I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I spent $76 at Walmart (of all places) last night and still managed not to buy the one item we really went there for, which was a winter coat for Lauren.
Zut alors!
I was puzzled when the cashier rung up the total and C must have been too because he asked me about it as we walked away with our stuff. I stared at the receipt for a good minute doing the mental math. Yep. It all added up.
I think it was the grocery items that did it, plus the halloween candy, plus the umbrella, plus all those pairs of socks that I didn't realize were too big until I unwrapped them when we got home. Zut! Zut! Zut!
Lesson learned: if a store doesn't have what you're looking for, turn around and walk right out!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I'm not lovin' it
I've been trying to avoid McDonald's like I've been trying to avoid the ice cream truck, and was doing a great job until two weeks ago. In the past two weeks we've been three time. THREE TIMES!! Not good.
Twice was during a road trip, and then again tonight while we were out shopping. It was right there inside the store so there was no other option for food. That's the thing about McDonald's - even when you'd prefer to eat elsewhere, it's there when you're desperate to feed your child.
'
Lauren has already learned that they serve her beloved chicken nuggets, but I don't think she associates the chicken nuggets with the golden arches. Considering we walk by the arches every day on our walk home from daycare, I think I just won't tell her. Until next year. Maybe...
Twice was during a road trip, and then again tonight while we were out shopping. It was right there inside the store so there was no other option for food. That's the thing about McDonald's - even when you'd prefer to eat elsewhere, it's there when you're desperate to feed your child.
'
Lauren has already learned that they serve her beloved chicken nuggets, but I don't think she associates the chicken nuggets with the golden arches. Considering we walk by the arches every day on our walk home from daycare, I think I just won't tell her. Until next year. Maybe...
Monday, September 27, 2010
I scream at the ice cream truck
Well, it's not a great day outside today, but I did hear the ice cream truck a few days ago and spotted it at least twice last week. I suppose that as long as the warm autumn weather holds I'll be seeing more of it for a while longer.
I used to love the ice cream truck. Shortly after moving to this city six years ago I spotted one and was so excited that I chased it down the street like a six year old, with all the glorious memories of my care-free youth rushing back to me. The last time I had seen one before that was probably when I was six years old. They disappeared sometime after that. At least from the suburban Montreal neighbourhood that I grew up in.
I lost my taste for the soft serve treat during the summer I was pregnant, after I read somewhere that it could be unsafe due to risk of bacteria. Kind of like soft cheese or deli meat, or hot dogs from a sidewalk vendor - you just really never know how clean the stuff is. It may have been paranoia, but better safe than sorry when you've got a baby growing inside of you, right?
I had a cone or two last summer when Lauren was very little, but now that she's more aware of the things around her and has developed a sweet tooth, I've been avoiding it again. All she knows is that it's "the truck that makes music." I haven't told her that it's a truck filled with her absolute favourite treat that drives around the neighbourhood, and that someone inside will fill up a cup or cone and even put a cherry on top and hand it to you right there on the street. I would never hear the end of it.
My avoidance tactic was working just fine until about mid-summer when the truck took up a route that went down my street at precisely 8pm, parking two houses away - music blaring. I could have screamed. The bedtime routine of a toddler is a fine art that can go very wrong with the slightest distraction. The last thing a parent needs when they've finally got their child settled is temptation in the form of vanilla and chocolate goodness right outside the bedroom window.
This went on for a few days and on each occasion I would shut the window until the truck finally took up a route on another street. Maybe other parents of toddlers complained. There are a lot of young families on my street and I'm sure I wasn't the only one trying to get their kid to sleep while ice cream was being scooped up outdoors.
Maybe I underestimate my daughter. Maybe she wouldn't be tempted by the music and would understand that we can't buy ice cream every time the truck goes by, as tempting as it is even for me. She does get that sweet tooth from me after all.
Anyway, I'll test out that theory next summer. This year it will simply be known as "the truck that makes music."
