Work, food, school, stress, what else is there?

I am working on a lit search of community nursing education methods at the moment. I am learning a lot about educative methods and measures of structural knowledge. But it is a lot of work.....

Our local cheese factory has some nice cheeses. I picked up a cracked pepper verdelait, a brie, and an applewood smoked cheddar (not local, but a nice cheese). I also picked up a loaf of house levain sourdough, and a fig and walnut levain as well to go with them. I will serve this all with grapes, dried chorizo, and an olive tapenade. This of course, with some wines. I still need to decide on pairings. I'll think about that later. We are having guests this weekend, obviously, I am also trying out my rotisserie to do a rosemary, garlic and whole dijon roast. I am deciding on sides still. I am making a flourless chocolate cake, possibly with a ganache for dessert. This is also kind of a father's day thing for Dave while I am at it. We have a bunch of family coming, should be a good time.

I am so anxious for Dave to be home. I get a lot more paperwork done when he is here. I also have less running to do. Between 3 trips to the school, plus 2 on gymnastics days and swimming days, I am constantly driving it seems. These little 2 hr windows at home are no good. I will be glad for kindergarten to end and full days start. I have the house kind of partially cleaned, did windows and bath tubs. I need to finish the bathrooms, dust and wash floors. I also need to sort some more downstairs to make things presentable. I wish the carpet dudes would come, but it will likely be a couple more weeks wait still.

It has been a hard, busy week. I am glad both the girls have class collections for a teacher's gift, makes my life simpler. Lauryn's class is having a gathering of all the kinder classes on the last day of school, then a full out bbq with a bouncer for just her class at a classmates house and a gift collection for madame. Crazy. I just want to finish going through the last 8 research articles, then at least I have 10 days to pull it all together. I feel like that little train-I think I can, I think I can, I can I can lol

I have been burning the candle at both ends. Up late editing, baking, making lunches, Josh not feeling well and up late. I actually fell asleep 2 afternoons in a row this week. Week is almost over....

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We finally put together Mimi's bed, mounted her tv on the wall, set up her phone. Dave is finishing her window sill now, we just need her flooring. The patio area is almost ready for stones, we set up the kids playhouse and sandbox, despite no grass. Once the patio is there at least they have somewhere to play. I will landscape all around the patio, I have been mulling over various shrubs to choose from-the possibilities are endless here-we are a zone 7 vs zone 3 in Manitoba! At least in Ontario we were zone 5B, which was pretty good, MB was not a good planting zone. Mom used to always lament the hardiness factor of some plants she would have liked to have.

I am so happy to garden. I find it is like cooking for me, very soul soothing. Last night we had some really good steaks, grilled asparagus and zucchini, and I made lettuce wraps. It was very good. We had a raspberry lemon cream cake I made for dessert, a fussy recipe, but very yummy.

My arms hurt from the yard work, so no more typing right now.

A new post-at last

We have been so busy, this has been at the bottom of my list. But I just spent a few minutes reading some posts and realize how much I enjoy doing this. So onward I go...

We are half ass moved in. Most of our window coverings are up, the main level is 99% ready. The lower level has to wait for carpet installers, tiling, some more drywall. The yard has the front landscaped (I did a fine job, I must say), and is ready for sod. The rest will have the stone patio put in next week, finish staining decking then too, the yard is still being leveled and stones removed. I spent hours hard labour on the yard, soooo much left, but we work fast. Dave and I were a master team in Kingston for years completing the house. We work quickly, and now with all our learning, we do a smashing job. I love the area, the kids school is great, their french has improved being in a 100% french school (no english), and they have made friends. We keep checking out different beaches, each one better than the next. We are going to nymph falls tomorrow.

My course is interesting. I am learning how to teach adults, studying theory and philosophy and applying it in a teaching and learning enviro. The discussions are the best, a very bright group. I love learning, but the work end can be hard in the midst of a move.

The kids are beside themselves here. It is a great place to live. Neighbours have been coming by to say hello, we have found a babysitter-Dave and I just need an evening where we are not working on the house to go out!! We have so many plans for the summer, I am loving beaching it so often!

