Live it!

yesterday...

Just felt like writing about our day yesterday because it stood out as just a nice day. fun. perfect even maybe. just an average day - sometimes the best kind of day!

the kids...  are great. i am enjoying this time - this age with both of them.

keaton is (or seems to be the past few wks) maturing a bit and seems easier again. he seems to be handling issues at school better and is just generally a really happy, good kid. he makes me laugh A LOT. he says the funniest things and is just so good with Chloe. i am always so proud of how gentle he is with her. keaton is loving that the snow has melted and he is outside again. i am really happy too - that was (or at least seemed like) the longest winter. we have been spending lots of time outside and i got these typical keaton (sweetie pie - full of character) photos yesterday when he got home from school and got to play outside on his Jeep... He stopped and visited with me (and my camera) for only a moment before hopping back in his vehicle and motoring off. fun stuff = i officially LOVE spring. always liked it... but this year - i love it!

Chloe is doll crazy - got these photos of her late afternoon - note she is already in her nightgown due to some messy eating issues in her other set of clothes ;)  she loves to play in Keatons room... much better than her own. she dumps everything, pulls all the books onto the floor and then runs around toting a doll or two in her arms. she literally screams and cries the minute her (teasing) brother takes her doll away. and she gets her way - he quickly gives it back to her :)

These below photos are typical. A few times a week Keaton pulls out his V-smile games and plays - going into a Zombie-like state as he plays games like "Scooby-Doo" and "Alphabet Park".  At some point Chloe always climbs onto the couch, sits as close to her brother as she can and starts the "Bugging"....playing with his hair, slapping his hands, putting her feet on his handset. the funny part of all this is... Keaton doesn't even notice. he is too engrossed and just totally tunes her out. Eventually Chloe gives up on her brother, gets down and looks for something new to play with.

on our way to Grandmother's house...

i consider myself very lucky to have the Gram i do. she is special and adored by us all. at 92 she still hosts every holiday meal. and all of us try our hardest to make sure we can attend. this time, it was for Easter lunch... Gram's fabulous turkey and all the fixings brought from Aunts and Uncles. We split up amongst 3 tables and Uncle T says the blessing really loud so we can hear it in the next room. it is always fun. a special time with family. one of my favourite things about each and every holiday.

Keaton was in all his glory with all his older (2nd) cousin's there to spoil, pamper and cater to his every need. Mitchell and Harrison are just so good to him and play with him non-stop. Keaton simply calls them "those older boys". Emily, Mitchell, Harrison and Maddison were just back from a trip to Jamaica and looked funky in their braided hair-do's. They all played great together and Keaton had the best time. After lunch they all came up to our house so they could ride the 4 wheeler and Keaton's jeep around the back yard. Wild times!

Chloe was (and always is...) a doll. Mom bought her this dress. I had no idea just how beautiful my little gal looks in green - i always put her in pink it seems!  anyhow, this photo struck me because i know that somewhere around here i have a similar photo of me at that age (And looking just like she does) sitting on that very same piano... i guess that would of been 30+ years ago - gasp! She was quiet most of the day at Grams... so many people - she just took it all in and sucked her thumb - tee. oh, and looked adorable doing it.

our morning

...was fun. the Easter bunny is second only to Santa now. He brought toys AND chocolate - wow Keaton says! Keaton was happy with his walkie-talkies and Chloe loved her dora doll - although the tinfoil wrapped chocolates seem to intrigue her even more. the kids woke up and got their baskets and then Keaton and i FINALLY did our egg decorating. 2 different kits from Walmart - each about 99cents!! Chloe wasn't interested.

the Easter bunny hid lots of Easter eggs in our backyard, so for the 2nd time this weekend, the kids got to go hunting. again...Chloe wasn't interested and abandoned her basket after about 2 eggs - as soon as she caught sight of the swing set. she is a swingin' fool - nothing makes her happier!

so, again, Keaton made out like a bandit and was one happy little dude. i believe he told me that Egg hunts were "Totally wicked"... a new saying he picked up from the movie: Incredibles. Now... time to really hide the chocolate from the kids (And myself!!!)

Today..

Today Sarah & Aaron hosted Easter lunch for Shaune's family. Nana Kellar was able to attend and Sarah made one AWESOME turkey meal. we were all so impressed. We also got to meet the new addition in their family - Trixie - the new chocolate lab pup they got last week. she was one frisky puppy - and way cute. makes me want one - KINDA. The pup liked chasing after Chloe and played tug-of-war with her little sweater. Chloe wasn't sure what to make of the pup.

From there we rushed home... Keaton played with Curt outside (a rekindled best buddy-ship that is back on full-throttle now that spring is here and they can run back and forth between Aunt Kathy's and our house) until it was time for the movie. We had promised Keaton we'd take him to Robots during March Break but he got sick and I got sick and that was the end of that. so today we made good on our promise and took him - he was excited and we got there early enough for him to play some video games (which i think he likes doing even more than the movie itself). Robots was a cute show - way better than i'd expected and keaton sat so good thru the movie and laughed a lot too.

