A Sophisticated Mommy: ENVIROSAX Review and Giveaway!

A Sophisticated Mommy: ENVIROSAX Review and Giveaway!: "I don't usually set New Year's resolutions for myself because they never really work. Then, I just feel incredibly guilty for failing ..."

Merry Christmas from the Griswalds (caution-PG for language!)

The Organs are the new Griswalds ;)  Our Christmas morning began at 6:30 with Griffin as the first one up.  Owen must have forgotten about Santa or he has simply inherited my lack of morning happiness.  He opened his presents kind of in a daze, I think he was overwhelmed.  After everything was opened he immediately wanted to play with the Disney Cars race track Uncle Ryan, Aunt Justine and Rylie sent him.  Unfortunately the toy builder at Disney, or what ever Chinese factory they used, decided quality control wasn't necessary.  They basically jammed the thing together and it was un-usable.  Also, the little r/c cars were not working.  So what does Chris do?  He gets mad.  Throws a tantrum that could rival Owen's, or possibly the famous rant of Clark Griswald.  If you don't know it, have no idea who Clark Griswald is, or basically have lived under a rock for the last 21 years at Christmas time, this is it:  Clark: Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?--http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/quotes

So in Clark Griswald style, Chris got mad, decided to go to the Mac's for overpriced batteries to try and fix the cars, slammed the baby gate, broke the baby gate, left a large hole in the wall where the baby gate once resided.  To which I so elegantly yelled "you broke the fucking gate!" to which Owen repeated "daddy, you broke the fucking gate!"  Nice eh?  Classy!  Then we all cried.

Chris came home from getting $12 batteries (that's $3 a battery!) and the stupid cars still didn't work.  So he gave up.  Race track is back in the box until we figure out how to send it back to Disney.  At this point, (and we totally appreciate the thought Justine, Owen loved all of it, but....) I would not be recommending shopping the disney store online.  The track which they paid a lot of money for was junk and the lightening mcqueen personalized blanket they sent him (and paid for the personalization) was not personalized.  Also, they ship UPS, so if you have received from UPS, you know they charge you a brokerage fee.  Annoying.
Chris had a nap, we all went to church and things were better.  Kellie, Jeremy, Mollie and Henry doodle joined us for a wonderful Turkey dinner and then we headed over to Joella and John's to play.  They live 8 houses down the street.  When we left I set the alarm because, well, it's Christmas and when is a better time to break into someone's house? Well apparently I hit the panic button on our alarm and moments after we get to Joella's house the police arrived. They called our house number, our cells, Joella's cell (which rang on the counter, Chris picked it up and handed it to her, but missed the call and she didn't know the number so didn't call it back, it was the RCMP) and after an hour of trying to get us, they had to break down the door to search the house. So we came home to the cops at our house and a broken down door :( Luckily our insurance will cover it and it is only going to cost us $500 deductible.   UGH, so Merry Christmas to us. The kids loved all there presents, dinner was fantastic, but it was a really shitty day! lol

Sick Sick Sick

I just wanted to thank my wonderful sons for the fantatic cold they have passed on to me!  Not that I could have prevented it, unless I wanted to give up snuggles.  I am glad they are feeling better, now if my sinuses would just give it up and let me feel better! 

Oh, and it snowed today.  Days like this I really regret our decision to live in Fort McMurray.....

Alright, enough complaining from me for now ;)

Hair Cut

Oh, and I got a haircut, nothing drastic, just fixed up the ol' layers and cut the bangs again :)

The daily grind

Things are settling down nicely.  We are now in week 3 of back to work mode and our routine is going fairly well.  Both Owen and Griffin are doing great at daycare.  Griffin just got over his first cold (other than the one he had at a week old!) and now Owen has it.  Even though we were fighting off colds we all managed to escape the stomach flu that a lot of our friends ended up getting on the weekend, and it was a nasty one!  We had it good with Owen only throwing up once.  I'll take that over 3 full days of it! 

This past weekend was Labour Day weekend.  We had early dismissal on Friday so Chris and I went out for lunch for the first time in ages.  The on Saturday we (Owen, Griff and I)  went to little Lily's first birthday party.  Sunday we had brunch at Will and Dolores' (Chris' aunt and uncle) and I had planned a surprise bday party for Chris' 30th, but the flu had spread like wild fire after Lily's party, there was no one left to come, so it ended up just being us and Steph for Chinese food and Big Brother :)  We still had fun!  On Monday we had a lazy day, fighting off sickness.

The boys are doing great, Owen is expressing himself more and more every day, sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it.  On Sunday he decided to show off some new words, told me I was "stupid" and told his father to "shut up".....I think we need to monitor his Nickelodeon viewings a little better.   Griffin is trying to keep up and said Mama the other night.  I was reading a book and he was in the exersaucer playing.  He was yelling (not crying, not chattering, yelling) and I looked over and he was staring me down saying "Mum mum mum, mumma!" He is also saying "hi" which is too cute.  You say Hi!  and he goes "Hiiiiii!!!"  I will try to get a video of it, I think I need to stick my camera in my pocket because the moment is always ruined when I go running for it.  He is also sitting up quite well now :)

Movie Night at the Organ house.  Watching Alladin

Monkey and his cookie.

