All I want for Christmas

Last night, Ben was pretty upset.

You see he mailed his letter to Santa "too early" and had some things he wanted to add. But because we told him he could only ask Santa for a couple of presents, he wanted "to change it, but now it was too late."

"What do you want to add?" I asked drying his tear but fearing this would send me beating through crowrds at Box Stores and scrounging on ebay. Or worse -- it would make him greedy.

"Silver and gold crayons for drawing pirates; tape like the one in Papa's office and Santa's extra cardboard for making craft."

I think Santa will be ok with that.

Stop Look and Listen - Part 2

You might remember last year, I wrote to City Hall requesting a cross walk on Circular Rd. They told me no.

Well, this year I asked again and guess what? It arrived! Last month the city put a shiny new cross walk at the corner of Bannerman and Circular Rd. (thanks to DC at City Hall for listening).
Who says you can't fight City Hall?

My name is Deb

Hey, I'm not a painter, an actress or a musician.
I don't go to rich galas all subsidized by taxpayers.
and I don't know Jack, Stephane or Liz from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really really nice.
But I have a Prime Minister who doesn’t know what resonates with ordinary people.

I watch Canadian movies in English and French, not American.
And I spell neighbour and honour with a “u” because that’s how Canadian writers spell it in Canadian books.

I can proudly download Canadian music on my iPod.
I believe in Cancon, Soncan, not American Top 40,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell are truly proud and noble songwriters.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch (made in Canada by Canadian artists!)
and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!! because that’s how I first learned it on Canadian Sesame Street.

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey where Canadians sing the National Anthem on Canadian television.
and the best part of North America

My name is Deb
And I am an ordinary working Canadian!!!

My minivan is full of whale bones

My minivan is full of whale bones
from the beach where I grew up.
My son collected them on Sunday.
He liked the way the vertebrae looked
like picks and hammers.
Perfect for digging in the sand
making holes
finding lost treasure.

Tree school

I wasn't sure how FG would react with her big brother going to Kindergarten. They had both started daycare together and I was sure she would miss him. On the 2nd day of school I picked them up and she was sobbing.

I knew it. When I got her home, I took her in my arms, "You missed him today did you?"

"No," she cried. "You said I was a big girl."

"You are a big girl.'

"But I didn't go to tree school (meaning preschool) today. And all my friends went to tree school."

Ah, little one. As always, ready before your time.

Kreskin or Layton?

I swear my post was first
Layton proposes 150,000 new child-care spaces

Child care shift

Show of hands - how many people have heard anyone in this election address the working parents?

Ok, so the Conservations want to allow momtrepreneurs mat leave only when they pay an EI premium.

But what about the bigger issues of child care? (You do remember the mythical concept of publicly funded daycare, right?)

It's one thing to support moms and dads with newborns but the challenge is finding day care when you go back to work. Several friends of mine have their unborn children on wait lists for spots.

Here's my 3 point plan:
1. Support post-secondary schools in educating more Early Childhood Instructors.
2. Value them. Pay them more when they graduate.
3. Support opening more daycares in primary schools where infrastructure already exists.

Middle-aged white guys running for PM who likely never had to worry about it -- feel free to borrow it if you need to.

Kindergarten

Benjo posing on his first day of Kindergarten. Mama was fine until he was sitting at his first school assembly. No tears from him though. He was so proud! Thanks Madame T for making it a great first day.

Warning: my kitchen may contain traces of peanuts

Not those Peanuts, "the peanut" -- that highly-allergenic nut that my kids (and husband) would lick up by the tablespoonful! Now, it's a banned substance. Good grief!

Seriously though, some kids can have a scary reaction to it and I don't mean to make light of this.

But I was on Radio Noon yesterday in defense of the lowly nut.

Well, not just that nut but all banned food substances -- eggs, nuts, tuna, banana, kiwi, strawberry to name a few. Even though I would never send any of these items to school, my kitchen isn't peanut free. Traces of nuts are bound to be found on everything. So banning them only solves part of the problem.

