When I was first a mother I dreamed of how my mothers days would go. I thought I would get these amazing gifts. They would be jewels and flowers. And even more so of different gifts. I would get people showing me all day that I'm a wonderful mama and so incredible.
What I got was totally different. Totally unexpected. Totally better than anything I ever would have imagined. And I love it!
I love every gift I have ever received from my kids. The home made cards. The cute crafts from school. And the flowers.
One thing I have noticed is that my ideas have changed. While I love everything my kids have ever given me my gift ideas as a mother, wife, new home owner, has changed!
Instead of flowers for Mother's day, I want flowers for my gardens.
Instead of jewels for Mother's day, I want a few hours of hard work put into my laundry room
Instead of dinner out for Mother's day, I want a quick fast food meal so I don't have to get up and move to far.
And you know what... it's not just me!
Other mom's I've talked to want a few hours of house work/yard work or just one on one time spent with their husbands.
One mom said she would love to have her husband spend some one on one time with her. Instead of logging onto his phone when the kids nap, check in with her. They could sit and talk or just snuggle on the couch. Nothing big.
One mom said why have jewelry she is afraid to wear when she could really use her husband to come with her on a shopping trip with her and the 3 kids she has. She needs an extra pair of hands to help her out. No complaining, no arguing. She wants him to trust her judgment but to help her out with the kids.
One mom said she would rather have 4 hours of lawn work than anything else. Her husband is heading off all over the place for the next little while and she wants to be able to use the back yard for her and her kids. Why should she have to do all the work. She wants someone to help her out with that. Someone to help her with the lawn, make sure it's "post-storm safe" so she can play out there while they are gone.
I do notice one thing... time. We all seem to want more of it. To moms, time's not something we always use well or really have a lot of. But if you can give us some more time it makes us happy!
This year, I'm not saying "forget the flowers" but I think you should check in and see what your wife really wants for Mother's day.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Grief
Grief is like an ocean.
If you have never experienced a loss just think about a day at the beach. You are hanging out with friends and family. Maybe digging holes to see how long it takes to get to water. Or maybe you build a sandcastle with your kids. Enjoying the craziness of making it just right. Watching something appear out of nothing. What a beautiful thing.
Then, something happens. You lose something. Something you have wanted for such a long time. And that's when the waves hit you. It's like a storm. The waves of grief smash against you. They destroy your sandcastle. They destroy your day at the beach. Its as if nothing will stop. These waves of sadness, tears and your heavy heart will not stop. No matter what.
Slowly, every so slowly the waves go back into the ocean of tears. They move away from the shore line, from your perfect day at the beach. The waves back up. The pain of losing someone or something backs up. The horrible loss feeling isn't there all the time. It's like the first time you smile after a loss. You aren't sure you can laugh or even smile, but you do. The wave of grief isn't as pounding as before.
The sun comes out, the sand dries up, as do your tears. The waves back up, the pound on the shore isn't as bad as it used to be. It isn't as hard as you remember. There are moments of sadness, moments when you miss that person or that thing so badly it hurts. Moments when tears just pour out of you.
Those are the moments that are the hardest to explain. For me they come so randomly. Sometimes they seem so far between. Sometimes I feel like I can go for weeks without feeling sad. Weeks without thinking about my baby. Then a storm comes. Something happens. Something sets me off and I just break down.
Last night was a break down. I'm not sure why, I'm not sure what brought it on, I'm just not sure. But it happen. It was hard to take. I just missed my baby.
So if you are reading this and have never felt the loss in your life, please keep this in mind. Just because something tragic happens "a long time ago" doesn't mean the waves of grief aren't going to hit later. This isn't an excuse. It's the truth.
Grief is like the waves of an ocean. Lapping in and bringing memories, tears and sadness.
If you have never experienced a loss just think about a day at the beach. You are hanging out with friends and family. Maybe digging holes to see how long it takes to get to water. Or maybe you build a sandcastle with your kids. Enjoying the craziness of making it just right. Watching something appear out of nothing. What a beautiful thing.
