Bountiful Harvest

This is one day's pickin' out of the garden! The zucchini alone is about the size of a small baseball bat. Gotta find a good gluten-free zucchini chocolate cake recipe!!!

Cowgirl X

These are my old boots, believe it or not, from when I was a baby. I should look through my old baby book and scan a photo of me wearing them! Quinn adores them, she even wants to wear them out, regardless of how hot it is, or what the outfit of the day is.
I honestly believe that she is saying "me, this cute, this pose?" She was really hamming it up for the camera this time!!!!
Dancing Queen, so do you think she has all the moves? She really gets into the music when it plays. Could not resist throwing this one in!

Just to catch up....

Once again I am having issues with blogger uploading any photos, so I will bore you with the monologue to catch you up on our lives.

Summer seems to be flying by. We have had a real heat wave on the Island, and a lot of poeple are easily irritated by it!!! One thing we can pretty well guarantee is that no matter how hot it gets throughout the day it will cool down at night. After all - we live on an Island, surrounded by water; breeze all the time. One would think anyhow. Not lately. It has been HOT! I love it mind you, and realized a long time ago, that it will not last, so take advantage of it while it is here. We have spent a lot of time at the water park, in the backyard pool/sprinkler system and inside doing crafts and imaginary play. I have spent some time catching up on my scrapbooking, clutter removal and enjoying the fact that I am home throughout the week.

I am in the midst of deciding whether or not to take on another daycare child. I really want to be at home, but need to make the money for the family as well. (oops, that sounds as though Roger is not doing his bit - he is and then some - my money is all the extras that we want!!!) I know that I do not want to work every Sunday anymore as I am missing out on doing things as a family. So I have decided throughout the summer to take Sundays off, work on Thursday nights and then hopefully in September have one more child to offset the income a bit. I am home anyhow - might as well have lots of kids around. It won't be so hard then either as Hayley will be in school for full days.

Well, off to fill my children's bellies, and then fill the pool for them. Hopefully soon I can show off the newest photos.

Sisters hanging out!

On Tuesday, Jen was awesome and watched all the kids while I went to the Dr's for my one year check up since I was diagnosed with Celiac. They had a blast playing with all Amanda's toys, Jen read many a book to Hayley and Quinn and Amanda hung out. I am soooooo very lucky to have Jen, my life is enriched by having her in it!

The appointment was very encouraging. This time last year, my body was not absorbing any of the nutrients in the food that I was eating, and I was basically starving myself. One year of maintaining a gluten-free diet, taking a multivitamin every day, walking and listening to my own body has done wonders. For the first time, I am not anemic - my iron and hemoglobin levels are registering in the "normal" range, my calcium is up, magnesium is good, thyroid is behaving itself, and the Dr is very optimistic that a gluten-free lifestyle is exactly what I need to do for the rest of my life to maintain the health that I have fought to get back. If I wanted to, now would be the optimum time to have another baby. I am in 100 times better health now than I was when I became pregnant with Quinn. Also, statistics are not on my side. For every year that I wait to become pregnant, my chances of passing on this genetic autoimmune disorder increase by 10%!!!!!

So, now Roger and I have some heavy discussions to have. He would really like one more, but only if it is a boy!!! Hahaha - just joking. In all honesty, I would like one more too, but we need to make sure that we can afford it. The smell of a newborn gets me every time......

Just wanted to share my very great news with everyone - maybe we could all pour a glass of wine at the same time and toast my health. Any excuse to have a yummy glass of wine with all my friends, whether they are near or far.

A day spent at the waterpark

Hayley is gearing herself up to go.......she still is not super keen on the water splashing at her. If you just leave her be, and let her do her own thing then she is more brave than ever!
Hayley and Lily. They met in kindergarten, and pure coincidence Lily lives right next door in the neighbouring co-op housing! It was a great friend to meet, especially since her little friend Erin had immigrated to Ireland right before school began. i have come to know the family and Jen is a great friend to us!

Quinn eating her chocolate cupcake. It was Jen's birthday and to celbrate, Nuria made cupcakes for everyone. Quinn especially loved the purple icing!

