The End of an Era

Tim has graduated from Senior Kindergarten....I can't believe my baby will be starting grade 1.
We were blessed with the best Kindergarten Teacher ever - she saw Tim for the funny, smart, charming boy that he is. He was lucky to have a teacher that really appreciated and believed in him. I know that he has a lot of changes coming up -- longer days and different teachers. Some may be great changes - some will be obstacles. I hope for his strength and courage, sense of humour and personality to carry him.....but most of all I hope that we can always be a safe place to land.

Looking Ahead....

A day fishing with the Cameron Clan

Fishing

Caught one!!

Grandma, Tim and Garnet waiting for the fish ;)

Grandpa and Tim....waiting ;)

What do you see??

Sammy enjoying the cool grass

Playing fetch with Bailey and Sammy

Sammy meets the Camerons!

The many cute faces of Emily's boys!!

Emily and the boys come for a visit!

Emily and Ben

Trampoline fun!

Zachary and Tim loving the pool fun!!

Ben styling in the goggles :)

Sebastian being the happiest baby on earth!!

(He would have to be a happy baby for Garnet to hold him ;)

Tim loving the Sebastian cuddles


Emily came with Zachary, Ben and Sebastian for the weekend - we had a blast! I am in awe of Emily everyday. Even though our visits are usually short, busy and never seem to be long enough to barely catch up....I am refreshed and renewed and so thankful for our friendship everytime that I see her. Not only do I think it takes an amazing person to put up with my husband, tell him like it is and listen to all his stories ;) ---I also think it takes a phenomenal person to raise 3 boys under 3. But the fact that she can raise 3 happy, well behaved, polite and loveable boys seems like a miracle! Garnet and I are still talking about what an amazing mother she is - and how GOOD her boys are!!

The friendship seems to strengthen through the years and miles, through the ups and many downs of life -- we know and love eachother even more. I know it will be a while before we can sit down over a cup of coffee and talk without interruptions or sleepy eye lids.....but my life just always seems to be better with her in it. I love you, Em.....

Oh.....I'm one of THOSE people

That's what I thought to myself at 5:30 this morning while I was standing outside, half dressed in the pouring rain.....saying "Go Pee!!" in an up beat happy cheer.

Growing up in the country, we always had 'pets'. But our dogs would run free and were never housebroken or indoors. I had 7 bunnies all named Murphy out in the barn and I took a chance with a few kittens called Kathryn (what can I say, I don't enjoy change) despite deathly allergies to both. But I never had to hold a cheering squad for pees and poops for any of them! I am quite new to the concept of snuggling on the couch with a furball and loving the cute grins and attention getting tactics they play. I never quite understood those people that had a dog as part of their family. The Cameron's even sign Bailey's name to Christmas and Birthday cards, this was so bizarre to me.

But someone is sneaking into my heart rather quickly with his cute little floppy ears and big fluffy paws. And for someone who has to wear a bra to even run out to get the mail - I wondered what was happening to me God awfully early this morning standing in my nighty shivering in the rain -- without a care who saw me. Acting like he had just found a cure for cancer when I'm celebrating what he just left for me to clean up, getting excited about finding scented poop bags! Garnet calling me at work to tell me that Sammy had made it all the way up the stairs!!!

We're becoming those people...... :)

Sammy and Tim bonding time

Introducing......

Sammy!!!!!





















Tim's (early) birthday present.....We adore him already and he's only been home for an hour! He is a Miniature Schnauzer and he is an adorable 11 weeks old!

Happy Father's Day, Dad!! (for real this time ;)

I love you and I wish I could give you a big hug today! I guess we'll have to wait for 2 weeks!
Here's a cute video of you being super Grandpa on your last visit!

Love you xo

Watch Grandpa and Tim Play Football!

Happy Father's Day, Gary!!

Jenni and her Super Dad Gary ;)

More accurate description of the 'real' Camerons!!!


We love you, have a great Father's Day!!

