random pictures

Blair finally sent me all the pictures we've (by we, I mean Blair, since for some crazy reason he doesn't like me to "borrow" his toys) taken over the year on his blackberry.

Sometimes it's hard not to laugh

Kids, it cracks me up, the words that come out of their sweet little mouths. I guess I should clarify, sometimes those words aren't always nice but it's still hard not to laugh.

Avery was trying on some 3D glasses, turned to me and said "Mom, I can't see you, I'm blond".

Brennyn's latest "I can't do it right now, I'm too busy" (usually said after I've asked her to tidy up her toys).
Brennyn's other favourite "oops, I made a mistake".

Okay, so this may be TMI but Brennyn shouted from the bathroom "Daddy don't come in here, it stinks, use my bathroom instead". How considerate!

Another Brennyn moment (have to set the scene, Blair had just scolded Brennyn for something and she did not like that) "Daddy, I hope you eat mushrooms (she knows Blair does not enjoy mushrooms) and get sick". Sure, some people may think these is a little morbid, but she was crying and pausing while she said it, like she was thinking of how this sentence should be phrased. She was also very mad at Daddy.

Avery looked at me over breakfast one morning and said "I really wish I could see how other people see" "like what they see out of their eyes".

To move or not to move

Last year we really considered selling our house, even had a few real estate agents come in. Originally, my idea was to move closer to the girl's school. We found out that the builder of our house, was building homes a few streets over from the school. I was all set to put our house up for sale, until I saw the prices for lots that backed onto the forest. Needless to say, I said no thanks. The prices of the new homes were really crazy as well.

We're spoiled right now, because although we back onto a major road we have a mini forest seperated us from that road. Eventually, someone is going to build behind us, but they still have to leave the treeline (and we've lived here for almost 9 years and no dirt has been turned). We do know that there is another subdivision slated behind the houses at the end of our street but not that stops 3 houses down from us.

Anyway, we gave up on the house idea until this spring when we saw the perfect house come up for sale. We went to see this house, but it had an offer on it and we just didn't feel ready at that time.

Again, another builder is starting to clear land closer to the girl's school again. There really isn't much green space where these homes are going and the builder has not listed prices yet. I guess I'm getting the itch again.
However, I am not working right now. We'd have to sell our price for a certain number and take out a 25 year mortage to keep our payments the same as they are now (luckily, our house has gone up in value in the 9 years since we purchased). We are almost down to a 15 year mortgage, so it I'm not so sure going back to a 25 year mortgage is a good idea.

Sometimes, I wish someone could just say, yes it's a great investment or no don't be crazy. I mean, our house now is good. We love, love our backyard. I just don't love that our street is so busy and my kitchen is so small. We'd also love a 2 car garage, but maybe we're just getting greedy. We went from a townhouse to this house and just lucked in that it was on a woodlot (it was a spec home, so we didn't have to pay extra for the lot, although, I am sure it was somehow built into the price).
Our house design is severly lacking in closet space. In fact, we only have the coat closet and the closets in the bedrooms. Our lovely, unfinished basement is our storage area. I guess I never noticed this fact before I had children. Maybe that's just how they make houses these days??

Anyway, this post is more for my own thought process.

Hot weather brings crazy storms

Finally had some much needed rain yesterday. It amazes me that although this spring was almost record breaking with the amount of rainfall, now we are in a dry spell.
Sometime in the middle of the night I awoke to loud, sonic booms of thunder. A few minutes later, Brennyn woke up in a panic. She was crying hysterically. Now, she has never been a fan of storms, but this was something new. She was terrified. Had to have her crawl in my bed for the rest of the night and rub her back until she fell back asleep (Blair was on nights, so luckily I had the bed to myself).

Avery woke up this morning oblivious to any storm, but a tad jealous that her little sister slept in mommy's bed! I was so like Avery when I was little, nothing woke me up once I was sawing logs (we lived in the country when I was a kid, and one night someone stole a car and set it on fire in the field across the road. My mom said there were fire trucks, police cars, etc. all with sirens blaring, but I never heard a thing).

That sound sleeping ability seemed to vanish at the exact time I became a mother! Unfortunately, my grumpiness at early hours in the morning has only expanded. Let's just say I would not be a great shift worker!

