Category Archives: Boys

Be Learning How to KeepYour Foot Out of Your Mouth

Have you ever wanted to know how to keep your foot out of your mouth when someone you know/love is suffering? I read a theory the other day that a friend posted on Facebook. I haven’t been able to get this idea out of my head.

I’m one of those people that loves to put their feet, yes both of them, in their mouth. Sometimes at night, I lay awake and wonder why I said the things that I said. Often an email apology or phone call is on my to do list for the next day.

This theory, called Ring Theory by Susan Silk and Barry Goldman, gives me a framework as my mom heals from
cancer to know who to talk to. I’ve had many pitfalls in the last couple of months talking to people in my ring or the rings above me.
When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I sought out the people that were closest to me. These people were my husband and my parents. My sister also became a larger part of our lives at this time and I tried to seek out support from her. At night, I’ve often wondered why these conversations hadn’t gone well! This theory makes everything come full circle. It all makes sense.

Here’s my ring that I have started to work on. It is definitely a work in progress as I ponder those larger rings.

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My understanding of the theory is that you comfort every single person that is in your ring or in one of the smaller rings. You can complain and say whatever you want to anyone that is in a larger ring than yourself.

The Los Angeles times article on this theory had some great examples of people living with breast cancer and suffering from brain aneurysms. If you want to read more take a look at the link below.
Here’s the article!
Thanks for posting this on Facebook Shank! Shank’s other tip was from Dr. Phil a few years ago, “When you know better you do better!” You are on fire girl! Thank for sharing.

Be Hanging With Your Baby Friends

friend
frɛnd/
noun
1.
a person with drives one hour, hops on a ferry and drive another four hours to come visit you.
2.
a person who also brings their six, four and two year old.
3.
a person who also brings food for your freezer, crafts and “meaty” conversation. (My friend is a vegetarian. 😉)

There is nothing like friends who go the extra mile.

I am extremely grateful for this mommy friend, D, coming to visit this weekend. Our boys have known her and her brood since they were all in utero.

Look at the fun we had:

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There is nothing like the friends you have known since you were a baby!

Be Springing Another Leak

We have sprung another leak!

This morning we woke up to a flurry of activity around our driveway that started spewing water again yesterday.

Two months ago, we had our first leak.

Now this:
7:00am Visit from the City workers.
7:08am Sexy Neck in his robe moving the cars out of the driveway. (I should have got a picture of that!)
7:30am Pumper truck shows up to start sucking the earth. (21st century version of a shovel!)

The boys are so excited. Me, I ain’t too sure. This is a little bit of a lot lately.

Enjoy our view:

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Update: Leak is fixed. It was our neighbours line this time around.

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Be Thinking/Reading in French

We are one year and two months into our first child in school.
We decided to put him into French Immersion due to our life before children living in Europe, class compositions in French Immersion and the brain/future benefit of learning another language. The only language that is offered is French, otherwise we may have preferred Spanish or perhaps even German.

As parents, we question many of our decisions that we have made for our boys. Today, we were given a small pat on the back that for our oldest French Immersion is the right track for him.

Today, we were in the car.
JC yelled out, “Seven cars. There were seven cars lined up at the light!”
I had a light bulb moment and asked, “Did you count that in your head in French or English?”
JC responded, “French of course Mama!”
My first thought was: thanks for translating to English for me and then I was surprised he was counting in French.

Here’s our Grade Oner reading his home reading tonight:
JC reading in French

Be Having Chili Monday

How often do you try a new recipe? How about a new recipe without an accompanying photo or taste test?

I must admit that I will almost never try a new recipe where I can’t see a picture of the finished product or I haven’t eaten it. Another look into my perfectionist ways!

Today, I took a recipe from my foodie friend and blogger and I am giving it a go! I have seen photos so I am confident my family will be eating a home cooked meal for dinner rather than takeout pizza.

Chili Monday could become a tradition. This was the easiest slow cooker recipe ever. I made it before we took JC to school at 8:15am so that tells you how easy it is.

Here’s this beautiful chili this morning:

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Checkout my foodie friend’s recipe and blog