Ball tournies, SUPERMOMS and pig roasts...now thats a summer weekend

I had a fantastic weekend for so many reasons...The first being it summer and a weekend!

Friday night I popped in to a a local ball tournament to have a drink and take in some of a game. This is the first year my husband isn't playing ball, so it feels strange only going to one game a week. I was missing our "summer friends..." They are the people we used to see 4 days a week min from mid-May to mid-Sept and this summer has felt empty without them. I couldn't stay long but it was nice. And I managed to get the important things squeezed in...Had a drink, saw Dabble, watched an amazing catch, caught up with cousins and nearly swallowed a june bug! I LOVE slowpitch! The plan was to return the next day with the kiddo, but the rain!

The Rain!!! Saturday the hubby was helping my uncle with moving. I had worked all week and took a Mommy and Ayla day! I felt a little guilty for not helping with the move, but I decided I would've felt more guilty had I sent Ayla to the sitters 6days in a row. Saturday was the Teddy Bear Play day, so we made plans to meet up with friends and be part of the parade and then take in the activities at the park. We got there before everyone else, so we dropped off library books and got in some reading time! Ayla loves the library!!! When we got back outside, it had started to drizzle. I was keen to bail at that point!!! But of course there were the SUPERMOMS! The moms who got out of their minivans and unloaded kids clad in matching raincoats and rubber boots, the moms who had underwater cameras so their tikes could take pictures in the rain, the moms who make the rest of us want to go home and hide our heads in shame. So as dozens of SUPERMOM eyes watched me exit the library, I knew I wasn't going to load my kid in the car. Instead I pulled out the stroller and the rain cover and the teddy bear (who I cursing at that moment...it it wasn't for the teddy bears, there would be no reason for a teddy bear play day). Ayla thought this was all great fun and chatted away with her best friend who sat in a plastic-clad stroller beside her. The parade got underway after hearing staff say that Environment Canada called for 1mm of rain all day! As we matched down Main st, we discovered that the police who were to stop traffice got called away. So the brave Early Years staff and a local radio station vehicle stopped traffic. We had just reached the halfway march when the drizzle became rain. In a few short minutes, it became a downpour! Traffic was now stopping all on its own, as people stared and laughed at the parents pushing strollers and pulling wagons! My friend and I wanted to bail mid-parade, but she had brought her mom!!! I thought the SUPERMOMS were bad, I guess the SUPERGRANDMAS are worse!!! We were not going to be allowed to bail! With only three blocks to go, the thunder and lightening started so the umbrellas had to go! At this point the SUPERMOMS were breaking into camp songs and still smiling (and had remembered waterproof mascara)! Needless to say by the time we got to the park, we were soaked and the kids were finally grumpy! We left the now screaming tikes with SUPERGRANDMA and got to run back in the pouring rain to get our cars. When Mommy and Ayla got home, we crawled into jammies, turned up the heat and watched a movie.

When Daddy got home, we had to get ready to go to a pig roast. This meant Ayla and I had to put on real clothes. The good news was that we had fun as a family. With our schedules, we don't do things as a whole family as often as we should. Us ladies spent the evening planning our camping trip for Aug! Very excited!!! It was a late, but enjoyable evening! Thanks for having us Kev and Laurie!

Sunday was low-key. Brandon had a competion, so Ayla and I met up with Natasha and went for a run. There were hills and a stroller to push so I didn't make it through the whole thing! Natasha on the other hand did!!! Great job Tash!

Nothing went as planned, but thats the joy of a summer weekend! However next summer, I'll pray to the teddy bear gods for a sunny day :)

I Love You, I Love You Not...

So somehow the blog I was working on got lost somewhere in the vast land on the internet, so I am slacking off... And you get this instead!

I LOVE YOU...

• Ontario strawberries...I seriously start counting down the first day of strawberries as soon as the snow starts melting! Today as I drove to the city, I drove past a half dozen signs for fresh-picked strawberries and every single one made me giddy! I can't wait to take Ayla out to pick some this weekend. I'm already anticipating eating berried straight off the plants while I fill my bucket. I can survive winters in Canada if I know it leads to strawberries! So keep your American and Mexican strawberries, because I plan on eating my body weight in Ontario strawberries!
• Friends who hold you accountable! Thanks for talking me into running Tash! I need/needed it!
• My sister...I got to spend the afternoon window shopping for fixtures for my upcoming bathroom reno with her and we had so much fun. Its nice to have the time for random, silly conversations and then time to talk about serious life problems. Our trips like this started as we got older and started to want to spend time together. We have the funniest stories, pictures and inside jokes from these days. Nobody else will ever understand it, but we do. One of my favourite pictures is of Tina and I at the Farmer's Market...She has hot pink hair and we're hugging Spiderman! Like I said...RANDOM!
• Looking at paint chips:D

I LOVE YOU NOT...

