Vacation Update

We are still on vacation with our children. This is our first week long road trip as a family of six and to be honest I was not sure at all how it would all go.

I guess I should just have some faith right?

The days are flying by filled with activities.  I am discovering that my kids are much like me.  I like to look more than do.  My children are very happy to just discover new things..... see new sites.  I am so proud of their behaviour.  Cannot say I am proud of how they are treating each other...they have their moments but we deal with it {and sometimes in not a proud mommy moment kind of way} and we move on.

We have seen dinosaurs, fossils, grizzly bears, gorillas {favorite by far}, giraffes, zebras, flamingos, cranes, etc.  We have been to the famous West Ed*m*nton Mall, seen ginormous planes take off, had a sneak at the Canadian Snow Birds flying in formation, ate room service food for the last two nights, watched Dad play slo pitch and played with our friends.

Let's not forget the hotel swimming pools!!!!!!  My children are little fish.  The five year olds are now diving under the water lifejacket free and sometimes even water wing free.  My two year old thinks he is five and refuses to wear his life jacket. He must however wear a full diving face mask which in turn has everybody in the pool area adoring him because he looks so ridiculous and has no fear to jump into Dad's arms in the deep water.  The eight year old has always been a good swimmer with no fear of water.  He has been great helping out with the younger kids.

Yesterday the men left the women at the hotel due to an early morning game.  I have to admit I was nervous on how I would deal with the kids.  But the four wives got together we took the kids to eat, somehow had enough vehicles to get everyone to the ball park.  The situation was not ideal, muddy wet grounds etc. but everyone made the best of it and in the end it was quite an enjoyable day.

I will say I am very happy we held off on vacations such as this until now.   The kids seem to be really enjoying it all and besides the over-tired-junk-food-hyperness and sometimes bad attitude we encounter, I think we are making some great memories together.

I know I enjoy seeing the joy on their faces.

That being said I am not ready to tackle Disn*ey Land or anything like it just yet!

Wordless Wednesday - Peace Out!

Before she jumps she says "Peace Out"!

Not sure where she got that from but it was cute.

For more Wordless Wednesday check out 5 Minutes for Mom.

Taking It All In - Loon Edition

One of my favorite things about the Lake is seeing and hearing the Loons.

This year we were lucky to have a Mama Loon and eight babies living in our marina.  The kids would watch the babies dive down and count as they go one by one then count them when they come back up.

During a preschool year end trip, my five year olds discovered that a loon can swim underwater for almost a minute and can dive up to 80 m.  The tour guide gave the students {and parents} a visual.  Loons are amazing birds.  We recently saw a male loon and I was impressed with their size and beauty.

Mama thinks I am the P**aparazzi!

Like anything in this world we take many things forgranted.  Until I saw the baby loons swimming around this summer I had realized how I miss all those loon calls, especially in the evening sitting around the campfire.  The call of the loon is beautiful!

If you are interested on hearing a loons call watch the video below.  The video is not set in Canada but the calls sound the same to me!

".....this is one of the characteristic evocutive sounds you are going to hear from that area.  Something that will stick with you for the rest of your life." -Greg Budney

"It justs puncuates the fall of night. And really sets the mood for what follows, the solitude, the peacefullness." - Greg Budney

Quotable Monday's - Adventure

Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain.

Adventure is an attitude
that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life

.... Facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities,

Testing our resources against the unknown and in the process,

Discovering our own unique potential.

-John Amatt, Everest Expedition Leader, author.

And The Days Go By...

Oh man, where do I begin? 
How about the fact that I am super proud that I have been keeping the laundry room floor clean!

I am totally serious!!!!  I am very proud of the fact that I have kept up with my laundry while bouncing from home to lake and back again. This is a miracle in itself .

The days have been flying by.  Lake days, playdates, library, board games, coloring, barbie playing, weeding the garden, snake wrangling and trips to the pool.  I was so happy for a cooler temperature today with rain just so I could stay inside and get some housework done.

And we are leaving again soon for our first out of province trip with our children in tow. 

It may not be D*sneyland but let me tell you these kids are excited to head to some major attractions.

On top of all the physical busyness I sense so much changing within me.  I know change to my daily routine is coming and I am finally okay with that.  When I first began thinking of some "norms" not being part of my life I was sad then angry and now I see glimpses of why.  Like anything when we have answers it is so much easier to move on.

