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Showing posts from August, 2012

Island Exposure

I have often joked that I gave birth to 5 children solely for my entertainment. And while having 5 kids in as many years has had it's challenges, the joyous times have definitely outweighed the latter. One of the things I have really come to appreciate is the occasion when other people find my children as entertaining as I do...or at the very least, tolerable. This past week we had the opportunity to spend some time with friends I haven't seen in years out in beautiful Georgian Bay. When I was a teenager I had the unique and wonderful position of "Camp Owner's Daughter." My dad owned and operated a fishing camp for several years. While I was basically forced into child labour happily fulfilling the light responsibilities my mom and dad bestowed upon me I got to meet many people from all sorts of places. I made great friends, some of whom I'm still in touch with. One friend in particular makes a yearly pilgrimage from Tennessee to her family's private

24 Hours

In the last 24 hours I have washed 6 loads of dishes, mopped the floors twice, cleaned the toilets, sinks, and counters. I have combed tangles until the tears outnumbered the hairs. I have settled arguments with both words and punishments. I have driven hundreds of kilometers and walked about the same. I have found food where it oughtn't be and DVDs where it ought.  I have caught myself using sarcasm on my 7 year-old and blushed hearing her use it right back at me. I have made the beds to have them torn apart in effort to have the "coolest fort ever made". I have picked up the same book 17 times. In the last 24 hours I have tried 4 new recipes to have 3 utterly rejected. I have pulled a fish hook out of a foot, pried a stuck knee out of a metal structure at the park, and checked for concussions and bloody noses...all on the same child. I have heard "my life is over" and "this is the greatest day ever" within the same hour. I have reminded the kids th