Friday, May 29, 2015

Choosing FUN

I have three little boys, and let me tell you, there is no lack of energy in this house! With school just starting to wrap up for the year, I started thinking about next fall activities. BOY, AM I SURE GLAD I DID! Registration starts in two weeks for half of them. I actually despise this process, I search the web like a crazy person locating all possible locations for specific activities, compare prices, write down multiple options for all classes, to see how all three kids schedules can fit together. Then I have to check my log-ins, make sure I have all my user names correct, and write down the proper date and time to register. You better believe I am one of those mom's who is up at the crack of dawn getting my kids into swimming lessons, skating, preschool, gymnastics whatever is it.
Today however I decided.
"You know what, I am just going to pick one activity that's important to each kid, and then focus on literally just those three events" (yes, registering my kids is an event in our house hold- with 5 am high fives and all).
POOF, all my craziness is gone. As I tell me my kids when they get their colored lunch plates.... "You get what you get, and don't throw a fit"- now applied to parenting. Will everyone get into swimming lessons? I don't know, but I do know they will all have their one class they are passionate about, and today I will take that as a win!

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Note to self: no more microsan

There are things I will always remember about my boys lives. Like Jake learning to crawl Christmas Day, or the way Asher always grabs at my heart necklace anytime he can reach it. Then there are the things I totally forget about. Lost in my mind until something triggers them. Today, was tough for me, we were at the public health office for routine vaccinations, and I used the anti-bacterial hand gel. Instantly I was flashed back to Cohen in the NICU. I can't speak for anyone else but I HATED having a preemie in the NICU. I hated everything about it. The constent hand washing, disinfecting, signing in, signing out, filling out log after log of multiple things that no matter what, never seemed to be good enough, because your baby was still trapped in this little plastic incubator- not coming home with you. That smell of anti-bacterial gel is in fact my memory of hell. However, as I stood there stunned I watched my perfect little two year old push his brother off a chair while yelling incoherently. Yep, there's nothing preemie about my fighter now, and I feel nothing but instant relief. I make a note-to-self; never use that hand sanitizer again, and remind myself that I have three perfectly healthy, happy children and I couldn't ask for more! Sometimes graditude, which should be the simplest, is in fact the hardest memory of all. 

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Fact vs Fiction... Eating out


Recently, we went away for the weekend. This means a lot of eating out which is slow, painful torture, but inspired my very first fact vs fiction entry.

I always use to think that large families didn't eat out because of the following reasons:

  1. It would take too long to get a table for 5+ people because the world is made for families of four or couples.
  2. It was just too expensive.
  3. You would have to down grade your restaurant because of price.

Get ready to have your mind blown- NONE OF THESE ARE THE REASON! The real reason why larger families do not dine out is basically because of this list:

  1. The idea of being trapped in a booth with all your children and that many open water/juice/pop glasses is terrifying. You better hope you wore black pants, preferably polyester so they will dry fast when inevitably the cups on the table are all knocked over and pool into your lap. Children are invincible; they can flail their arms all over the place and will NEVER get a spilled drink on them.
  2. The minute a waitress sees a 5+ table that automatically means snails pace. Have you ever tried to contain starving monkey goats? Well take my hungry family to a restaurant and you will get that experience.
  3. As parents, you mine-as-well of ordered a side of ice cubes to throw on your food because by the time you wrangle your children down and convince them to eat, your food is freezing. Who really wants to pay good money for gross freezing food? Could have had that experience at home.

When we only had two kids, going out to eat wasn’t perfect but it was easy. Now I just prefer to stay home and use the slow cooker- at least my food is hot when I am eating 45 minutes after the kids finish!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Our Big Debut- Don't Miss It!


MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOLKS!

Sunday, April 26 will be Diaperworks first Trade Fair. We are so excited! Here are the details on the event.

Who: Mommylicious Trade Fair with Flair. This is the BEST family friendly Trade Fair Event!

What: 40-70 Local vendors who have all sorts of products and services that are geared towards families.

Where: The Carriage House Inn (9030 MacLeod Trail South, Calgary, Ab)

When: Sunday, April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: FREE, plus there are so many great things going on-Bouncy House, Face Painting, Mini Photo Sessions, Stroller Check, Door Prizes & Shopping!

 

Hope to see you all there!