Instead of making a growing list of banned foods, maybe we should get at the root of the problem. A little more research and a lot more education on the food allergies. The media doesn't help either. Think of the sensationalism around the Quebec teen who died of the peanut kiss only for the coroner to reveal it was asthma-related (traces of marijuana were found in her system).

Not the nut's fault after all.

A farmer called into say, that the reason why kids have so many allergies these days is that they don't play in enough dirt. I tend to agree.

Bristol's Baby...Where's Levi?

Not since Juno, have more people had an opinion on teenage pregnancy.

This isn't about lack of sex education in the school systems. Sure, we could use more straight talk. But even 20 years ago, kids were having sex in Grade 7. And I'm even less concerned that McCain picked a running mate whose daughter isn't a virgin. Who cares?

Careless, carefree teenagers have sex all the time -- some get pregnant; some don't. But there's one thing that hasn't changed since I was in school. Where's the father?

Levi should start taking a little bit of heat and 1/2 the responsibility. Even the new math says 1 sperm + 1 egg = 1 baby.

A friend told the Dad-to-be's My Space page says "I'm a f - - -in' redneck". Sure enough. He also likes to "snowboard and ride dirt bikes but lives to play hockey, go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chill."

Nice.

Maybe Levi will just have to trade his dirt bike for a Jolly Jumper and opt to chill in the sandbox. And the potty mouth? Well that will take on new meaning when he's changing diapers.

Hopefully both of these kids will grow up quick, be responsible and become good parents.

As for a 40+ Republican Grandma in the White House, let's hope we don't have to worry about that.

Dry in the night

About a month ago FG (3) said, "I don't want to wear pull ups to bed." And that was it for her. She's been dry ever since.

I have a funny feeling that's the way its going to be with her. She's just decide and do it. Mama's proud.

If a tree grows in the East End

My sister and my nephew came over for dinner tonight. Not from far, just from the West End (read: Cowan Heights subdivision). We've been in St. John's long enough now to consider the 1o minute drive from her place to mine "right across town".

Apparently on the drive over, my nephew Liam said to my sister

"Mom the trees are growing."

"What does that mean?" she asked thinking he was was observing the seasons.

"It means we're getting closer to Aunt Debbie's!"

Wasps

Monday evening, a wasp stung Ben & FG.

FG's pinkie swelled up. But Ben had the worst reaction -- his whole hand was about double the size.

We called the Healthline and Nana and luckily we both remember a few home remedies. First I removed all their clothing to ensure there was no wasp inside and to look for any sign the rash was spreading. We put their hands in cold water and then in ice. I also gave them Benadryl and Advil. That seemed to get it under control.

Luckily we were at home. It could have been a lot worse. I'll be sure to add a few additional things to my car first aid kit.

Counting Sheep

You've heard it before "Mama, I can't sleep!"

Tonight I told Ben that maybe it would help to close his eyes and imagine counting something like stars in the sky or fluffy white sheep jumping over a fence.

He agreed and squinted his eyes shut.

"1,2,3,4,5...." he started out before his eyes popped open again. "What to know what I'm counting?"

"Sure" Hoping whatever it was would lull him to sleep.

"Rescue Heroes and secret agents punching in a secret code into a key pad. and after that I'm going to count me playing basketball and getting all the points to win the game. Then after that...'

Not exactly what I had in mind but it worked.

Barber Festival

I took Ben & FG to the Races (note: Regatta should be dubbed "the longest running Garden Party" in North America). And all he could talk about was cotton candy. So, I caved. Like Mama, FG wouldn't go anywhere near the stuff but Ben gobbled down a full bag.

Mama: How was your first cotton candy?

Ben: This is my second time! I had it last year at the Barber Festival.

I started the bilingual wheels turning. Ben gets his hair cut at Central Barber in the Mall and calls the entire place the "Barber's". And cotton candy is also called barbapapa - yup, like those bulbous cartoon bonnehommes. But I was stumped.

Ben: You know Mama. The Barber Festival at the Barber's with the rides and everything.

Then it dawned on me. Thomas Amusements.

