Project Life Continues

I just can't say enough good things about this project... I tried a few years ago, to document a picture a day, and found it so labour intensive. Totally overwhelming... I came up with a number of ways to short cut the procedure. Mind you, looking back, even with the shortcuts, I'm so glad I did it. It's just so darn amazing to see how things change, when you're every day is just so Every. Day.

I have to admit, I'm already anticipating next year... I don't want to say I can't wait for it... Because I will be honest here, this is still a heck of a lot of work. Having my new iPhone, has radically changed the way I document. Everything about it is just easier. I have caught way more 'every day' stuff, because I have my phone with me most of the time.

Like today for instance. We popped into the mall to pick up a birthday gift for a friend of Mason's, and while we were there, I took these pictures: 

 Today only! Up to 60% off and no takers!! She was dancing to the music, and it was really funny, until she got asked to get out from behind the glass [and then it was hilarious...]
 

 I love how everywhere we go, including Homesense, they go straight for the books.

And then, their second most favourite spot, the book store... Where they get completely lost at what ever it is they're looking at...

Or how we can go on a date, and just snap a picture of our "Girls Night", because the camera is right there.

I'd look silly lurking around the mall and restaurants with my DSLR camera. Don't get me wrong, there is a time and place for that gem also, but the iPhone has totally changed how I capture our every day.

So here are weeks 25 through 31, and like I say, still loving it.

I would ideally like to include more 'memorbilia'. I don't know how some of the other gals do it so well... I don't seem to have the knack for that. I plan to order some of the different page protectors, and maybe more pockets will be the answer...

I'm also thrilled, because I found a tutorial on how to create 4x6 pictures in an app on the iPhone. That takes out an ENTIRE step... How awesome is that?!?! The only way it can be even better, is when the Costco app is available in Canada and I can then send those pictures STRAIGHT TO COSTCO FROM MY PHONE... I know! Right?

Learning a few shortcuts has made this process even simpler. So, I'm still totally keen with this project. I don't know if I will simplify even more next year... I might. I'm not totally sure how to simplify more... I thought going 'digital' would be quicker... But it's not. Maybe next year I need to do more handwritten stuff... Maybe a better mixture of both. I'll just have to see how the wind carries me. I'm just so pleased that I've kept up with it, and have over half a year done... Yay for me!

Awesome so Far

This summer so far, can be summed up in one word: AWESOME. 

First of all, the weather has been spectacular. Like for reals. Had I put the kids in out door swim lessons this year, I wouldn't have sat on the edge of the pool deck under layers, blankets and an umbrella, shivering. Maybe that's why this summer has been so great? Because the kids weren't in swim lessons at the outdoor pool? If so, I'll take it, and I'll remember that again for next year! We've had to buy more sunscreen this year, because I've run out. RUN. OUT. Of. Sunscreen. On account of all the nice days. An awesome problem to have right?

It also feels like the summer has gone on forever. I mean, when you're coming to the end of August, isn't that exactly how you're supposed to feel? Like the summer has gone on forever? We were away for a week, then the kids both did 2 week long camps. It's been the right mixture of being busy and not being busy.

I am watching sadly as the days are getting shorter... Gosh how I love June. It's been hot, and I'm still not ready yet, to put on jeans and sweaters. Nope, hoping this lasts through September at least. We've got to the outdoor pools weekly this summer, and this year with Miss Madelyn being 7 years old, I don't have to stay 'within an arms reach of her at all times'... Seriously... It's been so cool to watch them have such fun at the pool.

I thought I should go back, and check out my 'Summer Manifesto' I created back in June, to see how summer has stacked up so far:

This will be the summer of…being plugged in… Not to electronics, but to my kids.  I have succeeded at this one, but the kids have spent more time playing electronics that I'd like to admit.

This will be the summer of the opportunity to bowl weekly should we choose to.  We haven't been weekly, but we've been!

This will be the summer of spending less time in the house, and more time outside.  Yes...

This will be the summer of spontaneity [because I’m not very good at this]  Still not very good at it, but getting better.

This will be the summer of  eating outside more.  I don't think once counts...

This will be the summer of a camp-out in the backyard.  Check. Kids and  Barry indeed had a sleep out.

This will be the summer of making pickles with my Mum and Chris.  Pickles will be ready mid September.

This will be the summer of less television and video games.  Failed a bit here I fear...

This will be the summer of no limit on the number of popsicles consumed, or the time of day they can begin consuming them. Replace the word popsicle with ice cream, and yes, we've consumed far more than usual this summer.

This will be the summer of not cringing if my bare toes feel the grass. Nope. Can't. Do. It...

This will be the summer of fresh fruit, yogurt, granola and mini muffins for breakfasts.   Delish...

This will be the summer of truly not caring what anyone thinks or doesn’t think of me in a bathing suit.  Nah... Still care.

This will be the summer of not being self conscience every time I have a pair of shorts on.  Don't care.

This will be the summer of long bike rides and short bike rides.   Enjoying bike time with the kiddos for sure.

