Potential for Disaster

I was recently lucky enough to win tickets to see Ovo by Cirque du Soleil. Thank you Ironic Mom! The downside was I was gone to Vegas the week before and didn't have time to make plans to take anyone with me. My mom casually suggested taking Stinkerbell. Um, what? She's 2....and yeah...she's 2. At first I thought this was the worst idea ever. I mean, can you say, "Hello glaring strangers who paid good money for their seats. Have you met my screaming 2 year old who won't sit still?" If anything had the potential for disaster it was this idea.

The more I thought about it and the more I realized how hard it was going to be to find 3 people who didn't have plans for Saturday, aka tomorrow, the more I started thinking, what the hell. She's been golfing twice, which involves just sitting in the cart fooling around and being as quiet as a two year old can be while Nana and Papa hit their shots. Surely this would be similar, right?

I followed this up with a good Google search: 2 year old and Ovo which lead me to discover that
1. It was a kid friendly show - they provide booster seats for the under 4 feet tall set
2. It was a matinee - if you don't like kids do not go to a matinee....ever
3. Other kids ranging from 17 months to 3 years old (a relevant age range, I thought) had enjoyed it
4. I still had one ticket left
5. The ticket was free so if I had to leave....

So, the decision was made. She was coming with me.

This was the best decision I could've made. She was amazing! Sure she was yelling a little bit, "OOOHHH! What is that guy doing?", "Look, Mom, he's jumping!", "WOW! Look! Look!" But it was just enthusiasm for the amazing show. I figure it was the two year old version of Ooohing and Aahing. She also climbed back and forth from her seat to my lap but she only kicked the lady in front of us once so that was a success. I was the only one made slightly uncomfortable by her presence and that was made up for by the look on her face while she watched the show. She danced in her seat with the biggest grin on her face trying desperately to clap along with the beat like the rest of the audience. That memory right there is worth more than money. More than what anyone who might've been annoyed by here paid for their seats. Only a true grump could've looked at the little girl filled with joy and been angry. And if they did? I didn't see them. And if they did? I feel sorry for them.

So, thank you Cirque du Soleil for an amazing performance. I've never ever been disappointed by one of their shows (this is my third one). They are amazing and breathtaking and full of wonder. I'm so glad I got to share this with one of the little people I love the most.

Have you ever taken your kids somewhere you were worried about their behaviour and had them completely surprise you?

Third Day of School....Who knew?

Well I didn't cry on the first day but I cried today....

McQueen wanted to take the bus today so I told him we would try it. We got up this morning to a rainstorm. Awesome. So I drove him to the bus stop and he sat in the car watching for the bus. At the first bus he jumped out and went and lined up with the kids....well, it was the bus for the Catholic school so I called him back. Great. So that started his anxiety about getting on the wrong bus. He was already nervous but this made it worse. So his bus pulls up and I tell him that's the right one and he goes to get in line. The kid in front of him couldn't get his umbrella shut to get in so McQueen kept trying to get by. Then all of a sudden he just couldn't try anymore. He came flying back to the car in tears that he missed me to much and why can't I just drive him. My heart just smashed. He was too scared? Why did I make him do it?

So, I calmed him down and drove him in. All the way he was adamant that he would still take the bus home because his friend would be on it then and so it would be ok. So, I'm proud that he wants to try again...but what if he breaks down again? I won't be there?

I walked him to class and while he was at his locker I talked to his teacher. She assured him that she walks each kid right to their bus and makes sure they get on the right bus. She does this for them every day until Christmas. I love her. She was awesome reassuring him.

When I went to leave he came running over in tears. He didn't want to stay. I was shocked. He has never once done this when it came to playschool or even the last few days of kindergarten. But I think, today, with the bus incident, it just got to him. It was too much for him to handle on his own. I did get him calmed down. I did get him to agree to stay. But it hurt. I wanted to just bring him home. I don't want him to feel the anxiety that I do when I'm in a new situation. I've tried so hard to hide that from him, and here it is anyways. I know how he feels. I know how hard it is to make yourself suck it up and do it. I didn't want to make him.

So, now I'm worried that he is going to ride the bus home after school in tears. I hope not. I'm sending him all the brave/calm thoughts I can. I know he will surprise me. I know he is braver than I am.

