day 5

I'm bound and bent to organize the girls bedrooms while they are away, and one of the things Alissa used to have for toy storage before we moved was a book shelf unit that held baskets for her toys. (bratz, little pet shops, doll clothes, etc)  Since moving here, she's kept them all in a mess of boxes and its time to change that.  I was going to go with another book shelf since we still have the baskets, but then I saw this and its beginning to make me rethink the idea.  How cute would it be for her to have this?  It would work for years to come as she grows into a teen.  Hmmm!

day 4

I love giraffes, and there is this really cute set at work of a mama and baby.  I would so own them already if I could make them match my livingroom decor. *sigh*

day 3

The day has turned into overcast skies, yet still quite warm at 27 degrees.  They say we'll see thunder storms tonight, which makes a perfect ambiance for lighting a candle.  I tend to enjoy a candle burning no matter the weather, because it eliminates old house smell fast!  So tonight I'm burning my french maple candle.  It wasn't until I got it home months ago, burned it afew times and then realized it smelled like french toast cooking. Yum!

day 2

Just a simple dinner of corn on the cob and sausages.  I know the plate looks unbalanced, but I'm cutting back on unnecessary carbs.

This whole cooking/eating/cleaning up for one could become very inviting!  Easy!! And the best part is I have leftovers for tomorrow!

day 1

I drove the girls into the city yesterday morning, bright and early, to bring them to the airport where they were flying off on their first solo flight to Vancouver where their dad would meet up with them and bring them over to the Island.  There are 27 whole days that the girls will be gone, and because I'm not quite sure how I will fill each and every one of those days, I thought maybe a photo a day of various activities would help pass the time.  I haven't done a photo a day in a LONG time .. so here goes. 

Day 1 entailed a slow start to my morning with coffee, Coronation Street, a phone chat, a trip to Walmart, juggling vehicles with my sister just so I could borrow their lawn mower to mow my lawn .. then juggling them again to return it, lazying around on the couch, watching a show, washing my bedding, taking a cool-down bath, playing with the kitties, and sitting in front of the fan. 

they're counting down, and I'm panicing

This collage in no way reflects the mood of the post, but I wanted to share them anyway.

In just four VERY short days, I'll be bringing my girls to the airport, to see them fly off to Vancouver Island for an entire month.  My heart is excited for them because they get to see their dad, see their very missed friends, and smell the ocean again.  But I am so sad because I am going to miss them.  Despite the different opinions I've gotten from friends about it being a well deserved break for me after being 100% full time single parent for the past nine months, and how I need the time to re-energize myself .. part of me wants to disagree. 

YES, I need a break! YES, I need time to recharge those parental batteries that seem to always be set to 'on'.  YES, I need to be given the opportunity to get out, socialize and live a little without the guilt of needing to be home for my girls.  YES, I need to whip this house into shape and have it stay that way for longer then a millisecond.  I realize all that, yet after having spent the last nine months as the one and only parent, every moment of the day together aside from work (me) and school (them) and the odd sleepovers, I have really grown that much more attached to them.  (is that even possible?)  Their hormones are shifting, their bodies growing, their personalities continuously changing, and they are so dependant on their Mama for answers to so many of lifes questions.  And yes, I realize children need both parents as role models .. but because of our family's situation, they've had no choice but to come to me for everything.  And so for all those very reasons, as well as the fact that I've never spent longer then a week away from them in their entire lives (when I had to travel for both my parents passings), my heart is sad and I get a little panicky when I think of them traveling alone. 

I just needed to get this all out there .. despite that I know they'll be safe and fine, I'll be fine, and we shall get through this while even maybe having some fun.

purdy flutterby

I don't remember seeing so many butterflies in a short span before, but yesterday Hailey spotted one and took pictures of it.  And today we spotted this one and I was able to get a shot of it too!  Its pretty, albeit upside down, but pops with its orangeness!

I really need to get out with my canon and get some photos around town.  I've slacked off so much, but there are photo contests to enter, milestones to document, beauty to capture!!

stylin' and sunnin'

One little girl was in desperate need of a hair cut, and the other just wanted it shortened up abit again, and since its summer .. off it came.

*Alissa's pulling the typical face I get when pointing a camera at her.  Either its her tongue out, a pout, or the backside of her head.  I'll take the cute pout!

We also went to the river today and spent four grand hours in the sun and water.  It was so much fun playing with the noodles in the water, and riding the current on our 'seahorses'.  Needless to say, we came home looking a little sunkissed!

Ari

A very sweet, timid and shy Arizona could not hide her curiosity when she jumped into the tub, and I confused her with the sounds of the faucet turning on.  I let it get to the point where the water gurgled but didn't come out, and she kept looking, then peering down to see why the water wasn't coming out.  Finally, after much teasing, I let her drink from a little stream. 

Its adorable to watch how curious she can get, but most times runs scared .. but still loves being loved on.  I'm so enjoying getting to know these two kitties by watching their personalities grow as they are getting to know us better and as they get older.

summer, summer, summer!!

We've been having very warm summer weather now, and that gives us the opportunity to really enjoy our new stomping grounds by doing summer activities.  On Sunday, the girls donned Canada Day tattoos and after dinner we headed over to a Canada Day party to swim and watch the fireworks from the hostesses deck and keep cool by being right on the lake.  Downfall is that the bugs are plentiful by the water. Ack! But the fireworks were beautiful!!

And yesterday, being a perfect and very humid day, but a day off that coincided with my sister .. we packed and picnic lunch and headed to Rushing River (a provincial park) with the kids in tow.  I've been told that normally the water is quite abit chillier then the lake, but it was so hot that we all were in splashing and swimming .. enjoying it to the fullest.  Its such a beautiful spot that I want to make sure we enjoy another day out there before the girls leave for a month.

Happy Canada Day!! I have to work today, but its Sunday so just the regular Sunday hours so not terrible.  There's this little law in Ontario that if you're not a food serving/selling store and the holiday lands on the weekend, you have to be open that day but can take the Monday as the day closed instead.  Weird law, and one that is in the works of being changed but the fine was too steep for my franchise to rebel against despite how much the owner and CEOs desperately wanted to.  Anyway, there's always this evening, and the fireworks! :)  Have a fantastic day, my fellow Canadians!!

*photo borrowed from daily dose of imagery