The Freckle Falsehood

Julia is starting to get some summer freckles on her face. Daddy commented that he was pretty sure that freckles came from not telling the truth. A look of concern crossed Julia's face for a moment but was quickly replaced with a knowing smile as she replied, "Actually, you get freckles each time you listen and obey!" (Note: one of our family rules is to listen and obey!) Just now she was staring in the mirror (which she does on a far too regular basis) and commented, "Wow, I must be listening a lot!"

Cutie Campers

Camping was my Kryptonite

I am not a camper. I love me my running water, my comfortable bed and everything that comes with living civilly. Perhaps given our current summer living conditions, it was a perfect time to give camping another chance.

Growing up our family camped once, in our backyard, and never even attempted it again. I went to brownie and girl guide camp… even winter camp in Canada… and once to girls’ camp, but I always returned home to shower for hours, flushing the toilet incessantly and telling absolute horror stories of why I would never return. There was the year we set up our tent facing the forest and I slept walk. Then there was that fabulous time we gathered leaves to use as “toilet paper” and all got poison ivy in an unsightly place. The stories go on, but in my mind (and for those of you who know me), camping is just too dirty to ever be any fun.

However, I married a man who grew up camping and actually thoroughly enjoyed it. Call me crazy, but last year for father’s day I gave myself a death sentence and my husband a nice big tent. Being a little camping naive we spent last year’s father’s day weekend scouring the state parks and camping sites for a spot – not having a reservation. We ended up camping in our backyard and Ethan (who was then 1) and I lasted half the night before sneaking off to our respective beds.

When planning our summer Greg insisted we have a couple of camping trips. Our first one was this past weekend. I thought two nights was a little daring given our previous unsuccessful one-nighter, however I wouldn’t trade this last weekend for anything… we had so much fun and it was so relaxing. I feel like we had our first “real” family vacation. Sure there were the raccoons that attacked our campsite, Ethan kept us awake most of the night (note to self, bring pack & play), we got filthier than I ever imagined, and all our batteries died in our flashlights. But the weather was perfect, the beach a delight, the campfires memorable and the days long and perfect. We camped at the Pinery and somehow lucked out to get a campsite near the sand dunes where most everyone else had booked their site a good six months ago! The kids had so much fun exploring (and so far nobody has gotten a rash from all the poison ivy we saw)! I had read up on camping with young children and thought I had packed accordingly (but just from study and not experience). I watched a lot of other campers and their campsites and picked up lots of fun tips and ideas for next time. Did I just say “next time”? Our camping neighbors had three young children too and the kids became fast friends and a great diversion when campsite duties had to be done. I really can’t say enough. Truly it was a great escape and an enjoyable time as a family. I feel like I’ve been missing out and I plan on catching up big time!

Search for Sunscreen

With the recent sunscreen lawsuits and my children’s misfortune to have my skin, I’ve been doing a little research on sunscreens. I’ve learned much, but unfortunately am having a hard time applying my knowledge. Let me share what I’ve learned.

Basically not all sunscreen is created equal. While consumers may blame the companies for misleading them with their packaging labels, mostly it’s an issue of ignorance and misunderstanding what the labels represent. I was among the unaware who assumed that the higher the SPF(sunscreen protection factor) the better – people were constantly commenting on my SPF 50, cause well, you know that’s like double SPF 25 right? Wrong. According to ConsumerSearch, “SPF 15 blocks 93% of rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97%, only 4% more. SPF ratings higher than 30 don't offer any further UV protection, and let the same 3% of UV rays through as SPF 30. Further, SPF only blocks UVB rays. For that reason, it's just as important to look specifically for UVA protection.” Surprisingly, not very many sunscreens contain the necessary ingredients providing that UVA protection. Unless your product contains avobenzone, titanium dioxide, or zinc oxide, you're not protected from UVA – which is the light that causes much deeper damage than just your surface sunburn.

