Martini Momma

May Long Reinvented

My hubby and Ihave done many, many, MANY May Long Weekends.  Sans kids, they used to include ridiculous camping with copious amounts of liquid courage.  Courage that made us do crazy things, like swim while sleet fell all around.  Weekends that found us huddled around fires eating food out of cans that you could not get me to touch for all the money in the world these days.  We often awoke to snow and even the very thought of sitting under a tarp teeth chattering and drinking sour puss sends a shiver up my spine.  NEVER AGAIN. 

There was no liquid courage this weekend just a few little people that get you to do pretty much anything with the persuasion of their little smiles.  Tyson tubed for the very first time ALONE.  It was wavy beyond belief but with that sun beating down on us, there was not time like the present.  He looked so tiny sitting in that massive tube and yet I couldn't help but think how big he has become.  He conned me into going with him and the girls couldn't be left behind, so we went.  Me in the middle, clutching my Sadie as tightly as I could with one hand, the other holding tightly to Maggie's life jacket to ensure she didn't fly out as we hit the waves.  Ty sat proudly on the other side, an experienced tuber now.  Even the 60 degree water didn't cool the excitement.

The weekend was sun kissed and completely relaxing.  I finished my book club book while my kiddies played with everything the outdoor provides.  The doggy wandered with what I'm sure was a smile on her face.  Chad skiied his buns off and I never tire of watching him throw a rooster tail around.  We watched "It's Complicated" and it's funny, funny!  The first kid crashed by 645 and the last by 745, so the evenings were mine and that in itself is worth going to the lake.  The old May Longs pale in comparison to these new kid friendly ones...and the sun didn't hurt either.

Funny Conversation:

Tyson and I sitting in the van in the parking lot in Lac Du Bonnet waiting while my MIL picked up some wine.  A group of girls walk in front of the van.

Ty-"Mom, why are there so many girls in towns?"

Me- "I don't, Ty.  You don't like girls?"

T- "No, I like them, but only the beautiful ones"

M- I point to the girls walking in front of the van.  "Do you think those girls are beautiful?"

T- "Are the windows rolled up?"

M - Puzzled. "Yes"

T- "Then no, I don't think they are beautiful, not really."

M- "Have you seen a very beautiful girl today?"

T- "Yes, I saw a beautiful girl in the bakery.  She was so beautiful, I couldn't even look at her eyes.  I was in love with her."

And so it begins.

Birthday Bash

Tonight we celebrate.  Finally.  It gets harder and harder to find time to get the whole crew together and so tonight we will do it up backyard-style for not just Dad but Judy as well.  Judy's birthday was on Tuesday, right on the tail of Dad's.  She is such a sweetheart and has become such an important part of our family.  She embraces our entire crew as her own and the kids think the absolute world of her.  She took little maggie to a magic show last weeend at the art gallery and ALWAYS sings that little princess' praises.  Having people in your world to share in your children fills you up as a parent. Tonight we will celebrate their big day's in Judy's style, full of life and love. 

What's on our menu:

Those yummy pork chops at Costco, Greek something or other

Panzanella Salad

Garlic Chili Broccoli

Roasted baby Potatoes with fresh chives

Said to say, time ran out on the Chocolate Mayonnaise cake, so Jeanie's it is

The weather hopes for the weekend are plumetting gradually but we will go to the lake, as we always do. RELAX and have a few glasses of wine playing silly games with my mother-in-law.  Sounds GOOD!  Hope you all enjoy the weekend, we'll keep the fingers crossed for sun!

The Other Man In My Life

It has to be a really important occasion to cause me to make 2 posts in one day.  It is.  Today is my dad's birthday.  My dad is one of my favorite people, not just because he is my dad but because he is a wonderful and respectable man.  My dad does not complain about life...EVER.  I did not get this gene from him.  I have never known him to get down or sad, he is always full of optimism.  When our life was turned upside down when mom died, I tried my best to be there to support dad but on more occasions than I can count, it was him who did the picking up of his girls.  My sister and I know his shoulder well, it is the place we have leaned on time and time again.  I believe with all my heart that some men are meant to father daughters, my dad is one of those men.  He was the dad that scraped our car windows before he left for work until we were well over twenty.  When I didn''t answer the phone at my first babysitting gig, my dad walked over to make sure I was OK. My dad taught me the value of a dollar and more values than I knew at the time.  Disappointing dad meant something to me, it still does.  I remember the time I got caught lying about brushing my teeth.  I have always run to dad for advice, for help, for assurance and yes, at times, for money.  The first phone call when I walked downstairs to find my basement fully flooded was to dad.  He walked in, dropped the armload of supplies, and said, "are you going to cry now or later?"  He hugged me hard, I cried and we moved on.  He has never disappointed me.  He may very well be my biggest supporter and even as a grown woman, I believe dad still invests as much time worrying and praying about my well-being. The only difference is that now his love envelopes a bigger crew, 2 daughters, 2 son-in-laws (that are like his own), 3 grand kids that he absolutely adores and an almost grand baby.  I am so proud of my dad, of the man he is, the morals he stands for, the generous spirit he exudes and the way his love shines through in every moment of every day.  Happy Birthday, Dad!  

