Friday, November 16, 2012

My Week - Still Standing!

So what a week.  This week was one of the hardest I have had I think so far, but some good came out of it for sure.  I was feeding James last night and thinking about how lucky I am to have such great friends here in Perth.  It is tough, almost all of us are without family close, and so friendships get close quickly and people become the family that is far away.

I feel like I spent most of my time this week asking advice and whining about my kids.  In my defense, let me give you the high level bits.  Cassie and Marcus caused Mike and I to both play bad cop, bad cop for bedtime 3 nights in a row, and it got to the point where we could give them away.  screaming, kicking the doors, crying, throwing things, Cassie going to bed with no dinner, it was nuts.  We continued with no listening, then I asked the kids to go outside while I fed James....Oh my.  Cassie threw a chain we use for hanging swings at the glass sliding door, in a fit of anger.  The next day saw Marcus dragging Cassie down a hill by her hair, and the following day, ahhhh Friday I got woken up by Cassie punching Marcus in the face and splitting his lip.    What love. 

I have to say in all that yesterday Marcus made funny noises to James all the way home to make him laugh.  Cassie and Marcus played guess who together and then went to bed with only a couple of times getting up, and slept in their beds for the whole night!  Progress.

Back to the reason of this post.  I need to have people realize how much I appreciate their help, and that I would be lost without them.  My mom who talked me off the ledge for almost 2 hours on Thursday reassuring me that this is normal, and unfortunately my parents never found the great bedtime solution...at least I know I am in good company!

Getting to go on a coupe of moms groups and playdates makes me realize I am not alone, and that we all have our things of the moment.  Isobel and Kimberley made for a great time drinking coffee, fedding babies and watching our toddlers socialize, hide and create massive chaos.  Laurel and Sandie who listen and offer sympthy and a great ear regardless of how their days have been, thank you.
Emily - my right and often left hand woman.  You make my activities easier, you show me how to do it calm, and with undying patience, even with my wrecker Varner :)
AC, you are my go to for advice and a hug when needed.  Thanks for our phone calls, our sticky beak visit and all your help.
Naomi for reminding me about the excitement of a new baby coming, and how hard each stage seems until it is past and you have survived. 

At the end of this week, i look around my living room at 7:33 in the morning, where I got up at 5:30am.  But I see Marcus playing with dinosaurs, James trying to crawl and babbling to himself, and Cassie dancing away in her room. 

I am blessed, they are good kids with spirit, enthusiasm, determination, and lots of energy.  I am grateful for their health, vibrancy and all their personality.  I love my friends, close and far.  It takes a village has taken on new meaning for me here in Perth, and I am so lucky to have ladies around to prop me up, provide a drink and a laugh, and just understand as I muddle though. 

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Update - November 2012

Cassie riding a pony for the first time at the Fairy Festival - Kings Park Perth
Marcus on his Pony

All ready to go back to Calgary to be a cowboy!
Great friends at the festival, Rob, Isobel, Skye and Cassie
Cotton candy for the ladies, and also for Marcus
Yummm, sugar Cassie, Iz, Skye and Sophia
How to make sure your kids stay where they are told in the parking lot - Not far from the truth, little criminals
James, and Rupert at playgroup
All my smiles - James
James can stand, but than goodness for Uncle Andy, just in case my legs give out!
Cassie and James - Nov 2012
That is my cardboard
Hehe
Marcus making dinos out of playdough
James watching the playdough art
Halloween 2012




Varner Baby bathtime!  Not too much more room
There are my boys, hanging out
James in the tub - October 2012 Sitting up
Splash, splash -
Cassie and James
Ella our wonderful babysitter, and Cassie playing dress up with my boots
Here are some photos from what we have been up to.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Photos lately.....trying to do this more since phone was stolen!









