If I could have Ferber and Karp in the same room....

How can one get angry at this face? Really.

But oh BOY has he been testing the patience of mine lately. We went from sleeping through the night to up several times a night. I'm sorry what? Dude you are 22months old this mama's body has adjusted to the long stretches of sleep so what gives?

I frantically surf the web every night looking for answers. Answers to why oh WHY is my precious little Tank causing so much disturbance to my REM sleep. Tag lines like: Sleep regression or sleep problems in toddlers or HELP-I-want-to-jump-off-the-nearest-bridge-my-child-won't-sleep run through my search engines like the NASDAQ on trade day. Every perfect parent has ideas and solutions to the frantic and sleep deprived parent questions. Cry it out, pick them up, hug them, feed them, give them a bit of bourbon, throw their crib in the garage. You know... all those ideas that have worked for those really great parents.

Anywho so the night I saw the clock from 2:30am-4:00am I enlisted in the Supermom tactics of a lackluster parent. I mixed Ferber with Karp (*gasp) and threw in a little bootcamp Mama. It was not the shining moment in my career as a mom. As I threw back the covers, said some choice words each time I had to go into the Tanks room. I raised my voice out of frustration and I hugged him when I felt bad. That night I realized that those books are garbage really good sources of information in which I can say DUDE you don't have a child like mine do you?

Anyhow- he's cute, he's funny and most of all he makes my heart smile every time I hear that little Tank of mine say "Piggle" or "I-want-that".

From this

to this

Now really- could you get mad at that? His chubby little face just screams trouble! I will say it again. Its a damn good thing he's cute!

I'll have 2 Venti Peppermint Mocha's please.

That will be $11.13- what? Shut up. When did 2 coffee's equal the same amount as 2 McDeal's at McD's? Oh right, when we started paying attention to our budget and drinking $0.00 home brew (which has slightly increased to approx 0.64 cents per cup of java due to my new baby Breville Keurig).


So this year is all about the budget. 2011 will be the year that we get smart. Both Superdad and I have been quite blind to spending for the past 4yrs and its caught up finally, not in the way you scream OMG we are going to lose everything though so relax mom. This year will be about making responsible decisions and not just getting what we want because we want it. 2011 will be about actually creating savings, sticking to a plan and moving towards goals.

We already made a good choice by cancelling our trip to Florida. Superfam was going to drive the 2000 miles to visit Grandpa in Orlando and maybe do a few days at Magic Kingdom. It definitely sucked having to make that decision to not go but in the end it would be more financially responsible. Our thoughts were if we are going to do Disney in 2013 then why do a 'budget' trip now?

Remember last year when I was all about the 'craft' and the lovey crap? Well its time to get my head out of the clouds and make some realistic financial goals that we hope to achieve by 2012. The Superfam wants to go on a real vacation. One where we pack a few suitcases, get on a plane and stay in a hotel. We could drive but it would be at least a 21hr drive. That's right we want to do DISNEY. Between now and the end of 2012 we plan on saving enough money to pay for a trip to Disney in cash. We also plan to have paid off existing debts save for mortgage and start working on the things we would like to complete in our home.

First thing first:
1. Vacation for the family (it will be our first ever trip too!)
2. Replace carpet in our upper bedrooms because by the time we can do this without borrowed money kids will be over that stoop and poop syndrome called Potty learning.
3. Renovate our sad counter space-less kitchen and replace the appliances
4. Backyard overhaul (whereby we may actually consider an on ground/above ground pool)- these are goals remember not set in stone.

So now its about putting a plan into action. Time to set our appointment with our bank to start our fresh new ideas and get what we want!

A Year in Review 2010

In honour of 2010 I figured what better then a photo year in review? So without further adieu

January 2010

Don't they look like babies? Wait til you see December 2010 the morph from babies to children is insanity! Oh and for info sake- the shiner the Tank is supporting is the first of many in his journey to bipedal.

(I couldn't find a more sad photo of him this is to draw you in, I think if I had a donate money button you may click just for the mere fact that you feel sad for this face.)

February 2010

Superkid turned 3 and we were able to utilize the Frosty Fest backdrop as her party scene. Old Fashioned skatin' and hot chocolate were all that was needed to put a glorious smile on a little girls face. 3 also marked the year she received her very first locket from Superdad. I don't know who was more proud- Supermom, Superdad or Superkid. There may have been a tear (or 2).

March 2010

Superkids first Disney on Ice experience; The Tank turned ONE. *gasp! and he ate cake, ohh did he ever eat cake. The Superfam also partook in a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for the first time ever. We had a blast, though Tank really challenged us in the sleep department as well as Superkid's superability to ruin a good thing by turbo-puking EVERYWHERE at the most inopportune time (read: down Superdad's back at a restaurant before arriving at our mini-vacation destination).

I took a quick opportunity to try and sneak a quick photoshoot of my Grandma with the kids. Cooperation is not their forte.

April 2010

Spring air brought us a new cousin, and Easter egg hunts and cake pops!!

May 2010

Tank's first hair cut, abnormally warm temperatures and happy to be free of coats and boot kids playing outdoors. We Ontario folks typically look forward to the less clothing required seasons but this was ridiculous to be wearing tank top dresses and shorts before the end of May. You can't even blame this on El Nino, its all global warming baby.

June 2010

Happy Father's day to Superdad! He enjoyed his very own coffee mug (that I still use when he's not looking because I admit- I love a good mug) and his newest audio toy pictured below. Trying to snap photos of the Supersibs is getting more and more difficult with the amount of movement the Tank insists on. Even with the perk of a DSLR I am still left with garbage shots because of his new found quick actions.

July 2010

With Supermom back to work at the end of April there was no vacation time to be had so we enjoyed hangin around the house and trying to stay cool in the ungodly temperatures, a quick trip to African Lion Safari was enjoyed on one of our many weekend adventures.

August 2010

A neighbourly trip to Marineland, desperately trying not to melt, growing my new front garden coupled with my love of ornamental grasses and watching the kids grow into who they are today!

September 2010

Our master bedroom and lower bathroom finally got their facelifts, Superfam took another trip to Great Wolf Lodge sans photo evidence and our usual trip to Parry Sound was cancelled due to abnormally cold and rainy weather.

October 2010

We're gettin' there, are your eyes bleeding yet from all this cuteness? Are you paying close attention to Superkid and Tanks morphing? Do it- scroll alllllll the way up and compare, did ya see it? Are you doing what I'm doing? *GASP. It just seems impossible to go from that to THIS.

Superfam celebrated October 2010 by fall family pics, fall trips to pumpkin patches, walk through Apps Mill and our favourite HALLOWEEN!

November 2010

November brought Christmas preparations and a superfantastic Sleigh ride to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Superfam went to Santa Town and boy was this a hit for Superkid this year! She truly understood the magic of Santa this year and it was fun to see that magic come alive through her eyes.

December 2010

Santa has come and gone! 2011 is so close I can taste it. Here's to a fantastic year full of health, love and success. 2010 was a good year and we are hoping 2011 is great! The past 12 months have been filled with so much growth and love its amazing to watch just how much change Superkid and Tank have gone through. I cannot wait to see what 2011 brings for these two nuts!