Grocery Shopping

Grady eating his free cookie from the bakery.... at 9am.

Note:  Looking at my cart I can see 3 bags of chips right on top.  Three.  To my defence, we have company this weekend and wanted to have snack food on hand.  I do have fruit and veggies in there somewhere... I promise!

I hate grocery shopping.  I always have and probably always will.  Especially if you have to shop at Superstore where it seems to be busy no matter what time you go.  Add in a three year old (or worse yet a one year old!) and grocery shopping is suddenly worse than you ever imagined.

Now that I am back at work we try to squeeze grocery shopping in on the weekend either during nap time for first thing Saturday morning.  I just can't bring myself to do it in the evening.  I am too tired to even think about conquering the grocery store after the kids go to bed.  That time is better used watching trashy TV :)  I also try to get away by myself for a break.  My oh my how times have changed after kids and grocery shopping alone is a break!  Rarely does it work.

When Grady joins me I also try to get away with buying minimal kid stuff.  We avoid the toy section like the plague which is terribly difficult with a kid who can spot a lightening mcqueen toy from a mile away.  This weekend I got away with buying a McQueen plate for each of the boys and convinced Grady that we would get the bowls and utensils on another trip.   I thought that was a smart move, but guess who was back at Superstore the next day buying utensils....

My other beef with grocery shopping these days in the cost.  I didn't know that 2 little people could increase a grocery bill so much.  I am in awe every time the cashier tells me the total of my weekly shopping bill.  Just the other day I went to Sobey's for the 'essentials'. I walked the perimeter of the store for produce, dairy, and some ground beef for dinner.  I walked out 20 minutes later and over $100 poorer.  It just amazes me how expensive trying to eat healthy is.

I also hate that I have to plan before I grocery shop. I need to know what I am going to make for suppers that week, what we are low on, and how much to buy of everything.  Believe it or not, my iphone has helped me stay a little bit more organized.  I started a note of meals that my family likes and things that are somewhat easy to prepare.  Each week I browse through it and pick a few meals which I then have to add the ingredients to my list.  I have this app, Grocery IQ, that I love.  I can add things to my list where ever I am and as I shop I can check things off.  I don't miss things on my list anymore!  I highly recommend it.

Although I still don't like grocery shopping I don't have a choice so I have to grin and bear it.  If Grady comes with me I try to make it special Mommy and Grady time by getting him a treat and always treating him to the free cookie no matter time of day it is, even 9:30.  And the cookies at Superstore are way better... just saying.

We have to eat, right?  So we have to grocery shop and make the best of it.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Bowling

The other weekend we decided to go to the bowling alley.  Nana is out of town and we are so used to having a fun outing to her house for supper that we decided to keep it up while she is away.  The four us and Auntie Bo and Uncle Dave headed to the local bowling to have some fun!



Grady was so pumped about bowling all weekend.  He just lit up when we arrived and once again it was glow bowl.  We considered having a bowling birthday party for Grady this year but was worried about how all the younger siblings would do.  Well this outing told us they would have been fine!

Cooper squealed with excitement each and every time one of us would take him up the line with us.  He only took off down the alley once!  He wanted so badly to pick the ball up and carry it over himself but that would really hurt if one happened to land on his toe!

Grady did much better at taking turns and let Auntie Bo and Uncle Dave take their turns.  He did the odd throw for James and I but overall he was very patient and did much better than our first time.

What I personally loved was the music. Wow did it take me back to high school.  Do all bowling alley play music from the 90s?  I was singing along with all the songs.  I would love to go bowling with my 'old' friends so we could reminisce over the songs.

Maybe I'll suggest that next time we see each other.... who needs to shop right?  I'm thinking my great idea is not going to over well with the girls!

St. Patricks Day

This weekend to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day we decorated for Easter. We didn’t exactly plan it that way but it was a nice way to spend the day just the same. We started the day picking out our green shirts in honor of the Irish holiday. Cooper wore green, I wore green, and even James wore green. My little 3 year old Cars obsessed boy insisted on wearing his new red shirt. I told him he should wear green like the rest of us and he looked at his shirt, thought about it, and told me one of the cars on the shirt was green and that was good enough. I love the way 3 year olds think!

It wasn't long until he was shirtless. Clothes are optional at house I have heard... especially pants!

 I went for groceries and happened to pick up 2 Easter decorating sets with the dye and a few stickers. Grady saw them and immediately wanted to start painting eggs. It was very hard to explain to him that we had to boil them first. Not to mention that I wasn’t planning on painting eggs on St. Patty’s Day and didn’t buy any extras. We had 8 eggs total and I boiled them all. In total I think we broke 4. I boiled the water and went to put the eggs in and wondered how I was going to get the eggs in without breaking. I tried very slowly and carefully… and the egg broke. I had to dump all the water, put the eggs in and finally refill with water and boil. Looking back, I remember having the same problem last year and will no doubt make the same mistake next year. Learn from my mistakes and put the eggs in before you boil! 

