When I was looking through the photos that Patrick took while in Hawaii, I came across this lovely rooster. I of course know that he took the photo because he knew how much I'd appreciate the handsome specimen, and that it would show me that he really is an old softy at heart and missed the chickens back at home so much that he couldn't help but snap a photo of this fellow....

He said he snapped it to prove that no matter where he goes he can't get away from them!! The chickens and roosters wander free and crazy all over the island and crow at all hours!

In the period of time since Johnny's birthday last August, I've done 56 Birthday blogs! There are 5 left to go until a full year has been birthday blogged... I mention this in an effort to encourage the interested party out there who would like to volunteer to take over, to step forward! Now no fighting over this.... I'm sure all interested parties can work this out like civilized individuals!!

I almost managed to have an entire year of family birthday blogs post on time and each be creative and personal. Almost. I've obviously hit a snag here. In June alone there were seven birthdays to blog. I lost internet access for much of June... Patrick went to Hawaii for much of June.... I've had company here for much of June.... I've been growing continually larger and more awkward for much of June.... and finding less and less time to be on the computer for much of June.... Thankfully it's finally July! But the backlog of blogs is looming... I have 120 sitting in the draft folder awaiting completion, but the ones that really plague me are the birthday ones and the saga ones... the others are exciting to get to... the birthday ones had a deadline that was obviously missed... (I'm sorry.. I still think of you on your day) and the saga... oh how I want that finished... but it is complex and draining and my co-editor has been struggling with great computer woes herself.

But that sounds like a lot of whining doesn't it!
So I sat down today and decided to crank out the missing birthday blogs. A few came easily... others I fumbled my way through but I'm down to the last two and I'm stuck. I don't know these two people. I've bluffed my way through others that I don't know but I don't think I can here. I have a niece and a nephew on Patrick's side both born on the same day. In fact born on the same day that my nephew Tree on my side was born on... just different years for all three. June 27th is a popular date!

Brandon is Pat's eldest brothers only son. He recently graduated from high school. I know that he plays the cello and rides horses. But that's it.

Robyn is Pat's younger brothers daughter. She is 12, I think. She lives in Oklahoma. She had very long hair the last time I saw her, but that's been a few years now. And that's all I think I know.

Now doesn't that just smack of Auntie neglect. It's a good thing they don't prosecute for Auntie neglect! I do sincerely hope that whatever their interests and activities are, they enjoyed wonderful birthdays this year. I also hope that the future will enlighten me more on who these special people are.

As a tree grows it creates rings around the trunk that when in later years it is chopped down are left to tell the story of the trees life... the rings mark the age and character of the tree. This tree will be no exception... he has character abounding, fairly oozing from his soul like the sap of a tree! Tree is a delight! He officially has changed back to Carlos Jr. at school but will always be affectionately known as 'Tree'.

When questioned about his 10th birthday, Tree responded, "It was the most awesomest birthday ever!"

"I got a fishing pole with all the tack, now where do I fish?"

"It was better than Memo's... we had three parties on my birthday... but I had to work them.. they weren't for me, so maybe Memo's was better... he didn't have to work!"

As you can tell.. Tree has attitude!... and a great sense of humor! He called me to ask this morning where his birthday blog was and told me all the great things I could say about him!
Of course they were all fictitious tales about his lion taming days in African jungles on his birthday cruise around the world... but that's just the way Tree flows!

His life is indeed an adventure and my kids just love whenever we get a chance to visit with him!
Trees first 10 years have been a blast... just watch out world... the next 10 should be a doozy!

In all truthfulness, Memo has a sense of style all his own, he knows all the things it takes to be 'cool' and does them all. He is a charming young man with suave sophistication... look out world... here comes Memo!

I'm so excited to have Rhyanna here for the summer. It will be great fun to get to know her better. She isn't a toddler anymore having of course just graduated from high school! Somehow as I grew up and began a family, keeping in touch with Rhyanna was done in snippets here and there and wasn't ever regular enough!

I can tell that she is a lovely young lady, ready for this next big step in her life... whatever it may be! Sometimes knowing what it is comes slowly and sometimes it jumps up and grabs you and off you run with it, but no matter what the adventure is, life has placed her here with her dad for the summer, so we plan to take advantage of plenty of Rhyanna time while we have her!

We've already had both her and Marina for the first two evenings they're in town. We've subjected them to two rounds of clue and watched many a chess match between Rhyanna and Jim. We've dined royally thanks to Jim's culinary skills and have had a pleasant beginning to their visit! A quick trip down memory lane of an experience with Rhyanna and myself takes me back to the summer of 1994. I was living in the basement of Haultain house while I sewed my wedding dress and spent a great deal of time over at Jim's place on Belmont. This gave me a great chance to play with then toddler Rhyanna, and attempt to learn some skills on the nintendo. (which I didn't accomplish!)