This was about as far as Quinn would venture in the water park. It was quite windy that day and the spray was annoying her. She is a true water baby in the pool in the backyard, but wasn't so sure about it spraying everywhere. She had more fun chasing the kids around. It is so cute to see her want to be a part of what the bigger kids are doing, yet she is always about 15 steps behind. She doesn't care though, she is too busy laughing and observing what they are doing!

A huge excitement!

We just arrived back from Sooke, where Roger's dad lives. He gave us the most exciting news....after a terrible six months of radiation and chemotherapy, he is CANCER FREE!!!! He had cancer of the joint that the esophogas and larynx connected (bad non-technical person that I am) and because of where it was located, it was in-operable. He endured months of travelling back and forth to the Jubilee Hospital where chemicals were pumped into his already ravaged body, skeletal at 98 pounds - but being the stubborn French man that he is, managed to come through with honors. His catscan and MRI were clean today, and so his mission now is to QUIT smoking (yes, he still is) and to continue to eat and build up his strength. We are so elated. To see him so excited is encouraging as well. We had pizza, a few beers and ciders to toast his health, let him hug the grandbabies and Hayley, then let him off at the Legion so he could continue to celebrate with his friends. Yahoo!!!!!

FAMILY

Definitions of family on the Web:

-a social unit "he moved his family to Virginia"; "It was a good Christian household"; "I waited until the whole house was asleep: parents and children; "he wanted to have a good job before starting a family"
-people descended from a common ancestor; "his family has lived in Massachusetts since the Mayflower"
-class: a collection of things sharing a common attribute; "there are two classes of detergents"
-an association of people who share common beliefs or activities; "the message was addressed not just to employees but to every member of the company family"; "the church welcomed new members into its fellowship"
-(biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more genera; "sharks belong to the fish family"
kin: a person having kinship with another or others; "he's kin"; "he's family"
-syndicate: a loose affiliation of gangsters in charge of organized criminal activities (this is my personal fave, one that makes me laugh at the thought of me and my mom robbing banks together in the sake of the family....) I guess the family that plays together stays together......

So once googled, this is what popped up in regards to family. Today I had the opportunity to rethink what my initial thought on family was and as it turned out, family has taken on a whole new meaning. I won't elaborate, other than saying that I have an "extended" family in which Hayley calls aunty and uncle, another that is Papa Gilles, and "just Marleen". This is the same family that Quinn regards as Papa Gilles and "just Marleen". This is over and above Gamma and Poppy, Nana and Papa and numerous other auntie and uncles. Family can be who you have dinner with, who you trust with your life and child and your best friend. They can be someone that you no longer share a name with, but still see every week, someone that came into your life unexpectedly and you have grown to love and respect, and someone that has been there since the beginning of a memory. Family is someone that has left a lasting impression on your heart so deep that time will not erase. Family is just that - family.

Now you are all wondering what brought on this sudden wave of deep thought - well some things are best left unsaid, for those that know, I am paying tribute to those I am fortunate enough in having in my family. For those that know me best, then they know that I am better at putting my feelings to paper (or in this case - screen) than EVER talking out loud to them. I thank God for my family, in whatever definition mine falls in. Now I will sign off and peek on my two beauties, and snuggle with my family that I call MINE.

A surprise guest

Here is our surprise guest. We were walking along the dock at Fleming Beach and suddenly a sea lion was RIGHT there. He was very cute, you could see his whiskers and the water glistening off him. So lucky to live on the west coast and see this wildlife.

Quinn could spend hours moving rocks, usually from one bucket to another, sometimes from the ground to her mouth. She would not behave on the dock as we were laying on our bellies looking at all the crabs, fishies, and sea life and all she wanted to do was back up and go in!!!! So needless to say, her and I walked off the dock and went to the rock pile. While we were off the dock, Liz, the boys and Hayley still were looking on the bottom of the sea when the sea lion (or was it a seal? Which is the little ones??) swam out from under the dock and poked his head up RIGHT where they were looking. I thought that Hayley was going to fall in she was so frightened!!! We packed up and came home, and Liz and the boys went back, fished off the dock with line and herring, and caught a ton of little fish! They threw them all out, but the crabs were nibbling off their lines and they would bring them up to the dock, let them walk around a bit, and then shoo them back in the water. It was the best - unplanned - summer day ever!

