Loulou's views

7 years ago today, I married my high school sweetheart... the smartest, funniest, cutest man I know. My husband is awesome for many reasons. Not only because he teaches me so much, makes me (and everyone around me) laugh non-stop, and certainly not only because he cooks for me... but for other reasons, too. Like his love for German automobiles. His awesome taste in music. His smile. His ability to kick my ass at any video game. The wonderful way he is with our children. And because he is the coolest guy I know. But mostly, above all else - because he gave me the two most perfect gifts in life... our beautiful children! Happy Anniversary, babe. I love you! P.S. Another reason my husband rocks? I'm going to the premiere of Eclipse tonight and he doesn't mind one bit. Of course I invited him, but of course, he said no. Because really... would I want to be married to a guy who would want to see a Twilight movie? I think not! Thanks babe! You know I'll make it up to you! P.P....

Today, my oldest son graduated from junior kindergarten. We've come a long way, baby. In September, I took my son to his new school to meet his very first teacher. He refused to even walk in the doors. He pretty much had a tantrum when it was time to meet his teacher. He was not looking forward to starting school. Then, the first day of school came. He woke up, bright and early, put on his brave face, and smiled for me as I took his picture. "Smile, baby! It's your very first day of school!" At school, he quietly lined up beside all the other nervous children, unsure of what to do. Then when it was time to go inside, he held his teacher's hand, and never once looked back at me. Which is a good thing, considering I was a sobbing mess - tears were flowing down my face and I couldn't stop crying. I could not control my emotions that day - my oldest son, starting school. It was almost suffocating, having to get in my car and drive away, without him. But I did. An...

Remember when I wrote a post about stressing out over BlogHer ? I had reasons to be stressed. Like: "How will I find the time to meet, hang out with, and have meaningful conversations with all the fabulous bloggers I want to meet?' And: "Will I wear my hair with loose curls, or wear it pin straight?" Of course, these remain my two biggest BlogHer stresses, but let's add to that list, shall we? Yesterday, after a hair-cut and my weekly blow-dry at my salon, my favourite hair stylist handed me some awful news. "T, I need to book a hair appointment with you before I leave for New York City!" I told my stylist as I was paying. "I'm not going to be here that week!" she replied. GASP. "WHAT? What do you mean? This can't be! What about L, is she available that day?" "No... she is off then, too. I'm so sorry!" "Well. Can't you like, take another week off? This is kind of a big deal for me, you know!" (O...

The other day, while in our favourite book store, I thought it would be a good idea to purchase yet another plasma car, since my boys love riding them so much. Despite the fact that we already have two, I thought I should buy one more so I could leave it at my parent's house so my boys could have one to ride when they are there. (The fact that I allow my children to ride their plasma cars in our house, through our dining room, living room, family room, hallway and kitchen is another story - our very expensive hardwood floor is now very much scratched... but... my kids are having a blast so you know what? I don't mind!) I showed Dimitry the plasma cars, having picked out the newest colour - a really pretty turquoise and green one. "Dimitry, look how nice this plasma car is! Let me get it down for you so we can buy it." "No, pink." Ignore. "Here you go sweetie, here is the beautiful blue and green plasma car! Go try it out!" "I want the pink....

I'm blessed to have a really great father in my life - a father who has always been there for my sister and I - from every dentist appointment, to every dance recital and school play. My father coached my Greek girls soccer league, and we were awful . It must have pained him to see us play so bad, but he was still supportive, always reminding us we could gossip after the game was over. He stayed up late at night helping me with my homework to the point I'd have stories memorized for Saturday morning Greek school. My father has also been there for me through every car accident I got myself into, including a pretty massive one on the first day I got my license. No matter how many times he received the call from his teenage daughter saying: "Daddy? I hit another car!" he was never mad or upset; the first question he always asked was: "Are you okay?" Even after this, I received an Audi as my 18th birthday present. Despite the fact that my car insurance rates...

I suffer from an insane amount of mommy guilt. I feel guilty when I am out on a nice day, and my children are not with me. I feel guilty if I go grocery shopping with only one child. I feel guilty if I only take one child to the park. I feel guilty if I've managed to give only one child a bath at night. I feel guilty when I eat my children's chocolate. (Actually, not really.) I feel guilty when I'm at work and not with my children, even though I know they are in great hands with my parents, inlaws, and grandparents. I feel guilty if I say no to my boys about anything at all. (So I rarely say no.) (And they are totally well behaved wonderful little members of society, thank you very much!) I feel guilty after I raise my voice at my children. (But I still do it.) I feel guilty when I'm at the movies without my children, eating popcorn, because I know they like popcorn, too. I know, it's crazy, really. I come from a very close-knit family; we do everything together. B...