So now on to finding out which sunscreens will protect me and my fair-skinned children. CNN helped me out with the following info: “Sunscreen reviews also point out that most children's sunscreens are no different than those for adults, except for added fragrance that can actually irritate kids' more-sensitive skin. The only beneficial difference to look for is UVA protection with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, since these are less irritating than avobenzone to children's skin.” These are hard to come by. I have spent all morning dragging my kids from stores and pharmacies trying to find what my research shows me is the best. Sorry Moms, but those SpWipes and Sprays are no good…the SpWipes have no UVA-protecting ingredients, and most of the sprays say they offer UVA protection but don’t contain the right ingredients – don’t be fooled by oxybenzone, it is not the same as avobenzone. I stand to be corrected, if you find a spray that contains the right ingredients, let me know… however you do lose a lot of the spray into the air and you can’t use it on faces.

The best finds for kids are Blue Lizard Baby Sunscreen and No-Ad Sunscreen. For us Moms, it looks like Neutrogena’s UVA/UVB Sunblock Lotion is definitely worth a try (it has all the right ingredients and is sweat-proof, water resistant – since no product can be waterproof-, fragrance and oil-fee as well as being good for sensitive skin). I’m trying to go with No-Ad for the fam since it’s also very affordable and comes in super big bottles. Apparently an adult should use 4 oz of sunscreen to cover his/her whole body if the sunscreen is going to work properly. (So much for those 6 oz travel-friendly bottles!)

Do your research, read your labels and be sun-safe. But for heaven’s sake, let me know where to find the right stuff!

Symphony Sensation

Last night, after an out of body experience where I braved the death bridges and downtown Toronto traffic, my Mom and I attended the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall courtesy of my wonderful in-laws who are out of town. Can I just say how fabulous it was to be there; words cannot express! I’ve attended the symphony before, but I have never sat in the third row practically reading the orchestra’s music, feeling the breath of the opera singer as he exhaled, and seeing the beads of sweat on the conductor’s brow as he danced and flirted with the audience. How invigorating to really feel like I was actually a part of something so encompassing and abundant in talent.

I was infatuated with the concertmaster violinist who arrived in jeans and a t-shirt just 10 minutes prior to the program and ran to change into his suit. He did not look like he belonged in a suit. But he played beautifully and accomplished the role the conductor/comedian staged him for. I watched several of the different people and guessed their life stories. The man with the raggedy ponytail and frayed cuffs puzzled me. The older, yet quite sophisticated principal cellist who broke his role and played a saw, a real saw, (and quite shocked all of us with the lovely sound) left me dazzled and curious. The very pregnant young violinist who left for a part of the performance breathing heavily interested me. I loved the group of men in the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir who would sway back and forth and then started the wave at one point.

It was a very engaging concert, and one that quite included the audience. We participated so much that a friend sitting with us commented that he hoped his name would be in the program. There was a sing along as well as encouraged flag waving (which developed quite a breeze throughout the hall). Peter Heidrich’s composition of the “Happy Birthday” Variations was such fun and really very amusing. Imagine hearing that old classic played in adaptations such as Bach, Vivaldi or Beethoven… along with others! We were all laughing - and the conductor, Nicholas McGegan, really performed and entertained us almost as much as the music.

All in all I had a most memorable time. The cincher was when we all stood to sing the national anthem at the end of the performance with the choir and orchestra. I don’t remember the last time I was able to do this. While it provided for me a rich feast of vitality and patriotism, it was also, as our friend commented, a cheap shot at a standing ovation! Ultimately, the music was mesmerizing, the people-watching fascinating and the company impeccable. In my mind I have set a new goal to one day truly be a part of such a performance. Such things as dreams are made of.

You Are Our Hero Daddy!