• Peeling sunburns! Gross I know, but I hate it soooo much!
• Cucumbers in taco salad!
• Working night shift
• Sore muscles...Again thanks Tasha! lol

I Love You, I Love You Not...

So its been way too long...In the last month, I've started back to work and we're still trying to figure out how to manage life around our new schedules! I promise my blogging will get better!

I love you..

• My baby girl!!! Ayla turned one last week and we had her party on Saturday. It ended up being smaller than I origionally planned, but she had so much fun! She had no qualms about diving into her cake! I had no idea that cake could be so messy! Cake was followed by a bath, followed by presents! I'm still not sure which she liked best, the cake (she happens to have a sugar nazi for a mother) or the balloons! Sunday night the emotions of having a one year old hit me like a Mack truck! I lay in bed sobbing to my husband about how sad I was that she was "all grown up!" He looked at me a little strange and said, "Umm you know she'll be bigger next year too, right?" Men!!! Its been such an amazing year! Being a mom is something I'm good at and its changed me sooo much already that I just can't wait to see what happens next!




• My job...I work for Community Living and I LOVE my job! I went to school and took my job knowing that its hard to get full-time in my field! Its the joy of non-profit work! It was fine before I was a mom, because I could pick up call in shifts and be flexible. My year off for mat leave, I started stressing out about having enough work, babysitters, etc. I started thinking about having to leave my job for something more stable and it hurt! Well yesterday I was offered a full-time one year contract and I'm so excited for it! I can't wait for the new challenges, the stability and the fact that I won't work weekends for a whole year!


• Big Macs...I think these should be one of the wonders of the world, thats how much I love them! My husband and friends think I'm nuts, but I still remember the first time Dad let me order was as a kid! It was love at first bite!


• Slowpitch...I am not the most amazing athlete, but slowpitch makes me happy. I've played for teams in the past that made me think about quitting slowpitch forever and then I made my own team. We have fun and love to play ball together. Last night we played one of our best games yet and I can't wait to see what happens next Monday!


• My Norwex mattress cleaner! I watched the Dr.Oz show about bed bugs, dust mites and matresses and couldn't stop thinking about it. So I bought this all natural mattress spray to keep them away! Today on my day off, I sprayed all the mattresses, couches and am soon off to cover them with crisp sheets! I am pumped to go to sleep tonight! lol Yes I'm obsessive-compulsive about germs!

I Love You Not...

• Crispy fries and pizza crusts! Can not stand them!!!


• Weeds...I can't keep up with my flowerbeds! I need to win the lottery and hire a gardener! In my head I know what it all looks like, but outside chaos reigns supreme...BUT if you could see what I see in my head, you would be impressed!


• Dusting! I would rather scrub toilets all morning than dust! I have hated this chore since I was a kid!

I Love You, I Love You Not...

I love you...

• I love that my newly independent little girl actually wanted to have some cuddle time with me this morning. If I have to get up at 6:30am on a Saturday morning, thats the way to do it!!! Normally she comes downstairs and is off and running (or crawling), but today she snuggled under a blanket with Mommy and we watched cartoons. There really can't be better moments then that as a parent! She now gives kisses as well (even to her daddy...He has a goatee, so when he goes to kisses her, she usually turns her face away. This morning, she puckered up and gave him a big smack on the lips and turned and gave mommy a big smile. She then turned back and gave daddy another big kiss!).
• I love the fact that my good friend Britt is going to be a mom! She just glows and I can't wait to meet this little person. Her husband and herself are just the most loving, wonderful, laid back friends you could have and I'm excited! Camping next summer with two little ones will be fun! Stressful, but fun!
• My mother-inlaw and her thoughtfulness. We've had our moments and are complete opposites in nearly every aspect of our lives, but I'm learning to appreciate her. Last weekend, we spent the day in KW with my niece and daughter. We did Build-A-Bear, lunch and stopped at Anna Mae's on the way home. It was an exhausting day, but she loved the all girls day!!! She's been outnumbered in her house way too long! Everyone has their strengths and sometimes you simply need to push past the differences to see their gifts! BTW Build-A-Bear is fantastic...Pricey but a great experience! Can't wait to scrapbook our pictures!
• All the support for McHappy Day...I have loved hearing all the stories of how you all helped! Ayla and I were in London for McHappy Day, so we met up with my Mom and went to Ronald McDonald House. We dropped off chocolate roses for all the Moms who would be spending Mother's Day at RMH. The volunteers working remembered me from last summer and it was great for them to meet my daughter. My mom had never been in RMH and I know it meant quite a bit to her to be able to go with us. We then headed off to eat our Big Macs and show our support. We bought "Happy Feet" and Ayla wrote Ronald McDonald a thank you note on hers!

