Still no photos of me...

I have been trying to get others to take photos of me so I will have some but I have not been too successful. Those children are just so cute so I keep taking photos of them. We celebrated my mom's 65th birthday on the weekend at Queen's Park with Root Beer Floats. That part was so easy! We just got a huge bucket of ice cream at Costco along with cups, straws and the A&W Rootbeer. We had some of her friends, neighbors, clients come by with their dogs close to the off lease area. It wasn't huge but it was really nice and my mom definitely had a good time. I didn't realize how many dogs that I knew so well but didn't really know their 'people' if that makes sense. Most of the dogs had hung out with each other at her house. We brought a tablecloth, balloons, an ice cream scoop a few signs and were so glad we kept it simple! I can't believe she's 65! I hope she really retires! That way I will get to spend more time with her.

Where's me?

Wow it's hard to find photos with me in them. Here's some photos of Marvin playing baseball, Anastasia at the playground, my niece Jessica with Avalina just before I backed into the van at church, and all the children when they met for the first time almost three months ago. I guess I need to give someone else the camera for a change. Last night I attended a class at the church given by Doreen Kennedy. She is a super neat lady, good speaker, interesting and a retired English Literature teacher. Her class was on writing fascinating personal stories. She gave us a variety of exercises and it was really fun. I am not sure I could write a fascinating story of my experience but it got me to thinking and reminded me that I may not be the only one reading my journal especially when I am dead. I have not been keeping my journal up to date recently. It is so much easier and faster to do this and I can include photos for myself and others to see along with the text. However it is not as private so I am less likely to share all my feelings and inner most thoughts. I don't want to say that my father in law is causing trouble or how my mother and I are getting on each others nerves sometimes. I am hesitant to share details of Anastasia and Marvin fighting although not as bad as Cain and Abel or Laman and Lemuel. I don't want the whole world to know I just can't keep up with my laundry. I have no problem washing it just folding and putting it away. As if the whole world really cares or pays attention to me anyway. Right now the baby is asleep in the stroller and Marvin is at baseball while Anastasia is at Lola's playing with her cousins Fayth and Yasmin. Patrick is working with Josip so I feel like I am all alone for just a few minutes. I really miss being alone and spending time with myself. Being an only child I do enjoy doing things with just me and not having anyone else around. I don't ever feel lonely just alone. Right now the only times I get are usually in the car or at the grocery store just before midnight. I guess I had my chance to be in my room reading or listen to music or napping as long as i liked with no interuptions or company. I guess I won't be doing anymore trips to Vancouver Island or even the library with just me and my own thoughts. I guess I don't really mind that if i want to be alone it has to be in the bathroom with the door locked. One day when my husband is dead I will be alone again because in my mind I am planning to outlive him even though he is healthier than me I think. I always imagine myself living longer than him, not in a morbid way but just because. I see my grandmother who is 97 now and see how she spends so much of her time content, staring out the window, listening to the radio, wishing she could do more but feeling too tired and old. I know she is pleased when she receives a phone call or a visit. I know she feels useful and isn't tired or bored much. I had better think about getting over there to keep her company, turn her world upside down with noise and children, wear her out, see how she is doing and if we can do anything for her. One day she won't be there anymore and then I will miss her even when she's cranky.

Mather's Cousins Lunch

Today was the potluck picnic at Eda's house on 'the mountain' Sumas to be exact. Unfortunately the weather wasn't ideal so it wasn't as large as usual and it seemed weird to be in the house. Anastasia fell asleep in the car just before we arrived so she slept for most of it. Marvin was in his glory exercising his corpus callosum and running outside with his cousins, climbing on gravel piles and chopped up trees, picking up chains, jumping on the trampoline, digging up leeks, and eating way too many cookies and then freezies. Marvin just loves hanging out with Eda's sons and their sons. Avalina was passed around and introduced. Too bad my mom couldn't make it this year, there wasn't anyone for me to ask people's names if I couldn't remember and my memory isn't too good. It was such a delight to see so many relatives I had not seen for so long, most of them I had not seen since last June. The food was plentiful, varied and great as usual. We brought the Sex in the Pan and it was gobbled down pretty quickly. By the time we arrived everyone was ready for desert! I really missed being outside and wandering and exploring her yard but I got to do a lot more visiting with people being inside this time. Usually it's very sunny and hot. We hung around until dinner time because we wanted to see Steven and he was on his way home from Scotland arriving with coffee in hand and jet lagged around dinnertime. Eda told us how she used to milk the cows two times a day. They had 18 of them and it was her job to milk 7 with her father doing the remaining 11. She said cows are smelly especially when you have your face right next to them and after a while your arms get sore. They didn't have a refrigerator in those days either. They grew a lot of their own food and nobody had any money at that time. After we noticed that mostly everyone had left or was leaving, we got back in the car for the long drive home, filled up the gas tank at the super deal of $1.29 per litre, and got those children of ours into the bath, pajamas and bed as soon as we could. It was like a mini family reunion and so much fun. Those Mathers are a pretty nice bunch!