mud monsters

this morning was more rain. Of course, we all know what rain brings - puddles! After the rain stopped, we decided to head outdoors. The rain jackets were nowhere to be found, so we went without. Apparently, the jackets were in the back of the van, which dad had taken to his meeting this morning. They really would have been useful. So would Norah's rain pants, which I forgot to put on her in our rush out the door.

The vacant lot next to us has a parking spot, and that spot has a nice assortment of puddles in it. Much safer than the huge puddles on the street in front of the house. Safer, but much muddier. What fun! What laundry...

if only I could get Norah to look at the camera

storm rolls in

today has been a strange day, weather-wise. It is currently 10:40 pm, and the storm that has been hanging around town for the last 2 hours has finally taken its position overhead. As I typed that last sentence, our power dipped off. The wind has really picked up and Isaac's bedroom door is blowing open and shut. I would go shut it, and his window, but I'm sitting here with Ruby on my lap. She is finally asleep. It's been a couple of days of low sleep from her. Not fun. I think it's the new motor skills keeping her up. *insert sarcastic yay here*

The storms here are really wonderful, if you don't mind the noise. There is something beautiful about seeing the clouds gather in the distance, and then the air pressure change. I'm going to sign off now, we're popping corn to eat while we watch the outside lightshow.

caught in the act!

When is a diaper box not a diaper box? When it is used as a train, or a climbing aid. This box had quite the workout today! Caught Ruby in the act of standing tonight. (I'm sure our readers will enjoy these photos much more than photos of where she also pulls up to stand - in the bathroom) Crazy baby was also using the footstool as a walker too, so that got moved out of reach. Hopefully out of sight, out of mind. We are *so* not ready for her to be walking anytime soon.

busy day!

Isaac's last day at VBS was today, along with a presentation for the parents and lunch. After mom spent the morning unloading junk from the Sunday School cupboards, a performance of some songs was lovely. Norah hung out in the preschool room playing, while mom, dad and Ruby enjoyed some singing.
Not the best quality photos, but they are still cute.















In the afternoon, a family trip to the grocery store while our pizza crust was rising. Then we all made pizza. Ok, Ruby didn't help, but she let the rest of us work at it! Norah has been asking for pizza for a week, so she was thrilled.

After supper, Rob decided to give Norah a fun hairdo in the bath. Her hair is just getting so long.














Then Isaac asked for his aquadoodle. He set it up in the hall and wanted dad to draw him a house. Rob said "I'll be right there". By the time he got into the hallway, Isaac had drawn some circles on the aquadoodle and was handing a broom to Norah. Apparently he wanted a house, like in curling! We really do live in Saskatchewn.

What a difference!

Last night was more work on the yard. The bricks that have been piled up along the fence *forever*, have been replaced, and properly too! Our front stairs have had the carpeting removed, exposing just how rotted the wood was underneath. The new garden was staked out. Isaac helped work the roller on what will be our new and improved patio space under the trees. Good stuff!

Today, Eileen was back to work on the front door. It was decided (finally!) that our storm door being brown wasn't really nice against the white house and black trim. Woo hoo! Our door and stair railings were repainted, and new cedar put down for the stairs. What a difference!

The first picture was from last spring...back before the cedars died and were removed, back before the lawn was dug up in the fall, and when the ash was still held together with duct tape (??)

dad's drinks

Poor Rob, he's having such a hard time with beverages lately. First was Sunday afternoon. He was sitting out on the deck and asked me to bring him some water. He never specified that he wanted it in a glass (shifty eyes)...he did eventually dry out, and really, the look on his face was priceless.

Then today. He was hosting a meeting for the two women who are leading Sunday school this year (his wife being one of them). I made our homemade version of iced cappuccinos. Guess who's glass broke before he even got a second sip? Seriously, the bottom of the glass just snapped off. Guess that's why we usually use plastic cups around here. Apparently, it was very, very cold in his lap.

freak. us. out.

