It's that time of year, for everywhere but B.C.

It's the time of year when kids just about everywhere are headed back to school. Supplies are bought and carefully labeled, backpacks lovingly packed as full as they can get. Lunches have been made, cute little notes tucked inside. Parents are pulling out their cameras and phones to document little Suzie's first day of Kindergarten and Bobby's first day of middle school. Some parents are rejoicing and basking in the now kid-free days, some are tearfully looking at empty rooms and wondering what to do now. And then there are the parents in British Columbia Canada. These parents are frantically looking for babysitters, for all day daycares, for friends and neighbors to help them out. Or for those of us who dont need daycare, who are instead on a hunt for curriculum books, reading and project materials so that we have some form of education to fill our children's coming days. I have not really picked a side in the current teacher's strike, because honestly I can see both sides. However in the end, its the kids who are losing. My newsfeed is full of first day of school pictures from parents around the country, people are discussing normal first week of school issues, busing, homework, friends, etc. While kids in the public B.C. school system are pushed further behind. At some point there may end up being a winner to this great fight, but whichever way things go, its the kids who'll forever be on the bottom.

May you Rest in Peace

I wanted to take a minute to remember a good friend who left our life much too soon. He always had a smile and kind word, and had a knack for getting a laugh out of anyone in any situation. The laughter and good memories will live on, long after the tears shed at his memorial have dried. He was larger than life, always up for an adventure, and his smile won plenty of hearts. It always seems the stars that shine the brightest are the ones which go out much too soon, and this was definitely too soon for all who knew him. It is my hope that my group of friends can go on having a yearly camping trip, remembering the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Such a loss serves as a reminder that no one knows how much time they truly have, so lets make the most of it!

Nova Scotia girl!

While I'm here, I wanted to share some of my favorite beach pictures of Nova Scotia! We had a blast last summer and have decided to retire there. Until that time though, it will be an every other summer vacation trip. It is beautiful there! I am an East Coast girl at heart! <3. Well clearly Aaron wanted in on this blog post, the first picture is actually a river in B.C. of myself and a friend who is no longer with us, but very near in spirit! So he can stay, the REST of the pics are Nova Scotia!

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No cell phone signal!!

It is finally my most favorite time of year. Besides 5 feet of snow, which coincidentally basically NEVER happens in the lower mainland in British Columbia. That's enough about that, a rant for another day about 7 months from now. No, it is finally summer here, if not officially by calendar date, by balmy beach seeking weather! Which is what we did after school today. Also it is camping season. The time of year my family abandons all modern conveniences and sleeps under the stars, with mere scraps of fabric separating us from the elements. Campfires, smores, hotdogs, dirt, dirt and more dirt, all beloved and soaked up with enthusiasm. Okay well at least for the first day. Then the video game separation anxiety creeps up on the kids, and suddenly us as parents are treated to a chorus of various whines and groans about there being "nothing" to do. Even though that "nothing" was good enough for us as kids. We try hard not to meet their complaints with eye rolls and "when I was young" yarns that will be the cause of their own eyerolls some day. No sir, camping is a family tradition, and will continue thusly, even if we're someday soon going to be roughing it in a cozy trailer instead of a tent. I'm still not installing a TV!

Another couple of years have gone by and I'm slacking... but that will change soon.... I have an upcoming trip to Nova Scotia and intend to publish some great pics on here. Life has been awesome, I guess thats why I've had nothing to bitch about on here. Jon and the kids are all great, have a new vehicle, the nicer things in life. Dont confuse this for bragging, I take nothing for granted, I've worked hard to get where I am, and its nice to enjoy the life I've managed to craft together. Fun family vacation photos to follow.

Almost a YEAR since my last blog

Well, okay cyber-world, I am officially slacking. I cannot believe its been almost a year since I last wrote anything here. I'd love to be able to say not much has changed in a year but, alas, this is not the case. Last year I was a stay at home mom, married with two two yr olds and a 5 year old. This year I am a separated WORKING mama of two three year olds and a 6 year old. And bam! Just like that things get interesting.

The kids are great, they are more and more independent, and I am slowly relaxing on the childproofing. The high chairs and booster seats are all retired now, and the cribs are now toddler beds. The girls also traded their pull-ups for a potty. I get to reflect on the fact that I no longer have any babies or toddlers in the house, which as most moms know is such a bittersweet moment.

I'm not even going to get into the downfall of my marriage, there have been a lot of thoughts swimming around in my head, but no real good way to express them yet, so I'll just let that simmer some more. When you get right into the dirty details its just a lot of 'he said' 'she said' back and forth mess, when the main point really is we just do NOT work as a married couple.

AND my crowning achievement as of April this year, I HAVE A JOB! I really cannot yell that loud enough to convey my excitement. I absolutely LOVE the stay at home mom role, I truly do, but circumstances (and pesky things like bills) led me to the decision to put myself out there in the workforce. I was rewarded with a most excellent job as a campground attendant. The bonuses are too many to count. Its right next door to me, its FUN, and its flexible hours to work around Jon's work schedule are the key selling points for me. Did I mention its fun?

Although, speaking of work, if I WERE to lodge any complaints right about now, they'd mainly be with one MS Mother Nature. WHAT THE HELL do you call this weather anyway? Hello, mid July calling, I'd like my sunshine and warmth back please? Thanks. Seriously though, we are freezing and drowning in this province, send sunshine, and arks.

You know you're a Mom when...

My darling daughter, Hailey aka Twin A, dragged her straw out of her milk cup and spit milk across the kitchen floor. Whether by accident or on purpose (I never can tell with two yr olds) I grudgingly retrieved the mop from the hallway and let it glide across the floor to erase the evidence of her mealtime creativity. It is one of those days, and I couldnt care less about milk splatters across the floor, fingerprints on the walls, dvds scattered to the four corners of the livingroom. My head is pounding, my eyes are sore, and my throat is scratchy. I've been fighting this awful cold for over a week now, possibly a new record for me as far as illnesses go, and it has officially won. All I want to do is go back to bed and sleep until it leaves my system. "Mommy I want animal crackers!" Hannah (Twin B) yells, as she throws the remainder of her jam sandwich on the floor. Obviously sleep is not a current possibility.

To make my day THAT much more of a disappointment, I spent two days even while being ill, drawing up a logo that my dad requested for his golf team. Today I get a reply email for my efforts saying its too complicated for the intended purpose, and to shelf the idea. So now, I get an ego blow to go with my nose blowing. How perfect. It is however, a good reminder as to why I dont do anything artistic for a living. Rejection of something one puts so much effort into is quite discouraging.

So even amongst the sneezing and coughing, achey head, and rejection, I stoop to pick up the discarded jam sandwich, and open up the animal cookies for the demanding trio of youngsters in front of me. This is my motherhood reality. It is the one that hits me when I realize that no matter how crappy, physically or mentally, I might feel, those little mess makers are above it all. Thankfully after all this time, as a defense mechanizsm, taking care of them has become almost as natural as breathing. Sure I am looking forward to the day that throwing food isnt the way they signal they're done with a meal (I have hope, my 5yr old has moved passed it!) As a mom, however, it is a small comfort to know that their needs move me beyond a sick unsuccessful artist, and that will get me through the day!