I used to love the ice cream truck. Shortly after moving to this city six years ago I spotted one and was so excited that I chased it down the street like a six year old, with all the glorious memories of my care-free youth rushing back to me. The last time I had seen one before that was probably when I was six years old. They disappeared sometime after that. At least from the suburban Montreal neighbourhood that I grew up in.
I lost my taste for the soft serve treat during the summer I was pregnant, after I read somewhere that it could be unsafe due to risk of bacteria. Kind of like soft cheese or deli meat, or hot dogs from a sidewalk vendor - you just really never know how clean the stuff is. It may have been paranoia, but better safe than sorry when you've got a baby growing inside of you, right?
I had a cone or two last summer when Lauren was very little, but now that she's more aware of the things around her and has developed a sweet tooth, I've been avoiding it again. All she knows is that it's "the truck that makes music." I haven't told her that it's a truck filled with her absolute favourite treat that drives around the neighbourhood, and that someone inside will fill up a cup or cone and even put a cherry on top and hand it to you right there on the street. I would never hear the end of it.
My avoidance tactic was working just fine until about mid-summer when the truck took up a route that went down my street at precisely 8pm, parking two houses away - music blaring. I could have screamed. The bedtime routine of a toddler is a fine art that can go very wrong with the slightest distraction. The last thing a parent needs when they've finally got their child settled is temptation in the form of vanilla and chocolate goodness right outside the bedroom window.
This went on for a few days and on each occasion I would shut the window until the truck finally took up a route on another street. Maybe other parents of toddlers complained. There are a lot of young families on my street and I'm sure I wasn't the only one trying to get their kid to sleep while ice cream was being scooped up outdoors.
Maybe I underestimate my daughter. Maybe she wouldn't be tempted by the music and would understand that we can't buy ice cream every time the truck goes by, as tempting as it is even for me. She does get that sweet tooth from me after all.
Anyway, I'll test out that theory next summer. This year it will simply be known as "the truck that makes music."
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Black is back
I've decided that the next home improvement project will be to paint the front porch railing. The brown is flaking and looking drab and I really think a new coat of shiny black will help perk up the front of the house.
I should have enough black left from last year's front door paint job. I'm tempted to use it to paint the back door, but no one ever sees the back door aside from me and C. I'll put that paint job at the bottom of the list.
I estimate the project shouldn't take longer than a weekend. The hard part is finding a free weekend between now and when the cold weather and rain sets in.
I should have enough black left from last year's front door paint job. I'm tempted to use it to paint the back door, but no one ever sees the back door aside from me and C. I'll put that paint job at the bottom of the list.
I estimate the project shouldn't take longer than a weekend. The hard part is finding a free weekend between now and when the cold weather and rain sets in.
B is for broccoli
Every once in a while I try to convince Lauren that the particular veggie I'm eating is so delicious that she should try some too. She's too smart for this tactic but I try anyway hoping that one day she'll give in. Tonight was not the night...
Me: Mmmm... I like my broccoli!
Lauren: Mmmm... I like my chicken!
Me: Mmmm... I love my broccoli!
Lauren: Mmmm... I love my chicken!
Me: Mmmm... broccoli is soooo good!
Lauren: Broccoli is NOT good for me!
Me: Mmmm... I like my broccoli!
Lauren: Mmmm... I like my chicken!
Me: Mmmm... I love my broccoli!
Lauren: Mmmm... I love my chicken!
Me: Mmmm... broccoli is soooo good!
Lauren: Broccoli is NOT good for me!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The art of dinner conversation
Lauren has been keen about joining in on dinner conversation lately. Now she'll ask to participate which I take as a sign that she's maturing. In the not so distant past she would just whine or hum loudly to get our attention.
Yesterday C and I were discussing something when Lauren piped up "Mommy, talk to me!"
"OK", I said, "what do you want to talk about?"
"Let's talk about ice cream!"
This was amusing to me because she had started a conversation about ice cream the night before. I suppose ice cream talk never gets old. After we went around the table stating our favourite flavours it was time for another topic.