Insider's Guide to St. John's - Part Deux

It's summer in Sin Jawn's. What to do? Everything! Here's a list of my favourite spots!

Sweet Relic (42 Powers Court). Literally steps from the Fairmont Hotel, this place has great coffee and even better baked goods. Sweet! Grab a few treats and then hike up Signal Hill.

North Head Hike you can either take the road to the top and the 750 stairs down or do it in reverse. Either way its amazing! Check out this You Tube video

Coffee Matters With two locations on Military Rd and Water St., this place has great lunch (Thai curry and crab soup!) and brunch (try the croissant omelet sandwich). And yes, the coffee!

Atlantica One of the best dining experiences. Period (NYC, San Fran, Montreal included). Enroute's Best New Restaurant 2007.

Travel Bug If you left home without it, you'll find it here. Tell Peg & Gerry, I sent you!

WAM Want to know about our "galoot of a culture" or what the word galoot means, listen to CBC 640 AM on Saturday & Sunday morning, 6-9:30. Angela Antle will let you know what's showing where and who's playing what. Also check out The Scope.

Dripless Popsicles

1 package fruit flavored jello
1 package kool-aid
2/3 cup hot water
2 cups cold water
1 cup sugar

In a large pouring pitcher mix together : jello, koolaid, sugar and hot water, until dissolved. Then add cold water. Pour into Ice cups. Freeze and Enjoy!

Will not drip!

Makes 20 ice cups.

1st Annual Water Festival

"When is the next holiday?" Ben asked me.

"Saturday and Sunday."

"That will be the Water Festival!"

"Water Festival?"

"Yup. I'll start a list. Mama, how do you spell streamers?"

And that's how it began. We spent all Sunday delivering Ben's hand-drawn invitations to neighbors, making the welcome sign, water balloons, setting up the two pools (thanks Katherine & Shawn) and the Slip & Slide. Ben was the "manager". He said you need a manager to "get things done."

So, its official - the 3rd Sunday of July is now Water Festival weekend.

Kids CBC Sid & Patty

Kids CBC had another great show in St. John's! Special thanks to Patty, Sid, Bo and George (Kristen & Stef too!).

This morning when I asked Ben his favourite part he said, going backstage and seeing Patty & Sid.

Ben: But George & Bo were inside their costumes.

Me: Why do you say that?

Ben: Because I could see their zippers!

Perry's Cove

Summer is all about making the most of it. Squeezing it in, knowing that time flies by too quickly. And when you have kids that goes double. Last weekend we took a trip to Perry's Cove. Tons of great finds out there - spectacular coast line, swimming in Western Bay, Hogan's ice cream and fantastic friends.
Thanks again P&G.

Brigus Lighthouse - 1 down (almost) 51 to go.

The kids were with Nana & Poppy, so we took a detour and did (most of) of our first hike from the 52 Hikes book. It was a fantastic day and the view back down into Brigus was amazing. The inukshuks did a good job of marking the trail until, after about 1 hour,when we crested a hill and couldn't figure out how to get down to the lighthouse. I opted to go back (also I big blister - note to self , if you're going to do the other 51, get better shoes!). That said, it was beautiful and we'll definitely go back.

Joe Batt's Arm

Road Trip Survival

When I was a kid summer vacation meant one thing - road trips!

We'd pile in the station wagon or better yet, the top bunk of the truck camper and my parents would head west. Jack's Pond, Terra Nova, Eastport, Stephenville, Codroy Valley.

No portable DVD players for my sister and me. So, on a Canada Day road trip to Fogo Island, PL and I did as our parents did. Here's a few must haves for pre-schoolers.

Make a mixed tape er... CD -- ours was called "Wake me you before you Fogo" and included some of our favourites and a few new ones. Check out They Might be Giants "Alphabet of Nations" Memorizing this kept them busy from Clarenville to Gambo.

Sticker & colouring books - always a hit. We also picked up kids magazines like Chirp and Nick Jr. I added new markers with attached caps to boot.

Snack bags - a few Smarties (thank you Hodgie) never hurt anyone.

