"FML" rethink.

Yes, I am guilty of uttering the abbreviation, even the words.  The letters/phrase that basically tells people around you (or yourself) that things are BAD for you right now.  It's thrown around like Kleenex on some days by a lot of people to describe a spilled cup of coffee, a large repair bill, an unwanted phone call, or something equally as trivial.  I've used it more than once.
However, last month I read a blog post of a photographer in the US.  It was a link from another photographer's page and it made me rethink the phrase, and really put my life and it's bountiful contents into perspective.  It had such impact that I went back to the photographer's page I originally saw it on, Memories by Me Photography, and searched to find and share this: 

Autumn Sweet Autumn: Southern California Child Photographer

(You will have to scroll up to the top)

This passage really caught my attention:

“One thing that really irritates me at times is when people see their lives not going well & the quickest thing out of their mouth or on fb is FML….Things could be so much worse & instead of saying FML maybe people should re evaluate why they should LML (Love My Life). I have a child that is terminal & getting worse & it is getting closer to planning a funeral for her… ”    ”…LML for my terminal child that has made me such a better person, mother, care giver, closer to GOD & not afraid of death anymore…”    ”Just in general LML for me being able to even look at the brighter side rather then the darker & LML that I am still here to experience it all!!!!!”

I realize this sounds very preachy, but if you take the time to read the blog post and Autumn's story, you'll understand.  It has really made an impact on my life, and I wanted to share.

Morning routines...

Sometimes I think I have nothing to say here.  Nothing outstanding happened on my day, no overt craziness or drama I have to report.  Then I think and realize that my life itself is crazy, dramatic, outstanding and worth reporting on. :)  So I am, and I'm going to tell you about our house in the mornings. 
Granted, it's probably not at all like houses with more than 1 child, or just one parent, but it's definitely a whirlwind for my tastes.  The 1.5-2 hours that we're awake before exiting the house feels like it goes by in the blink of an eye.
Here it is: The alarm rings, I get myself out of bed anywhere from 10-20 minutes after it goes off, I shower/get ready, dress myself and Erika, Rick and I alternate between making lunches for myself and Erika, and gather things needed for the day. Rick's routine is much the same, adding in garbage take-out once a week, starting the car if necessary, and making breakfast for Erika. There never seems to be enough time to take that breath, sip that coffee, or do anything but inhale a bowl of Multigrain Cheerios. 
**I could get up earlier and do such before-mentioned things, but I really enjoy my sleep too much**

However, in contrast, this time is probably the most serene for my little girl.  Upon waking (20-30 min AFTER us), she chooses "friends", a blanket and a pillow to lounge upon the couch with.  She announces her 1 show of choice, and what drink she will begin her day with (usually choc milk).  After about 20 more minutes, she calls to Daddy that she is ready to be fed, and what food that will be. 
Oh, to be 3 years old. *sigh*

"By my own, Mommy."

Ahhh, Erika-isms.  There are so many cute sayings I hear daily, it's hard to keep track.  I haven't had a blog post for a while centering around my little one lately, so indulge me.  :)

Helping Daddy shovel.  he got the driveway, she got the yard.  Brilliant.

I just love her speech patterns; the words she makes up for things, the phrases she adopts. A few I will always remember are;
"By my own."  Erika has combined "on my own" and "by myself" into this.  Whenever she wants to do something independently, she'll let me know she doing it "By my own".
"Big hug and kiss!" Said emphatically whenever it's bedtime, or at drop off at daycare.  After this phrase follows a humming-hug, and a smack wherever her little mouth lands.
"Watch out for Swiper!" Called out to me when I have to leave for meetings at night, run to the store to grab something, or go out for a coffee.
"This mines?" Indicating ownership, of which in her mind, everything is hers.
"I use your phone to play wif?  You use Daddy's, no one calls hims." Like mother, like daughter, as Erika has her favorite iPhone games she loves to play on my phone.
"Momma, you happy?" Erika is constantly & seriously concerned about my happiness, and if I respond no, I'm not happy, she'll stop whatever she's doing to present me with a humming-hug, or big smack.  She will even stop crying herself if in the middle of an episode to tend to my welfare. 
"Sponge bob over?" Yes, my child watches Sponge bob Squarepants.  I'm a baaaaaaad parent. :/ This show, being on Nick, has commercials that my 3 year old is not used to.  At every commercial, without fail, Erika asks me if her show is over.
"I hungry; <points to her mouth and makes um-um-um noises>" Seriously.  Like we wouldn't understand what she means by simply saying "hungry".
"All done nap?" Every morning, this is asked and we have to say yes before she crawls out of bed. 
"Let's hide, let's hide!!" After bath, it's tradition for Daddy and Erika to hide under the covers while I get pjs to change into.  In a 3 year-old mind, they're invisible to me every time.
"And Mommy toooooooo!" At every tickle session with Daddy, I must enjoy the frivolity too.  :)  She insists on sharing the fun and taking turns with me. So fun.

