6 hours with your head out the car window in a blizzard
2 years of med school interviews
2 years of residency match interviews
2 years in Lethbridge
but not all at once
7 years in Calgary
one year at a time
7 years of "we'll know where we'll be living next year soon..."
and at least 1 more to come
9 years of hard work, laughter and tears
9 years of love
tied up with 1 Winter Solstice lunar eclipse
with uncountable years yet to come
I love you- happy anniversary!
*(This was composed by Sean, and was totally 100% his idea. I in no way had anything to do with the writing in this post, including but not limited to putting the idea in his head, or telling him he had to do this. Ain't he great?! I did however add the pictures.)
OK, so I'm finally starting to get excited for Christmas. I think now that school, dance and soccer are done for the holidays I'll be able to slow down a little. And Sean will be home for Christmas on Wednesday night and gets to stay until Tuesday morning! Wahoo! That's all I need/want for Christmas!!
Anywho, I thought I would post some of my favorite Christmas songs on here (assuming I can find them) and find out what your favorites are.
So, I don't really hate Christmas. I just really like Oscar
not the original, but still funny!
I sang this in choir once, and it's been a favorite ever since
Ok, so please ignore the creepy old school music video for this next one...try to not let it distract you from the words....seriously, just close your eyes and listen to the words
I like several versions of this song. There are also several versions that I don't like - this one's pretty good
that I've been horrible at blogging...well, pretty much all the time, but even more so lately. But quite honestly it's because I just don't have the time, nor do I need "one more thing to do".
You see, Sean has just started is 4 month out of town rotation in Pincher Creek - and by just, I mean he started there 3 1/2 weeks ago - it's just taken me that long to get on here again.
And I know Pincher isn't that far away - maybe an hour, but it's winter, and the roads aren't always good, and he often doesn't get done work until 5:30pm or so, and starts at 8am every day, so it's really just not that realistic for him to drive home every day when he's not on call.
And they've supplied him with what I'm assuming is a pretty sweet "bachelor pad" while he's there. So he's not going to be home much in the next 4 months.
And we miss him terribly.
And I'm in "survival mode" - which means only the really necessary things get done, and then a lot of those things get bumped off the necessary list.
And I don't really cook - unless you count pancakes and Kraft dinner cooking, which for the record I don't. Because meal time battles just aren't on the necessary list.
And I'm trying to get everything ready for Christmas on top of it all.
And to be honest, I'm having a hard time feeling Christmasy (didn't know that was a word did ya? Spell check doesn't thing so either) Normally I'm more excited than the kids for Christmas, and this year I'm just not. Bad Mother confession: I almost didn't take the kids to see Santa and get their picture taken this year - and it's Maggie's first Christmas. How awful would that have been. But I made myself do it, and I'm glad I did.
So when I'm MIA, and grumpy and whining about my kids and stuff more than usual - that's probably why.
And in the next couple days we find out if Sean was accepted to do a third year of residency in Emergency Medicine in either Calgary or Edmonton....I know, how nuts are we?
And now for something completely different.....
Anise is a true ballerina. How do I know? (besides the fact she spends 90% of her day dancing and twirling wherever she goes?)
The other day I saw her admiring the tree skirt, and she came over to me and said, "Mommy, I just love the tree's tutu! I wish I had a tutu just like it. Can I wear the tree's tutu when it's finished with it?"
I read this the other day. It made me cry (just a bit). And it was a good reminder to pay closer attention to those around me. Thanks to Rhonda for sharing this!
And here's Anise talking on the phone with Grandma. Anise is trying to get her to play "I spy with my little eye" over the phone. It was pretty funny.
Kids have a great way of crushing the self esteem of those around them. I don't think they don't do it on purpose, they just don't have a filter and so are completely and brutally honest about everything. And I mean everything.
I feel like I am the target of my kids honesty most days - and it's most often about what I've made for dinner. My kids usually hate what I make for dinner. Even though most times they won't even take a bite to see if they really do hate it. Here's a couple examples just from this last week.
