Random Thoughts - June 26th

I thought it was time for another Random Thoughts post! It has been a month since my last one. This one will include things we haven't posted in here yet:

*we started 'house hunting' for us. We aren't buying anymore because things have been so crazy with our money and the downpayment we are going to rent again. I have been checking around and a friend of mine is going to come with me to check them out (no dragging the kids all over). Hopefully we can find something. I'm aiming for a house by August 15th. Sept 1st is the latest I will go. We are looking for something for at least a year and 3/4. We would like to do this again but want to wait a summer. We need 1 summer in a house so we can keep up with the saving aspect and hopefully do this (but at a different campground) and then move into our own house! *fingers crossed*

*I'm so glad we started up Bible Study for the girls and I again. I have missed it so much, I have totally missed being in on whats going on in everyones lives!

*Yesterday the boys were very 'artistic' I guess you could say. Before we went to the zoo I found lipstick on my car. I had to use a tissue to get it off. Then before we went to Auntie Kristina's and Uncle Tim's the kids got ahold of some markers that were in the van and coloured all over the dash. I later found out it wasn't just the dash but the stearing wheel and the seats.

*oh and to add to everything else Quinton put about 13.00 of loonies and toonies into the tape deck. This kid will be the death of me.

*Our friendly 'coon has come to visit us a few time in the past month. Generally there are enough campers around to make things 'interesting' for them and not worth getting into our RT

*Kyler is now calling the trailer his 'home'. I think it's cute.

*we still get funny looks with living here but hey, its fun!

*I think Arnold and I might take a walk around the park tonight. There are some cool tents out. I'll see if we can get a couple shots for everyone.

*I'm beginning to think it might actually be time to put away some of the 'winter blankets' that we have in the trailer. It's getting so warm at night that it's hard to sleep with all that heat around us. Hopefully we can figure out just what we are going to do and get it done.

*There is still a bit of organizing to be done in the trailer to make things liveable after the water damage from yesterday. I'm hoping to get most of it cleaned up and back to normal soon

*We are making progress, or at least continuing with potty training. The last few warm days we have had 'tiggers' on him and it seems to be going ok. Sometimes, at least once a day, he forgets that he has to take the OFF then pee. But that's ok.

I guess that's it for now!

Week 6 Day 7 - Thursday, June 25th, Zoo day and a storm!

Thursdays are the Zoo days! Today was no different. The weather forecast was hot and a 60% chance of rain in the afternoon evening. It was so hot when we left we had down all the windows in the trailer (I’m sure you can see where this is going)

Anyway we headed on our way. We got there shortly after 9:30am and went into the zoo. We had our normal ‘first snack’ as soon as we got in there and waited for Lori and Logan. Today Kevin was home so he got to have some bonding time with Keaton.
Our traditional “In-case-you-get-lost” photos:



*Kyler




*Quinton

Once we got there we headed straight for the only splash park in Toronto that is open (due to the strike) and we were a bit early so we hit up the washrooms and changed the boys. Here’s some shots of us waiting for the doors to open:



*The Splash Park!




*Everyone waiting, and asking Auntie Lori why it’s not open yet.




*A peek inside, the water is running to flush the systems for a bit before we get in there.




*Kyler waiting (again an “In-case-you-get-lost” photo)




*Lo’s ICYGL photo




*Q’s ICYGL photo

When we got in Q headed right for the slide, right after his brother actually. Kyler LOVES the slide but Q just went because his brother was; at least I’m pretty sure. Here’s what happen after that:




*Down he goes




*Almost there




*Crap water!




*and he slips!




*Trying to climb back up the slide.

I had to put the camera down and run in and get him. Silly boy.

The rest of the boys running around:





























I put the camera down and went with Q. After Mommy got wet (thank goodness I was in my swim suit!) he went more willingly into things. We had a great hour in there with the boys.

After the splash pad we went for super. There were about 4 or 5 schools there today (odd with it being the last day of school and everything) so it was good to go early. By the time we left the lunch area was PACKED!

We walked over to the Zoo mobile (choo choo) and did our normal last ride before we headed out.



*Our three boys




*I Love this shot of Kyler




*Lo being a cutie.