Games - I Spy, 20 questions, Quand je vais au marche..., name that tune work well for pre-schoolers.

Sing a song - or two, or three.

New toy - for FG it was Belle Polly Pocket. For Ben it was Spiderman. Leave it in the packaging and let them open it. That's half the fun.

Life is a highway. Have fun on the road this summer.

What's your show?

While driving past the CBC building

Ben: Mama, what's the name of your show (Note: he thinks everyone at CBC has a show).

Mama: Mama doesn't have a show.

Pause.

Ben: Well, what are you doing in there then?

Super Readers to the Rescue

No more Green Guilt

It's not east being green...but we're trying. And when I don't I do feel guilty for not doing enough.
Trying to change the world for ten bucks or less?

Here's a few things we do at our house to save the blue planet...

- Give up Walmart. As a New Year's Eve resolution, I stopped going. Not because of the fluorescent light and that smell, but in an effort to force me to buy local.

- Park it. If you need a double double, stay out of the drive through. The less idling the better.

- Buy bulk. I buy bigger containers of hand soap and laundry detergent and fill up the dispensers around the house.

- Make your own cleaners. I don't do this for everything but here are some great recipes for non-toxic cleaners.

- Give it away. Call Diabetes Clothesline, drop off at Value Village, try freecyle or kijiji - but never throw away clothes. Just give it away.

- Organic once a week. Take one thing you use regularly and switch to organic. Of course, along with that shop local -- Lester's Farm here we come.

- Use paper again and again. We have a recycling bin under the kid's craft table. You'd be surprised how often they reuse with the scraps.

- Buy fair trade coffee beans. They are slightly more expensive but taste way better. There's my favourite Hava Java, Jumping Bean, and the newly opened Sweetrelic in St. John's now carries Birds & Beans.

If you need more reading, I love Change the World for ten bucks or less (thank you Paul!!) and also Gill Deacon's Green for Life

Now that he's five...

Ben tells me he can zip his jacket by himself;
he says he should always say "please" "No thank you" and "excuse me" because that's good manners

Now that he's five,
Ben wants to ride his bike to Bannerman Park "tout seul";
he says he doesn't need his blue blanket to fall asleep

Now that he's five,
his socks are big enough to be mistaken for mine;
he says he needs to be alone in his room just to play Lego, sometimes.

Now that he's five,
I should get used to it.

Now that he's five.

Free, free, set them free.

Between the Globe article on the free-range child and Ted Blades interviews with Alfie Kohn and Barry MacDonald, I'm not sure what it will take for our generation's obsession with hyper-parenting to stop.

Everything from tap lessons at three to piles of homework (I'm not even in that madness yet!), parents today are more concerned with filling up their kids social calendars than, well, letting them be free.

It's like if we don't structure their every minute, they will complain of boredom. What's wrong with a little boredom? Well, if we let them sit a little they might just use their imagination, or think for themselves or speak with us, or just be.

So here's the challenge -- instead of signing your kids up for a gazillion different things, how about letting them run around the back yard, look at clouds, walk to the store with you or even help with supper? Find the balance - maybe swimming or piano or gymnastics...pick one.

Might be all the extra-curricular they need (and want!)

About Banff

"I want to hear everything about Banff," a friend asks, knowing full well that the splash of cold water relativity quickly washes memories away.

In a word: amazing.

A Banff Centre for the Arts artist card, gourmet meals and 6 days in the mountains with writers and wine to write, talk about writing, read and listen to readings --- not a bad gig. The people in the non-creative group (ok, all groups) were inspiring and supportive. Especially J, H, K. All great women, great writers.

My surprise was in how being away just freed my mind; made me write clearer, crisper.

I couldn't remember the last time I traveled on my own without babes or PL when it was not for work. I did miss home at the end though. But at Banff, I saw the story and made the edits to make it work. Now all I have to do, is to get it down to knitting it together. May Edna's resin be with me.

A Million Little Pieces

I know everyone called James Frey's memoir a big fat lie -- but when I steal the title, it will be all true. Promise.

