Raising Girls

I am a happy mom to three kids!  

Two girls and a boy. 

If you asked me which is more challenging to raise: boys or girls?  Hands down I think it is more challenging to raise girls. Overall we have easy kids....they love life, they are kind (most of the time) and they are easy going. So far, our most difficult moments are related to food.  We have two very picky eaters in the house but I don't get overly stressed about that. I know it will change some day. 

Raising girls is challenging.  I take on that challenge because I feel I am (mostly) a confident person. I know that being pretty isn't everything. Being a good person is everything. I also know that modelling behaviours is hands down the best way to get children to learn how to BE.  I am human...I am not always nice to myself. I have insecurities about my weight, my hair, my smile, my butt, my stomach, my feet (no I like my feet), my face. The list goes on but I TRY to be positive. I try not to complain about myself. I do have confidence in myself to be able to look and feel good but I also know I have so many other qualities that are valuable.  And guess what?  My girls are watching me...even my son is watching!  As parents, we can't escape. 

I guess I am lucky to that my husband loves me just the way I am. I wouldn't have it any other way though...

Despite what I say and do there is an outside influence that creeps into our household. My daughters are also learning how to behave from others but it is our job to right the wrongs and to talk about it and discuss why what they hear and see is good or bad. Positive or negative. Sometimes we need help with that. Today I discovered a source for inspiration. Something my girls (especially my youngest) can read and look at to help us along the path of growing up to love ourselves.  Social media can be a difficult part of raising girls but I take it more as a positive and it's really positive when we can share what we find with others.  Thanks to OttawaValleyMoms for sharing:

http://www.ottawavalleymoms.com/2014/09/mommy-am-i-pretty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mommy-am-i-pretty

I am heading out to find this book. Actually I will get a few of them. 

And remember... They are watching us!  Our every move!  Ha!

Back to Routine

We are back into the swing of things. The kids are in their school routines and a few evenings a week we are out to dance class, hockey... It's wonderful!  I love routine.

What makes me especially happy is reconnecting with friends that we have through our children. Our friends we have made from taking our kids to various activities and therefore spending quite a bit of time with them. I am also reconnecting with an old friend who now I see twice a week...it's such a good feeling.  

We are much more relaxed this time of year and happy. 

It's Renfrew Fair Time

Hello from the Renfrew Fair!  One of the most wonderful times of the year!  It's the first week of school but definitely hard to get into routine when we must get our fill of exhibits, shows, fair rides and fair food.  One of the best parts of the fair is getting to spend time with family and friends and having cousins all around the same age makes it even more fun!

We are all tired by the end of the day but not as lucky as wee Madison. She gets to fall asleep in Uncle Ian's arms.

Kitty Town

Being on a farm includes having a few cats. Over the years we have a few that stick around and actually become pets. They keep the mice population down (and enjoy a few birds, chipmunks, rats etc) and just hang out around the house. 

Strays and drop-offs arrive sometimes. They become part of the mix or leave again. Our children learn the cycle of life quickly with these cats with procreation happening and with the coming and going of felines. 

A few times a year we hear that soft meowing under piles of wood, in dark corners or in tall grass. The kids get very excited and spend their spare time looking for kittens or "playing" with them. This summer we have had two different batches of kittens from one of our cats that has been with us for a while.  The most recent batch has captured our kid's hearts...

These four little kittens make a total of nine cats that we have right now (I am NOT a cat lady). Jean spent quite a bit of time "looking after" them today after she came home from school. Most of the time we don't tame our cats but I am fairly certain as long as these little creatures survive, that they will be tame. All three kids are handling them and Jean and Alex think they like baths in mud puddles and rides down our slide. This could end badly...

It's pretty cute though. Anyone need a cat?

First Day of School

It's the first day of school!

The excitement was all through the house this morning!

Grace is in grade five, Alex is in grade 3 and Jean is in grade 1. Time is flying through the school years but I am so thankful for that. Each one enjoys their school experience...let's hope this feeling lasts. 

Our bus comes 20 minutes earlier now but we will quickly get used to that and it will be nice to start the day at 8:30am. 

