Left Coast Mama » goals

Farewell 2011, Hello 2012

Gwen — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:14:30 +0000

Like the last few years December has gotten away from me. I was so busy writing Advent letters and planning for surprises and trying to get something that might actually be a surprise for Anthony that it left me with little other time to write. Of course we have also had two bouts of intestinal illness go through the family as well.

Christmas was wonderful in many different ways. The best was Quinlan’s reaction to Christmas morning. He got up pretty early but we managed to keep him in our room for a few minutes so we could get upstairs with him and give the surprise guest a few seconds to get up as well. When the boys saw Grandpa sitting at the dining room table they were thrilled. When Quinlan saw the cookie that Santa took a big bit out of he was absolutely flabbergasted. I tell you I wish I had been awake enough to have my camera set up for his reaction as it was classic. He had the biggest round eyes and open mouth, and the hand to the cheek as he exclaimed “Santa ate the cookie!” Once Quinlan saw the presents under the tree there was absolutely no turning back. It was all we could do to open our own presents. I have never seen anyone open presents so fast in all my life. He was so excited that he even “helped” Aidan with the opening of Aidan’s presents.

Having Grandpa John come to stay for 5 days was fun, but went really quickly. We were able to have a small family get together on the 27th, and I am so glad we decided to have the turkey then and not on Christmas day.

There have been a lot of great things about 2011. The start of preschool for Quinlan has been a highlight. He loves school, and ballet and swimming. Aidan is growing up so very much. He is getting so grown up and he is so interested in learning about everything. It was especially acute during our road trip. Aidan was so interested in figuring out about everything. He found out about so many of the parks and their geological features. He got to look at the night sky and actually see stars.

This new year I am hoping to keep up with all the boys activities including theatre, swimming, skating, piano and ballet. I am also hoping to keep up with writing and photography for me. We want to keep up with our geocaching and keep going to events like the few that we took in this year. The Geo-monster ball and the best of the bad events were fantastic and really helped to give us the best caching year ever.

In 2012 I am going to try to get to Blogher in NY again. I won a conference ticket and as soon as I get the confirmation I plan to figure out the rest like hotel and airfare. I also want us to take the boys camping this year, it is about time we used the tent.

Those are my goals, simple and easy. No worries about losing weight or being a better person. I like who I am and I think that I will be much happier if I stop trying to change myself. All I want is to be happy.

© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: Aidan, family, Family Time, goals, Gwen, Holidays, hope, My Boys, New Year, Quinlan.

Do You Believe in Santa? I do.

Gwen — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:54:24 +0000

When I was growing up we were poor. I look back now and I am not sure how my mother and father managed as well as they did. I think for the most part my brothers my sister and I did not notice how poor we were. We had clothes and we never went hungry. My parents never let us know, until much later, how close we came to losing the house. If there were nights when we had pancakes many days in a row we didn’t notice or for that matter care. Pancakes for dinner was a treat. I understand why we had regular milk mixed with powdered milk.

One year when my dad lost his job and my mother was at that point still home with us, things must have been quite bad. I didn’t know how bad things must have been. I remember being asked to help out a family at school. All classes brought all kinds of canned food for this family and we did as well. What I didn’t realize and neither did my parents that the family they were supporting was us. I remember the surprise and I admit a little excitement when there was a knock on the door. Our pantry, well the shelves on the stairs going down to the basement was filled to over flowing.

I am not sure if it was the same year, or another when there were three deliveries to our door. One was anonymous where someone rang and ran. I still remember that there was a huge Christmas colouring book that kept us well occupied. That year there was also a visit from a Santa’s helper in a Santa suit bringing wrapped presents for all of us. The most surprising was when the doorbell rang and Papa Smurf was at the door helping out Santa.

When we were better situated we were happy to help out other anonymous families who were in the same situation at Christmastime. Being a helper to Santa was a big part of feeling good about Christmas for our family. Even when we didn’t have much, we always found a way to help others. I am not saying this to brag, but it helped us to feel less guilty about having things when we knew there were other people in bad situations.

My back story is part of the reason I want so badly to get Aidan and Quinlan to understand that since we are in a better situation that we need to help as many people as we can. Donating to the food bank with money and canned goods is our biggest focus for the season. There are so many families who are not making it in BC, especially in the lower mainland. I want them to see that we are in a very good situation and it would be really good to help other people. Aidan really gets it. He has a philanthropic plan for the Aidan company already. Quinlan is starting to get it and by the time he is Aidan’s age he really will as well.

My hope is that by helping others my boys will grow up to be empathetic and enlightened men. That they will not look down on people for their monetary situations. That they will be generous human beings. I think we are on the right track.

Just Put Your Shoes On

Gwen — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:42:11 +0000

I think that I might be going crazy. Am I really asking the boys to do something horrible? Or am I asking them to put their toys away? Did I really just ask the boys at least 30 times to put on their shoes? Did I really need to ask them to put on their jackets?

Quinlan is going through a very bad case of the threes. Everything is a fight with him. He is frustrating and frustrated. He is refusing to toilet train. He screams all the time. He throws things. He hit his brother. But when he smiles and hugs you you have a very hard time staying angry at him.

