March Madness

After an exciting February Skiing! California! More California!  We settled into March.  Although March seems to have become quite busy too.  There were lots of shifts at the hospital as there vacation year end in March and then more skiing and more trips (although work related), chalked up to quite a busy March too.  I thought I'd post this before the last week as there should be a bunch of fun stuff to post after that too, as this week is March break for us, so we should be able to do lots of fun stuff.

We have now become a pretty bonafide ski family.  We've been lucky to go quite a few times this month and Nathan can now ski on the bronze chair, which I'm so glad to be off the bunny hill.  Lucas is skiing all the blue runs on the mountain now and doing a really good job.  I also got a lesson from my dad and my skills have improved.  Like Lucas I can ski all the blue runs too.  Which is good for me.  Skiing for me is not about being the best, but having fun with family and friends, enjoying the views and enjoying being outside in the winter.

IN the middle of the month I got to go on a work trip to Prince George. It was a excellent learning opportunity for me and I really enjoyed it.  Plus I got to meet and work with lots of great people. 

Although we spent 12 hour days working, it was still kind of a vacation for a mom. The hotel we stayed at made my bed, they had a pool so I could swim every morning, all my food was made for me, I didn't have to do the big run around in the morning. Of course none of this would have been possible if Darryl wasn't so awesome. He stayed home and hung out with the kids. He made the food and the beds and did the big run around in the mornings. As well thanks to my mom for helping out too.  

This last week we had a house guest for a week.  Nathan brought home Mr. Frog

Which was very exciting for Nathan.  We had to fill out a book at the end about all the exciting things we did with Mr. Frog (which was work for Mom) Nathan also completed gymnastics this week and he is growing up so quickly.  It's nice that he is able to do so much.  Nice that we are able to enjoy things together as a family.   The last day of gymnastics is where they are suppose to demonstrate their skills to the family and it just so happened Lucas had a PD day, so it was really fun for all of us to try the fun things at gymnastics.  It's interesting to see Lucas encouraging Nathan and pushing Nathan's comfort zone because Lucas is able to do those things.  I can see how the second seems to grow up much faster then the first.

After we went to Lucas's class for "student led" interviews.  This was also really fun as Lucas was able to show Nathan and I all the fun activities he is learning in class.    He's learning about temperature and writing stories.  He's also working on reading french and doing math (which is his favorite subject).  When talking to his teachers about him, they said he was a "delight" to have in class.  It gives me such peace and contentment to know all the issues we had last year with his anxiety and the worrying he still can have are not hindering him in class. 

Well I hope everyone else is having a fun spring.  We are having the typical Calgary weather, unpreditable.  But I see buds on the tree and muddy footprints on my floor, so it must be getting warmer. 

Till Next Time.

Jenn

Book 3: Then Came You

While in San Diego I finished this book.  It was good, interesting, typical chick lit (which is a term I learned while investing the book)  It's about 3 women and having a baby.  Which sounds odd, but it really all does come together.   If you like typical girl books you'll like this one.  It is well written with good flow.  It's not super controversial, but does make you reflect. 

Jenn

San Diego: Chapter 34 of the Memoir

This year our family vacation was to San Diego.  We love an all inclusive and a beach, but I thought we would change it up a bit this year and go to California as Lucas really wanted to see a Cheetah.  When he has a bad dream we often discuss all the places in the world we would like to go.  Top of his list is Paris, but after that is to go to the San Diego Zoo.  So that was our vacation this year.

The zoo was amazing.  It was a reasonable price, we got to see panda and orangutans and maned wolves.  They have a lot of volunteers and they were so helpful.  They are concerned about the environment and the whole time you are there you feel good about conservation and helping the earth.

 

We also went to the Safari Park which is kind of like San Diego Zoo, part two.  There we got to see the coolest part of our vacation which was the Cheetah run.  Late in the afternoon, they had a cheetah run the 100m dash.  It was incredible to watch and to hear.  The other part was we saw the cheetah run 3x times.  The other really interesting part of it was Amara the cheetah has a best friend, the dog.  I thought it would be dangerous for dog, but the cheetah and the dog are really best of friends.  At the end of the race they would walk around the race track together.  It was so sweet to see.