Then, something happens. You lose something. Something you have wanted for such a long time. And that's when the waves hit you. It's like a storm. The waves of grief smash against you. They destroy your sandcastle. They destroy your day at the beach. Its as if nothing will stop. These waves of sadness, tears and your heavy heart will not stop. No matter what.
Slowly, every so slowly the waves go back into the ocean of tears. They move away from the shore line, from your perfect day at the beach. The waves back up. The pain of losing someone or something backs up. The horrible loss feeling isn't there all the time. It's like the first time you smile after a loss. You aren't sure you can laugh or even smile, but you do. The wave of grief isn't as pounding as before.
The sun comes out, the sand dries up, as do your tears. The waves back up, the pound on the shore isn't as bad as it used to be. It isn't as hard as you remember. There are moments of sadness, moments when you miss that person or that thing so badly it hurts. Moments when tears just pour out of you.
Those are the moments that are the hardest to explain. For me they come so randomly. Sometimes they seem so far between. Sometimes I feel like I can go for weeks without feeling sad. Weeks without thinking about my baby. Then a storm comes. Something happens. Something sets me off and I just break down.
Last night was a break down. I'm not sure why, I'm not sure what brought it on, I'm just not sure. But it happen. It was hard to take. I just missed my baby.
So if you are reading this and have never felt the loss in your life, please keep this in mind. Just because something tragic happens "a long time ago" doesn't mean the waves of grief aren't going to hit later. This isn't an excuse. It's the truth.
Grief is like the waves of an ocean. Lapping in and bringing memories, tears and sadness.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Feeling Inspired!
In the past few weeks a friend of mine, Jana, posted about her and her hubby making some freezer crock pot meals for when she returns to work. I'm so impressed! They made 43 freezer meals in 6 hours! Talk about incredible! If you wanna check out her blog here's the link: Jana's CP Meals
While I had planned a weekend at the beginning of Jan I just never got around to it!
So I bit the bullet so to speak. I found, using my trusty Pinterest pages, about 39 recipes that would work for our family. While we aren't the best for trying new things these looked like my kids would actually eat them! I tweaked a few of the recipes and we were good to go. I had copied each of them into a word document and then saved it. I then copied it all and pasted it into a new document. I took out all the titles and cooking instructions and got 4 pages of 2 columns of things we would need.
Arnold printed them off around 2:30pm on Saturday. I spent the next half hour to 45 minutes getting ready to go to a party and pairing down the list. While I was setting up for the party at church Arnold did as much shopping as he could.
Then we partied :)
Sunday morning I had found a store with chicken on sale and we went there. I picked up 36 breasts of chicken. We were short for what I needed but I made it all work!
While I didn't get everything for the 39 recipes I started small and went with 12 instead.
I actually did 17. I made 5 of them into doubles. You see, our old neighbours had twins about a month ago and I've been wanting to help them out. It actually worked out well. Around 1 month or so people stop dropping off food and they were in need so I brought over 5 meals and a fresh loaf of bread. I loved getting my baby snuggles too!
With buying everything we needed including a weeks worth of groceries for our family we were around $235.00! I love good deals on chicken!!
This time around I made:
Tortilla Chicken Stew;
Chicken Taco Chili;
BBQ Chicken and Veggies (x2);
Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken;
Minestrone Soup (x2);
Turkey Chili (x2);
Teriyaki Chicken;
Sweet BBQ Chicken;
Cilantro Lime Chicken (x2);
Hawaiian Chicken;
Honey Rosemary Chicken;
and Apple, Pear & Pork Deliciousness (x2).
I found that while I didn't get a lot of time to check out the recipes I liked doing each prep alone instead of big containers of things. I did all my work on the kitchen table. I can honestly say that my hubby came up with a great idea! I used the actual crockpot container and our big colander to hold the bags. And I had bought the EXTRA large freezer bags and they were the perfect size for some things.
