So here's some long awaited pics of what we've been doing around here. The to-do lists are never done and I am frequently reminded why many people stay away from the fixer-up-starter-house!! Of course we love our house but man it's a lot of work...
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There are moments in my day when I am forced to change my plans and just stop and soak in the moment. This was one of them.
After returning home from the library, I sat in the opened garage, staring at these 2 sleepy boys as it poured rain. I didn't dare try to move them into their beds for fear of waking the sleeping giants. I put dishes, dinner prep and laundry aside and sat for 10 minutes of peace. Suffice to say- they're awake now and I'm so glad I took that minute to breathe. The only minutes I have now are the ones where I pause briefly before saving baby from some natural disaster or where I think at sonic speed to outwit, outlast and outplay my tantruming toddler. I think I might have a pitch for CBS for a reality show of 'House of Q Survivor'. We’ve seen lots of flowers in the last few weeks. We’ve completed our front yard garden project (see pictures), backyard, pots and we’ve been to greenhouses galore. We went to the Lilac Festival last Sunday for more flowers and when the grandparents told Kai we were all going to see some beautiful flowers, he responded, “ I don’t wanna see any F*ckin’ flowers”!!!!!!!!!!. Grandpa and Grandma Lizzie nearly lost their minds trying not to laugh thereby positively reinforcing the 3 year profanity. Where did he learn this? I’ll leave our readers up to figure that one out…
In the end we didn’t see any flowers. The festival seems to celebrate the idea of flowers but no flowers are present… but all of Calgary was there, it was a gorgeous day and we all got lost. Here’s a summary of our day: Tips for getting lost at a festival and separating your group… 5. Don’t plan a meeting spot in case of impending separation 4. Don’t discuss a wrap up time – assume this will occur naturally 3. Use hand gestures, not words when going separate ways, surrounded by hundreds of festival goers. 2. Only carry one cell phone although two exist in your household. This makes looking for one another that much more challenging. 1. Separate by gender, women stick together and men stick together that way you don’t have a representative opposite sex opinion and it makes looking for other gender much more discriminate. Look for one another for what feels like hours, deny baby nursing, feed toddler granola bar for lunch and once you find each other, do lots of yelling, cursing and death stares as thousands of people walk by you thereby maximizing public display of marital dysfunction. In the end, Maryliz and I ate fries from chip wagon (our goal), we had a 4 way argument between in-laws, hubby and I with all of us trying to get the last word in and the women were successful in reinforcing genetic flaws with males walking way too far ahead all the time thereby making separation sure to occur in any crowd. If I have to decide a winner (there is one in this case)… its Maryliz and I! We were right, we won, and we’re the best!! Yes Lizzie!! She’s got good arguments and she’s been managing these men for many years… All is forgotten now! Marriage is repaired and no child was harmed or irreversibly traumatized (as far as I can tell) by attending the “f*ckin’ flowers” festival! This week and last, the answer is 4! With the help of the in-laws, in addition to Jeff and I, we’re all negotiating with Kai, and supporting the almost free-standing Connor! The grandparents are tired, overcoming their own sickness and are surely re-thinking their 2 week visit but Jeff and I are lovin’ it. Jeff and I have been to Cirque du Soleil, a movie and on a date to the garden store for our landscaping project! It’s been awesome!
We’re into reno projects here at the House of Q. In the bathroom we changed the 1960 swing-style cabinet mirror to a sleek large wood framed mirror and we’ve been gardening … tomorrow the painting starts. The list is endless but the funds are sure to dry up long before the to-do list… (read = we’re taking donations!) . Without the grandparent “village” we’d never be able to tackle these projects… we couldn’t be more grateful. Q boy update: Kai is still grandpa’s little shadow. He’s always keen for action and usually has a suggestion of what they should do next. Connor has discovered that Gramma Lizzie is great for climbing on, she sings and has glasses to grab. She also shares her passion for the kitchen with Connor and all the gadgets and swinging cabinet doors. She let's Connor bang pots around and is always ready with a delicious spoon to stick in his mouth. Connor has definitely found a friend in Gramma Lizzie. Elimination Update: There will be some curious readers… the reality is that I was good when I was cooking, and firm on my intention but now that Gramma Lizzie’s here… I’m officially off the elimination challenge… yep! It was good while it lasted but I am lovin’ me some home cooked meals courtesy of Gramma Lizzie. I still think far too much about every food choice I make and have irreversibly changed the way I look at food, eating and my body but it’s been nice to eat and dine more freely again. So all in all, my symptoms are greatly improved but I still need to try some foods I haven’t had in 4 weeks. It was a great experience and I can definitely feel and see a difference in my body since adding foods back in (both good and bad). The end of the challenge has left me with lots to think about as I nourish these Q boys and move into the future of returning to work and eating healthy (suggestions, ideas and tips are greatly appreciated!!) Thanks to the grandparents, it’s a good life for the Q boys and the Q parents. The real question is: when are you moving to YYC? Isn’t it the most spring-like feeling to have the most massive head cold? Congestion like you’ve never thought possible, bleary eyes that prevent you from seeing the rising spring tulips and a cough that scares the birds, bees and butterflies away! Yep, that’s what I’ve got - a spring cold!
