NYC Trip Report continued: Of kicks and toys and American girls

Wednesday was the day set aside for SHOPPING! Only NOT for me - it was time for the kidlets!

The one passion the boy shares with his mom is his love of hats and SHOES! (With all these amazing post-Christmas sales I've been tossing the shoeboxes into recycling and keep my new purchases at the office, in case my husband notices. Shhhh, let's keep it a secret!).

I had promised the Boy a new pair of kicks for his size 9 men's feet (not kidding - he's not even 12 yet!) We thought that Macy's would be good place to start, and given that it wasn't too far from Times Square, another shopping mecca, we headed into tourist land first thing after breakfast. I had scoped out the subway route, but with a family of 4 it made sense just to hop into the nearest yellow cab. We lucked out - we got a clean non-stinky hybrid for our ride downtown.

We didn't luck out so much at the department store - although I'm continually amazed at my son's growing preference for neon bright apparel. The wooden escalator was cool though:

We decided to head into the thick of Times Square to continue our search - but we got hungry (and cold) again very quickly. So we stopped in at the Hard Rock for lunch -we don't normally like the chains when vacationing, but the NYC resto was actually quite good. You can't beat a good burger on a freezing day.

With our stomachs full, we continued on our quest for the perfect shoes. Thank goodness for the girlie that Toys R Us, complete with indoor ferris wheel, presented itself right next to the shoe store.

Lady Liberty in Lego glory...



Barbie, Barbie everywhere...



I still find this Toys R Us more impressive than FAO Schwartz. Maybe it had something to do with the hot chocolate:



Little G wanted make some small purchases, but I told her we were saving up for our visit with the American Girls. That promise and the cookie kept her content. In the meantime, the boys found fancy bright blue high tops - a great NYC souvenir for the boy.

The thing I love about Manhattan is that it is so walkable. From Times Square, the American Girl Store was but a few short blocks away. I'd never been exposed to the American Girl experience - and that's exactly what it is. When I first heard of this phenomenon, I found it a little creepy that the doll could be dressed exactly as its girl owner. On top of that, there was enough experience to occupy four floors - complete with restaurant, doll salon, pet shop ... I knew we would drop some coin once we went through the door. And this was heavenly for a 7 year old girl:



It took us a little while to settle on which doll was our mini-G, but we did it. I had to promise that if we were to go to Chicago I would arrange for an American Girl salon visit for mini-G - $12 for braiding is a little steep ( I offered to do it for $5 but it didn't cut it). When we left the building it was already quite dark and we decided to head back to the hotel. We were actually turned down for pickups by a few yellow cabs before we finally lucked out. Didn't think a cabbie would ever refuse a fare but I guess this was NYC. I guess with so many people hailing cabs they have the luxury of being picky.

At home base, the boy decided he wanted to check out the Urban outfitters across the street - cannot believe that he can actually fit some of those fashions. Hilarious that the boy noted that one of the sales guys was wearing majorly low, I'm talking down to his knees, low-riders. The boy noticed the boxers, but did think it was rather silly. We did score on a couple of cute striped T's for him, though.

Picked up some juice, fruit, yogurt and salmon and bagels for next day's breakfast - and headed back to our UWS headquarters.

For dinner we went around the corner Asian - Fusha West. Amazing pan Asian food and despite the look of the lounge once you enter, it was quite family friendly. We had sushi, tempura, soup - all with a little bit of a twist. We girls enjoyed it - see our shiny happy faces.








(Yes, that is a sari that was fashioned for Mini-G by the fabulous Bigger G. She's still an American girl under all that, after all, the US is multi-ethnic, isn't it? I suppose we should look for some mukluks for her, after all she's now in Canada, eh?)

And that was Wednesday. We didn't have too late a night, as Thursday would be our last full day in the city. So much more to do and see.

Friday Fragments "I'm Back" edition

Don't forget to check out the home of glorious Fragments( Mrs. 4444)

***I've got a few more posts coming regarding my NYC trip, but in the mean time here we are with some fragments.

I haven't done this in a loooong time, so glad to be back. I didn't realize how much I had missed blogging - looking back at previous posts over the holidays I realized that this space is where I've described so many amazing things about my life, my family, everything around me - things that made me laugh, cry, and think. Blogging doesn't seem to be the "it" thing to do anymore [(not sure that it ever was ;), but yeah, since you're reading this you know that we're still the cool kids, however old school this may be...]. It's incredible to me, though that I've been doing this for over 6 years now, and a lot of what has happened and changed is captured right here. And I really missed my bloggy friends.

