A Year in Review

Most baby blogs and mommy blogs titled "A Year in Review" will look something like the side bar here (sorry had to squeeze those in there!) but just over a year ago, I made myself a promise to spend more time with my daughter; watch her grow, listen to her laugh and hold her a little tighter every night.  

So, 99 Days of Laughter was born. This blog was simply meant to be a place for me, a first time mom, to write down those special moments, the hardships and remember to slow down and enjoy the laughter in life! Looking back at that first post, tears fill my eyes to see how far Samantha has come in a year, heck, looking at the side bar my eyes are filled with tears and if we're being really honest, my heart aches for a sibling for Samantha.

I would like to think that, even though we had some rough days, some long nights and, yes, some weeks I don't even remember, the end goal of this blog was a success and has become even more than I could have ever imagined! 

This blog has become a place for moms to laugh with me, relate to my situations, and maybe even learn a thing or two. Now, I'm certainly not claiming the Mother of the Year award and am not even a close second, but if there's one thing I have learned, it's that no mother is perfect and that even when you think you're doing something wrong...it's probably not. I have a happy, healthy and beautiful toddler baby girl (she will always be my baby girl) who is kind and caring towards everyone and anything...hopefully that means I've been doing something right.  

So, what was supposed to be a 99 day mission for laughter has become something I am proud to say has reached more than 8000 people worldwide! And with My Picasso being the number one viewed post, hopefully that means I have made other moms and children laugh too!  

2013 brought with it A LOT of ups and a whole heck of a lot of downs for this family. But it was also one hell of a ride and I cannot wait to see what 2014 has in store for my blog, for myself and for my family. 

This year, my only resolution is to laugh and in the process, hopefully laugh with the world too.

So, from my family to yours...May 2014 bring to you love and laughter! 

The Christmas Zoo!

There is nothing like a child's excitement Christmas Eve. You can see it in their eyes, a sparkle that won't dull...even when doing those extra chores just to be sure they get on the nice list! That is unless your child is only 18 months old, with no real understanding of what Christmas really is...than it's Mommy & Daddy who are too excited to sleep and wake the kids up first thing Christmas morning!

OK, so I didn't want it to happen, but it was inevitable with 4 sets of grandparents...Samantha got completely spoiled and with one more Christmas celebration to go, I'm sure this wasn't the last of it! But, it was an absolute joy watching her unwrap her gifts. That was the best present a mother could ask for. Seeing the joy and excitement in her eyes. That and that she LOVED the activity book I slaved away on these past months...she wouldn't even put the book down for a diaper change! (Thank you to all my ladies who helped me finish on time!)

She finally understands that beneath all that colorful paper, ribbon and bows is something special...could be a toy, could be clothes, could be a book...I can only imagine what is running through her huge imagination! My favorite part was when she rips the paper little by little and then reveals a little piece of the treasure below...some fur, a box, piece of plastic...whatever it was, that excitement would build in her eyes as she finally revealed the present. This will certainly be a Christmas I won't soon forget!

...until my house became a zoo!

...yup, you saw those pictures right... Grampa got her a 5 foot giraffe, a baby giraffe (the size of Samantha) and a 5 foot long ginormously stuffed unicorn...that she LOVES! This will certainly be that present that she will love for years to come. I would rather her have a gift that she loves through the years, than another toy to throw in "the pile" and never get a second look.

As for next year, I hope that I am able to teach her that Christmas is about love, joy and giving...loving those who are sad; smiling to that stranger with the "scrinches"; and giving to those who need it the most. This year I had her give a toy to the Tree of Angels and a box of chocolates to the mailman. This is a tradition I want her to enjoy and experience, just as I did growing up, and hopefully teach her that Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps...means a little bit more!

Frozen in Time

Today when we all woke up, we were greeted to the beautiful set of Frozen, outside our window.

There is something just so stunning about the way the water freezes around the twig, berry or fence post...the ice has captured the beauty of Mother Nature and frozen it in time. There is something so perfect about it and yet to try and get into your car after the ice has taken ahold of the world is a pain in the arse! Especially when it's 1/2" thick! 

