October Madness

It seems so long since I last checked in! This past October has come and gone in a whirlwind! Frankie, now 4, got her ears peirced on her birthday. She was an amazing little trooper. I love the way her mind works. I knew she was a bit nervous so she said she couldn't pick a pair of earrings until she had something to eat. "I can't make this choice with a hungry belly mom"! I think were her words. It was her way of stepping back to see if this was what she wanted. When she finally picked-a cobalt blue pair amoung diamonds and pink stones, she say up proud as can be. The guns went off and  the look of surprise, then shock, then stinging pain was one I don't think I will ever forget. She only cried a little and she made me very proud. We have not any problems with her ears except for the lost eariing on the second day. She is very proud of them too and has taken very good care of them. \
Poor Charley is too little to do anything, she kept telling us she was tuning 4 so she could get her ears pierced too. Then she told everyone she was turning three so she can do Hula lessons (Frankie started in September)
After one dance class, Frankie came out with Malia and Piper, Charley sat down pulled off her socks and shoes, picked up Frankie's binder and water bottle and marched into the gym saying "My Hula too!" Poor teachers at Hula wouldn't know what hit them with the determination in her voice. It was torture for the little nuggest to not be able to do whaqt her sister does so I enrolled her in a swimming lesson. She is a bit of a fish and is excelling at it. She is also SO proud she has something that she does all on her own. She likes the time with Quag too. I have noticed that she doesn't ever get any one on one time and when she does she shines. She has a funny little sense of humour and I know she will be a little prankster. She loves a good joke and finds great laughter in being sneaky. I love it!! She will be trouble, this I know! Charley was fully potty trained before her 2 birthday, we were very proud of her.
Mom and Dad, Leanne and Sabrina came for the weekend of the party and were a wonderful help., It was the first visit that Charely was aware that they left and that they went to Calgary.
This fall, usually a time of year that I love has seemed rushed gloomy. I didn't get my usual sense of renewal and revitialization that I usally get. I am not sure why, perhaps it is the busy schedules, Quag got laid off so that has been a source of stress. Seems that there is never enough time for anything, most importantly my girls. It is a source of guilt and stress and I know I am not the first (or last) working mother to feel this way. I just hope that there is enough of me to go around and that kids don't feel left out. I love them so much it hurts sometimes.
Frankie is loving dance and wants to take Karate too. She wants to tap, as does Charley and I feel that they will be enrolled in many things in the years to come. Although they are so differnt they both love to dance and Charley wants to be like her big sister so badly.
For Halloween Frankie dressed as a dracuala with a fleece outfit with a giant headdress and hair piece, and Charely was a little chicken. The girls loved trick-or-treating so much even though it was pouring rain. We went around Rene and Cliffs complex and it was perfect. At one point Charley put her arms around my neck, kissed my cheek  and said " Tank you Mummy, tank you for taking me tick-or-teeting" So cute it almost broke my heart. Char went up to every door holding open her bag yelling 'tick-da-teet' and ended up getting more candy then her sister. All in all it was hit and an overall great night.
Thast is all I have for now, be back soon.

June 2012

This June we celebrated Quag's 40th birthday, Dad's 66th, and Rick's 62. I remember celebrating my Dad's  40th, on our deck in Lake Bonavista. Chet's Bermuda shorts, parrot ties and Sun Ice were the coolest things ever. I remember everyone celebrating late into the night and early into the morning. 40 was old. And here we are now, with 2 toddlers at 40! Yikes! Make me wonder what will happen when our kids are adults and we are seniors. Now I feel that we have a lot of time as adults to spend time with our parents, for them to watch us grow, get careers, get married, buy houses and have kids. They have met their grand-kids, played important roles in their lives, and have made a lasting impression. With us being older, will we be able to have those opportunities? Lets say Frankie decides to get married at 25, Quag will be 62. SIXTY-TWO! Still relatively young, but so is getting married at 25. It makes me wonder if we will get the opportunity to see our own grand-kids into their teens. Makes me wonder if we will be able to see our own kids reach maturity and reach life's milestones like falling in love, getting, married, buying houses and having kids.

