This Week...

- I worked from home on Monday

- Tuesday night Maddy was supposed to have a ball game but it was cancelled due to rain (and I may have been happy about that)

- soccer was cancelled (also happy)

- our fairgrounds became filled with trailers for a music festival

- we celebrated Canada Day in my building with cupcakes

- I got a bonus from work

- I took today off to do a Costco run

- we lost pour for about 3 hours on Wednesday night and the time passed by relatively quick cuz we hung out at Josee's and watched the action happening

- I wanted ice cream but never got any

- I had a dream that I was racing cars and I woke up sick to my stomach and nauseous because of the movement I guess

- Maddy has decided that she wants to sleep on the top bunk...so me, Tanner and Maddy are now all in the same room lol

- I haven't done any laundry

- Maddy started her "daycamp" and is enjoying it thus far

- I bought myself some work clothes online from Ricki's...spent $200, now let's hope when they get here that they all fit

- I dealt with road closures and stupid crazy drivers

Happy Canada Day weekend! 

It Happened...

***DISCLAIMER: spoiler alert - spoiler alert!


I don't remember when I stopped believing in the Tooth Fairy, Santa and the Easter Bunny but I wanted to cherish this for as long as I could with my kids...and well, last week...Maddy discovered the truth...and I was crushed.

Last week she lost a tooth and then there was some conversation between her father and herself in regards to, "how does the tooth fairy know that you have a tooth under your pillow?"  "does she/he come every night and just check?". Ricky was unprepared and sort of stumbled over words and didn't know what to say.  I am thinking that she may have heard something along the way because she was like "but you said that the tooth fairy and Santa are your friends?"  Ricky was still speechless...and told her to go talk to her mother (typical male answer, right?).

I was in the bath and she came running down LAUGHING and saying "I caught Dad off guard".  I was like huh?  She goes to explain what the conversation was and I was speechless too.  Then she asked: Is it true?  Is the Tooth Fairy and Santa just you and Dad?

She didn't feel the sadness like I was feeling in that moment.  I asked her what did she want to believe in? She asked if she didn't believe, would it mean that she wouldn't get presents? 

Of course not, I replied.  I explained to her that it was upsetting to me but again, I am sure this is usually the age that you start finding these things out. 
I explained to her that now that she knows - all this stuff that "Santa" has brought her, we have worked hard for it and paid for it ourselves...and I seriously think it hit her.  Why?  The next morning when the tooth fairy had left her money, she gave it back to Ricky and said, I don't need it. 

She said that she will keep it a secret, vowing not to tell others and especially to keep the magic going for her younger brother.  She felt proud I think that she was given this top secret mission now.  She was all of a sudden, not my little girl anymore.

Do you remember when you stopped believing?  Maybe you still do.  I know I do around the holidays, it just makes Christmas that much better!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- that it's a short week (cuz I worked from home yesterday)...followed by another short week

- yesterday I got a bonus at work because for the first time in 5 years we have seen a financial increase...thanks to me! 

- Monday, Tanner had another appointment with his speech therapist Annick, and all is going good.  She would like to see him a couple more times and will continue through the school.  We are working on his r's and forming sentences.

- Strawberry season...nothing is quite as good as fresh strawberries

- the Canada Day festivities in town this Friday...BBQ's, kids activities, parade, dances, music and great fireworks!!

- I actually thought we may actually watch the parade...but the kids are in it...Maddy with the rest of the town kids on their decorated bikes and Tanner and Landyn have their own little float.

- I bought a gift certificate in our Relay for Life Facebook auction for an hour AromaTouch Technique massage...I got that done on my day home on Monday and it was heavenly...what is great is, anyone can do the AromaTouch technique (through Do Terra oils) BUT she is actual RMT too so it's twice as good!!

- my jaw seems to be a little better since doing massage therapy for it...but it's not quite there yet.

