A Week Already?

I can't believe that we have already been here a week. It feels like we've been here forever and like we just arrived at the same time. It has been a busy week.

LK and I have been able to run together for the first time since Fi was born. It's very nice. He lets me set the pace, as I am the slower runner, and we have a chance to chat about things. It is such a luxury to have Oma & Opa willing to watch the little people while we run or run errands. The kids love not being dragged around with us whenever we do errands.

This past weekend was the big anniversary celebration. The various events went remarkably well with only a few small conflicts. I was impressed with how various family members worked together to make it just what Oma & Opa hoped for. We had the most amazing dinner at On The Front, a restaurant on the top of one of the office buildings right down on the river. We wandered around on the roof of the 14th floor while waiting for our meal and watched the boats come in from Lake Huron. Jo loved it. The food was in the top 5 meals of my lifetime; bacon-wrapped chicken stuffed with cheese and herbs, garlic mashed potatoes to-die-for, and perfectly crisp greens beans. The pinnacle of the meal was the chocolate silk cake for dessert; pure, dark, sin-on-a-plate. Hands-down the best chocolate dessert I have ever tasted!

Last night we had had enough sitting around, and needed to get some fresh air and exercise, so we took the little people down to the waterfront. The waterfront is one of LK's favourite places in Sarnia. It was lovely. Jo ran about a kilometer to explore every inch of the space from the Bluewater Bridge to the Yacht Club. He climbed every hill, walked down every path, and threw the very biggest rocks he could lift into the lake. Fi was somewhat more sedate in her explorations, using the little camera to mimic her father. She has begun to ask more often to take pictures and has a very cool perspective on the world in her shots. LK was delighted to have perfect lighting for flash-free shooting and had a great time taking pics of his favourite models.

After eleven months of not seeing family at all, three days of everyone together it a little intense and we are somewhat peopled-out today. We are enjoying a very low-key day of play in the back yard (hooray for no bears to watch out for) and puttering on various little projects. Fi is lost in a world of her own with Barbies and Kens and lots of clothes to change them into. Jo is literally rolling in the green grass in the back yard.

City Life Ramblings

I have never claimed to be a wilderness kind of chick. It was with great trepidation that I said yes to a job way, way out of town. Living in a semi-remote situation was not exactly on my life list. However, it was a really good year. Hard in many ways, with lots of painful growing experiences, but really good. I know that LK and I have come out this June with a stronger marriage, deeper love, and more dependent on God for strength.

As June unfolded my anticipation of the familiar people and places we are going to see this summer built. After a marathon drive (we pushed ourselves to drive 23 hours the first day to be here early and surprise Opa for Father's Day) I am finally unwinding enough to do a little reflecting on our first few days down south.

First of all, I love the Bruce Peninsula. What a gorgeous area of Ontario. We have added it to our list of places to explore. Manitoulin Island is also on the list.

Second, my kids were amazing on the drive. They were cheerful for almost the entire trip, and endlessly patient with LK and I pushing on as far as we could each drive.

Now to my main rambling point... My first reaction on arriving in Sarnia was that everything is so manicured. There is mowed grass everywhere. I was also surprised by how much I noticed the smell of car exhaust. The city really does stink. Apologies to my folks who used to mention that TO was a little smelly and I thought they were being overly sensitive. You are right, peeuw.

On the other hand, what a treat to be able to pop out to the grocery store if an ingredient is forgotten for dinner. I can put the kids to bed, then go out to VV and Winners to shop for an hour and still have time with family when I got home. I like the close amenities. The kids love being able to run on the lawn barefoot without worrying what they might be stepping on. I love being able to have them play outside without going out on bear-watch myself.

It is bliss to be able to sit out on Oma & Opa's back patio together, watch the kids play and chat in the evening. In some ways it feels like we were here yesterday for out last visit rather than a year ago. It is wonderful to watch LK with his parents. He has worried from afar all winter and felt so unable to help. Now he can wade in and do stuff that he knows helps carry the burden a little bit. I love that man!

