I hope everyone is enjoying their Father’s Day! We are low key, everyone napping or watching a movie at the moment. Later we are going to BBQ some steak and enjoy one last night before my Grandmother returns home and my Dad heads to PEI. Maybe, just maybe my Grandma will not totally slaughter me in Scrabble … again!

So here we have my shaggy boys. Summer promises to be right around the corner, so it was time for cooler ‘dos.

Aren’t they cute?

I was even brave enough to trim Becca’s bangs. I was a little disappointed that she insisted on squirming, even though for others she is always perfectly still. Ethan looks so much older and has already proclaimed he will be growing his hair back long.

How is your long weekend going so far? Do you cut your family’s hair?

]]> http://soodz.com/blog/2010/05/before-and-after/feed/ 12 http://soodz.com/blog/2010/05/family-time/ http://soodz.com/blog/2010/05/family-time/#comments Tue, 11 May 2010 13:05:46 +0000 Chelle http://soodz.com/blog/?p=3039 We had the fortune of having J’s parents come visit for a few days. The kids adore their Grandparents and it was a really great visit. Becca in particular enjoyed having her Grandma show her crafts, how to play checkers and read to.

Poor Ethan was ill most of the weekend Not fun. He is still not well. He is so snuggley when he is sick. In a small way it is nice that he has slowed down long enough to cuddle on the couch, however I am looking forward to Ethan feeling better very soon!

Cordelia is crawling! She is so cute. She has yet to master it, so she gets a little frustrated trying to keep up with us. I think she is enjoying the freedom though! She was so not sure about having company over. It reminds me how little we have people over and how so not good that is. Our kids should be comfortable having people in their home.

I need to get back on track. I have slipped off and need to look at my goals and see how I am going to get there. I will discuss that more on Friday (hopefully). I did run 6km on Friday and it was awesome. That is my farthest distance to date! Now to get rid of this nasty headache I have

How was your weekend?

I was all “terrible twos psshhaa”. I was such a great parent MY child didn’t experience such tormented behaviours…I was so wrong, so very wrong …

HAHAHA!

No see my kids wait till they are smarter, louder, and more capable of damage before they struggle for power, exert their independence and cause havoc.

So now that Ethan is three, he is sweet, talkative and imaginative. He is exhausting, loud, and very determined to overpower my authority. He will not separate from me to join programs (something his sister did willing … thank the heavens because we both needed the break), he has complete FITS when he doesn’t get his way. These never ever get him what he desires yet they have not stopped yet.

I know it doesn’t last. I know my sweet kid that is normally a pleasure to be around will be back full time soon. However the hour that he spent screaming at me, crying, clawing at his face and refused to listen to all reason … it is hard to remember he is 3. It will not last. He has feelings and frustrations he doesn’t know how to handle yet.

So now, as he tries my patience … I give him much more than I was able to give his older sister. I do not raise my voice (as quickly), I remain calm (longer) and I try my best to see him through the moment.

Thank goodness he is so skinkin’ cute!

Becca is particularly dedicated to taking care of the earth. She has requested that we spend a little time every week, picking up garbage in the woods that lead to her school. Not wanting to discourage her dreams and goals, we have gone out and helped her with this wish.

When she first brought it up, I was all “Well Earth Day is coming up why don’t we do it then?” Her reply …

“But Mommy we should clean up the garbage only one day a year we should do it everyday”

oops!

Due to weather being yuck we have only gone once, however the kids really enjoyed the activity and we are going to try to do it every Sunday.

We are crazy busy today. Becca has a dance presentation at school today then we are off to the dentist then shopping for a present for a birthday party with weekend!

How are you honouring the earth today?

Organization.

The girl is the most disorganized being. Shoes on the correct feet? Rarely. Remember all gear? Not often. Shirt on backwards? Every morning.

This is just at home. So I get the teacher not giving her the highest score for organization (to be fair she got almost always meets expectations).

I think about it and really Becca has never needed to be organized. I do that for her. Right? Like every mom for a 5 year old. However I am pushing for her to take more responsibility for herself and her needs (I have three kids really they have to step up as soon as possible!)

Are there games we can play? How does one teach a child organization? Does one need to be organized to teach it? (if so we are in trouble!) Do we do charts? Does that help? We have never done a chart (I am not that organized hahaha!) *sigh*

Ethan had a wonderful birthday. Thanks so much for all the well wishes! He is still enjoying his new toys greatly and throughly enjoyed his ice cream cake! The kid is so cute.

As some of you are aware, 2 days after Ethan’s birthday is my birthday. I turned 34 this year. I am in awe of that number. It seems like a mere moment ago I was in my 20’s. Yet I am in a really good place at 34. We have our home, an awesome car, three fantastic kids, a husband whom I adore (and he adores me), I am healthy and content.

When we were trying to get pregnant with Ethan, I vowed that by the time I was 35 I would be in the best shape of my life. Now I am not talking 16 years skinny, I am talking best physical shape. Now granted I had no plans to have a third child in the meantime, so I was thwarted a little there. However I am on a good track to realizing that goal.

I am running 5 km now. It feels awesome to get that! Now I just need to get my butt outside and run.

We headed out of town for a mini-vacation. It was AMAZING. All the kids were awesome. We all had a fabulous time. If you are ever in New Brunswick, be sure to check out Crystal Palace. Becca had an amazing time. Ethan was a tad young for most of the rides but still had fun. The pool at the hotel was a HUGE hit. It had a water slide that the kids loved (although Ethan needed J to go down with him).

We seriously need to head out of town at least once a year. It was great to just be together.

Did you have a nice weekend?

Three years …

wow.

Ethan is such an amazing boy. He has his own dragon, named Mongo that protects us from monsters and walks with us to school. He loves dinosaurs, diggers, understanding how everything works, tools, digging in his sandbox, being outside and his sisters.

We have been establishing some control and power issues but really truly he is a good boy. He listens (most of the time), takes to bribery really well (haha) and is a great companion on a walk.

Almost everyday, I stop … listen to silence, race through the house to discover Ethan curled up looking at a book. My heart swells. “Read to Me Read TO ME >>>PEEEEAAAASS!”

He is caring, empathetic and adores both his sisters. The cats and him have an amazing relationship considering he is so young. Even our neighbour’s cat will come to Ethan. He really wants a dog (but a robot dog at the moment) and wants to travel in space. He will rescue earth worms, but not the really big ones that move too fast, they are perfect for baby birds!

His imagination amazes me and scares him. He suffers from fears of monsters, no matter how much we assure him that monsters are deathly afraid of cats and avoid homes where cats reside. We also have a special monster spray that “helps, sometimes”.

Ethan is O-Tay … hehe he can totally pronounce his k’s normally but it always Oooo-Taaayyy when you ask him to complete a task. He is a quiet kid when we are out with others and loud and crazy at home.

I love my son. I am so overwhelmingly happy to have a boy in our family. He is the bestest snuggler, and I am so proud of him.

Happy 3rd Birthday Ethan!

In part because I was solo parenting while J hosted a chemistry conference.

I haven’t been running as much either (bummer) but I am still getting exercise in everyday (almost!)

It is also March Break.

So the kids and I are lounging around in our PJ’s, or shopping or just being together.

Some parents grumble about having the kids off.

I am loving it.

Becca is growing and changing so much. It is great to have her around all day chatting and sharing. Ethan is loving having his big sister around.

Cordi is teething hardcore Not fun for her or me!

I will reconnect.

Just not yet. Hope you are well. Miss you.