Just a slight lisp...nothing to worry about!

Well here she is, no teeth, but richer than all get out. She can almost put her whole tongue through the gap! Have you seen the trailer for "CARS"? The tow truck is from the deep south and says, "Well gollll-eeee", and that is what we were going around saying to her before they came out! Needless to say, she was less than impressed, and probably breathed a sigh of relief when they finally came out!
Not sure if this one does any more justice to the gap that was created, but she sure looks and sounds cute now! Is this my introduction to the "angst" years? Where their body is in a constant state of change.....oh my heavens, I just thought about that. Does this mean that we both may be going through some changes at the same time? In ten years when I MAY be going through the menopause thingy (I will be 45 then girls), she will be 16. Eeek, hate to be living with us at that time.....god help Roger.

Pool Party - Everyone Invited!!!

Quinn killing herself laughing in the pool. An added adventure for her this summer as she was scared to death of the pool last year. Who could blame her though? She weighed 9 pounds this time last year, no matter how warm you got the pool, she was perpetually cold!!!

Hayley with the drama pose. She always "vogues" out now when I get the camera out. Look up for the next post, which includes her new look - sans teeth!!!!

Backyard photos at last

Only have an "after shot" of the rock, but it is all cleared off, plants up top, sunflowers along the fence line, hopefully they will be hardy enough to last.
An upclose shot of the plants, this used to be all weeds, ivy and clover. I dug it up, bordered it, and added some good soil, manure, and Miracle Grow. Some plants are right in the soil, while others are in pots.
This is how it borders the extreme rock face. This rock is in the backyard in place of a fence on the right hand side. There is still needing some work back there, but like everything else, I refuse to start it if I cannot finish it.

It may not look like a lot to everyone else, but we have the biggest undeveloped backyard in the complex, and we LOVE IT!!

Hayley is toothless!

Last day of school yesterday, and after the school picnic we went to get Roger from work. We are both of the same opinion that if your report card is exceptionally great then you get a "passing present". Hayley is graded on the 1,2,3,4 progress report, 4 being exceeding expectations, 3 meaning meeting expectations, 2 meaning below standards, and 1 not even getting the concept that would then lead you to be below the standard. Hayley recieved one 4 (in math - much to Roger's pleasure), and the majority of 3+ and the rest 3's. She could have her pick of anything, and she chose a two-wheeled scooter that folds up. So she spent the remainder of the day racing around the round-a-bout going about 100 miles an hour. So proud of her!!!!!!

She is spending the extended weekend at her dad's and put up a bit of a fuss to go. That is one of the first times that she has, usually she is glad to see the parent in which she is going to. Plus, let's be honest, who wouldn't like going to her dad's - he lives with his parent's, huge house, lots of yard, big pool, and best of all, she is lavashed all the attention on. Not that she is not here, but there - no other kids, no daycare kids, and no day-to-day running around. Just fun, fun, fun. Well I guess that she warmed up to the idea quickly, after getting into grandma's Miata with the top down, and settled into being at her dad's. She wasn't there an hour and her other top tooth fell out! I can't believe that she has completed a year of kindergarden, has lost 4 teeth now, rides a two-wheeled scooter, has mastered rollerblading, is learning to ride her two wheeler without training wheels, and can read, albiet only a bit. My little girl who has been by my side for six short years is growing up. I think this and then I remember that she still has to sleep with BLUE (her pillow), likes to read books on my lap, and will still hold my hand to cross the street. Glimpses of my little baby.

wHAT A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A WEDNESDAY!

The water was cold, and it looked like "tossed salad" with all the seaweed in there, but even though Quinn wasn't quite sure of it, she didn't want to get out either!!
The whole beach and Quinn decided to dig in the one gravel patch. Good ol' West Coast girl!
Hayley lost her top tooth and the other one is just a hangin'. Gonna go broke if they fall out that close together!
Not a great shot, but one of Quinn and I on the beach. For those of you who have only met me via the internet, this is me!!!


