A List Of 25 In 25...

My girl Erin over at Living In Yellow is awesome. Just in case you were wondering, and she's hosting a linky linky party of whatever number of things to do in whatever number of years you are.

Well, my birthday was back in April, but I am so jumping on this bandwagon and I'm going to give it an honest attempt.

25 Awesome Things To Do In My 25th year...

1. Jump in the puddles with Aislynn.

2. Work out twice a week. Possibly making it to 3.

3. Cook the turkey dinner at Thanksgiving or Christmas all by myself. The last two years I have had help, and before that my mum just always did it. Well, this year, it's gonna be all me baby.

4. Make the firm decision whether this is the baby making year.

5. Have a date night with the hubs once a month. That's do-able. Right?

6. Go to at least two auditions.

7. Learn how to use my sewing machine.

8. Invite 3 different families over for dinner. 3 different times.

9. Take Aislynn to Santa's Village. I keep saying we'll do it on Cuinn's next day off, never happens.

10. Road Trip to somewhere new.

11. Make it to 100 followers on this ol' blog. I need to join more linky links, be a little more social, get out there.

12. Forget meeting new people, meet my people. Dig those roots down deep here in our tiny town and make some real connections with people.

13. Spend 1 night every week month with all electronics off. Me = easy, the hubs = yeah right. (edited for the husband)

14. Color my hair again. Don't cut my hair. I'm growing it out and I'm going darker. As long as I don't change my mind again.

15. Go on a three generations of Bain women date. This can happen, because my parents come home next year.

16. Get serious about this saving for a house dealy. There is no reason why we haven't started other than my commitment issues and Cuinn's apathetic issues. This is happening.

17. Be as supportive as humanly possible in the next stage of Cuinn's job this fall.

18. Re-decorate our bedroom and Aislynn's bedroom.

19. Pray every morning.

20. Spend a whole day (while Aislynn is in daycare of course) with Cuinn doing NOTHING. No emptying the dishwasher, no putting toys away, just spending some quality one on one time with my man.

21. Get a stupid otter box for my stupid iPhone. Or some kind of case for it that will protect it from the constant abuse it takes from me.

22. Read all the books in my collection that I kept. This can happen.

23. Do not buy one single book. Hit the library, borrow from a friend, steal them (just kidding). Just don't spend one penny on books for one full year.

24. Kiss my husband every single day and tell him that I love him.

25. Kiss my daughter every single day and tell her that I love her.

I've got a lot to do in the next year. Maybe I should print this out and put it on the fridge. Y'know. Constant reminder to do my list?

Head over to Erin's and see what everyone else is saying.

A Thankful Thursday..

First of all. For those of you who called, texted, emailed, commented, Facebook whatever'd, actually came over to my house! (Yes, one of you did, and I love you so much for it) 

Thank you.

Your kind words, all of them, made me forget about the hurt feelings from others. I was feeling the love from all sorts of people, a few unexpected places too. I can't thank you guys enough for that.

Now, onto a lighter note!

It's Thursday, and I haven't done a Thankful Thursday in a while. I have been remiss! So here it is, I'm back on track. Enjoy!

1. The thunder and lightening storm last night at 2 in the am. I might have been up with a hyper Aislynn, but it was awesome to have the living room light up from the lightening.

2. Seeing Aislynn wanting to be just like daddy.

 3. My friend S. She brought me two GIANT plastic containers, filled with clothes her daughter has grown out of. Pretty sure I don't have to shop for Aislynn until she's 2!

4. That this month is almost over. July has been a rough one for me this year. I don't like summer in the best of times, but with that, this and the other thing? Let's move on to August!

5. Aislynn antics. All you can do is giggle.

Yeah, she's in two different toilets...

6. Our family Dr being the emerg room Dr yesterday. He is so amazing. We really felt like he gave us extra special treatment, and the fact that he already knows our daughter, and she trusts him. It made things a lot smoother.

7. That we didn't need to get stitches in her head, just the glue. Someone needs to tell me the correct terminology though, because I feel so silly saying, "Oh yeah, she's fine. The Dr just glued her would together." It sounds a bit red neckish.