Your Daily Dose of Balance

Live a Balanced Life is still a work in progress but we just can't keep these tips to ourselves anymore - they are changing perspectives, health, habits, and bodies in women who our taking our course and they are changing us too.

The reality is that too often women let themselves go.  We become wives and mothers and begin to put ourselves on the back burner of our life!  This means putting on a few pounds, exercising a bit less, becoming 'frumpy' (I hate that word and yet somedays that is exactly how I feel), giving up things we love because of guilt and time.  Slowly, we become resentful, stuck, empty, and crabby and we begin to wonder if the pot will ever sparkle again.

The truth is that you can have it all!  You can be first and still be an awesome mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.  We can show you how....

Live a Balanced Life is powered by real women and moms who are doing it right now.  They will give you the tools to get off the back burner of life and start to sparkle again. These experts can 'un-frump' you with holistic nutrition tips and physical training programs that are realistic, energizing and hold you accountable.  They will walk you and help you through the guilt, the bad habits, the empty slump and teach you how you can become first again and why that is mandatory for your family and your future.

Stop waiting and feeling overwhelmed – join us and partner up now with women who have done it and can show you how!

What can you do?

1.  Visit our site daily for you daily dose of balance! Subscribe to our blog to get real-time info.

2.  Subscribe for our newsletter!  Encourage a friend to do so....when we reach 1000 subscribers we will draw for a free space in each of our 3 upcoming sessions.

3.  Follow us on twitter - see what we are up to and how we are putting balance into action in our own lives (kathgompf, wendynovotny, nutritionnat)

4.  Jump in - take a course - find that sparkle again!

Hey Strangers...

I will admit I have been the Biggest blog slacker of the three for the last while - it's just life - there is alot going on for me these days and I have been busy.  I have coached myself into knowing where to let go and last week the blog didn't make the cut.  I am ok with that - hope you are too:)  I have no big story to share or thought of the day so here are just some of the random going on's in my life!

1.  Toronto was needed.  It was important and although nothing could have kept me away I will be forever grateful that nothing did.  I learned so many things about my family this weekend about my Grandma, my Uncle's, my parents, myself.  Why is it that we talk when life is over?  It seemed sad that as my sister and I went through my Grandma's jewelery (she wanted us - her two Grandchildren to share it) we found signet rings and dainty earrings she had saved all left to us with out the story.  Did she get these for her birthday from her parents?  Were they from my Grandpa when they first started dating?  Stories left up to our own imagination now.  Share the stories while you can - lesson learned.

2.  Mother's Day!  We woke up with my mom in Toronto...spent the middle of the day with my own kids...and then had dinner with my Mother in Law.  It was perfect!  I feel so fortunate to have both my moms around and to share my children with them.  Our kids know and love their grandparents beyond words and it completes me.  I want them to know each other - the quirks, the fun, the love.  It is so important to me and present.

3.  I ate like semi-shit this weekend:)  My Dad put out a huge bowl of chocolate at my Grandma's house and in between cleaning and sorting I indulged:)  Thanks to NAT and her talk last night for LIVE A BALANCED LIFE I woke up and hopped on the wagon again... she stressed the 80/20 is rule - be really good 80% of the time and indulge the other 20% because life is still about living.  I heard ya Nat and this morning I headed out to run my missed training run and knocked off a 10km run in 50 minutes flat.  YES, I am celebrating bragging whatever - it was raining, I drank wine last night, it was early BUT I did it!  I had to chant the names of about 10 people in my life who are never quitters to get me through the last 1 km but it worked! I am happy and proud of myself:) 

4.  My husband is taking his final motorcycle safety course this week and then he warns me he is likely buying himself a motorcycle this summer.  I think I might die!  I do not like the idea one bit (to quote Dr.Seuss) but it is one fight I wont win and need to let go of.  You will never catch me on it because someone needs to be here for the kids:)  He is heading out for a 2 week motorcycle trip next summer with his Dad and Brother to an exotic place which I do think is great (again minus the motorcycle).  I know he is responsible and a great driver BUT! Ok, breathe.....

