  The zoo, I know not the best in the country but it's decent and our kids have been twice and they want to go to back. 

28.  OK, I was shooting for 30 but I'm at a standstill with a monkey on my neck.  Give a comment if I forgot anything. 

Happy Birthday, Brent and for goodness sakes, let your wife pamper you!  

Friday Facts

1.  Weather YOU SUCK!  I was going to try and roll with the punches, keep my chin up but that is crap - you suck weather and you know it!

2.  Evy and I played hairdresser all morning while Harris was at camp and then in the afternoon she cut a huge chunk out of her real hair.  She is now sporting a bob style with chunk in the front missing.  Is that a fault of my parenting - sharp sisscors at her disposal.  Lesson Learned.

3.  Harris is back to getting up at 6:30 am  - boo!  It is really boo for Kirby because I am usually out running by then - but still, my Friday morning of rest ended early this morning.  I guess the summer days of "long sleeps" are a distant memory.

4.  I tried the new Tiber River location (kenaston) for waxing last night and I am already converted from my old joint.  It is close, I already knew I loved there stuff and now I love Brenna.  She is new out of school and this is her first job!  She is great (and funny too!) Check it out!  I also bought some muscle soak because this leg is sore again today (#5).

5.  Fix yourself already.  I have my plane tickets, pasta party tickets, and my bib number purchased.  I am staying at the Fairmont Empress!  I am so looking forward to this.  Start co-operating peg-leg or I will saw you off and leave you at home.

6.  Tommorrow is a REAL karoke party at the lake.  Has anyone ever tried karoke sober?  Tips, just in case...

7.  Do I have a sing on my back that states - Whine at me - I enjoying practicing patience???

8. The gremlins are all over me, I thought the list would be longer but Bunny Bear is missing and Harris needs help with his Pirate costume.

Have a great long weekend!

Happy Birthday to my husband.

 

Today is my Brent's 35th birthday.  I always feel a bit anxious as his day approaches because I truly want to make it the best day.  I want to celebrate one love of my life.  I want to open the front door upon waking and shout, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BOY WHO STILL MAKES MY HEART PURR!  And yet, I annually run into road blocks.  Brent is incredibly humble.  He doesn't like people to fuss over him and he truly doesn't want anything for his birthday.  He feels a celebration is unnecessary and thinks he has everything he needs.  Seriously Mol. 

This year, I bought his card in May.  I bought him 3 books to read while we laze our days away on holidays (next week), and I bought him a few articles of clothing with the help of my other two loves.  Tomorrow we will make him breakfast and dismiss him of all chores for the day...  Our boys are going to the lake for the night and I am taking my high school sweetheart out for dinner.

And as I type this, I feel twitters in my tummy.  I know that no matter what we do, he will love it.  But still, I wonder if he knows just how much he means to us and how blessed we are to have him.  So, with the help of our boys, we have created a list of...

The TOP 10 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT BRENT/DAD...

1.  We love how much you make us laugh. 

2.  We love how you will always swim with us, no matter the temperature of the water.

3.  We love how much you worry about the boys near water.

4.  We love how you always pay for ice cream.

5.  We love how you kiss our cheeks, all three of us, when we cry.

6.  We love how incredibly handsome you are (some more than others).

7.  We love how you tell us regularly that we are the best and strongest superheros.

8.  We love how you can warm all three of us up with your snuggles.

9.  We love how each year we live, you love us more.

10.  Most of all, we love that you are ours.

Happy birthday Brent, I must be the luckiest girl alive to have married you.

Please advise

I'm entering new territory and am not quite sure how to handle it.  My boy, Ty, who until this point has been the child that needed very little guidance.  His gentle spirit, kindness and tenderness has seemed to transform in front of my eyes into something I don't recognize and do not like.  He has always been very aware of other people's feelings, always searching for new friends, leading the pack in a way that I have watched from afar and swelled with pride.  He has been my snuggler and at times told myself and others how much he loves us dozens of times in a day.  In the past few weeks, I have seen little glimpses of something I can only classify as "attitude".  On several occasions, I have seen him go out of his way to exclude others and seems to falling into those cliques that I thought came only when school started.  The comment that he hates his sister is thrown around on a daily basis and is usually coupled with a punch to her chest, often for no reason.  He is snippy with us and when we punished him the other day for an incident by taking away some privileges, he responded by looking me square in the eye and saying, "I don't care".  I was shocked, where did we go wrong?  What has happened to my boy?  Is this what happens in the summer when there is no daily structure like school, daycare or preschool?  We are not this kind of family, does the attitude come regardless?  I am baffled as to where this is coming from and need serious advice.  Is this a phase that will pass?  Somebody out there must have been in this situation before, any suggestions?  I miss my sweet boy and want that innocence back.  We have all the time in the world for "attitude" in the teenage years.  Help!!

Summer Fun!

Thursday, you say?  Welcome back to my husband - me, the "hairdresser", and the "ninja" missed you.  I have managed to get in all my runs so far this week, all the miles and ON pace - hurrah.  I think the chiro may be saving my leg???  Network chiropractic work I always did believe in you but I have never found a doctor that I connected with - Try Feasey Wellness and Chiropractic on Marion.