***My husband bought me a Kobo Touch for Christmas. Well, more like I bought it as I couldn't decide what I wanted before hand- thought about Kindle Fire while in the US, but it's not available yet in Canada, and I worried about support, and access to the ebooks etc...So I stayed Canadian.

Since I'm now in a book club and reading things outside of work, it seemed like a good idea. So now I'm pumped with my Kobo and hot pink book cover - and at a loss for what to read! I have the "Virgin Cure" by Amy McKay sitting on my bedside table but I'm looking for something a bit more uplifting at the moment. Any suggestions?

***** The girlie tried gymnastics camp over the summer and I think she's discovered her passion. I can't believe the strength in that petite little body of hers - especially her pipes! With her little toothpick arms she works those bars incredibly. She's asked (and been asked by the gym teacher) to be moved up a level. I'm not sure if she's good enough for competition, but I guess we'll see.

Between her and her brother's intense soccer schedule, it may just do us in. But when you're a parent you can't not explore when your kids show such a keen interest. Regardless of how much stress it will add to our daily lives - that's what I signed up for when we had the kids, isn't it?

***** It's Chinese New year weekend coming up. We're getting together with my Mom and brother (sister will be away) on Sunday, New Year's Eve, for a family lunch. I'd forgotten that the 22nd will also be the 3rd anniversary of my Dad's passing.

Three years. That went by fast. I still "see" him sometimes whenever I see a fellow with a Kangol cap on. Dad, you were so cool.

***** I was driving the boy to his soccer game last Saturday and forcing him to talk to me - (backgrounder - apparently he doesn't talk much to his Dad in the car, and Ian asked me whether he's the same with me. To which the boy replied: "I always talk to Mom in the car, Dad. She FORCES me to, bullies me with questions so I have to answer back!" Hey, no apologies for trying to keep in the loop with my kid).

So back to the car. I was talking a bit about my week because the boy wasn't sharing too much about his. Then I started talking about my Dad and all that he accomplished in his life, how proud I was of my Dad after I found out what he did, and how proud he should be of his Grandpa (and how proud Grandpa would be of him). Yadadadada. While I was chattering away, trying to engage the boy, he cut through it all and said,
"Mom, can we just stop talking? This work stuff is just BORING!"

Can't blame him. The boy is just 11 years old, and coaching him as if he's a first year MBA student. Good job, Mom.

*****
Have a great weekend, all.

Ear Spears and the other one too

Has it really been a month? I guess I have a lot of pent up posting to do.

*****

On New Year's Eve, I was in the line up to pay for heavily discounted Christmas paraphernalia at Winners when my cellphone rang.

"Hi. Guppy wanted me to call you, she has something to ask you" said Hubs on the other end.

"Okay, put her on."

"Mama, when are you going to be home?"

"In a little while sweetie. We're going to a New Year's party in about an hour so I won't be long."

"Well hurry, because I want to get my earspears."

"You want to get what?"

"My ears spears, my ears spears, Mama, my EARS SPEARS!!!!!".

'Oh, you want your ears pierced?"

"Yeah Mama, I want them now!!!"

"Oh, I don't know if that's such a good idea today. We should talk about it, and we don't have time. If you get it done and they bother you, you won't have much fun at the party. Let's talk when I get home."

"I WANT EARS SPEARS NOW!" she yelled through tears, and then I heard the phone go crashing onto the floor.

At least she wasn't in the cash line with me. Sigh.

*****

Fast forward a couple of weeks. It hadn't been forgotten.

"Mama, when will you be back from the gym? I want to get my ears pierced today." (too bad she figured out the pronunciation. One more step away from babyhood *sob*).

"Okay, I'll talk to Daddy when I get home and we'll plan it."

"Why talk to Daddy? It's a GIRL thing! We can go to the mall to the store where they sell the little girl earrings, and there's a chair there. The lady can do it right there - I saw other girls having it done. It's easy and it's not scary!"

She had a point. It is a girl thing. And Dad had no objections. So we checked out the website, looked at earring options and the video about ear care...and off we went to the mall.