Biting off more then I can chew

In typical Sam fashion, I have got so much on the go it feels like I am doing a whole lot of things, none of them very well and just running full tilt, although it was on my list in August to start a running plan, and now we are seconds away from October and I have yet to even put shoes on, let alone run anywhere, unless you count running after Marcus when he dashes away from me on a daily basis.
I now know where the statement, give them an inch, and they will take a mile comes from, a mom with a two year old boy.
This week has been rough, silly me I thought that having a third baby would be tough, getting up with him, feeding while other children ran rampant, possible jealousy issues.  All these things happened, but I did not know it would be at least children up a night, and most of the time it is more then one child up, and more the one time.  In fact often I see everyone more then once, which with three children means I am up in my 8 hours of sleeping at least 6 times, not much time for actual sleep-I cannot remember how long it takes to get into REM sleep but I am pretty sure I have not seen it for months!!

Okay less ranting about my life, this is supposed to be about the kids. Cassie first, my big, beautiful girl, growing up faster then I ever thought.  She is fast approaching five, full day school, her first Dance concert and has requested she have a party during school break, just cause we need a fancy cake is what she told me.  She fairly wears anything but dresses and skirts, loves getting her long hair into a French braid, which I am getting much better at, and it was long enough to tuck into the belt of her dress last week.  She brushes her own teeth, combs her own hair, and has a competitive streak a mile long.  It is not fun to loose, so generally she stops before that seems to happen. She is my greatest helper, loves coloring and doing crafts, and is a wonderful sister to the two little men in my life.

Marcus next, where to start with my little platinum bomb.  He is the happiest kid, when he is happy.  Talking up a storm, almost completely understandable, full sentences, and highly descriptive.  Fit now he is all about what he would do to bad guys if he needed to protect us.  He is highly physical, needing more time outside and running then you think he can handle.  He has a temper which does to help with a listening issue.  He is full on energy, kisses one second, temper the next.  He gives the best hugs, says o.tay tassie for his sister, and loves us all so much.  Lastly interest in colouring is happening, although I think he would rather just sweep, a dangerous situation for anyone walking by. Blood does not phase him, which is good because he maims himself all the time.  Last weekend on the swing, he bailed and bit his lip, blood everywhere.  He was more concerned that I was bleeding where he dripped, my little warrior.

And last but not least, James.  The baby of the house, trying as fast as he can to catch up, so hard to believe he is almost 7 months old, has almost 7 teeth, five of which came in this week.  He is trying to crawl, rolling everywhere, reading books and getting toys from the big kids. He is eating solids, well, puréed stuff and I am sure he would work on a steak once these teeth finish coming through. He was 9.1 kgs or 20 lbs at 6 months, and is top of the charts for height as well.  His smile is fabulous, his giggle the best thing I hear in a day, he has the smilest eyes and is almost always happy.  He is sitting by himself now and I can see crawling in our near future.

These babies of mine drive me nuts, keep me going and make me smile even when they are now here.  Everyday presents new challenges, which I am trying to live up to and thrive with, I am sometime winning the battle of patience, and sometimes do a great impression of a screaming banshee, but I have the best intentions, and will keep plugging along, trying from here on out to find the joy everyday, even if it is just that bedtime is coming.  I love my life, my husband, my children.  I am very grateful for happy, most of the time kids, healthy family, and a good life, sometimes the little stuff gets overwhelming, and I need to remember this too shall pass.

Here are some photos, I will add more later.


Tuesday, May 1, 2012




Blogging again

Well I am inspired, just spent some time reading my sisters blog, and realize I need to blog more, if only because then I will remember to write down the great things the kids do on a daily basis! 

Yesterday I too all three little people to the doctor and they got their shots.  5 shots for 3 kids, and they were all in perfect health.  I was a little nervous to get them all done on the same day but overall they did wonderful. Everyone has been doing great since, Sister has a sore arm, but Marcus and James are good to go.

Must go and feed Master James, who got his passport today so we are heading home for a holiday for sure!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Morning




















Well that was the morning, opening extravaganza!  We now need to think about cooking and as some of you know Mike has to get the Turkey ready, and make sure we have enough butter....hehe.  Merry Christmas all