Fall and Fire

I enjoy living in Canada.
I enjoy experiencing 4 very distinct, different seasons every year.

I enjoy Fall.
The colours.
The smell.

And as it gets closer to Christmas and the night arrives sooner and sooner, I enjoy fire.

My perfect evening is sitting in the family room with my family, in front of the fire.


Add in a movie.

And a snack.

And I am in Heaven.

What is your Heaven?

Missing Messy? Here ya go.

Hosted by Cecily

Ever wonder why I rarely have pictures of my first born?
Because he is almost 8
And full of attitude.

And when he sees the camera, he hides.
Or covers his face.
Or flashes me.

And it would be wrong to post pictures of my 8 year old doing such a thing.
Because then the world would know that he is rude and doesnt behave all of the time.

I cannot have the world knowing that my children are not angels. And that our family isnt perfect.

*gasp*

So today, because I am nice and want you to know that my first born is still alive and well, I give you a picture.


Youre welcome.

Overdose

I have had many scary moments as a Mother of three children. The first one was when I was in labour with my first born and the Doctor brought in the vacuum machine. But that's a post for another time.
Today I will tell you about my toddler overdosing on cough syrup.
Yes. Really.
And we ended up in the Emergency Room.
Yes. Really.

My toddler also known as Rowdy drank an entire bottle of this stuff.

Yep. Really.

He went into the bathroom. Opened the child proof lid and downed it all.

Uh huh.

I was in the other room unaware that my child was guzzling a bottle of nighttime cough syrup and noticed that he was quiet. Any mother knows that when their children are in another room and quiet, something is wrong.

I walked into the bathroom and found the empty bottle on the counter with a few drops scattered on the counter.

I didnt panic. Ok, I did. I called my parents so they could watch Messy while I took the druggie to the hospital. My dad stayed to babysit while my mom came with me. Because I wasnt panicking............

My toddler was very drowsy.

And hallucinating.

And feeling no pain whatsoever.

His mom was panicking.

And feeling like the worst mom in the Universe.

"Why did I leave the bottle on the counter?"

"Did I close the cap tightly?"

When I looked on the big screen on the ER wall and saw my toddler's name with "OD" beside it, I almost collapsed to the floor and did the ugly cry.

But I didnt.

Instead, my mom and I spent what felt like hours trying to get the toddler to drink charcoal.

He did.

And was well enough to go home.

And I was wishing that I could down an entire bottle of rum.

So I could forget that this day ever happened.

*Go here to see more completed assignments!*

Yo Dude

Wondering what a Yo Dude is?

Me too.

But Rowdy seems to have a clear idea of what a Yo Dude looks like because he does his own hair like one.

See?

Apparently Yo Dudes like to wet the middle of their head, pour a big glob of gel into their hand and then rub it down the wet patch.

Yo Dudes also wear shades...except they arent shades and Rowdy will let you know if you compliment him.

"They are sunglasses".

Yo Dudes wear them in the mall, the supermarket and even to the washroom because they make you "look cool".

Didnt you know?

I think I am figuring it out.

A Yo Dude is an adorable, head strong little boy who makes me remember that life couldnt get any better.

Tidbits.

I like the word "tidbits". It makes me smile. That's all.

Lets look at these pictures and think for a second.

Notice anything? Notice that Suri is wearing a dress without a coat and her mom and sister are both wearing pants............and coats?

That's all.

I feel like I am in laundry Hell. All of the time. Just as I get many loads finished and everything put away someone falls in the mud or Princess makes poop soup in her diaper. It never ends!

I hate it.

Soooooooooooooooooo much.

I havent been to the gym in a few weeks and I dont miss it one little tiny bit. My children were sick, I wasnt feeling well and I am busy Christmas shopping. So there.

On an unrelated note, our Halloween candy is gone. It got up and ran away. I swear.

Nope.No way.Uh uh.Nada.Not me.

Have I started packing for our Disney trip yet? Nope. Not me.

Did my boys tell me that my tummy looks funny? No way!

