Iana Theatre's Fundraiser "Make Them Laugh"

The Cast of Godspell

       I was really sad to hear earlier this year that the Iana Theatre Group were taking a one year hiatus.  I read "hiatus" but what it said to me is "We surrender".  Not that I could blame them, and that's not what they really said, just my interpretation.  Here was an amazingly talented group of performers who were producing original Canadian plays that were phenomenal, but were not receiving the audience that they deserved.  "Alex Bell" was honestly the best play that I have seen in a very long time.  It was beautifully written and had Canadian songs mixed within the story.  I cried, I laughed, I was so proud to say that I know Tim Porter, and felt privileged to have been able to see such a masterpiece.  I looked around the theatre at all of the empty seats and could not believe how criminal it was that such a talented and smart play was not sold out.  I wanted to put an ad in the local newspapers and tell everyone how stupid they were for missing it.  It was shortly after this that Iana announced their "hiatus".  I felt so sad for them, but respected their need to lick their wounds and refocus.

    I was thrilled when I read that Iana was having a fundraising show, "Make Them Laugh".  "Make Them Laugh" features 1920's broadway tunes and features performances by Tim Porter, Danielle Ledger, Joel MacMeekin, Tricia Black, Julie Kevan, Julia Sunay, and Steffi Didomenicantonio, in other words an insanely talented cast.  

    The show is a fundraiser for Iana's future enviers.  Please come out and support this amazingly talented group of young performers.  By treating yourself to a night of entertainment you not only are entertained, but you are telling this talented group of young actors/ writers that you believe in them.  You are shouting out "I believe in Canadian talent, and I want to foster it's growth".  I guess what I am saying is that we are sending them a message, 

"We believe in you!  We Love You! Keep on Making your Magic!"

Make Them Laugh

The Marble Church and Performing Arts Centre

13 Bridgewater Road, Actinolite, Ontario

Show Starts at 7:30, doors open at 7:00

Tickets are only $25.00

http://www.ianatheatre.com/

http://ianatheatre.wordpress.com/2013/07/19/228/

Exotic Critter Tales Come To Home Away From Home

Can you guess what Elly's Medieval Times
souvenir was?  (If you guessed baby
Wallaby, you are incorrect)

    Sorry for the lack of blogs lately.  Sometimes life gets busy, that and we were on vacation and were a little bit roughing it, so there was no WiFi access.  Don't worry, there will plenty for you to catch up on because we have had a busy two weeks.

    For Riley and Rowan's 9th birthday we took the whole family (and two friends) to Medieval Times Dinner Theatre in Toronto.  I was thrilled that the friend's parents trusted us enough to take their children to Toronto.  The week before our adventure we got an email from Christopher's sister Shelley. Shelley runs a home daycare in Georgetown, Ontario (Home Away From Home).  Every summer she hires Exotic Critter Tales to come to her daycare and bring exotic animals that the kids can touch.  I was shocked that Shelley would go to such trouble for her daycare, but really I shouldn't have been if I really thought about it.  Shelley also puts on elaborate Christmas concerts for the parents, and really goes above and beyond for her daycare kids,  I guess that I should not really have been at all surprised that she would bring exotic animals for them to see.  Shelley found out that Christopher was on vacation the same week that she had Exotic Critter Tales coming, and wondered if we wanted to bring the kids up to see them.  It was extremely fortunate that it just happened to be the day after we were at Medieval Times.  We would ask the kid's friend's parents how they felt about their children not only going to Toronto, but then going on to Acton and sleeping over at Christopher's Mom's house.  We were prepared to hear "Oh I am not comfortable with that".  Christopher said that if the friends couldn't sleep over we would just drive back up super early the next morning, it was just too great of an opportunity for the kids to miss.  

    I felt a little badly springing an army on Doreen (Christopher's Mom).  For us two extra kids is not really a big deal, to be honest we hardly notice it.  Doreen lives alone (Christopher's Dad passed away from ALS just a few years ago).  She lives a busy life full of friends and volunteer work, but she lives alone in a quiet house.  The only time our house is quiet is when the kids are asleep, and even then some of them talk in their sleep, and a few of them snore.  Tenderly Christopher approached the subject "So ahhh, ummm Mom.... we were thinking that we would love to come up and go to Shelley's.  We were wondering how you might felt about us all sleeping over".  She was really excited.  "Did I mention that we will have two extra kids?"  The more the merrier.  We had passed over the first hurtle rather easily.  Next we asked the parents how they felt about a sleep over.  They agreed that it was too good of an opportunity to pass up, and we had breezed over the last hurtle.

