Truth

It's funny. I never think I'm actually THAT organized. As in, I always think I could be more organized. 

And then someone comes over and points out little things that I think are completely normal. Doesn't everyone hang their clothes by category and then colour?   Ball up grocery bags into a little pkg and put them in a special bag bag?  Label everything that isn't tied down? 

Then  it hits me: I am organized. My mom taught me how to do those things. I still fold my grocery list in half the way she did.  Well, when I don't use my iPhone grocery list app...

Ok, so big surprise: I'm pretty organized. Except when I'm not. It drives me bonkers if I'm not organized. If I don't get something done on time. Or, heaven forbid, I can't find something.  I usually know where things are. They have a spot and I put them there.  But then there's the times when I don't. Times when I can't find something. Oh that is the worst. 

But you know what is really the worst? Jason looses things only slightly more often than I do. To the untrained eye he is the complete opposite of organized.  He is chaos. He is the Yin to my Yang. 

minibreak

Last weekend Maddy and I drove out to stay with Keely and her family.  I am hoping this is a start of a summer tradition b/c I absolutely love going out there.  She lives on a farm 10 or so minutes from Camrose.  It is beautiful and peaceful.  One of my favorite views has always been a prairie landscape and the view out her windows is perfect.  Just enough trees for privacy, but also wonderful open spaces.  

It's funny, b/c on this trip I started to tell Maddy all the things I learned from Keely.  At first I was just being silly, but then I realized: wait a minute...I have learned A LOT from Keel.  Weird things.  

Random Things I learned from Keely (and her family)

1. driving on gravel roads

2. kiwi fruit

3. my love of Fleetwood Mac

4. whip cream in a canister (like REAL whip cream)

5. ceasar salad from scratch (that was John and Jo when we stayed at their cabin, blew my mind)

6. veggie sandwiches with cream cream cheese

7. rhubarb jam with cream cheese (stop reading right now.  Go and get some.  I'll wait.)

8. Boys could dance (Nathan took classes with us and it never once occurred to us to make fun of him.  He could jump 2x as high as all of us. And let's just remember: this was rural MB, loooong before So You Think You Can Dance)

9. Duvets and not top sheet (still do this)

10. Ikea (I shit you not, never heard of that store until Keely took me)

11. Homemade yogurt (people MAKE yogurt? What? - this was Tim and Heather)

12. Hard work.  Truthfully, I learned hard work from my parents.  But three years on the Honey Farm cemented the notion that i did NOT want to work that hard (physical labour) ever again.  Hence the masters degree.  These hands are strictly for holding a bubble wand, thank you very much.  

13. I would also like to say I learned to drive a "three in the tree" truck - but let's face it.  I never quite got the hang of it.  

Hands down - may favorite scenic view. I love the horizon.  

Did I mention Keely CAN BAKE?  mmmmm  Strawberry shortcake from scratch with that crazy whip cream machine. 

Maddy's hero - Alyssa.  

Maddy loved fussing over Ella. 

Hayden - such a handsome kid.  That million dollar smile is gonna break hearts...

Not so unplugged.

I swore on this trip I would leave my phone at home. Or at least off. Didn't happen. I left it at the cabin while I was at the pool almost everyday. And one day I didn't have it at all bc I accidentally sent it home with Sarah. That day was weird. To not know the time. 

So I will admit it: I'm plugged in. It's the way it is. 

Our last night

We pack up and head home tomorrow. It has been a great week and of course went by so fast. Tues, wed, and today really flew by. That happens when you do basically the same thing:

Wake up

Bike to the bathroom

Make coffee/eat breakfast

More coffee, tidy up the cabin, make lunch for the pool

Load up the cooler and head through The Tunnel of Doom*

3 hours at the pool

1-2 hours at the beach 

Big supper and bevvies with all the gang

Shower

Bedtime

In there are also 47 applications of maximum strength bug spray. The Mosquitos, if I haven't mentioned them, are unbelievable. My mom has me taking garlic pills and vitamin b and while I still have a million bites they don't last more than 20 min or so. 

*Tunnel of Doom = the path through the trees to get to the beach. Millions of Mosquitos in there. Soul crushing. 

Best pool lunch!  PB and mini choc chips. 

Mandy, thank you so much for taking Maddie kayaking. What a great treat. 

Cole

The lake

We are still at Pike Lake. Halfway through our first ever lake holiday. Jason couldn't get the time off so he is commuting, another bonus of being 40 min away. 

Yesterday I used a fogger thing and that helped. The Mosquitos have been insane. Like swarms of 15-20? 30? Gross. No bugs at the pool so that is where we spend our days. 

We are here with two other families. Plus lots of friends have been coming out to join us for supper. 

There is a fabulous big campfire spot in the middle. We use it almost every night. Someone asked if we stay up after the kids go to bed and sit by the fire. Sadly we haven't done that yet. Too damn tired. And the kids just stay up late. The cabins are too far apart to put the kids to bed early and then meet up at someone's fire. I feel like I'm about 3 years away from that. But it's ok bc by 10 I'm tired too. 

Another pool day today. I have a wicked sunburn on a patch of my back that I forgot to sunscreen. By "patch" I mean my whole damn back. Shit. Ouch. 

Juliette & Maddy

Cole, Will & Gillian (I love these boys)

The Beags love camping!  Our music man. 

He doesn't take requests. 

Mandy, so tall and imposing. 

Juliette, Maddy, & Lakai

Our fantastic giant fire pit. 

Jason's new girlfriend.

'89 Mustang GT. 

Believe it or not, I like this car too. It was a team decision. 

For Allison....bc she has been hinting.

This is our home away from home for the next week. It's our third summer in cabin #19 - we always stay in this one so it feels like it really is our cabin. And more affordable than actually owning a cabin. We have never stayed for a whole week before so I'm looking forward to it. Today is day one and it has rained all day. No problem. We watched a movie and had a family nap. Brought The Beags with us this time. They haven't camped with us since before Maddy. Reminds me of when we took Sammy camping with Patti and Curtis and it rained and rained!  

It should warm up for the week and then we will hit the beach! We are here with two other families so lots of kids and nights by the fire ahead. 

In case you can't tell by the pictures, it's basically a big shack with a fridge. All one room pretty much. Perfect for the five of us!