Heart Day...

Valentines Day... an annual hallmark holiday to express your love to the ones you, love.
Yes, in essence a little cheesy... but in total honesty, I love it :)
Before kids, Valentines Day was a little more, lets say, romantic. You know, dinner out, candles...all that stuff.
Now, it looks a little dinner, but we have more love to share. Tonight, I am cooking us a nice dinner at home. The 5 of us will relax and eat...and then hopefully the kids will go to bed early. That would be a perfect evening; with our kids however, highly unlikely. I am still hopeful!
I have to say though, that my husband still has a romantic side...3 kids and 12.5 years later. I got a knock on the door to a huge beautiful bouquet of flowers this morning. We still honour Valentines Day, in our own...new way.

Valentines Day definition as per Wikipedia:
"Saint Valentine's Day, often simply Valentine's Day,^[1][2][3] is a holiday observed on February 14 honoring one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentinus. It was first established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD, and was later deleted from the General Roman Calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. It is celebrated in countries around the world, mostly in the West, although it remains a working day in all of them.

The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in theHigh Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").^[1][3]

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.^[4]"

Valentines Day falls in February, as we all know; February is also Heart Month thru the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Many of us are somehow effected by Heart month. Heart attacks and Stroke take the lives of 1 in 3 Canadians AND it is the NUMBER ONE killer in woman. This is a very scary statistic: yet very real.

My family has been touched all too closely with heart disease. One being my own Dad.
The summer of 1999 was a one to remember. For me, it was the summer I met my now husband Ryan, the summer before my graduating year in High School...and the summer we almost lost my Dad to a heart attack. To all that know my Dad, he is not one you would look at "assuming" heart attack was prevalent. He is a very fit man; tall and slender. Not your average..."stereotype," for lack of a better picture.
The day it happened was a day my siblings and I were actually hiking the Grind with him. My brother and Dad in the lead...then me...then sister. This was a stage in life when our parents were not our priorities or too cool to hang out with, nor was much physical activity. I must admit, my dad PAID us this summer to work out with him once a week for the 2 months. I look back on that now, and shutter...but I guess a 16 year old high school girl, in love with the new man in her life, left little room for much else.
When I got to the top of the mountain that day, my life definitely changed forever. My brother and I returning to where he had thought he left my dad...instead having a worker inform us we were to all head home and my mom will fill us in when we get there, was not the type of news you were waiting for at the finish of the Grouse Grind. But we did just that.
We later saw my Dad in the hospital. A very lucky day for us all. Yes, he had a heart attack. Yes he flat-lined. Yes, we narrowly escaped losing our Dad. I am thankful everyday that Heart Disease did not take my dad that summer day. That we are still able to have a Dad in our lives. And that our kids have a Gramps.
At the time, I was still a very self-centered 16 year-old girl. I didn't understand nor stop to think long enough about what had actually happened. It all sank in years following. As I grew. As family began to mean more to me again. As I got out of the m-e and into the f-a-m-i-l-y. I am very fortunate for the family I have and the relationships we all have with one another. We have had our fare shares of ups and downs; probably more than a lifetime needs! But I am thankful that I had a second chance to show my Dad how grateful I am for him. For the person he is: the Dad he is: the Gramps he is: the friend he is.

Not all people are as fortunate. Heart disease takes lives. On this "love" day, show a little "heart" by a donation maybe...instead of that box of chocolates!? Doesn't have to be much. But with statistics like 1 in 3...i think its time for a change. Today I am thinking of "Heart Day" in a slightly different way: Lucky and Thankful for those special people in my life.

And on a lighter note, to all of you, Happy Valentines Day!, in whatever form you chose to celebrate :)

On route to Run the NYC marathon 2008. My Dad inspired my brother and I to run with him.

A Family trip to Italy...the grandkids came too :)

Family Matters...

Yesterday I received a message you never want to get as a parent.
I was out the door early for a spin class...and the sitter was home with Ryan who was getting ready to get out the door himself. Luckily he was home...funny how life works that way sometimes.

Si was climbing up to get on a chair, as she has done a million times before, when this time she fell back landing right on her head. Ryan said she cried instantly and when he went to pick her her eyes rolled back and she went limp...it only lasted a few seconds, but I could only imagine to him it would have felt a lifetime.

I got the text from him that he was at clinic with Si. She fell on her head and went unconscious for a few seconds...Call me.

Not the message you ever want to get. Ever.

The places your mind takes you. Nothing else matters at that point, only the safety, life and health of your baby.

All checked out fine. She was responding fine...aside from a nasty bump, and probably a good headache we have to monitor her for the next 48hours. 
Thank God!

I am so fortunate to have a husband that is so hands on with our kids. He has so much love for them and they know it. He has great patience with them, something I need more of!...he is a child at heart when playing with them...and he takes amazing care of them. I feel so lucky that if something had to have happened yesterday, that the timing was such that he was still at home...and that without pause he scooped her up and took her to the doctor. He cared for Si yesterday in a way only a parent could.

Its moments like these, events like this, that put back the importance of lifes moments. What really matters. I am nothing without my family. I would do anything for them and try my best to do everything to keep them safe. But at the same time, kids are kids...and ours seem to be daredevils in the making.
Today its a fall from a chair...and she is fine. That is all that matters.

"Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation"
- C. Everett Koop

The Smell of a Win...