I didn't think Riley would relinquish her baby.

    Thursday morning we loaded up the vans and headed over to Georgetown.  Ron Woolley was already there.  You could feel the excitement like a static electricity before a lighting storm.  The kids all sat down on the thick green grass, ready to see what Mr. Woolley had brought with him.  They were super excited because he was supposed to be bringing lion cubs with him.  That's all the kids could talk about.  When we got there, no baby lions.  Mr. Woolley explained that unfortunately the lions were now getting too big for petting.  They would would see the toddlers as play things and lions play hard and rough.  Instead he brought with him animals that the kids could all touch and interact with.  The disappointment evaporated quickly when they got their hands on the baby wallaby and the baby kangaroo.

Rowan was really attached to his crown.

    It was quite amazing to see the kids all milling around Shelley and Todd's backyard, many with pouches full of baby wallaby or kangaroo.  Riley was most taken with Fancy the 7 year old dwarf horse.  Fancy should only have lived to a year, but with lots of veterinary care she lived so much longer.  Riley crouched down, almost in a trance just stroking the silky small horse.  She was in love.  

    Gracie fell in love with the 14 year old tortoise (my guys renamed him Spike) that would live to 100 years old.  Ron told the kids the difference between turtles and tortoise.  A turtle wears it's sell almost like a protective jacket, where as the tortoise his shell is actually attached to his body.  That particular tortoise would not only live to 100 or more,  but would grow to the size of a small VW Bug car.  

Gracie made a new friend.

    It was neat to stand back and watch the kids interacting with these animals.  It instantly hit me how much animals have to teach children about compassion and gentleness.  I watched my children's face's softening as they interacted with the animals, it was amazing.

Ron Woolley and his son from Exotic Critter Tales

Ron Woolley holding a baby Capybara

The wallaby exploring the lawn

Julian the Ring Tale Lemur was a huge hit.

    Julian the Ring Tale Lemur (named for King Julian from Madagascar the movie) was a rescue animal who is relatively new.  He was well loved, but was purchased as a pet by apartment dwellers.  They soon discovered that an apartment is not an ideal setting for a ring tale lemur.  Exotic Critter Tales has had Julian for the last four months and he is settling in nicely to his new home.

    It was funny to see all of these exotic animals meandering around the suburban back yard.  Most funny was the kangaroo just bouncing around, completely oblivious to the kids, sometimes stopping to allow himself to be pet.

    The time came when Ron announced that he had to pack the animals up and take them home.  There was a collective sigh and "awwwwwwww".  My niece Karyssa (who's 19) was plotting ways to hide the baby kangaroo.   Rowan announced that he was asking Santa to bring him a kangaroo for Christmas (that's not happening).  The kids had an amazing morning... thank you Shelley for inviting us.

    If you are in the Georgetown area and are looking for an amazing daycare for your children, Shelley does have a few openings this fall (kids are leaving her for all day everyday kindergarten).  Shelley Goring operates "Home Away From Home", and you can contact her at 905-873-9543, or look her up at daycarebear.ca.

    Ron Woolley takes his critters all across Canada, I asked (I'm always on the look out for something awesome to bring to the school).  You can contact him at 519-362-1295 or see his website exoticcrittertales.com

Our Algonquin Adventure

Algonquin Provincial Park East Gates

    Every summer near the end of the school year we sit down with the kids and ask what they think that would like to do this summer.  Sometimes they come up with some pretty crazy answers, to those we nod and smile at the little goofs.  Most times the kids really are pretty easy to please.  "Can we go to Vanderwater Park?  "Can we have a picnic?  Can we go to the splash pad?  Can we go camping?"  None of those things were really lofty ideas.  Christopher and I looked at each other amazed at the simplicity of their requests.  We had both expected grandiose suggestions such as Canada's Wonderland, but really all that they wanted was to be together (maybe we are doing something right after all).

Barely room in there for the kids.

        For me summer is about getting back to the basics.  All year I run with and for the kids.  Our lives are hectic and over scheduled, and it's basically the chaos theory.  The summer is about being with the kids, not just existing with them, but actually being present.  It's about sucking up enough energy to last me a year.  It's about living in the moment... which really is what I wish every single day of the year could be.  Camping fits in with that theory.  Camping is about no distractions, no chaos, just the great outdoors and our family.  

