First Day of School

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - Grade 7 for the pre-teen and junior kindergarten for the girl.

Notice the happy, excited smiles? They weren't faking it - they really were that jazzed to get on the school bus. It might have had something to do with the coffee I forced on them at breakfast, but hey, whatever works, right?

Derek was itching to catch up with his friends who he didn't really get a chance to hang out with during the summer-that-never-was and Danielle was ecstatic to finally go on the " 'tool bus" with her big brother.

We thought she'd freak out once the bus arrived and she actually had to get on it, but trouper that she is, she barely batted an eyelash, gave us a wave and a smile and they were off...with us following close behind because after all, that's our baby girl on that bus and who knows where it really stops and starts and maybe the driver is going to forget he's got kids on board and park it at the local pub while he pops inside for a pint or two.

UPDATE: They did get to school. No drinking establishments along the country roads they travel to get there. School bus driver still has all his limbs.

My Daddy

This is my father, relaxing at our cottage, smiling at his grandchildren.

My son thinks it's pretty funny that I still call him "Daddy" at my age. Hang on a sec while I grab my cane...

As a little girl, my father was always pretty high up on the pedestal - and even though now as an adult the pedestal isn't quite so high because I understand that he is not just a dad, but a husband, grandfather and man, it doesn't take much for me to see the halo around his head.

Summer Hubby

I took these photos at the lake a couple of weeks ago while hubby and his pals did some

wakeboarding and skiing. I love seeing him do this stuff because it reminds of the summer we met and fell in love. I remember thinking how very hot and masculine and full of life and energy he was then....and still is.

Getting Right To The Point

"Mummy, me have some of your mel-le-lade?" my daughter asked.

"Bébé, what is it you want to drink?" I wanted her to repeat it because I knew she was trying to ask for lemonade.

"Me have some mel-le-lade, please?" came the dutiful reply.

"Danielle, what do you want to drink?" asked both Daddy and Grampa.

"Agggghh...some PINK WATER!!" was the frustrated and cute-as-hell answer.

Enough With The Guilt!

It's Sunday morning and my son is at his dad's for the weekend, hubby is fishing a bass tournament and I have plunked my 3 year old in front of the Treehouse channel so I can get online to browse and to update - something I haven't done in several weeks - and I feel guilty for doing so.

Why is that? Hubby gets plenty of cave-time which he needs and is important to him - in fact I'd wager that most men get lots of it - and yet, despite how guilty I'm feeling for not interacting, not playing with my daughter, I'm still sitting here typing instead of closing the laptop and getting down on the floor to do puzzles.

Is it the curse of the working mother? I'm pretty sure that stay-at-home and work-outside-the home moms all feel exactly the same - we are all working and there never seem to be enough hours in the day for us. I'm going on maternity leave in mid-September and I cannot wait for our baby girl to arrive but also (again with the guilt!) for the kids to be at school so that I can get into a routine with baby and get into a routine of taking care of me too.

I hear it all the time - mothers who take time to nurture themselves through exercise, meditation, shopping (pick your poison!) are better mothers because they've had that time to recharge their batteries.

WHY CAN'T I SEEM TO GET THIS THROUGH MY OWN STUBBORN HEAD?