Cold Season.... YUCK!

I jinxed myself horribly this week.

We had been talking about all the kids and moms that have come down with this nasty flu that is going around and the horrible colds that are plaguing households across Barrie and how bad they are and how long they have lasted. It's just horrible this year!

And then I did it, I proudly said out loud, "we have been lucky, none of us have been sick since last winter".

Well that did it, the gods that control who gets sick and when decided that I needed to take my turn on the roller coaster of sickness...it started with that yucky feeling in my throat. A day later it was aches and pains and chills. Fevers and a stuffy/runny nose (pick one would ya!), a cough and oh did I mention the bone chilling aches accompanied by the chills?

I hate being sick. I hate being sick even more as a mother. There is no time to sleep it off or rest under the covers dosed on cold meds, there is no time for hot baths to ease the aches. Someone has to look after the children. There is one to take care of ME. Unless you count my 3 year old who gave me her bunny to hug, told me she would rub my feet, but later, not now, and told me I should go see the dentist (of course she meant the doctor, but her recent fear of the dentist has taken over, a whole different story all together)...

So what is a mother to do when she is sick? Suck it up. That's it. And pray that none of the little people in the house get sick at the same time.


Colds season can end anytime as far as I am concerned. I have used enough tissues to last a lifetime and my sore, raw nose has had enough. Now to go and lay on the floor while the kids climb on top of me. This is of course, the only chance I will get to lie down while sick.

Who's the Biggest Loser?

We all have done it at some point, we have all made weight loss our New Year's resolution at some point in our lives... or maybe at many points in our lives. Well this year the momstown mamas are taking on weight loss with a challenge, a Biggest Loser Challenge.

10 moms has dedicate the next 8 weeks to losing weight, looking better and most importantly getting healthy!


We kicked off our challenge with a great morning of goal setting, weighing in and a great guest speaker, Sara Walton, owner of Chic Boxing. Sara helped us realize that the number on the scale isn't the most important part, it's looking and feeling better, reaching our goals (16 laps at the pool for one mama!) and being healthy!

SO the challenge is on.... who will be our BIGGEST LOSER???

Post Holday Bliss

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

My family had a wonderful time visiting, exchanging gifts and of course indulging in some superb meals!

Boxing day always brings me a sense of sadness. Christmas is my all time favorite holiday and I enjoy every minute of the build up. The lights on the houses, the trimming of the tree, the shopping and wrapping of gifts, the cooking and baking and family time, and of course watching my kiddies open their gifts.

Now that the holidays are over, I feel at a loss. What do I do now? No gifts to buy (and no money left to shop!), the tree has to come down and the living room will be bare, and no excitement to look forward to.

I love the holidays, but I hate when they are over.

So now on to New Years. A new year with so much to look forward. Happy New Years everyone!!!

Santa Claus came to momstown Barrie's Christmas Party!

The holiday season is in full swing, and we made it official at momstown's Christmas party with a special visit from the Jolly Man in the Big Red Suit!


Our Annual Christmas Party was a big success once again. With lots new faces and lots of familiar ones, everyone came together for a great time.

The kids danced and played and laughed and had a great time. There were lots of sweet new babies dressed for the holidays and waiting on the arrival of Santa
Santa was a big hit with all the kids as usual! The
kids all got a special sweet treat and coupons to Boston Pizza in Barrie!

Now onto more Christmas festivities as the big day approaches! momstown Barrie has a big week of Christmas fun planned, sleigh rides at Belcroft Tree Farm, Christmas Cheer Night at Boston Pizza, Caroling at Victoria Village and a trip on the Santa Express!!! What a week its going to be!!!.

Bring on the Holidays!

December is only hours away, the holidays can officially start!!!

My favorite month of all the winter months is December! The Christmas decorations, lights and cheer that is everywhere is hard not to love! Sure all the hustle and bustle can get a little much as the month goes on, but it's all in good fun!

There are so many great activities to do with the kids during the month of December... everything becomes about Christmas. Christmas baking, Christmas crafts, you name, it's all about Christmas!

