The Comic Book Family: August 2006

Friday, August 25, 2006

Quick pics

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

A Quick Update

We've had a visit from my brother and his family, which was wonderful, Tyler's birthday, our 4th anniversary, Quentin's birthday which included a trip to the aquarium followed by a family barbecue where his cake was a Nemo/Marlin and Dory decorated cake made by me, which I didn't take a picture of...duh, he loves his new slide and many other presents, we're in the process of all the stuff for putting in the new bathroom (tub and fixtures gone, sink/counter gone, tub walls gone, new tub with giant chip in it in our carport...), Jade has her two top front teeth - one last Monday and one this Monday, we went to the aquarium with Melanie and Mike today to give Dad and Pappy time and space to replumb the bathroom...

And we went swimming tonight where I had Quentin 'floating,' then got him kicking his feet and the most amusing paddling of the arms (complete with head bobbling through the air side to side...I can't describe it in words - ask me to demonstrate) and told him that was close to swimming. He starts heading towards the stairs so we can go put our feet in the hot tub, and he decides to swim. He actually did, until his face bobbed under and he panicked a little but was still valiantly trying to swim until I pulled him up. Rather impressive, really, for a first attempt, especially since he held his breath. He didn't even splutter when I pulled him out of the water.

Jade's trying to talk. To the point where I belched after dinner tonight and she made a deep 'urrrr' sound to try to imitate me. She'll imitate sounds/words, plays with her brother and wants to do everything that he does, and she's eating a LOT more solid food these days. Looking good for going to daycare in that area. Not that Mommy is looking forward to that. She's really not. Jade's new favourite food is nectarines.

I tried to load some pictures, but it's not letting me tonight. Sorry. Maybe tomorrow. Take care all.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Camping without a fire

We ended up being rather glad we were only camping for one night. The lake had swimmer's itch and there was no water available (we knew about the water ahead of time.) There was a fire ban in the area that I didn't find out about when I checked the internet before we left in the morning. We didn't have a campstove to bring with us, and figured that the campfire would be much more efficient than trying to cook over a little hiking stove. I'd made a pasta salad to have for lunch and we ended up eating it as our dinner Tuesday night, so it all worked out fine. The very kind staff at the campsite heated up our water for us in the morning so we could have our instant oatmeal (far cry from the leftover potatoes and eggs I'd been planning on cooking - but I forgot the eggs so that's okay too.)

We were at Horne Lake Provincial Park. http://www.hornelake.com We checked in, then went to our assigned spot to find people setting up camp already. I offered to go back and get another spot, but they insisted on moving. Good thing too because when I parked in the spot Quentin looked out the window and said "This is the perfect camping spot." It was sprinkling rain off and on, but the tarp kept off the very little that the trees let through. We hiked up to the caves, although didn't enter any and Quentin enjoyed the suspension bridge we had to cross on the way. We watched the fish jumping in the lake. The woods had those really tiny blackberries that grow on the ground, the tastiest huckleberries Tyler or I have ever eaten, as well as the tastiest thimble berries ever - better and stronger flavour than the best raspberries I've eaten. There were only two other families staying at the campsite, and two large groups that were far away from us (couldn't hear them at all), so it was nice and quiet. A little surprising because they had been completely booked for the long weekend.

As it got later, Jade kept giving me a look asking when we were going home so that she could sleep. She wasn't getting the concept that we were spending the night there, although to be fair, I didn't exactly explain it to her and I should have. Bad mommy. She ended up sleeping well after I rocked her to sleep. Quentin enjoyed the adventure. We went to bed far earlier than we do at home, around 11:30, so I was awake for most of the night, freezing, and I found out in the morning that while the sleeping pads stayed under Jade and Tyler, and my head, not so under my body. Paid for that one today. Worth it though. It was a very enjoyable first family camping trip. Hopefully the first of many.

We then went up to Campbell River to visit my grandmother and my aunt. Saw some great old photos of family members which I'll hopefully be able to post some of soon. And then came home to arrive here sometime close to midnight. We are all so tired still, that Quentin actually put himself down for a nap this afternoon. He gave up naps months ago.

