Christmas Catch-up

I apologize for the large gap in posts. Christmas at our house was very busy and required a lot of preparation this year. I made Christmas dinner for 13 family members and cooked my first turkey. It was a massive 19 pounder and was a little scary, but I managed just fine! Knowing that 13 people's hungry tummies are depending on you making a delicious dinner puts some pressure on a person!

Christmas morning was wonderful for us. We invited my parents for present opening and breakfast. It was so nice to have them there with us and watching the looks on the kids faces as they opened their gifts. We opened stockings, ate breakfast (a yummy cake I found on Pinterest) and then went back to opening more gifts! I got almost everything I asked for- a griddle for making pancakes, a new pedometer, There were alot of gifts this year, but my favorite gift was having all of my family together. It was very cold outside, but our house was warm and cozy and full of love!

Here are a few photos from Christmas at the Thompson household.

Why Are You Running Away?

This past week I have encountered a lot of people I know who are running away from things. It's bothering me for a number of reasons, so I thought I'd better spill it in my blog!

First it was a friend who was a member of a group of a few women on Facebook. We all had babies in December 2011 and January 2012 and we have all become very close. She just found out that her daughter has a health problem and is understandably upset. She had left our group for some reason and has now shut off her Facebook account because she doesn't want anyone to say anything to her other than "I'm sorry" or "I'm praying for you". She said she doesn't want to look on the positive side or hear any other comments. I understand that some people can be rude in their comments, but I don't see why that would be a reason to close your entire Facebook account. She is running away from the people who care about her when really she should be running to these people who have their arms open to give her a huge hug. Our moms group is so wonderful and supportive and we are always there for eachother and do not criticize. I just cannot understand why she wouldn't want to take the support. I know that's what I need most when I'm dealing with alot of stress.

The next was my sister in law. Once again, Facebook related but she took my husband and myself off of her friends list without saying anything to us. I sent her a message mentioning it and she said that Facebook makes her sad. I guess when I said I was happy to find a reliable babysitter, that upset her because she loves to babysit our girls but our oldest just decided that she didn't like staying there anymore. Unfortunately, I only found this out today after 3 days of wondering what the heck was going on. She avoided the whole issue until my hubby blew up at her because she wouldn't say why she was upset. Once again, someone running away. She ran away from a discussion that could have very easily solved the problem but instead it turned into a huge problem! She called me crying this morning. I told her that she should have just told us why she was removing us and I'm sure it would have been fine.

I understand that everyone has their own way of dealing with things, but shutting people out isn't the answer. We are only human; sometimes we hurt, we cry and we need eachother. Without support in tough times, we can and will crumble.

So a note to my friends; thank you for your support when I have needed it (keep it up!) and I am always here if you have a problem with me, a problem in life or just need a shoulder! I don't want to hear "I needed to talk to someone, but...." because I am here. Don't try to hold it in and be strong because eventually it will eat you up inside. This is something I have learned in my 30 years of life and feel the need to pass on.

All for My Girls

Today I finally did the thing I was dreading and went into my work and had a meeting with my boss about going back to work. For a few weeks now, I knew I had to go in and tell him what Matt and I had decided and I was even having nighmares about it!

I dropped Ceili off at preschool and headed over to work. I visited with everyone there for a bit then went in to talk to my boss. I told him that my family was #1 right now and I just can't imagine leaving my girls to go back to work at least at this point in their lives. When they are young, these are the most precious years. They are learning so much and I want to be there to see watch them grow and change. I was amazed that he was very understanding and said that if I ever decide that I want to return, he will be more than willing to re-hire me there.

I did enjoy working there very much, they are a great company and the office was so small that it was like a family too. Everyone worked well together and they were very supportive when I had to leave and go on bed rest and maternity leave. I don't think I have every worked for such a great company before. I definitely would consider going back to work there once the girls are both in school full-time.

So, I am now a stay-at-home Mommy and am proud to say that our girls are my full time job now. Being a Mommy is more work than any other job you will find, but it's so worth it and so rewarding!

So Much to Give Thanks For!

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving again, it seems like the past year has gone by in a blur. A good blur, but a blur nonetheless! Every Thanksgiving I try to think about all of the things that I am thankful for and every year I have a little more to be thankful for!

