New Cake

Got to bake and create this week too!  And this is what I made!

Go Kiya Go!!!

We have had some pretty exciting news this week!

Thursday was track at Kiya and Mylee's school.  It is always fun looking out the window and watching all the kids participate in the events of track and field.  The kids always look so fast and you can't help but cheer them on.  And when you know most of the kids at the school your heart just swells with happiness for them.

Kiya came home Thursday smiling, which isn't different from every other day, but there was a little more spring in her step.  I asked her what's up and she held up a 5th place ribbon.  I was so excited for her. Kiya has been trying to get a ribbon for something track related for 4 years and each year she gets disappointed.  But not this year!

And she had amazing news.  Not only did Kiya receive a 5th place ribbon, she has been placed as an alternate on the school's track team and has an invitation to the Birchmount meet where her school competes against other schools in the Scarborough area.  Kiya's event is the triple jump.

We are so proud of her and I am hoping it is on a day where daddy can skip out on work. Mommy fully intends on attending as long as she has permission just for morale support for the school! So now I want to go out and pick up a Macklin shirt and show the colours!!! Way to go Kiya!!!!

First BBQ of the year

I am a sucker for BBQ, walking around the area there are always different scents dancing off the grill.  So this week we cleaned up the BBQ and decided it was nice enough to use it.

There is nothing like the first bite of BBQ after a long cranky winter. Grilled chicken and sausages with salad and veggies, oh so yummy.  Can't wait for the second and third and 30th time we use it this year.  Food always tastes better off the grill.

Wow

Well it appears I haven't done a good job in the movie department with my girls. Sure they can recite Mamma Mia word for word and most of the Disney movies, they even have Gnome and Juilet memorized. So when I saw that "Annie" was on sale at shoppers I asked Kiya if we had it; or if she had seen it. Imagine, my shock when she said No.

So Sunday while shopping with Darryl I was looking through the movie bin as always and there before me was Annie. I then had to go through the whole story with Darryl as to why we need it, he looked at me funny when I put it in the cart saying "don't we own that"

So tonight after dinner and showers we had movie night and watched one of my favorite movies. Hard to believe in her 9 years I have never made Kiya watch this movie and even 5 years for Mylee.

And now as I lay in my bed playing candy crush, I hear a little voice singing "Tomorrow"and I can't help but giggle. Now I am confident that I have truly brought them over to my side of crazy. 

Now if I could only find my copy of Oklahoma and 7 Brides for 7 Brothers.

Candy Crush

How many of you actually play this game?

I am starting to think that it is totally against me.  I get stuck on some levels for days at a time and then the game gets me and I actually pass the level.  It seems that whenever I am stuck, I just have to hand the game to Darryl, have him play my 5 lives and then magically when I get a life back I pass the level. 

Now I ask you....is it just me?  Does anyone else sit and pass the game off and then come back to it and win the level.  I believe I am on level 103 and between the bombs, chocolate, black spirals and the objective I sit there and feel like I am playing a game of chess, anticipating 3 moves ahead and making my move based off how the next couple of candies will fall. 

When did games get so technical?  Then again, maybe it is only me, maybe if I just match the 3 candies and let it roll I would beat more levels.  The analytical side of me won't let me though, must anticipate and move accordingly.  No wonder I am so frustrated with the game...and worse yet...I have no real opponent, just me and my computer screen, no one to accuse of cheating and no one to throw things at.  Oh well! Doesn't mean I will stop playing, just keep sending me those lives and I will keep on moving on up!

Matsuda

A night out with Daddy normally means a night out for dinner.  Darryl's schedule doesn't allow for much fun time so we take what we can get when we can get it.  Last week we went to our favourite sushi place for dinner and had a great meal. 

Our goal for the evening is to act appropriately in the restaurant, have a good conversation about life and to try at least one new thing on the menu.  This is a little more difficult for me as I have nasty reactions to fish and seafood in general; however, I do try as much as I can.  I am always amazed at the girls and their willingness to at least attempt to taste something new.  Kiya's favourite thing to eat is beef tataki, for those who don't know this is a piece of steak that is seared on the outside and raw in the middle, yes sounds icky, but she loves it.  Mylee's favourite thing is shrimp tempura, and boy is it ever fun to watch her eat it.

Both girls try hard to use the chopsticks and are getting better every time we go. It is nice when you try to incorporate everything into a meal. 

On this occasion it was an interesting adventure because Mylee ate like a horse.  After her tempura, she ate chicken, after chicken, she ate beef, after beef she had 8 pieces of salmon maki and then on top of it all, she ordered 5 chocolate mousse cups.  And she ate every little drop out of them. 

Dinner is always an adventure!!

New Bikes

Last weekend, okay well 2 weekends ago we decided to pick up new bikes for the girls.  Kiya had outgrown her bike last year as she grows like a little weed and well Mylee still wanted to ride the tricycle.  So off we went to Canadian Tire to pick out new bikes. 

Kiya jumped 2 tire sizes in one year and now rides a 24 inch wheel.  It is quite amazing to see her on a big kid bike when last year she was still on a typical girl bike.  Her new bike has hand brakes that she hasn't quite mastered yet, she would rather put her feet down, so have a feeling we will be going through a couple pairs of shoes this summer. 

Mylee has grown quite a bit this year too and we decided to give her a 20 inch wheel instead of a 18.  The bike will grow with her for 2 years and will make our lives a little easier.  She barely reaches the seat, and I have had to teach her how to fall properly.  Yes, this does sound a little strange but she wasn't putting her leg out and she would go down with the bike on her side, at least now she puts her leg out and doesn't get squished by the bike.  Mylee is developing more confidence in her balance as well so the training wheels are a great bonus.

