Brother & Sister (Quotable Bits #34)

Nothing melts my heart more than seeing these two together - watching them love, grow, and bond in a way that will hopefully last a lifetime. I was watching a cute show on Disney Junior with them the other day when this sweet little song came on about a big sister and her little brother and the bond that they share (Stella & Sam).

"Since you were born,

I've known you,

And all the things I've shown you,

I was there when you came home,

Straight through my front door,

Into my life,

Forever,

We'll always be together,

Brother, sister and best friend,

Baby we're the perfect blend"

Listen to the full song HERE (Click on "Since You Were Born")



Oh how I love these two

Now it's your turn! Pick a quote, add a photo or write a blog post, and link up your quotable bits! The linky will be live all week, and don't forget to tell your friends, the more the merrier!



Kinder-Pardon (Part 2): Prep Mode

  

My baby girl starts Kindergarten in just under 2 weeks, and this mama is (still) freaking out. The Kindergarten orientation experience was overwhelming enough for me, but with the approach of this milestone so close, I'm doing my best to come to terms with this momentous occasion. Here are the steps I've taken so far to ease myself into this big transition:

Step 1: Update lunch boxes and food containers. A task that I thought would be fun, quickly became the bane of my existence. I have loathed the dreaded l-word for some time now, and fishing through a sea of multi-sized tupperware on a nightly basis has been enough to put me over the edge. My solution? To find a bento box style lunch container that could hold all of the items in one unit. After hunting around Google for quite some time, I came across these gems and quickly placed my order:



Go Green Lunch Box Image Source

I was so excited that I had finally found the perfect lunch box solution, and eagerly awaited its arrival. When I opened the package, I was pleased with the product, and my kids seemed to love it as well. I packed their lunches with a smile on my face, proud of myself for accomplishing this first step. Little did I know, not everyone loved it as much as I did.

My husband's first comment was that it was much too large (side note: too large for my little ones who are 2 and 5, I don't think the size would be an issue for an older elementary school student).  

The daycare teachers politely rejected the lunch boxes as well (not to my face of course, but through my husband). The size of the boxes were again an issue because they took up so much space on the daycare lunch tables. I had included homemade pasta in their lunches that day, resulting in the teachers having to scoop out the pasta, place it in a bowl to heat up, and then re-place back into the box for consumption. They also mentioned that they like to have the snacks and treats in separate containers so they can offer them to the children at their discretion. Fair enough, but in my mind, all small potatoes.

Begrudgingly, I set out that night to find a new solution, leaving my lovely lunch boxes tucked away - their fate still to be determined. 5 stores later, and I now have (yet another) matching set of tupperware containers that will be used moving forward.

Step 2: Establish a new pick up/ drop off schedule. This task wasn't quite as much of a challenge, but I'm dreading the day when this new schedule will be implemented. Right now, I'm lucky enough to have both of my children placed at the same daycare, which is less than 5 minutes from our home, and right on my way to the office.

Beginning in September, I will need to drop off my 5 year old at a before/after school care location (in the completely opposite direction), and then my 2 year old at daycare. Longer morning routine, cue the sarcastic enthusiasm.

Step 3: Step up the bonding time. The rapid approach of Kindergarten is a solid reminder that my baby is no longer that. She is a big girl, and will only continue to grow and mature. And while I refuse to accept that she will one day be a teenager, drive, date, procreate (GASP!), I will welcome this milestone with open arms. In the meantime, I feel as though a few bonding activities are a must. First, I am planning a back-to-school shopping day, just us girls. She needs a new outfit, doesn't she? Second, I'm going to take her for some mommy/daughter mani/pedis, because she has always wanted to do this, and this is something that us big girls enjoy! Third, I've signed us up for a mommy & me cooking class at Hungry Oven. Because there's nothing more bonding than creating and sharing a meal together, right?

What are some ways in which you've prepared for this big milestone? I'd love some advice from the expert mamas out there!

Pinterest-ing Funnies (Quotable Bits #33)

I'm still figuring out this whole Pinterest thing, but I must admit, I'm not totally hating it. The only problem is, while most people seem to be using their Pinterest skills for good (new recipes, craft ideas for the kids, and cool new DIY projects), I seem to have developed an obsession for pinning someecards quotes. They're witty, silly, and sometimes totally inappropriate, but for some reason, I just can't stop pinning them. Here are my recent top 5 faves:

Admit it, you can't wait to repin these little gems, can you? You can follow my pins here!

Now it's your turn, pick a quote, write a post about it or add a photo, and link up your quotable bits! Don't forget to tell your friends, the more the merrier!

Myth Busters - The Truth About Boys

One my favourite blog mamas, Amanda of Lilahbility, has just welcomed into the world a brand new, handsome baby boy. When she asked me if I would do a guest post for her, I was honoured, and thought this would be the perfect time to fill her in on the changes she might face as a newbie to the wild and wonderful world of “boy”.

I too had a girl first, and was nervous about the changes that might come with having a boy. I had lived my first 3 years as a mama to a little creature from Venus, and had no idea what to expect from a critter from Mars.

Come on over to Amanda's space for my LIST OF 10 THINGS I HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT HAVING A BOY, and don't forget to give this amazing new mama of two a little comment love!