"Now lets talk about pizza!" She said. She very politely asked C and I what kind we liked then told us her preference. "My favourite is chocolate and chicken and meatball."
I doubt she would ever actually eat chocolate pizza with chicken and meat ball, but you never know with this kid, and it did make for interesting dinner conversation!
I wonder what we'll be talking about tonight.
Yesterday C and I were discussing something when Lauren piped up "Mommy, talk to me!"
"OK", I said, "what do you want to talk about?"
"Let's talk about ice cream!"
This was amusing to me because she had started a conversation about ice cream the night before. I suppose ice cream talk never gets old. After we went around the table stating our favourite flavours it was time for another topic.
"Now lets talk about pizza!" She said. She very politely asked C and I what kind we liked then told us her preference. "My favourite is chocolate and chicken and meatball."
I doubt she would ever actually eat chocolate pizza with chicken and meat ball, but you never know with this kid, and it did make for interesting dinner conversation!
I wonder what we'll be talking about tonight.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
And more on apples
Apples seem to be a recurring theme these days. Must be the change in season. This weekend Lauren and I spent some time in the burbs visiting family then ventured further out into the country on a spontaneous apple picking outing.
I've never been apple picking before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Armed with a map of the local area farms, my sister picked one at random and off we went.
To our surprise, Chudleigh's turned out to be quite the hot spot for outdoor family entertainment. There were giant slides and a straw maze; face painting and a farm animal petting/observation area; a giant sand pit and tire swings. And apples too of course! Lots of them!
After some mandatory play time we hitched a ride on the tractor wagon that took us deep into the orchard. The trees weren't as big as I expected, but just the right size for kids and adults alike to reach into the branches and pluck the perfect fruit.
Lauren's older cousins were thrilled to help her with the picking and Lauren was thrilled to be gallivanting in the country with her cousins.
All in all it was a nice break from the bustle of the city and a great way to kick off the harvest season.
I've never been apple picking before so I wasn't sure what to expect. Armed with a map of the local area farms, my sister picked one at random and off we went.
To our surprise, Chudleigh's turned out to be quite the hot spot for outdoor family entertainment. There were giant slides and a straw maze; face painting and a farm animal petting/observation area; a giant sand pit and tire swings. And apples too of course! Lots of them!
After some mandatory play time we hitched a ride on the tractor wagon that took us deep into the orchard. The trees weren't as big as I expected, but just the right size for kids and adults alike to reach into the branches and pluck the perfect fruit.
Lauren's older cousins were thrilled to help her with the picking and Lauren was thrilled to be gallivanting in the country with her cousins.
All in all it was a nice break from the bustle of the city and a great way to kick off the harvest season.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
It’s not the cyclist, it’s the attitude
Recently while cycling home from work I approached a red light at an intersection behind another cyclist. As is usually the case, the stream of cars on our left weren't leaving much room between them and the curb. When this happens I usually fall back and wait for traffic to move again rather than risk being squashed into the curb, but the cyclist ahead managed to squeeze his way forward.
At the corner a large vehicle starting to make a right turn then stopped short of hitting the cyclist ahead of me. I was close enough to the vehicle to hear the driver mumble something. “%#%@ cyclists!” I don’t know what he said exactly, but I doubt it was a compliment.
I hear a lot of grumbling regarding cyclists. They take up room on the road, they plow through stop signs and red lights at intersections. They dangerously weave in and out of traffic and are a menace towards pedestrians on sidewalks. I’ve witnessed all of these instances and will agree that some cyclists are a hazard.
I have also witnessed hazardous behaviour on the part of drivers and pedestrians. Just this morning a pedestrian failed to look both ways before stepping from the sidewalk onto the street a few feet from my path. Had there not been time for me to stop it would have been a nasty collision.
A few minutes later I saw a driver make a left turn onto a street nearly knocking down a dad and his 2 kids on a crosswalk. The pedestrian signal clearly indicated that it was that family's right of way.
