Girls weekend getaway!

This is my friend Mary Beth.

Awww, isn't she sweet??  I went away with her this weekend on a girls weekend getaway to a big city in a neighboring province.  I could tell you lots of embarrassing things about her now, but I'll save face, and just tell you that she broke the drain in our hotel room within the first 2 minutes of us being there.  As a result, we got a sweet room upgrade because there were no more basic rooms available.  We had 2 queen beds, a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom and 2 flat screen TVs in our room.

We went away to get a break from the everyday (we're both busy moms), and to relax and have fun.  And that we did.  We also did lots of eating...

 ... saw a lovely play...

 ... and went into MEC way too many times to admit - mostly for Greg's benefit.

We also did lots of other fun shopping, and walking around the city.  We did some hot-tubing... 

... hung out in our awesome room and watched TV (for some reason mostly the real estate and TV guide channels).

... read (some of us more exciting things than others)...

 ... visited the market...

 ... drank coffee, talked, laughed, pumped (OK that was me), packed the trunk full and came home...

My husband did a fantastic job while I was away, taking care of both boys, and even bringing them to several outings by himself.  He managed to throw a surprise in there for me, and moved some furniture in our house that I've been wanting him to move for weeks now.

It was so awesome to get away, not have to change someones diaper for a whole day, and wake up whenever I wanted to.  Can't wait to do it all over again - hey Greg? :)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for...

... some quiet time to myself as I put groceries away this morning and caught up on American Idol at the same time.

... Asher going to preschool - they went to the park today and the teacher's said Asher was so happy to be there!  (I still find it hard to get to the park with both kiddos some days).

... a friend over for lunch.

... a new recipe for supper - Vegan Chili Burgers - yum!

... Asher's eyes being healthy.  He had his first visit at the optometrist today and everything looks good!

... going out to a lovely cafe for a church meeting tonight, and enjoying the company of my fellow team members.

... seeing a SUPER DUPER AWESOME FUNNY AMAZING movie last night - Bridesmaids - a serious must see!

... my "boss" taking my "coworker" and I out to said movie, and getting us popcorn to boot!

... my dear husband who puts our children to bed so I can go out with no questions.

... also my dear husband who will be putting our children to bed, and taking care of them all weekend, BY HIMSELF!  I am going away for a much needed girls weekend away and I cannot wait.

... the sun.  It's been shining a bit more this week and it's LOVELY!  Having the windows open, hearing the birds sing, feeling the warm breeze... this all makes the days so much more enjoyable.

Wordless Wednesday - Asher spells his name with foam letters edition

I'm glad I didn't miss that!

As I was putting Asher to bed tonight, I was telling him that I love him, like I always do.  Every once in a while I'll get the feeling that I should tell him the depth of that, and so tonight I said "I will always, always love you Asher.  Nothing you can do will ever make me stop loving you".  He was quiet for a moment and then he said "Mama when I'm sad, and then you come, and then I'm not sad anymore".

Yes little boy, that is true.  I hope you will always find comfort in my presence.

Melt my heart. 

Thankful Thursday

"Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion."

Meister Eckhart

Wordless Wednesday - "our plants are getting big" edition

Thankful Thursday - my mom edition

In celebration of Mother's Day, which was this past weekend, I decided to write a Thankful Thursday post about my mom.  I am SOOOO very thankful of my mother who...

... sacrifices every second Wednesday night of her life to come over to my place after work to give the boys supper, play, and put them to bed so that Greg and I can go out for a date.

... eats my sucky leftovers on aforementioned Wednesday nights and doesn't complain.

... emails and calls regularly to catch up on the news and check in on the boys.

... spoils the boys by coming home with 2 outfits each and 2 pairs of pyjamas each for them from her cruise.

... buys Asher used puzzles at bake sales because she knows he loves them.

... picks up a pair of sandals for me for Levi that she saw when she was out shopping.

... invites me over to supper at her house regularly and even tries to cook vegetarian options for me.

... bakes tea biscuits and potatoes when we're coming for aforementioned supper because she knows my guys love them.

... sends us home with enough vegetable leftovers to blend up days worth of baby food for Levi.

... laughs at Levi when he blows raspberries at her when he's eating and gets food all over her.

... attends and helps out with not only one, but two birthday parties for Asher.

... cleans up all the mess at aforementioned birthday party that 8 toddlers eating brunch leave behind.

... helps us financially send Asher to his preschool 2 mornings a week, and never questions this decision.

... regularly has the boys over for sleep overs at Nana's house; Asher calls the spare room "my room" at her house.

... lets Asher eat too much cheese, and have too many treats when he goes to her house.  And likewise also sneaks little licks of birthday cake icing to Levi when I'm not looking.  Is this not what Nana's are for?

And she does all of these things regularly and with a smile on her face, thankful for the opportunity to love her family.  I couldn't be half the mother I am if it weren't for her love, support, and encouragement. 

We love you, Mom!

Wordless Wednesday - the group of 4 sitting still miracle edition

I'm glad I didn't miss that!

Today as I was feeding Levi lunch, he continuously dropped things on the floor for me to pick up.  This is a cute game at first, but quickly becomes tiring and annoying!  However, about half way through lunch, Levi started waving at me.  I've noticed him doing this the past few days, but I wasn't really sure if he was actually waving or just flapping his arms, which he does a lot.  Today during lunch, I would wave at him, and then very deliberately he would move his hand and arm to wave back at me.  We did this back and forth about a dozen times.  It was so cool to feel like we were actually communicating in a new way.

I'm so glad I didn't miss that - Levi's first wave!

Thankful Thursday

Friends of ours took these lovely photos of our boys - and we're so pleased with them!  Thank you Matt and Chera!!.  Having good pictures of my boys means a lot to me - I want to remember these years, and what they looked like, and how they changed.  I am so thankful for our friends for doing this lovely shoot.  You can check out more of their stuff here.

Wordless Wednesday - blowing out the candle edition

I'm glad I didn't miss that!

I go through these phases where I question if I'm making the "best" choice for my kids by staying home with them.  This surfaces usually after a particularly bad day, on either my part or from the boys.  When I'm short on patience, when I haven't had time/energy/motivation to plan fun or educational activities for the kids, when Asher's been disciplined 100 times in one day for the same behavior and it's not improving, when I struggle with wanting things we can't afford now that we're on one income.... these things make me question my decision.  In my heart of hearts I do believe this is the best thing for me, and for my family, but I do need reminders of that sometimes.  I have a couple lovely SAHM friends in the same boat, and I know I wouldn't have the perspective if it weren't for their listening ear and comforting words.  Thank God for friends!

So as a reminder to myself I decided to start a regular post on my blog entitled "I'm glad I didn't miss that!".  I hope that by being able to document and look back on simple little moments that I was here to witness with my children, I will be encouraged in my decision to stay at home.

So for this first "I'm glad I didn't miss that!" post;

Greg had come home after work and quickly gone out to vote.  When Asher asked where he was at, I told him; "Papa's voting".  I didn't offer any more explanation than that.

When Greg came home a short while later, Asher exclaimed; "Papa are you all done floating?"

And I'm glad I didn't miss that!