    Back in March Christopher and I reserved a yurt at Alonquin Provincial Park.  We were shocked to discover that is was slim pickings and that there were really only two available days that we could rent the yurt... mental note to self... next year book earlier.  Three years ago Christopher and I wisely decided that the only way our marriage could survive was to rent a yurt.  We came upon this decision after a disastrous camping adventure in Martin River Provincial Park near North Bay, Ontario.  We had decided to meet up with my sister and her family (my sister lives in Sault Ste Marie, which is about a 10 hour drive north of here), and my parents.  We all had sites in a triangular formation.  The afternoon  that we arrived it was raining.  To say raining makes it sound like a gentle easy type of weather, no it was a torrential downpour.  I was waiting to see Noah float by with all the animals two by two.  My sister and parents had gotten there the day before us, and were all set up, or sitting pretty as I hostilely thought.  We started out visiting in Mandy and Spooner's kitchen tent, so it was raining, no big deal, we had all afternoon to make camp.  The kids were loving spending time with their cousins, and it was nice sharing a laugh with my sister and parents.  After a few hours, and the rain was still crashing down (there were numerous times that my brother-in law would take a big stick and poke the roof of the kitchen tent where the water was pooling.  The water would sound like a hurricane as it made the plunge off of the roof).  Finally Christopher and I realized that the rain was not going to stop, nor was it in anyway going to lighten.  If we did not want to sleep in the van, we would have to put up the tent in the torrential rain!  We took everything out of the bag, everything that is except for the instructions for the NEW tent.  Christopher and I don't work well together in construction (there have been a few Ikea projects that I considered consulting a divorce lawyer).  Each of us seems to think that we know best, and the fact is that we are both village idiots.  After daydreaming about the surprised look on Christopher's face as I skewered him with a tent pole, and thinking about how good that would feel, I decided to ask my brother-in-law for help.  It's thanks to Spooner that I am not in jail and my children still have their father!  It was that camping trip that sold us on yurts~!

        Our yurt was booked, our lists made.  All we had to do was pack the van.  I packed the van with the tough of upon the doors opening it would be like one of those practical joke cans of chips, the ones where the pretend snake springs out at the unsuspecting chip eater.  Over the years I have earned the title "Master Packer".  It is amazing what I can pack into a small space.  This year I had my work cut out for me.  I'm not sure what we would have done if we had a tent and chairs.  As it was I had poor little Elly with a cooler at her feet, with a pillow on the top.  All of the kids were sitting on sleeping bags and pillows.  Riley and Rowan could barely see each other over the stack of pillows between them.  My greeting to the children as we pulled away from the house was "Don't complain about the lack of space...NO ONE HAS ANY SPACE!"  With that we were off, looking not unlike a large clown car.

You may wonder why it looks like Grace's arm is greased...
That's because she decided to apply her own bug repellant,
LIBERALLY, Very LIBERALLY.

    There is something about Algonquin.  This was the first time that we had ever camped in the main Algonquin Park, but we have driven though it many times.  There is a feeling of tranquility for me as I drive through those gates.  My breathing becomes deeper, my patience longer.  It is a beautiful place.  As you travel through you think of the possibilities, picture yourself canoeing along one of the many beautiful bodies of water.  You dream of seeing a moose.  It is a place of possibilities, where you can hear the echos of the original native inhabitants.

    As we pulled into our yurt the kids all cheered.  They could not wait to rush out of the clown car and explore.  It worked out well for us because my parents were camped 8 sites down, and the kids after exploring our little space raced down to Nana and Popa's to tell them that we were here.  That allowed Christopher and I to get everything unpacked without having to play 20 questions with the kids.  I was pretty clever and purchased a large set of rubbermaid drawers.  It stands just about up to your knees and has three large drawers.  I divided each of the drawers in half, and each family member had half of a drawer.  It is just so much easer than a suitcase, or anything else that I have ever used for camping.  I just stacked it on the cooler for the ride, then it came out of the car and directly into the yurt, clothes already organized and ready to go.

      The afternoon and evening were spent at the lake.  Mom and Dad brought their inflatable raft, and the kids loved floating around.  Elly was amazed to see tiny fish swimming around her feet and legs.  We were camping during the heat wave, and the water made life instantly so much more bearable.   That first night we filled ourselves to a gluttonous level with food.  The food always tastes so extra good camping. 

    One of the kid's favourite things to take camping are peanuts.  I bought a giant bag of peanuts to take with us.  We were not there very long when the kids were begging to open the bag.  Excitedly they laid out paths of peanuts trying to entice chipmunks to eat out of their hands.  They waited patiently, all of them.  I don't think that I have ever seen them so still or so patient.  I loved the look on their little faces as they were rewarded for their extreme patience.  Riley was trying desperately to get our attention as the tiny animal took the peanut from her outstretched hands.  They were all four so excited and proud that they had enchanted wild animals.  

