The Perfect Day... Only in my Dreams

In my mind today was going to be a calm, wonderful day. A day to spend having fun with the kids. We have been so busy lately with classes, work and other events I was looking forward to spending sometime with my boys. I thought we were off to a good start when we woke up and Wyatt wasn't screaming like he was being murdered. AWESOME a happy Wyatt definitely means a perfect day. We   had a quick breakfast, jumped into Rhonda the Honda and headed to the Scarecrow Festival in the city.

Wyatt isn't too keen on costumes (well besides the pink kitty and the girly Strawberry) I let him choose between a Bug, Monkey, Dog or Lion. He chose the dog today and to my surprise he actually put it on without freaking out. Another success!! The Scarecrow festival was wonderful. Wyatt had a ball jumping in the bouncy castle, we decorated some yummy cookies with candy (and of course ate all the candy and got covered in icing), we painted pumpkins and Wyatt took a trip down a huge bouncy death slide (which Ethan was too terrified to go out). We were just heading out the door to leave when I thought perhaps we should take just one more walk around to waste some time....BIG mistake... this is where things went downhill....

Wyatt doesn't believe in the stroller so he was taking off on me constantly, thankfully Ethan was being a very good listener today (Told him Santa was watching...lol). WE made it halfway around the festival and were walking by this dark area that had been closed off. As I was chasing Wyatt I suddenly look up and there is this giant snake in a man's hands right in front of me. YIKES! I snatch Wyatt and get the heck away from that (and I would just like to say that this 'snake man' should stay behind the sheets, doesn't he know some people are deathly afraid of snakes???)

We keep walking, both boys walk into this Egyptian style maze, I figure this looks fairly safe so I give the lady our tickets and the boys literally take off into the maze. Little did I know that this infact was NOT a maze but really a little showroom for the reptiles and they are all OUT. Before I realize this I start to chase after kids and walk RIGHT into this man with this huge lizard. I scream. My heart is beating out of my CHEST! I told him my kids have run off and for some reason I thought to ask if there were snakes in there. He said yes and laughed like I was stupid. Then I think he saw the tears in my eyes, my shaking body and the sweat that had instantly developed on my forehead. I told him my kids had taken off and I needed to get them but I could NOT bring myself to take another step.... He then understood that I was completely FREAKED out, he went in ahead of me and made sure that all the reptiles had been put away and had sheets over them. I walk in probably looking like a COMPLETE crazy person, grab my kids are sprint out of there. The kids were of course devastated to leave but I couldn't cool down it was TIME to GO!

We jump in the car, its lunch time so we stop for lunch. Usually I do the drive through but the line up was out on the road so I figured I would go in (Kelly swears it is always faster to go in). Well this time this was not the case, the line was SO long, the kids were starving and running wild in their costumes. I defiantly did appreciate the 'look at those adorable kids' comments I heard people saying. I started talking to a lady in the line, she asked if we had gone to the scarecrow festival and how we liked it. I told her my snake story, she then tells me that she has a HUGE boa constrictor at home. I almost wanted to move away from her just incase she had the thing in her purse (I mean you can never be too careful).

When we got home the kids went up for a nap and I sat down to do some work. An hour into their nap I heard Ethan get u to pee (or at least I thought he was just peeing). Ten minutes later he was still crashing around up there so I went to check on him. Can you guess what I found? Oh yes that's right POOP everywhere. Ethan trying to be independent and wipe his own butt. Poop all over the seat, all over his legs and on the bathmat. I swear poop just follows me. I could say nothing as he was really trying to do it himself and was so proud of himself.... but oh dear, in some sense I understand why diapers are just so much cleaner lol.

Tonight I have promised the boys to watch a movie with them and have some popcorn, here is to hopefully for a very relaxing night!!

A Poopy Nightmare

I know it has been awhile since my last blog but today I have another chapter in the Poop diaries to share with everyone. It just seemed like something that needed to be shared (in other words I just needed someone, anyone, to listen to my rant about poop).

