THE WONDER OF FINDNG A FEATHER

62 THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

I did decide a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to make any more lists except for grocery lists, but I really can't help myself.

Tash and Pipe and the 4 kids joined us at Pasley for our annual kick off the summer weekend. We also spent a whole 10 minutes collaborating on our summer list. Clara participated too. Free time is not to be expected with 7 children and one emergency trip to the doctor to extract a fish hook out of Sam's calf.

So here is what we came up with (Clara's contribution is in italics):

1. make homemade salsa
2. make a fairy house with the kids
3. read an entire book (suggestions anyone?)
4. lay around and not feel guilty
5. toilet train the 2.5 year olds
6. make a Blurb book
7. camp with the kids, or at least sleep in a tent with them
8. make outdoor chalkboards
9. buy some new board and card games
10. make crabcakes with leftover crab
11. put up a tire swing
12. have an outdoor tea party
13. have beer and halibut fritters at Smittys
14. dig for clams and oysters at low tide and make a pasta
15. pick our cabin colours (once and for all)
16. plant some herbs
17. blow bubbles with the kids
18. pick strawberries
19. make lemonade
20. swim with friends
21. paint rocks
22. make signs on driftwood
23. explore tide pools
24. look for crabs
25. learn how to dock the boat
26. build a simple fort in the bendy tree
27. take a picture everyday
28. make homemade playdough
29. paint with Clara on the deck
30. watch some fireworks
31. walk to the park
32. plant lavender
33. discover new recipes using summer berries
34. make a doll
35. make some muddled drinks
36. picnic on an adjacent island
37. visit friends on other islands
38. run through a sprinkler
39. go for ice cream
40. have pizza at Tuscanys
41. have a date at Blue Eyed Mary's
42. plant some vegetables and watch them grow
43. make amazing french press coffee
44. go for an adventure walk in the dark
45. lay in the grass and watch the stars
46. play with cousins
47. run through the trails with Kirby and the deer
48. go barefoot
49. have a sleepover on the trampoline
50. have a treat night with a movie
51. have a party on the boat
52. make a big sign that says "welcome to fun world"
53. do an art book
54. grow roses
55. visit new islands
56. put on a play
57. have a crab huntin party
58. go on an adventure
59. take pictures of Ivy
60. make lemonade and make money money money
61. have a dog race
62. get a puppy for Clara

Can't wait for the summer (weather) to actually begin.

A few pictures from the weekend. Piper and I did a little location scouting. So...should anyone want to come to Pasley for a portrait session and then a little champagne on the deck...??

FIRST DAY OF SUMMER

I WANT IT SHORT MOM

For the first time in 5 and a half years, Sam asked for a short haircut. He just didn't casually mention it once, he obsessively mentioned it for 16 days. Kind of like how he obsessively mentions how he would also like an electric scooter.

I casually mentioned how much I love long shaggy hair, but let it go. After all, it was not like he was asking for a tattoo or to move in with his girlfriend. And now it will be clear to everyone that he is in fact, a boy (he was referred to as a "she" in his Kindergarten orientation).

He is still pretty cute!

GREEN SOCKS

Clara called out for me to come outside with my camera while I was making dinner. Apparently she had art directed a shot. She calls it green socks and summer flowers:

MY HAPPY PLACE

Another rushed morning, too many things to accomplish in one day and some more rain here in Vancouver.

But we did manage to get on the boat and zoom away to our cabin this past weekend. I feel so calm there, and so happy and I yell less. I can't wait for the summer to officially begin so we can move up to my happy place.

(Will's happy place too)

LOST TOOTH

After months of waiting and a 2 week long corespondance with the TF (tooth fairy), Clara finally lost her first tooth tonight while we were reading Magic Ponies in bed together.

It is very exciting. And kind of sad for the mommy. Her lost tooth looks so tiny in my hand, just like I think she should be. And her adult tooth which will grow into it's place will be so big like she actually is. Does that make sense?

Some snippets from some of her notes she has been leaving for the tooth fairy these past weeks:

• Dear tooth fairy. I have a surprise for you. I have a wiggery tooth and I hope you come and give me something.
• Dear TF. I loved what you gave me (a loonie and a letter) and now its time for me to give you something (a homemade necklace with a paper tooth locket). And its kind of a misterwy to whose paper this is (the tooth fairy left the note paper, a pen and bottle of glitter on the kitchen counter...bad tooth fairy). PS please give something to my brother. Love Clara. Do you know Ruby? (Clara's friend who told Clara she saw the tooth fairy at school)
• Dear TF. You are a true friend. Do you like mermaids or fairies the best of all?
• Dear tooth fairy. This is something you will like the best of all my notes. Here is a hint (picture of a tooth)

JUNE IS A GONG

June is a gong, like our driveway is a gong.

Too much going on in a little bit of space.

LONG WEEKEND (PART 2 and 3)

I realized I never posted part 2 and 3 of our long weekend adventures at camp Pasley.

Which brings me back to Sunday morning in May, which also happened to be Bridget's 4th birthday.

The girls did some birthday window decorating.

And here is the birthday girl who rang the gong bell 37 too many times.

Inside the boys played some backgammon.

while being watched by cute boy...

while Jake turned red from shaking his margs...

while Lauri had some moments with her book...

while Will emptied out all the baskets of toys onto the deck...

while the girls twirled and whirled around with their new birthday masks...

and Annie made us some delicious birthday nachos...

and Cooper admired his new squirter and lollipop...

and Cooper's mommy had an afternoon nap on the couch...

Until it was time for birthday cake!

There was lots of bad singing...

and birthday kisses...

and beautiful views...

And then we realized we still hadn't raised the flag. So there was some more bad singing...

And lots of laughing...

And then Sophie started to wonder about her strange friend, Clara...

And then we took it to the beach for some warmth and chocolate by the burn pile fire...

We did some more things, but I think there is probably too many photos in this one post! Maybe a part 4?

HAPPINESS IS...

For me, happiness is shopping at Anthropologie with no children, sipping a coffee and not having to rush anywhere.

For Jake, happiness is a trip to the Apple store while wife is at Anthropologie not rushing, and discouvering that a new shipment of iPads has just arrived!

Below: Jake playing with his new iPad while lunching on shrimp and beer. We are both very happy.

But now, we are home. Back to the realty of laundry, pee on the toilet seat (not mine), a stinky minivan and an early wake up.

But I do get to be back with my kids. I have missed them terribly! It is strange how different they appear to be for those first minutes after after being apart for a few days. They look older and sound different and I couldn't stop staring at them...and hugging them. I love them so much!

Thank you YaYa, Grandma and Auntie and Uncle for taking such good care of them!

TEN YEARS LATER

Dear husband,

I am so thankful for you. I am so proud to be your wife. I love being married to you and I can't wait for the next ten years (or make that fifty!).

Love, me.

(self timer picture on our way to dinner)