This and that...

I am just going to pretend I haven't been AWOL around these parts and skip back into line with a little post summarizing my summer thus far. It has been a rotten summer, weather-wise, and not filled with a lot of time for fun. Still, we have managed to squeeze in some activities - which Sophie can scratch off The List - and I have been able to see almost all of my extended family during quick visits. 

In late June, my brother and his family dropped in for a couple of days and Sophie and I were happy to be able to host my niece Sarah's family birthday party:

Denise and I posed for a rare photo together (I love her!):

 

And then I wrangled my brother, Alistair, into taking one with me:

Next up was our local marathon, which is a pretty big deal in our town, and everyone but me ran in different events. (I have decided I truly hate running and was on duty to replenish my husband's gel packs and water stocks every time he ran past our house (he ran the full marathon!).

The boys and Sophie ran the 5km event:

Next up was a camping FAIL (we were rained out and packed up on the second day!). Still, we were able to have a 3-family Mexican food night, which was on Sophie's to-do list:

Back home, we headed to a local strawberry field and picked 18 quarts of berries:

Swimming (when it wasn't too cold or raining!):

 

Sophie took part in the Kids of Steel Triathlon: 

Next up, a trip to Fredericton, where we did more "it's all about the kids" activities and enjoyed a visit with family:

And that was July.

I am looking forward to sharing some news with you in my next post. Let's just say, I am ready for some change and getting itchy feet. The gypsy in me is starting to rear again...

Wish upon a raindrop...

I wish I may, I wish I might. 

Basically, I want two things: to go camping and to steal my daughter from school and take her on a full-fledged picnic, replete with a pretty picnic blanket, yummy chicken sandwiches, homemade cookies, potato chips, and a flask of a cold, sweet drink. I want to pack a frisbee, bubbles, sunscreen, and even a kite and just spend the afternoon revelling in a sunny afternoon. I want to stop on the way home for popsicles and return with newfound freckles on our cheeks and shake blades of grass from the picnic blanket. 

 

Or maybe I want more: 

I also want to have a barbecue and actually eat outside, hear the sounds of my kids jumping into the pool, and hang clothes on the line to dry in the sun. I want to plant my window boxes and not worry about them growing mouldy from the never-ending damp. I want to have to put my air conditioner in my window and (finally) paint my porch floor. I want to wear flip-flops and put my jeans away in the back of my closet. I want to think that cooking a turkey is a ludicrous idea and eat my first (and probably only) hot dog of the season.

Because, have you ever had the feeling that you are trapped in a time warp where the days literally resemble one another and you are in a state of suspended motion where someone has hit the pause button on the change of seasons?  Where the picture outside your window never changes and that picture is grey and drizzly and, admittedly, a lush green but little else in the way of colour? While we are very, very fortunate that our weather complaints are mild (especially in light of others who have been faced with forceful and dangerous weather events), those of us who have endured a long, snowy Canadian winter are feeling the lack of energy and mood-lifting sun and vitamin D that normally comes with this time of year. For it has been over a month of cool/cold, dreary, uninspiring weather. I am literally craving the warmth of the sun and all the happy things that come with it.

And I will keep on wishing.

You can dance if you want to...

I am so excited!

I once posted a photo just like this of a print I wanted with these lyrics from Men Without Hats' popular song, The Safety Dance. Of course, true to form, I misplaced the link so I couldn't find the source of the art. Lucky for me, Etsy posted this exact image and the shop where it came from on their blog last week and I whooped with delight!

I immediately contacted the seller, Marianne from The Color Bee, who agreed to make one for me in a cheery yellow and white, for the art wall I want to create in my home. I have been collecting some fun pieces from Etsy artists and have quite a collection of great finds. And as soon as I can figure out where I want this art wall to be, I will have a great way to showcase my finds.

But I LOVE this one!

Because really, if you won't get up and dance you really are missing out on all of the fun!