Today (it’s still July 7th, barely) is my birthday and I just turned 34. I was mildly disappointed because I liked the number 33, but so far 34 has been just fine.

Yesterday we went to see my parents to help them out with some stuff and to have supper with them (my mother still makes a better spaghetti sauce than I do), and they even bought a black forest cake for me, something I always associate with my family. My mother said she didn’t know what to get me so she gave me a card with a cheque, and seriously, that is always welcome. I may put it towards a new set of contact lenses or I might buy some clothes. We’ll see.

Last Wednesday, a package arrived from my sister which was really hard for me because I don’t like to ruin surprises, but I also like instant gratification, so having a box sitting in my living room was difficult to ignore. I managed to persevere though, and I didn’t unwrap the packing stuff until today, then kept the gift itself for this afternoon. When I opened it, I was happy to find a nice set of fancy teas – I love tea at night but I had finished all my really good ones (except for my nice loose teas which I can’t use because a certain five year old lost the infusion ball), so I just had Red Rose type of tea bags. That’s fine, but I am looking forward to a nice cup of good tea tomorrow!

George, Hayley, and Breanna surprised me. And that’s an understatement. I wasn’t expecting anything in particular. George had asked me what I wanted and I was exceptionally helpful by shrugging and saying I didn’t really know. Luckily, he knew what I really wanted, even though I wouldn’t have actually asked for it. I was shocked when I reached into my gift bag and pulled out a box containing this monster:

It’s the Canon 75-300 mm lens and I still wonder if he actually thought I didn’t like it because in a move that was very uncharacteristic of me, I was momentarily shocked to utter silence. I couldn’t believe they gave it to me, I’ve been dying to get it for awhile now.

Between that, my camera itself, the “nifty fifty” I got back in March, and the wireless remote I ordered for ten bucks off of eBay, I am now pretty well set for a good while.

I can’t wait to take my new lens for a “walk” and see what I can get pictures of with that kind of focal length!

Other than that, it was a pretty low-key day. George had to work and so did I although I managed to get it done earlier in the day so my evening was free. That’s always nice. We had a quiet dinner and just took it easy. Hayley had soccer tonight but we planned ahead to ditch it so we wouldn’t have to rush through supper and getting out the door. It was good anyway, since it was super hot and humid today, to the point that the Weather Network sent me a high heat and humidity warning advising against outdoor activity and to drink a lot of water (yes, I’m that much of a dork, I get email reports about the weather!). It was cool enough after supper to just walk down to the store for some red wine, and I fired off a few test shots with my new baby:

LOVE.

I don’t need a big party to celebrate. I just need, apparently, a new lens!

Over at Sweetney, she was asking for some recommendations, media-wise. I thought I might enjoy some similar commentary over here, especially since I am doing much better in the reading department than I have been the past few years. It’s still nothing like my reading used to be pre-kids, but it’s better than nothing. Thus, here are my recommendations to you and in return, in comments, do the following.

Recommend:

1. A book you’ve read in the past year that you would gladly read again (and probably will).
A Thousand Splendid Suns – I can not express strongly enough just how much I loved this book. It immediately took over in the “my favorite book ever” slot. It’s not an easy book, in that I spent a great deal of it either sobbing or holding my breath, but it will give you a glimpse into life in Afghanistan from the Soviet takeover up to almost present day like nothing else. The characters will make you hope for something better. The man is one of the most gifted authors I have ever read.

2. A film you’ve seen in the past year that, after viewing, you wanted to tell everyone you know to see.
I haven’t been watching that many movies really. I guess I would say I Am Legend. Will Smith is great, but he’s spectacular in this movie, carrying most of it on his own. It was also a fairly scary movie – not scary like a top notch horror movie would be, but scary in that “this is kind of believable, and that is AWFUL” way.

3. A song you’ve heard in the past year that genuinely moved you in some way.
“Sure Looks Good to Me” – Alicia Keys

4. A YouTube video you’ve watched in the past year that totally cracked your shit up, or amazed you, or made such a strong impression on you that you’ve felt compelled to show it to everyone you know.
The parody infomercial for “Clitter” (use caution, you may not want to watch it if you have young children who a. know where their vagina is and b. have access to craft supplies).