- we have a relatively calm week this week compared to last...Maddy had a ball game last night and tonight's soccer is cancelled due to trailers taking over the field...feels nice not to have to rush every.single.night

- Maddy started at a friends daycare this week...she was originally supposed to go to another one that she went to about 2 years ago, but she was feeling anxious for some reason about going this year and wanted to stay close to someone she was more familiar with...so we didn't fight her on it.  When Sheena is off for a week in July, I told Maddy that she can at least go that week to the other one and she was okay with that.

Happy Hump Day!

{Weekend Rewind}

We had an extra long weekend.

Today I am working from home so that I can take Tanner to a speech therapy appointment and then I am going for an AromaTouch massage that I won from Relay for Life.  Exciting!

Let's rewind back to Thursday...

We left work early to attend the high school graduation of our niece Kaitie.  We brought the kids with us and they couldn't believe that there were over 100 students haha.  Maddy's class has five students, their whole school totalling 76.

Friday we had the day off because Maddy was having two teeth extracted.  She did fabulous and we were in and out of the dentist within 20 mins.  We quickly ran to Walmart to pick up a few things and let the kids spend some gift cards they had.  After a quick lunch, we headed home and the kids and I headed up to visit Josee, Evan and Landyn. 

Saturday morning was a nice sunny day.  We didn't have too much planned.  My sister called and said that her and Rylie were coming up for the night so we waited for them.  Rylie and I had a quick nap and then the girls got dressed and we headed to Bristol where we were celebrating a family friend's 100th birthday.  It was nice to catch up with people that we hadn't seen in some time.  We got home around 6 and just relaxed and watched a movie with the kids.

Sunday morning after a pancake breakfast, Shannon and Rylie headed off.  Maddy had a birthday party at noon and we were supposed to head over to Hollie's for a swim.  Somehow between the text and the time we actually headed outside, the sun had disappeared, it started to rain and was pretty cool out.  After dropping Maddy off at the party, we decided to take a rain check on the swim and just relaxed in the afternoon.

Wasn't an overall exciting weekend, but it was good!

How was your weekend?

Thursday Ramblings

- I came into work this morning with the neighbours, we left home at 5:30

- I was at work just after 6 am, the lights weren't even turned on yet

- Sitting in the dark and getting a start on work that early is actually pretty relaxing

- But it is now only 7:07 and my eyes are heavy!

- Today is the last day of school, but Maddy did not go because we have Kaitie's graduation today

- I took tomorrow off...Maddy has to get two teeth extracted and then maybe we'll go see a movie or something

- here is the end of school gift that Maddy and I made for her daycare provider at school...she loves chocolate:

- this came up in my memory thingy on Facebook today from two years ago...haha:

- our former Minister Nancy had two partial knee replacements last week and is healing well and is well on her way to recovery

- yesterday morning when I left for work, the flowers from our boxes along Main Street were pulled out and left on the road...I posted a pic on Facebook and everyone was outraged...then I realized that after I took the time to drive around the block to go back and take a pic, I drove away and didn't even clean them up bahaha!

- not much going on this weekend

Happy Thursday!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- yesterday's school trip to Logosland was a success despite the dreary weather.  The morning started off raining but it cleared up...the sun didn't come out too much but the kids had a blast.

- that Tanner seems to be feeling a bit better...he's just been "off" this week

- Ricky took the week off so it's been great waking up on my own and going

- Maddy played her first ball game last night and they did awesome...first ball that was thrown to her, she hit it...a nice hard hit!

- that the bugs haven't been bad down at the ball field, surprisingly

- that I go for another jaw/neck massage today

- Friday I may take off...Maddy has two teeth that need to be extracted so we both may take her...

- Josee threw an idea about a float for the boys (and Maddy) to do for the Canada Day parade...really cute idea, just need to find time between now and next Friday to get it together.

- tomorrow I am leaving early so we can attend our niece's high school graduation...crazy that this is happening and that she will be 18 in a few months

- the "end of school year" gift that Maddy and I made for her daycare provider at school...can't show pics until she sees it!

Happy Wednesday!

{Weekend Rewind}

This weekend...

