MarMar Madness

Summer.   Summer.    Summer.   Summer....(envision opening of High School Musical movie) - bring it on!  That last week of school nearly killed me.  I dreaded finding food for lunches. I felt like some cave woman that had to forge through the rough jungle to come up with something nutritious, and if not nutritious, filling, to give to those kids!  I had a lot on my plate in terms of personal stuff too and a very long list of errands to run, etc.  Let's just say I was happy to have my meds! :)       Stress aside, I love summer vacation and I love having the kids around.   But it's not just having the kids around that I love.  I savour the irresponsibility of it all.  I don't have to set my alarm now.  I love that we can sleep in every day!   I can make chocolate chip pancakes on a Monday and have the time to enjoy them with the girls and not just shove a bowl of cereal or toast ...

We all have our days...am I right?  Days, when seriously, they (the children) aren't being bad...but somehow whatever they do just gets to you.  Be it bad, be it big, be it small....the fact that they just did that one thing sends you SOARING!  I had such an episode this week.....Let me share!      The other day I was cupcaking.  If you know me - you know I am a single task person when it comes to baking.  Do NOT mess with me when I am in my kitchen. I don't need your help, I don't need your encouragement, I just need you to stay out of my way.  I had cupcakes to do for a friends class and then treats for each of my kids classes.  Yes, I know - I took it all on, I didn't HAVE to do the kids cupcakes...but yet, I really  did HAVE to or they would be so let down.  When I bake I need to  focus and I must have on an apron and ipod.  These are the requirements.  I told my lovely girls - "I love you but stay away...

     I can't say No.  No, I am not talking about when people ask me for something.  I have learned that it's good to say no when I am feeling too busy or over-scheduled.  What I can't say NO to is baking.  Sweets are a problem for me - always have been and probably always will.       Today I had a bunch of bananas that were starting to encourage fruit flys to come and hang out and party.  I knew I needed to bake with them.  I have a kickass banana bread recipe that my family gobbles up so I knew that I would please the girls to no end if I baked for them.  I also had some fresh strawberries from the St. Jacobs Farmers Market, and rhubarb too.  I love love love rhubarb...especially in a pie....with strawberries.  So after tidying and cleaning today and feeling pretty good about life, I pulled out the bits and pieces and started creating yummy treats.  I also made this yummy curried barley and ...

      Last year Kamrin ran in the Cross Country meet of  the Christian / Catholic schools in the area.  I had never been to  a meet before and found it so exhilarating.  I missed her first race due to Mikka splitting open her head at the track and having to rush her to get her first taste of staples in the scalp.  Kamrin ran the race immediately after I took a blood soaked Mikka away and she finished so well...She claims it was the stress of the preceding event that pushed her.  The next meet was held at the Heartlake Conservation Area.  The trees were golden, the air was wet and the energy was tangible for last years final race.  Kamrin was a stress case but did so well.   I had never seen her run before and the event was brilliant.        At the finish line of the race is where it gets very intense.   Last year I remember kids climbing up this huge hill and trying to fin...

So - we are living in a very modern age.  An age where time  and distance don't really get in the way of much.  Especially relationships.  I am not a computer geek - I struggle with a lot of the techno lingo and jazz, but I love my email and my facebook.  I don't twitter. Heck, I only just got a cell phone in August and still don't know how to text efficiently.  But Facebook has become my best friend.  Some people think it's a stupid thing.  Some judge me saying the relationships I have on there are shallow and vain.  I see it very differently.  Some people may say I waste a lot of time on the computer playing on FB.  I daresay, some days I do.  I have to watch myself.  My sister even told me to stop when I was getting a bit too "computer-focused".  But I have to say, Facebook actually makes me happy and has broadened my scope of friendships and connections.      When I went to boarding school we didn'...

      When the school year starts I am good with lunches.  I have fresh and creative ideas and I enjoy packing them for the girls for school. They also get into it in September and ask to get up a few minutes early to help organize their food for that day.  Then October comes and they don't ask to help anymore.  That's ok...I'm down with that.  By December I am looking forward to a break from lunches - from smelly lunch bags!  Now it's May and I am done. Finished.  Sick of it.  Why so cranky about lunches?      My kids are good eaters.  They eat a lot of things - a lot of different things.  Just ask my family and friends - my kids get fed some wierd stuff...but they are used to it.  Just like the kids in the middle of the jungle don't know any different from eating crickets and bark, my kids don't know anything different than eating my food!  For lunches I try and get all the food groups - so...

     So, I know this kid. Her name is Grace.  She is a very funny kid. Wise beyond her years. Seriously.  Darren and I coached her in soccer a few years ago.  She would sit on the bench and make  us laugh. She was covert in a lot of her humor.  Dry and witty and lovingly cutting!  We grew to love this kid and to love her family too.  It's been a few years since that crazy indoor soccer season.  We still see Gracie once in a while and her family.  And even tho we may not see them much - we would consider them great friends.  Grace has hung up her soccer cleats.  Sports aren't her thing - they are her brothers thing.  Reading, writing - creative stuff is Graces' thing and not only does she like it - she's so good at it.       A short while ago I started to blog.  I love blogging - writing about randomness, stories, experiences, thoughts.  It's an outlet that I've craved and ...