If I won the lottery....

 .... I would never fold another sock again as long as I live ;) I would buy new socks and throw out the dirty ones** I HATE folding socks.... and they always seem to multiply while I try to ignore them. Since no one else feels the need/urge to fold them, it sends up being a stand-off, with a growing stash of needing-to-be-folded socks. Eventually (and usually), I cave and end up doing it but fantasizing about my lottery wins as I get it done ;)

Wishing you all a happy Monday xox

The less toxic version of the boys' socks ;)

** Please note that I wouldn't really do it. Not very environmentally friendly. I do, however, think about it a lot ;)

Reflections from Mother's Day

Yesterday, on Mother's Day, I had a few minutes of quiet where I was able to reflect on being the mother to this family. Here are some of my thoughts...

1) I am short.

2) I am outnumbered by boys.

3) I am surrounded by jokers.

4) I am blessed.

Hope you all had a great Mother's Day 💗

I am short (Thank goodness for Oliver!) and outnumbered by boys (Andreas took the picture). Yes, letting me take this picture was part of my "present" ;)

Yes, Andreas gift wrapped this for me. Lucky for him, I already received my Mother's Day presents and dinner so he wasn't immediately murdered 😉. The boys loved this... evidence that I am surrounded by jokers but still blessed 💙

Parenting a teenager

One of the reasons why I keep this blog is to be able to revisit various points in the life of our family. When I started it in January 2014, Oliver was 3, Nicka was turning 7 and Alexander had just turned 9. A lot has happened since then and the boys have grown out/are growing out of their "little boy" years. This definitely makes blogging about them a bit more difficult because, instead of cute conversations, now I am often greeted with grunts and eye rolls (they still love me though 😉). The son that has transformed the most, in my opinion, has been Alexander. He has gone from a small boy into a young man..... a young man who leaves dishes in his bedroom.... who has football shoes so stinky that they can be used as a lethal weapon... who does not care what clothes he puts on for school... who thinks washing hair is grossly overrated... who thinks a full meal at McDonald's should be considered a light snack... who enjoys the fact that he now is a good head taller than me... who still, on occasion, comes up to me for a hug and a cuddle.

Random quote from the internet that is so perfect

A light snack ;)

A rare moment where he allows me to take a photo ;)

Hope from a fortune cookie

This weekend, I found this message in my fortune cookie and I am hoping that it refers to my sanity ;) Doubtful but can't blame me for wishing it was so ;)

Hope you are all doing well. Sorry for the blog silence but we have been submersed in football land... not me... the boys ;) xox

Sucker!

I am a sucker... and I am fully aware of it. I am the type of person who, no matter how much I don't feel like volunteering or taking care of something, always ends up with it on their plate. You know the kind? The one who tries not to make eye contact with the person asking for help, yet always seems to make eye contact? The person who can see red flags coming 500 miles away, yet ends up doing it anyway? The one who loudly tells everyone that they will never do it again, yet does it anyway? The one who thinks to themselves "What a dumb project!", yet finds themselves in charge of it. Well, that is me. Sucker... su-cker! All of my friends are either just like me (you know who you are!)... or spend most of their time laughing at me (you also know who you are!). The thing is that I don't need thanks for it, nor do I need to feel needed... I am just a sucker ;) Plain and simple!

So, in honour of the fact that I just spent most of the day doing something that I really could have felt better NOT doing (and no- it was not laundry), I will now sit on my front porch and have a coffee... and let go of my sucker-dom for a little while ;) Ha!

Wishing you all a great rest of your day... being sucker free, I hope ;) xox

Yups... that says it all about me ;)

Chauffeur service and back seat drivers

Today was a very typical day where all I seemed to accomplish was chauffeuring boys (actually, today it was just one boy... Oliver) to and from activities: to the pool, home, to the pool again, home again, to tennis lessons, home again. All the while, Oliver is looking out the window and delivering a non stop commentary on just about everything from to how others drive (too fast), to how I drive (too slow), to how many red cars he sees (not enough), to how many bumps we hit on the road (too many), to how we do not stop at for ice cream nearly enough... anyway, you get the picture. When we got home, I asked him for a tip and all I got was a clap on the hand and him telling me to keep the change ;) I had to remember that it could be worse... Alexander will be able to drive in just over 2 years. I think that I will enjoy my chauffeur status for as long as I can ;)

Hope you all had a good day! xox

Please note that Oliver did have a seat belt on while we were driving. He took it off before I had the chance to take his picture.