Great day... Great weekend so far.  I wish every weekend was a long weekend!

Easter is here

... and so is spring... or at least small signs of spring. the snow is finally melting away and i am thrilled. it came (spring) just in time for Easter and we have been busy celebrating with family all weekend long (and we aren't finished yet) we took the kids to Aunt Carol & Uncle Bob's for a lunch and Easter egg hunt down in their basement... Keaton came out the winner in that hunt since he was competing against one-year olds - ha. Chloe did manage to get in on the action and Keaton showed her where some of the eggs were hiding. Cole was mostly interested in playing with the wheels on his trucks :)

Friday night Uncle Lewis hosted the Whyte family Easter supper. Always enjoy that - time with my family - just the best bunch of people - so lucky to have such a close amazing family. Keaton loved that Joel was there to play Rescue Heroes with him and Chloe spent most of the night exploring and being admired for how cute she was in her little gingham dress (girls are just TOO fun to dress up at Easter). We stayed at Uncle L's til about 9pm i think and then had to head home to get the kids to bed. The next time we all get-together will be at our annual Bean Bake reunion - not til August... a ways away :(

whatcha good at?

I love reading my sweet friend Tina B's amazing blog. she can write like noone i know and always - she makes me think. today i read a recent entry with a question posed:

"No one is better than I am when it comes to..."

hmmm... i'm always too busy thinking of all the things i'm not good at or could do much better at. i had to really sit down and think about that one. i've come to the conclusion that i need to give myself more credit (at least inwardly).

but.. the answer to the question for me came to me and i know what i am better at doing than any other person could be - and that is: being a mother to Keaton and Chloe. Being myself, teaching them to embrace their unique self. showing them i love them, telling them i love them. some days are hard, some days i just don't know what i'm doing. some days i wonder if i am doing anything right - but in the back of my mind i KNOW - that i am a good mom. that i love my children more than any other person (aside from Shaune) could possibly love them. that they know without a doubt that there mom is and will always be there for them NO MATTER WHAT - forever, without question. that they know unconditional love and they always will for as long as there is breath in my body. and i think giving what i give to them - those special moments - that confidence and shelter and guidance and friendship is precious... and i am proud of myself and the mother i've become. not saying i'm perfect - not saying i don't still have lots to learn - but the love is there, the enjoyment is there - and i'm so thankful for this life.... because of them. because i'm a mom.

a busy weekend ahead

we are so lucky. all our family is nearby and we do not ever have to chose who's side of the family we will spend our holidays with. we just spread ourselves around and hop from house to house. it is super busy. on Christmas we do 4 places in the course of a Christmas day - it is nutso! but, it is nice too. nice because i cannot imagine spending holidays without my family... nor can Shaune. i guess we are lucky that we feel that closeness and that we have that love in our families. it's all good - but a bit tiring at times :)

This Easter weekend is no different. Tomorrow we have plans to visit Shaune's Aunt Carol's for a little easter egg hunt she has planned for the kids. Chris and Jen are bringing Cole down and Sherri and her fiance will be there to visit with too. Should be really fun for the kids. Then we have Uncle Lewis' Easter supper for the Whyte side of the family tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to that and seeing all mom's family - who always make sure to gather together many times a year. it will be a loud, full house and it will be FUN :)

Saturday Aaron's fiance "aunt Sarah" is hosting an Easter lunch. Lynn has to work most of EAster at the hospital so Sarah was sweet enough to offer to host and cook us all Easter yummies. I know keaton is looking forward to going there... since he secretly has a crush on Uncle Aaron's girl i think. He had a birthday party he was invited to from school... but when i asked him which he would rather attend - he quickly told me he wanted to go to aunt Sarahs. too cute!

Sunday is our Annual Easter lunch at Grams. 92 years old and still hosting our family's busy, bustling holiday lunches. She will cook the biggest turkey she can find and we will distribute ourselves at 3 tables in 2 different rooms, just so we can all be there to be with her for Easter. She is a marvelous woman. I couldn't even begin to tell you how much she means to the Emerson family. I would NEVER miss a holiday with my Gram. She counts on us coming and it is one of the highlights of every holiday... including Easter.

so.. how many meals is that in the course of 3 days? ...and guess who started Weight Watchers last week. isn't that always the way -  you finally get determined and wham... up creaps a holiday full of feasting and chocolate and all the things i LOVE... and i am on a diet. phoey. not happy about that - not happy at ALL! i bought myself some Slimfast bars that taste like Crispy Crunch ... and i am PRAYING that will keep me sane and good... and on track. Wish me luck! eek!

the day...

Today was "the" day. Today, i officially resigned my position at my job to be a SAHM and do design/scrapbooking work. Crazy. I have been off for the winter on lay-off and got my "call back" for returning to work for April 4th.

