The Belbin Brigade

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Not updating for some time has turned this into a daunting task. There are over 2 months of photos & great experiences to write about & now I can't possibly include it all.

DK finished their first year at their new schools both with outstanding report cards & many friends. Kai is all set to switch schools in the fall & join Drew in french immersion. She is not the slightest bit fazed by leaving her friends because she is not worried about making new ones. Why be worried when you're a Kadoodle?

Kai's kindergarten class perform for the parents on their last day

Mara thought it was pretty good

So far this summer we have been camping (and true, old school camping - all 5 of us in a tent) in Ucluelet, at Salmon Point near Campbell River and at Horne Lake with the Rabiens. Grant also took all 3 kids to Vernon, Calgary and Pine & Gull Lakes to visit family & friends. I stayed behind, not to relax, but to work (see photos) & finish our year end books. The 4 of them had wonderful adventures with Grandpa Derek & Grandma Nancy at Gull Lake: fishing (81 fish!!), quading, going to the fair grounds in Red Deer & most importantly, waterskiing for the first time!

This Sunday Drew is off to Camp Columbia on Thetis Island for 4 days. We went shopping today to pick up all the gear on his check list and by tonight his bags were packed. Grant & I are most excited because of our fond memories of camp - Drew has no idea of the experiences to come! Unfortunately Kai is still on the waiting list for horse camp. She said tonight that she will sleep with her fingers and toes crossed until she makes it in. Here's hoping.

Early morning after a very late night in Ucluelet

Long Beach

Mara and her "Porn Cops"

With the Collerys at Salmon Point.

Mara & Carys caught mid escape.

7-year-olds obsessed with fire.

Reuben & Kadoodle

"So which lure you thinkin'?"

If anything can melt my stone-cold heart, it's this.

'Bamton' and his casualties @Horne Lake

The true bare bum lady.

They enjoyed this a little bit.

And Liv & Mara enjoyed it too.

Busted! Eating chocolate cookies in the tent.

The humble beginnings of "Dirtalicious".

And some randoms...

Drew's awesome photo!
He dressed Mara & took her outside for her own shoot.

Another Drew shot.

And another!

"Jum-peen! Jum-peen!" at Tor's 5th birthday party

It can't all be beautiful. This is one of the jobs I was on while the family was sunning themselves all over BC & Alberta. 5.5 truckloads were removed by hand from this garage & yard. Grant will laugh at me for even posting this because it's just another job & he sees much more & much worse than I do. But he doesn't take photos. So when I can I do & then I take all the glory.

Ta-Da! 3 Hours later.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Low Tide

We spent a perfect day today at Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville. We found some enormous shells for our collection, harassed hermit crab, took over a sand castle & ran from the rising tide at the end of a great afternoon. Afterward we ate icecream & rented movies. Even then DK both said the day felt "very lonely" without Dad. Ahhhhh, honesty. Thanks kids. I guess boring ol' mum is just no match.

Grant is enjoying a rare, meager, 24 hours away in Vancouver & it's no secret he's missed, apparently. Tonight Drew set his alarm for bright & early so we can all be sure the Father's Day surprises are ready in time for Grant's return. Because of this I actually had to talk Grant out of taking the first ferry home - he wanted to be back to make us breakfast! (Seriously?!?) I am a lucky woman & we are a very, very lucky family.

Happy Father's Day to Bumpa, Grandpa Derek & of course Grant - we miss all of you!

Mara offering her advice on spinning.

Carving out their moat.

Kadoodle conquers the castle.

Drew working hard to "look like a skater"
(He was most impressed his underwear was showing in the photo
= authentic skater.)

All 3 looking in one direction for the first time ever!

Kadoodle

Safe?

Mara was not having a tantrum. She was yelling, "HI SAND!!"

Ice cream from the General Store.
Mara liked it.

A lot.

Last week she had her hair done by Trisha while spending the afternoon there. Now she brings me any elastic she finds hoping to have it done again. She then stares at herself in the mirror, "Sooooo Prrrreeeetttty".

Sunday, May 10, 2009

A Million Pieces

The tulips in Kai & Bumpa's special
garden that bloomed for Mother's Day

This past weekend encompassed all of the best moments of parenthood. We were together, the sun was shining and there were a million little moments that added up to make it the most special Mother's Day I could have asked for. Some things were broken, a big mess was made and there were a few tantrums thrown in for good measure. But, there was also a 6-man tent set up in our living room for a very rowdy sleepover, fears conquered, and some of the most simple, fun & proudest moments of our lives.

Drew broke this by accident while helping me pitch the tent in the living room.
He then painstakingly put it back together with scotch tape. "All fixed!"
(Bumpa, we may need a new one next time you're in Japan)

On Friday, Kai had a sleepover with her friends Amy & Kaitlyn from school. It was a first sleepover for both girls and I kept the nervous mothers updated throughout the night with photos & emails. I took the girls to the movie store & they were convinced everyone thought they were triplets because they were all wearing jammies, holding dolls and they were all wearing gold medals around their necks (?). Their constant chatter & High School Musical madness was hilarious...until about midnight when they finally fell asleep.

On Saturday morning we packed up some tired girls and set off to the BMX track for "new racer day". Drew & Aidan each got to practice & then race three times. Drew was very nervous ("I'm so anxious it's eating up my insides!") but after a few practice rounds he was ready. Kai, who was "not tired at all" fell asleep in the bleachers while Drew came in 2nd in all three races and was awarded his newest prize possession - his trophy.

On Sunday Drew & I were up early to run the Big Brothers/Big Sisters 5K race together. Drew was the only kid in the race which got him a lot of attention! He was high-fived and cheered the entire way. I finished the race in 3rd place in the female division, 5th overall & Drew finished in 40:40! Watching him run through the finish line all sweaty and proud of himself was a chest-bursting moment for me. Afterward we collected some prizes, ate donuts and enjoyed the sweet feel of victory...for a few minutes. Then we were off again! Dad, Kai & Mara had a huge Mother's Day breakfast waiting for us at home before DK had a gymnastics birthday party to get to.

Here are a few randoms from the last few weeks...