Down By The River (Quotable Bits #32)

If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that I live alongside a river - the backdrop for many of my postings. I don't live in "a van down by the river" a la the famous Chris Farley SNL skits, but I do spend a lot of time there, and am so thankful to have such a beautiful setting only steps from my front door.

This weekend was a beautiful, hot and sunny Summer's weekend. Too hot to bask in the sun, but just right for toe-dipping in the icy river's waters. We had quiet rock-throwing family time by the river's shore, and play time with a group of friends at dusk after a delicious BBQ.

The river has become a part of our Summer weekend routine - tubing, picnicking and wading in its natural beauty.

“A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself.” ― Laura Gilpin

Follow me on Instagram @bitsofbee

Now it's your turn! Pick a quote, add a photo or write about it, and link up your quotable bit! Don't forget to tell your friends, the more the merrier!



10 Things My Parents Did Right

I wouldn't be the person or the parent that I am today if it weren't for my fabulous parents, so I was excited when I saw that Lisa from The Sprog chose "10 Things My Parents Did Right" for this week's Monday Listicles topic. I could probably come up with 1,000 things my parents did right, but I'll settle with the top 10:

1) They chose me to be their daughter - this is definitely the best thing they did :)

2) They have always been supportive of my hobbies. From my love for dance, to my desire to play piano, to my dreams of taking acting classes - they made it happen, and they supported me through each class I took.

3) They taught me the importance of working for what you achieve. They didn't just hand things to me when I asked for them, they made me work for what I wanted. If I wanted to borrow the car, I had to wash it and put some gas in the tank. Working for what I wanted made me appreciate the privileges that came as a result of my hard work.

4) They didn't expect perfection, but they did expect me to do my best. I wasn't expected to bring home As on my report card, but I was encouraged to try my hardest, and my personal successes were always celebrated.

5) They have always been loving towards each other, and have shown me through their relationship what to look for in a husband and in a long-lasting marriage.

6) My parents fed me healthy foods, teaching me to take care of my body. I wasn't allowed to have fast food or sugary cereals (except for on special ocassions), and thanks to them, I have never had a cavity in my life!

7) They let me choose my own path in life. Instead of trying to push me to do something that they wanted me to do, they allowed me to explore my options, and to make my own decisions on what I wanted to do with my future.

8) My dad taught me these 10 important things that have shaped the person that I am today.

9) And my mom taught me these 10 important things that have shaped the person that I am today.

10) By having wonderful parents who have taught me how to live, how to love and how to grow, I have in turn become a parent who is hopefully doing all of the same right things for my lovely little ones.

My parents and I at a 70s-themed birthday party - no, my mom doesn't really have an afro

Butterflies (Quotable Bits #31)

“I almost wish we were butterflies and liv'd but three summer days - three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” 

- John Keats

All photos taken using Instagram - follow me @bitsofbee!

Another summer quote for another long weekend filled with summer family fun. I can't get enough of this weather, and hope that it stays with us forever.

Now it's your turn! Pick a favourite quote, add a photo or write a post, and link up your quotable bits!

Mama Scaredy Cat And The Little Mouse That Could

Confession: I'm freaking terrified of the birds and the bees (literally, not figuratively). And mice? Well let me tell you a little story about mice.

I've recently had a few visitors in my office, of the four-legged variety. Don't get me wrong, I think mice are adorable - when they're securely locked in a cage. But when someone calls out that a mouse is running into my office, and I see the little critter making a mad dash for my desk, I tuck my legs up and scream like a little girl.

Today was a little worse than the last visit from my little mouse friends. I was in the middle of a meeting, when I saw a larger-than-normal mouse make a mad dash through my legs and behind my desk. I had slipped my flats off, and was terrified that the mouse had hidden inside my shoes, so I ran barefoot down the hall, screaming in a high-pitched voice, and flailing my arms above my head. I jumped onto the desk of a co-worker and tucked my legs up. Totally normal and mature reaction right?

Some guys in the office attempted to guide the mouse out of my office, and what did it do? Made a mad dash down the hall, and right under the desk that I had secured myself on. Again, with the company of three other girls in the office, I hopped off and ran down the hall screaming. Imagine three grown women, running in a huddle down the hall, arms flailing. Behind them, a tiny little mouse, running for its life. And closely behind the mouse? Three grown men armed with hockey sticks.  

Long story short, the mouse was captured, my shoes were returned to my feet, and I was back to work, shaking and maybe a little teary eyed.

This incident has reminded me that I'm a mom now, and that my actions - and more importantly my reactions directly impact my children. I used to freak out when a bee would buzz near me - flailing my arms, twisting my head back and forth, and screaming. One day a bee flew near my daughter, and she reacted in the very same way. I quickly realized that she was doing this because she had seen me react in the same way, not because she knew that bees were capable of stinging.

I've done my best since then to clench my jaw and freeze in my place, with a crooked smile on my face when a bee comes close, to show my children that there is nothing to fear.  Am I still scared? Hell yes. But I don't want my children to be afraid of something solely because they have a wimpy mama.

So I'm reminding myself that in the face of fear (ie: the presence of birds, bees or mice), this mama needs to suck it up, act tough, and set a good example!

Say hello to my little friend Mr. Mouse

Is there anything that freaks you out? Do you try to act tough about it when your kids are around?