What makes Daddy happy?
Julia: when we listen and obey
Tyler: play with him and go pee on the potty
Ethan: doggies
What makes Daddy mad?
J: when we don’t obey
T: I don’t go pee on the potty
E: poop
If you could give Daddy anything in the world, what would it be?
J: a date
T: go pee on the potty, and a BIG BIG cookie
E: mmmmaaa (kissy sounds)
What’s the nicest thing about Daddy?
J: that he smiles a lot and he loves one another
T: go pee on the potty
E: mmmmaaaa
What does Daddy look like?
J: looks like he’s tall, and he’s so big and he looks like a handsome king (and I love him all)
T: brown
E: dada
What do you like best about Daddy?
J: I like about him is that I like him a lot and he likes to hold me and calls me his baby girl
T: I love to go on the boat with him
E: no response
What do you like to do with Daddy?
J: I like to go swimming with him and I like when he holds me like a baby. I like to go under the sea like Ariel.
T: swimming, and go out of the water cause I’m scared of the water
E: bath
Happy Father's Day Superman!
(picture titled: "Even Superman Needs a Dad")

Field Trip Pics

(Budding equestrians)

(Jammin' at the Ontario Science Centre.)
(On a "bear hunt"!)

(Sending my toddler to the moon!)

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is something that interests me. Time will tell if it interests me enough to pursue it as a practice… but for now it remains an interest of mine. I enjoy hearing how others make it work. I enjoy the statistics behind the names and faces that make up the gross numbers, making this no longer a pursuit of religious fanatics as occasionally presumed. I enjoy reading about the different teaching methods and schools of thought. I like teaching my children and incorporating some of the ideas and techniques I am learning through my research.

Here in Ontario children start kindergarten between the ages of 3 and 4. The deadline is January 1st. They start with Junior Kindergarten and then move onto Senior Kindergarten. Both are just half day. So accordingly, Julia should have 2 years of school almost under her belt (school’s not out till the end of June here) and would be starting “grade 1” in the fall. But, as Julia tells everyone we happen to meet on our travels, “we don’t live here, you won’t ever see me again… and I don’t go to school yet”. This conversation then gets directed towards me and I have to reveal way more information than I’m comfortable sharing with a stranger who “won’t ever see me again”. So after one such conversation which involved me divulging where we’re from, why we’re here, what the dates for starting kindergarten are where we live and why my kids aren’t in school… I made a decision. The nosy woman interviewing me accosted me with what I should be doing… homeschooling. She was quite demanding and I didn’t argue but let her lecture me on the benefits, the theories and of course her own experience. I was a little shocked at how she would just come out and tell me what to do, but nonetheless, I was shocked to silence… and I learned something. People generally don’t want to ask too many questions when you announce “I’m homeschooling”. Those who have made the choice to homeschool are usually pretty firm and stable in their decision to do so, and won’t be swayed. That’s great. I think it’s wonderful… I’m just going to borrow that stereotype and whenever someone demands to know my life story with the beginning question, “why isn’t she in school?” I’m simply going to reply, a bit snobbishly and with finality, “oh, we homeschool”. For, don’t we all?

I lost my cool.

Situation: Driving on highway for almost 2 hrs in heavy taffic (& on only about 3hrs of sleep). Child #1 sleeping. Child #2 babbling deliriously with 104 degree fever. Child #3 sleeping vey soundly... snoring even. Suddenly Child #1 wakes and starts crying about how badly they have to go PEE RIGHT NOW! What do you do?

I should have pulled over at an exit and had child #1 pee into one of child #3's diapers... remained calm and gotten back on the highway without screaming, cursing, causing a huge scene at a gas station where child #1 refused to go into alone and thus peed all over themself, the car and said gas station's pad. I should have been supportive, loving and sane. I wasn't.

Picture Perfect

Two for Togetherness
*I was tagged on another blog to complete this about my husband.

Two things you compliment your husband on while in his presence:
1. His absolutely fabulous smile.
2. His ability to explain absolutely anything to absolutely anyone (a very gifted teacher).

Two compliments you make about your spouse to your friends:
1. What a great father he is and how much he helps out in the home… for example, we have a deal (at his proposal) where he washes the dishes – a job I hate - every night after dinner as long as I will play the piano – which I love to do and seldom give myself time for.
2. What a hard worker he is in everything he undertakes. The man is a machine!

