Tuesday, January 19, 2010
It takes a village...
There's a reason why its been said that it takes a village to raise a child. After a day (okay, week) like I've had, I feel like I need someone to bounce ideas off of and to get some support. I'm not even raising my own children, but I have been given the wonderful responsibility of helping raise other people's children. Tonight, I got on the phone with both parents and we discussed the horrendous behaviour we have been experiencing. It was wonderful to know that I am supported and that I'm not the only one experiencing this behaviour. It was good to know that we are all trying new techniques and willing to support one another to try improve the behaviour. It was also reassuring to know that the parents said if the behavior isn't improving, that they are willing to seek out a child psychologist or behaviour analyst to see if we can improve things that way. I'm just relieved since I'm so tired of the 40 plus minute marathon battles about everything, including eating, dressing, playing, potty training. I'm tired of the "I want my mommy" whines that I hear everywhere (including out in public!) about every that goes wrong. This is why mothers, father and caregivers need support from others. They cannot do this alone. That's why God created community. He wants us to meet with one another, support one another, and help raise each others children. Perhaps that's why when we dedicate our children or baptize our children, we ask that the church supports us in our decision to raise our children in the Christian church, by praying for us and supporting us in whatever way possible. Do you know of any family that could use your support? Your words of encouragement? A night away from the kids? Remember those families in your prayers-they need it. I guarantee it!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Run of the Mill Revelations
I find great excitement in vacuuming up crunchy sounding junk off the floor. But its also quite disheartening. My floor is that dirty??? So dirty that there are chunks?? Excitement gone. (insert sad awww.)
Parenting, Inc.
I picked up this book at the library the other day entitled: Parenting, Inc.: How we are sold on $800 strollers, fetal education, baby sign language, sleeping coaches, toddler couture, and diaper wipe warmers-and what it means for our children by Pamela Paul. It was a fascinating read (Dan just started and is at least half way through). The basic premise of the book is that most of what we spend on children and the way we view our interactions with them is largely based on material things and the "need" for education at an early age (prenatal-it doesn't get any earlier than that!).
Something we have noticed as a couple, is that children these days have EVERYTHING! There are books, videos, magnets, games that try to teach our children their ABC's and 123's at an earlier and earlier age. And a lot of this gear is marketed to the parents, claiming education or safety that doesn't necessarily exist. Can a DVD really teach your 6 month old to read? Or do we really need a monitor that tells you if your baby has not moved for more than 20 seconds in their crib in order to prevent SIDS? Or do we need that special toy that's meant to stimulate your infants eyes? Aren't we just setting ourselves up for a society that is burnt-out, over stimulated, or bored from lack of stimulation or ability to entertain themselves?
We, as a society, have way too much gear for children. One trip to a Babies R Us is enough to leave a person overwhelmed or running out the door screaming for back-up. What is it that we really need for our kids? Society screams that basic food, shelter and clothing isn't enough. We need to have more. Our kids need education from before the moment they are born? We are inundated with messages that we need stuff. And parents are a multi-billion dollar business. We are told that we need to educate our kids with the latest and greatest gadgets. DVD's that will teach our children fine motor skills, classes that are meant to further our children futures, and equipment that is there to aid our child's sitting/walking/talking skills. "Many parents indulge in products that are not just unnecessary for young children; they are products that inadvertently instill qualities those same parents say they want to avoid: materialism and superficiality. Materialism saps children of the resourcefulness and independence most parents want to cultivate in their kids.(page 213)." We have also replaced the need for family wisdom, with sleep coaches, doulas and parenting classes.We have lost our need for community; for meeting with other parents to discuss issues. There no longer is the spontaneous coffee drop-bys or meeting at the neighbourhood playground, but these have been replaced with scheduled meetings, scheduled play dates and any number of parenting classes. We have also neglected to take initiative in teaching our children the basics of learning. The ABCs are now taught by machines, DVDs or toys that make an abundance of noise. "The research shows that your child is going to be better at math and the ABCs if you play with them....they will be better at school and at life (page 169)."