I am most thankful for my wonderful husband who puts up with me day in and day out! lol. Well, I guess we actually put up with eachother because we all have our bad days and we love eachother whether it's a bad or a good day! He's always there to comfort me- like this week when I got in my first fender bender with our van and dented the bumper. I called him and he answered even though he was in meetings across the country and he told me he was more worried about us girls than the damage to the van and that everything would be alright.

I am thankful that we have a nice house and food in our fridge because I know there are alot of people in this world without those things. Most people who do have them take them for granted and we really shouldn't.

Two other reasons to be thankful are our two beautiful, smart little girls. They make my days (and nights!) interesting. They have changed how I see the world. I appreciate everything about life so much more since they came into our lives. My appreciation for the miracle of human life is also tremendous now. My body grew these beautiful babies and fought to keep little Abbey safe. At this time last year I was unsure of whether or not we would be meeting our sweet baby in January because of all of my pregnancy issues. I spent almost every day of that pregnancy so scared and I am so happy she is here and healthy!

I am also thankful for a trouble- making dog who makes me crazy some days....well, to be honest most days but I love him all the same! He has made our family complete.

I can't forget all of the rest of my family and friends because without them I would never have mommy- dates, babysitters when I need a break, advice and hugs when I need them the most! As much as we fight with our parents when we're teenagers and think they don't know what they're talking about, I really do appreciate them and all of the support they give me now. I realize they were right all along and I'm sure our girls will shake their heads at us one day and say "you don't understand!".

So this Thanksgiving remember to be thankful for all that you have, not just the things but the people too!

Stop Time...NOW!

This morning when Ceili was at school, I was nursing Abbey before her nap. Being the crazy momma that I am, I was smelling her head and holding her little hand and thought to myself "can we please pause in this very moment forever?". I feel like our baby girl is growing up way too fast.

When Ceili was a baby I was always looking ahead thinking "I can't wait until she can do ______". I am finding with Abbey, our last baby I want to savour every moment of her being a baby. She is now scooting around the house on her bum and trying to stand up. Most of the time when I cuddle her, she pushes away because she wants to go play with her sister. Where has my little baby gone? I can't believe she will be a year old in January!

Maybe I feel like it's going by too fast because we are always so busy and I haven't had as much time to just watch her grow and change. We're always doing something or running somewhere. Plus, breastfeeding has created an amazingly strong bond between us which makes me want her to stay a baby even more.

I think I need to stop, smell the flowers and enjoy my little girls before they're not little anymore!

Super Fast Ooey Gooey Brownies

One of my biggest weaknesses is brownies, so when I found this recipe I knew it was trouble....delicious trouble! It's a perfect recipe for impromptu brownie sundaes.

This recipe is a microwave recipe for chocolate brownies. They have extra cocoa and are super decadent. I have made them twice now and even with 2 kids running around screaming, pulling on my pant leg and a dog trying to push in to get a sniff of the ingredients I was able to get the recipe just right. This is why I call this a no-fail recipe!

2/3 Cups butter, melted
1/2 Cup cocoa
1 Cup white sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 Cup flour

1) Melt butter on high in microwave for 30-40 seconds.
2) In a small bowl mix melted butter with sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Mix until just blended.
3) Whisk eggs a litter and add to bowl. Add flour and mix well.
4) Grease microwave safe dish and spoon mixture into it. I normally use a loaf pan.
5) Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes and allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting.

Ceili's First Day of School

Last Monday we sent our first "baby" off to preschool!

Ceili was so excited to go, and of course a little nervous. I was really excited for her because I knew she missed the structure and learning aspect of school. She was in daycare when I was working and absolutely loved it. They did alot of educational things and did crafts, singing and reading books which is why we called it school.

We all got ready in the morning and took Ceili out for breakfast at Tim Horton's before school. We had our breakfast then headed to school. Matt even took time off of work to come along and see his little girl off to her first day!

When Monday came, even after all of the preparation for school it finally hit me that our little girl was actually going to school! Sure, preschool may not be "real school" but next year she will be in kindergarten! As we dropped her off and she barely noticed that we were leaving, I got a little misty- eyed. Looking back, she has changed so much over these past couple of years. She has such a great personality- maybe a little too much of one sometimes! But she is also so much fun and has a great sense of humor. As much as I was sad to see her go to school I was also feeling quite excited for the years ahead and seeing our bean grow and change even more.

