What the World Needs Now......

Check this kid out:

Other than the simple fact that she is probably on a major Stampede Sugar High... and the obviously sweet moves she's got... this kid has SOOOO much CONFIDENCE.

I think that the world needs more kids like this.  I'm sure we all want our kids to be confident and comfortable in their own skin.  But the question remains... how do we download that confidence into our kids' DNA?  Do we have to model confidence?  Do they need to see us dancing like no one is watching?  Do they need the Miley Cyrus Video Box Set (not sure that even exists)?


Here is another confident kid.... or he's oblivious... or maybe his parents are.  Either way a proud Canadian and Eskimos fan would NEVER go anywhere in this outfit... but this young man if rockin' the wardrobe.  Maybe it's a good thing he's cute.  I'm just surprised that nobody called Social Services about the child abuse that is going on in this picture:

Maybe if more kids had parents like this one:   

She's not worried about looking like a fool at the family BBQ.  The rest of the parents are parked on lawn chairs with Margaritas in hand... but not Jenny.  She's RIGHT IN THERE with the lil ones.  AWESOME.  Kids are always watching.

Some are watching their weight:

Seriously though... lets get out there and grow some confident kids.  

:)

Love Team J

White Trash Summer

* Please note: The term "white trash" isn't meant to offend anyone... but rather to describe a way of life that is common in  Alberta... and MANY other places.



Picture this.......

J is wearing inside-out batman gonchies and red crocks.  L is topless.  Wearing a diaper that is FULL of sprinkler water.  There are wagons, water guns, Tonka trucks, dandelions and sidewalk chalk sprinkled all over the lawn.  The boys are fighting over the hose... and the trucks... and the wagons.  Why can't they fight over who gets to pick the dandelions.

I am sitting at a picnic table that is in desperate need of a sanding and a paint job (any takers).... next to a patio table that no longer has chairs... but the table sits there as if it's waiting for patrons.

Now Luke is crying because he needs a nap (he didn't agree with me when I suggested it earlier).  He might be upset about his diaper situation too.

I periodically yell over to J "STOP THAT," "Don't spray me," "get your gonchies back on," "get off the grass seed," "IT'S NOT YOUR TURN!!!!!!"  Then I see L coming out of the garage with a bottle of spray and wash that he collected from the recycle bins... nice.... "NOOOOOOOO, YUCKY... PUT THAT BAAAAAACCCCCKKKK."  It's empty... but still.  Is there anything that little boys WON'T get into???

I brought the laundry outside to fold it... otherwise it won't get done.

My view is not that great.  A few houses... most with treed backyards.... cool.  But this one house has the original shingles (probably from 1984) that have been through 56 hail storms and a close call with a funnel cloud.  lol.  The fence hasn't been painted since 1984 either.  They use their deck as a storage container.  The tent that is set up in the backyard has been there since June.... I think it might be a storage container too.  They periodically park in the back alley (NOT in a parking spot... just amongst the weeds and old mattresses that they have).

The only thing that could make this a more trashy scene would be if I were barefoot, pregnant (I'M NOT by the way), smoking a ciggy and drinking an Old Milwaukee Beer.  Oh, and maybe if I gave the boys some Red Bull to sip on.

But... we're happy... and we're not worried about being Trashy.  The kids are having a blast.  Little Lukey is learning about sprinklers, taking turns, how dirt tastes and how it feels when you ignore nap time.  Jake is just LOVING being outside... where you can use your outside voice and run and run and run and roll around in the grass and nobody cares.  He's "cleaning" the house and the shed and the fence and the neighbours windows (I'm sure they'll appreciate that) with the sprinkler.  "Mommy, I washing John's house because it's so dirty of bugs."  They are enjoying life... they are learning a lot... and they are just being little boys.  It's awesome.

I could tell you about the inside of the house... but that's a whole other blogpost.

Enjoy your trashy summer.  :)

Hoarders

We're all hoarders... in our own little way.  Some more than others.  Some, enough to qualify for a spot on the TV show.  Others, not so much.

I've been hanging on to MANY things for MANY years... and I'm starting to realize that having a house with "great storage" is actually a hinderance more than a bonus.

