The Start of Summer

Well my summer has officially started. We wrapped up at school Friday afternoon and I headed over to Two Scrapbook Friends for a crop night with my girlfriends. Gen, Sam, Karan, Andrea and I had a great time, laughing it up and actually getting some layouts done. I made a new friend- Shelby- so my scrap circle continues to grow, yay.

On Saturday we headed up to Grand Bend to camp at the Pinery for a few days. This is our annual family tradition we have been doing this for at least the last 15 years. I started my photo journal and tried to get some shots of what we did each day. It is very hard to pick my favourites since every picture has my favourite people in them. Here are some I chose from the weekend.

We love to feed the chipmunks- they are so brave and friendly, they will eat right out of your hand.

This raccoon came to visit us one night. I caught him hanging out in the tree across from our campsite.

Our community dinner. We spread out over a few different sites in the park but we always have a least 1 dinner together. We all pitch in and as the saying goes ..many hands make light work. We were lucky in that the weather was much better then predicted. We got to spend time on the beach and eat all our meals outside- great!

After dinner we all walk/ride down to the store for ice cream. When the kids were little my dad used to give them a dollar and they could buy a huge bag of candy- those days are gone but the trip to the store isn't.

This year was unique in that Nicole's boyfriend joined us. As my parents said it is a sign of the times- my girls are growing up- there are signs everywhere of the changes to come. Josh was great, he just fits right in, playing games with the girls, cards with the guys and watching sunsets with Nicole

I had to throw in a couple of shots of my nieces. Jadyn is close in age to my girls, just 2 years younger, so she has always been around, having the same experiences that we have had over the years. Drea, Addie and Josie are my youngest brothers girls. They live very close to us so my girls get to spend lots of time with them. We have so much fun watching them grow and learn. My parents have 6 granddaughter - no grandsons - and they wouldn't have it any other way.

Katie & Jadyn

Drea Rae
Addie May

Josie Faye

Campfires are the best!!! We have spent so many hours around the fire singing songs and playing games. My parents love to have all the grand kids together, with the older ones teaching the younger ones so that our traditions get carried on.

It was a great way to start the holidays- I am really looking forward to next 9 weeks and more adventures.

Summertime Resolutions

So many people make resolutions at New Years. I never do, New Years is not really a big deal for me. I do however feel like things can change when it comes to the summertime. I have the next 75 days off, this seems like an endless amount of time, full of possibilities. Every year at the end of the holidays I look back and reflect and think--what the heck did I do all summer????

This year ( like most others) I have come up with a plan, a list of resolutions. I believe that if I write them down I will stick to them ( didn't work so well with the gym post but hey I'll try again)

1. I will go scrapbooking at 2 friends one day every week and get caught up- I have found my creative mojo again and plan on putting it to work.

2. I will take a picture everyday of what I am doing - this way when it gets to the end of the summer I will have a photo diary to help me remember what I have done with my time.

3. I WILL go to the gym- writing it down again- maybe it will stick this time.

4. I will read a book every week and see a movie just as often ( shouldn't be too hard there are so many the see and read)

5. I will spend time with friends and family, laugh often and loudly and make time for me as well.

I love having summers off, spending time with the family. This year will be different with Shawn home and Katie counseling at camp but it will be fun all the same I'm sure. We always start off the holiday with a family trip to the Pinery. My parents, brothers & nieces all go. It is so much fun , we swim, bbq and have campfires where we sing silly songs. It great way to connect with everyone and make wonderful memories.

I can't wait to get started!

20 favourite Things

20 favs from me

I got this from Jenn.

1. Color-Orange

2. Dessert- ice cream & brownies

3. Smell- outside after it rains, vanilla

4. Flower-gerber daisies

5. Animal- polar bears

6. Month- October

7. Beverage- diet pepsi

8. Pair of shoes-berks

9. Snack- chips and/or chocolate

10. Song- Always Something There to Remind me- Naked Eyes

11. Book- a new one every week- all time fav probably Gone With the Wind

12. Fruit-watermelon

13. Hairstyle- curly

14. Piece of clothing- orange hoodie

15. Store to clothes shop- Old Navy

16. Season-Autumn

17. Hobby- SCRAPBOOKING!!!!

18. Thing to collect -tea pots

19. Movie- again tonnes of favourite- all time? When Harry Met Sally

20. Restaurant- Boston Pizza

Your turn. If you play just leave a message and link in the comments

Happy 18th Nicole!!

My oldest daughter, Nicole, had her 18th birthday on Friday. I can hardly believe how fast time has flown by. I remember how tiny she was when she was born, the first time she ate carrots, her first swimming lesson, her first day of school the list goes on and on. It seems like such a short time ago.

Nicole and I have always been close. We have amazing heart to heart talks and I am happy that she feels comfortable talking to me. I have that kind of relationship with my mom and i am so happy to have that same bond with my girls. Nicole is growing up, moving away from our little world. She goes places and does things that I am no longer a part of. I know this is how life works and I am glad to say that I think Shawn and I have done our job well. I feel confident that Nicole has the ability to make good choices and is a force to be reckoned with.