Two traits you married him/her for:
1. (Just two? I’ve wanted to marry this man since I was 10!) I love his dedication to family.
2. I married him because he makes me want to be a better person. I remember thinking that if I wasn’t going to end up marrying Greg that it was going to be awfully hard to find someone to marry because I now I knew that everything I ever wanted was available.

Two days you cherish the most with your husband being together:
1. This is tough… so many memories to sift through and choose. Probably when Tyler was born and Greg stayed with me, played games with me, and coached me through my first scary vbac. I never even would have tried it without him. It was very special. It was our triumph together.
2. Our wedding day, of course!

Two material things you could give your husband if you just inherited a fortune:
1. A sailboat.
2. A mustang.

Two things you would miss the most if she/he left for two weeks:
1. Our sex life for sure.
2. Talking, hugging, laughing, sharing, yes his cooking too… gosh, what wouldn’t I miss?!
(This is kind of an ironic question since I was recently trying to think of reasons why I shouldn’t go back home for the rest of the summer… not being with Greg was that reason. And when he asked me to stay, well, it was like being asked to marry him all over again… of course I said yes!)

Two thoughts that crossed your mind when you first met/saw your spouse:
I don’t particularly remember the first time I met him… I was 9 or 10. I remember loving his smile even then. But when we re-met after his mission, here’s what crossed my mind:
1. He has the most beautiful face ever.
2. Do I hug him or shake his hand?
(By the way, I went in for the shake and he said, “whatever, I want a hug”… as I hugged him my Stake President was standing behind me and winked at me! About 9 days later we were engaged!)

Two favourite dates:
1. Kissing in a tent in ‘Novacks’.
2. Horseback riding on the beach and in the mountains of Oahu.

Two funny odd things you love:
1.Greg will purse his lips out and kind of sniff every so often. I’m not sure if it’s to check on his nose hairs, smell if his lips have my chapstick on them or what! It cracks me up… but I like to think he’s practicing his kissing techniques. (He will probably die that I am writing this – it is too cute!)
2. How he can make you forget the “right” word or the “right way to say something” by saying something so incorrect yet so close to the correct way that your brain can’t think straight!

Two places you have lived with your spouse:
1. Temple View Apartments at BYU-Hawaii
2. Lawrence, Kansas

Two favourite vacations:
1. Our honeymoon.
2. July 1-4th last year – boating up in Georgian Bay, just the two of us.

Two People I am tagging:
1. Keeping up with the Bloomington Jones'
2. Camie and Matt

Much Ado About Nothing

One completed chart and one paycheck later, our family went to the movies for our first time. Julia had been before, but for the boys this was a completely new experience. We explained to Tyler that it was going to be really loud and the screen would be really big - his response: "bigger than a snowman?"

We went to see the much anticipated kids' movie of the summer: CARS. In two words that I would not say in front of my kids: it sucked. I would not say those words in front of them because I think they are too coarse for their ages, but if you were to explain their meaning, my kids would agree with me.

It was long. It was boring. It was awful.

According to Julia, who asked mid-movie if we could please go home, she liked the part at the beginning and the part at the end where the cars raced.

Tyler pretended he had pooped and asked Greg to go change him, only to find that he was faking it to try to get out of the movie. When that didn't work he tried the same tactic again.

Ethan, the TV king, who can sit in front of anything in moving colour was lost half-way into it. For the movie's credit, I do suggest showing up 20 minutes late after the very long and non-toddler appropriate previews finish - that may help with your endurance.

As a mother I was a little upset at the word "HELL" that got thrown around a little too casually. I could handle the one "stupid" and "idiot" okay, but "hell"?! Also a short but rude male body part innuendo and female "headlight" flashing weren't appreciated either. I'm harsh, I know.

There were some funny parts, sure... but there just weren't enough of them to keep the plot going. Nor was there enough child-understandable plot to keep the movie going. Mater, the beat up tow truck, was hilarious -truly he was... but, well, that's about it for hilarious.

