Summer's Arrival

Funny how I always seem to post at a season change. The arrival of Summer is the best of all. My family seems to come to life in Summer. All Winter long the kids and I have talked and dreamed about being able to walk out the door with out piling on layers. Slipping on a pair of sandals, crocs, flip flops and running out to the sunshine. And now, those cold snowy days are behind us and we are in the midst of our reverie.

I am blessed to have this Summer with my children. I have had no luck on the teaching job search and have accepted it. There is no room for frustration, anxiety or manic job searching when looking after two kids who only want your attention. I am thrilled to spend the next two months playing in the sun with my non-stop son and my busy little girl. I am dedicating myself to them and our pursuit of daily Summer fun! Who wouldn't kill for an opportunity like this? I am a very lucky Mommy.

Maxwell has one more day left of JK. My baby boy is finished his first year of school and what an amazing year it has been for him. His report card (received today) begins with "Maxwell has had a very successful year in junior kindergarten" told by his teacher Mrs. Lemere. I couldn't agree more. A perfect report card (2 for 2) tells Daddy and I about what a social, well adjusted, smart little man we have. These are things that we do already know about Max but to hear them confirmed from someone else fills us with so much pride. Max is very popular amongst his classmates, confirmed when Audrey and I walk him up to the kindergarten gate and a group of kids are already calling his name asking him to play with them. It is his ability to be so well rounded is what keeps me in awe of him.

He is smart, friendly, athletic, caring, energetic, loving and most important of all, happy. Maxwell is everything I dreamed he would be and so much more. He's the cool kid who flies into the school yard on his scooter waving to the older kids he knows. Takes off his helmut puts on his under armor hat backwards, throws his lands end lacrosse back pack on his shoulders and then crouches down and kisses his baby sister on the lips, gives her a big hug and wishes her a good day. Then follows suit with his Mommy. I want to grab onto him and beg him to freeze and never grow up. I want him to know that I am so grateful God has given him to me and feel blessed every day to be "Max's Mommy". I want him to know that he is truly an amazing person and I can't believe his Daddy and I made something so precious.

The kids are very excited about this Summer and everything it is going to bring. We are going on a family camping trip in a few weeks to Turkey Point which we have been talking about and planning for months. We have company and family picnics on the calendar, visits to the Crosbie's trailer, Canada's Wonderland, the Science Centre, the zoo, the beach, Canada Day in Cobourg and lots of swims at Pappy and Papa's pool. It won't be just the big day trips that we will remember but the days at home playing with the kids on the street, licking at popsicles and they run down our arms, slathering them up in sunscreen (or as Audrey says kun-kreen), giggling as we run through the sprinkler, playing at the park, waiting for the ice cream truck, drawing with chalk on the driveway, riding bikes and scooters and generally just soaking up as much Summer as we can to get us through the long Winter months.

First day of Summer was yesterday. According to Phineas and Ferb there are 104 of Summer vacation. So, 103 days left of pure Summer fun with my family and I couldn't be more excited to spend all of them together.

Audrey's First Skate and Maxwell's First Hockey Game

Friday I took Audrey out to parent and tot skating at Rickard Arena to try Audrey on the ice for the first time. She was cute in her helmut (she calls it a headband) with Hello Kitty (pronounced Allo Kiddy) stickers on it. Audrey was very persistent and didn't get frustrated at all. She could even stand for a few seconds on her own, and with help march along. I think she'll be much more of a natural on the ice like her Daddy than her Mommy. 

Maxwell has been in the Frostbite Hockey program at The Ice Shed. Since September, every Sat morning he has had 30 minutes of power skating instruction from Cynthia and then 30 minutes of hockey skills with Jordan. But now, the kids are in big arenas, mostly the Legends Centre and are doing a bit of skills with Scott and then are playing a game. We are so thrilled with Max's enthusiasm about playing this year. Last year he lost interest and we took him out but this year he has initiated wanting to play and he is having so much fun. His skating has really improved and he is scoring goals and getting into it. It looks like we have a hockey player!

Parenting

It is the most difficult job in the world. One day everything is great, kids listen to you, are loving and go to sleep without issue. The next, you wonder what possessed you to think that you were going to get away with it that easy. This week, is the later.

The kids are both sick with colds (Steve and I are too) and they spent the weekend at the house of indulgence also known as Grammie and Grampy's. I want to say first that I am beyond appreciative that I have two awesome parents who are always so willing to watch Max and Audrey. They truly believe there are no two more special people in the world than their grandchildren. However Max has known this for some time and Audrey is quickly catching on. They know that their wish is G and G's command. So things like sleeping in bed with them, letting them stay up late and not making them eat what they should is standard when staying at G and G's.

I know that this is the role that many Grandparents play. They are supposed to fill them with sugar and love and then send them home to Mommy and Daddy. However, this week we are paying for this in a big bad way. Both kids have no intention of sleeping by themselves, doing what we ask them to or have a screaming fit if they are forced to. Needless to say, it's not been a great week.

However, I don't want to dwell on this as it's not in my nature. I want to move on and try to make things better. To start, the sun is shining and there is a hint that Spring may be waking up and will be joining us after all. It has been the longest, coldest and the snowyest (??) Winter that I can remeber. I have never been so looking forward to Spring before. Our kids are active outdoors types that need to run and play, so the fact that it's going to be 12 degrees this weekened gives me hope that this week is going to turn around yet.