Dave is home, after a month gone, leaves again in a week, for a week, then home 2, gone for 1 mos, then off all Aug. Not a nice schedule, but we get by. His return this time was so great, we have such awesome chemistry. I am so glad he still gives me butterflies after almost 12 years. He makes me feel like I am 20 and just fell in love. I love him more now than ever, he is awesome.

Ok, I did not say it would be long, but that is it in a nutshell. Life is not dull. I will have a vino with my darling now!

My summer girl

Mealie my first is such a tenderheart. She loves and empathizes so fiercely, and wears her heart on her sleeve. She stills prays for the dead bird she and her cousins found last summer. Her emotions are always at the ready, whether it is in excitement, sadness, or anger. She is a bit of a drama queen, yes, but also a dramatic actress, writing songs, quite adeptly for a child of her age. Her interest in the arts is insatiable. Her drawings are full of vivid detail and color.

Mealie can be so kind, translating books for her sister, helping her little brother and doing chores. However, true to her age there is often a detailed argument as to why she should be doing something else at times. I admire the effort! She is a talented gymnast, swims well, and is such a good friend to her "pals". She loves to be part of a close knit friendship, preferring that to a large group, yet she is well-liked by all her classmates. Mealie loves her solo time as well, enjoying quiet time to listen to music.

A bigger imagination you will not find, endless energy for exploring the outdoors, and decorating her room. She is always creating things, and would spend hours at crafts, leaving an incredible mess and a more incredible creation. Her enthusiasm is as admirable as she herself is. She reminds me of summertime, from her sunny blonde hair to her every changing ideas and interests, just like how summer weather can change so much, but is enjoyable for all that it is because it is summer.

I love my darling girl not just because she is my daughter, but because of who she has become.

A bird in flight

Noni is a charming little bird. Being five is a charming state of being alone, but she affects everyone around her so effortlessly. She makes friends like most breathe, instantly having a small entourage at her new school. She is so humerous, always coming up with the most hilarious analogies. This morning she chattered away in the bathroom about how useful our fingers are, and the multiple tasks they can accomplish: "they can pull down the toilet handle to flush, but they can't eat. They can HELP us to eat though, by holding utensils Mom. Aren't they wonderful?" Ahh the joys of early morning discussions about basically nothing, yet everything.

No one, and I mean no one, enjoys and spends so many meticulous hours with tiny, tiny accessories like Lauryn. She builds "rooms" all over her room, in the dollhouse, on the dresser, end table etc. They are so orderly and detailed. More than a few people have admired the work she puts into them. She has gotten interested in calico critters-they are perfect for her. She reminds me of myself in so many ways, in the way she plays and her love of animals. She cares for our cat so lovingly. But she exudes a confidence and musical voice that I envy.

Noni also loves to add sound effects to all her activities-they are always appropriate to the task-dramatic, humerous, exciting etc. It is beyond hilarious, and no, she does not get it from me! Lauryn is also a chef in the making. I have never seen a kid her age take to the kitchen so skillfully. She can peel an entire pot of potatoes, assist in a cake from scratch, etc. Now this, she takes after mommy!

Noni leads a charmed life, loved by many, so talented. She is still my sweet baby, loves her cuddle time, yet so independent, zipping straight to her class and getting out her work and getting started, with no direction.

I love my darling Noni-bird.

Little feet

There is nothing sweeter than the sound of little feet trotting along. We walked along the river path that leads to the harbour, Josh trotting along as fast as he could muster. This, accompanied by "super boy!" and then counting to 10 and yelling "goooo!". He is absolutely priceless in his moments. He was a turkey to keep on the path, picked fistfuls of dandelions to throw up in the air and shout "hooray!". He would also run onto the brambles and lie down on them-why? Who knows, but the exhuberance he approaches every activity with is to be envied. To see the world through the eyes of a 2-yr old again would reveal such wonder and amazement that we have either forgotten or taken for granted. I also envy his energy, and just general excitement. He breaks things down to such simple terms, all circulating around what makes him the happiest. Why don't we all do that? I think we would be much more satisfied.

