Nike ad May 12, 2014

I have carried this ad around with me for years, like 20+ years.  I love the message 

and who would have known that my 41 year old self would have needed this today.

You were born a daughter.

You looked up to your mother.

You looked up to your father.

You looked up at everyone.

You wanted to be a princess.

You thought you were a princess.

You wanted to own a horse.

You wanted to be a horse.

You wanted your brother to be a horse.

You wanted to wear pink.

You never wanted to wear pink.

You wanted to be a veterinarian.

You wanted to be president.

You wanted to be the president's veterinarian.

You were picked last for the team.

You were the best one on the team.

You refused to be on the team.

You wanted to be good in algebra.

You hid during algebra.

You wanted the boys to notice you.

You were afraid the boys would notice you.

You started to get acne.

You started to get breasts.

You start to get acne that was bigger than your breasts.

You wouldn't wear a bra.

You couldn't wait to wear a bra.

You couldn't fit into a bra.

You didn't like the way you looked.

You didn't like the way your parents looked.

You didn't want to grow up.

You had your first best friend.

You had your first date.

You had your second best friend. 

You had your second first date. 

You spent hours on the telephone. 

You got kissed. 

You got to kiss back.

You went to the prom. 

You didn't go to the prom.

You went to the prom with the wrong person.

You spent hours on the telephone. 

You fell in love. 

You fell in love. 

You fell in love.

You lost your best friend. 

You lost your other best friend. 

You really fell in love. 

You became a steady girlfriend. 

You became a significant other.

YOU BECAME SIGNIFICANT TO YOURSELF.

 Sooner or later, You start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about, and what to get rid of. And you know when it's time to care of yourself, for yourself. To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete. Because you know it's never too late to have a life. And never too late to change one. 

Just do it.

April 25, 2014

Today the kids and I signed up for a reptile show.  It was very hands on for the kids and I think we may have a future veterinarian in Mason.

We saw 2 snakes, 3 turtles, ferret, hedge hog, blue tongued lizard, the fellow was really good, just let the kids touch and feed them without bogging them down with a lot of details.  The girls thought it was funny that he had taught the turtles to wave and the hedge hog to high 5.  We played in the park eating our cobs of corn and berries then home for naps.  

Tonight Alin and I had a date and Kiffin watched the kids, it was a belated birthday date.  He just told me we were going to get something to eat and then watch a movie.  As we headed downtown I knew something was up instead our date included going to poutine fest on sparks street and then to the NAC for a surprise show of the comedian Jim Gaffigan.  It was hilarious, clean humour, Alin and I both had tears rolling down our cheeks.  

Sparks Street Poutine Festival with my best friend

NAC 

Then we went for frozen yogurt, great date, love my premium romanian 

Came home and all the kids were sleeping!!!!! Great day!

Friday April 18, 2014 Good Friday

This morning came way earlier than I needed, Abbie has been a miserable little one for about the last 2 weeks and if she's not attached to me then she just screams...and screams...and screams and she's a stubborn little one.  Alins lost his mind as well and my usually calm mate tends to blow a gasket between the hours of 2 till 6.  I've spent nights flitting from exhaustion to despair, I should have weaned her months ago because she really doesn't want to quit now but I'm EXHAUSTED, did I mention that already, utterly, fully, completely exhausted.  

Baked Mason's party cake and then our whole little family headed to the experimental farm to celebrate "Easter at the Farm". It's crazy busy but so fun to see and hear the squeals of excitement that come from them.  The chick barn has to be my favorite, full of chicks that have just hatched, ducklings and this year they had some show birds as well, including this huge chicken (which at first I thought was 2 chickens sitting in each other, but turned out one REALLY big chicken)

Then to the cow barn, playground, and finished at the horse barn.  Mason is captivated with the huge bull.  

Dani posing with the bunny, she leaned over after and gave it a smooch

Then we went to Five guys and a burger, Alin would honestly eat there every single day and now Mason is a huge fan as well.  The girls are French fry junkies.  

Then for ice cream which Abbie promptly decorated herself with.  