New Garden and beautiful (HOT!) day

Our new garden (and the bunny sprinkler that Tim loves)

This is what it looked like a month ago


Today was the first day we could enjoy the pool all day -- in and out in the 35 degree weather felt really refreshing. We plante dthe garden before the heat hit this morning. I figured since there were already established Tulips it was a great place to frame a little garden. So I trimmed the lilac bush and planted few cute plants around it. Tim was naturally the big helper....with the hose ;)

Sun loving sausage thumb

Tim loves band-aids - just like I used to. I was just showing him pictures the other day of how I used to try to cover up my freckles. In any given picture I'd have 10 bandaids on my arms and legs covering my "Beauty Marks"as my Dad called them.

Yes, I thought I was cool.

Today I went to the doctor for a spot on my thumb. It appeared out of nowhere and spread over most of my thumb about 2 weeks ago. It was brown and ugly and when I hit it the other day at work it split open too easily and hurt like hell - so I wanted to get it checked.

He gave me some cream and is not overly worried about it right now - but wants me to keep a close eye on any changes in the next week or so. Then he looked up at the rest of my body and said "I hope you love your sunscreen..."

In my head I've known that I'm at increased risk -- but my heart loves a good tan.

I sound like I'm getting old..... but I think I might crack open the bottle of Sunscreen this year...this little scare reminded me that I have too many important things in my life and a golden glow isn't worth putting my health on the backburner.

....and bandaids just don't cut it any more.

Just Like Daddy

Stupidity out of Guilt

So, I've noticed that I have a habit of sharing the crazy (note; stupid) things that Garnet does and some of you (who don't know him of course) may think that I pick on him a little. I figured it's only fair that I take a turn with the "What the hell were you thinking???" chair for a minute.
A few weeks ago I was invited to a Pampered Chef party at my neighbours (yes, the one that planted my garden for me). Unfortunately, it was the night that my Dad and Brother came by for a visit (which doesn't happen very often what with them living 6 hours away and all...)
I forgot to tell her and ended up cancelling on her last minute -- I felt horrible about it but she gladly gave me a Pampered Chef magazine to flip through and pick anything out. About a week went by (and I still had barely looked at it) when she politely asked if I had a chance browse and that she needed it back in a few days to send in her order.

I made a mental note -- but of course, I forgot.

A few days later she came by my house to get the magazine back and hopefully collect her order. I was flustered that I had kept forgetting and out of guilt thought I should definitely buy something for being so stupid with it.

I looked everywhere for the magazine -- and could not find it anywhere....Garnet had cleaned the house (and of course by "cleaning the house" you know I mean "storm around and fill as many garbage bags as he can"......) and had thrown it away. She is standing in my doorway waiting - I'm feeling sillier by the minute.

Now, I felt so guilty I had to buy something.

"Oh, that's alright...." she says trying to brush it off; "Did you see anything you would like?"

I'm racking my brain trying to remember anything that I saw under $100 (which is rare)

"Actually, there were these plates that I thought would be neat for camping.... you know the ones that hold the cup on the side?"

She knew exactly the ones I was talking about.....

....The plates, plus tax, plus the shipping fee....plus, plus, plus......

Golden plates

The golden name


I paid $25.00 for dollar store quality plates.....

Now, if anyone knows of one; I'm looking for a china cabinet to display them in for our camping trips.

Hey, isn't that where the pool was?

We have too much time on our hands....aka "life with OCD"


It was 2 1/2 inches deeper on one side.
We emptied it (an entire day), tore it all down, dug the grass, leveled the dirt, put the whole thing back up, filled it back up (another entire day)......

Now it's only 1 1/2 inches difference.

Definitely worth it.


We still haven't even gotten the water bill from the first time filling it......wish us luck in our cardboard box on the side of the road.

I'm going to end the post now.....I think that would be the wise choice for the sake of this marriage.

