Everything You Can Do, I Can Do Better (and if not, I will destroy what you've done)

Exited toddler-hood, entering now full on preschoolers. Full on competition.

The boys are boys. I get, and understand that. They wrestle. They make messes. They play super heroes. And they are LOUD! And that's fine with me. Awesome actually. Growing up on the farm, in a Tom-Boy mentality, I was very much the same.

But goodness- they've began an exhausting "one upping" stage. There are brilliant (and OH so rare) moments when they'll play quietly independently, and even more rarely together. C and R have each others' backs. There is that instinctual brotherly love they have, and I've witnessed out in public, out at the parks, etc.. Behind closed doors... enter cautiously!!

One wants what the other is playing with. 

The other see's his brother playing at peace? Let's jump in there, and cause a stink over nothing.

Oh look! He must of worked really hard setting up that entire city, complete with roads and train tracks- perfect kicking practice spot...

poke, prod, pinch, sit too close, "STOP LOOKING AT ME!!!"

Hahaha. I guess sibling rivalry is normal... but how much is too much? When does it go too far? When (if ever), does it end?

I've taken up the idea to start meditating to calm myself down after a day of playing referee. That, or drinking ;)

My Oldest Started School, & MY heart Crashed...

C started his first day at a Montessori program today.

He'll be 4 in December, and based on how his personality is, I thought the whole episode was going to run smoothly. I was wrong.


I literally needed one of the teachers to hold onto him, as I left, to get him to let go, and not bolt out of the exit. Not to mention, R WANTED to stay at school. Emotions were running high on all parts, and I broke too. I had to kiss my poor monkey quickly, then leave before the serious waterworks started flowing on my behalf. It was harsh.

As I leave, one of the teachers tell me, "this is normal, but if it's a problem, we'll call you". PLEASE don't have to call me...

And they didn't *phew*. And when I returned to pick C up, he was bubbling over in joy, so happy that he went to "school", made a friend, and told me how excited he was to go back.... Bullet dodged! lol


SO, I'm beyond ecstatic for my BIG BOY to get some serious structured beginnings, and the  hours a week of one on one I get to spend with R, to ready him for school next fall. Time is flying, and I am saddened, and happy by it all :)

Summer Has Took OVER!!!

So, it has been beyond forever since I've done any spawn related blogging... and for one only beautiful reason:
Sun GLORIOUS sun! :P

Already onto our 2nd tube o'screen of the season, and after the most hellish encounter of winter, I say "Bring it ON!!!" I'll take greasin' up the kids any day over the endless hours spent wrestling the boys into the snow gear. That was a sweat I never enjoyed enduring...


C is going through an INSANE superhero phase. Let me rephrase that... it has now hit SUPER annoying. Spiderman, Batman, Ironman... STINKYsocks man (his endearing Superhero name for his daddy... clever rat...)
So with the weather beyond brilliant, we invested in a "Slip & Slide" for the kids... of the SPIDERMAN variety... this I'm thinking, is heaven on a plastic tarp. It's proven to be the best source of entertainment ever purchased (other than the perma-stained superhero costumes C "prances" around in endlessly...), and I thoroughly enjoy watching those little ankle biters squeal in enjoyment, as I either spend time in the shade, sippin' on a cold beverage, or sweat away in the sun, trying to remove any signs of my neon Canadian pastiness :P

Happy Summer ALL!!

Running on Gas Fumes...

It seems to be a topic quite often spoke about between myself, and other Mom's/parents: We are always EXHAUSTED!!


Ok, so my kids have both been consistently sleeping through the night for well over a year now (and R turns 2 this weekend), and I've been pretty lucky that they usually sleep 11-12 hours straight through. Once in a while, a hellish encounter of before dawn episodes have occurred, but those, thankfully, are very few and far between.


But WHY does it seem one after procreating can NEVER feel like they're ever fully rested. Even with getting regular 7-8 hours a night myself... I struggle to drag myself out of bed in the morning, to great those OH so bushy-tailed, and bright eyed spawn of mine (ok, they totally didn't get that from either of us... we like to "lounge" lol). Luckily R still has his 1-2 hour nap in the afternoon, although C has stopped napping all together for a year now, it breaks up the day.


