August Round Up

The second month of summer has been super fun.  It started with our trip to Vancouver with Lori and Mackenzie, which was fun and enjoyable to go on vacation with them.  We got home on a Sunday and Monday Darryl and I were back to work, Nathan to Lesley's and Lucas did a week of YMCA camp.    He really enjoyed the camp, although as posted in the previous post it did take him a little bit to get use to it.   But he loved the swimming (one way he is certainly my kid)  On Saturday was his birthday party.  This year Lucas asked for a reptile party. So we invited a couple of his friends over and had the reptile guy come and teach the kids about reptiles. It was...... interesting. There was a 9 foot boa in my living room!  But I was okay with that.... really I was. =)

Playing Elephant Soccer before the reptile guy.

All the kids watching and intrigued. 

Petting one of the snakes

The 9 foot boa!

  After the kid birthday party we had an adult birthday party.  Where as usual Auntie Karen brough the most creative gifts and one gift that her and Lucas had to open in the bathroom.  It's always some sort of trick gift.  This year it was a whoopie cushion.  Which the boys laughed about for hours and hours. 

She also brought a pirate board

And Auntie Lexie made the snake cake

Then things quieted down for a bit.  My students all graduated and became bonfided x-ray technologists.  Which was very exciting.   Then after that Tammy and I did our triathalon.  This year we did it in Strathmore, in a pool.  So my swim time was excellent.  I also got slicks for my bike (which are skinny tires) so I thought my bike time would be great but the wind got me (and my lack of practice).  All in all I was happy to finish, and happy to have someone to train with me. 

How was your August?

Jenn

Soccer Time

Spring time means soccer for us.  Nathan has it on Monday and Lucas on Tuesday and Thursdays.    So we have been a busy family.  It's nice because both Lucas and Nathan play and it's really affordable.  With Nathan I've realized soccer is hard with 3 year olds.  The drills are not too bad becuase I can make them into little games, Simon Says, What time is it Mr. Wolf.  But the games are a challenge.  To try to get them to kick it the right way and then towards the goal and then stop once they are out of bounds is as much as I can handle most night (I'm the coach BTW).   Plus an hour of running around seems to be a lot for them. 

Lucas's soccer is more interesting.  The kids are more cooperative and the game is actually kind of interesting.  Still there are kids on Lucas's team who don't listen, but the have longer attention spans then on Nathan's team.  Lucas has improved over the last 10 weeks, but I'm not sure soccer is really his thing.  I wonder if he has a bit of me in him, which means he's not that competitive.  But it's been great to watch him grow and get better and better at the game.  Darryl was the coach for his team and did a great job.  He got lots of kudos after the game tonight and was asked to coach again next year, so we will have to see.  I don't have any pictures from Nathan's soccer, it was rained out the last couple of weeks, but here are some good ones from Lucas's soccer.

Till Next Time

Jenn

Olympics

I wouldn't classify myself as a sporty person. I'm not competitive, I'm not very good at sports. I do like to exercise, but happy to just be doing it, don't have to be the best at it. But I LOVE the Olympics, really love it. Darryl and I were debating on driving to Vancouver and sleeping in our car just to see a glimpse of some of the events. But decided against it in the middle of Feburary. But we watch them constantly. I love that you can watch sports you don't normally see. I love the emotions and the highs and the lows with the Olympics. Actually I don't really like the lows, but love the highs. Some of my favorites were Canada's first gold medal, and the wonderful story about Alex and his brother Fredrique, who has cerebral palsy. He talked about how his brother inspired him. They told his brother he wouldn't walk over the age of 10, but still walks now in his 20s. It is such a great story.


Then there is the story of people you kind of know, Mike Robertson won the silver in snowboard cross. He is the boyfriend of a friend of a sister.


Or Clara Hughes, someone who is not only a decorated Olympian, partipates in summer and winter olympics but also donates her time and money to Right to Play.



I also really enjoyed the ice dancing competition. I don't usually watch it becuase I find it to be a little over the top and ridiculous. But I thought the Canadian dancing was so beautiful.



One of the lows of the Olympics this year is how much pressure is being put on the Olympics to win at home. Especially for the men's hockey team, when they lost to the USA the whole country was deflated. But today after the win with Russia everyone is feeling better.



The time I cried the most was a Joannie Rochette's beautiful performance brought me to tears. I can't imagine how strong and brave a person must be to perform at the Olympics after your mother dies a few days before.

Over the rest of the week and weekend I'm looking forward to the rest of curling and hockey.

Have there been any other really memorable moments for you?

Great job Canadian athletes, we are so so proud of you. You have provided us with great entertainment.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Crazy Neighboors, Weekend Highlights

After working with a dimwit on Friday night I came home and went to bed, only to wake up an hour later to a kid who was coughing so much he couldn't catch his breath which made him cough even more, which made it worse. I felt horrible because I couldn't remember is it best to bring them out in the cold or put them in a warm shower with steam. The way I got him calmed down was by watching his new favorite TV show, Little Einstiens.

Afterwards I decided to sleep beside him, just to keep an ear on his breathing. He did cough, and still seems to cough a little at night still, but that night at about 5am Lucas wakes me up with his coughing and I can't fall back asleep, all I can hear is boom, boom, boom through the wall. There I go with my crazy hair at 5am knocking at the neighbors door, turn your music down, people are trying to sleep. I am old, who can stay up till 5am?!? I do hope they move soon...... maybe I should by a jack hammer and run it this summer, will that encourage them after parting all night.

Sunday I went to a baby shower, it was good to see a bunch of ladies from our old street (although many of them don't live there anymore) and nice talk mommy for a bit. Although I still feel a little self concious around them. Sometimes I feel way older then my age and other times I feel immature. Still good, just an interesting observation.

Came home watched the Superbowl, glad the Giants won, share the Superbowl wealth I say. Tom Brady and the Patriots don't need another ring.

Probably the best thing about the weekend, and most weekends is that Darryl is home with Lucas and I. It's great to listen to them playing, listening to Darryl and Lucas laughing, listening to Darryl teaching Lucas stuff. It's the greatest to be part of a family.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Too Bad

Although I always feel a sense of happiness when the Stanley Cup is given out, I also feel a sense of sadness. Anaheim has won the Stanley Cup. I am not a competitive person so not very into sports. I don't like it that there is only one winner. I once heard a quote, something like the best thing about sport is that there is only one winner, but that is the worst thing about sport, there can only be one winner.

Things have been going great with Lucas, he has become so agreeable. Maybe becuase he says yeah all the time, or maybe becuase of the age that he's at but it's just been the best month. Here's a cute video of him:



Till Tomorrow

Jenn