Since I married Chris (Aug. 2005) I have been "hanging on" to much.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  Maybe it's hereditary..... have you seen my mom's garage?

Maybe I'm scared that I'll need something some day... or I'll meet someone that needs something that I may have.... or maybe there is value in my "things," so I better hang on to them.

Wanna hear about my collections?  Stop reading if you don't.....

• "Memories" and photos and things of significance.  This isn't bad... but there comes a point where you need to ask yourself if there is REALLY a need to keep everything.  :)

• "Teacher Crap" (that IS a term of endearment).  Since high school, I have been "collecting" teacher resources, bulletin board items, bajillions of worksheets (and I pretty much HATE worksheets), books and treasures that "might come in handy in a classroom someday."  I have a single car garage that is MOSTLY full of teacher stuff.  I promised myself that once I had been teaching for 5 years that I would weed through it and only keep what I was using.  Well, I've been a "teacher" for 7 years.... but have only been in the same position for three of those.  Just recently I have decided that I'm waaaay better off borrowing, copying and finding what I need... WHEN I NEED IT.  The reality is, google does such a good job that I don't really have a need for so much of this "stuff."  Yesterday I filled a garbage can with "get rid of it" stuff and a 1/2 ton truck with "donate it" stuff.  I'm heading back today to purge some more.  :)  We are having shelves built in a 10x10 shed.  THAT is the space for this "teacher stuff."  Anything that doesn't fit in there has to go.  Easy Peasy.

• Kids (more specifically, boys).... Have you noticed that Chris and I have quite the collection?  ;)  Aren't they handsome?

• Clothing:  Kids clothing, my clothing, things that "might fit again" (although we all know that it would be so out of style by the time that ever happened).  I'm also getting rid of a lot of this stuff.
• Pounds.... YIKES.... maybe you haven't noticed (yeah right).  Over the years I have become really good at packing on the pounds.  I'm hoping to de-clutter in the weight area too... enough is enough... I want the old Melanie back.  :(

• Office Supplies: those of you that get your kicks at Staples would understand.... the rest of you just won't... it's ok.
• Books.  Seriously, if I had a dollar for every book that I have because I thought I would (or should) read it someday I would be a MAJILLIONAIRE.  Time to sort through, purge, and stop collecting.  My Children's Book collection is even more of a problem.  YIKES!
• Friends... I collect friends.... old and young... near and far.  And I am NOT de-cluttering this one. 

Truth is, I probably could have made this list waaaaaay longer.... but then I'd be hoarding your time... and that wouldn't be cool.  :)  So I'll stop.  

Make a comment... tell me what you have been holding on to and why.  I'm dying to know if I'm alone in my collections.  

Tearful Goodbyes

This week we said goodbye.

A few times.

And another big one is coming tomorrow (when I see my little preschoolers off).  :'(

We said goodbye to soccer... and Coach Jason.

We wondered if soccer would ever end.  It did.  And we're crazy enough to do it again next year.  Actually, I hate to admit it.... but the people that said, "it gets better," were RIGHT.  Jake did great (after a rough start).  He really bonded with Coach Jason and now says, "I a good soccer guy mom."


We said goodbye to hair.... lots of hair.

And here is the finished product.  It's similar to having leather furniture and hardwood... the ease of wiping it off can't be beat.  Now after Luke is done eating we just take a face cloth to his head.. so convenient... lol.

We said goodbye to KidsPlay Preschool... the happiest place on earth.  :'(  What a wonderful group of people that really "get" kids and what they need.  If you need a great preschool program check out kidsplay.

And we said goodbye to Mrs. Fox, Jake's music teacher..... and one of my favourite people.

We also said goodbye to "Julian" (Gillian). She has been doing home visits through the school board.  What a great lady.

We also said goodbye to some other stuff...... but I won't get into that.  YUCK!

Growing Up.

It always sounds CHEEZY-O-LA when people say, "Oh my, they just grow too fast."  But, seriously, it's TRUE!!  Eli will start HIGH SCHOOL in September... huh?  High School?  Noah will turn 13 this summer.... huh?  13?  Jake is almost done his first year of preschool.  And Luke is talking, walking, running and getting quite the sense of humor. 

