Bye-Bye Soother Party

Don't judge me but...

Yes,  my children are 3 1/2 years old.
Yes, they still use used soothers at nap time and bedtime.
Yes, I fear feared taking away their soothers...more for me than them (I don't handle crying and screaming very well).
Yes, I rely on my hometown bestie, LeeAnn to make the "hard" decisions when it comes to raising my children...

Yes. YES!  They FINALLY said Good-bye to their soothers yesterday.

Soothers have always been a comfort.  For my children AND me.  It something they have stuck in their gubs when the pressures of their tiny worlds have come crushing down.  It calmed them and kept me calm (again, I don't handle crying and screaming all that well).

I was THAT mom that had NO PROBLEMS allowing their children to walk around ALL. DAY. LONG. with soothers.  It wasn't until I came home when they were 1 1/2 years old that my bestie, LeeAnn shut that down convinced me that it was in their best interest to transition from 24/7 usage to nap time and bedtime only.  She simply plucked those suckers out their mouths one day while visiting and told them they didn't need them anymore and that was THAT.  No crying.  No screaming.  Done AND done.

When we returned the following year when they were 2 1/2 years old she was shocked that they were still using them during "sleep times".  To be honest, everyone was...except me.  You know, that whole crying and screaming phobia I have?  Enuff said.  I wouldn't budge.  The soothers stayed...much to my bestie's dismay.

Then when we arrived this summer, she was appalled.  OK, not really but kinda.  I jokingly said that since she was the master of soother manipulation that I was saving the task of saying goodbye to them forever to her.  She jumped immediately into action and well, here is what ensued yesterday afternoon...

The Spontaneous (like thrown together in a few minutes) BYE-BYE Soother Party

When the kids awoke from their nap, the soothers had left them a letter (thanks Madison!)...

 Since I didn't feel like changing them, I gave them the choice of staying in their PJ's, which they chose.  They then placed their soothers in their bags and that's when the FUN began.  Ave was right on to the whole "why are be burning our soothers?" while Bryce was more excited about the "party and surprise"....LOL!

When we got to the fire the final letter read that they had to throw them into the fire and then a special surprise would appear and the party would begin.

 Ave kissed her soother bye-bye while Bryce became extremely concerned.  He was beginning to catch on...

Bryce is, at this point, catching on that Ave is saying goodbye to her soother and well...

...the panic begins to set in!!

Like a big girl, Ave stepped up to the fire and threw her soothers in.  We all cheered!

WTH is going on?!?!?!

Bryce on the other hand...

...had an epic break down!

He had TOTALLY figured out what was expected of him.  "I don't want to burn my soother!  I ne-e-e-e-e-d my soother mom!"  

We finally convinced him to hand the soother bag over to LeeAnn who promised to give it to a little baby while explaining that it WOULD.NOT.BE.BACK.   

He did this only so he could partake in the festivities of the s'more making, wiener roasting AND...

...trampoline-balloon-water sprinkler-jumping party!

Ave went to bed and never mentioned the long gone soother.  It was touch and go for Bryce.  He cried and screamed (which stressed me out greatly...SURPRISE!) for about 10 minutes and then fell asleep.

I thought that was pretty good and went to bed thinking that once again, a transition I feared most was pretty painless UNTIL he woke up this morning talking about how he had a nightmare last night but it all worked out because he got his "blue suess" back from a baby that had stole it.  *sigh* This might not be as painless as I thought...I'll keep you all posted...LMAO!!

THANK YOU LeeAnn & Madison for throwing the kids their Bye-Bye Soother Party.  We LOVE you guys and appreciate that you help make these "difficult times" a little more easy and super FUN for us!!

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Link Up! It's Hot.

A part of me feels kinda creepy, guilty, like a bad "mom" weird for playing this song and saying what I am gonna say because it wasn't so long ago that this woman was just a little girl...

You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

It's summer.  It's hot.  This song is hot.  This dance is hot.  This video is hot. This girl is hot. 

(See, now you totally get why I am feeling a little creepy, guilty and like a bad "mom" all wrapped up into one.)

