Wednesday, June 27th - Is that a lobster claw in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Today Chris Boland brought us two lobsters, and Granda Tom had gotten fresh cod, caught in Calvert waters by Lloyd Sullivan. Add that to the crab we cleaned on Monday (which Silas used to make crab salad and crab cakes) and it was a seafood extravaganza here today!

Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 - Mine! Mine! Mine!

Today was a large day. We got up early, packed up the van, and headed to St. John's. First stop was the Dominion in Mount Pearl where the kids had their pictures taken. A surprising success! We actually got all three in the same photo. That's one for the record books. Then renting movies - Dad put his foot down and banned Barbie rentals. (Maggie will thank us for that when she's older.) And then off to Bowring Park for a picnic and fun at the playground.

The picnic was nice, but the boys' biggest thrill was running with the seagulls. Safer than running with the bulls, but I bet they'd love that, too.



And everyone loved the playground. No exaggeration, we pushed the boys non-stop for more than half an hour on the swings and their giggles and smiles never faded. They are wondrous little creatures who we are privileged to love.





The day wasn't over then - it went on to include Chapters (to get a birthday gift for Rosa), the Dollar Store (to get tattoos), Tim Hortons (for coffee and fruit-filled timbits), the library (for books - duh!), Grandma and Granda's house on Waterford Bridge Road (to eat supper and run around naked - Jacob and Josh only!) and the Aquarena (to splash...and splash...and splash!). We came home tired and happy, just how we like it.

Monday, June 25th, 2007 - Blowin' in the wind

A low-key day today. The kids and I hung out in Grandma and Granda's yard while Dad mowed the lawn. The boys were mesmerized by the laundry on the line, flapping in the wind. Easily entertained...



In the afternoon, Silas and I cleaned crab legs. This is a slow, tedious, yet ultimately tasty job. Maggie climbed trees while we worked.

Sunday, June 24th, 2007 -Chips, dressing and gravy

Sunday dawned sunny and clear (woohoo!) and so Dad, Maggie and Josh walked to Mass while Nan and Jacob and I stayed home to cook Sunday dinner. Riley, never able to resist a leisurely stroll, tagged along over the bay, despite Silas' best efforts to discourage him. Not a big deal...until Fr. Sutton met them at the entrance to the church to ask "Is that your dog in the church?" Ooops!

My Sunday dinner performance was a great success (if I do say so myself) and when we finished Maggie and I made the familiar trek to the Lighthouse, this time for the Fairies of Ferryland picnic. Pretty dresses, sparkly tattoos, nail polish, fairy cakes, and lemonade tea. Another lovely afternoon.



And on the walk back, a beautiful view of Isle Aux Bois, and Peter Hynes' sheep (who Maggie visited when they were still in the barn this past February).

Saturday, June 23rd, 2007 - Look at my breasts!

Today started off quiet enough, but how things can change! By 6pm, as the saying goes, everything was goin' ahead screechin'! Mom and Dad were invited to a dinner party at The Lighthouse (theme - "The Sea Defines Us" with Newfoundland author Maura Hanrahan); Granda Tom was milking Beauty; Grandma was cooking turkeys for a seniors' dinner at Calvert Hall. She was awful proud of her turkey slicing, anxious to show them off..."Look at my breasts!" she exclaimed.



And Jacob was sitting in a bucket.




Earlier in the day, Maggie and Grandma had played "Beauty Parlour". The supplies had not been safely stowed after they had beautified one another, so who could blame Maggie for doing her own lipstick touch-up after supper?

Friday, June 22nd, 2007 - Definitely mouldy

Rain, drizzle, and fog. Enough said.

But we poked our noses out the door long enough to go to the playground. A fabulous playground. Why is it so fabulous, you ask? Easy - a five foot high, chain link fence surrounding the whole area, with a gate that locks. Mom and Dad could be outdoors with kids, and relax at the same time.

Thursday, June 21st, 2007 - I'm an ogre!

Day Four of rain, drizzle and fog. It happens so much here that the radio forecasters just shorten it to "RDF". [sigh] So we packed up the van and went off to Town for a movie. Maggie picked the show - Shrek The Third. The boys were, as usual, mesmerized by the big screen.



There was a snazzy Simpson's promotion outside the theatre. We're always looking for a photo op!



Returning to the van, Jacob had wet through for the 723rd time, so we had to do an emergency change. My frustration level was rising, but not so my little Jacob.

Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 - My name is Baby Bear

Trip to the doctor was the big excitement today. Turns out Jacob's ears are both infected. Well, that explains all the crying! If only we could figure out Josh's problem...good luck!

The one thing that does seem to keep Josh from crying is a little "Baby Bear" talking teddy. The perfect toy - it makes noise, but it's soft so it won't hurt anyone when he throws it!


Maggie and Dad made another trip to the Lighthouse - cake and lemonade were on the menu.

Tuesday, June 19th, 2007 - Beauty school dropout

Maggie and I got haircuts today. The last of that red dye, finally! Let's have a celebration! For me, blonde highlights...yikes!

Monday, June 18, 2007 - My daughter, the milk maid

Today Maggie and Grandma went to visit Beauty, the cow, as well as the chickens. Maggie was nervous to get too close to the cow (no milking for her - leave that to Granda Tom) but was happy to feed the hens and collect the eggs. When they got home she got into her favourite dress-up dress (actually one that Grandma made for me when I was flower girl at my next-door neighbour's wedding), wrapped a scarf around her head, and plunged her eager hands into the work of making butter.

Grandma has given away 31 prints of butter so far, plus all the ones they've eaten here (and Silas has taken it upon himself to increase Calvert butter consumption significantly!) and then there are dozens sitting in our freezer. Amazing! We'll all get our cholesterol checked as soon as we get home...

Sunday, June 17th, 2007 - Aaarrgh, me mateys!

Today was the Pirate's Picnic at The Ferryland Lighthouse, hosted by our friends at Lighthouse Picnics. On the walk out, we practiced our pirate faces, pirate snarls, and demands to "Walk the plank!". Something about testosterone - Dad outperformed Maggie and I in all these impressions.

The picnic was fun - we nearly blew off Ferryland Head into the Atlantic, but hey, we got chocolate doubloons and watermelon salad!

Friday, June 15th, 2007 - Happiness is L'Arche in the rearview mirror...

Friday dawned sunny and warm and we spent the morning preparing for our big trip. Things went fairly well...Lily did escape, leading to Silas' scouring the village of Orangedale shaking a bag of Meow Mix. And we did drive off with a dirty diaper on top of our van, which Mark discovered when we got to the Esso (long story - don't ask).

We were so touched by all the people who called and visited to wish us a good vacation. Nice to know we have people who care about us, and not just for our extensive DVD collection!

So we made it to the ferry on time, with smiles on our faces and a cat in our van.

As for the ferry trip over, well, as Len Thomas once said "It's never the cruise they promise." But on this trip, none of that was our fault! The kids were angels, we slept soundly, but Marine Atlantic is showing the effects of its monopoly status. You'd think on the FIRST TRIP OF THE SEASON they might, oh, have the TVs working? Or the vending machines filled? Just a thought.

So we drove into Calvert and sunny skies in time for pancakes and bacon with Grandma, Granda Tom, and Nan. Let the good times roll!