Martini Momma

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Bad Parenting

 
Yesterday in amongst sunshine and soccer balls, Huds asked me if he was getting fat.  I almost fell over.

"Of course you're not babe (if anything I wish I could fatten him up).  Why would you ask that?"

Insert mental image of a bad parent.

"Well remember how you told me a while ago if you eat too much McDonald's, you'll get fat?"  I am sure you're gasping at your computer right now. 

Sheepishly, "Yes."

"Well I have two cheeseburgers this year (this week) and now I'm wondering if I'm fat."

Insert teachable moment.

"Babe, eating McDonald's as a treat will not make you fat.  I was trying to teach you that eating McDonalds all the time is not a healthy choice.  Our bodies are like cars.  We need to put fuel in them everyday.  The better the fuel, the better they drive.  We also need fresh air, exercise and sleep to really be out best."  At this moment, time has stopped.  I am hoping he'll forgive my blatant stupidity.

"Mom..."

"Yeah."

"Wouldn't Gage love it if I were a car!"

If you had to choose...

 
Would you rather have a good job or a good life? 

The Next Van Gough?

 
Last night just as I was about to collapse into bed, I heard the sound of presents being opened coming from G's room.  I looked at the clock 9:55.  Man it was almost 10 and that little monkey was still awake.  I knew I wanted to get him to sleep but I also was curious about the sound I was hearing.

So, I quietly made my way to his door.  His lamp was turn on and he was standing on his bed all business in his Diego jammies with his hands on his hips.

"No, no, no.  That's not right."  He said to himself.

In his room we have a collage of cars , trucks and stop signs in the form of removable decals all over the wall nearest his bed.  He had removed every one that his wee arms would reach.  He had taken what Brent and I made (a hodge podge of decals everywhere) and created a small town... 

All of the cars and trucks were lined up.  There were stop lights and dump trucks waiting to go. 

I was completely in awe of this small person thinking through what must have appeared originally to him as a huge mess.  He stopped, turned and realized I was watching him.

"Honey, this is so neat.  Did you make a new picture?"

"Thank you momma.  But this is not a picture, these are roads.  Can you please pass me the stop light up high?  I can't reach it."

Summer days.

 
I have recently discovered about myself how much I love the rain.  Years ago, I would run from it, cover up under it and feel agitated to be wet as I went about my day.  But as I get to know myself better, I am realizing how much I love the sound of the rain.

Last night, with drops pounding on a tin roof, me and my boys sat by the window and watched the downpour, complete with little pebbles of hail.  The sounds of the tink, tink, tink above made me feel somehow even more connected to summer.  The green of the grass, the smell of the air and the wet all around made me want to celebrate the season.

When I think about summer, I think watermelon.  I think lemonade.  I think about the smell of coconut on my skin.  I think fresh cut grass and early morning chirping.  When me and my sisters were younger, we'd often spend weekends at my grandparents farm, climbing hay bales, eating spoonfuls of fresh canned raspberry jam and lying side by side in the hammock that hung among the oak trees.

It's funny how the crunch of an acorn always transports me back in time.  As I reflected on our days growing up, I began to think about the memories Brent and I are creating in our boys lives.  I wondered what they would look back on and remember fondly.  Would it be the tink, tink, tink as we watched the rain wash away the worries of a day?  Would it be endless hours of soccer, family bike rides or bellies full of Hagan Daas?

Come on mommas, you have inspired me so much as of late with your home grown opinions on the dirty dozen.  What are some of the summertime memories you're trying to create in your journey called life?  What's your awesome?

The big O.

Organic.  What did you think I was talking about?  I recently saw a van driving around town with the business name Fresh Option on it.  I was intrigued, so I looked into it.  My digging found a company that delivers organic produce to your doorstep.  How cool is that?

Truth be told - I know Nat would die to hear this - I buy almost NO organic produce now.  With a growing family, we go through a TON of produce and so I have justified it to myself that it would simply cost too much to go organic.

