A little dose of tulips!

Last Saturday, on the long weekend, we took advantage of the beautiful afternoon and hit up Ottawa's annual tulip festival.

We went a few years ago, and it was cold and windy, but still just beautiful.  This time around, it was the exact opposite... hot and muggy - and even the tulips had a little sweat on!

However... even though the weather was a little sticky for May, the tulips were, in their own hot and sweaty way, still beautiful. Given the hundred degree heat and the draw of a gazillion tulips the photo opportunities with two curious boys were minimal... but I did capture a few quick shots (not my best work, but I think it accurately illustrates the day)!  To close off the tour, we trekked up to the Champlain lookout.... and a stranger took an awesome family shot of us, which I really like - so much so, that I've added it to my header.

Tulip time in Ottawa's spring is always a fun time... if you haven't had a chance to go, its worth the trip, especially for photo enthusiasts and family fun seekers!

The tulips were THIS big!

Move over Sears Catalogue!

Back when I was a kid... the Sears catalogue was a big deal.  Every new season, my Mom would bring home these catalogues and I'd browse through them making my wish list for games and toys. The Christmas WISH Book was of course the BEST catalogue of the bunch, but as I grew a bit older I came to appreciate the seasonal catalogues which were more clothing based.

My biggest memories of the Sears catalogues were in relation to my Grandma Wilson... she shopped religiously out of them, so for birthdays and Christmas I got to point out a few things I liked and then she would order it and surprise me with it on a special occasion.  My Mom too has always had a fond appreciation for the Sears catalogue.  I think it has more to do with living in a small town and not having access to the bigger stores that were 60 minutes away... or the power of the Internet (at the time). Back in the day (and still today) you place your order over the phone, and within a week or so, the items arrived at the little depot in our small town, and once you picked up your order, you try on the items and decide to keep them or return them.

When I was growing up, my mother did this often.  She wasn't afraid to order two or three hundred dollars worth of clothes and only keep about fifty dollars worth or nothing at all, if nothing fit. She had me try on everything and decide what to keep and what could go back.  Still to this day, I know she does this for her and my Dad, and if my Grandma were here, she'd be doing the same thing.

I have to say... that I don't think I have ever placed an order in the Sears catalogue, but in my adult life I have called up my Mom and asked to her look for something in the catalogue and order it up if she found what I was looking for.  I'd like to say that I am really fond of the Sears department store, but truth be told, I never find much in the store, so I don't bother going there to shop unless something on their flyer catches my eye, and its a real deal!

However... while I'm not much for the Sears catalogue these days... I am all for GAP Canada ONLINE! Make that, GAP, OLD NAVY, and BANANA REPUBLIC online.  These online stores have only been available to Canadian residences less than a year, and let me tell you, I am LOVING this little gem of a clothing store.

I have always been a GAP girl at heart. Since highschool, I fell in love with the classic arch logo hoodie, and I haven't looked back. I worked at the GAP in University for some side cash... but really the side cash was spent at the GAP! Since having kids, I have found a new appreciation for GAP... in Baby GAP and GAP Kids.  Old Navy too... has some great finds, for both myself and the boys. And... when I'm feeilng rich and more engaged with the working world, I love me some Banana Republic!  All this to say... when these store finally came online and available to Canadians, I was beyond thrilled. Slowly I started browsing the site, and was a bit disappointed that not everything in the stores was available online - however, over time this has improved. What has also improved is my flexibility in being able to get to GAP to shop! I no longer have to make a special trip, I can just do it online 24/7.

So... where was I going with all of this, ahem... right... GAP online is like new aged Sears catalogue to me. I have been ordering up a variety of outfits, trying it all on in the comfort of my own mirror, matching shoes and accessories to everything, and then returning what I don't like or don't need, including the items I just ordered so I would clear the $50 threshold for FREE SHIPPING.  It's now become a bit of an obsession of mine... to the point where I absolutely refuse to pay anything less than 30 percent off of my entire order.  One the three stores in this little marriage is always having a SALE, or there is always coupon code to be had. The last time I paid full price at the GAP was ... high school (which was many MANY years ago)!

Yes... shopping online, especially at the GAP, is like the new-aged Sears catalogue experience... I love it. My wallet hates it, and I am sure the mail lady is so SICK of delivering GAP packages to my mailbox, but hey... it makes me happy, and keeps my Mommy wardrobe somewhat updated... although, my kids looks a helluva lot better than me these days!