Reading this book has caused Dan and I to once again challenge our views of parenting. What qualities do we want to instill in our children? We would love our children to live similar lives to what we grew up as. Limited toys that we valued, independent play, attachment to our parents, memories by experience, value of money, valuing friends for who they are and not what they own, education through imaginative play and communication with parents. It surprises me that quite often when we talk about our childhood amongst friends that favourite toys are brought up. Did you own the baby that peed in the potty? No! But I always wanted one, and the girl down the street had one. When I look back, I don't think I ever owned any of the popular toys, but I did have garage sale specials, hand-me downs, thrift store finds and an imagination that took care of the rest. I wasn't an unhappy or deprived child. I was quite happy and I didn't have very many toys. (In fact, I think I own more toys now, than I did as a child!) But for some reason today, parents equate things with happiness. And the more things our children have, the happier they will be. At the end of the day, our children will grow into what we shape them to be. As a couple, we see the model that society has given us and we don't want to raise our children up that way. Studies show that children with excess stuff, grow up to be impatient, "less satisfied with their lives, less happy, experience fewer positive emotions, report more depression, anxiety and alcohol use, and are considerably more narcissistic. They are also less cooperative, less likely to engage in positive social behaviours like sharing and helping and more likely to engage in petty theft. They are also more manipulative-children as much so as adults. (page 216)."
"Parents can take solace in the fact that rather than require thousands of dollars' worth of baby paraphernalia, their child needs only the most fundamental of parental activities: holding, singing, dancing, conversation and playing outdoors. With a priceless return on investment (page 218)." We hope that we can avoid falling into the trap that society has set out for us. We want to be assured that our children will not depend on money or things to bring them happiness, but rather they will find solace in intimate relationship, contentment with what they have and creativity and perseverance to deal with the hardships they will face.
Something we have noticed as a couple, is that children these days have EVERYTHING! There are books, videos, magnets, games that try to teach our children their ABC's and 123's at an earlier and earlier age. And a lot of this gear is marketed to the parents, claiming education or safety that doesn't necessarily exist. Can a DVD really teach your 6 month old to read? Or do we really need a monitor that tells you if your baby has not moved for more than 20 seconds in their crib in order to prevent SIDS? Or do we need that special toy that's meant to stimulate your infants eyes? Aren't we just setting ourselves up for a society that is burnt-out, over stimulated, or bored from lack of stimulation or ability to entertain themselves?
We, as a society, have way too much gear for children. One trip to a Babies R Us is enough to leave a person overwhelmed or running out the door screaming for back-up. What is it that we really need for our kids? Society screams that basic food, shelter and clothing isn't enough. We need to have more. Our kids need education from before the moment they are born? We are inundated with messages that we need stuff. And parents are a multi-billion dollar business. We are told that we need to educate our kids with the latest and greatest gadgets. DVD's that will teach our children fine motor skills, classes that are meant to further our children futures, and equipment that is there to aid our child's sitting/walking/talking skills. "Many parents indulge in products that are not just unnecessary for young children; they are products that inadvertently instill qualities those same parents say they want to avoid: materialism and superficiality. Materialism saps children of the resourcefulness and independence most parents want to cultivate in their kids.(page 213)." We have also replaced the need for family wisdom, with sleep coaches, doulas and parenting classes.We have lost our need for community; for meeting with other parents to discuss issues. There no longer is the spontaneous coffee drop-bys or meeting at the neighbourhood playground, but these have been replaced with scheduled meetings, scheduled play dates and any number of parenting classes. We have also neglected to take initiative in teaching our children the basics of learning. The ABCs are now taught by machines, DVDs or toys that make an abundance of noise. "The research shows that your child is going to be better at math and the ABCs if you play with them....they will be better at school and at life (page 169)."
Reading this book has caused Dan and I to once again challenge our views of parenting. What qualities do we want to instill in our children? We would love our children to live similar lives to what we grew up as. Limited toys that we valued, independent play, attachment to our parents, memories by experience, value of money, valuing friends for who they are and not what they own, education through imaginative play and communication with parents. It surprises me that quite often when we talk about our childhood amongst friends that favourite toys are brought up. Did you own the baby that peed in the potty? No! But I always wanted one, and the girl down the street had one. When I look back, I don't think I ever owned any of the popular toys, but I did have garage sale specials, hand-me downs, thrift store finds and an imagination that took care of the rest. I wasn't an unhappy or deprived child. I was quite happy and I didn't have very many toys. (In fact, I think I own more toys now, than I did as a child!) But for some reason today, parents equate things with happiness. And the more things our children have, the happier they will be. At the end of the day, our children will grow into what we shape them to be. As a couple, we see the model that society has given us and we don't want to raise our children up that way. Studies show that children with excess stuff, grow up to be impatient, "less satisfied with their lives, less happy, experience fewer positive emotions, report more depression, anxiety and alcohol use, and are considerably more narcissistic. They are also less cooperative, less likely to engage in positive social behaviours like sharing and helping and more likely to engage in petty theft. They are also more manipulative-children as much so as adults. (page 216)."