Carefully dipping her tempura vegetables.

Love that little girl.  I know I say this often, but she's growing up way too fast for my tastes.



The Manitoba Museum

This is one of my very favorite field trip spots ever. Ten plus years ago, when reintroduced to the "Museum of Man and Nature" as a possible field trip locale, I fell in love all over again.  I was reacquainted by a favorite prof at the U of M in my final year of Education.  Upon entering the museum, where I hadn't been for so many years, my senses were assaulted by familiar smells and sights, and the always teacher-popular curricular connection that validates the field trip.
Ever since then, whenever possible, I have taken my classes there.  When teaching grade 11, I took them for a focus study of the HBCo display (new at the time), grade 7s and 9s I took to rediscover the geography of Canada interactively, and now 6s I take to learn about Canada's role in WW2.  After the curricular focus, I indulge myself in a workshop that I enjoy (either CSI Science, Lapidary <soapstone carving>, Science experiment gallery, or a planetarium show). 
All classes I take also explore the museum.  Those many years ago, I created a scavenger hunt activity that my students use to this day to guide and focus them through their exploration.  They spend 1.5h plus weaving through the ever-renewing galleries that while changing, also have favorite elements.  I love those favorites.  I love the Bison diorama that the students meet at to start, the Aboriginal diorama featuring berry gathering and enormous moose, the urban gallery with the old-time movie theatre, and *of course* the Nonsuch.
Entering the Nonsuch Gallery brings a flood of sensory experiences.  The smell, sounds and sights of the Nonsuch are constant.  I take perspective photos every time I go, and still feel I haven't captured the feeling of this gallery adequately.

On the Nonsuch, looking up the main mast.

Front of the ship.

 Sails, rigging and masts.

Forgetting my camera at home, these were the best I could do with my phone without flash.  They do capture the mood of the room; dimly lit and very heavy-feeling.

I love it.  I'll go every year and keep on enjoying; The Manitoba Museum is worth the return visit and support.  

A supreme waste of time...iPhone games

I haven't posted in a while.  Life has been crazy, I've been really tired in the evenings, I've had a staff meeting/board meeting/coffee date, etc.  The list goes on.  I've thought about posting, and then I don't. Glad I'm making the time now.

Here's another reason I've been distracted; the discovery of very addictive iPhone games.  I'm not kidding. I've had my phone for over 2 years, and have just recently explored the world of time-wasting addicting games.  Now, I've always been a fan of the apps, the Facebook one, the Weather Network, Starbucks among others, but have not even looked at the games until now. 
My sister came over one day with her iPad, and showed me some games she enjoys, and her kids as well.  Erika loved them, and when the iPad had to go home, :( , I downloaded some games onto my phone for her.  The 3 year old was happy.
Then, I found some highly addictive games for myself, all under the advice of my sister.  First I tried one called Fruit Ninja:

Fruit gets launched into the air, and you slice at it using your finger as a ninja sword.  So fun.  Avoiding the bombs, you can get the bonus fruit (a very large pomegranate) that you slice repeatedly and swiftly for bonus points.  The fruit makes lovely squishy noises when cut, and there are upgrades you can earn with a good score.  A great time-waster I still enjoy.
Then came Angry Birds.  This is a very popular game where you, with a slingshot, launch birds at wooden, stone, glass and metal structures to destroy pigs:

Very amusing, great sound effects from the screeching birds and snorting/taunting pigs, but a little complicated in the higher levels.  Surprisingly, a lot of physics goes into this one, and it was very difficult to pass some stages.  I still play, but don't get as far as I would like.

Now it's Temple Run.  Upon a recommendation from my brother in law, I'm playing a fast-paced adventure game that involves running, swerving, jumping and sliding to get away from ape-type creatures chasing you:

FUN.  It's based on points you earn and distance you can run before either the apes get you (they're creepy), or you fall into the water or slam into a tree.  Kind of Indiana Jones-esque, I'm enjoying it a lot.
I'm sure I'll find another game soon enough.  :)

What mindless entertainment.  An iPad I do not have, but my iPhone 3 (archaic as it is) is doing the job, and amusing me.  Why haven't I explored this world of mindless, time-wasting games before?!?!