Treat visits!

We knew from their blog that Ali was going to Saskatchewan through Toronto, but when we were able to arrange a lunch together at the Eaton Centre, we were pretty excited.

We took the subway down for a treat for the kids...Hannah sure felt proud to stand!






Then had a somewhat disappointing lunch at Mr. Greenjeans. Ali & Jason both had fond memories of their childhood visits to Toronto and lunches at Mr. Greenjeans. They've fixed it all up in there, but it's somehow lost it's charm and it's kid-friendliness. Plus the staff were all pretty grouchy. But the company was great, and you can never go wrong with ice cream!



We walked around the Eaton Centre a bit then said our good-byes.








We got home just in time for a call from John who was an hour away and got to have treat visit number 2! For some reason, I have no pictures from that visit, but we had dinner together and then lots of sports with the kids in the backyard. Thanks for coming, John!

It sure feels like summer. Hannah's friend around the corner is back from a long vacation so they got to catch up and Jack's still over at his friend's house (2 doors down!) for a swim. This is how I remember summers...lots of playing outside with friends until what felt like the wee hours but was really only close to 9:00pm!

This wouldn't have happened at the Holiday Inn!

I think I have a touch of Poison Ivy! I remember thinking I should put my shirt back on, as I wrestled through overgrown somethings, trying to get some old twigs to start the fire. - J

Camping is fun -

- when you have a trailer....Yes it may not be real camping, but this is as real as it gets with me. If there was a Holiday Inn at the park I would have been inside it, but this was the next best thing. (all pics are clickable - click to make larger)
We started our camping vacation at a little campground on the outskirts of Brighton, Ontario - it wasn't really a great place, but we were all excited to be on our vacation and try out the trailer that our friends let us use for a few days.

The following day we parked at Prequile' Provincial Park in Brighton. What a nice park, huge sites, beautiful beaches and lots of activities for the kids to do.

The bugs were out in full force but so was the sun - no rain in 5 days, we really lucked out.


Hannah's frog - she was depressed she didn't find one all the time we were there - until I found one on the last night!






The lighthouse at Presquile, we couldn't go inside - too dangerous..

















Hangin around the campsite.

More Camping

Dana had a little photo shoot with the kids at a rocky beach near our site. At night we thought the we could hear the traffic on the 401 but it was really the waves crashing on shore...ahhh nature.


















Hannah waking up in the trailer. We all slept great - the nice fresh air really wiped out the kids, the swimming did too.









The view from our site, we had a nice little area that was just grass and which the kids named "Butterfly Meadow"

I think everyone was in agreement that the beach was the best part. Huge and shallow, just perfect for kids. The water was very warm and the beach very sandy. The water was wavy and the kids loved getting tossed around and try to fight through them.

Hannah and Jack checking out a turtle at the Nature Centre - the kids programs were great and we did almost everything that was offered.

A nice pic to end our camping vacation - good times had by all.

We're Home!

Home from camping, safe and sound. Good times had by all, water was very warm and the waves big enough to toss the kids around, a little mosquito-bitten but other than that a very great (rain-free) trip. Pics and stories to follow - J

My little photo shoot with Henry

T-ball

We had a great time at Hannah's t-ball game (even though the coach decided to play an extra 45-minute inning at the end) and were so glad Papa & Dad & later Mike & Bennett could join us.
Hannah played a great game!
Dana

Blooooggggg

Long time no bloggin' Yesterday I couldn't even remember what day it was, it was a crazy busy day, I started work at 8 and didn't get home until 9 last night, poor Dana had her hands full with swimming lessons, t-ball and everything else that goes on at home during the day. Work here is crazy-busy. ESPN is here training us on a new automation scoring system that TSN will begin using in September and we needed to cram in as much time as would could on the system so I can train others when I return from my vacation. A vacation I am very much looking forward to - 3 weeks of family time and brain rest.

For you sports fans...TSN's SportsCentre will be broadcast in true HD in September. I didn't think HD would be a huge difference in quality, but after watching the World Cup at work in true HD, on an HD television, the picture is truly remarkable - crystal clear, an amazing picture quality. Expensive? Yes, and that is why I will continue watching television on my parents old Woolco bought t.v. - you know the ones made to look like a piece of furniture - incased in wood? It will never die, at one time the audio starting cutting in and out - Dana and I were excited thinking that we now have a reason to replace it, but it turned out to be a loose cable...I can't bring myself to spend money on a new one until this one has lived out it's use. Who would of thought a floor-model Woolco t.v. would have lasted this long.

Anyway...rambling on here. Last night I was putting Jack to bed and he asked me;
Jack: "Daddy I thought the word was adult (ad-ult), what is adult (a-dult)?"
Me: "It's the same word, some people pronounce the word differently though"
Jack: "Oh..like bum and butt?"

Oh the memories...

Last year at this time we were laying around on the beach in Maine...enjoying the sunshine and the ocean breeze.

Take a peek here to see their live webcam of the beach.

Next year we return!

What a wonderful day I had today. Sometimes I think the best days are the ones that you didn't have high expectations for. The kids had swimming lessons at a nearby pool so we rode our bikes there this morning. A couple of moms called earlier in the morning so we arranged a picnic after the lesson and then they all came back here for a swim. I think there were 10 kids in the pool at one point! Then Hannah had yet another friend come to play and swim (most of the other kids were Jack's friends or their siblings). Then a quick dinner and off to watch Hannah's t-ball game. Mike & Eri & Bennett came to watch too and there were kids climbing trees and at the playground and some time actually spent watching the game. Hannah got out in her first inning and home in her second. It was a great game and the kids are really starting to understand the game and seem to really be enjoying themselves. We went out to Dairy Queen for ice cream afterwards then home and to bed. Henry's been sleeping with a little doll lately that he calls "baby" and he tells her all the things he did that day while he falls to sleep. It's pretty cute! And for some reason I've stayed up way later than I should have, but we're on summer hours around here and even the kids have been getting to bed later than usual. It's nice not to have to rush them around in the mornings! Looking forward to more of the same tomorrow!
~Dana

Ummm....what?!

Ok, I know I'm going to jinx it, but today was day 3 of toilet training Henry. I said I would start in the summer when we were home all day and outside most of the time so the first day the kids were off school, Henry wore "big boy underwear". But today...day 3...he was dry ALL day and peed on the toilet 12 times! AT A BARBEQUE with other kids and distractions everywhere!! I'm so proud of him!

Anyway, the barbeque was great, thank you so much, Karen. The kids had so much fun - I think the kids actually outnumbered the adults - yikes!

Dana

A little out of order, on Friday we celebrated my birthday...I sure felt lucky to have 4 generations in my backyard swimming and eating. We moved the table down onto the grass and it was a real garden party. It was my best birthday yet! Thanks everyone!

Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

We were in town this year to be part of our Canada Day Parade, last year we were on our way to Maine. Everyone meets up in the park and sings Oh Canada then we are all part of the parade around the neighbourhood. The kids really enjoy it and we know a lot of people from school, every year it seems we know more and more people here in Markham. Dana's parents and her grandfather also walked the parade route.