Wordful Wednesday: time warp

This day last year my baby was getting tested for abnormalities in his stomach.  We were at Children's Hospital and I was a little stressed.  Now?  yeah I can clearly confirm there are no stomach issues!

Oh Bully

Oh Bully (okay, yes I stole that title from RHOV but really, this story has nothing to do with that show.  Although too bad because I would love to talk about how awful these women are.  So nasty and mean.  Aren't Canadians supposed to be nice and friendly.  These women are a disgrace!  But anyways, this story is NOT about that show so moving on...)

So the baby has finally turned.  My former little angel turned into a bully yesterday.  He started trying to bite his brother for no reason, last night he pinched and scratched M and today he slapped my cheek really hard and yelled "mine".

The worst part is that I wasn't even offended for a few minutes!

And here's my thing: if you are going to start acting like a toddler then you better start walking like a toddler!
Although maybe I'm just tired.  This was my night:

Me: deeeeeep sleep
Me: hearing Chicken yelling "Mom, there's pees in my bed" - bolt out of bed and run as fast as I can to (unrealistically) stop him from peeing in the bed.
Me: Okay, did you pee
Chicken: Nope, all clean!
Me: ?
Chicken: at this point he clarifies that there isn't pee in his bed (and shakes his head at me for being so foolish) there are BEES in his bed.  Except, upon further exploration, there are no bees, pees or anything else concerning.
Me: laying awake for two hours trying desperately to get my adrenaline to calm down.
M: snoring...

And yet, I would not change it for the world!

Friday Night Leftovers

1. So I've got strep throat for the second time this year which seems just really unfair to me!  Thankfully today I have no fever so I can actually function.  Praying no one else gets it though.
2. So thankful for my amazing husband who worked from home yesterday, took care of the kids and nursed me back to health.  Amazing guy I tell ya!
3. My new computer is so great.  I price matched so after taxes it was only $660.00 and it's wicked.  Makes me realize just how awful my old one was... no just kidding.  I always knew how awful that thing was.  M wants to keep it for torrenting and such; I want to take a sledge hammer to it!
4. The drywaller guys are supposed to come today and deliver all the stuff.  Monday they start.  We are getting that much closer to having a developed basement!
5. Which means we are getting that much closer to me having more house to clean.  I can't seem to keep up as it is!
6. Anyone know a good housecleaner?

For more leftovers GO HERE

Wordless Wednesday: I AM FOUR!

Like a dummy, when Chickn was a baby I took a picture of him every month with a sign and a bear (so you could see his growth).  Now I have to keep this up yearly.  Thankfully I know some WICKED photographers.  These pictures were taken by Codio Photography - one of my faves!

Greek Chicken Salad... Pizza!

We love pizza in our house.  I got a bread machine a few years ago and I've been cooking homemade pizza ever since.  But lately M and I have a little more jiggle than we'd like.  So we've been eating lots of salad; which sucks because I don't actually like salad.  So, here's my compromise.  It's wicked good and the kids even liked it!  

Greek Chicken Salad... Pizza!

Ingredients:

• Pizza Crust (homemade or uncooked premade - I've heard Pillsbury makes a good one)
• One head Romaine Lettuce shredded
• One Cup Tzatziki (I often make my own but Superstore has a really good one too)
• Two Roma Tomatoes; diced
• Bell Peppers (I used a half a red and a half a yellow but whatever colours and amounts you like will work); diced
• 1/2 Cucumber; diced
• One Chicken Breast; diced (this is optional and would be good without too)
• Greek Dressing (I like Epicure personally)
• Feta (optional... I guess...)
• Olives (I hate olives but if you like that kind of thing go for it)

Directions: 

• Cook the pizza crust as directed (I like to fork it first so it doesn't have large bubbles)
• While the pizza crust is cooking mix together the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, olives, chicken and dressing.
• Once the pizza is out of the oven give it a bit to cool (about 5-10 minutes) and spread the tzatziki all over.  
• Top with the salad and sprinkle with feta.  
• Enjoy!

You will need to eat this with a knife and fork but it's so worth it.  A health-ier version of pizza and an easy way to get in a ton of veggies!  If you make it be sure to let me know what you think!

Happy Mother's Day

Oh The Places You'll Go by Dr. Suess was a birthday present to Chicken this year and since then we've read it almost every night.  So when I saw THIS post I just loved it!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you wonderful mothers!

