pride of the summer

I know I've spoke of our mamoth sunflower before, but yesterday I finally had to take comparison pictures of it with the girls. This overly large sunflower became our 'experiment' for the summer. I had never grown sunflowers before, and this one that was planted in the front of our house became our mamoth of all sunflowers. The ones planted in the back became tall spindly ones that couldn't hold up their own which I later heard was because they didn't get the amount of hot afternoon sun that this one in the front does.
See our mailbox hidden behind it? It is now taller then Hailey, and still no sign of a flower head which makes me wonder now that September is tomorrow .. will it ever grow a flower so we can glean just a few seeds? Since this IS an experiment .. I guess we shall see what happens next. I'll keep you all updated, because I just know you have nothing better to do with your time then sit and anticipate the future of my mamoth sunflower. Hah!

On another note .. these guys are my most recent favourite band to listen to. They sound familiar to me, but I can't place who their sound and style remind me of.

*disclaimer .. please ignore my children's attire (particularly the eldest one), they dress themselves and thus, I've been forced to turn a blind eye to the pink/red combo or I'd be dressing them right into highschool.

putting inspiration to work

I had some short bursts of inspiration over the past couple days, and these four layouts were created. I must give credit to my most favourite magazine .. Scrapbooks Etc .. for many great layouts I wanted to lift, and did. (click on images for larger version)

And in case you're thinking I've been scrapbooking the days away, I haven't been. We're trying to fill this last week of summer holidays, with fun things. And since the sun decided to shine again .. we spent an afternoon at the beach, playing with friends. I've also picked more berries to add to the ever growing stash in the freezer .. just waiting to be pulverized into wine. Yum! And in the early morning hours of each day, I've been trying to decipher all the steps I need to take in signing up for the right prerequisite courses for the medical transcription program. Looks like there's alot more to it then I originally thought .. but that's because I hadn't been looking at a reputable and recognized school. Glad I did my research, even though it may take me longer, I'll be certified to work anywhere, because the school is recognized and very much liked from what I hear. I just hope I get it all worked out, lined up and don't chicken out.

wordless wednesday

heart shaped rock we found on the beach a couple days ago

a week of soap giveaways

Nan at Life is Like a Lunchbox, is having a week full of soap giveaways .. showcasing some of the smaller soap businesses. Stop by her blog for a chance to win some intoxicating goodies.

Auntie Bobbi

The girls participated in the summer reading program at our local library, and Friday was the last group meeting so they had a wrap up party, including awards for those that filled in their booklets with all their reading material from the summer. Auntie Bobbi happened to be the entertainment for our last and final gathering .. and I had forgotten how much fun she is. See, we know her outside of her 'clown life', and although she's just as fun and entertaining without the makeup .. it's at a more adult level. So Friday was fun, because you can see how much she loves interacting with the small children, and acting just as silly as they do.

I can't rave enough about how wonderful the reading program was, and how it added to our summer. Hailey's always had a passion for reading. She learned how to read three letter words at the age of 3 and 4 and by the time she entered grade one, she was pretty fluent with reading to herself, instead of out loud. She goes to bed and reads at least for a half hour or more each night (up to 1.5 hrs in the summer) and really has taken a liking to the Captain Underpants series and the Geronimo Stilton and Judy Moody or Judy B Jones books. She also absolutely loves any of the Archie comics, and I'm just waiting for the day she wants to read more of my childhood favourites .. like the Little House on the Prairies, Anne of Green Gables, Trixie Beldon and Sweet Valley High.
Alissa is now sounding out words and catching on to some instant words that she's knows by sight now. She's not showing as much of an early interest as her sister, but she still loves books, and a night doesn't go by where she isn't going to bed with a heap of books to look through before drifting off to sleep. If there was one thing I wanted my children to 'inherit', it was this .. my love for reading.
With reading, brings knowledge and knowledge brings success!

let there be peace

Yesterday I got some time to take my sorry self down to the beach and soak in the sun, the smell of the salty sea air, the sounds of the crashing waves against the rocky beach .. and let myself just be me. Wiping my brain of all things worrisom (is that a word?) and letting the breeze replace them with the wonders of living near the ocean.

I took my camera, latest scrapbooking mag and a bottle of water .. planted myself up against a overly large piece of driftwood and took a deep breath and let out a sigh of relief.