Thankfully, we also had power, hot water and a warm house. The ice storm of 2013 left a huge wake of damage and thousands without power! 

But then I look at how much Samantha has changed and grown and sit back and wonder if I could freeze her in time, would I?

I may regret saying this 16 years from now, but I love watching how she grows and changes and learns and experiences everything! She is like a little sponge that won't stay wet. 

This Christmas Season has already been SO different than last years! Not only is Samantha starting to speak but now she is so eager to be involved in our Holiday Traditions! Traditions like our family Christmas dice game, decorating the tree (and undecorating the tree), building a gingerbread house and opening gifts! 

Today, after playing in the frozen world, we sat down and started our little Gingerbread Village! Being the perfectionist that I am, I thought that the village would be a great idea, so that everyone can decorate their own house and I can still make mine...exactly how I want...and maybe go slightly overboard on the Marshmallow World that the village is now settled in (wink)

Watching Samantha so focused and serious was absolutely hilarious! Her eyes unblinking, her little fingers trying to place the candy in the perfect spot (not sure where she gets that from) and spread the sprinkles just right! That was until she licked her icing coated fingers! 

Then it was a whole new game of how fast can I eat the candies and icing before Mommy takes it away from me. Needless to say...bedtime took a tad bit longer tonght.

But...I wouldn't change it for the world and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings! 

Minivan Mom, Best in Class!

Ok, Ok, I am not a car person by any means. Sure, I know my basics like how to check my oil and when to take it in for an oil change. But I certainly don't know much about "the car" per say.

That is until Chrysler offered me a chance to test drive their 2014 Dodge Caravan for a week. 

I never thought of myself as "The Minivan Mom", but Da--rn, this test drive changed me and my family! I can certainly see how the Caravan has been Canada's #1 selling minivan for over 30 years! 

First, let's get the car jargon out of the way. The Caravan has the most awards ever, with the Best-in-Class towing of 3600lb and Best-in-Class power with 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 2013 Caravan was also the 'Top Safety Pick' by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

We drove all the way up to Sudbury in, at some points, complete white-out conditions and heavy snowfall (truly the ultimate test drive!). Donning our snow tires and more than 40 safety and security options, I have never felt safer behind the wheel! Though, it's a good thing we also had the Garmin Navigation system in the multimedia center to get us there, because every sign was covered in snow! 

Oh! Did I mention we made it from Mississauga to Sudbury (a nearly 5 hour drive) with a 1/4 tank of gas left! AMAZING! With 955KM/tank (23MPG City/36MPG Highway) the Caravan had amazing fuel efficiency and we had no need to worry about pumping gas in the snow storm! 

The best part though! The bestest part of all was the in-car blu-ray video system! It's certainly not easy to keep a toddler entertained in a car seat for much more than 30 min...let alone a few hours! This system saved us from a fussy, fidgety and feisty toddler until we could make a pit stop! The 9" screens were super easy to use, and with dual media jacks and a 115V outlet, we could have also connected a game system! 

I have to say, I also LOVED the space! Not only were the Stow 'n Go seats as easy as 1-4 (literally pull strap 1 thru 4 and down the seat went!) but the 2nd row offered me enough space to actually climb into the van and close the door while getting Samantha into her car seat! 

I found this especially useful, especially with the cold, since most car seat experts are now saying to remove the child's bulky winter coat before strapping them in. The space allowed me to get both of us into the van, close the door from the cold, take off her coat, strap her in, cover her with her coat and a blanket safely and warmly! 

I must say, this test drive has truly changed me. I can officially say I am "The Minivan Mom" and I CANNOT wait until we have one of our own! And with this being Chrysler's 30th Anniversary, there has never been a better time for us to convert! 

I wonder if that's what Santa's getting me for Christmas (wink, wink)

Thank you again to Chrysler for offering me and my family this ultimate test drive! 

Dora the Explorer Live: The Perfect First Show!