Your turn!

This picture totally cracks me up because it conveys just how strongly Hayley dislikes being splashed.

(Though she can dish it out for those who actually do like it.)

She got over it though.

We went to a baptism yesterday for our friends’ son and I took a load of pictures for them in the church, which was nerve-wracking but fun. I can’t wait to show them the shots I got. Afterwards, Breanna was in desperate need of a nap. The screaming at the top of her lungs was the most obvious clue – luckily George had brought her home rather than attempting to bring her into the church like that, otherwise the priest may have thought it was time for an exorcism. I stayed home with her while she slept and George and Hayley went over to our friends’ house. He picked us up once Breanna was awake and refreshed and by the time I got there, Hayley had already been in the pool for a good hour.

She spent the vast majority of the remainder of the day going back in the water, and one of the older girls took Breanna in for me. Last year she wasn’t keen on being in any sort of pool other than the little Rubbermaid container I turned into a wading pool for her one hot summer afternoon. This year she enjoys it and it was perfect that she could actually walk around and touch the bottom. I wish we had a pool.

It was a great day – hot, but beautiful. We had one giant downpour in the late afternoon but a group of us sat under the gazebo and enjoyed it. Once it was over, the sun came back out and the kids were back in the water.

They both fell asleep super easily after so much time outside in the pool. I’m glad they had fun. Unfortunately I completely forgot to take pictures of them in their nice dresses we bought them to wear to the baptism so I’ll have to put them back on for a little photoshoot later or tomorrow. That shouldn’t be hard – Hayley’s wearing hers again already. I think she’d wear it for tonight’s soccer game if she could. That would be interesting – I’d love to see a goal scored by a little blond girl in a pink princess-y dress!

We had such a good time over the long weekend, and I wanted to write about it immediately but I had so much work to catch up on, not to mention adjusting to a new routine with Hayley being home from school. It was so nice to just get away from my laptop and the television and all that, and to just enjoy being in the middle of nowhere. We ended up leaving a day earlier than planned, heading out of here around 5 pm on Saturday so that we ended up arriving up north in the Laurentians by supper time. (Of course supper time ended up being much later than usual, around 8:30, but who cares? That’s vacation!)

Within five minutes of arriving, I had my camera down by the lake. It looked like this. And I was in love.

And five minutes after that, I was down there with my glass of wine for my daily self-portrait that I do for 365Days on Flickr. That’s what I call relaxation.

Although George and Hayley camped out in the tent for two of the three nights, Breanna and I slept in the cabin just because it’s easier that way. I was able to let her sleep on the bed in her sleeping bag and leave the room whereas I wouldn’t have felt comfortable leaving her in the tent by herself. Plus, logistically, the idea of trying to get both girls to fall asleep in the same tent was not appealing. The cabin was great – very rustic and adorable.

Despite the fact that it looks tiny, it actually had three bedrooms in it, as well as a general living area and a small kitchen and bathroom. It did have running water but it came directly from a pump in the lake so it’s not drinkable. I liked the bedroom I chose (I got my pick since we were the only two sleeping inside – everyone else was either in tents or a camper), I could see the lake through the window.

It rained a few times, which was unfortunate, but at least it wasn’t constant. I woke up on Sunday morning to a mammoth downpour in the early hours, but it stopped by breakfast, then got warm and sunny enough to go swimming in the afternoon. I was able to break in my brand new bathing suit, and I got both Hayley and Breanna out in the lake in life jackets.

The guys had all brought up music gear and set up on the back deck to play a bit of live music. It was great! It lasted one and a half songs. Although it was early, just after lunch, and although they weren’t very loud, AND although it was St-Jean-Baptiste weekend, which translates to Party Time in Quebec, one of the neighbors didn’t appreciate the music at all. He came across the lake in a peddle boat, pedaling furiously, one hand on the wheel and one had dramatically clutching his ear, and he snarked about how he came to the country to get away from noise. He claimed it had been going on “all morning” despite the fact that they had only been playing for ten minutes or less. We did have a radio on earlier but it was so low I couldn’t even hear it from the lake’s edge. Some people just like to complain. Too bad.

