The picnic today was a lot of fun. It was sunny and hot though and I had to line up for 20 minutes for two cups of water! There were no lines for the cans of pop and lemonade but I only wanted water. The kids had great time too. We only had to wait in one long line up (well two if you count the water) for one of the inflatables.

Here is a picture of the guys enjoying a blue staining blue popsicle (Dex still has blue lips and Jax has a melt line from his wrist to his elbow - even after baths!).

Summer O'Fun Day 28

Nanny came in the afternoon today and I went to get my hair cut. I got bangs again. I have spent the last 22 years growing my bangs out only to have them cut again after a short time. I think I will stick with them for a while since I am getting lines (ok, they are wrinkles!) across my brow. I have had one for quite a while but I am getting the kind that people get Botox for. As well as an arch-shaped on above my left eyebrow.

Anyway, the stylist made my hair super straight and it feels really weird. First she used a hairdryer then a flat iron. My hair is sleek and it feels like I have half the head of hair that I really do. Back to frizzy-wavy hair tomorrow.

I finally finished a necklace I was working on.

Tomorrow is dh's annual company picnic. The company holds a picnic over two days to accomodate the 20000 employees in this area. They rent out a farm at the base of a mountain and there is tons'o'food, games, rides, activities. The weather is supposed to be beautiful tomorrow so we'll have a great time.

Summer O'Fun Day 27

Not much happened today. We went to Target to buy new toys for the airplane ride next week. Jax was so excited that he wanted to pack TONIGHT! Stephen says we need to pack light and he was packing only 3 shirts, 2 shorts and 3 pair of underwear. I told him I hoped he enjoyed doing his own laundry because there was no way I was going to spend everyday washing his clothes while I am on VACATION. I will sneak more clothes for him in my suitcase.

We were trying to figure out what to see while we are in Toronto. I really want to go to Niagara Falls. (I haven't been there since 1992 when I went with Sheila and Jackie on the first weekend in July. It was to have been Sheila's wedding that weekend but she and Marc broke up. We stayed in a cheesy motel in the US side and went to a bar that accepted Canadian money at par! Oh, it was called "The Pleasure Dome". lol)

Anyway, Stephen doesn't want to go there. I cannot believe he doesn't think the kids will be interested in seeing 600,000 gallons of water rushing over the falls each second! And that is just on the Canadian side! I would love to take them on the Maid of the Mist. I think I will just have to make the trip without him.

We have a couple of amusement parks picked out plus of course we have to go to the Toronto Island (I have such fond memories of me as a child at the amusement park on Centre Island).

I have NO desire to go to the Toronto Zoo. It is a much better zoo than the one here but it is big and there is tons'o'walking and I can remember complaining to my parents because I was tired and there is no way I will put my kids (or me!) through that!

Oh boy this vacation had better be fun.

Summer O'Fun Day 26

We spent a good chunk of the day at the beach. Kids had a great time. I am a little red where I did not apply sunscreen well. Cars did a face plant in the water trying to reach down for a rock and panicked when he got water in his face. He wasn't far from me but when it happened it seemed like he was miles away. It all seemed to happen in slow motion. He also ran off as we were walking back to the car. I think I need to get him a leash.

Craft today was sand art (glue on dark construction paper then add sand) but no one was interested in doing it. I must be premenstrual because I got a little pissy with my kids about it. Dex said we could take sand home and do it there and I said no way. How childish of me.

Book club was fun. Everyone enjoyed the book. One of the women always had weird thoughts about the characters or situations in the book. For instance, in this book a man took advantage of a situation where Jews were robbed of their belongings during WWII. He then bought them for little money but they were worth hundreds or thousands of dollars (he made his fortune this way). She took it as he saw a business opportunity and took it while the rest of us where abhorred by his behaviour. Another time she liked a character who was mean and cruel but she did not think he was (and clearly the author wanted us to see him this way). Strange.

Anyway, no meeting until the middle of September. I will have to re-read The Time Traveler's Wife by then!

Summer O'Fun Day 25

Today was probably the hottest day of the summer so far. We went to the park to see "Reptile Man", who has the unfortunate real name of Scott Peterson. I swear the adults in the crowd all gasped a little when he said his name. It was fun for the kids (except for B who screamed and cried and ended up sitting on my lap with Cars (she is 7 yrs old).

