Posts

Mothers Day Mom

Best Gifts For Mother’s Day {Plus, Win A $100 Best Buy Card!}

/363 Comments/in /by

It’s that time of year again where we husbands and children get a chance to celebrate the special mothers in our lives. That’s not to say we don’t celebrate them all year round but it’s so much fun taking the kids out to the store to pick out something special for mommy. This year our kids have decided that they have such a great mommy that they want to spend their own money to but a special gift for her. They have been saving up their allowance money for the last couple months and with a little help from daddy’s wallet have picked out something from Best Buy that we think mommy will really love.

We can’t reveal to you what we ended up buying for her but I am going to share some of the other items from Best Buy that ended up on our short list. Did I also buy something for myself for Mother’s Day? Perhaps, but nobody needs to know about that… Alright, here are a few of the items from Best Buy that the kids and I had to ponder. As we do, we started looking online and then narrowed down our choices before heading to the store. We’ll do the big reveal on Mother’s Day after mommy opens her gift!

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker

Fitbit Alta Fitness Tracker

Anyone who has tried out a Fitbit and competed against their friends knows how addicting it can be to try to one up each other. As each new Fitbit is released they look more like accessories and less like giant wrist bands. Pro-tip: A lot of people prefer wearing them on their ankles as opposed to their writs, so consider going for the larger band when you purchase.

You can check out all the Fitbit models at Best Buy by clicking here!!

***********************************************************************************************
Kobo Glo HD Digital eBook Reader

Kobo Glo HD 6″ Digital eBook Reader with Touchscreen

If you have yet to experience the joys of eReading I highly recommend that you try it out. 4 million books at your fingertips can never be a bad thing, right? Also, think of all the free space on your bookshelves for your kids to put their toys all over…

Check out the Kobo Glo HD 6″ Digital eBook Reader with Touchscreen for yourself!
***********************************************************************************************

Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle

Although I have never personally attempted yoga, my wife has taken a liking to it but was lacking in proper equipment. This looks like the perfect starter kit for anyone looking to dip their toes in the yoga waters. I’m going to be honest and say that I’m not sure I could handle the pain that would follow yoga classes…

Here is the link for more information on the Gaiam Yoga Essentials Bundle!
************************************************************************************************
Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 Android Tablet

As any good parenting manual will tell you, letting your kids play with your tablets, smartphones and computers is an excellent way to get 5 minutes of peace and quiet. Unfortunately what that means is there are plenty of times when these devices are not available to us as parents. That’s why we recently decided that the kids were ready to inherit our old tablets which means we get to shop for new ones!

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 pairs nicely with the Galaxy S7 phones we just bought, too!!
************************************************************************************************
Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station

Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station

One of my biggest complaints as an android device owner is the fact that there aren’t very many good options for nighttime docking whereas iPhone users have all kinds of cool devices. As soon as I saw this clock with charging station I ordered it from Best Buy online. No, this isn’t our Mother’s Day gift. I was a Mother’s Day for me. Dad.

Here are more details on the Marathon LED Digital Alarm Clock with USB Charging Station.
************************************************************************************************
Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set

Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set

What is it about kids and gift buying that for moms they instinctively want to buy them jewelry and for dads they go to the tie section? In any case, as soon as the kids saw this heart pendant and earring set, they both looked at each with excitement. Again, not what we went with but it is definitely in our saved folder for future gift purchasing!

If your wife or mother loves bling, maybe the Classic 10K Gold Heart Pendant & Earrings Set is for you!
************************************************************************************************

Giveaway!

To help you on your way to the best Mother’s Day ever I am giving away a $100 Best Buy gift card and will announce the winner on Mother’s Day! Just fill out as many of the Rafflecopter options below as you’d like and you’re in! Giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec and will be emailed to the winner once confirmed. Good Luck!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was compensated for my participation in the #BestMomBestBuy program.

13 Things About Her

/22 Comments/in , /by

She is…

The provider of light in times when I see only darkness

Driven to want more from herself, even though she is perfect as she is

Forgiving. Almost to a fault

Unaware of how beautiful she really is

Kind. The deep down variety

Passion

Unwilling to settle for the status quo

Not afraid to be vulnerable

Inspiring

A leader in every sense of the word

Perfection, in my eyes

An amazing mother to my children

The reason I am the luckiest man alive

Coming Home

/25 Comments/in , /by

Family Photo

It didn’t take long to miss the little things after leaving on my recent journey to the land known as America. There was no hug goodbye, no “we’ll miss you Daddy”, really, there was nothing but silence as I slipped out the door at 5am on a cold Thursday morning.

As I hit the road that morning, I had a nervous excitement about where I was headed and the experiences I would have. Still, there were constant reminders of what I was leaving behind. A miniature hockey bag on the floor made me think about how great my son’s first year of skating was going and of how proud I was of him. He wasn’t floating on air like Gretzky but maybe Wayne himself got off to a slow start.