After school I picked her up and she had so much to tell me. She loved her teachers and did crafts. They also played in the gym and had snack time. She was exhausted after lunch and had a long nap!

I think this will be a good thing for her and also a good thing for Abbey and I because before this is was rare if we got quality time just the two of us together.

Chocolate Yogurt Dream!

I found this recipe the other day and decided to try it with my own twist by tring a different yogurt and adding raspberries. It ended in a to-die for dessert that isn't completely unhealthy! This makes approx. 4 servings.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Greek Yogurt- I used coconut
4 Tbsp. Semisweet Chocolate Chips
4 tsp. Coffee Cream
16 (or more) Raspberries

1) Spoon 1/4 Cup yogurt into each dish.

2) Put chocolate chips and cream in a small dish and microwave for 15-20 seconds. Stir until blended.

4) Spoon some of the chocolate onto each cup of yogurt and smooth over top.

5) Top with a few raspberries.

6) Refrigerate for around an hour until chocolate is set. Enjoy!

Here's to You and Me Mommas!

Yesterday a friend of mine posted a link to a blog. As soon as I read it, it really spoke to me. It was this blog entry. It was just written by another mom, but what she had to say meant so much to me. My favorite quote from it is
"You are a good mom. You matter. You are making a difference.
You can do this. One step, one day, at a time."
This is my new mantra and from here on in I am going to try my very best to live by it.

I realized after reading this that my stress is rooted in trying to be everything to everyone and have everything perfect. Well, nothing is ever going to be perfect, there will always be moments when things go wrong. And you know what? A little dust on the shelves, a little paint spattered on the wall from finger painting or a pile of laundry that didn't get done yesterday...or today doesn't matter in the end. What matters most is that my kids are happy, truly happy and they have a mom that treats them well and doesn't get frustrated over the trivial things in life. I need to be here for my children to teach them and love them not to get frustrated with them.

I think there is too much pressure put on moms to be perfect and keep the house (and their kids) sparkling clean, have the laundry washed, folded and put away, the kids fed and entertained and supper ready when hubby comes home. The lady that wrote the blog entry is correct though- people don't realize how much work it takes to be a mom and handle even just the day to day stuff that comes along with your job. Us moms deserve a pat on the back more often than we get one! Being a mom is a 24 hour job, you don't get time off for a sick day or a break when it's bedtime because you never know when you child will wake up sick or with nightmares or just need a drink or snuggle. I am making it my mission to start patting my friends who are moms who really deserve it on the back more often and all of the husbands, boyfriends, partners and kids out there reading this should do the same.

Starting yesterday the way I live my life changed and I decided that I am not going to sweat the small stuff. And starting yesterday I noticed happier kids, a happier hubby and a happier me too!

Banana Yogurt Pancakes

I'm sharing another one of our family favorite recipes. I took a recipe from the Food Network and altered it a bit to suit our tastes. After some experimentation, I found the perfect combination of flavours. So, here are my favorite banana yogurt pancakes. I usually make a double recipe and stick a bunch in the freezer for quick breakfasts!

1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup vanilla greek/balkan yogurt
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Unsalted butter
2 ripe bananas, diced, plus extra for serving
1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)
Maple syrup

Whisk together the yogurt, milk, eggs and vanilla.

- Add the flour, baking powder and salt and stir until just mixed. Add chocolate chips if you are using them.

Melt a small amount of butter in the pan.

Use a ladle and pour a couple of Tablespoons of batter per pancake onto pan/griddle

Lay banana slices into batter in pan and cover with a little more batter.

Cook until bubbles form around the edge of pancakes then flip and cook until browned.

Serve with maple syrup and banana slices.

I even made a few tiny ones for Abbey and she loved them!

Breast is Best

I saw this quote somewhere online and had to make my own little picture featuring Abbey. The picture is of her when she was only a few weeks old, passed out after a big drink of "boob milk".

7 1/2 months of exclusively breastfeeding and still going strong!

Yogurt Cones

Our oldest daughter Ceili is all about the snacks. If she could eat snacks for meals, she would be all over it!

