Adult Time!

I have decided that when you are in a relationship with children you still need to make time for your spouse. Grant and I have been together for almost 6 years now and the first year was awesome because it was just me and him. Then Austin was born. From there on out we started caring more and more about Austin than each other I think. Not that we ever had problems we just started to become distant, not as close and affectionate as we used to be...then we had Dalyce, then Drayper.

After having just one weekend away we have rekindled what we used to be. I don't think we will ever be like we "used" to be because the kids are always here and we have to put them before ourselves, always! As the mother, I always have lots of things on my mind. How are the kids feeling, are they going to sleep through the night, is the kitchen clean, what am I going to make for supper tomorrow, how early do I have to get up tomorrow....all sorts of things that run through my head on a regular basis, and I don't think at any point in time were all of the things I think about done so I don't have to worry about them. Sometimes it's hard for me to enjoy Grants company when I have all these things going through my head and I can't relax. When we had our weekend away all we had to worry about was ourselves, it was very nice! I didn't have to worry about if the kids were going to wake up, I didn't have them. I didn't have to worry about the house being clean, I was staying in a hotel and someone else was going to clean it up. I didn't have to worry about what to make for dinner, we were going to go out for every meal and it didn't even matter where we went. I didn't have to worry about money because I saved up a bunch for our trip. All the things I worry about were being taken care of so I was able to enjoy and relax and rekindle the romance between me and Grant.

I think when you are in a relationship with Children you need your time away so you can be the best parent/spouse that you can possibly be. After going away to edmonton for a weekend I think we may have started something. I think we should take a trip away, even just for a weekend, somewhere at least once a year...problem is...who is going to watch our kids everytime?!?!? Miranda???

Weekend Away!

Well Grant and I had a fantastic time in Edmonton for our weekend getaway! We spent every minute together (just about) and enjoyed every second! We had a lot of fun reminiscing about the past and some talk about our future! It was some well needed mommy and daddy time alone! When we were first dating we did a lot of going out and spending a lot of time together, But we wanted children right away so we really only got a year and half of alone time! You forget sometimes that you need to regroup and spend some time with just your significant other before you lose your marbles! I love my children to death but a happy mommy is a happy family!

This was only the second time ever that I went away for the whole weekend and not just one night. The first time I hadn't seen Drayper for a whole day since he was born though! I was and wasnt ready to come home yet. I really wanted to see the kids but I could've spent a whole extra day doing nothing! I can't wait for our next vacation away, maybe flying somewhere next time! The only problem is that our kids are still so little no one wants to watch them for long periods of time!

Christmas Party!!

Grants annual christmas party is finally here. I have been waiting for this day for a while now. This will be our fourth year. The last 3 have been fun but it was what it was. So first off I want to explain how awesome the Hoover christmas parties are! I used to pick up my parents from previous ones as well so I know how they are! For the past 3 years and now this year the party has been at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino. The food is always so delicious and there is an open bar. There are always speeches, awards and the best part, prizes. I hope maybe we will win something super exciting this year!

So for the past 3 years I have been the DD. Not necessarily by choice. The first year I was pregnant with Dalyce, the second year it was that really bad snow storm and Dalyce was only 4 months old so I didn't trust a taxi to drive us home from south calgary and I had to go get Dalyce from my sisters house (which did not end up happening, we got stuck majorly in the snow). And last year I was pregnant with Drayper. Not that I would've liked to drink profusely but I would like to have the option I guess. This year is finally the year! I won't be tired and bored, sick of the music, and just want to go home and go to bed! This year I get to let loose and enjoy myself! The only thing is that the kids Christmas party is the very next day at 11 am so we have to be careful about how late we stay out!

The other reason why I have been so excited about today is I am getting my hair done! Cut and colored...which has only ever happened 3 times in my whole life! I get to go to the salon and enjoy 2 hours of getting my hair colored and cut and some quiet time! And Then....I get to wear my new outfit! From head to toe I bought a new outfit this year for the christmas party! I was bound and determined to find something this year because I have never bought anything for the party. I have always worn something I already have or borrowed something Miranda has. With the exception of the jewelery and a purse everything I wear tonight will be the first time...YAY!!!