5.  LIVE A BALANCED LIFE!  It is coming...we are working hard, hard, hard on a new super cool website that will motivate each one of you mommas.  It is my favorite thing to do these days and is teaching me more than I thought possible about myself and live.  I promise you will be the first to know about the site and will get lots of good tips/advice/info on it!  Our next course is starting in June  - Wednesday nights - if you are interested let us know because space will fill up fast! 

That might be it - hows that for rambling on on a Monday Morning?  And seriously, soccer canceled again?

I've been feeling guilty for not writing this week.  I have not been reading it either because seeing the other moms writing their part only makes me feel more guilty.  I feel like I haven't had a tonne to write lately, just kind of blah, and that makes me feel guilty.  GUILT, its crap. 

So, I'm going to stop looking for wonderful, awe-inspiring moments to write.  I am going to stop waiting for the big moments to post and just write about all the moments in between.

Today, it is my Ty.  I have kissed him good night every night since he was born.  The tiptoe into his room to see the little boy in all his wonder, sleeping comfortably and peacefully.  He sleeps like a rock (from me) and I often pick up his little hand and kiss it.  Most nights, Chad is with me, but last night I was on my own.  I have to stand on Mags bottom bunk to get a glimpse of him.  There he was nestled snuggly into his little "boys domaine".  I picked up his hand, I notice it's dry and wonder if I should put cream on it while he is asleep.  It dawned on me that the hand is a lot bigger than it used to be.  It is a big boy hand on a very big boy body.  When did this happen?  He is dying for his own bedroom and as soon as we have Sades into a big bed, it will happen.  For the meantime, he has taken his top bunk and made a little world all his own.  There are 10 thumbtacks around the bed, holding up every mini stick imaginable.  He even includes the no-longer Hartford Whalers stick that is a keepsake from his dad.  They are lined up in 5 year old symmetry.  3 hangers, also held in by thumbtacks, display his dad's old jerseys from the golden days of Bronx Park and Gateway club hockey.  I guess this shrine is about dad as much as it is Ty.  He has made a poster of the rink, drawn each blueline just like in real life.  I knew he had done it as I watched him copy each line and circle from the Internet, I just didn't know he had masking taped it to the wall. There is a box in the corner by his bed that I didn't realize was there.  It used to house his Sketcher's and now it holds Olympic coins and street hockey balls and a few very special hockey cards.  There is barely enough room for his head on the pillow next to the big box.  I chuckle.  This is my boy, always passionate, always exuberant about his loves.  You never have to wonder what the flavor of the week is, its displayed in every move and every square inch.  I know this trend may pass, the hockey figures on his headboard may find their way to the garage sale pile one day but for now this little hockey man of mine is living the dream.  A great dream! 

It's Monday and I need a kick.

1.  April 19th.  Today is my momma 60th birthday.  Happy Birthday mom.  You sure don't look it.  I told her on Saturday night when we celebrated that I think I look older than she does these days!  Mom, I hope you never doubt how much I respect and love you.

2.  I so desperately need to springify my life, my windows, my wardrobe!  I am ready for shorts and tanks.  Sadly, my body is screaming at me to slow down.  THANKFULLY my Brent is home and can pick up where I have been seriously dragging my ass.  This past weekend while walking Miss Aura, Hud 100 feet ahead and G 100 feet behind, a man stopped me to remind me that I really should keep better track of my kids.  Instead of screaming in his face, "Look buddy I am hanging on by a THREAD!"  I smiled and thanked him for the advice.

3.  Today is my annual review for work.  I have the privilege of doing it via conference call in my own home (in my jammies). 

4.  Gramps is still in hospital and not doing very well.  Friday night he took a turn for the worse, we have been on round the clock shifts.  I need to get to the hospital as soon as possible to check in on him and check up on the lung specialist who is deciding on how we can assist a 90 year old in making a come back.

5.   That's all for me.  I am blogging on rote this morning as I have only ingested 2 cups of coffee and cannot yet function.  I am hoping so much that my box of goodies from the mommas at Sister's Leap arrive TODAY.  I need a kick!

