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!

All in a day's work!

Today we tackled the last of the wood pile. We picked up all of the logs laying around and Drew and Matt cut them up with the hand saws and then Drew got the chain saw going (after he had a go at the picnic table). Either way, the boys did a great job working together and now we have another wood pile to dry out until we can split it next year. I think we have done more work this holiday then we have in the last several with the kids combined!

Learn Something New Every Day

I've just joined another scrapbooking challenge for the month. It is Shimelle's class called Learn Something New Every Day. I don't know that I will actually make an album but I will of course attempt - and get some journalling done!

Today's prompt is to consider what I've learned within my home. I thought about talking about the cottage since we are here right now so here goes: I love our cottage and the simple life that we have there. Relatively little responsibility and carefree days. I have learned that it is important to get away for a little bit and the cottage is the perfect place to do it. Iand I love it especially since it doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. (The internet hook-u pis nice though).

Yesterday's prompt (since it was the first day) was to think of something that we learned over the course of the day. Since I spent the day with Marlee I will attribute my learning to the importance of spending a little 1:1 time with each of the kids as often as we can. It doesn't take much to make them happy and it makes a world of difference in their lives.

I think I am going to like this one! Making a conscious effort to look at the world around me and making note of all that can be learned - each and every day!

Today is the bestest day ever!!!

Ahh famous words. Had I only known how easy it was to easy it is to please my daughter. Actually I did know - I just don't take the opportunity very often to fulfil it.

We left for town at 1 pm on Tuesday. We stopped at the laundromat first and put in the 2 loads we had and then headed to the library beside it where we spent 40 minutes until the load finished. We then switched the loads and went through the mall to get to Zellers until the laundry dried. I think we stopped at every store on the way to "browse". She also got a few rides a long the way.

We finally made it to Zellers where we looked at bathing suits and toys for Marlee and found pajamas for Matthew on sale. Sadly I think the toy situation was a little overwhelming so we held off until the "next place". We did find a polly pocket DVD though.

We then went on to a store to get my mom the gifts she needed for work and then on to the other library where I got a dvd they had on hold for me. We'll have to go back to that location sometime as their children's section is much bigger and has a better selection. I found out that even though we only have a children's membership we can borrow movies up to PG-13. Yey! Next we found ourselves at Old Navy where I got a few more t-shirts, a sweater for me and a sweater for Drew. Next was Dollarama for a few dish cloths, a toy for Marlee - a simple polly pockets/ princess knock-off. I love this girl - it really doesn't take much to make her happy.

Our next stop was McDonad's - finally. It had been our plan to go for lunch but somehow that didn't happen - so here it is at 6pm and we make it for dinner. She chose to sit in a nice tall booth and we chatted. She politely declined to play with the 2 girls that were in the play area but went up and down the slides for 15 minutes.

I almost drove past the Sally Ann but remembered to drop off a few things for mom and then on the spur of the moment thought we'd check it out - on the off chance that there was a bike for the cottage. We were in luck! We got a LOVELY one for 6.99. It has one black wheel and one white one, a light pink fender and faded pick handlebars. The frame is white. I am so glad that our kids aren't picky!!! It will be perfect for the cottage for Matt to mess around on. And then of course Marlee can take it over. She has to get used to riding "Guppy" first though. We also got a naked barbie (why do people always give them away naked?) and a junior monopoly game.

We then hit Walmart - and tried on some more bathing suits - we did find one we liked. We also found a "lovely" strawberry shortcake mini doll that can go with her polly pockets sets. We also discussed barbies at length - and finally I convinced her that getting some clothes for the barbies she already has would be wiser then getting yet another barbie. We also found a few more DVD's for "the family". And we were off to our last stop - the Superstore. We gathered our groceries, a few more dvd's and made one final toy purchase - again a discussion over barbies and we ended up getting another Bratz doll to go with the one Aunt Marilyn got her.

By this time it was getting quite late and I still wanted to get the diving rings we'd forgotten at the cousins. Obviously they would be in bed but I tried to call and couldn't get through so I thought we'd stop by anyway. I thought Marlee fell asleep on the way so I chatted with Adena for a wee bit - we then came out when it was apparent she wasn't, so she showed off all her birthday gifts. What a girl. She tried on all the outfits for her barbie and commented on how "lovely " they all looked.

It was well after 11 when we pulled in and she was fast asleep. It really was a great day! She told her dad on the phone that it was the bestest day ever and later to me that she loves when she gets to spend the whole day with just her and me and not the rest of the family. She was energetic and funny and it was just a nice time to talk with her. One funny thing I noticed - when I hold her hand I often put my baby finger around her wrist and she ever so slightly removes it but holds on tightly. Such a sweet girl. We have to plan more of these times.

August 2009 Recap

Exercise - Aug 1, 7th, 8th, 9th; 10th; 11th; 12th; 24th; 26th; [9 times]

Books Read - The Prophet

Movies Seen
Blood Diamond;
Saving Sarah Cain;
Perfect Christmas;
Gulliver's Travels;
Memory Keeper's Daughter;
Angel's Falls;
Tristam Shandy;
Carolina Moon;
The Note;
27 Dresses;
One Week;
Duplicity;
Sunday School Musical;
17 Again;
Yes Man;
Taken;
License to Wed

Special Events
- Sarah home! (July 31 - August 2 for Beth's shower)
- Beth Wedding shower - August 1
- G cottage
- Matt to Aleks birthday party (3rd), Ethan (15th)
- Marlee birthday (26th - 5!)

Significant Purchases/ changes -
front yard landscaping - irrigation, steps fixed, tree circles;
Steps to lake at cottage;

Travel - Thunder Bay (Aug 22 - September 5)

Excursions - Putting Edge, RR, Splash Canyon, TBtB,

Wait - what's missing?

It was a very productive day! Matt got Drew up bright and early to try their hand at fishing. Nothing but a stick.

Later in the day we decided to tackle the wood pile. This is before.

Working together.

And bit by bit we got this!

And this is what we have left!

A LOT of the wood was quite wet so we are hoping it will dry out this way.

Yey team! Tomorrow we might, just might even tackle the logs with the chainsaw!

Oh and BTW - we were able to relax for a good majority of the late afternoon at the dock.

Caught up!

I just got all caught up on my 365 but check here in the next few days as I hope to do some back tracking on some "saved" posts and share some photos. Til later!