So tired and sleepy!

This morning I was up when Lloyd left for his conference. I chatted with Monica via email for a while and then we headed out to the pool. Chris was still in bed when we left. He's at drama rehearsals right now so I will run out and get him in a little while.

I picked up Lauries friend Chris and then drove out to Range Road 200 to get Susies friend Melissa. It's pretty out there but to be honest It's just too far out for me. (Sorry Patti!) I guess if you use Tofield a lot it's ok but as Sherwood Park is our main base, it's just too far. The drive along Wye (a road I don't like) is just toooooooo long! It took FOREVER!!!!!! OMG!!! I just wouldn't want to do that every day!

I feel so grateful that we live where we live - just 12 minutes out of town - 10 minutes from Whitemud Meadows. 21 minutes from South Ed Common yet still in a rural location with a pretty acreage. No long commute.

Anyway.....we headed into town to Millennium Place and Laurie THEN asked if I had his swim bag! Uhhhhh NO!!!! You are 12 Laurie you are old enough to be responsible for your own things WHY would I have your bag?????????????????

After making him sweat I said that if the Running Room has something on sale I would get it and he could still swim......they didn't have any trunks on sale but they did have running shorts in small on sale that the guy said some use for swimming - so I got those and he can run in them in the Summer with me too so that works fine...and HE is paying HALF!!!!!!! Ggggrrrrrr.

Finally get in the pool and it was fun :) They had the big inflatable up in the lap pool so the older four went in there for a while....Abigail was practicing her swimming...Sam was practicing his surfing-dude impressions in the waves on the big foam shapes...as well as enjoying the slide....

We got out of the pool at 12:30pm and left MP at 1pm.

I waited for the older 4 in Reception and just as they were walking over I saw this little girl of about 4 or 5 wandering around crying - she walked over to the elevator calling 'Mommy' and pressed the button....I heard some other Moms saying how she had been wandering around 'for ages' looking for her Mom (uh?????????) so I walked over to her and got down on my knees and held her hands and asked if she was lost...she said said she was and so I said I'd help her find her Mommy - I was so scared she was going to get into the elevator and end up who-knows-where!!!!!! Why were these other moms watching her 'for ages'???????? Poor little thing was so scared!!! So I took her to reception and they called out for her Mom and a few minutes later I saw her with her Mom being kissed all over and looking VERY happy :)

I just can't understand why those other Moms were watching her wander around crying and scared - all they had to do was get someone who worked there. What worries me is that the doors in the reception there are AUTOMATIC and lead out to a busy parking lot!!!!!!! Anything could have happened!!!!! GEEZ what would they have wanted to happen if it was their child??????Are people so scared these days that they don't do anything but watch??????????

GGggrrrrr

So after that we headed to McDonalds up on Baseline/ Broadmoor. We met Melissas Mom, Brenda for lunch.....it was funny because Melissa ordered a large meal when she meant to order a normal one. I always order myself a mcHappy Meal - I get a McHappy Meal with a Hamburger - it means I get an extra toy for the kids and I give half my fries to Abby or whoever because i don't like fries much so just a few is enough....anyway there is me with my little meal and there is Melissa who is 9 with her MEGA box of fries :)

We take our time over lunch...the kids all have dessert......and then Chris's Grandma arrives for him...........and then we headed to the scrapbook store......I got a couple of things for Glenda...then we headed home......I threw in all the swimming laundry into the machine.....it is now in the tumble dryer....

Now I am really tired. Lloyd is finishing at 6pm then picking himself up something at wokbox.

Chris is home now. He's tired - his drama session was long and exhausting by the sounds of things. They are working on a version of Pinocchio...with a twist....

I am going to relax with my Martha Stewart Body and Soul magazine for the evening :)

Preferably in the bath :)

Tomorrow I am planning a lovely relaxing lazy morning doing nothing much. In the afternoon we are going to the Raptor Centre to see the Owls and hopefully to get more owl pellets :) Tomorrow night is date night but to be honest I don't think we will be going anywhere - I think we will have a lazy night at home. this week is busy enough! I guess we'll see how we feel then but a night at home would be good!