Spent the day at Gyro Beach, had a wonderful time there. Hayley spent the day making mud pies, and Quinn just made herself at home. First of all it was the "buffet mentality", she wondered around eating off everyone's blanket, and then she ran around the beach. I thought she would be a bit more cautious of the water, but really, what was I thinking????? She didn't get right in and sit, splash around, but she stood there forever just letting the tide wash over her legs. A very cute site. Jenn and Amanda met us there, and it was so uplifting to see my lovely friend there. And I am not just saying that Jenn because I know that you read this!! You are a true and honest soul and I love that the internet brought us together!

Just another day in the West Coast Desert!

We're havin' a heat wave! I love it!!! I guess I have to confess that I love the heat here on the Island, as we always have a breeze, it is never THAT hot, and I have air conditioning in the van. I also know that we cannot be that lucky to have it last that long, so might as well enjoy it while it is here. How else can I resort back to my childhood and swim in the baby pool, spray my kids with the garden hose, and wear tank tops? Although my confession is that our outdoor chairs need covers as I almost burned my BUTT sitting on one yesterday. Those things get darn hot, who whould have thought that plastic heats up in the direct sunlight????? hardy har har

Tonight I am doing interviews for prospective new families for a unit that has come available in the Co-Op. To be honest, this is the last thing that I want to be doing. I procrastinated though and left it to the last possible moment and now am interviewing under the gun. Hopefully it will not be as painful as I am thinking it will and it will be over soon.

Tomorrow we are off to the beach, which will be oh so refreshing. I can't wait to see how Quinn does with the water, as with the backyard pool we cannot keep her out of it!!!

Things to be thankful for: drinking a fruit smoothy with raspberries and strawberries out of my garden, we are not on water restrictions yet, and I am a proud mom of a kindergarten graduate on Thursday!!!

Still cannot post the DAMNNNN photos!

Blogger really is a PITA (pain in the $ss) today. It won't let me upload any photos, so I guess that you are stuck with my sad excuse for writing, and letting you know what is going on. I could visually describe the back yard, but that sounds a bit tedious and so I will leave you in suspense and wait until I can post the photos.

I had no idea that the month of June would be so flippin' busy. With all the bbqs, school field trips, social events and work, you would think that I would need a summer vacation. Why is it that when school is over the real work for mom begins??? I am helping out at the fun day at Hay's school today, and tonight I am off to a Celiac dinner. The association meets once a month, and I never go, it seems as though I am the youngest by about 25 years, and am there as someone's kid or something. I decided to go this time, we are going to a great restaurant, that is having a total gluten-free dinner, with wine and a guest speaker. Enough wine will make any speech interesting I am lead to believe. I am also going alone, so that means if it is terrible, I can always go to Starbucks, have a yummy latte and read the paper in peace. Either way it will be a good night.

Next week I am a field trip driver for the end of year picnic at Gyro beach. Break that down, and it really means that four children under the age of 7 will pile into the van, complete with a backpack each, beach toys, and towels, sing stupid songs and be totally rambunctious the entire distance that it is to drive there. Then we will proceed to unload, me packing Quinn, diaper bag, beach bag, towel, lunch and all the while doing a head count to ensure that I still have all the kids that I left the school with. Heaven forbid I be that mom that loses a child not belonging to me. Then I will set up space on the beach, attempting to keep the sand out of Quinner's mouth, and "tan" for a few hours. Then we will pack up, complete with half the beach of sand inside all the kids shoes, backpacks, towels and bathing suits, to drive them back to the school so that their parent's can them rinse them off. I am being terrible, but deep down I love the fact that I can drive for Hay, being there for her, and not at work during that time. Soon enough she will be embarrassed to be seen with me, and so might as well get in all the volunteering now.

Hope everyone is doing well, and as promised, I will post photos as soon as booger, oops I mean blogger, lets me.

Photos of the back yard....

Ok, three times and blogger will not let me upload them......argh!

So I will post this tragedy and try again later....

Things to do at 7:30am

On Thursday night we went out and bought the girls a water table. Basically it is a free standing table with stations to play with either water or sand. They love it! So at 7:30am on Friday they were out there mucking around. As you can see, Hayley took the time to get out of her pj bottoms and put on some joggers, but Quinn opted for the "shoes over the pj feet" look.
They played out there for about 45 minutes, came in shivering and soaked, so then had a bath to warm up. You have to love entertained kids so that I can enjoy my coffee in the morning!!!