"He's a good Daddy," says Fi, who is reading over my shoulder as I write. Truer words were never spoken.

I had a flash forward three weeks this morning which brought me out of my 'living in the moment' to sitting out on my own parents deck, visiting and watching the kids playing. It made me long for our time with them to be here as well.

I am very thankful to have family on both sides that we can be with and be ourselves with. I am thankful that they are willing to let us camp out in their homes for extended visits this summer. I am thankful that we have this time to travel to see our loved ones. If LK was working full time we would be home for the summer.

Today I am committing to living in the moment for the duration of this summer trip- enjoying the here and now of each visit without looking ahead and longing for the next to come. There is time enough to see and enjoy everyone.

I will likely be a bit erratic in posting for the next few weeks. Time with family trumps blogging.

So Close

Grad is finished, the gym is cleaned up, OSRs are updated. My desk is the last thing to be cleaned, which is my job tomorrow morning.

28 hours to go until we head south!

Summer Begins

The heat arrived this week, and with it the bugs. Blackflies, mosquitoes, flying ants, and a whole host of other biting creatures that I have never seen before. It makes outdoor activities risky if the wind dies down.

However, this week has also brought the end of school. Fi's last day was today. Tomorrow teachers are working in the morning, exams finish up for HS, and graduation/awards are in the afternoon. The whole year gets wrapped up with a fish fry for the school community.

LK and Jo were in Winnipeg for the day getting the car tire fixed from my jaunt off the road in the fall so we can travel safely. They had a good, although long, day. We grown-ups are pooped but excited as we start the packing. The little people are flying higher every day as we count down.

Only 3 more sleeps!

Where Did My Week Go?

Monday night we had a closing potluck for our Small Group which was lovely. LK again was shafted when none of the other guys made it. So it was him and the women, again. However, we learned that 45% of the students had been away from school and the flu was sweeping through Grassy (but not N1H1, in case anyone is panicking). School was closed for Tuesday and Wednesday. Since reports were due on Thursday, that opened up my schedule to finish them off in a totally relaxed manner. This has never happened to me before- writing report cards in a relaxed manner. It was wonderful. I still got to spend the evenings with my family instead of holed up at the computer, writing.

Thursday LK, Jo and Fi went into town to get the car ready for the trip. Unfortunately Jo barfed all over his side of the car just before they got to town. It shows what a trouper my spouse is that he just kept trucking with the windows open. So, while the car was in for its medical, the family toddled off to 'the Walmart' to get a clean outfit for Barf Boy. The trip was quickly edited to essential errands only, and the Barfmobile was driven home (with Fiona plugging her nose all the way) and aired out as soon as possible.

I raced home after school to check on my family, worried that they were all coming down with the flu just before summer holidays. Jo is fine- he may have been carsick. LK is suffering more from exhaustion due to his lack of sleep over the past two weeks. He is dealing with a mysteriously growing case of poison ivy that won't go away, and he can't get comfortable enough to sleep at night. Fiona was a ray of sunshine, completely enjoying having four days in a row off school. She is pretty much on her summer schedule already.

Suddenly it is Friday and I have started the big clean up in my classroom. Our orders for next year have already come in, and they are all put away. So how can I possibly feel behind the 8-ball? Well, I am in the early end-of-year clean-up; which is always overwhelming. I have to organize and pack clothes for all four of us that will fit in the car, prepare us for all kinds of weather, and get us through an anniversary weekend as well as camping. That, my friends, is a task for Super-Mom. She doesn't live here. I wonder where I can find her?

To keep everything in perspective, my kids are an absolute delight these days. Jo is experimenting with sounds and words constantly. He is trying to count, but can only go "1, 2, 1, 2". He has discovered Leo Lionni books and loves to read about fish. Fiona is resonating with excitement about our trip. She lists the people we are going to see that she loves and misses daily. They are such amazing creatures. I constantly wonder, how in the world did I get to parent these amazing creatures?