So lets start yesterday. Kids are all sleeping upstairs, Virginia and I are in the basement working on Peanut. I her Ethan's voice from upstairs asking me to come upstairs. I figured he was just whining as usual so I ignored him. Five minutes later he says "Mommy I need you". Again I dismissed him loudly and told him to come downstairs. I hear him coming down the stairs, he gets to the top of the basement stairs and says "My legs are dirty". I look up and see a half naked Ethan with poop ALL down his legs. Crap (literally), this sucks. I start with cleaning his legs off, then I look up the stairs and see a small trail of poop (on our recently cleaned carpets). So I follow it with some antibacterial wipes and clean as I go. When I get to the bathroom upstairs it seriously looked like a murder scene, except instead of blood there was poop. Seriously poop everywhere, all over the front of the toilet, all over the bathmat and the bathroom door and floor were soaked with pee. WHAT happened here? I still don't really know, the only possible explanation was that Ethan sat on the toilet with the seat up and slipped. I don't even want to think of the possibility that he did this on purpose!

Ok so poop cleaned up fairly confident that we are in the clear. Virginia and I are off to the mall to buy a new macbook and iPad. We bring Ethan with us. While the salesman is talking with us I look down and see Ethan holding himself. I ask him if he has to pee and he says yes. I ask the salesman desperately if they have a bathroom we can use. Infact my exact words are 'PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE A BATHROOM'. The salesman pauses JUST long enough that Ethan just lets it all out. I think I had made such a scene that everyone in the entire apple store saw the pee running down his legs and felt sorry for poor Ethan. Fantastic so its off to a store to buy some new pants.

We head into Old Navy and buy a 12 dollar pair of jeans. TWELVE DOLLARS!!! (And trust me $12 is an insane amount of money for me to spend on a pair of children's jeans, I prefer the value Village $2.49 special). We are walking back to the Apple store and I look back and Ethan's pants are around his ankles. Come on Old Navy, who makes toddlers pants without an adjustable waist.  Anyways we made it back, got our amazing new stuff and head off.

Moving on to today. We wake up around 9, Wyatt was due for a bath tonight so in hopes of saving time tonight I bring him in the shower with me. After we finish I dry him off and set him loose into the bathroom while I dry off. I turn my head for ONE minute and I hear Ethan saying 'Wyatt pooped on his leg mommy'. Half dressed I run out into the hall and ALMOST step on two big blobs of poop in the middle of the hallway (again on the carpet). I look down and again see another trail of poop, so I follow the trail and find WYATT with poop ALL down his legs and all over his feet. ARRRRGGGG.... So here we go, half naked mommy, poop everywhere and Ethan telling me he just pulled his pants down and peed all over the tv room carpet. I didn't believe him until stepped in a very wet spot. I'm still hoping that Ethan was lying and it was in-fact Wyatt that had peed on the floor because Ethan CERTAINLY knows better than that.

So now the poop is cleaned up, a new scentsy scent is in to try to cover the stench of poop.  We are loading into the car to get a tea. I've been trying to avoid Timmies  to save some money(well kind of, but lets be honest i'm not doing to well and perhaps i'm only saying this to make Kelly feel like i'm making an effort) but today I think a tea is very much needed and justified.

PS just incase you need a visual here is part of this mornings lovely disaster....

Gouda and Lentil Soup (SO Delicious)

Ingredints
1tbsp Butter
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup thinkly sliced celery
4 cups peeld, diced sweet potatos
1/2 tsp cumin
4 cups (1L) reduced sodium chicken broth
19 oz (540 ml) can lentils (drained and rinsed)
1 cup of shredded Gouda
Salt and Pepper
1/2 cup grape tomatoes (Quartered)

In a Pot, melt butter over medium/high heat. Add onions and celery and saute for 3 minutes. Stir in sweet potatoes and cumin and saute for 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer covered for 8-10 minutes.

In a blender (in batches) ... And friends be careful!! Don't forget to put your hand on top of the blender (or maybe i'm the only idiot who wouldn't)....quite the mess.... Anyways In a blender (in batches) puree soup until smooth. Return to pot. Stir in lentils. Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half of the gouda. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with remaining gouda and tomatoes!!

Yummy! Enjoy

More Poop, Tantrums and Walmart

So heres the deal, I know I said I was no longer going to rant on my blog, well, I lied. Who am I kidding, I am a ranter, I get myself all riled up and I have to get it out! So please let me tell you about my joyous day!