    Not only does Algonquin offer a plethora of beautiful landscapes and animals that you may only ever see there, but they also offer daily activities for young and old alike.  Our first night Rowan and Grace and I made our way over to the amphitheater.  We sat fighting off the mosquitos who seemed immune to our replant.  On the stage was this really young man who knew more about moose than I could ever dream of knowing.  He showed us pictures and video snippets of moose.  We learned a lot about moose that night.  As we made our way back to the parking lot along the lit path, I was surprised when Rowan told me how much he had enjoyed it.  We went back to my Mom and Dad's sight for our first campfire.  Rowan and Grace were so excited to share all of the interesting information that they had gained.

    The next morning we made our way over to the visitors centre for the children's program, "How animals survive the winter in Algonquin".  We sat in the comfy seats in the glorious air conditioned theatre, as the young women taught the children about the animals of Algonquin.  Afterwards we went though the interactive displays.  There are just so many things that are offered at Algonquin for the price of your stay.

     We had bacon and eggs cooked on the barbecue.  Campfires that brought us closer.  The kids had no electronics to distract them, and so they explored the forrest and played with each other.  At night the stars shone brightly, and the wolves howled to a chorus of frogs.  We all scratched our bug bites complained about the stinky port-a-potties, became waterlogged in the lake, and had an thoroughly amazing vacation.  Tuesday afternoon all too quickly.  The kids all were sad to say goodbye to Algonquin, and so were we.

Riley and Rowan's Medieval Times Adventure for Their 9th Birthday

    9 years ago we began a kind of magical tradition.  For Gabe's 9th Birthday we went to Medieval Times Dinner Theatre in Toronto.  It was beautiful and wonderful and magical.  We yelled ourselves hoarse for our knight, we ate dinner with our hands.  Gabe declared that it was "THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER", and it would prove to be the last birthday that we celebrated with him, making it all the more special, wonderful and magical in our memories.  If I close my eyes I see his beautiful little face red with excitement as he screamed for our knight.

    Three years ago we asked Gracie if she would like to celebrate her 9th birthday at Medieval Times.  She had seen the pictures and video of Gabe's ninth birthday.  I think that part of the reason that she wanted to go was because it was so much fun, and also because I think it helped her to feel closer to Gabe.  Gracie brought a friend with her, and we had another amazing time.  I will not lie, there were a few moments that I was very thankful for the darkness, it helped to hide my tears.  I had tears for Gabe, but I also had joy because it was a beautiful memory of him, and a memory we were making for Gracie.  Gracie and her friend had an amazing time, kind of like we knew that they would.

    This July Riley and Rowan turned 9.  I'm not sure how it is that they are nine!  It seems like they were just my tiny little babies, and yet they are not.  To celebrate their birthday we went to Medieval Times, as is now our tradition.   Each of them brought a friend.  Because they each brought a friend we could not all travel together in one van... we had to take separate vehicles.

   I've driven in Toronto before, it's not my favourite, but I can do it.  The girls all wanted to travel with Christopher, and my self esteem was saved by Rowan.  Rowan and his friend Zach wanted to travel with me.  We all set off at the same time agreeing to meet at the first rest stop, it seemed simple enough.  We left the house at 3:00 that gave us 4 and a half hours to get to Toronto, lots of time (famous last words).  We had not anticipated the almost one hour traffic jam near Cobourg.  We also did not expect one of Christopher's passengers to have the bladder the size of a thimble.  The boys and I had so much time to spare at the rest station that we had time for a pee stop, and ice-cream sundays.  When Christopher and the girls arrived we looked all relaxed like we had been there for hours.  When they came we said hello and then it was on the road again.

    When I travel I always print off directions from Mapquest.  I have really no sense of direction and I have to reply heavily on the kindness of others, even if that other is a computer.  I left the rest station feeling all smug (more famous last words).  As we pulled out Christopher and the girls passed us.  The boys were shouting from the back seat "Don't let them beat us!  Catch up, catch up!  Go faster Go faster!"  It was pretty funny.  