I also don't take photos while I drive... and I try not to drive into parks ;)

Postcard from Amsterdam

Hello from beautiful Amsterdam!  It was a busy work conference in Eindhoven and, now, I am enjoying hanging out in Amsterdam with my friend, Ageeth. I have no Internet access, asides from my phone, so I thought that I would send you all a postcard from Amsterdam 😙 Coming home tomorrow so I will see you on the other side 😉

Celebration

Today was my last day of making school lunches for the year. Enough reason to celebrate 😉

Hallelujah 😉

New meaning

In the past, if I was kneeling in front of the toilet on a Saturday morning, I would have chalked it up to a good time on Friday night. Now, it just means that I am cleaning up after boys. Hmmm... the 2 experiences are both pretty nauseating ;)

Happy Saturday! Hope your morning was more exciting than mine ;) xox

Where did they go?

Yes, I still have kids. Three of them... boys.... do you remember them? Probably not ;) There is not so much about them on my blog lately. I have put it down to 3 main reasons:
1) They hate it when I take pictures of them. Actually, the only one who tolerates it sometimes is Oliver and that only happens when I bribe him ;) With the others, they make faces or turn their backs so I just pretend to give up... but one day I will get even ;)
2) The activities that they are doing now don't really involve me so much. At birthday parties, I drop them off. They arrange to meet friends on their own. They go to throw around a ball at the park... and I am not invited ;) Even when I am involved (like coaching), I get dirty looks when I pull out my phone to take pictures. That is why I have lots of far away shots ;) Otherwise, I just feel like creepy mother ;)
3) The big recent obsession/pass time is a game called Fortnite, which, I swear, turns them into zombies... so they live in the basement.... and stare at the screen. Trust me, not a very interesting picture ;)

I am still outnumbered by boys... it is just harder to document it lately ;)

Happy Wednesday evening xox

When the boys still took pictures ;)

Musings on a Monday

1) Why do Sundays always seem so darn short? Mondays, like today, seem to drag on forever but Sundays fly by...

2) Am I the only person in the world who is really terrible at putting on mascara?

3) Why do women put their make up on in the train? As per musing 2, how on earth are they able to do it without looking like a raccoon... or without making the strangest facial expressions?

4) As per musing 3, some women actually do make the strangest facial expressions... but probably don't care... or think that it can be amusing for others... which it is ;)

5)  I am not sure why some people insist on using the possessive (ie: 's) to indicate plural (ie: the boy's went to the store). Maybe they know that it bugs me ;)

6) Maybe I shouldn't let other people's grammar bother me so much ;)

7) Lately, I am really into the colour pink. It could either be the result of a long winter... or living in a house full of boys!

8) Why is it that bills always seem to fill up my mailbox... but there is a clear lack of cheques?

9) I need to get a haircut (translate: someone else who will wash and brush my hair)...

10) Andreas bought me a gift card for a local spa for Christmas. I am dying to use it for my spring pedicure. I need bright pink toe nails.


Hope you all had a good Monday xox

Early morning inspiration?

Disclosure: This, in no way, is a criticism of the project itself. Oliver thinks it is fabulous so mission accomplished. My post is intended to make fun of how darn seriously I take it ;)

The project: as a conclusion to an ongoing animal project, bring in a sandwich that represents the student's assigned animal. The students, then, will eat lunch together.