My girl is an absolute warrior. Climbed up on the chair, chose her earrings, clutched the teddy bear tight and told the girl that she was ready. We mentioned that she could expect a pinch - and sure enough her whole body tensed and her face went beet red with the entry of the first post... but not a peep. For the second ear- even less reaction. "It's just a little pop, Mama, didn't hurt!"

A warrior.

*****

"Hey, you might think That I'm crazy But, you know I'm just your type I might be A little hazy But, you just cannot deny..."

"Uh, are you singing Britney Spears there, buddy?"

"Yeah. I hate to admit it, but unfortunately it's just too catchy a tune."

That was close.

This is more like it...

I just sat down and I can't get up

When packing up his school bag this morning, the boy took out a piece of paper ..

Boy: "Hey, Mom. I need you to sign this permission sheet. I should bring it back today."

Me: "Oh, what's it for?"

Boy: "It's for the cross-country team. I'm going to have to be at school every morning at 8 AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Starts tomorrow. It's gonna be great!"

Me: "Uhhhhhmmm, o-kay. You do know that we're going to the rep soccer practice tonight, right?"

Boy: "Oh yeah. But that's at night, so I can so do this in the morning."

Me: "I guess we'll just have to get you to school and then I can bring G back and wait with her for the schoolbus at the regular time then ..." (by the time I get to the school and back the bus should be just about coming by to get her ...I'm so logical, it astounds me).

Boy: "Yeah!!!!" Enthusiastic? An understatement.

It was 8:30 AM. I was already tired.

*****

So here I am, almost 11 PM. I've got this meme-ish thing in mind, as for some reason I thought it was Thursday. It seems like it's been 48 hours since this morning. These are 13 things that I did today - after work.

1. Took the boy to the orthodontist. He got his braces off today - yay!!! Now he just needs a retainer to keep everything in place until his eye teeth grow in say in about 2 years... and the payments will keep on paying until the bigger payments start again.

2. Shopped for an outfit for the boy for the family wedding we're going to on the weekend. Three shops, in half an hour, in heels that were killing me.

3. Dealt with the girlie wanting to buy mittens to add to her mitten collection at home. Couldn't find a tissue for the tears when I said no.

4. Bought a wedding card.

5. Dealt with the girlie wanting to buy a stuffed animal in the card store. Still couldn't find a tissue.

6. Picked the boy up again after his appointment and brought him to all the stores again to try things on. Waited in a super long line at the Gap because it was 40% off day.

7. Got the kids home, popped a quiche in the oven.

8. Made sure the boy finished his homework while I unloaded all the lunch bags. Tried to get them to eat quickly so we wouldn't be too late for soccer practice.

9. Packed the girl's dinner as she wasn't hungry. Packed dessert and water for the kids as I hurried the boy to get in his soccer uniform. Packed the chairs into the minivan, and my computer for work to complete the memo I'd started earlier in the day.

10. Drove to soccer practice, set up the chairs, the DVD player, and patted myself on the back that I'd remembered to grab jackets for myself and the girlie.

11. Watched the boy play for 1.5 hours, at a level that I'd never seen him play before. Watched the girlie play with another little girl at the playround, didn't notice her fall and clip her chin on the balance beam, looked at the girlie in surprise that she DIDN'T cry over something that would be totally bruised. Fought with the mosquitoes hovering around my head.

So did NOT get to the work memo.

12. Drove home with the kids, and en route picked up my Pampered chef order from my girlfriend's.

13. (and then some). Ran a bath for the boy, got the girlie cleaned up, warmed up the boy's second dinner, let him watch the rest of America's Got Talent; vacuumed because the dust bunnies finally got the best of me, did the dishes, made the kids' lunches for tomorrow, got them into bed...

And now for the rest of the evening, I have to finish that memo and e:mail it to my group in preparation for a meeting with my boss tomorrow.

Please tell me you're as exhausted as I am. It would make me feel just a tad better.

*****

There is a colossal bottle of wine sitting in my fridge, and I am so tempted to drink it. After all, it goes so well with sandwich crust, doesn't it? Yes, I admit, I am a human garburator much like my Mom was when I was little. The kids don't eat crust and technically neither did I. Until I became a Mom.

Unfortunately there is still work to do. Alcohol will not help at this late hour.