All in good fun....

We I survived :)  One almost full week back to work, last week was almost blissful.  I got to enjoy some quiet alone time with my pop music in my classroom getting set up, unpacking and planning.  Someone asked me on Friday if I found it hard being away from the kids.... I quickly answered NO!  lol, with Chris also being a teacher, I have not been alone other than in the bathroom for approximately 2 months.  I was in heaven being alone in my classroom for hours on end last week!  Thankfully we have a fantastic day care provider whom Owen ADORES!  He has settled back in as if he hadn't been gone at all (not a single time out or accident last week!) and Griffin seems to be as relaxed, comfortable and as in love with Brenda's house as his big brother.  Both are extremely happy to be there.
I have also survived the first day with my new class :)  They seem quite chatty, but not too bad.  I think it is going to be a struggle to "tame" them, but not impossible.  Someone was looking out for me because I seem to have gotten a lot of the "good" ones :)  Tonight I am pretty exhausted and will be hitting the hay early!  Might even forgo the Bachelor Pad for my pillow ;)


So tonight I head over to the grocery store quickly to pick up some mascara (I seem to have forgotten mine at mom's house and apparently it is really bad for your eyes to use 2 year old stuff, lol) and booster juice for Chris and I (only 3 points and SOOOOO yummy!).  When I left Griffin was sleeping (or so I thought) and Owen was in bed, in wind down mode (where he lays in bed talking to himself or playing for about 20 minutes before finally falling asleep).  I was gone for no longer than 20 minutes I swear!  Apparently Owen was calling something to Chris and Chris thought he was just playing.  Finally he goes up to see what it is he wants and Owen had been trying to tell he was pooping.  It was all down his leg, everywhere.  Also, apparently, while in wind down mode, Owen had completely destroyed his room.  There were toys every where, he threw clothes around that were in a box to go to the basement (Griffin's latest out grows), and dumped baby powder all over EVERYTHING, including his BROTHER!!!!! Chris says Griffin was on his belly in his crib looking up and laughing.  Apparently he thought it was HILARIOUS to be powdered by his big brother!  Griffin was covered, his hair was white, jammies covered, even his aquarium was covered.  Anyone know how to get baby powder out of switches?  When asked why he covered his brother in powder, Owen responded with "I wanted him gone" hmmmm.....this is new.  I sure hope we don't have some sibling rivalry going on and it was just innocent fun or Owen wanting to "help" get Griff ready for bed.  And boy look out, we can already tell they are going to be a pair in the future.  I don't think I was far off with the monkey's hanging on the tree on their wall! 

I guess all I can say, is at least it wasn't poop Griffin was covered in.....

Night all!

And the good times come to an end....

I'm kind of in mixed emotions right now.  I have loved my time off with the kids (well most of the time, there have been a few moments I would like to re-do) but I do miss getting out of the house everyday and talking to other adults.  Honestly, while on mat leave (both times) I could feel my IQ diminishing.  I seriously think I got "stupider".  So here we are on the eve of back to work.  The kids don't return until next Monday, and the schedule seems pretty ok for this week (don't have to be there until 8:30), but I do have a lot of work ahead of me in my classroom.  I packed everything up in December, now I'm going to have to unpack it all and set up. 

So on one hand I am sad to be leaving the kids but I honestly think it is the best for all of us.  Owen adores daycare and is the type of kid who really needs a solid routine.  He has started calling Brenda his "teacher" which is so cute.  I think Griffin is going to love the attention of all the kids.....

So there it is.... back to work, more pros than cons.

The kids are doing great.  Griffin has slept through the night (feeding around 11, again around 6ish) for the last 2 nights and we are hoping this is a habit, not a fluke!  Owen is back on the potty train, have not had any accidents since the night we stuck Griffin's diaper on him.  He is now trying to assert some independence and go on his own.  Not doing too bad actually.

Well that's it for tonight :)

Andrea

Getting back on track

While we were gone on vacation, Owen had a little set back with the potty training.  Well actually, it was a big set back.  He had not had an accident in weeks before we left (he still wears pullups while sleeping though).  When we were in Saint John he was good, he would tell whoever was around that he had to go, but insisted "mommy take me".  That was ok, we were going through that "mommy do it" for everything phase even before we left.  However, once we got to Halifax, it was like he had forgotten that he uses the toilet!  He had daily accidents.  SO FRUSTRATING!  Honestly I think 2 things were happening: a) he wasn't that comfortable telling anyone else (besides me, because if I was with him he would tell me) that he had to go, and b) he was holding it for WAY too long and would just lose control. 