One warm and sunny summer day found me walking Rhyanna in her stroller from the Belmont house to Haultain. When I arrived parched from the warm walk, I discovered to my delight that Channa had a jug of orange juice in the fridge. I guzzled down an entire glass full and poured myself another and then finally poured one to give Rhyanna.... This is fortunately when a friend of Channa's walking into the kitchen mentioned that she wouldn't give that to a child if I were her. I suppose my rather puzzled look prompted her to continue to fill me in that it wasn't just orange juice but instead a leftover alcoholic beverage from the evening before's party.

My first, last and only experience with alcohol left me wondering why anyone would ever voluntarily subject themselves to headaches and nauseousness of such a nature. It didn't help that our plans for the afternoon included a drive with Jim out to Goldstream park... along that winding road... with me in the back seat.... I will always be greatful that the friend intervened before I offered Rhyanna her cup... I just wish it had been a few minutes sooner so that my glutounous self could also have been spared!

I'm not sure how a Happy Birthday and so glad you're in town for a while blog ended up with me drunk but I guess my mind is indeed warped... and that's how you get it!

If I only ever learn one thing from my eldest brother John, I think it would have to be to Follow your Dreams! All my life I have watched as he has done just that! Whether it be to go to Japan and fulfill a childhood dream, writing numerous books in both English and Japanese, to hosting television shows, meeting celebrities... and essentially becoming one himself, to building an incredible livable tree house on the temple grounds in the forests of Japan, to having the drive and determination to do whatever it takes so that Johnny can have as normal a life as any diabetic teenager can have with the best technology that can be found, to finishing a PhD in Japanese no less, to of course tree climbing extraordinaire! He not only has followed his dreams he has helped countless others to learn to follow theirs. Assisting the physically disabled to climb great redwood trees. John has probably had more adventures in his lifetime than I could imagine. He has done all this while fighting his own physical challenges. He is a great example of 'go for it'.

I know he credits me for introducing him to his wonderful wife, Hiroko back when she was high school Japanese teacher, but she must have caught his passion for following dreams to still be sticking around today! John will always be a kid at heart and he will always dream big and go for it!

We're off to pick up Patrick from the airport... He's been in Hawaii for the last couple of weeks... for 'work'! The kids have enjoyed looking up the unusual sea life that he says he's encountered... including the white tipped reef sharks that he reassured us aren't human aggressive! We've learned about the state flower and that it used to be any colour hibiscus but now it is only the yellow!

It may not look good to be home, with all the kids, bare-foot and pregnant... actually I hate to be barefoot... while he is off frolicking on the beaches of Hawaii! (He keeps telling us that he works almost all the time) Don't feel bad for me though... Sand isn't my thing.. I grew up with the beach within walking distance my entire childhood... We went frequently... but it didn't grow on me. I like the idea of a relaxing beach visit... and I do still go to a beach so my children can have the experience, I just tend to stay on my towel. I have an enormous sand box?, circle?, area? in the backyard that my children love.... I just steer clear of it! I provided it, I don't have to play in it!

In fact I've discovered I have a theme song. It really sums things up quite nicely! Written by a great and amusing children's book author, Sandra Boynton.. (here's a snippit of it, sung reggae style)

You like Hawaii where the oceans roar.
You like Bermuda with the pink, pink shore.
You like Aruba where the palm trees sway.
You like Montego with its' beautiful bay.
You like the tropical sun and the tropical sea.
But hey, Mon, Alaska sounds good to me.

You like the tropical birds in their tropical flight.
I get the tropical bugs with their tropical bite
You like to be playing in the sun when it's hot.
I wish I could fine me some shade where it's not.
You tell me the islands are very very pretty,
but me, I find them... a little too gritty.

You spend the whole day by the turquoise sea;
at night time, the beach comes home with me.
I got the sand in my bed, and I think very soon
I'll be trying to sleep in my own sand dune.
When Sandman comes to put the sand in my eyes,
that little man is in for a big surprise.

I just want to go, I don't like the sand.
I want to see snow, or green green land.
When the next boat comes to Montego bay,
Jamaica farewell I'll be on my way!
(chorus)
I got the sand in my toes and the sand in my nose ,
The sand in my ears and the sand in my clothes.
I got the sand in my hair and the sand in my face,
I think I got the sand most, every place.

I know I'm the odd man out... Everyone else things Hawaii would be great.. that the beaches are where it is at... but obviously I'm not the only one who feels this way regarding sand or they wouldn't have written that song!