I made what I thought was a really yummy salad to go with dinner. Apples, feta and candied pecans over lettuce with a balsamic vinegar dressing. I left the dressing on the side because I figured Kaden and Anise wouldn't like it that much. They both ate the apples no problem, but neither one of them would touch the feta (fair enough, it's a strong cheese and not everyone cares for it) or the candied pecans. Hello! sugar on nuts! why would you not like that?! Anyway, so I told them they both had to eat at least 1 nut just to try it. Because it's candy on a nut! So finally Kaden complies by slowly putting the pecan in his mouth with a look of terror on his face. Soon as it hits his mouth he starts to make gagging noises, and as he chews it becomes louder and he brings his hands to his throat and starts to fall over in his chair. Anise just flat out refused to eat one.
Example #2
I made nuts and bolts for a games night with friends. The next day Anise was standing at the counter eating the nuts and bolts as fast as she could, obviously really enjoying them. Our conversation went something like this:
Anise (as she is eating the nuts and bolts, insert loud chewing noises where appropriate) - "This is really yummy! I could eat this forever! Who brought it to our house?"
Me - "No one. I made it." Anise (as she puts the pretzel that was on it's way in her mouth back into the bowl) - "I don't like it"
Isn't that just wonderful? Seriously, what do my kids have against me? This next example is non food related. It happened over a month ago and my ego is still recovering. I debated whether I even wanted to share it, but I'm sure you will find it quite funny.
It was mid-morning, Sean was at work and Maggie was having a nap. Kaden and Anise were playing nicely together in the toy room. I decided it was the perfect time to get my workout in. I get in my workout clothes, go downstairs get everything set up and get started. About 10 minutes in the kids come to find me. I tell them it's my time so go play and I will help them with whatever they need help with after - I hate it when I get in the middle of a workout and suddenly everyone needs something from me. Anyway, they say they just want to come and exercise with me. Fine. Just don't get in my space. So for the next 5 minutes or so they do their best to mimic the video, then announce they are tired of exercising. Relieved that they will go play now I say, OK go find something to do until I'm done. They reply, No we want to watch you. Oh joy. So the two of them plunk themselves down on the couch behind me to watch equipped with blankets and cups of water. I try to ignore the fact that I now have an audience, which was going perfectly well until I get to this one part in the video where you have to do one of those football drill runs - you know where you pretend to run really fast through tires. Anyway I start to hear giggles, and snickers and then all out laughs and suddenly Kaden can't hold it in any longer and he exclaims "Mommy, you look really funny when you do that! You look kind of like Mario when you run like that" Then Anise chimes in "Ya, and your bum wiggles funny" And that's when I firmly decided that no child is allowed in the same room as me while I am exercising ever again.
It's not just a day off from school and work. It's a day to honor those who fought and are fighting for peace, freedom and safety. To remember those who gave their lives so others don't have to. It's a time to be grateful for our peace, freedom and safety.
I'm so grateful to live in a country where we have the freedoms that others only dream of.
I'm grateful that my husband doesn't have to use his medical training on foreign soil in muddy trenches.
I'm grateful that my children don't have to be sent to live with strangers in the country because that's safer than staying in the city during a bomb raid.
I'm grateful for my Great Uncle Gibb who was shot down during WWII.
I'm grateful for the countless others who have given and will give their lives so that my family and I can live in peace and safety.
Soldiers Cry By Roland Majeau
Talk of trouble is sent through the country
And we need an army
To fight for the right
Young men enlist and are sent to the battle
To fight the offender and help our allies
And the young men cry Oh Canada
Well gladly go and fight for thee
And the young men cry Oh Canada
Well fight to keep you free
The battles raging
Gun fire is blazing
A tired young soldier is clinging to life
Hes ordered off
And obeys by advancing
No hope of returning from the enemy fire
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
If it must be so, Ill die for thee
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
Ill die to keep you free
And we all miss oh Canada
The land where we all used to be
And we all long for Canada
The true north
strong and free
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
If it must be so, Ill die for thee
And the soldier cries Oh Canada
Ill die to keep you free
Far away we had seen a great danger
And yet there's a danger much greater within
The noise we make as we constantly bicker
Would hush not a whisper if we listen to him
All the thousands cry Oh Canada
Is that why we have died for thee?
