My brain hurts...

So much to do, so little time to do it in! I have been working like a freaking demon since Tim left trying to get the house ready to sell and I think my head is going to explode. I will NEVER, repeat NEVER do this much painting again, mark my words!! All painter/decorators in the Ajax/Whitby area be on alert that I may be requiring your services in the near future! One wall left plus some trim to sort out and then I may put down the brush/roller. Then we still have to purge and clean before the estate agent comes on Monday...aarrgghh. Tim arrives back from TO on Saturday and has been forewarned that despite how crap he will feel from the jetlag, we are under the gun here. He's promised to help and I hope he will. He sent me details on a few houses and I just have to ask...what the hell are people thinking sometimes with their decorating???? Roman-style columns?? Tacky wallpaper borders?? Obnoxious colours?? Don't these people watch "House Doctor"?? Apparently not. Calling all decorators...

**I will get through this** **I will get through this** **I will get through this** (my new mantra!)

Laura :o)

He's Baaaaaaack!

My wonderful boy is back from Woodlands, YAY! I must admit, I was very emotional when I picked him up because he spotted me and ran into my arms and gave me a huge bear hug **sniff sniff** It was comforting to see that I wasn't the only teary-eyed parent there! Both Ms. McConnell and Miss Millington made a point of coming up to me to tell me what a great time he had, apparently he was a little star! He tried everything and was caring and compassionate to other kids when they were ill or scared. There was a flu bug doing the rounds and some kids were really ill but thankfully Cameron and Sophie were spared but Cam's buddy Jonathon was hit and did some very impressive throwing-up according to Cam..hehe. Cam also got to experience the joys of "having to go" outside and was coached through the art of squatting by one of the centre leaders...leave it to Cameron, hahaha! He is quite pleased with himself despite returning with a plastic bag with wet underpants in it..ewwwwwwww! Oh the joys of being a Mom, right? ;o) I can't tell you how proud I am of my boy, my heart is bursting with pride! We are supposed to be receiving a CD-rom with pics from the trip and I hope there's a few of Cam!


Cam with his scary pile of laundry!


My beautiful boy is BACK!

Tim arrived safely in Toronto on Friday and I hope he got a good rest yesterday, we didn't talk to him! Today is Grey Cup at my Dad's with Tim, Uncle Fred, Uncle Rob and Uncle Randy...I hope Tim heeds my warning and doesn't pollute his liver because he has an early meeting with his new customer, Rogers, tomorrow...consider this a "blog-nag", my dear. ;o) I'm so jealous that he is enjoying the blissful calm of the cottage but hopefully it won't be long before we are all enjoying restful weekends on the lake!

I will still work on getting some Paris pics up, just too busy...aarrgghh! So here's a few to tide you over!


A sidewalk cafe we found right after arriving in Paris! Note the guys in the window behind us...wankers...our waiter was killing himself laughing!


The Arc de Carosel at the Louvre...you can look straight through the arch and see all the way to the Arc de Triomphe!


Hey, what's that thing behind me???


I'm at the Louvre...wheeeeeeeee!


The architecture was simply stunning, everywhere you looked there were ornate carvings such as this handsome fellow!

Hope you are having a nice relaxing Sunday,
Laura :o)

Gaaaaaahhhh, my Mommy heart...blah

I put my 2nd born, Cammy, on a bus this morning for his year groups' annual week long residential trip. And yes, I cried because I'm a big wimp **blub blub**. Last year he was adamant that he wouldn't go and I couldn't blame him really considering how he was being treated by some of his peers. When he went back this year he decided he did want to go and I am so proud of him! It's an outdoor adventure week and they will get to do things like rock climbing and caving...shame the weather forecast is looking a bit daunting! I know he'll be just fine but man was it hard to see his little face in the window of that big bus waving at me with a slightly concerned look. Ohhhh, my aching heart! Here's my little man and his buddy Jonathon waiting to board!



Cam chatting to Jonathon while they wait to board the bus.


Smiling for Mom!


Cam and his buddy Jonathon

I don't think my heart can take much more stress this week, so I hope karma works with me on this one. ;o)

I'll post an update on the last few manic weeks around here with some pics! Hope you are all well.

Love from all of us, and big smooches going out to my darling boy Cammy.
Laura :o)

She's here & we survived tobogganing...

It was a busy Sunday in the Taverner household! First of all, my Mom arrived safe and sound at Terminal 4 of Heathrow yesterday...after the flight from hell! A group of Swiss exchange students kept her awake all night with their chatting so she was very tired...ugh, poor Mom! She came along to pick Mae up from riding and then we came back home, had a quick visit and then left her to go tobogganing for Cam's birthday party. It was probably for the best because she was tired and was able to take a little nappy-poo while we were away.

