MOMMY VS DADDY

Tonight, as I was tucking Sam into bed and giving him a back rub he turns his head and tells me that Daddy is actually better at giving rubs.  

This is not an uncommon statement of Sam's.  According to Sam, Daddy is better at everything...at fixing things, installing batteries, driving the car around a sharp turn, playing memory, hopping on one foot, lifting rocks, catching crabs, etc.  And he is not only better, apparently he is also faster, stronger, straighter, taller and smarter.  I have given up being sensitive or defensive long ago.  But seriously folks...better at back rubs?  Maybe it is the heat that is agitating me tonight, but rubs are my specialty...I am the best at back rubs!!

So I ask him frankly (and out of curiosity), "what am I better at than Daddy?"

And he replies "ummm...let's see...I know....folding...folding clothes"  And then to rub it in some more, he continues "not boat driving or hammering things."

I was about to get seriously defensive when Clara peeks her head into the room and reminds Sam that I am better at cooking too.

"Yes" I agree, sitting up a bit straighter and feeling a little bit better about myself.  "That's right.  I am definitely better than Daddy at cooking.  You tell me one thing that Daddy has cooked for you" I challenge him.

And he answers me..."pickles."

1 for the mommy 

o for the daddy

HOT NIGHTS

Hot nights as in, it is stinking hot and muggy here in Vancouver right now, even at three in the morning!

The kids and I spent last night laying in our undies in bed in front of the fan, eating ice cream and watching Barbie as Thumbelina (new release).

What did you do last night?

THORMANBY

Dear Geoff and Sara (I know you are reading this GD). Thank you for letting us crash your vacation and for sharing such an amazing place with us.  We had an incredible weekend.  

I particularly loved the sandy beach, the sitting area at the beach, the current magazines that I got to read because Sara held Will the entire time and my kids played in the water the entire time, my granola and buttered raison rye bread in the morning, Candiss' crab cakes and warm milk cake (my fav), Jen's lunch spread (I basically love all food that has been made by others), the warm sun and all the relaxing I got to do.  Hopefully we were good guests and will be invited back next year.  

KISSES.

the beginning of a very bumpy boat ride up

the skipper and sinbad having a love in

the goings ons

will loves sara XOXO

the lunch and drink parade

the sitting and socializing area

will heading up to the cabin

sara and the 2 ruby's having a nap

mermaidia

ruby finds a new instrument

sara and will giving ruby's butt some love

afternoon drinks 

clara loving the girly attention

girl's club

me and the hosts...and will

at the end of the boardwalk

dinner at the beach

finney looking to share my steak

after dinner entertainment (a skit about naughty brothers)

clara and the george girls

sisters

the "sandbar" is open

which brings us to the next day when we packed up our bags and sadly went home...

SEARCHING FOR CLAMS

I promised Sam that we would dig for some clams and then have a delicious clam dinner before the summer ended.  I said this to him after he was about to lick and probably eat, a half dead clam he found at our beach yesterday.

Just around the corner from our Bay, apparently is THE place to find clams.  Butter clams, manila clams, littleneck clams, softshell clams...you name it, it it there (so I've heard).

So, we packed up this afternoon for a little clam adventure, and though we did have fun and found lots of starfish and someone's camera case floating in the ocean, the tide came up quickly and soon we were forced off the beach.

On our way back, we passed our neighbours who were on the deck having an afternoon meal with friends. We waved and said hello, and they very hospitably invited us for a drink and to share their meal of...

...CLAMS!

Sam was also offered a coke (his first, I swear), a chocolate chip cookie and fresh caught crab, all to go along with his first clam meal.

And all of which was quickly gobbled up, and loved.

We will try again next week when Daddy is here to help cook them.  I'm not a fan of killing my food anyway.

THE END.

ME AND THE KIDS AND 26 FRIENDS

It has just been me and the kids this week on the island.  

But I can't say it is has been quiet or calm. Will has taken to screaming when he wants something or is unhappy about something, and Sam and Clara have entered the violent stage of siblinghood.  There is lots of pinching, hitting, biting and smacking going on these days, as well as the subsequent crying, screaming, tattling and drama.  Fortunately, 80% of the time, they still like each other, and Sam happily plays pet store and house and musical theatre on the swings with his big sister.  At least for now.

They also joined forces the other morning and barricaded Will on the deck using every chair in sight.  I heard Will screaming (which is common these days and does not generally result in me hurrying out too see what is going on).  So, after washing the last breakfast dish I wandered out to find this:

"What are you guys doing?" I asked.  "It's OK mom," the kids replied in unison..."we gave him some toys and a granola bar."

Something else new this week: Clara has not 1...not 2, but 26 imaginary friends!  There are 4 different families, all whom have at least 4 kids each.  She has drawn, named and given everyone an age.  I particularly like the names Big Skin, Pops, Stip and Timmy the twins.  Of course, her best friends are named Diamond and Sparkle.

At first, Sam thought this all quite believable.  Clara asked to borrow my cell phone to call up her friends (believable).  She had a very believable conversation about how they were doing and when they would be arriving at Pasley, etc.  A little while later she heard their boat coming and yelled out "they are here!" (believable, even though Sam didn't see the boat).  She then asked for permission to walk down the path to the dock to greet them.  Sam was excited to see these friends and wanted to go with her.  He quickly put on his crocs and his life jacket (the rule when they go to the dock) and raced down the path with his sister.  

But then, Clara hugged the air and started to have an animated conversation to the empty space in front of her, and Sam started to catch on...his sister was turning crazy.  

And when I had to kiss Sparkle, Dimaond, Lucy, Strawberry and Blueberry, who were all having a sleepover in Clara's bed, goodnight, I think Sam started to think his mom was turning crazy too.  Poor guy.  But despite his initial confusion, he has started to play along.  He now has a friend named Finney, who is Sparkle's younger brother, and who also happens to have green hair and purple eyes and can jump super high.

Well, moving on...

Here are a few photos of other things we have been doing this week, besides living in our pajamas and bathing suits and enjoying the sunshine:

Squirting the dog.

Making cookies, which is a feat considering our oven only broils.  We mostly eat the dough.

Playing on our new tramp.  Here Will is sucking on a sucker on the tramp, which I agree, is hardly safe.

Feeding the deer the last of our fruit and vegetables.

And Daddy came up for a night (hooray), and he and Sam cleared some more logs from our beach (hooray).