Lunch with Mary.....

Every wednesday, Mary and I take in the Analyst meetings that start at 9am in Nanaimo.  Then we go back to our `cubicles` that are beside eachother....we take turns staring at eachother with big white eyes - confused and sometimes overwhelmed.  The nice thing about Mary is that we are never overwhelmed at the same time....and if one of us doesn`t know the answer, chances are almost 90% that the other one does.  We are a pretty great team that way.  We now have 2 sayings that we have promised to one day put on t-shirts or a mug: `We don`t know, what we don`t know` which pretty much means we have no idea what we are missing, but we often have thoughts that we are missing something!!!  And the other slogan we have come up with `It`s not us....it`s them!!`...pretty much self explanatory.

Then we go out for lunch.....we have both agreed its the highlight of our work week!  This week was Pho!

 I wonder if you can see the unidentified piece of meat that was in my Pho......oh man, I am closer to becoming a vegetarian every passing day.....seriously....

Last week of February.....

Wednesday is always my long day in Nanaimo, and it is

 just so great to get to where ever my camp family is and see this:  

Max and Isaac being taught how to play Settlers of Catan.....

with Sarah Badke and Gussie!

 We love juicing around here these days!!! 

 Our scrawny boy...... 

 Elizabeth at her new gig!  Helping out Nic sell t-shirts at the arena on friday!  I bet he was pretty thrilled when he saw her walk up to give him a hand that day!!  She presents very well!  Beauty AND Brains!!!!

The Duncan CLBC crew......the woman across the table from me had her last day that morning, so we all took her out for coffee to say good bye.  She is heading back to Victoria....she was only here short term!  Linda (front left) is the other Analyst and Catherine (front right), is Duncans most amazing facilitator!  (She arrives sometimes at 7am and stays so late!  She really cares about her people......its a nice group of women.

Nics Baby Shower......

Hard to believe that the last few years Nic and I would laugh in panic at how many times she 'thought' she was pregnant!  This last time though....we stopped laughing pretty quick!! ;-)  Because she WAS!!  And the story of Amara and how she came to be here is an incredible story....especially how her name came to be!

Here is the video that Kim made of my dear friend.....

Here we are at Amaras baby shower.....sweet little thing.  What really stood out for me about this night, was not only the surrounding of so many friends to support Nic, but of Nics mom...who had flown in from Calgary.  She quietly cuddled Danika for much of the night (Nics older daughter)...but when it came time to speak to the group at the end of the evening...she thanked all of us for being such a loving and supportive community for her daughter.  She then prayed for her daughter and I was filled with emotion at how happy I was for Nic, that she had a mom who loved God and loved her family so much.  

 After the baby shower, Rach and I had a little detour to camp and went to play in one of the cabins down by the water.....up to no good, you could say.

 SUCH great memories of this stairwell......

Della Falls

This was the best Valentines gift I think I have ever gotten!!

Every day when I walk through my livingroom and look up to the wall and see this picture, I remember one of the biggest adventures that Chris and I took a few years after we were first married.

 

This picture has been in the glove compartment of at least 3 of our cars, always ready to go in and get blown up to frame....but it never made it into a store.  It floated to a surface the other day while cleaning out a drawer, and I passed it to Chris and said 'I would LOVE if you would blow this up for valentines'......hey, its taken over a decade to learn that if i really want something, I can't wait for him to read my mind.....

 

Little did I know, he would go above and beyond a little 8 x 10....he got it blown up really big on a canvas, then he handbuilt a frame and stretched the canvas over it.  I had no idea what to expect when all 3 of them dragged it into the bedroom on valentines morning.....i teared up when I opened it.  It just was such a memorable trip, where I learned so much about this perfect partner that was choosen just for me.  It was our first big trip.....i remember it well because Cor came over to help me pack properly...Here is the Wikipedia description of this amazing place:

 

Della Falls is located 60 km (37 mi) from the city of port alberni, BC in Strathcona Provincial Park.  The only way to reach Della Falls, other than by helicopter, is by crossing the entire Great Central Lake by boat; (we canoed!!!), the only road access to the lake is at the opposite side from Strathcona Park. After the 35km (21 mi) crossing, there is a dock (my picture!!!!)  that marks the beginning of Strathcona Park, and a camping area which can be used as a base camp before trying the next 15km (9 mi) ascent to the base of Della Falls. The hike, part of which follows an old logging railway, takes about seven hours one way and is suitable for intermediate level hikers. It ranks 16th in the world in terms of vertical drop.  It is the highest waterfall in Canada at 1443ft.

 

 

We made some amazing memories together on the trip (of our lifetime thus far!) -- i had NEVER been so remote and as far away from other people as we were on this trip.  It was quite a primal feeling to be out there, with "Caution, Bears in the Area" signs everywhere, nobody else was around.....and for the first time in my life, I was unable to see lights in the distance belonging to anything.  I remember that vividly....the absolute darkness as we paddled late into the night.  One day I should write the whole story here on the blog for you boys to know about a great trip your mom and dad took when we were young and carefree.....but that won't happen tonight.  But for now, enjoy the picture of this beautiful  dock, that to this day, is still my favorite image, for many reasons.....

