2008 - No Regrets/2009 - The Year I reach 40

Looking back on 2008, I have had the year of no regrets. I don't regret giving up work to spend a whole year with my 2 kids. We have done so much this year, traveled the West Coast up to Vancouver and down to San Diego. We've been to Hawaii and I swam with wild dolphins a lifelong dream. We hung out with turtles, had our photos with Snow White, caught lizards in the garden, fed carrots to elephants and schmoozed with world champion athletes. If I had been working I would have missed out on so much with my little ones and I don't regret one day of hanging out with them, playing with them and learning from them.

Like many other families we have had our worries about finances, health and our futures. We reached our 10 year wedding anniversary and I still feel the same about my husband as the day I met him, if not more.

As for 2009, there will be trials and tribulations, but we are hoping for jubilations too. We both will hit our 40th birthdays this year, Molly-Mae will start preschool and I am sure Nic will continue to travel the World with his job. We have a new president, to bring some change and hope to many.

For me I am hoping 2009 will be about family, friends and good health. It is not worth worrying about prosperity because whatever will happen, will happen. I just want everyone I know to be happy and healthier in 2009. (This is a shout out to you Dave, (my older brother), who is spending New Years Eve in hospital, sometimes I wish we lived closer).

So to all of you who read this and who know me - please have a happy, healthy 2009!

Marley and Me or Macy and Me

On Sunday I went to see Marley and Me. If you haven't seen it, and are planning to - take tissues! I went into the movie with a voice and came out without one - not sure what happened but if you know where it went please send it back!

I related to this film quite a lot and it did remind me of a funny incident when I went cycling with our dog Macy. It was just me and the dog going for a little ride at the State Park and I was desperate for the bathroom. I stopped at the restrooms and then wondered what I was going to do with Macy. In my mind I thought it would be a good idea to tie my dog to my bike. (Yep, not the brightest I've ever had). So off I go into the stall, and the moment I start to pee, there was a commotion outside. I hadn't had kids at that point so my bladder muscles were muscles of steel and I managed to stop the flow, pull up my pants and run outside. There was Macy, ears back, eyes as large as saucers running as fast as she could with my mountain bike dragging on the floor behind her. I had to chase her down and when I finally caught her she was shaking like a leaf, my bike was scratched and the saddle had a chunk out of it. I walked Macy and the bike back to the restrooms because of course I still needed to pee, but now what was I going to do. So I took the dog into the toilet with me - yes, really hygenic I know. Let me tell you, trying to get into a tiny stall with a 60lb dog isn't convenient at all, especially one that was frightened and all she wanted to do was get on my lap!

Here is a pic of my girl - she's a little less sprightly now and would probably only manage to run 1/4 mile as opposed to the 10 miles she used to run with us.

A week in review - vomit is the new reindeers name

Saturday 20th

• 6am - Molly-Mae wake up call with "mummy I feel sick"
• 6.03 - Molly-Mae vomiting
  
• 7 ish - Molly-Mae vomiting
• 9 ish - Molly-Mae vomiting
• 12.30 - Molly-Mae vomiting
• 1 ish - Molly-Mae vomiting
• 8.03pm - take stepmother to see the play "Its a wonderful life" get there 3 minutes late - they sold my tickets!!!

Sunday 21st

• 7.45 - Molly-Mae vomiting
• Stay in all day with sick daughter who is very concerned that if she doesn't get better she won't have a birthday

Monday 22nd

• Molly-Mae's 4th birthday
• 10am - attend first physical therapy session for really bad back. Get pulled about, prodded and generally manhandled. Feel as if I have finished a marathon by the time they finish.
  
