Adventure Mommy is officially licenced to operate a boat in Canada! I said at the beginning of the summer that I would accomplish this and lo and behold, I have! The Yes Man has it in his head that I'm going to chauffeur him around on the water now... little does he know that I paid extra attention to the Safety section of the studying and I will be going over our safety checklist and making sure we are more than sufficient! LOL!!
This will add an entirely new dimension to our summer vacation at the trailer with mom...I think Naomi is more stoked about me getting my licence than I am! "Can we tube now? How 'bout now? What about now?" I can already hear it...!!
There is something totally exciting about boating out on the open lake - the views, the breeze, jumping into deep (and not weedy) water...I sing a song to the kids whenever we are getting ready to jump in and Ben's asking "Is it cold? Are there weeds?" It goes like this (pretend you are in the Army singing with your Captain):
I don't know what I've been told
Gee this lake water sure looks cold
I'm gonna jump in
I'm gonna dive in
I'm gonna get myself all wet
Oh yeah!
Keep smiling! And keep getting your feet wet with new exciting adventures!!!
August 25, 2012
August 23, 2012
Yah Baby - Groovy!
I saw this on a friends Facebook page - and it totally goes along with my earlier blog...This Generation.
Wow! Our generation rocks!
Keep smiling!
Wow! Our generation rocks!
Keep smiling!
This Generation
The other day up here at the trailer, I was fooling around with the built in stereo system. Considering this trailer is only 11 years old, it's a little surprising that the built in stereo has a tape deck. What's even more surprising is the fact that neither of my kids has any idea what a tape deck is! And try to explain this when you don't have a tape handy...very difficult!
This generation, my kids generation, generation X's kids (I hope I got that right!) has no idea whatsoever about tape decks, 8 track tapes, corded telephones, typewriters....what else? In a generation of techno friendly children from the age of 2 (seriously!) they have missed all the techno gadgets that came along before.
And not only do they have no idea about these ancient gadgets, but they don't care that they don't know. Naomi and Ben are not chasing me trying to find out what these gizmos were (do they even know the term "gizmo"?). There is no running to the dictionary to look up their meaning, or maybe a photo of them...just a simple shrug of the shoulders and onto the next iTunes upload.
However, having said all this...Grampa brought some cottage games over last week. We now have original Monopoly, PayDay and Yahtzee. Seriously. The original versions. And guess what? Naomi and her pals play PayDay in the Secret Club House and totally love it. Really. They are in there for hours at a time playing...they make plans at the park for who's coming over to play next! Hilarious. For all that changes, somethings stay the same.
Keep smiling!
This generation, my kids generation, generation X's kids (I hope I got that right!) has no idea whatsoever about tape decks, 8 track tapes, corded telephones, typewriters....what else? In a generation of techno friendly children from the age of 2 (seriously!) they have missed all the techno gadgets that came along before.
And not only do they have no idea about these ancient gadgets, but they don't care that they don't know. Naomi and Ben are not chasing me trying to find out what these gizmos were (do they even know the term "gizmo"?). There is no running to the dictionary to look up their meaning, or maybe a photo of them...just a simple shrug of the shoulders and onto the next iTunes upload.
However, having said all this...Grampa brought some cottage games over last week. We now have original Monopoly, PayDay and Yahtzee. Seriously. The original versions. And guess what? Naomi and her pals play PayDay in the Secret Club House and totally love it. Really. They are in there for hours at a time playing...they make plans at the park for who's coming over to play next! Hilarious. For all that changes, somethings stay the same.
Keep smiling!
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| The Secret Clubhouse (aka the shed) |
August 17, 2012
The Kite Flyer
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| The Kite Flyer |
This reminded me of my Roots and Wings blog - how we want our kids to soar and sail in life. Be the best they can be. And I found this gem of a quote by Erma Bombeck:
I see children as kites. You spend a lifetime trying to get them off the ground. You run with them until you're both breathless...they crash... you add a longer tail... they hit the rooftop... you pluck them out of the spout... you patch and comfort, adjust and teach. You watch them lifted by the wind and assure them that someday they'll fly.
