Snow Day

 Well, the tv is full of thanksgiving day festivities in the US

....but it's not a holiday here in Ontario...well except for the fact that the kids didn't go to school today because it was too icy out there! Only a high of -4 here and it's been freezing rain, snowing, blowing all day long!

I have to say that the kids haven't been too bad at all....but my internet is out and because of the storm they can't get to the tower to fix it till tomorrow!! So I'm on dial-up and I can't believe I ever used this all the time not so long ago, lol!! It takes forever for pages to open, so I've basically given up and declared it a book day for me! LOL

I hope you all are keeping warm and having a great day!

Had a Fab Time in Toronto

 Well, we had a fabulous time!! I'm so glad we went and stayed the night, as it was a great opportunity for the kids to get some playtime in with Andy. We actually were at my other sister's...Linda....Tricia is up north of her in Bracebridge but I'm touched that you remember Karin. Actually right now Trish is in Florida with hubby and all 5 kids for a two week working holiday...gosh I don't know how she does itlol

 

We stopped at my mom's in Whitby on the way Saturday, and after a little visit there we got to Toronto around 6 where my bil cooked us some yummy ribs and chicken wings We all went to bed at 11, even the kids...and then were up before 8 to head to the church.

 

Andy was a perfect angel, and so well behaved. We had coffee and sweets in the auditorium there and then headed to the Japanese restaurant.

 

My sister paid...and the meal was $8.95 for each of us...there were 14 of us in all but four of the kids split meals. I can't believe all the food we got!

 

First was the Miso soup which you drink from the bowl and then  a small salad which I managed to eat with my chopsticks!! Actually I hate the whole meal without using a fork, which you had to ask for, lol!

 

Then we got the little plate of sushis, raw salmon chunks, pickled ginger (which I tried, it was very spicy) and a little dab of wasabi in one corner of the plate. This is very hot, my sister warned me...but I had to try everything, lol! The sushi was alright but I wouldn't eat it again And the tiny dab of wasabi I added to my sushi was soooooo freakin' hot that it brought tears to my eyes....YIKES!!! My sister told me later that usually you add a bit of wasabi to your little bowl of soy sauce to make it spicier, LOL!!

 

We got a bowl of white rice, a piece of fresh salmon cooked this time, some tempura (battered sweet potato and shrimp), then our chicken with some kind of sauce, then some beef, then veggies, and finally some chow mein noodles....all of this cooked up on the grill in front of us. He did amazing things with fire and wow, the heat was fierce!

 

We had a little bowl of Green tea ice cream for dessert. I was amazed the kids ate as much as they did...they luved the meat!

 

Afterward we went back to Lola's house (this is what my nephew calls by bil's mother...it means gramma in their language) where she had cake and lots of sweets ready for us. She had just been on a hiking trip to Turkey (this woman in 75!!! and she's been all over the world hiking!) and she had some figs and some Turkish delight that she brought home with her. We were stuffed!

 

We left around 4 and seeing as how we were going right past my dads place in Bowmanville, I called to see if they were home and we dropped by there too. He was just watching the end of the car race and then they talked us into going out for Chinese food!!!! I couldn't tell them I was sooooo stuffed, lol!!! We had a great little visit there too and finally made it home around 10 last nite...just in time for me to watch Dexter, lol!!

 

By the time I went to bed, my stomach was doing flip-flops, LOL!!! A little too much foreign food me thinks!!lol

 

Thanx for reading the book....we just had such a fabulous weekend, it was amazing!

Off to Toronto

 Hannah, Colton and I are heading to my sister's

in Toronto in a few hours. It's a rainy day here and not

really looking forward to that 3 hour drive

My nephew is being Baptized on Sunday morning,

so we are staying overnite tonite.

After the service we are going out for a real Japanese

meal, where the guy cuts and cooks a meal for your group

right in front of you.

Not too sure what I will eat, lol....

or if the kids will eat anything

It'll be an experience

Soccer Tournament

 Well, my one day off this week and I spent the whole day at a nearby school, at a soccer tournament with Colton.

It was pretty cloudy and cool all day, though the sun did peek through a few times. At least it didn't rain! lol

His school team made it to the semi-finals but lost out there 2-1....they did pretty good 

On the way home I stopped to vote in our provincial election here.....Evelyn....I hope you got out there  I have a sick feeling that the guy who already lied to us countless times is going to get in again  I just wish I could convince my husband to go, and of course Cody came up with the excuse that he wasn't registered yet, but he could easily have shown a few forms of ID and they would have given him a ballet. It's just so sad to see so many people not stand up for our rights....I'm quite sure if we didn't live in a free country we would be bitchin' and complainin' about not having the right to vote!! Sorry....I'll get off the soap-box now 

Then we picked up the big boys at their soccer practice and dropped them off at work....so it's a quiet nite here. Just done supper and I'm going to make some muffins and perhaps some fudge for dessert...while I watch one of my favourite shows....KID NATION!! Luv those kids!

Woke up in Maynooth

 We were up in Maynooth this morning and they had a lot of frost on the ground....it was sooo cold!!