• Feel uncontrollably tired all day
• 7pm - Go to bed

Tuesday 23rd

• 10.20 - Go to Dr's for new problem with arm - tell husband I will be 10 minutes - he said to call him on his cell
• 10.35 - Call husband - leave message "I'm done - come and pick me up"
• 10.40 - Call husband - leave message "Hey- I'm done"
  
• 10.45 - Call husband - leave message "This won't work unless you turn your cell phone on"
• 10.55 - text husband
• 11.10 - Call husband - leave message "This is getting annoying now"
• 11.20 - text husband
• 11.30 Call husband - leave message "This is friggin ridiculous where the hell are you"
• 11.40 - text husband - walk to bakery to get coffee
• 11.45 - STARE AT PHONE " thinking WTF"
• 11.50 - husband calls - manage to stay calm
• 11.55 - Husband picks me up - do not cause world war 3 because stepmother and kids are in the car.
• 2.00pm - Vomit and feel like crap all day.

Wednesday 24th

• 11pm - Go for a walk at the nature reserve
• 1pm - I can hardly walk because of the manipulations of the physical therapy - have to use umbrella as a walking stick
• 7pm - Kids go to bed super excited about Santa coming - feel all warm and fuzzy inside

Thursday 25th

• 6.30am - Molly-Mae woke us up jumping up and down saying "Santa's been, I'm so lucky, I've been a good girl"
• Have a really good day, love this age with the kids

Friday 26th

• Macy (the dog) vomits on the carpet

So lets see how the week went, all the females in the household managed to vomit, I learnt that you start to fall apart before you reach your 40th birthday and Christmas was fabulous

Happy Christmas every one.

In the UK we say Happy Christmas instead of merry and I can't quite get used to changing it. Anyway when I think of merry I always think of someone being drunk!

So to all, have a very Happy Christmas, I hope Santa visits and the turkey is cooked to your liking, the potatoes aren't burnt and the gravy is just right!

Have a wonderful day from the Fergiesims family.

Married at 4

This was the conversation in the swimming pool changing rooms the other day between my soon to be 4 year old, Molly-Mae and my 2 year old, Charlie.

Charlie: "I have a baby in my tummy".
Me: "No, you don't Charlie that would be a medical miracle".
Molly-Mae: "I'm going to have a baby in my tummy when I get bigger".
Me: "Hopefully when you are much older and married".
Molly-Mae: "why"
Me: "Because you need to be married to a boy to have a baby" (or at least that's what I am hoping).
Molly-Mae: "Oh that's right - I am getting married to Nick". (Nick is her 5 year old friend).
Me: "Really"
Charlie: "I am going to marry my friend Tessa".
Molly-Mae: "No you're not, she is my friend".
Charlie: "Yes I am".
Molly-Mae: "No you're NOT, she is my friend".
Charlie: "I am".
Molly-Mae: "NO YOU'RE NOT!"

Firstly, I learnt that family feuds about in-laws start when you're 2 and 3, and secondly how do you even know what marriage is when you are only 24 months old.

4 Years of MM

My beautiful girl is 4 today! 4 already, where have the last 4 years gone?

I know so many parents say their kids are beautiful and I am one of those parents.

So here are the 4 things I love about my daughter

• She is kind
• She is sympathetic
• She is active
• She is beautiful on the inside and outside

Here are 4 unique things about her

• She has steel blue eyes that are enchanting
• She has a stork bite on her forehead and neck
• She was induced 2 weeks early because she had an enormous head (it was 2cm bigger than my sons and he was late)
• She could write her name when she was 2

Here are the 4 funniest things she has said:

• "Mummy it is my life" (age 2)
• "Mummy you have stinky pee" at San Francisco airport (aged 3)
• "When I get bigger and have a really big head, I can use one of those". (Clearly I have a big head) (age 3)
• After helping a lady bug that was trapped in the car she said “mummy you’re a good bugger saver”. (age 3)

Finally here are my 4 favorite photos of my beautiful little girl from each year of her life.

Molly-Mae aged 1 week.
Molly-Mae aged 1 year old.

Molly-Mae aged 2 years old.
Molly-Mae aged 3 years old.
See I told you she was beautiful! Happy birthday my love of my life.

Blue Poop

When your son has the stinkiest poop ever and it is blue and you are wondering if you should call the Doctor because clearly he has eaten something really bad for him like a gallon of paint or 40 crayola crayons. And you start to panic and run into the garage to look for anything that he could have eaten. Don't do it, because you will just embarrass yourself when you remember he has eaten this. WTF do they put in this stuff.