When the neighbourhood, and their families consist mainly of boys, it can be difficult to maintain a bit of femininity. Or so I thought!

Sarah and Kenzie wanted to set up a Beauty Parlor yesterday. Unfortunately if they were the stylists, who would make an appointment? Summer holidays having begun... there were an extra few children at the house... 10 extra to be exact and only 2 of those were girls. But to my surprise their appointment schedule filled to capacity and I never even made the list!

I'm not sure what the reaction was when these boys returned home for dinner but they were all lined up for a chance to have their feet massaged, their cuticles worked, their hair styled and yes even have their toe nails painted! Perhaps it was the goodies that the high-class salon offered each of it's patrons that lured the boys in, or the Wii in the 'waiting room'!


Any complaints from the boys were met with comments from Sarah of this nature...
"If you took better care of your cuticles, this wouldn't hurt so much."
and my favourite...
"I told you to go potty before your appointment, because once you have your feet and hands soaking in the warm water, you often feel the need to go!"

We were tuckered out after a long day and had pizza rolls for dinner! And then... unbelievably, the kids had the energy to go outside, since the rain had stopped, and try out the new double dutch skipping rope that she received as a gift earlier, until the sun went down! Good thing school is out for the summer or the neighbours would have been frustrated with all the gleeful children sounds... their kids all joined in too! We came in at dark and had a quick chat with Daddy on the phone... he was surprised to catch the kids up... we feigned ignorance at the time and blamed it on the time difference between Utah and Hawaii!

Due to the busy day, I'm refusing to allow any thoughts of guilt enter my mind for blogging the next day! (Although I am harbouring guilty thoughts for all the other blogs that I've been late on... especially sweet Sadie who shares this birthday!)

I thought about having Eden do this blog, but then remembered, that's what I made her do for Ava! Then I thought that Grandma should do it.... but she's experiencing technical difficulties and I didn't want to complicate her life any further... then I thought... maybe Sadie should do it herself... I could send her questions and get her answers to post... but .... I got busy... and it didn't happen.... of course I then realized that if Auntie Favourite is so special... she OUGHT to be the one to do the birthday blogs!.... but... I think I might be Auntie Birthday after this year... (I'll post it here and now... after August..I'll have officially done everyone once... and that's it, unless I'm inspired... and really feel like it... no more of the EVERYONE stuff!!!!)

Sadie... I know so little about you... just little snippets I get from emails and little anecdotes I hear through people who have met and visited you! I'm always told how adorable you are and how mature and clever! I understand that you are a piano playing, dancing queen! I do know from some source.. can't remember where now.. that you LOVE parties! So I hope you had a great one yesterday! (P.S. Eden.. enjoy the parties when they are young! The older they get.. definitely more drama!) Sadie was born on Sarah's birthday... since I had Miles was born on Eden's it was only fitting... This year Sadie is exactly half Sarah's age... I don't think that will ever occur again.. Sadie is 5 and Sarah is 10!

Sooooo.... Happiest of Birthday wishes are being sent your way and I sincerely hope we get to meet some day!

I remember taking ballet lessons in the basement of an old gray church off of Richmond Rd. I remember a performance at a hotel or something down near willows beach and I was a bird. I thought the wings on my costume were wonderful.

I remember taking Highland dancing lessons from Lynn Griffith. And of course subsequently many competitions in various locations. I remember piano lessons from a portly gentleman who came to our house. In college I took piano lessons again. With so much studying to do and not much time for practicing I didn't stick with it... plus there was that recital that I was required to do at the end of the semester with all her other students who could play better than I could and most were under the age of 10!

Oddly enough I remember one swimming lesson in the deep end of the rec center pool where we had to jump in with our clothes on and then remove our pants and make them into a floatation device. We had to tread water for a long time... I don't remember any other lessons... and I'm not an accomplished swimmer.

I took sewing lessons for a short while from Sue Nelson.

I played Violin for a year in elementary school and Clarinet for all my years at Oak Bay High.

I suppose there were lessons in crocheting and tatting from Great Grandmother Gathright.

See the other answers to this question by clicking here!

So although I'm feeling about 6 weeks behind in documenting things and generally feeling like I'm running behind, I'm slowly getting back to the things I WANT to do instead of daily tackling all the things that I HAVE to do. One of those things I WANT to do is the documenting of life that has actually occurred over the last 2 months even though it was insane and there was barely time to breathe and go to the next thing!

One of those life occurring events was a fun night called Pie Night. (back in mid April!) Any kind of pie was game that night. Shepherd's pie, Tamale pie, Pizza pie, Frito pie, Chicken Pot pie and of course the good stuff... apple pie, pumpkin pie, strawberry-rhubarb pie, lemon meringue pie, chocolate cream pie, and so many scrumptious more!!

