Wireless Problems

Dear was home for vacation and fixed the computer. However, I now have wireless issues. I anticipate to be up and running by next Friday. Thanks for your continued patience.

I am back...For today

Ok...another computer meltdown - yes it is brand new - security problems, not that I would dis anybody but BELL Canada is not our friend!!!! Anyone living in this province is pretty familiar with the feeling of bashing your head against a 4 inch spike in the wall when communication with the company - this company is incredibly customer unfriendly!!!

So, enough of that. Well, school has started and lunch making is in full force. Tristen and Will began Violin lessons and Will was so excited that now he wants a violin room! Jacob is back at piano and a little bored with the book he is doing - time for a new one I guess. Jacob took piano all summer so he needs a change.

I am thinking what have I been up too.....if you ask the secretary at the school she would say I have nothing better to do than be at the school watching and talking to teachers going on school trips (Yes, already - 2 movies all in french and a trip to the fire dept. also in french) but if not me who?... I think, as she looks at me with quiet disdain. I am home and I want to participate in their education - they go to school to learn and function in french - something I cannot give them but I will be there all the way. I do have a degree but not the patients to home school like another of my very talented friends does - what admiration I have for her choices! So, I am very involved with their school and teachers all parents should be ....please be involved with your child's education If you do not who will? I see so few parents at the school - it is worrisome.

I have started many projects - finishing the fence painting, cleaning and painting the paved driveway, cleaning the siding, painting dressers, finishing a quilt, and staging the house for next spring. Will I get it all done is the question! I am sure I will - no worries! Ha, Ha, Ha!

I do have some sad news to report after much thought and with heavy hearts we decided that 2 dogs were too much. I took Alex and Caramel to have their needles and mentioned to the staff that I need to find a new home for one of them and the dog trainer on staff took Caramel (Now Chandler!). I am so happy for him! I had spread myself too thin and was unable to continue and unfortunately there have been on going issues with the dogs. I am happy to report, however, that both are doing much better now and I feel that they need to be separated to stop the competition for attention. The pecking order was still strong with in them as well because they had never been apart. I spoke to the trainer this morning and she is so thrilled and so are we. I am glad he is fitting into his new home seamlessly. Alex has also adjusted well and I have allowed him a few extras, like he sleeps with me now (Much to Dear's dismay!) yes, he weighs 90lbs and takes up a lot of room but he gets down when he is too hot! He has also been neutered and not feeling too good about it but you know men that area is so sensitive, however, we women seem to take it all in stride!

Oh, how could I have forgotten Hockey season has started, no I am not joking! Believe me Monday night Tristen had a practice in a town 15 min away @ 6:30pm and Jake had one in our town @ 7pm. Can you say driving like mad. No longer though as I looked around the room there were a few of us in the same predicament - we are going to car pool our boys! Thankfully. Yes, Will plays too but on a different night, phew!

So, right now I am at the local library doing this page . Dear will be home mid October and we will ensure all is well with the computer before I start back blogging full time. It will soon be time for Halloween Jacob wants to be the tooth fairy (go figure!), Will a fireman (His career aspiration) and Tristen is thinking of Einstein gone crazy (I have no idea what that will look like!). As I said I will be a way for a time we are going to visit with my father and Gran and spend some time on the beach - mid October is my guesstimate. Sorry no pictures today - I have lots to come!

This was a good idea Dear, the library is so quiet during the day. We will see you next week, cannot wait. Take care all.

Unexpected Downtime

Unfortunately the computer is experiencing problems. Therefore, Penny will be up and running towards the end of October. Sorry for any inconvenience. Thanks.

Dear

No Wonder I Loved the Herb Garden the Moment I Saw the House!

Well, today is a lazy day. I hope it stays that way. I thought I may set the tent up in the backyard tonight and camp out but it looks like rain. Our weather man...Tristen (A keen interest in all things weather) says it is going to, so we may have to put off until tomorrow.

What is the title of this post about...When we came to see our home I loved the kitchen (The most important room to me) and the herb garden (Which I just replanted!). Part of last nights dinner is the reason why - herbed chicken, using Thai basil, columnar basil, golden sage, oregano and lemon grass all from our herb garden! With a little salt, pepper, fresh squeezed lemon and olive oil baked in the oven then freshly grated Parmesan to top it off when it is done! Yummy! the picture on the right is before it entered the oven and above left when it was finished.

So, Dear, that was our day minus the drama - you are already well aware of. Take care and have a good night all.

Hockey school is over!

So, it came to an end and I realized that hockey shots look alike for the most part (Sports photographer aficionado I am not!). I also realize I did not like the mornings 6am and by late afternoon (Sitting and watching and waiting-However, I found I am not good at that either....walk, walk, walk - I have to be moving, so the other Moms mentioned.) I was tired. The boys, however, were pumped, after 3 hours of exercise (2hrs on ice and 1 hr off) they were ready for the day. The pictures above - Tristen wide open, Right Jake got a goal (Then pretended to faint!) and Will emerging from the morning mist on the rink surface.

Meal times were a challenge (We left the house at 7am and returned @ 4pm), as soon as you step into the arena greasy fries beckon and call your name but I brought the cooler and made lunches every night for the following day...yeah, not the idea the boys had in mind but better for them. Yes, I did allow them one day of fries! For dinners, I brought the trusty slow cooker out - roast beef one night, beef stew next day ect..

SO, speaking of cooking...I have gotten away with a few sneaky tricks as of late concerning rising the vegetable consumption of the boys. Note pie to the right, Yes that is a whole wheat crust, but more than that it is a sweet potato and squash pie - passed off as pumpkin! Is it a lie if a promise to tell them later, years later, but you know later? I never thicken gravy with corn starch or flour I hand blend in lots of veggies to thicken it - it is still gravy but with at least 2 -3 servings of veggies. Yes, I will tell them later.....when they have children. For dinner last night quiche (Below).

The Measure of a coach

Well, another day at the rink. Will put his skates on for, basically, the first time 2 days ago and is now skating! Jacob and Tristen are fine tuning their skills and really enjoying time on the ice with their friends. Although, the early mornings are brutal , this is a primer for the start of school.

Why have I titled my post this way because if the measure of a hockey school is determined by its staff then our boys have it made. Chird pictured with Tristen above has been a great mentor for the children in this program. I hear this is his 20th year coaching this hockey school and it isn't hard to tell why they have an integrity and an ability to have the children reach their potential and beyond just because they want to please the staff as much as themselves. We were so lucky to have been introduced to this program. Congrats Chird and staff.

So, Dear that was the day. Will has actually learned to glide, Jacob is starting to handle the puck and Tristen is tweaking and expanding his skills and nursing his blisters...I, however, still have no idea of the rules of the game but am just enjoying watching the boys play. Oh, Dear did you realize all our boys are left handers? Me either - I wish someone had of told me before I bought all those sticks! We miss you Dear and wish you were home - talk to you tonight. Have a good night all and remember to give your Dear a hug.

Tired!

Wow, what a long day! The boys, however felt it went too fast, the first day of hockey school that is. Three boys all different age categories, so classes all at different times - starting at 7:30 am and going until 3:30pm, a long day! Here are a few picture highlights and Dear , I miss you. Have a good day all.