WINDY DAY

On a windy day, you might find us flying Clara's kite on the point. She doesn't like to share it however, and she is quite worried that it will get stuck in a tree or get lost in the ocean.

This kite was a birthday gift from her friend and I think it makes an awesome present for a 7 year old. Although my 5 year old wishes he had one too.

And one of Will napping that day, just because...

LAST OF THE MEIGHEN VISIT

The last of the pictures from the Meighen visit.

Gretchen's brother and his girls came over for the day. Clara made a new friend, we swam and ate and played, and they brought me some fresh eggs from their chickens (a highlight...I would love to have me some chickens).

I was also excited to have some new faces to photograph.

Levi rockin' the vintage tiny tikes:

THE COMPLAN JAR

This is the "complan (complain) jar" that sits on our kitchen table:

After huffing and puffing and sighing and complaining one morning, Jake suggested to Clara that she should definitely write a note to the complaint department. And so, this is how the "complan jar" came to be.

I thought it might be a good way for Clara to articulate her feelings (as crazy as they may be), and the initial plan was to discuss and work through the complaints at the end of each week.

Here is Clara's first complaint...the complaint that started it all:

It hasn't totally taken off (maybe there is not a lot to complain about after all), but here is a sampling of complaints from the past couple of weeks:

• the moms went for a run and I have two brothers and the people that came up (the meighens) were just boys exsept the mom who went for a run so I'm stuck with the boys. 1 girl. 8 boys. Clara Chalmers.
• sam always takes the things i'm playing with. Clara Chalmers.
• my dad didn't let me go on the boat ride to pick are friends up. Sam Chalmers.
• my dad woke me up when I was having a nice sleep plus he woke me up bi taking away my baba (blanket). Will Chalmers
• wet bathing suits and towels left in a lump on the bedroom floor. Mommy Chalmers

ANNUAL MEIGHEN VISIT

I think this was the 9th annual Meighen summer cabin visit. Clara was feeling very outnumbered with their 4 boys, plus her 2 brothers, but Sam thought it was awesome. Plus they liked to play Uno (favourite game of the summer). They stayed with us 3 nights and endured my "hot or not" evening game on the deck, but their visit was not long enough...

I miss them during the year. California is too far away.

Some of the photos from our time together (more tomorrow):

10. MAKE CRABCAKES WITH LEFTOVER CRAB

Done.

On the menu:

crabcakes (with leftover crab caught and eaten earlier that day)

asiago and chili lime prawns with toast points (also fresh caught that day)

coleslaw with lots of celery seed (the key ingredient)

ice cold coronas with a lime wedge

40. HAVE PIZZA AT TUSCANY

Done.

Jake and I managed to get away on Friday night for a date at Tuscany on Bowen (the most delicious wood oven pizza...we shared the pear and brie signature pizza, and I got the warm goat cheese salad, of course).

One of the boys on the island came over to babysit. He recently finished his babysitting course and was the most eager babysitter ever. This always surprises me...that someone is actually excited to take care of my kids and put them to bed. And to top it off, he gave us this receipt for his services. I love it! (he gave me permission to post it).

A GOOD DAY

Yesterday Sam, Clara and I left the island to meet up with the cousins "in town" and go to the Lion King. We rode the rowboat, speedboat, ferry boat, car, seabus, skytrain, watched the performance (which was AMAZING...you have to see it) and then back again to Pasley on the 6:50pm ferry. It was so nice to spend some time with yaya, the aunties and my niece and nephew, never mind go to the theatre. I love musicals!

(a little stunned here, but it is hard to get Sam to look at the camera these days)

(a little stunned here too...it could be the fish and chips we just ate in the ferry line up)

Before reaching Pasley we met up with Will and Daddy for a concert on the lawn at a friend's house on Bowen. The setting was breathtaking, the music was awesome and the evening was all the things I love the most: sunshine, ocean, music, swimming, blankets on the lawn, snuggling up with my husband and my kids...

(this is Will groovin' to the tunes)

It was a good day.