Afterwards we came home with my friend Rachel and her kids (her middle son was in Dex's preschool class when they were 3). The boys all did slip'n'slide (surprised?) for an hour. I swear it is the best summer toy EVER!

I am in the middle of colouring my hair - 15 minutes to go. Light Golden Brown with highlights. I might not add any highlights this time since I am sure the brassy ones from last time will show through.

Stephen is working late...(pause)...oh, he just walked in the door and in not impressed that I told the kids they could stay up until 9pm. Oh well! :P

I finished "The Time Traveler's Wife" this morning. I really enjoyed the book but I rushed through the last bit because I wanted to know how it ended. I need to go back and re-read a few parts but overall I loved the story and how the book was written. Tomorrow night is book club but we are discussing the book I finished three books ago - "Broken For You". I need to skim through it tomorrow to remember parts I want to discuss.

Ramona is going to look for a wedding dress tomorrow. I hope she finds one she likes!

Summer O'Fun Day 24

Another slip'n'slide day and a trip to the Crazy doctor. I won't see her for the next month due to vacation schedules. I hope I stay sane!

For DMouse - here is a photo of my whole PEZ collection. Click on the photo for more detailed photos.

Top row is special edition PEZ and Pez with no feet.
Second row is superheroes, trucks, headless Pez dispensers and clowns
Third row is Looney Tunes and Disney (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck et al)
Fourth row is holiday Pez - Christmas, Easter, Valentines and Halloween
Fifth and sixth rows are just row on row of Pez: Incredibles, TMNT, Flintstones, Star Wars, Jack-in-the-Box (burger place), Pooh, Tweenies, Pink Panther, Bob the Builder, various animals, Shrek, Hanna-Barbera, E.T., etc
Seventh row is more various Pez and Pez dressed in Pez clothes
Bottom row is Giant Pez, fuzzy Pez and watches, keychains etc

And there you have it. I also have a couple of drawers in a desk full of duplicates that the kids can play with. Jax has also picked out the ones he wants to take when he moves out to go to college. lol

I have been power-walking every night for an hour with my neighbours and I am gaining weight! How is that possible? Aargh.

Today I spent well over an hour dusting and re-arranging my PEZ collection. I have 312 dispensers on display plus 2 Giant Pez dispensers, a Pez car, a Pez truck, Pez Christmas ornaments, Pez magnets, Pez popcorn (gross!), three motorized Pez dispensers, a Pez bobblehead, various Pez keychains, watches, lip balm and party favours. I get giddy looking at the Pez because some of them I love so much! Our oldest one is a Popeye that once belonged to Stephen's cousin's husband. He bought it when he was a young boy in the 1950's. My favourite Pez is a Road Runner Pez (also somewhat rare) and a snowman Pez (one of the first ones Stephen bought for me when we first started dating in 1986). I wish I had had a bride and groom Pez for the top of our cake when we were married. However, they were extremely rare (and expensive), the bride fetching upwards of $1500. They have since re-issued the bride and groom (available directly from Pez for $30/pair).

I see now that there are Bratz Pez which I am in no hurry to add to my collection. I am still always on the lookout for Mr. Bean Pez and I saw some Japanese Barbapapa mini-Pez on eBay. My cabinet is nearly full though so I am not sure what I will do when I get more. In my dream house I will have a Pez room and I will have Pez posters and other memorabilia. In the meantime I will just keep crowding them in the cabinet and hope we do not have an earthquake that will knock them all down like dominos.

Summer O'Fun Day 23

I paid Nanny for 1.5 hours today while I read a friggin book. Can you believe it? It was my original intention to take Jax shopping for pants at 8am when she arrived but I slept a little late and was not ready to go when she arrived. Then I blow dried my hair (which takes a long time but not as long as usual since I am going BALD again) while reading "The Time Traveler's Wife". (OMG That book is so good). So after I finished getting ready I sat on the bed and read until 9:30. Jax was going to a friend's house for the day (the friend whose tooth-fairy gives video games) so I took him there then spent the next 40 minutes trying to drive 6 miles along to parkway to go shopping. Paying Nanny while I sat in traffic was worse than paying her while I read a book!