Frankie said to Quag the other day, "Dad, when I grow up I want to marry you." Sweetness! I just hope we will be around to see who her version of her dad is.........
I know it is a morose subject, but one that I think about often. When I see the way Charley clumsily brushes the hair out of her eyes, it makes me think of when she is teenager and her fingers will endlessly comb and twist and flick her locks with precision and expertise.
I watch how Frankie 'pretend' reads the paper with her dad and it makes me think of the day she vehemently argues her leftest idealistic views that the world can better itself with Love and Recycling over the dinner table.
I watch them both run outdoors and grab the first 'vehicle' that they see to ride around on and I wonder if we will be smart enough to teach them how to change a wiper blade, check for an oil leak or determine the state of their own fluids.
I am sure it a wish for every parent-to see their own kids grown and start a family of their own. Some days when you seem so old to yourself and your kids seem so young, it is hard to grasp how quickly it really does go.
Happy 40th Birthday Quag, here to 40 more......hopefully!

Trying day

Its been a trying day. I am sad, I have been trying not to take it out on the girls. I realized as I was trying to put Charley down for a nap (the first time) that I like that quiet time we have together. It makes me sad that Frankie is upstairs watching tv while I rock and sing and read to my baby, but I really love that quiet time we have. When I finally did get her to sleep (an hour after trying the first time) I looked at her peaceful sleeping face, watched her fingers twitch, kissed her sweet forehead and realized that even though I get mad that we didn't train her to go to sleep on her own, that I am not missing one minute of getting my baby to sleep. It is irreplaceable. It is only for a short time. One day she will tell me to get out of her room and not come back in. One day she will tell me that I don't need to go down to kiss her goodnight-she is ok without me. One day she will lock her door to all things mom, so for now I will rock her with love.

Mother eff'in mothers

I was struck the other day about how much families are alike. As I was crawling to bed due to my bad back, I was almost in tears and I am still not sure if it was pain or it was the realization that it has happened and I have turned into my mother. I was, as stated, crawling to bed and was appalled at how badly my carpets needed cleaning. All I wanted to do at that moment was get up vacuum, spot clean and shampoo my carpets. Never mind that I had to call Quag home to change Charley's diaper that day, never mind it took me 30 minutes just to get to the bathroom to pee, never mind my back was in such mind blowing pain that I actually cried-I wanted my carpets cleaned. When I suggested the activity to Quag he looked a look at me that I have seen my dad throw to my mom at more than one occasion, and it stuck me-I have turned into my mother. I remember thinking, as a kid, why does she want that (whatever that may be) done right now? Why can't she wait? Can't she see that I am busy (no doubt busy with TV). I get it now. She wanted it done right then, at that moment because tomorrow will be filled with a trillion other moments. Tomorrow we will have to pick up grapes, change diapers, clean up milk, sweep up coffee grinds, do laundry, wipe boogers, clean shit and match socks. There is not enough moments in the day to get everything done, so if at this moment you think of something-like shampooing the carpet-shampoo the eff'in carpet.
Along the same lines as that , Frankie has in turn, turned into me. In a casual conversation, Frankie asked me if her dad was going to yoga. I said no, She said are you going to yoga? I said no. I could see her getting agitated. I asked why she was asking and her response was "well one of you has to go to yoga so i could watch tv while you put Charley to bed"! It was 10:30 in the morning. She was already planning her TV watch experience at 10:30 in the morning and was getting visibly agitated when she thought she wouldn't get to watch tv later in the day.  I remember as a kid getting myself worked into knots when I knew there was something I wanted (or didn't) want to do and I tried all day to figure out a way to make it happen. Like getting 'sick' to stay home from school when I didn't finish my homework, the issue with this was I would intentional not do my homework, then spend all night wondering if i could be 'convincing' enough in the morning. Laying the groundwork the night before with a casual, my throat tickles, or my tummy is aching a bit around 5-6 pm. Frankie was laying the ground work at 10 am for her tv at 7pm! I had to laugh.So when Quag came home from work and stood up after dinner and stretched, Frankie says "Dad, you should go to yoga tonight". Cheeky Clever Monkey. 
Anyway, I guess it is true what they say, eventually, despite everything you say you will not do, everything you vow you will not become, we all eventually turn into our mothers.

So long...