We have been home almost a week now, and I was losing it with the accidents.  We tried everything verbally to stop the accidents.  Nothing, he was holding it forever and then losing control.  Well (and here comes the parent of the year award, lol) yesterday morning after 2 accidents I lost it.  Told him if he was going to act like a baby he could wear a diaper.  Chris went and got one and we put it on him (pretty sad that our 6 month old's diapers fit our almost 3 year old!) and he FREAKED!  He cried and screamed, I'm not a baby, get it off! As if it were hurting him.  I only left it on about 20 seconds if that, but it seems to have done the trick.  No more accidents yesterday (although it was more us taking him and making him go when it had been awhile) and today he has finally told us when has to go again!  Ariane and I had the kids at the mall and he told me he had to go, then he was going down for a nap and he told us again.  He insisted mommy take him, but at least he told Chris!  And yay a #1 and #2 in the toilet.  I can't tell you how gross changing poopy pullups was becoming! 

On the Griffin front, he is working hard at sitting up on his own.  He is good for a few seconds on the floor, but sat for almost a minute unassisted (me in very close reaching distance though) in the tub last night.  He is also trying SO hard to get on the move.  He gets his little bum up in the air and pushes up on his legs (looks like downward facing dog) and just kind of pushes forward.  He moved about a foot on his own yesterday.  He is also out of his infant carrier (I just can't carry him anymore in it, when Chris could hardly lift it, we knew it was time!) and into his Britax car seat.  He loves it!  We have a diplomat and he is so comfy in it.  When he falls asleep his head doesn't even bob forward like all of Owen's car seats.  I am pretty sure I am going to be loving this expensive choice.  Now to just save for the Radian for the car.  If you don't know what the radians are, they are made by Sunshine Kids and are slim.  You can fit 3 of them in the back of an average sedan.  I would like to save and eventually get 2, one for each, then there will be lots of room to take another passenger with us if need be in the car.   Here's a link to check it out: http://www.macklems.com/sunshine-kids-radian-car-seat.htm

Well that's it for now, I am off to babysit a friend's kids tonight while her hubby takes her out for a surprise belated anniversary dinner and movie.  So cute, he called us himself yesterday to ask us to babysit.  She is going to be so surprised!

We arrived home (Fort McMurray home) after being away for 5 weeks this summer.  We spent 2.5 weeks with my family in Saint John and 2.5 weeks with Chris' family in Halifax.  We had a fantastic time, did tons of exciting things, however it was TOO long.  Owen got home sick the first week in Halifax.  He kept saying "I want to go home to my house."  It was quite sad actually.  Toward the end of the trip I think we both were regretting our decision to fly out of Edmonton instead of Fort Mac.  We flew in at 1pm and decided to make the 4.5 hour drive home.  We were all very happy to see our house that night!  So currently we are adjusting to a) the time difference (3 hours) and b) Owen and Griffin not being the center of everyone's world.  We have had a few "bratty" moments which have not been pleasant, however I think slowly we are getting back on track.
This morning we had a playdate with our friends the Bosches. Faulkers, and Chellews.  Then this afternoon there was some lazyness going on as the boys napped and we chilled.

***funny child moment of the day***
I was bathing Griffin and Owen said he wanted to get in and help me.  So Chris stripped him down and he got ready to get in.  At this point I'm tired and impatient, Owen stands on the toilet seat looking into the tub, I said "are you getting in or not" and his response "Let me think about it!" as he taps his index finger against his chin and clucks as if it were the jeopardy song, LOL.  Ah that kid can crack me up.


Now that we are home Griff is eating like a pro :)  He apparently needs to be in a real highchair to eat solid foods.  We tried out carrots today, he ate them but they weren't his favs.  So far his favorites are wax beans, butternut squash and yogurt :)

Now the kids are in bed, supper dishes are done, I'm going to watch Big Brother, night!

Captain Owen- on Theodore Tugboat

Griffin

Gone Country

Back in Alberta, Thank god I'm a country boy ;)

See what I mean?  Life in the fast lane :)  Owen loved driving the Seadoo at Lake Mush Mush

                                                   

Welcome to my blog :)

Welcome to my blog :)  I decided after reading some of my mommy friend's blogs I would set one of these up.  I have never been good at keeping a diary or journal, so I'm not sure how long this is going to last, but here's hoping I can keep it going!  My blog is titled "Life in the Fast Lane" because sometimes that's really where I feel I am.  Life with kids (especially boys) can be hectic, crazy and dirty, but I love it.  I also named the blog this because my oldest is in love with all things race cars.  I found it fitting :)

About me:
I am a 30 y/o mom of two boys.  Owen is 2 1/2 and Griffin just turned 6 months.  Owen is outgoing, active, sweet and incredibly smart (imo-but don't all moms think their kids are incredibly smart? lol).  Griffin is the happiest little baby boy I have ever seen.  He is very laid back and easy going.  He can be serious and I think he is a thinker, just sits and takes it all in, but he is also very quick to smile.  He loves to jump and play. 
I am also a full time grade 6 teacher.  In September I will begin my 7th year of teaching, saying that, I feel really old!  My husband Chris and I have been married for 6 years.  (He is also a teacher) and have made our home in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada.  We are both originally from the Maritimes.
Well that's it for now, I will write my first real post in a bit.