 

We also had times at the pool and one day we went to the ocean to see the sea lions.  Nathan's swimming was really good and he became a cannonball king.  We ate out at lots of restaurants, one Lucas learned about Mad Libs.  In his story he had a giant ketchup bottle chasing Mr. Potato head.   We laughed about it for days. 

One one of our last days (or so I thought) we went to Legoland.  Since I'm a planner I found out which rides were the most popular and we started with a roller coaster.  Nathan was running into the lines, where Lucas was having nothing of this new, scary thing.  So instead we started Lucas with some smaller rides.   The kids had fun but Darryl and I thought it was probably a once in a lifetime thing.  For the cost it wasn't great.  The younger kids enjoyed it, but the rides were very kidish.  I don't think they will enjoy it in a couple of years.






On our last day we drove up the Pacific Coast highway.  We drove through Laguna Beach and saw 3 Ferrari's just driving around.  It was a very rich place, but with very beautiful views.  We spent most of our day at Newport beach, where we had Rubys' delicious chocolate cherry shake.  We also went to a museum where Lucas taught me about bio luminescence.  Smart Cookie, that kid. 



That night we headed up to our hotel where they suggested we go to downtown Disney.  We went to the Rainforest Cafe, which has incredible ambiance but not as incredible food.  Then we saw beautiful fireworks. 



The next morning we packed up and headed to the airport.  We had trouble checking in at the airport, but chalked it up to flying a code share.  When we got to the airport the United attendant couldn't check us in either.  He could find our names but couldn't check us in.  He called the help desk and they realized I booked the flight for March 18th not February 18th.  Because February is exactly 4 weeks all the days are the same in March as they are in Feb.   As it was a long weekend there were no room on the flights we were going to take so we needed to call Air Canada to rebook.  We got out of line and got on the phone to call Air Canada.  To get all 4 of us home was going to take till Wednesday and was going to cost 900$.  Even the Air Canada agent recommended we look on expedia or something similar to get flights.  So instead I called the best airline I know of... WestJet.  They're soonest flight they could get all four of us out was Wednesday, for 300$ a person.... whew.  Instead we stayed in Anahiem and went to Disneyland!

Disneyland was fantastic.  The rides are great and entertaining to everyone, the attention to detail is spectacular.   Carsland was great the Radiator Springs Racers was as good as they say.  The Aladdin show was spectacular and we all really enjoyed the animation academy where we learned to draw Goofy, Pluto and Donald. 

Even though it cost us a fair bit more then we were expecting it was a great trip.  I love making memories and having fun stories to tell and this trip had lots of that. 

Jenn

Brilliant Idea

Last week we met with Nathans preschool for parent teacher interview.  I was a bit surprised by this as we never did this when Lucas was in preschool, but I was quite pleased with the good job they did of it when we were done.  What the preschool does is take all of the kindergarten skills and assess them in preschool.  It was very interesting to see how many numbers he could name, shapes he could identify and letters of the alphabet he knew.  One of the other things they test is if he can identify his name, recite his phone number and address.  He could identify his name but didn't know his address or phone number.  The next day we tried working with him and he caught on quickly.  But the numbers he seemed to know the best was the pass code to get into the ipad.  So I changed the passcode.  Made it our phone number so now each time he wants to play a game he has to put in our phone number to do it!!  So far it has been working fairly well.  He usually plays the ipad in the car and he usually confirms the numbers with me, but seems to get it correct 90% of the time.

Brilliant Idea!

Jenn

January RoundUp

January is a long month, it was enjoyable and challenging, but all in all quite fun.   If anyone follows on the "other blog" you'll see we did eat at home challenge this month.  It was good and reminded me about planning better for meals and going out.  As we also had lots of fun doing the family resolution things about spending a day together on the weekend and different person picking each week.

Last weekend we went to the community centre and went tobogganing.  It was pretty good although my very cautious older boy, got to the top and went sliding down o his belly.  There were quite a few big jumps and he went feet over head and hurt his chin.  Luckily, kids are resilient and after a couple of runs down the smaller hill he was ready for the big hill again. 