As we left the theatre after running it up and down for kicks, we asked the kids what they liked better, "Finding Nemo" or "CARS"?... "Monsters" or "CARS"?... each movie we drilled them with, the answer was never CARS. Even when we got down to "Cycling" (Greg LOVES to watch cycling and they know the Tour de France is coming up)... Tyler chose cycling. Only when presented with the bottom of the barrel option of cycling did Julia choose CARS.

So our first theatre experience as a family was a flop. We've decided we like watching movies at home at our leisure with our own popcorn too. We felt bad when we left and wished there was something better we could leave our kids with for the day. Tyler wanted to go back to the petting zoo we'd been to earlier today:

T: (yelling at top of lungs) Mommy, stop the car!
Me: I'm not driving, Tyler - Daddy is.
T: (yelling again) Daddy stop the car!
Daddy: Why Tyler?
T: Because I need to get out and go back to the barn.
D: Do you even know where it is? (since we're no where near it)
T: Yes. You go left and then right.
Julia: (sighing, and in all seriousness) Oh, Tyler, that's going to take you a really long time.

Life is a journey, enjoy the trip... but not necessarily the movie!

Guilty as Charged

My husband and I have very little in common when it comes to our viewing pleasures. However, we both have an interest in those fabulous crime shows of which there are always a plethora of re-runs. We were watching our second CSI last night (and were still to watch NUMBERS) when the crime was basically solved by looking through the contents of a woman's purse. It got me to thinking... what would someone figure out from looking in my purse? I had to dump and dig just out of pure curiousity. I was a little disappointed at my find, the snacks are all gone, the lighter from a recent birthday party has been removed (it would have added a little smoker debate at least, to sway the findings), and all in all my purse is pretty clean right now! There's the wallet, sunglasses, lipgloss and keys which are mine... the rest, well except for the feminine necessities, the rest are all child-related!

Here's what the findings say to me (yes we always let the evidence speak for itself):

A mother of child-bearing years who spends much of her time reading books, fixing boo-boos, and bribing with small coins, gum and good-smelling hand lotion. A woman who is not afraid to bounce a ball with her preschooler in a very full waiting room. A person who can think up 101 ways to use a baby wipe and will have to use said ways within the day. Someone in the midst of potty training and planning dinner for a group of picky-eaters (see yellow post-it note). A mother capable of taking her entire family to the Ontario Science Museum (see ticket stubs) and allowing a thirsty toddler with gargantuan amounts of backwash and floaties to drink from her water bottle. A lucky individual with a gift card to be spent anonymously at a grocery store so as not to leave a trace (except for the screaming toddler being dragged behind her). Said woman is also wearing dark shades to conceal lack of make-up and minimize headache... said suspect is also carrying a large rope capable of strangulation. Fortunately, findings speak for themselves, pepetrator is carrying way too many items to suggest she is a loving mother than otherwise. Suspect is free to go home and give the kids a bath.

Tribute to Tyler

Tyler is definately a super hero, and it is still strange to me that my little boy has entered this very big boy phase. His favourite colour is red... and that's also what colour his powers are. He wears his cape everywhere, just in case his help is needed. One time a frisbee got caught on the roof and he insisted we go home right away to get his cape so he could fly up to rescue it. While Tyler's parents are still in the discussing stages as to what weapons and weapon-play will be allowed... Tyler has improvised with sticks. Sticks started out as fishing rods and have increased into light sabers, swords and even guns. It's amazing how quickly that boy can find sticks! When asked who his favourite super heros are, Tyler will reply Darth Vader, Captain Hook and Alex Ritchie (an older friend)! Strange though, that he wants to be the bad guy all the time. He's always looking for the biggest stick to be Captain Hook, while as Peter Pan I get the small puny one - perhaps I do see his logic in wanting to be the bad guy.

(Figuring out a plan to rescue the maiden in distress!)

Still, there's something sweet to be said about a little super hero who still needs his owie kissed. It's really quite lovely when Darth Vader crawls into your lap and assures you that you don't have to be scared because, "we're just playing Mommy... it's me, Tyler". It's absolutely priceless to have a little boy so infatuated with super heros that when he kneels down to say his bedtime prayers with you, he comments that "Jesus is the best super hero". Maybe I will be able to adjust to this new big boy phase after all.

