Best email of the day...

Gavin is spending some quality time with Gramma & Pop this week while mommy goes back to work! I got a lot of emails today but this was by far my favourite!

Today gramma and I went to Napanee. Gramma didn't have the right Kraft Dinner. While we were there Gramma talked me into a haircut. She was really nice and I told her all about Faith and Dad and camping and before I knew it she was done.

Love Gavin
p.s. hope you like the cut, if not it'll grow back

Thanks Mom. I really needed some help this week and the haircut was a bonus! He's one handsome boy. After this, he called. It was too funny. He wanted to tell us all about his haircut and the highly anticipated sleepover with Payton!

As for us.... boy is it ever quiet around here!

Just when I thought he had it all....

It's funny. I've always thought that I would NEVER spoil my child with unnecessaries. Whenever we have playdates with other kids I realize he doesn't have it "all" but still... he's a lucky boy. Sure, he has some fun stuff that are definitely not "must-haves" but just fun to have ( like the 5000 hot wheel cars)!

It's not really about the stuff but the life experiences that we really want him to have. You know, we want him to be able to hold his own. If someone wants him to play a game of road hockey... I want him to be able to hold the stick properly. If his class is going skating... please god let hime be able to skate. That kind of thing.

So, this week Gavin is at Golf camp. Yep, there are crazy young men out there willing to take 16 four year olds golfing. Scary. Yesterday was his first day. Shawn & I both went to drop him off and what do we see? Every stinking little golfer had his own clubs! Seriously! Naturally Gavin was horrified that he did not. He felt so out of place. Really. We were horrified too. So, (you know where this is going) we picked Gavin up. He had a great time and yes, we bought him his own clubs. Crazy. Spoiled. Wrong but we did it anyway.

We played a bit at home yesterday afternoon. It's quite something to see. We're hoping he'll like it enough that he & Shawn can go down to Murray Hills one day. We'll see but for now, he knows the tee, club and how to get wet in the golf course sprinklers! Lucky boy.

Surviving Havelock!

We did it again. We survived to tell the tales. Laying low today. Pictures to come.

Goin' here today...

Edited on Saturday, August 2nd : What fun! Gavin had a fantastic time splish splashing at the splash pad. I loved capturing all his funny little expressions. So there summer.... we did it! We avoided a raindate! HA!

So... this is where we are today. Wanna come along?
(note: couldn't find a better picture... it so does not look like this in real life)

kids (aka Gavin) say the darndest things!

gavin kicks nice, decorative pillows off the couch repeatedly
Mom: "Please don't do that."
Gavin: "okay, okay I won't do it again.....(long pause) not on Saturday or on Monday (another long pause) or on Christmas"
Mom thinks..... What? who is this kid?
Still loving him... even though he pushes me to the limit of insanity some days. Or is it just the summer holidays?

My boy~ Wordle style

Have you seen this yet?
http://wordle.net/

handbag obsession

Those of you who know me, know that I LOVE a cute handbag/ or wallet. I know people who have their shoe thing but for me, a cute handbag makes my day. I am pleasantly suprised when I browse through Winners and find a Mat & Nat bag.
Also, Carrie, if you're reading this- you make the sweetest bags. I have two very adorable bags to show for your amazing talent. While browsing bags today, I found this little ditty.... check out the fantastic fabrics! Wowsers! I am so very tempted!
What better way to spend a gray day... than looking at some fun little handbags!
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5082029

It's almost over....

So, we put Gavin into a soccer/t-ball combo this summer! We thought..."what a fantastic way for him to get a chance to learn 2 games!". Here's the thing, Gavin is kinda demanding. You can say what you want about "only child syndrome". It exists, it doesn't. Whatever. The fact remains that no matter how hard we try to remind him that he is not the centre of the universe, he still thinks he is. Really? He is the only one. Even if we ignore his demands... there is still no one else demanding alongside him.
So, when it comes to team sports... issues- BIG time. He cannot grasp that the ball is not HIS alone to play with. He considers it unfair or cheating when the ball isn't given to him. So, we persevere. Each week we take him to the field and try to teach him good sportsmanship, teamwork and some skills. It's kinda funny but when the all out tantrum occurs it's embarrassing!
Last week, he tried really hard because Gramma & Pop were coming to watch. He tried so hard that he got a goal..in his own net! Too funny. Poor little toad. What will become of him and his father's wish for an athlete. Maybe he's more of an individual sport guy? We'll see. He starts golf camp in August!

Domestic Bliss

Yesterday was my first full day home since the summer holidays began! I made coffee in the grind-n-brew and began cleaning & organizing! It may not sound as exciting to you but I was in the mood and ready for some domestic bliss!

It's been quite a while since I felt like I could devote that much time to my house. I always had something else taking priority... courses, work stuff etc. But yesterday was all mine!

Gavin hunkered down for the long haul. What a trooper! He played cars, watched movies, created with his craft stuff, puzzled... you name it! The weather even cooperated with an extremely rainy day! What more could you ask for?!

Anyhoo... it may not seem like much but I completed the following tasks off my list:
1. clean & organize my closet/ remove unworn or unwanted items
2. clean & organize Shawn's closet
3. organize all games into family room bookshelf
4. sort linens into proper baskets
5. eliminate clutter from the tops of the washer & dryer
6. clean & organize both hall closets
7. wash and store winter wear
8. clean & organize Gavin's closet- remove items that are too small!
9. clean & organize spare room

Today, #10- clean & organize my crafty space (aka...get all scrapbooking materials off the floor and bed!)

Our Yard Takes Shape

Those of you who know me well, know that I'm not much of a green thumb. I guess I could be but I don't really have the ambition... sadly. I really like the 'idea' of having a beautiful garden but can't really manage to maintain this. I love a good vegetable garden but again, Shawn does all of this too.
So, we enlisted the help of Shawn's brother Greg. Thankfully, our yard is starting to look somewhat normal again.
The pictures aren't true "befores" as they were taking once the old walkway was already ripped up. But you get the idea. Still not done but well on it's way to beautiful. We also purchased new outdoor lighting, which has made a huge difference from our chintzy little white ones. The interlock walkway and stairs probably make the biggest difference. I LOVE this front stairway area! The plants are lovely but I must say I am a little concerned about the amount and size of the new beds. Yikes.. seems like a lot of work to me. Greg assures me that it's low maintenance. Gosh.. I sure hope so. Can't wait for it to be done and to show it off! For those of you who love to laugh at our brown grass.... we are in the works for our new irrigation system! Green grass is in our future!