compromise - and its all good

where did i leave off ?? sunday?

monday was a big day because it marked jasper, sela and carys' first day of day camp. the minute i knew we were coming to toronto, i had looked around for daycamps. when you don't drive, you need a daycamp. last time we were here it was embarrassing how much we depended on others, and after a lifetime of bumming rides and being dependent on others timetables, i have a wish that my children don't suffer from that, and that when we visit, other people don't have to adjust their lives too much to cater to us.

my SIL looked around for us, and i looked around, and i found what i thought to be an excellent day camp put on by the city of toronto, and even better, it was within walking distance of doug's place. so every morning, i wouldn't need to ask people to drive the kids to day camp, i could just walk them there myself. YAY! while there were some who were really apprehensive about the programme and the facilities, i prayed like mad and had a really good feeling about it. it was a day long program, starting at 9am and ending at 4pm.

9am the next morning, we walked up to the correct location and signed the kids in, were shown to their cubbies, and met their instructor, an ECE graduate and full time city worker, kyle blackman. what a fantastic guy. obviously gifted with children, he bent right down and chatted wth the kids right away. there were other kids coming in, so i took them all to the bathrooms, which were impeccable. another good sign, i thought.

the doors opened, the kids ran in, i waved goodbye and they waved. no one ran over to give me a hug, but they did blow kisses.

i was hoping to spend the day looking for books with penny, but the day got delayed and we left the house late. living in a city like this really makes me say...if only i could drive and really makes me frustrated that i cannot!

we had an okay lunch, and a very very quick browse for books, and then a really fast pick up of groceries, and then zipped back to pick up the kids, who came racing out. they'd had a wonderful day! and i smiled. YAY!

we got back to the house and then boom, it was time to start working on dinner. penny made most of it, and then keith came and did the bbq'ing. i just made dessert and was the right hand woman, and did a lot of washing and clearing up it seemed. i was in the kitchen a lot. doug's girlfriend marnie and her granddaughter, phoebe came for dinner, and it was fun. i like marnie. she is savvy, very well informed, and a lot of laughs.

the next day was canada day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA! we spent the day on the boat, and then later had a bbq, celebrating cousin galen's birthday and charles' birthday which is later this month. we didn't leave the island until 7pm, which did not bode well...so many late nights! of course my kids are demanding that they don't go to sleep until it gets dark...this is the problem of living so close to the equator. the sun sets by 7pm and the cranky kids get all demanding that they don't sleep until it is dark. another reason never to take them to yellowknife. can you imagine them in that northern summer sun?

sebastian slept over at galen's, they slept in a tent. i guess the fireworks kept them up for quite a bit of the night but otherwise, it was a good evening!

the next day, anne, marnie and i went to lunch at the restaurant at the top of the ROM. it was a huge disaster. pricy and pathetic options and puny. when i saw my goat cheese salad entree i said, "couldn't they have added three more arugala leaves and made a round 20?" i mean, folks, this was BAD. and the cost! three of us, no drinks, one appetiser, three entrees, no pellegrino, etc...over $110. needless to say, under the tip category, i wrote, "GOOD LUCK". really.

but it was a good story and we had lots of laughs. the snippy little waiter just added to it. he was ridiculous.

thursday night, anne, charles and i went out for dinner with her friend christopher to a divine restaurant called on the fifth. fantastic. a great rooftop place. pricy, but worth it...go go go !

friday, we had a day that i call just about perfect. there were some blips, but overall, a perfect perfect day. we went to centre island, where there is an amusement park, and the kids rode rollercoasters, (jasper sat wtih me and burst out crying and plunged his head into my hands and prayed the entire time), rode cable cars, trains, live ponies, froggie hoppers, swan boats, log boats, mini cars...oh it was a fantastic day. i bought the kids little candy rings to make the wait in one lineup seem shorter..sometime i am a smart mum! it was an expensive day, but hey, that's what it's all about.and then, tired and tanned, i decided we hadn't had enough...lets go to CHUCKIE CHEESE! the kids were ecstatic and cousin bronwyn was so jealous she begged off going to the cottage to come to CC with us! it was great to have her there and she got me hooked on a game where you have to choose briefcases with monetary values in them. GREAT GAME. the pizzas we bought were terrible, but it was a fun evening, we had a great great time.

