Pause Please

Today has just been one of those days....and I know most of you know what I mean by that. I am  well aware I did not have a good frame of mind starting off the day which has huge implications, but subsequent events definitely did not help. Here are just three points that are worth mention:

As a good morning to me from Ryder, a bowl of cereal was dropped on the kitchen floor, and of course because I haven't invested in child friendly dishware I had glass all over the floor (This was all before 7:30). Sweet Vernon is cutting his other top tooth...need I say more. Ryder had a lovely mess of soft serve poo in his undies at the park, which reminds me I need to pack scissors. And although I know I'm supposed to stay calm and tell him "accidents happen" I just cant bring myself to do this. Instead my potty mouth came out (shame on me and shout out to Becca for much needed "don't jump off the cliff" backup).

Well this poo catastrophe set me off for the remainder of the afternoon and for some reason I couldn't shake it all off. I would have given anything in that moment to pause parenthood. There was not one ounce of me that wanted to cook dinner, give a bath and put to bed, but unfortunately I made the decision to have these needy little...loves :) So putting myself through the steps to complete this day I did, and now I sit in bed, eating one of my child's cookie treats counting down the time I have till I am up with Vernon.

So here's to all y'all in the struggle...this s#@! is real.

Sunburst Ranch

Check out the rest of the Sunburst Photos under 'work'

A little impromptu trip out to my families property to take in the beautiful Alberta skies, rolling foothills and a peak of the mountains went down today. It is so fun to snap photos out there because it is just covered with interesting things and breathtaking views. Although this summer will be filled with moving and new house renos, I hope to make it out there as often as we can. I feel pretty lucky to have such a great spot to go to with my family. Its a close and easy spot to have a little camp out and we are always looking for fellow campers to join...hint hint.

Moving on up....Literally

Well I am happy to announce that we have bought a new home up in silver springs. We will be just up the hill from our current house (which we plan to keep and rent out), and I am looking forward to having a bit more space and being in a new neighborhood. I have lived in such a small space for the last 8 or so years I am not sure what I will do with more room. I can tell you with certainty though that I can't wait for the toys to go downstairs and to have more of an open concept space. We even will have a good view of COP and are able to see the mountains off in the distance from our living room. We will be taking possession the end of June and after a few weeks of Renovations we will make the move over.

So today we spent the morning exploring just below our new house and Bowmont Park.

Stay tuned for a house 'cooling' party at our current house!!

"So Much Good"

Easy to say there was not much sleep in the Milaney household last night, so this morning was painful to say the least. When a 10AM nap for the family failed hard, I sent a quick text over to Mr. Teagan (husband) simply asking him if "today was over yet". And with no surprise he responded in his typical positive manner "Not yet! So much good yet to happen". Well this made me giggle and fall a little bit more in love because he always sees the brighter side to life, and he made me shift my view on the day.

So with one more cup of coffee poured into my togo cup, off we went to the craft store to buy a canvas so Ryder could make Dad a little present. There was definitely handful of half melt downs in the store, and one full one on our way out making me wonder what the hell I was doing!!!

When we got home, Vernon went in the carrier and Ryder got ready to paint. I loved doing crafts when I was younger and hope to pass along a bit of love for the arts to both the boys. But with Ryder only being two and a half he painted for probably a whole 5 minutes! With such a quick end to our activity I questioned the effort I put into making it all happen, but at the end of the day I can say we did SOMETHING!

And now I can put my sweat pants on and take a nap.

Lazy Day A-OK

Its not often I have a day where NOTHING is planned and we just roll with whatever may come our way (Ryder and I go stir crazy), but yesterday was just that and it felt great. I discovered Vernon cut a new top tooth in the morning, explaining away his off mood the last few days. I had a bit of mom guilt for ignoring his needy behavior so he spent a good part of the day in the carrier for some extra snuggles. We also finally took the leap and put Ryder in undies!! So far so good....but stay tuned because I know it most likely will continue to be a slow up hill climb. Popsicle were made (can of coconut milk, frozen blueberries and a bit of honey, so easy and good for them). Took a trip to the local park. Vernon had a nice afternoon nap which I'm sure he appreciated because usually he naps on the go resulting in some serious overtired struggles at bedtime. And to top the day off, Ryder and I fell asleep on the couch...amazing!