What else?  I am on the Fall reatreat - stay tuned.  Have fun watching the video! Yes, it was camping with 4 children under 5 (4y, 2y, 2y, and 3 months - a big shout out to Garnet himself and for Jac and D for happily camping with a baby)

K

100 Ways

Here is a little inspiration on a Wednesday.  I read this everytime I go to the doctor's office and I love it.

		One Hundred Ways To Live To One Hundred
			1. Enjoy yourself. 2. Stay young at heart. 3. Be honest and open. 4. Look for rainbows. 5. Walk to work. 6. Take the stairs. 7. Keep your curiosity. 8. Stop smoking. 9. Listen to your body. 10. Watch what you eat. 11. Watch what you say. 12. Make time for your children. 13. Don't rest on your laurels. 14. Drink lots of water. 15. Have faith in others. 16. Walk in the park. 17. Forgive. 18. Be an optimist. 19. Make love. 20. Cross-country ski. 21. Discover romance. 22. Exercise regularly. 23. Do Tai Chi. 24. Try Yoga. 25. Plant a garden. 26. Eat plenty of fruit. 27. Golf. 28. Adopt a pet. 29. Laugh often. 30. Be positive. 31. Give, don't take. 32. Marry your sweetheart. 33. Celebrate your marriage. 34. Enjoy being single. 35. Relax. 36. Eat your greens. 37. Take up lawn bowling. 38. Do nothing in excess. 39. Do everything in excess. 40. Serve chicken noodle soup. 41. Practice what you preach. 42. Look before you leap. 43. Make time for your friends. 44. Reduce your cholesterol. 45. Early to bed, early to rise. 46. Don't mope. 47. Try new things. 48. Skinny dip. 49. Write to a friend. 50. Play tennis. 51. Commune with nature. 52. Sing in the car. 53. Write a poem. 54. Whistle while you work. 55. Read a book. 56. Take your medicine as prescribed. 57. Challenge yourself. 58. Count your blessings. 59. Indulge yourself. 60. "Carpe diem" (Seize the day). 61. Take setbacks in stride. 62. If you want to stop taking a medication, ask your doctor. 63. Cuddle. 64. Use olive oil. 65. Eat your Brussel sprouts. 66. Lighten up. 67. Choose a career you love. 68. Be active in your community. 69. Read the paper every day. 70. Sit up straight. 71. Keep your mind active. 72. Travel. 73. Soak in the tub. 74. Don't be jealous. 75. Eat an apple a day. 76. Be generous with hugs. 77. Make time for your partner. 78. Keep in touch with family, 79. Bake a pie. 80. Eat plenty of fish. 81. Get plenty of fresh air. 82. Be yourself. 83. Swim. 84. Make time for your grandchildren. 85. Control your temper. 86. Share. 87. Take nothing for granted. 88. Ask questions when your doctor gives you new medications. 89. Power walk at the mall. 90. Don't procrastinate. 91. Accept those things which you cannot change. 92. Don't drink and drive. 93. Create solutions, not problems. 94. Be sociable. 95. Feed the birds. 96. Pamper yourself once a day. 97. Go fishing. 98. Smile. 99. Smell the flowers. 100. Listen to your doctor.

Sweet, Sweet Sadie

I remember the day so well.  11 days overdue, swollen, huge and very near tears at any moment.  I remember the moment I woke up and found that the contractions were already only 3 minutes apart, the excitement, the jubilation, the sheer terror.  She was coming and fast.  A sprint to the hospital, a brief exam, and just like her sister, the window for drugs was already closed.  An hour later, elated, in awe and very much spent, she was here.  Our Sadie Jayne.

  

Her being here has completed our little clan, her personality seems to fit just right.  I would say she is patient and yet I am seeing the glimmer of what lies ahead, those dreadful toddler years.  She is bcoming more aware of the fact that in the mix of 3, she often seems to get the shaft of toys and yes, sometimes, the attention.  She marches to her own beat and even yesterday at her party, it is the older 2 that require the parenting.  She basked in the business of the backyard and the question was often asked, "Where is little Sadie?"  I marvel at the way that she can somehow keep up with all the older kids, climbing up the plat structure, sliding down, even taking a chance at the bouncer (code word for injury trap). 

I take every possible moment with this little angel to snuggle her, despite her pushing away.  I kiss that soft place under her neck as much as she'll let me and those cheeks are all but bitten by me.  As glad as I am to have her sleeping through the night, I am NOT ready to give up the bottle and risk losing those few moments we share, just her and I before bed and naps.  I am so grateful for our little Sadie.  I am so proud to watch her thrive in the chaos that is our life and I feel so incredibly blessed to watch her grow under the watchful eyes of her big brother and sister.  She is surrounded by love and influenced by the very strong woman in her life and mine.  I have no fears that this little doll will grow to be a truly amazing and spectacular woman, with a mama that couldn't be more proud or love her more than I do right now.

