Thursday, April 12, 2012

My Kitchen

I'm finally feeling at home. I'm feeling settled. My home has shift from feeling like someone else's to feeling like mine.

They say the center of the home is the kitchen. It truly is for us. The kids do school work there, and we eat and laugh around the table. Tears have been shed there, and long hard talks around the table have happened there. I spend hours a day baking, cooking, mashing, chopping and mixing. I spend hours guiding small hands who so badly want to help, and then washing those small hands in a sink full of bubbles. I have spend hours washing dishes, cleaning counters, and washing those spattered floors. My baby learned to crawl and walk within my kitchen, and we all cheered her on.  My kitchen is truly the heart of home.

I didn't want a house with work. How many times have I said or wrote that down? I was happy when we found this home, but devastated by the kitchen.


It was dark, outdated, very little work space, and very little amount of cupboard space. The hours I spend in this kitchen use to to feel like I imagine jail to feel like. I felt trapped, and depressed. I couldn't get the counters clean, the brick work was dusty and greasy, and there were spiders EVERYWHERE! I always had my back turned to the kids. I had to stop and put things down to help, turn around to talk to them, and  never got to the fights in time because I couldn't see or hear what was going. It was the center of my home, and the center of my frustration.

Goran promised me before we put an offer in, "I will make it a kitchen you luv."

I hung on to that promise. All the hours I spent in that dark kitchen I hung onto what he said.

The one year mark of the day we moved in was approaching and we began talking about a new kitchen.


I drew a this dream. It was put up on the wall, moved around as we painted, and when the electrician came, but is still sticky tacked to me my wall :) I would lay in bed at night and think about it. I could picture it, the kids seated  around the peninsula, me easily guiding cookie making, and the happiness. The smiles and co-operation.

We began preparing.





Seeking advice, and buying paint. It was slow. Several months. I had made a pack with myself to enjoy this process. When the kitchen was torn apart, and there was gray dust everywhere from removing the plastic brick and mortar, it was hard.



The hardest. But suddenly that part was done, and the rest seemed to much easier. I enjoyed the brighter walls. Even unfinished, it was better then the dark brick walls. After Christmas the cabinets got a few coats of paint. What a difference. They felt new!


The cabinets for the peninsula came and dreaming of the dishwasher began. We went and picked one out, and there were times I would feel delirious with happiness just knowing it was coming. Counters and painting, and adding the finishing touches.

It is complete now. Base boards are in place, and microwave is in.

the mirror in the back...I luv it!


They sit with me now, and mix and pour and help. I like watching and talking. I like being so much more apart of what is going on with them. Hearing what they have to say, answering their questions, and guiding them in talking to each other. They talk SO much. Even when they are busy doing things. Maybe so more so....





I feel settled. At peace. I feel silly writing this.Thinking 'How does this make me feel at peace and settled?' I'm really not sure, other then it does. I'm not waiting for it to be done anymore, it is done.

I don't think the kitchen being done is what makes it feel like home. I think the fact that is is child friendly, and conducive to interaction between all of us is what makes it feel like home. It suites our family. We fit it, and it fits with us.

Goran did make me a kitchen that I luv.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Me and My Weight-loss Journey

As the numbers do not reflect what I wanted to see, I have put this post off. I get frustrated, and angry, and then eat to make myself feel better. Then I begin thinking, that if things are going to be different, I have to do different...what can I do different? I still have goals. I'm still working towards them. But as I'm living life, I realize this is just part of it. Not all of it. I'm not waiting till I see a special number on the scale. I'm raising my children, spending time with my husband, having parties, running every other day, and planting the garden. I'm choosing more and more often the healthy food choices, because honestly, the sugar highs and lows are not all they are cracked up to be.


So an update on goals. I'm running 5km every other day. I'm exercising with my workout videos 2-3 days a week. I've also made a 'do different' decision about food. I've cut out white/processed sugar. Once I get into it, I have such a hard time getting off of it. Its a struggle and I go through withdraw, and just want more and more and more. I'm still following Weight Watchers points, but I've found since I've been cutting out the sugar the desire to eat endless cookies and such is gone.