And the soldiers cry Oh Canada
We died to keep you free
And the soldier cries oh Canada
Be true
And strong
For me
-------------------------------
Here's the background story for this next song:
On November 11, 1999 Terry Kelly was in a drug store in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the stores PA asking customers who would still be on the premises at 11:00 AM to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us.
Terry was impressed with the stores leadership role in adopting the Legions two minutes of silence initiative. He felt that the stores contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable.
When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the two minutes of silence to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect.
Terrys anger towards the father for trying to engage the stores clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, A Pittance of Time
A Pittance of Time By Terry Kelly
They fought and some died for their homeland.
They fought and some died, now it's our land.
Look at his little child; there's no fear in her eyes.
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest, may we never
forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.
God forgive me for wanting to strike him.
Give me strength so as not to be like him.
My heart pounds in my breast, fingers pressed to my lips,
My throat wants to bawl out, my tongue barely resists.
But two minutes I will bide.
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who went over.
In peace may they rest.
May we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time.
Read the letters and poems of the heroes at home.
They have casualties, battles, and fears of their own.
There's a price to be paid if you go, if you stay.
Freedom's fought for and won in numerous ways.
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls all over.
May we never forget, our young become vets.
At the end of the line,
It's a pittance of time.
It takes courage to fight in your own war.
It takes courage to fight someone else's war.
Our peacekeepers tell of their own living hell.
They bring hope to foreign lands that hate mongers can't kill.
Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time,
For the boys and the girls who go over.
In peacetime our best still don battle dress
And lay their lives on the line.
It's a pittance of time
In peace may they rest,
Lest we forget why they died It's a pittance of time
----------------------------------------
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
When Kaden was a baby I heard a song on the radio that I really liked. "I can't stop loving you" by Phil Collins (don't judge me). I was sitting in bed feeding him and it came on the radio, and the chorus just seemed to sum up what I was feeling. I just loved it so much, and would sing it to him whenever it was on the radio, and since it was a new song, it was on quite a bit. It became his song.
Then when Anise was born, I was in search of a song for her. I still really liked the Phil Collins song, but that one belonged to Kaden. Anise needed one for her. Shortly after she was born another new song came out that just fit for her perfectly. "All I can do (love you to pieces)" by Chantal Kreviazuk
Now that both Kaden and Anise had a song, the pressure was on for me to find one for Maggie. I even started perusing for one before she was born. And I just couldn't find anything that even almost felt like a song for her. Maybe I shouldn't be so picky and settle for Justin Bieber? But then yesterday my friend Amy posted a really great song on facebook. I listened to it, and really liked it. Then about half way through, it hit me as to how perfectthis song is for Maggie. Thank-you Amy! "Just the way you are" by Bruno Mars
7 years ago today, my first little baby was born. I can't believe it's been 7 years!!!
Some things about him:
he is amazing at sports. I mean really amazing. Basketball, soccer, golf (although he's only ever played mini), volleyball. You name it, he can play it. When he was about a year old we would have him throw his dirty clothes into his laundry basket from on top of his change table. He would get it in every single time. So we started moving it around his room to "challenge" him. Nope, still made every single shot! So we bought him a hoop.
he is Daddy's boy. Always has been. Given the choice, he would way rather have Daddy help him at bedtime, take him to school, help him with his homework etc.
has a wonderful laugh - it's contagious.
loves to fool around and be silly with Anise
is a great big brother to Maggie. He's been so patient with her and absolutely adores her
he is a great hiker. This summer Sean took him up to the top of Turtle Mountain, and he was a pro!
is already a ladies man. Come to think of it, he always has been. Once when we went out to eat when he was about a year and a half he was making eyes and flirting with all the waitresses, but wouldn't give the time of day to our waiter!
has a favorite stuffed animal named Puppy. It's a dog.
he loves to hide and then jump out and scare people. He mostly does this to me because I scream the loudest.
