momstown Edmonton North Luau games with Huggies!

I was so excited that May`s theme was luau! The first thing I did was go and find games so we could do luau games. Then came the exciting news that we would be able to sample the new limited addition Hawaiian Huggies diapers. Our luau theme came just in time for the weather to get nice so we could do it outside. However the day of our luau games it was crazy windy! An excess of 50 km winds! However our mama`s are rock stars and braved the wind and joined me for our games!!

We started off with a twist to musical chairs and did musical towels. In theory this is a great game, add a lot of wind and it doesn`t quite work. I am sure we spent more time chasing the towels down. I think we will try this game again but when we have less wind. We went old school and I brought my tape/CD player and the kids ran around with a gusto.

Next was our kiwi relay races, the kids absolutely loved this game. Who knew putting kiwis on spoons and getting the kids to run around our boxes of Huggies diapers would be so entertaining. They played until the kiwis were dropped and or exploded open.

Ever played duck, duck, goose? Make it luau and change it to shark, shark, fish! The kids were playing shy and didn't want to run around the circle, which meant us moms were picking the kids up and running for them! Oh man did it ever tire us out!

First I have to say I have hips to bear children, however I do not have hips to maneuver a  hula hoop. I was shown up by 4 year olds! It is a good thing that we had enough hula hoops for everyone because everyone participated in hula hoops.

To finish off our games we had coconut bowling. Again fun in theory but with wind we had a hard time keeping the pins up but that didn't deter the kids from trying to bowl with coconuts. To close off our game we had a pudding eating contest! It was nice to have the Huggies wipes on hand to clean up the mess especially since we were at a park. Always a good way to end a day!

Back to our rock star mamas, even though we had the kids all bundled up because of the wind they still wanted to try the diapers on children! The children were also rock star because they thought that it was great running around in the colourful diapers. Thank you everyone who made it out to our event, you all made it a great success.

momstown Edmonton North

momstown Edmonton North reads Giraffes Can't Dance

  momstown.ca partners with Scholastics Canada, and every month we get to read and then raffle off a book that goes with our monthly theme.  May's theme is Luau!! For this fun theme we got to read Giraffes Can't Dance by Andreae Giles. 

 

This month we combined our Play and Social and our Tales for Tots. The kids got to get all their energy out by running around and playing then afterwords they all sat down to read Giraffes Can't Dance. This is a fantastic book that lets kids know that it is okay to be different and dance to your own beat.

Also the illustrations in the book are colourful and alive. The dancing animals bring out cute little giggles from the kids. This is definitely a book that can be read time and time again!

 When we raffled off the book this month our winner was Riley!! Congratulations! 

momstown Edmonton North reads `I am Small`

  momstown.ca partners with Scholastics Canada, and every month we get to read and then raffle off a book that goes with our monthly theme. April`s theme was small animals and to go with that theme we read I am Small by Emma Dodd.

 When we all met for April`s Tales for Tots we brought our little stuffed animals to join us in reading I am Small. The book is visually striking and holds the attention of all the kids. While I was reading the book the kids noticed that I am small is repeated through out the book and they started saying it out loud with me while I was reading.

 This is such a sweet book, every time I read it I get choked up, and every time I read this book to my son I wish that we had our own small penguin!

                             A big congratulations to this months winner Brendan!!

Mommy Politics....How Low Will They Go?

A couple of weeks ago I  went on a local Facebook group for moms (not to be named) and they were discussing controversial parenting decisions. One of them was circumcision, so I thought I’d read on and see how that went over. 

Oh my! I’ve never seen such judgement, and distasteful arguments in my life. There was swearing, name calling,  judgmental comments like “I question your competence and ability to make educated choices for your children”.....really? It was like a high school cat fight.

What is it about our choices as mothers that make us so heated? Why can’t we all respect each other’s decisions and agree to disagree? I’m all for a debate, or an expression of your opinion, but there is a point when people have to stop and question whether they’re just sharing their views, or just criticizing others to be right. 

