Ok, I have said it before when I have heard people complain about the weather - We live in Canada, it's January, and it is cold - deal with it! But after the warmish weather that we have had I am finding it particularly difficult to deal with this cold snap. The low for tonight is -16 with wind chills the temperature will feel more like -24. That is just too darn cold. This morning the snow was blowing and drifting to the point that I thought that the buses might be canceled and Emily would experience her first 'snow day' of 2010. To say that Emily was thrilled at this prospect would be an understatement. So you can imagine her disappointment when I told her that the buses were indeed operating and she had to go to school!
Emily participates in a program at school called 'Rocket Readers', the goal of this program is to encourage kids to read by rewarding their efforts with stickers for every 10 books that they read. Emily is now reading level B books which I find pretty impressive given the fact that she is only 5 years old. I am sure that I wasn't reading books at this level until at least grade 2. Kindergarten has certainly changed.
Mady continues to try everyone's patience - the 'terrible' twos can't pass soon enough! Her speech is evolving very well. Last week her response to any direction given was 'oday', this week she has added 'alred' (alright). Emily is now known as 'Onolie' - which I think is an improvement from 'dar', Norb is now 'Dada', Grandma is now 'Ma', and I am now 'Mum', 'Mama', or 'Mommy'. I don't remember feeling as excited when Emily first called me 'mommy' - I think because I assumed that speech was a normal developmental progression that every child would have. But seeing the pride in Mady's eyes when she is able to produce a sound that has meaning is so wonderful - I am sure that there will be days that I will need to remind myself of these moments when she won't stop talking :) Don't get me wrong - I absolutely loved hearing Emily call me mom for the first time, it is just different this time. I still love opening the door after a busy day at work and hearing Emily shout "Mom!". I wouldn't trade these moments for anything.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The end is near - I think
Well today was my fourth official day back at work following my three month absence - I am pooped. Working full-time, being a parent, and completing my degree is BUSY. But the end is near...today was the first day of my final course towards the completion of my BScN, a day that has felt completely unachievable for a long time now. I am looking forward to scratching one role off of my list of responsibilities. April 1, 2010 is the day that my final assignment is due and I can hardly wait.
This week in addition to returning to work and school I have also resumed my pottery evenings, something that I truly enjoy and find relaxing and thrilling at the same time. At some point I would like to add a good wheel and kiln to the garage so I will have a little more freedom in when and where I am able to create. Emily received a mini pottery wheel for Christmas - which she is totally excited about. The first bowl that she made was destroyed by her 'baby' sister. Needless to say Emily was not very happy with her 'baby' sister. I would have to say that Emily has a creative flair - drawing, singing, 'playing' the guitar, painting are a few of her favourite things. Mady's creative energy has lately been directed toward unconventional mediums - drawing on the floors or walls seems to be preferred to paper right now. Mr.Clean magic erasers have become a staple in my home.
Michelle
This week in addition to returning to work and school I have also resumed my pottery evenings, something that I truly enjoy and find relaxing and thrilling at the same time. At some point I would like to add a good wheel and kiln to the garage so I will have a little more freedom in when and where I am able to create. Emily received a mini pottery wheel for Christmas - which she is totally excited about. The first bowl that she made was destroyed by her 'baby' sister. Needless to say Emily was not very happy with her 'baby' sister. I would have to say that Emily has a creative flair - drawing, singing, 'playing' the guitar, painting are a few of her favourite things. Mady's creative energy has lately been directed toward unconventional mediums - drawing on the floors or walls seems to be preferred to paper right now. Mr.Clean magic erasers have become a staple in my home.
Michelle
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy 2010!
Well more than a year has past since my last post - where did 2009 go?? I can't believe that a decade has passed since the world worried that Y2K would cause computer systems to crash and data to be lost.
In thinking about the past year and all of the joy and happiness that I had in my life I cannot help but think about the hardships and losses that so many people in our community have faced. The economic downturn of the past year has possibly been one of the most difficult things in many people's lives. I am hopeful and optimistic that 2010 will be better. We have been blessed this past year with a healthy family, secure jobs, and a home that is ever changing.
Emily is blossoming into a beautiful young girl - she has entered her second school year and continues to amaze me with the things that she thinks of and says.
Madalyn continues to be our spirited and adventurous toddler. She has proven that no two children in the same family will behave the same way :) Mady is always up for a challenge or to try something new - including writing on the floors, walls, and herself. One thing is certain if there isn't any noise - you need to be worried.
As the new year begins - like many people I have thought of some resolutions for the upcoming year. In now particular order here is a list of my top ten resolutions for 2010:
1) Be more organized.
