Last Day of Summer Vacation!

Pictures from Assinaboine Park.  The English Gardens and the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden

So as summer vacation has come to an end, so has my sanity.  I really do have mixed emotions about summer ending though.  I love spending time with all the kids together, just being able to wake up and say okay lets go do this or that. 

Today was one of those days. I hadn't really planned on doing anything today except for going to the chiropractor and picking up a few groceries for school lunches tomorrow.  Instead of the groceries we ended up knocking off a few more things on the kids summer bucket list. 

Laying on the table getting the activator.

We first went to the chiropractor.  Zachary loves this part of his day. We walk in and he says "hi everybody" (referring to Dr. John and Breanne, the receptionist)  He likes to guess who gets to go next and then gets so excited when it's his turn he yells out "MOOOOOORE
CLICKS!" and runs over to me so I can lift him up.  He used to stand on my lap to get activated now he's practiced enough that he can lay face down on the table now.  We are now down to twice a week instead of three times a week.  With school starting this will be good.  Zachary got a Mater sticker today.  He's got the receptionist trained. She actually got up and went to the back and found new stickers for him today.  We leave the office and he says "bye everybody"  He's going to be so lost once we stop going. 
 

We decided that we would go to Assinaboine Park to cross off some things off the Summer Bucket List.  We first went into The Conservatory.  Zachary loves going in there, they have red eared slider turtles in  The Palm House part.  They have redone it all, replanted lots of trees and plants, added cute little hide away things. The Koi fish are so beautiful! They landing to stand on to look over at them is a nice addition to the place.  The garden room is done with late summer flowers right now.  Beautiful, but nothing spectacular this time around. I love going there, it's so pretty and relaxing. The kids have

a lot of fun as well.  I really think one of these days Zachary will sneak one of those red ear sliders our of there.  He loves reptiles.  "bye turtles, miss you" was the last thing he said to them.  The really do have a great set up in the Palm Room.  If I could have a set up like that I would for sure have some.


We then went to the Duck Pond to feed the ducks and geese. Zachary wasn't totally into this. He was having more fun yelling at them to share the bread.  The duck pond at the park is quite large now and is kept up pretty well. 

After the ducks had a snack we walked across the road to the English Gardens.  These gardens are so beautiful, I could stay there all day long.  There are always people in there wedding, planting, watering, fixing something.  I wish my garden could be a fraction as beautiful as these ones.  The flowers in there are amazing. Some I have never seen before.  The colours and shapes of them are just stunning.  We also made our way over to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden.  Zachary liked the bear statues and the deer.   

Assinaboine Park is a great place to have a family day.  We decided that we wanted to do more things though so we made our way down to The Forks.  We went and fed the ducks and geese by the river walk first.  I think this one of the first years in many that it hasn't been closed because of the flooding in the spring.  The river was pretty low this year.  Zachary got into feeding these guys. The weather so perfect for a day at the Forks.  Usually when we think of going it's so hot outside, that we don't end up staying very long.  Today was wonderful! There were a lot of families taking in the last day of summer vacation, yet you weren't falling over each other either.


After feeding the ducks it was time to feed us.  We went inside and got Zachary his first mini donuts.  He loved them!  Heck what's not to love? Donuts, cinnamon and sugar! We got serenaded by a Jamaican guitarist. It felt like we were on a vacation. The smell of all the different foods and all the tourists. The Forks is always a great time.  We got to sample peanut butter chocolate fudge. Sabrina was the only one that actually liked it. They have a truck in the market part that looks like Tow Mater... we didn't tell Zachary we let him see it on his own, he was so excited I thought he was going to choke when he gasped. MAAAAAAAAY MAAAAAAAY!

The last thing on our list before we headed home was to go check out the new play ground.  I knew they were working on it last year, but forgot about it until the girls mentioned it after being at The Forks last week end.  This park is
 so amazing. It is everything I would want to put into a park.  The ground is rubber, so if the kids fall they don't get hurt.  There is a General store with hay bails (plastic), a train that you can go in and blow the whistle and crawl through. That was Zachary's favorite, he did not want to leave that train. They have canoes, slides. the 3 section slide was also a hit. Zachary had the girls going up the hill and down the slide about 20 times. "Help me girls" the hill was a little steep so he wanted them to hold his hands. 

We had a wonderful last day of summer vacation together. Everyone back to school tomorrow. Madisen starts grade 6 and Sabrina starts grade 4.  Not so little girls anymore.  Each year as I send them off to their first day of school I think back to their first day of nursery school Madisen took her JoJo's Circus back pack and Sabrina had a Tinkerbell back pack.  Now? It's plain colours or patterns no princesses, no My Little Ponies, No more Tinkerbell.... they are growing up... Back to school shopping for shoes was done in the women's section for Madisen she no longer fits the children's shoes. Sabrina is at that age where she wants to dress a little older but nothing fits her properly. I know they are going to have a great year with new adventures and wonderful memories.

More Clicks...