Today i had to talk to my supervisor and resign. It was hard to do... to just walk away. Not because i don't want to be done. Not because i don't want to officially begin this new chapter of my life... but simply because CHANGE is hard - and scary too. I didn't love my job, so i won't miss that - but this is a big step for me... for our family.

I worked 7am-430pm. it was a long day. draining at times. i barely got to see the kids before i had to leave for work in the morning at 6:35am. i would wake them up before leaving and then i'd have to run out the door. Shaune would ready them for daycare and then i would pick them up at 5pm on my way home from work. the day would be over before i'd know it... i would be totally drained and sad that i didn't have more time with the kids. To return to work on April 4th would mean even longer hours (probably 44hrs/week) - and i just couldn't do it.

For me... the answer has always been to stay home... i've always wanted to be home... not because i'm an advocate of Stay-at-home mommy-ness. Nope - i believe each mother needs to do what works for her and her family - what completes her... what makes her happy. I have lots of friends that have careers they love and are great moms to boot! It is a matter of choice and desire and it has become clear to me this past year - i want to be home. i need to be home right now.

and so, i guess i will be. it seems surreal... really ODD. i just left my job of 5 years and ended it, walked away ... just like that. Somebody pinch me! i don't know 100% whether this is the best decision for me but i do KNOW that it is what i want to do.. it is something i want to try and if i don't do it now - i never will. so i'm going to do it NOW.

wish me luck. this mommy of 2 may need it!

fun filled weekend

Shaune came home from work on Friday and surprised us with a little weekend get-away to the Ambassador hotel in Kingston. the hotel is kids oriented and had fun stuff planned for the March break...they also have a big pool area including a  waterslide and hot tubs. I was so happy for us to get away. we've all been sick (and i still am a bit) with nasty colds and i felt bad that Keaton spent his whole march break stuck inside - SICK :(   Shaune had the right idea and i was more than willing to pack our stuff up and head out for a couple days.

keaton was super excited when he heard the hotel had a pool...this kid loves to swim. we got up to Kingston early and shopped for a little bit - then went to Kelsey's for a crazy (as dining out with 2 children is!) lunch. Keaton must of asked us a bazillion times when we were going to the "swimming party". we checked into the hotel and quickly he was stripping down (before we even had the bags into the room) and looking for his bathingsuit. he was crazy happy when we got down there and he saw the waterslide and what seemed like 50 kids running around and going WILD... so his style!  Chloe was pretty excited too and made a quick detour to the splash fountains... she would giggle each and every time one surprised her and sprayed water.

Keaton ended up being too short for the waterslide (you needed to be 42" tall - poor kid) but he was okay with that and was happy just to watch Shaune give it a try. we laughed so hard watching Shaune come down - stiff as a board - and making a big splash compared to all the little kids!

We went out for supper at Red Lobster (where else are you going to go for Seafood with 2 young kids along for the ride!) and Keaton had his mind on the video game he saw earlier in the day. When we got home from supper, he and Shaune went down to the video game room for ½ hr.  we watched “Polar Express” and then called it a night.  Today we got up early (thanks to Keaton waking us all up at 6:30am and begging to play more videos) & went for a quick breakfast buffet…then more video games for all of us (FUN!) and then a swim before heading home.

I wish we could do this more often. Although it wasn’t anything fancy or even a very long get-away… it was so refreshing just to get away from everything and just be a family and have fun. Keaton informed us many times during our stay at the “Show and tell room” – he thought that is what you call a “Hotel room” that this was his favourite place and that he wanted to live there forever. He was really disappointed when he had to come home today. I can only imagine how a place like Disney would entice him if this simple hotel with a water park made him want to stay forever. it was a nice break, and now its back to reality and work and responsibility... for now.

Mess after mess after mess

i have a daughter... that although an "angel", she is a huge mess-maker. she is always into everything and dismantling this or that. curious to a fault and can i just say - it is "driving me nuts"! Inevitably throughout the day, i need to leave the tv room in order to tidy up one mess or another that she has made. the only way for me to keep her still and away from the mess is to put her in her highchair with some yummy foods. this is where it gets frustrating... SHE IS THE MESSIEST EATER EVER. it is crazy. she has been since the moment she started eating solid foods. in the beginning we would feed her some cereal and immediately she would put her thumb into her mouth to suck. as she has grown, it is more of a funny experimental thing for her... "How big of a mess do i have to make on myself before Mommy marches me upstairs for bathtime?"

So, i leave her to clean - a thing in which i TOTALLY hate to do. i hate to clean. still i can't leave disasters all over the house - so away i go... content that she is happy eating her banana yogurt and watching "The Incredibles" with her brother. Fast forward 2 whole minutes later - i come back in the room to find this. SIGH. From one mess to another. and it is only 9:30am!!! of course, she got her bath - and now she is happy. Good thing i love her so much ;)