Now that December has hit I can begin my yearly traditions with the kiddies without any eyerolling from my hubby!

To mark the start of December and the official countdown to Christmas, tomorrow I will be making Christmas Tree pizzas with my kids!!! You can make them too... so super simple! And yummy and healthy too!!!


Here is what you need:
•
• 1 English muffin
• 1/3 cup Marinara sauce
• 2 slices of mozzarella cheese, sliced as broadly as possible and about 1/4-inch thick
• Chopped olives

Here is how to make it:
Preheat your oven's broiler.
Cut the English muffin in half, if necessary, and toast it in a toaster on a medium-low setting.
Place the two toasted English muffin halves on a baking sheet. Spread the marinara sauce on each muffin.
Cut your cheese slices with a tree-shaped cookie cutter or a cookie cutter of your choice. Place the cheese shape on top of the marinara sauce.
Sprinkle the chopped olives on top of the cheese tree, as if they are ornaments.
Place the baking sheet in the oven under the broiler. Broil for just a few minutes, watching carefully. You don't want the cheese to become so melted you don't recognize the tree shape.
Allow to cool slightly and serve.

It's Official! The Holiday Season is here!!

It may only be November 20th, but the Christmas festivities today around town made you feel like it was December 25th!

The welcoming of Santa to the mall and the annual Santa Claus parade reminds children (and parents too!) that Santa Claus has come to town!!! Lineups for miles to sit on Santa's knee could be seen everywhere you went today.

We, once again, missed the Barrie Santa Claus parade, but I know that many of the momstown mamas were there with their kids and hubbies enjoying the festivities and watching the excitement on the kids' faces as Santa approached.

With the parades, sightings of Santa and the excitement that builds about Christmas being just around the corner, comes the annual family event that we all cherish... the Putting Up of The Christmas Tree... and so the tradition continued in my house today.

The tree went up, but not without some drama, as per usual. We opted for a "fake" tree a few years back to avoid the mess of the real trees and to be able to enjoy the tree for longer. The problem with the fake trees is trying to remember where all the pieces go. We tried to eliminate that stress last year by getting a new one that is only 3 tiers and even prelit, no more untangling and stringing lights! However, this created a whole new difficulty, where do all the plugs go? Why is this side lit and not that side? Why are there plugs with no outlets?


So after much under-the-breath cursing, heavy sighs and whines from children who just want to put the decorations on, all the connections were made, the lights were lit and the tree was "pretty".

Let the decorating commence!!! Chubby baby hands grabbed at anything that could be reached from the ground level with squeals of delight, unsteady but determined hands of a 3 year old hung ornaments in clusters that frustrated her dad but made her proud and the stealthy eye of a tween who wants her 'special' ornaments in the front made sure the tree was full of colour. And all the while a proud mama snapped pictures of the joyous event for the scrapbook where this memory of childish pleasure and Christmas joy will be captured forever.

And so the season of joy has begun! Bring on the fun!!

Halloween with momstown was a blast!

October was such a busy month but it ended with a well deserved BANG!

Our annual Halloween Boo Bash was a huge success again this year, our biggest event ever!!

Loads of moms, dads and kiddies came out for an evening of boo-tastic fun! The kids all looked adorable in their costumes, especially the babies who were experiencing their first Halloween!! From Woody to Nemo, turtles and monkeys and angels, Dora, a witch, a princess... you name it they were there!!!

This year was extra exciting as we had a very special sponsor!! Fisher Price got into the Halloween spirit and sponsored the party and fun! They sent a load of toys for the kids to play with and a special gift bag for each child!!

The kids (and moms!) had a blast playing with all the new toys! In between crafts and play dough and eating great food, the kids were sure they all got their turn checking out the toys!!

To round off the party and bring the excitement to the next level, all the toys were raffled off!! Some very excited mommies, I mean kiddies, gathered as the draw took place and the winner claimed their prizes!


Thank you to Fisher Price and to all the momstown mamas for making this year extra special.