Do you remember the days of the Sears catalogue? What's your favourite online shopping site?

Two kids = two cups of coffee!

Two is the new one in my life. Back when I had one child, I was happily brewing one cup of coffee a day, and getting by just fine.  But since the arrival of number two, two cups is now my new standard.

I am not sure what it is, but one cup no longer does the trick.  These days, the first cup just revs the engine but its the second cup that actually puts the car in drive, if you know what I mean.

I find this crazy, because 10 years ago... I didn't drink coffee, I actually made fun of people who would show up to a University class, with some java in hand - as if they had more in their knowledge bank than me, all because of one large coffee.  Now... I know exactly what they had in their hands - the power to get through the day!

I posted a few months ago about my love for my Keurig... and I think this has also contributed to my addiction with coffee too - because it just tastes so damn good. But, it really doesn't matter what kind of coffee I'm having, I have a basic human need for two cups a day, and I really believe that if I only had one child, I'd still be good with one cup.

Did anyone else up their java intake with an addition to their family?

This little fact goes on the list of 'reasons why not to have a third child'... can't be drinking three cups of coffee a day!

Back to the stroller thing!

You may recall several months ago, I wrote a post about strollers and what I wish I had known about them before we had kids. Now... we've recently invested in two new strollers, and I am LOVING both of them, so I thought I'd share with you my choices, and why I love them so much!

The first purchase was a new umbrella stroller... the Bumbleride Flight (in trendy 'seagrass').  I am loving this stroller for a few reasons... A. it takes my Graco car seat, B. its super easy to fold up and cart around, C. it fits my newborn, but also my big boy (until he's 5ish), and D. it came with all the necessary accessories: raincover, car seat adapter, cup holder.

I bought mine on ebay, and it was delivered to my door within 5 days. It was MUCH cheaper that what is retailing at in Canada (which is about $250). We took this baby to Florida with us, and it was great for flying with... the one handed fold down and pick up maneuver was so handy, plus it comes with a shoulder strap if you need to sling it over your arm at any point. PC and I both enjoyed pushing it, and I love that it will grow with our family. I plan to have this stroller until my youngest is 5 or 6, and I bet it will still be in great condition once he's done with it.

The one drawback I would say is that it doesn't have a humungo sun canopy, but I have the universal UV net and that works like a charm.  So all in all... its fabulous!

The second investment we've made is a double stroller... The City Select Baby Jogger. I am also in love with this stroller. It was recommended to me by a friend (shout out to Terri), who also had two kiddies the same ages as mine, and she said it was hands down the best purchase she's made. I did my homework and researched the heck out it, and concluded the same. We've had it for over a month now and I call it my freedom stroller, as it allows me to go out and about with my two boys by myself and not have to worry that my 2 y/o will run away on me, or that my newborn will be uncomfortable or unable to fall asleep enroute to our destination!

This stroller rocks (in my opinion) because when its just me and H here, I can go out and about with him... but if I have E and H with me, it easily... let me repeat, EASILY, turns into a double stroller. This stroller is easy to push, easy to maneuver, and easy to get into your trunk!

The single best feature (again, in my opinion) is the humungo (yes, I said humungo TWICE in the same post) ... the humungo (three times now!) basket in the bottom of the stroller. It can be accessed from all sides, it unzips, expands... it ROCKS! 

I also love it as a double stroller because it has so many options for how the boys can sit... facing each other, facing forward, backward, inward, outward... it can accommodate their moods while continuing to be functional! The sun canopies give great coverage for both boys... and the handle easily adjusts for taller people to push it (like PC).

My only regret about this stroller is that I didn't know about it when I had my first son! This stroller, although an investment, would have saved us the nuisance of collecting and storing strollers as a hobby! It has really been the best stroller we've come across, and I know that I will also have it for quite a few years, and when we're done with it, I think we will be able to recoup some of our costs as it is well made and will serve another growing family like ours!

The good news now is that we are finally done buying strollers... and we are so happy with our final purchases! If you're an expecting parent and are having trouble deciding what stroller to purchase.... do your research (watch reivews of your stroller choices on YouTube) and save yourself some money in the long run by purchasing the right stroller first!

Here are just a few pics of our City Select in action from the past weekend!