I am someone who thrives when busy, but yesterday was just so wonderful it taught me that taking a step back and slowing down is good for me too. Taking the time to enjoy the moment and really focus in on the boys was much needed and I think I will have to dedicate one day a week to doing this!

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Water, Rocks, Trucks and Tears

Well today certainly felt like summer and so off to Quarry Lake we went. Before shoes came off the boys were in the frigid water and the trucks were full of sand. We had some stunning views today making putting up with the typical toddler fun much more manageable. These three amigos definitely enjoyed today and we will for sure head back there soon.

The Milaney clan has had a busy two days of adventuring so tomorrow will be a little bit more low key allowing me maybe a bit of time to work on a GRAND idea...stay tuned!

The Falls

It has been a running joke with a few of my friends that I have lived a sheltered life in Calgary because there are a number of main attractions that I have not yet visited (at least of what I can remember)...Elbow Falls being one. So as of late I have been trying to check a few off the list. Although we experienced the post flood rendition, Elbow Falls was still a beautiful spot to check out, and Ryder is always happy to play with some rocks.

I am constantly drawn to the idea of moving to a small mountain town yet am not sure I will ever make the move with all the family and friends here in Calgary. But if I have to be in a big city, Calgary really is a good spot to call home. With just a short drive we are surrounded by such beauty.

Sun School

This morning we made the decision to do something different, to get up early and get outside to teach Ryder about the sun. Although I am now ready to crash, it felt amazing to get outside and connect with nature and my family. Its always good to step outside of your regular routine!

Check out the rest of our Sun School photos under 'work'

Girls RULE...and so do boys

Today in the grocery store, I was grabbing my bags (about 8) and this caught the attention of an elderly gentleman behind me. He proceeded to tell me how strong I was and how lucky my husband was to have such a good wife because "I didn't need to be babysat". Now I am not sure I would call myself a feminist, but maybe I am. I certainly believe in equal rights between men and woman, and believe girls are just as capable as their male counterparts.

Looking at my beautiful niece in her new ride with Ryder, I am happy that she does not have to fight for equality the same way women before me have. Although we still have a ways to go...today showed me just how far we have come!

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2nd Child LOVE

Last night I finally was working on getting some photos printed (married 5 yrs and still have no printed photos just to give you an idea how far behind I am), when I realized I had about 50 photos of Ryder I wanted printed, and maybe 3 of my sweet Vernon. So...today I am giving love to Vernon and his fellow little brother friends (Nash and Hudson).

I often joke about how Vernon is a neglected child because Ryder keeps me so busy he is consistently put down and made to chill in his car seat. Thank goodness he has the personality that allows me to do this. I can only imagine how independent proceeding children are after number 2.

So shout out to all the non-first children out there...myself included!

"Im a Rocks Guy"

Ryder's recent "Rocks Guy" dancing face

It is well known that Ryder enjoys grooving to the music, so kitchen dance parties are a staple in our house. But in the last few weeks I started to realize how powerful music really can be. I never taught Ryder how to dance, nor does any other parent I'm sure. Moving to music is just innate in all of us (whether it be to the beat or not). Over the last couple months I have started to use music as a therapeutic resource.  I am definitely the type of person that can be moody and thrown off very easily. So lately when I find myself in one of "these" moods, I just turn on some music and I am instantly reset.

So my tip of the day is whenever you find yourself turning to the dark side, turn on the tunes instead!

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Just a Couple Weenies

Well thanks to the Dollar Man (my brother-in-law) we finally made it out to Bowness park for a little BBQ, and fire pit night. This included premium weenies, marshmallows, parks, and of course some campfire Jiffy Pop. We have been talking about doing this since moving into Bowness but with the park being closed the last two summers and lots of talk and no action it just never happened, until last night. Teagan's sister and her husband finally got us out there and it was a success for both adults and children.