Tonight I made her favorite snack before bed. She thinks it's a huge treat, but it's really fairly healthy! All you need is yogurt and an ice cream cone. If you have fruit and sprinkles it's even better. Just fill the ice cream cone with yogurt and fruit and top it off with a few colorful sprinkles. Yum!

As you can see by the photo, she is quite pleased with her snack.

Moody Mommy

I've been compiling this post for a few weeks in my head, but haven't had the chance to put it all down into words in here. I have finally admitted to myself and my family that I need to get some counselling.

I have been having some issues with stress. I know it's normal to have some stress being at home with 2 busy kids and a puppy, but I have recently come to realise that some days I just feel like I can't handle it and that's when I feel alot of anxiety. I'm sure it's a common mommy problem because we're always trying to be everything to everyone.

I have found myself snapping at Ceili and Matt for no reason and I can't even catch myself before I do it which worries me. WhenI get mad like that, I feel like I'm not even myself. My family doesn't deserve to be yelled at which is why I am going to the doctor to be referred to a counsellor. I feel so guilty for doing it and it makes me feel like such a terrible mom.

Part of my issue is exhaustion. When I have had a long night and been up multiple times with Abbey then up early in the morning I definitely have a shorter fuse. I know that I put too many expectations on myself like laundry, dishes, cleaning, taking care of the kids and dog, walking the dog, etc all in one day but if I don't feel accomplished I feel like I'm not doing my "job" since I'm at home with the kids right now. Matt says "are the kids cared for?" when I say "yes" then he says, "well you're doing your job then! The other stuff isn't important" but I guess I like to try and exceed expectations.

I am hoping with someone unbaised to talk to I can spill out all of the feelings and thoughts I have sitting inside my head and start to try to deal with the unnecessary stress so I can start fresh. I want to be the best mommy and wife possible which is why I'm seeking help. I love my girls and husband too much to make them have to live life walking on eggshells.

Remembering Grandpa T

Last Saturday, my husband Matt called his sister to see if she wanted to get together since we hadn't seen her in a long time. She mentioned that his Grandpa in Ontario had passed away that day.

His grandpa was 94 years old and suffering from dementia. His grandma had recently made the decision to put him into a nursing home because he had a hard time even knowing what time of day it was. He would wake up at 1am thinking it was lunchtime and turn on the stove to cook. Not the safest thing for someone with trouble remembering to do.

My parents were nice enough to buy all 3 of us plane tickets last May so we went to visit them. We had always wanted to, but could never afford the $3000+ for plane tickets. We had such a nice visit with them. I had never met either of them before because they had always been too ill and elderly to fly. His grandma was such a sweet little lady. As soon as we stepped in the door she was offering us cake and tea! His grandpa was also a very nice man- full of stories from his past and love for his great grandaughter. He kept insisting that she take things of theirs that she showed interest in home, like a magnifying glass with a light in it! We had to keep reminding him who Ceili was, but he admired her so much. He kept saying "who is that sweet little girl?". I'll never forget the moment when Ceili stopped being so standoffish with him and they started driving toy cars up and down eacother's arms and laughing. It was precious!

Sadly, his day came and I'm sure Grandma T is very heartbroken as are we. They were the love of eachother's lives, they knew eacother from the time they were children. I had lost all of my grandparents before I even met Matt. He is lucky to have had his grandpa in his life for 33 years and I know that he realizes that too.

Routine is Our Thing

After 6 months of having a crazy, unpredictable sleeping schedule I have finally gotten Abbey into a routine and she seems to have taken to it better than expected!

I have to admit, I coddled her way more than I did Ceili, our oldest. I think it's because I know she is our last baby and I wanted to hold onto that so badly and as long as possible. Now I have realised that I have to let go, just a little bit and let her have her own space to grow and discover.

We now have a routine for both girls. Abbey starts her nap at noon and Ceili starts her's at 1pm and bedtime is around 9pm for both of them. Abbey started to be so crabby when we were trying to keep her up later, so one evening I just decided to put her in her crib and see what she did. Well, she cried for a few minutes then rolled onto her side and fell asleep! What a surprise to me! I expected the same fight as with our oldest where she would scream and kick as soon as she saw me leave the room.

