thanksgiving +

Fall has hit here in Forest City, and with possible SNOW on the weekend, winter may be just around the corner. This has me scrambling to make sure the kids have boots and snowsuits that fit - and it also has me reminiscing about Palm Springs on a near daily basis. I do like this season, and I'm trying to appreciate it for what it is (the colours, the fresh air!) instead of what's coming next (freezing cold, cold all of the time, gear everywhere, etc. etc.). I'll work on it....

With Steve away in Poland for 10 days on a McMaster Men's Volleyball tour, the kids and I scooted up to Bowmanville for Thanksgiving and had an incredible time. They just love it there - there are new people to play with (/harass), and toys and places to play are instantly new again. Plus, there's always amazing food (meals, treats, goodies) and Watson's farm is just around the corner, and (I know I've mentioned this before) it may just be their favourite place on earth. We arrived Thursday and left Monday, and I think the kids went to Watson's four times (??); we/they picked apples, rode on a wagon, played in the playground, fed animals, manhandled pumpkins and gourds, and rolled around in hay (literally). I admit that I do like Watson's, but it's mostly because the kids love it so much there. We had an amazing family dinner on Sunday afternoon (preceded by the best appelflappen you'll find ... maybe anywhere), I got away for coaching and catching up with a friend on Saturday (Western was playing in a tourney at McMaster), and everyone left feeling refreshed and ready (sort of) to get back to reality on Tuesday. It's been a bit of a struggle this week to get the kids to school on time - or, I could put it this way: it's been a struggle (not a bit of a struggle but a struggle) to get the kids out of bed, to get them dressed, to get them to stop arguing, to get them dressed, to get them to come downstairs, to get them fed, to get them to put on their shoes, to get them in the car etc. etc. Some mornings have been better than others, but there have definitely been smoother days.

the blood painting

This afternoon the kids surprised me with a request to do some painting, so I got the watercolour trays out and they went at it. Hendrik drew BLOOD... he drew several drawings of blood - and he was sure to warn me in a sweet and gentle voice (that I wish he used all the time) that I might think it was gross: "Mom, this might be kind of yucky because there are spatters and big blobs of blood all over the place." - !!! Alrighty then. And get this - after his first request for "Uptown Funk You Up" (a family favourite), he asked for Opera. For real. So I found this opera collection on Youtube and when it started playing, guess what Alana said... In her sweet and gentle voice she said, "Is that Grandma at the cottage?" HA! I had to suppress extreme laughter. And then she says, "At Bowmanville?" And it was just audio. So there you go Grandma B, you've got the voice of an opera singer. (!!!)

After a trip to the London Public Library's annual book sale tomorrow morning (you better believe I am some excited about it), we will have what I hope will be a relaxing day before a very busy weekend. On Saturday morning we'll head to Toronto to visit the aquarium, and then pick Steve up later in the day - and then drive home (ugh). Sunday will be no less busy: I coach in the morning and then will head back to Toronto for a scrimmage between the 'Stangs and U of T whatever-they-ares... Sounds relaxing, right? Not. With all of that said I'd better get to bed. Reunion pics to come - I can't wait to see the kids see Steve!