EXCUSES

Part of my teaching assignment this year is PE. I teach it to 8th and 6th graders. You would not believe the excuses some kids come up with to get out of gym? What? I just have a tough time understanding, why kids don't want to run around and play!!!
Today a 6th grade girl actually came up to me to explain to me that she couldn't "do gym" today as, "I have my period and my tummy really hurts." I  was happy to inform her that, "actually, physical activity is really good for menstrual cramps." She then go really quiet and said, "Yes, but I have a tampon in!"  I was shocked! Not only that she chose to share that intimate detail with me, and not only at the fact that at her age, she was able to get a tampon in!!! Seriously it took me years and several boxes of tampons before I figured that out. I am not even sure if I had my period in grade 6, but if I did, I suffered with giant pads in my gym shorts!! I was shocked that she has obviously not seen the commercials of women in white full piece bathing suits diving with tampons in!! LOL!!! Tampons were invented for active women, right?? She did end up participating and when I asked he how she was feeling at the end of the class all she commented on was how she got hit in the head with a dodge ball...here's hoping it didn't knock her tampon loose!! ha ha ha

To be fair there are those kids who genuinely forget gym strip and are desperate to still play. A boy today showed up with some extra jeans he had in his locker. He was prepared to use them as his "gym jeans!!" Love his spirit!!! Another boy broke his arm 2 days ago and chose to participate in both games we played today! Those are the kids that set examples for others! My hat off to them!!!!

THINGS THAT MAKE YA GO HMMM....

Umm...did you know that people really wrestle? I mean besides WWE or in school gyms? I, did not! However, after visiting the May Days Fair in Rutland, BC, I can confirm, that yes, yes, people really wrestle. They really dress up in costumes and trash talk one another and the crowd.  They seriously perform "routines," can I use that word to describe large, sweaty men and women in spandex "dancing" around a ring? Can I use the word "dancing?" Not sure, but I am telling you, this was something to see...something that made us laugh outloud, captured our attention and made us go hmmmm,people really do this!

 Yep, a wrestling ring...at a community fair! Awesome!

 Behind me is one of the wrestlers, trash talking his opponent while strutting through the crowd! Awesome!

 They even had a match that involved two tag team couples!! Awesome!

 This guy was ready to climb through the ropes and pose with me...or throw me into the ring, not sure which! LOL..Awesome!

Another thing that made us go "hmmmm," this long weekend were the Lawn Mower Races at the fair, put on by the Lawn Mower Race Club. What? There's actually a lawn mower race club? How awesome is that? What does this club involve? What do they do at meetings? How do their lawn mowers go so fast? Do they actually "mow" the lawn while racing??? Sooo many questions for this lawn mower race virgin crowd!

Lawn Mower races! Awesome!!

"Hmmm," we said at the fair. "What's up with the Rabbit and the Pig?" Who knows what the deal was with these two, but they were happy to pose for pics, so why not??

 Troy and his cousin and boyfriend, who told us about this fair. Thank you! Awesome!!

 Balloon animals? yes please!

 Balloon hat? Awesome!

 I love it when a day surprises ya with sooo many fun, unexpected things. Life is good!!!

Life is also good when you can spend some of it in the sunshine at the beach with your family and your dogs!!

 This was Ryder's first real chance to play with his sand shovel and bucket!

 The Fun Farns!!

And really, who needs sunshine to go to the beach? Not us Albertans!! I am sure, there were people who thought, "hmmmm" why do they have their little one down by the water in this crazy wind on a cloudy day in his bare feet?....we let them think that. :)

 


The weekend went by way too quickly, but time always flies when you are having fun!! Thanks, Rutland for the laughs, Farns for the memories and Jim and Trish for the comfortable place to lay our heads and call home base!

