Claire turns 5

Where did the time go? March 10th marks the fifth birthday of our oldest daughter, Claire. I cannot believe that its been five years since she was born in her own way on her own terms. I should have known then, that she would be a girl with a mind of her own.

On the one hand, she is a loving little girl, who loves her baby dolls and playing "Mommy" and "house", on the other hand, she is a strong-willed, determined little girl, who, argues when things are not fair and tries to keep up with her big brother. She loves to perform songs; right now "Frozen" up in her room, singing at the top of her lungs with such abandon that she doesn't care who is listening. I love that about her.

Claire and I often find ourselves in a kind of "battle of wills", something I'm told is because we are two sides of the same coin. I, of course, deny this. Of all my three children, I am told that Claire resembles me the most, both in looks and personality. Part of that is true, but the part where we differ is the ability to talk. While I am more the introvert, observer, speak when spoken to, Claire will talk non-stop. I do mean non stop. When she was 18 months old, she wasn't talking and it was suggested that we take her to a speech therapist to have her checked out. We chalked it up to her having an older brother who spoke for her and put it out of our mind. Sure enough, two weeks later, Claire started talking and hasn't stopped since. She will talk from the moment her eyes open in the morning, till they close at night. She talks through movies, offering a running commentary for those watching with her, talks as she walks to the store. So far, the only place that I think she is quiet is the hairdresser's chair. She speaks nary a word while in the chair, but as soon as we leave the salon, the talking starts again.

Claire's world revolves around her Daddy. Anywhere he goes, she wants to go. She is up and ready to go anytime and anywhere he is going and is right put off when he says he needs to go alone. I love the relationship that they have and hope it never changes.

Claire has brought such joy, love and laughter to our lives. Thank you Claire, for being you.

Happy Birthday, Claire! I love you.

Claire at one month

Claire at one month

Claire as a newborn

Claire in November 2013

Claire (and Emily) in February 2014

Another Check Off the List

For the past year, I have been waiting for breast reduction surgery to help alleviate the back, shoulder and neck pain that has plagued me since my children were born. I was on the wait list for a year and at the end of January I received a  call saying that a date had come up for February 7th. Two weeks. I took the date, afraid that I'd wait indefinitely for another date to come up and I didn't want to wait. Up until this point, I was taking ibuprofen every night to deal with the pain in my next, back and shoulders. So, I got prepared for surgery. Informed my principal and the school board, filled out all the necessary paperwork and planned for my replacement. It was a whirlwind two weeks, but it got done and early on Friday, February 7th, I went to Abbotsford Hospital for my day surgery and the first step in reclaiming my health.

It's been almost three weeks since I had the surgery and I am recovery well. One side, my left is healing better than the other, but that is because I do most things with my right hand and arm. Its to be expected. I'm still not supposed to lift anything over 10lbs (meaning my children)and reaching up high is on the "no" list. My incisions are still tender, particularly underneath, meaning that I am not able to wear a bra; just a gauze wrap bandage and support padding. I am glad that I did this, not only for the pain issues, but also to help my body image. I still tire easily, but try to get out and walk for both exercise and fresh air. I have to admit that I like being home and could get used to this. I get to walk Nicholas to school every day, which I really love and read more than a chapter of a book during the day.

This is another thing checked off my list. Next up? Getting ready to do a "walk to run" program. By this time next year, I hope to be a healthier version of myself. But right now I'm just taking one day at a  time.

Good bye 2013, Hello 2014

At the end of every month, Nicholas and I do a ritual. We turn the page on the calendar and say, with expression "Goodbye(name of the outgoing month), hello (incoming month)." On January 1st, we change the calendar and say "Good bye 2013, hello 2014". It sounds so cliche, but on every New Years Eve, I do what most people do and reflect on the year that is ending and think about the year ahead.

Overall, 2013 was a good year. I worked my second year at the same school, (albeit yet another grade change, but I've learned to appreciate the fact that I have a job) and moved from the portable to a classroom inside the school building. Nicholas had a great first year of school and started off Grade One on a high point. Blair had a good year in his work and we got ourselves back on a good financial track. Claire is becoming her own person, strong, not so brave, but independent. I am so proud of the person she is. Emily is growing like a weed and trying her hardest to keep up with her brother and sister. As I write this, she is playing a letter game on the ipad and actually recognizes some letters. Did I mention she's just 2 years old? I am so curious to see how she will change this next year.
On the "not so good" of 2013, there were things that I had wished I'd handled better, but as with everything, I have learned from them. I hope to do better in 2014. To quote Oprah "....you are responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment."