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing! Home Sweet Home...

I am in my hometown of Porcupine, ON and wouldn't you know...it's Summerfest?!?!

That's only the biggest summer party in town!  The jury is still out as to whether or not me and the girls will make it out to the Saturday Shindig or not.  My fingers are crossed...

 You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

If WE DO happen to make it to Summerfest tonight, there is NO DOUBT in my mind that this song will play and that this Booty will be up there dancing the night away....

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Link Up! Girlz Trip 2013.

I am so excited I might just pee my pants!  I am in Nova Scotia with my besties for a super-fun-tabulous girlz trip.  Now, if that ain't a reason to SING, then I gots no idea what would be....LOL!

 You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

I thought a Canadian East Coast Song was in order. 

(I know these guys are from Newfoundland and not Nova Scotia but it IS an Easterners song all the same AND I LOVE these guys!)

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Link Up! Live Like...

...you were dying!

Life is to short not too!

 You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Blog Hop! Siksika Nation. The Calgary Stampede. The floods of Alberta...

Tomorrow morning a group of friends and I are heading about 1 hour out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada to support the people of the Siksika Nation.  

The flood waters affected sooooooo many people in Calgary and surrounding areas and one of the HARDEST hit, were the people of the Siksika Nation Reserve.  This is not the time, nor the place to express how some communities have received less news coverage than others BUT what I will say is that the out pour of support from people has been overwhelming...once the devastation of this particular community was known.  

And so, off we head to a little known community to help them organize and manage all the donations they have received over the past few days.  While donations are greatly needed and appreciated a BIG part of that process is organizing all the "stuff" so that it can effectively and proficiently, get to the people in need.  And while manual, hard labor of physical clean-up is NOT one of my strengths, anal retentive organization just happens to be one of my strong skills! ;)

 You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

I am playing a collections of music set to pictures of this great community to help bring awareness to the enormity of the devastation these people AND so many people in Alberta are facing after the great flood of 2013!!

Oh!  And just for the record....Calgary ain't gonna let a little HIGH WATER stop the Stampede from happin'!  It was ALSO one of the hardest hit places in Alberta and with only 5 days until the start of this 100 year tradition...Calgary works to make sure it is NOT something else that will be "taken" from it's people!

There is a LOT of talk about how this should be the LEAST of our concerns but personally, I couldn't disagree more!  

The Calgary Stampede is a BIG part of who we are and what we stand for and as far as I am concerned, we'll be damned if Mother $%^&*'in Nature is gonna keep us down!  

Bravo to this young lady and her BE-utiful voice for telling it like it is.  Whether you agree or disagree...

Saturday Songs That Make US Sing Link Up! An Oldie...

...but goodie!  This song brings me back to a time when I use to sit around with my University buddies getting lost in the unknown of our futures!

You don't need to be a blogger to post your favorite song of the week you know.  Just head toyoutube.com and find the song you are singing, copy and paste the www. address below in the link box and add your name to the name box.  DONE!  You'll be officially part of the cool crowd, ok, not the cool crowd but of THIS cool party!  Come on...link up a tune for me to sing to too!

Come join me and Becca from Because I'm the Mommy and link up to our Playlist of songs that make US sing!  Here are just a few guidelines or at this point...forget the "rules" and just link up!!!

1. Please Join the TWO of "Us" (we're so much more than just songs...LOL) If you're a new joiner please leave us a comment so we can join you back!

2. Pick A Song...any song that makes you wanna sing! Old-New-Country-Pop-Punk...anything goes. (Let's try to keep it family friendly if we can...LOL) If you want, tell us why the song makes you wanna SING!

3. Add your link to the "Playlist"

4. We'd REALLY like you to copy the Linky Code (just click on "get the code") in to your post so your blogger buds can join in on the fun or link back to the both of us so they can at least "find" the party, but you don't have to.

5. We'd love to see the video of your song (which can easily be shared via youtube.com) but if you just wanna list your favorite song of the day, we're "cool" with that too!  

By the way, we all turned out pretty good I think!  LOL!