This'n that

For the past few days it's been pretty wet here. Yesterday especially. It drove us to Blockbuster (yes, evil American video chain Blockbuster - there are no independents in Lower Sackville 'cept the XXX store and I ain't going there). We went to Blockbuster on a mission - we wanted to rent "The Goonies" and failing that, "Gremlins". Alas, Blockbuster sucks ass. They carried a single copy of "The Goonies" but it was rented and they didn't even carry "Gremlins" - it's not like I was seeking obscure German cinema, I've discovered you can't do that in Nova Scotia. I'm rambling. We went for the 3 for $8.99 deal - yeah, some deal - pwff. Despite not finding what we wanted we settled for: Ghostbusters, See Spot Run, and Agent Cody Banks. Fortunately, they were all hits with the boys. I had forgotten how freakin hilarious Rick Moranis is in Ghostbusters - it was awesome - Marla and hadn't watched it eons. Everyone should watch it again.

Today. Today was beautiful. Being the first nice day in while of course it had to be spent mowing the lawn - shit. I also spent some of it painting the ceiling of our main hallway and living room. I did not electrocute myself changing some light switches, receptacles and fixing a ceiling fan in our basement. I'm gald I paid attention to my uncle Cliff went he installed a ceiling fan for us in our old house on Senateurs Way.

And now for a few more photos from PEI. In the water by the beautiful beach were many many jelly fish...jelly fish every where...they were gross:

I took this one from the water. Declan in is in the Yellow shorts. Our friend Darren is with him:

This is another shot from the water. You get a halfway decent view of the red cliffs:

Being the super dad that I am, I took the boys for ice cream by the beach:

Here's two pics from a very long stroll we took one evening:

This one has Daniel as well:

Getting there and getting back

The Confederation Bridge was really dissappointing. It's just concrete with no pizzaz - the sides are just those every day conrete barriers they put on every highway. Fortunately we were in a van because if we were just in an ordinary car I don't think we'd be able to see anything other then other cars. Very lame.

So we took the ferry home and it was much more fun. And most importantly, I was able to take more pictures:

We saw a light house leaving PEI:

It was definitely less stressful than the traffic on the bridge. Darby and Marla watched some TV while Ella sipped some milk:

When Ella was done her milk she gazed out the window. The deck was a bit too windy for her.

The rear of the ferry was least affected by the wind.

And of course we saw a lighthouse arriving in Nova Scotia:

The ferry ride was 75 minutes from Wood Islands, PEI to Caribou, NS over the Northunmberland Strait. Marla and I have looked into going to Newfoundland - it's a 14+ hour ferry ride!!! We are so not doing that!

Charlottetown

Charlottetown is a very pretty city but also very very tiny. We were able to walk pretty much the downtown core in less than an hour.

The kids in front of Province House:

This is Declan in front of the St. Dunstan's Basilica downtown:

It is alleged in some travel info that St. Dunstan's is one of Canada's largest Churches. I'm pretty certain I've seen way bigger Churches in Quebec.

We walked along the boardwalk (I prefer the Halifax boardwalk personally though I am not saying this isn't a nice boardwalk - it is. Actually, I think since I grew up in a place without boardwalks, i find I'm easily impressed by them):

I know the following is not a very good picture of Charlottetown but Darby up against some red building looks pretty good in his Power Ranger T-shirt he got for his birthday and wore for three days straight:

Darby was having a good picture day:

It was a packed van (and at times it was not pleasant and barely bearable):

PEI - Gulf of St. Lawrence

Ella on the beach:

The boys:

Declan buried in the sand:

Every now and then we came across this:

no one got hurt.

The red cliffs:

(Daniel, Darby and Declan - from left to right)

We went on a long walk on the beach that never ends:

Darby had trouble keeping up.

New Floor in the Basement

Before there was a not only a mess but that mess sat upon a very old and ratty cartpet that we inherited from previous owners - who owned dogs:

yeah, i know - not pleasant.

So Declan and I decided it was time to tear out the carpet and put in a new floor. Tearing out that gross carpet and prepping the concrete floor was the most trying part of the job. This is us working hard laying the boards:

Declan only wacked my fingers a few times.

Here's Marla doing the underlay while Darby goofs around (Declan and me took a break - we don't do subfloor):

Darby actually was very annoying during the whole process. He would not stop fooling around and sneaking into the room despite being told repeatedly not to.

The finished floor (Country Walnut):

That's Marla putting pads at the bottom of the furniture.

Marla's New Haircut

Point Peasant Park

Stayed tuned to find out if Darby was able to hit that ship with his rock.

Bedford Basin again

A Jelly fish was spotted. Oh can you feel the excitement.

Bedford Basin

Marla was a little upset that her day at the spa was cancelled.
She needed a moment alone.

12 Excuses

I haven't updated the blog lately because:

1. I've been having a hard time recovering from the camping trip.
2. I'm spending too much time thinking and preparing for the next camping trip (to PEI).
3. there has been an unsual number of apointments this past week.
4. the kids are staying up later now that it's summer.
5. I'm exhausted with what's been going on at work.
6. Marla is addicted to Facebook and no longer lets me use the computer as much.
7. the father-son lacrosse game wiped me out - (it was awesome fun by the way - sorry no pictures).
8. I've been preparing to put a new floor in our basement.
9. I've been putting a new floor in the basement (starting today).
10. We spent an entire Friday night shopping for Marla's sandals.
11. I'm on a lazy streak.
12. I'm just lazy.

Family Camping - Canada Day Long Weekend

Camping went great. The Wide Open Wilderness (WOW) is a family campground situated close to the Shebunacadie River:

This is the low tide. It's part the whole Bay of Fundy weird tide thingy effect - I know I'm getting all technical on yas. I saw this river fill all the way up the banks just a couple hours later - it's pretty strange.


Here's Marla looking all-Canadian:

And there's me, cooking lunch on the fire:

Our tent is the coolest - doesn't it look like a mean ol' owl?

Declan was the last to get up each day:

The young ones:

Marla made us some bread on the campfire - yum:

2 against 1:

We barely saw Declan all weekend. We has tearing it up with his friends Matt and Daniel (and some punk named Nick too). We brought the boys' bikes and at least Declan made good use of it - Darby barely even sat on his let alone moved a pedal.

Darby got in to the Crispers:

I'm pretty sure everyone had a great time. Kids are asking when we're camping again. Marla got home and started pricing camping items, things that will help with our trip to PEI in two weeks.

We went with the McDougalls but we were meeting the Gabriels there. We also knew a couple other families at the site so it was a party. Plus we had no trouble meeting people. Here's Marla and Darby in a Conga line with some guy named Scott and his family:

...Ella was trailing behind but was to nervous to actually join the line.