Over the past 4 years I have come to understand that routine is our thing in our house. Without it, I think we would be in complete chaos. If my children skip a nap or get to bed too late, they are complete monsters and it makes our day so much more stressful. I have had so many people say to me in the past "Does she have to be in bed at that time?" or "can't she just skip a nap?". To that, I say we are in a routine that works for us, it keeps my kids happy and healthy and mommy and daddy aren't insane because we never spend any time on our own.

4 Years Ago...

This weekend (on Canada Day) our first baby girl, Ceili will be 4 years old. I can't believe how fast the past 4 years have gone by. When I think about the day she was born, I realise how much I have changed since I became "Mommy" to someone. I don't know what life would be like if I was not a mother, I would probably be bored and unfulfilled. I have never felt such a strong love and attachment to anyone or anything. She a very special little piece of me. Every day I feel a sense of pride because I created a beautiful, smart little human being with a heart as big as she is! She makes me laugh and helps me see the world differently- through a child's innocent eyes. I have my daughters to thank for these gifts and I definitely will never forget that! Thank you and Happy 4th Birthday my little Ceili- Bean!

Plus Boots Makes 5!

We had been looking at the local rescues and humane society for a dog for a while. We had decided that we wouldn't get a new dog until after we got home from Cuba. Well, we started a serious search a few weeks ago and met our perfect match on Monday evening!

He was found with his mom and brothers and sisters at an indian reserve and his mother was quite sick. She had no food or water and was basically whithering away to feed her pups. Him and his siblings were put into a foster home in the city while their mom was in another because she needed special care for her mastitis and wounds. He was the last of the litter left and he melted our hearts! He kissed and played with Ceili and we knew he was the one! He came with the name Sebastian, but we thought it was too long. Last night on our walk around the neighborhood, Ceili said "I want to call him Boots". He does happen to have light brown spots on his feet and legs. So we think this will be his name.

I'm so happy that our little girls have a dog to call their own. I remember having such a special bond with my dog as a child. He was my little buddy even when I was being teased at school and felt like I had no one else to hang out with. He was always there for me.

He is only 10 weeks old now, so he's still in the puppy phase with the chewing things, hyper moments and he's not housetrained (I think we should buy stocks in paper towel and cleaning wipes!). It seems like complete chaos in our house right now while we adjust, but I know it will get easier and he will fit right in here!

The Thompsons Go to Cuba!

We made it to Cuba and home safely...barely!

Our flights there were quite good, Ceili enjoyed the movies and TV on the plane and all of the snacks and toys I packed for her. Abbey alternated between nursing and sleeping most of the time with an explosive poop here and there but it wasn't so bad. I even got to watch the movie "The Help" which was an excellent one!

Cuba was beautiful. It was +30 on average and the humidity was between 85-100% every day. We spent most of our mornings on the beach which was only a few steps from our hotel room (awesome!) and in the afternoon we had a siesta and normally went to the pool. Abbey didn't enjoy the sand at the beach so much. Nursing isn't so easy when there are granules of sand in your mouth and your big sister runs by and sand flies into your face! I think Abbey's favorite part were the siestas in the air conditioned hotel room. Ceili couldn't get enough of the beach, I think every kid would love to spend all day making sand castles and playing in the warm ocean. All of us except for Abbey got a bit of a sunburn and a tan and now we're peeling like snakes.

We hired a guide, Michael to take us into town for a day trip. He took us to the zoo in town, a market, the crocodile farm and a few shops that the Cubans shop at. It was really sad to see the lack of choice they have for food, clothes and items for their homes. For example, one store we stopped at had a few large cans of tomatoes, some beer and pop and the rest was bare shelves. It really makes you appreciate what we have here and how much money we have compared to them. We were glad that we brought the stroller and carseat to give away to someone there after we saw the lack of baby products in the stores. We gave the stroller to a man that worked at the pizza restaurant at our resort that had two girls almost the exact same ages as our girls. The carseat was given to a lady that worked at the Asian restaurant and was due to have her baby girl in mid-June. She just adored Abbey and would pick her up and snuggle her whenever she had the chance.