Second, we survived a tobogganing party with 9 children...woo hoo! It was a lot of fun and it was great to see the kids spend 30 minutes running up and sliding down a hill of snow earning nice rosy cheeks in the process! There should, however, be a disclaimer warning parents of possible heart palpatations caused by trying to haul out-of-shape bodies up a snow covered slope...epecially when carrying an almost 30lb. 4-year-old...**pant pant**. To be honest, Delsin was an absolute star and didn't complain at all! He really enjoyed bombing down on Mom or Dad's lap! After the session we went back to the cafe where they had a table set up for us and big platters of food were brought out. There were pizza's, sausages, curly fries, veggies & dip, slush puppies and jugs of water plus mini doughnuts for dessert and party bags for each child to take home. I was very impressed with what was provided and the kids were eating for England after all that exercise...even Mr. Fussy-pants, a.k.a Delsin! We brought a cake and Cam was a bit embarrassed when we all started to sing to him, check out the grin on his face below..hehe. He enjoyed his day and we were so happy to see him having fun!




Cam is out today with one of the boys from his party, Jack, and I was really pleased when he was invited. Cam has struggled to "fit in" and find friends here and Jack seems like a lovely boy. I hope they are having a great time! I'm having a lazy day and think I'm "coming down" from the stress of the last few weeks. We plan to tell the kids tonight of our plans to move back to Canada and I hope they are okay with the idea. Part of the reason we waited to tell them was so that I could have my Mom here for some moral support. I'm sure that the boys are going to be fine with the idea but Mae's little world is going to collapse around her. She has a great life here and will miss her friends and her activities. Our task is to convince her that she can start her activities again in Canada and make new friends. Not so easy to understand when you are nine. I can remember doing this many times in my life as a "military brat" and it's not easy but you do it and carry on. I hope my experience will help her and my Mom will be here to reassure her as well.

On a final note, I thought I would post a picture of another one of my neighbours, well sort of. This little guy/gal is actually a resident of my neighbour's garden and came out for a little wander around on Saturday. A little glimpse of nature in a busy town.


Hope you had a great weekend,
Laura :o)

Half term...aaaahhhhhh...

So the kids have made it through to half term and have now earned a week off school to rest their little brains! Mommy looks forward to sleeping in a bit, I'm so not a morning person! Cam got to end on a high note with turning 11 and is looking forward to his tobogganing party tomorrow at and indoor snow done in Milton Keynes! I hope Mom and Dad survive 9 soaking wet kids! Even better, my Mom arrives tomorrow from Canada to stay with us for 3 weeks...bliss. I always feel much better when I have my family by my side and I can feel my mood lifting already! We will have to do lots of work this visit to get our house ready to sell and I know she will be a great help to me. I must purge the kids toys and found an article in the local paper about a toy shop in a neighbouring town that is having a "toy amnesty" where people can drop off any old toys, complete or not, and they will repair/clean them and sell them with profits going to the new childrens hospital in Oxford...I hope they are prepared for what I'm about do dump on them...urgh! Yesterday the builders arrived and did a fantastic job installing our new shower upstairs and skimming the walls in our entrance hall so that we can now paint them. I got back some quotes from the decorators as well and I've decided on one to hire to continue on the walls upstairs but think I will tackle the kitchen myself or else this is going to cost us a fortune. Oh well, it all has to be finished so that we can get our butts moved outta here. The lino quote has come in as well so that will hopefully be installed in the next few weeks. Fingers crossed that we will be ready to list at the end of November.

Tim and I are finally going to get to Paris!! Mom agreed to watch the kids for 3 days at the end of next week, while the kids are off school, so that I can finally see the City of Lights! We are going over on the Eurostar train...yes UNDER the channel **panic for Laura**...and spending two nights in a beautiful hotel near the Louvre. We have a day tour booked to see Paris by bus, then a cruise up the river to the Eiffel Tower where we will enjoy lunch on the first floor. To say I'm excited would be a HUGE understatement. I will now be able to tick Paris off my "Things to Do Before I Die" list. ;o) I'm thrilled that after six years in Europe I won't leave with the regret of not seeing Paris...isn't my Mom the BEST?

So busy weekend ahead and so much to do in so little time. I'm trying to take things slowly and make list of priorities to work from. I know it will all get done but I can completely understand why "experts" say that moving is one of the most stressful experiences you can have! I'm going to take some time out this evening to enjoy a night with two of my wonderful friends, Jan and Jen. Jen has invited us over for wine and nibbles so we can have a nice "girls" evening. It will be so nice to have some time away from all the stress in my life right now.

Hope you are all having a nice weekend so far,
Laura :o)