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)

DADDY'S HOME

Jake returned to the Island after being away for 8 nights. Needless to say, we were all very happy to see him. He stuck around for a couple of days before sadly having to go back to work this morning.

After a string of visitors, it was just me and the kids today. It was a quiet and an abnormally yell-free day, and without friends to entertain and play with my children, I spent some one on one time with each of them which I enjoyed immensely. I played cards with Sam and Spike (his imaginary friend), Clara and I drew some pictures together and wrote a story, Will and I cuddled and read in bed, we stole Grandma's stash of M&M's and made cookies, and then practiced flips on the trampoline. We ate the leftover crab for dinner and made some fresh squeezed lemonade, and ate the cookies we baked earlier...all of them. We had an evening swim and then cuddled again in bed, in front of a movie.

Sam's latest 2 party tricks...First, "pull my finger" which ends in a fart or a burp, which is gross but equally impressive and funny.

Second, swing the bucket around really fast so the water doesn't fall out...