Both girls love to go out, and it gives me a chance to run around after them getting some fresh air for all of us. When Mylee is a little more confident and keeps her feet pedaling it might be time mommy put on her running shoes and we head over to Milliken for a good bike ride and a long run for mommy! But right now we will focus on baby steps!

Spring Cleaning

The joys of spring include; nice weather (yet to be seen), buds on the trees (yep can see those), the smell of dog poop in the air (yep, that's there too), and best of all spring cleaning.  The time when the philosophy out with the old and in with the new. 

So mine was started last week, I started with Kiya and Mylee's closets and drawers.  Then we went through the toys, and finally it is time for the cleaning.  This is easier said than done as the cleaning I want to do requires some open windows, and somehow Mother Nature is deciding to forget the memo to turn the clock to spring weather.

So I am tidying best I can and trying to avoid eye contact with the rest that is getting under my skin.  Plus I am starting my "I have to do this" list at the same time, and boy oh boy do I ever have work to do.  But in the end it will all look marvelous and I will be happy and we all will be that much healthier in mind, body and spirit. 

Plus I don't want to be stuck inside cleaning when the nice weather comes along....I want to go out and play!

The Meltdown

Well it was inevitable, it was coming and I could sense it.  There have been quite a few changes in my world lately and Mylee is not getting used to it.  Kiya loves the changes and I do see a positive response to it, a little more attitude but that might just be age related as well. 

I started working back in February as a lunch supervisor at one of our neighbourhood schools.  This requires that Kiya eats lunch at school and someone other than me picks her up.  Now I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the neighbourhood school and then volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays in another classroom at my kids school. 

At first neither child wanted me in their class.  I understood this better than I ever thought I would.  School for my children is a place to be free from me, now that sounds like I am some kind of monster, but I am the mom.  I have to be a hard ass most times when they are not listening, or when their rooms are a mess, or when things need to be done and they are sitting in front of the television.  That being said over the past 2 months both children have changed their tunes.  Both want me to be in their classes. 

Now for Mylee this change has been difficult and we had to sit down and have a good long cry and a good long chat about just how she felt.  She doesn't like me not coming to pick her up, she doesn't like me not being home with her, and mostly she doesn't like me working.  As much as I explain all the positive things that come out of working she just doesn't like it.  And how can I blame her.  I have been lucky to be able to stay home for 9 years with my children. 

So with a lot of extra snuggling, and some new routines we have gotten some positive things out of mommy working.   Some days are better than others but with any great change comes a new adventure.  Now I wish they would just stop growing up, what happened to my little babies who needed me for everything?  Too soon do they grow up and become independent little beings, and though I am greatful for every new discovery, I get a little melancholy knowing that the tiny hands are almost gone and my girls are growing up into little young ladies. 

Mylee

While doing scientist in the school I got to hang out in Mylee's classroom, something that I don't do very often because school is Mylee's chance to explore the world away from me.  I looked around at some of the amazing things her teacher comes up with and some of the responses the children reply with.  Mylee is definitely an imaginative child, but has a sense of reality that is quite amazing to watch.

This was too funny as I have been starting to pick up surprise bags from Ardene for the kids.  We trade what we don't like with each other and it becomes quite an interesting day.  When I read this I laughed, Mylee definitely knows what she wants and how to get it. 

A couple other Mylee-isms:

When asked What animal do you think would make a good pet? Why?  Mylee responded with "a cat because you can pet it."

When asked What animal do you think would make a bad pet?  Why? Mylee responeded with "a caterpillar because it will eat all the leaves on the Christmas decorations."

While walking along the sidewalk to school the other day, Mylee spotted a bird on the sidewalk and said  "Look mom a bird", I replied with "yes Mylee that is a robin, he is supposed to be the first sign of spring", to which she said "Listen you can hear him tweeting", I looked at her and said "oh yeah, what is he saying?"  She stopped dead in her tracks, put her hands on her hips, looked at me very sternly and said "Come on mom, you know I don't speak pigeon."  To which I was belly laughing all the way to school and probably for about an hour afterward too.

Scientist in the Classroom

There is absolutely nothing more fun than sitting in a kindergarten classroom not having to be the boss but watching little children discover new things and the smiles that light up their faces. 

Last Wednesday I got to volunteer in Mylee's classroom, something I would not do because school is her escape from the craziness of me, but her teacher asked so nicely and she has been frustrated with me for volunteering in another class.  So off I went to Mylee's class.  Well the look on her face when I was standing there made me feel very warm and wanted.  And pretty much all the kids waved and yelled "Hi Mylee's Mom". 

We started working with magnets and I must say I got the best table to work with.  I love experimenting with the kids and teaching them.  So I got to explain what an experiment actually is and how we implement it. The kids were amazed at what sticks to a magnet and what doesn't. Mylee tried so hard when it was her turn to answer all my questions correctly and show me just how good she is at school. 

I thoroughly enjoyed being in this classroom but I think I made a good decision in not agreeing to go into Mylee's class to volunteer.  I think we both need some space from each other and she definitely enjoys school, I would hate to interfere with that.

My week consisted of 2 mornings of scientist and one full day, 3 different classes and I enjoyed every single one of them.  Kindergarten is fun and I am lucky that I have some great teachers across the street.