2) Declutter my life - beginning in my closet :)
3) Compete all unfinished projects (big or small) before starting any more
4) Spend more time doing things that I enjoy
5) Spend more time outside being active
6) Work being more accepting and less judgmental of people in my life
7) Adopt a more healthy lifestyle
8) Laugh more
9) Take more pictures, blog often, and scrapbook as many memories as possible
10) Be more POSITIVE!
Well that concludes this post - I am planning on blogging more in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Michelle
In thinking about the past year and all of the joy and happiness that I had in my life I cannot help but think about the hardships and losses that so many people in our community have faced. The economic downturn of the past year has possibly been one of the most difficult things in many people's lives. I am hopeful and optimistic that 2010 will be better. We have been blessed this past year with a healthy family, secure jobs, and a home that is ever changing.
Emily is blossoming into a beautiful young girl - she has entered her second school year and continues to amaze me with the things that she thinks of and says.
Madalyn continues to be our spirited and adventurous toddler. She has proven that no two children in the same family will behave the same way :) Mady is always up for a challenge or to try something new - including writing on the floors, walls, and herself. One thing is certain if there isn't any noise - you need to be worried.
As the new year begins - like many people I have thought of some resolutions for the upcoming year. In now particular order here is a list of my top ten resolutions for 2010:
1) Be more organized.
2) Declutter my life - beginning in my closet :)
3) Compete all unfinished projects (big or small) before starting any more
4) Spend more time doing things that I enjoy
5) Spend more time outside being active
6) Work being more accepting and less judgmental of people in my life
7) Adopt a more healthy lifestyle
8) Laugh more
9) Take more pictures, blog often, and scrapbook as many memories as possible
10) Be more POSITIVE!
Well that concludes this post - I am planning on blogging more in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
Michelle
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Where has the time gone??
So much has happened since my last post, I was having some issues logging into my blogger account. That is fixed now - so here goes...
After a whirlwind weekend celebrating Madalyn's birthday we headed off to the 'happiest' place on earth - yup, you guessed it WALT DISNEY WORLD! The weather was perfect - not too hot, and definitely not too cool. I would highly recommend a visit to WDW in October. Both of the girls had a great time - obviously Emily enjoyed some thing more than Mady did but overall I think they both had a fantastic time. Norb is already busy plotting and planning our next trip, I think if he had his way we would be going at least 2 times a year. One of the biggest highlights of our trip was dinner with the princesses - we had the 'royal' opportunity to feast with Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Cinderella, and most importantly AURORA!!! Emily was so cute as the princesses came by our table she would take her napkin and gently pat her mouth. According to Emily 'all princesses clean their mouth with napkins - mom'. This was also a huge highlight for Emily because she was dressed in her Aurora costume. I will have to post some pictures.
When we returned from Florida we were greeted by bitterly cold wind and some swirling flurries - it was a dose of reality.
After a whirlwind weekend celebrating Madalyn's birthday we headed off to the 'happiest' place on earth - yup, you guessed it WALT DISNEY WORLD! The weather was perfect - not too hot, and definitely not too cool. I would highly recommend a visit to WDW in October. Both of the girls had a great time - obviously Emily enjoyed some thing more than Mady did but overall I think they both had a fantastic time. Norb is already busy plotting and planning our next trip, I think if he had his way we would be going at least 2 times a year. One of the biggest highlights of our trip was dinner with the princesses - we had the 'royal' opportunity to feast with Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Cinderella, and most importantly AURORA!!! Emily was so cute as the princesses came by our table she would take her napkin and gently pat her mouth. According to Emily 'all princesses clean their mouth with napkins - mom'. This was also a huge highlight for Emily because she was dressed in her Aurora costume. I will have to post some pictures.
When we returned from Florida we were greeted by bitterly cold wind and some swirling flurries - it was a dose of reality.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Madalyn's First Birthday...
I can't believe it...Mady is ONE!!! How did this happen? It seems like yesterday, (ok maybe not yesterday) but last month that we welcomed Mady into our hearts and lives. It is true that life with two children can can be crazy and busy, but I couldn't imagine our lives without both Emily and Madalyn.
Mady celebrated her first birthday surrounded by everyone that is most important in her life right now, and despite the fact that she didn't see the need for an afternoon nap she managed to make it all the way to 8pm without becoming overly clingy and needing her mom. What a trooper:) We did all the usual first birthday things, made her wearing a birthday hat, dressed her in a cute little dress (that may never be the same if all of that fluffy pink icing doesn't come out :) ), let her have the run of the house (gate was removed and everyone spent time guarding the stairs), sang Happy Birthday (which she cried during - it was pretty off-key :) ), and gave her a humungo piece of birthday cake complete with lots of frosting! For the first time in Mady's short life she didn't immediately devour the cake that was placed in front of her. I was expecting that she would dive right in and have the first taste within seconds - that is normal for Mady, she is so trusting and will try anything. After cake Mady (with the help of her big sister) opened her presents and they both spent time playing. Emily is very fortunate, everyone that gave Mady a gift also had a present wrapped and ready for Emily.
