august update

Can you believe it? The summer is coming to an end... boo! We closed the last week off with a fabulous trip to the Pinery, one of Southern Ontario's popular provincial parks. We lucked out with a great site last year and Steve was able to snag it again - but this time Grandma and Gramps joined us! Steve, Hendrik and Jordan slept in the tent, and I slept with Alana on one side of Bob and Marg's tent trailer, and it worked pretty well except for the last night; Jordan woke up crying for Mommy, and I spent a few hours in a camp chair in the tent before sneaking him back into his crib only to be woken half an hour or so later for the day. We ate really well (camp dinners were tacos with all the fixings, BBQ'd chicken thighs with beans, broccoli and corn, burgers, and pasta) and it sure did help that much of the work was done beforehand be it cooking or chopping. If only all meals could be so easy! Desserts were also fabulous (of course) and everyone enjoyed s'mores and Alana's pre-birthday celebration cupcakes. She turns six tomorrow, so we did a mini bday celebration on Thursday. We spent most mornings and afternoons at the beach where we were handed a good mix of water conditions; it was calm for the first few days, super wavy the third (which Hendrik and Alana LOVED), and calm again on the fourth (Jordan was scared away by the big waves). We came home with a few rocks, not too much sand, and only a minor poison ivy blister on Jordan's leg. It was a great week!

And now... now it's back to reality big time. I fit in a quick grocery shop this morning and passed on the $2 cupcakes at Superstore to come home and make my own with Alana... but despite the extra grease they all stuck to the pan. The universe is telling me to simplify! Oh well. I didn't listen and went out and bought cupcake paper liner things and made another batch - which made me think of the Fancy Nancy cupcake story (her dog eats them and after an exhausting day she listens to her parents and goes straight to bed). Anyways! With school for me and the kids starting Tuesday things are going to get crazy busy. Speaking of books, I absolutely devoured The Orenda this week... I was totally captivated, and think it was one of the best books I've ever read. It gives lots of food for thought, and I finished it with tears in my eyes at midnight last night. It's not the lightest or easiest of reads, but I loved it.

I know I have more to write about (I'm hoping to get out west in early October to visit my mom and dad and sister, the house hunt - no updates, had a great visit with a friend from uni last weekend, ummm I don't know what else) but this is it. I need some sleep!

so goooooood to see this ZAG for life... love!