What is in store for this week-end?

Tomorrow is Canada Day, Friday is a day off just for me, Ryan's big b-day is Saturday (no party this week - next week), Jason is headed to Bathurst for a week-end reunion.  Maybe Sunday I'll go see 'Eclipse' if I can find someone to go.

Tomorrow I will consider a success if I can get Ryan to wear her Canada day shirt that Trudy bought her.

Friday will be a success if I get some scrapbooking done and I feel just a little relaxed by the end of the day.

Saturday will be a success if Jason gets home as planned and we get to eat cake.  I am setting my goals low and hoping for the best!

Reading list...

What are you reading?

I just finished reading Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich and right now am 1/3 of the way through The Memory Keeper's Daughter. I have to say, I am loving the Memory Keeper's Daughter but, while I adore Ms Evanovich's Stephanie Plum Series, I will not recommend Motor Mouth. I have 1/2 a dozen books sitting on my nightstand waiting for my attention as well as a list of must reads that I will eventually go knocking on the libraries door for.

While I am obesessed with collecting books for little Ryan (I counted last night and she has exactly 275 books upstairs, not to mention the boxes and shelves downstairs.  I think the actual count would be close to 400) I do not collect them myself.  I love it when books are passed on to me and I equally adore passing them on.  The books I have here are ones that are waiting to be read, and not for the first time.  In my adult life I think I can count on 1 hand the number of times that I have bought a book brand new. This is probably why I've never joined a book club.  I love to scour the ongoing book sale at our local library and the shelvcs of thrift stores and second hand book stores.  I love the idea that someone has taken the time to select and read this book before me and that they turned every page exactly like I am doing.

Amy Tan, Jodi Picoult and Maeve Binchy,  Janet Evanovich too name only a few. I have read (and loved) the Twilight series including the only-available-online-incomplete 'Midnight Sun' that some moron was thoughless enough to let into the wrong hands before Stephanie Meyer was done (3 cheers - now we may never get the rest of the story). I am contemplating the True Blood series (what is it with the vampires - they're facinating!) and I can't wait to read more Jodi Picoult.

Reading comes and goes in cycles for me as well.  For some reason, I love to read in the spring and summer.  I don't read with the goal of being a literary master.  After I finished university I am slightly embarrased to say that I read my way through about 1 dozen Lavyrle Spencer books.  You probably don't know her... She writes for Harlequin and branched out on her own for a while.  There seemed always to to a time travel twist in the books I remember.  Anyway, I just needed some garbage for the brain after 4 years of text books.

Here's a little irony for you...  I started this post a couple of days ago and just didn't have a chance to finish it.  So this morning I headed out yardsaling bright and early with my friend Pam and I found the find of all finds!  This book, Socks for Supper was my FAVOURITE book as a child.  When my sister-in-law became pregnant for their first child I sent it to them... Then along came Ryan and I wanted it back!  I have scoured the city and Kijiji and e-bay trying to find it and there it was, sitting in a box of textbooks at a yardsale.  I gave avery audible gasp when I saw it and everyone there wanted to know what I'd found.  When I asked 'the lady' how much she jokingly said '$30'.  The funny thing is I probably would have paid it!  I didn't pay anything for it though - Pam bought me this awesome memory of my childhood!  Oh, and I picked up a couple more for Ryan as well!

Art Show à la Ryan

Friday afternoon was the Completion Ceremony and Art Show at Ryan's daycare.  They did a wonderful job and the wall and fences were covered in the kids artwork. There were refreshments and beautiful artwork and a little completion ceremony to recognize their progress throughout the year.  6 of Ryan's masterpieces were on display.  She is quite the budding artist.  I have to say it is great fun to spend time at the daycare to see how all the little munchkins interact with each other.

Ryan recieves her certificate and gives Carla five.

The masterpieces.  I've been in touch with the Louvre. They're just rearranging their wall space.

How the stars of the World Cup began....

Thursday night was Ryan's very first Soccer practise. We decided to enroll her despite the overwhelming evidence that not much soccer playing would go on. The night progressed as follows;

NO - I don't want to change out of my filthy pajama shirt.

NO - I don't want to put on anything resembling soocer attire, including sneakers.

NO - I don't want to go, I want to play on the road.

Then we got to the field which is conveniently located next to the community park and I heard the following;

NO - I don't want to play soccer, I want to go to the park.

NO - I don't want to use the soccer balls provided, I want the one that little girl is using.

NO, NO, NO, NO!

We spent about 10 minutes at soccer and 45 minutes at the park.  I'll aim for 15 soccer minutes next week.  I think she shows promise :o)

I am also hopping that the word 'yes' is in my future.

Rainy day...

There are certain things that are best on a rainy day - homemade soup is one of them!  I was motivated into making a sweet potato and carrot curry soup for supper.  I was not motivated enough to find a recipe.  I hope its good!

First babsitter - check!

So I had a baby shower to go to today and it has been in the works for a while.  It just so happened that Jason had to go out of town and the usual suspects that I would call on were all MIA as well.  So I asked a little girl down the street if she thought she was up to it and she was happy to oblige.  Knowing her mom and her aunt were certainly a big indicator as to how great a girl she'd be.  Since it was her first time babysitting and Ryan's first time being babysat and they had never met before I asked her to come over last night just so Ryan could meet her and she could get through that shy phase. 
Ryan was a little shy but was also really enamoured with her pink big girl bike.  She liked her enough that she wanted her to have pudding to.  If that's not camaraderie I don't know what is!  In the wise and often repeated words of Dora the Explorer, 'Its a match!' 

And our little babysitter, she is such a mature little girl.  I went though some stuff with her and I asked her if she had any questions for me.  Right away she asked if Ryan had any allergies.  I knew then that she would be able to exercise good judgement and little Ryan would be safe in her hands.  I left this afternoon with them both sitting at the kitchen table painting.  Ryan didn't even give me a second glance!   I have to admit though, I was the first one to leave the shower (baby steps)....

I had been contemplating getting my first real teenage babysitter for awhile but the situation never called for one before.  I was a little worried because Ryan had been whining incessantly for her Daddy.  I really wanted this to be a positive experience for both of the girls.  I am so happy that I took the plunge finally.  Most people probably do it a lot sooner but, oh well, better late than never.