Our July Sucked-Harder than the the first time your newborn latched on!

Summer + Kids Home= 1 freakin', insane, pull your chin hair out, ****$$$x!&7**curse at the fly that just landed on my typing hand, Mother of 3 kids "CRAZY"!  aka ME!

OK, I feel better now!!!

I just want to touch base with everyone.  Yes I'm still ALIVE!  Surviving!  I must admit, the craziness in our household has reached swallowed a fish, lick the bottom of a shoe, sat on a roof top shouting "the sky is falling"at your neighbors CRAZY!!  (I'll admit to 1/3 of the previously mentioned "crazy" stunts-I'll let you decide which one)

Here are the following factors that precipitated this insanity:

• 
  
  Kids home for summer (sarcastic smile)
• 
  
  Started back to work  (Yuck!)
• 
  
  Sapphire broke her nose
• 
  
  Our lovely tractor (Stop laughing! Yes, we own a tractor) broke=$$$$$ just when we needed it most
• 
  
  Signed the kids up for Camp (Opal dropped out day 2)
• 
  
  A fun day at the beach left us all with a little more than a "healthy glow" (does sunscreen actually work anymore?  I swear I slathered everyone several times)
• 
  
  A gastro bug struck Opal, Pearl and Myself.  Opal followed up this week long nightmare with a nasty ear infection(from lake swimming) and Strep throat. 

Thank God there's two months of summer holidays because July sucked -harder than the first time your newborn latched onto the booby!! Ouch!

Yesterday I actually contacted the mental health hotline because I knew I had reached my limit.  (Don't judge)

If I remember correctly it sounded something like this..................

Hello, and welcome to the mental health hotline.

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.

If you are codependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personalities, press 3,4,5, and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call.

If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will transferred to the mother ship.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press.

If you are manic depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, no one will answer.

If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the hash key until someone comes on the line.

If you are dyslexic, press 6969696969.

If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother's maiden name.

If you have post-traumatic-stress disorder, slowly and carefully press 000.

If you have bipolar disorder, please leave a message after the beep, or before the beep, or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short term memory loss, press 9. If you have short term memory loss, press 9. If you have short term memory loss, press 9.

If you have low self esteem, please hang up. All our operators are too busy to talk to you."

Hope everyone is having a blissful summer!  I would seriously love to hear about all your summer happenings.    Describe with detail all your itchy bug bites or about the racoons that crashed your campsite!

Humour me!  Make something up even--Show me your campfire storytelling creativity! 

Cheers!

Yeah right!  Not likely! 

Have a Sundae on Wednesday!!

What is the best thing about summer?

You get to enjoy a SUNDAE on Wednesday!

Yummy! 

Ice Cream Sundaes!

Try making your own chocolate ice cream bowl with the kids!

Here's How:

Blow up some balloons (tip-good quality balloons work best)

Spray lightly with cooking spray

Dip in  melted chocolate (I used chocolate melts) and place to dry

Pop balloons and VOILA!

What is your favourite ice cream flavour?  I can't decide between Heavenly Hash and Mint Chip!

Do you stick to traditional flavours or are you willing to experiment with new flavours?

Glad to be back blogging after a much needed week's vacation!  Missed everyone very much!  Glad you were able to stop by once again to visit me on my little blog!

Medical Monday-Online Allergy Resources

Our poor little Opal suffers horribly from environmental allergies.  He is terribly allergic to grass, hay, horses, trees, cats and many detergents.  His immune response presents in the form of itchy, watery swollen eyes, wheezing and skin rashs. 
His triggers are mostly environmental however some children ( my niece included) suffer from severe even life threatening food related allergies. 

The allergy and immune response topic is quite complex so today I'm just going to scratch the surface by presenting you with some online resources.  If you would like me to write a more in-depth post on allergies than please comment or email me and I will gladly do so.

If you have a child who suffers from allergies than you may want to check out these great websites.

Opal really enjoys being apart of the Itchy Kids Club
We receive regular newsletters from the Itchy Kids Club
Another fun site is Kids Skin Health.  Did you know there are thousands of things to learn about the skin your in?  Learn about warts, pimples, birth marks, bug bites, skin cancers, and eczema.   It's a very cute, colorful and interactive site. 
 

Allergy Moms is another great online resource.  I really enjoyed reading their article "10 things children with food allergies want you to know".    While you are there you can sign up to receive their free email newsletters.

If your child has an allergy or a medical issue than it is vitally important they wear a medical identification product such as a bracelet or anklet.  I highly recommend you check out the Lauren's Hope site.  This site offers very fashionable medical alert products for children and adults.  The company also donates a portion of it's proceeds to jeuvenille diabetes.  Be sure to check out the very special history of thecompany and how it became "Lauren's Hope"

Mallergies is a great interactive site focusing on the latest trends and information on food allergies.

Check out some of their cute allergy apparel or read a few of their product reviews.

When it comes to tackling any health problem, knowledge is your most powerful tool. Educate yourself so that you can treat your child's allergies more effectively.

Do you have any information on allergies that you would like to share? Millions of children across Canada and the U.S. suffer from allergies. I would love to hear from you about this particular subject.

Never argue with a Woman!

On the weekend we had the chance to enjoy a quick visit with friends, at their lovely cottage.  I fell asleep on the drive there but I'm pretty sure it's just 3 km north of "The Middle of Nowhere" and 2 km west of "Where The Heck Are We".  That's according to our GPS of course!  
My goal for the visit was to relax.  I was very determined to let nothing get in the way of this goal.
When opportunity present itself I grabbed it without hesitation.
I decided I would take their small paddle boat out to the middle of the lake and read my next book club selection.
After about 20 minutes of complete serentity I felt the waves of an approaching motor craft.
The gentlemen in the other vessel nestled up beside my paddle boat and looked inside.


This was our very serious conversation:

"Excuse me Mrs.  Are you aware that this lake is a restricted fishing area?  No fishing allowed!"

"Actually Sir, I was just reading this really great book and enjoying a little bit of peace and quiet.  I had not planned on fishing at all today."

"Well, I see that you have all the equipment in your boat.  What's to say you don't cast a line as soon as I leave?"

"I can assure you I don't plan to fish today.  I can't even fathome the thought of putting a worm on a line."

"I'm just saying, I can 't be to sure you're not going to start fishing at anytime."

Very irritated at this ignorant old man I respond

"Well, if you don't leave now and stop bothering me I'll have to charge you with Sexual Assault!!!!"

"I don't understand, I've done nothing of the sort that warrants this kind of accusation!"

"Well, you have all the necessary equipment.  How do I know you're not going to use it against me at any given minute?" 

"Alrighty then!  You have a nice day"

It's never wise to argue with a woman!!!

Remember these toys?

 
Maybe not, but I certainly do.  I grew up with 3 brothers and these parachute toys were some of our favorite loot bag items.


The other day I was searching for some craft ideas and I came across
this simple idea @ www.playfulcrafts.com

As usual I took this inspirational craft and made it my own. 

I didn't have any "J cloths" so I used bread bags instead.

It takes a little practice to get the correct string length and appropriate toy weight but when you do,

watch out!

 Opal had lots of fun with this simple idea.

PS- Stay tuned because later this week I'll show you how we made a backyard croquet set out of platic pop bottles.