So much fun...

...such little time to write about it.

Summer has come. And with it has come a tidal wave of activity that seemed about ready to burst through the walls of our house only weeks ago. Thank goodness the weather faeries cooperated and agreed to let us enjoy our summer with the somewhat normalcy of anticipated good weather.

I had a great week off between terms, and am now two weeks into summer school, but this new schedule of working only mornings is allowing me to really enjoy the best of what the summer days have to offer. Our weekends have also been jam-packed. Yippee!

Let me take you on a small photo journey of some of the highlights of the last few weeks.

These pictures are from a weekend camping with our good friends the Humes. Kirstie and I decided to be really brave and take the four kids camping without our other halves. Although my greatest fear was losing a child in the woods, the greatest obstacle ended up being the accident on highway 99 that closed the highway for several hours. We left Vancouver at 12:30 and arrived at Alice Lake (just outside of Squamish) at 7pm. Yes. I also am surprised we made it. We discovered the trick to too many hours with small children in a car that is not moving very fast is to give the kid that is annoying you most to the other mom. We each spent the tormentous drive feeling sorry for the other and slightly smug that we didn't have to deal with child X. Brilliant.

It was a fantastic trip. We lost no children. We had great weather. We even slept a little. We were very pleased with ourselves for our gumption and are planning another spouse less weekend.

We have acquired a frog. My mother laughed somewhat hysterically when I told her this and then said, "You don't remember your frog Lily Higgins, do you?" I chose to ignore the underhanded allknowingness of her comments... but now three weeks, three pet-store for crickets, two water changes and no interest from the children has made me review her remarks. Apparently Lily Higgins was re appropriated to the pond next door.



Anyone want a fire-bellied toad? (At least for a few weeks?!)





Lucas now loves my camera. My new camera. The one I saved my pennies for and have been coveting for a long time. The one that weighs more than he can typically handle carrying around. That one, yes. But to his credit, he can take some fine photos with it. For example these lovely portraits of Rob and I. Who would have known that my camera was capable of taking pictures of me?

A breakfast joint in Pike Place Market, Seattle. By Lucas Herman.

Constructing in the Children's Museum in Seattle.

Immediately after the camping trip we took a family trip to Seattle. I was none too pleased with the border line-ups nor the traffic on the highway, having already spent far more time in our truck than I ever wanted to that week, but the trip was worth the wait. It was in luxurious contrast to camping and we had some really good times seeing the tourist sites and just hanging around.

Mia is building her own sand box (or mud puddle) in the back yard. I may have to break down and buy a sand box.

Mom has left for Ecuador for six weeks. It has left me feeling a little sad and lonely, for who else will listen to my endless babble day in and day out?, but I am happy that she will spend the summer with her cousins.

Biking the sea wall in Stanley Park.

Good Times

Beer and burgers on the patio at The Garibaldi Lift Company watching the mountain bikers. Lucas and Mia were both fascinated and inspired. (As were Rob and I, but it also made us feel old and out of shape!)

We spent a rather last-minute, but well deserved long weekend at Whistler this last weekend; serendipity allowing us the few gorgeous days of sun that June has seen so far. After our last get-away, which found us condo jailed without rain gear forcing us to abort our plans, this was a rare treat. We packed a whole lot of fun into few short days including celebrating Rob for father's day in grand style at the water park, a fishing adventure at Rainbow Park, scandalous dining at The Old Spaghetti Factory, and many, many trips down the Intrawest water slide. I think we all came home with chlorine bleached hair and wrinkled skin.

These picture are so amazing to me. My mom has countless photos on this same dock (Lakeside Park) on Alta lake right by our old cabin, but in it are George and I - not much older than Lucas and Mia are here.

Rainbow Park fishies being terrorized by children with nets. All in good fun and back to the lake they went.

The catch.

Happiness is coming home from Whistler to discover your strawberry plant has been busy making gloriously red, shiny, sweet fruit.

Cold Activities

Ok, so I know it's not THAT cold, but it certainly is annoying that our summer refuses to actually commit. Our activities this week were not as sun-loving as I was craving, but that was partially due to a some little colds that Lucas, Mia and I have acquired.