Oh, I KNOW it has been so long since my last post, there's the mommy guilt right there! Currently we are in the tail end of the January snow that we always seem to get here in the lower mainland, and the kids and I had a blast. The hill behind the house is a perfect hill for the girls although poor little Charley can't even stand up with her snow suit on. She looks like a little star puff! They are both just getting over a little cold, but it didn't seem to slow them down any. Frankie does SO much better now with her inhalers and colds only seem to last a week instead of the months they were taking to clear up. Charley is a little trooper and doesn't complain about much of anything. I have ignored her for the last two night while she cries and it seems to be doing the trick, she only is crying for a few minutes. She is however, getting up at around 9 pm for a quick feed and to check out what mom and dad are doing. It seems to be an ever revolving door with the sleep issues and kids, and I have decided to just let the anger go. If she wants to play from 9-11 while we relax then fine-as long as she sleeps through the night!! (that is the trick!!)
Frankie is really emerging as a little person. She is starting to realize that she can do a lot of things and no longer shys away from new adventures as much. With her I feel it is a fear a failure rather then an actual fear, because I often see her trying the things she just shunned, when no one else is looking. She is so stubborn, I can see her only wanted to be the best at something.
Charley is hilarious!! She is sort of saying more, meaning she can get her point across better, without actually using words. She is a little IMP who is in EVERYTHING! For the longest time the only converstaions Quag had with her was growls. As she dumps the recycling-he picks it up and growls, as she removes the dishes from the dishwasher and walks away with them, he growls, as she dumps the umpteenth glass of water, he growls. So now when something happens, instead of Oh-Uh, or Oops, Charley growls!! Hilarious!!
The girls really play well together and Charley loves it when Frankie chases her around the house. Charley will dogpile on Frankie and sherbert her while Frankie screams.
Frankie loves her dollhouse and will spend forever putting her dolls to bed, reading stories, and walking them up the stairs.
Charley is FINALLY starting to get into books and will bring us a dozen at a time and wants to read them all, mind you she only has patience for three pages out of each book, but it is a start.
Mom and Dad are coming for a week on Wednesday, and I start a three week schooling period on Monday. Then it will be "get to work" for me. I hope I can make a go at this business, but I certainly have fears.
Anyway that is all in a nutshell that we have going on right now, more later (soon rather then laterI hope)

December!

Well it is here! Another December! Ok, I have to admit I love December. Well the last 6 days of it. The kids are both pretty snoggy now. Charley, it seems, is getting (or has) her first cold. Poor lil monkey. She holds still for us and lets us blow her nose and she will even try to blow on her own. She was trying to copy me sneezing this morning which brought on a fit of giggles as I sneezed again and again with her.
Frankie has been boycotting sleep and food for the last few days. Well unless we are eating subway meatball subs.....I hope she sleeps in a little bit today. Her dad made the mistake the other night when I was out grocery shopping letting her come back upstairs to watch some TV because "she just wasn't sleepy" so that has been her catch phrase since then!
I bought them an advent calendar and Frankie is already reminding me to not forget to give her a chocolate EVERYDAY! That kid has a memory like an Elephant!
Today I go and sign some paperwork for school. And so begins a new chapter for me. Well sort of a new revamped chapter......I hope to get some knowledge about business ownership from this.
So I am almost done my Christmas shopping which makes me a bit sad-I love Christmas shopping. Seems that you have start earlier and earlier each year because of the deals. Especially with kids. If not you miss the IT present for the year.
So bring it on December. A month of rushing, parties, baking and family. Oh, lets not forget the most awesome day of the year!!!

Dark Lashes

Frankie hasn't been feeling well for the last few days. She has been getting a cold. It seems that when Frankie gets sick, she turns into an Angel Child. Please, thank-you, yes mommy, no daddy, I love you SOO much are just about the only words out of her poor sick little mouth. It has been a LOONG time since Frankie has been sick, about a year, which is an eternity in kids standards. So the other night she asked me to lay with her until she fell asleep. How could I say no.
As she directed my hand to the 'correct' tickling spot (if you stay too long on one place or don't use your finger nails, she'll let you know) I watched her little face in the moments before pre-sleep. Her eyes were closed and flickering, her lips pursed and a look of concentrations was on her face. As we progressed her breath regulated and her lips relaxed, then parted ever so slightly. Her eyes stopped flickering and hand relaxed its grip on  mine. I looked at my daughter. My truly beautiful daughter. Her lashes, so dark and long against her pale skin, her full pink lips, her smooth porcelain skin. She has a little faint scar from when her fingernail scraped her skin on her nose. Her lower left lip is fuller then her right.