Welcome to my sister, Holly. I'd say she's my American sister, but I happen to have two of those - her on the east and another on the west. (I didn't get that wrong, did I?) As a person who gets her American news from the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, I find her blog to be an interesting perspective on what goes on down south.

Time to sleep. Take care all.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Family time again

This time you're going to have to wait for pictures though. I took my film camera instead of my digital. I think I have close to a dozen rolls of film hanging around waiting to be developed.

My sister, Traci, and two of her sons, Mitchell and Jaden, are in town so we went back to Debbie's house for another day in the sun. Traci is Terri's twin sister and while I've always had difficulties telling them apart, Jade had no idea what was going on. She'd stare back and forth between the two trying to figure out what was going on because she could tell there wasn't a mirror there. A little overwhelming for a little girl. Quentin was given warning so he wasn't quite so taken aback. He was very cute though. At one point I asked him why his shorts were wet. "One of the ladies did it. It was one of the twins." In his perfect enunciation of every word. Traci has been living in Grande Prairie, so that's why we haven't seen too much of her, just like Jason. She has decided that she is going to move though - to Halifax. Her mother's family is from there, and many family members are there for her, so it will be good for her.

In other news...

The adventures have begun. Yesterday Mike and Melanie came over to help us out. Tyler and MIke spent a few hours erecting Quentin's playground/fort/thingy. The frame is up and most of the platforms are up, just no safety rails or ladders to climb to get to the platforms. By most of the platforms I mean each platform is 3/4 finished, not that 3 out of 4 platforms are up. Melanie assisted me with a little shopping I had to do, and then we played Scrabble for a bit. She was going to assist me in making jam, but the time was not there for that. So, after she left I made strawberry, blueberry and strawberry-blueberry jam.

Today we went to Kim and Jeff's to pick up a bit of camping equipment as Tuesday we are heading to the Island for a day of camping, and a day of visiting my grandmother. Tomorrow we have a birthday party to attend before pakcing everything up for the trip. Thursday we will be spending time with Tyler's mother who has been away in China. Friday I'm getting things prepared, including a cake, for Saturday for a barbecue we're having to celebrate Tyler's birthday on the 13th and Quentin's birthday on the 12th. Kris, Maria and Annika will be attending, so that should be good as Quentin hasn't met Kris or Maria, and I have yet to meet Annika. You know things are a little off when you need to re-meet your brother and his wife...lol.

Then there's bathroom renovation and a large family barbecue all before the end of August. I thought I'd get a nap again next Sunday, but it's Tyler's birthday, so he should get the nap not me. So maybe Monday next week. I needed to get out of the habit anyways before I start heading to work.

Take care all.

Friday, August 04, 2006

Rambling blog gone

And replaced with a more upbeat rambling blog.

Jade climbs stairs, hardwood or carpet. I forgot as she was learning how to get off the couch that teaching Quentin how to go DOWN stairs was quite easy because I taught him to go off the couch backwards from the beginning. Not sure how quick she'll pick up on how to go down. And before anyone says, no, sliding down on her behind is not a safe and effective way to go down the stairs as we have very slippery, hardwood stairs.

Something unique? She is the only babe we have ever known that actually says "Goo goo." I'm fairly certain she is just trying to say "Good job" as I say that to her fairly often, but it's very cute. I can tell if she's talking to herself or someone else as she tries to mimic the falsetto that people feel the need to use when talking to dogs and babies when talking to people. She also enjoys singing. If we're at church, any time the congregation starts singing, so does she. Or if she's playing the piano at home (which she loves!) Jade is teething again and I do expect her top two front teeth to be peeking through by the end of next week. The one should be out any day now.

Quentin is his wonderful, intelligent, inquisitive, daredevil self. He enjoys visiting the library. He tried to go down a slide today (very small one, thankfully) while wearing shoes, and standing. He is enjoying learning bits of sign language and randomly demonstrates them for Jade, even signs that he makes up. This makes interpreting Jade's sign language increasingly difficult.

Okay. Time for sleep. Not so overwhelmed by the world today. Thank you Matt. Thank you Maria. Thank you Jade and Quentin.

Take care all.

The Comic Book Family