I didn't get a lot of pictures but it was a lot of fun!
(My only picture)
Since it's nice and cold outside I was able to store them outside while I was making it all. I have a set of plastic drawers we are throwing away so I could store them flat and have them sort of dry.
I made the first 5 that were doubles then texted the mama to see if I could stop over.
I'd have to say I had worked on it from about 2pm until about 5:30pm. Then I went to get my baby fix and drop off some food! I came home and had supper and watched a TV and went back to it around 6:45pm. Things took off and I was done and cleaned up by 7:30pm. Even had things washed, and put in the freezer.
I'm kinda proud of it!! Now I'm not worrying about our Wednesday meals for this month and one meal on the weekends! This makes it nice now!
Arnold and I figured if I can do this about once a month we should be good to go! So hands up, who wants in on my meals next time?
While I had planned a weekend at the beginning of Jan I just never got around to it!
So I bit the bullet so to speak. I found, using my trusty Pinterest pages, about 39 recipes that would work for our family. While we aren't the best for trying new things these looked like my kids would actually eat them! I tweaked a few of the recipes and we were good to go. I had copied each of them into a word document and then saved it. I then copied it all and pasted it into a new document. I took out all the titles and cooking instructions and got 4 pages of 2 columns of things we would need.
Arnold printed them off around 2:30pm on Saturday. I spent the next half hour to 45 minutes getting ready to go to a party and pairing down the list. While I was setting up for the party at church Arnold did as much shopping as he could.
Then we partied :)
Sunday morning I had found a store with chicken on sale and we went there. I picked up 36 breasts of chicken. We were short for what I needed but I made it all work!
While I didn't get everything for the 39 recipes I started small and went with 12 instead.
I actually did 17. I made 5 of them into doubles. You see, our old neighbours had twins about a month ago and I've been wanting to help them out. It actually worked out well. Around 1 month or so people stop dropping off food and they were in need so I brought over 5 meals and a fresh loaf of bread. I loved getting my baby snuggles too!
With buying everything we needed including a weeks worth of groceries for our family we were around $235.00! I love good deals on chicken!!
This time around I made:
Tortilla Chicken Stew;
Chicken Taco Chili;
BBQ Chicken and Veggies (x2);
Southwestern 2 Bean Chicken;
Minestrone Soup (x2);
Turkey Chili (x2);
Teriyaki Chicken;
Sweet BBQ Chicken;
Cilantro Lime Chicken (x2);
Hawaiian Chicken;
Honey Rosemary Chicken;
and Apple, Pear & Pork Deliciousness (x2).
I found that while I didn't get a lot of time to check out the recipes I liked doing each prep alone instead of big containers of things. I did all my work on the kitchen table. I can honestly say that my hubby came up with a great idea! I used the actual crockpot container and our big colander to hold the bags. And I had bought the EXTRA large freezer bags and they were the perfect size for some things.
I didn't get a lot of pictures but it was a lot of fun!
(My only picture)
Since it's nice and cold outside I was able to store them outside while I was making it all. I have a set of plastic drawers we are throwing away so I could store them flat and have them sort of dry.
I made the first 5 that were doubles then texted the mama to see if I could stop over.
I'd have to say I had worked on it from about 2pm until about 5:30pm. Then I went to get my baby fix and drop off some food! I came home and had supper and watched a TV and went back to it around 6:45pm. Things took off and I was done and cleaned up by 7:30pm. Even had things washed, and put in the freezer.
I'm kinda proud of it!! Now I'm not worrying about our Wednesday meals for this month and one meal on the weekends! This makes it nice now!
Arnold and I figured if I can do this about once a month we should be good to go! So hands up, who wants in on my meals next time?
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Sometimes We are just Random!