"Parents can take solace in the fact that rather than require thousands of dollars' worth of baby paraphernalia, their child needs only the most fundamental of parental activities: holding, singing, dancing, conversation and playing outdoors. With a priceless return on investment (page 218)." We hope that we can avoid falling into the trap that society has set out for us. We want to be assured that our children will not depend on money or things to bring them happiness, but rather they will find solace in intimate relationship, contentment with what they have and creativity and perseverance to deal with the hardships they will face.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Caveman or Metrosexual: Where's the middle ground?
In preparation for beginning our own family, we have started to do a bit of reading up on parenting, pregnancy and child-rearing. In doing so, we have noticed a disturbing trend. Either there is no information for fathers, or a small paragraph in a 400 page book that basically says suck it up and support your wife. When there is a little bit more of an elaborate write up (a whole page!!!!) it advises men to not faint during labour, expect a moody and hormonal wife with strange cravings that they should satisfy and that you may get sympathy symptoms. They say sympathy symptoms (called couvade) allow you to empathize with your wife and show her that you are committed in having this baby, but in reality she is likely to be far too engrossed in her own pregnancy to care about what you are going through (either that or she's puking too much to notice). This discrepancy expands to encompass the role a father should take in raising his child and being with his wife through pregnancy. It seems that men are grouped into one category in their role as fathers to be.
The stereotypical bubbling cave man who doesn't care about what his wife is going through and needs to be reminded that he should care for his ailing wife. Basically the man is portrayed as an idiot.
But we find that doesn't even begin to portray what we would like to be as parents. Whatever happened to the involved Father? You know, the one that reminds the wife about her appointments and joins her at every one. The one that goes to the birthing classes, reads books on pregnancy and child-birth. The one that shops around with his wife for baby items and even points out things that he likes or thinks they need. The one that talks to the baby while still in the womb. The one that gets up in the middle of the night to help his wife. Or the one who changes diapers willingly, without being asked.
What has happened to our society that when you do find these men, they are mocked and ridiculed for being less than a man? How is it that you can go into a library full of books, with shelves devoted to pregnancy and parenting, and find only a handful of books that address fatherhood with the perspective that the man is not an idiot? It's no wonder that we have a society full of bumbling cavemen-we've created them by emasculating those who try to be good fathers. No man wants to be a bumbling cavemen nor do they want to be a girly metrosexual parent. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground addressed in popular culture. What about those men who want to be involved---the ones we always dreamed of having in our childhood? The Bill Cosby of parenting. We know these men exist! We see them occasionally pop up, taking care of their kids, forming them into the young men and woman we know they should be. We only hope that as we contemplate taking the plunge into parenthood, that we can find similar men who share the values of parenting that we aspire to.
The stereotypical bubbling cave man who doesn't care about what his wife is going through and needs to be reminded that he should care for his ailing wife. Basically the man is portrayed as an idiot.
But we find that doesn't even begin to portray what we would like to be as parents. Whatever happened to the involved Father? You know, the one that reminds the wife about her appointments and joins her at every one. The one that goes to the birthing classes, reads books on pregnancy and child-birth. The one that shops around with his wife for baby items and even points out things that he likes or thinks they need. The one that talks to the baby while still in the womb. The one that gets up in the middle of the night to help his wife. Or the one who changes diapers willingly, without being asked.
What has happened to our society that when you do find these men, they are mocked and ridiculed for being less than a man? How is it that you can go into a library full of books, with shelves devoted to pregnancy and parenting, and find only a handful of books that address fatherhood with the perspective that the man is not an idiot? It's no wonder that we have a society full of bumbling cavemen-we've created them by emasculating those who try to be good fathers. No man wants to be a bumbling cavemen nor do they want to be a girly metrosexual parent. There doesn't seem to be a middle ground addressed in popular culture. What about those men who want to be involved---the ones we always dreamed of having in our childhood? The Bill Cosby of parenting. We know these men exist! We see them occasionally pop up, taking care of their kids, forming them into the young men and woman we know they should be. We only hope that as we contemplate taking the plunge into parenthood, that we can find similar men who share the values of parenting that we aspire to.
Is doing the right thing a hazard to other people?