I am trying to set limits on Quinlan for the bad behaviour that hurt people and things. I am trying to let go of the things that are not hurting anyone. I am trying to give Quinlan the opportunity to decide when he is ready to get rid of the pull-ups and actually go to the toilet all the time. I think we are in for a rough ride for a while until he figures out that the bad behaviour is not as satisfying as good behaviour. As stubborn as he is, the toilet training thing will only happen when he is ready. Anthony and I just need to let go of the thought of having less than 7 (or more) full years of butt wiping duty. Related, how on earth do you get a child to stay in time out? Putting in his room just resulted in him pulling off more of the wallpaper border.

Signed,

Frustrated in Vancouver

© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: discipline, goals, parenting, parenting mistakes, Quinlan, Toilet Training.

The First Week of School

Gwen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:05:42 +0000

This is the first week of firsts for our household. This week we don’t have an afternoon kindergartner, we have a full day grade 1 student in the house. This graduation to full day has made some distinct changes to our family routine, especially in the mornings. Aidan now needs to get up and actually get moving in the mornings. No more lazy mornings for us. No more second breakfasts at 9:30 am for Quinlan. The only saving grace is that Aidan started a new routine about a month ago and now gets dressed as soon as he gets up.

First Day of School

7:00 am Anthony goes into the boys’ room and wakes Aidan up from a deep sleep. Today Quinlan wasn’t out of bed either.

7:15 am Anthony goes back into the boys’ room to make sure that Aidan is actually getting his clothes on and hasn’t gone back to bed.

7:30 am Aidan eats breakfast and I come up to get some tea and maybe some toast.

7:45 am start bugging the boys to get their shoes on while I make sure that the lunch I made the night before is in Aidan’s lunch box. Also make sure Aidan gets his teeth brushed.

Playing at School

8:00 am make sure the boys have their shoes on and Aidan went to the bathroom. Get my own shoes on.

8:10 am If we are lucky we are now leaving the house and are heading to school.

8:15 to 8:20 am Most likely the actual leaving time.

On the way home after the first day.

8:15 to 8:45 am Aidan talks the whole way to school about whatever he is going to invent/change in the future. Quinlan riding in the stroller (for now) also talks about whatever is on his mind at the moment.

8:45 ish am We get to the school and have a few minutes playtime before the bell rings.

Lining up to get into school. They can't wait.

8:55 am Line up just before the bell rings. The bell rings and Aidan’s temporary teacher brings the kids into the school.

Running around the Vancouver School Board Offices.

Sometime afterward Quinlan and I go on our merry way towards home. Next week on Tuesday and Thursday Quinlan and I will be heading to Douglas Park for preschool. This means Tuesdays and Thursday I will be bringing the car in the morning. Mondays and Wednesdays we will still be walking and heading straight to the aquatic centre for swimming lessons. I am determined to walk most days this year. Thursdays will be the full on car days because Quinlan has ballet on Thursday afternoons. Fridays I still intend to walk because Quinlan has no activities and Aidan’s piano lessons are not until 5:00 pm.

It is going to be a busy year!

"Read me a story?"

A Kitchen Experiment: Meal Planning Again

Gwen — Sun, 29 May 2011 05:36:44 +0000

I used to participate in Menu Plan Mondays at Organizing Junkie a lot, now not so much. I have found that our family has been in a bit of a rut this winter/spring and it is not helping our eating habits at all. I used to meal plan with a mind to what we already had in the house and sometimes adding things as I needed. This time we had let our groceries get so low that I planned a week and a half of meals, including breakfasts and lunches for the boys and I.

I hope this planning will get me back into eating more fruits and vegetables and healthier in general. I want to be making one supper instead of finding something the boys will eat and then something Anthony and I will eat after the boys are in bed. I know that our tempers will be better and I think our waistlines will also improve. It is much easier to have control of how much you eat when you don’t forget to eat until you are starving.

If some of you want to follow my plans, go right ahead. Let me know how it goes. Since I am trying some new recipes out on the boys (hidden cauliflower and the like) I will post some pictures and a “Did they eat it?” post later this week.

THE PLAN: Using both “Jamie’s Food Revolution” cookbook by Jamie Oliver and “More Time Moms Family Meals” plan breakfasts, lunches and dinners for the family.

Tonight 28 May

Chicken Fajitas pg. 38 Food Revolution (FR from here on out) I plan to adapt the recipe a little as I already have salsa and forgot to get limes. I also plan to not add too much hot spice because I want my boys to eat the wraps.

Sunday 29 May

Breakfast: Blueberry Sundae: in a small bowl layer vanilla yogurt, cereal and blueberries.

Lunch: Focaccia, celery sticks, carrot sticks and dip.

Supper: Chicken and beef kabobs with veggies, (mushrooms, pearl onions and peppers) and Basmati rice.

Monday 30 May

Breakfast: Berry Oatmeal: pg 63 More Time Moms Family Meals (MTMFM from here on out.) I would add a pinch of salt to the recipe as I find that without salt oatmeal tastes a little like weird bananas.

