Who needs a drum anyway?

Tonight we babysat Kiedis while his mommy and daddy enjoyed a nice lobster dinner at the keg to celebrate selling off their rental property ! Yeah Derek and Lisa - next time we are getting a sitter for all the kids and dinner is on you guys!! Anyway, although Megan thought she deserved all the toys and screamed at Kiedis til she made him cry if he tried to take anything from her, I finally found something they both could have - Drum Sticks. Happily they sat with their own stick and played. Although we didn't have any actual drums they managed to find a use for them anyway. Who needs a drum when you can just chew on the darn things!

You just gotta love those eyes!

The Little Jumpathon that Could

Here is the story of the Little Jumpathon that could. It all started out as a simple idea. Sarah and I were having contests jumping on the trampoline. For some reason I got this idea that we should have a little Jumpathon with all the kids in the neighbourhood. I thought this might be a good way to teach the kids to give to others since we are fortunate to have so much. I mentioned my idea to Sarah and she loved it. I said we could get all the kids from around here to raise a couple dollars each and we could donate it to someplace that needed $. Then as I said that I remembered that Trevor and I were invited to a housewarming in a few weeks were they would be collecting money for friends of ours Brad and Tracy. Brad was Trevor's boss when he worked at Brown Advertising Group. He was diagnosed in March with cancer and was to be having a second surgery in Edmonton any day. Finalizing our plans I sent out a quick email to the parents of our neighbourhood gang throwing out my idea. After some positive responses I decided to invite a few more people. One of those people was a lady that lives in the neighbourhood and also worked with Trevor and Brad at Brown. No sooner had I emailed Dallas she replied with enthusiasm for the idea and said she was going to forward the email on to a few other "browners' as employees were affectionately called there. Well all of a sudden I had emails from people wanting to donate, wanting to come, wanting to help in any way. Brown employees even got the powers that be to agree to match what they raised. At this point I realized I better get started on some baking as I had promised cookies to all jumpers and I wasn't sure how many people were going to attend.

July 5th, finally arrived and it was a beautiful night. The weather couldn't have been better! The cookies were baked, the juice was chillin', the trampoline was cleaned off and at 7 o'clock the jumping began. The event was attended by 30 people who were all very generous in their donation and their time. Sometime around 8 it turned into a wet and wild Jumpathon as the hose was added to the trampoline and more fun followed. In the end with a huge portion of the donations coming from Brown employees and Brown itself, we raised .... $1625.00 !!! Wow. That was awesome.

On a sad note, after the Jumpathon Brad's cancer was determined to be terminal. We are deeply saddened by this news but continue to pray for him, Tracy, Josh, Jake and Jeremy as they face the end to this horrible journey. Our hope is that the money raised at the Jumpathon and the housewarming will at least alleviate some of the financial stress that was adding to an already unbearable time. Thank you to all who donated and participated. Your generosity did not go unnoticed and was truly appreciated by Trevor and I as well as Brad and Tracy.

To blog or to sleep, that is the question

I have much more to add to get caught up to when I am actually posting these stories but at some point I have got to sleep. I will continue to add more in the next few days before we leave for holidays so that I won't be too far behind when I get back! Still to come is a trip to Ipsco, a weekend at the lake, Monkey Maggie's first Birthday, camping with friends and some cute pics of Megan and her beau Keidis.

Hope you are enjoying it - leave comments when you can - I love to read what people think of us and our crazy life!!

Take Care

Susan

Potty Training Update

Tonight Ethan and I were giving Megan a bath and I asked him to go and get her a diaper. He brought it back and said " When I was a baby I used to wear diapers with bears on it". I asked him what he wears now. He said " A life jacket".


And that sums up how well potty training is going for us! (it's not)

Grandma Judy would be proud

At this moment Sarah is having a shower and this is what I hear being sung:



" I'm cleaning the shower, I'm cleaning the shower, I'm cleeanning the shooowwwerrr"

"I'm cleaning the seashell (soap holder), I'm cleaning the seashell because cleeeaniinng is GOOODDD!"



I quietly peeked in and sure enough she was dancing and scrubbing down the bathtub wall with a loofah sponge!

Grandma Judy would be proud!

A Mouse Encounter Unlike No Other

Tonight as Sarah, Ethan and I were hanging out with Lisa and the girls, Lisa happened upon three baby mice running along side her house. You would have thought they were giant mice by the scream she let out when she saw them. You would have thought that they were man eating by the way I followed suit, screamed and jumped onto the patio lounger. Sadly I hadn't even seen them - she had just yelled out MICE! Sorry Val & Dale - can't get much more city girl than that can ya?