When all was said and done I think the day was a success and everyone enjoyed themselves - next up WDW!!!!
Mady celebrated her first birthday surrounded by everyone that is most important in her life right now, and despite the fact that she didn't see the need for an afternoon nap she managed to make it all the way to 8pm without becoming overly clingy and needing her mom. What a trooper:) We did all the usual first birthday things, made her wearing a birthday hat, dressed her in a cute little dress (that may never be the same if all of that fluffy pink icing doesn't come out :) ), let her have the run of the house (gate was removed and everyone spent time guarding the stairs), sang Happy Birthday (which she cried during - it was pretty off-key :) ), and gave her a humungo piece of birthday cake complete with lots of frosting! For the first time in Mady's short life she didn't immediately devour the cake that was placed in front of her. I was expecting that she would dive right in and have the first taste within seconds - that is normal for Mady, she is so trusting and will try anything. After cake Mady (with the help of her big sister) opened her presents and they both spent time playing. Emily is very fortunate, everyone that gave Mady a gift also had a present wrapped and ready for Emily.
When all was said and done I think the day was a success and everyone enjoyed themselves - next up WDW!!!!
Friday, October 17, 2008
What The Heck....
What the heck...this is Emily's favourite new saying, and now I am finding myself saying the exact thing more and more. Personally I think that it is quite funny when she says this, and surprisingly she is using it appropriately too. I know that I have over heard some people telling her that she should not use 'those words'. To which she always questions WHY??? I must admit in the big scheme of things - she could be saying things that are much worse. I am sure that this is probably something that will pass, just as the F*%K word quickly did - simply by ignoring her every time she threw a 'F' bomb into a sentence.
Today was my last day at work before our big trip to Walt Disney World. I am very excited - I think Emily will have a fantastic time. I am praying that we will all remain healthy during this trip. The last time we visited Disney Emily spent almost the entire time battling a nasty bug - vomiting and diarrhea:( I will be keeping my fingers crossed that this trip is much more enjoyable and a little less memorable - I am not sure if the hotel cleaning staff would have been able to eradicate the horrific septic system smell that permeated into the room we stayed in. This will be Mady's first visit to WDW, and although she will only be one I think that she is going to have a blast. The one thing I have noticed is if Emily likes it - so does Mady.
Today was my last day at work before our big trip to Walt Disney World. I am very excited - I think Emily will have a fantastic time. I am praying that we will all remain healthy during this trip. The last time we visited Disney Emily spent almost the entire time battling a nasty bug - vomiting and diarrhea:( I will be keeping my fingers crossed that this trip is much more enjoyable and a little less memorable - I am not sure if the hotel cleaning staff would have been able to eradicate the horrific septic system smell that permeated into the room we stayed in. This will be Mady's first visit to WDW, and although she will only be one I think that she is going to have a blast. The one thing I have noticed is if Emily likes it - so does Mady.
Monday, October 13, 2008
I am thankful...
Today was one of the most beautiful fall days that I can remember. We spent the day outside enjoying the wonderfully warm weather - 25 degrees! We shared a huge turkey dinner with my in-laws and a couple of hours scouring the pumpkin patch in search of the perfect pumpkins and finding our way through the corn maze. Emily had a great day, Mady wasn't so happy to be placed amongst a wagon-full pumpkins as I tried to get the perfect photo. It was also Thanksgiving, so I thought that I would share all of the things that I am thankful for.
I am thankful for...
-my family, without all of the love and support that I receive from them I know that I would not be the person that I am
-my home, this is a place that can be chaotic at times but it is always my favourite place to be
-my career, during such challenging economic times I am thankful that I have a career that provides well for me
-my health, well there are some things that I would change overall I am happy to be healthy
-my friends, there are several people that have always been there for me and have allowed me to cry on their shoulders and laugh out loud with
-my things, while this may seem superficial of me I am thankful for all of the possessions that I have accumulated over the years and although they may not seem like much to others they are definitely 'my treasures' (to quote Emily)
Michelle
I am thankful for...
-my family, without all of the love and support that I receive from them I know that I would not be the person that I am
-my home, this is a place that can be chaotic at times but it is always my favourite place to be
-my career, during such challenging economic times I am thankful that I have a career that provides well for me
-my health, well there are some things that I would change overall I am happy to be healthy
-my friends, there are several people that have always been there for me and have allowed me to cry on their shoulders and laugh out loud with
-my things, while this may seem superficial of me I am thankful for all of the possessions that I have accumulated over the years and although they may not seem like much to others they are definitely 'my treasures' (to quote Emily)
Michelle
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