MOTHER'S DAY 2012

Today was Mother's Day. It was a beautiful, sunny day. A perfect day! I woke up feeling blessed that I get to be a "Mom." (Thanks, Marty and Ryder for making that happen. For as long as I can remember that is all I have ever wanted to be...a Mom!) I got to stay in bed, while Marty scooped, Ryder out of his crib, got his milk and brought the little cutie to cuddle in bed with me. Eventually, I had to get up to get ready to run the Mother's Day 5km race.  I was going to run and push Ryder in the chariot. This would be his first race! I was excited!!!  Marty drove, Ryder, my friend, Andrea and I to the start line.  We introduced Ryder to the whole "race experience," the line up at the porta potties, the fun, loud of the loud group "warm up routine," the importance of race volunteers and all the pre and post race snacks provided, the excitement a race with 14000 runners generates and the overwhelming sense of pride that consumes one as the finish line is reached!
I will admit that originally, I had hoped Ryder would lay back, settle in and have his morning nap during the race in the comfy seat of his chariot...but I realize now, that that was not realistic! The race was way too exciting! Ryder practically hung out of the chariot hollering and yelling (I like to think he was cheering, though I am sure he just likes the way his voice jiggles when we go over rough terrain.) His enthusiasm matched mine as we weaved our way through the very crowded pack. Running a race while pushing a chariot is quite an experience. I am thankful we made it through the whole thing without tripping anyone with the stroller's jogging wheel. 
Finishing the race as the mommy of a one year old with him will always be a special memory.

  Andrea, Ryder and I before the race.

Ryder and I ready for the group warm up!

 Finish line!!!!

 

After the race, Marty picked us up and took us to meet my friend's family for brunch. We made it through brunch at a family friendly restaurant with 4 adults and three kids under 3 without any hot beverages being knocked over, only one coffee creamer exploding, one tator tot being consumed while too hot, one toddler melting down (not mine), one diaper being stinkily filled and 6 tummies being satisfied!

Marty, Ryder and I drove straight from the restaurant, to our house, picked up Scout (while Ryder finally enjoyed his nap in his car seat,) and continued en route to Canmore. We parked by the river, got the baby hiker baback pack out of the van, slathered on the sunscreen, stuffed Ryder into the backpack, leashed up Scout and headed out on our first official hike of the season.  What a beautiful day!!!! After half an hour, I wanted to try carrying Ryder on my back. Whoa! That is HARD work!! I think I could do it on a flat surface, like around a lake or something, but straight up? OMG! I was afraid I was going to go over backwards. Every step was slow motion and after only a couple of minutes my ass, quads and calves were burning.  I was determined to make it ten minutes and I barely managed that. I gained a whole new respect for how strong Marty is!! Ryder "talked" and "talked" all the way up, then part way down his "talking" became fussing. Good thing he doesn't have any real words yet, or he'd be yelling, "let me out of this back pack right now!!!" He just wanted to walk and run and explore! At the bottom of the hike, we let Scout and Ryder frolick in the mountain river, brrrr!! We took off Ryder's shoes and socks and let him feel the sand and ice water on his chubby little toes. He carried rocks from boulder to boulder and enjoyed the freedom of NOT being in the backpack.  Scout stole sticks from every little kid in the water and shook cold river water on all of us!  When we were ready to leave we put Ryder's shoes and socks on and then, while I turned away to grab Scout's leash, he promptly waded right INTO the water with his shoes and socks on, then he...sat down. Yep, just sat down in the freezing water with his shorts and diaper on! Brrrr! We all had a good laugh, perfect ending to our mountain adventure!!

 On our way to the mountains. Yep, my neck hurts just looking at him too.

 Very serious about things....

 Talkin' talkin' talkin'!

 I am exhausted!!

This is my heavy, adorable load!

 Beautiful, stick loving Scout!

 Brrr, mountain rivers are COLD!!!!

The entire day ended with Marty and Ryder chefing up some chocolate chip pancakes and spolumbo sausages! Yummmy! I am going to bed tonight one happy happy mamma! Lookin' forward to making a hundred more Mother's Day memories!!

For the love of a dog

 

Ryder loves Scout! 

 Anytime the front door is open, you can find Scout sitting at her post, keeping "tabs" on the neighbours.  Anytime, Scout is sitting still, you can find, Ryder hugging, snuggling, feeding or tackling her!  This kid LOVES his dog! He hugs her all the time. I just happened to have my camera handy the other day, but seriously, this love between the two of them happens all the time! It just absolutely melts my heart!!

 

Hugs from behind!

 Hugs from underneath!

 Side snuggles!

Nothin' but PURE LOVE!!!

Ryder is a really cuddly kid. When he hugs he leads with his head, so if he comes at you head first, he is coming at ya with a hug!

JUST SOME PICS

It has been a long rainy two weeks. Ryder and Scout and I are dying to get outside to play!!!

 We've spent a lot of time inside, just chillin..but that's getting boring.

 Inbetween rain storms we try to get out to the park to throw the ball for Scout.  

