Big game tonight

and Wednesday, Saturday and Monday...further games will not be necessary as the Sens will wrap it up neat and tidy in four games.
We will not be answering the telephone between 9-12pm Atlantic Standard Time tonight so don't bother phoning!

Darby on...

I swear he was not drinking or on any drugs. Being creepy and bizarre is just what Darby does naturally.

Ella in pigtails ponytails (... happy Gramma Lynne?)

No more flower pictures

after this one...

The tulips are dying

Our tulips are starting to die away. Marla is cleaning up the garden.

Marla's Sunday project

Marla planted some herbs today. We tried growing a bunch of herbs last year too but only the parsley and basil grew - the parsley grew like weeds. In fact, the parsley from last year is already growing back. This year Marla wanted to try these planters on the back deck instead of putting them in the garden. Also, last year we tried growing them from seed, this year we decided to buy them potted already.
She's trying cilantro, rosemary, basil, (a different kind of) parsley, oregano and chives.

My Sunday Project

I made and installed a new pot rack in the kitchen today. I had been fiddling with metal work for the last couple weeks and finally got up the nerve to put my new skills to the test. I didn't make the hooks.

Getting Sick Again!

Looks like I'm coming down with something yet again. Its strange because I'm actually improving my fitness at the same time - my nose and throat just are not coorperating. There may be a dry spell of posts this week unless Marla picks up the slack - she takes most of the pictures anyways. Fortunately, I have a follow-up with the doc tomorrow from the last time I was sick.

Declan - The Goalie

Declan was goalie in today's game. He had a blast.

He did really well too. His team only lost 5-1 today. That's a huge improvement.

He wasn't supposed to be goalie until next week. The kid that was to be goalie today backed out at the last minute. I was planning on coaching him this week on how to play goalie in lacrosse so he'd be prepared. I had 5 minutes to explain what he had to do. He did really well squaring himself to the play. Turns out he didn't need the coaching at all - he knew exactly what to do. He made a bunch of great saves and gave the opposition little net to shoot at.

All this traffic in front of the net did not intimidate him.

Flowers in our garden

Ray-Bans

Marla splurged today and bought herself a fancy pair of sunglasses. Fortunately, she took advantage of an Air Miles deal a while back that netted her a $100 gift certificate at the Sunglasses Hut. I believe she got the Gift Card for half the miles they usually cost - it was a limited time offer so it might not still be available for those interested. Don't she look KOOL?

The Kids

Declan is wearing his Team Austrailia T-shirt that he got at the Lacrosse World Championship.

Oh my!

The Senators are in the finals!!!

Woo hoo!

Sorry no pictures to post yet again.

Yesterday Darby slept over at Christopher's while I took Declan to see two lacrosse games at the World Championships. First we saw USA kick some Scottish ass. England looked awesome playing against Australia - sorry Tracy but Australia reeked. I just learned that Canada embarrassed England in the semi-finals today which means Canada plays in the finals tomorrow against either the Iroquois Nationals or the USA. It was tonnes of fun - Declan had a blast - I miss going to lacrosse games in Ottawa. My feelings were intensified as the old Ottawa Rebel floor is being used for this tournament at the Halifax Metro Centre - there's a huge Ottawa Rebel logo at center court.

GO SENS GO!

The Sackville Wolves played this morning in beautiful downtown Spryfield. They lost again BUT THIS TIME THEY GOT A GOAL!!! When the lamp was lit the crowd went wild. The team was so excited that they scored; you could tell that they were starting to feel dejected having not scored yet this season but this lifted their spirits big time. Declan made some great passes and caught some passes, he got to take a couple face-offs, and he was aggressive on the loose balls for a change - it was awesome. Usually, he's very passive but I think watching the games the day before at the World Championship really benefited him.

GO SENS GO!

K - back to Darby - as mentioned he slept at Christopher's last night. We learned he stayed up past 11!!! It explains why he's been a little sh*t all day. Today was such a bad Darby day. Non-stop whining and neediness. ARG!