You're Beautiful in that

Today as I was preparing to go into the shower with both of my little ones. I thought I would try and pee first. So there I was sitting naked on the toilet when my daughter so lovingly said.

"I love you like that, you look so beautful".

Clearly she has great taste - I never knew peeing naked on a toilet was beautiful.

I hate Tailgators

On my way to drop a cd off to a client with my little ones in tow, a black tricked out Range Rover came flying up behind me and then proceeded to sit on my tail. I never was a fan of the 'baby on board' signs before I had kids, because I always thought why would it make any difference to my driving. Of course, now I am a mum I want one that is 3 foot wide, neon and flashing. Anyway Range Rover driver decided to undertake me, only to find that the reason I was in the middle lane of the freeway was because I was OVERTAKING. So very conveniently she got boxed in. I got a quick glimpse of the blonde bombshell with Chanel glasses behind the wheel, while my inside voice was saying "Hello can you see I was overtaking, don't you remember from drivers ed to look ahead when you change lanes"

Eventually my line of traffic sped up and she was able to get back in behind me, we travelled along for about 3 miles passing the traffic until eventually I could not stand her on my tail any longer and I moved over. Can I just say I HATE tailgaitors they truly have no clue. I could not go anywhere as there were people in front of me. My husband thinks I am morbid because I always think of the worst case scenarios, like what if my tyre went and I lost control, or a squirrel runs out into the road. In fact when my husband drives down our road in rallying fashion my usual line is "think about the animals" (just in case an animal runs out into the road). Sorry I am digressing, anyway Range Rover driver (not that I am jealous of her Range Rover or her Chanel glasses of course) took off and a mile later I noticed the 2 traffic cops on the overpass. The beauty of this is, she was tailgaiting someone else and she didn't notice the traffic cops, either that or she is stupid or both.

I think I actually said out lout "Oh joy of joys let justice be served" as Mrs police officer, that's right MRS Police officer, came steaming down the on-ramp with her flashing lights and pulled Range Rover driver over. Oh yes that blonde hair and Chanel glasses are not going to work on MRS Police Officer. I think I did a little victory dance in my seat. That made up for all the times when I say "where is a cop when you need one".

Breast pad snowman grew legs!

Yes they are tampons!

Breast Pad Snowman is Back!

Thankfully I found him before my toddlers birthday party and before my stepmother arrived! Anyway since trying out his "snowboard" he has gone all radical and developed a Mohican / Mohawk (just for you Rachel).

My Children are Tornados

Help me out - why is it, your angelic children become crazy, insane, tornado's at other peoples houses? Really why does that happen?

Yesterday, I dropped in on my ex-boss, uninvited I might add. I was driving by his house and saw him in the front garden. I stopped, we chatted, he invited me in! That was my first mistake - I said yes.

In the course of 20 minutes my 3 year old girl

• Blew the snow off their village scene
• Picked flowers that were in the garden
• Somehow managed to cut herself on the toilet door - causing screaming to occur
  
• Climbed on the arms of their sofa
• Fell off a bar stool

My 2 year old boy

• Dragged a stuffed Santa upside down across the floor
• Kept throwing his phone on their brand new hardwood floors
• Put his dirty shoes on their sofa
• Threw their pot pouri over the floor
• Tried to dismantle their outside Christmas lights

It truly was 20 minutes of chaos. I went into their house caused a tornado and left. Its not that my kids are really angelic but usually they are better behaved than that. I literally was exhausted by the time I left. Note to self - next time don't get out of the car!See don't they look angelic? It's all a disguise - believe me!

My first bloggy award!

Rachel over at Reservation for Six gave me a bloggy award this week and I am "over the moon" about receiving it. Rachel has become my blog buddy recently and if you haven't checked out her site, you should, especially this post showing her 4 kids as happy elves.

