Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling

Family Trip to Costa Rica 2010

Costa Rica trip from justanotherstayathomemom on Vimeo.

my baby boy in NY

Yep......he is 1000 miles away from home but still keeps in touch with his I-phone. They grow up so so so fast. Letting go is so hard! He really has a personally that is easily missed when he is gone. I better get used to it....2 1/2 years and he gone to university....:(

Vacation time....

With all the taxes, RRSP's, private tuition fees and mortgage payments bogging us down... we decided this year to just bite the bullet and go away for spring break. I am tired of paying everyone else...and yes that means that our main bathroom will probably not be renovated till later in the year...but we only live once...and with Justin on his way to university in less than 3 years...we don't have much more family vacation time left. We have decided to go to COSTA RICA...since we have already taken the kids to Mexico and Jamaica...we wanted somewhere new and exotic but more importantly...HOT!. It's a bit risky because Central America is not the norm for spring breakers but with some brand new all inclusive resorts opening up in the last year it seems to becoming the new down south spot to experience. My family likes adventure...me personally I prefer to lie my fat arse on the beach and read all day while lifting my hand once in awhile to sip my pina colada but one must compromise so I said I will do 2 or 3 excursions off the resort including horseback riding in the jungle and visiting the active volcano. I am looking forward to creating some wonderful memories and to get the heck away from this SNOW! Stay tuned for updates after our return...just hope I don't get eaten by a BOA CONSTRICTOR!!

Valentine's Day isn't just for couples...

I woke up early this morning so Katie and I could drive down to Toronto to take my Nana to church on this Valentine's Day. We don't go to church often these days although all three of my kids attend mass regularly at their Catholic schools. Going to church was something I only ever did with my mom and Nana....a deep memory from my childhood.....my mother trying her best to sing the choir songs while my Nana listened attentively to the sermon...me always fidgeting in the pew trying to relieve my boredom by spying on people and counting how many coughs I heard during the service....anticipating the moment when we could step out of the church but only after Father had walked to the back of the church. Today I stood with my Nana once again as I had done so many times before in childhood taking in the faint smells of candles and listening to the songs of praise...but this time I looked around at the parishioners wondering what life they had that brought them to mass....most in wheelchairs, all veterans as my Nana insists on going to mass at the hospital where Grandpa lived during his Alzheimer years. I think about how quickly time has passed and feel a sense of sadness when I see my Nana with her walker, out of breath and trying to drag her leg with each step. She is an amazing woman who lost her mother as a child but somehow knew how to love her children and grandchildren. This time at mass I am not wanting the time to end but to stand still......looking down at my daughter with my hands on her shoulders just as my mother had gestured to me in church...I realize that she is now playing my childhood role probably hoping that she too can get out quickly and wondering why her mother drags her to mass. Well my darling I am doing so to teach you about love. Love that my Nana showed me all those times she took me to church. Church is a place to remember those in your life, to teach you to be a better person and live each day with kindness. So when my Nana is no longer on this earth...we can go to Church to remember and thank her for giving us such a wonderful gift.

girls and boys weekend...

Most women would probably be upset that their husband of soon to be 17 years would be away on Valentine's Day for a BOYS WEEKEND...but not me.....nope ...nadda...because my husband he is doing something that is so much more meaningful that buying me flowers, chocolates or jewelry (although I have never seen a Tiffany's box I wouldn't refuse!!)....anyways.......nope my husband is spending time with his boys....taking them skiing in New York State with their Uncle and cousins......a gift that cannot be matched..........Brian is so consumed with the everyday trials of work that getting away is exactly what all my boys need!... Katie and I will manage just fine back home....we are getting our pedicures today with some funky paint design, seeing the Tooth Fairy movie and going for dinner....tomorrow we hope to visit Nana and take her to church and then do some SHOPPING on Bayview Ave in Toronto in the afternoon....Monday the boys are back...and everything will be like it was yesterday!! Happy Valentines to all those sweetheart Dad's out there who understand what love really means!

recommendation for dog owners...

My puppy Kaycee is now 11 months old and it was only yesterday that I finally had a great walk with her....you see we did the puppy classes.. training her to sit, stay, and come...she can do a few tricks if a treat is involved...but she just wouldn't stop pulling when walking her....trying to get her to heel required me to pull on her leash about 50% of the walk.....I went to her doggie daycare yesterday completely frazzled with Kaycee that she was just not getting the "heel" command.....I was willing to fork out some more cash for some more obedience classes when the instructor at the daycare told me for $16 bucks he could get Kaycee to heel...skeptical on my part...he took off Kaycee's collar and put on a "gentle leader".....its a type of leash that wraps around the leather of the dogs snout.. just as a bridle is used on horses....it is unnatural for the dog to be pulled by the nose and therefore when walking with the leader they DO NOT PULL.....and just like that.....it worked....we had an extra long walk today and I no longer felt guilty pulling at Kaycee's neck......apparently a dog her size is still fairly strong and can easily pull a small child in a wagon ..so pulling at her neck while walking will not change her behavior .....who-da-thought.....so I am recommending this contraption to anyone who finds that walking your dog is more like a tug -a-war....just wish I had used it sooner.....live and learn........