Mean Mom has already said thats it for the week now for taking friends places! We're meeting friends on Friday and Susie has a party on Saturday - we're still doing things....they can still see there friends - just not here or not with me planning it :)

I. AM. TIRED.

example of a polytunnel

www.firsttunnels.co.uk/polytunnel.asp?cbowidth=8

Ok so this is an example of a polytunnel...they come in all widths and lengths.....they are just a light protection for plants from frost etc.....


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytunnel

Edited to add : Sharon I was talking about Peavey Mart in Leduc.......we went the other week and were not impressed but we may have to make another trip there as it may be the only place we can find what we need......sadly......although maybe we will email them first and ask......save a trip.....

If my Dad was to walk around in Peavey Mart he'd feel at home though because my home town is a little like Peavey Mart (OMG did I really type that????? Sorry dad lol...) but it's true...they all look alike (well not MY family of COURSE!!!!!!! and NOT Louise...of COURSE....but you know what I mean lol......omg I have FOOT in MOUTH disease today lol.......

When we were in Peavey Mart they had like 200 pairs of welly boots for sale....ALL size 8!!!!!! SEE they must in breed and ALL theiir women have size 8 feet!!! It's a genetic thing!!!! WEIRD!!!!!! :)

House move....

then a few minutes later we passed this very old looking, cute house/ barn type building being prepared to be moved by truck - it was in the parking bay on the highway near our house, where they park the big trucks during the day......

Big wheels!!!

This is for my Dad really......thought he'd like to see these big tyres being moved up the highway on a truck......the pictures aren't great as I took them on Lloyds cellphone.

No poly tunnels

This week Lloyd isn't working his usual job - he's working for the other company he does work for - BCAL. There is a conference taking place at the SHAW conference centre, so he is there working today and tomorrow.

It's ok except he doesn't get to wear a suit so he kind of has to dress down lol....as it's still a smallish company everyone flies in from wherever (across BC and AB) to help set up and everything...and they all help do PR and marketing etc etc....

It's ok but not quite Lloyds thing really but until the company gets bigger everyone helps.....and it IS growing.....with very little competition in it's field and with the new ideas that Derek is bringing in, it looks set to be widespread across Canada very soon....not just in assisted living.

Anyway....today Lloyd will be working late (boohoo.....he won't be finishing until 6pm or even 6:30pm!!!!) but yesterday was set-up day so he finished at early and came home and picked me up and we went out to get some poly tunnels - but we couldn't find any anywhere!!!

So where do we get poly tunnels??? Ok I think we are going to HAVE to head back to to that bloody awful place where they in-breed!!!!!

We went to Timmies for supper - I had the chicken vegetable and rice soup or whatever it was called and it was GORGEOUS!!!! OMG best soup ever!!! YUMMY!!!! but they put butter on my roll so I didn't eat it and I couldn't be bother to go and get another as I only ever eat half anyway - who can eat a whole one?????? So I just went without - I mean they normally serve it dry and give you little packs of butter that I just ignore....but this time they buttered the roll.....

Last night I sat and finished my atc's for the swap :) They are all ready to mail off now :) Yay!!! I want to run into the scrapbook store today to get a little treat for Glenda as a thank you for running the swap :)

I went into Reitmans in SP and they had more of the jeans in my new size so I bought 3 more pairs in different colours woohoo :) including a very light pair that is suitable for bees :) so I can wear it around a hive - even if I don't get my bees this year I will be spending time with a local beekeeper this year and will need light coloured clothing so these will be ideal :)

Today we are swimming - I'm picking up some of the childrens friends on the way - then meeting friends for lunch afterwards. Chris isn't coming with us - he is cycling to school instead as he has drama rehearsals all afternoon instead - I'm picking him and his bike up later instead :)

Tonight I plan to relax with Lloyd as I won't have seen or chatted with him ALL day which is not like us at ALL :(

Tomorrow he hopefully gets to finish work at lunchtime and may get to come to the raptor centre with us :)

softy :)

Hahahahaha actually I look ill - I look like I have the flu etc but I don't - I was just playing around with iphoto :)

Me.......a few moments ago........

And I was trying not to smile.....on purpose ;)

My Four Youngest...