- the kids and I went to bed early on Friday night cuz we were all exhausted

- Ricky went to Nanny's to play cards

- I did something adult and finally became a member of COSTCO, I know, right!  However, it was just Tanner and I and I was very overwhelmed to be in there (on a Saturday) without a veteran Costco member with me.

- Tanner and I had a date on Saturday (he actually told me that)

- I took Tanner to Toys R Us to use up a gift card he had from Christmas.  He is so good in stores (not like his 10 year old sister).  He knew exactly what he wanted, when he found it, he just kept saying "can we just look now Mom".  He would see something and I would be like, "do you want that instead Bud" and he would be like, "no, I just looking". 

- Tanner showed his sister that when he has money, he has to spend a little on his sister...so when we were at Toys R Us, after he got his thing, he asked if he could get Maddy a new phone case for her phone.  He's 5, he has such a big heart!

- Maddy and I watched The Mighty Ducks

- we took my parents out for breakfast for Fathers Day

- visited Ricky's dad also for Fathers Day

- watched the weather all day Sunday as there were warnings and watches for thunderstorms AND tornados...luckily, I don't think we got either, just some rain, wind and dark skies.

- made a whole whack of stuff to have wraps all week: fried up some hamburger and made taco meat, cooked some chicken and peppers and onions, made pizza subs, cut up lettuce and have it ready for Caesar salads...we have a busy week so this will help in the supper department

How was your weekend?

TGIF

This week...

- we ran non stop to sports: t-ball, ball and soccer

- I got another massage on my jaw and neck

- we had one of my fave summer suppers: subs with fresh buns and cold meat

- I started walking at lunch and on the first day I came across a bakery that was selling these cookies...of course I had to buy one for Maddy

- Maddy has been doing good in the sleeping department

- there was a major high rise fire in London...this stuff touches me now because I have co workers that live in England as that is where our Head Office is.  Seeing videos of people literally throwing babies and kids out of the windows was horrifying.

- found out that my friend Hollie is expecting...holy there is going to be a baby boom this winter (well not really this week, but she announced it this week lol)

- I wore capris most days

- we hardly had any time to catch up on shows, thank God for summer and most of our shows are done right now

This weekend...

- I need to get groceries

- Maddy has a birthday party

- it's supposed to rain

- I need to catch up cleaning

- I want to wash the car, inside and out

- I will have to get meals ready cuz our week will be: Monday: T-Ball and possibly Maddy ball practice, Tuesday is the school trip and possibly ball, Wednesday is soccer and Thursday may be ball again

Have a good weekend everyone!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

- that so many people reached out to me about Maddy and her anxiety and she is definitely not alone.  Knock on wood, since that posting, she has been doing much better at night time.  Baby steps, we'll take them.

- that school is done in 7 days...crazy!  Why am I loving this?  No more lunches.

- I am taking next Tuesday off to join the school on their year end trip to Logosland

- Next week we are also attending our niece Kaitie's high school graduation

- meal prepping especially for Tuesdays and Wednesdays when the kids have ball and soccer

- the warm hot weather

- the older I get, it seems that I am not as cold as I used to be.  I have worn dresses in this week, bare legs, and I am okay.  I am also waking up in the night soaked with sweat...maybe early menopause? LOL

- I was listening to Cam's album on Spotify and all of a sudden there was a live performance of her doing "Uptown Funk" - loved it.

- tomorrow is pay day

- Maddy came home on Monday night and wanted to make a migraine blend potion for Pam at school who gets migraines frequently...receiving an email the next morning to basically say that my child is so caring and loving was a great start to the day.

Happy Wednesday!

{Weekend Rewind}

First thing: Pittsburgh Penguins won the Stanley Cup again!  Happy household this morning.

Second thing: it's going to be another scorcher of a day today!

Now on to the weekend...

Friday after work, we grabbed chipstand and headed to the Bay to pick up some books that I ordered locally for our Sunday School Picnic.  Luckily, I was able to get the others that I did not get on Friday from Chapters because when I got that order, all I got was an empty box.
My plan afterwards was to just go to bed, but we headed up to my Nanny's for a little visit.