At the end of July the kids and I were in a car accident. We got rear ended by a woman that was clearly using her phone.  When are people going to get it???  Cell Phones and cars DO NOT MIX!  This was also a day of why didn't I listen to my inner voice?  Had I done so, we wouldn't have been hit.  We were at my moms and needed to go pick up some milk and stuff to eat.  It was a very hot day out and I had promised the kids that we would stop after Walmart and pick up those $1 frozen lemonades from Tim Hortons.  As we were leaving the girls wanted them first, I caved because I was actually hot too and thought I didn't want to fight the rush hour traffic to get to our Timmies later.   So we stopped and everyone got a frozen lemonade. 

We headed towards Walmart, to do so I had to merge onto another road.  I was waiting my turn, Big trucks were coming so I thought it best not to go. I never took my foot off the break, but somehow the woman behind me decided it was a good idea to put her foot on the gas, and she hit us hard and we were flung forward a fair distance.  I pulled into the parking lot and the Madisen was screaming that that Zachary was bleeding.  I had totally forgotten about the drinks they all had.  I jumped out of the van and whipped the door open.  He had so much blood coming from his mouth that I couldn't figure out what had happened. Madisen finally said that the straw had cut him because his head flew forward when we got hit.   (As this is happening, I hear the woman that hit us on the phone saying "I'm going to be later then I just said, I was in a car accident) The road we were on there was no where to pull off to text or call someone with out still driving.  We exchanged everything we needed too.  The damage on her SUV a dented license plate.  Mine? the estimate was over $5000.00 of parts. 

So the 4 of us are now going to the chiropractor 3 days weeks.  We have known this chiropractor since last October.  I had been driving a friend of mine there after her accident.  So Zachary was very comfortable with the office and him.  We get the activator thing and I get adjusted.  Zachary loves going because he gets "more clicks, my back" and he also gets to play with this toy helicopter (the one from Cars) and see the kissing fish (the actually come up to the glass when you "kiss" them)  When we leave he gets a sticker.  What kid wouldn't want to go?  I have to say since I've been going I feel so much better.  I've had a second thermal scan and it's a lot better then the first.  So are the kids.  Now we have to figure out how to get there 3 times a week with school starting next week! Early early to rise kids!  Zachary asks me every night if we're going for "more clicks?"

Tinker Town

 

 Awhile ago I won something from our local radio station.  I went to pick it up and while we were in the lobby "Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not?" by Thompson Square came on the radio. Zachary and i love this song, we dance to it all the time.  He came over to me while I was talking to the receptionist and wanted me to dance and sing... I of course did not.   Anyways, the promotion director happened to be passing by when all this was going on, he came back with 2 passes for Tinker Town and gave them to Zachary. SO all that to say... we took Zachary to his first trip to Tinker Town and he loved  it!

Thank you QX104 for the passes! We had a great time!!  

I told the kids to get ready because we were going somewhere.  They had no idea where.  We kept driving and they were guessing all sorts of places.  We finally got there and they were so excited. Zachary of course had no idea where we were, as he has never been there.  As soon as he saw the cars he got it!  He loved the airplanes, and the boats.  It was a little hard with all 3 as Zachary couldn't go on the rides Madisen could go on and Madisen couldn't go on a lot of the rides he was going on, so there was a lot of  whining. We all loved the train that goes around the entire park. We rode that 3 times, the other favorite of all was the carousel.  Again we pretty much spent all day there, We arrived at noon when it opened and got home about 6pm.  Another fun day with my kids! 

Morning Sound Farm

We went to Morning Sound farm for their family fun day. 

The kids had a blast!  We left at 9am and didn't return home until close to 4pm.  It was such a hot day out, but none of seemed to mind, we were having so much fun!  

There were hay rides (which we did 3 times, Zachary loved the tractor that pulled us) They got to feed a baby goat, milk a goat, hold baby chicks. Madisen fell in love with this rabbit and had we not had all the other animals I honestly would have let her bring it home.  He was so cute!  Sabrina liked the little black one, I told her it looked a lot like the one I had when I was little named Kocoa.  Maybe one day, they will get their bunnies. 

We packed a lunch and ate in a old barn, with lots of tables set up.  We ate every single thing we brought.  Then it was off to watch a sheep get sheered. Each kid got a piece of the wool.  We learned how they cleaned it and made it into wool.  The family makes blankets for the winter from their sheeps wool.  

The girls have decided that this will be an annual summer trip.  We had so much fun.  I miss having horses and all the other animals around.  

Thank you Morning Sound Farm for a wonderful day. 

 BBQ, Friends and Fun

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Today we went to a friends house for a BBQ.  These are friends that we have gotten to know because our kids either go to school together or dance together.  All our kids get along really well and we always have a lot of fun.  Everyone sort of breaks off into these little groups, the men in the tv room, the women at the kitchen table, the kids EVERYWHERE!

The kids played games,  played with  bubbles outside, hide and seek and what ever else 8-11 year olds do.  They all get a long so well, and they are all really good with Zachary (my 2 year old) One of the boys actually gave Zachary a big Digger truck that he said Zachary could bring home, because he doesn't play with it anymore.  Zachary has had that digger out everyday playing with it since then.  Thank you Eric! 