Sometimes, We are just Random in our house :)
Tonight we were eating supper and checking out a friends Minecraft Pinterest Page. I started to check out more food. And then I saw more cookies and cake... ummm cookies and cake!
I declared "Lets make cookies!"
YES!!! Said Kyler and Quinton.
And that was that!
After the boys were done supper we pulled out my new kitchen aid mixer. But after opening it, and checking out the colour I convinced Arnold I really wanted the purple or blue one. Arnold LOVES this one but it's my gift and I've wanted it for SO long. So I'm going to be exchanging it, as soon as I find the gift receipt in my bags.
We figured it was a bit of an overkill for a packaged peanut butter cookie mix.
So bowl in hand we got set up on the kitchen table.
Kyler helped measure everything out and did great. We even got to use my new scoop! I now want it in every since size!
Quinton joined us and we criss-crossed the cookies and put sugar on.
And part of cooking is cleaning up after yourself:
After cooking them the best part was:
EATING THEM!!!
Anyway.. sometimes in my family we are just random!
after looking at these photos.. I need to start using my normal camera and not just my phone :P
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Arnold's New Years Eve Quiz
Arnold's New Year Eve Quiz
1. What’s your favourite game? - Splinter Cell2. What’s favourite book you read? - Enders Game
3. What would you love to do outside - Cycling
4. Best dessert? - Frozen Raspberry macadamia Pie (minus the crust)
5. What are you good at? - Sleeping
6. Who is the most important person in your family to you? - My Wife
7. If you could change one thing in your family what would you change? - Nothing....
8. What does your family do for fun? - Go Grocery Shopping
9. What will you do when you grow up? - Program
10. What's your favourite colour? - burgundy/translucent red
11. What's your favourite movie? - No Favourite but recent was "Now You See Me"
12. What is your most cherished item? - My wedding Band
13. What is your favourite thing to do at work? - collaborate
14. What is one thing you want to do this year? - Move a Basement Wall/Build a Garage
15. What is one thing you want to do for yourself this year? - Build a garage
16. What is one thing you want to do with your family this year? - Going on a "real" family Vacation
17. What is one thing you want to do with the house this year? - put on heater vents or/and baseboards
18. What is one thing you want to do at work this year? - Get a particular project through (completed)
19. What is one more thing you want to do this year? - Putting 5000 Km on my bike.
Quinton's New Years Eve Quiz
Quinton's New Years Eve Quiz
- What’s your favourite game? - Battlefield
- What’s favourite book you read? - The Bible
- What would you love to do outside? - Go tobogganing
- Best dessert? - Chocolate Cake
- What are you good at? - Art
- Who is the most important person in your family to you? - (God) Kyler because he is my brother and he looks out for me
7. If you could change one thing in your family what would you change? - That we could have
our own room.
8. What does your family do for fun? - Doing stuff with the youth group
9. What will you do when you grow up? - Build Forts for my kids
10. What's your favourite colour? - the rainbow
11. What's your favourite movie? - Lego Chima
12. What is your most cherished toy? - My Dino I got for Christmas
13. What is your favourite subject at school? - Art
14. What is one thing you want to do this year? - Go to the trampoline place we did with the
youth group (Skyzone)
Kyler's New Years Eve Quiz
Kyler's New Years Eve Quiz!
What’s your favourite game? - Minecraft
What’s favourite book you read? - Jay the Ninja of Lightning
What would you love to do outside? - Play with my boomerang
Best dessert? - cake
What are you good at? - helping people out
Who is the most important person in your family to you? - Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Devos, because they are starting to get older
If you could change one thing in your family what would you change? - That we had a bigger house
What does your family do for fun? - Go out places (restaurants)
What will you do when you grow up? - be a police man
What's your favourite colour? - orange and blackWhat's your favourite movie? - Dragon Riders of Burk
What is your most cherished toy? - My toy Enderman and Creeper
What is your favourite subject at school? - Free time
What is one thing you want to do this year? - Go to laser quest
Kyler, Age 8
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