As we begin 2014, I think ahead to what's in store for us. First of all, this year, Claire turns 5 and heads to Kindergarten in the Fall. That, in itself is HUGE. How did that happen? How did I become the mom of two school aged children?? Not only will Claire start school, but she will also start soccer and so begins our weekends on the soccer pitch. I will officially become a soccer mom....with the mini van to match. One hope I have for this year is that I get a job at our local school. To be able to walk to school with my children and have them come to my class at the end of the day, is something both I and our bank account will be grateful for.

This is also the year that I hope to put an end to my back and shoulder pain with a much needed surgery. After four pregnancies and three children in six years, my body has been put through the ringer and need of some TLC. I hope that this surgery will help to get my physical life back on track. With my body back on the right track, I hope that my body image will improve and I can be a positive role model for my two young daughters.

I have a lot of hope for this year and as I reflect on the year that was, I am grateful for the lessons I've learned and, as I look ahead to the future, I am hopeful. 

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2013

As usual, Christmas in the King household is always busy. December began with the arrival of our elf, Oliver, who watches over us and reports back to Santa. Unlike some elves, who get into mischief, Oliver just watches, listens and moves around to a different location each night. All three kids were excited to find where Oliver was and to open their advent calendars...LEGO, of course.

Once school was over, we baked cookies, decorated the house inside and out to get ready for the arrival of Santa Claus. There is something to be said for a house full of children at Christmas. On the excitement scale, its about a twenty, with everyone hoping for their wish list to be fulfilled and one child in particular, making sure that everyone has the same number of presents. With a houseful of family here on Christmas Day, we enjoyed a turkey and ham dinner, wine and good company. Merry Christmas!

Here are a few memories from our Christmas:

At Port Kells Nursery with Mrs. Claus

Decorating our tree

Shoveling snow

Oliver, our North Pole Scout Elf

Emily Meredith Turns Two

Oh, where did the time go?

Two years ago on November 7th, Blair and I welcomed our second daughter and third child into our family and life has never been the same.

Emily is a spirited little girl, full of smiles, giggles and hugs. She has changed from a tiny, dependent baby to a wobbly-legged infant, into a toddler running to catch up to her bother and sister and talking a blue streak to anyone who will listen.

She amazes us each and every day with her increasing vocabulary, phrases and ability to do something naughty while looking cute doing it. She is the book-end to our family and I cannot imagine our family without her in it.

To my sweet little girl: I love your smile, your "mad scientist" giggle and the way your green eyes sparkle. I love the feel of your hugs in the morning and the kiss before bedtime. I love the way your hand feels in mine when you need my help and the way you run independently when you don't need my help. I love you forever and for always, my Emily Meredith. Happy 2nd Birthday!

A Busy Fall and Giving Thanks

My last blog entry focused on leaving summer behind and heading back to work. I can't believe that was almost two months ago. My days are now filled with early mornings, long days with thirty hormonal pre-teens, and afternoons and evenings prepping for the next day. It seems that I am "on the go" from 6:30am til 7:30pm when the kids go to bed. Oh, how I miss summer holidays.

We are in the full swing of fall. My calendar is full of parent meetings, staff meetings, swimming lessons, gymnastics class and soccer practice. There have been a few weeks in which we've had something every night of the week. I am highly "list oriented" and a planner. I write everything down on the calendar, down to our weekly meals. It's the only way I know how to do it without going insane.

 I am lucky to have a great support system around me. Blair is great. He takes off work early on Tuesdays to pick up Nicholas from school and will make dinner a couple of nights a week. My friend, Karleigh picks Nicholas two to three days a week and takes him back to her house until I pick him up. Last, but certainly not least, Doreen provides daycare for Claire and Emily four days a week.

This year, while better than last year's is still a challenging class. It is this year, that I am certain beyond a doubt that I need to leave upper intermediate behind and find a lower grade to teach. I am not "into" putting up with hormonal pre-teens who think they can "talk back" when they don't like something that I am teaching. Now, to find the class. This, I hope will happen next year, when Claire begins Kindergarten at our neighbourhood school. Not only will it be good for my bank account, but more importantly, it will be good for my well-being. Fingers crossed.

Now, for the giving thanks. I am grateful for many things: health and happiness, a loving family and great group of friends and a great love, who calms me when I get crazy amongst the chaos and encourages me when I doubt myself and what I can do. To my family and friends, thank you for helping me navigate the crazy "life in the toddler lane".