 
Last night all evening, I ate preservatives.  Sounds dirty hey?   It's so strange, I knew it was bad.  I knew that my personal trainer would have a cow.  But I kept eating.  I ate peanut butter by the scoopful.  The kind with added sugar.  I ate dill pickle chips.  I then switched to ripple chips and Helluva Good Dip.  Yes, I realize that Helluva is the nasty filled with crap dip.  But man was it good.  Sucks to felt guilty though after a good binge.

OK, today is Friday.  My man is leaving for Las Vegas on a work/business trip.  His office won a top performer vacation which of course had to be sin city.  Matters not to me as I have a good man.  The Hangover will not happen to me.  Lol.

Also this weekend, I am hanging out at Kath's house - which I am PUMPED about.  I miss her and don't get enough of her.  I only hope she steps up to the plate in the fun department seeing as she is eating basically nothing and is wine free.  Saturday night is dinner at our place to celebrate my momma's 60th birthday.  We are bbqing steak, complete with my delicious smashed potato casserole, greek salad, mushrooms and an ice cream cake.

I am pumped to be able to spend extra time snuggling between two little hunks.

Best of all, Gramps should be going home today.  He had good care in the observation deck at the hospital and is on big time meds to heal bronchitis.  He needs to exercise his lungs and get some rest.  Truth be told, we have had many hours of great conversation in the past few days.    Nothing better.

OK, it's go times, it's breakfast with Katie and Will, a way over due brow wax (NO THREADING), a lunch appointment and a week's worth of work in a wrap up report.  Time for a dark roast and a hearty breakfast, complete with Chia seeds - gotta love those crunchy little suckers.  Have a great weekend mommas.

The Beauty of Friendship

Friendship is such a great thing!  I know that it is something I NEED in my life to be calm, balanced, and happy!

Friends are the chocolate chips in the cookies of life!

Yesterday, my mom and her friend Pat arranged a special date.  Pat and my mom have been friends since a baby and me swim class at the YMCA in 1976.  Yes, there they were swimming with their first borns - Mara and Me.  The bond was instant - they took turn watching each others kids and went to everything together.

Mara and I being 2 months apart bonded quickly and life led to sleepover and sleepover, play dates, birthday parties and even one crank phone threat to a mean girl at school:)

Sadly, enough on a camping trip Mara and I (grade 7 or 8) got into the stupidest fight EVER and stubborn as we both were we stopped talking to each other.  Our moms tried - they tried so hard but at that ages the hormones and different schools, new friends, and life just drifted us apart.

Our moms somehow pushed past it and didn't let this ruin their friendship - they stayed tight and from them we always still had a connection to each other.  Ironically, neither of us could go to each others weddings but our Mom's did:) returning home with pictures and stories.  Mara and I both married and moved away - our moms got closer. 

Mara and I both moved home to Winnipeg and out of a blue the friendship re-kindled then ignited.  We have so much in common and I look forward to every visit with her.

Yesterday, it moved to a new level.  As we headed out for a run with the dogs (the are friends too) our moms hosted a play date extraordinary with all our children (their grandchildren).  The were snacks, crafts, outside stuff, more snacks, brownies and even take home bags full of treats. 

I am not sure which generation enjoyed it more.  Thanks Moms:)  Thank you Mara for being in my life:)

Oh My...

Dear Miss Evy (Age 3.2),

I will not lie.  I am terrified.  You are such a sweet, caring, and thoughtful little girl.  You spend most days shushing babies, feeding them bottles, and ensuring Foxy dog's every whim is taken care of. 

BUT there is this new side of you, unknown to anyone other than your family.  You are BOY crazy at THREE:)  Upon the arrival of any of your brother's friends you change into a comical diva who LOVES boys and attention (seriously, you do remember bursting into tears at your Birthday this year because everyone was staring at you and singing). 

Could it really be you - who got naked yesterday, put panties on her head and marched downstairs to invade Harris's playdate calling out 'hey boys - look at me'. 

 
 

Did I really just drag you upstairs from Lego and Transformers while crying out 'I love Claudio'....Are you drunk on silliness? 

Could this be the start of some sort of sober Evy/tipsy Evy?  Is this foreshadowing of you at a high school party?  Will you be the wild child on the tables?  Are you going to date you Big Brother's friends? 

I have no idea what to do - you certainly did not get this from your Mom:)

Love and Help....your totally freaked-out Mom xoxoxoxo

Ps.  I know on occassion I say bad words under my breath but please ignore.  Although I DID find it funny 'Dammit, I can't find my pony mat' is not acceptable lingo.  Like I said do as I say not as I do:)