and saturday, while doug, penny and bronwyn left for the cottage at sparrow's fart, i asked charles to delay his departure for a while...i wanted the kids to experiment a real canadian event...GARAGE SALES!

charles agreed and we just drove around the area, where there were plenty. and i bought a bag of my little ponies for $3, two light sabres for $4, a life jacket for $5, a new franklin book for .25, and a few other things. a great day. then the boys left, and it was the girls and i. we walked up to the corner grocer, where they selected a dinner roll, chocolate milk and candy bars for dinner, and then we went to the dollar store where they chose new barrettes. we went home and i gave them pedicures, they played with their new ponies while i packed, and then i made dinner and we watched cinderella infront of the television with dinner. we had showers, into pajamas, and then boom, we were in bed. i finished the book i was reading (WHILE I WAS GONE, by SUE MILLER, excellent). then it was morning.

i made breakfast, i took them to the park and we played adn watched dog training classes. it is a hot cloudless day. a beautiful one that i wish the girls will remember. there are so many things about this summer i want them to remember. the feeling of family of being loved by so many people. on the way home, after drinking from the water fountain (still a novelty for them), we blew dandilion fluff into the sky and made wishes, and they picked clover "here mummy, a beautiful flower for you" and handed it to me. such a great morning.

as we walked back into doug's yard, i pulled a deck chair into the yard and a long yarstick and told the girls to stand on the terrace. there were two items stuck in the tree, and i wanted to get them down. one, a styrofoam rocket of sebastian's. the second, a ride on toy (not sure, don't ask). well, it took only four tries and i got them both out. YAY MUMMY! and carys looked at me and said,

"mummy, i am so proud of you."

honestly, i felt so proud of me when she said that! it was like the other day when jasper looked over at me as i was reading him a book and said, "mummy, i love you so much." i love that my kids know these words. if they make me feel so wonderful, i wonder the impact they have on their tender developing selves?

and here i am writing while they play ponies ($3 garage sale ponies i might add) and i go off to prepare lunch.stage one of our summer is almost over.

bye for now.

Comments

[Dad aka GBD]

Let's get back to the Yellowknife situation! Granted it really doesn't get dark here in the Summer season( the 3 months when we don't get snow) but if you brought the little nippers here at Christmas they would be able to sleep 18+ hours a day.
When shall I tell your mother the little darlings are arriving?
Love to all....Dad

[Auntie Pammie]

What a great blog to read, you all sound like you are having a great time ,and the part that did my heart good was reading not about the fancy schmancy food places ( I am frugal like Dad), but the garage sale=ing!!!! I am hoping that there is one in Fintry when we all are there so that I can take the kids and let them buy tonnes of schlock!!!!
I scored us some easy mandatory reading for Fintry at a recent garage sale,, sigh
I cant wait to see you all,, in fact it will be in ,,,, hmmm lets see....20 sleeps or so?
Love Pammie xoxo
ps) loved the comment put under "tip"

[Mo aka Maureen aka Grandmother aka Mum]

Fabulous blog full of fun, friends and family. Keep having a great summer, honey. Loads of love to you all and of course, we cannot wait to see you :-)

Much love, M xox

[tripleblessings]

What wonderful adventures, and wonderful stories. I'm so glad you all are having such a great time. And yes, those were great garage sale bargains. I love getting children's books for 25 cents each!
Keep on having a great summer.

[knobody]

sparrow's fart?

[Lowa]

Sounds like an awesome time is being had by all. Many wonderful memories are being made:)

I know you wish you could drive, but you did great finding the day camp so close. I know you must get frustrated, but at least you have a good reason, you know. Just remember that when you get discouraged:)

[Mariya]

I read the blog "compromise - and its all good"... It is very interesting... Thanks for sharing... I hope you had a great time...

[JoeInVegas]

It sounds like you are having fun. But cats? oh my.