Went there yesterday to attend a baby shower for my niece and we ended up partying a little too much afterwards and didn't think we should attempt the two hour drive home, so we stayed the nite. We had a great time and a great visit 

Today it's supposed to warm up but right now it's soooo cool here in the house that I'm thinking of lighting up the woodstove for a bit, lol!!! Brrrrr.....I guess that's a sign that I could get outside in the sunshine and keep warm....I know there's lots of things to do out there 

Back to School today

 

The kids were excited and even the big boys didn't mind going back, it's just the getting up so early in the morning that they don't like, lol!!

For me, it was kinda nice to spend today alone at last, lol...
well if you don't count the internet guy, and hubby coming home at lunch 

We Went to the Fair Today

 I have to work all weekend, right through Tuesday...so today on my day off I took the kids to the fair in Belleville. It was a perfect day for a fair....sunny yet only 23 degrees out 

Cost $22 for a bracelet to ride all day for the kids, and $5 for me to get in. Plus they had wrestlers there which I thought my son would get a kick out of since he watches on tv (much to my chagrin, lol) and boy did they entertain...quite funny actually, lol!

We got there this morning at 11:33 a.m after dropping Colin off at work and didn't leave till 10:33 p.m.....that's the exact time we got back in the van to go home, lol....WOW...11 hours of standing there watching and waiting for the kids to go on rides, and boy did they get their money's worth!!

Still my legs and feet are killing me...the only time I sat was for one minute for a washroom break, and the hour and a half that we sat and watched wrestling!! I am pooped to say the least!!

Goodnite everyone, and I hope everyone has a wonderful last weekend of summer...it's back to school soon!

Finally...Havelock Pics

 

Got home late Sunday and found out we were having problems with

our internet!! Very slow and then today it was just gone...

back this evening though so here's a few pics

(There's more on my Facebook page)

 

You can't really see the effect in this pic, but our campsite

is just steps away from the road that brings all the campers out

in the 'Back 40' up to the stages. These are the real partiers, lol!!

Literally hundreds, probably thousands of people stream up this road

with their coolers and various accessories ready for a nite of

country music under the stars

And of course it wouldn't be Havelock without our truck breaking

down somehow, someway, lol!! Last year we overheated pulling

the trailer up the hills in the area and this year Mike and his brother

Bill spent most of their mornings working on putting the power

steering something or other back together, lol!

Here's the only shot of me....and I'm sleeping, lol!!

Mike took this pic and I didn't know till I got home and took

them off the camera. It's a long day in the sunshine and you get up

early after partying the nite before to set out your lawnchairs so you

can get a good seat.....I had to have a nap, lol!

Of course this doesn't show that he had just had one there too

I was dissappointed with some of the shows like LeeAnn Rhimes and

LeeAnn Womack...because they really didn't 'entertain' they kinda just

got up there and sang. But the acts I wanted to see like Terri Clark,

Jodee Messina, George Canyon, Doc Walker and Jason Blaine

were awesome!!! Great entertainers and they really got the crowd

involved. We only had a bit of rain....that was while George was on

stage, but we pulled our raincoats over us and it didn't last long.

A Long, Long Soccer Weekend

 Well that's another soccer season done with,

and three of our four teams made it to the finals today

We started yesterday morning at 8 a.m and after 8 games

yesterday and 5 more today our last

game was today at 5:30....well, it was supposed to be

until a young guy in the game before ours had a collision

in front of the net which is quite normal, except for the fact

that when he got up he kinda staggered around a bit

like he was drunk and then just crashed to the ground.

I think he passed out but they were worried about a

concussion because he fell so hard, so he lay there flat

on his back till an ambulance came and put him in a neck

brace and took him away on the stretcher.

That plus the fact that it started to rain before the ambulance

left so they finished the rest of their game and then when it

started to pour they held off on our game hoping it would slow

down so we could play. It did and we played the game,

all of us soaked and shivering after being in the 28 degree

sunshine all the rest of the weekend, lol!!

Only problem left was wondering who I was supposed

to be cheering for because both Cody and Colin were

playing in this final and of course they are on opposite teams, lol!

Here they are at the end of the game, which went into

overtime, just as a playoff game should

Cody's team ended up winning 2-1 in sudden death overtime

but that was better at least than having to go into a

shootout! They are waiting to get their medallions

Cody is sitting in the white and Colin is green #3 on the right

Hannah was also in the playoffs today and though

her team made it to the final they lost 1-0.

By this time of the day the kids were getting loopy, lol,

running into each other and falling down alot

so as you can see below, any chance to rest was taken lol

This is Hannah in the net and her friend Hannah being

her defence, lol

Colton's team didn't make it into the playoffs for today

but yesterday in his last game he got two goals

so was very proud of himself for giving it a valiant effort.

He played goal for the whole first half so that was

quite a feat

Here he is, the second yellow player from the left

just after taking a shot on net.

I am on a hill taking the pic and watching Colin's game

while Mike was down watching Colton's, lol.