Just in time for the in-laws… I"m thinking: Sure come visit, care for my kids, cook for us, fix my non-existent landscaping and then take the cold, congestion and highly contagious pink eye with you… thanks! You’re the best! But back to me, yep I’m feeling like one giant glob of head cold…and it’s gorgeous out! In fact, by the time I’m feeling better it’s gonna be raining cats and dogs. The weather forecast is calling for 80mm of rain or something insane like that over all 3 days of the long weekend. So this Q House is trying to get outdoor stuff done and Mother Nature is not on our side. Oh well, we’ll likely exhaust all indoor activities, eat loads and maybe I’ll finally get to purging all the stuff swallowing me up...oooohhhhh I do love purging! Update on the Q Boys: Connor is loving the action around the house with the Q grandparents in town… yep he’s got them tucked into his back pocket. His smile dazzles and he’s happily playing, eating and sleeping like a champ (is there a catch?) Kai is ALL OVER grandpa. Yesterday there was a flurry of activity as soon as grandpa walked in the door and then Grandpa had to pass out for 1.5hours to recover… not Kai though. He dutifully watched over sleeping Grandpa to ensure the moment he opened his eye lids, another game was initiated. Suffice to say Grandpa is earning his keep around here!!! Grandma's popular around here too…Kai and Connor love the lipstick cheek kisses and Connor lies quietly with every diaper change or clothes swap for Gramma Lizzie. But she’s openly pleased to not have to work as hard as grandpa with the 3 year old play. FOOD update: Gramma Lizzie’s birthday was yesterday… so I made a homemade lemon cake with whipped frosting and lemon curd sandwiched between the cake layers. Martha Stewart I am not… this cake was tasty but NOT pretty!! It also took me a few hours… just 5! So I’m slow and Martha must be some kind of speedy baker…Oh well, I actually did each step to a tee except for a minor slip up on a lemon juice addition and the “do not boil” advisories!!! Who knew these were so important- guidelines right? Whatevs… the damn cake was tasty and Gramma Lizzie said she liked it!! Gramma Lizzie also ate my crispy chickpeas and Millet’strone’ soup today! So perhaps I’m converting her… but to be fair I’m gonna tuck into whatever she’s got stewing in the crock pot tonight… to hell with eliminatin’! (But I might secretly blame her for re-introducing the good food life again if my ND asks! I certainly can't take the fall for this one!) Kidding, I’ve been watching my symptoms and also paying heed to the damn sweet cravings! So all in all, I’m cleansed… but almost back onto regular eating, despite the original plan for re-introduction. I am however irreversibly changed with regards to the concepts I lived by for the last 3 weeks. It was a great experience and I'll be making some permanent changes... but seriously back to the Lemon cake... I slept in. I had breakfast catered for me. I showered. The weather was gorgeous so we went for a walk in the woods. We had a picnic (in the car due to extreme windy conditions) and an amazing dinner of lamb ( because I can eat Lamb)… it was stellar!
That is of course because I ignored the groaning, moaning and rumblings of my hubby who seems to “wake up” every few minutes to realize he has 2 crazy Q sons, a house that doesn’t tidy itself, laundry that doesn’t do itself and a kitchen that doesn't clean itself! Mother’s day was the day Jeff realized how much this Q mother does around here and it was sweet as for me!! I lounged on the couch, had a nap and pretended to be at a spa! I did lose my voice, acquire a nasty cold and learned that it was hard to nag, control and verbally instigate without my main tool! (i.e., my annoying voice). This was a good thing for Jeff as he was really able to tune out my whispered screams! Kai ignored me too! That kid is his father’s son, if there was every any doubt! So on another note: Mother’s! I have some amazing, wonderful and brilliant mother’s in my life. I have my own Mom and it’s been a few years for me but I've finally come to the realization that I am my mother’s daughter and this is not a bad thing. This is a precious gift and one that I am now embracing and celebrating! Thanks Mom for being such a wonderful guide, support and cheerleader to me! To the MIL- You are also a wonderful guide, support and cheerleader for both Jeff and I. It’s amazing and I’m so glad to be a recipient of this love and support. I also have my sister, cousins, Aunts and many women friends who I look to for inspiration, guidance and reassurance! You women are awesome! I am better for knowing you! I cherish any time we get together and am always thinking of you- not just on Mother’s day! So this week, we’re grateful in the House of Q! Grateful for the grandparent’s impending arrival tomorrow, grateful for the gorgeous weather and grateful that this elimination challenge is on it’s way out! Jeff’s making some outrageous statements and it’s time to weigh in. In the House of Q, he’s attempting to put a viewing and reading ban on the following:
