07.26.2011
I just have to ask...
why does gaining weight have to be so effortless and losing weight such a struggle?
I am really, really needing to focus on making healthy choices (even when I really, really don't feel like it).
{sigh}.
7.26.2011
Iconic...
For me, one of the most iconic of prairie summer landscapes is the canola field...bright yellow blossoms against a prairie blue sky.
It seems we have been on the road a lot lately and with crops so late around our area, I've had ample time to appreciate the blooms. Each trip I've told myself to stop and catch the beauty of the fields, but in true "Jana-style", I kept thinking in my head "I'll stop at the next field"...and then never did. So on the way home from Manitoba this weekend, I made myself take the time and stop (although daylight was almost gone and this particular crop is almost finished blooming).
And the next day, I snapped this with my phone (I love fair weather cumulus clouds - aka: puffballs)...
Loving taking the time to appreciate beauty in the everyday :)
It seems we have been on the road a lot lately and with crops so late around our area, I've had ample time to appreciate the blooms. Each trip I've told myself to stop and catch the beauty of the fields, but in true "Jana-style", I kept thinking in my head "I'll stop at the next field"...and then never did. So on the way home from Manitoba this weekend, I made myself take the time and stop (although daylight was almost gone and this particular crop is almost finished blooming).
And the next day, I snapped this with my phone (I love fair weather cumulus clouds - aka: puffballs)...
7.14.2011
Camping
Call me a bit naive...
I was REALLY looking forward to our annual camping trip to Kenosee.
Last year I just found the time so productive yet peaceful and relaxing that I couldn't wait to indulge in the same this year...
Let's just say I found out camping is not nearly as relaxing when you have a 21-month old who has hit the "terrible twos" a few months early. I'm not sure exactly why this realization surprised me...nothing in life is really all that relaxing when you have a 21-month old who has hit the "terrible twos" a few months early. These nearly two year old beings are totally unpredictable jekyll & hydes! Sweet and happy one minute, devil incarnate the next and just wait a few minutes and you are guaranteed a sobbing or screaming mess! Life is definitely not boring!
So, what did I do with my dilemma you ask?
Simple.
I lowered my expectations.
As in way lowered.
No productivity. No peace. No relaxing (well just a different kind of relaxing).
Lucky for me, I had G & G join the mix for several of our days there, which really helped my sanity level.
We walked, we biked, we endured rain, heat and wind, we sat by the campfire, we napped, we went to the beach, we went to the playground, we attempted to catch bugs, we swatted bugs away, we dug, we dug, we dug...
We had fun!
I was REALLY looking forward to our annual camping trip to Kenosee.
Last year I just found the time so productive yet peaceful and relaxing that I couldn't wait to indulge in the same this year...
Let's just say I found out camping is not nearly as relaxing when you have a 21-month old who has hit the "terrible twos" a few months early. I'm not sure exactly why this realization surprised me...nothing in life is really all that relaxing when you have a 21-month old who has hit the "terrible twos" a few months early. These nearly two year old beings are totally unpredictable jekyll & hydes! Sweet and happy one minute, devil incarnate the next and just wait a few minutes and you are guaranteed a sobbing or screaming mess! Life is definitely not boring!
So, what did I do with my dilemma you ask?
Simple.
I lowered my expectations.
As in way lowered.
No productivity. No peace. No relaxing (well just a different kind of relaxing).
Lucky for me, I had G & G join the mix for several of our days there, which really helped my sanity level.
We walked, we biked, we endured rain, heat and wind, we sat by the campfire, we napped, we went to the beach, we went to the playground, we attempted to catch bugs, we swatted bugs away, we dug, we dug, we dug...
We had fun!
We definitely can't wait to do it all again!
Off the Grid...
07.13.2011
I'm sitting here.
I shouldn't be sitting here.
I have a zillion and three things to get done before either of the beings I bore wake for the day tomorrow...
But still I sit.
Today was a day full of emotions and stuff I just want to get "off my chest" so to speak.
First of all...happy bday to my hubby! I'm sorry this day didn't end up to be the celebration I had all planned out in my head. I hope there was part of your day, at least, where you felt special. We love you so much. There is a raincheck on your celebration supper. Promise.
Second of all...the McLaren family lost their matriarch in the wee hours of this morning. It wasn't really a surprise (her health had been failing of late) and is really a blessing for her (no more pain, confusion & suffering) but yet I still feel sad. Sad because she was my last grandparent to "go". Sad because I have so many wonderful memories, and although she has been institutionalized for several years and lived 94 long years, her passing makes it so final. Sad because my Dad lost his mom today. Sad because inevitably, one day in the future it will be me losing my own mom (and this is all the more real to me now that all my grandparents are gone, and my own parents are grandparents now). Sad because I regret not taking Baby S to meet her (I kept saying "next time I'm home"). Sad just because....
Thirdly...I am back after being off the grid for 10 days. We were camping. More on that to come. Some of us around here are in definite need of "detox" (not pointing any fingers...but his name starts with a "B" and he's about 3 feet tall).
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Fourth(ly)?...I am a master procrastinator (this just in case you haven't noticed).
Fifth (and final)...homeboy loves himself some naptime in the vibrating/bouncy chair. Thus in turn, momma loves vibrating/bouncy chair (and has taken to lugging it around with us to every destination). If only you could have observed his crunched up coziness in this contraption today. Pure love.