 Grady is going through a crafting stage and will spend hours sitting at the table painting, coloring, doing stickers etc. So painting eggs was right up his alley. He either decorated or broke all the remaining eggs in no time! We put them in our Easter basket and will continue to add to it I am sure. We now have the fridge well stocked with 2 dozen eggs if he feels the need to decorate them again! Since we were doing eggs, I figured we might as well get the decorations out. I sent James down with him into the storage area to find the Easter box. Well I can hear Grady squealing with delights as I hear the pitter patter of little feet coming up the stairs. He had forgotten about his lightning McQueen Easter basket from last year. Saying he was thrilled would be an understatement. Cooper looked at his Elmo basket and was indifferent. 

At least he wore green underwear.  I told you pants were optional....

We set up the Easter Tree while we were at it as well. I got this tree years ago and went though about 5 years where I didn’t put it up. Glad I didn’t get rid of it as Grady loves putting the decorations on. 

I'm not sure about this tree....

 And just like that – we are ready for Easter!

First Day of Spring

 

Nothing says spring like a BBQ'ed burger... Don't you agree?

Time Change

Here is a little rant coming from a Saskatchewanian (spell check is telling me this is not a word) turned Albertan.  In Saskatchewan, they don't change time.  In Alberta we do. And I am taking a stand and saying it is stupid.  I can't understand why we need to change time.  It just makes people, especially parents, really tired and grumpy.

Here are the reasons that I hate the time change.

1.  Twice a year I have to remember to set back all my clocks.  They living room, the stove, the van, the microwave and the list goes on.

2. Once a year I lose an hour's sleep for no good reason.

3.  4 months of the year I have to think what time it is in SK before I make a phone call.

4.  It took 3 months for my kids to adjust to the 'fall back' time change.  They got up in the 5s for 3 months.  Just as it got better, the time changed again. Ironically at this time change, it took 3 days for them to adjust back to the 6s from the 7s.

5.  You run the risk of being late for whatever is happening the day after the time changed.  Or more likely in my case, I am on time and the person I am meeting is late.

6.  Just when I got used to not driving home from work with the sun in my eyes, the time changed and the sun is in my eyes again.

7. And lastly... just because it is stupid.

Enough said.

Wordless Wednesday

Brotherly Love

Usually, the boys do not get along great.  Cooper follows Grady around and Grady gets annoyed.  Cooper plays nicely with toy, Grady takes it away.  Cooper gets annoyed and bites Grady.  You get the idea.

Every once in a while I'll catch of moment where they are getting along.  As a Mom, it is such a nice feeling.  It gives me hope that someday the boys will be friends.

Not too long ago, I watched as Grady pretend to be a frog and hop across the couch and jump right on top of Cooper.  The first few times I held my breath thinking for sure Grady was going to hurt Cooper.  Go figure - he loved it!

The one below may be my absolute favorite picture of the boys.  They are smiling at each other, laughing even.  The joy on their faces makes me feel so proud.

Somebody loves their older brother....

Notice Lightening McQueen underwear.

... sometimes we are not sure why!

Boys will be boys!

Firsts

In the past few weeks Cooper had a few firsts.  Painting being the first.

Cooper benefits by being the younger sibling as he gets to do everything sooner than Grady did.  There was no way that Grady was painting at 16 months!

Cooper got some on the paper but a lot of it ended up in his hair...

... and on his lips when I wasn't looking.  That is what I get for letting a 1 year old paint!

At least I remembered to take his shirt off!

Next up was popsicles!  Grady picked some out at the grocery store and decided (was forced) to share with Cooper.

Notice Cars favorite shirt.

Cooper caught on really fast and ate most of it.

I thought that popsicles was a perfect treat for a beautiful spring afternoon.  I am pretty sure the kids agreed!

Obsession

Reasons I think Grady is obsessed with Cars (the movie):

Bad picture of G in his favorite shirt.

He will only wear T-shirts that are Cars related. He prefers lightening McQueen, by Mator will do if I insist his other one is clean.

He asks me to wash his favorite Cars 2 shirt every night. Every. Night.

We have purchased a few extra shirts so that I am down to laundry once every couple nights….

Cars tuque, favorite shirt, and sweater.

He insists on sleeping in the shirt that he wore all day if he is wearing one of his favorites. I usually let him.