Brennyn (when not frightened) is very cheery no matter what time of the night it is. She's always ready for a pj party. Avery is a little more like me, and she can be very grumpy if she hasn't had enough sleep.

Here's hoping for some rain tonight, but minus the thunder and lightening.

My brother bought the girls their most exciting gift, a slip and slide. Avery has spent hours on it, or should I say would spend hours on it, but we are having water restrictions around these parts due to global warming (I mean, the heatwave).
Brennyn likes to walk on it, very, very carefully. Sometimes (most of the time) Brennyn is a crazy daredevil, with some things she is ultra cautious (usually anything involving water, which I think is a good thing).

More pics of the girls enjoying their swingset. I have discovered that the odds of getting both girls to look at my camera at the same time is decreasing as they get older and bored of having their picture taken.

HEAT WAVE

Why oh why did we not stay at the lake for another day? That's right, my poor husband has to work tomorrow. Hmm, at least he has air conditioning at his work (except when he's on a call in his dark blue, heat attracting uniform). It's actually 35 degrees right now, yikes. Once again, I am reminded that it's my fault we don't have air conditioning (I said "we don't need air, I never had it growing up, so we just don't need it". Jokes on me).

Had a great week at the trailer. Spent hours in the lake, Avery is starting to swim finally. She loves the water! Brennyn likes the water as long as it's calm. Unfortunately, Lake Huron is known for it's winds and waves making it lots of fun for everyone but Miss Brennyn. She got one wave near her face and it was all over for her.

We also enjoyed some time in Goderich (nearest town to the trailer), had some giant ice cream cones, played in the park, walked along the boardwalk (don't know why we haven't done this yet, we've been going to the trailer for 7 years and this was the first visit to the boardwalk).

We're always so sad to leave the trailer/lake!

On Vacation

Off to the beach for a few days, the water, sunshine and sand are calling my name.
Girls are excited, they love the beach and trailer. It's so nice to get away from the TV, computer and telephone. Although, we do bring the laptop to play a movie or two for the girls in case it rains or we need a distraction.

Another visit to Sick Kids

Long, long day today at Sick Kids. Once again, Brennyn was such a great sport. I cannot believe how well she behaves at the hospital, I don't know what it is about doctors but she charms them all! I'd love to say she behaves that well everywhere else, but well, I can't.
On a side note, we really are starting to think she has ADD or something like that. This girl has an amazing ability to not sit still or concentrate. It's like she just sees too many things to explore and look at.

Anyway, that's another post for another day.
Back to Sick Kids: Today's visit was to the ophthalmology department, and that is one busy place. I've never seen anything like it, so many children with so many different eye issues.

The student eye doctor (at sick kids, you usually see a resident first which I think is great) was very interested in Brennyn's syndrome. She has read up on ADULT syndrome, but never seen a case. I mentioned that the genetics department had never seen a case before either, and she said "that's because the chances of having this particular syndrome are 1 in a million". Umm, I knew it was rare, but I did not realize how rare. She asked my permission to look at Brennyn's hands, teeth etc. I didn't mind, but I'm starting to think that Brennyn is going to mind in the future. I don't know how happy she is going to be that all these doctors/students want to examine her, like she is a living case study.

Anyway, I was hoping this visit would be a one-time thing and we'd be sent back to our regular, amazing optometrist. However, I am also aware how lucky we are to only live an hour away from all these great specialists. Needless to say, Brennyn's vision is great (so far) but she has dry eyes which are likely to get worse as she ages (kids don't notice the affects of dry eyes, unless it gets really bad, but adults do).
To make a long story short, we have a brand new eye doctor.

Next visit to Sick Kids is in 3 weeks and this time we will be seeing the dermatologist. I wish we could have seen him first, Brennyn's skin is so itchy. I hope he has the magic cream to cure her itchies away.

I'm overdue for a post, but it's summertime. We've had a lot going on around these parts.
We finally had Brennyn's baptism, had a visit to Canada's Wonderland, Avery started her first Day Camp and we've spent some time at the trailer and have been relaxing.

Sisters

Avery really wants to dress like "twins" these days, so I bought the girls matching dresses. Brennyn is so easy going, that she doesn't care what she wears (most of the time). Avery was so delighted to dress the same on Brennyn's birthday!