I began to think what will Frankie make of herself? Will she accomplish the things she sets out to do? I hope her father and I give her the confidence in herself to take no prisoners, to live her dreams and  to include others in her life. I want to give her everything she needs and the tools to work for everything she wants. Will we succeed? Will she?

My thoughts traveled to her beauty. Everyone is beautiful, in their own way. Frankie is no exception. Will she be a stunner, or the 'girl-next-door', will she be athletic or the dramatically pretty? As I lay with my sleeping daughter all I wanted for her in that time and that place was for someone, anyone in her life to lay with her and look at her like I am doing. If they marvel at the gentle slope of her nose, the puffy pout of her lips while she sleeps, the strand of hair tangled in her ear and the exotic darkness of her lashes like I am doing right now, then someone loves her like I love her. They love her for being Frankie, and that is all I can hope for.........

The Wizard of Oz

Oh my little Dorothy was so happy! As a gift Nana and Poppa bought us tickets to go see a theater production of the Wizard of Oz. Frankie donned her Dorthy dress and her Ruby red shoes. I put her hair in hot rollers and put a bit of mascara on her amazing long eyelashes and my little Frankie was transformed! The entire time in the car on the way to the theater she kept asking if we were there yet and although she didnt quite understand "theater" is different then "movie" she kept asking if the real actors would be on the screen. Once we arrived it was clear that Dorothy had arrived! She grabbed her dress skirt and skipped through the lobby as every person in the joint looked longingly at her Ruby Red slippers!
She was a little put off that the Slippers portrayed in the Program had Ruby Red 'Ribbings' (Bows on the toes-aka, ribbons) and hers didn't, but she didn't let that slow her down. Instead she said that SHE had the right shoes and they were wrong!
She sat in rapture for the entire show. She had to make a move from her own seat to sit on Quags lap because she couldn't see one little corner of the stage, but after that is was ALL GOOD! So good in fact that at intermission she paraded up and down the concourse skipping, dancing and twirling her way to entertaining the crowd. After the show, she asked her dad if she could go up and stage and bow with the cast!
All in all a wonderful first experience with Theater! She loved every minute of it. Lets hope that the Nutcracker Ballet is as warmly received next weekend!

Forever and a Day

Oh it has been so long since I have written anything. I often think about it, then get caught up in my vicious circle of guilt. You know the one, it is the same with my pictures. I wait too long to do anything with them then I feel bad, then I can't get caught up and so and so forth. Well here it goes. I guess I will just have to ump in to it.
Charley, at 13 months is practically running everywhere. She climbs on everything and rides her trike and anything that moves. Where Frankie was verbally driven Charley is very tactically driven. She loves to put things in a bag and take them out, play with screw drivers and hammers, press buttons and touch the touchy feel books. Frankie was and still is very into her books and pretend play. She is always 'someone' whether she be Dorothy, Willy Wonka, Rapunzel or another one of her favorites.
For Halloween Frankie dressed as Dorothy and Charley was a strawberry. We went trick or treating around Gran's house and Frankie had a great time. Charley was in the back pack and loved looking at all the lights and decorations. She did not, however, like the fireworks!

Frankie is taking swimming lessons and is becoming more comfortable with putting her head under the water and what not. She is, however, a little frustrated at the process. When asked how her lessons are going she replies "Well I can't swim yet!"
They had a joint birthday party this year and it worked out really well. Mom and dad were here, we made scary cupcakes and the weather was nice enough to do it all outside. The kids went on tractor rides, and played on a bouncy castle. It was really a lot of fun and of course the kids got spoiled. Charley was walking before her birthday, and her actual first steps were at 11 months.

I find myself getting sad that fall is over, it is such an amazing season especially where we live. The leave changing, the crispness in the air, the chill in the morning makes me feel like a new beginning is happening. I think that fall is my New Years, or even spring. When all over the place the vegetation is dying and becoming dormant, I always feel like a new rebirth is happening. It is probably ingrained in all of us from school, where it is a new year for school every September, but it seems to always be a rebirth for me in life too. I met and started dating Quag in October, I had both girls in October, the most beautiful season to me is autumn....just seems that it is 'my' time of year.
Now we find ourselves coming in to the Christmas Season. Don't get me wrong, I love Xmas but not as much as fall.
This year will mark a change for our family. Everyone on my side is driving out here. It will be interesting and fun, I am just starting to get excited as I start planning out gifts and what not. Frankie will be uncontrollable! It will be awesome! Anyway, enough for now, I have to upload some pictures before I get distracted again

Summers almost over!