 

Here is the vintage video link!!

Sunday Highlights.......hanging out in Crofton.

We headed to Crofton this morning......warmland has been the church we have heading to when we go to church these days.  It's filled with friends from our qwanoes family....and now our biological family too!  The last 2 times we have gone....we have received invites back to mike and lauras home for lunch.  Not only are the boys able to do sunday school with their cousins (which I love).....but to spend time doing life together after church, resonates deep in me as something I have wanted for a long time. For so long, I felt as though we only saw this family for holidays and birthdays, and I have always wanted more....but never really knew how to go about getting more. (I also have felt this way about my other bro and sis in law...but again, still don't know how to be more involved in their lives).  But, I digress back to my original thought, that when kids are younger, and parenting is so new and we are trying to get our footing...it is all encompassing.   And since Jack and Ellie live so far away, Ava, Wren and Oscar are cousins that I really want my kids to know.....very very well.  I loved my cousins and the time we spent together as kids.....and getting together with my cousins, now as an adult.....is pretty special.

Here is Elliot and Oscar playing O's current favorite game: Fairyopoly!!  O acts like E sometimes when things don't go his way....pieces go flying OR there are major tears....so i thought it was pretty funny to overhear E asking O "If I get 3 fairies, are you going to cry?"....O adamantly states back "NO!!!".....

 Favorite shot of the day.....

....just doing a little bit of life together.....

 Ava has wanted a bunny for a very long time .... today, dreams became reality.  She is going to be a fantastic owner.....sweet little bunny too...

It was a great day.....

Juice and love notes......

Its been a really low key day around here......elliot randomly came in and gave this to me, and i melted.

We juiced for dinner tonight - i had a green juice that I had made at breakfast after I made my breakfast juice (orange, grapefruit and lemon with ginger).....and before I cleaned the juicer, I made the typical green juice for lunch and stored it.....and tonight for my lovely husbands dinner, he made this ... and I am excited the he does it willingly!   There is this sweet site called juicing for men....yup...its not just for chicks.

 He's a V8 guy....including franks red hot sauce, caesar salt...and he's currently 

drinking it out of a huge mason jar......love it.

Student lead interviews.....and some rainbows!

Today is Saturday.  We had a lazy morning, the boys were up at 7am on the dot (because sat. morning lately, they are allowed to watch tv while we sleep in)....but by 10:30, we were all up and at full tilt.  Chris and I made our own juices (we are loving this Breville!!).  We cleaned the house (it always goes so much faster when we all pitch in for about an hour! -- or else it takes me all day, which is not fair.)  Isaac continued to whine about just wanting to stay home, and chris wanted to go out to run an errand, so it worked out that Isaac and I are sitting here at the table, laptops are side by side....and we are working on them while elliot and chris are off together.  

Thursday was early dismissal, so the boys and i went to Starbucks for a snack before the student interviews started.  We started with Elliot, and I have it on video, but its still on my phone, but this smart guy read me a whole book in french all the way through....one of the highlights of the day for sure.  Elliots teacher for grade 1 (unlike isaacs gr 1 teacher), doesn't encourage him to bring home books to read at night, so i don't see it as often as i did with Isaac.  So, elliot showed me his workbooks, this little game on whether you 'tirrer ou pousse?" (pull or push).....it was neat to watch him bring me to the different stations in his classroom.  He seemed very comfortable, happy and proud of his class.

Then it was off to Isaacs classroom.  I remember these desks!!  

There was alot of work that he showed me...they work hard in grade 3.....I was thrilled to see the difference in spelling ability from september until now!!  Now is the year they learn english and it seems to have been a very smooth transition from this guy.  He has been rocking his english tests lately.  In french school when i was a kid, i used to LOVE writting the Z's!!!!!

Here is his september work: he is full of great ideas!  But he was still spelling the way it sounded. 

 Here is a January story about Bob the tiger, who was scared of mice, and his friend Evan!!

 Working on triple digits.....currently working on multiplying, and taking it slower on subtraction.  

 I loved this story:  Why I would want to be a pioneer, and Why I would NOT want to be a pioneer!!!

 Some of his reasons to not want to be one were so funny...including having to go to the bathroom outside, that he didn't WANT to work so hard, and he thinks they don't make alot of money!!! (he is so my kid!!)

Driving home last night from town.....there was a beautiful rainbow.....

 This guy missed the rainbow......

 We live in a beautiful spot......

tonight.....

I often fall asleep and find myself saying 'thank you'...over and over.

Tuesday.....contracts...piano....playgrounds and unexpected but welcome guests.

We stopped by Christie's on the way home from piano and Julianna taped isaac with the ipad.  I am just so proud of the love this boy is showing for piano!!  He has started conservatory, but Malea is still having him play songs that he loves to play!!

We stopped by the playground for a play after Christie's.....isaac thought it would be a good idea to hang out in the baby swing.  Little does he remember, that even as a baby, I had to yoink him out of it, and even then his feet would often get stuck!!  Imagine another 3 feet of leg to pull through!!!  It took both Elliot and I to dislodge this lanky kid.....he was starting to panic at the end......it was sorta funny.