It's a busy week here with our local fair starting tomorrow. We exhibit crafts, produce and baking to make the fair even more fun. Our regular routine starts next week once the excitement of school and the Renfrew Fair is over. 

Happy First Day of School!

Trip to Colorado: Our Afternoon in Vail

Sunday August 24 was our last day in Colorado so we drove to Vail.  We walked around the villages and took the gondola up to the top of the ski hill.  

We were all experiencing the change in altitude but decided we could do a 1/2 hour hike across the mountain. 

We were very, very high up but took it all in.  The beauty of the surroundings was amazing.  I was feeling very light-headed but I wanted to take this hike because I may never get the chance again.  We took a different gondola down the mountain and roamed around the village again going through the farmers' market.  Ann and I found a cute little cowboy boot shop where boots where over $1000 per pair... a little out of our price range.  We drove a little farther to another town and stopped for a snack and a coffee while sitting on a small patio over looking more mountains.  It was such a great day - a perfect end to our trip to Colorado.

Unfortunately we had more bad luck with our flights the next day.  The airlines had a mix-up again and Ian and I flew separately from Ann and Jim back to Toronto and Ottawa.  Ian and I did some more fast moving through Toronto's airport but thankfully we made it home, with lots of stories to tell.  August 25 was my birthday and I spent it in 3 airports but at least I was with Ian the whole time. We came home to a birthday cake, our three awesome kids and my wonderful parents.
Happy 37th Birthday to me!

Trip to Colorado: Wedding Day

It's the big day - Wedding Day!  

For our stay in Eagle, Colorado, we were fortunate to stay in a house that Warren and Courtney rented for some of their wedding party and themselves.  The bride got ready in their room with her bridesmaids and I was able to see her walk down the lane to her "red chariot".

The Ottawa Valley (Renfrew) Crew:  Ian Costello, Chris Collins, Myself, Ann and Jim McGregor (Ian's parents, Ian was with the wedding party)
The day held glimpses of sun but mostly it was cool and rainy.  

The wedding ceremony music was perfect - these two girls are friends of Courtney and Warren's, which made it even more special.
 I loved their yellow dresses and boots!

I took this photo from my spot in the "Circle Ceremony"... a new experience for us.  All of the guests stood in a circle as the bride and groom walked around the circle, on their own, greeting all of us.  I loved this part of the ceremony. 

Warren waits for his bride as the ceremony continues.

Courtney walks towards Warren with her parents and the wedding party is behind her.

This isn't the whole wedding party... there is one more couple.  The bridesmaids wore a blue dress of their own choice and the groomsmen wore pants of their choice and with shirts, ties, tie-clips and belts from Warren.  The flowers were yellow and various kinds - it all looked perfect together.

Warren and Courtney spend a lot of their time biking, as do many locals in Eagle Colorado.  That theme was throughout their whole wedding and once their ceremony was finished, they rode off together by themselves.  It was raining but they went anyways... I just love this photo.

Many of the guests also rode bicycles from the ceremony, including Ian, Ian and Chris.
The ride was mostly downhill all the way to the reception hall.

This was my last good photo of the wedding.  Before dinner, the guests played games and socialized.  We threw a football around and it was so much fun.  I took off my shoes and played in the green grass.  It was very relaxing and enjoyable.  Ian and I sat together during dinner at their head table; the meal was excellent and the wine and champagne was good.  I put my camera away and spent the rest of the time enjoying it all...taking it all in.  We danced the night away on an outdoor dance floor to a band that played country and bluegrass music.  We had a great time.
On a side note, I was brought up to the stage to sing O'Canada, in honour of Warren.  I really hope no one got that on video.  

I love weddings.  Every wedding has it's uniqueness but this one seemed to suit the bride and groom perfectly.  Ian and Warren have been friends a long time but after meeting Courtney, we have a new friend in her.  She is absolutely lovely - a very kind person and I look forward to meeting up with them again soon.   We would like to thank Warren and Courtney for including us in their wedding celebrations.  It was a trip of a lifetime and an experience to treasure.