Despite all my complaining, whining, bitching about how tired I am...I know that my Mom did all this and more for me when I was a kid. So many lessons, so little time ... but I was enriched. I look back at my childhood and I used to think that I missed out on so much, not having enough free play time, being so scheduled. But now as a Mom, I appreciate it. A lot.

Seeing the look on the boy's face after practice, hearing him shout for me to ask if it was okay to go to practice again tomorrow night... yes, he wants to do it again...reminded me that this was what I had signed up for.

When we decided to have a family, it was always our intent to let our kids try anything they wanted to (that was legal and within reason, of course). And now that they're asking, yearning to learn and to try new things, we've got to do it. Because despite all of the "what about me" that strikes me every so often, I have to remind myself that, this, this IS what I wanted. This is what We wanted. IT IS all about the kids.

They will only be kids for so long. And as exhausting as it can be and believe you me, it is ( because I really am getting too old for this) ... this is the time to cherish it, the newness of experiences, the thrill of sport, the fun through their eyes. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg, that more fun awaits us as they get older, and each become their own person. But honestly, they're a sure-fire investment.

For I also know that in 20, maybe 30 years from now, they too, will appreciate it.

And the ROI will be just awesome.

It's all about the kids - Fragment style

Don't forget to check out my gal pal's place, add some comment love...


I had a wonderful post to recap my 8 hours of unadulterated bliss that was my date night last Friday ... but alas, it remains in my head. I've got to get it just right to capture the moments properly.

So in its stead today, I bring you fragments brought to you by, who else... my kids.

*****

At the grocery store produce section:

"Mommy, Daddy leaves his apples courts all over the house. It's not very healthy and dirty. I don't think he should do that, do you? He needs to set an example for me and L-boy, after all, he's not a BABY, is he?"

Totally unsolicited, I swear.

Poor Dad, he's not only got to deal with a superior wife, he's now got a superior daughter in the house too.

*****

In the minivan when reminiscing about past summers.

"Mommy, why do some people have babies before they go to university, and THEN they get married?"

Uh, is she trying to tell me something? Perhaps not as she's only five years old. Let's probe a bit.

"Well, some people do that, but that's not the easier way to do things."

"But that's what you did, Mommy!"

HUH?

The Boy piped in: "What do you mean, G? Mom went to university way over 20 years ago (I must interject, not WAY over, maybe a couple of years beyond...but I digress) and I'm only TEN!!!

The Girl (obviously upset, you know how 5 year olds get because after all, they know everything now...): "But don't you remember, when Mommy and Daddy went away to UNIVERSITY, and Yee Yee and Uncle Fibb-itt and baby J took us to the island and we buried you in the sand? That was last summer!"

Now I got it.

"Oh sweetie, Mommy and Daddy were away celebrating our ANNIVERSARY and we went away and left you with your uncle and aunt."

"Oh."

And I thought 'Whew'.

*****

Remember my suspicions about a conspiracy theory? Well I was RIGHT!!!! I dropped the boys off, and looked around for other kids... and other than the birthday girl, there was one other girl invited. That was IT. It was a freakin' double date!!! Birthday party = Two 10 year old boys plus two 10 year old girls (+ a Dad, at least) = Double date in my mind.

The Boy thought it was funny though. And he suggested that we check out the ice cream and crepes at Cafe Demetrie, and that Despicable Me was a wicked good movie.

Nonchalantly. Perfect.

And he was right - about Despicable Me. It was wicked good.

*****

Have a great weekend, guys.

PS. One other milestone that I forgot. Remember my MAD PASSION for all things BODYJAM? Well, geez, wouldn't you know it ... my instructor asked if I would join her on stage for the new release next week as they're going to be featuring BodyJam superstars! Whoot! Now I just have to dig something up from the disco era ...and yeah, I'm that old that I might actually have some remmants available. Sigh.

Of passing bugs and passing notes...

What do you do when a stomach bug hits your household with a 103 deg fever vengeance not only once, but twice within a week?

You scramble with your work schedule and intersperse it with not-so-fleeting moments of guilt and worry.

The first incident concerns you because it knocks your little girl out so badly that all she wants to do is sleep, snuggled next to you in your king size bed as her Daddy is out of town. You wonder if she's got appendicitis, or if it's an ear infection, or if it's the flu. And then you breathe a huge sigh of relief as she bounces back the next day without a hint of a temperature, extremely happy with your suggestion that she stay home from school another day... "so I don't get the other kids sick, right Mama?"