8. Vinegar. I just went through all of my Thankful Thursday posts, and I can't believe I have left you out, my dear friend. 

9. Knowing my moms recipe and tricks to her her home made pie and pie crusts. I never liked pie growing up, but now I love it and I love having something I can bring sometime delicious to a friend, new mom, dinner party.

10. J. My work out buddy. I so need someone to push me when I feel like quitting, someone to make me feel ok with the fact that I am uncoordinated and out of shape, someone who is my friend. Thanks J! She's also the friend who gave me three of these bad boys.

11. Other J, who is joining in on the work out fun! It's great to have a work out buddy, and it's even greater to be in a group! We're all pretty much at the same level (well, except the first J, she's got 3 months on us and is kicking butt), so it's not intimidating. It's actually been a lot of fun. Which I never thought I would say working out is fun.

12. My big brother. It's his birthday today and I am so thankful to have a big brother. My first best friend. My body guard. He's awesome. We don't get to see him on his actual birthday because all of our schedules are so wacky, but we have finally setteled on seeing him this weekend. Aislynn LOVES her uncle, so it'll be a fun day!

13. That I sold and donated over 100 books. Pretty much a whole book shelf. It's an amazing feeling to declutter.

14. Along those lines, we sold over 100 dvd's as well. Next thing to go? A lot of Aislynn's clothing.

15. That neither Cuinn, nor I, have ever been involved in a shooting. They are so prevelent today, and I'm not trying to be flip about the most recent CO shooting, but I see things like this and I am so grateful that the Simpsons remain ignorant to how that must feel to go through that.

16. Listening to Aislynn chatter away. I love that we have "conversations." I ask her something like, "What should mummy make for dinner tonight?" and she actually answers me. I have no idea what she's saying, but she babbles and then looks at me for a response. It is adorable!

17. When Aislynn fell and bumped her head, I picked her up and she burrowed her face into my neck and wrapped her arms around me. I hated seeing her in pain, but there was a moment of joy in my heart that she wanted me in her time of need. She is so independant, so it is a bit of a rareity that she seeks comfort. When she does, it feel amazing.

18. That I'm still able to be nursing my daughter. I know there are a lot of mummy's who couldn't nurse, or had to give it up, so I am so glad that I still have that special connection with my daughter right before bed time.

19. Sitting in a quiet room. Bowl of cereal in hand. Just thinking. 

20. Our park in our tiny town. Aislynn loves it, and when we turn the corner onto the parks street, she starts yelling PARK! PARK! And does the babble thing again. It is so awesome. 

What are you thankful for right now?

I'm linking up with Jade today, head on over and join in the fun!!

A Bit Of A Rant...

Warning. I'm not worrying about who is going to be offended by this post. I've got a lot of feelings going on, and I have tried to be considerate of other people's feelings. Which has been pointless since the same people have no consideration for mine. So. If you are feeling extra sensitive, it would probably just be best to not continue reading.

There has been a lot of things going on in our home in the last little while. Some things that I just can't post about because family stuff is private. Plus, I don't think I need to share those intimate details with the whole wide web. Or at least the 30 people who follow my little corner of the web. Suffice to say (is that the way that saying goes?) we have a lot of family things happening. Which already puts Cuinn and I at stress level midnight.

As they say though; when it rains, it pours.

Cuinn and I went to the Early Years Center here in town. I was so excited to have Cuinn with Aislynn and I today. This was the first time he was able to come, and I was so excited.

We had a mostly good time. Cuinn was able to see how Aislynn goes about her playing in the big backyard. How she gives her friend B hugs. How I have a few really great moms to chat with (Jenn, Jenny, Michelle, Jenn. Just to name the ones who were there). These women who I am able to complain to, because I know they will encourage me, as I encourage them. There are other moms who have been so amazing here, and they deserve recognition too, but right now is not the time.

The part he didn't like?

The judgey moms and the cliques he saw.

Now, I'm a stay at home mom. I already know that moms are bitches. 

Whoops, sorry did that offend you?