 

This weekend we went to the ski hill and had a great time too. Skiing is outside in the sun. The weather was great, the company was great and my goal of getting Nathan on the bronze chair was met. He did a really well. Well he did okay. Really well is pushing it.

January is long and often sad. People complain about the winter and staying in but we have done a good job of trying to enjoy the different activites that winter has to offer. 

Jenn

Book 2: Before I Go to Sleep

My second book of the year is Before I Go to Sleep, by SJ Watson.  Its a bit different then my usual kinds of books, which I would classify as fiction.  This book was more of a thriller then what I normally read.  I did really enjoy it, but it kept me up very late the night I got to the climax of the book.  I just couldn't read it fast enough to figure out what was going to happen. 

The easiest way to explain the book to people is, to say it's like 50 first dates, but a thriller.  Each morning the main character Christine wakes up in a strange bed with a strange man (at least to her) and her husband has to explain her life to her.  Then she starts to write a journal to record everything she learns about herself each day and what she finds out is very interesting. 

If you are a reader I would certainly recommend the book, especially if you like thrillers.  It wasn't the best book I've ever read, but that could be because it's not my usual genre. I got through it quite quickly as it was very exciting.

Onto #3... which I'm not sure what it will be yet.... there was a free itunes book with the 12 days of Christmas, it might be that... or if a good hold from the library comes..  I'll leave you in suspense.

Jenn

Next Stage...

This morning I registered Nathan for kindergarten and I'm feeling a bit sad about it.   There is part of me (not sure how big) that is not ready to leave this 0-5 age stage of life.  Soon my kids will both be in school full time and they won't be spending more days with mom then with others.  There are lots of things going through my head, like maybe I shouldn't have worked so much these last couple of years or maybe we should have another baby so these years aren't over. I love being a mom.  I saw a friend of mine yesterday and she is just about to have a baby.  There was part of me that was envious of her, just starting and there was another part that wouldn't want to go through all of that again.   

There is also part of me that loves that the kids are growing up and becoming more fun and more able to do stuff.  Deena posted on the last blog about how they can't do much outside stuff with a toddler in the winter, and that's so true, we didn't either.  But now that Lucas and Nathan can do up their own seatbelts and brush their own teeth and wipe their own bums we are out of hard stage.

Plus when they get a bit older I get more time to myself again.  When making plans for Nathan next year my neighboor who is going to take him (and takes Lucas) after school was hoping he would have afternoon kindergarten as the other kid she has is just there in the mornings, then she would have afternoons to herself.  She felt selfish saying it, but it's true.  Those first 0-5 years are filled with giving of yourself and giving and giving.  It's nice that when they are in school you have some time back to yourself again.

I guess that is what life is, a bunch of stages.  Does it ever get easier to move from one to another?  Or is it the change that makes is so hard.  You get use to what you have and don't want to go into the unknown. Post secondary, marriage, babies, big kids, no kids, retirement...   Lots of stages, if you are lucky.....

But I'm having trouble imaging them being away from me so much... I'm not sure about adjusting to this new stage.  I wish I could stop time.  They are both at really great ages.  I guess the key is to just enjoy where I am now.  Cherish the moments, play...

Jenn

Family Resolutions

As in most couples there is usually a ying and a yang.  Darryl and I have lots things in common, (wine, food vacations, comedies) but we are also very different.  One of the ways we are different is that Darryl is a homebody and I love to be out and about.  Lucas is certainly like his father.  If I make him go out to the grocery store on his day off, he thinks its a big deal. If I ask him if he wants to come with me to run an errand or stay home, he gives me a look and then an answer that says "are you crazy, of course I want to stay home". Nathan can be kind of the fence.  He loves to be with me, but that could be because he's 4.  He also like to play with his brother and be at home.  So with my homebody boys I always am pushing us to go out and do stuff.  Generally everyone loves it and gets on board quite quickly, but I don't like feeling like a nag either.

