Day 8 Kidding Around...

LOAD211 Day 8
Originally uploaded by Alijoyc

The prompt today was to do a layout using buttons - something I often do. However I opted for an easy peasy one today - didn't have time to make buttons work.

Journaling: The kids are all pumped about participating in Summer BINGO/ Kidding Around this summer. They decorated their binders and made their scrap buddies and have listed their summer goals. As for me I am excited to be organized and to actually have a plan for 8 weeks. If all goes accordingly it promises to be a full, fun, adventurous summer! Bring it on! 2010

Summer comes to a close

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new school year. It seems odd but the weather has changed just in the last few days - maybe just to get us all in the mood for change. I don't know. I think it helps. It is always hard to go back when the weather is beautiful and warm. I know that we will get some more nice weather but it seems to make it easier to go back when the air is more crisp and cool.


The lunches are made, the outfits are out, the bags are ready at the door. The morning expectations have been discussed. We will see what tomorrow brings.


It will certainly mean changes. Marlee goes every day all day. She keeps saying she is not looking forward to it but we will see. I know that she will be separated from her best friend, who is in JK and will continue part time until next year. I wonder what it will mean for her. There were 4 grade one teachers last year, any of which will be good for Marlee - all quite different from each other but each with a strength that could work for Marlee. I've left it in God's hands as to who will be best for her. She is my homebody and if I were to consider home schooling it would be because of her. I'm praying she will find her niche and that she will soon enjoy school and learning and all that it can bring.


Matthew is excited to get back. he has missed his main friend for most of the summer. They were only able to get together for one play date over the summer and he even missed his birthday party because of family obligations. I do not know any of the grade three teachers so again, we are praying for a good match. I am also praying that he will be molded into the positive leader that I know he can be. He has been having some challenges at home lately with listening, with temper and with hands on. I am feeling the need to be firmer and more strict with him in order to curb this before it gets out of hand. I hope that he has a teacher that is clear with his/her expectations.


Cierra goes with the flow. She seems to be excited to go back but then she is always ready for the next thing to begin. She is already talking about camp next year (did she stop talking about it actually?). This will be her final year at highschool so talk of transition and what that means next year will be forefront. Her family is sure to be much more involved this year as well so that could mean more changes too. Time will tell.


So where did the summer go? Let's see. We checked quite a few things off our list. So I guess that is where. We visited quite a few new parks. We met with friends. We had a sleepover. We attended camp. We went up north. Cierra visited mom. Before you know it it went. Just like that.

These feet were made for walking...

Since it was the last day of summer holidays I decided to be adventurous and get out of the house not only once but twice today. Actually it was more because the kids had had a sleepover and were all starting to get on each other's nerves by 9:30. So when Mitchell was between naps we packed up quickly (I was very impressed!) and headed out the door to a "new to us park". We only stayed for an hour but it was well worth it.

Matt is getting so much more comfortable with the monkey bars - he even skipped four rings!

Marlee was content to hang out with Colter in the sand.

Note the pajama day AGAIN!

Mitchell fell asleep quickly at home and slept for 2 1/2 hours. It was awesome. I was able to play some hockey with the boys, tidy up, make lunch and then he was up again.

Later on when he wouldn't go down again, we decided to try a different park - even if it was only for a 1/2 hour. Again, well worth it. Mitchell was happy in the fresh air, the kids had more sand, more monkey barswe had the the place to ourselves and I got to play tag with the kids.

And I learned that my feet don't quite have what it takes to keep up with the kids at tag. At least not in flip flops and sand. Let's just say I was "frozen" a lot. But it was fun. And it was great to be spontaneous and just "do something".

Park play...in our pajamas

One of our summer goals (and also one of my 101 things in 1001 days list - ha lol!) is to try to visit a number of "new to us" parks. We decided to stop at this park on our way home from an impromptu swimming party at our friends house. We forgot that the kids were in their pajamas but then said "oh well!" The old style rocking horses were a hit

as well as the monkey bars

My kids have not been huge on the monkey bars but are slowly gaining their confidence.
I think they get that from me =)

Love that shy smile!

I get it - it's a joke!

We ran around doing some errands today - primarily with the goal to get Matt his goalie chest pad and Marlee and Cierra their scooters. After several stores we did finally get them.

On our way we passed one of the local cemetaries where Marlee noted that Grandma and Grandpa are there.
We said no, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma are buried in TBay.
Then Drew piped up "People are dying to get in there" LOL!
Marlee then said "What? I don't get it!"
Matt piped up "Oh I get it. It is a joke! The people are dead and are going there OR it's like they are dead and they really really want to go there."
Smart boy. What a dad.

That led to a conversation on death, cemetaries, cremation and heaven. All because Drew did a "hillarious" joke.

Right here, right now...

Our first day of holidays inevitably has brought about ANOTHER Pajama day. I spent a lot of the morning on the couch just snoozing and reading a book. Don’t get me wrong – there are still things on my to do list but I definitely didn’t feel like doing them today. Maybe this evening. The kids have had a full day of electronics and are about to head outside for a much-needed breath of fresh air. I think the evening holds a movie night. Way to get into the holidays! I do need to do some planning for Matt’s birthday party tomorrow though…

October LOAD

A new chapter begins. I finished learning and now I am going to try creating again. Or catching up. Or reliving the memories. Or go insane. I don't know. But I'm ready to try because for some reason, just having the actual challenge works for me. I get pages done. Few are rarely my own creation but rather lifted form others more original then I. But I don't care. They are still our memories and they are still fun to create. So here goes.

Here is my layout for today. It is a scraplift but I don't know from where. I will come back when I find it and I will be more diligent to write down the sources in the future. TFL!

What is it about boxes?

It doesn't take much to entertain kids (I think I already knew this but as many posts are showing, it is relearning - or rather remembering all that I have learned over the years).

We had a great day today - I am just so amazed at how well the kids are getting along. We quickly went to the grocery store where the kids of course picked up some boxes to play with. As soon as we got home they set about painting them. As they dried they moved on to other things. Later in the day as they watched tv, they sat in their boxes on the couches. It was quite the sight.

Lessons learned from our feet...

Hmmm. Where to go with this one. I did take a lovely picture of my feet today and thought about all that I put them through. I believe I have to say this:

I have learned that my feet NEED pampering. They need cream and a loofah EVERY day and a little polish never hurt either. Otherwise in a few very short days they will crack and hurt. I'm also learning that wearing shoes (yes, maybe lace-up shoes) regularly does actually help - just like the Flylady says.

On another note - the kids played so well today together. I love it when that happens!