But what hurts me, is that my husband, who was there one time, and was surrounded by my supportive friends, noticed other moms. Who kept giving him looks, and staring at Aislynn and watching her play, making Cuinn feel like he was on show.

After that, we got to talking about what my day to day is like and I think he was pretty upset at some of the stories that I told.

See, I try really hard to keep that part out of my daily stories I tell him. He doesn't need to know that there are moms out there, in my tiny town, who make me feel tiny. And hurt. Because when I do tell him? He wants to run to my rescue and fix it. Which is why I love him, but I need to "fight my own battles" as they say.

That's my point though. I'm not going to fight with these moms. They don't like me? Well, too bad. It hurts a lot, because I am one of those people who will go home and cry about it while my kid naps. But on the other side of that, I live in a tiny, little town. And I am going to have to put up with the stupid, childish, mommy drama for the rest of my time here. Our kids will grow up together, they will go to school together, be in brownies together, in music lessons together, go on field trips together, possibly be friends, or be in the same group of friends together.

So how am I dealing with it?

I've distanced myself.

Because I know, with all of my heart, that once I start telling these people that they have hurt me, or made me want to protect my child, that it will be a slow fall to us being on the outside.

So I stick to my friends who have been here. Who call me. Who ask me how I am. Who love my child. Who make me feel like a valued person.

After thinking about this, and talking about it with Cuinn, it really made me start questioning things though. 

Wondering why it's like this? Why can't all the moms just get along? Why do people have to be in separate groups? 

Honestly? I have absolutely no answers.

All I can say right now, is that growing up means nothing sometimes. There are always going to be people who hurt you and you can't avoid it. Ever. But what you can do, is grow a thicker skin. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good. 

Not everyone is going to like you, but there will always be people who do. Keep your eyes on that.

A Silent Sunday...

Source: etsy.com via Sarah on Pinterest

A Letter To You...

Dear EYC mommy snob who was mean to my kid,

I talked to my friends, and they told me they like me. My mum does too. So I've decided not to care that you don't like my kid, or my parenting, or whatever. People like me and my family. 

Dear mommy not snobs,

I love you.

Dear left over cheese dip from last night,

Cuinn and I are going to eat you so hard. It's gonna be so awesome. For us. Not so much for you, since I will be imagining you crying while we eat you because it is hurting you.

Dear hubby,

Don't be mad that I give feelings to all inanimate objects. You knew what you were getting into.

Dear Weekend,

Thanks for being here, and thanks for being a real weekend which Cuinn actually has off. It's gonna be awesome.

Dear L,

Your son is turning 1. Can you believe it?

Dear Aislynn,

Stop growing.

Dear J,

Those giant, scary zucchini you gave me? Oh man. So good. Seriously. PLUS, my freezer is full of zucchini now, so I'm good for a while.

Dear Bed,

I'm coming at ya.

A Prayer For Aurora, CO...

When I hear of things like this it breaks my heart. I feel for the victims and their families. What a horrific and tragic event to happen to people who are just heading out to a movie. 

I also feel for the person who inflicts the pain. What they did was wrong, of course, but as a Christian I am taught to hate the sin but love the sinner. 

My prayers are going out to the families of the 12 who were killed. To the 59 who were injured. To the other patrons who will carry unseen scars. To the family of the shooter and also to the shooter. We don't know what was going on in his mind moments, days, weeks before this horrific act. Nothing will condone what he did, but he still needs our prayers.

Marilyn Manson wrote an essay on the Columbine shooting 13 years ago, and it is so relevant to today. You might not like his music, you might think he's weird, you might even agree that he is the "anti-christ". But you have to admit, the man makes a few really good points. I urge you to read it.

A Letter To....

Dear husband,

I miss you. We have both been so busy this week, and now tonight is a boys night. I wish you had weekends off.

Dear my friend J,

It's kinda awesome having you as my friend. The baby sitting trade offs. Being work out buddies. Having someone to talk to when we need it. You rock, J.

Dear Aislynn,

We're going to be driving in the car tomorrow for an hour and a half. I have snacks prepped, your CD's in the car, and drinks cooling in the fridge. Please, let's make it there without incident. 