And then this kid was pleased that he could actually get UP on the seat (though mama still had to pass him the handles!!)......I love that the weather has been so nice....and that they have both been wanting to be outside more....summer is coming!!

After a long day of working on ONE little contract today for my whole work day (it was supposed to be little....sigh...nothing is easy,)....we headed home and got started on dinner (me: juice and mulligatawny soup, isaac: french toast, elliot: scrambled eggs and toast).....Dave dropped in for a visit!  It was a welcome visit as I am often trapped in the kitchen working on dinner, lunches, clean up.....Here is Dave, showing Elliot his iphone.....if you have an iphone,you will an instant hit with E!

I have always appreciated that Dave talks to my boys like adults and asks them direct questions about their lives.  Our conversations are always meaningful lined with some occasional sarcasm (one of my most favorite combinations---can't be TOO serious, after all...I like that I can rib him pretty good and he thinks its funny)

Here was the message I sat down to tonight after he left to head back to the speakers cabin:

Thanks again, I enjoyed every aspect of the evening. You are a wonderful and gracious hostess...great soup, tea, conversation, your boys and videos....the flash mob is safe with me! Thanks again.

Chris called tonight from Rockridge where he is enjoying another camping conference.  He tried to convince me to come, and I wish I had since Jinny and kelly and Kari are all there....but life goes on here at rocket pace....its already time to get ready for wednesday!  And its a good life...I don't want to miss anything here, but I am very much looking forward to my man getting home.  In the meantime, here he is with his current room mate.....I sorta love that Jim is back in our lives....he's been a pretty big part of our past, so I feel quite blessed that he is part of our present too.

Way # 23,234 to stay up later.....

Ooh!!  I've got to show mom that I had friends in class today who taught me how to do 'arm pit fart'.

Elliot Burdge, 8:15pm

Isaac is currently lying still and quiet in his bed in order to put Elliot to sleep.  After this happens, and Elliot falls asleep, I will hear Isaac whisper "Elliot!  Elliot"....then he comes out of the room, informs me of said transaction, heads back to bed, flips on his lamp and reads until late into the evening (or as late as I will let him.....)

Got to love my boys.......boys are awesome.

Sunday......Goldstream......Juicing and more!!

Sunday morning....I went to bed last night at 8, not sure if i was tired, or just bored....but nonetheless, I slept until 7 this morning!  I got up to pee at 10:30 and was shocked to see that it wasn't time to get up yet!!  Chris actually didn't come to bed til 2am as he was finishing an 'express read' i got him from the library! They guy works well with deadlines hey?!  Anyways, I got up with the kids, we played some cards, had some breakfast.....and then headed out towards crofton.  But alas, i had forgotten the key to the chiro, so we had to go back for it and then we were late......

So....we decided to hit up a few of the big box stores to purchase our first juicer....at our first stop, Elliot hopped out of the car and spotted a 10 dollar bill!!!!  What a happy little guy!!! "It's my Lucky Day!!" he shrieked!!

 Turned out that we had to go to Langford for the juicer we wanted, so on the way home, we stopped at Goldstream....Elliot was excited to show us where he had gone with his class a few weeks ago!

 The waterfall was in full swing.....i love waterfalls.

  

On another note......this was my morning banana bread flop....why is it

 that i just can NOT make a good, fluffy banana bread?  

 And on a final note....I wonder how long i had been walking around with this in my bum???

And on a final note:  I LOVE this picture of little Jack and Ellie.....

Quads, books, and Boats!!!

Chris and I headed into town on friday to see our youngest swim with his school.  This is what we arrived to!  Elliot and his friend Ty.....they were keeping busy jumping off the steps into the water!  Such young, uninhibited joy.....i remember just jumping into the water.  Some of my favorite times, even now as an adult (though it hardly happens anymore!)...is to grab the hand of a friend whom I am comfortable with and love, and jump, screaming, into the lake off the dock!!

 Here he is asking for us to purchase him a pair of goggles from the pool store.....not really even a 'Hi!!!  You came to see me!!!!"....but a "hey, glad you are here, you will buy me goggles right?".....sigh...walking wallets we are.....

 Today, being Saturday, Chris spent the morning in bed reading the new David Balducci book I got him from the library....and then we all cleaned the house until Jon and Mel arrived for lunch.  Chris and Jon spent their afternoon doing this:

 Mel and I made some granola bars, played cards, chatted, laughed, crashed on the couch, watched an episode of Whitney, talked some more....it was a nice, long visit and much overdue.  I love that girl.....

Tonight I made some baked pasta, and I had to take a picture of my man reading his book next to the fire....

 I also asked Elliot to give me his favorite pose!!  So...here we are! 

And on another very exciting note, there is now a beautiful boat on our family!! (and by family, I mean, my parents.....guess where we want to spent next December now?!!!)  The boat is parked in the Bahamas!!

Isaac just looked over my shoulder and said "WHOA!!  Did grand dad going to buy that boat?!"  And when I said that he just bought it, he had the same reaction as me;

"YES!!!!!!!!  YES!!!!"