I am also very excited about the kids Hoover Christmas party. I get to take the kids to see Santa and they get a present from him (which is usually a very awesome gift). And we get to do crafts and play games with them. This is going to be an awesome weekend!

Next weekend will be christmas and I dont know who is more excited, Me and Grant or the Kids! We get 3 very exciting gift opening events and time with family! The weekend after that will be New Years eve and then my christmas party (which should be eventful)! And Then.......

My whole weekend away without the kids with only Grant to get to do my favorite thing in the world....SHOPPING!!! This was my birthday present from my sister, brother-in-law and my parents! I have planned since October for this weekend and made sure I dont have to worry about how expensive those shoes are or how much that shirt costs!! I have never done it before so I will enjoy every minute of it! I get to do my favorite thing with my favorite adult!! Yay ME!!!!

So that is my next month of events!!

Christmas is a comin'

Everybody ready for Christmas?? I'm sure not!! I thought I was getting a good head start by getting on my christmas shopping in October but I'm still not any closer than if I had started in December...I think I'm just buying more!!
I started wrapping everything the other night and realized that the kids won't have the same amount of gifts to open. I know that is important in any household no matter what is in the gift. We got Austin something more expensive and so he doesnt have as many gifts to open....when they are this little they wont notice that we might have spent a little more on one than the others so I guess we'll have to find something else to get him. Dalyce has a whole bunch of stuff to open because all her gifts are inexpensive. We also need to figure out what Santa will be bringing them!! ;)
Now that the kids are a little older I understand how my mom felt every year. I know she was probably excited to watch us open our gifts and watch the excitement on our faces but I know she was missing the excitement of getting gifts herself. I know this comes with being a mom. Mom always thinks about everyone in the household except herself! As we got older my mom started getting gifts for herself to open because no one ever thought of her (except for the fact that we were too little to get her anything anyways)! Well I learnt from that! I wonder what Santa will be bringing me for christmas this year?!?!

Who believes in Santa?! As a child I never blieved in Santa. We were always told Santa is not real. My parents didnt blieve in making us believe in something that wasnt real just to break our hearts in the future. I was always set on doing the exact same thing and it took Grant about a year and a half to change my mind! I now make the kids believe in Santa because although he is not real, how exciting is it to believe in something magical who brings you presents? Eventually when they are old enough to ask the questions I will tell them the truth and I'm sure they will get over it very quickly because "Santa" will still bring them presents every year!!

Its funny how when you get married traditions blend together to make new ones for a new family. Grant and I were raised very similar so we are lucky that combining our traditions and beliefs is very easy. Some things are a little more difficult especially with how stubborn I am. No matter what I am usually right (whether I really am or not!). I am excited to begin a christmas season with our new traditions that the kids might actually start to remember!!

Parenthood

I am a little disappointed in myself this morning. I had a little meltdown and should have taken a timeout but instead I overreacted. Let me explain....

The kids decided to take out the reese puffs cereal this morning and start playing with it. It ended up all dumped on the carpet. This was at about 8:30, Which I then told them to clean it all up, it needed to now go in the garbage and we needed to go. I started to continue attending to my frustrating process of figuring out my email and facebook account as I needed to get a new email because my old one stopped working. I know I was already annoyed and frustrated so the kids mess did not help. I then realized what time it was (8:45) and needed to leave to take Austin to preschool. The mess was not only not cleaned up but way worse, as it was not all in one place but the kids proceeded to throw it around, at each other. I lost my temper. I was yelling and screaming at the kids to clean it up now, this was not acceptable and I was furious at them because we needed to leave or Austin was going to be late. It was agrivating because it needed to be cleaned up before we left because other wise the dogs would eat it and get very sick. The whole 5 minutes they were trying to clean it up I was yelling at them. I know I probably did not accomplish any learning from the experience techniques by my yelling. I now know I should've told them sternly to clean up the mess right now and left the room to calm myself down, a "timeout for mommy", but I didn't. I guess we learn from our mistakes.