At bedtime today, we read his favorite book full of poems and songs. All the kids loved this book, but I think Josh is the most fond of it. He is so soothed by it, he would listen to it a dozen times over if I could stay wake through it-it is a very long book! After his book we said his prayers, where he pauses to say "yah" at each verse. After saying "night night mama", and "love you mama" he started telling me about pink candy canes being yummy. Now what on earth made him think of that is beyond me. Now he loves candy canes, and is probably missing the stash i kept at home, I still do not know what made him think of them-unless it was our Tim Burton night the night before. Josh has joined us in our love for his work, he was absolutely enthralled. I am anxious for the fall season already!

Josh is such a wonder. He is at that age, the peak of curiosity, full of an energy so different from his sisters, yet I see bits of their personalities entwined with his. He is such a beauty, with his wide grin, big blue eyes and button nose. He charms everyone, even in his little statements at shoppers today, standing defiantly between myself and another little boy saying "MY mama"! A couple of days ago when we were having coffee and gelato, he was telling a pair of old ladies about his "yummy, blue ice cream" and telling them it was "delicious". They fussed over him, how handsome, how articulate, he speaks so clearly etc. It was hilarious. He is very charming boy indeed.

I love my little man.

Long way to go

Well we have travelled for days, across the DULL, DULL prairies (SO boring, words cannot describe-the kids got excited every time we saw a hill-it was that bad!). The mountains were gorgeous. We visited Jasper, where the kids saw elk, mountain goats, a wolf, and deer. We stayed in Valemont, so pretty there, we ate at the Caribou grill, and yes, they serve caribou! We stayed our next night in Chilliwack, it was ok, but I did not like our hotel there. We were in Vancouver a bit after that, then Nanaimo, then home. The island is gorgeous, I love the scenery. Everything is in full bloom-the garden centres are full of plants. We are starting to choose our trees and shrubs for our yard. I am thinking I want a red maple, a magnolia, and a variety of cedars. We also want a fruit tree, but we haven't decided what. There is a gorgeous black grass that I want a bunch of for out front, and we may get a yucca again as Dave really liked it. Lots to decided on.

We visited our closest beach here, a 5 min drive. Very sandy, large beach. The kids were beside themselves beachcombing. We collected a bunch of shells, the kids were chasing crabs, and scooping up jellyfish that got washed in on the tide. They also found a dried crab that somehow has made it back with us! We are going to have a crate of shells that we won't know what to do with by the end of the summer, I can see it now! When it is warmer we can do some serious beachcombing and find octopus, starfish and sea cucumbers! The kids have been avidly reading their ocean book, and we bought an ocean facts game to also help the kids learn. It is exciting to have interesting stuff to do again, I am feeling less homesick for Ontario for the first time since we left. There are several oceanside mini-golfs that look awesome just 15 min up the coast, the kids are excited to go there (they take after their Dad and love golf!), and we have found a great bakery/chocolatier/coffee shop called Hot Chocolate we are in love with already-they serve fantastic artisan bread that reminds me of Pan Chancho. I am also dying to pick up more local wine and cheese from the winery and cheese factory here. I loved taking the kids to Wilton cheese factory, can't wait to go here. We visited a tea house here, they sell over 100 kinds of whole leaf tea. I will go next week after we are in the house and stock up. We picked up some cute kamik rubbers for the kids at a shop, and there is a gift/home shop up the street from it I will head back to and pick of these cool lime green baskets for the house too. A few of our favorite things.

The kids went to their school today, I am anxiously waiting to hear how their days went. The kids are good at making friends, so I hope they enjoy their teachers. We have a ton to do before the end of the week when Dave goes, I am not looking forward to it, but he is bringing back a case of lobsters to celebrate our housewarming with. It is going to be a busy summer. I am done my course successfully, next one starts soon, but it is much lighter, which I purposely chose so I can relax with my kiddos this summer. We plan on going to the beach almost daily, just because we can. The kids are only little for a short time!