Many times as a mother, I feel it is my duty to always be there for my children. It means being their fulltime care giver, making sure they're fed, bathed, clothed, entertained, and so much more .. and yet I continually put myself and my own needs on the back burner. I know I'm not the only mother that does this too. I feel guilty for secretly yearning for some rejuvinating time, but like all the books and experts say .. 'mother's need time to reenergize otherwise you're not being fair to yourself or your children.'

Which makes total and complete sense. How can I give 100% of myself, if my battery is dead and in great need of being plugged into an outlet for recharging.

So yesterdays time on the beach was JUST what I needed. I didn't think about the issues I've been struggling with. I didn't think about the decisions I have to make. I just read my mag .. drew some scrapbooking inspiration from it, and now more then ever just want to find time to put that inspiration to work and sit at my scrapping desk with all things good.

One more thing before I close. 5 minutes for Mom always has such fabulous contests, and this one is no different. I have three nieces and a SIL expecting babies, so this would definately come in handy for baby gifts.

five firsts

I'll spare you the emotionally strange day I'm having today .. and just share a meme Cori had up on her blog.

First two things you see when you wake up: what time the alarm clock reads, and my disheveled reflection in the mirror as I pass it to get to the toilet
First two things you touch when you wake up: snooze button, and glasses
First two things you do when get out of bed: go to the bathroom, come downstairs and put the kettle on for coffee
First two things you eat in the morning: cereal of some kind, then later have a piece of fruit for mid morning snack if hungry
First two places you ride/drive/walk/bike to in the morning: during the summer, it's been varied but during the school year, I walk the girls to school (or drive if it's nasty weather and I'm not in the mood to be swept up in the wind and rain), and then walk back home .. or if I have errands to run, I drive the girls to school then drive on to the grocery store or wherever.

king skitter

Alissa had a nice juicy bite she was trying to ignore, but couldn't stop it from itching. Even after applying kids After Bite, she continued to hop around, saying she just HAD to scratch it.
After the After Bite kicked in .. this is what she had to say.

Alissa: I think that mosquito that bit me, was a King.
Me: *looking a tad confused* Why's that?
Alissa: Because it left a huge bite and only mosquitos that are big and don't get bitten from other mosquitos, leave such big bumps.
Me: Interesting!

Conclusion: big bites are given by big mosquitos and mosquitos only get big because they've never been bitten by another mosquitos .. hence, making them a king. Only in a 6 yr old's brain, I tell ya.

movie reviews

Sunday was a rather wet and dreary day .. perfect for an afternoon of movies. We set the girls up with a couple movies in our bedroom (where there's no surround sound or stereo equip) and sank ourselves into the couch to enjoy a couple decent movies.

First up. Disturbia.

Great movie, tho Blockbuster had the early return & off promotion on it so I had my doubts. I thought the storyline was good, the characters and actors portraying them did very well and although there were major hints as to who the evil person was .. it was far better then making it a surprise, which NEVER works for Dave. He always knows .. so I'd rather the movie hint at it already, since I have a little birdy saying who it is anyway.

Second. Number 23.

I had high hopes for this movie. I think Jim Carey can act in comedy and drama quite well, but I was disappointed. Just not my style of movie. His acting was good, and the story and all the research I'm sure they had to do .. but still too hopscotchy for my liking.

it's a mutant!

Earlier this summer, I mentioned we were growing our first ever sunflowers. Some I planted along the fence in the backyard, and although they're growing quite tall, they're to spindly to hold their own upright. I planted one in the front, by our front step and it obviously loves the hot late afternoon sun that pours upon it .. because it's thick, tall and luciously green! It now reaches our mailbox .. and now on second thought .. it may have been a poor place to plant it because once it surpasses the mailbox, I'm afraid our mailperson may go on strike and no longer deliver to us. Oh well .. it's mostly bills anyway!

concert at the VIEX

I felt like such a teenager last night, and never would have gone to see Hedley in concert had it not been for them being at our little local VIEX (Vancouver Island Exhibition). We only stayed for a handful of songs, then it was time to get the very tired little girlies off to bed, but it was fun, I got my pictures, video clips AND a t-shirt! I know, I'm such a freak! hee!

