Watch Your Mouth

I do believe that we have reached the point in our lives where we need to be a *bit* more careful about what we say when the boys are in earshot.

I was on the phone the other day talking to a friend (I think it was Chris), and we were discussing Berry Boy’s upcoming hockey game and who would be on his team.  I was rattling off names, and then I said “and there’s the kid who pushes the chair around on the ice…I’m not sure who he is, but his mom is kind of a big lady, and she sounds a bit like a man…” – NOT, of course, trying to be mean, but just trying to describe who this person was.  Berry Boy was playing off in the playroom, and I didn’t think anything of it.

Until the next day at his hockey game.

We’re in the change room, and as I’m plunking Berry Boy’s helmet on his head, the aforementioned mom came in to grab a jersey for her kid.  She said something to our coach, and then walked out the door.

AS she’s walking out the door, Berry Boy looks at me and says “You’re right mom.  She does sound like a man”.

I’m frantically making “SHUSH!!!” motions with my hands and praying fervently that she was far enough out of the room at the time that she didn’t hear.

And then we had a long discussion about how there are some things that maybe we might say at home but we definitely do not repeat in public.

Ah Winter…

This is the time of year when the temperatures dip waaay past what a normal human should endure, and where I plant myself firmly in front of the blazing wood stove with a hot cup of coffee and either a book or the current issue of Runner’s World (or Canadian Running) and resist most efforts made to move me from my warm little piece of heaven.

I sit and sip, and imagine myself being all hard-core and gearing up in fleece winter running wear and a cute beanie for my head, and doing a long run on the snowy roads in the cold, and how awesome that would  be in the crisp cold air with the snow sparkling all around me.  And then I move about half a foot away from the stove, realize that IT’S FREAKISHLY COLD OUTSIDE, and promptly sit down for a little more coffee and maybe a bit of chocolate to go with.

So last Sunday, when it was for sure below –20C and Berry Guy and some friends of ours had planned a Pond Party, I had little to no intention of attending.  My master plan was to say that it was certainly too cold for Berry Baby to be out there, so I would either stay home with him or head over to Prairie Chick’s for coffee and a visit (since she was smart enough not to go as well).

Besides, we’d just spent the holidays consuming gobs of butter in the form of sugar cookies and shortbread, and I have to say I am certainly feeling the many, many, many cookies…on my thighs…and my butt…and unfortunately not on my chest.  Which made me *ever* so anxious to put on a pair of long underwear underneath my jeans, so that they’d feel, you know, tighter.

But then Berry Guy called me a Party Pooper.  And I may be many things (that we need not list here) but I am not a Party Pooper.  I am a walking partay thankyouverymuch.

So I put on my game face and bundled up myself and the toddler, and we went out to meet the rest of the party animals at the pond after Berry Baby’s nap.  And, to be honest, I’m glad I did.

There was an awesome game of broom ball going on…

and Berry Guy was not doing very much at all tending net.

Berry Baby was stoic and looked not unlike a large navy blue marshmallow…

because let’s face it, it was COLD out there.  But everyone’s kids were all bundled up and warm…

kind of, and Berry Guy finally got in the game and started playing…

which I found kind of hot.

The boys were, I think, looking for fish.  In the pond.  Which is in the middle of a field.  Whatever.

Berry Baby stole a ball and wouldn’t give it back to the players (who, fortunately, had a spare)

And this, as you can imagine, is where I parked my party-animal self for the duration of my time out there.

Yeah, I don’t go far from the warmth.

Old Year’s Resolutions

I am pleased to report that my resolutions from last year were a raging success.  I can happily say that I was able to tick off every single item with pride and resolve:

Drink more coffee – ohhh yes

Drink more coffee while visiting more with good friends – done and done

Visit Starbucks every time I am in the city, at least once – pffft…once?  That was a no-brainer.  I really should have shot a little higher on this one and resolved to go there at least twice each time I was in the city.  Because that’s often what ends up happening.  Hey, it’s a long half-hour drive home…

Eat too many desserts and not enough vegetables – I’m still amazed that I do not have scurvy.  And that I don’t weigh much, much more than I do…

Shop at The Gap at least once instead of Superstore – yep, scored some sweet deals this year and some great online coupons

Play Lego – ugh.  have I ever.

Read good books – easy.  soooo easy.

Read good books to the boys – I’ve been buying Berry Boy at least one book every time he brings home those Scholastic book order forms, and I’m pleased to say that I’ve picked up some great stuff, like “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day” – classic.

Buy new books often – oh yeah.  At least one a month, thanks to my Book Club (I love being in Book Club)

Run as often as I can, as best as I can – well, this gets a little dicey.  As often as I could, for sure.  As best as I could?  Not all the time, but I talked about that in the last post.

Stay in pyjamas as long as possible in the morning – check.  embarrassingly long mornings in pjs.

It would be difficult to top this list with another, so I won’t bother.  Besides, I wouldn’t want to make the rest of you feel bad about not being able to keep your own resolutions when I am so good at keeping mine.

*grin*