Horses

We had such a wonderful day yesterday! We took the little people to the RCMP Musical Ride in town. It was an experience that combined the best of small town life. LK and I had seen the Ride as children, but this was the first time for Fi (obviously for Jo as well). We were very excited to watch her watch the ride.

We arrived early to find good seats for our chairs and set up. Since the little man is not exactly a couch potato, he and LK went exploring while Fi and I staked out our spot. They ended up in the arena, where they horses were being stabled during their visit. LK and Jo got to meet the horses and riders before the show. Then Fi had a turn. She enjoyed that part of the experience much more that he did. She collected trading cards and was excited that two of the horses had beautiful princess names, Aurora and Tiara. The officers were friendly and answered lots of questions from curious parents and kids.

Two local bands played before the Ride, which brought back lots of memories for LK. Sunset Swing was the first with all local Lake of the Woods area residents as members. They were very enjoyable to listen to, and Jo bopped along. He seems to be fond of Big Band and swing.

The Ride itself was amazing. We had front row seats right up close, all of us needing a shower due to the dust afterwards. Fiona was amazed to discover that horses can poop while they run! See LK's shots for a taste of the Ride. If you have the chance to see it yourself, do. It is a fabulous part of being Canadian.

To top it all off, both kids were brave enough to pet a 16-hand horse. Fiona even stood right beside/under Walsh to pet him. My, what a year up north has done for her courage!

Mama turned green watching all that fit, high class horse run around. Hmmmm, they have an auction each year to sell those horses that don't make the ride....

A Successful Flight

At 10:15 I last night I woke up from my doze (that is past my bedtime) to hear SWISH, SWISH, SWISH as Fiona climbed the stairs. She came into our bedroom grinning from ear to ear. She had a wonderful time that was not even dimmed even by the garbage bag she was wearing due to her lack of attention to the messages from her bladder on the trip home. In all my worries about her throwing up or getting lost, I had forgotten to pack an extra change of clothes in case of an accident (there goes the good mommy award).

So she shouted to me about her trip (still deaf from seven hours on a school bus) as she stood in the shower to clean off. Although she was flying high as a kite and the grin never wavered, she was clearly exhausted. We bundled her into jammies and tucked her into bed.

As LK and I lay in bed, he turned to me and said, "Thanks for having kids with me." Now what in the world could a girl want more than that?

Post by LK - Happy Birthday to EK

Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these. ~ Susan B. Anthony


Off to make Chocolate Cherry Bundt Cake with Chocolate Glaze for EK...

First Flight

It is remarkably hard to let your little chicks try their wings for the first time. Even if they are surrounded by adults who love them. When you aren't there with them, you worry.

Fiona is on a field trip to Winnipeg with her class today. They left at 7:30 this morning and are due back by 11:00 tonight. They spent the day at the Winnipeg Zoo and had McD's together for dinner. They should be heading home right now with a bus full of exhausted, junk-food-filled kiddies. That will be a long ride!

When I dropped her off this morning, we got out of the car, took two steps toward the bus, turned to me with that, "I am completely freaked," look plastered across her face and started to cry. "I'm scared!" she said. Instead of replying, "Me too," which is what my heart was saying, I was a good mommy and gave her a big hug while offering to help her find a seat on the bus.

Moments later she was nestled between two of her BFFs (a new word in our house since we have such a grown-up girl) and grinning from ear-to-ear. As the bus pulled away they waved through the window with shining eyes, anticipating a grand adventure.

Now we sit waiting in a house the is strangely quiet without her singing to herself before falling asleep. We wait for the bus to pull up so we can climb on, gather our little lamb from her bus seat and tuck her into her own bed.

Tomorrow she can sleep in as her class has the day off school to recover. I look forward to the tales she will spin at the dinner table tomorrow night.