When your son calls you at the office from school five days later, complaining of a sore tummy and feeling "very hot", you're super-thrilled to have hit the viral lottery twice- how wonderful.

You scramble again, taking all your important documents and your laptop, throwing them into your bag, rushing out to pick him up, wishing that they could have at least had the courtesy to get sick at the same time. Wishing that it didn't always have to be you to get them when they're sick. How inconvenient, when you've got such critical, actually hugely critical stuff happening at work...and you should be nominated for Mother-of-the Year for thinking that way of course.

And then you see your boy all flushed and sweaty as he sits there patiently waiting for you in the school office. His sweet, sad face with the look that says "I need my Mom and only Mom can make me feel better". And his voice that utters, "I'm so sorry Mom, I didn't mean to bother you at work, I know you're really busy".

And the guilt and the worry strikes you all over again.

But as the three of you climb into the van, he opens the palm of his hand toward you, showing a small slip of paper with writing on it. "Look at this Mom, I got this from Sally today in class", he says quietly, with a hint of a smile in his voice.

And there, scribbled in Gr. 4 handwriting, is the following:


"Will you come to the movies with me? Circle YES NO "

You're floored. And a bit tickled. But so not ready for this.

"I tried to answer her, Mom, but she kept running away. Actually, she didn't even hand it to me, she had Shawna do it for her."

"Well, what would you have said?" you ask with extreme curiosity, not knowing how to react, or how you should react.

"Oh, I'm not sure. Actually, I feel sorta gross right now, can we go home?"

And that's it.

You get him home, tuck him into bed, and he places the note on his bedside table. And then his little sister picks up the note and reads it to you.

"Well Mommy, I think he should circle NO. He's too young to go to the movies with her!", she whispers without any guilt or worry.

So who's the Mom again?

The Guilt

"How many days of daycare am I going to have this summer? Why can't my summer just be care-free? It'll be just like school, what a drag!"

The whining. The red-rimmed eyes. The allergies? I think not.

This will be the first summer in five years that I won't be home with the kids. I will be working. I'll have vacation, of course. But there won't be the lazy days of getting up when they want to, hanging out around the house all day (driving me crazy as I try to get a particular boy off the computer), driving to programs or playdates. I'll be honest, though, I will miss it too.

*****

I ran into one of the kindergarten moms at Costco on my lunch break today. It was nice to see her, as we'd had conversations in the playground just last June before summer break, about what the plans for summer were, and even beyond, now that the kids were getting to be school age. I had no idea at the time that I would even be contemplating working full-time again. She was talking about getting more training so she would be in a position to go back to work in the fall.

How ironic then, that I ran into her. When she saw me, with my work clothes, my access key hanging from my skirt pocket, a look of "I've got another 5 minutes before I've got to get into line to make it back to the office in time for my 1:30 pm meeting" on my face... she said with a sigh,

"I hope I'm making the right decision, being home with them now that they're both in school all day."

And I told her she had, as kids often need their moms more as they get older. I say this with the wisdom of being back in the grind a whole 7 months.

I think I made her feel better. But these words came back to haunt me as I was picking the kids up after work, and looking at the summer registration sheet.

My kids are getting older. I think I need someone to make me feel a bit better right now.

A Year in the Life of ...

So I stumbled on a wonderful idea by way of the brilliant Scary Mommy (who is not so scary in real life, in fact, she's a sweetheart)!

As we wind down the decade, why don't we look back at 2009, from my blog-eyed view? To say 2009 was a most eventful one, with the highest of highs, and the low, lowest of the lows would be a massive understatement. These aren't necessarily my best posts ever, but they do sum up the year for me.

Here we go:

January: Possibly the worst month of my life. Oh I know, a bit dramatic, but this was the month that I sprained my knee and had to do the helpless "damsel in distress thing" with ski patrol; suffered my second gall bladder attack (on purpose, because it was cheesecake and I deserved it because it had been such a shitty start to the year)...and lost my beloved Dad.

But at least I was able to pay tribute to him publicly without losing it: A Tribute to the most wonderful man.

February: Still in grief mode. But this is one of my favourite posts ever. It's why I'm here: Lucky.