I like to think back to what I enjoyed as a child and I am so happy that I can provide my kids with those same experiences. Having strong relationships with cousins, aunts/uncles (including those non-blood related) and grandparents is so important. Ryder has been lucky to grow up with his cousin Violet as his aunty cared for him when I went back to work, and they live approximately 5 blocks away. I just love watching Ryder run around with Violet, they truly love each other and talk about how they miss each other on a daily. Some of my closest adult relationships are with my two cousin's (who I consider my sisters). I love that I can surround my boys with close family and friends who will all influence who they become.

I also think about how often I went camping with my family growing up. My mom talks about trips where we were just little babies...these stories don't always sound so enjoyable but I strongly feel that these sort of experiences strongly influenced who I am today. I remember most of my summer birthdays just being somewhere with my family camped out in the truck and camper. I have said it before but it is so important to me to get my family outside and exploring nature. I picture most of my future family vacations to be camped out in the wilderness versus laid up in a resort somewhere (although that is nice too but not as financially accessible). So here's to more campfires and weenie roasts in the future!!!

Rated Daddy

So funnyish story. Last week while I was exploring Fish Creek Park with a friend I convinced Ryder to head down a hill on his bike, reassuring him that I would catch him at the bottom. I had watched Teagan (his dad) do this plenty of times and tried it a few times myself on little hills.
So off he went, feet were up and he was really starting to pick up some speed. As he approached me I wasn't as confident, and sure enough he slipped right out of my hands and flipped over his bike...thank goodness for his helmet. It is clear there are certain activities I should just leave for daddy.

And on that note, I have come to realize I am in for some serious heart stopping/breath holding moments. Dads (especially Teagan) can be so provoking, encouraging their kids to do things most mothers would shy away from, and probably never think of (like getting your kid to jump off the fridge...yes that happened). I know that cliff jumping, mountain biking, back country riding and countless other extreme activities are in my future with these two boys...and their dad. Let the fun times begin.

(shout out to those extreme moms and parents filling the roll of both mom and dad)

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Smells like Summer

Dare I say it...summer may have arrived early. Calgary has definitely given us a gentle winter and this spring has been feeling a little bit more like summer. I know for all you snow loving people like my husband, this isn't as good of news, but for my fellow summer lovers...YES PLEASE!!!

Its not often I hit up downtown (horrible expensive parking), but when I do Prince's Island Park is where its at. Its nice to get down there and feel connected to my city. Not only did we visit the river and parks, there were also babes in bikini's (yes in April) and shirtless old men.

I have really enjoyed capturing pictures of the kids while they are in their prime of discovering, getting dirty and having fun. I manage to get a few quick glances my way but some of my favorite shots are when I pause them in a moment that really captures who they are. Fisher made for one cute subject today with those bright blue eyes, and strong rough and tumble personality.

Nurtured Personality

This morning Ryder was playing his favorite superhero "Naked Boy", when he found a stream of morning light and stopped to play with his tractor. This all got me thinking about the good old argument of nature vs nurture. Now I strongly believe in both, but in the last few years of watching the kids around me grow up I strongly feel that our little ones are born with their very own unique personalities. I know that from a young age Ryder has been a laid back, cautious, and sensitive child. I often find myself wondering what Vernon will be like as a two year old. Currently, he too is laid back, but unlike Ryder he seems to be very independent. I just love watching how every child has their own particular bold personality.

I understand that some of you are wanting to hit me right about now for having two laid back boys, and that maybe you were all secretly praying I had a difficult second child because Ryder has been so easy to me. But whether you have an energetic, emotional, adaptable, intense, careful, or indecisive child, LOVE it, because that's what makes them unique. Try to embrace and support their little personalities and encourage them to be who they are.

This is my little Nephew wearing his cowboy boots in his house. He is a 21mth old FULL of personality. He is in love with shoes and hats and must don these items daily in the house. Now I know my cousin won't mind me saying (because she knows its true), but this little one is going to be a S!#T disturber...in a good way!

