Summer holidays squished into two days!

Well here it is. Our day at the water park. We decided to not have a big holiday this summer, for two reasons. One was financial, and the other was that we want to save Roger's holidays for the fall or winter. So we buckled down, paid off two huge debts, worked a lot, and decided that summer was alright to spend at the local swimming hole, aka the backyard, check out local parks, and learn to ride bikes. We had a blast. But summer is not complete without one big hurrah for the kids. So off to the water slides we went. We had so much fun. Hayley was timid at first - as she does NOT like to be splashed or get her eyes wet. She was content to go up and down the little slider area, as her feet were always able to touch. She had a friend with her and the two of them were so good together! Quinn was in and out of the shallow water all day, wanting to jump and splash, I already can foresee Quinn splashing Hayley just because Hayley does not like it! Quinn is our terror.

Later in the day, Hayley and Roger went on the big ones together. She was so brave, walking up with Roger, as usually I would have to go up - she really likes to have me everywhere she is. Not this time! The two of them rode the slides together for about and hour, while Quinn, Lily and I swam together. Then Lily and Hayley went on the tube run together, all alone, with Roger and I waiting at the bottom. They seem so little to stand in line alone, but the park is full of parents and families, and so felt alright. Suddenly the air was full of little girls screams - they were coming down the shute and boy could you hear them! They had a blast and of course had to go again. We played and played and swam until 4pm, when we rewarded ourselves with an ice cream cone and came home. I feel blessed to have such a great family that has so much fun together!

How we spent our Sunday

These are our friends, Mel and Jo (both girls.....hahaha - I know they read this), getting all strapped in to Bungy Jump at Bungy Zone. They are both very brave.
Here is Mel, swinging down, it took her FOREVER to work up the nerve to jump - says her - but according to Roger and I, who by the way were safe on the ground, camera in hand, were very proud of her.
Here is me. Yep, me, I hate having my photo taken, but said that if I blogged about the jump then I would put in a photo of me. So here it is.
Here is Mel, safe and sound on the trampoline boat, almost ready to put her feet on Terra Firma again.
And here is the man. Roger. Mad. Only at me, for taking his photo. Like I mentioned before, if I am going to have to include my photo, then he will have one included too!!!

So we were up and on the road by 9am this morning. We were going to cheer on Mel and Jo while they bungy jumped, and have a day up Island exploring. We drove as far as Ladysmith (about one hour over the Malahat), and decided to have breakfast and check out "art on the avenue". Our breakfast establishment was a hoot. Roger had two eggs, bacon, toast and hashbrowns - I had two eggs, hashbrowns and bacon - and we shared a bottle of Minute Maid oj - and get this - got change back from $10!!!! We sat in the booth, reupolstered sometime in the 80's and saw an ashtray on the table. YOU COULD SMOKE INSIDE THE RESTAURANT!!! Now for some of you, this may not be so profound. We live in Victoria, where presently they are trying to create a bylaw to state that you can no longer smoke outside, on a patio, of a restaurant or a pub. You cannot smoke inside any public establishment, including nightclubs and bars, and this has been in affect for about 5 years now. So to see ashtrays right on the tables, inside, ready to use was very strange.

We proceeded to watch the girls jump, and they did awesome!!!!! I think I may do it next summer, but they also have Treego, which is an obsticle course throughout the trees, which you use carribeeners (sp??) to clip in, repel, and climb. You can go when you are as young as 7, and so Hayley will be able to go next summer with us.

Then we drove into Nanaimo, went to some collectable toy stores, consignement stores for the girls, wandered around the Harbour and had some icecream. We drove back to Chemanius which is known for its murals, and wandered around there as well. We made it to Roger's mom's house about 4pm in Cowichan Bay and had dinner. Quinn loves it there as she has a Jack Russell puppy and the two of them chase the ball around. She was so hot and sweaty, that we let her run around in the nude for awhile. We had a great dinner, drove home over the Malahat and was in the door at 7:45pm. Now both girls are asleep, Roger is lazing on the couch and I am off to bed to read. A great summer day spent on beautiful Vancouver Island.

A blogging we will go....

Well, seems like forever since I updated you on my life and goings' on. Nothin' happenin' so that's all folks!!!! Kidding, hmmm, hmmmmm, let me think, well, here we go.

Summer has been great to us, hanging out in the backyard pool, playing in the park, riding bikes, and rollerblading. It has NOT been a summer for laying at the lake though, and for this I am a bit sad. Not once yet this year. Lots of shell hunting and crab catching at the ocean, but no playing at the lake. I only have two weeks to fit it into my busy schedule of (see above) and then school begins. I cannot believe that Hayley will be going into grade one. Seems like yesterday we were teaching her to walk and sing her ABC's and now she will teach us a thing or two! She is looking forward to it, especially that she gets to eat her lunch out of her new lunchbag everyday. Quinn and I are planning to do some things just the two of us as well. Maybe take swimming lessons, or go to a play group - but maybe - just maybe - I will put her in the rec center daycare and go to the gym myself. I would sure like to be stronger, and fitter ( if that is a word) , which would mean actually going and doing something.

I am the proud owner of a MP3 player now. No songs on it, but it sure looks hip and modern when I pull it out. Kind of like my cell phone, need to have one for emergencies, and "just in case" but really don't use it that often. Looks good and hip though. Maybe it will entice me to use it while I am "working out" and "pumping iron". HA, just got a mental image of that.

Hayley starts skating again in the middle of September. She is going to go two days a week this winter, and hopefully will get as much fun out of it this year as she did last. Although I am secretly wondering if I am going to have to get an early morning paper route to pay for her skates in the future. EXPENSIVE. I will collect bottles or something to make it happen.....or Roger could get a second job at the neighbourhood MAC's working the slurpie machine. Sorry, family joke, we always tease him that that will be him trying to keep two girls in the latest fashions, equipped with cell phones and all the latest and greatest, and there will be Roger, working two jobs to make it happen!!!!

Well, there you go, an update on me. I am off to work today, and Quinn is spending the day with Liz and the boys. I know there will be fun to be had there, lots of roudy boys and yelling, she will not know what hit her.

Love and peace to all.

Meesh

Picasso...

Quinn painted for the first time today, at our friend Jen and Amanda's house. She did so well painting on the paper until she accidently painted her leg. Then she just continued painting her body.
Out of order, but this is her bath - take a look at the color of the water - that is not the normal color of Victorian water - but the paint!
Check out our little SHREK - quite the pose I do say myself.......

I will blog more later, feeling guilty about not blogging more, so will catch everyone up on the goings on soon.....

Love and peace to all.

NEW SUNGLASSES!!!

Who knew that spending $1.49 on a pair of sunglasses, that in my opinion look like they are off the head of "Mr. Potatoe Head" could entertain for so long!! Quinn loves her new glasses, and actually keeps them on when she is in the stroller and outside.
Hayley took this one herself - not bad if you ask me. You get a better look at the teeth this way, and can kind of see the sunglasses for her too.

Big news on the homefront is that my BIG 6 YEAR OLD can ride her bike without training wheels now!!!!!!! I took them off yesterday and BINGO she rides like she has been doing it forever! So immensely proud of her, she can really do anything that she puts her mind too.