March: I hit my 500th post this month. So I did the whole Q & A thing, which ate up several posts. I also participated in the ultimate blog party. "Everything you ever wanted to know about me" is another title for March 2009. However, I'll have to link to this post, because there are some awfully precious moments in life, and I'm so mature that way: AKA the converter.

April: My boy turned 9. And this post was my favourite of the month, because it just warms a mother's heart: Brothers and Sisters

May: Wow, this was the month of my bitch-rant! And I did get a whole lotta sympathy: Gimme Sympathy.

June: I came out to some Real Life friends about this ole' blog here...and also the answer to my May problems was starting to come to light. Coming out and the world not imploding; and the most important job.

July: Two syllables, one word. BlogHer. (Two days in the life, a few bottles at a time...) And here's further evidence:

(That's me with Courtney, Mrs. 4444 and Melissa)

I miss my party girls.

August: Thank goodness for my pal Mrs. 4444 and her Friday Fragments. The summer of my big life decisions was summed up on several Fridays. My anniversary was in there too, But here are my scattered thoughts which accurately describe my August, as I grappled with the whole SAHM versus Career Woman life shift - a pictorial as to why I suck as a crafty SAHM -see Barbie Exhibit A.

September: The leap back into the work force. Ready or not.

October: It was my birthday month. And I don't mind linking to pictures of me when I was much cuter: Birf-day girl.

November: I don't blog about the Man much, but sometimes I just have to. Especially my superior wife moments: We interrupt this blog post...

December: Well, after a rough year, I need a new one. This is a tired post, but the kids bring out the spirit of the holidays just when you need it. Elyse Mommy Da

*****

Wishing you all a fantastic, happy and healthy 2010!!!

Helpless

It's the worst thing, seeing your babies so sick.

You know your girl is burning up when she asks you to feel her toes because she bets you could cook on them. And indeed they felt like little hot coals. Her temp was registering at 102 with the ear thermometer.

It's amazing, this pattern. She's following the exact same symptoms as her brother, just 24 hours apart. He hit a whopping 105 for a while (but he is prone to exaggerating and comes by that quite honestly). But I should have figured she would hit a low again today, after she seemed almost 100% better this morning. It seems though, that the night time is the worst. Needless to say, I haven't been getting very much sleep myself.

At least the boy is on the mend. He ate sticky rice, soup and about 3/4 of a pizza for lunch today. He had a lot of catching up to do, which was a really good thing.

My kids are generally in good health. I cannot imagine having to deal with a chronically ill child, what a mass of nerves and bundle of worry I would be. Just a few days of this and I'm a wreck; the man has to remind me sometimes not to sound so alarmed when I see another symptom that I hadn't previously googled.

And a lot of good I am to them. I'm starting to feel a bit queasy myself sometimes, but I don't know if it's just psychological, whether it's that time of the month, or whether it's just my gall bladder acting up. I know, I know, I've got to get that taken care of.

But first, we've got to take care of the kids.

Send me good vibes to help us kick this virus in the ass, will ya?

Weekly Winners - Aug 9 - 15

Well there's a paucity of photos this week because I thought I'd give the camera a rest. Or it was just so lovely out I was out with the kids every single day and kept forgetting the camera.

Storm in Suburbia

A Proud Cupcake

Party'd Out

For more photo fun, check the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Three, Two, One...

Panic!

Geez, summer break starts on Thursday, 12 PM sharp.

And I feel so unprepared.

I don't know what it is; do you just become exhausted after a while and feel 'meh'; let's just let things roll?

I felt a bit of guilt about a month ago when chatting with some other moms while the kids played in the playground after school. A couple of them were talking about how they'd booked their kids' swim lessons for July, and I was like "WHAT??? The registration day was today?!!!"

And of course I was screwed. I'm sitting on two waitlists now for the girl. Thankfully because the boy is in the higher levels (I can't believe, it's like junior lifeguarding levels, what a fish!) he got in okay.

You see, I used to get up at 6:30 AM to sign my son up for his swim lessons, on the very day that online registration opened. And I ALWAYS got a spot. Because even though the system was slow, I was ON THERE, baby, at 7 AM sharp. When you're talking four spots per class in the preschool levels, it's what you have to do.

And I kept this up for the longest time, getting my boy into the lessons pronto, having activities scheduled for most days. Running around with our little baby schlep during pickups and drop-offs.

