March 1, 2014 In like a lion...boo

So it's been a busy week, I dropped my iPhone in the toilet, broke the entry way blinds, then when I was putting the kids down for a nap I felt like the room was a little chilly.  So after the littles fell asleep I went to check the thermostat.  Long story short we had to replace our heater, it was 7 at night when someone came to look at it and then they came the next morning to install our new very expensive heater.  The adventuresome side of me told the kids that this was going to be fun we would pretend we were camping and watch the fire and roast marshmallows. Alin put space heaters in the kids room and our room, and we hunkered down for the night (Alin slept in the kids room because we were nervous about a fire starting.  Our house is perfect for a heater failure as we have a gas fireplace downstairs and a wood burning one upstairs.  We haven't had a fire since Mason was born, before that we used to have one every night... When we had it going I remembered why I love fireplaces so much.  Not only do they make you feel cozy but watching the fire is therapeutic to your soul.  

Feb 14 2014 Valentines day

I LOVE any occasion to celebrate and Valentines Day is the perfect example.  We decorate the first of Feb we throw a Valentines day party and then on the 14th before the kids get up I decorate the table with some valentines books, plates, napkins, chocolates and of course helium balloons  which are all discovered by following a chocolate heart trail.  I love how excited they get and it gets funnier the older they get because they get so excited.  (Alin gives me a hard time about all the decorations and enthusiasm I show for all the holidays but today he gave me a hug and told me he loved how I make things a big deal for our family) and then for Vantines Day my Premium Romanian and I went out.  I got a babysitter arranged and there was going to be a dance at the church with some treats, live bands and a dj.  To be honest I thought it might be a little lame and when I mentioned to Alin what we were doing in sure he felt the same way.  We went and it was AWESOME!!!!! I didn't have any expectations so I was pleasantly surprised, the decorations were great, the good was scrumptious and the music was stellar! Alin was so impressed, we ate, visited and danced the night away till 11.    

Valentines Date😘

Feb 25,2014 Strike a pose

Today marks my debut on TV, to say I am nervous, a little scared and excited all at the same time seems like a mixed bag of emotions.  I really am not happy with my size right now and when I look in the mirror I don't even recognize the person looking back at me and pictures are the worse, so why do you ask would I ever go on tv.  

My reasons for doing this was

- the opportunity presented itself and this year my goal is to get out of my comfort zone, and embrace the fact that you only live once so let's whoop it up

- thought it would motivate me deeply to get back into shape 

- seemed a little exciting and glamorous to get your makeup and hair done (which by the way, when I got home Alin told me to go wash my face, it freaked him out and he thinks I look better without makeup) and to walk the catwalk.  

- I've never been in a tv station and in my youth I always thought I'd like to be a tv announcer

So for these reasons and more I did it and you know what it was FUN.  

 At the tv station for the live 8:55        segment

At the fitting at old navy.  Mary is in the middle and is the fashion guru

When I got home Alin showed me the video of the kids watching me screaming their heads off apparently mom is not supposed to be in tv and only supposed to be at home with them and playing.  Alin said I did well (my biggest fear was actually embarrassing him)

Today is also Renee and Roslynn's birthday.  I miss them and wish that we lived closer...all of the time.

When I got home I had little preschool/homeschool with Joseph it's been going well and has been fun to get little lesson plans ready.  Today was all about transportation.  

 

Feb 22, 2014 Fairytales and Sunday night traditions

Disney on ice

Kendal Ericson couch

Yamen house

Feb 21st 2014 never mind nailing it... It's kicking our tail

I'm not sure why this week has been so tough, I think it has to do with all of us missing the warmth and the sunshine from our vacation and feeling like there is no end in sight, every time it snows again all of us cringe.  Every morning Mason cries saying he doesn't want winter anymore and he needs summer back, or needs his birthday to come because then spring will be here, we all feel the same.  Love Canada and if it just snowed for Dec and Jan that would be fine with me;) This momma needs to be outdoors and in the fresh air, cabin fever has set in full force.  