I know that every once in a while everyone has their bad parenting moments and this was not my finest. Its very frustrating because I knew at the time I should've stopped myself from continuing but I just couldnt. I needed to get my anger out. I'm still very angry at the whole situation but now realize I'm not angry at the kids for making such a big mess but at myself for not supervising the first time I told them to clean it up. It also did not help that I was so annoyed with my email and facebook.

I know as time passes I grow. My patience for sure has gotten a lot stronger ever since Austin was born. Its a learning experience and I need to remember that. When your baby is born and you get to take it home, it does not come with an instruction manual and it should!! I'm glad though that all my children are still very young and probably will not remember this terrible mommy moment.

School

Ahhhh how I love the quiet mornings that I get while Austin is in school. I never thought I would enjoy it this much because his first day was so sad. I knew after I got used to it I would start to like it but man is it ever nice. Dalyce is such a quiet good little girl when Austin isnt here to pick on here or torment her. She plays so well and nicely by herself, it'll be sad when she has to go to school. It helps that right now Drayper decided to have his morning nap at this time so the house is extremely quiet and still.

I'm looking forward to the day when all the kids are in school and I will finally get time to myself. I'm sure I will get bored quickly and I will probably start working during the day part time. My house will hopefully be extremely clean because I will have a lot of extra time to do it! All these things are in the far off in the future but I know it will come before I know it!

Next year I know I will get a little more freedom and it will be nice. Austin will be in Kindergarten (hopefully in the mornings) and hopefully at the school that is supposed to be done by September 2012 at the end of my street. So I won't have to worry about taking him to school everyday especially since the kids across the street will be going there as well and they could all walk together. And then Dalyce will be starting preschool going 2 days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11:30. So those days I will only have Drayper. I'm glad in a way because then I will get to spend some extra special one on one time with him while he is still pretty young. I never really got that with Dalyce because there was always Austin to look after as well.

Its crazy to think now that when you have kids they are only home with you all the time until they are 3 and then they start part time school until grade 1 and then it is full time. You have these babies and you raise them until they are 3 and then you ship them off to school to start learning everyday without you. It's weird how this world works isnt it?! So you really only get 3 years to really make an impact on their lives and hope that they know good enough when they start learning things from other peoples kids. In my opinion thats not enough time. I know my children behave much better when I'm not around but when they are around the wrong people they do bad things anyway (I know this because I was there). I sure hope that I make a good enough impact on my children to know right from wrong. Gotta stop writting now I'm getting too upset thinking out loud about it.

Preschool

Well my oldest child has started preschool. I really wasn't expecting anything when I dropped him off, in fact I didn't know what to expect! I knew he wasn't going to cry and be all upset but I guess I didn't think he wasn't going to care either. He gave me a hug and said I love you but then he went off to play! I didn't really think about how I was going to feel! To all those parents who haven't taken their kids to preschool...it's sad! You realize that your little baby isn't a baby anymore and that he's growing up. I know it will get easier and easier and then it won't even phase me that he is going to school.

Now what to do with only 2?! My house is so much quieter! Dalyce plays so much better when Austin isn't around! Next year (or the year after) I will be saying what to do with only 1! Time goes by so fast and I wish sometimes I could slow it down!

It's funny how you hear about moms with older kids who are going into grade 1 (full time school) and they are so excited (usually more than the kids)! I'm always thinking I will be sad when this happens to me, that all my kids are in full time school. But then I start thinking, I could have all this free time to myself...is that when I get a break?? I finally start to realize why these parents are so happy to ship their kids off to school everyday!

All I'm hoping for today is that I don't get a phone call before 11:30 saying that Austin is being bad or he peed his pants or something...and for Friday we'll see what I hope for...maybe that time slows down so I get more than 2 and a half hours?! HAHA!!! My sister tells me I will enjoy this time and he will have so much fun! Lets hope she is right!