    I took the right turn off at the Don Valley exit, again pretty smooth sailing.  I was amazed at how light the traffic was for 6:00.  We still had an hour and a half before the show started.  I sailed down the Don Valley, and it turned into the Gardiner Express.  The Gardiner was a little more congested, but I still got over for my turn, it was all good.  I followed my directions, all good... that is until we discovered that the road that we had to take was closed.  Did I mention that the Exhibition area was all covered in cement dividers for the Honda Racing?  I still was calm as a cucumber.  I would just figure out how to get over to the other side.  I was doing pretty good when I saw the sign that said "Exhibition Place", oh and then the bottom dropped out of my world when I saw all of those stupid yellow saw horses blocking the road.  I saw a police officer and parked my van behind the saw horses.  A funny thing happened next... the nice police officer told me how to get to Medieval Times, and even stopped traffic so that I could pull a U turn.  God bless him.  I waved and was on my way.  Oh I forgot the most important parts of the story up to this point.  Christopher used to work in Toronto and he was fairly familiar with the lay of the land, unlike myself.  As we were trying to make our way along the Lakeshore Blvd West, Christopher called my cell.  I handed the phone to Rowan, because I was having enough trouble without trying to talk on the phone and drive.  I foolishly thought that Rowan could handle it.  "Dad says to get on the Glabee doo bah" Rowan says with a straight face.  "The WHAT?" I say, my calm beginning to dissipate.  "The Glodina Glabba da." It was at this point that I had pulled in in front of the really nice police officer. "Daddy says he wants me to hand you the phone." Rowan says.  "I CAN'T TALK AND DRIVE!"  at this point I had gotten out of the car to ask the police officer for directions.  I got in the car with Rowan handing me the phone "Daddy wants to talk to you."  "I CAN'T TALK AND DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST HANG UP!!!!!!!!!!!"  The nice officer stood in traffic, and let me get turned around and on the right path.  I headed down the way that he had asked.  I was driving in between cement dividers, huge cement dividers.  I had traveled a little way when I came upon a guy in a yellow jacket talking to the car in front of me.  He did not look very happy.    The car in front stopped for a while, and then drove off.  I stopped and asked if I was headed the right way for Medieval Times.  "You need to turn around right now." he said to me not so politely.  "But the police officer told me to travel on this road.  How do I get to Medieval Times?"  I was near tears.  "You will just have to turn around and go up Lake Shore Blvd." he was becoming more agitated.  "But I just came from there, and we're going to be late!"  I thought that he might pop an artery right there.  "I DON'T GIVE A FU*K!  Do what ever the FU*K you want,  I DON'T GIVE A SH*T!  FU*K IT!!!" and he backed away.  "Thank You" I shouted as I drove away before he changed his mind. I looked in the rear view mirror and caught the faces of my two little passengers. Their faces marked the horrified look on my own face.  "Didn't he see us in the back seat" Rowan asked "He saw us, he made eye contact with us.  How could he swear like that when he saw two kids in the car?".  Zack said in disbelief.  At this point in the story most of you are wondering why I didn't give that idiot an earful.  It was because at the time it was 7:20, and our show started at 7:30.  I did not have the time, and the other part was that I didn't want him to change his mind.

    Finally we pulled into the parking lot and ran to the castle.  I had only sworn a few times and it was not the same level as the surly security guy.  I may have said Sh*t, once or twice.  All things considered I think that I did miraculously well.  We ran through the entrance and got our tickets.  The show had already started, that was o.k.  we were there.  We walked along the dark corridor.  Eventually we found everyone.  Dinner had not yet been served, it was all good.  Normally I would be in a horrendous fit of anger by this point, but I wasn't.  I was irritated, but not belligerent.  I looked over at the faces of the kids, they were glowing.  How could you ever be angry when they were so happy?

    The food came and Zach wondered what we ate with, no one had given him a knife or a fork.  I held up my fingers and wiggled them.  His face just shone with excitement as he dug into his dinner with two hands.  The kids shouted themselves hoarse as they shouted for the Red and Yellow Knight.  Rowan and Zach had amazing looks of disbelief as they saw the sparks flying from the swords, as the knights effortlessly jumped from their horses to fight.  The more I saw their faces the more funny our whole trip there seemed.  It was no longer angry, but funny,  a comedy of errors.

    Each time our knight would win one of the feats, the king would give him carnations to throw to the subjects from his realm (i.e. our section).  I had my fingers crossed that one of our kids would catch the carnation.  The Red and Yellow Knight would kiss the carnation and throw it up into the crowd, each time it sailed past or fell short.  Each time our knight would win, the kids would go crazy.  They were very invested.  In the end our knight WON!  The next thing I knew our Red and Yellow knight was standing behind Christopher and Riley.  Christopher put his hand up to high five the knight, but what happened next was a once in a life time.  The king said "Red and Yellow Knight you may choose a queen."  "I have chosen my queen your highness.  I choose Lady Riley Lindsay to be my queen of love and beauty".  All of us were stricken with disbelief.  Rowan shouted up, his fist pumping in the air "That's my TWIN!".  The knight and Princess put a tiara on Riley's head, and gave her a purple sash.  I think that may have been one of the best birthday gifts ever.