GO SENS GO!

Some facts

• Declan's lacrosse team is named the Sackville Wolves.
  
• The Sackville Wolves have now played three games.
  
• The Sackville Wolves are currently suffering a three game losing streak.
  
• The Sackville Wolves have yet to score on an opponent.
  
• Regardless, Declan seems to enjoy himself playing lacrosse.
  

Sum Swamp

My mother took Declan to get a haircut today. I've only ever taken Declan to get a haircut once before and that was at First Choice. He went to an actual barber today. I had been cutting his hair myself but apparently that's not good enough anymore. Do you see a difference in quality? (I don't). This is Declan and Darby playing Sum Swamp - I believe this was a gift from Gramma Lynne a couple Christmas' ago - great gift!

It started out as a game with my mother but as you can see a little pink faery was being disruptive.

Little Pink Faery

Here's a few pictures of Ella today:

She can't decide what she wants to do despite there being tonnes of choices:

So instead she'll just act silly:

or go for a ride:

or maybe not:

perhaps rolling on the floor:

Another tooth gone

Declan is staying home from school today since it's my mother's last day in Halifax before heading home tonight.

Declan pulled his own tooth out this morning. He'd been playing with it for weeks.

He's missing his two front teeth now. Fortunately, we don't think the empty space will be there for long. We'll be spared being sprayed by spit since we can already see the adult teeth coming in.

Darby is sick today - he threw up in our bed last night - TWICE! Being the heartless parents that we are, we made him sleep on the floor the rest of the night. Seriously, we were running out of sheets.

We learned the reason for the goat yesterday. Apparently, it's an Italian superstition that when you bring a new born home there should be a goat waiting. I've known Italians but I've never heard this before. Marla said she grew up in a predominately Italian neighbourhood but she never heard of this either. Can anyone confirm that our neighbours are bullshitting us?

Goat surprise

Marla kept hearing some strange noises this morning. Eventually, she noticed something across the street.

Turns out our neighbour is babysitting a goat today.

Darby had to go investigate.

Darby cautiously walked around the goat keeping a safe distance. He and Declan walked up to the neighbours door and rang the doorbell. "Can I pet your goat?", he asks (Darby is not shy). Apparently, they had no idea if the goat was friendly or not so suggested not to. Admittedly, he did seem agressive - the goat, not the neighbour. Darby was dissapointed.

Ticklefest

 
Gramma is still here and she's torturing Darby and Ella constantly. Look at the pain they're in.

Spring is finally here!

 
And that means its time for Darby to hang out outside with the fellas, work in the yard and wash his car. He's a little young to be cruising the hood for chicks but I'm sure he'll be doing that next month. Did I tell everyone that Declan got invitation to an older girl's party with instructions to "dress handsomely"? Seriously, it's true - by older, I mean grade 2 (Declan is in grade 1 for those who might not know).

New Bike

 
Declan got a new bicycle today courtesy of Gramma. It's his first bike with hand brakes (his previous bicycle had pedal brakes). He didn't take long to crash into a street light pole having forgot to use the hand brake; instead is pedalled backwards furiously wondering why he wasn't stopping!

Gramma Joyce

My mother is visiting - she arrived late Monday night:

Ella and Gramma on the slide in the backyard.

My mother is now "Gramma" or "Gramma Joyce". For reasons lost in the fog of time my sons had previously always referred to my mother as "TeeTee". Declan has decided that he no longer wishes to call her that; he decided on "Gramma" and Darby decided on "Gramma Joyce" or just "Joyce" sometimes.

Marla made some yummy spiced buttermilk muffins. Ella and Darby are enjoying them on the back deck.

Would you believe my work called me at 11pm last night! I'm working way too much.

really really really really busy

Sorry there hasn't been post for the last few days. We've been extremely busy and I have found myself working nights - catching up on my work that accumulated during my sick days. I hope to put something up tonight. At least the Senators are winning.