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

This is always the first thing that I get my students to talk about when we return to school. I always preface it by saying "Now don't just say, 'I did nothing'. I know that you had to have done something". Well, if you were to ask me what I did on my summer vacation, my answer would seem to be "nothing", I didn't go anywhere, except for two weekends away with extended family. For most of the summer, Blair worked and I stayed home with Nicholas, Claire and Emily. We played in the pool and sprinkler in the back yard, had a few play dates with friends, we went to the Fort Langley Outdoor Pool a handful of times when July was really hot and went to the zoo once.

It was great! As I wrote in a previous post, I was burnt out from the school year and really needed time to relax, reconnect and rejuvenate. And that's exactly what I did. This was the best summer that I've had in a long time. I loved getting up in the morning to the sun instead of an alarm, enjoying a cup of coffee without it being in a travel mug and having it taste stale by the time I got around to drinking it, spending the days with my kids outside or baking with them, reading with them, just being "Mommy", drinking wine at night with Blair because I enjoy a glass of wine, not because I needed to "de-stress" from my day spent amongst thirty hormonal pre-teens.

During quiet time, I started to do something that I haven't done in years, and I do mean years....I started writing again. There was a period of my life when I wrote, and wrote, all the time. I have a chest full of coil ring books full of my writing because I had so many stories and characters waiting to be written. It was something that I loved to do, but it got lost along the way with the busy-ness of life that comes with being a working mom. I got to re-ignite that part of me and this summer I was writing two to three hours a day. It was my "me" time. Something that I had forgotten I needed to do....give myself time to "just be me".

I even joined an on-line fitness challenge group where exercises were emailed to me each day. Thirty days of taking thirty minutes to do exercise to help me get my body back into shape, something I've let fall to the wayside, much like my writing. It was hard work, but I always felt better after doing it. I hope to continue to do some form of exercise, but I know it will have to be "scheduled in" or it won't get done.

Now, as I prepare to go back to work and organize the busy-ness of back to school, I am grieving a bit for the end of summer and what I've had the time to do and what I've found. I'm going to try very hard to carve out time to do something that I love to do every day.So, if my students ask me, "Mrs. King, what did you do on summer vacation?",  I spent time doing things that I love with the people that I love. I had the best summer ever!

I Love Summer

It's two weeks until summer holidays end and I return to work. It seems that the summer, August especially, has gone by so fast, days melting into each other, and time goes by more quickly with each passing week. I have loved this summer and never needed it more than after this past school year.

It was a hard and stress filled school year with parents and students who wanted more from me than any reasonable teacher could or would be willing to give. I was at a new school, with new staff and different rules and expectations that I was trying to learn, while at the same time juggling working three days a week, with three children, a full time working husband and all the extra things that go along with being a working mom. I was exhausted and never more glad to see the end of that school year and the start of summer.

We didn't go anywhere spectacular or anything, in fact we only went away for two weekends this entire summer, but I was able to stay home with my children, play with them, bake with them, take them swimming and just be "Mommy". Now that's not to say that there weren't times when the endless energy of these three little people didn't wear on me and I didn't wish for that "Calgon" moment, or question myself and Blair's sanity in creating these little wonders, there were many times, but I was able to enjoy the beautiful weather and read some books, do some creative writing (which I haven't done in many years) without any external expectations or stresses. I often posted on Twitter, "I Love Summer" and I did, I think more than I have ever enjoyed a summer before.

As I continue to enjoy these last couple of weeks, reality is beginning to set in and I find myself thinking and preparing for the school year. This year, I will be working four days a week, with Fridays off. This gives me a bit more autonomy in what and how I'm going to teach and allows me to contribute more substantially to our family income. It will be a good thing, I keep telling myself, although, I'm not quite sure that I'm convinced. (to be continued...)

Right now, I'm trying to squeeze out every last best drop of summer holiday that I can before going back to work. Did I mention that I LOVE SUMMER? :)

Nicholas is Six

On Friday, May 11th, 2007, I became a mom to a beautiful baby boy. I had some real trouble with post partum depression and I really didn't appreciate my baby boy. I had trouble feeling close to him and went through the first, almost year and a half of his life in a kind of haze. I was going through the motions, but not feeling much of anything. I really wish that I could go back to those early days and embrace this little baby boy and enjoy every second of his first year.

Now, six years later, Nicholas has turned into a curious and smart little boy, full of queries about how we can protect ants as they cross the sidewalk to why people should drive cars less to protect our plants from pollution. This little boy loves to read to me and write stories about Star Wars characters. The best thing, when he comes up to me, wraps his arms around me and says "I Love You, Mommy"

Tofino 2013

Seven years ago, Blair and I spent our honeymoon in Tofino at Pacific Sands Resort. We went back two years ago for our fifth anniversary and decided that this year we would take all three kids with us. Tofino is a very special place to me, to us and wanted to share that with the kids. I quickly came to realize that they were not ready for that.