I see my kids changing too.  My 8 year old is FaNtAsTiC this year.  He is keeping busy, reading books, quadding, shooting his pellet gun and overall fun to be with.  A long haul from where he was last year..... attitude wise.  To be honest he may be thinking the same thing of me!

I am encouraging my 5 year olds to be 5 year olds.....no whining like a baby and teaching them they have the ability to use their legs, get up and take their dishes to the counter or maybe even get their own snack.  It's my fault they "think" they are unable to do these simple tasks but I shall fix it before they head to Kindergarten in a month.  Otherwise these two are eager to head to school.  Sam is excited for recess, Sasha is excited to bring home library books. 
Owen is not looking forward to school but for some reason he tends to pop in and out of french conversation with his Dad without even noticing he does it.  **smiles**

I am lacking in the exercise department.  I have yet to workout more than once a week in the last month.  We keep busy at the lake walking and riding bikes but it's not the same as a sweat-pouring-down-your-face Jillian workout.  I'm not beating myself up over it but you'd think I'd cut back on the food intake then....sigh.

Hunting season is just around the corner as well.  I have come a looonnngg way as a hunting widow. The first few years I'd get angry my husband went out and left me at home with our small children.  Then I realized he needed this as much as I need an hour away from everyone.  We have the same need for some alone time, it's just different and that is okay.  This year I will say I am more jealous that I can't go with him.  Maybe next year when the kids are older and we can split them up between Aunts and Uncles for sleepovers.
I am super excited to go on this road trip.  Last week the thought of spending six nights in hotel rooms would make my head spin.  This week I see a total different perspective and with lots of prep research on things to do it's all working out for the good.

I hope your families summer holidays are going well too.

Wordless Wednesday - Pelican Island

Linking up with 5 Minutes for Mom.

Quotable Mondays

Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake. 

~Wallace Stevens

Quoteable Mondays

The real distinction is between

 those who adapt their purposes to reality and

those who seek to mold reality in the light of their purposes.

-Henry Kissinger

 

Waiting on Life Changes

We are ending the second full week of summer holidays and I am exhausted.  We have yet to attend any summer camps, swimming lessons or even a day trips somewhere so I have no idea why I feel so physically drained.  I thrive on routine and I guess I have yet to find one with all the kids home.

My mind is busy with future plans as well.  I wish I was the kind of person that could just sit back and just let things come my way.  I am far from relaxed.  This coming school year I will have three children in school, the twins attending full days two to three days a week.  My youngest will also attend preschool a couple days a week and a glimpse of what Motherhood without children tailing along all the time is in sight.

It scares me a little and in some ways I'm excited.

I am eager to figure out what my future holds yet I know I should take the "wait and see" approach.  With the youngest in preschool this will allow me to help out in the classrooms of the older three.  The Kindergarten classroom invites parents to help out.  I never had the chance to do this with my oldest son because of  my husband attending Police College and having two 3 year olds and a newborn at home.  Even if I had a sitter I do not think I could have been clear headed enough to help out because I have to admit... I was tired...mentally and physically during those months.

I know changes are going to happen.  I guess I just want to be prepared.  I scanned a extension course catalog from a post secondary school lastnight.  I guess I'm waiting to see what I want to be when I grow up...yet I feel like I am where I want to be ....a Mother... a full time Mom.

What scares me is what about the hours when the kids are not here.  Soon they will all be attending school full time.  Should I work?  What about summer holidays?  I want to be there for the summer holidays.  I'm sure lots of parents want to spend more time with their kids.  Am I just being unrealistic thinking I can find work and still be here when my kids are home?

Oh so many questions I have that I know can not be answered until the time is here.

So for now I will not be looking into any educational upgrades.  For now I am Mom, full time.... here, not always loving it but here.  I am very fortunate that we can have me at home right now.  I know at times I take that forgranted but today I feel very blessed.  I'm here... drinking coffee, folding laundry doing all those other mundane tasks and watching my sleepy head kids come down the stairs to hug me this morning.

Wordless Wednesday A Little Boy and His Bow

Quoteable Mondays

You were born an original. 

Don't die a copy. 

~John Mason

Happy Canada Day

Have a great day celebrating Canada!