Not about alcohol and drug abuse - No! More about Polly Pocket shoes and 1x1 Legos.

There won't have to be one embellishment to captivate parents.

You've all been there - troweling through the bottom the toy bin; poking fingers between the sofa cushions full of crumbs and pennies to find that missing tiny piece of coloured plastic. Or mayber it is in the the junk drawer. Ah, the junk drawer. Did you check the junk drawer?

Most times, you find it when you least expect it; in the pocket of your fleece jacket or squirrelled away in the cupboard inside the broken mug you've been meaning to fix.

I suppose, a little like Frey, you wonder how it got there.

Where do toys come from?

Ben: Mama, we got new toys at school today.

Mama: Really, where did they come from?

Ben: Boxes

Six Figures?

So just what's a Mom's work worth?

Mom's Salary Wizard tries to figure it out. According to their latest numbers salaries in Canada would/should be $126,593 for Stay-at-Home Moms and $74,101 for Working Moms.

The job titles that best matched a mom's definition of her work in both countries are (in order of hours spent per week): housekeeper, day care center teacher, cook, laundry machine operator, computer operator, psychologist, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and janitor.

Don't get my wrong, I love slobbery kisses and pancakes in bed, but a wouldn't turn down a raise on Sunday morning either.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ice, Ice Baby

It was freezing but worth it. After supper we bundled up and went down to Cuckold's Cove - literally a 2 minute drive - to see the season's first icebergs. A very kind stranger offered to take this photo.

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

At least for FG.

Yesterday, when I picked her and Ben up at daycare, she was standing in the corner. "She's there for a reason," Madame K said.

She had pushed another child and refused to say she was sorry. She had been there 15 minutes and still would not budge. Gentle, I thought. She's headstrong!

We waited. "No I'm sorry. No TV after school." Normally that works. But nothing.

When the little girl's parents came to get her and she drove away, FG stood in the parking lot and melted down. Too late. And she knew it.

At home (when she realized I was serious about no TV and the sobs stopped) she clearly said, "Tomorrow I say sorry to her, ok? No sorry. No shows."

I was proud of her. It had registered. On the drive up this morning she repeated it. "I have to say I'm sorry."

But this morning, as we stood outside the classroom door -- nothing. She said she wasn't going to say sorry.

"OK," I said. "Then no TV."

Sorry does seem to be the hardest word. Check out post from May 6, 2006.

Magic Pennies

With the exception of getting the kids hair cut on Saturday and a trip to the pool and the Edible Books at Eastern Edge; we let the snow keep us inside this weekend.

Plenty of cardboard box puppet theatres and muffin baking. Frances told me yesterday she missed her pink soccer ball. We're all getting a little anxious for spring.

One thing we did do was roll coins.

The kids loved the sound of dumping out their piggy banks in stainless steel bowls and then rooting through the "the brown ones" (pennies); "the princess ones" (nickles, dimes and quarters) and "the big ones" (loonies and toonies).

FG really got into it.

I'd count out 50 pennies and then she'd place them one by one in the roll. She did this for about 1/2 hour. When she'd start a new roll, she'd say "When I'm finished you say 'I'm so proud of you', 'kay Mama?"

I guess love is like a magic penny.

Fists of Fury

I don't think either of mine had colic. At least not like how it sounded on Sounds Like Canada (March 26).

But that's because they are grown now with new and increasingly less frequent (thank gawd!) tantrums to throw.

But that said, Ben did have a period around 6-7pm we called the "Witching Hour" where he would get so frustrated that there was little we could do to calm him. We'd walk around with him in a Baby Bjorn to dancing Nancy Griffiths album "Other Voices, Other Rooms" or go for a spin around the block.

When it really got nasty, he'd turn red as a beet, clenching his hands in "fists of fury".

One evening -- a fists of fury evening -- I just took him and put him in the bath. The crying immediately stopped. Not sure if was the shock of sitting in the water or playing with his water Whoozit , but the crying stopped.

From then on, I started bedtime for Benjo at 5:30 to ward off the witching hour.