So I know that the past days of staying up 'til the crack of dawn, and sleeping until 3 in the afternoon are long gone, but in this zombie state, it feels as though I just might as well stayed up super late, to only wake up an hour or two later with the boys... *yawn*


Or, like the other parents say, I'll have an opportunity to catch up on my Zzz's in approximately 20 years :P

What You See, Is What You Eat

C and R are the direct spawn of chef's. And it shows. Our boys have the most AMAZING, and healthy eating habits. The best part, they LOVE the good stuff.  Yes, that's right, my 2 and 3 year old can't get enough fruit and  vegetables.


I guess we are pretty lucky, but mind you, my hubby and I have never really given the boys a chance to bat an eye at new foods, or turn their noses up away from something "weird". Both of them scarf down pretty much anything we put in front of them, without an altered step.


Anything brined... give them more. 
Pate? Yes please.
Does it smell bad or look bizarre?? Well, if Mommy and Daddy are consuming it- why not?


From the get go, my husband and I have been pretty strict about what gets placed in front of them. Minimal to no sugar (other than of course the naturally occurring sugars) enter their diets. We keep the sodium levels low, and only good fat please. 99% of what they ingest is fresh, and homemade.


I'm very proud of this, and my kids brilliant eating habits show for it. I also believe that one doesn't have to be a "chef" in order for their kids to eat healthy. I'm sure this great start will really benefit when the kids are older.


So when the kids are hungry, and request an apple or other fruit... No problem little dudes... eat as much as you wish :)

Held Hostage By Mother Nature

This morning the temperature was -30 degrees Celsius. Yes people, that's WITHOUT including any wind-chill factor.


Bundled up with barely just my eyes exposed, my car objected greatly to turning over, but my trusty "Skittle" did as she was asked. Nothing more do I enjoy than scraping windshields in sub-Arctic temperature, waiting for my poor to warm up to a temperature where I don't feel guilty sticking the kids inside.


So we dropped Daddy off at work, and crawled back home on the skating rink known as our city streets. The boys and I remain "cozied" up in our sweats, socks, and slippers. Blankets for all during TV time.


Needless to say, we aren't going anywhere, or outside today... AGAIN. This winter has been a LONG, cold one. Mother Nature had been beyond temperamental... extreme temperature swings from one day to the next, and usually well below seasonal. AND WE ARE GOING CRAZY! (well, I am already there)


Stuck inside, pent up energy building to an outrageously dangerous level, is causing some undesirable behavior- from all parties. We are starting to feel prisoners of our own domain. C told me this morning that he no longer liked snow, and that he wanted to run in his "feety-feets" in the grass. Me too buddy, me too. 


Fresh air is, in my mind, essential, for kids. Myself, growing up on a farm, was constantly outdoors as a kid. And it AWESOME! And even though my kids are "city-slickers", I still want them to enjoy as much sunshine and fresh (well, not that fresh, this is a city), air. Most importantly, being able to get OUT burns off all this excess energy that C & R have been storing up for months. Burned off energy equals pleasant and manageable spawn. lol


So, checking the Weather Network for the umpteenth time in the last few days, I'm willing Mother Nature to please be nice. I'm not asking for a heatwave by any means, as it is March, but something decent. Nice enough to spend time outside. Nice enough to let the kids BE KIDS, run around, have fun outside... keep my house clean inside :P


But for today... back to arts and crafts, for how ever long the poor moody attention spans of toddlers allow.

Friendships After Procreating

I know that pretty much EVERY parent out there can relate to this:
As soon as you have kids, you lose "friends", or at least find out who your real ones are.


Maybe it's because you're not so readily available to party it up on a whim, or is it how people without spawn don't want to hear what they would consider seemingly tedious ramblings of how Johnny pee's or poo's on the potty, or how Sally just said/did the most adorable thing known to mankind. Us parents could go on for eons about such topics. And lets face it, screaming toddlers (whether it be from excitement or anger) isn't always the most appealing sound for those that haven't become "desensitized" to it. haha


Our lives surround play dates, outings to child friendly environments, and when the next nap or feeding arrives.


We cling on desperately to other parents in similar situations. Use each other for support. Get together to let the kids blow off some steam (and hey, have an ADULT conversation). And to have someone understand why (and definitely not judge) you "needed" to consume that entire bottle of wine to yourself after the kids went to bed.