Where Did I Go?

Wow, I disappeared for a month. What the heck? Where have I been?

The truth is...I've been nowhere. I got bogged down in life and I've finally managed to dig my way out. I've been going through some things at work and these incidents really got to me. I lost a little faith in people actually.

However, it's time to look at the brightside. It is time to fight back.

This image has popped up a few times while I've been stumbling around the internet and it really puts it all in perspective, doesn't it?

Motivational Monday

4 pounds down!!! Wooooooooo! I am pretty excited...I am also determined. I will not gain it back this week. No more roller coaster. I am going to be good. Why is being good so hard? You would think that our bodies/minds would want to be healthy... but darn it...sugar, salt and fat are just too good.

Anyways, I found a great breakfast recipe I want to try.

Cinnamon Quinoa Breakfast
Yield: approx 4 cups
1 cup quinoa, rinsed
3 cups unsweetened almond milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/2 cup raisins
1 med apple chopped small (save some for garnish)
stevia or agave to taste
1/2 cup raw walnuts, chopped
4 tbsp raw sunflower seeds
1 cup fresh organic blueberries
optional – fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries, chopped pecans or almonds, hemp seeds
Method
Combine quinoa, almond milk, cinnamon, allspice, raisins in medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and then place lid on pan and reduce to low heat. After 5 mins stir in chopped apple and simmer for approx 5-7 mins longer. Stir and check for remaining liquid and if most is absorbed then remove from heat, leaving lid on pan and let rest for 5 mins to absorb rest of the milk. If when you peek, there is still lots of liquid, simmer for 3-5 mins longer but keeping a close eye over the pot as this mixture can easily burn if left to boil dry, then let it rest for 5 mins. Taste for sweetness and adjust to your liking with 3-5 stevia drops or a dribble of agave syrup. You may not need any additional sweetener as the raisins and apple do add a nice sweetness that may be just perfect for you. Be cautious as even these natural sugars will spike your blood sugar levels and you want to minimize this.
Top each serving with walnuts, sunflower seeds, blueberries and remaining chopped apple.

Yum, sounds good. Finally, a protein for breakfast that doesn't mean I have to eat a bunch of meat. Don't get me wrong, meat is good, just not early in the morning.

And last but not least, something motivational....

The Cutest Thing

Today when we were leaving my parents Stinkerbell was getting in on the goodbyes by saying, "Bye bye! See you! Thanks!" I thought that was so cute. However, it got ever more adorable.

We ran out into the icy cold and buckled her in as fast as we could. She was soooo tired from her horrible night of sleep last night so she was quiet in the back. She had her soother in and the only thing she said when I got in was, "Blanket." I told her that I was sorry because I didn't have a blanket in the car but if she could wait two minutes she could go in her cozy warm bed when we got home. As I was pulling out of the driveway I glanced back at her in my rear view mirror. She was leaned against the side of her car seat staring out the window. Her hand reached up and waved and in the tiniest, sweetest little voice she said, "Thank you Nana. Thank you Papa. See you..."

Motivational Monday

So all in all it was a nutty week around here. I was out of town Wednesday - Friday so we all know what that means. I was eating out and not doing it well. It also meant there was no working out to be had. So, I was expecting some pretty awful results when I weighed in tonight. Boy, was I surprised to find out I'm only up 1.2lbs. Maybe we are seeing some progress in metabolism??? One can only hope.

When I was in Calgary for teacher's convention I was lucky enough to get to go listen to a real Canadian hero, women's hockey gold medalist, Cassie Campbell. She was talking to us about how to be an effective leader. Using the experiences of an athlete fighting for her sport as an example. It was a really great talk.

She showed this video to start it off. I have seen it many times and it always feels me with an amazing sense of pride and brings tears to my eyes. I figure it was fitting today since I am finally starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, I can do this:

Motivational Monday

Here we are....another Monday. I survived another week working out and trying....oh I am trying...to eat better. To do better. I failed at the eating part this week but despite my best efforts at sabotage and thank you to the 30 Day Shred....I am down 2.9lbs. So I will celebrate. It could've been better but it could've been way worse. This week, I will do better. It will be hard but I am leaving all my cheating for the two days I am out of town.

So here is our motivation...

'It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.'

- Mark Twain