I called my MIL today and spoke to her for the first time in months. She put me on the biggest guilt trip than my mother has even ever done.
MIL: Sighing heavily "It will be so nice to have everyone finally together for once" (~sniffle~)

Eeek! Even my mom does not cry when she says she wishes we all lived closer to her. Of course my mom is used to it since 4/5 of her children do not live within 1000 miles of her while Stephen is the only one of his siblings to dare move away.

Anyway, MIL is now going to make elaborate plans to get us all together for a family portrait while we are there. Guess we need to take some dressy clothes with us now.

Now I am sighing heavily.

Summer O'Fun Day 22

Not much fun for the kids today until Ash took them in the afternoon. I stayed home with Cars and did laundry.

Summer O'Fun Day 21

Beach day for us. We spent 3 hours at Lk. Samm. State park and it was such a lovely day. It was only about 75 degrees so it did not get too hot. The kids had a grand time.

JP and Marilyn stopped in yesterday on their way back from the Oregon coast. They stayed overnight. They are going to come down to stay with my mom while she babysits the kids when Stephen and I go to Ramona's wedding.

Jax lost a tooth today. It is one of his upper incisors. It was pretty loose and I told him before we went to the beach that I hoped he would not lose it in the lake. Next thing I know he tugged it right out. Then he spent the day wondering what he will get from the tooth fairy. His friend, C, gets xbox games. I have explained to Jax that I did not think our tooth fairy brought things like that. I was excited to have two half-dollar coins to give him but I think he will be disappointed in our tooth fairy. You'd think he learn since this is the third tooth he has lost.

Summer O'Fun Day 19

We are sure getting good mileage out of the slip'n'slide this year. The kids love it (it is a Star Wars one). The kids spent at least 45 minutes on it today (can't wait for my water bill). The only problem is that Jax has been having such a problem with hives this year from the grass, I guess. This is what he looked like today:


I called the allergist over a week ago but cannot get him in until September 8th. I won't worry about it just yet because Benadryl takes the hives away right away but he just looks so horrible in the meanwhile then Benadryl knocks him out. Now I did run out of Zyrtec and am awaiting his refill (damn mail order prescription service!) but he was having hives (not this bad) even when he was on it. Allergies SUCK! Perhaps I should just make an appt with the pediatrician and ask them if they can suggest something.

I finished reading "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". While I realized early on who would be gone by the end of the book, I was surprised and disappointed at who did it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book though. I love these characters so much. Next time I will not buy the book via Amazon but will go to a book store at midnight to get it.

Stephen installed the new range hood today. What a fiasco. When he took the old one off the duct fell apart so he had to partially dismantle the cabinets, then go and buy new ducts and vents etc. So what we thought might be a 45 minute job turned in to a 4 hour job. We "saved" $130 (Sears install) by installing it ourselve but ended up spending $40 on materials. You could tell that the original installers (builder) did such a shitty job. The main exhaust duct does not line up with the center of the range so that was the biggest problem. Anyway, it is finally installed and Stephen was excited to use duct tape on an actual duct.

I am off to read more HP6. I am only 1/2 way through the book. Darn kids kept interruping me today! ;)

Summer O'Fun Day 18

First news first has nothing to do with Summer O'Fun...

My very best friend in the whole wide world is getting married! In November in Las Vegas! I am so excited and happy and delighted for her! Whoo-hoo! Watch her blog for details!

More fun news. I met my friend Mar today. We have been friends online for about 3 years. Sadly, her dh's grandmother passed away and the funeral was just outside of Seattle. She and I made arrangements to meet for a short while at a park. It was so nice to meet her and her family. Here's a picture of she and I (and Cars):



Stephen and I actually have a date planned for tomorrow night. First one in ages. We are going to a movie but the early show this time so there is no repeat of Stephen's $100 nap (babysitting, tickets, popcorn and two drinks before the movie).

Summer O'Fun Day 17

Summer O'Fun Day 17

It was finally warm enough to go to the beach! We went to Lk Samm State Park (think Ted Bundy hunting grounds) and had a good time. There was a nice breeze coming off the lake which kept it from getting too hot. Jax and Dex had a great time swimming in the water and Cars had fun lying on the shore playing in the wet sand. We did have to leave abuptly though when Jax broke out in hives all over his face. It was the worst case of hives I have seen on his face before. I thought I had benadryl in the car but I didn't so we sped home. I will carry benadryl with me from now on. I can put a few tablets in the Epi-Pen case and I will put some in the first aid kit in the car too.

