Saturday 25 August 2012

Getting Ready

They made these signs for the BC Lions game they
went to with Scott!
As the nights become darker earlier and my bank account is dropping daily as I pay for the kids extra curricular activities, I am reminded that all too soon we are back to school!  Last year this time I felt ready.  We had a good summer, but I was excited to start my Masters and eager to try some new things out in my classroom.  We were all kind of tired of the lazy days of summer and yearning for some structure and routine.

This year is different...  We have had an amazing summer, enjoying the perfect balance of going away, daily activities, and relaxing at home.   I have read more than I ever have in one summer and spent a lot of time just cuddling on the couch with my kids.   My kids surprised me and slept in each day to 7am (usually they are up just before 6am) and I was able to wake around 8ish which was heavenly.   During our lazy mornings, or late evenings we all sit together on the couch or lay in mine and Scott's bed watching movies.   I think I have now seen every Disney movie out there, and some probably more than once.  I must say I really like High School Musical and am happy my kids are now enjoying movies with real people and not just cartoons.

This September I move from working 50% to 80%, and am going to be taking two classes for my Master's which I swore I would never do again... but since switching cohorts to MET, one course didn't transfer and I need to do this.   Knowing the workload that is coming I have been trying to soak up every minute of time with Scott and the kids.  I have also been wrestling with feelings that I haven't felt in a very long time ~ insecurities and fear.  Beginning a new position at UBC has me excited but also feeling worried, and I am filled with questions ~ I wonder, am I really ready?  Will I be good enough?  Do I know what I need to know?  Will they like me?  How will I manage to balance all the different roles I will have?  I have found myself very humbled by these thoughts and reminded that many children moving to new schools and/or classrooms will be also be experiencing these similar thoughts.   I am lucky to have a wonderful husband, family and friends who support me.   I also have the benefit of age and experience so I know that change can be a good thing, and although it is OK to have worries, I know deep down that I will be fine.   I have wanted to be a Faculty Advisor for many, many years and am ready for this new chapter.  Everything will fall into place, exactly as it is meant to be.

If you happen to have children who may be feeling nervous of the upcoming school year, please be kind to them, talk to them, and let them know that they too will be OK.

As I prepare to send my little loves off to school this September, I hope and pray that their teacher(s) see just how special they are and take the time to get to know them personally.   Today as we drove to and from Bellingham to pick up back to school food, supplies, and clothes I don't think we had a minute of silence.  Both Matt and Megan sang together and independently, and shared their thoughts, ideas and questions (LOTS of questions) with Scott and I.   They are passionately curious and could be easily captivated by any educator who engaged them.   I really hope they do get teachers who love their jobs, understand that learning should be fun and social, and spend lots of time talking with them, and not at them.  My kids have a lot to contribute ~ I am crossing my fingers that they get someone who sees this!

Sunday 12 August 2012

High on Summer

If you were to ask me what my favourite season it, I would generally always respond with Fall.   There are so many things I love about that time of the year: the cozy feel of long sleeved clothing, scarves, the colours of the leaves, the beginning of a "new" school year, everyone settling back into routines, the excitement of Halloween and the coming of Christmas, cooking Squash, soups and so on.

But lately I have been feeling the 'highs' of Summer and am beginning to wonder if I may love two seasons!

Some of my highlights include:
  • The Scents - flowers, especially Sweet Peas and bar-b-que smells
  • Warmth - the heat makes time at the beach and pools so much more lovely and I love to be able to sit outside at night without a sweater.
  • Extra Sleep - the kids aren't waking until well after 7am and I am not generally coming downstairs until well after 8am
  • Lack of Routines - never feeling rushed and staying in jammies
  • Time with Friends - catching up over coffee, walks, lunches, and dinners
  • Food - the berries and extra time to cook and bake
  • Wearing Flip Flops and not having to wear make-up ~ Sunglasses hide the eyes!
We headed to our friends farm to pick blueberries!


We picked almost 25 pounds.


I just thought this was so pretty.   It was at our friends farm.

We had the same friends that own the blueberry farm over for dinner
and this was given to me as a hostess gift.   Aren't they beautiful!

Cupcakes Megan and I made for our first ever
Neighbourhood Bar-b-que at Centennial Beach


The men of the neighbourhood organized a great event!

The water was so warm...

International S'mores Day

Did you know that August 10th was International S'mores Day?    I didn't either, until I read about it on a friend's Facebook update.

In honour of the special day, Megan and I tried a S'mores Square Bar recipe from Pinterest... and invited some friends over for dinner to celebrate with us.  We added marshmallows to the recipe (as it only called for the jar marshmallow treat) and it was DELICIOUS!!!






Wednesday 8 August 2012

Checking off the list...

Outside of our trip down the Oregon coast and our annual Cultas Lake camping trip, this summer I hoped to spend more days and nights at home than we usually do each summer.   As I have been busier with work and school, I have become more protective and hoarding of my time.  Don't get me wrong, I love all the activities that come with summer but I also know that this summer, unlike others, I wanted to take things a few paces slower and enjoy some quiet time at home reading, relaxing, cleaning (necessary) and organizing for the upcoming school year.

That said, I also have two active kids who are used to being on the go and continually ask each morning "What are we doing today?"  I have tried to balance everyone's needs by planning local activities that allow for me to have some time at home in the morning and evening, while at same time please my kids who like to see and go places.   At the beginning of each summer, the kids and I create a list of things we want to do.   This was our list this summer.


So far it has been successful!  We've done many of the activities on the list and even added a few like Chuck E Cheese.  I have enjoyed having time at home to bake and have friends over for bar-b-ques.   The mornings where we've been able to lounge around in our jammies until noon have been very much appreciated and evenings at home have provided time for bike rides, walks, games at the school field, and watching movies together as a family.   Last night while we were away, we rented "We Bought A Zoo" and watched it while all cuddled together.   It was a nice movie but was overshadowed by the awesome thunder and lightening outside!  