Enroute to turning THREE!

There is something about this set of pictures (below) that makes me smile! My so-called little boy, is turning into a big boy. And while I should be shedding a little tear, I'm am too busy being in awe of his growing independence, and his transition from the unstable toddler to the busy big boy.

At two and a half (and 'the half' is huge... if I didn't get it before, I get it now!), E is so different from his second birthday... he's now potty trained, talking a mile a minute, and doing things "all by 'me' self". I know I have said it before, but he really is such a loving big brother... his personality and caring nature are something else. Of course, he's a two year-old at the same time... with meltdowns, and a bad case of the 'I wants', but he usually saves those for the end of the day, when he's beyond tired and could use a nap!

I have no idea what he will grow up to be, or who he will become in 20 or 30 years, but I do know, I love being his Mom, and just being here everyday to witness him grow.  He really does amaze me each day. As we approach the big THREE... I am looking forward to the new skills he will acquire, and signing him up for pre-school - but at the same time, just treasuring the remaining time of my maternity leave, and the extra free time I have to share with him! 

E you bring a smile to my face each day... I love you!

Gimme Five!

It seems like I just wrote H's 4 month post... and now here we are at his 5 month milestone.

I would say that in the last month I have noticed the biggest change in H - appearance wise. He is gaining weight a little more rapidly and is filling out his clothes a lot better.  He has even went up a diaper size from 1 to 2, so that is just a little more proof that he's growing!

Each day I hug him just a little tighter and cling to that petit little baby that I first held 5 short months ago... I love him to pieces, and I know his baby days are fading faster than I'd like to admit.  He really is a happy baby... smiles all around when you meet his needs, but I have to admit, the moment I bring out the camera, I get a lot of straight faces... to the point where E is coaching him with the words of encouragement 'say cheese Baby Huddy' or offering a few rounds of his fake laugh to see if he can get a reaction out of his baby bro. Every little bit helps... and slowly I am capturing a smile or two.

Of course, the 5 month mark signals a photo shoot... and although it was a dreary day, I managed to get a few shots of H and his innocence that I adore.  Thanks to Angela and Logan for the cute outfit that H is sporting in these pics!

Happy 5 months to my sweet baby boy.... nothing brings me more happiness than knowing I have another 7 months to devote to you!

Bits and Pieces!

I've have a hard time blogging the last little while... I just find that in my days busier and my evenings shorter. It must be all the nice weather we've had lately (*insert fake 'ya right' laugh here*).

I really don't have a good excuse, except that life happens... and since we got home from Florida over a month ago now... it seems to be one thing after another.

Let's see... PC had double knee surgery almost a month ago, so we've been dealing with his recovery, which has included 3 weeks of being off work (not to mention, 3 weeks of interuption to my daily routine)!  On top of the knee surgery he caught a nasty virus which was deemed 'highly contagious' by the doctor, so the boys and I had to steer clear of him for another week.  He finally just got back to work yesterday, and although not 100 percent, he's doing much better and thankfully back to his routine, which means I can get back to mine.

In addtion to that, it was time for E's annual kidney check up at CHEO... which includes an ultrasound and a visit with his neuphrologist. We did the ultrasound at the end of April (and E was EXCELLENT during the procedure) and the visit with neuphrology last week. I am happy to report that things are going well, the mutli-cycstic kidney continues to shrink, while his functioning kidney is doubling in size, and doing better than fine.  His blood pressure is still controlled, and he is a growing boy, doing very good.  It's exactly the report I expected to get, but it is also a relief at the same time to see that things are going as planned. Hopefully by the time he is five, we can reduce the annual appointment to every two years (fingers crossed).

This past week, my parents were down for a visit, as they had a wedding to attend in the area.  We had a good visit with them, and even though they just saw the boys in Florida, they have both changed quite a bit in the last month.  E is talking so much, full sentences, while Hudson is gaining weight, and a lot more vocal as well. 

We also are in the process of buying a new vehicle which has been a time consuming process.  Thankfully my parents were here to stay with the kids while PC and I ventured out to test drive a variety of vehicles, talk pricing, and narrowing down the options to make a final decision. Hopefully by early June we'll have a roomier vehicle to transport the family!

This weekend coming up is the long weekend, and we hope to hit the tulip festival if the weather cooperates. If not, we will just be sticking close to home and appreciating some healthy down time... which might include some time for blogging too!

