Gross Things Kids Do:1. They don't flush the toilet. Nothing like lifting the lid to discover a day-old mound of kid-turd.2. They pee the bed. Not just a trickle, but a full-on geyser of urine while they sleep, and render the unsuspecting mattress unsalvageable. 3. They fart. Not cute, little-kid toots, but real, hot FARTS. At the dinner table, usually.4. They belch. Chili-dog burps that make the room shake. Again, usually at the dinner table. When fancy guests are visiting. 5. They have sick morning breath and they pounce on your face while you're still sleeping in your bed and they breathe... More »

We have a playroom downstairs filled with toys that rarely get played with. It drives me batty that we've collected so much stuff that our kids don't really appreciate and every few months I do a big purge, filling recycling bags with decaying hunks of plastic, wondering how it made its way into our home to begin with.I dream of turfing all of it and starting with a clean slate, a bare room to add a few carefully chosen toys to: a classic dollhouse with miniature furniture, a vintage kitchen set with shiny little pots and pans, a dress-up chest,... More »

I would have had more kids if I were better at it, the whole "being patient and selfless" thing. The fact of the matter is, our girls push me to the brink more often than I'd like, and I wish I could take it more in stride. I let the tantrums really get me down, the incessant messes bog my soul, the relentless responsibility and their resistance to boundaries grates at my core.  Just before he had his vasectomy, I asked my husband if he would be willing to have more kids if I didn't find them so tough to... More »

I have this little girl who has a special place in her heart for backhoes, Lightning McQueen, horses, and hot wheels. Every now and again she'll dress up like a princess, but for the most part she likes "boy" things. She is not opposed to "girl" things, but given the choice would much rather play hockey than do ballet. I know this can be a hot topic, the gender role stereotypes, but I just find myself wondering how I should be steering this little tomboy of ours. I think if the roles were reversed and I had a little boy who liked... More »

Brinley is headed for trouble and I'm letting her take me there with me.(Photo by Danielle Petkau of Soltura Photography.)At not-quite two years old, she has a firm will and a strong pair of lungs that see to it her opinions are heard, loudly and clearly. Our life is already such a zoo that I often give in to her shrieks ("Fine, have that third lollipop! Just be quiet!") and she knows how to work the situation to her advantage.Spoiled? Yes. Admitting the problem is the first step, right?Then there's the other side of the coin: she's my last baby. When... More »

I am tired. TAh-erd. Despite now (mostly) sleeping through the night, I am still bagged by the end of every day. Something about the work/kids/life/marriage/exercise/home/friends balance (or lack thereof) is just taking it out of me. I know I'll look back on these busy days and be thankful for how packed they were, and I'll stand amazed at how I summoned the energy to catapult through the frantic weeks, but for now, I'm just spent. I feel like I could sleep for a week.Ever been there? Or spent a decade there? Zzzzzz.... More »

Potty training my eldest daughter was a nightmare. After dropping hot, steaming logs in her undies for months, she finally figured it out a few days before her third birthday and since then we have had no issues: she has stayed dry day and night. Until last week. She went away with her Nana on a five-day trip to the coast to visit some relatives and had a great ol' time hanging out with her cousins, seeing the sights and having a blast. But the first night she came home, she peed the bed. I figured maybe her routine was just out... More »

Growing up, my daily veggie intake looked like this: three reluctant bites of iceberg lettuce, drenched in ranch dressing. On a good day.I am determined to pump our kids full of fruits and veggies, knowing that it will be much easier for them to continue a healthy lifestyle if it starts early. Luckily we live in the Okanagan Valley, a land rich with apple and cherry orchards, farmers' markets around every corner, and plenty of organic choices, so getting them to enjoy healthy produce has come more naturally for them than it did for me at their age. I don't deprive... More »

The last time my friend Kristin came to visit, Brinley looked like this:Fast forward a year and a half and Kristin is back from Switzerland and this is what you get:My dear friend flew across the ocean to spend time with me and my family and I am so thankful. She is one of those extra-special friends that you just never let go of. We are celebrating our 20th year of friendship this year and our bond is so unique and I just love that girl. She spent most of the visit playing with our girls, getting right into their... More »

48 hours of vomitting, one febrile seizure, relentless fever, endless diarrhea and two trips to the hospital. I spent the night with Brinley curled up with her in a bed on the Pediatric ward, her body sweating beneath the hospital-issued striped pajamas. After two painfully failed IV attempts, she finally started keeping liquids down again and passed some urine, in between the dozens of blasts of diarrhea. We are home, she is playing and happy and I am so thankful for a healthy outcome after being reminded once again that it could all be swept away in a heartbeat. ... More »