While there are some choices that I feel strongly about as a mother, such as my daughter growing up a Christian, it does NOT make me determined in any way to force anyone else to see my perspective, or push it down their throats. As long as my choices are respected, I will show respect to those who disagree.

I think what these moms who engage in mommy politics are missing is the bigger picture: THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY TO PARENT. No matter how many studies are conducted, or how many people tell you you’re right, there will always be someone who sees their role differently, or has a different perspective about how a child should be raised.

Honestly, whether you cloth diaper or use disposables, rear face until your child is 15 or switch them at a year (okay, that’s the law, not really a parenting choice), circumcise or not, etc. etc. etc. there are many moms who will do it differently, and their children will be fine just the same. The child will not remember whether they were cloth diapered, or bottle fed, or any of those things. What they will know (we hope), is that regardless of the choices we made for them, we made every choice in their best interest, because we love them and want the best for them. We do the best we can. And pushing an opinion on someone else isn’t going to correct a wrong, it’s going to cause hurt, and resentment. Why? As moms, especially those that are new moms, we should be supporting each other’s choices. We know how hard being a mom is. We take heat from every side - in laws, husbands, seniors who always seem to have done it better 50 years ago, our own mothers....so now we’re turning on each other? We’re a team. We should support and respect each other. It’s tough to be a mom, and we do what we we feel is right, and what we can manage.

I went for a walk with one of our members the other day, and told her how disturbed I was over these cat fighting moms, and she pointed out that it’s hard for moms to find support like we have as momstown members. This is one of the many reasons I love momstown. Regardless of your choices, even if not everyone agrees with it, you’ll be respected, both on our message boards and in person. We all know that half the time, we’re just trying to SURVIVE. Who has time or energy to attack others? We know it’s hard. And the momstown mamas ARE a team, a support system. When our moms are having a hard time, we make them meals, offer our help, and encourage them. When everything is great, we celebrate and congratulate them. No attacks, or hate, no resentment or loneliness. Just love and support. Love it! 

And now for a little friendly reminder to the moms I witnessed cutting each other down on Facebook: 

Your momstown Edmonton North mama,

Amanda

momstown kids say the darndest things!

We have a fairly active message board, where we talk about all sorts of things, one of the threads that I really love reading is what is the funniest thing your kid/s have said or done today. So I thought I would do our own rendition of Kids Say the Darndest Things.

One of our repeat offenders Jack:

Don't say no Mommy, it's bad for me.

I know mommy said no. But Jack says Yeeeessssssss.

Batman doesn't  poop on the potty, so I don't have to either.

Mommy, where's Samaras penis (me: she doesn't have one)
You Broke It Off?! FIX IT!

Jack starts to cover me up. I ask him if I need it because I'm sick.
he says "no mommy, you're dying"

when he asked to go to my parents, they said no maybe next time.
"but grandma, don't you LOVE me anymore!?"

Jack was standing beside me and Samara was pestering/hittng him. He turns around, puts both hands on her shoulders, and starts with
"Look at me Samara. You Can't Hit People! you can hurt them. Say you're sorry and then go play"


These are a cute duo:

Sean: Mommy I found a boogie. It was in my nose! Oh I found another one!

Sean: Can we go to Disneyland?
Sophie: Only way we're going to Disneyland is if I learn how to drive.

Sean: Mommy what's Santa's phone number, I forgot to tell him something.

Sean: We need some money.
Sophie: Better go to the dollar store then.

Me to Sean: Eat your veggies so you grow up to be big & strong.
Sean: No I wanna be short & fat like you.

My son says very few words right now, however this night we knew exacty what he was saying:

DH is feeding lil man is bottle before bed, however he isn't staying still and is trying to roll around. DH says 'okay you must be finished' and puts the bottle on the nightstand. Lil man starts crying and points at his bottle and says 'Bad dad dad Bad dad dad. So DH gave him the bottle back and he calmly finished it. We both burst out laughing!