Well the past few weeks have just flown by. We attended Scott and Hayley's wedding in Kelwona at Camp Owissi which was a really great weekend. We sure do have fun when we hook up with the McLean clan. Now we are prepping the house for Grammy and Poppa to come and visit with our NEW (old) Lawn Tractor!! I have been busy trying to finally organize the house and clean and purge everything, but it is hard with the kids around. Yesterday (Saturday0 they attended Daddie daycare and it was Lovely!! I got so much accomplished! I cleaned and organized Charley's room and she moved in last night. It was a bit of a rocky transition. It took a few tries to get down and when she woke up it was with a start, but I think she will settle in nicely ( I hope)!
Today we are getting ready to attend a birthday party and a Grammy Shower! So it will be a fun filled busy day.
In a few weeks I will really start having to put my nose to the grindstone and get job hunting, but being the procrastinator that I am, I am cleaning instead!
Charley is still furniture cruising but is starting to become more vocal and loves her Daddy!! She goes bananas whenever the phone rings or when she 'calls' him. "Hiya Dada, Hiya Dada" over and over again. Frankie is still a bit jealous and is taking all the 'baby' things back, but she is a show off and loves the attention so i can't see that changing anytime soon. He favorite thing now is "Look at me!" She is doing somersaults and is a bit more brave and independent at the playground.
Charley is eating everything and is going to bed around 11pm, till usually around 4 am for a quick feed then back to bed again till 7-8am. I haven't tried her on milk yet but think I will see if she reacts to it in the next few weeks.
Have to hurray now, we have a busy day ahead of us!!

Summer Days

Well we have been happily enjoying the lazy days of summer, seeing as we finally got some nice weather under our belt. Yesterday Diana and I went shopping and I was in shock as I found out that Frankie can fit in to some xsmall clothes! What! My almost 3 year old has completely jumped 4t sizes?!?! It gave me a bit of a shock and sent my head spinning. With all the back to school hype I got tho thinking what will be my train of thought in a few years time when my baby starts school? When she makes those first steps to her independence and will be left to fair the world without me to protect her? What if another kid makes fun of her, or the cool girls break her heart....
I know I cannot do anything about the inevitable, it still makes my head spin that my babies are growing so fast. The other day she put her backpack on and was running the driveway and looked back and said, "Look mom, looks like I am going to school." And it did......
This week we will go to Kelowna for a wedding and we are all looking forward to it. We will be staying in a cabin and there will be games and fun for all. We are trying to enjoy these final days of summer and I am hoping for a nice fall. I want to take advantage of all the nice weather and the time I get to spend with the girls all I can.
This week I am heading to Bowman employment resources to discuss resume options, which is another source of panic for me. I am trying to be optimistic and I hope something that will work for us as a family will come and smack me in the forehead! Until then I will remain hopelessly oblivious to my grown up responsibilities.

Charley Walks!!!

She did it...well sort of! Haha! I brought in the 'walker' and thought I would give it a try. Frankie only used the walker AFTER she knew how to walk so I did not hold out much hope. As soon as I got it in the door Charley grabbed the handle and was off. Bumped in the railing a fell down, but she got half way down the hallway. Then later in the day she was standing up using my legs as a brace then she just let go and stood up straight on her own. After those feats it was like pulling teeth trying to get her down for her nap, all she wanted to do was walk and stand without using her hands!
Today we had Rene and her girls over and Sarah and her boys over and Charley didn't want anything to do with the babies. After getting chastized for poking Liv's face three times all she wanted to do was follow around the older girls. You can already see her trailer after Frankie begging her to let her play....

Just another Day.