Once we got home, the kids played on the slip'n'slide for a half hour then they sat wrapped up in towels on the chairs in the sun talking and being silly. It was such a perfect summertime day today.

Summer O'Fun Day 16

Our Summer O'Fun group went to Laurie's today. It rained early in the morning so it wasn't the best day. She has a bounce house from Costco that she inflated for the kids to play in. Next week it looks like we will finally have a run of summer weather so the plan is to go to the beach.

Stephen is working late tonight and I need to get the kids bathed and garbage out.

Looking forward to meeting an online friend on Friday afternoon at a park out near the airport!

Summer O'Fun Day 15

Not much fun going on here today. The weather was cool and overcast today. The kids were in crappy moods and I had a migraine most of the day. I finally took an Excedrin Migraine which took away the pain (why didn't I just take the damn thing earlier?).

Our new stove came today. It rocks! I am going to love cooking (ok, so maybe not love) with it. I wonder if it will help me not burn things...

I bought our tickets to Toronto today. The trip will end up costing more than we had anticipated because we waited so late to book them and we decided to take the more expensive (direct) flight to Toronto because the flight via Vancouver leaves at 6AM while the direct flight leaves at a more reasonable 8:15am. So, it was about an extra $300 for the convenience of the direct flight leaving 2 hours later. We are are flying through Vancouver on the way home though.

One interesting tidbit...the flights from Toronto/Seattle and Toronto/Vancouver are approximately the same duration but Air Canada does not serve free food on the Toronto/Vancouver flights (meals for purchase) but they do on the Toronto/Seattle route. I wonder if it is just that Canadians expect less from their airlines than Americans do.

I called the airline after I booked the tickets online to let them know that we had a severe peanut allergic member in our party. The woman gave me the standard line "We do not serve peanuts but cannot guarantee that someone will not bring peanuts on the plane blah blah blah". I replied "I understand that but, as a courtesty, I thought I would let Air Canada know that there will be someone on their flight with a potential life-threatening condition. You know, just in case people bring peanuts on the plane." Silence. Then clickity-clickity-clack-clack as she updated the record and then thanked me for letting them know. We will pre-board and wipe down the arm rests and tray table with Clorox wipes before Jax touches anything.

Summer O'Fun Day 14

Ash's kids were here all day while she had her angiogram (doc did not see any blockage so that's good for her). It was a looong day, esp when Kins had one of her crying jags that lasted 40 minutes because I made her take a time out for lying about Cars hitting her. Geez, I am lucky I think that I do not have girls! No way could I handle the drama!

Anyway, the kids played on the slip'n'slide for almost an hour. My sideyard is a big pile of mud now but they did have a great time.

I am working on a beaded necklace right now. It will be so pretty when it is done. I have got to get back to my knitting though. I still haven't finished the sweather for DeniSe's baby and I have my Booga Bag to make.

Tomorrow we will be going to the library to collect the first prize for completing 300 minutes of reading. Jax just about DIED because we could not go today (right after Gav and Kins left we had to go meet Stephen then I had my Crazy Doctor appt). The prizes are just pencils or stickers but you'd think it was a chest of gold the way Jax is behaving. I am glad that it is keeping him interested in reading through the summer.

I made some beaded stitch markers in case I ever decide to finish the knitting projects I have started. They fit up to a size 6.5mm needle (US size 10 1/2):

Summer O'Fun Day 12

Jax had a friend over today to play. They wanted to play inside most of the day so they missed the sunshine except when I made them march up the street to see if a school mate was home so they could say hi (she was not home). After we took the kid home we stopped by the library. Stephen worked late so I went through the McD's drive-thru and we took our food to the park to listen to a concert (a Mowtown Cover band). There were several people there that we knew and the kids had fun. Dex said he didn't get to have all the fun there was to be had though because we left 15 mins early (it was nearly their bedtime!).