Lunch: Tomato Soup: pg 133 FR, Garlic Toast

Supper: Macaroni and Cauliflower Bake Pg 49 FR, tossed salad

Tuesday 31 May:

Breakfast: Fruit Smoothies with frozen berries, bananas and yogurt

Lunch: Leftover Tomato soup, humus and pita

Supper: BBQ Asparagus, chicken and boiled new potatoes

Wednesday 1 June:

Breakfast: Cereal with fruit, yogurt

Lunch: Humus, pita, sandwich meat (Easy to take on the field trip.)

Supper: Leftover Macaroni Bake and veggies.

Thursday 2 June

Breakfast: Berry Oatmeal and yogurt.

Lunch: Tuna salad sandwiches, raw veggies and dip.

Supper: Beef stir fry with rice noodles pg 46 MTMFM

Friday 3 June

Breakfast: Fruit Sundaes or Orange Smoothie

Lunch: Sandwiches and veggies and dip.

Supper: Spaghettini and Meat sauce

Saturday 4 June

Breakfast: Cereal, yogurt and fruit.

Free day because we have 2 birthday parties.

Sunday 5 June

Breakfast: Raisin Oatmeal

Lunch: Focaccia, fruit

Supper: Home made chicken strips, Baked French Potatoes pg 224 FR, steamed Broccoli

Monday 6 June

Breakfast: Orange Smoothies, Toast

Lunch: Leftover Chicken and potatoes

Supper: Shepherd’s Pie

© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: family, goals, Healthy Choices, Healthy Eating, Menu Plan Monday, organization, Recipes.

A New Year

Gwen — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:20:38 +0000

Today I turned 37 and I begin my 38th year of life. In many ways for me my birthday is much more significant as a start to a new year than January 1st. In fact my birthday is second only to the start of a new school year for the feelings of newness.

Today I was woken by my five year old and was entertained with his reading of the birthday card he picked out for me. It is a card that keeps unfolding until it has a huge heart saying “I Love You.” Aidan read this to me in the best voice, that sounded a lot like an Ethel Mermen (sp?) imitation, not that either of us have actually heard her real voice. He then asked me how old I was. When I told Aidan that I was 37 he asked in all seriousness, “Is 37 more than 100?” I tell you we had a quick lesson in counting and less than greater than with regards to 37 and 100. I am happy to report that Aidan now knows definitively that 37 is MUCH less than 100.

It is now really late and the post I was planning with a recap of things I accomplished as a 36 year old and a list of goals for my year as a 37 year old will have to wait until tomorrow. Until then Happy Birthday to me and a big thank you to my mom for having me.

These Boots Are Made For Walking or Coveting

Gwen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:24:46 +0000

I have been on the lookout for a nice pair of mid calf boots for a while now. I know what I want, but I am having a hard time finding it. I want a bit of a heel, not too much, in a chunky heel. I want them either to be black or brown or oxblood. I want them to be leather, and the sole should be a nice rubber. I want them to fit nicely and look good. What I really want are a pair of Fluvogs with a stretched calf.

I think I want to be a Bond Girl. Can I afford to be a Bond Girl? Can I justify it? I don’t know. I have saved up money to go to Blogher and I still haven’t bought my conference ticket. I am still having a hard time justifying it. I think partially because I am a parent and I have a hard time justifying anything for myself. Plus Anthony doesn’t buy much in the way of stuff for him self. How can I spend 350 on a pair of boots if I am even entertaining going to New York this summer for a blogging conference? *1

For the blogher conference I guess the reason I am having a hard time is not because of the conference ticket. It is the plane ticket and the accommodation. I really want to go, but it also means that Anthony will be by himself with the kids and need to take a day or two off, unless we hire a babysitter.

So boots, where are we walking?

*1 I would be using my beer and popcorn money. I have no paying job at the moment. I really need people to comment and tweet my sticky post so I can even consider getting myself some Fluvogs and feel good about going to NY. Yes, this is me begging for comments.

New Year Goals

Gwen — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:46:31 +0000

I have been reading a lot of blogs in the past few days with lots of different ways to bring in the new year. Some people have resolutions, some are anti-resolutions, and a number of people have goals. I guess I have a few goals and today is as good a time as any to bring them out.

1) I plan to keep up with my menu planning. I started about 6 months ago and while I don’t always follow the plan it has made suppers here a lot easier. Now I just need to get the impulse grocery shopping to a minimum. (I always try to have a list and most of the time it works.)

2) I plan to keep up with the gym. I am really enjoying going and I need to get back to the yoga classes after guides.

3)I am setting a goal of having a little more pampering time for me. I would like to get my hair dyed a few times this year and get rid of the silver.

4) Keep up the blogging pace. I liked blogging more often in the latter half of the year. I may actually try to get the blogher ad network on my site now that I have been blogging with much more regularity. I also want to do some more book reviews and game reviews for the DS Lite and the Wii.

5) I also have a plan to keep a list of all the books I read and try to review at least half of them.

As always the most important goal I have for this year is to be there for my family. I want to become a stronger woman for us. Maybe this year will be successful for every one of my goals. If not I promise not to beat myself up. No more sel-flaggilation (even figuratively), at least I hope. Self-deprecation is still fine.