Well, aside from seeing the delivery truck with a carrot on it, organic seems to be all over my world.  My hair dresser Melinda was talking about it.  I hear it on the news.  My clients are talking about it.  Tips for a Balanced Life are Tweeting it.  Seriously, it must be all over everyone's world.  And,better late than never, I had my first organic apple at The Celiac Conference and man was it delicious. 

In the quest to be better, I decided to really start thinking about going organic.  On my last grocery bill, I had asked the girl to subtotal my produce.  It was about 1 week's worth which tcame to $33.51.  The Fresh ORGANIC Option is $50.00 delivered to your door for a family of 4. Not a huge difference, in my mind, although all I can hear is my Auntie Lain saying "Come out to the farm and pick it for free.".

So, here are my questions... Do you do organic?  If so, do you do follow The Dirty Dozen

The Must-buy organic foods...

Fruit

• Apples
• Cherries
• Grapes, imported (Chili)
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Vegetables

Bell peppers

Celery

Potatoes

Spinach

or do you buy all organic produce? 

Oh what a weekend...

Gooooood Monday morning mommas.  This weekend was totally energizing for me.  Here's why.

Mom and I made it to The Celiac Conference.  It was very worthwhile for a few reasons.  

1. it definitely brought a few new products into my world.  

2. it reconfirmed how much I know about gluten free options.  I loved seeing a representation of some of my fav products.  I first heard of a Gluten Free local baker a few months back - through this blog - a lady named Betsy.  She make desserts, buns, pizza and the most delicious chocolate cakes.  Her company is Cocoabeans.  Well I did finally meet Betsy this past weekend.  She is fabulous and her products are delicious.  Mom and I couldn't resist her P'Nut Oatbar.   (insert drooling).

Other than GF eating, I invested in my first rain barrel.  It is a old fashioned kind that I bought for $15.  It is completely white and needs a bit of construction.  But hey, I'm thinking environment and conservation.  The Coach has begun composting which I really admire and have put on my GET BETTER list.

On a different note...I witnessed my Hud make his bed for the first time.  And he's good.  And since we're talking linens, I should confess, I have a fetish for a crisply made bed.  In fact, I would say that I could be friends with Reg solely on how she makes a bed.  This obsession may stem back to my childhood where every Sunday was a time to change sheets.  My mom would inspect the corner folds.  Anyway, getting back to Hud.  I had told him I could play operation once I was finished making the beds.  So, he helped.  That's my boy.

4.  I celebrated my 12th anniversary.  I married a good one. 

Happy start of week.

Hellooooo? Anyone still there?

 
Not sure if anyone is still out there reading.  I have to apologize as I know us mommas have been slacking.  I did mention a few posts back that I wondered about the life span of martini Mommas.  I was over whelmed with the people who emailed me and left comments.  Thanks for inspiring us.  Truth be told, I used to be in the habit of writing every day (as you well know) and once you get out of a habit a bit, it is much easier to keep slipping.

Anyway, today I want to shout out a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sis Jen.  Sisters are definitley in my book of Awesome.  She doesn't read the blog (she thinks she should heard about me from me) but for me, this blog is a place where I can say whatever is on my mind and today, my mind is on my Jen.

About 10 years ago, Jen lived in a condo about 1 mile from where Brent and I live.  We didn't have kids yet.  Almost daily she and I would walk 5 kilometers.  We would speed walk, chatting about the regular happenings of our lives.  She was always flexible with my time as she was in university, studying to be at teacher and working nights waitressing.

I loved so much those walks.  Eventually she walked herself into love with her husband Brad.  He is an awesome guy with one small fault.  He lived on the other side of the city from our family.  Ok, two faults.  He had a pool.  Like a fish drawn to water.  She gave up her little condo and leaped into a new life. 

My sweet sis, who became our Florence Nightingale when papa was sick, I hope your birthday is so special.  You deserve it.