Then home to bake another cake for 

-cocoa friends

April 9, 2014 How on earth are you 4 Mr. M

This morning Daniela ran to tell me "Mom, the table is decorated" ( I decorated the table before going to bed last night, with balloons, his cards and a few presents and stickers) they were super excited, so we ate breakfast and opened cards, $20 dollars from Grama and Grampa Waldie and when the money floated out of the card, the look on Mason's face was so funny and when I told him he could spend it on whatever he wanted he got giddy with excitement. He opened his birthday shirt (Thomas the train) 

April 2, 2014

It's funny when someone asks how your day was when your a parent.  There's a whole lot of minutes in the day to be either all great or all horrible, it's always a combination of everything.  Frustration, laughs, tears, joy, happy I think what we should ask each other instead is "how was your day from 10-10:15.  Today was one of those days/nights.  It started out with screaming Abbie because she wants to nurse, so downstairs we went to let the others sleep.  Abbie screamed for a solid 30-45 minutes, and just as soon as she started to close her eyes I heard Alin upstairs, and the way he was walking I knew something was up.  I knew someone was sick, so I contemplated staying downstairs as she was just falling asleep but the wife in me, grabbed Abbie and headed up the stairs...Abbie awake again and poor Mason getting sick everywhere (poor hubby too, the first time Mason threw up it was in the crook of Alins neck...which later when we were more in the mood to joke about it.  Alin said it wasn't a pleasant way to wake up...that had me giggling). So we cancelled our little home play school with Joseph and had a movie day, with interruptions of a Mason throwing up.  Poor kid he couldn't even keep water down in the morning. All of the kids napped at different times and today I just went with the flow, rubbed backs, kissed foreheads, read books, watched movies. It was actually nice to have one on one time with Daniela this morning.  We snuggled on the red bean chair, got under a blanket and she choose 2 books for me to read.  They were so fitting for her "The way I am" and "The things I love about me". It was a great few moments with the girl I called my "little sunshine" for the first year of her life.  Then she wanted to hide under the blankets, be tickled and snuggle.  She also counted to 10 without hesitation and correctly today.  Yah my 2 and 1/2 year old.  The rest of the day had its moments:)  Tonight Mason and Daniela had their first swimming lesson, mason goes his by himself (he was feeling better by this afternoon) and is called sea otter and Daniela and I are in the water together in her class sea turtles.  It was super fun they both did great and we were so proud of them.  Poor Abbie wanted to be in the water soooo badly and Alin was sweating keeping up with Miss Abbie.  So at the end of the class a spot opened up for Abbie so now it's family outing...she's going to be so happy next week:) Alin decided that since it was a special occasion for the kids we would go to Five Guys burgers and fries( like he needs a reason to go there) Home, brushed teeth, babes sleeping.  Then Alin and I went downstairs to get our bodies moving, it was just 20 minutes but was better than sitting on the couch:) plus some romantic activity and yes kids that is also a very important part if the marriage relationship (so go ahead and say gross, but mark my words when you have kids of your own, you need to make time as a couple and strengthen the couple you were before kids came. )

Daniela time

Mason resting, I'm hoping his tummy feels better soon

April 1, 2014

Today was my dads 70th birthday a huge one and I wish we were there to celebrate it with him.  It is also Betty's birthday as well and my heart goes out to Tracy and Margie and their little families.  I'm so glad that I went out to Saskatchewan when they planned the surprise party for them both.  Just a lesson in we really never know what is going to happen so make memories along the way.  Alin and I are planning on taking his parents and my parents to Dominican next Feb we just haven't told them yet.  For my parents 70ths and  Alins moms 65.  Will take them at different times so they can spend as much time with the kids as possible.  We called dad and the kids say Happy Birthday to him a lot.  I do wish we lived closer to them and the rest of the family.  They talk about their cousins all the time and think we should just be able to go see Torrance, Keston, Lincoln, Christian...anytime.  I'm sure glad they have a lot of fun together when we are together.

