Visiting...

While it is sometimes hard to get out the door, visiting with friends is always worth it.

We lead busy lives. Anyone who knows us knows that. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it but other times whoa! When does the train stop? We often have to make dates well in advance but lately it seems that we have been able to be a bit more spontaneous with doing things with only a few days notice. We were invited out for the afternoon and yes I was lookin gforward to it. Today comes along, the weather was bleak, the kids were still away and as often happens, I found myself dragging my heels. There is always stuff to do here. It's not always my comfort zone. I'm feeling lazy. But we went. We picked up the kids and we had a great time. Good company, good conversation, good times. And we always do.

So why the resistance sometimes? That I'd like to know.

Boating

Clark and his girlfriend Alissa entertained our family for the afternoon. He took us all out on his boat for the afternoon around the bay and then they prepared dinner for us afterwards.

Yes - he and his girlfriend are quite brave to suffer with all of us in such close quarters. We actually had a lovely time other then the constant barrage of questions wondering when we were going to stop so they (the kids) could swim. We adults preferred to take our time and look at all of the amazing cottages and homes along the waterfront that we will never be able to afford. They were entertained by their bottomless stomachs - thank goodness we had quite a few snacks on board.

We did stop close to our end of town and Drew, Marlee and Matthew went in for a rather quick dip (it was 16 degrees - Yikes!) I ahhh had to look after Mitchell!

Speaking of Mitchell - he did well with his first boat ride and first time wearing a life preserver.

Much better then his brother did (August 2003 - 8 months old)

Thanks Clark for a great time!

Memory Monday - Tornado

I heard on the radio this morning that it has been 25 years since the tornado came through this way. Wow! 25 years! At the time I was babysitting Andrew and Jennie just down from our school. I remember it getting all dark and the power going off but not really knowing what was gong on or even being concerned. I don't remember what I did but I guess I kept the kids entertained. Most of the damage happened on the other side of the lake - not where we were. We mostly had regular storm damage. My mom was just coming home from Innisfil - apparently just a few minutes ahead of the storm - again not knowing what it actually was. Poor Sean was sitting on the porch crying waiting for someone to come home. A lot of devastation took place - it apparently cleared the future area of our work place. It moved the time frame up almost a year because a lot of the work had already been done. Crazy.

A memory I keep getting mixed up with this one? Back earlier that year, part of the big maple on out front lawn came down on the balcony. Fast forward to August and we ended up "entertaining" some people who came by to help out with the wreckage from the tornado. One helped cut up the tree while another helped my mom plaster the hallway with the scaffolding. I remember her telling us that she had prayed that no one would come by this weekend - she had so much work to do. God had a plan that helped her get it all done anyway and meet some nice people. For some reason I keep thinking it all happened the weekend of the tornado. Why? I don't know. I've never been known for my memory-keeping skills. Hopefully this will help me keep it clearer.

On a completely unrelated note other then memory Monday - prayers and thoughts go out to Kim, Kerry and all their family who are missing Jon, gone now for a year. Blessings guys.

We could get used to this...

...eating like kings every day that is. Our small group (initiated by KG) arranged a week of dinners for us soon after the baby was born. I then found out this week that my sister also arranged for a few days of meals as well. I will be highly recommending that we continue this idea with any other babies born at the church or amongst my friends. Also amazing is that each meal was actually enough for at least one more if not two. Right into the freezer for the next week! What a blessing it has been!

Last Sunday everyone (I was still in the hospital) had a meatloaf from S&C.
Monday (home day for me) was turkey pot pie with strawberries from A&A.
Tuesday was a yummy chicken and broccoli casserole with a fruit tray and dip from K&S.
Wednesday was a pork roast with roasted potatoes and asparagus from C&A.
Thursday was lasagna and salad from G&C.
Friday (Good Friday) was quiche and KFC with trimmings with the H for lunch - which carried on into dinner.
Saturday was some of the leftovers (there are LOTS - mostly put into the freezer as we knew we were getting more food daily).
Sunday was spent at family's places and we also got leftover lamb and ham for future meals.
Monday started the meals from my sister (organized from South Carolina none-the-less) - we had another amazing Pork roast with potatoes and veggies.
Tuesday brought an Asian theme with noodles, broccoli and beef as well as Caesar salad and bread.

I wonder what tonight will bring?

Gut-busting laughter

Katie the scrapbook lady today had a Memory Monday - laughing so hard your face hurts - and it made me think of some of those laughing times in my life. The memory that comes to mind goes back to grade nine with Kristy. We were in geography class and one of the other students in front of us used to stand with his bottom sticking out a bit. There were some mornings while we sang the national anthem or were quiet for the Lord's Prayer that we were just struck by it. Nice? Probably not - although I don't think anyone actually knew why we were laughing. I can recall it happening on several occasions though - that gut busting, I can't stop laughing time. Man that seems like such a long time ago!

Thanks for the memories Kristy and I'm so glad we're still friends!

Tremblant getaway

Our trip to Tremblant was great! When I can join the kids skiing again I think I will be in for a big surprise. They will have long outdone me. They did mostly blue squares and some black diamonds - areas I'm sure I would not have had the courage to try. Marlee had a few wipe outs but thankfully kept persevering. She did opt out of Sunday's ski as her ankle hurt so we had a nice quiet time at the condo together.

There was plenty to do - from the skiing to hot tubbing to just hanging out at the condo. If we'd had time we could have done dog sledding, free snow tubing, ice skating or just wandering around the village. Most of the time the kids just wanted to go hut tubbing when they weren't out skiing - that or play Trouble. They all got along amazingly well - especially for it being the first time away together. The condo had lots of room and was certainly fine for me to just hang out. They didn't seem to be away skiing for too long periods anyway so I never had time to get lonely (not that I do anyway) - I had books and scrapbooking - which I never got around to - and Drew got the wireless Internet running by Saturday.

Anyway - all in all a fun trip and surprisingly I'm not feeling any ill effects from the long car ride yet. Hopefully it will stay that way. Most people when they found out I was going at 9 months just said that they could tell it was our third. I guess they are right!

Weekend getaway

We spent a lovely weekend away with our friends Mid D and Little D and their kids at their cottage. It is on a remote little island in the middle of Georgian Bay without electricity. We arrived mid evening Saturday and stayed until noon Monday so that the kids could get back for a birthday party.

Surprisingly, the no-electricity thing was kind of refreshing. (The company was pretty good too).

Drew made us breakfast each day on the propane stove.

The kids wore their life jackets most of the weekend (The island is mainly rock, slippery and steep in some places) - and spend most of the time exploring, picking berries,

climbing trees,

and swimming.

We saw lots of wildlife - frogs, huge tadpoles, birds, garter snake, a water or fox snake and bats.

The kids asked repeatedly to go to the small cabin where they went up and down the ladder to check out the loft.

All in all though, a nice relaxing weekend (other than the bats), great company (if they still like us) and it did make us appreciate all that we have. I admit though, it made us wish our own cottage was just a little bit closer.

Thanks D's!