Oh by the way, the VIEX is a big local attraction where you can walk through barns of farm animals that have been viewed by judges and ribboned .. to eating those amazing mini donuts, to riding the fair rides like the ferris wheel and whatnot, to strolling through a home show where local businesses are on display. Then when night falls, the music comes to stage and that's how we took in a concert with children.

and a time to pick

Blackberries are one of my most favourite berries. Why? Because they're free, of course. Hee!

But really, ever since I was a child, I adored picking berries. Then it was saskatoon berries, blue berries, raspberries, and cranberries .. but I no longer live where half of those grow in the wild .. so it's blackberries for me now.

Last year we tried our very first batch of wine from fresh fruit, and you guessed it .. blackberry wine it was. Wow was that ever good. So this year, we're making two batches of it but that also means ALOT of berries. 40lbs in total .. to be precise. But it's worth it, and Dave's also very lucky he has a berry lovin' wife to pick them all! :P

And it's also a good thing I'm such a stubborn soul because I pick and pick and pick .. and the scratching and gouges the thorns give rarely do anything to my marathon berry picking attitude.

Oh but the girls will not allow ALL the berries to go into the freezer for wine. Oh no! They love themselves some blackberry crumble, and well .. so do I. So if they show a little enthusiasm in picking berries of their own, I more then match (honestly .. their contribution is a small double handful really) theirs and we make us a yummy, berry oozing crumble. Yum Yum!

So if you don't hear from me in awhile .. check the berry patch. I may be tied up in some thorny branches, soaking wet from all this rain we're in for, stained black from the berry juice, and in desperate need of being rescued.

And just so you know what rain I'm talking about .. here's the oh so soaking Alissa after I decided enough was enough and we made our way home in the drenching rain.

pictured name tag

Karen tagged me with this oh so neat and artistic tag, so here we go. Write 8 of your blog friends names in a unique way and post them. Then come back over and let me know. You must write the blogger's name that tagged you, then add 7 others. Be creative! This is a great place to do the names.

that tug

Now that we're in the countdown to the first day of school and only have less then two weeks left, I'm feeling that nagging tug again .. like last year. Only this time .. my baby isn't starting half days of kindergarten .. nope .. she's on to the full days of grade one. There's no doubt that she's ready academically. She's sounding out basic words, she's figuring out how to spell short three letter words, she's active and enjoys lots of physical play, her mind works quickly and she's very inquisitive .. loving insects and animals and wondering many things about their existence, and most of all .. I know she needs the classroom atmosphere to thrive and further teach her about the social side. Last year brought her out of her shell, gave her the confidence of speaking in front of her classmates, interacting with them and being a friend and this year will be a continuation of that and further develop that area. She's even just lost her 7th tooth this morning!

She's ready for grade one, she's excited and willing to spread her wings. I'm not so sure I'm ready to be making an extra lunch, to be sending TWO girls off in the morning .. to spend the next six hours away from me. One thing I'm so thankful for, is that Hailey's there to keep an eye out on her little sister during the breaks and lunch recess. And I also know that two days after school has started, this anxiety will have dissipated and I'll be stifling the glee I feel after I get home to a quiet environment for six whole hours!

Which brings me to another thing that's causing me such unease. I'm about to tread in very unfamiliar territory. With the full days of school coming our way, another chapter starts in the life of Rachel .. and that leaves me a little freaked out. It means I'm available to take the course I have wanted to for the past two years, and by next summer I can be an employed person once again. After 8.5 years of nurturing two little girls into childhood .. consumed with everything that is baby, toddler, children .. finally now I get my chance to make my mark in this world in a different way. Going to school (online program actually) has me just a little frightened and apprehensive. Am I smart enough to get through it with a passing grade. Am I versatile enough to juggle school, kids, house, hubby? It's all more then just overwhelming at this moment!

I suppose I could remember the pleasant and sereneness of this little darling that visited us in our lower back yard, yesterday.

point form

I'm having one of those days where I've spent much to much time in front of this light box, that I'm forced to leave you with a point form of my current goings on.

. i'm feeling far to overwhelmed with my research into the program I want to take this winter
. the weather is going to drive me bonkers, really. i just want a sunny weekend, for once!
. bonus about the weather is that I can quickly pick some berries in the overcast morning and not scorch my butt off (tho that's a thought to weightloss) in the dead heat of the afternoon
. i want my car back! Dh's truck is currently under the weather (it's back end is leaking) and he's forced to use my car to go to work .. tho if i wanted to drag the girls out of bed at 7am, i could drop him off .. maybe tomorrow for library day
. where'd my scrapbooking mojo go?

wordless wednesday

magnificent elk we saw on our Monday country drive (and berry pick)

Wordless Wednesday on 5MinutesForMom

and we're home again!

