A Good Read

I love reading a good book. I love being taken away to someone else's world even if it is in small bits at a time.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was a book recommended by the lady at the book store. I was a little skeptical initially but once I started I really felt taken to a whole different world.

It is a book about Jacob, and though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

A good read!

It is hard being little!

I enjoyed the day at the basketball tournment ...as you can see Josh had other thoughts!

The Little Indian Boy Can Jump!

Sammy is growing up so fast...it makes me wish I had a pause button! This weekend the basketball team from Rhema Christian went to play against other Christian schools. It was amazing watch my little boy with his moves... he is good! (Really I am not being bias...) I loved watching the games. Not only were they good sportsman, but just so well behaved to be there all day.

On the flip side, Sammy has developed his own life which is seemingly interfering with ours! Tommorrow night would have been the first night in a while that Sanj and I could actually go out... so we made our plans. Well, Sammy who would babysit, gets invited to a sleepover. Sanj and I just look at each other... and sort of laugh. Our lives have taken a back seat, apparently. Welcome to the world of parenting... It is not about you!

Family Day

Premier Dalton McGuinty has given us Family Day, which is Feb.18th. Everything is closed... and it is a day to be spent enjoying ones family. At first, I thought it was just another day for government workers to have a day off... But because everything is really closed, it really does allow the family to be together.

We went skiing... despite the weather against us. It was a great day. Raj ( Sanj's brother) and familiy joined us and we were able to spend some quality time on the slopes. So, thanks Dalton McGuinty! Here are some pictures from the day!

I LOVE HOCKEY...

Sanj (my husband) is a huge sports fan. It really does not matter what the sport it is... he just loves it.
So it is no huge surprise that my boys love sports too. HOCKEY is the number one sports in our household even in the summer. (Although in the summer GOLF is a close second)!

We have 4 boys that play hockey right now and Sanj coach's the older boys team and plays himself. So it is safe to say we live and breathe hockey. When they are not playing at the arena, they are out on the backyard rink, mini sticks or watching the Toronto Maple Leafs lose.

So I am trying to get at least one child on my side. Here is my conversation with Josh (age 2.5)

Me: "Josh, I hate hockey.
Josh: " I hate hockey."
Me: "Me too!:
Josh: " Me 3!"

All is lost, as he informed me he now likes hockey.
You know what they say... "If you can't beat them... you may as well join them."
I got a hockey stick for Christmas...

Power To Our People

A few years ago Sanj and I went to Florida and spent a day at the Epcot Center with friends. What I noticed there was that many different countries were respresented there... but not India! What was up with that? And why is it that people that are of an East Indian descent seem to become famous for infamous reasons?

How annoying is that? Remember Sanjaya from American Idol? And then there are Indians in the Guiness Book of World Records...what are they known for? Longest finger nails! Trust me, it is truly disgusting. Even in the movies and T.V.... the Indian with his accent is the comic relief.

Then I see this...the Indian Dwarf Weight lifter! ( I got this from my brother's blog...he finds the craziest stuff)!

I know that there are very talented East Indians out there.... it is time for our people to shine!!! COME ON...Power to OUR PEOPLE! :)

Top 3 Things NOT to say to a 12 year old...

My son Sammy just got glasses this week. Since I have had to wear glasses since grade two and have been legally blind by grade six... this was something I prayed my kids did not inherit from me. Now that Sammy is in grade 7 and just slightly nearsighted the doctor assured me that he was safe from my crazy eye sight issues!

Also since getting glasses in grade two was a horrid experience, I was full of apprenhension for Sammy, but he just has taken it in stride and said it is no big deal ... it is only glasses.

I realized that as well meaning as people are, they don't really know what to say to a 12 year old boy that has just been fit with glasses.

Top 3 things NOT to say:

1. YOU LOOK STUDIOUS!
2. YOU LOOK JUST LIKE YOUR MOM!
3. FOUR EYES!

Sammy, I love your easy going attitude in life... you MUST get that from your mom! :)

Feel free to comment to Sammy and he will love reading your thoughts.

Dirty Dancing

My husband got me tickets to go see the "Dirty Dancing" play for Valentines. It was one of my favorite movies! Last night a couple of girlfriend and I watched it again together. 'Dirty Dancing" is 20 years old! Where has time gone? Watching it again just took me back to a time of innocence. I loved it just as much as I did 20 years ago. I did notice that I saw some things different now that I am an adult and that innocence I once watched with has been replace with a different view maybe that has been tainted by life experiences.

I loved watching it again. It is great to be able to connect with others who were not in my life at that time yet made that connection that only a good movie can do and bring you together in another totally different era!

Happy I Love you Day!

Every since I was a little girl I was a believer in the fairy tale... the prince finding his princess. What I didn't realize was the frogs that I had to meet along the way. I remember the Valentine's Day that came and went with only disappointments. Isn't it just a Hallmark day? I never wanted my children to every feel unloved or unthought of... ever. So we explained Valentines as a Happy I love you day! That they will always be loved and cherished whether they have "someone special" to celebrate Valentines or not.

Of course I realize that someday (probably in the not so distant future) something special from mom and dad will not cut it... and unfortuately my sons will have hearts broken and there will not be much I can do. But hopefully they will always know that Valentines Day is about love for each other.

I am blessed to have a wonderful Valentine, who does think of making days special. Thank God for all those frogs along the way... as they only made me truly appreciate my Prince.

On the flip side, I hope that we think of someone who will be feeling blue on Valentines and maybe do a little something special for a single mom or dad... chocolates and a card could go a long way to making some feel extra special on a day we an often take forgranted the loves in our lives.

Happy Valentines Day!
( Happy I Love You Day!)

Good Job Mom

This morning after the boys were off to school I was getting ready for the day. I am sitting on the toliet, Josh walks in and takes note... "You peeing, Mommy?"
"Yes, Josh..."

"Good Job, Mommy, Good Job!" :)

Thanks for the affirmation, Josh!

You got your hands full!

I know that those of you with your 2.5 kids hear this...too! "You got your hands full!" What an obnoxious comment. Thanks for noticing...can you help me get my groceries to the car please? People seem to feel they have the right to makes comments to perfect strangers...Is that strange?

Wherever we go, we obviously attract attention...and comments. My favorite is when we are out to dinner and someone comes up and say, "Is this a birthday party?" No... we are just having a family dinner! :)

My least favorite comment is "Have you figured out what is causing it?"

I was at the sporting store and had all the boys with me (which doesn't happen too often anymore) and a lady came up to me and said " Are these all your kids?" ( Remember the boys are standing right there... behaving, thankfully)..
Yes, I said...
"Oh my God, i feel sorry for you!" she said this in a very rude tone.
Taken back I say... well we don't feel that way."
I thought that would be the end of it. But then she says, "not yet."

Speak of rudeness. I actually felt sorry for her. What happened in her life to leave her so bitter?

Yes I have my hands full ... of love, hugs and endless adventures.

Blogging 101

I am not sure if I am a true blogger or not...I am not sure that my life is interesting enough that others may want to read about.
But here I go! I am a mom of 6 boys! My oldest Sammy is 12, Tyler is 11, Jordan is 10, Maxwell is 8, Zachary is 6 and Joshua is 2.5 years old.

Happily married, my husband is Sanjeev, an audiologist. We will live in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Life has never been as I knew it since the birth of my first son. Parenting changes you. There is no you... only them. It is amazing how they can occupy every waking minute... and then even my dreams.

I am not sure why God thought that I could raise 6 sons... or maybe He knew I couldn't do it on my own... so it was a guarentee that He would always be in my life... I need His constant help and guidance!

It has been a heck of a journey... come along for a ride!