Instead of celebrating an amazing Canuck comeback last night, Ryan and I were celebrating the after-game with a Bissel carpet cleaner, paper towel and disinfectant.
She was at it again...instead of painting her crib brown, Si was sitting behind her bedroom door painting the door, the wall, the carpet and of course, herself.
This is my new best friend.

Worked like magic. Not only did it remove the new shade of brown our carpet was, it took away the smell as well (thank God!). This was a new step for her...no more pop in the crib. Ryan made a good observation, she seems to "paint" where her so called escape route is closed. ie, in the crib she would paint the guard rails; now with no crib, she can climb out so she goes for the door.
I guess shes a bit like a dog in this way...you know, dogs won't mess their sleeping quarters...they will do all extremes to keep that area clean. I recall a time when our dog was a little puppy; with puppy came sleep training (kind of like a baby again!), and breaking him into a kennel...one time he was sick, and to avoid crapping his kennel, he literally stuck his butt to the door and pooped out; awesome i know, but smart, right!? So this is how I am relating our daughter...to our dog. Hilarious!
Needless to say, what we are doing at the current moment to stop this poopy mess from occurring is not working.
She is a smart 20 month old. She tries to play the innocent one when in fact, she knows EXACTLY what she is doing. She cries bloody murder when her brother is around so he gets in trouble; she pushes boundaries again and again, and then pretends to not know what time out means (although this is where she puts her baby and her bunny when they aren't listening); this little girl has us whipped...and this cycle has got to stop!
Maybe I will be looking back at that episode of "Quints by Surprise" where they duct tape the diaper to their little girl that does the same; at least the duct tape was pink...stylish! ;-)
Anyways, back to the drawing board for Ryan and I...we color in PEN...to devise a plan of some sort!!

Now, a rant on our three year old. Whomever labeled the "terrible twos" as such, clearly did not have children; they must have been an observer.
There are a few years here that seem to come with new attitudes and bad moods.
Starting around 1.5 where they still don't get what time out is, but continuously push the boundaries; then into the talked about two's. I found this age to be where Kai was learning and growing, yet needed discipline to learn right from wrong; and now, we are into the threes. This is a fun age...the age where your three year old can talk, and therefore talk back. They know what is right and wrong (in many cases), and yet continuously do the latter to get your attention...and then when disciplined, talk back at you, call you names or yell. The days just get better! At least they are communicating, right!? I find, Kai is at his "best" ;-) when there are others around. This is when, I figure, he is trying to demand attention and therefore does EVERYTHING he knows he is not supposed to do to get that attention.
The other day, we had a new sitter come to watch the kids; when I got home the house was a bomb...and I mean B-O-M-B. All toy bins were dumped, snacks were on the floor...an utter mess. She tells me that Kai just wanted to dump everything out. Two main problems here; the first being that Kai was obviously looking for attention and knowing he could get away with pushing this boundary she was not stopping it; and second, that SHE WAS NOT STOPPING IT! I was shocked, to say the least, at her answer. She was allowing a three year old to rule the house. Really!?
Anyways, back to the discipline board to find a new course of action.

What do four's look like? Or do I even want to know!

Lastly, I know I mentioned a giveaway on Thursday, it was supposed to be announced Friday; tune in Monday as it will be announced then :-)

Happy Weekend...hope your stays out of the brown.

(VOTE for me...please)

3-0...

Life lately has been pretty much anything BUT relaxing. Work has been crazy, family has been busy... and things in general seem to be never ending! I am not complaining, honestly, just looking forward to some summer sunshine and good books.
My husband is turning the big 3-0 in a few weeks... wow where does the time go!! Considering we have been together since he was 18, watching the 20's creep past us and the big one is on the horizon is a little crazy to say the least! Not that we haven't done much through those years, you know: bought a condo, had a baby, bought our current home, had baby number two, baby number three is on the way... Jake, our dog, is still trying to pretend he is a puppy even though he is almost as old as our relationship! Love, Life, Work. Wow! Much has been packed into the years. So as Ryan's 30 is approaching, I am busy organizing a little party for him to honour all of his accomplishments in life.
In the words of Tim McGraw, a favorite artist, along with the singer of our wedding song,

"My Next Thirty Years will be the best years of my life

Raise a little family and hang out with my wife

Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear

Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years."

I hope that they are for you babe, the best years of your life!

I think I may be more excited about his birthday than he is! He is being pretty quiet about the whole thing... maybe a little anxious!?? I have heard that the 30's truly are the best years of your life. Learning who you really are; being comfortable in your own skin; knowing what you want in life and from those around you. I am excited to venture into a new chapter with Ryan and am looking forward to a celebration to start the journey. :-)

I would love to spill some party details... cause honestly it is pretty hard holding it all in!! I have some great things planned and this birthday will be one to remember; however, mum is the word as most of it is, A SURPRISE!
Can't wait!
So, a question for those who have passed a birthday milestone and had a memorable moment or happening; what was it and what made it so fantastic! I am always seeking more ideas.

"Men are like wine: some turn to vinegar, but the best improve with age." 
I am lucky then that I have the best!
Now, back to planning...
oh, and another thing to think about... Fathers Day. I told you, the list is never ending these days! Tomorrow I will be featuring a giveaway in honour of Father's Day. Stay tuned!