Finally, they are airborne, but they need more string and you keep letting it out and with each twist of the ball of twine, there is a sadness that goes with the joy because the kite becomes more distant and somehow you know that it won't be long before that beautiful creature will snap the lifeline that bound you together and soar as it was meant to soar... free and alone.
Only then do you know that you did your job.
-----Erma Bombeck (February 21, 1927 – April 22, 1996)
Keep smiling!
August 13, 2012
A Year in Recap
The past year has been a real journey. A journey of self discovery. Something that I have discovered (well, I have a huge list - but this one stands out). We all have our own stuff that we are dealing with. And that as we overcome these issues, there are always more waiting around the corner for us. But that is what life is all about. And that is the real adventure in all of this. Finding out who we are. What makes us tick. What makes us laugh, cry, compassionate, sad, real.
So what I thought that I would like to write about is the things that really stand out for me - that I feel I learned tons from during this part of my life.
Firstly, family and friends. They actually appear throughout my list - but I wanted to put them at the top!
Then its all about saying Yes - that's still something I'm working on. Saying yes more than no. I keep reminding the Yes man (jeez, he really sets the bar high on that one 'cause he can't say no - one of those types). Yes - I keep reminding the Yes man that I'm a work in progress. We had a huge laugh over that one yesterday. In a good way. Thanks, Yes man.
Next, love. Keep as much love in your life as humanly possible.
And gratitude. Say thank you - all the time. Thank you to whatever it is you believe in - God, the clouds, a greater spiritual being...whatever. Just say it. This will come back to you ten fold. Or more.
I still find myself having moments where I think "Ah-ha!" I have forgotten that I wanted to say Yes more, or say thank you today. That kind of thing. But I don't beat myself up for forgetting. Because I remember that I'm on an adventure - and Yes man - I am a work in progress!
Keep smiling!
So what I thought that I would like to write about is the things that really stand out for me - that I feel I learned tons from during this part of my life.
Firstly, family and friends. They actually appear throughout my list - but I wanted to put them at the top!
Then its all about saying Yes - that's still something I'm working on. Saying yes more than no. I keep reminding the Yes man (jeez, he really sets the bar high on that one 'cause he can't say no - one of those types). Yes - I keep reminding the Yes man that I'm a work in progress. We had a huge laugh over that one yesterday. In a good way. Thanks, Yes man.
Next, love. Keep as much love in your life as humanly possible.
And gratitude. Say thank you - all the time. Thank you to whatever it is you believe in - God, the clouds, a greater spiritual being...whatever. Just say it. This will come back to you ten fold. Or more.
I still find myself having moments where I think "Ah-ha!" I have forgotten that I wanted to say Yes more, or say thank you today. That kind of thing. But I don't beat myself up for forgetting. Because I remember that I'm on an adventure - and Yes man - I am a work in progress!
Keep smiling!
August 4, 2012
Karaoke Mama!
Last night was Karaoke night here at the Park. What a hoot! My friend Anna and I joined in all the fun - and listened to some great singers! There is one lady in our park who should be singing on stage every night she was that good.
Anna and I got a hold of the song list - there must have been thousands to choose from. And of course, you want to pick a song that you a)know the words and b)can somewhat carry the tune of. So we hemmed and hawed over some great and not so great choices. I liked the 70's type songs as these are like second nature to me. Anna, (and maybe because she is 3 years younger)however, wasn't overly familiar with my selections - who doesn't know Knock 3 Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn? Come on! Well, she didn't, so back to the list. Anna wanted to perform Paradise City by G n'R - I wasn't into that - I know the words alright, but that is a tough act to follow - plus who can sing in that high voice like Axle?? LOL!
So we settled on Raise Your Glass by Pink. And had a great time up there singing. Our friend Christine joined in too - but she kept singing into her beer glass and trying to drink from the mic! LOL! Hilarious!