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Play Nice

I am always making play dates with friends and family who have children around the same age. Gets me out of the house, is a free activity and allows Ryder and Vernon to socialize with other kids. Now this can be totally exhausting because playing usually just means fighting for toys at Ryder's age, but the pros out weigh the cons. Additionally, and maybe most importantly, it allows me to connect and share my experiences with other moms. This is key to keeping myself sane and seems to smooth the path of parenthood. I can only talk to my two year old for so long, and yet again answer the question of why the sky is blue.

This morning, when Ryder once again had a massive poo explosion in his pull ups at a friends house, instead of being at home and losing my cool, I dealt with it (half keeping my cool) and was able to vent to my friend on how frustrating potty training is.

So, pick up your phones and make plans to share and find support before you end up crying and drinking another bottle of wine...alone...again.

Sunny Saturday Fallouts

Okay, so I will start off by stating that I LOVE my boys and wouldn't change being a mother for anything. Now, with that being said, sometimes I ask why I did this to myself, and by "this" I mean have children. Parenting is by far one of the hardest things you will ever do in life, but it is also the most rewarding blah blah blah. Our beautiful 'Sunny Saturday' photos capture those oh so sweet moments (which is another reason I love getting outside because Ryder is at his easiest and happiest). But let me share with you some of the other not so sweet moments that I have experienced in the last 24hrs.

1. Ryder had a pee on our couch
2. Ryder had a pee on our bed
3. Ryder had a toy throwing break down
4. Ryder pulled half the toilet paper off the roll to blow his nose
5. Ryder did the dinner battle
6. Ryder did the bed battle
7. Ryder did the bath battle
8. Ryder spilled a glass of water on the couch (our poor couch)
9. My sweet Vernon does not want to sleep = lots of crying
10. And Vernon bit my nipple!!!

Sunny Saturday's

Weekend family time has become so precious to me. I just love waking up and having those moments when the whole family is in bed. I have noticed lately that Ryder too recognizes when both his parents are home and he gets the day as a clan. A daily goal with the boys is always to go out and do something FUN. This can take on many forms from park trips to drives to the mountains to just a good indoor playground session. If this adventure is left up to Ryder, my 2.5 yr old, we will most definitely be going on a bike ride. We have been spoiled this winter with dry paths and sunshine so he has really begun to master his strider bike.

Calgary is full of amazing trails and bike paths, and we are certainly spoiled living in Bowness with Baker park, Bowmont park and Bowness park. We hit these pathways up on a regular. I love it because it provides some physical activity (burn Ryder out), gives our lungs some fresh air and its FREE.

Today we hit up baker park and stopped for some good old fashioned river rock throwing. I'm learning that snapping pics in the bright afternoon sunlight is not easy but happy I got some good father son shots. I have been enjoying taking some online photography classes, but have really been finding that just picking my camera up and shooting shooting shooting is where I learn the most.

Spring Sprout

Those who know me well, know I am not one for 'reading', and my husband can attest to the fact that my writing skills may leave something to be desired (let's be honest, he will be proof reading this)...so why start a blog/photoblog? Well, for a few reasons I say:
1) Why not, everyone else is.
2) I would love to break away from Facebook (which I often find irritating). A blog is a perfect option for staying connected, sharing ideas and getting feedback.
3) I set a New Years resolution of learning to take nice pictures so I have some non iPhone photos of my boys, and I am doing my best to stick to it. Through the blog, those who are interested in following my journey can.
4) Life as a parent can make for some real life comedy. Why not share those parenting moments with you! I will not be a blogging mom portraying perfection in all facets of life. Let's be honest, pajama days do happen, and breakfast dinners are the best...and easiest.
5) I like the couch and TV probably too much. I am trying to break away from this habit, set the right example for my kids, and this gives me something else to do!
6) Finally, Its healthy to have something for myself other then kids, husband and house. It's a nice break away from "what to cook for dinner tonight" or "what activity will I do for the boys tomorrow" or how about "yay, another load of laundry".

It brings me so much joy that I have found a little creative outlet that will allow me to connect to the ever growing online community. I have come no where close to mastering the art of photography and would love to invite any feedback. I thought of waiting till I felt more comfortable behind the camera, but why not share my progress.

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So, if you too want to follow along, please do. And if I am writing and blogging to myself, that works too!