Our Summer Story

We are well into Fall - most notably marked by the fact my husband just left this morning for his annual moose hunting trip.

Fall really is my favorite time of year.  I love everything about it - colored leaves, apples, cool days, warm sweaters.  But in reality, I can't believe Fall is here.  Summer went by so fast.  So fast that much of the bucket list will be carried over into Fall and/or Winter or even next Summer!  Here's an update:

1. Catch up on movies: The Butler, Saving Mr. Banks and Frozen are all on the PVR Playlist.  - This one I did achieve! I rarely watch movies and I couldn't believe how hard it was to wind down and unplug, just relax and watch the movie.  These movies were worth the wait. Loved them all.  

2. Finish my deck makeover and eat meals outside.  - This is the reason a lot of other things didn't get done on the bucket list.  My deck make over took soooo long.  The weather made it almost impossible to get done but I'm really happy with the results.  And we had many meals outside.

3. Take the kids for a bike ride on the paved trails along our Waterfront.  - Emma got to do this with her Auntie which was actually better because I don't ride a bike! 

4. Fly a kite.  That one was easy!

5.  Catch up on a back log of books I want to read.  Goal: Read at least two by end of August.  - Didn't do so good at this one.  I read Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy and that was laugh out loud funny!  I just finished reading The End of Your Life Book Club - I've actually been reading that since we went camping in August! 

6. Go to our local water park. (This is actually one of the things Emma has specifically requested this Summer).  - We spent two great days there and the kids really enjoyed it.

7. Go camping.  - Probably the highlight of the summer.  Emma has already been asking to go next year.  I loved being away from home and just being with my kids. 

8. Have bonfires and eat s'mores...lots of s'mores.  In fact, try new s'more recipes.  - Didn't have as many campfires as we wanted to. Weather wasn't really conducive to bonfires this Summer.  

9. Check out a local beach we haven't been to before. - Did plenty of this.  Probably one of the best days of the Summer for me.  Emma, Dustin and I went to a beach on a Sunday afternoon and had so much fun floating in the waves.  Was a last minute day trip and those are often the best.  Also had a wonderful trip into a nearby Provincial Park with a great group of friends.  The kids had so much fun.  My favorite memories as a child are the many day trips our parents would take us on to a local lake or nearby beach.  I spent many hours in the water as a child and hope my kids can do the same.

10. Hike a local trail.  - Can I carry that over to a Fall bucket list? 

11.  Pick berries of all kinds and make jam.  - We did get strawberry picking but that was it.  We also benefited from my mother-in-law's bumper crop of raspeberries - the kids enjoyed bowl fulls of those. And I mean bowl fulls.  And we benefited from the raspberry jam and jelly she made.

12.  Get my kayak in the water.  - Yes!!!!! This finally happened.  A couple times.

13.  Visit local watering holes such as the Shanty House and Brew Pub by the boys at Whitewater Brewing (I suppose that is not a very kid friendly activity).  - Maybe this Winter?

14.  Go geo-caching.  - Another great day.  Even Dean enjoyed this activity with us!  Our fearless leader and good friend SD showed the kids how to read the GPS and find the caches.  You have no idea how much fun this was for Emma.  Our whole house is a geo-cache - tiny little treasures she's collected and hidden away.  She loves tiny things.

15.  Plan a mother-daughter getaway, just locally, but spend some one-on-one time with Emma. - This was the one I was most disappointed didn't happen.  There just never seemed to be a weekend to get away.  Again, maybe another activity that I can carry over into the Winter.  The kids and I did have a great weekend away at a cottage visiting with friends.  One thing I learned this Summer is how hard it is for me to relax and just play or spend time with my kids when I'm home.  I'm too focused on the next meal, the next load of laundry or the floors that need to be mopped.  That's why I love planning little getaways for us.

So that was the story of our Summer.  And as with any well laid out plan with good intentions it's easier to focus on the things we didn't do than it is to just enjoy everything we did accomplish.  I think we had a pretty good Summer. I can't wait to see what the rest of Fall brings and what story we can write.

~ Elizabeth

A Letter To My Daughter

To Emma On Your First Day Of Senior Kindergarten:

Well I suppose I have started a tradition.

This week you boarded the bus for your first day of Senior Kindergarten (SK).  Traveling to school with no idea where your classroom was or who your teacher would be. You were filled with anxiety.

The night before, after reading our bedtime books, we talked a lot about your first day of school.  You told me you didn't want to go to high school!  That made me smile.  Let's get through another year of Kindergarten first.  Oh sometimes I wish I could bottle up all your worries and anxieties and take them on myself.  I just explained that high school would be a long way away and that you had a few more years at your current school.  And then you said "When I go to high school I'll be awesome."  You're awesome in our eyes already dear Emma.

This year was a bit different - I didn't watch you get on the bus but left work early so I could surprise you and get you off the bus.  Nana said when that bus pulled up you were so excited it was the same driver as last year and off you went all smiles.

You knew you had an important job ahead of you.  You were in SK now.  A lot of your friends were starting Junior Kindergarten (JK).  I told you to watch for them.  To help them.  And you did.  As I got you off the bus you were filled with excitement because you were in a class with all your friends. In fact, we are worried for your teacher - don't you guys be giving her any trouble! 