March Madness

My kids are still in daycare but I'm already wondering what we'll do next year for March Break. If you're like me and have a limited number of vacation days and don't have a lot of family close by, you have to be pretty creative.

Here's a few tips I've tried on snow days, sick days and other school vacation days that might work for March Break too.
- Sitter Share with a neighbour, family member, co-worker, friend. You know "I take your kids, you take mine..."
- Book it as vacation days.
- If your employer agrees, consider Flex-time (he works the morning, you take the afternoon).
- Consider enrolling them in a camp. YMCA St. John's and Camp Whatchamacalit are popular.
- If you are at home, consider planning the week with fun activities. Check out Canadian Family's website for some great ideas you can do inside and outside the house. I like this web site because it breaks things down by age group and can work whether you live in a major centre or smaller town.

And most importantly, have FUN. Little ones are only little once...Enjoy the time.

Disney for Free

Want a travel tip when travelling to Flordia with toddlers and preschoolers? Check out Downtown Disney. It's the shopping area outside the theme parks geared to get you spending. If you can hold back from buying Mickey & Minnie Salt and Pepper Shakers and Buzz Lightyear for eveyone you know back home, it can be an affordable and fun way to spend the afternoon.

This year, we skipped the Magic Kingdom and went to Downtown Disney. There, you park and enter, play at the make-your-own-Mr. Potato Head bar, rake through bins of blocks at Lego land for FREE!

The carousel and Winnie the Pooh train are $2 and the water park is (you guessed it!) free. A perfect afternoon for preschoolers, toddlers and parents who get fussy in the afternoon sun.

The Marketing Magic of Disney

For the 3rd March in a row, we've packed our bags and headed South with PL's family. And for the 3rd year in a row, we have not taken the kids to Disney World.

So I really thought my crowd knew little of Disney. We don't watch any of the movies or own Disney merch.

That changed on this trip at Downtown Disney (see: Disney for Free) when FG told me she wanted to go to the Princess's House. She dragged me by the hand to the front of a souvenir shop flanked by statues of Disney characters and posed for pictures.

Later when I asked her what was the best part of her day, she said "I had my picture taken with Sleeping Beauty. Mama, she's in the pink dress and then I took my picture with Cinderella, she's in the blue dress."

I had never mentioned those words to her.

I was astounded (and a little scared) that she knew them by name.

Chalk it up to the marketing magic of Disney.

Big Boy

PL travels a lot for work. Par for the course when you live in Newfoundland.

Yesterday, was the first time we went "toute la famille" to drop him at the airport.

When PL got out, he leaned in the backseat window and kissed the kids.

"Ben, have to be the big boy when Papa's gone?"

Then FG chimed in, "And I'll be the little girl, ok Papa?"

Everyone poops...eventually

Number 2. Caa-caa. BMs.

Whatever you call it, I had no idea how normal it was for preschoolers to “hold it”. According to Dr. P, everything is normal.

“Second children, who train early and are in daycare, often refuse to go to do #2s. They hold it all day, and then can’t go. She’ll go when she’s ready.”

We’ve been patiently (sometimes not so patiently) helping FG with this issue since October. We’ve used every trick in the book, lots of water, bran buds in muffins, prune juice, reading on the potty for “sitting time” and even switching to Lactose-free milk. Still, she’d go once a week.

It was incredibly painful for everyone.

Finally this week, she did it (she did it, she did it! Horrary!). 4 times. 3 of them at daycare – a first!

The answer, for her at least, was I told her, “Everyone goes caa-caa!”

Then she listed off everyone she knew: Nana, Poppy, Ben, Mama, Papa, Aunt Donna, Liam, Rob – even Lucy (Nana’s cat!).

That seemed to stick, pardon the pun!

Peas and Carrots; Carrots and Peas...

Book come out


Please, please, please...