But....just in case they did, did I blame it all on them? You betcha!

Have we watched the "sexy lady movie" three times in the last 2 weeks? Uh uh. Nope. No way.

Did middle child flash vehicles driving by our house recently and then tell me "it was an accident"??? Of course not. He is an angel at all times.

Did Studley do this to a ball minutes after I brought it home from the store?


Nope. No way. He is an angel dog at all times. *cough*

Did I take a picture of a raspberry just because it was the "perfect" raspberry?

Ummm, no.
I have better things to do with my time.


Like pack for our trip.

Not.

Creature of Habit

I am a creature of habit.
I stick with the familiar and rarely go out on a limb and change.

I keep clothing for years because I like it. So what if it is old and out of style.
I wear my hair the same three ways that I have since I was a teenager. Up in a ponytail. Down. In a clip.
I eat the same meals at a restaurant every time we go. Why change a good thing? I know it tastes good.

I watch the same TV shows.
Take the same roads when driving.
Go to the same stores.

And food. I have eaten Lucky Charms and half of a bagel for breakfast for the last 6 months straight. Every.Single.Morning.
With a glass of apple juice.

Maybe it is time to step out of my box and try new things.
I will let you know when I do.
And if it works out for me.

Are you a Creature of Habit?

Meeting the Teacher

I have a confession. I am more stressed out meeting my children's teachers than I was about my own parents meeting my teachers as a kid.

Why? I have pondered this for the past few years and the only answer I have is that I am worried that if they are doing poorly, it is a reflection of myself as their parent.

Sad. I know.

I have issues.

Many issues.

So when it came time this week to meet with Rowdys teacher, I got the sweats. I ate alot of chocolate to prepare. I wore my nicest jeans and unstained shirt. And I took a few deep breaths beforehand.

I prepared myself for the worst.

I have some problems with my middle child at home. Some concerns. You see, middle child feels it is ok to yell all of the time. He feels it is normal to scream at his mother and call her every possible name with the f-word incorporated into it...even if it doesn't make sense. It is normal for middle child to punch things when angry and the odd time, even throw things. He is...well.....a spirited child to put it nicely.

See why I was scared to meet his teacher?

What if she told me my child has issues? What if she told me she was concerned about his future in the community? What if she told me he was flunking kindergarten? What if she told me there was no hope for him?

I didn't want to break down. I didn't want to hug her as I did the ugly cry. I didn't want her to see me break out my flask of vodka.

No wonder I still get zits.

I walked in with a smile, acting all composed and professional in my jeans and unstained shirt. I made small-talk as if we have known each other for awhile and were on the verge of becoming friends. I acted as if there were absolutely no concerns or worries.

We sat down.

I took a deep breath.

She told me I have a great kid.....

.....there were no issues.....

.....he has a wonderful sense of humour.......

.....he is very mature for his age......

....he is where he should be academically.......

.....he goes with the flow of the daily routine.......

.....he gets along with everyone........

......he is always happy............

.......she has no issues.


I hugged her
And did the ugly cry
But only because I was so incredibly happy and relieved


I love my son.
I love my children.
I love being a Mother.
It is all worth it.

Remembrance

Before having children, I had every intention to be the best mom ever.
Patient. All of the time.
Loving. All of the time.
Calm. All of the time.
Happy. All of the time.
Nice. All of the time.
Fun. All of the time.

You know. The kind of mom that doesnt really exist.

Now almost 8 years later I am realizing that I am not the best Mom in the world. No where close.

Damn.

I do not want my children to remember their Mom as a big meanie. As the one who is always grumpy and moody.

So what if I am.

I should be able to hide it.

I want their memories of their childhood to be full of smiles and happy moments. I want them to think that their Mom was the best mom in the universe. I want them to remember mom as cheerful and fun.

I often think about how I want to be remembered when I am no longer on this Earth. I vow to live my life so that when I am gone, my loved ones remember the good qualities of Momma. Not the Momma who spent her life cleaning, frustrated and angry all of the time.

