Thankful Thursday

Somehow it's already Thursday! With B.C's Family Day on Monday it has made it hard to keep track of what day it is. All right, so...I'm feeling a lot of confusion over what I want to do in regards to life/work as changes are coming. Our Little One is moving out very soon and in September Nya will go to school. In order to keep our fostering contract and not have to redo our home study, we can't just take a break for 6 months. We can do respite but there is such a variety of ways this could look–emergency, after hours, respite, relief, short term...I'm not sure what will work best for our family (and I'm pretty certain that anything short term would turn into a long one). I know what our kids want (to continue fostering long term) but it's trickier for Gary and I as there are so many factors to consider–just subbing a couple of times a week would be so much easiser. The pro list for fostering is very short but the ones on the pro side are life changing. All this said, we have a lot going on right now and I'd love any wisdom you have to share.

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa is a place that we go to every year–it's tradition! We've been in every season and there's something especially fun about being in the hot springs pool with snow all around. We go for a quick one night getaway and it's long enough to rejuvenate us and feel like we truly did relax. What do we do while we are there?

For the Uncrafty Mom on Valentine's Day

It is fun to celebrate love and friendship with the upcoming Valentine's Day. I see people sharing their decor ideas, handmade cards and beautiful homemade treats. I get it; in the past I've done Valentine's Day photo sessions with my kids so that they could hand out personalized cards. Unfortunately creativity is not my forte so I just end up feeling frustrated while looking through Instagram and Facebook. I know I could make these amazing things but I don't want to. I have to check myself. Will I enjoy going out to buy these craft items and assembling them with my kids? Nope. Do my kids actually care about anything other than candy? Nope. Well, Nya does care about all things pink and sparkly so I'll make sure to add some glitter to her day. Exhale. Still a good mom.

Thankful Thursday

I haven't written in a week which is highly unusual for me. I feel uninspired and unmotivated. We've also had our kids at home for what feels like forever (two snow days and now my kids have five more days at home). I feel anxiety over the weather and the warnings that have come with it. For the most part, we can just stay home if need be but we do have certain obligations to attend to as well. All that said, I feel out of sorts. So, let's get focused here and figure out what we're thankful for.  Without further adieu..

I am thankful for:

Thankul Thursday

Hello, friends! This week brings cool, windy weather here with a forecast of snow. This makes me feel...cold. And grumpy. So, let's focus on the positives here.  This week I am thankful for:

How to Prepare for Snowshoeing

One winter activity that I enjoy is snowshoeing. It's affordable as we own our own snowshoes and use the free trails. Even if you end up renting, it is still a great way to get the alpine experience without spending a lot of money. It is also easy for people of all ages and abilities as the mountains have a variety of terrain in their snowshoe trails.  I've been in a number of weather conditions and often you don't really know what to expect so these would be my recommendations for a safe and comfortable time:

What I Know About Parenting: Eight Tips for Everyday Life

First off, let me say that I am not claiming to know how to be a great parent. What I am sharing is what I have learned about parenting over the past 10 years. Yes, I'm a bit of an information seeker and have gleaned ideas from experts, classes, books and fellow parents. I've sifted through all of the facts and opinions and have taken what has worked for our family and am continuously open to learning more. This whole parenting gig is a lot more complex than I initially believed and I appreciate that we are able to learn from each other. We have a range of personalities and needs in our family and I feel like these tips address many factors.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for:

Why I Love Monday Mornings

Most people dread Monday mornings. The memes start filling my Facebook feed on Sunday with jokes about it feeling like the weekend just started nine minutes ago or the face of an inconsolable toddler entitled “Monday’s coming”. I love the start of a new week. I have four loud kids and we play hard on the weekends– exploring, visiting family and friends, and just a whole lot of time together in seemingly small places where the volume is amplified. On Monday mornings three of the kids head out the door alongside my husband and my whole body exhales. I feel an instant wave of relief and relaxation pour over my body. Sure, I have a house to clean, laundry to do, and grocery shopping on the list, but it’s relatively quiet. My four-year-old daughter and I have the whole day together with very few obligations. 

Fort Langley National Historic Site with the Parks Canada Discovery Pass

This year we celebrate Canada's 150th birthday which means that all National Parks are free to enter with your Parks Canada Discovery Pass. We decided to check out Fort Langley National Historic Site as it is local to us. The Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post was built in 1827 and was used for fur trading, shipping cranberries and salted salmon, and as a provisioning post with the gold rush of 1858.