Bloggerlaziness due to mental freeze

I really haven't done much blogging lately - I've been posting pictures and quick little stuff....but for the most part I've been a little lazy. It's funny, because when I go a few days updateless everyone asks why it's been so long!! But other people who will remain nameless (*cough* hilsy *cough*) can go a whole month...and then put up revenge style pics of me. She's going to be in for a surprise in August.....let me tell you!! "Oh, good morning hillary!!!" *CLICK* "I like how you hair is all rats nesty....very good style for you!" *CLICK* ....
(Just joking, mom, I'll be nice to precious Hillary :)

I've been volunteering and loving it more and more everytime I go. Today was a test of my future 'nursing' abilities; my floor was in isolation because a gastrointestinal illness had taken over the patients. Without going into to many details - I saw a lot, and it all secured my belief even more that Nurses are gods!! The best part about volunteering so far is the time I've spent with patients. Because I'm *only* volunteering, I can spend a few extra minutes with them or get them a coffee and it's amazing how much I fall for their stories. There are a lot of elderly people and I've found myself close to tears and sometimes in awe listening to them. Tim missed me this morning - dad was busy cleaning the house and I guess it was boring for him. Here's the picture of my hot stuff uniform as promised.....

Mom's finally home!


I'm finally finished math (for the summer) I have about 5 more lessons that I have to finish in the fall before I start the Biology and Chemistry. I am sitting at about a 95% average and actually enjoyed a few of the lessons. I'm not saying I like math - just that it all wasn't the hell that I thought it was going to be. It was weird because little things would come back to me and I'd say; "oh yeah, I remember this from highschool." However, I actually strive to understand the why of everything now versus just going through the motions of the problems and formulas. I guess that is what they wanted me to do in highschool too, but I was more worried about other things in Highschool..... :)

I'm still job hunting and hoping for a miracle. I was sharing with Garnet how I've never actually had to work to get a job. Since I was 12 all the jobs that I've ever had have fallen into my lap. This is not fun....but it's a learning lesson. I could stay at the Y but it doesn't make sense for me to be there when Tim is in school full time in the fall. Plus, my classes will be offered in the mornings and I work every morning so it would clash with my school schedule. So I keep trying....

So, life is good, I'm good....I'll try to get out of the blogging slump and thrill you all again daily :)

xo J

30 Years!!!!

Happy Anniversary Anne and Gary!!!

You have shown us how to love, laugh and enjoy a marriage. You've shown us how to bite our tongues and smile when we want to scream.....and you've shown us that marriage is a friendship that goes beyond lifes trials and struggles and pulls you through in the end.
Thank you for showing us that the sparkle can still be there in your eye when you look at eachother, that the laughter can heal wounds and love can withstand the strong storms.
Thank you for showing us love......here's to 30 more!!!

Surprise in the Lilacs

Above his left ear....

Tim found a baby Robin!!

Our Neighbours 'friends' meet Tim

I'm really enjoying this....really I am.

So proud

Being very still

Day at the park

-- Fire Truck rides, cotton candy, Balloons and 2 sticky monkeys!

Quick thinking 5 year old - still outsmarted by his Mom.

Tim, being the curious and inquisitive child that he is, is always captivated by how things work. Yes, it is usually fans and other miscellaneous things that spin -- but now he's starting to spread his fascinations....one of those being the car.

In one of our routine conversations upon entering the car he asked if he could start the car. Obviously the usual answer of "No" just wasn't doing it for him the million times before - so I decided to get creative. We usually use his age as a deterrent;

"Why do I have to wear a coat and Dad doesn't?"

"Honey, when you're 25 you can go outside naked if you want....today you are 5 and you will wear a coat."

So, today I decided to remind him again that he was only 5.

"Mom, can I puhleeeeease start the car?"

"Tim...."

"Yes?"

"How old are you?"

I could see the thinking wheels turning, and a light bulb go on. The begging look slowly turned into a taunting stare as he took a breath and put his hands on his hips, daring me to argue;

"Fifteen."

"Gee, that's too bad - you can't drive until you're sixteen."