I like (okay, LOVE) to drive the speed limit. But in doing so, I basically piss people off one speed limit at a time. Somehow in our need for speed culture, actually obeying the posted limits is an antiquated notion for most drivers that illicits rage. Case and point: the other day I was driving along, going the posted speed limit up by Abbotsford Christian. A man was tailgating me, obviously annoyed at my ability to follow the law. He proceeded to pass me in the bike lane (as there is only single lane traffic there). Did I forget to mention that I passed our beloved Gareth Brandt biking home in the bike lanes only a 500 meters ago? So, is my doing the right thing by following the speed limit, actually a hazard to those who bike in the bike lanes? I must admit that this is the second time in the last six months this has happened to me (at the same point no less!). So, is doing the right thing actually doing the right thing? Or would it be better for me to have been doing the wrong thing (speeding), in order to do the right thing (like keep the bike lanes clear and thus Gareth a little bit safer)?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Transitions and learning to LET IT GO!
I'm not one to make new years resolutions. I hate the idea of waiting until a new year starts to better yourself. I prefer to make resolutions as the year goes on and improve who I am in the process. Shortly before the new year started, I realized how high strung I can be. Okay, I've been learning this for years, but the solution finally hit me and brought the problem to the forefront again. I was watching Reba on the television and a conversation that occurred between Reba and Van (her son-in-law) really opened my eyes up to a solution. I know this sounds so elementary, but to those who struggle with being high strung, the thought of a solution can lead one over the edge. Reba was overwhelmed with some issue and Van said, "I have one word for you, LETITGO!" Reba answered, "That's actually three words." Van replied, "LETITGO!"
I find that I need to learn that. I need to LET IT GO. There is a line in a Great Big Sea song that reads, "Let it Go, let it go. This is smaller than you know. It's no bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road." For someone who worries about virtually anything and gets all strung out when things go array, this is a really hard lesson to learn. But I vow to try my best. When the kids are being slow and we are in a hurry, I've got to LET IT GO. When Dan leaves a dishes on the counter, rather than putting them in the dishwasher, I've got to LET IT GO.
I really believe that this will help me out in this next year. 2010 seems to be a year of transitions for Dan and I. Transitions and change can be scary and stressful. But I hope that learning to LET IT GO, will help with all these transitions. Normally I worry about this and that, what's going to happen and will things all work out. But this year, I hope to worry less.
There are a few transitions that we are anticipating this year. We are anticipating that Dan will finish school and hopefully get a position in a school system in September. We look forward to finally ridding ourselves of our debt from Dan's student loans. We contemplate adding to our family and anticipate the changes that would bring. We look forward to the first of our friends having a baby and look forward to meeting their new little bundle of joy. We know that the upcoming loss of my job is apparent, and struggle with the consequences of that. We anticipate journeying with our Bible study group, through new experiences and friendships. There is a lot going on, but we hope that this year will be one full of wonderful changes. And when stresses pop up (cuz we all know they will happen), I hope to let go of the stresses and focus on what is good. Worrying about things won't change the outcome. I need to put my trust in God and realize that He is control of all things. Worry about them won't add an hour to my life (I'd probably loose more than that worrying about things!) So, please remind me when I'm stressing out of that one word: "LETITGO!"
I find that I need to learn that. I need to LET IT GO. There is a line in a Great Big Sea song that reads, "Let it Go, let it go. This is smaller than you know. It's no bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road." For someone who worries about virtually anything and gets all strung out when things go array, this is a really hard lesson to learn. But I vow to try my best. When the kids are being slow and we are in a hurry, I've got to LET IT GO. When Dan leaves a dishes on the counter, rather than putting them in the dishwasher, I've got to LET IT GO.
I really believe that this will help me out in this next year. 2010 seems to be a year of transitions for Dan and I. Transitions and change can be scary and stressful. But I hope that learning to LET IT GO, will help with all these transitions. Normally I worry about this and that, what's going to happen and will things all work out. But this year, I hope to worry less.
There are a few transitions that we are anticipating this year. We are anticipating that Dan will finish school and hopefully get a position in a school system in September. We look forward to finally ridding ourselves of our debt from Dan's student loans. We contemplate adding to our family and anticipate the changes that would bring. We look forward to the first of our friends having a baby and look forward to meeting their new little bundle of joy. We know that the upcoming loss of my job is apparent, and struggle with the consequences of that. We anticipate journeying with our Bible study group, through new experiences and friendships. There is a lot going on, but we hope that this year will be one full of wonderful changes. And when stresses pop up (cuz we all know they will happen), I hope to let go of the stresses and focus on what is good. Worrying about things won't change the outcome. I need to put my trust in God and realize that He is control of all things. Worry about them won't add an hour to my life (I'd probably loose more than that worrying about things!) So, please remind me when I'm stressing out of that one word: "LETITGO!"