The photos show a little of the backyard, but really does not do it justice. We had a grand bbq on Sunday afternoon, our biggest "hosting" yet. All the kids played so well, all the adults behaved and a good time was had by all. Next time I am having it catered so that I do not have to do the bbq'ing - but other than that I had a blast. So very thankful for the friends that we have made here in Victoria, with all the friends that my girls have and the stability of knowing that we have numerous individuals to count on for support if need be. A great weekend!

Welcome to our new and improved yard!

I am so excited, so I thought I would share with you. When we moved into our townhouse we had the most obnoxious back yard. Whenever it rained it smelled like a barn, there were buried dog toys everywhere, years of overgrown weeds and the grass was the color of hay. The first summer (we took possession in June) all we did was water and try to bring some moisture back into the soil, then last year I did nothing back there as I was so terribly sick. This year was the year! We have a HUGE rock back there and it had the basic attempts to have a tiered rock garden. It was terrible. We have been digging it up, including the old landscape ties, a massive root system and rocks, and have brought it back down to the rock face again. Then we evened out the bottom, raked up all the good soil and planted grass seed. I have carved out a small garden and lined it with antique bricks. My project for the week is to continue to dig a 8X8 area to line with ceder planks to have an inclosed play area with pea gravel as the "base" for the water table, sand box and various water toys. I will take photos when I am finished so we can show off our new "proud back yard".

To get the rock back to basic, without all the moss and various other ground cover, we needed to borrow the power washer from work. Roger spent the afternoon today powerwashing, including the cement pad. It looks like a whole new place back there!!!!! I am afraid to powerwash the front as we will probably take the paint off! I am so very excited, and makes me proud to drive into the driveway now.

We are having a big bbq tomorrow to show off the progress thus far, and will take many photos to share with you all. Hope that everyone has a great weekend!!!!

Really is it only Saturday???

WARNING - THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE WORK HAS BEEN. YOU HAVE BEEN FORWARNED.....

In a nutshell, it has sucked! Last night Moxie had a record night in sales - we did almost $10,000 in sales from 5-11. We were mass busy. It was four grads last night, and I guess after the ceremony ALL the families decided to come in. I normally work from 5-8:30 (about a $50 night in tips) - well needless to say - I worked until 11:30 (and made closer to $110 in tips!). I am sooooo in need of the money and so am thankful for the extra, but my BODY is way too OLD to work that hard. Then to top it off, I was back there at 9:45am this morning. EEK. Normally I am thankful for the money, and to work a bit out of the home for a bit of adult interaction, but this weekend, I am not excited about work. I am there again tomorrow. Then I am done - thank goodness - until next Friday!

Whew, I feel better now that I have vented, so I will sign off and post again when I have more positive than negative to talk about. Mostly I am sulking as my friend Annamarie and her daughters had a great girls night in on Friday, complete with guacamole and painted toe nails. So jealous - but in a good way????? HAHAHA Have a great Sunday!

I wanna go to school too!!

Quinn wants so bad to be like her big sister, to the point of getting her backpack when it is time for school to start. She brings it to me and has to have it on her back. Hmmm, I wonder what she will bring?
Hey, how did this one get here? Well now that it is, I will explain, this is Kara and Hayley. Kara is the older daughter of my bestest and longest friend - THE QUEEN. You can visit her in a day of life of Royalty by visiting her blog. Ha, too funny that it is here!
I am ready for school now! Come on, can't I go, please mom, I will play nice, have something to eat, listen to the teacher, and share..... Why not?

Why not? Cuz you are growing up too fast as it is Quinners!!! She now has cut her top teeth, so she has four, is obsessed with puppies, woofing whenever she sees one, follows her big sister everywhere, and generally is getting bigger. I wonder if we should think about adding to our family? The newborn baby smell, the small diapers, the nestling into me, and the sleepless nights, the reverse facing car seat, being vastly outnumbered, and the chances of having a boy (I have no idea how that plumbing works!!). I guess we shall just think. Well, and maybe practice......

Thankfulls today: health (thanks Jen), radishes are up in the garden, and for friends here that are irreplacable, honest, and true. (My online friends are the greatest too)!