I always get a good chuckle when I read these, hope I put  a smile on your face! What are some of the funniest things your little one(s) have oh so sincerely brought to your attention?

Your momstown Mama,

Kandice

10 Great Things Since Getting Pregnant

When I started writing 10 small things I knew that I could have filled all ten spots with stuff just from my child. So I knew that I would have to dedicate one just to him!

• I definitely am a lot closer to both my parents, getting pregnant seems to have mended unsaid issues we were having.
• 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes, even to this day I love kissing his little fingers and toes.
• My friend Candice Ryan making and singing a song for my little man for his baby shower. I still cry whenever I listen to the recording of it. Also so excited because she has recorded it and it will be released on her album coming out this summer!
• I am not going to lie the first 3-4 months were not so great, I struggled with baby blues and being borderline PPD, but what was great was joining momstown and getting myself out of the house and working my way out of my PPD.
• His first smile directed right at me!
• The first time he sat up all on his own and the great look of concentration when he took those first 6 steps all on his own.
• When he finally said mom! And not dad for once
• The first time I watched him share a toy all on his own, I think I almost even teared up a little
• Those tiny slobbery kisses that he gives
• Most recently when I went to go pick him up from day home, this being his first week and me having a really hard day, he crawled up in my lap and just hugged me for almost a minute. Made my hard day instantly melt away from me.

I love my little man and wouldn't change anything!

Your momstown Mama

Kandice

Chronicles Of a Foodie: Part 1

On our message board we have a whats for dinner tonight?? thread. Everyone posts what they're having and if someone is interested in the recipe, the recipes are shared. One of our fantastic moms, (who frequently posts on this thread) with our not so subtle hinting has started a blog of her own encompassing many of her delicious meal ideas and recipe trials. Once a month she will send us a delicious recipe that she has tried and share with us how it went!! This month's is:

Grilled Red Snapper

Ingredients

1/4  cup softened butter
1 tsp grated lime zest
1 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp coarsely ground pepper 
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp tex mex seasoning
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp coarse salt
1 1/2lbs Red Snapper fillets

Beat first 4 ingredients until creamy. Spoon onto a sheet of wax paper and form into a 2 inch long cylinder. Wrap tightly and put in freezer for about 1 hour or until firm.

Combine next 5 ingredients and spread over fillets. Chill covered for about 30 minutes. Place fillets on a sheet of greased heavy duty (or double layer of regular) tin foil. Cook on direct medium heat for 8-10 minutes until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with sliced lime butter. Serves 6.

1 Serving is only 223 calories! 


Why did I make this?: My kids Love fish, but I usually want something with a lot of flavor. Plus I like recipes that don't have that fishy taste. It seems pretty easy to make, and easy on the diet. 

Was it any good?:   The kids two handed it into their mouths. James was a big fan of the butter slices which really topped off the whole recipe. I can definitely see making this again. This would be good with almost any fish.

What would/did I change: I was STILL out of propane (seems to be the going fad in this household) so I had to broil the recipe. It did cook fine but I think bbq would make it that much better. I forgot to pat dry the fish before spreading on the spread so next time I have to remember to do that. It made it a bit hard to get the spread on and seems a bit too wet while cooking. Tex mex seasoning I wasn't sure what they meant, so I just used low sodium taco seasoning, it tasted just fine! We topped this on a bed of salad with lemon juice squeezed all over it. Really made the meal. 

The Recipe calls for 2 slices of the lime butter on the fish. But really a tiny bit goes a long way, especially if you let it melt a little bit to spread it all over the fish.

We also had to scrape a bit of the spread off of the cooked fish for Samara, she had a hard time with the spice of the spread. 

Thank you Shawn for this delicious recipe!!! Can't wait till next month's edition of Chronicles of a Foodie. For more recipes from Shawn, check out Chronicles of a Foodie.