Dear new car,

I love you. Thanks for being awesome.

Dear old car,

Don't feel abandoned. I still think of you fondly and miss you a bit. 

Dear husband,

Yeah, you're getting two notes this Friday. You are amazing. I'm so proud of you every single day and I'm here to help as much as I can through the next phase in our life.

Dear Desperate Housewives,

Why do I enjoy you so much?!?

Dear readers,

Thanks for stopping by. I love you all.

A Play Date With A Friend...

Aislynn is a joy to me. She is so full of energy. She feels every emotion so strongly and with her whole body. She is vibrant and inquisitive and so full of life. Sometimes other parents don't want their kids to play with Aislynn because she is a bit too much for their own kids.

But Aislynn has one very special friend. A friend who is just like her. They hug and kiss and play with each other so well, and then they pull each others hair and steal each others toys. They really are two peas in a pod.

Today Aislynn's very special friend, Brianna, came over to play for a little while. Brianna has two sisters and one of her sisters has been pretty sick, so Brianna's mommy thought it was time to go to the ER to make sure everything was ok. Lucky for us though, that meant Brianna and Aislynn were able to have a play together.

Thank you Michelle, for being my friend and having a daughter who is just like mine! We all had so much fun today, and I thought you might want to see the evidence!

Aislynn was so excited for the visit, she just kept on hugging Bri.

I went to the bathroom, came out and they were hiding in the corner with all the toys.

Playing with the kitchen together

Helping each other with their sandals.

Don't let their expressions fool you, they were giggling and telling stories the whole ride!

I sat them on the stoop, left the timbits and went to put the wagon away. I came back and they had broken into the timbits. 

My own fault for leaving the timbits with them. I applauded their efforts though.

As I was making lunch, I came around the corner and this is what I saw.

They were getting snoozy.

Our lunch! Home made mac and cheese.

Getting snoozier...

But found their second wind.

Aislynn was trying to give Brianna a hug, but Brianna was not interested so was using her evasive maneuvers...

All in all, it was a really fantastic morning. Looking forward to the next time! I think in the years to come I'll be seeing a lot of Brianna. Good thing her mom is so great.

A Confession, or two...

I follow a whole range of different blogs. Really an eclectic variety, which I think speaks volumes about me.

Actually, I just like to say everything is about me, because it's my blog and so it's all about me. Right?

Anyway, one of the awesome blogs I follow is the Bargain Blonde. She is doing this thing called Confess Sesh. And I think I'ma hop onto that train and follow along. Enjoy.

I confess that I do these types of link ups when I am feeling no motivation to think of my own post. 

I confess that going out for a drink with my friend A and my friend K was rad. I did not enjoy my salt rim, and wish it had not been salt in my drink, but the girls I went out with and the time we had? Awesome.

I confess that words like rad, awesome, and neat are words that I use multiple times in a day. Those are my 3 most used words I think. 

I confess that I just lied. My most used words in a day are, "Aislynn, that hurts my ears when you scream. Indoor voices!" 

I confess that in an argument I would much rather just not say anything. I feel like crap for what you say, then I feel like crap when I defend myself. So rather than feel like crap the whole time, I'll just admit it's all my fault and move on.

I confess that my blog is my diary, of sorts. Sometimes personal issues come up on it, and I'm sorry if that offends you or hurts you. That is all.

I confess that next Friday I am going to find a babysitter, if it kills me, and take my husband on a date to see the new Dark Knight movie. If I can't find a babysitter, I'll just take myself on the date because, to be honest, I really want to see the movie.

I confess that I'm actually looking forward the fall. Summer stresses me OUT! You know how people get seasonal whatever in the winter? I get it in the summer. 

I confess that I am trying to be a Proverbs 31 woman.

I confess that my bed and my book are calling me, so it is time to hit publish and read with my best friend.

A Few Random-osities...

I have been kinda AWOL for the last week. I make no apologies.

But I do kinda, I can't help it. I feel bad when I dessert my loyal reader. So, since I've been gone for so long, I'm not going to bore you with a wall of text, I'll just sum up the last little while in as awesome a way as I can. I truly love you, dear reader. That is why I share.