After supper tonight, we were in the bathroom. Dad, mom, Norah and Ruby. Dad was running Norah's bath, mom was tidying random things, Ruby was crawling around on the floor. Just as mom and dad were talking, they turned around...and there Ruby was. Standing. Holding on to the side of the tub. Trying to climb in.

What??? when did she get big enough to start pulling up on things? Freaky.

the questions

Isaac is full of questions these days

"are we going east or west now?"
"which way is north?"
"how much does the strawberries cost?"
"what's for dessert?"
"why is the water at mindonald's so hot?" (yes, we took them to McDonald's, it was after the Snowbirds show, yes they ate lots of junk, it was good...but apparently they have hot tap water in the washroom)
"is it 5 o'clock yet?"
"what's Ruby doing? is she trying to eat my toes?"
"where's my father going?"
"can we eat outside?"

and our new favourite question...
"is grey dark white?"
quickly followed by
"mommy and daddy, why are you laughing?"

the lake calls...

and we give in. After a short morning of landscaping work in the yard, including a breakfast offering to the workers of fresh cinnamon buns and coffee, we decide to escape. The heat in the house is near oppressive by 10:30 and the temperature is rising. Quickly, the car is loaded, and we are off.

After a short 40 minute drive, we are rewarded with wonderfully blue skies, cool breezes and
clear waters. A quick lunch in the trees, and then on to swimming in a warm, spring fed, lake.













There is also fantastic sand to play in for 'she who will not touch her toes into the water without screaming like she is being tortured'.

After a few hours of play and fun, we pile back into the van. Sleepy heads, sunned faces, sandy toes...and happy, very happy.

pants were almost peed in

this blog post covers so much about life with small children.

SNOWBIRDS!

The Snowbirds were *here* today! For our town's 70th anniversary, and Northern Appreciation days (whatever that means). We dragged ourselves out to the airport - which actually does exist, it's just teeny tiny - along with pretty much the whole town to watch the show. Isaac was SO excited, he has heard them overhead in the last 2 days, and even saw some planes earlier today.

There were kids activities beforehand, bubbles, a parachute, fish pond and face painting. There was food, but we didn't get any...but we should have. Would have made the veeerrrryyy slow exit from the airport grounds much easier.

It was so neat to watch, if a touch scary. Kristin actually went to high school with Miles Selby, the snowbird pilot that was killed in practice last year. What a show it was! Isaac was thrilled by the planes "are they coming back again? are they coming back again?" We tried to get some shots as the planes went by, and had some success. The sky was amazingly blue, with perfectly fluffy white clouds. Just hot enough, with a breeze. We are glad the real heat isn't supposed to arrive until tomorrow.

cranky girl and long pigtails

Her hair is long enough to actually put in low pigtails now. So today, after her nap, I did just that. It would have been nicer if she wasn't quite so cranky about life after her nap though. Ignore the dirty kitchen in the background...it is clean now. I can't believe how grown up she looks like this though.






If you look closely, you can see the tears.

landscaping day 1

Stuck on the deck, so bubbles help pass the time













There goes the digger!
It beeps when it backs up, so it is SO exciting.
Although, we are not sure who is more excited. Isaac watching the digger...or D driving it!















Daddy waiting to see what the digger will do







Freshly deposit dirt needs some raking. 4 year old boys make for great landscapers.

excitement around the house

woo hoo! our yard is going to be worked on!! Finally, after almost a year has passed since our excavation and sump pump installation, we are getting our yard back. The pile of dirt in the back is going to be flattened, and the bricks that have remained in piles will be gone too. We cannot wait. We are going to put in a little plot for a garden too, and get the front ready for some landscaping. Darcy is coming by with the digger today to level some ground, so that should be good for some amusement. The fence will get put back, the holes are getting filled, the debris is going away. We are even going to have the trim around the windows repainted AND a new storm door! The project starts today, with a work party on Friday, and more work done while we are away next month. Finally, a storm door that is not a contrasting colour to the house trim. So much excitement, we can finally have a nice looking yard again. It has been a pretty pathetic spring and summer here, especially as our cedars out front have died a very slow and public death. Although, we have to admit, we did not rush to remove them because we knew that eventually they would be a visible reminder to the church about the state of our yard *blush*. It worked! In any case, it is a very, very good thing.

camp is over

We are home. Slightly smelly, rather dirty (well, 2 of us that is), sand in our shoes and sun on our skin and mosquito bitten. A massive mound of laundry waits downstairs for careful spot treatment. It was GREAT! Small Fry camp was wonderful.