You know - I love to sing. I loved it as a kid - I remember singing at the cottage all the time. I come from a very musically talented family if I do say so. And yes, I do say so. We even sang harmonies - how great is that?
And this brings me round to my dad - who would have turned 69 today - so happy birthday dad. He kept us all singing along with his guitar playing and piano hands. Love you and miss you. And here's a weird coincidence (auntie Jul this is for you). We were in Lakefield yesterday - and two of the shops we were in were playing John Denver...hmmmmm.
Get out there and sing today!
Keep smiling!
Anna and I got a hold of the song list - there must have been thousands to choose from. And of course, you want to pick a song that you a)know the words and b)can somewhat carry the tune of. So we hemmed and hawed over some great and not so great choices. I liked the 70's type songs as these are like second nature to me. Anna, (and maybe because she is 3 years younger)however, wasn't overly familiar with my selections - who doesn't know Knock 3 Times by Tony Orlando and Dawn? Come on! Well, she didn't, so back to the list. Anna wanted to perform Paradise City by G n'R - I wasn't into that - I know the words alright, but that is a tough act to follow - plus who can sing in that high voice like Axle?? LOL!
So we settled on Raise Your Glass by Pink. And had a great time up there singing. Our friend Christine joined in too - but she kept singing into her beer glass and trying to drink from the mic! LOL! Hilarious!
You know - I love to sing. I loved it as a kid - I remember singing at the cottage all the time. I come from a very musically talented family if I do say so. And yes, I do say so. We even sang harmonies - how great is that?
Get out there and sing today!
Keep smiling!
August 3, 2012
I'm an Apple Girl
Adventure Mommy is a true Apple girl. Our first home computer (back in 1982) was and Apple IIe - and I thought that was the be all and end all! We could play Frogger until our hearts content - although, the froggy was green and so was everything else on the screen! LOL! Things have certainly come along way since those days.
Now I have a MacBook Pro and and iPad - love love love it! And so do my kids. In fact, we have only had the iPad for 2 days and I have been the mediator to about 20 fights over it already. Oh brother. And his older sister. Ha! Ha!
What I've been watching though is how fast kids pick up technology. It's like lightning speed. They take their tech toys around with them and come back with a surplus of knowledge. Although, I've been wondering about that. The kids don't really know that they know, if you know what I mean. It almost becomes second nature to them. Awesome. And scary at the same time. This is how kids communicate now. It's all wi-fi, texting and calling. This is why I'm so thankful that we are at the trailer for the summer and the kids are out on their bikes, playing basketball, just hanging out at the beach - sans gadgets. There's enough time for all that business once September comes.
Our daughter's birthday cake - she turned 10 last week - was the ultimate tech toy cake - a giant iPod (thanks to Every OcCAKEsion for this absolutely spectacular cake). The kids all went crazy over it - and thank goodness they didn't try to turn it on!
Keep smiling!
Now I have a MacBook Pro and and iPad - love love love it! And so do my kids. In fact, we have only had the iPad for 2 days and I have been the mediator to about 20 fights over it already. Oh brother. And his older sister. Ha! Ha!
What I've been watching though is how fast kids pick up technology. It's like lightning speed. They take their tech toys around with them and come back with a surplus of knowledge. Although, I've been wondering about that. The kids don't really know that they know, if you know what I mean. It almost becomes second nature to them. Awesome. And scary at the same time. This is how kids communicate now. It's all wi-fi, texting and calling. This is why I'm so thankful that we are at the trailer for the summer and the kids are out on their bikes, playing basketball, just hanging out at the beach - sans gadgets. There's enough time for all that business once September comes.
Our daughter's birthday cake - she turned 10 last week - was the ultimate tech toy cake - a giant iPod (thanks to Every OcCAKEsion for this absolutely spectacular cake). The kids all went crazy over it - and thank goodness they didn't try to turn it on!
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| Naomi's iPod Birthday Cake |
Keep smiling!
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