It's Snot My Problem

Since I blogged about puke, I decided I might as well blog about snot. No in case you are wondering I'm not going to write about p--p. That would be really gross.

My best friend is a germaphobe. I am anxious about too many other things, so I haven't jumped on that band wagon. Besides, having germs around helps kids build up healthy immune systems. Right?

I sent Ashley over to sleep over at her house last night, before Hayley arrived home early from camp with her barf bag. I had been waiting all night for a call to come and pick her up. It never came.

In the morning I received a call. I asked sheepishly if everything was okay. "Yeah, why?"

I told her why.

That's when snot came up, we had a little walk down memory lane and a good belly laugh.

Snot was the issue when the kids were smaller. Little kids always have snotty noses, sometimes it's allergies, sometimes it's a raging virus and sometimes it's just... snot.

You can't send a snotty kid to a germaphobe's house. It's not kosher, but that's when Ashley learned the "What colour is your snot?" game. You see, green, yellow and brown snot is not okay, but clear snot is acceptable.

When Ashley wanted to go over to play, but had a leaky nose, I would feel guilty just sending her without having a snot discussion because you can't hide snot from a germaphobe. Snot has a habit of revealing itself. "Um, Ashley has a runny nose, but she's not really sick. Can she still come over, would it be okay with you?"

"Well what colour is the snot?"

"Um yellowish?"

"No, she must not come!"

"Oh, sorry"

The next day Ashley would ask to make the phone call for me.

"Can I please come over today? My snot has no colour!"

"Ashley, if it's clear, then that's okay because it means you're not contageous."

Hooray, she passed!

Which makes me want to ask you, "What colour is YOUR snot?"

My New Camera

I've wanted a digital SLR for a really long time. I didn't buy one for two reaons, they are expensive and I don't know how to use one and would probably just use it as a point and shoot anyway.

We had a pretty nice point and shoot, but I left it on the kitchen table one night... The same night that a thief broke into our house. I never saw that camera again, along with the pictures from Ashley's birthday party.

Paul's good at looking on the bright side and even though we decided not to make an insurance claim said, "Well, you wanted a new camera anyway didn't you?"

Well yeah, one that cost three times as much as the stolen one.

So I bought it.

I've read the camera manual and a photography book and I'm still using it as a point and shoot but it can take some lovely shots.

I took about 100 a day when the family was visiting but this one is my favourite.

That Just Makes Me Wanna Frow Up

First of all "frow" up is what you do when you're a cockney Londoner and you don't know how to pronounce "th". At work, I refer kids to the speech pathologist who can't say "th". We call "th" the rude brothers because t and h together make you stick out your tongue. Oh wait, I'm off on a tangent already.

I think I'm beginning to associate getting together with my husband's family with nausea and frow up. No offence intended really, but we just really seem to have that effect on eachother. The first time it happened was Christmas 1994. The one that started it was my husband's nephew. A little while after that it was me.

My puking literally threw me into a panic because I had just figured out I was pregnant for the first time and heard horror stories about nausea and endless puking and having to quit working for being so sick. I was worried because my graduation depended on my completion of my teaching internship and my little salary was our main source of income and only provider of medical insurance.

I felt a sense of relief when my brother in law started to carry around a paper bag with him in case he tossed his cookies. If more than one boy is also puking, then it certainly can't be pregnancy I decided.

The next puking get together was a few years later. We ventured out east for spring break with our four kids. It was Ashley that started this one. She kept us up all night before the flight home and then filled barf bag after barf bag on the plane.

The third time was just this last week. Upon arrival my brother in law announced that he hadn't been feeling great. I think Paul said something like, "Oh that's okay, we always make eachother sick." Paul was the first casualty... then came Spencer... then Summer... then me.

Yesterday morning I took Hayley on a two hour logging road, mosquito infested, almost out of gas drive out to girls camp. Summer stayed home because she still wasn't feeling up to going to camp. We made plans for her to possibly go out the next day. At about 11:00 pm there was a knock at the door...wierd. It woke me up from the nap I was taking in front of the TV.

It was Hayley, ashen faced, clasping a bag of puke.

This boy needs some brothers.

... Or some boy cousins that live this side of the continent.

iPad

I found an iPhone app called instagram that I have been having fun playing with. Today I have a fluish thing so I've had a bit of time on my hands.

I like it.

Family Photos

I have been wanting to get our family photos done again because we never seem to all end up in a photo together. I am so happy with the photographer that we found. I am having a terrible time choosing which ones that I want without spending a fortune. The photo gallery has over 200 pics, here are some of the good ones. Take a peek.

Photos taken by Natalie Bilson She is an amazing photographer, fun-loving and extremely patient!

Here is her link.

Natalie Bilson Footprints Photography

Portugal, voltaremos!

On our trip last year we took Rick Steve's advice to plan to return. As soon as we arrived, we felt an instant connection and love for the country which stems from our time there as missionaries. One regret that we had was that we hadn't planned the trip very well to incorporate Sundays and church attendance. We were only able to go to church once while there. Our ability to pick up the language and communicate during our short stay was a surprise to us and we felt that if we returned shortly (about two years) we would be able to reinforce and practice the language even more.

Upon our return home, I resumed my "hobby" of airmiles collecting and soon enough we had enough miles to go this year!

At first we were hesitant to book because of all of the other expenses associated with the trip, but then with a little creative financial juggling, we decided "why not?". We are booked and we are both ecstatic.

In case you were wondering; voltaremos = we will return/ are returning.