With Max starting soccer and lacrosse in a few weeks and Audrey starting Salsa Tots I think my active little ones are going to get their outlets they so despretely need. And in turn their parents will too.

This parenting thing, it isn't the easiest but we're working on it.

Maxwell - 4th Birthday

My Gorgeous Max,

Today you turn 4. I can still remember waking that morning and thinking, I'm going to have a baby today. Before tomorrow comes I will be holding our baby. It was thrilling and scary at the same time. Your Daddy took pictures of me that morning. Wearing my doggie flannels and my great big belly. I loved being pregnant with you. It was a magical time.

It snowed the morning of March 18, 2004. We woke up and everything was covered in white. It felt like a perfect day for you to be born. It was a rather quiet and relaxing way to have a baby, water breaks, no contractions, wait to see if anything will happen, still nothing, head to the hospital, wait for a room, get put on pitocin drip and wait, wait, wait. When you decided you'd had enough and it was time to get outta there, you let it be known.

I was thrown into heavy contractions quickly and was quickly rethinking natural childbirth. Your Daddy was amazing and never left my side for a minute. He kept telling me I could do it and was a great coach. However there was no time for any medications to help with the pain. A little bit of gas and I was told you were ready to be born. At 8:12pm you were born and your Daddy through his tears said "it's a boy". You were placed on my chest and all I could do was cry and look at you. It was a defining moment of my life and I will remember every detail forever.

It's been 4 years since that day. My little tiny baby boy is a gorgeous preschooler, with the biggest blue eyes, a smile that could light up a city and hair that goes white blonde in the summer. You love playing sports of any kind and are I am told, a "natural athlete", apparently just like your Papa. You are an incredible runner, have such a natural stride and don't stop. I like to think that maybe your love of running comes from me. I don't have much athletic talent in me but I have always loved to run.

You have a kind heart and are a sensitive soul. You love babies and most of all your sister. I am so proud of how much love Audrey and have the minute you first saw her. You have never said one word of jelousy or shown aggression towards her. You welcomed her into our family at your age of two and a half and have loved her and protected her as only a big brother can. This means more to me than you may ever know. I can only pray that you and your sister remain as close as you are today.

This year you over came and conquered many things. You said good-bye to soothie (that was a tough one), got potty trained and said good bye to pull-ups (even at night!), took your first soccer class (loved the running part), went up a level in swimming lessons, excelled in gymnastics (great on the balance beam and trampoline), tried powerskating, got your first hockey equipment and took a few classes, went back to Edna Thomson and moved up to the Stars program upstairs and recently moved downstairs to the Eagles preschool program (you loved going with the big kids). So many changes little man, and more to come. We have registered you for Kindergarden and in September will be starting JK at John M James Public School. I know you are excited to start school and I am excited for you.

You are an incredible person Max. I am so proud to be your Mommy.
I love you Maxy.

Lots of Love,
Mommy xo

"Max"isms

Grammie "Max I have a secret - I Love You!"
Max "Grammie I have a secret too - I love Candy!"

Uncle Chris is dancing around holding Audrey. Max says "Uncle Chris, be careful! She's just a baby!"

Max going out to play hockey in the snow with Papa. He says to Pappy - "Pappy hockey players are rich!"

Max, mad at Mommy for not letting him wake up at 5:00 am for snacks and Treehouse said "Mommy I have one question for you. Why do you always say no to me?"

Both Audrey and Max in Mommy's bed and Max said "Am I allowed to hold Audrey's hand?"

Playing eyespy in the car, I said "I spy with my little eye something that is silver" and Max said "Daddy's hair?"

31 Weeks

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today. 9 weeks to go (if I go full-term). It's starting to feel very real that soon there will be a new little person in our lives. I've been reading books to Max about getting a new baby and all the exciting things he will get to teach his new brother or sister. He's convinced that it's a sister and has been since the day we found out we were expecting. I'm really excited about giving Max a sibling to grow up with. He'll be such a great big brother.

We went to Scarlett's first birthday party on Saturday and there was a 7 day old baby there. He just stood beside the mom watching it and asking if he could kiss it. He is really facinated with babies and just wants to love them. It warms my heart thinking that he really is going to be ok with a new baby. But there is another part of me that is selfish about it just being Max and I during the day.

I love our afternoons together. I go into the toddler room at daycare, and as soon as he sees me his face lights up and he runs and gives me a huge hug (really the highlight of my day). Then we drive home and I ask him about his morning and what exciting things he's done. I make my lunch and we watch treehouse together for half an hour. Then I tell him it's nap time and he takes my hand and we go off to his bed. We read a story and have a nap. Occasionally I'll fall asleep with him and other times I'll watch him drift off and then go and try and acomplish something around the house. He sleeps anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours. Sometimes I'll stand at his bedroom door waiting for him to wake up because I want to spend time with him. We'll have a snack and then go outside and play, or do some errands or just cuddle up on the couch and read and watch tv. I truly cherish this time I have with him.

So this is me being the sentimental person I am. I truly had no idea before I became a mom how encompasing it becomes. How your heart is filled with so much love for your child you think it might burst. I know I have lots of love to share with this new little person growing inside of me, it's just hard to imagine it right now.

The cutest boy in the world