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With all the emotional swings today brought, I'm left feeling drained. Exhausted. With a list a mile long. Oh well...nothing like leaving it to the last minute. Its my way of making life just a little more exciting (after all, what fun would leaving on time, with everything you need, not having to turn around, or haul a second bag, having hair brushed & makeup on, trying to pack the car without a screaming baby & grouchy, attention-demanding toddler...be?).
Anyways...I'm back.
I'm sitting here.
I shouldn't be sitting here.
I have a zillion and three things to get done before either of the beings I bore wake for the day tomorrow...
But still I sit.
Today was a day full of emotions and stuff I just want to get "off my chest" so to speak.
First of all...happy bday to my hubby! I'm sorry this day didn't end up to be the celebration I had all planned out in my head. I hope there was part of your day, at least, where you felt special. We love you so much. There is a raincheck on your celebration supper. Promise.
Second of all...the McLaren family lost their matriarch in the wee hours of this morning. It wasn't really a surprise (her health had been failing of late) and is really a blessing for her (no more pain, confusion & suffering) but yet I still feel sad. Sad because she was my last grandparent to "go". Sad because I have so many wonderful memories, and although she has been institutionalized for several years and lived 94 long years, her passing makes it so final. Sad because my Dad lost his mom today. Sad because inevitably, one day in the future it will be me losing my own mom (and this is all the more real to me now that all my grandparents are gone, and my own parents are grandparents now). Sad because I regret not taking Baby S to meet her (I kept saying "next time I'm home"). Sad just because....
Thirdly...I am back after being off the grid for 10 days. We were camping. More on that to come. Some of us around here are in definite need of "detox" (not pointing any fingers...but his name starts with a "B" and he's about 3 feet tall).
Fourth(ly)?...I am a master procrastinator (this just in case you haven't noticed).
Fifth (and final)...homeboy loves himself some naptime in the vibrating/bouncy chair. Thus in turn, momma loves vibrating/bouncy chair (and has taken to lugging it around with us to every destination). If only you could have observed his crunched up coziness in this contraption today. Pure love.
With all the emotional swings today brought, I'm left feeling drained. Exhausted. With a list a mile long. Oh well...nothing like leaving it to the last minute. Its my way of making life just a little more exciting (after all, what fun would leaving on time, with everything you need, not having to turn around, or haul a second bag, having hair brushed & makeup on, trying to pack the car without a screaming baby & grouchy, attention-demanding toddler...be?).
Anyways...I'm back.
7.03.2011
Dirt
07.03.2011
If there are two things that you are good at they are:
1. "helping" your dad
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2. getting "durt-ee"
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If there are two things that you are good at they are:
1. "helping" your dad
2. getting "durt-ee"
You are quite the kid...
0.02.2011
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Some of my favourite things about you right now:
- you love, love to be chased and then tickled (you laugh & laugh & laugh)
- you say please & thank-you (although it is more like peees & tank you (and thank you is usually in a tiny little quiet voice for some reason)
- you say "bless you" whenever you or someone else sneezes, coughs or makes a funny sound
- you play with my hair when you are being held
- you gently pat my back when you give me a hug
- you say & do things to get a laugh out of dad & I...we can tell when you do so cause you just pause and look at us with a little glimmer in your eye...it tells us that we should think you are really funny
- you like to say "ummmm" in response to a question and then will either say "no way" or "yesh"
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Some of my favourite things about you right now:
- you love, love to be chased and then tickled (you laugh & laugh & laugh)
- you say please & thank-you (although it is more like peees & tank you (and thank you is usually in a tiny little quiet voice for some reason)
- you say "bless you" whenever you or someone else sneezes, coughs or makes a funny sound
- you play with my hair when you are being held
- you gently pat my back when you give me a hug
- you say & do things to get a laugh out of dad & I...we can tell when you do so cause you just pause and look at us with a little glimmer in your eye...it tells us that we should think you are really funny
- you like to say "ummmm" in response to a question and then will either say "no way" or "yesh"
7.01.2011
Hello July!
07.01.2011
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Hello July!
Happy birthday, Canada!
What a great welcome to the start of the second half of 2011.
We enjoyed a really beautiful day weather-wise (if you discount the wind)...warm, but not blistering hot.
The boys enjoyed playing in the backyard in the morning while momma went for a bike ride & in the afternoon for a couple hours when momma went to the park to work a concession shift.
We enjoyed supper in the park, visiting with friends, and best of all...some quality family of four time :)
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Although we all didn't last until the fireworks started, momma set up her camera outside the house anyways...really wanted to try & capture some of the action (something I'd never attempted before)...definitely have a bit more to learn about it, but am excited I was able to capture something.
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Around our house, we are excited for all that July brings...camping, swimming, visiting & a bit of travel.
What are you excited about this July?
Hello July!
Happy birthday, Canada!
What a great welcome to the start of the second half of 2011.
We enjoyed a really beautiful day weather-wise (if you discount the wind)...warm, but not blistering hot.
The boys enjoyed playing in the backyard in the morning while momma went for a bike ride & in the afternoon for a couple hours when momma went to the park to work a concession shift.
We enjoyed supper in the park, visiting with friends, and best of all...some quality family of four time :)
What are you excited about this July?
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