It's hard to believe your second year of school has arrived.  So many things learned in JK and that was only the tip of the iceberg.  This year will bring even more new things and no doubt some challenges as well.  Some days you are 4 going on 14 but most days you are still our little Emma growing up before our eyes.   Our hope for you is that you will make more new friends and be a good friend, that you will gain confidence and discover even more things you love to do, that you'll continue to embrace life and learning, and stay our sweet little Emma.

Love Mommy and Daddy

Emma Graham

First Day of Senior Kindergarten

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Food: Ham. Bologna, & Cheese Sub

Favorite Thing To Do: Play With My Best Friend Zoey

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up:Someone Who Helps Doctors (Nurse)

 

 I think someone missed his sister! 

~ Elizabeth

Summer Bucket List

Here we are, end of July and I'm sharing my summer bucket list.  Gives me just over a month to accomplish everything. 

1. Catch up on movies on a rainy day.  The Butler, Saving Mr. Banks, and Frozen are all on the PVR Playlist.  

2. Finish my deck makeover and eat meals outside.  

3. Take the kids for a bike ride on the paved trails along our Waterfront.  

4. Fly a kite.  

5.  Also catch up on a back log of books I want to read.  Goal: Read at least two by end of August. 

6. Go to our local water park. (This is actually one of the things Emma has specifically requested this summer). 

7. Go camping.  

8. Have bonfires and eat s'mores...lots of s'mores.  In fact, try new s'more recipes.   

9. Check out a local beach we haven't been to before. 

10. Hike a local trail.  

11.  Pick berries of all kinds and make jam.  

12.  Get my kayak in the water.  

13.  Visit local watering holes such as the Shanty House and Brew Pub by the boys at Whitewater Brewing (I suppose that is not a very kid friendly activity).

14.  Go geo-caching.

15.  Plan a mother-daughter getaway, just locally, but spend some one-on-one time with Emma.

Luckily I've already checked a few of these off the list (more on those later).  But some seem unachievable...like the deck makeover.  That has been a work in progress since June and it's a tedious task that has been impeded by time and weather.

Hoping August brings more sun, less rain, and lots of time for making memories and writing our story.  

~Elizabeth

Happy 2nd Birthday Dustin!

So Dustin turned 2...in May.  I'm so ridiculously behind in writing posts.

For Dustin's birthday I vowed not to do an elaborate party because only a month before we hosted our first annual Easter Egg Hunt. But I needed to do something and because Dustin is so into backhoes and other heavy equipment that was the theme.

I made the invitations myself (borrowed a verse from Pinterest). Lift, Haul, Move, Dig.  Our birthday boy is getting big. 

Snacks served in a dump truck.

His adorable t-shirt I had made at a local screen printing place.

There were no shortage of gifts related to machinery.

My sorry attempt at icing a cake. 

Smiles with Daddy.

And no party is complete without treat bags (even one for the birthday boy!).  I did sand buckets with summer related items (A water toy, ice pop, glow stick, and candy.)

It's hard to believe Dustin is 2.  He is talking so much and keeps us laughing all the time. He loves being outside and I can't get him out of his rubber boots.  It's gonna be a fun summer with those two.

~Elizabeth 

New Easter Tradition

I love traditions especially the ones that occur around holidays. So this Easter I started a new tradition for my Ontario family and friends...The Graham Family Easter Egg Hunt, based on the Easter Egg Hunt held each year in Nova Scotia by my mom's family.   

Eggs were scattered around 12 "stations".   Mostly filled with Easter treats but I had a few non-junk food items such as erasers, pencils, and some festive drinking cups. 

The minion eggs I made...these were my fave!

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The kids all received name tags for their baskets.

I can't throw a party without decorations.

We had a potluck supper with yummy festive desserts.  Was a great way to end the day. I loved this new tradition and have already got all the eggs sorted and bagged ready for filling again next year!

~Elizabeth

Embracing Winter...Yeah I'm Done With That

Up until last week I could say I really embraced Winter this year.

I joined a women's snowshoe group and discovered area trails and parks I didn't even know existed and spent time with amazing ladies while doing so.

We enjoyed many fantastic outdoor activities with family and friends.

Emma going dog sledding!

Celebrated with the community at our local winter carnival, which I was a member of the planning committee.

 

 

As a family we celebrated the Olympics and cheered on our Canadian Athletes.  Emma and I cheered when the ladies hockey team won Gold (listening to the game on the radio in a Tim Horton's parking lot) and watched the men's hockey Gold medal game early Sunday morning enjoying a breakfast at home.

Olympic cookies I made for Emma's class.

Emma and I enjoyed a fantastic day in Ottawa, taking in Disney on Ice.

We watched curling game after curling game.

There was snowmen and sliding.

And the snowshoes really got a work out this winter.

Even Dustin tried snowshoeing!

And don't get me wrong-sometimes the natural beauty of winter is just stunning. 

 

But this is what we woke up to this morning.

 

Needless to say my enthusiasm for winter is vanishing pretty quickly.  And to top it off, last week, yet again, the whole house came down with another cold, Dustin's developing into an pneumonia.  I'm so sick of everyone being sick.

I think many of us would agree we are ready for Spring.  But as always, during the transition between seasons, I find myself reflecting on the long months that have just passed.  Making me grateful for the time we had with family and friends.  Being thankful that my children are happy and healthy, aside from the constant colds.  With Spring comes renewal and more blessings and we look forward to embracing and celebrating that season too!

~Elizabeth