Saturday, December 26, 2009
An Unexpected Christmas Gift
Christmas this year took a few unexpected turns.
I woke up suddenly on Christmas Eve morning with food poisoning. This was a rather unpleasant surprise, leading to much discomfort during the festivities with my family. I didn't feel much like eating, or moving for that matter. But I had fun watching my nieces and nephews open their gifts, and exclaim, "This is just what I wanted!" I enjoyed watching my grandma trying to launch wrapping paper into a laundry bin across the room missing the bin every time but repeatedly hitting my mom. I enjoyed laughing at my sister-in-law's face as her husband received Starbucks coffee with a half-naked lady on it and he exclaimed rather excitedly, "OHHH! A half-naked lady" and proceeds to sniff the package much to her dismay. It wasn't the day we all had planned (it ended early due to Grandma's tiredness and my rumbley bowels), but we all laughed and enjoyed ourselves. We created memories---I don't think I'll ever forget my brother reading the "Christmas" story out of Revelation 5. (Who knew the Christmas story had a dragon in it?)
The following day, Christmas took another unexpected turn. We received a call in the morning that Dan's Grandma D. was in the hospital. As she was putting the turkey in the oven, she had shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pains. She was rushed via ambulance to emergency, where she was cleared to return home a few hours later. But this put Christmas out of whack. Luckily, Noel put the turkey in the oven and Auntie Kathie prepared the rest of the feast. Since Grandma needed to rest a lot more, and no one really let her stand up without offering to help her do whatever she was trying to do, it turned into a different sort of Christmas. We all pitched in to help prepare the meal, clean-up (thank you boys!) and sort through all of Grandma's worries. "Did Noel put bacon on the turkey?" Yes he did! "The gifts aren't in their bags." Don't worry Grandma, no one really cares if its not put in a bag. "Are the potatoes turned on?" Yes, they have been for an hour on low. About half way through the day, Laura and I caught Grandma puttering about trying to sort through gifts and putting them into bags. We offered to help her by collecting random things throughout her house (like gift bags in the basement). But we shared a moment that sort of sums up how I feel about this Christmas. After Grandma expressed a few more worries and concerns about the gifts not being labeled and that they weren't address to people, I piped up: "That's not what matters Grandma. Its about us being together. We are just happy that you are here to celebrate with us. I think the Grinch had it right. It's not about the gifts or the food. Those things don't matter in the long run. Its about us all being together."
I think this Christmas it was really brought home that Christmas isn't about the presents or the food or the traditions. Christmas is Christmas no matter what happens. If its around a hospital bed or over a toilet, the important thing is being together to celebrate Christ's birth. When you look at Christ's birth, it had its own set of unexpectancies. Any woman would tell you that giving birth isn't the most pleasant experience and not something that would grace the front of a Hallmark card. Neither would riding on a donkey in the late stages of pregnancy be very comfortable. Or having strangers visit you after your have just given birth. But these are all things that come with Christmas. Just like sickness, death and family feuds are a part of our Christmases today.
It's not to say that Christmas is this horrible thing. Look at the focus of the Christmas story. In the midst of all of these unexpectancies is this tiny baby boy. A complete joy to his parents! Our future Saviour of the world! Just like within my own food poisoning and Grandma's health scare, I found joy and peace. I found wonderful memories. I found laughter. I found concern and gratefulness. I found servant-like attitudes and helpful hands. Within all these unexpectancies, I found the true meaning of Christmas.
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes and bags! And he puzzled three hours, 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't though of before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." (From How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss)
I woke up suddenly on Christmas Eve morning with food poisoning. This was a rather unpleasant surprise, leading to much discomfort during the festivities with my family. I didn't feel much like eating, or moving for that matter. But I had fun watching my nieces and nephews open their gifts, and exclaim, "This is just what I wanted!" I enjoyed watching my grandma trying to launch wrapping paper into a laundry bin across the room missing the bin every time but repeatedly hitting my mom. I enjoyed laughing at my sister-in-law's face as her husband received Starbucks coffee with a half-naked lady on it and he exclaimed rather excitedly, "OHHH! A half-naked lady" and proceeds to sniff the package much to her dismay. It wasn't the day we all had planned (it ended early due to Grandma's tiredness and my rumbley bowels), but we all laughed and enjoyed ourselves. We created memories---I don't think I'll ever forget my brother reading the "Christmas" story out of Revelation 5. (Who knew the Christmas story had a dragon in it?)