Nostalgia

Top 10 Things I Miss

10) a second bathroom
9) DVD player/VCR
8) my comfy couch... or any couch for that matter
7) our BIG kitchen table
6) my friends
5) my kids' friends
4) a phone that dials out to more than just 905 numbers
3) my washer & dryer
2) a stove
1) a backyard

Fishin'

So I think I had about a dozen heart attacks this weekend as we enjoyed our time up at Papa's boat. Life jackets are definately my friend... however I have two of the most daring kids in the world (Jula and ETHAN!!!) Tyler is super safe, but also trips a lot... so, yeah, I nearly died watching them nearly die. Quick reflexes kept everyone safe and no one actually fell in the water (which, Greg informs me, is the worst that would happen to them).

Trick or Treat?

Julia: "Mom, did you know this isn't a real castle...it's just a hotel?"
Me: "Who told you that?"
Julia: "Nobody. I just figured it out. But did you know? Somebody tricked you I think."

i'm the queen of the castle

This post could come from many different angles. On this particular day I’m leaning towards a downright nasty, negative angle (Tyler has the flu and I am without a washer/dryer)… however, like most bloggers, I have been formulating this post in my mind since late last night and the angle from yesterday is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Thus the title.

I wanted to write to tell you about our dorm room apartment that we’re living in for the summer. Basically it is just that. I think 500 square feet is a generous description, but I’m giving it mostly because we finally have our A/C working properly, and who can be less than thrilled when the A/C is functioning like a well-tuned car? I decided that if we were going to attempt a fairy-tale summer I would have to first convince the kids that our “summer home” was absolutely fabulous. It’s not, but I’ve done a good job convincing everyone – and at times even myself. Here are some pictures of where we’re living… however they are, of course complimentary… this is a concrete slab with walls in the state of absolute disgust - I have no worries that my children will trash this place! In my attempt at summer bliss, I told the kids we live in a castle. They believe me and have had more than enough adventures being a princess and princes. In fact I may have enough material from this summer to create my own Narnia series.

I’d forgotten how diverse Toronto is. So far we’re the only white family I’ve seen. We live right near what we believe to be a Sikh temple and are surrounded by men in turbans and woman in veils and long-flowing robes. Excuse my ignorance… but for my kids, our ignorance is even more magical; adding to our fairy-tale summer and royal surroundings.


We are at the very top of our castle, on the fifth floor. Yikes I say, but the kids are ecstatic. Their favorite place to be is on top of the desk under the big window watching all the airplanes and our royal subjects walking to and fro (we even saw a HUGE raccoon the other day and laughed as we watched people running to their cars in the pouring rain!) So there are some joys. Unfortunately the elevator is severely out of the way and also very old and scary. The kids would much rather climb the kajillion flights of stairs (concrete, so also little scary – both Julia and Ethan have goose eggs on their foreheads at present). We don’t have a key to our rooms, but a technically advanced card key. Very not handy because it keeps having to be reprogrammed and it is hard to keep track of since it can’t hang out with the rest of my keys on the easy to find keychain. Yesterday we went down for breakfast – yeah for free breakfasts – and climbed up all the kajillion stairs only to find our key card wasn’t working. Down we go to have the front desk to re-program it and the up again. I think we climbed the stairs up and down about 9 times yesterday… which resulted in ALL of us taking an afternoon nap! I worried I would lose track of the kids running through the halls here… but, like any castle there are cameras EVERYWHERE… so the princess and princes are scared out of their wits to be caught by security for running or behaving like anything other than pure royalty.

I could go on, and I should…but it’s been forever since I posted anything so I’ll post this. One last thing… check out the royal bathtub!!! (We only have a shower, but the boys were not impressed so I followed my friend Joy’s advice – thanks Joy – and got a big rubbermaid tub to fill and bathe them in).
Note: things are also royally expensive here, which is a royal pain in the royal --- ahem --- that tub was $10 – how much does it cost where you are?

Stay tuned for more adventures!