Painting

We are painting like crazy....I'm gonna need a super massage when this is all done. We are loving the colours we picked but have run into a few snags. That always happens in renos, doesn't it? I will post some pictures when I get time.
Next week I need to take the kids shopping for the rest of their school supplies. I can't believe summer holidays are almost over! I'm sad and feeling a little guilty that we didn't do more together as a family. We did have a great day at Bingeman's Big Splash and also at the Children's Museum in London. We are hoping to camp for a weekend in September so that will be fun.

Till my next blog....

Horses and Houses

Here's my sweet daughter who's growing up so fast. She loves horses like her mom did (does). She has horses pasted all over her room. Her border is horses, her closet curtain and bed cover have horses on them, not to mention all the posters and paintings all over the walls. I'm so glad we've been able to work out riding lessons for her and she is loving it...a very confident horse gal. A lot of people are afraid of horses but when I was young I learned that you can't be afraid of them or let them know you are scared because they can sense it and use it to their advantage. You have to be confident and show them whose boss! Then they can be so much fun! When I was around 13,(I'd been taking lessons for about a year) the horse I was riding acted up and threw me off. My wrist was hurting and I was scared but my teacher made me get back on and discipline that horse and I'm glad she did or I never would've rode again. It ends up that my wrist was broken but I was still able to get on that horse. After a couple of years of lessons, I got my own horse, Crisco. He was a beautiful chesnut brown. He was probably too young for an inexperienced rider like me but he was a great horse after I showed him I was in charge. I rode him until I got married and then he was sold because at that point I had lost interest...moving on to other things. Now I wish I could've kept him somehow but there was really no place to keep him here and we couldn't afford him. I guess my horse gene has been passed on down to Samantha now. She's actually going with Ken and Ginny on a weekend trail ride. She was pretty excited when we told her. I can't wait to hear all about it.

Here is a sneak peak at our new siding. We like it and hope to have our kitchen done soon. Ian tells me I can start painting on Tuesday so I plan to purchase the paint soon. Debating on colours...think we have it narrowed down. Then all the cupboards have to be assembled and installed (which we are doing) and the flooring layed (which we are doing). Our contractor is doing the trim for us because Kevin hates doing trim so it will never get done and it doesn't look like a job for me either. Our new front window was installed today so we are just waiting for our front door and the two garage doors. Then we have all the outside mess to start at...but that's a whole new ballgame! That doesn't affect our living though, and can be done over several years. So there you have it....

hockey

Here's a picture of Kev playing hockey in Ohio in July. He's number 7. His team won and got the trophy for the first time in 3 years. It was a bunch of guys who love hockey and growing/selling plants playing to raise money for "America in Bloom". The president even talked about Tim Horton and the Timbit hockey program! (You can see the sign in the background)

Hot and Sticky!

Whew! It's been a hot and sticky week. I worry about all the farmers, construction workers, greenhouse people, etc. that have to work in it. Yesterday I called my mom and she said her and my Dad were going to go bale straw. My dad's 73 and I was just a little concerned. I think after experiencing Cliff's funeral last week, it has made me more aware of what a loss would mean to me personally. At least I'm married and my dad's walked me down the aisle. My heart aches for Val who's dad is gone now. Let's not forget that family in our lives and prayers.
We have been keeping fairly cool in our downstairs "apartment". I've been creative with meals, keeping it fairly simple. Today and tomorrow, Katrina and Josiah are at my parents were they can run and play, keeping cool under the big maple trees. My mom's grass is actually still green and alive! My sister also has a pool where they will can go in the afternoon. We have
wonderful neighbours/family members who let us come over to their pool anytime. Thanks! We appreciate it alot. I know this much, our kids are going to appreciate having a pool again when we get one next year!
Speaking of appreciating, the other night I told the kids it was time to wash the dishes and we'd do it outside, some could dry and one could wash, Samantha said to me " emptying the dishwasher doesn't seem like such a bad job after all." I giggled because the kids complain when it's their turn and then I agreed with her because emptying the dishwasher wasn't always my favourite job either but it beats washing dishes in a shower on a table in a wash basin!

I'll try and post some more pictures as things happen.