Matt went out on a deep sea fishing trip on his own one morning. I told him that he had to go because I know he has always wanted to. He had a fantastic time. They speared a stingray that was about 5' across! Little did they realise, the stingray was pregnant and as it lay on the boat it gave birth to a bunch of babies. All of the babies survived and were put back into the ocean. The mama was enough food for a bunch of them at the marina to share, so I think they were pretty happy. I was mad at Matt when I found out that he killed a mama stingray, but I guess how were they to know?

We also went to a beautiful beach called Pilar Beach one morning. The water was such a beautiful aqua color and sand was so fine and white. I thought it was terrible that we had to pay $2 for a lounge chair, but we had an amazing time there. There were tons on angel fish which appeared when Abbey spit up in the water! There were also gar fish that swam all around us and they must have been around a foot long each. The water was so clear, you could see everything!

Our flight home was far too exciting for my liking. We were supposed to fly from Cuba to Toronto. We ended up flying from Cuba to Miami and landing. At one point I looked out of my window and said to Matt "Why are we so

low....are we even flying or are we on the ground?" I could see a city's lights right out my window. Not really below us, but more beside us. Finally after about 30 minutes of me wondering what was going on, the captain comes onto the speaker and tells us what is going on. They were flying so low because there was a cabin pressure problem on the plane and they were trying to fix it. If they would have gone much higher we would have been low on oxygen and the masks would have popped out of the ceiling. Needless to say, they couldn't fix it so they had to get rid of fuel by flying in circles and we finally landed in Miami about an hour later. I really felt lucky to be alive. If those pilots didn't know what they were doing, we wouldn't be here today! We ended up sitting on the tarmac for almost 2 hours while they figured out what they were doing then had to go through customs, get our bags and line up to get our hotel info. It was complete chaos and we finally got into our hotel room at 4:30am. We had to get up and get to the airport again before noon because our plane to Toronto left at 1:30pm. Our last plane ride from Toronto home was uneventful, thankfully and I am not overly excited to fly again in the near future!

I am THAT Mom

In a few weeks, we will be travelling to Cuba with both of our girls for a one week vacation. I am so excited, but ovewhelmed with packing! I think we're taking half of the house with us, but at least we'll be prepared.

While I was collecting 75 diapers and 3 packs of wipes I got to thinking about our very first trip to Cuba. It was just Matt and I and we went around 5 years ago. It was alot of fun. On the flight there, there was a small baby crying. I heard the mom talking about how excited they were for their vacation. I remember saying to Matt "why on earth would someone take their little baby on a flight all of the way to Cuba just for a vacation?". Now I'm that Mom! And, you know what? I have no regrets! Over the past 4 years, I have come to realise that we do not view our children as optional. Many parents take off without their kids every chance they get, but I want my kids to experience things like a swim in the ocean, feeding flamingos and different cultures and types of people. When I see my children experience those things, it makes me feel like I am experiencing them for the first time as well because I get to live it again through them. I understand parents who need a getaway once a year or so because us parents do deserve some alone time, but I hear of parents going on all- inclusives every few months and leaving their kids with grandma and that's just not us.

I have had a few revelations over the past few years regarding children that I never thought I would have. Another example is, I always saw mothers breastfeeding their babies without a cover in public and thought to myself "I would never do that, I'm too self conscious". And what do I do every time we go out and Abbey is hungry, I whip my boob out and feed her of course! My child needs to eat, so I don't care what anyone else may think!

I also carry a potty seat in our van, make my kids wear a leash when they're toddlers and are in public, have endured many, MANY tantrums in the middle of stores and do not give in which causes an even bigger scene.

Yepp...I'm that Mom and I don't care what people think of me because I do what's best for me and my kids and Matt and I are doing our best to raise smart, caring, healthy, independent children!

Good Morning Sunshine!

I made one of my favorite childhood breakfasts for us this morning. Bacon and eggs in a nest, I used a cookie cutter to cut out a sun shape though. It was a huge hit with Ceili!

Homemade Granola Bars from Heaven!

I have been trying to make some things instead of buy them lately because they are healthier (less preservatives and you can add extra healthy things to them!) as well as less expensive. Here is my take on homemade no- bake granola bars...they're even gluten free!