On Tuesday we got to see our primo Pucci, which is always great. Mia took full advantage of snuggles and Lucas of cookies by George.

On Thursday I treated myself to a pedicure which I promptly tucked into socks and shoes for work because I was freezing. By Friday we all felt pretty under the weather so we stayed in our pj's most of the day. (Ok, Lucas stayed in them all day) Here is a photo of our castle that we made. It was the first time I had seen Mia actually have a longer than ten minute interest in the crafts, but she still went to bed that night with glitter glued into her hair.

Saturday was all about work and chores, but today we packed a picnic and went to Maplewood Farm. It was a great choice for an overcast day. We all had a blast that included lots of goat hugs, chicken chasing and a pretty darn cute pony ride.

Tinga, Tinga, quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

A Great Day...

...and pictures to prove it! (At least the end of it!)

We had a wonderful weekend enjoying some sunshine. Saturday afternoon was spent at our local South Hill festival; eating cotton-candy, bouncing in an inflatable pirate ship, panning for gold, exploring a fire truck and deciding not to wait in the pony-ride line-up. The four of us had a lovely bbq of wee lambykin chops, grilled asparagus and new potatoes accompanied by a lovely bottle of Malbec. Cheap and cheerful... and enough for Rob and I to both fall asleep blissfully with the kids at eight!

We spent today at Spanish Banks dog beach picnicking and and playing in the low tide. Everyone came home sandy, sticky and happy - but none more than I because we made a quick detour for me to pick up a little treat - a new camera! Yay!!! After much thought, I decided that I would foray back into the SLR world, and picked up an entry level digital Nikon that will hopefully do a heck of a lot better than the last few compact cameras we've had.

Here are a couple of my first few photos. Remember; dirty kids = happy kids!

Oh my...

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since March 28th.

It's super easy to go a few weeks without writing, seeing as the kids keep me so busy - but this is ridiculous! My excuses (as I feel excuses are needed!) are twofold:

1. My camera has broken, and somehow it doesn't seem as much fun to post without photos
2. I have been teaching night classes, leaving me very little time on the computer to do much more than quickly scan my emails and maybe pound out a quick reply

So now, with a month and a half to catch up on, I haven't the slightest clue as to what to say. I'm sure a lot has passed - here's what I recollect; in a shortened form:

Lots of work:
I began two new contracts: Communications 12 Mon - Thurs nights and Grammar and Writing 3 Saturdays. This has been great - I've had a lot more time with the kids, but it has taken a toll on my body as I'm on the go from 7 am until 11 at night. I've also signed a contract to teach English 11 for a six week summer school class. To my great surprise, I had my years teaching at Bodwell counted a by VSB and my pay scale adjusted accordingly. I was very pleased - to say the least.

Fitness:
I'm taking a fitness bootcamp. I'm sore.

Birthdays:
I turned old and Rob turned slightly older. Both these events were uneventful. It's all about the kids now. Today we celebrated my nephew's birthday in grand scale. I made a checkers-themed cake that I was rather proud of - alas no photos though.

Mother's day:
Lucas made me strawberry jam and some gorgeous art at school and I got a massage at the spa in the Whistler Fairmont. All good.

Time off:
We had booked a week in Whistler before I signed these latest contracts. We couldn't use it all so we ended up with a pretty crazy trip that saw Rob drive the highway four times in three days, Mom take the Greyhound, Rob's parents use the room for two nights, and a whole lot of drizzle. Ah well. Mom and I also had a wild day away shopping a few weeks ago. We hit the Seattle Premium Outlet mall for a few hours that turned into many hours and came home with a car stuffed with stuff. Good fun.

Garden:
What can I say. With the weird weather we've had, my garden has had a hard time catching up. I had several fatalities with the surprise snow, and one Gerber sat upon by a miscalculated bottom. My clematis, rhododendrons and jasmine are finally blooming this week and all is resplendent.

Kids:
Gosh I love those little monsters. Mia is saying new words every day. So is Lucas - who has now decided that he would like to be a doctor when he grows up. Or something to do with bugs. Probably the latter, but he says he doesn't need any schooling with the latter because he has so much experience. I might have to agree actually. School, gymnastics, swimming, biking, digging - all is well.