Happy Birthday, my beautiful daughter!

Confessions?

Question 1:  Is feeding you child PB and J six meals in a row child abuse?  Just wondering because that is where we are at today. It is 5pm and the house is starting to go sideways (i'll steal a line from Dierks and pretend it is going sideways in the sense of a wild child free party......one can dream, right.)  We all awoke to the sound of the doorbell at 6 am this morning - the cab who had arrived to take Kirby to the airport...We shot up - Kirby included  - can you say alarm malfunction - guess, PALMela (his beloved IPhone) is still not quite perfect.  There followed some mad scamble of a man in his gitch and begging from a mom who desperately wanted a little more sleep.  No such luck and the day began....bringing us to the current no-nap/rest ANYTHING melt-down sitation. 

This brings me to Question 2: Is it ok to force your kids to go to bed at 6 pm and watch PVR'd Batchelor with you in bed.  In all seriously, they see that kind of making out and smooching and lusting after one another from us on a daily basis (insert sarcasm here:).

BUT, I did have a rather great day.  I had 2 hours of Discovery with my own new coach and empowered and inspired more than ever.  This is going to be great!  Big things are coming!  I also had a discovery session with a new client who is very much inspiring to me.  She has such a gentle, caring, honest manner - Thank you!  I look forward to working with you!

Oh ya, I also managed to knock off my 6 km (thanks to the extra hour of babysitting) faster than my training pace.  This leg is starting to shape up!

Oh ya ya, Wheels are turning for our retreat - thinking 1 night mid October - It is going to be luxurious - can you teachers swing an October Saturday night?

Off to bed - 5:25 pm

Happy, Happy...

 

Here is a list of 'stuff' floating around my grey matter in no particular order....

1. Happy Birthday Miss Sadie Belle.  I am so looking forward to your party tonight.  Your momma has gone to lots of work, which she loves, to make you're first birthday the best ever.  Eat cake, as much as you want.  Smear food all over your face and stay up late.  Heck, it's your party...

2.  Happy Anniversaries to Bully & John and Mol and Chad Cats.  Love, love, love.

3.  I need a martini.  I really do and it's only 10:30.  The trouble is that I just can't handle it like the good ole days (aka my 20's).  4 drinks and I am hanging upside down from my sister's chandelier - which sadly she thinks is obnoxious.

4.  Today I wish I had an office job where you could Google for 8 hours, pretending to work on your next big project, quietly at your desk - no one bothering you.  I don't feel like busting my nuts today.  Is that also obnoxious????

5.  I am pissed off at my husband today.  This morning (ahem, most mornings), I make all of the concessions to get our family ready and am still in my pajamas looking like a bag when our sitter arrives.  WTF.  Today, I asked for his help and he snapped at me.  I know life coaches everywhere would not approve, but I felt like slapping him, twice.  Man, that feels so good to say.  Sometimes you just need to slap a man.  Catchy line, I like it.

6.  Money, money, money - why is summer so expensive and where can I find a little extra dough.  I feel like I am constantly contemplating, Mastercard or Debit.  I like to switch things up so that the paper trail isn't so blatantly obvious.  But seriously, there's dinners and birthdays and oh yeah, the spa.  All of these things are totally necessary, I just need a raise or a second job.  Or a money tree?

7.  I have my annual physical today.  Yep, gotta love those.

8.  Have I mentioned that i am very slow and lazy these days when it comes to exercise.  I can barely get my butt out of bed.  WTF - again!

9.  10 is just to cliche so over and out mommas.  Is it hump day yet????

Back to Reality

Team Parnell too had an action packed, love packed weekend.  No dates here but lots of love between familiy members.  Crys and I had the most decadent day at the spa.  We lounged, we buffeted, we relaxed and we bonded as women in our 30's who are living life to the fullest.  After the spa, we got dolled up and headed out for dinner and drinks.  It was a fantatsic night filled with great people....

Bully & Reg (more love) were at The Heights to greet our entourage.  Crys had a ton of friends come out, inlcuding some fabulous Lucky pals.  Truly is was so much fun.  Laura babysat for us and we stayed out until the wee hours of the night, thank you and sorry!

But the party didn't stop there, round two was a family (even more love) bbq and pool party at Jen and Brad's.  Jen is a perfect hostess.  We swam while Crys' great friend - Scottie cooked us a feast.  It was pickeral fillets, proscutio, yam fries, stuffed mushroom caps, shrimp, fruit kabobs and pina coladas.  It was all gluten free and all way delicious.  Yum!

Here are a few shots from the day.....

G and Grandma snuggled in between snacks and swims.  Love, love, love.

Huds swam like a champ.  Look out Phelps!

And our wee Gracie made us laugh all day.  She is such a doll.  Love, love, love, love...  I vow to have this shot in a wedding slideshow one day.

The love all around me, squeezing my arm right now must mean only one thing... Back to reality.  The kids are screaming, the work is piling up, the day has begun.  I must run.  Happy Monday Mommas!