- Aislynn had croup last week. A really bad go of it too. She was so sick, I was heartbroken listening to her cough and not being able to do much about it other than lots of fluids and cuddles. Poor girl.

- On the plus side, she is so much better now! Boogers galore, a cough that just won't quit, but other than, healthy as a horse!

- A mom at the early years center pulled her kid away from Aislynn and said, "We don't play with her." There is a special place in hell for people who say things like this.

Source: grandpins.com via Sarah on Pinterest

- I am having a huge hate on for Facebook lately. When did facebook become a place for constant competition? Or has it always been like that and I'm just late to the game?

- I am also missing my old mommy group. Sigh. I really do. I'm glad I still have my friend J and her son C. They remind me that I'm not crazy. There are moms in a mommy group who like me.

Source: google.ca via Sarah on Pinterest

- This movie. So good. Not only was it a night spent with my favorite man. I got to watch him on tv while sitting beside my husband.

- I kid, I kid. Cuinn is of course my fav man. Ryan Gosling is just a really close second.

- My new car is my new favorite possession. I love it. I love driving standard again, I love driving with the sunroof open, I love having a muffler and knowing how much gas is in the tank, I love that it's a really cool car, I love that I have made people jealous of my amazing car. I just love our car. It really is fantastic.

- Cuinn is ready to start looking at houses. Don't worry. We have such a huge list of demands for a house, we won't be buying for probably a couple years. Plus, the house I love most in the world, which happens to be here in our tiny town, I'm pretty sure is not going on the market anytime soon. But it's still exciting talking about houses with my man. 

- Cuinn's family needs prayer. Please.

- My parents are coming here very soon! I have made plans, oh have I made plans. I have lists of what food to make, I have lists of what day trips will take, I have lists of things to talk to my mum about so I don't forget. Oh man, it's going to be a whirlwind of a trip, but then after that, they come home in like...10 months. I can deal with that kinda goodbye, knowing how soon it will be til they come home!

- I have been spending a lot of time with just Aislynn and Cuinn lately, due to weird things going on in my life. Let me preface my next comment about that with saying I am a huge social butterfly. I love having people around me and I don't like just staying home. With that being said? I have really been enjoying the family time. 

- Chocolate covered almonds? Best thing ever.

- No Big Deal, my daughter is probably already on the list for Hogwarts. Try not to be jealous.

- There is a lot of potential in Cuinn's career path coming up. Please, pray for us, send us good thoughts, rub a Buddha belly, however you prefer, keep us in your thoughts. 

- Know what I love? Drinks with a fantastic friend at a really crappy restaurant. What can ya do though? We live in a tiny town that offers next to nothing. I really do love my tiny town. P, you rock my socks! Even when I do forget to mention you in my blog.

- Know what else I love? Lunch dates with another fantastic friend. Thanks L, looking forward to our next lunch date! 

- Know what else I love? Real friends who are always there for you. Thanks girls.

- We went to this little town festival in one of our neighboring tiny towns. Aislynn had so much fun, and Cuinn and I loved that everything was free!! We didn't even get to all the awesome things they had to offer. Aislynn looks like she is hating the swing, but she actually loved it. So much that when her turn was over and she had to get out of the swing there may have been a huge tantrum and there may have been dirty looks thrown our way for bad parenting. Whatever.

- Ahh, summer. Lots of park dates. Lots of sun. Lots of smiles. My kid is so freaking cute.

- Check that attitude. She does NOT appreciate being a model for my new hats that I'm making. She loves to wear them, but the camera comes out and this is what I get. Oh I love her. Scowl and all.

Well, that's all for now. I know there has been lots else going on. But it's summer, and I really need to go cuddle my hubby now. Mostly because he's so hot I just can't keep my hands off him. Seriously, have you seen him?

 Love to you all, and thanks for stopping by!

A Thankful Thursday...

It's been a crazy week. What with Aislynn getting very sick, and our big purchase, we've been up and down, yet we continue to be blessed.