    Once again we had a wonderful magical time at Medieval Times, and as usual the Lindsay's were almost the last ones to leave the castle.

    We have visited the Toronto Castle approximately 6 times now, and the Myrtle Beach one twice.  It is our goal to hit every single one of the castles.  I'm not sure when we will get to them all, but I do know that we will be back again and again!

http://www.medievaltimes.com/

Summer Day Trips / Madoc Skate Park

    This summer we are living on a pretty tight budget (what's new).  Christopher and I are renewing our wedding vows this August, and it is taking every penny that we have to do it right.  Being cash strapped doesn't mean that I am not putting any effort in to make our summer the best that it could be.  I want this to be the best summer that I can create for my kids.  I've decided to make a bit of a game of it. What can we do for nothing or next to nothing?

     I really do try to make summer memorable for the kids, but I am not a martyr (not anymore anyway).    I have spent every Thursday having coffee with my ladies, and I would miss that over the summer.  I love my kids more than anything on earth, but I need adult conversation.  I need my coffee time!  I have come up with a pretty darned good solution if I do say so myself.  

    Last Friday my friends and I packed picnic lunches, and all met up at the Madoc Skate Park with our kids.  Our kids are all different ages, and none of them are school friends, but lets face it, kids are kids and will enjoy almost any other child's company.  As we arrived it began to rain, but that was alright because there was a covered picnic area.  We set up a buffet for the kids, combining all of our foods.  There was LOTS.  My guys love food, and get pretty darned excited for a buffet.  The kids all chowed down and we adults talked... it was nice.

    The rain let up after we were done our lunch, and we headed over to the splash pad.  I love the Splash Pad because it is all fenced in.  I also love the Madoc Splash Pad because they have umbrellas and lawn chairs.  We sat in the corner so that we had the best vantage point of the splash pad.  It was really fun to see the kids all tearing around howling with laugher.  It was funny because like I have already said, our kids are not school friends, but at the Splash Pad they all traveled together in a clump. At one point the boys made a fort out of towels and lawn chairs, as the girls all lay on their blanket trying to catch some rays (they were all sunscreened before we left).  It wasn't long before the girls saw what the boys had done and wanted in on the action.  They together created a towel village.

    We had an amazing day.  The kids had a blast, and we adults enjoyed the conversation.  We stayed all afternoon.  At 4:00 we rounded up all of the little rug rats and loaded them into our vehicles.  As we were leaving both of my friends kids asked if we could do this every Friday.  It think that they have the right idea.  My goal is to try to find as many fun and different things that we can do, with minimal or no cost... wish me luck.  Friday's adventure cost me a donation to the Skate Park and gas money... a good deal!

p.s. If you are wondering why only Elly is featured in all of the pictures no it is not because I love her the most.  These pictures were taken at Elly's junior kindergarten class trip to the Madoc Skate Park.  The sun did not shine that brightly for us Friday.  It rained on and off the whole time that we were there.  We didn't care, the kids were playing in water anyway, and we had an umbrella to huddle under.  Because of the water I did not take my camera.

The Mustang Drive In - Our Summer Tradition

    My family life is rich with tradition.  Most of our family traditions are goofy by most people's standards, but that's o.k.  Tradition gives us something to look forward to, something that we can expect.  For us it would not be summer unless we drove to The County and went to the Mustang Drive-In.  It is a tradition as old as our family. 

    We have done the drive-in every single summer since Gabe was 2 years old, that's 16 years.  Before that I went to the drive -in in high school with my friends.  Back then drive-ins were plentiful around here.  Christopher asked me to marry him at the Guelph Drive-in (we were watching one of the original Batman movies ... but that's another story).  Unless you have not caught onto this yet, WE LOVE THE DRIVE-IN!!!!!!

 Here is what I love about the drive-in.... 

#1 It's affordable.  The Mustang runs a special on Thursday nights, all the people that you can cram into your car for $15.00.  Where else can you take your entire family to a movie for $15?  At the big lights fancy pants movie theatre it would cost you nearly $15 a person, just to get in.  

    They don't care if you bring in your own food, they are just happy for your business, yes I'm sure that they would love you to buy all of your snacks at their concession stand (which are by the way, also really reasonably priced), but they are not going to invade your privacy by doing a frisk.  Did I mention yet that they sell cool screens for your window at the concession stand?  They do.

