Tag Archives: boys

Book, Boys, Parenting

Be A Reader (My 100th post!)

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I am sitting by my computer gob-smacked realizing that this is my 100th post – how is that possible?

I guess my dad was right when I used to cry and moan about Math homework.  His response was often, “Just do 10 minutes per day and it will get easier!”.

Since starting this blog, I think about what I want to share with my boys as they get older, sometimes, I even think of my grandchildren.  I pray that this would be a living document for them to laugh at and maybe even ponder when they are older.

Every time I write, I think about YOU, the people who may read the post.  I am careful with my words, not being to extreme, but being honest and real in my daily life with three wee lads. (I can be a tad extreme, just ask Sexy Neck!)

Today, as I sit my six-foot frame at the keyboard, I want to write about reading.  What a gift reading is to give to our children!

Last night, I was putting baby OC to bed.  Usually, I come out from the boys’ room to screaming, running, wrestling, chasing – it is that time of day.   This is what I came out to last night:

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Without a television in our “Playhouse“, books are our go-to activity.    None of my boys are able to read out loud yet, but the reading skills are so evident: looking at books, pretending to read, retelling the story by looking at the pictures, trying to guess the words.

I am looking forward to when they can read me a book and I can fall asleep.  Much better than me falling asleep mid-book!  Yes, this parenting of boys is sometimes very tiring!

Boys, Construction, Parenting

Be A Cushion Creator

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Normally our couches look like this:

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These are the cushions in “holiday mode”.  

If the boys use our cushions to create chaos (hitting, pushing, yelling etc.), the cushions  go on “holiday”.

Most days our cushions are used to make rocket ships, pirate ships, boats, airplanes, forts and caves.

This morning our kindergartener was home sick from school. Our boys had an incredible two hour cushion-fest.  It was incredible to see all the creations that they made, including this cave the boys wanted to eat their snack in.

Here is JC’s coming out of the cave!

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Our house is made for play.  We don’t have a playroom, we have a playhouse.

Our bedroom is the wrestling area, our kitchen table is  the crafts/playdough/lego spot, our kitchen is the science experiment/baking place and window sills are meant for climbing.

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Boys, Jesus Christ, Parenting

Be Up All Night (Almost)

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I am at a loss for words as I sit and write this.  I will let me emails to Sexy Neck (my husband) take you through last night.  He was away on work, but my emails to him helped me stay in the moment.  I have never had a night like this with my boys. Enjoy the ride.  Off to nap.

Strap yourselves in, here we go:

 

Tues, Feb 19 at 11:18pm

Subject: I am managing

CC is now throwing up.  He is all cleaned up, laundry is on and I am heading back to bed.  Please pray for us.  I am okay.  It is truly amazing that God never gives us more than we can handle.  Rest well. We are okay. 
Tues, Feb 19 at 11:48pmSubject: Vomit #2

CC again – poor guy.  But he is resting now.  I hope everything is out.  All is clean again.  We are sleeping with windows open tonight. 

Tacos are now off the menu for awhile as well as Salmon.  You are going to have to start cooking as that is 2 meals off my rotation!

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 12:16am

Subject: The Troops are…

Restless tonight!  Baby OC has made a few noises tonight.  He also had the worst poo I have EVER changed today – it was all the way up his back!  Wow! 

JC seems to be okay, but we should know more by the weekend. 

I pray you are having one of the best sleeps every and that you wake up feeling rested.  You have alot going on.  I appreciate that. 

One day/one moment/one person/one problem at a time.

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 12:57am

Subject: Vomit #3

You would be so proud of me!  If I don’t get sick, it is a miracle.  CC is resting again. Another load of laundry in.  I am going to try and rest.  *Note I NEVER clean up vomit when Sexy Neck is home, that is a blue job in our house!

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 1:46am

Subject: Vomit #4

This time you would have been proud of CC he got everything in the bowl!

We are hanging in there.  CC is so sweet even when he is sick! 

Love you.  Rest up.  Stay healthy!

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 2:20am

Subject: Baby OC now up…

Just woke up in pain.  Gave him Tylenol.  Just sitting with him and waiting for him to ho back to sleep.

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 2:35am

Subject: Please

Hopefully the boys sleep in.., finally hitting the hay!

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 2:48am

Subject: Baby OC is awake again!!!!