It's real nice that all the fields are right together,

definitely when you have 4 kids playing

We had a great weekend, the weather held out till

late today and we had alot of fun watching the kids

and all their friends play and have a great time!

Pic of the New Van

 Here's a pic of Colton and our Australian Shepherd, Hope.

 

It's kinda different to be up and able to see more things again, lol...then sitting on the ground like you do in a car

 

It has a great stereo system so Cody says that almost makes up for the uncool van factor, lol.

 

My mom and dad have been divorced since I was only 7 or so, and he's been remarried for over 25 years.

There were times that I didn't get to see him a whole lot

but I've always had a close relationship with his new family. We are seeing each other more now and it's great

Back with Vacation Pics

 We had a gorgeous vacation

absolutely wonderful weather

and the kids spent alot of time at

the beach

 

I was bored senseless and spent alot of time

sleeping...I've never before gone to bed around

9 or 10 p.m and slept till 8 or 9 a.m

for 4 days in a row, lol!!!

My mom and sister smoke and I think that

was getting to me too...but I just couldn't

stand sitting around anymore

Meanwhile at home, I'm wishing for a chance

to stop and smell the roses for a moment, lol!

Of course we must have the morning toast ritual shot, lol

This is the favourite activity there for all

the kids...Colton was a little upset when

we decided that we were going to leave early

Sunday morning instead of 8 pm Saturday nite

after Cody got off work...only because he was

afraid he would miss toast, lol!!

We made it there by nine and I cooked toast

for everyone on the iron lid from cookstove

heated up ontop the propane stove burner

********************

 

Top, my three boys at the beach on Monday...

you can tell by the tall shadows that it was

getting late in the day...we waiting to go

around supper time because then most of the

vacationers had started heading home...

the beach was practically empty

 

Below that Hannah and her youngest cousin

Ian are enjoying the water....they didn't come

out for two whole hours...the little hands

were soooo wrinkled that even the palms were too!lol

Officially on Holidays

 Woohoo....I'm officially on holidays and though I should be doing many things to get ready for our trip north today....I sat on the patio having muffins and coffee with a friend for two hours, lol!!

 

I did do the grocery shopping early this morning and I already have most of the food and my clothes are packed, so I'm not doing too bad There's no electricity there so my fridge and freezer are packed to busting open the doors trying to get everything frozen and nice and cold for the coolers.

 

Cody has to work today and he's not done till 8 tonite. We had originally planned on leaving then, but decided not to, because it will be dark and we will have to be making beds and such in the dark with our flashlights and coal oil lamps....so we will be leaving bright and early first thing in the morning by 7 a.m.....once I drag the boys butts out of bed, lol!!

 

Will be back late Wednesday or Thursday morning

News About a New Car

 NEWS ABOUT MY CAR!!....I stopped on the way home from work yesterday and took a few for test drives, but they were a little out of our price range, at least if we wanted one right away. Which we really need because it cost me $20 for each round trip to work and back for the last three days!!! Yikes!!!

Well, I got home and the boys said there was a message from my dad to call him back. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he said he bought me a '98 van and that we didn't owe him anything for it!!!! He said he owed me that much and more and it was the least he could do and I almost started to bawl! Anyway, I was so excited that I really don't remember anything more about the conversation, lol....so I can't remember what kind it is, but I'll post a pic when we get it...should be Thursday or Friday

Makes me remember how blessed my life really is When it seems like we are down and out....a little miracle is always waiting just around the corner

I need a New Car

 I blew mine up!!

The head gasket is blown and quite possibly I

cracked the head too....not good!

It overheated the other day on the way home

from Belleville. I had taken the kids shopping and we

went out for Chinese Buffet for lunch...we had a great day

Colin got his new cell phone...a 'Chocolate' and signed

up for the 5 friends plan, so hopefully he can keep the

costs down...I know they can get pretty pricey,

that's why mine is just pay-as-you-go

Only cost $29 for the phone plus you got a $75

gift card to Future Shop...can't beat that deal!

I have found it's very handy to be able to call Cody's

cell and have him pick up one of the kids on the way home

if he has the car, plus ooodles of other things.

It's great to be able to get ahold of him and especially

for him not to have any excuse for not calling home

when he's out

I know, he's 18 but he's still my baby and I need

to know he's safe and sound

We were supposed to go camping for these 3 days

that I have off and now I just know that I should be

saving that money for the new car

The little kids were dissappointed but I promised them

a picnic lunch today outside and then we'll sleep in the

trailer in the backyard tonite

So much for a Happy Birthday

A friend at Work Needs Some Prayers

 Today at work, I learned that a good friend there had just lost her husband.

She and I were hired just two weeks apart, so I've know her for 15 years now.
They were married almost 25 years and they had a fight on the weekend and he went out and commited suicide.
He has been fighting depression for the last few years
and felt well enough to go off his medication 
They have 3 grown children....the two oldest are already out of
the house and the youngest, 19 is leaving for college this fall.

She seems to be handling it very well but I don't know what she'll do this fall when the house is empty 

I'd appreciate it if you all could just keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers....
Thanx ever so much