Monday, February 28, 2011

Sleigh Ride

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday, perfect for a few toboggan runs and a sleigh ride!

Bundled up kiddos, all in a row ... can you tell who is who?

Ready to go!

Someone was NOT happy about taking this little sleigh ride!

But she finally warmed up and started to check out her surroundings.
Happy Family!

Mike & Pete, the beautiful horses who hauled us around Rotary Park.
"Snow" much fun!

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Snowmageddon

Well, another (at least) 30 cms of snow fell on an already chock-full city last night. It's really getting out of hand, and there's certainly very little room left to put any more of the white stuff around here. Thankfully we have someone ploughing our driveway this year so we don't have to worry much about it. To think we were worried just before Christmas that we wouldn't get enough snow to make the snow removal services worthwhile! HA!

Back deck.

Front window ... the snow has crept past the sill.

Our fence is 5-6 feet tall, depending on where you're standing in the yard.
We have to shovel the yard to keep the dog from "wandering".

Between our house & our neighbour's. Our car is in the foreground,
hers in the upper left corner.

Anyone else ready for Spring????

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Internal Review

Recently I ...

... upped my running mileage, only to realize I likely have plantar fasciitis in my left foot. Working on NOT injuring myself further so I can continue this running bliss;

... have been pushed out of my comfort zone in discussing our financial affairs, but have also been reminded that trusting your gut when it tells you things is SO important;

... have wanted to poke my eyes out so many times in dealing with Maaike's 3-year-old tantrums, attitude and rudeness. I had to walk away on more than one occasion to keep myself from having a tantrum of my own in response;

... have been so proud of the progress Maaike is making in relation to the potty. In the past month, she has pooped on the potty more than 1/2 the time; and in the last week, she has exclusively pooped on the potty. This is a BIG DEAL and such a big jump from where we were just two months ago when we were giving enemas to combat the result of her holding things in!

... have been shack-whacky and in need of some fresh air and vitamin D. Seriously, Mr. Weather Man, let's be reasonable. We've had not only our fair share of snow this year, but the ridiculously cold temps that went along with it are just cruel and unusual. Let's talk Spring, shall we?

... have been enjoying my Friday mornings with my husband. He had to burn off some leave before year-end and decided to take a few long weekends to accomplish that task. These free Fridays give him an opportunity to see Maaike in her preschool environment, and also give us some time alone together while she's there. We don't do much, but hanging out alone together has been needed and well-deserved for both of us;

... experienced a sense of relief that we are not moving anywhere this year. As much as Moncton has not been my favourite posting, and as hungry as I am to buy a new house & "move on", so to speak, I find more solace in the fact that I don't have to rush back to work yet, and can at the very least spend one more year at home being the best Momma I can to our little girl;

... have enjoyed reconnecting with my faith at our "new church". I have so often in the past felt somewhat put-off by organized religion and all that entails, but this new group and the messages that have been given every week have at times caught me off guard and even moved me to tears. I find myself looking forward to attending every week. Quite a concept for a girl who, while always a believer, couldn't get past the claustrophobic feeling that went along with attending church on a regular basis;

... have been over-analyzing people's motives, only to realize that for the most part it's just me thinking too much!!!

... have been seeking internal peace. I'm almost 42 ... time to let go of the pettiness, the ridiculosity, the little things, the negative internal dialogue. I have a beautiful daughter that I need to assist in building into a strong woman. These adverse thoughts are just not productive to that process!!!

... have been missing my own Momma, as well as her Momma, and wishing we all lived a little closer.

Proud of our Soldier

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Saturday Sidebar ...

Dare I say it's been a full week since I've changed a poopy pull-up? Since our girl has been actually TELLING us she needs to poop on the potty? And doesn't need to sit there 1/2 as long as it was taking before ... ???

I'm knocking the proverbial wood with ALL of my might ...........

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Witty Wednesday

Last night I woke to the sounds of a 2-pack-a-day smoker coming through the "baby" monitor. I had an internal argument about getting up and checking, trying to convince myself that our darling 3-year-old had just turned around and was facing the receiver at the end of her bed or that we were getting some bad feed-back from outside influences. Regardless, I finally lost the battle and dragged my tired (read: lazy) bones out from my cozy cocoon. Good thing I did as she really was wheezing quite badly, and when she awoke, that she had quite a "whooping-style" cough. As we have been through this before, we knew to get some warm mist into the air as soon as possible.

Where is the wit in this, you ask?

This morning Maaike pointed into her room and asked where the fire was. As I often misunderstand this little wonder's attempts at getting across her point of view, I asked her to repeat the question. She said, "Where is the fire? Daddy's fire?" It all came together when she pointed at the humidifier that Daddy had set up the night before on the floor of her room. Yes, I guess that would be the portion of the word she would understand ...