Oliver loved his animal (river otter) and thought that the social event (ie: getting together to eat a sandwich that looks like your animal) would be the BEST THING EVER!!!! To be honest, when Oliver told me about this sandwich assignment, I thought that he had misunderstood something and asked him to clarify with his teacher. Yups... he did get it right... and, apparently, we had gone through this same project when Alexander was in this particular teacher's class. Considering that my memory is beyond sucking (see here), I had/still have absolutely no recollection of ever having made an animal sandwich before... and I am absolutely positive that Andreas didn't take this off my list of things to do 😉

Anyway, after polling some of my friends who have children in the same class as Oliver (thank you, Gabrielle, for humouring me 😉 ), I put a game plan together (ie: shopping list) and, this morning, I got up early to make the River Otter Sandwich. Let me tell you, it was NOT easy. Firstly, Oliver is the world's most picky eater (see here) so that was a challenge. No olives for eyes... bread and butter was OK, cucumbers are OK, salami is OK but only a little bit. Luckily for me, otters like fish so Goldfish crackers were usable. So, yesterday evening, after a busy day at work, after rushing home like a mad person, during a week where Andreas was enjoying beautiful Copenhagen (in case you missed this tidbit, see here), I found myself wandering around the grocery store trying to figure out what best made an otter sandwich. I dared not ask the employees of the store for fear of being locked up 😉 Anyway, I found some supplies... including chocolate... not for the otter but for me (after this, I deserve it, no?) and made my way home to think up strategies with Oliver.

Voila! See the final product below.... Does it look like an otter? To me, it looks more like a mouse or an ear-challenged cat... but, heck, it is as good as it gets 😉... and Oliver likes it, which is- ultimately- all that counts. Hope he has a good lunch!

Happy Friday to you all! xox

Thursday morning state of mind

A while back, Oliver asked me to put his Lego fish in water (see here). Do you know what I found myself doing this morning? I actually changed the Lego fish's freaking water!!!! Just as I put the "fish bowl" down, I realized what I had just done and had to laugh at myself. Sad, I thought, as I poured myself another cup of coffee ;)

Do you ever catch yourself doing something that deserves a big WTF!? Yups... for me, it is a pretty regular thing ;)

Happy day to you all! xox

At least the water is clean ;)

Weekend check list

Every Sunday, I do a kind of mental check list: did I get everything that I needed to do done? Most of the time, I am left with a bit of a depressed feeling because, given all of the things on that darn check list, there is so much that has been left unfinished... If we could have just ONE more day!

So, for the checks: Nicklas' birthday dinner. Soccer for me. Basketball for Alexander. Vacuuming. Cleaning the toilets. Oliver's play dates. A reference letter for work. A few emails for work (including saying yes to a conference in the Netherlands in June but that will be another story). Putting Oliver's Lego fish in water (seriously). Started my lecture for tomorrow. Groceries. Haircuts for 3/4 boys. Dinner with lots of leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Sold top on Ebay sent off. Laundry. Homework for Alexander and Nicklas... so I have been reassured.

So, now the not finished: Soccer for Nicklas (I didn't realize it was cancelled this weekend until Andreas took him....  oops!). Lots of stuff that I wanted to get done for work that I have not finished... including the rest of my lecture for tomorrow. Folding laundry (see above). A long walk with Andreas. Organizing my closet. Putting away the last of the Christmas decorations. A long nap on the couch. Banana bread.  Homework for Oliver (later this evening). Coherent blog posts ;)

Hope your check list is longer than mine... and that you have a good week ahead!

xox

Here are some random weekend pics!

The memory of a mother

Actually, the title of this blog post is a complete misnomer. This mother has absolutely NO memory left. Or, rather, I should say that I have a very selective memory. For example, I cannot remember what I am supposed to do in the next 20 minutes, nor do I remember the names of my children (aren't they all named after the cat?) BUT I can remember the words to most songs from the 1980s. I will look blankly at Andreas when he asks where I will be going on Saturday afternoon BUT I remember the name of my friend's dog from 1975 (it was Rusty). I am very good at forgetting when bills are due (sorry cell phone company!) but will always remember the birthdays of people that I haven't seen in about 20 years and the name of my kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Brabant at Willowdale).