I am so proud of Nicole and the women she is becoming. It is a hard time of life for her, making the big life altering decisions, college, university, what should I do with the rest of my life?? It doesn't seem right that you need to make these choices at such a young age. there is soooo much out there to see and do. Nicole has always know that she wants to work with children, it is in what capacity she needs to figure out - teacher, councilor, early childhood or high school age? Who knows? All I know is that she is happy, safe, in love and has the stability in her life that will help her in figuring it all out. Whatever it is she decides to do I know she will be great at it!!

My girls..... & their boys

My girls, Nicole and Katie are so similar and so different in many ways.

Both will tell you that family is the most important thing to them, home is their favourite place, they both love camping, sports and the computer.

Now is some ways they are as different as night and day. You can't move a thing in Katie's room with out her noticing, in Nicole's room you can't even see the floor. Nicole will tell me every single thing that is going on in her life everyday- Katie will only share once in a while and even then it is like pulling teeth. Nicole is spontaneous, usually up for anything, Katie likes to know well in advance what plans are. They both have parts of Shawn and I in them and it is interesting to see they ways they come out.

One way you can really see the difference in the girls is when you see their boys. I really like both of these guys. They are nice, polite, well mannered guys that treat my daughters very well but are as different as chalk and cheese. Josh is super sporty, always on the move and talks a mile a minute. He also is a sharer and I get to hear great stories about his and Nicole's adventures. Nate on the other hand is your typical "geek", he can take apart a computer and put it back together, he is the head media guy at the school, he is quiet and soft spoken with a very deep voice. He is happy to just sit quietly with Katie and watch her favourite show. The four of them get along great. It is fun to watch them interact with each other.

So there you have it -all the differences of my daughter show up so pronounced in their boys. I love them both deeply, I am amazingly proud of them and so very honoured to be their mom. I love to see them grow, learn and mature. I love watching their relationships develop and see them blossom. I spend hours analyzing them and trying to figure them out. They are the best thing I have ever accomplished in my life.

Am I a photographic control freak??

It is not really a true question- I know that I am. It has really hit home with me lately though as those I love venture off into prime photo taking places and I am not allowed to go!!

Shawn left last week for England. He is there with all my relatives, all the historical buildings and the sea- all things that I love to take pictures of. I trust him to do a good job but did give him hints before he left of some shots he should get.

The girls are growing up, it is hard to lose the picturing taking role in their lives. I have always taken shots of each and every special event they have ever been involved in. Tonight as they leave the house to go to the schools athletic banquet with their boyfriends I have given them a verbal list of the pictures I hope they will take. I really can't help myself. They roll their eyes but I do know that they understand how important scrapping each and every little event is to me. I am sure they will try their best to get the good shots, in the middle of eating, dancing and having a good time with their friends. I am sure my words will be there somewhere in the back of their minds.

I am going to have to relinquish control, I know, it's just hard.

Nicole's Prom

Well the big day is finally here. Nicole is at her first ever high school prom. When I was in high school we didn't even have a prom, never mind the kind of night that these kids are experiencing.
It all starts with the prom-posal. Apparently even if you have been in a relationship since October you must still be asked to Prom- not only asked but asked "cutely". Nicole's girlfriend was asked by her boyfriend when he filled her backyard with candles that spelled out "PROM?". Josh did a great job- he asked Nicole on the top of a roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland.
Nicole found her dress when we were in Florida- so that nobody else would have one like her. Nicole has very classic, simple tastes- I love her dress.
There was no school today for Nicole and her friends- instead of a regular senior skip day the girls were off all day having their nails, hair and make-up done. They were all here getting dressed and for dinner then we were off to Victoria Park for our photo shoot.
I was excited to take some cool shots. I got some great ideas from my friend Peggy's photography site. We went the night before to figure out what we were looking for.
Back to our house to meet more friends then on to the party bus limo. This limo was crazy! It holds 28 people, there is 4 TVs a Wii, leather couches - amazing!
A couple of stops along the way, more pictures then off the Bingemans. I hope she is having a great night- the build up was intense. I can't wait to hear all about it when she gets home!

Below are some of the shots I took today.

The before shots of Nicole & Josh

They clean up so nicely!!

We thought this tree was so cool.

Fun times in the park

All the pretty girls

The Whole gang!

The party bus

And they're off

Husband- free or husband-less??

OK so you know that title just freaked my mom right out! My hubby has gone to England for a 2 week vacation with my dad. I am kinda excited about this- that is the part my mom doesn't like. I am used to having a work -a -holic hubby, one who travels away from home and works very long hours. With Shawn being laid off he has been at home... A LOT. It is not a bad thing - just a different thing.

It has taken us a while to get used to our new family life. The girls and I are used to being here by ourselves in the mornings and after school- we are used to each others likes and dislikes, we know for instance that you don't talk to Nicole until after she has her cereal, Katie always gets in the shower first and cartoon are still on the TV every morning. Shawn doesn't know these things, he goes in the shower whenever, he has the gall to actually be talkative and cheerful in the morning and he watches the food network!!!!

We have adjusted quite nicely but I am looking forward to this break- it will give me a chance to get to miss him. I haven't had that in awhile. I like looking forward to him coming home and wondering what he is up to. I know he is going to have a fantastic holiday, one he deserves, he has been through so much lately it will be a nice break ( for both if us) :)

Husband-free or husband-less- it's a state of mind.