Pie eating is fun. Some are more ladylike about it than others and then there are the pie activities... hmmm ... none of the pie activities that come to mind are terribly ladylike... Pie eating contest and pie throwing. Fortunately we didn't have a pie throwing event, but we all enjoyed watching the pie eating contests! There were plenty of pies for the contest so there were five rounds. The young women, two rounds with the young men (obviously the most likely to eat a pie without their hands!), the ladies, and the Bishopric!

Last weekend was the Father, son camp out. Duncan has been anticipating this camp out for over a month since he first heard about it and learned that he too could go! Fortunately he wasn't aware of the many times that it was almost a no go because one day Daddy would be scheduled to leave for work out of town during the camp out and then a few days later it looked like he might be in town after all, only to have it switch back and forth a few more times. Finally it was determined that Daddy would be in town! Whew!!

Friday dawned beautiful and warm... and Duncan stood by my bed just before 6 am with his hat and shoes on, dressed for the camp out and asking what he should pack? Miles who is routinely up at this hour said... "Is it today?" He returned quickly, dressed for the camp out and holding his pillow and sleeping bag! He knew what to pack! After a lot of convincing, they agreed to have breakfast and do their morning chores before packing for the camp out. The winning argument.... Daddy is at work... he won't even be home until after lunch sometime so we have PLENTY of time!

Long before Daddy came home, they had finished all their chores and a few I thought up to keep them busy. They had piled everything they could need for the camp out into the living room. Daddy had taken the afternoon off so they could get an early start to the camp out. I don't think the boys could have waited any longer! They had the car loaded in less than 20 minutes after Daddy returned home. Their tinfoil dinners were eagerly anticipated. As they were buckled in and were saying their goodbyes, I mentioned that I had erased the memory card in the camera and tucked it in the bag with the bug spray so they could take pictures of their adventures to show me when they came home! Little did I know that the little boys in the back seat believed I was referring directly to them and took this assignment very seriously!

The next afternoon, 24 hours after they left, they returned. They were dusty, sticky, dirty, tired and grinning from ear to ear! They had had a blast! And two little boys were beaming when they told me that they took lots of pictures, until Daddy told them to put the camera away because there was too much sand blowing around and it would be bad for the camera.




So.... Sarah is the photographer in the family... She has an eye for capturing moments and understanding what types of things are interesting photos to look at later. But she and I didn't qualify for the 'father/son' camp out... instead we went out to dinner (overate at Jonny Carino's) and then watched Princess Diaries and fell asleep before it ended. Got up the next morning, unable to sleep in even though there weren't any noisy boys around to wake us!... Ate our leftover dinners that we couldn't finish from the night before. We cleaned the house and did laundry. Then we organized her closet and desk until we heard the boys return! We talked about doing facials and pedicures but... well... we got carried away in our organizing frenzy.... Maybe we'll send them away again!

I shouldn't be too tough on the boys... They described the camp out to me.

• There were lots of great beetles... big ones.
• Next time we need to bring our shovels and buckets for the sand.
• We didn't play with our frisbees cause someone else brought one and we played with theirs.
• I found a ball in the sand and then I lost it again.
• It didn't get too cold at night so I didn't need the cozy clothes.
• I changed my underwear cause I had an accident trying to find the bathrooms and my belt was stuck, but my clothes weren't really dirty so I didn't change them.
• We buried someone in the sand.
• We got sand on our marshmallows.
• I fell on some rocks.
• I don't know what happened.. last night we all had our own tin plates but now we don't.
• The tent didn't blow away.
• Someone's tent broke in the wind.
• I got a purple mustache from the pop Daddy bought us and we couldn't wash it off cause there wasn't any washcloths.
  
• My friend dumped a shovel of sand over my head.
• We stayed up really late... after it got dark even. Daddy made us go to bed... we didn't get to play kick the can.
  
• I rolled off the air mattress during the night.
• I got to ride the Rhino. It's ok. It wasn't too fast. Caleb got the longest turn.
  
• We slid down a sand hill on a snowboard.
• I rolled down the mountain.
• We made s'mores. The fire was really hot to get too close. Daddy and Caleb did the marshmallows cause they have longer arms.
  
• We listened to all the people talking at the fire.
  
• I liked the breakfast. I had to get more though cause I accidentally got sand in my eggs.
• I like my camping chair.
  
• We dug lots of holes... next time I want to bring my own shovel.
• How many more days until we can go to another camp out?
  

I'm glad they had fun and made it home in one piece, albeit in desperate need of a bath.