They ended up moving everything inside and they played a bit in there, before and after supper. Crotchety old grump!

That night I felt like a total rock star. I had gotten the stuff to make s’mores and none of the kids had ever had them before, not even the 7-year-old and 9-year-old who came just for the afternoon and evening. I was appalled and made sure they were introduced to this gourmet feast as soon as possible. I have never in my life had six kids so enraptured by something I was saying or doing as I demonstrated the process. It was met with a lot of delight and I think they’re all fans of s’mores now. Thank you Brownies and Girl Guides – I have retained two things from my years with you: How to make a killer s’mores and how to roll up a sleeping bag so tightly that you can actually fit it back inside the case. That second one came in handy the day we packed up for home.

It rained longer on Monday, but the four kids kept themselves remarkably entertained and we took it easy. Once it stopped, they were outside and we figured it was no big deal if they got wet. They had fun anyway and we just coated them in bug spray since mosquitoes were out in droves, especially post-rain. It didn’t work much, we all came home with a ton of bites but no one cared much.

We left after lunch on Tuesday, getting home around 2 o’clock. We were exhausted but it was a great little getaway. It was the perfect amount of time because the kids were really incredibly wonderful together, but by late Tuesday morning, you could tell they were all getting on each other’s nerves. One more day would have been too much, but this way they got to have a lot of fun playing together and that was great to see.

We ate so well, having grilled burgers, lobster (!), scallops and salmon (!!), great salads, sirloin tip steaks, grilled mushrooms in red wine, grilled squash and asparagus, fresh fruits and vegetables galore, dips, and plenty of red wine. Overall, it was a pretty spectacular menu considering the rustic nature of the area. We did quite well, I’d say.

On Wednesday, Breanna was pretty mad at me because she found a rock in one of the bags and she wanted to go throw it in the water, something we did 734934593223 times a day up there, and she couldn’t quite understand why we couldn’t go back immediately with this new rock. Meanwhile, Hayley’s already asking when we’ll go again. I think that means it was a huge hit.

I’d definitely go again!

(Other photos from the trip are here. I took over 200 photos but managed to bring it down to 25. You’re welcome.)

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You know what rocks? Going away and leaving the Internet behind. Friends of ours have a cottage up north and we’re joining them for the Quebec long weekend. We’ll be by a lake, cooking over a big fire pit, making s’mores, roasting hot dogs on sticks, swimming if the weather holds, listening to live music, and either sleeping in the cottage or in our tent (where I sleep depends on both Breanna’s need to sleep early and my own allergies).

What I won’t be doing is reading blogs, writing for blogs, checking my email, or watching television. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. God knows I love my prime time TV and I think it’s fairly obvious how much I love the internet, but it’s always so nice to step away from them and just go live outside for awhile.

I’ll be back with a lot of pictures though, I can guarantee that (says the person who packed two cameras, a tripod, a gorillapod, extra batteries, both lenses, and a battery charger, ahem).

Have a great weekend!

Two pictures, taken almost ten months apart.

How she went from day one to the last day in the blink of an eye is beyond me. Last night, after she fell asleep, I made her grad cap. Luckily for me, I inherited my mother’s crafting genes because the instructions I had left out a few steps so there was a bit of cursing involved but I got it done. I had planned to surprise her with it at the end of the day but I decided to show her this morning so I could make sure it fit (I actually made two just in case this one was too small, but it was just right). I’m going to take it later to pick her up so I can see if I can get a picture of her with her teacher. What she doesn’t know yet is that we’re also taking her to McDonalds for supper to celebrate, that will make her really happy.

When I took the picture of her this morning, I almost teared up and wasn’t sure exactly why until I realized I had taken a picture of her in that same spot in that same tunic way back in August for her very first day of school. The school year passed so quickly. Now the girl who had a rough start getting used to school is sad that she won’t be going back until the end of August and she isn’t keen on going to grade one. One of the other mothers told me her son was the same way last year and this year he doesn’t want to go on to grade two so it sounds pretty common. She’s not fond of change, this one, but I know after the trials of Kindergarten that she can handle it.