My oldest son got his 'big boy' furniture when he was 2 and a half years old. It took me months of research, both online and in stores, to find the 'perfect' new bedroom set for him. I adored his nursery - my husband created a beautiful room, from the hardwood floors, to the crown moulding, to the chair rail and thick baseboards, to the light blue and green walls he painted. It took me even longer to find the 'perfect' bedding - something soft, neutral, not too 'baby-ish'; something that was white, with some blue and green in it. This all came together beautifully with his furniture - the crib, change table, dresser, night table, bookcase and chair - all in white. My mom, the artist , created original paintings for his walls, in the same colour scheme as his bedding. It was the perfect nursery for my perfect baby boy. Being the emotional person that I am, I had a hard time changing his 'baby furniture' to 'big-boy furniture', but I couldn...

I have been blogging for over three years now, with no end in sight. One of the best parts about blogging is being part of a larger community - a community that includes some really terrific people - other bloggers who not only inspire you be a better writer, but who write stories worth reading, who comment on your blog posts, and who make you laugh. So far, all the bloggers I have gotten to know online and have had the opportunity to meet in real life have been just as terrific after the first 'hello' is said face-to-face. Having said that - boy! Am I ever looking forward to going to BlogHer this year in New York City! There are tons of amazing people I am looking forward to meeting - including Heather from Theta Mom . Heather is an awesome blogger who writes it like it is - it's no wonder she is so loved! Today, I'm the Featured Blogger over at Theta Mom. So, if you're visiting me (hi!) from Theta Mom- welcome! As a mom of two young boys, I write, most of the t...

Can you believe it's June already? Why does summer always go by so quickly? What are you doing this summer? Any big plans? Any minor plans? Any BlogHer plans, or any vacation plans? This is what is on my agenda this summer! 30 things I'm going to do this summer, in no particular order: 1. Swim as much as I can. I've already broken last year's record for days spent in the pool on hot summer days! I love swimming SO very much - ocean or pool, doesn't matter! 2. Enjoy swimming with my 4 year old - who now swims without floaties - and enjoy swimming with my 2 year old in my arms. Nothing as cute as little babies in the water, splashing and having fun! 3. Drink lots of frappaccino's! My favourite? Caramel, of course! With whipped cream, because... yum! 4. Go for another Mystic Tan. I'm still alive after my near-death experience , and the results were amazing! 5. Take my husband for a much needed trip to Montreal for our 7 year anniversary in a couple of weeks, st...

When my oldest son was just under 12 weeks old, he got a kidney infection and had to be hospitalized. He was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario for almost two weeks. During those two weeks, I had to see my baby with an IV in his hands and feet - they had to keep switching it. If that wasn't hard enough, seeing my child get countless numbers of x-rays and catheters was heartbreaking. But the staff at CHEO was amazing - they made our stay tolerable. At 6 months old, he got another kidney infection, due to a condition he had at birth called hydronephrosis (which he has since outgrown and is 100% okay!) and spent 5 more days in CHEO. He was a little older, but it was just as hard to see him in pain and in the hospital. I have blogged about this before, but for me, words can't describe the experience of seeing your child sick and in the hospital is like. It's a nightmare, to say the very least. Last year, when my son was 3, his cold turned into a severe ...

My always determined and curious 4 year old recently went on an expedition - in search of fossils. It was an adventure he was very excited about, getting up early, packing his backpack with the essentials like eye goggles, a hammer, a chisel, and a plastic bag for storing his 'treasures'. Oh, and of course, some snacks and water, too! He walked towards the river, happy as can be, and when he got to the water's edge, he got down to business, taking off his backback, and getting to work. After spending over 15 minutes breaking apart rocks, he found what he had set out to find - a fossil! A fossil of a shell. He was so proud and could have stayed all day, exploring, and doing his thing. I'm proud of my big boy, for having such a cool interest, and for loving the great outdoors. I love watching him grow and seeing his interests change as his discovers new things. He never ceases to amaze me, from the things he says on a daily basis, to the things he does.