Today we went to the Museum of Nature it was raining/freezing rain with some flurries and just plain miserable.  They have a frog exhibit right now that the kids love and I do as well, it's so well done and very interactive.  When you first enter it has wooden frogs that you can play by rubbing sticks across and when you step on the pictures of the frog it plays the sound the frog makes.  On the other side is a little mini golf course with frog predators as the obstacles, the kids have fun just running around and swinging the club occasionally.  When you continue it has a set up that you follow with glass cases full of various frogs and info about them

 

February 20th, 2014 Nailed it...maybe...no just hit my finger

 When I was a dental assistant I was good, no I was great at my job.  I loved it, I was always trying to do things better and faster and I really loved the dental field (Dental hygiene was just starting to feel comfortable when I went on maternity) There were many days that I would go home from my job feeling as proud as punch at what I accomplished, how a compliment a dentist or patient may have given me regarding my work always felt deserved, and basically I felt like that for about 17 years, I felt like I "nailed" it daily.

Enter my life as a mom, there has NEVER been a day out of the 3 years, 10 months and 11 days that I have been a mother that I felt like I "nailed" it, or for that matter even came close to hitting it.  I was talking to a friend this morning and was wondering if there will ever be a day that I can say "wow, great job Shannon, you nailed being a mom today" and I have to say I felt discouraged and frustrated at the possibility of never feeling like I have motherhood figured out.  Especially since when I dreamed of being a mom for all those years,  never did any of those scenarios look like what I have going on now...I never thought I would lose my patience, yell, emotionally eat or be so sleep deprived, I am definitely not one of those moms that is doing everything right,  in fact daily thoughts run thru my head continually of where I'm falling short...but I've decided today to focus on what things I am "nailing" and since I'm a work in progress  I pray that where I fall short Alin picks up the slack and that above all else despite my best intentions and inadequacies you three always know how much I LOVE YOU!!! 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Family Holiday!!!!!! I was so excited and ready to head to sunshine, sand and surf.  We went to the Hard Rock in Dominican Republic and it was AWESOME!!!!

 

   We went with great friends the "Azzi's" and it was great our kids get along great, we get along great and it ROCKED! (See what I did there, he he) your mom is so clever.  We left Wednesday morning and headed to the airport bright and early.  It was super cold and it was nice to be leaving winter gear and heading to flip flop weather. 

The kids were great on the plane and the plane trip was dare I say almost relaxing.  We packed their backpacks full of fun things.  Like our mini finger puppets, these coloring books that only used water (they were beyond a huge hit and kept them entertained for honestly about 2 hours) they were neat because when they dried they could color them all over again.  Abbie fell asleep and we had a spare seat so she got to lay down.  We were at the back of the plane and it came in handy.  When we arrived we got to exit down the back and into that glorious warm sun!! Love the picture of the kids coming down the stairs with their little backpacks.


We rode the bus to the resort and could see that our kids were fading fast.  Poor Mason kept bobbing his head, got our rooms and could not wait to head to the beach

The sand felt amazing and Abbie's biggest complaint was when we took her out of the water.  The kids loved playing in the sand and the minute the sun hit Alin and I, you could visibly see us start to relax.  There were so many fun things about our trip, I loved the sound, sight and feel of the ocean.  There is nothing more therapeutic than that.  Warm sand between your toes, kids giggling and playing, content in the sand.  Swimming in the pools, not having to cook (YAHHHH) or do dishes.  The Hard Rock was an amazing resort it had a lot of shops, arcade (imagine Alin's delight) free ice cream (which the kids had every night) kids club, shows.  It was really geared to families and there where lots of activities to keep little ones busy.  We went to a show one night with Barney, Thomas the Train, Angelina Ballerina (which was the first time I'd heard of her, but Daniela really liked her) Bob the Builder and it was fun for the kids to sing and dance around.  After the show they got to go up on the stage and meet the characters.  We also went to a meet and greet with them at breakfast one morning.  Our days consisted of waking up, going to the buffet and heading to the beach, occasionally a nap on the chairs (the kids not us, darn)

Dad, Daniela (snoozing) and those little lumps on the chairs beside them are Abbie and Mason.  Nothing like the ocean waves, warm sand and ocean air to have them sleeping like babies.  It was so nice and relaxing and a week was really to short...but I was glad to get to go at all. 