She took in some index cards with her phone number and a request to stay in touch that she’ll give to her closest friends, and we got her teacher a gift card to Tim Horton’s to enjoy some coffee over the summer. Hayley also requested one of her school pictures, so I slipped that in as well. She really likes her teacher so I know she’ll be happy to give her a photo of herself and if I can get a picture of both of them together that will make her even happier.

As for me, I’ll just be happy to not have to drag a tired and cranky five-year-old from bed at 6:30 am for two months, yippee!

(This almost guarantees that she’ll wake up at 6 tomorrow.)

As of the moment that I’m sitting here typing, Hayley has two – TWO! – days of school left. I really can’t believe it.

It’s all just a bunch of passing time there now, because it’s not like they have anything left to learn that they have to cram into those last two days. If they don’t know enough now to go into grade one, they’re not going to get it in the final week.

So instead of busting their butts working, they’ve been having some serious fun. Today they had the school Play Day. I didn’t really know what to expect until I saw their school yard had a bunch of those bouncy house and slide things. *I* never had that!

When I picked Hayley up she looked like all the other kids coming out – happy but clearly exhausted. They had a DJ to do a dance party in the gym at various intervals for different grade levels. The Kindergarten classes went first, right at the start of the day and I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see 40 five- and six-year-olds shaking it.

Then they spent the majority of the morning up until just past lunchtime outside, playing on the equipment, playing games like soccer and tug-of-war, and they had a hot dog lunch. After lunch, everyone went inside while the bouncy houses were taken down, the Kindergarten kids played in their own yard for awhile, and they wrapped it all up by offering more treats to them while they watched a movie in one of the two classrooms.

It must have been fun because Hayley sounded like she had been filmed and then someone sped that film up when she was talking about it. She also occasionally hit that high pitch that only girls are capable of hitting and only dogs can hear.

I wish I could have dropped in with my camera but there was no way I could have taken Breanna with me because she would have lost her mind, wanting to stay and play too.

*******

Tomorrow will be another good one for Hayley’s class. Her teacher had missed the first part of the school year and was only back on a part time basis in the new year for the first couple of months. As a result, she had missed a lot of the birthday celebrations – whenever it’s a student’s birthday they’re welcome to bring in anything but a full cake (they don’t want to have to deal with slicing). We sent TimBits with Hayley for her birthday back in September.

Since the teacher missed so many, not to mention all the summer birthdays that never get celebrated, she made tomorrow Birthday Party Day and they’re just going to celebrate and do fun activities all day long. She sent home a note asking parents to volunteer to send in anything from food to beverages, to party favors. Much to my shock, Hayley didn’t request cupcakes or cookies, she chose to bring in a fruit platter so we got two big containers of fresh fruit salad for her to take in tomorrow.

It should be an absolute blast.

*******

Friday is the last day. I have no idea what they’ll be doing but it’s probably going to be low-key and fun up until their year-end assembly in the gym with the principal.

All I know is between today’s Play Day and tomorrow’s Birthday Party Day, I’m seriously wishing that I was five years old again!

Patrick Kohlmann, a 13-year-old boy in New York, has been repeatedly bullied at his school. His mother contacted the school to cite 12 instances of being bullied, including being dragged on the floor, pushed down the stairs, and given a concussion after being hit in the head with a rock.

The school ignored them.

Patrick created a video to detail his story and that of other children being bullied every day and attempted to show it at a PTA meeting. They refused to allow it because they claimed it was “too graphic”. He put it on YouTube and it has been seen by over 46,000 people.

Now he’s receiving a great deal of support from his fellow students and his mother is working on creating and enforcing stronger anti-bullying legislation.

The video made me cry.

Thanks to MomLogic for the story; they also include some tips for dealing with bullying.

The frequent thought process behind blogging.

Yep, been there, done that.