Full days of sunshine and "play, play" (as Norah would yell first thing when she woke up). Great food, that mom didn't have to cook. Hot days that turned into cooler nights, with a couple of wonderfully huge thunderstorms too. One night, we even got to watch a massive and most spectacular storm roll into camp, and it went for hours...and the kids slept through it.

Norah discovered swimming in a lake, which she loved, climbing to the top of a 8 foot tall slide all by herself, sidewalk chalk, and the adoration of older girls.

Isaac enjoyed outhouse trips, campfires "when we sang 'Joy, joy, joy'" a milk dispenser in the dining hall, 'helping' paddle a canoe with mom, and how not to play badminton.

Ruby also loved the attention lavished upon her by many, many little girls. Except when she didn't enjoy it. She also did not care for swimming. She did enjoy peas and rice, swinging on the swing, and snuggling with mom when things got too busy around her.

The campers had fun, and really enjoyed Rob's chapel and campfire teaching sessions. They asked wonderful questions too. It was lots of fun for everyone. So much fun, we may have actually signed up to go back with the same directors next year.

what are we thinking?!?!


beautiful skies, beautiful children














Miss Ruby in her chariot, finally free of the adoring masses














Sidewalk chalk with 'S', one of the directors children.

camp starts tomorrow. will be back, hopefully with wonderful pictures, next weekend.

sweet, sweet rain

YAY!!! it is raining. No thunder, no lightning...just rain. Nice. Wind is blowing, air is cooling. Brains can think again.

Knock knock jokes are still big here. Even Norah is in on the action.
N ~ knock knock
Adult ~ who's there
N ~ egg
A ~ egg who
N ~ dissolves into a fit of giggles, then repeats again and again.

Finally a cooler day predicted

The last few days have been nearly unbearably hot. Temps hovering around the high 3o mark, and higher than usual humidity for this region. We alternate between hiding out in the basement, ourselves in front of fans, or shaded spots in the backyard with popsicles. There has been a faint smell of smoke in the air, and yesterday was really strong. Forest fires burn a few hours north of here, but not dangerously close. Afternoons threaten rain and thunderstorms, but only seem to bring lightening and trace amounts of rain...and more forest fires. The sky for the last 2 days has been a smoky haze, and it is not that pleasant outdoors. We had rain last night, and woke up to a cooler house, but only slightly cooler. Today is supposed to be cooler, that would be nice.

You can really see the smoky air in some of these shots. Not so nice for breathing.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

It is dads birthday today. The kids almost let him sleep in a bit. Almost, but not totally. At least they were quiet. The current temperature, including humidity, is 38 degrees. Therefore, we decided an ice cream cake was in order. For the record, grocery shopping with 3 kids is a snap when the store is air conditioned. Isaac and mom whipped up a vanilla ice cream, cool whip, crushed oreo *cake*, decorated with gummy worms, more crushed oreos and whipped cream. Isaac insisted on the worms, but was rather freaked out by the idea of the *dirt* from the oreos. He was not happy with that idea, until it was explained to him that crushing the cookies made the *dirt*. Crisis averted.
The cake...Isaac had a blast decorating it!

No presents for dad, as his ipod already received some accessories as a birthday gift. However, dinner tonight is a daddy request. Bbq steak, baked potatoes, corn and salad. And some well chilled beer. Lesson learned from last night though, do not leave the beer in the freezer too long, beer slurpees are not a good plan.

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