This morning we woke up early (as usual). I have been sleeping on the couch because I am painting my room. Got the kids dressed and fed and was preparing to headout to check out some garage sales. I smelt poop, figured one of the kids pooped or farted. I ignored it at the time because I was busy, thought I would change them before we left. Ethan was playing with this trains and Wyatt was stnading with the paint tins. Everything seemed as it should.

But the poop smell just got stronger and stronger, I looked around, didn't see poop, I saw Wyatt army crawling his way to the pantry so I followed him so I could grab him before he made it. That is when I saw it. Poop SMEARED from one side of the kitchen to the other. I look over at Fabian and he is cleaning his boy cat parts in a non-discrete way. Wyatt had just slide his way through the poop and was leaving a poop train behind him. So I quickly grabbed Wyatt as I was dry heaving and ripped the clothes off of him and washed him down completely. I snagged Fabian and looked for the problem. Ahh yes just as I suspected, poop stuck in his long white fur. Completely nasty. So I took a diaper wipe (traditionally used on infants and toddlers butts) and wiped the CATS FREAKING butt. But Fabian had some fight in him, Hair was flying everywhere, nails were out and he was meowing. He got away before I could get it all. THen I cleaned the floor. Of course Ethan has an obsession with cleaning so he was attemping to help clean the poop and was having a tantrum because I wouldn't let him help.

I went upstairs to get Wyatt a change of clothes, and OH JOY, at the top of the stairs what do I see, THATs right! POOP on the carpet. So back downstairs I go to get a cloth to clean up poop. As I am cleaning the poop I am gagging oh and then I puked a little, but not to worry I was already cleaning up poop, may as well clean up puke too!

Finally we are all cleaned up and ready to go, get the kids in the car and head out. Half way up the street I realize that I should probably have gone and checked the basement to see if there was poop smeared everywhere down there, so we turn around, both kids screaming. THANKFULLY there was no poop in the basement.

We did a little garage saleing then we had to go to Walmart. OH dear, what an adventure. First, it was Walmarts anniversary sale, great deals to be had but oh what dirtbags a sale produces. We get in the cart, Ethan won't sit down, freaking out. He sees a box of smarties and is then FIXATED on me buying him a box of smarties, will not stop screaming for smarties (Mom I blame you for this). We get what we need, make our way through the crowds of people to the tills. I chose to do the self-checkout so I didn't need to pretend to be happy to a teller. Of course it only accepted cash or debit. So I thought that I would use debit. Tried my password three times, didn't work, DECLINED. So lets lay this out, two kids screaming in the cart, no socks on, my debit card got DECLINED, boy did I feel like an ALL star Walmart shopper. I threw everything back in the cart and whizzed over to the next lane. GOt Ethan smarties just to shut him up (maybe this was a bad idea but I was sick of listening to him). Head back to the Van, apparently the automatic door wasn't working, one side opened and the kids slammed into the other side which wasn't working. Get to the van, look at my receipt. The genious teller charged me twice for a $20 item. ARGGGHHHHH

Throw the kids back into the cart and steam back into Walmart. I was ready for a fight (thinking they were going to give me a Walmart gift card and not my money).But thankfully that went smoothly. Get the kids back into the car, give Ethan his smarties and drive home.

It is 1:00 in the afternoon, bother kids are sleeping and I am completely DONE. Still have to steam the poop out of the damn carpet!

My BOB

Kelly checking out BOB at our baby shower for Ethan

Four day old Ethan at the airport picking up Aunty Claire

Wyatt and Ava in their matching Bob's.

Well you might think i'm crazy but my single BOB stroller has been stolen and I am devasted:(. I get attached to things, Bob was a gift from my parents when we had Ethan and he served me very well, lots of runs and complete comfort for both Wyatt and Ethan.