The following day, Christmas took another unexpected turn. We received a call in the morning that Dan's Grandma D. was in the hospital. As she was putting the turkey in the oven, she had shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pains. She was rushed via ambulance to emergency, where she was cleared to return home a few hours later. But this put Christmas out of whack. Luckily, Noel put the turkey in the oven and Auntie Kathie prepared the rest of the feast. Since Grandma needed to rest a lot more, and no one really let her stand up without offering to help her do whatever she was trying to do, it turned into a different sort of Christmas. We all pitched in to help prepare the meal, clean-up (thank you boys!) and sort through all of Grandma's worries. "Did Noel put bacon on the turkey?" Yes he did! "The gifts aren't in their bags." Don't worry Grandma, no one really cares if its not put in a bag. "Are the potatoes turned on?" Yes, they have been for an hour on low. About half way through the day, Laura and I caught Grandma puttering about trying to sort through gifts and putting them into bags. We offered to help her by collecting random things throughout her house (like gift bags in the basement). But we shared a moment that sort of sums up how I feel about this Christmas. After Grandma expressed a few more worries and concerns about the gifts not being labeled and that they weren't address to people, I piped up: "That's not what matters Grandma. Its about us being together. We are just happy that you are here to celebrate with us. I think the Grinch had it right. It's not about the gifts or the food. Those things don't matter in the long run. Its about us all being together."
I think this Christmas it was really brought home that Christmas isn't about the presents or the food or the traditions. Christmas is Christmas no matter what happens. If its around a hospital bed or over a toilet, the important thing is being together to celebrate Christ's birth. When you look at Christ's birth, it had its own set of unexpectancies. Any woman would tell you that giving birth isn't the most pleasant experience and not something that would grace the front of a Hallmark card. Neither would riding on a donkey in the late stages of pregnancy be very comfortable. Or having strangers visit you after your have just given birth. But these are all things that come with Christmas. Just like sickness, death and family feuds are a part of our Christmases today.
It's not to say that Christmas is this horrible thing. Look at the focus of the Christmas story. In the midst of all of these unexpectancies is this tiny baby boy. A complete joy to his parents! Our future Saviour of the world! Just like within my own food poisoning and Grandma's health scare, I found joy and peace. I found wonderful memories. I found laughter. I found concern and gratefulness. I found servant-like attitudes and helpful hands. Within all these unexpectancies, I found the true meaning of Christmas.
"It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes and bags! And he puzzled three hours, 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't though of before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." (From How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss)
Thursday, December 24, 2009
My Christmas Diet Plan
Twas the night the before Christmas Eve, and all through the house, Amanda was stirring, she woke the whole house, The vomit was spewed in the toilet with care, and the smell of diarrhea permeated the air....okay I'll spare you the rest. Needless to say, I awoke suddenly to a terrible bout of food poisoning last night. I spent the better part of 3 hours getting up close and personal with Stewie (our toilet). I feel like I lost about 30 pounds overnight.
My Christmas diet plan includes but isn't limited to: food poisoning, and avoiding Turkey and anything that it touches.
Having a turkey allergy, sort of limits your food choices on Christmas day (and Thanksgiving). I pretty much get to eat salad (I have to avoid stuffing, gravy and the Turkey). Needless to say, while everyone else eats themselves silly, I get to pick and choose the foods I eat.
Today, I ate a 2 pieces of toast and a handful of crackers. Yep...I'm truly a glutton now!
My Christmas diet plan includes but isn't limited to: food poisoning, and avoiding Turkey and anything that it touches.
Having a turkey allergy, sort of limits your food choices on Christmas day (and Thanksgiving). I pretty much get to eat salad (I have to avoid stuffing, gravy and the Turkey). Needless to say, while everyone else eats themselves silly, I get to pick and choose the foods I eat.
Today, I ate a 2 pieces of toast and a handful of crackers. Yep...I'm truly a glutton now!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Capilano Craziness
We promise, craziness runs in the family!
Our visit to Capilano Suspension Bridge
on Monday.
on Monday.
Over the snowbanks, and through the slush, to the grocery store we go
Every since, we got the cart back in the summer, we have been curious as to how it would fair in the snow. In one of those insane moments (that make up most of our lives), we decided to try it out. Much to our surprise, it actually did fairly well on its way to the grocery store.
Coming back, it was a different story. It had snowed so much that the cart was getting harder to pull. But we made it!
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