Here are 2 short videos of Pookie's new skills:  

About 68 bajillion times per day I find myself thinking.... "will the whining ever end?" "will he ever wipe his own butt?" "why can't they just eat what I make... and NOT throw it on the floor?" "what is so hard about ......?"  But, then.... late at night.... when they are all asleep (and I SHOULD be)..... I find myself wanting a pause button.  Yet, for a huge part of the day, I have been wanting a "fast forward to bed time" button.

Do you ever stop to think about where you are in life... and how you perceive the challenges and battles of each day and almost "wish them away"?  I'm convinced that one day we will look back and realize that THESE days (when the kids are little... and the days are one battle after another) are the BEST days of our lives.

So right now, I'm going to PAUSE... and ENJOY the moments of today... for I know that once these days are behind me... that I will begging to have them back.


Will I ever miss THIS:  I somehow doubt it.  ;)

Goodness Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!

Over the weekend I was home alone with the little boys while Chris was in Calgary with the big boys.  Just before 5 pm someone started banging the snot out of my front door (it might have snot on it... who really knows) and ringing my doorbell.  I was a bit freaked out and planned to NOT answer the door.

But the person on the other side of the door just flung it open and started yelling, "GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, GET YOUR KIDS... THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR IS ON FIRE!!!!"  I could immediately smell the smoke and started rushing.  Living in a duplex (which I have started to feel uneasy about), I wasn't sure if it was the adjoining unit or the duplex next door... I didn't care, I just ran for it (but made sure to grab the camera... obviously).

We raced across the street to the park.... and THIS is what we saw:

It seemed to take FOREVER for the firetrucks to get there.... and it was insane to watch just how quickly the fire spread.  Here are a few more pictures.... YIKES!

I felt so terrible for this girl, standing in tears as she watched her house burn down.  She lives in the unit on the right... the fire started on the other side, but quickly spread and destroyed her house.

My TOTALLY relaxed little dude... was so patient through the whole process.

And my little Platoon Chief :) Obsessed with firetrucks since the event.  Seconds after returning to the house he was rounding up his fire toys and driving them around saying, "weeee ooooo, weee oooo."  And the next day he said, "Mommy, I DO love dose fire mans.  Dey helping dat broken house.  Ya, mommy, dat house was having a hard time yeshterday."  So sweet.

And this is what is left:

The day after this fire, I learned of the wild fires in Slave Lake.  Watching the images online is just hearbreaking.  Just thinking about how devastating a fire on the front of one single house can be... and then trying to imagine what it would be like for a fire to take most of an entire town.  If you are in a position to help, please do.  If not, send a prayer... it's the least you can do.

There are some very moving images on this video... have a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=s5m6OErRXpA#at=220

May the 4th Be With You.

Well... the adventures have been coming fast and furiously for the past few weeks.  Maybe a picture walk is in order.... because really, what else should I do with the bajillion photos I take??

Have you heard the news?  There is another Johnston on the streets.  On my birthday Eli got his learners license.  WHOOOOAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH NELLY... where has the time gone?  He was in Kindergarten when I met him.  As a side note.. Luke started walking about the same day.  One learning to drive, one learning to walk... how's that for opposite ends of the milestone spectrum.

This is a clip from a video... but it was too cute not to share.  Luke was at a birthday party for some of his homeboys and girls and they brought out a tunnel.  Good times.

Billy Bob teeth. So you know by now that it doesn't take much for me to be amused.  :)

Well, it's official.... we are soccer parents.... again.  Although I don't remember the urge to drink after Eli and Noah's soccer games.  Oh my... it was a GONG SHOW.  At one point 6 of the 12 kids from our team were crying... the other 6 were off eating rocks and picking dandelions.  They are so little and it is seriously adorable... but BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!!!  We're hoping that our field isn't right beside the playground next week (or ever again maybe).  The playground was locked.... but some of the kids (Jake included) managed to sneak in under the fence.  Good times.

On a positive note.. Luke sat like this THE WHOLE SOCCER GAME.  He didn't complain, didn't move, just sat and mumbled baby talk to himself and smiled.  I'm not sure what we did to deserve such an EASY-GOING little guy... but we are sure thankful for it.  

The end.  May the 4th be with you.  Have a good StarWars day.

:)

xoxo