Now I'm content to let the kids run around the back and play with balls and bubbles. But I feel like a bit of a slacker.

I've tried to tell myself it's not so bad. I USED to be the keen mom. These moms who are signing their kids up so diligently, well their kids are their firstborns, like my boy. It's the girlie for whom I've dropped the ball.

So other than the boy's swim lessons, he's got a week of half day tennis camp, and I've signed the girlie up for a Chinese language playschool. Should be interesting to see how that goes.

And that's it. I'm hoping that will be enough, and that I won't have to endure hours of whining when they're not scheduled.

So what's on your summer agenda?

Friday Fragments: Don't you just love it edition...

Don't you just love it when...

- your daughter's best friend comes over for a playdate and somehow runs his face into the peeling trunk of your possibly diseased tree?

- your son grabs a door frame at school, splits his nail and thumb open (according to his telephone call and the explanation by his teacher), calls you 3 hours after it happens ... you call the doctor to make an appointment in case the boy develops gangrene, you bring the boy home, he passes out (in sleep); you wake him up and get to the doctor's office where he peels his bandage open and ... NOTHING? The doctor even takes out his ear-checker thing -a-ma-bob to magnify it and cannot find the wound. Guess the principal did a good job cleaning and sealing it. Nevertheless, the boy wants out of school for the rest of the year because he can no longer write. How convenient.

- you realize that you're behind on your kid's annual checkups so the boy has his since we're at the office... and it sinks in that your girlie will need a needle at hers. Oh fun.

- your daughter has a hissy fit at her best friend's house because he got TWO caterpillars and a cocoon while she only got one caterpillar and chrysalis. She doesn't understand that it's nicer that only one will die on our watch. Welcome to Catty II, to replace Catty I.

- you print out 200 photos from Costco because you save 5 cents each and it only covers six months worth of our happy, happy 2008; and then you realize that you don't have the photo albums to put them in... you do research to make a photobook for your husband's colleague as she's moving to Europe and you realize ... DAMN! You could be making photobooks with full commentary instead of kicking it old, old, old school.

- you need a new bathing suit and prepare to go bathing suit shopping ...and your son tells you that you should probably get back to the gym before, because apparently that's the natural order. Ouch, how'd I get such a smartie? So we're going to McDonald's for lunch instead.

- your head wants to go back to the gym, but your heart isn't into it, probably because it doesn't want to work.

- your husband is in Copenhagan for the week, his Blackberry and computer are not functioning, so even if he did have Skype it wouldn't have worked...and he only manages to call a couple of times the first of which we miss because I am screaming at the kids to quit fooling around and get into bed. But the first words he says when he connects are "I love you and miss you". Smart man.

Cannot wait for tomorrow at 5 PM.

Happy weekend, friends!

*****

For more fantastic fragments, visit the home of
Mrs. 4444 when you get a chance.

Wordless Wednesday - "UP, yo.."

For more Wordless check it out here and here.

(Yeah, they kinda liked the movie)

Weekly Winners - Kids in the Distillery

So this is where we dragged the kids after all that fuss...

Worth it, I think.

For more photo fun, check the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Happy Weekend all!

Weekly Winners - In My Life

I haven't been by WW in a couple of weeks, not a lot of cool photos to share, but I had a little Picnik this week...

Winded

Kinderdancing

Junior Wolverine

Ortonish Me

Why I'm a bit wrecked this morning...

For more photo fun, check the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Brothers and Sisters

This is what I see every morning after I push them out the door ...


This is what I hear from the moms whenever I pick up the girlie from kindergarten ...

"Your boy, he is so protective of your daughter."

"He doesn't let her out of his sight, he's always got an arm around her or he's holding onto her hand as she gets off the bus."

"It's amazing. She gives him a big hug at the door and he does not leave until he sees that she's inside safely with the rest of her class."

My rugrats. They know each other's weak spots and they bug each other mercilessly every chance they get.

But there's some unwritten rule there, a bond that only they know, as only siblings can "get".

He lets her hang out with him and his friends, and he only occasionally complains to me, asking for space. She'll invade his playdates and seek attention from his friends. He doesn't mind overly much. He's almost 9, and she is just 4. I think it's safe to assume that most 9 year olds would shudder at the thought of their pipsqueak younger sister getting into their territory.

