Rain, rain and more rain...

Anyone living in the province of Alberta has been enjoying a lot of rain lately.  This means the grass is growing longer and some creativity is needed with planning activities for the kids.

This past weekend I took the boys camping with another family.  The day that we arrived and set-up the tent trailer, it was sunny and warm - full of promise for a great weekend.  The boys were excited to be out camping.  The site was great, it was set right across from the beach and playground.  Unfortunately the weather did not stay so sunny and bright.  This left us seeking alternative activities for the kids.  The neat part was it allowed us to explore a different city and what it has to offer.  We got to experience the swimming pool in Red Deer and took in the Sports Hall of Fame.  Both really neat venues that the kids had a lot of fun at. 

The other family had brought walkie-talkies.  Ethan had one and their oldest son had the other one.  While driving to Red Deer the boys were communicating between the two vehicles.  If you want a good laugh, give two five-year-olds walkie-talkies.  Directions were being relayed - a few minutes past the turn-offs, frustrations were being shared about how long their respective mothers were taking with preparations to leave, and details of the trip - cows that were being passed, trees, lakes the usual.  Later, the boys then played hide-and-go-seek using the radios.  One would hide behind a trailer taunting the other to come and find them.  It was hilarious to watch and to listen to.

The next day it was time to pack-up and head home.  Packing a tent trailer - let me correct that, a soggy wet tent trailer is an exercise in organization.  I am grateful that I have easy kids; it really helps with the process.  That said, it is still a lot of work and involves timing to ensure the kids are fed, more specifically Sage is fed and ready to travel.  Sage is still eating every two hours during the day.  I began to get nervous about my trip this summer back to Ontario with just me and the kids.  I worry that it will be a lot of work, leaving me exhausted at the end of it all.  Fortunately, this prompted me to re-investigate flights and found the cost had gone down substantially.  I was able to purchase some tickets for about the same as what it would have cost to drive. My sister-in-law whom is an employee for Air Canada, was able to find family tickets with even better prices.  I gratefully accepted this help!  I am somewhat relieved by this.  I think I will be able to enjoy the trip more when I am not as exhausted. 

Speaking of tired...  I am not sure if it is the weather or if it is just the way life is right now, but I can not seem to get out of this funk of feeling tired.  Sage is still only waking about once a night and I am getting way more sleep than I did during pregnancy, but I still feel tired to the core.  Coffee is my friend these days.  A friend of mine graced me with a treat of strong ground coffee left on my doorstep.  I have been enjoying each cup for its caffeine but also for the thoughtfulness of the gift.

I am very grateful for the friends I have made in this community. I could not imagine life with out their support or friendship.  Isaac will often tease me and say I belong to the "Mom network" as we all will help each other out in a time of need.  I think the Mom network is a great thing to have and honoured to be a part of it.  The funniest part is how it brings people together.  Every Mom that I know, knows different Moms, thus expanding the network.  Not that I have ever verbalized this to anyone other than Isaac, nor is this a secret club or clique.  In my life I have been fortunate enough to meet some really great people, some with and some without kids, and we all support and encourage each other. No person should live in isolation, especially when trying to raise a family!