This will be the summer of having the kids help me plan for meals and picking out fresh produce.  Yeah right... Unfortunately pepperoni pizza  isn't in the produce section.

This will be the summer of more trips to the Farmer’s Market.  Our most favourite thing, the baby carrots.And the fresh fruit has been amazing, though we've had to re-mortgage our house to pay for it... ;-) I joke... Kinda...

This will be the summer of movies in the backyard. Not yet... But hopefully soon!

This will be the summer of walking up Nose Hill.  Love it up there, it's like you leave the city.

This will be the summer of planning a little bit better, so that we are excited about things to do each day. The kids are simply excited to be at home for summer holidays each day!

This will be the summer of camping with Ama & Baba. One trip down, one to go!

This will be the summer of watching the firework show in August.  That's coming up pretty soon!

This will be the summer of reading… I have not one, not two, but three avid readers in my house. I've read 3 awesome books this summer and the kids have kept up to date with the reading program at the library.

This will be the summer of regular spelling tests so the kids are ready to face grade 2 and grade 5. We've worked on this a little bit. Not put in as much time as we probably should have.

This will be the summer of science experiments, because Miss Madelyn is so very keen. Right... We need to do this.

This will be the summer of salads for supper. They've been super!

This will be the summer of late night scrap booking. I am totally caught up!! Woohoo!

This will be the summer of basement organization. Nope. Gonna wait until it get's colder outside.

This will be the summer of simplifying...

 

I think we've done a pretty good job.

 

I have taken lots of pictures, because that's what I do. But I have certainly taken more with my iphone than with my actual DSLR. So every now and then, I make myself bring the big one. [Don't get me wrong, LOVE THAT CAMERA] just the iphone fits so easily anywhere, and takes some pretty darn good photos!

 

 

  Up at the pond on Nose Hill, looking for frogs and snakes. We found neither.

 

 Barry and the kids.

 Me and the kids.

One night Bar & I had a semi date, the kids were away, and we went to Peter's for a milkshake and then to Crescent Road to sit. I caught this amazing shot of the sun setting. [Those crazy clouds were full of lightning]

We've got 2 more full weeks off before the kids head back to school... We're going to try and enjoy those days as much as possible.

Meant to be

I know I said I'd have a few pictures of our recent trip to the West Coast, so I needed to make good on that. I picked a handful of pictures I love. I have a really hard time trying to weed the pictures out. I would like to include all of them, but then I soon run out of space on my blog...

Our annual trip to Sicamous, came to a screeching halt this year, because of the floods they had. While the little cabin we usually stay at was, we think, not touched by the water, the water came to within a few feet of the patio doors. There were too many obstacles in our way this year. No beach to speak of, water advisories, way too much stuff floating around in the lake to safely and confidently put a boat in, and, did I mention, water advisories? A big one for me... I would not have let my kids go anywhere near that water this summer... Let's face it, it's pretty tough to take them to the beach and say, "Stay away from the beach..." So, with about 10 days before our vacation was to start, we frantically began to look for another alternative. I thought we'd be in trouble, but we found accommodation in a great little hotel right in Sooke, BC. It was totally meant to be. 

We mapped out and knew we wanted to hit a number of beaches along the coast. We hit Botanical Beach [renamed Barnacle Beach, because that's what the kids keep calling it]; China Beach [my most favourite] and French Beach. It took us nearly 2 hours to get to Botanical Beach, the roads were EXTREMELY curvy... And by extremely, I mean... RIDICULOUSLY, STUPIDLY, curvy... Poor Mason in the backseat, didn't fare well. [And to be honest, Mummy in the front seat only did marginally better] When Barry suggested that Mason and I trade places, and I sit in the backseat, I said, "Sorry about your luck Mace" and passed the bucket back to him. We would have INDEED been sharing, had I been relegated to the back seat... There are some times, when being the adult simply means, you get dibs on the front seat. Sorry little buddy.

I have been lucky enough to have 3 trips to the ocean in the past 3 months... I do indeed count my blessings. We enjoyed this little holiday so much, and we're pleased to report that we have two more ocean lover's in the family.

When we first arrived, the moment after we checked in we headed down to the beach right in front of the hotel. [The next morning, there was no beach there, so the kids learned quickly about tides] It took Madelyn about 5 minutes before she fell in... You just knew that was only a matter of time!

The next morning, we hit Botanical Beach. When the tide is in, all the lower lying areas are under water [including the picture of where me and the kids are] If you get caught in a few spots, with the tide crashing in, it would indeed, be a bit scary.

There are numerous 'escape here' signs. I suspect those are there for those people, who get caught when the tide is coming in... Eeks!

French Beach was the next day. It's my favourite beach. We brought Mason here when he was 2 1/2. I loved it then, and I still love it. It's got that silty sand, that squishes in your toes.

The wind was super chilly. If you were out in the wind, you needed to have a sweater/jacket on.