I will not let this happen again... for a while... and I will post some photos as soon as I get a new camera and find something to take pictures of.

Spring Break Fun

We had a very busy and fun spring and Easter holiday. It was great to be able to get out with the kids without having to worry about being called in to work. We hit all our favorite haunts and even enjoyed that one super sunny day at the beach. The Easter weekend saw the four of us sneak down to Lynden to stay at a little farm cottage http://www.pleasantdreamsfarm.com/ Although slightly more rustic than I had anticipated, the kids loved getting up close and personal with the animals. Rob and I packed in as much activity as Mia and Lucas could handle and we all came back pooped but happy for it. This week has seen us getting back at work and school as well the beginning of a few projects around the house.

Jericho beach totem poles.

A gorgeous day.

Pirate booty and washed up treasure.

Painting eggs with Aba.


How to make a two-hour border wait a little more entertaining. (And sticky.)

Up to no good.

Close encounters of the poultry kind.

Mia falls in love.Pygmy goat butt. Mmmmm.....

My favorite Chola pic

A Sad Farewell

Today we said good bye to our dear friend and companion Chola. After fifteen years with us, it was time to let her go after a quick turn for the worse.

Fifteen years ago this weekend, March 1st, 1993, my dad died from pancreatic cancer. It seemed almost fitting that Chola, who came into my life as a way to heal from the sorrow I was suffering, left us at this fifteen year mark. I imagine that she is up in heaven somewhere barking her crazy bark as she romps with my dad and some of her doggy-friends who have already passed. She was a great gift to me, seeing me through many years of healing. She was a friend who never left my side, always had a cuddle for me, and could make me laugh on a dime. She always knew when I needed a nuzzle and quickly turned it into a love-in - usually with her bum pushed up against us for that extra scratch. Chola loved to bark...and bark...and bark! It was always hard to get a word in when anyone arrived until Chola was attended to. When Rob and I got married, Justine led Chola down the aisle for us. I'm sure that she thought the party was all about her the way she held herself with pride!

I have so many favorite memories of Chola, starting with meeting her in Vernon where my Uncle Bill lovingly picked her out for me. She was such a little runt that I had to carry her (she was only three months old) when we took her for a walk in the park. Val drove my car all the way home while I just cuddled Chola in my lap. The night I turned nineteen we had a big party at Mom's house, and who can forget Chola running around the yard wearing that pink baseball hat (which she later ate!) and wearing diapers. Thanks Val! I remember waking up the next morning, with quite a hangover in tow, and wondering what the hell had happened to my room and where that goddamn noise was coming from. That's when I stepped in the pee. But I couldn't have been happier really!

Chola never walked on a leash. When she was itty bitty she was always instinctively at my heels and just kind of stayed with that. I did take her to obedience lessons where I had to lie repeatedly about her pedigree so as to be allowed to take the class. She barely squeaked by with a pass on graduation day... because of her barking! But the real time I took it for Chola was my only brush with the law. I received a ticket at Kits beach for walking her off-leash and upon the advice of several well-meaning dog-activists, I decided to fight the ticket in court. What a mistake! I looked like a blithering idiot as I mumbled and stumbled my way through my court appearance - my only supporter an old man with a fistful of parking tickets he didn't think he should pay. Needless to say, I didn't win my case, but did manage to get the ticket fine reduced due to my student status!

Chola was such a great companion on so many adventures. From reckless rollerblading through the streets of Kits to numerous hiking trips, she made for the best exercise buddy a gal could have. Some of my best memories with her involve snowshoeing on Cypress, her amazing healing abilities while I zoomed around town on my bike, lazing about Meagre creek while she explored, hiking the Juan de Fuca with Ewart and Deanna, swimming at Lost Lake and Buntzen Lake doggy beaches (where she would swim after me in circles then try and climb me if she could) countless visits to doggy play group at Connaught park and walks through the UBC forest, camping trips that always left me on the ground and her on the thermarest, sharing raw oysters and pepperoni in Tofino, kayaking with her in my lap in Vernon.

Chola lived and loved life to its fullest. She will be sadly missed and gladly remembered.