1. That our car, Bertha, has given us a pretty good run.

2. And $200 in trade in value. So much more than we were expecting.

3. We got our new car! We still haven't christened her with a name yet, but she is so much fun to drive. 

4. After a very scary couple of hours, we were approved for a car loan. Which makes us even more confident in that we will be able to buy a house. Someday. No plans yet.

5. Living in Canada and having universal health care. Seriously. When my kid gets sick and I have to take her to the hospital, the last thing I want to be worrying about is, "can I afford this?" Thank God, that I can take Aislynn in for a breathing treatment, and not have to pay out of pocket.

6. Our friends K and B, loaning us a cold air humidifier. It's made it a lot easier for Aislynn to breath in her room without making it stuffy and hot. What a blessing.

7. Chocolate covered almonds. I'm not usually one for chocolate, but chocolate covered almonds? Totally in a separate category. Delish. 

8. Bulk Barn having peppermint salt water taffy. I am drooling all over the keyboard.

9. Aislynn eating dinner tonight. She hasn't eaten in two days, and I was getting more and more worried.

10. Aislynn has been asleep in her crib for 39 minutes. That is the longest she's been not in my arms in the last 2 days. 

11. The Nanny is on Netflix right now. I'm reliving the 90's. 

12. Even though Aislynn has been sick, and that's been awful, the family time has been fantastic.

13. How amazing Cuinn was at the hospital. Comforting a sick baby and a worried mumma.

14. The murse named Rudy. It gave me a chuckle during a scary and stressful time.

15. Canada day BBQ's at a great friends house.

16. Having my brother able to come down for the weekend.

17. Living in this country. I really love Canada. I don't want to live anywhere else.

18. Fireworks and more fireworks and MORE FIREWORKS!!!

19. Getting packages in the mail. Oh love.

20. Watching Corner Gas again with Cuinn. I love it all the more when I watch it with my "Skatchen grown boy."

Linking up with Jade, go give her some love!

A Fantastically, Awesome Weekend...

Ahh, long weekends of summer.

Nice, cold drinks.

BBQ's with friends.

Having family stay with you.

Babies fast asleep in just a diaper.

I love long weekends.

And this weekend was a gooder. Busy, so very busy, but awesome.

Saturday, we were invited to TWO parties. One in the afternoon, and then one in the early to late evening. The one in the afternoon was a birthday pool party for a friend's two boys. Unfortunately, with Aislynn's nap time and Cuinn's work schedule I ended up only being able to get to the party, drop off the gift, and run out to pick Cuinn up. That was a bummer, but it happens.

The second party was a "yay after 8 years I'm finally done school let's party!" BBQ. A good friend of mine, who moved here the same time we did, has finished the long, arduous journey of schooling and they have accepted a job offer and will officially be staying in our tiny town for the foreseeable future. Which rocks, and definitely calls for some celebration. So we showed up, ate some food, let Aislynn play with her friends, get dirty and have a good time.

This is why I want a dog so badly. Aislynn loves animals!

We went to the Zoo Friday. That's a whole 'nuther post though.

The look.

She looks like such a toddler here, I can't stand it!

So after staying there for a bit, my brother showed up and we all went to go have dinner together. Then Aislynn and I went to bed early since we had a big day and were exhausted.

Sunday we went to church in the morning, where there was no one. Well, some people, but not a lot. Most importantly, my friend P who let me sit with her family since Cuinn had to work. Then we went to our friends for ANOTHER BBQ with some other friends and it was also a fantastic night. J was my first friend here in the tiny town and J and S have really been here for us this year. They are pretty fantastic friends and you should all love them too.

But not too much, because they are our friends first. And I'm the jealous type. 

I keed, I keed.

But seriously. It was a really great night of food, booze, fireworks and fun. 

Ahh Canada day weekend. My favorite summer holiday. I love this country.

Isn't this gorgeous? My iPhone rocks.

My friend J and I getting eaten alive.

The best fireworks in the neighborhood.

Yay sparklers!! 

Well, that's what we got up to for the long weekend. How did you celebrate living in the greatest country of all time?