While the kids liked the beach and the ocean, our first day on the beach, Nicholas tried to jump a wave and instead, it knocked him over and into the cold ocean water. He was a good sport about the whole thing and walked for twenty more minutes before asking to go and change out of his wet boots, socks and pants. Emily, I swear came from the sea, because she spent every beach walk going toward the water. Blair and I began to refer to her as "Emily of the Sea". If you asked the kids what their favourite part of Tofino was, Nicholas would say, the boardwalk trek up to Sunset Point (a trek that they made at least once a day), Claire loved the park in town and Emily, we can only speculate would say, the ocean.....or the park swing.

By 7:30pm each night, we were all exhausted. The kids were in bed and Blair and I collapsed on the couch with a drink and a movie. When we went to bed, we slept, soundly.

The place where Blair and I had spent time as a couple had become something different. This trip had become two separate vacations; one with the bigger kids, hiking and me, in the suite alone while Emily slept. My idealized vision for this trip was anything but ideal. After the kids melted down at a Sunday night dinner, I  blamed the kids for ruining our holiday and was ready to pack up and leave, never wanting to take the kids anywhere again. But, of course, we didn't leave and had a beautiful Monday, full of warm sunshine. Had we left, Blair wouldn't have been walking up the trail to Sunset Point, heard the a young surfer calling for help and wouldn't have gone to his rescue. Leaving Nicholas and Claire in a safe spot, Blair scaled a rock face, water breaking up against him, reached down and helped the young surfer.

They returned to the suite, changed wet clothes and then headed back out to complete the trek that had been interrupted by the impromptu rescue.

Is it the holiday that I had envisioned? Not at all. Is it a holiday that the kids will remember? Absolutely.

I've learned something from doing this trip, Tofino is still a very special place to me and Blair and I cannot expect the kids to appreciate it the same way that I do. We will take the kids on another family holiday....not right away, but eventually. Until then, Blair and I will keep Tofino to ourselves....we're going back next year, without the kids.

Claire is 4

Four years ago today, Claire Elizabeth Ann was born and our lives were changed forever. Oh how you have grown and changed these past four years. You are now a strong willed and independent little girl with a mind and opinion all your own. I love you.

A Valentine's Love Letter

My Love,

Ten years ago this year, we spent our first Valentine's Day together. I remember that you made me a special dinner at your apartment and had a chocolate rose on my plate. I kept that rose for many years as a remembrance of that day.

From that first Valentine's Day all those years ago, 10 years, can you believe it? I knew that I had found someone special and that I was a very lucky girl. You held my "closed' hand, opened the door for me (and still do) and showed me love and respect, always.

On this day, amongst the busy-ness that is our life with the children and work, I want to take the opportunity to tell you how much you mean to me. You are my best friend, my love and the best Daddy that our children could ask for. So, on this, our tenth Valentine's Day, I want to say, I love you, Blair King. Happy Valentine's Day!

My Little Boy

Be prepared for a mushy post. You have been warned.

My little boy, full of wonder, curiosity, is also the most loving and empathetic little boy that I've ever known. The last few days, I've felt so lucky to be the recipient of his love and I could help but to share it with whomever would listen.

I've got cerebral palsy that affects my left side and has resulted in, what my kids call, my "closed" hand. They fought over holding my hand. Then I told them the story of how I knew that Daddy was "the one":

No one had ever held my left hand before....until Blair. He was the first one to reach for my left hand and hold it as if it were no big deal.

After that story, Nicholas asks to hold my "closed" hand because, in his words, "that means that I am special like Daddy" and reminds me of the story almost every time he holds my hand.

The other day, I picked Nicholas up at school on Friday and while his sister played in the playground, Nicholas hugged me and said "Mommy, I'm going to marry you."
Me: "I'm already married to Daddy"
Nicholas: "Well, I'm going to live with you forever. I'm in your heart and your heart is always with you."

Nicholas, dressed up as "Geronimo Stilton"

I just kissed his forehead. A mom sitting nearby, said "I'm sorry for listening in, but that is the sweetest thing"

A few minutes later, Nicholas was running around the edge of the playground and slipped and fell, hitting his head on the cement. Other moms asked him if he was OK and he nodded until I got to him and then he started to cry and said "I was pretending I was an X-wing being chased by the Death Star and I was supposed to stay on track, but instead I wiped out."

And then there is this morning. I walked him to school, just the two of us. He held my hand and we talked all the way there. Standing outside his classroom, he hugged me and said "I love you Mommy"

My sweet, silly  little boy

Please, don't get me wrong, there are many times when Nicholas is talking constantly and I ask "for just 5 minutes". But when I think about Nicholas, I imagine him as a young man with a girlfriend and I think about how lucky the girl who get him will be. He will love her and cherish her and she will never wonder how much she is loved by him.