#2  It's Bonding Time.  It takes us about an hour to drive from here to Bloomfield.  We talk the whole car ride.  When we get to the drive -in, Christopher takes the kids to the playground, while I wash the windshield and organize the car.  When you go to the traditional movie theatre you sit in darkness, virtually alone.  At the drive in, you can see everyone all around you, but still concentrate on the movie.  To me it's beautiful.  It's beautiful to spend that time with my kids, because they will not be kids for long, and the time is galloping towards us that they do not want to spend any time with us.  I don't like it, but I am preparing for it.

#3  It' the best of both worlds.  When the kids were really little we would take them for the children's movie.  We would all huddle together as a family, little one's snuggled on our laps and watch the movie.  When the movie was over we would make the back seat into a bed and the kids would all go to sleep while we watched the second movie.  It was family night and date night all rolled into one, and we didn't have to pay a sitter.

    These days the kids are all too big to sit in the car at one time.  Christopher and the some of the kids like to take lawn chairs and sit in the front of the van to watch.  I'm an inside the car type of a girl.  I tilt my chair back and enjoy the show, and lack of bugs.  This time Gracie sat in the car with me, and Elly kept running back and forth between Christopher and I, oh and yes it was annoying.

    When we tell the kids that we are going to the drive-in they get ecstatically excited.  The drive-in for them is a mini-holiday.  The drive-in for our family is as much a part a summer as back yard fires, swimming and jumping through the sprinkler.  It holds beautiful memories for me with Gabe.  It holds memories for me of all the kids from infancy onward.  It is a part of our summer, long live the drive-in!

    I found this really neat site that lists the Drive-in Theatres in Ontario.  It's really sad to see the amount of them that have closed.   http://www.waybacktimes.com/drive-inlist.html  The drive-in is something old, that is not well, "old".  It is affordable family fun, and you should do your family a favour and visit one this summer, even if only just the once... you'll thank me.

http://www.thechequesinthemail.com/index.php

(this is the Mustang Drive-in's Website)

Friends of Stoco Lake

    I once again sound like I'm being boastful I live in a beautiful piece of Canada.  I am surrounded by lakes and rivers, farmland, forests, and plentiful wildlife (my friends who are having bear problems might beg to differ).  I choose to live here.  I could live anywhere in the world that I would like, but I "choose" Tweed.  I say this but, like most of you I appreciate the beauty of where I live, and yet I sometimes just take it for granted or don't even think about it at all.   

    Every Canada Day Tweed has a Canada Day celebration at the Memorial Park.  Every year the celebration is a little different.  Some years it is better, some years not as great as the year before.  This year was one of the best that I can remember.  It is planned for me and the rest of our community by a group of committed individuals, and for this I am extremely appreciative.  For the last 3 years a local group, "Friends Of Stoco Lake" have been giving boat rides around Stoco Lake.

    I grew up in Tweed, I have spent the majority of my life living in Tweed.  I have been to the Tweed Memorial Park more times than I could possibly count.  I have driven past Stoco Lake more times than even that.  It always seems so small, so omnipresent.  It has always just been there, I have never really given it any thought, that is until four years ago.  

    Four years ago for the first time in my entire 42 years I rode "on" Stoco Lake.  I have been around it  countless times, but never traveled on it.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.  Generous individuals donated the use of their boats and their not so inexpensive gas to take strangers on a tour of Stoco Lake.  For some of us it is our own backyard that we have never had the opportunity to explore.  People donated the use of their powerboats and their pontoon boats.  We have a large party, and so we got to take our tour on a pontoon boat.  We traveled because of the kindness and generosity of strangers.  We were able to go as a family that included Christopher, myself, all four kids, my parents and even some of the kid's friends.  These strangers were so welcoming, that by the end of the trip they did not feel like strangers anymore.  They showed us our lake from an vantage point that we could have never seen before, it looked so alien, and beautiful.  It was as if my entire life I had been wearing coloured glasses and for the first time had taken them off to truly appreciate the richness of the colours all around me.

    The tour of Stoco Lake has become a delight that we look forward to every year, it is in fact perhaps the highlight of our year.  The way the wind blows our hair, the wind in our faces, the warmth of the sun, the beauty around us is priceless.  I see my children in a different light when we take that annual ride.  I am able to sit back and enjoy them.  Their little faces (not quite as little as they once were) are filled with joy and excitement.  They will take this amazing opportunity with them for their entire lives. This will be cemented into their memories of their hometown, and of their childhood.

    This this now annual family tradition has not only given us an opportunity to explore our area in ways that we would not normally be able to, it has also opened my eyes very dramatically.  For years I have known that Stoco Lake was polluted.  It was a fact, that never traveled beyond a nonchalant fact for me.  Now I see Stoco Lake as a living breathing entity, it is an entity that deserves our protection and our care.  This is the same goal of the Friends of Stoco Lake.  I have copied from their website (which I have included a link for below) a copy of their mission statement.