Love to my Mom!

I've heard others say that you can't truly appreciate your Mother until you have children of your own... and I have to say, I couldn't agree more.

I've always had respect for my mother... (okay... maybe not grades 9 through and 12, but other than that small hiatus, I think I can still use the word always!), she is patient, caring, realistic, generous, and supportive. Since having my own children, my respect for her has been catapulted to a whole new level.

When I was younger, my Mom made sure I had everything I needed... good meals, proper clothing, friends, toys, and even things I didn't need like rollerblades, Doc Martins, and that purple bike! But, she didn't just hand these things over, she discussed the necessary decisions with my father, and whether I had to earn it, or save up enough of my own money, I can see that what she was doing was teaching me the value of a dollar, and the cost of hard work.

Now... with my boys, I want to instill the same values she taught to me, to them... and I think that if I can do half of what my Mom has done for me, I will consider myself lucky - and my boys too!

Thanks Mom for always being there for me... you know when to push and when give me my own space, and I am so glad to have a great friend in you.  You are wonderful role model to have in my life... and my boys are so lucky to have you in their lives.  I love you!

Happy Mother's Day... to my Mom (and all of the great Mom's out there)!

Not just any bowls!

There are some memories of my childhood that will never fade... like the one that includes these bowls?

They may look your standard plastic bowls... but for me there are endless memories of spending time with my Grandma and Grandpa Bellerose. These were the special bowls that held my Grandmother's stove cooked popcorn.  You know the kind where you heat the oil in a pot, drop the popcorn seeds in, and then shake the hell out of the pot every 15 to 20 seconds for 10 minutes!  No one did it better than my Grandma B. And when it was finally ready... she served it up in these signature bowls. 

As a child... this was something to look forward to on a Saturday night when Mom and Dad were going out, and I needed to be 'looked after'! Once the popcorn was ready, I'd get to choose my very own bottle of Fanta pop to drink, and we'd all settle down in the living room, in front of the floor model tv to watch Lawrence Welk (that's was the not so fond part of the memory - honestly... bad music and ball room dancing for two hours... I was asleep 15 minutes in, but I think that was part of Grandma's plan all along)!

Just looking at these bowls, I can taste how yummy her popcorn was... and I don't think I'll ever have a bowl of popcorn quite like hers, again, in my lifetime.

I acquired these bowls close to 15 years ago... just after my Grandma passed away. While other family members were concerned about jewelery, crystal, and fur coats, I had one mission on my mind - secure the popcorn bowls - these really mean more to me than any other pieces she owned, and now I have them in my home and I am proudly using them to serve popcorn to my family, but more importantly, serving up a piece of my childhood to my boys! 

I don't know why but every year in the springtime I am always feeling a little void in my life because all of my grandparents have passed, but I also feel so privledged to have childhood memories, like the ones with the popcorn bowls, to remind me of just how lucky I am to have been loved by my grandparents!

Do you have any special pieces in your home to serve as a reminder of your childhood?

The Royal Wedding... where were you?

I kinda think all of the hype of the Royal Wedding was worth it. I mean... yes, the lead up to it seem like FOREVER from a media perspective, but at the same time I got chills watching Kate step out of the limo, her marathon walk down the aisle, when they said their vows, their carriage ride as husband and wife, and of course the first PDA on the balcony. I thought it was all very 'royal'... but yet romantic too. I was especially thrilled to see just how happy Kate looked... she looked beau.ti.ful. and very deserving of a Prince!

It's one of those things that will be talked about for years and years to come... and I am so happy that I got to watch it live.  I had actually planned to PVR it and watch it while feeding H that morning, but instead E must have wanted to see it LIVE, as he woke me up at 5:45 am (unheard of for him)... and we tuned it just in time to see Kate arriving.

E original was asking to put Dora on... but when the music started for processional he was glued to the tv, and then post-ceremony, the horses sucked him and kept his attention for another half hour! It was fantastic!

By the time my morning coffee kicked in... I thought to snap a few pics of E watching it. H on the other hand slept right through the whole thing and didn't wake up until he heard intro music for Ellen! What a boy!

Where were you when the Royal couple was saying 'I do'... ?

This is E saluting like Prince William did in the carriage a bizillion times... although he looks like he's ready for a nap - either that or his interview with the Queen isn't going as planned!