Now on to the nitty gritty of the day, I've been trying to exercise which isn't going well at all with 3 little ones someone always needs me, right now, so Alin and I had talked about it and decided that every second Monday and Tuesday morning I would be able to go downstairs and exercise.  When I went into our bedroom to get him up, he was annoyed and I instantly became frustrated.  First because I just needed 28 min and second because I felt like he doesn't acknowledge that occasionally I need some time to my self to take care of me and my body.  I was hurt and a thousand thoughts ran through my mind... I never complain when he has guy nights at the movies or other things so I just felt defeated, unappreciated and frustrated that I have all this weight to lose and don't have a second to lose it.  Plus the sleep thing, he 98% of the time goes back to bed in the morning or has a nap with the kids or falls asleep with them, while I'm still going...doing dishes, laundry, and all the rest of mom stuff after I've been up with Abbie about 4 or 5 times and still nursing which is exhausting and draining.  Not proud to admit but it got ugly we were both so frustrated, tired and probably both feeling under appreciated.  The kids could tell I was upset while I was folding clothes in our bedroom and when they came into see me would start crying and day I don't want mom to be sad.  It didn't get better from there I wanted to figure things out and Alin didn't want to talk about it.  By the time 11 am rolled around everyone was upset and crying and it was HORRIBLE!!! I told Alin that we needed to talk in the bedroom away from the kids, so we put a movie on and we came and talked.  It got figured out and I think what we both needed to hear was that we loved each other, that we were both tired and that we appreciated each other.  Sometimes in the busyness of 3 kids 3 and under we need to stop and give each other a hug and a real kiss, not one of the quick pecks on the cheek but a tnought long smooch and squeeze.  I apologized to the kids and we explained that moms and dads argue but they still love each other and them.  It was super mello after.  

After Alin went to work the kids and I went grocery shopping... My feelings were already tender and while waiting in line she turned around to me and said " I guess you don't believe in negative population" at first I was thinking is she really taking to me and then she continued " it's when you don't have more than one kid" I laughed a little nervously and just said well 3 was just too much fun, when she looked at me and her voice dripping with sarcasm " ya looks like fun" I could feel tears start to form and she continued to be rude with her comments.  I could see the young girl teller trying to push her groceries thru fast and look at me in sympathy and then she was gone.  The young Muslim girl started to visit with me, talk to the kids ask them their name and by the time she was down with my groceries her kindness had calmed me down.  I went out snuggled my three and told them I loved them and secretly hoped the lady tripped on the way home.  I know not very kind but these are my loves your talking about. 

I was thinking about this comment I heard and it seemed to fit today to a T.  "Remember it's a bad day, not a bad life"

When I got home and later that evening after kids were in bed and I was doing dishes I listened to a talk by President Uchdorf "of regrets and resolutions" from conference oct. 2012

March 22-26th Aquarium and Great Wolf Lodge

     So our weekend adventure plus a few days was going to the Aquarium in Toronto and then continuing on to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls.  We were going to leave on Saturday morning but lucky us ANOTHER snowstorm.  I am so sick of the snow!!!!!! This has been the longest winter ever.  It was coming down fairly hard and I was super frustrated, I mean it's March we need spring and summer, our bodies need spring and summer I am craving the outdoors without having to get 3 little's all bundled up. Finally at about 12 it started to slow down again so we hopped in the vehicle and headed out.  The roads weren't great until we hit the 401 and then it was sunny skies and clear roads, what a difference a few kilometers makes.  The kids were good and we headed to the mall once we got to Toronto.  Which was an experience in itself.  Shopped for a few things, changed the girls diapers and then ate supper in the mall (as I was changing their diapers I thought maybe I should have brought the whole diaper bag in, instead of just 2 diapers) but then we carried on.  As we were eating ice cream (the mall was packed so we were eating in a corner and I was sitting on the floor with Abbie on my lap) I felt something extremely wet pour on to my lap, you guessed it Abbie had blown right through her diaper.  When I went to stand up it looked as if I had wet MY pants.  Rushed her to the washroom,  took her diaper off and then had to put her pants back on, without a diaper.  As I came out I told Alin we need to go quick she will not last like this without wetting her pants again.  Long story short she wet her pants, through the stroller and then I had to lift her up to take her to the truck with pee all over me and my shirt covered as well....The joys of motherhood.  Took her to the truck and changed her in the back, we then headed to the hotel to refresh and relax. 

     The next morning we got up had some breakfast and then got ready to go to the aquarium, we were meeting the McAteers there.  It was a zoo it was so packed, we should have known better because it was the weekend but it was still fun and the kids still had a great time.  We ate lunch and then headed to Niagara Falls.  The kids traveled well and when we arrived at Great Wolf Lodge it was great to get checked in, grab our swimsuits and go swimming in the 29 degree waterpark forgetting all about winter outside. 

Our hotel deck, this cracks me up, Mason a goofy smile on his face, Dani with her hands on her hips and Abbie hanging out wherever they are

Bowling which was new this time 

The entry 

All the kiddos.  Eloise, Daniela, Evie, Mason, and Abbie