So, this is the new big thing at our house -- pillow forts and Netflix on the Dell 2in1. Or more accurately pillow nests, where the kids strew as many pillows and cushions as they can find in a circle around themselves and snuggle down in their PJs, all lanky limbs and cuddles, in the big kids bed, or in a pile on the bedroom floor. They beg for this, as if it were the biggest … [Read more...]
Why I Let Them Watch Me Vote
I made an odd decision this morning. Every day after I put the girls on the bus I go for a walk around the neighbourhood, just for a bit of exercise. Sometimes I run errands, sometimes I just walk a few blocks out of my way, making a big circle and looping around back home. Today I walked to the bank and deposited a few cheques, walking back along the main drag I noticed the … [Read more...]
Back to School with Dell (and my surprising favourite use for my new Dell 2-in-1)…
September means back to school. For me this year, for the first time ever, this means both kids in school all day. Leaving me with six glorious hours to myself to work and clean house. At least in theory. The reality is our school has a delayed start for Kindergarten. Which means my S.K. kid started a week after her big sister. And then once she started, she was there for all … [Read more...]
The One Where My Kid Admits She Lies to Me Daily…. And My Heart Explodes…
The youngest daughter has been putting me through my paces lately. Testing. Pushing boundaries. The other day I had pretty much hit the limit, my patience was gone. I was in that place where I was so happy the day was over, so happy it was finally bedtime. As I was standing there tucking her little pajama clad five year old body into bed she caught me by surprise, saying, "I … [Read more...]
Helping Your Kids to Find Their Back to School Look
For older kids back to school can be a bit stressful, as they worry about their outfits and their hair and makeup. September can be a time of "the great shake down" while girls are trying out new styles and trying to find an everyday look they are comfortable with. My girls aren't there yet. My daughter's biggest concern is whether or not mom's going to let her wear the cool … [Read more...]
The One Where I Remember All of the Things I SHOULD Have Said to Her Kindergarten Teacher….
Dear Kindergarten Teacher, When we met last week you asked me to describe my daughter in a few words and my mind went blank. What I should have said is "She's like Tigger, but with hugs." Instead I told you she's "very touchy", which you took to mean tactile orientated. I tried in stumbling words to explain how she wants to touch, and hug, every person she sees. I think you … [Read more...]
Curing the Back to School Jitters
I have a little one who is nervous about heading to school. She's going into Kindergarten next month. Our countdown tells me it's 16 days away. Some days, when I'm ready to trade her to the neighbours for a decent cup of coffee, it feels like it can never come soon enough. Other days, I feel almost as nervous as she does at the idea of relinquishing my baby into someone else's … [Read more...]
If I let them, they would stay all day….
On Raising a Reluctant Reader…
We live in a house of books. There are books everywhere you turn. If you manage to draw your gaze past the clutter of toys, the place could easily be mistaken for a lending library. Reading with my girls is one of my favourite parts of being a mom. I sit and read with them pretty much whenever they ask throughout the day, and every night we snuggle down and read a full chapter … [Read more...]
On Raising Pinocchio… #StreamTeam
I'm often stunned by just how different my two girls are. Going into this child number two business I thought, particularly since it was another girl, that I would be walking through all the same steps. Already been there. Easy. Ha. Not even close. Same parents, born just two years apart, raised in the same environment, yet they are night and day. Girl number one is quiet, … [Read more...]
The One Where My Kid Begs Me to Let Her Clean the Floors, a.k.a. The Grandma Effect
My girls stayed overnight at my mom's place Friday night, giving hubby and I a chance to sneak out for date night. We ate out, tried out a new local brewery that opened recently, and then went home and played board games until almost 2am. Wild. Night. Out. The next day I pried myself out of bed at ten something in the morning. My timing was impeccable. Pretty much the moment … [Read more...]
The One Where I Admit to Eavesdropping on My Kids…
All my girls need is each other and a handful of trustworthy toys. The kind I know won't fall apart when they inevitably sit on them or smash them together. For us many of those toys, the ones I trust my kids with and the ones they spend entire days playing with, are Mattel brands like Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, and Thomas & Friends. Which is why when Mattel approached me … [Read more...]
Snow Play
Link up and share your Wordless Wednesday posts... … [Read more...]
Saturday Nov.22nd is National Donate Your Hair Day, Kids Can Do It Too
Tomorrow, Saturday Nov.22nd, is National Donate Your Hair Day. If you've been thinking about cutting your hair to donate now would be the perfect time. When you donate your 8-inch or longer ponytail through the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program Pantene pays to have the hair turned into high quality real hair wigs, which are then made available for free to cancer patients in … [Read more...]
I’m Not Ready For Christmas Yet. Like Seriously, Can’t We Wait Until December to Start This Thing?
Last week it started snowing. Big fat fluffy flakes that instantly melted as they hit the still warm ground. My children cheered and jumped and spun and screamed the entire way to the bus stop. They tried to catch each fuzzy round flake on their mittens and their tongues. I thought their snow excitement was cute until I realized that my kids equate snow with Christmas. Since … [Read more...]