I Love Not...

• Colds...As much as a love the cuddles and kisses from my daughter, I do not love the germs she passed along this week. It was a long week and today I get to disinfect everything...Do you realize just how much one snotty kid can touch in four days?
• People who key cars. Yup my car that I've had under 6months was keyed. Grrr If I ever find who did this, I will introduce you to my large husband!

McHappy Day

Tomorrow is McHappy Day! Its an important day for our family. Last year, I did my part and ate a Big Mac to support the cause. I craved Big Macs during my pregnancy...to the point that my friend Jelma began to refer to my baby as "Ronald!"
When Ayla showed up 7 weeks early, St. Thomas didn't have a Ronald McDonald house. The hospital was fairly empty so the nurses just put off discharging me so I could stay with Ayla. When they did discharge me, I spent two night away from her and then she got sick. Her body began to swell up and she became lethargic. St.Joes couldn't take her that day, so she had to remain in St. Thomas that night. The nurses made up a bed for me so that I wouldn't have to leave her. In the morning, Ayla was seriously ill. Standing there and watching ST. Joes' transport team load her into the transport isolette was so hard, but not being able to ride with her was the hardest thing I'd ever had to deal with. I was alone at the hospital that morning. Before I left St. Thomas, Ayla's Dr. sat me down and prepared me for what I would see in the NICU at St.Joes. The hospital social worker then came in and asked if she could call Ronald McDonald house on my behalf. The staff at St. Thomas were/are amazing! They were our earth angels! They called St. Joes everyday to check on Ayla and to let me know that they cared. A year ago, I had never been to St. Thomas and now when I drive down the 401 and see the St. Thomas exit, I get teary-eyed!

Before I had even made it to London, I had a phone call from RMH. They apologized for not having a room for me, but said they had made a hotel reservation for me. My first 24hours at St. Joes hurt so bad! When I got there, I couldn't find Ayla...the hospital was under construction. By the time I got to the NICU, I was a huge blubbery mess. The tests that I saw done that day were scray...Ayla had a long line iv put in. It took the Dr 7tries to get it in. He was in the middle of that when I got to finally see her. There was blood everywhere and it looked beyond painful, but Ayla was so sick that she did't even move. I thought I was going to pass out watching, but I knew if I did, they'd make me leave. The Dr. finished and then looked at me and said, "I really don't think she'll make it 24hrs." When Brandon got there, it was so hard to sit and try to talk about it. When we finally left to go to the hotel, we could barely even function. We made it through the night and Ayla had her first blood transfution. By the morning, RMH called the hotel to say they had a room for us.

RMH was my home for the next 5.5wks. I wouldn't have made it through without the support from RMH. They provide so much more than a bed! Volunteers come in and prepare a homemade supper every night, and you have access to laundry, computer, phone, a pumping room for the new mommies and transportation for those who don't have a vehicle. The first morning, we woke at RMH was Father's Day. We had both completely forgotten, but as we went to leave for the hospital, Brandon found a Father's Day gift outside our door. The amazing staff left gifts for all the fathers. Monday morning the director called me down to her office, because she wanted to meet me. She gave me a quilt for Ayla and a stuffed moose, which became known as "Zuess the Guardian Moose." He stayed with her at the hospital and was misplaced only once. Brandon panicked and the staff tore apart the NICU to find him. He still sleeps with Ayla at home. Her quilt is used when she plays outside now. RMH gave me a place to rest so I could be strong for my daughter and a way to build routine into my life.

The whole point of this post it to help you put a face to RMH and what they do. We are always hearing about fundraisers for this or that and I know it helps to see a face. McHappy Day is special day for us because we can celebrate an organization that gave my daughter what she needed most, her mom! So get out there tomorrow and buy your Big Macs, Happy Meals and Happy Feet!