Unfortunately too many people have a very careless attitude on the road whether they be cyclist, driver or pedestrian. It's an individual issue. Put that careless cyclist behind the wheel of a car and I'm sure you'll see reckless driving behaviour. Or watch that reckless driver walk down the street for a block and they will likely try crossing the street when or where they shouldn't be.
We all need to smarten up and pay attention. There's room for everyone on the road and with a little more care we should all be able to get to where we're going safely.
At the corner a large vehicle starting to make a right turn then stopped short of hitting the cyclist ahead of me. I was close enough to the vehicle to hear the driver mumble something. “%#%@ cyclists!” I don’t know what he said exactly, but I doubt it was a compliment.
I hear a lot of grumbling regarding cyclists. They take up room on the road, they plow through stop signs and red lights at intersections. They dangerously weave in and out of traffic and are a menace towards pedestrians on sidewalks. I’ve witnessed all of these instances and will agree that some cyclists are a hazard.
I have also witnessed hazardous behaviour on the part of drivers and pedestrians. Just this morning a pedestrian failed to look both ways before stepping from the sidewalk onto the street a few feet from my path. Had there not been time for me to stop it would have been a nasty collision.
A few minutes later I saw a driver make a left turn onto a street nearly knocking down a dad and his 2 kids on a crosswalk. The pedestrian signal clearly indicated that it was that family's right of way.
Unfortunately too many people have a very careless attitude on the road whether they be cyclist, driver or pedestrian. It's an individual issue. Put that careless cyclist behind the wheel of a car and I'm sure you'll see reckless driving behaviour. Or watch that reckless driver walk down the street for a block and they will likely try crossing the street when or where they shouldn't be.
We all need to smarten up and pay attention. There's room for everyone on the road and with a little more care we should all be able to get to where we're going safely.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A is for apple
If I ever figure out Lauren's eating habits, I'm sure it will be a very long time from now.
Every evening after dinner or for a snack on the weekends I offer a selection of fruit. She always says no to apple, but I keep offering anyway.
Yesterday on our way home from daycare she went snooping through my tote bag and found an apple then asked if she could eat it. I was shocked, so of course I said yes even though we were going to have dinner soon. She ate 3/4 of the apple before dinner, paused to eat dinner (pasta), then polished off an apple fruit cup for dessert.
I guess she just had a craving?!
Every evening after dinner or for a snack on the weekends I offer a selection of fruit. She always says no to apple, but I keep offering anyway.
Yesterday on our way home from daycare she went snooping through my tote bag and found an apple then asked if she could eat it. I was shocked, so of course I said yes even though we were going to have dinner soon. She ate 3/4 of the apple before dinner, paused to eat dinner (pasta), then polished off an apple fruit cup for dessert.
I guess she just had a craving?!
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Simple pleasure #1
Spending 30 uninterrupted minutes putting away the dishes and tidying the kitchen while Lauren plays puzzles with Grandma.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Home grown bagels
I love that Lauren enjoys helping me in the garden. It's not a big area by any means, but it's ours and there's enough space to dig and play and get messy or just sit and hang out.
She's curious now about the names of the different flowers and tools and has done a good job of remembering most things.
This evening she wanted to help with watering. After we filled the watering can together she said, "Mummy, I want to water the bagel."
"The bagel?! We don't have bagels out here." I replied. Strange request but imagination runs wild at this age so anything's possible.
"I want to water the bagel." She insisted. Then I saw that she was headed straight for the potted herbs.
"Ooooohh, the basil. You mean baay-sil?"
"Yes." She said. "The basil."
She's curious now about the names of the different flowers and tools and has done a good job of remembering most things.
This evening she wanted to help with watering. After we filled the watering can together she said, "Mummy, I want to water the bagel."
"The bagel?! We don't have bagels out here." I replied. Strange request but imagination runs wild at this age so anything's possible.
"I want to water the bagel." She insisted. Then I saw that she was headed straight for the potted herbs.
"Ooooohh, the basil. You mean baay-sil?"
"Yes." She said. "The basil."
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