SOME THINGS WE DO

I was just asked again, what the kids and I do on an island all summer. Well, here are a couple more "Pasley activities" besides all the ones I have mentioned in previous posts:

Build forts with ALL the blankets and towels and pillows we own. Then decorate interior of fort with toys, books, clothes, food, tools and flashlights.

Will was banned from this particular fort.

And here is Will pulling his wagon and ball up the hill, sitting in the wagon and then going down the hill. This activity equals up to 57 minutes of independent play.

HARMLESS FIB?

The kids totally busted me a few weeks ago at the ferry terminal when I was paying for our boarding fare. I told the lady "it's me a 7, 4 and 2 year old." Sam and Clara immediately yelled out that Sam was actually 5, not 4 like I said. They wanted to know why I told the lady otherwise. I eventually confessed...I lied because I didn't want to pay $12 for a 5 year old when a 4 year old was free. The told me that was wrong and Sam pulled out a dime from his pocket and told me next time we should pay with this (he thinks he is in the chips).

Needless to say, I decided not to lie about that again.

However, I'd like to think that there is such a thing as a harmless fib. Things we tell our kids to get through an afternoon or an evening in peace. Particularly to kids (like Sam) who can be stubborn and exhaustingly relentless and can ask you the same thing over and over and over, and even over, again.

Some of Sam's latest obsessions which I feel require a harmless fib:

1. Asking if he can "see if Mathew is home" (the boy across the street). First thing he asks when he wakes up and last thing he asks before going to bed (never mind the 21 times in between). Since we have been up on the island for the summer it has become less of an issue, although just yesterday when we were home, I finally told him "Mathew was away on vacation". Lie or harmless fib?
2. Asking me what time is it at bedtime? Sometime this summer, he has decided that a 7:30pm bedtime is lame and his new bedtime is 10:00pm. He asks me every 3 minutes what time is it now? And obviously exhausted, will force himself awake until I tell him it is 10:00pm. Tonight, at 8:12pm when he asked me what time is it, I told him 10:00pm. Lie or harmless fib?

Speaking of bedtime, I am going to try to be in bed by 11:00pm starting on Monday. Actually I need to do a lot of things now that the summer is coming to an end. Like, drink water and eat less guacamole. Maybe take a little champagne break too.

And a few very random pictures:

ROWBOAT ADVENTURE

The kids and I have had many "rowboat adventures" this summer.

It often begins with us putting out the crab trap, it always involves some singing and maybe some eye spy, and we often end up checking on the seals on Snake Island or digging for clams at Clam Beach if the tide is low enough.

Lately, our "rowboat adventures" has taken us to neighbour's beaches, where we stop for a swim or a jump off the dock, have good visits and say yes to a cold beer (me).

Don't all parents let their kids play with real sabres?

The sabre sharing didn't go so well, so it was confiscated before we even left the beach.

Sam discouvered the hiding place of the sabre.

Checking out the seals (can't really see them in this picture, but there are a lot of them).

The end of that particular adventure...

TRAMPOLINE, POKER AND TABLE DANCING

Well here I go...I'm going to try to catch up from the past 10 days.

The kids and I have had some quiet time on the island again. Quiet time as in no guests, nothing to do with my kids being quiet.

Here is a typical afternoon when we are by ourselves:

Lots of jumping and various games on the trampoline (in our jammies), which Jake and I have decided was one the greatest investments ever!

I also have decided that I must be terribly out of shape since I am out of breath and sweaty after having a "bum war" with Sam.

Sam can now land a flip on 2 feet.

Trampoline airplane rides:

Followed by some draw poker. I taught the kids Speed, Poker, Back Gammon, and more recently Hearts. Clara has finally figured out what exactly Lady Gaga is singing about in "Poker Face."

Speaking of Lady Gaga, dancing on the table is a common occurrence at camp, and even encouraged.

MORE VISITS

More visits with good friends and the best guests.

Vivian, Dave and Camille arrived fresh from Salt Spring Island and fresh from the farmer's market. I can get really excited about fresh food. They brought us homemade pasta and sauce, aged balsamic, really good wine, chocolate almonds, Salt Spring goat feta, chocolate cranberry bread, dips and herbs and veggies...

And they somehow knew that Sam's favourite gift of all time would be a remote control helicopter and Will a remote control stunt car and Clara a bracelet with removable charms. They even brought the double A batteries!

Never mind, that they are some of the loveliest people I know. Will fell in love with Vivian, Clara with Camille (who entertained us with skits and riddles) and Dave taught Sam some new party tricks (eg: how to fart with your armpit and hands).

Dave amazed us with his crab eating. I think he may of beaten Grandma's record of 4 crabs in one sitting.

Clara and Camille practicing a skit:

New toy:

I love this boy...

POLAROIDS AND PORT

I had a visit from a friend who I have not seen in far too long, and his lovely wife and daughter (who has the best hair, ever). Steve bought me an old polaroid camera and a bunch of different film. I'm totally hooked! He also brought up some 20-year old port which we all sipped on while watching the sunset on the poop deck along with some milk or dark chocolate (I'm a milk kind of gal).

It was so great to reconnect and catch up and meet each other's families.

Clara making yet another crumble:

BEST GUESTS EVER

Last weekend, some of our besties came up to the Island for a visit. Not only are our kids around the same age and play the entire time together, but they also showed up with a menu plan and all the food for 2 days (and some new flip flops). It was such a perfect, fun, (very hot) and relaxing weekend...and the shooting stars, were crazy amazing! The only thing missing, was my husband. But Mike did a good job of pouring champagne and playing music on his behalf and Clara cuddled with me at bedtime.

A new wharf was built:

Some dancing on the table:

Some apples were picked in the orchard:

Followed by a naked swim (the kids):

Good times in the Gator:

And the loveliest belly ever:

Lots of nature pees:

Me (the one with the square face) with one of my "top 5":

(*Annie, thanks for making me my own bowl of guacamole after the boys licked the bowl clean from the first go around)