So Yesterday, Saturday, we went to Avery's 3 birthday party. It was nice to be able to spend some time with friends and be able to chat a bit. The kids all played well and didn't get too mad that Avery was the only one getting presents! I had a talk with Frankie before we got there about how it was Avery's house and her toys and HER day and so to share etc and that really seems to help further on in the day. Patty made an amazing cake, but was unfortunately able to attend to eat it! Then we went on a hunt for a BBQ. At superstore they had the $900 BBQ on for $237, but it was only in natural gas. Quag wanted to run a gas line eventually anyway so here starts another project. We need to find someone to run our natural gas line and then we will have a wonderful new BBQ to hook up to it!!!
Charley is doing well, she is starting to find things really funny, like sherberts and peek a boo. She LOVES her dad kissing her neck and will throw herself back onto him to get him to do it more! She is starting to show her own personality more and she will be the get up and go type. She is always on the move.
Frankie is becoming such an actress. Last night in bed she was asking me to sleep with her because "she needed to keep her eyes on me just incase the Poison gas will get us" While she is saying this she is putting on her best serious face and it trying to instill the urgency in the situation....I seriously have to get this kid into some drama classes.
All in all just another day in the world.

The Sunshine Coast

Rene and Cliff invited us to Gibsons on the sunshine coast to spend the weekend at their parents place. What a treat! Such beautiful country! We were graced with great weather so we got a day in a the beach and an hour on the boat! The beach was really great fun. Frankie and Malia played in the sand the majority of the time although Frankie and I did make a swim out to the floating dock to make a plunge in the water. In her life jacket of course. She sure doesn't like anything going over her head. I think with Frankie is that she is not comfortable in a situation where she is not in control. Charley on the other hand LOVES being splashed and thrown about. We took off her clothes and she puddled and splashed and swung around kicking up a storm.
Frankie played well with Malia, they rarely fought and it seems both girls have enough gumption to get what they want when they want it. That combination of personality would make me think we would be playing referee all weekend, but the girls seemed to know how to give and take so they both were happy----most of the time. Frankie instantly called Ray and Lorna Poppa and nana, and thats how they stayed all weekend.
Charley is working on her animal sounds and is just a hoot. She will baaa like a sheep and clip clop with her tongue like a horse walks. She will try to woof but if comes out like a thhhssp. She will blow on her food if we tell her it is hot. Frankie always blew up so her hair would puff where as Charley blows down and spits on her chin!
Charley has her four top teeth and two bottom. She really is a joy. She wakes up jumping with excitement and practically climbs my shoulders to see her sister. These days are going by too fast and it breaks my heart I cannot freeze them in time. Frankie is starting to play with her sister more and they seems to have more fun. Frankie is starting to ask about times and days. She wants to know at what time we eat and what time we go to bed and what day we do what. I will see if I can find a beginner calendar for her somewhere.
Sleeping in the tent was an adventure! We had a queen size blow up and a single roll out for Frankie. Charley slept in the play pen. Frankie ended up with us both nights and so did Charley early in the morning, but it was tolerable and nobody woke up like a bear, so it was good. It was different packing up everything for a tent and not a trailer, but it was fun and I would do it again.
Yesterday we hung around the house and we played outside in the puddle pool. So much fun! The girls had a riot and so did I watching them. We really are lucky to have scored this house. The yard is amazing and I can see the girls having so much fun here for years to come. I am looking forward to next summer when we can make more trips to the creek for some water adventures. Right now Frankie is a handful on the rocks and it is pretty hard carrying Charley.
Anyway we have had a wonderful couple of days and am looking forward to a couple more wonderful days. They are going faster now that summer is winding down and I want to get as much out of them as possible!

Grammy and Poppa Come to Visit

Well last week brought some summer weather (finally) and Grammy and Poppa. Though only for a few days, they came, they saw and they conquered! We explored the back yard, made a pilgramage to Home Depot (of course), and went to the Hastings Horse races!! So much fun watching and feeling those beast gallop down the track. Frankie had a great time, so did Grammy! We left 0.30 richer then when we left, so what a day. They are coming out again in few weeks to bring us our new ride on mower, so it won't be long till we see them again! Frankie just got up with the saddest face in the world! Poor little monkey, misses her Grammy and Poppa! Better go and make her feel better......