 The kid crew playing with their trucks while we finished eating

 Abbie and Ella they were so cute together

One day we watched all the little's while Richard and Amanda went to the spa and then they watched our kiddos while we went.  Honestly these kids get along so well

The whole kid crew, Mason, Ella, Daniela, Tristan and Abbie

I actually love holiday with other people (that you get along with) we are fairly easy going so everyone does their own thing and then meet up at certain parts of the day.  The Azzi's were amazing and it was so fun.  Richard was sick for the first part (enough he had to see a Dr. there and Amanda was such a trooper since I know how tired you can get when your pregnant) So I was worried they weren't having fun, but the nicest compliment was when we were heading home on the bus they told us that we were super easy to travel with and they had a great time...even easier than there last holiday with family shhhhhhh. 

I need to talk about the spa, in one word OUT OF THIS WORLD okay so that's 4 words but in my entire life I have never been to anything like that.  It was massive and when you walked in it was literally like walking into another world.  Pools of water, plants, couches, waterfalls everywhere.  They took Alin and I, gave us warm neck wraps to relax and water while we waited for our massages.  They took us into a room, the smell, the warmth, the music honestly made you relax instantly.  It was such a surreal moment.  In fact while the were massaging me a thousand thoughts were running thru my mind.  I am super uncomfortable with my body right now, it is large...actually huge and does in no way resemble the body I used to have.  I am working on losing the baby weight but it is slow going.  While I'm still nursing it feels almost impossible.  While she was rubbing away I was embarrassed of myself, and in reality I don't do much of anything for myself, my days are full of watching little ones 24/7 and even when I've been trying to exercise I usually have 10 min before someone needs me now or is crawling over me, I can't remember the last time I looked in the mirror to apply makeup, its always put on while I'm in the car and basically I felt like I haven't gotten to do anything for myself since becoming a mom...don't get me wrong I love being a mom, I was made to be a mom and a wife but somewhere along the way I lost me.  It's hard to feel good when you don't feel happy with yourself.  Anyway as she was massaging me it was like she was rubbing those feelings right out of me.  I started to focus on what this amazing body can do and has done.  This body carried 3 beautiful babies, full term even when it wasn't able to keep any food down.  This body was able to nurse 3 babies and still provides enough milk for Abbie.  I know this is a blessing as so many of my friends have struggled with keeping their milk or being able to become pregnant.  This body functions on about 3 hours of sleep a night and generally is fairly cheerful.  This body can carry kids, hug and kiss, run around with them.  This body is amazing.  So I have a bit of weight to lose, okay a lot 60 lbs to be exact but that will come in due time.  As she kept massaging tears of gratitude escaped, acceptance and love for myself and my family and especially my husband.  It was just the break we needed, so right there with my head down on the massage table tears flowed while these thoughts went thru my mind and then they turned to my husband, my rock, my best friend, the love of my life, he is always so loving, kind and tells me I'm beautiful even when I don't believe it myself.  My dear girls your dad has set an example of what you should look for in a husband, and Mason the type of husband you should be.  So when we got back to the room I looked at Amanda, walked over to her, and full on hugged her, thanking her so much for watching our kids while Alin and I had some alone time.

The two of us

 Some of the cute pictures that I can't resist, Abbie doing a sand slide.  I love this picture of Daniela, and then Daniela with Mason, and Dad being a cushion.  Makes my heart happy