Dude!

Ok now I am going to try and sleep.  Don’t ask me any skill testing questions tomorrow(later today I mean).

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 3:01am

Subject: CC again

Another vomit session right after I pressed send on the last email.  Baby OC is awake and yelling “cookie” over and over – this is comical.  Seriously.

I hope you can laugh about all this!  What a night! What a week!  What a month!

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 3:14am

Subject: It is a Party

Every boy is now awake.  JC now vomiting

 

 

Wed, Feb 20 at 3:21am

Subject: Power Puke

There is now puke all over the toilet, walls, floor.  Thank God JC got up to pee first.

Breastfeeding Baby OC now and trying to get him calmed.  Waiting for the next round…..

Try not to worry about us.  I will rest with the boys today.  I have a feeling that everyone will be sleeping in.

I will phone you when we wake up.

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–Sexy Neck has been woken up by all my pings on his email! Here is his first response, of many, but the only one I will post. 

Wed, Feb 20 at 3:21am

Subject: Come home?

 Do you want me to come home?

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My final responses:

No,but if you could come home on the early side tomorrow that would be fabulous!!

It is comforting knowing you are awake too!

Wed, Feb 20 at 3:26am
Subject: Just trying
To get OC to sleep – he is a sensitive soul… Then off to clean the taco dinner off the wall.  I hope it doesn’t stain!  I am only as strong as I allow god to help me.  Gotta run – here jackakung noises and must get OC back into crib!
Wed, Feb 20 at 3:39am
Subject: re: Come home? 
CC again!  Poor child.  If this hits us we will be out for a month.  Please pray for strength for our bodies.
Wed, Feb 20 at 3:52am
Subject: Signing off
Both boys still awake in our bed.  Towels all around – only one more left so hopefully the next round makes it into the bowls. Rest well.  I am signing out. Joanna
Boys, health & fitness, Parenting

Be Where You Are

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I have returned to “The Gym”, something I swore I would never do after ten years of competitive sport and countless hours in “The Gym”.

I am loving working out again!  It is fantastic to be active with a group of women who are so inspiring.  I love lining up in a row on your bike/treadmill/stepper chatting away and sweating.

My boys reminded me that I need to stick at my own level.

It is easy to get next to my friend, Penny, who does spin classes two to three times per week and cranks out rpms on the bike that would make Lance Armstrong, without drugs, sweat.   I need to learn to be okay where I am.

Today, my boys pulled out a few crafts from the cupboard behind out kitchen table.  Our five year old, JC, pulled out some paper and a pencil and began writing a story about nighttime animals.  Baby OC, pulled out the playdough and started pounding away. Our three year old, CC, got out a pirate colouring book and went back and forth and back and forth with his favourite blue felt.

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Whether I want to write a new story, pound away or just go back and forth, back and forth, the most important thing when it come to my mental and physical health is for me to be okay with where I am, in this moment, in this day, even at “The Gym”.

Note to self: I also need to continue to allow my children to be where they are.

Boys, Jesus Christ, Parenting

Be Enough My Son

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A crib with blocks under one end, how curious!

A crib with blocks under one end, how incredible!  Absolutely, amazing.  Lie on the floor, cry your eyes out marvelous.  This crib has shown me the mind blowing influence that we have over our children.  They are truly watching everything we do!

Two nights ago, our little baby boy didn’t want to eat his dinner.  As you know in previous posts, he is a voracious eater.   After dinner, he was sitting on daddy’s lap (thank you Jesus!) and proceeded to vomit across the table, down onto daddy lap and all over his favourite fire truck book.  (Sorry OC, we threw it out.)

While we were cleaning up the mess, our oldest child immediately ran out of the dining room, into his bedroom then back out again.  I didn’t think anything of it.

UNTIL, I walked into the boys room to get a change of clothes for our little vomit-er and what did I see, but a crib with blocks under one end!

Before Christmas, Baby OC had a cough so we had raised up the end of the crib using the boys blocks.

TWO MONTHS LATER, our son immediately responded to his brother’s sickness by again raising up the end of his crib with blocks.  ALL BY HIMSELF!

Baby OC is 100% again, but we have left the blocks.  Thanks to my five year old son, for showing me how to BE ENOUGH in every moment!  You are a sweet, thoughtful soul!

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