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What’s your plan?

I *think* I’ve said it here before – only because I say it a lot and can’t imagine that this blog has been exempt – but the days are long, and the years are short. You blink and suddenly it’s over.  But it’s really not just the years that are short, but the months and even the weeks.  I’ll often look back on a Friday and wonder where all the days have gone.

Summers are no exception.  In fact, it’s almost worse in the summer.  Last year, Dan took an entire month off and I barely remember it.  As summer approaches, we all have oodles of things that we want to do, see, play and accomplish.  We talk about it for months ahead of time and often dream of the hazy, lazy days of summer when we’ll have time to do all the things that we really want to do.

And then suddenly it’s August 27 and we’ll look back at our list, flustered and wonder how we’ll fit everything that we still haven’t gotten around to in the last weekend before school starts.

So when I saw this featured on one of my favourite blogs, Ohdeedoh, it inspired me.

Why not write it all down?  Meg and her family have done it the last few years and I think it is brilliant.   I especially love the check boxes beside each one.  Such a cool idea.

So that’s our plan this weekend.  Dan, Jaia, Wes and I will sit down and compile our own summer bucket list.  Wes might not offer too many suggestions, but we’ll ask anyway.  Some things that will definitely be included:

  • go to the zoo
  • camp out
  • roast marshmallows
  • go out looking for fireflies at dusk
  • dance in the rain
  • take a road trip
  • visit a butterfly garden
  • pick strawberries and make jam

Do you have any cool things on your summer list?  Share them, you might inspire someone else along the way!

June 9, 2011 - 11:48 pm

Dominik - what about “taking a trip to Ottawa”?

June 16, 2011 - 6:52 pm

Claudia - If you want to see fireflies there are THOUSANDS in my yard every night! Because we have the field/woods behind us they all come out at night 🙂

Celebrate – The details.

We had a birthday party for Wes a few weeks ago.  It was a riot.  I thought loooong anf hard about the theme of the party.  I was being picky.  It had to be just right.  And I didn’t want run-of-the-mill. Yes, it turns out I am that Mama.  And then I found it.  It was perfect and suited my little man to a T.  A little monster party!!

Seriously.  Have you met him?

So. once I had that down, the other details fell into place.

The invitation was lovingly created just for Wes by party designer extraordinaire, Melissa Walker (website to come soon!)  Isn’t it awesome??!!

And then there were craft projects.

But my favourite part was the yummies: Cupcakes.

Or should I say individually designed, personal little blue monsters.

Meet the whole crew!  My fave is the bottom right.  Or the one with the ‘stache.

I had the most incredible little helper.  I mean, imagine how difficult it would have been to clean off the spoons and beaters by hand?  Jaia’s method was faster and far more efficient.

And now for Wes’ cake – it was a regular sized cake and I fully intended for almost none to be actually consumed.

Word to the wise:  Dark blue icing stains everything it comes in contact with.  Everything.

My superstar mom crocheted this in one night for the birthday boy.  How fantastic is he?  He’s yet to be named.  Any suggestions?

Out of all the parties we’ve had around here, this was, by far, the most fun to put together.  My parents were in town and a MASSIVE help which probably helped make it feel like more fun and less work.  But it was awesome.   For the grown ups (and older kids), anyway.  Wes barely noticed all the well thought out details but delighted in the smothering of love he received.  It was exactly as it should be.

Party pics to come tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

June 7, 2011 - 1:11 pm

Auntie Jenny - AMAZING! Nice work you guys!

June 7, 2011 - 3:24 pm

Auntie Nissa - Awesome!! Love the cupcakes 🙂

June 7, 2011 - 3:39 pm

Dan - epic post! Missing one key element though – where’s the birthday boy?

June 7, 2011 - 4:49 pm

The Mama - He’ll be the star of the ‘day of’ post I’m planning for tomorrow. Saving the best for last.

June 7, 2011 - 6:09 pm

Dominik - outstanding, I’m craving for one of Wes’ cupcakes now…

June 8, 2011 - 3:00 pm

Kris - Those cupcakes are out of this world amazing. AMAZING. Kurt and I picked our favorites last night (mine is the one with one large eye…and nothing else). You’re so creative!

June 8, 2011 - 6:21 pm

Coline McWilliam - Truly talented Shan. I also love the flowers on the table. Too cute.

Wear sunscreen.

20-30 years ago people thought differently about a lot of things.

Smoking wasn’t frowned upon.  In fact, it was celebrated.  If you were the non-smoker at the party, you were the odd-man out.  Or on a hot, sunny, summer day, you would, without thinking, slather on the baby oil and bake in the sun to tan your skin and rid yourself of the winter pasties.  It’s was just what you did.

People didn’t know any better.  We didn’t know that smoking could kill us.   And we certainly didn’t know the damage even one bad sunburn could cause.

But now we do.

The number of smokers in my life has dwindled down so far that I’d be hard-pressed to come up with someone in my circle of friends or my family that indulges in a cigarette at all.  And if they do, it’s in hiding.  From the great majority to the tiny minority.  Finally, as it should be.

While to smoke or not to smoke is a choice we make, exposure to the sun is a little bit harder to avoid.  And in fact, it turns out that some sun is good for us.  It’s how we get our vitamin D.  But all things in moderation, right?

Take the time to watch this video and if you have any 16 year olds in your life, share it with them.  Spread the word.  Too many people are fighting against the aftermath of the silly choices they made as teenagers when they thought they were invincible.  I know I thought I was.

And just a reminder, if you can, please donate to Dan or I (me, please!) as we prepare to set off on a 100km bike rideto support the Ottawa Hospital’s quest to find a cure for cancer.  It’s such a worthwhile cause and they can use all the support they can get.

Proud

Wes thinks it is the best thing ever to sit like a big dude in grown up chair. It seems that park benches are no exception.

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In other news, we have officially entered the last month of school. I can’t believe we are about to have JK under our belts. Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was trying to find the strength to send her for her first day?

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June 1, 2011 - 7:23 pm

Dan - Those are some happy kids!

June 2, 2011 - 4:19 pm

Dominik - I love these smiles 🙂

So close…..

I’ve actually dreamed of having pool since I was a little kid. This, my friends, is pretty awesome. I can’t wait to jump in!

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June 1, 2011 - 4:19 am

Auntie Jenny - Sweet! Excited to visit you in the summer this time 🙂