So here is the deal, We went to Wabamun on Sunday and I brought the double stroller (I usually leave one of the strollers in the car). I knew we were going to the zoo on Tuesday so I went and transfered the double stroller for the single (thinking Ethan could walk). I had my nice new dwell diaperbag and my weathershield in there. When we arrived at the zoo I went to the truck and saw that my stroller wasn't there. At that point I just assumed that it was in the garage and I had just forgotten to put it in the car. Tonight we went to walk to get the mail and I went to the garage to get the stroller... but only the doulbe stroller was in the garage. I checked the car again, NO stroller. Those are the ONLY two places I keep the stroller. I re-checked everywhere (Thinking perhaps I had just done something dumb with it). But no, it is no where to be seen. I asked all the neighbors, no one has seen it. Strollers don't just up and roll away people! So I figure I must have forgotten to lock my car door one night and someone just snagged it out of there. My other thought was perhaps they stole it from the garage when it was open, but Why would someone take the single stroller when the double is sitting right next to it worth twice as much???

I am so sad, I am just so attached to my bobs. I swear if I ever see someone pushing my stroller and using my nice diaper bag I am going to attack. (literally attack). Now I just feel so uneasy, Did they take it while my van was sitting in the driveway? Seriously, that is scary! I found the same bob and weathershield on KIJIJI for sale. They said theirs was in mint condition (and clearly mine was not) but I emailed just to see if I could come and look at it.

I called the insuanrace compant just to see if it was worth it to go through our insurance (I made a claim and they will call me tomorrow). Either way tomorrow I am going to buy a new stroller (can't really live without it when i'm by myself with two kids and the double stroller I usually only use for running and big events when Ethan needs to be strapped in). It is too much to take everywhere I ago and Wyatt will be using this stroller for at least another year...plus the next one.

To replace my bob and all the parts I had:

BOB $449.00

Weathershield (for winter) $55

Carseat Adapter $65

Dwell travel case $36 ... I am not going to replace this :(

=$604

I will have to buy it either way but the insurance company said I can send in my recipets if we do go through insurance. It just really bothers me that someone has the nerve to steal a mothers STROLLER, as if they need it more than I do, seriously loser they have $5 strollers at Walmart, I'll give you five bucks to buy it if you just bring my stroller back!

My Little Guys

My GIANT! He looks so big in his little toddlers bed, I guess it is almost time to start thinking about a big bed! Look how he lined up his little cars before he fell asleep, he has such a bedtime routine, he needs to have certain trains, blankets, we have to read one particular book before bed and he MUST have the gross brown blanket that he has with him. On this day both the boys had been sleeping for 2.5 hours, we had to go out so I opened both of their doors (usually that wakes them up) Neither of them MOVED!

Little Wyatt has finally learned how to sleep!

Wyatt and his buddy Cohan at the zoo!

My and my boys <3

Mom made a big mistake and just assumed that one of the two strollers would be in the trunk for the zoo. When we got there I realized that infact neither of the strollers were there. Had to carry Wyatt but it worked out great, no fussing at all! Although I let out a few screams I might add. So seriously I think the zoo should ANNOUCE when they are bringing the snakes out. We were just checking out the monkeys in this building when I turned around to keep walking and BAM there was this lady wakling by with the grossest looking snake i've ever seen. Yup, I screamed! Everyone looked at me, whatever, snakes are disgusting. Anyways we kept walking and right when we were leaving the building there was a school group watching a lady with another snake wrapped around her (oh man i'm getting itchy just re-living it). I told Ethan to run and he took off sprinting with me closley behind!

OK and an update:

Wyatt is the happiest little camper! He has been transformed, A couple weeks ago I stopped nursing Wyatt during the day and what a difference that has made. I nurse him before bed and in the morning and he just eats all the good stuff during the day! He FINALLY sleeps all night, he usually only cries when he is hungry (or when Ethan is torturing him). He has also figured out how to move. He has mastered the army crawl and can now move around on his own!

Ethan is a talking machine, mastering sentences, singing full songs. It is pretty impressive and oh so cute!! He is becoming very indepedant. He likes to put his sandals on himself, get himself dressed, brush his teeth. Potty training isn't really going at all though. Oh well it will come!

My parents came out a few weeks ago and Dad and Kelly built us an awesome deck and fence in the matter of three days! It is so fantastic to go into the backyard and not worry about Ethan running onto the street. My mom stayed a few days extra and I think I almost cried when she left! It is so nice to have people here with us!

Big news for Kelly and I, we have both just got Iphones. I haven't got a great history with cellphones (massive bills) but I don't think we can go wrong here, it is pretty much unlimited everything so I don't think i'm going to go over. And seriously, What was I doing without one. Kelly and I are able to chat all day while he is at work and we are out, I can quickly take pictures of the kids and send them to him in an instant. I can get directions, people can actaully get AHOLD of me.