I am always finding evidence of his "self photo shoots"
has already mastered the art of picking on Anise (Maggie's been safe so far)
loves to stamp and craft with me
would live on the toboggan hill if we would let him. I'm pretty sure that he would also love skiing and snowboarding, if I ever get brave enough to go
had the patience this year to try fishing. Unfortunately, the fish weren't biting.
gets car sick. We found this out the hard way on our trip to Utah this year
has a thing for balloons. Even the old, dead wrinkly ones with no air he wants to keep.
This is a post by Sean, Jen's husband. Although it's a couple days late getting typed, this is a happy birthday message for a wonderful friend, wife and mother. It's hard to know where to start in writing a tribute to someone like her who does so much so often. I'll just start writing and see where it goes I guess.
Jen is a wonderful mother. I think like all women she beats herself up too much over her imperfections and shortcomings, but they are just minor compared to all the good things. She keeps her kids (and husband) fed, washed, wearing clean clothes and combed hair, and eating off clean dishes. Yes the house is often messy, but it is still standing and always looks pretty good considering 5 people live in it, and most of them don't care what it looks like. She keeps the fridge and cupboards full, balances the budget and the bank account and makes sure we don't forget important upcoming dates and events. School preparation, homework time, and replacing too small or too worn out clothes are on the list too. There's always gas in the van, fruit in the fruit bowl, and toilet paper on the roll. She keeps the kids signed up for all their fun and learning: soccer, dance, volleyball camp, swimming lessons and extra-curricular school clubs. And she makes sure they get there and back too. She manages all this around my unpredictable and ever changing schedule, not knowing ahead of time whether I'll be around to help or not.
Even with all this busyness, there is still time to feed and cuddle with Maggie, play games and bake with the kids, read stories and help them out with crafts. Even though she has a lot of other things she wants to get done both for the family and for herself, she has to put most of them on the back burner and sacrifice almost all her time for the family, and doesn't complain about it nearly as often as one might expect. Except about the lack of scrapbooking time- point taken- I will try to get you more of that, :) When I tell her about some strange or disgusting thing I encountered at work in the hospital, she often comments that she could never do my job. Well, I feel the same about hers. I don't know how she holds it together day in and day out as a busy mom, but she does and I love her for it.
Jen is a wonderful friend. She is my closest friend, especially these days when I move around so much and work in so many different places. I know she is a friend to many of you- always up for a talk, willing to abandon her husband (whom she sometimes has sparse alone time with) for a girls night out. She values her friends, and I thank all of you for your support of her as well, especially when I am not able to be around. It's very important to her.
Jen is a wonderful wife. We always enjoy the time we're able to spend alone either at home or on a date. Somehow even after almost 9 years of marriage we manage to laugh and giggle together as much as ever when we get the chance. She is so forgiving of faults and mistakes that even when we've had our rough moments, I've never really worried that she wouldn't forgive or that we wouldn't pull through. She is a wonderful companion and lover. I could brag a lot more about that, but then I'd be in trouble and you probably don't want to hear it anyway- but I have nothing to complain about. When I started in medicine we made a deal that if I had to be married to my job, then we would at least make sure we had a torrid affair together on the side. So far work hasn't found out about us honey.
Jen is a wonderful, beautiful woman. I think sometimes she gets so caught up in roles, responsibilities and expectations from herself and others that she forgets to remember how wonderful she is as a person. She has all the good attributes that make a person devote herself so fully to others in the ways I've described. I think her biggest shortcoming is that she sometimes doesn't appreciate and value herself as much as she should.