Now if I could just remember that in my daily life.

How do you want to be remembered?

What you see is not what you get

Hosted by Cecily and Sue

Because my boys look like angels in this picture. Like they could do no wrong.

But in reality I have just spent the last 3 hours splitting up nasty fist fights. Yelling at them to clean up their mess and raising my voice very loudly at them to stop flashing their poor sister.

Annnnnnnd stopping them from sword fighting with hockey sticks.

Yeah. I know.

Hug me.

Please.

Dear Diary,

Share a diary entry from when you were 13. That is the prompt MamaKat gave and I have misplaced all of my diaries. Ok...not really. I threw them out because reading them brought me right back to that terrible time of my life. So I made one up. Short but sweet.

Just because I am 13 doesnt mean I do not know everything. I am a very mature 13 year old and know that so-and-so really, truly loves me. He tells me I am pretty so that must mean he loves me. Why else would he say it?

My parents get on my nerves. They don't know anything. Just today they told me that I need to pay attention to my marks at school and not focus so much on my social life. I will not be a loser.

I love the show Growing Pains. One day I will marry Kirk Cameron.

Love Me

*Go here for more completed assignments. It will be the best thing you do all day. Besides eating chocolate.

I'm not judging. But........

What is so special about this guy?

I am not one to judge but when I see girls going crazy over this guy, I have to wonder.

And look.

And look some more.

I just don't get it.

Maybe I am old and out of touch with what is "in", but...well.......I don't see it.

No, I havent seen the movie.

But I have read the first two books.

In the Twilight series for those of you who are wondering.

This guy is not who I picture when I think of Edward.

I think if I did see the movie, I would be disappointed.

Are you in love with this guy?

Tell me what I am missing.

Stuff that isnt cool.

You know what isn't cool?
When a raccoon decides to greet me at my door as I stumbled out of my parents vehicle at 230am.

You know what else isn't cool?
When the same raccoon decides that a nice place to chill out the next day is on our deck.


And he stays for hours.

And even poops on our deck.

Right at the door.

Yeah. Um. If I wasn't an animal lover and wasn't scared to death of the bugger, I would have taken matters into my own hands.

You know what is cool?
When hubby comes home from work early and safely scares the raccoon away. Into our tree.

He stayed there for hours. The raccoon, not my hubby.


You know what isn't cool?
When I ask my child what he would like for lunch and he says "some ass". What.On.Earth am I supposed to think about that answer? I tell ya what I thought. Where are the 12+ drinks I had the other night so I can forget he just said that.

You know what wont be cool?
About 10 years from now when my boys date.

You know what also isn't cool?

When my boys refer to the "National Lampoon Christmas Vacation" movie as "The Sexy Lady Movie" and pause it at the sexy lady parts.

They are 5 and 7 years old.

I am scared.

The Quickest Not Me! Monday Post You Have Ever Read

Not because things just didn't happen to me.

But because I have a busy day ahead of me.

Have I mentioned I am going to Disney soon?????

I am totally not unprepared for our trip. I have everything ready and organized. All of the details are taken care of and now all I have to do is count the sleeps until we go. Being unprepared for something is not in my DNA. Ok, it is. Ask my Mom.

I did not go out Saturday night with family/friends for the first time in ummm about 10 years. I have a life and go out every weekend. Don't ya know?

But lets just say I did go out.

I would not drink 12+ drinks and do a few shots. I do not drink. Except when I am home taking care of my children.

I definitely would not laugh more than I have laughed in, well....years.

And I definitely would not dance so much that my legs hurt. Two days later.

How was your week??????

Sunday Citar

"I cannot think of any need for a daughter
as strong as the need for a father's protection."
~Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)~

Today I am.......

feeling: tired
needing: to do groceries

laughing: at big brother feeling up little brother

going: Christmas shopping
wishing: money grew on trees
wanting: to be 20lbs lighter
enjoying: this picture

worried: that my 7 year old is already "typing" letters to girls 5-6 years older than him

happy: about life