In a panic Lisa frantically began calling her dad, her father-in-law and eventually the neighbour telling them there was a @#$* load of mice in her yard. I'm not sure if 3 actually qualifies as a @#$*load but whose to argue with a desperate woman. Richard and Trevor were in Winnipeg enjoying the White Stripes so they were no help. On the advice of the neighbour she grabbed the nearest object (a rake in this case) in hopes that she might shoo them into the field. She quickly changed her plan to a more PERMANENT one as she decided she didn't want them back. With adrenalin taking over and a yell of "die mouse die" she was able to "send the1st mouse to a better place! ". I advised that we had a mouse at the lake once that jumped out of the Triscuit box when my mom and I opened it. After setting a trap and walking around on the furniture for awhile, my mom paid me $20.00 to dispose of the body. Not wanting to touch the mouse I threw it away trap and all. I told Lisa that I would do the same for her but her mouse rage allowed her to face her fears and do it herself.


At this point Sarah and Bryn wanted to see the other mice so they ran up to take a peek. I gotta admit that even though I don't like mice these guys were kinda cute. With two mice to go the neighbour arrived and pointed out that Lisa's odds would be increased significantly if she smacked the mouse on the head with a shovel as opposed to trying to get it with a rake. Hmm - good point - not one she had thought of in her state of panic.


For all those mouse lovers out there, in the end one mouse got away. They set a trap and I never heard if he got caught. Perhaps he is out in the field right now looking for his siblings and wondering why they never came back from their evening stroll. Poor mice. Poor Lisa!

Canada Day Fun

This year for Canada day we celebrated with my cousin Lisa, her husband Richard and about 30 of their close friends! The day was fantastic. The weather was perfect, the kids played great all day, the food - ribs and crab- was delicious and the fireworks were awesome. Except for the Dollarama glow necklaces that didn't work and the major meltdown our kids had at 11 when it was time to go home (and who could blame them -they were soooo exhausted) we had a fabulous time! Too bad July 1st only comes around once a year!

Sarah had a great time playing in the pool but the most fun was had following Halynne around and playing games with her.

Megan was getting some teeth today so celebrating was the last thing on her mind. Even though we tried to get her into the spirit with a Made In Canada tattoo and a Canada t-shirt, the teething got the best of her and she was pretty sad all day. She did perk up for a moment, long enough to climb onto the activity table, which I promptly took her off of and ruined the one ounce of fun she was going to have that day!

Ethan really wanted me to take our picture but after three tries where one or the other of us looks funny we finally got Trevor to take one of us that turned out great. It will definitely be one for my desk this fall.

Visiting the Relatives

After my strenuous "run/walk" this morning, we hoped into the van and drove to Minot to "visit the relatives". The kids had an absolutely fantastic time and we enjoyed the trip as well. Here are a few of the "family photos"

Look Dad- That guy looks just like you!

"Hmm- we climb like them, make noise like them, eat like them, jump around like them - I think it is safe to say we must be monkeys!"

Our three little monkey's taking a break from the heat in the stroller

The hit of the day - a water fountain inside a Lion's head!

The head of our clan - Papa and Grandma with little Miss Meg

Always willing to pose, Sarah stopped looking at the otters long enough for me to snap this pic

Oh- how fun - we get to stick our head through this hole and be penguins

and tortoises ( coolest one I've ever seen)

and buffalo (hmm- how many of these things are there)

and lions (okay mom I've had enough fun- are we done yet?)

After our visit to the zoo Grandma and Papa graciously took the kids back to the farm and Trevor and I stayed overnight in Minot to celebrate our ten year anniversary. Who would have thought ten years ago that a night in Minot would be such a luxury- but it was.

A Beautiful Country Morning Ruined

Last night Trevor, the kids and I drove down to the farm so that we could get up early this morning and head to Minot with G & P. Before we left I went for a nice walk down the gravel road towards the turnoff on the road that takes you to the farm. It was a hot and humid morning already but it was so nice to be able to look up and see the town on the hill and look out and see the pastures. What a perfect morning I thought and then it got ruined.

Why you ask - because my task that morning was not to take in the scenery or stroll through the fields. I was out for a RUN! Yes I ruined what was a beautiful country morning by making myself go for a run.