Saturday I didn't have many plans other than watching Landyn while his mom worked, but I somehow ended up being the neighbourhood babysitter and had Kaylee and Jessica too.

I also hit up a yard sale next door and scored some books, a cookbook that I have been wanting and looking forever for, and a bench with cushions and cubbies for my entrance way...for $5.
Ricky headed to the city with her cousin to go boating and we didn't hear him till after midnight.
Eventually the kids were picked up but the girls ended up staying the night. 
Pretty easy peasy night.

Sunday morning I woke up feeling out of sorts.  Not sure what was going on but I was super dizzy and nauseous.  I contemplated even going to the Sunday School picnic.  I got dressed, packed our things and headed out warning the kids that if we had to leave, we had to leave.  I drank some water and kept hydrated and eventually I noticed I wasn't dizzy anymore but still not feeling great. 
After our service in Lindsay and Ryan's garage, we all pigged out on food and then headed to the pool area.  The sun was shining and there was a nice breeze to keep the bugs away.

My nice patchy burn

We packed up and headed home around 1:30, with enough time to just relax and nap.
I made steaks for supper and we called it a night early!

How was your weekend?

Life Isn't Always Rainbows and Fairytales!

Most days I think that being an adult sucks.  

Sometimes parenting is really hard.

I love being a mom.  It was basically the one thing that I knew I wanted to be when I grew up (because honestly, over 30 years old now and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up haha).

Recently we have been dealing with anxiety with Maddy.  It's no secret to anyone in my close group of friends and family.  We have been to the doctors, we have talked and still, we feel we are hitting a wall.  We feel that we may have to resort to medication.

For the last, let's say 2 months straight at least, her anxiety unfortunately gets the best of her at bed time.  She is fine up until she gets into that bed.

She asks questions, she wants kisses and hugs (which is totally fine), she looks at her clock and figures out if she goes to sleep right now, she will have xx amount of hours of sleep before she has to get up in the morning.  She will lay in bed for 10 minutes then she is up.  She will come and get me, crying.  I will tell her to get back to bed.  She will go upstairs and tell Ricky that she just can't fall asleep.  He talks to her and tells her to go back down to bed.  Sometimes she will cry herself to sleep but most nights she is comforted by sleeping with one of us.

This was okay and not wrong in our house because we co-sleep. 

The problem is, this whole routine is breaking up all our sleep schedules now.  Once she is in bed with one of us, all her anxiety is gone but she is tightly squeezed to you and dead weight when she's asleep.  Sure, we could continue to do this but we want her to fight through it too.

Wednesday night was a later than normal night because it was soccer.  We got home at 8 pm, she hopped in the shower and then I tucked her into bed.  Ricky was already laying in bed and when I got out of my bath, I headed to her room, kissed her good night and saw she was crying.  She told me she didn't want to be the last one asleep. 

Ricky came in, shut her TV off and said to just lay there...if she is not asleep in 30 minutes, she can go in with him.  Sure enough, the next morning, where was Maddy?  In with Ricky.

Thursday morning on the way to work we started to talk about making another appointment.  Maybe she does need medication.  I don't want it all the time, but maybe something, a small dose that will take the edge off, because as a parent, the hardest struggle, is not being able to heal your child.

We have tried everything:

- she has a diffuser in her room and diffuses a relaxing blend at night time.
- she has a fan to keep her cool and for noise
- she has a dream catcher
- she has a sleep mask, that she requested
- I bought her a sleep spray that has melatonin that she takes every night an hour before bed

What else can we do as parents?  We talk and we don't really know what or if anything is bugging her.  It's not nightmares or bad dreams because this is before she even falls asleep.  If you can get her to sleep, she is good for the night. 

Perhaps it's just separation anxiety. 

Any other tips are greatly appreciated, as parents, we feel defeated by this disease. 

Wednesday Ramblings

- I am loving that CANSEC is behind me and back to a regular, normal work week

- I am loving that soccer and ball starts this week...more excited that Maddy has decided to give ball a try.