When I was just a girl, I can remember my very first theatrical performance! It was my birthday...heavens only knows which one...and I remember looking out the front window to see a limo pulling up to our house! Now, if you've been following my blog, you may remember me mentioning that my family wasn't exactly rolling in the dough, so you can only imagine the sheer excitement I felt when I realized the limo was for me!

I didn't care where I was going, just stepping inside made me feel like royalty. But, when my royal limo stopped and I was escorted out, I found myself standing in front of The Centre in the Square. I was completely euphoric. I had never seen a show before and the show was Cats!...That night forever changed my life! I became completely enthralled in theatre, especially how a simple black stage could be transformed into a back alley...into a far far away land...into NYC's Lower East Side...into whatever the director dreamed.

So, when I found out that Dora the Explorer Live! Search for the City of Lost Toys, one of the most anticipated shows of the year, was coming to the Centre in the Square, I knew I had to grab tickets for Samantha and my 3-year-old-Dora-loving-niece! 

I know, I know, Samantha isn't even 2 yet, how will she ever remember this experience. But I will remember the way her eyes lit up as the characters danced across the stage, this blog will remind her of her expressionless-mouth-gaped-open-stare she had as the stage came to life before her eyes, and more importantly I have created a memory, an experience and something that has left an impression on her, just as it did on me so many years ago. 

Firstly, I strongly recommend the attending Dora & Diego's VIP Adventure Party! What a great way to not only get a personal meet and greet with Dora & Diego, but the best way to burn off that extra energy before trying to sit your toddler in a seat for 70 min! 

Samantha and my niece had an absolute blast at the Adventure Party. The DJ was mixin' the tunes, the room was filled with Dora ball pits, mini table and chairs and pop up tents for the children to play with and tables lined with Dora coloring sheets! Plus water and juice boxes for everyone to rehydrate after the energy drain. Each guest even got a special loot bag filled with Dora goodies, including a Dora The Explorer VIP badge! 

Though I have to say, my favourite moment was after Samantha met Dora. We were one of the first people to get to meet Dora and Diego. She was pretty apprehensive at first...OK she full out screamed...but then my niece reached out and held Samantha's hand, all while giving Dora a little glare. Such a cute moment.

But the best part was after we finished meeting them: Samantha just did not want to say goodbye to Dora! She kept trying to run up to her and photo bomb other children's pictures! So, with all the excitement and activities that surrounded us, we just sat on our bums and watched as the other children all gave Dora hugs and Diego high-fives! Too cute!

After the Adventure Party was over, it was time for the real fun...time for Dora the Explorer Live: Search for the City of Lost Toys! I had no idea what to expect from either of the girls. Samantha, I pretty much had it in my head that she would sit still for all of 5 minutes and then want to run, therefore missing the rest of show so she could run around the lobby. 

But, to my shock and amazement...the girls both sat there, mouths wide open, in complete awe of the performance! Samantha did not move an inch for almost the entire first half of the show. That is until the lights came on and the show stopped. With her arm stretched as long as she could, she pointed to the stage over and over saying as loudly as she could "Dat!" "Dat!" "Dat!"

Finally, the lights redimmed and she instantly was drawn to the stage again. Though for the second half of the show, she didn't sit still for one second! She stood up on my lap (for a better view, of course) and jumped and dance and clapped along with the rest of the audience.

This interactive performance got the entire audience on their feet dancing, singing and clapping away. The best part was that not only were the kids involved in the play, but the show was actually designed to teach them to explore, communicate, overcome obstacles, solve puzzles and discover a diverse and exciting world using song and dance! 

I can see how this production has been incredibly successful, selling over 2 million tickets worldwide! With Koba Entertainment's artist director, Patti Caplette, using the company's hallmark innovative multimedia technology to create a truly unique production and an all-star creative team including F&D Scene Changes and projection designer, Beth Kates, this live musical adventure is truly one of a kind and I am SO glad that I was able to give the girls a memory that will last a lifetime!

After the show had ended and the seats emptied, Samantha ran as quickly as her little booted feet would let her, up to the empty stage. Sorry Baby Girl, no encore this time.

Hmmm...now what show should I bring her to next?! I hear The Backyardigans: Sea Deep in Adventure is coming to town!