Tomorrow our immediate family is going out for dinner and drinks to celebrate.  In case it is not obvious, our family is almost entirely born in the first half of the year!

Tomorrow is also a Celiac Convention at The Victoria Inn.  It is free from 1:30 - 5:30 and has many exhibitors sampling new gluten free products.  I am definitely checking it out.  Happy Friday mommas!

Life is as Highway

Well the cake crumbs have been swept up and I am left with a medium roast cup of Starbuck's coffee.  The party was albeit exhausting, a HUGE success.  G had a blast.  It is always mind blowing just how much work a HOME, FAMILY & FRIENDS party can be.  In amongst a leaking drain pipe under the kitchen sink, a flooding basement and 10 kids running wild, the coach gave me some sound advice, "Now's the time to think about kids parties."  she smiled.

You see, I have always felt like kid parties were a disappointment.  I want to see my friend's kids on their birthday.  I want to see my gal pal's family, their parents.  I want to celebrate big days in their family's journey.  And yet, I might be coming to the realization that wanting peace and wanting these extended parties are a recipe for insanity.

At one point in the madness, I slipped downstairs to check on the basement turned arc.  The birthday boy was in the basement all by himself.

"G - what'ya doing down here all alone (in a soggy playroom)?"

"I'm just relaxing and playing with my cars momma."  Smart kid.

All kidding aside, the food, the guests, the wine.  It was all a blast.  G thanked us numerous times for the great party.

Today is my little man's actual 3rd birthday.  As every parent would say, I can't believe what a little boy he is turning into.  His gifts consisted of water soakers, sprinklers, polo shirts and ride on toys.  And although he is no longer a toddler, he will always be my baby. 

I usually leave most of mush to Miss Mollie, but little G, I want to thank you for coming into your dad & I's life.  You have taught us how to love with our whole beings.  I used to always think I was affectionate and free with my heart, but my boy your love knows no bounds.  You leap out of bed with a smile on your face and you emit love until your wee frame collapses under mine or dad's arm just as the sun is setting. 

Ironically I often worried the first year of your life that I had given birth to a babe in amongst too much stress (the running and finally - the closing a business).  I felt that you always sensed the struggles I had while I was pregnant with you.  G - if you knew, you've never let on.  Happy 3rd birthday.  We love you more that words and wish you a 'racey' day that is free of speed bumps.

XOXOX

Mom (& Dad)

Honk! Here comes a big load.

 
Hello Thursday, looks like you're bringing me rain.  That is good because I have planted a TON of new foliage around home base.  The bad news is that I am prepping for a houseful of people this weekend and would love to be able to sit on the deck.

Saturday we are celebrating our baby's 3rd birthday.  Not to state the obvious, BUT it will be a car/truck theme.  G has personally requested a Mack Truck cake, which as of yesterday I am not sure will happen.  It turns out that Mack is a tough cake to create, I am keeping my fingers crossed that Karen will pull through for us.  If there is a letter on Mack's grill out of place, our car fanatic will surely notice.

I have had fun shopping for G this year.  To date I have picked up a Truck Town board book, a cool vehicle floor puzzle, McQueen shades and some new threads.  We leave all toys for Hudson to give his little bro. 

Yesterday in fact, I waltzed into the Mack Dealership on Saskatchewan Avenue looking for a model semi-truck.   I was the only woman for what seemed like miles around .  The guy behind the desk barely looked at me. 

"Excuse me.  I am looking to purchase a model Mack Semi Truck.  My boy is crazy about big rigs and his birthday is this weekend.  Is that possible?

He informed me that they no longer sold model trucks but did have something sure to make my little guy's day.  He left his post and returned 3 minutes later with a picture of a Mack Truck cruisin the highway.  I gave it to G when I picked him up.  He went bonkers. 

The next two days will be errands and prepping for our celebration and trying to get in a workout.  I have lots of great food to eat and the bottles of birthday wine are piling up.  Time to pop a cork.  Book Club is tomorrow night and that will be a fabulous way to start a great weekend.