So an update on my progress. Since January 2nd, I'm down 9.8lb. Almost 10. So close. Its slower then I thought and hoped, but its something. Its almost 10lb. I was 10lb heavier 14 weeks ago.

I realize as I continue on my journey  that if I had been losing the weight I want to loose faster, it wouldn't feel so satisfying to see the numbers I do see today. It feels good to know I am working towards my goals, and I am making this happen. My hard work, eating better, and exercising well, is making this happen. My body is growing stronger, and my desire for the bad food is waning as I eat the good and see the affects it has on me.


This is a journey. My journey. Its not just about weight, I discover.

This is good.

Easter - Together

It was something from a dream. Waking up to the giggles and cries of happy children discovering Easter morning.






A run, breakfast, husband cleaned up the kitchen, and we headed out to the garden for planting. Hammering up the fence, many hands helping, holding, banging, and laughing. Planting was such fun. The kids needed help over the fence (for the bunnies AND the kids) and we dug, and dropped, and covered, and fertilized, and watered. Then we stood back to see out work. It has been a wonderful day of helpfulness, and happiness, and just us. 6 of us, finding out place with each other.





We began a new traditions began this year. Making cards, and buying flowers, and putting them all together for a walk through the neighborhood to wish our favorite neighbors a "Happy Easter". Oh, the kids, they dug this!! 







Don't you wish you were my neighbor?
Easter dinner yesterday with the family. Aunts, and cousins, and Nana and Paka. We laughed and hugged, chatted together. The children died eggs, lined up on the counter together. Coloring, dropping, and maveling over the colors coming out.


Egg hunting in the backyard. The children ran, and laughed. The pointed them out to each other, helping the little ones, and holding hands as they searched the bushes, and swinging set.




It was an Easter I'm tucking away in my heart. As these wee ones grow, I know these holidays will change and be different, and special yes, but different. I want to hang on to these years they are young and savor them. Life each moment to the fullest. Hug and kiss them too much, but so they never forget my luv.




The week was busy, but we fit in some crafting, and a visit with Baka. 



This place we are in is good. This time in our lives I mean. Its all feels good and right.

Happy Easter! 

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Catch'n Up - Photo a Day

I need to do some March Photo a day. Although I'm missing some, I'll throw in what I have and add the rest by Saturday night!

15. Car

16. Sunglasses

17. Green

18. A Corner of Your Home

19. Funny

20. Before/After - a before, but no after. But the after is coming. Its almost done!!

21. Delicious

22. Kitchen Sink

23. Moon

24. An Animal

25. Breakfast

26. Key

27. Your Name

28. Trash

29. Feet

Sunday, March 25, 2012

You Know You're Feeling Better When....

...you feel like getting up and moving!

Its been a long long week. But today, the sun was shining, and Goran came home early. I was able to rest after a sleepless night of more illness. I could feel my energy slowly building. I wanted to make super, (a good one) and I was motivating the kids and hubby to chip in and getting moving. We worked together. One putting place mats on the table, another putting dishes on top of them, and another (my dear boy!) mixing up the whip cream for dessert. It was like one of those commercials on TV where they are singing, and stepping around each other gracefully, and all sat down once everything was done, all at the same time.

The energy is building!

A visit from Nana and Paka, with piano lessons, 


a quiet walk after diner,

a sweeter worn my cousin Calvin, and Bryan, and now my weeist one!




baths and PJ's, and everyone tucked in bed before 9:00pm.

I'm feeling good and looking forward to a new week. Catching up on my photo-a-day, my volunteer work, my weight loss journey via blog posts, laughing with my babies, stories on the couch, visiting a friend due to a missed visit last week, and maybe, if whether allows, a trip to the beach!

Oh the promises the week hold. Stay tuned to see our greatness!!