Being the Mom and Travels

being the mom and vacation coming about... equals many many many to-do lists and extreme multi-tasking....

packing for the kids...
remembering fave sleep time animals
cds for bedtime
medication, vitamins
their money from gram & gramps
toiletries
pony tail scrunchies
memory cards
cell phone chargers
recharg batteries
cameras
recharger for the batteries
hats
sunscreen
various footwear
outfits for various weather
coats sweaters etc.
mp3 players
electronic games
snacks

those are just a few of my many lists

you always wind up packing your stuff last...

and as you check the house over and check the cat and the fish and go over it all with the person house sitting....

you think to yourself... maybe I should pack for myself now....

I wound up packing TONS of clothes for myself... cuz I did not have time to plan or choose so I figured I would select down here..... ... ....

moms always come last in the planning....

but the smiles on the first day of vacay and the excitement in their eyes make you forget all about it

You Were Loved

You Were Loved ~~~~ lyrics (NOTE: this is one of them Grant)

We all want to make our place in this world;
We all want our voices to be heard.
Everyone wants a chance to be someone;
We all have dreams we need to dream,
But sweeter than any star you can reach
Is when you reach and find you've found someone.
You'll hold this world's most priceless thing,
The greatest gift this life can bring,
If you can look back and know
You were loved.

chorus

You were loved by someone,
Touched by someone,
Held by someone,
Meant something to someone,
Loved somebody,
Touched somebody's heart along the way.
You can look back and say,
You were loved.

You can have diamonds in your hand,
Have all the riches in the land,
Without love do you really have a thing.
When someone cares that you're alive,
When someone finds their world in your eyes,
Then you'll know you've found all you need.
You'll hold this world's most priceless prize,
The sweetest treasure in this life,
If you can look back and know
You were loved.

chorus

So many roads that you can take,
Whatever way you go,
Don't take that road alone.
Better you know....

You were loved by someone,
Touched by someone,
Held by someone,
Meant something to someone,
Loved somebody,
Touched somebody's heart along the way.
You can look back and say,
You did OK
You were loved.

So remember to tell that one,
You are loved.

The Crusts Cut Off

It is a beautiful day out there.

Last night, while kissing my youngest goodnight, I reminded her that today is our day. I long to be a stay-at-home mom and a year ago, I became that... ON MONDAYS. Mondays are a day that I get to spend with our youngest and also get some stuff done as weekends tend to have birthday parties, play dates, errands etc.

So today she and I were to tidy, clean and also to pack for our vacation. We do not go away in the summer, I am needed every day, all day, on deck at work as it is a very busy time gearing up for the fall program. We go away in March.

I am aware of lots of families that get terribly sick in the winter. As I work with families, it is a phenomenon that I have seen time and time again. Usually January or February, whole families gets hit with both the blahs and a flu or two. We, knock on wood, have been quite impervious to this mystery. ... ... ...

Not this year: this year,

• our littlest has had 4 cases of tonsilitis since the beginning of December, (I highly suspect the buggers will have to come out as they seem to be perpetually swollen as well)
• and my hubby was off work for a while with a back injury (due to G/D shovelling) that involved emergency room visits, chiropractors, many prescriptions, and an emergency MRI and now he needs surgery too....
• and our eldest who is always healthy as a proverbial horse... has had repeated colds.
• I have had a couple of little colds and a tummy moment or two but mostly I have been afflicted with emotional malaise... but having read this over... is it any wonder????

so today, on this glorious, yet freezing day... the little one is supposed to be helping me around the house and helping me pack...

She began to playing Wii: Disney Princess - Enchanted Journey around lunchtime... and after I finished my orange... she said "Mumma, go on up and pack by yourself for a bit so I can finish Snow White's chapter." She seemed so determined to continue the adventure I headed up. And every so often I would check in... as she usually does not stick with a particular activity for too too long... and now it is 3:15 p.m! and she is still at it! Now I don't like the kids to have too long on anything electronic, we have board games and books and playdough and paint etc.... but the determination with regards to this game is astounding me. Her sister has just come home from school and she paused the game and is speaking as quickly as she can about where she is and how she has overcome obstacles and how she is going to win the next chapter too. She still has not eaten either... so I have put my foot down and insisted she have a sandwich....

she came out of the trance long enough to say "don't forget to cut the crusts off"

and life continues... for her apparently without crusts....

(p.s. I don't mind crusts)