It is always shocking to the see the time when we leave, it's always so late and nobody notices because we are all having such a good time. That is the definition of a good time to me! Loosing track of time.  <3 

It's Raining, It's Pouring ....So what to do?

July 4, 2012

I am in no way complaining about the rain today.  It is very welcomed.  Gives me a break from watering everything 2-3 times a day. The temperature is also enjoyable now too. 

So with the rain what do we do today??  The plan is to set up Sabrina's 10 gallon fish tank today.  We bought new rocks and plants yesterday and she's quite excited about them. We are also going to finish our garage sale signs and start hauling everything downstairs so we can get things organized. 

July 3, 2012

Well this heat looks like it is hear to stay for a bit.  We spent the morning making garage sale signs.  Haven't finished them yet.  We are making a lot.  The plan is to have our garage sale this week end. Hoping that there is dip in the weather, even a few degrees would be fantastic!  

Zachary got a haircut today, he was very good.  He just stared at himself in the mirror and watched her cut his hair.  

Madisen went to a friends birthday party this evening, so Sabrina and I went to get her some new plants for her fish tank and some new gravel.  Then we went to A&W and had Mozza Burgers and Onion Rings. (check that one off the list)

Not a very eventful day. 

SO HOT...

What do you do with the kids when it's already 30 degrees outside and it's only 10am???  Sabrina and her friend have gone to the wading pool at our community club, and Madisen has a friend over and doing tween stuff.  A lot of giggling up there.  

Later today we will go outside and water the grass and perhaps have a little water fight. I think we will take the tortoise outside as well.  He still hasn't been outside it's been too cold, now I fear it's too hot LOL

Canada Day

July 1st, 2012 

Canada Day is a hot one, 38 degrees. The kind of day that when you step outside you are covered in sweat and feel the need for another shower.

With so much to do today in the city the kids & I went to Lower Fort Gary. Free on Canada Day. (I like Free)  It was a nice drive out Main street, Madisen read the ghost stories and history of the place then told us all about it.  When we got there we looked for all the places that ghosts have been seen it was really fun to see the places that we just heard and read about. 

There were games, crafts, face painting & demonstrations.  The tourist center had Canada flag pins, stickers and book marks that were free for the taking.  Zachary got a maple leaf tattoo and immediately scratched it off of his hand.  Under the shelters they had dancing and live music.  I don't know how these people were wearing the dresses it was so hot outside. Bravo on them!  Then they brought out the birthday cake!  We all sang "Oh Canada" in English and French then ate some yummy cake. 

We've been sitting inside with the fans going for a little while, had some dinner and now getting ready to go find a place to watch some fireworks! We ended up watching the fireworks in a not so secret location it turns out.  They had fireworks that looked like the planet Saturn, some that I thought looked like a spaceship, others that looked like they came right at you. It was a great night! 

1. Watch the Canada Day fireworks with friends. 
2. Go to the zoo with Zachary
3. Go to the duckpond and feed the ducks
4. See how many different bugs we can find in the yard.
5. Go to The Forks and watch the boats
6. Have a picnic at the park 
7. Walk through the English Gardens 
8. Go to the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden 
9. Go to U-Putz
10. Earn enough money to get our DS (or iPods)
11. learn to make gimp bracelets 
12. Have a garage sale
13. Bake Cookies 
14. Make jewelry 
    
15. Go to the Children's Museum's new playground
16.  Feed the ducks at the Forks
17. Go strawberry picking
18. Go to the beach 
19. Make a HUGE sandcastle
20. Get a bright pink or purple highlight in my hair 
21. Get a henna tattoo 
22. Go bowling (Madisen actually did this today July 3, 2012 with her friends)
23. Play all the board games that are in the play room
24. Go Creative Coupon Hunting with mom. 
25. Read a book a week all summer long and keep a log of them 
26. Go to the conservatory and take some pictures of the flowers 
27. Go to Lower Fort Gary
28. Go to the Marine Museum 
29. Go to Louis Riel House
30. Do a 1000 piece puzzle 
31. Go to the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature
32. Camp out in the TV room and watch movies all night
33. Do some sidewalk chalk art (try 3D? )
34. Go to Gimli for the day. 
35. Go to Morning Sound Farm (July 14, 2012)
36. Go back to school shopping 
37. Upgrade my fish tank (Sabrina) in the process of doing this. have to wait to put all the babies in it but it's set up and looks fantastic!
38. Take Zachary to Tinker Town (he won 2 day passes from the radio station) 
39. Work on our family tree 
40. Get free Slurpees on 7-11 birthday.
41. Have A&W onion rings for dinner
42. go to Brush Fire Ceramic studio 
43. Go creative couponing with mom 
44. Clean out our closet 
45. Make some Christmas decorations to sell at the craft fair 

This summer, instead of going on a trip, which frankly who can afford these days with a family of 5?  I thought we would try to be a little more creative and explore more of our own city. So we are writing our summer bucket list this week.  School ends Friday June 29th, so that means the list can start that afternoon!

The plan with the blog is to get other families to join in and do things in their own cities and have fun with their kids this summer.  We will try to post pictures and little write ups as we cross things off the list.  I will get the list up on here as soon as we write it.