Summer time fun fun fun

Well this summer has got to go down on record as being the most rainy, grim and lacking sunshine in all of history! It is warm but not sunny! We are still managing to find some fun though. I like to take the girls to Maple Ridge park, and if it is nice enough Frankie can puddle around in the spray park. She LOVES the swings and will swing for days if you let her. I am finally starting to see a bit of an adventurous spirit emerge and she will climb (or try to climb) to get to the bigger slides now. She is not too adventurous at all and acts like quite the princess about it. Her acting and dancing sure came in handy when we went to the Maple Ridge fair this year. While watching a performer, he asked the kids to come on up for a dancing competition. Frankie led pack and while the other kids kind of danced in place Frankie paraded around the stage back and forth, twirling and toe tapping, running and jumping. In her hot pink tu-tu and high tops she was hard to miss. Of course she WON the competition, and was awarded a CD of the performer (Conrad Flapps-not mt favorite that is for sure)
Charley just got her shots and weighs in at 17lbs 4 oz, and is 27 inches long. She is pulling herself up on the furniture and LOVES to be standing. She really is a good kid (for now)! She gets really excited when her dad comes comes home and says Hi Dada Hi dada over and over . She says Hiya and dada now and bababababa. She makes lip smacks when she wants to chase the cat courtesy of her dad calling Kokanee in like that every night. It is pretty cute when she worms her way up to the patio window and makes kissy sounds-if that cat in near she just abouts pounds the door down with excitement!
Quag has been working a lot of Saturdays and longer days so it has been hard with the girls and the rainy weather. We have been battling Pink eye, bladder infections, Frankie's asthma and the grey days so the house feels like it is closing in on us some days, but I have made a promise to myself to try not to loose patience with them and to get out everyday, even in the rain!
Today we took the double stroller to the Subway to get a sandwich and we made a stop at the wreaking yard to get a new taillight for the truck. Frankie loved all the old cars and Charley loved the rottweiler yard dog "miller" who wouldn't stop licking her cheerio'd hands! I have finally got both girls down for a sleep and am enjoying some much needed quiet time.

Where to begin...

So for the past few weeks it seems we have just be trying to get healthy! Frankie has had 2 bladder infections, a cold and now pick eye. Charley has pink eye now too. Three Dr visits in the past 3 weeks, 4 prescriptions and numerous sleepless nights and we are still not mended. I blame the crappy weather. End of July and we have been able to play outside all day only a handful of times. This has got to be the worst July ever for lack of sunshine. I bought extra vitamins today with more vitamin d in to compensate. But enough complaining.....here's what the girls are up to.
Frankie is weighing in at 32 lbs and 37 inches, so that means she has grown around 5 inches in the past 2-3 months! All her jeans are too short and all her shorts look like belly shirts!! She is in a bit of a 'defiant' stage (please tell me she will grow out of this!!) where she has an excuse for everything and a attitude to back it. She has started to get a bit rough with all of us too, she will hit us or stomp on our toes and she continues to challenge us at every oppertunity. I really think it is all jealousy related, and am trying to be more patient and spend more one on one time with her. But with her being sick and us being house bound we tend to get in each other face quite a bit!
Charley is now able to army crawl her way every where and she can now pull her self up to sitting from her belly. She can also pull herself to standing on the ottoman too and boy is proud of herself when she does this! She gets so excited clapping and raising her hand up to show YEY, she usually falls down again!! I am finally getting her second shots done next week so she will have her weigh in then (I know I know, I am awful!! 8 months old and only her second shots!!)
Frankie is starting to be more adventurous with her climbing and playing which makes me happy, because she was a bit slow on that an acts like a princess. She is also getting better at arts and crafts and pretend, where she will play in her room for an hour or so just talking to her dolls and books, making them 'food' and doctoring them. She is a nurturer that is for sure. She is always concerned with babies and trys to take care of them. If she sees that i need something or don't feel well she tries to make me feel better. She often asks me if I need a hug, which of course I never refuse!! Looks like both lil monsters are rousing from naps, so until next time a Frankie-ism.
Frankie "Mom why do you have to go to the gym?"
Me "To work off my giggly belly"
Frankie "Why do you have to work off your giggly belly?"
Me "Because I don't like it to giggle"
Frankie "I like it to giggle, it makes me laugh when we dance!"