I am not a morning person...I have never been a morning person, nor do I plan on ever becoming one! When I was in high school, we had to do double busing, which meant we started an hour before the elementary kids. This in turn meant I was on the bus by 7 am at the latest. I could barely even function until we started 4th period after lunch. I thought life would be so much better when I was done. Stupid girl! In Grade 12 I worked as a farm labourer and my work days started at 5a.m. most days. The good news it was close. I would get out of bed at 4:45 and drive to work in my pjs. I'd shower in and begin my day. And beginning my day usually meant calling Korey's mom and getting her to kick him out of bed. I'd then have to see who was sleeping outside in their trucks. I'd wake them up and then we'd start our 12hr days. After working this job for two years, you'd think that motherhood sleep patterns would have been easy. Again stupid girl!!!

The past 11months have occurred under a sleep-deprived fog. I have gotten strange looks for the things I have said, done, not done, etc. I used to never leave the house without my makeup. Now I check my shoulders for puke and snot and head out the door. It was clear to me last week that this wasn't enough when I showed up to ball practise and noticed a sweet potato hand print on my bum. In 4weeks, I return to work. This means four weeks to try to become organized. As I lay in bed this morning at 6am with a wide awake 11month old, I thought about how my life has changed...Two years ago, my fantasies may have involved doctors by the names of McSteamy and McDreamy. One year ago I thought on a Sunday morning, we'd all lay in bed and cuddle and relax. Today as the 11month old amusement park crawled over me, poking me in the face and my husband snored obliviously beside me, I realized my fantasy from two years ago has changed dramatically. Now in my dreams, McSteamy would say on a Sunday morning, "Go back to sleep, I've got the baby" and I"d sleep until at least 8am! And wake up to a clean house and waffles...real waffles.

My favourite coffee cup said "I'll rise, but I refuse to shine." Ironically it disappeared the day I went to the hospital to have Ayla. I may still hate morning, but waking up to hear someone singing in her crib and seeing her whole face light up the minute she sees me makes it all worth while!

I Love You, I Love You Not..

So the concept of the post is stolen from Melissa...The first time I read her post entitled "I Love You, I Love You Not" the scrapbooker in me was flooded with page layouts I could create from this concept.So Melissa thanks for the inspiration!

I Love You...

• Glue Dots! I am addicted to glue dots!!! There are probably groups for people like me...Groups that get 90 day sober chips. Everytime I stop at my favourite scrapping store, I buy more. They can be used for so much besides scrapbooking. Ayla has a sign on her nursery door and it bumped against the door when you'd sneak in the check in on her...So I stuck a glue dot on the bottom and stuck it to the door. Glue dots have solved the occasional wardrobe malfunction. If you don't have body tape to help keep the ta-tas covered, and you're in a hurry...I swear it seemed logical at the moment and it worked! Brandon asked for Christmas ideas for me last year and I told him I wanted my stocking filled with glue dots! The brave man went to my scrapping store and bought glue dots!

• Babies who are learning to wave! Ayla has just started in the last few days and had to wave at everything we saw on our walk today. The squirrels, our neighbour John and a pile of leaves all got the same enthusiastic wave!

• My sister! We talk or at least text once a day and the big/little sister thing is no longer as important as the friend bond! I love the fact that sometimes we just look at each other and start giggling for reasons that make no sense to the peoople around us. We're both moms and we have serious conversations about our kids and their futures. She's my hero in so many ways. She was a pregnant teenager who had dropped out of school and showed her stength by turning her life around. By the time my niece arrived, Tina had finished her high school and got her driver's license. Within a few months, she was working and being a full time mom with no support from the father. In the past year, she moved back home to complete a college course. Now she's ready to take another big step towards a bigger, brighter future...She's moving to find work in a city. So many new things to take on and her beautiful daughter to look after too! Tina I'm so proud of you!!!

I Love You Not...

• Teeth...I have a teething child and we both hate teeth!!! Right now I'd give her all of my teeth if I thought it'd make her feel even a little better!
• Watching the News. I like keeping up on world news, but I wish there was a rule that said every newscast had to start out with a happy story. The world is full of great moments and kind, generous people, yet they get drowned out by men who stab four year olds. Lets try our best to remind people of the good things in life on a daily basis!

Happy Weekend Everybody...