Super WHY is a new Kids CBC show (also on PBS) that's taken over our house. Created by the maker of Blue's Clues they call Super WHY is aimed at "3 to 6 year old and teaches critical reading skills such as the alphabet, spelling, pronunciation, writing, phonics, and word usage. "

I say its just aimed at being brillant. So much so that Ben & FG beleive that we're all characters from the show. Ask FG "I'm Princess Cresto (Presto). Mama, you're Wonder Red, Ben is Super Why and Papa? You're the Pig (Alpha Pig)!"

de·cid·u·ate

"Mama do you know what deciduate means?"

"Nope." To be honest, I wasn't convinced it was a word. "Where did you hear it?"

"At the Rooms. It was too low for you, too high for Frances; and just right for my ear."

I looked it up on Wikipedia and sure enough.

de·cid·u·ate adj. 1. Characterized by or having a decidua: a deciduate mammal.2. Characterized by shedding.

Tyson Any'tizers? Give me a break!

I'm not easily enraged over advertising. In fact, most days, I'm a marketers dream ("What? New and approved?" "Bright and shiny?" Longer lasting? Sold!)

But have you seen the ad for Tyson Any'tizers?

It's the one where a mom brings in a plate of microwaved chicken nuggets to 3 teenage boys playing video games. When she puts down the plate, no one even acknowledges her, they just keep on playing, joysticks in hand. And then suddenly, all 3 boys stand up, eyes still on the screen, on the sofa and say "Here's to Tyler's mom." Then they plop back down and she smiles from th kitchen; happy to have been of service.

Excuse me?!!!

Not only is she feeding these boys CRAP but since when is it OK to be on call for these lazy teenagers!? Boys, get up and get your own "any'tizers"! Better still, get your arses off the sofa and play hockey or ride your bikes! While you're at it, you can give your poor mother a break!

Desechar Día?

Maybe it's the big green machines or our focus on reduce-reuse-recycle, but my kids are fascinated with Garbage Day.

This morning in the daycare parking lot, Ben looked up and saw a flock of seagulls (no, not the 80s hair band).

"Is today Garbage Day?"

"Not for us."

He looked disappointed.

"But I'm sure it's Garbage Day somewhere."

He smiled at the thought. "Yeah, maybe in Brazil!"

huh?

To find out if it's your luck day, visit: www.stjohns.ca/cityservices/garbage

Procrastination

Question: What's the quickest way to get laundry done in our house?
Answer: Tell me to sit down and WRITE!

I've pretty much mastered procrastination but I'm hoping 2008 is the year of artificial deadlines where I can get back to writing. So maybe, one day -- I will write that novel. In the meantime, while I'm putting it off, I can laugh at this:

Downward Dog

My last yoga class was in the spring 2003. I was 9 months pregnant, round and flexible. I was getting $7 pre-natal massages at Sutherland Chan school; napping in the afternoons, caffeine-free and eating 6 little meals. The picture of health.

Nearly 5 years later, with stubborn baby pounds still on board and a sleep pattern I can only describe as "disturbed", I took up yoga again.

It's part of a new year plan (not resolution) to find some "me" time.

What can I say -- I walked in not being able to touch my toes and within an hour I was placing my palms flat on the floor. Here's to stretching the body and the mind. Let's see how I feel tomorrow!

Growing Family

This morning Ben crawled in bed next to me, slid his arms around me neck and asked:

"Mama, when are you going to have another baby?"

Pretty hardcore for 6am.

"Ummm...well...don't you like the size of our family?"

"Four is not enough people."

"How many would you like?" I tried to catch the words before they tumbled out of my mouth. Too late.

"3 would be good."

Parenting is like the weather in Newfoundland...

...if you wait a few minutes it will change.

That's the best advice I was ever given.

Getting Dressed

Part of letting them become independent means letting them dress themselves. And part of letting them dress themselves means...well, turning a colour blind eye to teal blue sparkle summer pants paired with ratty Canada Day shirts. It means ignoring grey sweatpants with holes matched with sleeveless tie-dyed yellow dinosaur shirts.

I'm no fashion plate, but seeing them walk out of the house in the morning like streels is tough. That said, with PL on the road its important that Ben & FG help Mama out in the morning.