Even when we get into the house, occasionally, the big brother will stop and help his little sister take off her shoes. I tell him that she's old enough to do that on her own and he responds with, "Oh, it's okay Mom. I'm here anyway, I may as well give her a hand."

What did she do to deserve this? The girlie, I must admit, has hit the sibling jackpot.

*****

My mother comes home tomorrow. She's been away for almost a month visiting with her brothers. A visit to Hong Kong that she had been hoping to take with my Dad.

Mom's been busy. Shopping, taking a few side tours to Indonesia, eating out, more shopping. No cooking, no cleaning, no laundry... and visiting friends and old classmates who she hadn't seen in over 40 years. She even picked up some extra luggage to fill with the goodies she's purchased for her beloved grandkids.

Both her brothers there have been wonderful to her. They've even given her shopping funds, too much for her to use up so she'll have extra to come home with. I think she's at the place she needs to be right now, in the company of her family. She's often talked wistfully about her big brothers, the one just older than her in particular. Such wonderful memories she has of of them watching out for her while growing up. Her brothers are now taking very good care of their little sister. In her words, she is being treated like a queen.

I've always said that little G is so much like her grandmother.

And luckily for her, the little princess, it looks like she'll also share this with Poh-Poh.

The love of a big brother, that will undoubtedly last a lifetime.

Weekly Winners: Portrait of a blogger as a diarist

In starting this 31DBBB exercise, in between the daily "I should be doing something more productive" brain twits, I've been thinking about what this blog is, what I want to do with it, and why I started it in the first place.

I started it because of my kids. This is something tangible, my virtual bottle of memories.

Eureka moment.

We had a lovely Easter dinner at my SIL's and my other SIL shared with us something so wonderful and amazing. Her father, who had passed 10 years ago, had actually kept a series of diaries. He wrote every single day from day one of his marriage to the day of his death. And now his children have his diaries, to look back at their own lives as seen through their Dad's eyes. Incredible.

And these are my kids through my eyes.

"Look Mommy, I'm so tall now" (me: *sob*)

Meet my doe-eyed personal trainer...

Okay, are we working or playing?

Cool bandit

Easter chickee has a drink

Too much Easter alcohol ;)

Egg dipping, or "Mom forces us to be crafty"

Like my egg?

Easter brights

HAPPY EASTER!

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to visit the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Share and share alike

"I gave Goh-Goh TWO Arrowroot cookies, Daddy!", announced the Girlie last night as she snuck a pre-bedtime snack.

"Aw, little G, that was very nice of you, sharing with your brother.", replied her father proudly.

"Well, he said if I didn't give him two cookies he would take my black DS away."

Sibling love.

PS: I'm coming up to my 500th post - whoot! So, for that occasion, while we're on the topic of sharing, why don't you let me have it - ask me a question, any question that I haven't already answered or spilled my guts on here. Or if I already have, I'll spill them again.

You can leave me a comment, or e:mail me.

Just be gentle.

Weekly Winners - Family Days

Last weekend we did what we're supposed to do (being such well-behaved Canadians)...we actually went out and did some Family activities on Family Day Weekend. So original.

First up, a visit to Harbourfront for some skating (well, for the boys) while the girls, because of Mom's bum knee, checked out the artist studios and did some artwork of girlie's own...

Artist at work:

Artist's mother being annoying coming in for a proud photo-op ... (can you see the "Mom, let me finish!!!!!" look on the girl's face?)
Little G doesn't look so little in this shot... where did those legs come from? She wanted to see the water...
And here she is with her Mama...coffee, yo... (wha???)

The boys were with us too ... I thought the tower
looked a bit space-age nestled amongst the condos ...

Now some uptown fun in Unionville...

Look, more art!

Big bro wants some action ...

Finished products...Exhibit A

Exhibit B

And because Mom got so excited that the Boy actually spent some time away from his Nintendo DS for some artwork, she went out and bought some for home and was hijacked into helping the girlie make this...
(I'm just a big copy cat, but close enough, don't you think?)

Have a great Oscar Sunday everyone. I will be watching, at least just for the gowns because the last quality movie I watched at the theatre was "Paul Blart, Mall Cop".

But who am I kidding, I'll be really watching for...

(from Google images)

Be sure to visit other winners, at the home of the lovely hostess with the mostest LOTUS.