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
2 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup coconut (you can use Rice Krispies insead if you prefer)
1/4 cup quinoa
1/4 cup chopped nuts (I use almonds)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips

1) In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, quinoa and nuts and set aside.
2) In a small pot over medium heat combine butter, brown sugar and honey until it starts bubbling. Reduce heat to low and cook for 2 minutes.
3) Add vanilla and pour over dry ingradients.
4) Pour into lightly greased 8" x 8" pan and sprinkle chocolate chips over top.
5) Pack down well and let cool until chocolate chips are no longer soft.
6) Cut into bars and enjoy your healthy, protein-filled snack!
Makes about 12 granola bars.

*Store in plastic bags or plastic wrap for future snacking :)

Kool-Aid Play-Doh!

This is a great activity to do with the kids because they get to help mix up the dry ingredients and see the magic when the water hits the Kool-Aid!

1 cup flour

1 pkg Kool-Aid (not grape or lemonade)

1/4 cup salt

2 Tbsp. oil

1 cup boiling water

Stir together dry ingredients.



Add wet ingredients (and watch the magic of the color appearing!)and stir until cool enough to knead.



Knead or stir completely until cool. You can also add glitter once it has cooled if you wish!



Have fun with your new Play-Doh!




Store in a sealed container or Ziploc bag.

I went to one of my good friend's baby shower over the weekend. One thing she said got me thinking. She mentioned that her best friend had recently stopped returning her calls and texts and she couldn't figure out why.

I suddenly flashed back to around four years ago when I was pregnant with my first child, Ceili. Some of my childless friends suddenly stopped calling me and inviting me out. Once she was born, only a couple stuck around. At first I was really upset and wondered why, but then I decided to stop questioning, get on with my life and concentrate on the good friends I did have.

I'm not sure why people who don't have kids do this, hearing my friend say this made me sad for her because I know how she feels. I think the reason alot of childless people cut all ties to people with children is that they feel they can no longer relate to the new parent. Little do they know it hurts the other person and makes them feel alienated from their usual world.

The advice I gave her was to try not to worry about it and just spend time with the friends and family that stand by you. Obviously people who do this to their friends weren't really your friend in the first place.

Oh the Tantrums!

I survived the "Terrible Twos" but I'm not sure I will make it through the last 4 months of the "Terrifying Threes"! Ceili has been switching between monster and angel at least a hundred times a day lately and I don't quite know what to do about it.

I always make sure to spend time with just her every day and do something puzzles, coloring, a craft, etc. but she still acts up. It drives me absolutely insane because she does it completely on purpose alot of the time. She will look at me and smile as she does something she's not supposed to do.

Today was one of those days that I'm surprised my whole head of hair didn't turn grey. We had planned to go for a walk because it was supposed to be warmer outside today. She refused to get dressed until I threatened her with no walk, she refused to brush her teeth until I threatened no walk, and so on. Finally after I wrestled her into her coat which she said was "the wrong one" then I said "If I hear another complaint or you talk back again, we are not going for a walk and that's final". I got Abbey into her carseat and coat. I asked Ceili to please put her boots on, because there is about 2 feet of snow on the ground. She proceeded to put on her running shoes while yelling at me and said that she would not wear her boots.

Then I had to be the mean mommy and say "Okay, we are not going for a walk now". She didn't believe I was serious and when she finally saw me taking her sister's coat off, she flipped! There was a period of about half an hour of crying and pleading, but she eventually stopped.

I felt awful because she was so broken- hearted but I knew I had to follow through or she would never take me seriously. Just another day of being a mother of a toddler I guess!

The Big 3-0

Well, here I am, 30 years old. I can't believe it. It feels like just yesterday I was in junior high buying Slurpees and gummy candy at 7-11 and wandering around the neighborhood aimlessly with my best friends. Now here I am 30 years old, married, living in a house that we own with two kids and a minivan!

After thinking about this crazy comparison and the changes that have occured in the past fifteen years, I feel so fortunate. I feel complete, like I have accomplished what I wanted to in my life. Not that my life is over by any means, I know the fun has just started! I am so happy that I married the love of my life and had two beautiful daughters with him. I know that if I hadn't done these things by 30, I would be pretty lonesome and my ovaries would be screaming "BABIES, NOW!!!"...sorry, too much info!