What a wonderful, relaxing, invigorating, fabulous week away! I have lots of photos to share and so figured the easiest way to do that was by way of my Picasa album.
We spent lots of time (mostly evenings) around the campfire, swimming and taking in certain campground activities for the kids. And while in Fort Langley, we visited the actual Fort which was such a neat thing to do. The kids enjoyed everything from watching the blacksmith make a decorative hook, to gold panning (which we found alot of but discovered they're just painted, not the real thing), petting the farm animals and snuggling with animal skins.

One day we went with an even bigger group .. to Chuck E Cheese's. I had never been, and Dave had only been once as a child .. so this was just as exciting to us as it was for the girls. They played so many games and enjoyed time spent with cousins. And when at Chuck E Cheese, everyone feels like a kid. Dave nearly broke the helicopter bike when he decided it would be fun to ride it too. Oops. I chose to spend my tokens on the sketch machine, which was not only super cool and fun to play around with, but also fun fun to watch sketch out the photo.

We even tied a little geocaching, but didn't end up finding the cache .. but did find a neat long bridge that kept the girls happy and me content with my camera while we let poor Dave search for what landed up being an invisible cache. Poor guy!

Then the wedding. Oh what a neat and original wedding it was! The evening ceremony and reception were all in the same banquet room at a golf course and made for such a romantic setting. A nice highlight to the week vacation!

And being in pretty good wine making land, a group of us (my three brothers and wives, my sister, my parents , a niece and us) decided to take ourselves on a little wine tasting tour. We went to two vineyards, the second one gave us a tour of the vineyard and wine making procedure, and because we're amateur winemakers ourselves .. this proved to be very interesting and informative. Now I only wish we had a bottling machine in our own home. *sigh*

Then Sunday it all came to an end, and we had to say our goodbye's. :(
I always enjoy the ferry ride tho, and it gives us a little piece of heaven on our way off or back on the Island again.

MIA

I'll be MIA for a week, but promise to return all relaxed and ready to finish the month off in true summer style. Behave while I'm gone, I promise I will. ;)

2 more sleeps

You know the excitement that builds up as you count down to leaving your cozy, comfy bed for a week of vacation time .. relaxing, rejuvinating and refreshing your being so you can return to the same hum drum of life again for another year?

Well I'm feeling that excitement .. almost not able to sleep. Oh wait .. the reason for no sleep is because our jerk a&& neighbours can't figure out this is a family complex where children and parents NEED their sleep. Argh! And my old bones canNOT stay up until 4am listening to their overly loud tunes, loud voices and gagging giggles. If you want to impress a guy .. don't get all giggly and drunk in front of him! There .. that's my advice for this Saturday!

Wow .. I think I need a nap to change my attitude!
I AM excited .. really REALLY excited!

unexpected but oh so welcomed

I love when we get an unexpected bird fly into the vicinity of our livingroom window. We have these overly large trees that make great resting stops or homes for all sorts of birds, and this woodpecker (along with it's companion that was to quick to capture on camera) flitted through .. stopping to get a better look at the tree bark, and then were on their way again.

And I have to tell you how much I *love* my camera. This photo was taken through the screen, and still it turned out not so bad.

happy birthday Kath!

That's my 'baby' sister there on the right .. and it's her birthday today. She doesn't read my blog, but I still wanted to wish her the happiest, wonderfulest day ever. She's currently staying with a friend in southern Ont .. nearer her hubby who is almost finished with his police training. She's gonna be a cops wife .. mmm hmmm .. yep she is, and I'm so proud of her and my brother in law. They have the most adorable kids too .. so cute, and I see just so not often enough. *sigh*
Here's to you, Kath! Happy 32'nd birthday girlie!

airy bubbles

It's a truly amazing thing to watch children playing with bubbles. Either by blowing them, or letting the breeze form large bubbles from the soapy solution on the large wands .. it can't help but make one giggle and dance about .. trying to catch and play with the bubbles floating about the air. This captures their attention for oh .. ten minutes, and then they're off doing something different. Kids!

Just four more days until we leave on holidays!