There were warning signs to turn around as well. The first was the eerie squeal of the tires as they tore across the metal of the International Bridge. This was followed by 65 mile per hour winds that did everything but knock me right off the road. The two blizzards that followed served as a reminder of the fact that I was not in charge. No, SHE was in charge and it wouldn’t be the last time on this trip that I would be reminded of this.

I was not even three hours in and I was already wondering if my family missed me as much as I missed them. As I sat in the terminal, staring at the giant hunk of aluminum that would soon propel me 38,000 feet above land, I thought only of them. Airplanes. My arch nemesis. My kryptonite.

The flights were surprisingly easy; aside from the constant thoughts of us colliding with another aircraft, that is. I quietly read about Neil Young’s life story and his inspiration was enough to keep my nervous twitch subdued just long enough for the wheels to hit the tarmac. I love Neil. He has helped me through many tough times even though we have never met, and most likely never will.

Airports, Hotel, Conference, Karaoke, Cabbies with Guns; All of it wonderful and exciting and new in its own way, but something was still missing. I got a preview of that something at the midway point of my adventure courtesy of my wife. Here it is:

Yeah… I don’t think I need to explain what happened next, do I? By the end of the video, my room resembled the falls in Niagara as I instinctively clicked play, again, and again, and again. Each time noticing something familiar and wishing I was back there, in that moment, with my family. I knew I couldn’t leave just yet. I came here with a purpose, after all, and wouldn’t leave until I had proved to myself that I could face my fear and conquer it, which I am proud to say I did.

The long trip home was filled with road blocks. Airport confusion, flight delays, freezing rain, darkness, sleet, snow, aliens, gremlins, Super Bowl black outs & even the Stay Puff marshmallow man! You name it, I saw it, but nothing was going to stop me from getting home to those three smiling faces from the video. The kids were dreaming of princesses and Skylanders by the time I got home but I enjoyed the quiet catch up with my wife, whom I missed dearly.

Then, as if she could read my mind, my daughter popped her head around the stairwell and smiled. It was one of those smiles that make you realize how important someone is in your life. It was love. And I was wearing the exact same smile.

Wanna Tell You About The Girl I Love – To My Wife On Mothers Day

/26 Comments/in , /by

Yes I know, if you know the lyrics I’ve quoted in the title, they are not really about “True Love”. Let’s try and get past that because that specific lyric, on it’s own, happens to fit quite nicely.

I would also like to state for the record, that I love my Mother and wish her a very Happy Mothers’ Day! This post happens to be about someone else on this particular day though.

For as long as I’ve been a father, there’s been one constant that has kept me in my children’s good graces.

One thing that has kept me from imploding due to the sheer magnitude of being in charge of another life form.

Well I guess it’s not really a thing at all, is it? Here she is!

This is my rock! My Knight in Shining Armor! The Keeper of the Gates of my Childrens’ Love and Well Being!

Too far?? Not in my mind.

For all the great comments I get on my site about how great I am as a father, there is someone else who is even more deserving of that praise and who doesn’t get enough of it.

My wife gave up her career because she wanted to stay home to raise our kids, which was a huge sacrifice. Please don’t take this as me judging people that don’t because I understand and respect all people’s situations and decisions.

Point is, she decided to quit her comfortable job and enter the world of home child care. It’s probably one of the hardest jobs I could ever imagine doing. As a shift worker, I am home a lot with the daycare and trust me when I tell you that it is not all bonbons and circle time.

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson planning, meal plans, activities, outdoor time, walking some to school, picking them up, consoling upset children and trying to spend enough time with your own to make them feel special for having to share all their stuff. I’m sure I’m missing some things but you get the idea.

She is an amazing woman!

Remember this post about my son’s 4th Birthday Party? I looked great as the cool Dad dressed up like Super Mario, right? What you didn’t see in there was the planning, invites, decorating, loot bags & food that my wife took care of while I was in the bathroom rehearsing my Super Mario lines.

When the kids are ill, the world stops for her until they are feeling better. When my daughter can’t sleep, my wife will happily lie in bed with her and comfort her until she dozes off. And absolutely No holiday goes without decorations and a celebration!

My wife is the perfect portrait of someone who loves her family over and above everything else in her life. She would literally do anything for us and for that we are eternally grateful! She gives us the best of everything she’s got and asks for nothing in return.

Even when I told her that, for Mothers’ Day, we were sending her to a nice hotel to relax and get some much needed rest, she needed to be convinced that it was a good idea. I’m still not sure she agrees with it but I know she’ll love it!

I know there’s so much more I could say about her but she’s away relaxing and Daddy’s got kids to entertain, LOL!

Let me just close by saying to my wife, from myself and the kids, that we appreciate everything you do for us.

We hope that you don’t think we take you for granted, because we don’t.

Life would be a dark, lonely place without you in it and we want to say a great big, bear hug wrapped, chocolate covered Thank You for everything you bring to our family!

On a personal note, I am thankful to have found you. You make me want to be a better father every single day and you have no idea how you positively impact our lives.

We Love You!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

PS – Enjoy your time of rest and relaxation, the daycare opens back up at 7am sharp on Monday morning ;P

PPS – Where’s the Ketchup?