Everyone look at the little green light!!!!!

Not a chance!!!!! hahahahahahhaha!!!!

All change!

All our plans for the week have changed :) Today is now our quiet day :) Yesterday was supposed to be but now today is :) and so far so good :) The boys are outside playing soccer. The girls are going out to join them after having spent the morning making crafts - picture frames they decorated..and then playing on webkinz (Susie got so many kinzcash from her new frog yesterday that she bought a hot tub for her frog!!! Lloyd laughed and said it was the kind of thing I'd do lol)!

Tonight Lloyd and I are out for dinner and we are going to look at some greenhouses...actually out for dinner is pushing it lol.....we're 'grabbing something out' - probably from Timmies or somewhere!!!

Tomorrow we are meeting some friends to go swimming and then go out for some lunch. Chris has a drama rehearsal all afternoon at school.

Thursday we have been invited to visit a local owl centre for the afternoon. (We were going over to Spruce Grove to get my hive but will have to that another time...the weekend maybe)

Friday we have hair appointments and are then meeting some friends in the afternoon.

Saturday Susie has a birthday party to go to.

Playing around with the girls and iphoto....

Welcome Back!

Last night I had a wonderful surprise! An email from an online friend that I had lost touch with....Jacquie (aka 'Nana') - it was so good to hear from her again and hear how she is doing :) so totally out of the blue :) Jacquie and I are both big fans of Sara Ban Breathnach :)

Anyway I just wanted to say Welcome Back Jacquie! As you can see I am still blogging like crazy :) I now have several more blogs - the top five blogs in the list to the right are all mine (lol) although my gratitude journal doesn't get updated online really as I find I do better with pen and paper with that one! My Daughters both have blogs too but they are private so let me know if you'd like invites to those!

Not so bad after all.....

I've not really been in the mood for Spring Break......I could do with quiet days with the kids in school to be quite honest! Instead of chaos with extra kids around. But actually the day turned out to be quite fun after all!

Laurie slept over at his friends house last night! They picked him up at 4:30 yesterday for a movie night and supper at their place and then he called to ask to sleep over. We picked him and his friend up at lunch time today and then we all went in to the mall and had lunch there.

Chris went off and met his friend Matt and they went to a movie. Laurie and his friend Chris went off shopping and had lunch. I wasn't hungry, so I bought lunch for the girls and Sam, and then we did some shopping for Susie. She's now wearing age 12 jeans!!! They are my height!!! (sadly not my waist size lol) Then we got her shoes and she's a size 4....

Heather!!! I bought The Secret Life of Bees!!! Then I sat in the library and started reading it while Sam played with the train and the children chose books and used the computers.....

Today was really my only quiet day of the week and I had originally planned to be at home until Susie announced her pants and shoes were all too tight! This she announces all of a sudden this weekend! So now she has a few things to get her through the week until we go further afield to get her some clothes.....SP doesn't have many stores but I am not going further afield with ALL the kids lol.....

OK off to bed :) night night!

More articles from back home....Julie Ridley

And some articles by a wonderful friend of mine that sadly I am no longer in touch with - she was my role model when I first started as a homeschooler/ unschooler and I really looked up to her - spent many many wonderful days at her house with her amazing family...she got me interested in astrology and La Leche League too!!! :)

I believe Julie Ridley eventually ended up Chairing Education Otherwise and campaigning for home education rights in the UK!! Well done Julie!!! :) She runs home birthing support groups over there too :)

www.education-otherwise.org/Links/HE_Adult_St/JRidley.htm

An article by Moi!!!!

www.underhill.nildram.co.uk/article_2.htm

I wrote this article when I was homeschooling my three oldest children in the UK. My Son should have started school three weeks after his 4th birthday in England, where children start much earlier than here in Canada.

Still frozen...

The beaver pond by the campground at Astotin Lake is still frozen, but one of the beavers was out sunning himself on the lodge this afternoon. He lifted his head to say hi to Susie but by the time I had my camera ready he had gone back to sleep...so you can only make out the furry bump amidst the sticks I'm afraid.....

I altered the colour/ exposure of the beaver lodge piccy because the exposure was so bad.