-Curious George -Calliou -Franklin and Friends He feels these books are either violating animal rights and/or exposing Kai to some very bad and annoying habits. Let me explain: Jeff reads the bedtime books the majority of the time and Kai has lots of books which he LOVES. He loves reading the same book over and over and over and… over. Jeff has been known to hide books, recite stories from memory or freelance frequently. So there’s also been lots of thinking time on Jeff’s part. In addition, Kai has started up some seriously annoying habits- Jeff overheard a few of the characters from these books/movies saying the same things Kai does... put two and two together and BAM!!! = a reading ban on bad influencing characters!!! Curious George is a fan favorite but Jeff’s been thinking: a) They took a monkey from its natural habitat and locked him up in the zoo b) Curious George is always letting other animals go free and the crowd only cheers when the animals are safely captured again-most notable a black bear Jeff has a soft spot for c) Who is the “man in the yellow hat” anyways? Calliou: -He’s whiny, spoiled and a bit of a brat Jeff fears Kai may have learned some whining habits from Calliou and now fears spoiling and bratiness are in Kai’s future as well! Franklin and Friends: While Franklin himself is the culprit, his friends are rather good influences on Kai. They are often sharing or engaging in team efforts however Franklin himself is: a) Super whiny ( like poke your eye balls out annoying!) b) Responds to everything with a “eh” or “huh” which Kai now does like 80 year old !!! c) The theme song makes Jeff want to play the banjo ( this is actually pretty cool!) So all in all we’re in a bit of a conundrum as Kai loves these reads but Jeff's hiding them now. So we’ve started reading Babar and Angela’s Airplane ( Robert Munsch)… give it just a few nights and I’m sure Jeff will have dissected these works of children’s literature too! I just entered week 3 of the elimination challenge. I’d be lying if I said this was a breeze. Although I do feel good, I have become acutely aware of the disaster that comes with not planning ahead. I had a few days of uninspiring eating but I think I’m back on track.
My symptoms are greatly improved if not completely gone. So, one more week and then I start adding foods back into my diet. But to be totally honest, I can’t ignore what I’ve learned, how I’ve transformed my eating and how great I’ve been feeling. I miss sweets and baked goods but I am completely shocked that I was able to give them up in the first place and now I realize the benefit to monitoring my daily intake. So there’s a whole new world of eating out there and this Q household is gonna be making some dietary changes! Jeff will be the hardest, he thinks it’s funny to tease me and tries to get a rouse out of me as he stuffs his face with maple syrup covered berry pancakes while I choke back some raw buckwheat porridge! Weasel! Little does he know his sweet wheat days are numbered! The concept of healthy eating has radically changed in my mind and I’m now in search of the means to purchase a Vitamix (think: do-it-all blender, similar to a thermomix but a fraction of the price). My plan: juice the heck out of any and all produce lying around. If it can be chewed, it might as well be sipped on. These Q boys will be drinking their fruits and veggies on the go! So if you see them promoting the Vitamix at Costco by enticing you with fresh beet, apple and carrot juice etc… think of me. I’m gonna have to turn into a Vitamix rep to afford one but I’ll sell out if necessary! I have been learning again, in a course for 2 days and let’s be honest: Me, in a course, means Jeff has the boys … ALONE! Are you with me? The bigger issue is not the fact that I got out of the house and had some adult time, it was the reality that Jeff was home, on his own with the 2 Quiglets, undoing everything I’ve spent 3 years and 9 months creating!
It’s been … eye-opening! Jeff took the boys out on his own for the first time ever! I suggested heading to the grocery store, the zoo or the library, and he chose a trip to … the park… down the road! Awesome! He was proud of himself, I was chuckling inside but also very proud! Kudos Q Dad! The house was a bomb, meals were a free for all (i.e., Connor ate left over cheerios off the floor) and the kids enjoyed some time “au natural” without a wet cloth anywhere to be found. Diapers were changed, potty sessions did occur and previously worn clothes were donned for 2 days but all in all somehow…he survived without me! I had a great two days learning about primitive reflexes and their contribution to movement and function in babies, toddlers, school-aged children as well as in adults … so now I’ll be observing your movement without you knowing and then assessing and providing treatment suggestions to most of you for quality of life improvements! Are you excited? I am! We had a beautiful Sunday here in Calgary. It was 23 degrees and we had a birthday party at the zoo! So we enjoyed ourselves. It was a good way to end the week. On a sad note, we learned yesterday that our neighbour’s 3 year old son suddenly passed away on Friday night and it has sent intense ripples of emotion through both Jeff and I. I was very shaken and still am. I feel profoundly affected as both a mother, aunt, wife, daughter and friend. Jeff felt the heavy heart too and was the brave Q member who dropped off some “thinking of you” flowers. In response, I have been extremely patient with Kai and Connor, having lots of cuddle time, saying lots of “I love you”, and hugging and kissing my boys a lot. We are doing our best to enjoy each moment and to be grateful for all that we have! So in the end, I know that the house can be messy, the kids unclean, and we can all have issues derived from our primitive reflexes- it’s all good, as long as we’re together, happy and healthy! Be well! |