In the morning he immediately tells me that his Cars shirt is clean knowing that I will tell him it is dirty and he needs to change it. I usually let him wear the shirt.

I hate to admit that I think our record is wearing it and sleeping in it for 2 days and 2 nights and finally changing it at the end of day 3. The daycare and school likely think we have no money for clothes.

He prefers to only wear Cars 2 underwear. Even if it is the old ones that have been washed so many times that the only way you can tell they used to have lightening McQueen on them is from the Cars tag. He likes knowing that although you can’t see McQueen, he once was on the underwear.

If we are lucky enough to get him out of his T-shirt for bed time, his favorite pair of PJs are the size 6 (don’t ask) Cars jammies that is like a night gown on him. I must admit he actually looks quite cute in these. As an alternative he will also wear the size 2 Cars PJs that his belly hangs out of.

He LOVES his McQueen tuque. Wears it all the time.

We only color pictures that are Cars 2 related.

Overall I think the obsession is kind of cute. It is great to be passionate about something. What I dislike is that he NEVER wears any of the clothes that I like to see him in… At least I can still dress Cooper. For now.

Monday Morning

This snowy, grey, ugly winter morning I got up and put on the new outfit that I bought on the weekend.  I was just about to leave and Grady told me I had on a very pretty dress.  Melt. My. Heart.  Grady had never said anything like this before and it made my Monday morning that much better.  He also asked me if I would still be wearing my pretty dress when I picked him up after work. 

Now that is one of the many reasons I love having a 3 year old.

I love this boy - construction hat and all!

A Great Saturday Indeed

After a long morning of tantrums and meltdowns, I got to spend the afternoon with one of my BFFs from back home.  Carmen and I were room mates for over 3 years in university and that  makes us like sisters.  She flew into town with out her babes for an appointment and I got the benefit of spending the rest of the day with her.  Entirely kidless.

I picked her up and we headed straight to Broken Plate for a little greek lunch and red wine.  I love days where it is appropriate to drink wine at lunch!  We had a great visit.  Carmen is a person that I love talking to about kids, sleep, discipline, and everything that comes with parenting.  She tells it like it is and we have had similar experiences.  Just a quick catch up and I feel renewed.

What I love most about 'old' friends is how you pick up where you left off and forget that you haven't actually seen each other in 9 months.  There is something to be said about those kind of friendships.

From lunch we headed to the mall where time passed way too quickly.  Carmen bought her first pair of Hudson jeans (she looked hot!) and I bought a work outfit that I loved but didn't need.  Isn't that what makes shopping fun?

Before we knew it, it was time to drop Carmen off at the airport where she hoped to finish her book before going home.  I was jealous as I can't remember the last book I read.  I guess that tells me I watch way to much TV in my spare time!

Sadly, the only picture I have from our visit is Carmen pumping in the nursing room at the mall that we texted to Deena for a good laugh.

Note to self:  Take more pictures next time.

Thanks for a great afternoon Carmen!

I called the Easter bunny.

Yes you read that right, last week I called the Easter bunny.

I was making supper when Grady comes running in asking if 'that bag' was for him.  I immediately panic.  I had left a bag of Easter goodies in the office that I may or may not have forgotten to bring upstairs promptly on my return home.  To my defence, I came in and put them in the office right away so the kids didn't see.  However, this happened over 2 days later.  I digress...

After my initial panic I think that maybe he is not talking about said bag full of Lightening McQueen loot.

Me:  Which bag are you talking about Grady?  

Grady:  This one right here.  

I ignore him hoping the issue goes away. It did not.

Grady:  Come here Mom and look.


I go in there and see that he is looking at my bag full of Easter treats.  oh crap.

Grady:  Is this for me?

He had a big smile on his face totally expecting that he was about to score everything in the bag.  Instead....

Me:  No


Enter Tears. He was really upset as big tears streamed down his face.  I thought about giving him one of the items but seriously this kid does not need anything new.  I used the distraction technique and got him finger painting.  He continued to cry that he just wanted the bag to be for him.  That is when the wheels in my head started turning....

Me:  Maybe you'll get them for Easter.


Grady:  From the Easter bunny?


Me:  Yes, maybe we should call him to be sure.

I grabbed my cell phone and called the Easter bunny.

Me: Hello Easter Bunny, it is Christy, Grady's mom

Pause.

Me:  Grady would like some Cars 2 balls for Easter.

Pause.

Grady:  Don't forget about the Cars 2 coloring book.

Me:  And also a Cars 2 coloring book.

Pause.

Me:  Thank you Easter bunny!  See you at Easter!

Seriously, the things you do for kids.

And yes, the bag is tucked away in my closet where it will not be seen again until Easter... Lesson learned.