To be honest, sometimes my poor memory worries me (my apologies to my student who has been in about 5 of my classes and I still couldn't remember her name!). I am feeling the need to write things down more and more and my agenda has become my new best friend (that is, if I remember to put it in my bag in the morning). I am hoping that my memory is just hiding somewhere between the lunch requests, grocery lists, play dates, doctor appointments, work meetings and Oliver waking me up in the middle of the night because he had a bad dream ;) Or maybe it just froze in our beautiful winter weather ;)

Oh yeah- the name of the song is Heart of Glass and the band is Blondie ;)

Happy Wednesday xox

Random... but appropriate... thing that I found on the internet ;)

Why I have grey hair, part 3: being the only woman in the house

- No matter what, I do NOT get their sense of humour.
- I have a hard time with the need for noise, farting and wrestling on the couch.
- It is funny how I can repeat myself 50 times and they won't hear me but if I sneak a cookie in the kitchen everyone suddenly hears that!
- Apparently, sleeves make excellent napkins... and kleenexes ;)
- I am the only one who knows where the favourite t-shirt is.
- I am also the only one in the house who can see the dirty sock on the living room floor. Everyone else just steps over it.
- In boy land, food tastes better if you have been standing in front of the fridge, staring at it for about 20 minutes before you eat it.
- You are NEVER finished doing laundry... ever ;)

But I wouldn't have it any other way ;)

xox

Why I have grey hair- part 1: my husband

This past Saturday, I had to work. So- what does any normal OCD mother do when she is away and the house is full of boys? She texts them from work. Honestly, I should know better....

Wishing you all a great day! xox

Some of Andreas' message does not appear on my screen shot because it was too long... but you get the idea ;)

Homework with my boys

Today, I will pick on Oliver because he is the one that I last did homework with.... but it is more-or-less the same with the other boys- same core issues, different years at school ;)

This is a brief summary of what it is like doing homework with Oliver:

Me: Oliver, can you please write these 5 words and practice them?

-Cue Oliver's big fit: BUT THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO, MAMMA!!!!!

Me: Oliver, it is just 5 words... and they are short ones.

Oliver: TOO MUCH!!!! Why do we have to write SO much? Mamma, do you know that a wasp bit me today? But Daniel hit him and it started to run after him... like this.... (Oliver shows me how the wasp and Daniel had a duel until death).

Me: Oliver, can you please write these 5 words?

Oliver: BUT WHY???? What does this second word mean? (It was cinq... 5 in French). Do you mean sink?

Me: No, I mean cinq. It is five in English.

Oliver: I know.

Me: Then why did you ask?

Oliver: I have to write all these words. ALL of them?

Me: Yes.

ALL THE TIME, I AM THINKING: IF YOU HAD JUST STARTED TO WRITE THEM, WE WOULD BE LONG FINISHED!!!!! And this was just for one small part of his homework!!! :P

On a funny note, Oliver re-arranged his Lego pencil sharpener over my textbook... I had to admit that it was pretty funny ;)

PS: he did eventually finish writing all 5 words... I emphasize eventually ;)


Happy evening to you all xox

Can't fight it anymore ;)

Yesterday, I had to go to the eye doctor to have my prescription re-evaluated. Admittedly, the big point was to get some new glass frames (mine are now perma-warped) so I was kind of looking forward to the appointment (Looking forward to new glasses- yes. Looking forward to paying for them- no). Anyway, the inevitable happened: I needed progressives. Yes- bifocals. Me. Ugh!
I knew that my current glasses had a prescription that was a bit weak- it was done on purpose on my last appointment so I didn't have to get progressives and I also knew that I do a lot more taking-my-glasses-off-to-look-at-things-close-up but, now, I can't fight it anymore. The optometrist gave me some basic "lessons" on how to use the lenses (ie: to help me not fall down flights of stairs as I get used to them), how to subtly look down so that I can read (without moving my head- that will be tough- it takes way too much co-ordination) and how to not totally feel nauseous for the first few days :P I am sure that it will all work out but it kind of felt overwhelming... and so darn complicated ;) Much too complicated for someone who is still 27? ;) What the heck happened? ;)

Success stories from people who wear progressives will be greatly appreciated ;)

Happy Tuesday xox

Thanks to the internet for this random picture ;)

Marbles

Whenever I am losing my patience with the boys, I give them fair warning that I am about to lose my marbles. Yesterday, Oliver came up from the basement with a bag. He dumped the contents on the kitchen table and told me "Look what I found, Mamma. Your lost marbles were downstairs".

Haha! I will keep them with me... for the next time ;)

Wishing you all a great day xox