I asked the attendant if we still go in the rain. (Just before we got on Kevin called Lori to tell her a storm was coming and Arnold texted me and told me the same thing) Their response was yes in rain, no in lightning since it’s basically a big metal box filled with propane. Make sense. I did snap these at the African stop:










We kept going but at the Americans stop (2 before ‘home’) we had to leave the choo choo. The lightning had gotten way to bad to be in there. So we all went and hid out in their little area there. It was some serious rain and thunder and a lot of lightning. We got the boys a snack of a beaver tail and they loved it. The extra sure was a *great* (hahaha) idea while stuck in a small area.



*This was our little friend while we were stuck in there




*I kept trying to take photos of the lightning. I never managed to get them right on time. But this gives you an example of how quick we were. This was before the lightning.




*And after. It was SOOO close but never right on it.




*Well wouldn’t you know it, over 300 photos later I managed to get this photo,




*and this one! Cool hey?




*When I came back under the waiting area the boys had found my cell phone had music! Luck Logan! They were dancing! I missed taking a photo of Q break dancing!

We headed home right after this and it was crazy what we found. When we drove into the camp this is what the first site looked like:




When we got to our trailer (I’m sure you remember the statement at the top about my windows being open and no rain scheduled to come until the afternoon/evening?) everything was SOAKED! I was almost in tears and I called Arnold. I managed to get some change to do laundry and I cleaned everything up the best I could. We went upstairs and got the laundry started. Auntie Kristina really loves us! She said we could come over and do some more laundry. We brought over the towels I had used to clean up and a few other things. Seriously it was crazy how much got wet! Everything from my knitting, the computer, the beds, the sheets, the clothes, a library book, my own books, manuals, everything. I was so upset.

We did the laundry while the boys slept in their ‘bed’ in the van (some not so wet blankets made that up for them). Then we went to Auntie Kristina’s and Uncle Tim’s to do some laundry and to have supper. We ordered pizza and hung out. The Dads took the kids downstairs and they got to play outside with their soccer balls. They had a blast! Kristina and I managed to get the living room cleaned and the kitchen. It looked much better after the kids were horrible in making a mess.

By the time we headed home it was about 10:30 or so. We got in and checked and everything was basically clean so we made beds and the boys went right to sleep. I hate rain!

Here’s how I dried the boys mattress and bed area:

Week 6 Day 6 - Wednesday, June 24th, Soccer night

This morning when we woke up we hung around the trailer. The weather wasn’t quite as bad and we had something to look forward too so it worked out ok. The boys hung out in the trailer for a bit of it since it was so hot. This is what I found happening around me:























This was the first time I had to get some ‘reinforcements’ for nap time. I have threaten no soccer before but this time I had to call Arnold and get him to help me with reassuring ODS that yes he wouldn’t go to soccer if he kept it up. Finally they napped. It was hard to deal with. I just about gave up but I knew I couldn’t do that. I can’t let them win all the time.

We ended up leaving a bit early for Soccer and got ready to head out, with one delay after another we didn’t get out as early as I would have liked. We quickly went up and got the mail and some food for the picnic and then went to Roy Thompson Park for Supper and play time. Here are some shots from the park:




*Hey look the park!




*Oh no! Sand!




*Meh! Oh well! Off I go!




*I like this slide, but it’s broken….




*Oh look! Another one, over there!




*Lo on the swings.




*Just “hanging out”

After we ate we headed over to the soccer game. Everyone seemed to be late today. It was kind of annoying! Enjoy the shots I did manage to get, as a single parent (Arnold was at a men’s BBQ for the church guys)




*A Ball!




*Ready?




*SET….




*GO!




*Kyler looking cute, oh wait….




*Think “I’m to sexy for my shirt”




*Close up of E. She was really working hard on the field!




*The Three Musketeers




*Kyler and Owen, the allstar player, chilling out at the net, since nothing was coming that way!

Yep that’s right! We WON!!!!! We were so happy and excited!

After the game, and wrestling with the net to put it away, we headed out to get our milkshakes. Once the boys got in the car they seemed ok for a bit so I figured I would pick up some at McDonalds instead of getting them out of the car at Reids and risk having another 20 minute wait. Well did you know that 3 small milkshakes at McDonalds are $9.09 and at Reid’s I could have gotten them for $3.15! I was shocked! I guess it’s worth the pain of getting them out and back in again!

We got home and played for a bit and got rinsed off again and then it was bed time. The boys knocked out really fast. Arnold got home around 10pm from the BBQ and then we went to sleep.