We walked down to the far end of the beach and found a sheltered little cove, then suddenly it was HOT. So the kids stripped down to their undies, and we had the most fabulous afternoon playing. They built sand castles, played in the water. Madelyn collected hermit crabs and fish [she caught them all with her bare hands] we only took a bucket for each of them with us, to collect treasures. Those buckets got a work out this trip I'll tell you.

French Beach was the last beach we hit. The last time I was here, the tide was in, so there wasn't much beach, this time, there was lots of beach, but rocky. We spent the day here also, the kids founds sticks and they poked at things and played in the water. They got drenched and jumped waves. They had a great time, and loved it. And that made us love it even more. Part of me was nervous that the kids would be bored, or not love it the way Barry and I do. That was not the case. Each time we hit the beach it was for the whole day, and we had nothing with us but snacks and buckets.

I realized with these trips to the ocean, that this is indeed my happy place... I just feel calmer. I feel less stressed. I feel peaceful. I guess we'll have to make an effort to visit a little bit more.

An Update...

I have been absent, and as my friend said, BORING... And it's true. My last blog post was July 9th, and it only had my updated Project Life pages. My post before that was my about Canada day. It's the 23rd of July and this is only my 3rd post this month. Lame-O. I wish I knew why I was completely un-motivated to blog, but I don't. It has a little bit to do with trying to not have my kids be so plugged into their electronic games, because how do I answer the sassy "If you're on the computer why can't I be playing x-box question...?"It's better to just not be on the computer.

I caught up on my scrapbooking and to be honest, my wrists are sore.... It's not carpel tunnel, or maybe it is. A little bit. But typing hurts a bit.

I want to include pictures, but I have to alter them before posting them, and my wrists are sore.

I have sat down in front of this computer a number of times, logged in and stared at the screen, then logged out again and parked myself in front of the telly...  I have NOT been watching the Bachelor. But I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance.

A lot has happened since our Canada Day Celebration a little over 3 weeks ago. I'm going to catch you up in point form... [the wrists again...]

- the kids were in an art camp the first week of July. It ran from Tuesday to Friday and they both loved it. They came home with a ton of stuff that we 'need to find places for'.

 - we've had some pretty impressive storms blow through, like this one, that left a ton of hail and the streets steaming at my M&D's place.

- we've enjoyed some ice cream treats.

 - there has been the occasional unfair water fight break out, while Daddy washed his car...

 

- there has been the discovery of a new drink, a beer moijito, that I likey, more than I should... I haven't yet duplicated the taste at home, but I'm sure trying hard!

- there was a whirl-wind trip to the west coast for a week, because our vacation plans this year were cancelled. The kids loved their time at the ocean, not to mention how much their parents enjoyed it. I'll have to do another post especially for that trip.

 - there has been the nightly reading to the kids. We read Charlotte's Web, and now we're on to The Trumpet of the Swan. It takes us about 10 - 12  nights, give or take, to finish a story. [If I'd known how much enjoyment we all would have gotten from this, I would have started this ages ago]

- there has been slip and slide fun. Sadly, after this picture was taken there was an epic puncture and this bad boy will shortly be on it's way to the dump...

- there have been many searches for bugs, and nearly always a reward...

 

 - there have been many trips to the park.

 - many swing rides.

- there has been a trip to the outdoor pool, on believe it or not, not too crowded a day.

- there has been the extra care of setting the table at dinner time, all because of this book, which I LOVE, and highly recommend... The kids enjoy helping too, especially if we have 'themes'.

- there has been a lovely show of flowers in my garden. In past summers I've missed, usually because we've been away on vacation. This year we're home, and many of these flowers have graced our kitchen table [see above]

- there have been trips to the Farmer's Market, one actually resulting in a face painting.

- there have been trips up Nose Hill.

- there has been a visit with Gigi.

- i have enjoyed greek yogurt with fresh fruit and granola nearly every morning so far, and I'm LOVING it.

-there have been numerous trips to the library, the kids joined the reading program and are keeping track of the books they've read. [Needless to say, we spend oodles of time there]

 - just chill'in... He obviously feels at home here.

- spying at her through the shelves. [I got a strange look from some woman, so immediately had to explain she was my daughter and that I'm addicted to Instagram]

- there was a backyard camp-out with Barry and the kids.

- and what's a camp out without s'mores?

- there has been the making of dill pickles, which should be ready right before school starts.

- there's been a caterpillar mustache... [she wasn't prepared to do this with a giant millipede at the Bug Zoo in Victoria, though others did, but she had no problem with this little guy...]

That brings you up to speed so far!

More Project Life Pages

I have been dreadful at keeping up with the posts...

The last week of June marked 'half way through' this project! I have to admit, this week, I'm a little bit behind, but that's the first time since I started this, that I've let it slip a little bit. Not sure how I didn't keep up, with my kids being in a camp and all... But somehow, there is never a shortage of things to do...

Happy Canada Day!

 

We celebrated Canada Day today with friends. We've come along way since this Canada Day picture below was taken...

The very same crew, 7 years later... Wow... They all still like each other just as much, they're just a lot more verbal. About everything...