From the time I was a little girl I had wanted a nice wedding to a great man and two kids. I have everything I dreamed of and it feels fantastic!

Now I can look forward to my next 30 years that will hopefully include graduation for our girls, possibly a wedding or two and maybe even some grandbabies and best of all growing old with my awesome husband. I cannot be more thankful for my life.

Fantastic Book!

We went to the library yesterday, one of our favorite family activities. I usually browse around and pick a few books that I think Ceili will like.

I stumbled upon one that I really love, written by Brooke Shields of all people! It's called "Welcome to Your World, Baby" and it's a great one for little girls who have a new baby sister. I have had a difficult time finding a book that shows the light side of having a new baby for kids, not to mention one that is for girls. So many books show the negative side of a new baby; that they cry alot, can't play, etc. and though that is true, I think kids need to see that this new member of the family is wonderful and should be welcomed!

Ceili was so excited after we read the book saying "when Abbey is bigger, I'm going to show her how to do all of those things".

If you are interested in purchasing this awesome book, check it out on Amazon!

Never a Normal Shopping Trip

Tonight Matt and I decided to make an impromptu trip to Costco because we were in dire need of diapers, Pull-Ups and baby wipes all of which we buy there. Both kids had been in a decent mood today, so I thought "hey, why not?".

We got to into Costco and into the bread aisle when Ceili says about a lady right beside us "OH, that lady is grumpy!". The woman looked at me like "say something to make me feel better about the rude comment you kid just made" and I just stood there because I didn't know what to say or do! I asked Ceili later why she said that, she said "she had a grouchy face on". Toddlers say the funniest things!

When we got to the checkout, Abbey started screaming so I told Matt I was going to sit down in the eating area and feed her. I sat down with Ceili and Abbey and of course she wouldn't latch on, she just screamed while I tried to stick my boob in her mouth. That's probably the first time that has ever happened, so I didn't know what to do. You have to remember this breastfeeding thing is somewhat new to me because Ceili and I didn't do well with it and switched to formula when she was 7 weeks old. I had to put Abbey back into her carseat and take her home. I don't know if she wasn't hungry or there was just too much commotion for her, but she did nurse when we got home.

I'm glad to be home after all of that craziness!

Two GIRLS?!

Throughout my last pregnancy, I (as well as everyone else) was convinced that we were going to have a boy. We didn't find out the sex because Matt wanted to keep it a surprise this time since it was our last. Having a girl never even really crossed my mind! My pregnancy was totally different than the first. From the cravings to my belly shape, it was all opposite!

We had boy names chosen, and a few girl names as well just incase, but I felt they weren't going to be needed. The moment our little Abbey was born, the doctor said "it's a girl!" as he checked between her legs. Matt smiled then said "what?!" and did a double take! I was shocked myself, but happy nonetheless. She was beautiful and perfect and she melted my heart from the first moment I held her. Ceili said Abbey was a girl the entire time, maybe our 3 year old is psychic.

Come to think of it, this happened with our oldest daughter too. Even though we found out the sex and the ultrasound tech told us multiple times that we were having a girl, I was convinced she was a he. I kept having to tell myself that there was a little baby girl living in my belly, not a boy!

I guess the different pregnancies could have been due to our very different children. They are quite opposite so far. Ceili used to be awake and crying at least 5-6 times a night as a newborn where as Abbey is only awake once during the night to nurse and fall back asleep. Abbey is quite happy sitting in the swing in the morning and looking around and Ceili wouldn't have anything to do with it. You could say that Abbey is an "easy" baby, let's hope I didn't just jinx myself, lol.

Either way, I love our girls just the same and I do enjoy playing Barbies and princesses and I'm sure we will have many years of that ahead of us.

Intro

I'm Heidi, a proud mom of two beautiful girls, Ceili (3.5 years old) and Abbey (6 weeks old). I have been happily married to my hubby Matt for 7 years and we live in Alberta, Canada in a small but nice house.

I discovered that I enjoyed blogging when I was pregnant with Abbey and stuck on bed rest for most of it. I started my blog "Blogging from Bed" then and loved having a place for all of my thoughts, so here I am again!

This blog will be about my crazy life with two girls, friends, family, good deals and things that I find funny!