And for my "Mommy Friends" out there, I adore you. 
For my friends that are still in my life after the fact, you guys are special.

"Oh, I can hear you- I'm just hard of listening!"

I'm definitely starting to feel like a broken record these days. Busting out threats such as "Don't make me repeat myself!". Empty, empty threats.

I've even considered that the boys are deaf. Yet they prove that wrong when you're talking quietly to someone else, hoping they won't hear it, and repeat it right back at you. And maybe they just hear what they're not supposed to? Either way, C and R are hard of listening.

I really don't like to nag (although my wonderful husband says I'm quite good at it... ahahahaha...thanks), but after telling the boys over and over and OVER again, to complete a seemingly easy task, without success of completion, I'm definitely coming off as nagging.

I know they have attention spans of goldfish (which they inherited from their Mama ;) ), and I've even attempted to get them to "help" by making certain tedious activities into a game.  I just get the look of "Yea, RIGHT!", and the little monkey's continue on whatever it was they were doing.

Also, my repetitious nattering occurs when I insist that C and R DON'T do something, just for the sake of their safety. Again, they are off to the races, with a greater determination just to achieve what was spoken against.  Is it just because I told them not to do it, is why they want to so bad?  Would it be better to let them get bored of their "death defying act" first, as it would seem quicker? lol. The more I say no, the MORE they want to do it. I'm starting to look for grey hairs. :P

But then, another day will pass, and my "Angels" will return, and be Mommy's little helpers.  For a little bit. :)

Toddler TV Show Creaters MUST Do Drugs...

I've watched A LOT of kids shows... and I have even caught myself doing so after the kids have gone to bed. Probably because most of them deem themselves "train wreck" worthy. Just can't look away from the horrendous nonsense occurring in front of my eyes.

Seriously, there have been episodes of many different shows, that made me think "What are these guys smoking?", or "Are you kidding me? They can't do that!".

But they do... and I continue to stare, mouth gaping open.

In The Night Garden pretty much freaks me out the most. Made by the creators of Teletubbies, you know it's going to make you raise an eyebrow due to "weird" scenarios, but my kids ADORE the show. I'd rather slit my wrists. The OCD Maka-Paka, The Pinky-Ponk with it's rude sound effects, the Tombly-boo's (please excuse my botched spelling of the characters), which I'm positive they are related, continue to make out, and lose their pants. *sigh* BIZARRE!!! haha

Don't even get me started on Max & Ruby. The over baring, controlling big sister, Ruby, has not yet (nor do I ever think she will) come to realize that Max is pretty much ALWAYS right, and heaps smarter then he leads on to be. Ease up Ruby... Let Max be... AND WHERE ARE THEIR PARENTS?? Have you seen them, or any signs that they've been around? I imagine that they are crack-heads, and that's why Ruby has taken on the role as the mother. Maybe Grandma should hang around the abode a little more :P

I also despise shows that "Dummies Down" to kids. I'd rather they refrain from using the baby-talk, and poor use of grammar. It would be nice to hear more encouragement of vocabulary growth, and speech skills.

My absolute FAVOURITE to watch though, is The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That. It's fantastically educational, fun, and conveniently comes on while I'm preparing dinner... so the spawn become entertained lol. Plus I ADORE anything Seuss related. :)

Toddlers & Technology

Is it just me, or does it seem like kids these days are walking out of the womb with an "IPad" in hand? And they know how to use the darn things!

OK, so I MAY be exaggerating a touch. But only a touch. I've seen 2 year olds playing games on computers and mobile hand devices, and they know how to navigate on these systems as well. Many of them better than I can already.

The internet was a new idea introduced to me when I was in upper elementary. We learned how to "properly" type (TYPE, with proper spelling... NOT texting lingo), set up an email account, and briefly search the web. I thought I was some genius. Hahaha... well, I'm apparently wrong. The kids of today's generation are.

For Christmas, we got C his own little "toy" laptop, thinking it would deflect some of his strong desire to be on the "grown-up" computer. It did, for a while.

I guess it's now time to make rules for the boys, and schedules for the family to use the computer. :P