Little Peanut Consignment seems to have exploded in the past couple of weeks, Virginia and I have been very busy doing meets, posting, pricing and SELLING!!! Just incase you haven't already checked it out we are on facebook under littlepeanut consignment!

Stay-at-home Mother of Two

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/124135/this_is_what_a_stayathome?fb_ref=post_top&fb_source=home_oneline

This is a link to a wonderful article written by aQq stay-at-home mom! I highly recommend reading it!

As you may have noticed I haven't written a blog in some time. I was feeling really judged and was recieving opinions about my life and how I do things that were really unwanted and very unwelcome. I know people were juding me, even if it wasn't said outloud I know they were judging. And thats fine, judge all you want, honestly I probably judge you too. I write about what is real, what is happening in my life. It isn't always rainbows and butterflies as some people make it out to be (or pretend it is). If you don't like the way I'm raising my children or living my life then don't read my blog, and in all honesty I probably disagree with many of the ways you judgers are raising your children and living your life. Everyone is different, everyone has different values, everyone spend money differently, to each their own. I don't want to feel like crap because YOU think I made a wrong decision. I am raising healthy HAPPY children. I do everything for my children, I want them to be invloved in programs, be social and have fun. I also like my children to be well dressed and spoiled. Yes, I would say my children are spoiled, whats it to you! Many people have told me to just relax, stay home a little more. My children HATE being at home, spending the entire day at home is like spending the day in prision. I have dedicated my life to getting my children invovled in numerous activities, and yes it may be stressfull but to see the enjoyment my children get from getting out of the house everyday and experience new things is worth every minute of stress.
Not too many people know what is like to be a stay-at-home mother of two whose husband is away. It isn't always easy, and yes, I usually write a blog when i'm angry or frusterated so it may come across to many that I am ALWAYS stressed and that my life is too much for me. This is not the case. I am fully capable of raising my children and anyone who says their children are perfect little angels are lying. I don't get a break, it is go go go, I know I have made it that way and I don't regret any of it!
The article that I have a link for above is possibly the best article I have ever read. I have had days JUST like the lady who wrote the article, infact my days are usually somewhat close to that! Going to the grocery store and leaving one child in the cart while you put the other in the car, what the hell am I supposed to do let one run all over the parking lot. I worry about people giving me looks for leaving my children in the car while I go and return the cart. Again, what did you want me to do? I have to deal with the completely useless Alberta employees who are incapable of doing their jobs properly. So when my children finally go down for a nap and I think I get a chance to relax, no, I have to sit on the phone and deal with the numerous problems that continally go wrong because of the idiot employees who can get it right the first time.
My house is never clean, (although I am getting better at this). There is always food on the floor, crumbs on the carpet, clumps of cat fur all over the house, toys scattered from one side of the house to the other. I could clean all day everyday and still my house would not be clean.
I get remarks on how I spend my money. How is this anyones business but ours. I know I wrote a blog on a budget that Kelly and I had agreed upon, this is what works for us, everyone has their own budgets and money solutions, we don't need advice, Kelly is the number one money man, he knows his stuff and we have agreed on a budget that is very reasonable. With the amount of money I have I am able to get groceries for the week, diapers, gas, gifts and clothes, there is usually not much leftover. What we buy and how we spend our money is our business, we both like nice things and are willing to pay a little bit extra to get what we want.
And yes, I am going to go back to work eventually. We have been discussing it lately, at this point unless I find a really good job the price of day-care isn't worth it for us. We also feel that is is very important to us to have me at home raising our children. I still don't know what I want to do with my life, I have been looking into options lately, reaserching different careers. So far nothing is speaking to me. I figure I will have to go back to school for a couple of years to add to my degree, just need to find something perfect.
I am learning as I go, the days are getting easier and easier as the kids get older. I am really enjoying life! We have lots of great friends and there is always lots going on. So many wonderful things going on and great things to look forwad to. I hate that I am being judged for what I write, my blog calms me down, if I need to vent I type out a blog and vent. Perhaps now the fursterating parts of my life will be kept off my blog. Consider this my final vent!