Jennifer, I love you and am very blessed to have you as my wife and eternal companion. On days when you are feeling down or overwhelmed I wish there was some way I could show you how great you are and how much I've seen you grow in the years I've known you. You are beautiful, even just before and after having a baby. Keep your chin up and remember all the great things you've done and the people you've touched. Your children love you deeply. Yes they are kids and have a funny way of showing it sometimes. They like to yell, complain and push the boundaries, but they would be devastated without you in their lives. As would I. Keep smiling too. When you are happy it lifts the spirits of everyone in the house and everyone you meet. I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that every new year will be better than the last. I will do everything I can to make that so.
The kids started school. Kaden in grade 2 (HOLY COW, how is that possible!!) and Anise in Preschool. Both kids started swimming lessons on Monday, and are both already more comfortable in the water than they were during the last round of lessons. Anise also just started dance - this year she is doing both ballet and tap. And Kaden surprised me by requesting to do Hip Hop this year, and being a lover of all things dance (and slightly insane), I said yes. He is doing a 10 week session this year, that way if he really doesn't like it, I'm not stuck trying to get him to go all year. If he really likes it, he can do a full class next year.
Sean started a new rotation here in Lethbridge (thank goodness!) He started with 2 weeks in anesthesiology and is now on to Emergency, which he loves. He decided that he would really like to try for a third year of training in Emergency so he's been busy with all the application hoops for that. We'll know by mid December if he's in.
Maggie is finally growing, after a bit of a weight loss. She wasn't getting enough to eat, which would explain why she seemed to always be hungry (she was!) and was so light. So we've given her formula and she's on it like a fat kid on a Smartie. The biggest problem is, she's become a lazy nurser, so I'm out of the picture except for first thing in the morning when she's willing to work for her food. Makes me kind of sad, but at the same time, the freedom is nice.
I continue to attempt to adjust to life as a Mother of 3. And it can be hard. I know it won't be this way forever, and one day I'll miss that rotten milk smell of my shoulder (or maybe not), but when you're in the fray of it all, that can be hard to remember. Luckily for me, I've been blessed with great family, fantastic friends and the most wonderful husband I could ever hope for to help me out. And you have all helped more than you can imagine. Thank-you!
I really want to try and write on here more often, but I find myself still mostly one handed, which makes typing a bit of a challenge. So, I'll post when I can and try to be content with that. Maybe some day I'll get caught up, but realistically probably not. Cause that's how life goes.
And here's some pictures to enjoy:
---Maggie's first attempt at the bottle. She did great!---
---Kaden on his first day of school. Grade 2 EEEEEK!---
---the plethora of apples from our tree this year---
---what we did with our plethora of apples---
---the kids painting Kaden's new room in the basement---
---yup, training her young to love the kitchen---
---the kids raking the first of the leaves from the front yard---
We are in Crowsnest Pass for the summer and doing a lot of fun things!
---First family picture. Taken on our deck with Turtle Mountain in the background---
---Anise gets to sleep in a giant bed!---
---He's such a monkey!---
---Anise riding a buffalo. Only in Alberta can you ride a buffalo at a children's playground---
Sean's parents had the six oldest grandchildren for a week of fun at their house, so it was just the three of us for the week. We had to stay busy, so we wouldn't miss the kids. Ya, that's it.
---all ready to go for a walk in the woods---
---hanging out on the blanket, trying to keep the bugs off---
---finally had a chance to take a picture of the two of us---
---all ready to go inside the Bellevue Mine---
---only 2 degrees inside. Brrrr---
---Maggie being safe inside the mine---
---Maggie got to meet Beaker---
With the kids back, we went on some more adventures
---putting a puzzle together at the Frank Slide Interpretive Center---
---Anise lost!---
---learning about how they measure movement of Turtle Mountain---
---climbing on the rocks from Turtle Mountain---
---beautiful scenery---
---in 10 years they'll wonder why I let them make faces in all the pictures---
---in a field of daisy's...my favorite flower---
---Anise got a bit tired on the hike. She asked why we were walking so much. Um, 'cause we're on a hike?---
---Lundbreck Falls---
---watching the birds along the river---
---the best part of the spray park....the puddles?!---
---Anise keeping her distance from the water guns---
So that's how we've been keeping busy the last little while. And we have so much more planned!!