Mission Statement and Objectives

Preamble

Stoco Lake has welcomed local residents and visitors to Tweed for many years.

However, use and enjoyment of the Lake has suffered in recent years as a result of

declining environmental quality. The Lake ecosystem and the prominent role of

the Lake in the community needs to be restored.

Mission Statement

‘Friends of Stoco Lake’ are working to improve the overall health of Stoco Lake,

for the benefit of people and the environment, in recognition of it’s important

contribution to the quality of life in our community.

Objectives

1) ‘Fact-finding’ – gathering the information required for an evidence-based

approach to identifying actions that need to be taken in both the short and

long-term.

2) Development of an ‘action plan’ for Stoco Lake. This would include:

• Identifying priority actions for ‘Friends of Stoco Lake’ and others with

mandates related to improving lake quality

• Undertaking priority actions that are appropriate for the Friends (i.e., are not

being done by others, that are achievable for a volunteer organization that are

cost-effective)

3) Developing partnerships with other organizations that can provide for a more

effective approach to improving the health of Stoco Lake.

4) Sharing information, and educating / influencing the general public, all levels

of government, local community organizations, schools and others with respect

to what needs to be done.

    What it basically boils down to is that like everything, we have enjoyed the lake, but have given it no respect.  There was a time when some of the cottages that line the banks of Stoco Lake built their septic systems so that they would empty directly into the lake (this has since been corrected).  People treated the lake as an object instead of a resource that is also a living entity.  If we want to enjoy the beauty that Stoco Lake has to offer we need to respect it and help it to heal.  Our family plan to make a donation to The Friends Of Stoco Lake, and I would ask you to do the same.  The years of abuse that the lake has taken cannot be undone by itself.  It took many people to pollute the lake, it will take many hands to make it right.

http://www.friendsofstocolake.ca/

Canada day - Living in The Moment

    Canada Day has to be one of my favourite holidays.  In days gone by we used to have a big barbecue and fireworks in the backyard and would host our friends, but that was a few kids ago.   Our traditions have changed a little over the years, but mostly they have remained the same.
    Tweed has a Canada Day parade every year.  Every year since Gabe was 3 we dressed the kids in Canada Day outfits and they walk in the parade.  Some years I am more ambitious and make the kids matching Canada Day shorts, but not this year.  This year I visited Old Navy and the Dollar Store for the kids outfits.

     Every year I stand in the same place and wave at the kids, oh and take tons of pictures.  Every year my kids (and Christopher) walk past with big proud looks on their faces, it really is beautiful.  I can't imagine the day where my little ones are too big to do this.  I think that will break my heart, even though I know that the day is coming.

    I know that I am going to sound redundant, but I really love where I live.  I'm sure that many other small towns are the same, but our little slice of heaven has the most amazing sense of community.  That sense of community is abundant on Canada Day.  Our Canada Day committee outdid themselves this year!  There were free cotton candy or snow cones for the children who walked in the parade.  There was a really nice lady who made free balloon animals for the kids.  There were boat rides around the lake (more on this tomorrow).  It was a real celebration.

    I know that this may sound corny, but it felt magical.  Everywhere we turned we saw people that we knew, friendly faces.  Every few feet that we would walk we would come across someone that we had not seen in a while and have a lovely conversation.  It took a while to make our way around, but it was really nice.  We put in a full, amazing day, and then walked home for dinner.  After dinner the kid's friends came over, and we loaded the van and headed back down to the park for the fireworks.  

    I sat at the park holding Elly on my lap.  She was wrapped in a blanket and had nuzzled in.  Christopher sat beside me, my Dad on the other side of me.  We had set up a tarp with blankets on the top for the kids and their friends (complete with chocolate rice krispie squares and juice boxes), but the kids were all standing up a few feet away huddled together with my Mom for a better look.  The music was loud, but not too loud, the fireworks were wonderful and plentiful.  At one point I sat there watching my children, tears in my eyes.  The girls were leaning on each other, enjoying everything about the snapshot in time.  This I thought to myself, this is bliss.  This is what life is about, and I'm not sure if it gets too much better than this!  I pulled my last baby in a little closer and lived in that second, breathing in the moment.  

    When we got home from the park we went into the backyard and did sprinklers with the kids.  Of course everyone spelled out their names and marveled at that the sparkling wonder.  I fell asleep last night with that rare feeling of contentment.  I drifted off to the sound of little girl's giggles and whispered conversations.   Life is good.  Happy Canada Day!