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Well, a lot has happened since my last post back in November. As I sit here on the eve of the last day of Christmas break, I am reflecting on the past couple of months and looking ahead to the future. Here's whats happened since my last post:

:I made it through the first term of school after being off for a year and even though I am not enjoying my time teaching, I am learning a lot about myself and how to do things differently in the future.

:Nicholas got his first report card and it was stellar. He LOVES school and is excelling more than I ever expected. It is something to hear my little boy reading signs and books to me. Incredible :)

:We had a quiet Christmas with just family and with Blair taking the two weeks for holiday, we were able to spend some really good quality time together.

:I even took a break from FACEBOOK (something I plan to do more often).

:We took nightly walks around the neighbourhood looking at all the Christmas lights.

:We went to the aquarium to see the "Luminescence" and the penguins.

:We went on a "journey" (as Claire calls it) the "Bright Night's at Stanley Park" and had a picnic in the car on the way home.

:I started to read a book, for pleasure

:Blair and I slept in and enjoyed each other's company after the kids went to bed. We drank a lot of wine during these past two weeks and watched some shows we wanted to see.

I really wish it didn't have to end, but as with all good things, this holiday must too end. So, tomorrow, I head back to teaching (something I wish I was looking forward to more), Blair heads back to the office and the kids head back to daycare and school.
Unlike years past where I would list off all the things I wanted to do in the "new year", I haven't done that. Instead, I've decided to enjoy spending time with my family, try to do more for myself, to make me feel better about me and to do the best I can at my job and hopefully find the joy that I once had for it, or find joy elsewhere (aside from my family; children).
I am looking forward to reading more with Nicholas, watching Claire dance in her ballet class and Emily growing, changing and talking.
I am also looking forward to Tofino at Spring Break ;)

'Til next time.......

What a year!

 Emily is one. She started out as this innocent, dependent baby and has grown into an independent little girl. She's walking, chatting and playing on her own. She feeds herself, plays with her toys and is the joy of our lives.

 We love you Emily Meredith and we're glad that you are here.

Thanksgiving, Rain and an Eleven Month Old

Since I returned to work in September, updating posts have been difficult to fit in. This one encompasses the past month in the King household. Here goes:

We hosted Thanksgiving supper this year before my parents jetted off to Maui for three weeks....oh, the life of retirees....My brother, his wife and son came along with my parents and our family. Its funny how holiday suppers have changed since children came into the picture. I remember the first holiday supper that Blair and I had at our "little" house. It was just the two of us, I was expecting Nicholas and we had a 13lb turkey......we ate turkey for a month :).

Emily is continually growing and changing daily. She's almost walking unassisted and is as loud as her brother and sister. She's adapted well to daycare and is turning into a little girl and less a baby. She's my last baby and she's growing so fast.

Nicholas loves Kindergarten and is thriving. He's been working on memorizing and learning sight words and reading small books. It's amazing to me to sit with my little boy and listen to him read to me. He's less my "little" boy and more my big boy at 4 feet tall. Where did the time go? He's such his own person and the way his mind works still amazes me. Thankfully his teacher loves his enthusiasm and his channeling that energy into his learning.

Our big girl, Claire, is three. She wants to do everything her brother does and loves her sister like a little mommy. I am constantly asking her to put down Emily and not to carry her around and to give her some space. I hope that this "love affair" with her sister will last through their lives, however, I suspect at some point, they will have a "love/hate" relationship.

After all the sunshine and summer weather that we had, I knew that the rain would eventually come and come it has. It's rained on and off for two weeks but the fall colours are all around us and they are beautiful. Now I wish for a few cool, dry days so we can explore the fall foliage.

Until next time....

After

Growing Babies, Holidays and New Beginnings

I just realized that I haven't posted since July and so much has happened....which is why I haven't posted. Here we go:

After our July camping trip, we went up to Whistler for a week and spent some time with Blair's mom, brother and sister in law (who was expecting their first baby). We had a great time, playing at Alta Lake, where Nicholas tried paddle boarding with his Uncle Ian and Auntie Ali, spending mornings at the Family Fun Zone and the kids playground in the Village. I really hope to go back soon....perhaps without the kids......

 After Whistler, we spent time at the Zoo and Aquarium and riding bikes.......

We ended the summer with our nine month baby starting to crawl and furniture walk, Nicholas starting Kindergarten, Emily starting daycare and me returning to work at a new school with a new staff and a new group of students.

That's all for now.