One Day at a Time

Well it seems we have finally got some nice weather to go outside with, so I haven't even turned on the computer lately. It has been a busy week or two. Our truck broke down, so Tyson fixed it, he is a handy little (big) fella to have around, and a really great kid. He is growing into a really great young man...and handy with the tools, so that is always good! Gran is back in the hospital so we have been going to visit with her. It is not looking good for her mobility and it is breaking my heart that such a vibrant woman seems to just be wasting away. Her vertigo is so bad that she cannot sit up most days, so eating and drinking is a chore, let alone getting up and moving around. All we can do is visit and try to lift her spirits, but I know sometimes Frankie and Charley in there is a bit much!
We had a playdate over at our house and blew up the mini pool. I love our new yard and think it is a perfect place to raise the girls. If ever i doubt myself about the house, seeing all the kids run around and play on the swings, ride their bikes and then jump in the pool all in our yard is enough of a reassurance. When they get older the back back yard is perfect stomping grounds for adventure, as long as they wear their bear bells!!!
So we had a picnic dinner at the lake the other night then last night we had a picnic dinner at the gazebo to watch a puppet show in the park so the nice weather is such a blessing. I keep feeling the crunch of time. After summer I have to go back to work and it cause a mini panic attack ever time I think of it. I am still not sure what I will be doing, and the thought of having to FIND a job and go back to work is sending me into a bit of a tail spin. I have to remind my self to live in the present. To enjoy the girls everyday and the time I can spend with them. Enjoy each and everyday, one day at a time......

Learning not to Take for granted...

A few days ago I got some awful news about a old friend of mine. His daughter was found unresponsive at daycare. They started CPR and airlifted to Emergency. They got her breathing but it was too late, and the following morning they waited until her Grandparents from Canada met them and they pulled the plug. Her twin sister died a little while after birth, so this is the second baby this family has had to bury. She was a little older them Charley and their first daughter is a little older then Frankie. Just thinking about it makes me cry, I cannot fathom how these poor people can get through this.
Earlier in this day I was having some , er, challenges with my Frankie. Seems Frankie thinks she gets whatever she wants whenever she wants. She was challenging her father the night before and he yelled at her, so this morning he asked me to see if I could find the roller skates that she wanted. So we were out at Zellars trying to find the said roller skates. After 6 this is MINE and I AM TAKING THIS, I told her she was being bad and told her that she may not get anything today including roller skates. This sparked the tantrum. Full on screaming, yelling, hitting. I pulled into a quiet isle where she shrieked "don't touch me!" which prompted 2 or three other shoppers to come and check make sure I wasn't strangling my child. I lifted her up, threw her over my shoulder and wheeled Charley into the elevator where an elderly type told her she was too cute to cry and that she deserved a present! (Thanks lady, that was a big help) I was furious and told her so, and told her not to talk to me until I calmed down. After we got home and I was ready to talk I started to explain that she doesn't get 'something' every time we go and she rolled her eyes at me and said "whatever Mom"!!
It took everything I had to not snap on the little monster. I sent her down to her room to play and I zoned out on the computer for a few minutes....that was when I saw the news about my friends daughter. His poor unresponsive baby.
I'll take my screaming, tantruming child any day.
It only takes a second to realize that an entire day of stress and anger was for nothing, nothing of any importance. Don't get me wrong, the kid isn't getting roller skates any time soon, but I will not waste anther moment being angry about it. She and her sister are alive and screaming-I'd better not complain about it.

Calgary

So after Mom, Dad and Kristi and Alex came out here we surprised Dad with a 'trip' home! Surprise Dad, you get to drive home with a toddler, a baby and Me! We had a flight booked from Calgary home for the following week. The drive went smoothly and the girls we excellent passengers. At home we shocked Leanne and Sabrina which was a nice surprise!! A relatively uneventful week-due to the bad weather, we did alot of shopping! We did get one hour in at Sicome beach, where Frankie puddled around in her underwears until the giant black rain clouds came. We did go to a giant pool in Airdrie, and played with Leanne and Sabrina in there. Frankie was able to jump off the edge without my hands in hers so that was good. Charley likes the water too, although she was a bit tired while we were there.
Frankie slept with Grammy and Poppa the entire time we were there, so I felt bad for them-she tosses and turns like a snake in the grass. She even pushed Grammy out of bed one night, but they insisted so i didn't let them complain too much!
The flight home was great, I have two great little travelers on my hands. Frankie loved that she gets her own seat now and she feeds off the special attention that the flight attendants give her. Charley slept pretty much the entire way. We were happy to get home and sleep in our own beds, like we always are after a few nights away. Frankie understands the concept now that we live in one place and Grammy and Poppa live in another city, and another province. Most days she can name them too, which is cool. All in all another great vacay home to Calgary! Quag and I keep joking that one day in 17-18 yrs we will go on a vacation somewhere other then Calgary, and not with either of our parents! One day..........