It started out nice and I thought hey this isn't too bad. Maybe I am getting better at this. I seem to be going at a nice pace and don't seem to be tired out. . . . Hmm it sure is hot out here though. I should have worn shorts. . . . okay the wind is blowing all my hair forward and it is getting caught in my glasses. I can't see. Good thing I will be running against the wind when I get back . . . . hmm no one would know if I just walked instead of ran would they. . . . oh ya Val knows how long it takes to get here and back ... she would know if I take too long . . . . Man I am tired . . . . this running sucks . . . . who actually enjoys this . . . . Yeah -- there is the cattle crossing at the end of the road --I wonder if they have any kind of special bat phone at this entrance so I could call for help ---no no no - you are almost half way done and the cattle crossing is a good reminder that you are doing this so that you don't end up a cow. . . . hmm running against the wind in this humidity is a bit of a challenge . . . . I wonder if they would find me if I just lay down in this ditch . . . . maybe that isn't a good idea there are some cows over there. . . . what are you cows looking at . . haven't you seen someone run before. . . . okay so technically crawling on the gravel is not running but really what the hell are you looking at . . . . Did I just yell at some cows? . . . . Oh I am almost done - just around this bend -- What ? another little bit of road before the turn into the yard? ... who added this new section since I left 20 minutes ago- I could have sworn I was almost home. . . . okay pull yourself together, smile, look happy, stand tall, run confidently into the yard, announce "that was a great run - can't wait to do it again tomorrow!"

So Much To Say

Megan's new favorite toy is a play phone although she would prefer the real one. As little as she is she seems to have an active social life. She is on it for hours and always seems to have a lot to say. Can't imagine what it will be like when she is a teen!

"You think you have a busy life - let me tell you about mine. Today I have been up and down those stairs at least 20 times. I even fell down them once but don't worry I was okay. I've been taking all the toys out in the playroom and making a real big mess. My brother tried to take a toy from me but I told him - screamed at the top of my lungs and grabbed it back I did. No kidding- I yanked it right back from him! I'm also trying out a new trick where I don't sleep much in the day - I think it is really driving my mom crazy! Oh think I see a snack for me - hope it is nothing that comes on a spoon- I'm on strike from all utensils! Gotta run. Talk to you later."

2 Gummy Bears and a Worm for Breakfast

Well today I realized the grave mistake I have made in rewarding Ethan with gummy bears and gummy worms when he pees in the potty. My problem ? The only time I have been able to actually get him to pee on the potty is first thing in the morning. Yep sleep still crusted in the corner of his eyes, sheet creases on his face, morning breath and all - it's the perfect time to get him to go as it usually ends in success. On to the problem. Today he tried but couldn't go, got off and decided to try 2 more times and finally - he peed! Of course as any parent of a 2-?year old knows they might forget to pick up their toys but they don't forget a treat they have been promised. So there we were at 8:00am- having 2 gummy bears and a worm for breakfast.

The Waiting Game

** I'm posting this one a bit late but it has been such a ritual at our house for the last year that I want to include it.


Every morning at 8:30 Sarah is on the look out for the first sign of the neighbourhood kids going to school. As soon as she sees the first one heading towards Presley's house (where all 5 of them catch the bus), she is off her chair and out the door. Usually she just sits on the step, sometimes she runs to the sidewalk if she has a burning conversation that can't wait until they get home from school.

At the end of the day, we begin the ritual all over again- this time waiting for the bus to drop all the kids off. Here are a few pictures of "the waiting game".

This particular morning was cold out and I couldn't find her in the house but was sure she wouldn't have gone out but alas - rain, shine, sleet, snow - she's as committed as a postman.

Perfect time for a pretend picnic while you wait!

Future Donald Trump?

The other day I picked up a few games for Sarah at a garage sale. One of them was Monopoly Junior. Much like the adult version, the kid version has properties to buy (price range $1.00-$5.00). Each property is a fun activity(balloon stand, Ferris wheel, water slide) and if they buy it they get to place a ticket booth on it. Whoever lands there must buy a ticket and pay the owner of the ticket booth.

Sarah and I have played it twice now and both times I have lost. Last night she took all my money and left me broke! Not only did she have 9 ticket booths to my 3 but she kept getting chance cards for free stuff. Sadly I have to admit that I wasn't even trying to let her win or lose so the game could be done. As you can see she absolutely LOVES the game and was even convinced last night to buy the haunted house because I told her she could make money off it!! Donald Trump look out - Sarah Black is on her way and she has much better hair than you!

Notice all Sarah's yellow booths - might need a magnify glass to find my blue ones

It makes sense to me

Question : Ethan , why are you wearing your sister's pink rubber boots?

Answer: My feet were cold. (Of course - I should have known)

I Wanna Play Too !

After our fun but hot trip to the library it was high time to bring out the sprinkler and cool off. Sarah, Ethan and their friend Mattea all tentatively ran through and got sprinkled (there weren't in there long enough to get soaked!) Megan however decided that this all looked like to much fun so instead of sitting on the blanket I had strategically placed out of water range she hopped up and headed in. As you can see from the pictures she DID get SOAKED and LOVED IT !

While she continued to keep going back to the water the other kids decided that a Popsicle was a better and tastier way to cool down. Once again not to be left out Megan eventually joined them for a cool treat too! I think it felt great on her teething sore gums!!