Making SLURPEES with the machine Matthew
received from Uncle Steve for his birthday!








Waiting for the log ride!



They wouldn't let him climb with his Crocs because he did not
have a back strap... He was desperate to climb so he squeezed into Megan's shoes!

And the bravest award goes to...

We crossed off whale watching because it was way too expensive!  Instead, we returned to Whistler.   We have been going every summer for the past few and each time stay at a different hotel... I love to book last minute because you get great deals!  There are a ton of fun things to do in Whistler in the summer.   Usually we go on the Peak 2 Peak and hike around the mountains but this trip we just relaxed by the pool, did a bit of shopping (LOVE the Crocs store... and the kids each stepped on my flipflops at separete times which eventually broke while there - great timing!), had icecream at Cows, watched the BMX bikers doing tricks at the base of Whistler, played many board and card games (Cheat is the kids latest favourite) and ate outside on patios.  The weather was HOT so we spent a lot of time at the pool.

Here are some of the places we've stayed in the past:

Tantulus Lodge - a bit far away from the action and we didn't like the location of the pool (right in front of the hotel)
The Westin - nice hotel and close to the village - but the pool gets a lot of shade in the afternoon
The Fairmount Chateau - by far the best pool - like that it is located close to the Kids Adventure Zone - but the rooms are small.
The Crystal Lodge - right in the heart of the village.  The heater to the pool wasn't working when we were there and it was really cold - but the newer rooms are nice (be sure to request those ones).
The Delta Village Suites - my favourite so far!   Comfortable rooms with laundry.  Located within the village but not in the noisy part.   Great pool but not a very big shallow end which Megan missed (she likes to do hand-stands)
***Next year I'd like to stay at the PanPacific Village Inn and would love to hear any thoughts on this hotel or others!

With only a few weeks left, the kids still have many things to look forward to, such as: a BC Lions game, Whitecaps Soccer Camp, a second trip to Splashdown (this time with the mommy group), going away camping in a motorhome with their Grandparents and ticking a few more items off the list with me!

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Summer Traditions

For six years now our family has gone camping at Cultas Lake with our friends.   It began with only three families way back in 2007.   Several of our other friends came with us that year to Dinopark, but weren't ready to do the camping thing.  I grew up camping in the summer and I wanted my kids to have the same wonderful memories I had of camping at Deception Pass.  When Megan turned two, I felt we were ready to begin camping and I am so glad we did.

As word spread of the fun to be had, more families have joined us over the years.  This year, as well as last, we had 12 families with over 30 kids.  This is one of the biggest highlights of my children's summer.   They love seeing their friends, fishing, swimming, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs, making smores, biking the trails, buying a daily treat at the store, playing soccer, baseball and football, watching the daddies football game, playing at the playground, and creating games together.   This year the girls created a cheerleading dance for the sidelines of the sporting activities.

I delight in watching the kids interact and the freedom that the children have.   Since there are always multiple activities happening at once, the kids often choose to go with different families who may be fishing, swimming, or getting a game going.    I love how the older children take responsibility for the younger ones and how the younger ones keep up with big kids.   The kids are usually very good about letting us know where they are and should we inquire as to where someone might be, the kids always  know where everyone is.

With my children fully engaged in activities, I love having time to catch up with good friends.  Sitting by the lake soaking in the sun makes the experience even more perfect!  I don't mean to brag about my mommy group... but I really cannot say enough about the benefits of being part of such an amazing group of ladies (plus daddies and kids).   We are very lucky!
2007 - At Dinopark - The children enjoy dinosaurs dancing!

2007 - Megan is 2 and Matthew is 4.
The three original families - Barker, Nakagawas, and Painters
2008 - Megan is 3 and Matthew is 5.
We grow to six families: Barkers, MacNeils, Satos, McCluskeys, Painters and Hepburns.
Although, I thought the Nakagawas have come every year but I am not sure why they
aren't in this photo - I will have to check on this!

2009 - Megan is 4 and Matthew is 6.
We grew to nine families: Satos, Barkers, Hepburns, Donhams, Fergusons,
McCluskeys, MacNeils, Nakagawas, Painters... plus some visiting friends from Korea.
2010 - Megan is 5 and Matthew is 7.
And we grew again by one family making it ten families: Barkers, Satos,
Donhams, Fischers, MacNeils, Painters,Nakagawas, Fergusons, McCluskeys, and the Hepburns.
2011 - Megan is 6 and Matthew is 8.
This year we had 12 families: Barkers, Donhams, Fischers, MacNeils, Satos, Spears, Hepburns
Fergusons, Jakubecs, Painters, and the Nakagawas.
2012 - Megan is 7 and Matthew is 9.
This is an awful picture that I will replace once one of my friends with the fancy
cameras share their photos with me!   I will also post a slide show of some of our
favourite pictures.This year we also had 12 families: Barker, Donhams, Fischers,
MacNeils, Satos, Spears, Hepburns, Fergusons, Jakubecs, Painters, Nakagawas, and
the Coutts... plus some new friends from Korea.  We really missed the McCluskeys
and plan to work our magic on the Monrads to get them to come next year!

Matthew began to do the "BIG" slide last year at
Splashdown and he's made me promise ever since
that he could go to Cultas Lake Waterslides after
we finished camping!   It is an outstanding park
but unfortunately it was the coldest day of our trip!


Scott and Megan did the CRAZY slides!
Matthew and I safely watched on the sidelines.

When it got too cold, we headed for the hottub.