- I am not loving the age groups for soccer: Tanner's group is 3 -6 and Maddy's is 10 - 17....I just feel they are too big of jumps, I mean Tanner could run over a 3 year old haha.

- I like that Girl Guides is over but it has only been replaced by these two summer activities...holy moly, suppers are going to have to be quick.

- This is also going to affect my very scheduled night...kids and I are bathed and in bed by 8 pm...Maddy's soccer and Tanner is only done at 8...eek!

- I have come to the conclusion that I may have a wee bit of OCD

- Speaking of OCD...our family doctor told us that Maddy did not have it, however we have been dealing with a new situation for over a month now.  She totally concentrates on the time.  She has to have so many hours of sleep (calculated by a fit bit) and if she is beyond that schedule, she freaks out.  For example, last week we had the talent show at the school and I anticipated it to be over at 8...well it wasn't and Maddy still hadn't performed when it was 8 and she comes to me all panicked that she needs to get to bed.  I calmly reminded her that it was a PD day, no need to worry.  But she did.  At bed time, she lays down, all is fine, then 10 mins passes and she comes crying to us that she can't sleep and she NEEDS to sleep.  It's a vicious cycle and as strong as we want to be, we cave and either sleep with her or let her in with us.

- Loving that this weekend we are having our Sunday School picnic...and really hoping for nice weather!

- School is almost done...Maddy's plans have been secured with the first week at Art Camp and then the rest at Fabiana's (I better confirm with her again since I asked back in March).

- So not looking forward to what to do with TWO kids next summer

- Tickets have been bought for our Girls trip down East and I am looking forward to it.

- I have had really bad jaw pain this week...at night it helps to put cold on it then hot and I have been taking some muscle relaxers...next step is going for a TMJ massage

Happy Hump Day

{Weekend Rewind}

After the crazy, buys week, I was really looking forward to the weekend.

Friday I left work a little earlier than normal.  I did what I had to do then left.  I ran and got an oil change and grabbed some things at Walmart and headed home with supper in hand.
I had a burst of energy and started cleaning like a mad person and called it a night around 8 pm.

Saturday was supposed to be the nice day of the weekend and we were heading to the Alpaca farm, 7 mins from home with Girl Guides.  It was cool but that was okay because the breeze kept the bugs away!  We went and learned about the alpaca's and the girls got their badge for it.

 

Maddy was having Olivia overnight so we stopped at her place, grabbed her stuff and decided on chip truck for lunch.  Dad and Ricky were doing brakes on the truck, so we grabbed them some grub too and delivered it to them.  By afternoon it was starting to warm up but this old lady needed a nap...and a nap she had. 

I got up around 3 pm and Tanner and I headed up to visit Josee and Landyn.  The bugs started getting bad and eventually came back down to our place for supper.  After supper, we walked to the store for ice cream and when we got back, the neighbours were having a little fire, so we set up and roasting some marshmallows and were in by 9 pm.

Sunday I had plans to do nothing and that is almost what I did.  I headed to Church cuz I was teaching and then we came home, had lunch and I ended up falling asleep on the couch.  After supper, we all sat down and watched Smurfs 2 and then we were all in bed and sleeping by 8 pm.

How was your weekend?

Friday Randoms

- I am so sleepy that I actually didn't know if I would have made it driving to work (but I did)

- I have been at an event for the last two days and although it was great for the business and so many opportunities, it was exhausting

Our Unmanned drone: The Mosquito

- to add to that exhaustion was planning a community BBQ and Talent show on the evening on Day 2 of the event...never.again

- however, the event went off without a hitch and it was a great night. 

- the kids that performed were AMAZING, as were the others

- You know what else happened this week...I booked and bought my ticket to Nova Scotia in September for a girls "long weekend"...so exciting.

- Tuesday night was the last night of Guides...it was the Mother Daughter banquet, and it was a later night than usual too

- I can't really remember if anything else relatively exciting happened this week

- this weekend, not much planned: visiting the Alpaca farm tomorrow morning with Girl Guides and Sunday teaching Sunday School (which reminds me, I better get going and finding my lesson)

Have a great weekend!