Ryder likes to wear her leash as a necklace. Putting things over his head is his current obsession. I try to keep the poop bags away from him, especially the full ones!

 Ryder's bestest buddy is Scout. He loves to wrestle with her and she loves him!

Here is my little cutie wearing a tuque in MAY!!!!!!!

SPEEDY!!

Ryder is getting fast! I mean, the kid can really move, either that, or I have been seriously underestimating his mobility skills.
Today, I took Ryder to the "Mane Event," a big event surrounding horses. There are clinics, Trainers Challenges, demonstrations, lectures, and shopping, lots and lots of shopping. I have attended the Mane Event every year that it has come to our neck of the woods. I meet my Mom there (the location of the event is between our two towns) and I always see a few of my other good friends from the horse world there. I look forward to the shopping, the trainer's challenge and the visiting. I've been there single, married, pregnant, with a new born and this year, I went with a one year old! This year, I didn't shop, I didn't watch the Trainers Challenge and I barely got to visit. This year, I was busy. Busy, chasing an adorable, very mobil one year old, all over the event site.  Ryder is fast! He could push his way through strangers legs faster than I could push the stroller he refused to sit in, that's for sure.  I could always tell where he'd been though, by the smiles on people's faces and I could tell which way he was headed by the direction of people's stares and the sounds of "oh, look how cute he is...what a cute little red head, awww."  It seemed he was always heading towards the tractors. No matter where I drug him, at first opportunity, he would take off, straight back to the tractors..he's like a homing pigeon, but instead of going home (to his mama) he always ended up at the tractors!! Luckily, the guys selling the big machines, had great senses of humor and got a real kick out of putting Ryder up in the seats, letting him push and pull the levers.
Ryder also made friends with the driver of a team of Heavy Horses. He just stood pointing and waving at the guy until he invited Ryder to come over and pet, "Marty" and "Jim."  Can you believe that? The horses had the same names as Ryder's Dad and Grandpa!

After about 3 hours, I was exhausted! I decided our trip to this Year's Mane Event was done.  I loaded up my little man and drove him home where we picked up Scout and headed to the farm to visit our own horse.  Uncle Dirt was happy to see us, especially when we filled his feed tub with sweet feed.  I am pretty sure he hadn't anticipated sharing that sweet feed with both Ryder and Scout, but he begrudgingly did.  I tried to convince Ryder to feed the oats he picked up to Dirt, but most of it went into his own mouth.  Scout always stands by, ready to lick up anything that spills or gets left behind.  AFter the feast, I set out to brush my shedding pony.  I had set Ryder up with a big dump truck and some shovels. However, apparently, he was more interested in my brush caddy. These are the things in the brush caddy, I have not emptied in years, that he found to put in his mouth:
-a can of "Off" mosquito repellant
-scissors
-some mini elastics
-several brushes filled with horse hair
-a hankerchief
-tub of vaseline

It had never crossed my mind that all of that "dangerous" stuff was in my caddy.

It also never crossed my mind that Ryder might just go ahead and walk right under Dirt's belly, but before I could stop him, that's exactly what he did!! Good God!
I mean we used to do that all the time, walk under our 4-H horses, but they were bomb proof and we were not ONE years old!!! Thank God, Dirt was oblivious!  I need to get this kid a helmet and get him ON TOP of the horse where he'll stay out of trouble!! LOL

COOKIE DOUGH!

You know what I love? Watching someone learn. I mean, seeing it happen right before my eyes.  As a teacher, I've been lucky enough to witness this more than a few times in my life, but it has never been as special as being there at the exact moment that my own son discovers something brand new that he can do!!! 

Tonight, he helped me bake cookies. Chocolate chip ofcorse! We used a scoop to get the flour, sugar and chocolate chips out of their containers. When we were done scooping, I set the scoop on the counter. Ryder picked it up and began trying to reach into the bag of flour with it! He had learned the process and was eager to try by himself!!! When he couldn't fit the scoop into the chocolate chip container, he reached into it with his hands, but rather than stuff the chips into his mouth, like I thought he'd do, he dropped them into the mixing bowl! Soooo exciting! (Not sure if it was more exciting to me that he dropped them into the bowl, or that he didn't eat them, he puts everything into his mouth!) He had learned what to do with the chocolate chips!! Soooo adorable!!

I still am not ready to give him a whole chocolate chip cookie (especially, not just before bed time,) but I did let him lick the spatula!  Yummmy!!!