So the rules are as follows in order to accept the award, I need to:

• Put the logo on my blog.
• Add a link to the person who awarded me. (see above)
• Nominate 10 outstanding blogs that I follow. (The trouble with this is Rachel follows the same blogs as me and has nominated half of the ones I would have.)
• Add links to those blogs. (See below.)
• Leave a message to those nominees on their blog.

So, without further ado, I nominate the following blogs for a Butterfly Award:

• Crotchety Old Man Yells At Cars - Hilarious humor and so are the people who leave comments
• Any Mommy out there - Real life living with 3 kids and told so well
• Nanny Goats in Panties - Very funny writer - this was the first post I read and now I am hooked
• The Muse - An inspiring poet - you have to read this poem its my favorite
• Say Cheese - I came across this blog by accident and love her photography work in NY
• I need a Martini mom - The hilarious events of a kindergarten teacher with teenagers
• Bernthis - Her funny life in LA
• Slightly Cracked - Her life in Poland
• Write on Yo - I loved this post - it is so free
• Lost and Found in India - An Aussie living in India with a fantastic sense of humour.

This isn't part of the award rules but I double Rachel's award to Marinka from Motherhood in NYC.

Thanks again Rachel and if you are not nominated above its because Rachel nominated you.

BP Snowman still missing and my favorite things

Just to give you an update breast pad snowman is still missing!!! Our house is only 870 square feet, where the heck is he! I think he may have run away with the tampon angel as Rachel from Reservation for Six said.

So Oprah is doing her favorite things TV show this month ,(maybe she has already done it), and from what I understand it is her thrifty favorite things. I am going to share with you my favorite things and they are all free.

• My favorite sound - My kids giggling uncontrollably - that sound is the best sound in the World and instantly brings a smile to my face and warm fuzziness elsewhere.
• My favorite smell - the smell of fresh cut grass, I could inhale it all day.
• My favorite taste - hmm! It has to be chocolate - Oh and an update on the ginormous Dairy Milk chocolate eating we're about 2/3 of the way through.
• My favorite sight - I can't decide whether I like the sunrise or the sunset - both are glorious and both make me stare in awe!
• My favorite touch - holding my little ones hand, although patting the fur of my 2 dogs is a close second.

So if you are reading this - I want to know your thriftiest/free favorite things.

Breast Pad Snowman is Missing in Action

anUh oh! Breast pad snowman is missing he is MIA! I am wondering where he has ridden the snowboard to. You see, after I had taken the photo of him the other day, he was left on the dining room table. My husband's friend popped over to say "hello" and I sneakily removed the snowman, as for some reason, I couldn't show him my breast pad snowman but was quite happy to show the rest of the world on the blog! Today I went to find him to add to our creation, but he has disappeared. My husband swears he hasn't thrown him out, (although I think he would like to), which means the kids may have him. All I can say is please, please, please let me find him before my stepmother arrives in 10 days, I know she will be thinking I am emotionally scarring my children if she sees it.

If you see the Breast Pad snowman, please return him to the North Pole, I think he will blend in quite nicely.

Sleep well little one

I have to interrupt my breastpad snowman craft projects!

Today I cried! I cried and sobbed. A friend of ours had to say goodbye to the most important soul in her life. This is the second goodbye she has had to make. A few years ago she lost her fiance in a tragic road accident and JJ became her companion. Her light at the end of the tunnel, her reason to get up in the morning. 13 years she has been in her life, bringing her back. But yesterday, it was her time to leave and I am sad for our friend and for myself. Because I have one of those special friends who helped me through some difficult times, who gave me my light and who licked away my tears.

Sleep well JJ!

Breast pad snowmen with snowboard

So after I read your comments about my breast pad snowman. Here is a pic of him riding a pantliner snowboard.
(Tune in tomorrow for the next installment of the breast pad snowman).

Breast pad snowmen

Ever wondered what to do with those left over breast pads? I am sure you have been pondering over that question. Apparently they make great bodies for snowmen, when you are doing Christmas craft sessions with your kids!

Please give me strength! I can't believe I am even putting this up on my blog!!!

You have to love the Canucks!

I took this photo on a recent trip to Deep Cove, North Vancouver. You have to love the Canadian sense of humor!