Oh The Places You'll Go... As A Mom

Friday Night Leftovers

1. Three blog posts in a row - maybe my blog neglect is over?
2. Chicken is at the farm today and tomorrow (my parents' have an acreage about an hour away) and he's picking up baby chicks with my dad.  He was seriously excited this morning and talked ALL through breakfast!  Every kid should have a farm haha.
3. I feel like technology is out of control.  I desperately need a new computer (I can't even tell you how bad my current one is) and I've decided on a laptop (easier for work and scrapbooking).  I've done a bunch of research and I'm still pretty clueless.  I know what basics I want but then have no idea what would make one with that stuff $700 or $2000.  It's like you need a degree in computer science just to buy a computer these days.  
4. I've been reading the 4 Hour Body and it's pretty interesting.  I'm not at the orgasm part yet but I'm a bit skeptical about that.  Speaking of which - I'm pretty sure Tim Ferris outsources for everything, including dating.  
5. Is it just me or are some of the things people pin onto their "humour" boards just really mean.  It's like it's okay to call someone a bitch or generally awful person if there is a cartoon of 50's era woman.  Don't get me wrong some of them are super funny but some are just plain mean.  
6. Also, while we are on the topic of pinterest.  Could people please stop pinning really delicious desserts.  I'm never gonna lose weight that way!!  
7. What are you doing for Mother's Day?  

More FNL?  Go HERE!

Thankful on Thursday

Natasha started this.  Or maybe it was someone else?  Either way I've got a lot to be thankful for so here goes:

1. Life.  seriously, things are so good right now in my life.  I know that life is full of ups and down so I'm trying to really cherish this current upswing!
2. My hubby getting sent to Alaska this week instead of France.  No crazy time change means more communication which is really important to us when we are apart.
3. A good friend who's son has similar issues to Chicken.  Makes it so much easier to have friends who don't judge your child or your parenting.
4. My cousin's wife who is a professional baker.  She used to work away (and before that Crave so you can imagine how good her cupcakes are) but is pregnant now and starting up a small business.  She's a red seal pastry chef and she made the most amazing cake and cupcakes for Chicken's birthday.  Her prices were amazing and so were the baked goods!  I love to make but making large amounts of cupcakes, etc stresses me out so I love that I now have a go to girl for birthday parties!
5. The baby starting to talk more.  I know it's normal to not speak until even the age of 2 but with chicken being so advanced with his speech I was starting to get worried about Little Bear.  But just in the last few weeks he's starting talking a TON!
6. Work, got a raise and went to a wonderful workshop the other day where I learned a ton.  
7. My treadmill - it's hard to not run on it when it lives in your bedroom and stares at you all the time!  Keeps me accountable and healthy.  

What are you thankful for?

Technology Free Marriage?

Blog?  What blog?  No kidding, sometimes you just fall out of love with your blog right?  But THIS POST gave me inspiration (haven't read it yet?  It will take you about 2 minutes and you should read it - go now).

It has been going around facebook all week.  But I saw it on Monday when my husband forwarded it to me saying "so glad you aren't this mom; our boys are lucky".  And he's right, sorta.  I got a smart phone a little over a year ago.  I had held off for longer than most because I was worried I would be a texting addict.  And within 48 hours M was upset because I was texting at dinner.  WHOA, seriously it was that fast.  So after that I started to leave my phone in my purse.  I tell all new friends I am an awful texter and they may receive a response immediately or not for a few days.  If friends really want to communicate with me they know to phone me.

So when M sent it to me I was all smug.  Thoughts of being an amazing mom were going through my head and I was super proud of myself.  "yep, my children aren't missing out on my attention/love/time", I thought.

And then slowly thoughts flitted into my head.  Memories of my mom continually telling me to put my phone away.  Or my husband asking me to do the same.  Hmm, it seems that I immediately recognized the impact being addicted to my phone would have on my children but not on anyone else.  I don't think I'm awful (I would never text or check facebook while out to dinner with a friend, or driving with a friend, etc) BUT, I'm still on it too much.  It's like I think that as soon as the children aren't around I'm "home free".  Except I'm not!

And then I read the article again and wondered "do my parents think they aren't as important as facebook"?  Do friends think that?  Does my husband (turns out no but we both agreed that we should be on our phones less when it's just the two of us).

And so I'm so glad that I read that article.  And now I'm wondering what could be so important on my phone anyways?  Months ago I disabled any sounds connected to texting on my phone so I won't hear a text coming in.  Now I'm going to actually turn the phone off during the day.  M and I talked about a schedule.  Like maybe right after putting the kids to bed, first thing in the morning, etc.  I like that and I can't wait to see the positive impacts that turning off my phone will have on my relationships!

Did you read the article?  What did you think about it?  Will you need to make any changes?