In December Darryl and I talked about having a family resolution or plan, that one day of the weekend we would do something together as a family.  The other day we could do our own thing or stay home the whole day.  The other thing that came with it so it wasn't always me deciding is that each week someone different would pick what we would do.  We sat down at the beginning of the year and talked about it as a family, the boys were on board so we have been doing some really fun stuff.

Last weekend we went skiing, with our family and friends.  My dad was so happy.  Happier then I've seen him in a long time.  He threw kids over his shoulder, thought Nathan how to ski, helped Lucas to ski better, gave me some tips too.  Our family was so happy too.  I love the happy endorphins we all get with the sunshine and the exercise. Naskiska is a great place to take the family.  There is a really wide variety of runs, including lots of green and blue runs.  We also have really fun time there. 


This weekend we went to the Science Center and had a really fun time.  It's funny as it was Nathan's pick, but the whole time we were headed there he couldn't remember what it looked like or what we did there.  This was my second time there and I really like that place.  My favorite is making animated movies, the boys love the "play room" when they first get in and Darryl loved making the funny photos below.  Darryl is so animated in them they are hilarious!  I do find it expensive for admisson but the boys and I had a fantastic time with all the exhibits.   Here are some photos. 

We also went skating too.  It was Nathan's first time out this year and he did really well.  I'm not sure if practicing skiing has helped or just age and better coordination is it, but by the end of it he was going faster then me walking could keep up with him.  Lucas got new skates this year and wanted to try them out. Lucas had a really fun time with Darryl and his friend Chris playing hockey.   Nathan, Linda and I went home we were too cold, but the big boys stayed out and played for another hour. Winter is not my favorite season, but we have really been enjoying it this year. 

Till Next Time

Jenn

Book 1: A Week In WInter

Maeve Binchy is my very favorite authour.  Her books are very "fiction" based, not necessarily romance or mystery or biography, but about people and there lives.  The other thing I like about them is they are generally quite a light read.  I might shed a tear or two, but I'm not sobbing. The other thing she does is write alot of great characters.  This last book really reminded me or the first book I read by her Evening Class.  Each chapter is about a different character and their "story".   She writes men just as well as women and old people just as well as young.  This story is about a woman, Chicky, who changes an old Irish house into a hotel where people go for vacation.  The stories revolve around the people who work at the Stone House, as well as the people who come to visit the first week.   It was a great read and I enjoyed hours of sitting on the couch this week enjoying it.   Although I had trouble with the last chapter as Maeve Binchy died last year, so this will be her last book.  What a bitter sweet moment.  A good book I've enjoyed, but the last time I'll read something new from her....

Onto the next on When I Go to Sleep. 

Jenn

Resolutions for 2013

I'm a person who really likes New Year and making new years resolutions.  I love to reflect on my life and learn from it and try to do better.  I agree with everyone who says that you shouldn't wait till the new year to change your life and I agree with that, but really all in all I have a great life and so the new year is the perfect opportunity to make some goals and reflect on the goals I had last year.  The only problem is last year I didn't make them.... or I at least didn't record them in the blog.  So I can't really reflect on them... but here are some goals for 2013.

1. Read 12 books.  Which at first I thought was not very many, but when I looked at how many I had read the last two year (5 and 6), 12 seems like a really good goal.  It's one a month.  I hope to blog about most of them too. 

2. Go to 5 new places this year.  I already have 3 on the agenda: San Diego, Prince George and St. John's Newfoundland.  So I think two more should be do-able.  Maybe we could go to Jasper or Seattle.  Last year we went to two Puerto Vallarta and Spokane/The Gorge, and it reminded me how much I enjoy discovering new places.  And I like to add stars to our map of the world.  =)

3. Focus more on what I do have and not what I don't have.  Of course this is something I believe in my head whole hearty, but it's something I've had trouble practicing in my heart.  Whether it's material things or not, I need to work on being happy with this excellent life I have and being happy for others and not wishing for what they have. 

This year Nathan also starts kindergarten this year and Lucas grade 3.  I'd like to put a waterfall in the backyard.  But other then that I hope 2013 is pretty similar to 2012.  It was a happy and healthy year.  I did lots of fun things and had new adventures and I hope to continue that. 

Till Next Time

Jenn