The neighbours directly across the street and neighbours directly to their left (my right) have been feuding for about 7 years. Well maybe feuding is the wrong word. They had a big fight and now they completely ignore each other. Today I was going out to get the mail and the lady across the street and her oldest dd (she's 18) were sitting on their lawn. We exchanged greetings. Just then, their next door neighbour was walking up the street. She looked over and said "Hi Pez" to me very chipper then completely ignored the neighbours as she passed not 5 feet in front of them. They did not react as she walked by - it was as though she were invisible anyway. It was surreal.

Summer O'Fun Day 10

We went to a park in the city that I have never been to before. It was really cool - it had a huge covered area that was good because it did threaten to rain. Anyway, the place has two totem poles (forgot my camera) that are huge and very impressive.

The planned activity was to paint a mural but I told the kids it was a totem pole so they could tell us the story of their painting after they had finished. I had a long roll of paper and I divided it into 2' sections for each kid (some moms painted too). They had such a blast painting it and then sharing their stories. I brought the painting home and took individual photos of each section then cropped them together. You can see it here.

I had taped down the paper and as we were telling the stories, the wind picked up and ripped the paper in half through the heart that Ash had painted. It was ironic because she found out this morning that she has to have an angiogram because she has been having heart pains and flutters for a few months and the meds the cardiologist put her on haven't helped.

Summer O'Fun Day 9 (weekends and holidays don't count)

We did nothing much today. The boys and I cleaned up all of the ashes and debris left over from the spent fireworks. Then I started putting the house back together. Then I was tired so I had a nap with Cars while Jax and Dex watched tv (what a great mom I am, eh?).

I finished reading my book - "Broken For You". I loved it so much. I cried and laughed and cried some more. I wish we had book club this week to talk about it (book club has been pushed out until the 27th and August's meeting is canceled). At least I have cleared the way to start "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" when it arrives next week!

Now we're cooking

I went to Sears today and bought a new range/oven and hood. I didn't think we needed a new hood but Stephen insisted that we get one if we were getting a new range. We've been having problems lately with our oven and the stove top burners no longer work on "LO". Plus Jax broke the lock to the self-cleaning oven when we moved in here 6 years ago so I have to use oven cleaner which has ruined the finish inside a little. And because the self-cleaning feature does not work I do not even clean it often enough anyway. The oven is original to the house (16 years).

Stephen said he wanted to get a new oven next month but Sears had a 4th of July Weekend sale that ends tomorrow. The stove was on sale plus I saved 10% by charging it to my Sears account. No payments or interest until July 2006 and free delivery. So of course we could not wait another month. I bought the Kenmore that was rated #1 in Consumer Reports May edition. Stephen will be happy to have a new range and maybe it will help me with my cooking too. ;)

Tomorrow is our barbeque. Looks like it is going to be a nice day afterall. Today is sunny but barely 70 degrees.

In honour of Canada Day (July 1) and Independance Day (July 4) falling on opposite sides of the same weekend, I thought I would share a few interesting Canadian/American facts between these two cousins:

• Canada is the largest source of imported crude oil in the U.S., bigger than Saudi Arabia or the yet untested reserves of Iraq.*


• Total U.S.-Canada trade is over $1 billion a day.**


• US is Canada's largest trading partner. Canada is US' largest trading partner.***


• None of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists entered the U.S. from Canada.*


• Canada-U.S. trade supports more than five million American jobs.*

* source: The Toronto Star (thestar.com)
** source: USDA (http://www.ers.usda.gov)
*** source: United North American (http://www.unitednorthamerica.org/home.htm)

Happy Canada Day!
Happy 4th of July!

Summer O'Fun Day 8

Yesterday the kids made life-sized self-portraits (or some semblance of them):


They had a good time doing it and they took a long time doing them which is good (sanity keeper for me). Gav and Kins were doing theirs too so it kept all 5 kids busy for about 30 minutes!

Today, Nanny brought over some cardboard for the kids to make a castle.

The castle is great because it folds up and can be stored until the next time they want to play with it. Nanny got the cardboard free from Costco (it apparently is between stacks of Kirkland-brand toilet paper and they let her have it for free. She takes it all the time for her M-Th kids.

I have a movie on for the kids right now. I think I will read my book so it is finished by the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince arrives in 10 days! Otherwise, I am sure I will not get my bookclub book read by the next meeting.