I’m just trying to think of something to write in my blog today and it occurred to me how lucky I am to have such a great teenage son.  He can be moody at times and does not get along very well with his sister, grace.  But hey, do we ever get along well with our siblings growing up?  Braeden is very open with me on various topics and what he doesn’t share with me, he shares with my mother.  They have a very special bond.  He has good friends that are not into trouble and he loves going to youth group and sunday school with his peers.  I can thank our amazing youth pastor for that.  He and his wife have truly been an amazing addition to our church.  They took the kids paintballing this weekend…ouch!  Anyway, back to my son.  He will be going into grade 9 french immersion this year and does well in school.  He is very talented when it comes to music and drawing.  I’m hoping he will choose a career in one of the two.  He does talk back from time to time, but what teen doesn’t.  With all the trouble kids are getting into these days, I am very lucky to have a son that is on the straight and narrow and knows enough to stay away from all the bad stuff that is out there.  I truly feel for any parent that has a child addicted to drugs and I hope that I will never have to encounter that with braeden.  Some days I feel like such a failure as a parent, but then I look at my kids and I think I must have done something right.

Everywhere you look at work you see something with “Hannah Montana” on it.  Clothing, digital lockets, kitbags…you name it.  So why all the fuss?  Grace is only 6 and hasn’t caught the bug.  I’ve  been watching a few episodes and it is actually not a bad show.  My friend was home this summer and her daughter is a Hannah Montana fanatic.  The girls and I went to her birthday party and I’m sure every gift she received had to do with Hannah Montana.  For now, Grace is still obsessed with spy kids, my little pony’s and anything and everything to do with princesses.  Last week we went to my nieces birthday party which had a “princess” theme.  The girls had a blast!  I don’t think I even heard the name “Hanna Montana” once.

all the princesses

I HATE being sick.  I hate it even more when the kids are sick.  Poor little gabby and I have contracted a really bad head cold.  I’m thinking she picked something up at the sitters.  For now, I’m giving her medicine around the clock to try and make her feel better.  I also picked up some Johnson and Johnson vapour bath.  It makes me feel better too.  Especially when I have the chills….brrrr-rrr.  Is it cold in here or is it just me?  My head is throbbing, my nose won’t stop dripping, my eyes are watering and I ache all over.  The sniffles suck!

I was very excited to read in our local paper today that kids will have new school buses this year…YEAH!!!  I was pretty alarmed when I read an article a few months ago about the condition of our island buses.  The pictures were very upsetting and as a parent, I was very angry.   I’m just glad it was brought to the attention of the media.
New buses to be rolled out for Island students
STAFF
Transcontinental Media

Unlike the past school year, Island students will no longer be rumpling to school in old, corroded buses.

The province purchased 60 shiny, new yellow school buses between May and August for just under $5 million.

All of those buses will be ready to role when the new school year begins early next month, says Education Minister Gerard Greenan.

The major modernization of the school bus fleet was prompted by the discovery last spring of rampant corrosion in the older buses.

The problem was found in one bus during a routine inspection. Rust that started in the vehicle’s wheel well had made it all the way through to the passenger compartment.

Another 20 buses were taken apart to see if this was a trend and 16 of the 20 turned out to have serious corrosion underneath as well. The deterioration of these buses, considered a major safety risk in the event of a collision, prompted the Transportation Department to inspect the entire fleet.

The province had 104 school buses in the fleet that were built before 1994 but P.E.I.’s school boards pulled all of their 320 buses off the roads to check them for rust, leaving parents across the Island scrambling to make alternate travel plans to get their children to school.

Greenan said all of the school buses on regular runs are less than 13 years old, which is the standard in most parts of the country. Some of the 35 spare buses, though, are older than 12 years.

I found a few more great recipes for next week.  I’m really liking this meal planning.  I get so excited searching for new recipes!  Mealsmatter.org is my favorite resource for meal planning and it’s free.  There are so many great recipes on the site.  Makes meal planning a breeze!

Philly chicken cheese steaks = 7pts

*I’ve made a few changes from the original recipe.

Weight Watchers

Ingredients

Preparation

In a medium nonstick skillet, heat oil. Saute onion until browned and very soft, about 10 minutes. Add chicken and bell pepper; saute until chicken is golden brown and cooked through, 5-8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat tortillas according to package directions. Spoon chicken mixture down center of each tortilla and cover with cheese; roll into cylinders and slice on diagonal.

Whole Wheat Nachos with corn

modified from original recipe

Ingredients

Preparation

preheat oven to 350 degrees F

cut each pita into 8 wedges and arrange on baking sheet. bake for 10-12 minutes then allow to cool.

spread pita wedges on parchement paper. spread salsa or sauce on each slice and top with olives, tomatoes, corn and cheese. place back into the oven for 3-4 min or until cheese is melted.

I picked up the equipment I will need for the fall fitness challenge.  A yoga mat, 3lb weights and a exercise ball.  I’m sooo excited!  The classes are taught by a girl I went to school with.  She just decided one day to buck up and get fit and her classes have become very popular.  She teaches her classes 3 days a week, two of the classes are at the legion across the field from our house.  Yeah!  The classes are only $2 each which is very reasonable and the signup fee for the challenge is only $25.  I’ve also joined CPO’s own “Fall into Fitness” Challenge on the shrinking mom’s and dad’s board (thanks seealirun!).  It’s great to have a support group to keep you motivated.  I haven’t had any luck these past few months doing it on my own and I can’t wait to see results….bring it on!!!

It is now noon and my son is still asleep.  Boy will he be in for a shock when school starts.  Ah, the life of a teenager!  I’m a little tired myself.  I woke up at 6:30am to go help my parents clean.  They clean a dental clinic once a week as well as our church.  After cleaning, I came home and had a little snooze.  Difficult to do when you have an active 6 yr old coming in and out of the house every 5 minutes.  So now I am up and tidying up the house a little before we head to the beach.  It’s another gorgeous day!  Where was this weather 3 weeks ago when I was on vacation?  I will definitely be packing a hat today.  I forgot one yesterday and boy was that a mistake.  I also didn’t put on any sunscreen.  Another big mistake resulting in a noticeable red hue on my face, chest and back…ouch!!!  Live and learn I guess.  I’m picking up some corn for everyone and mom is picking more fresh veggies from her garden.  Yum!! Nothing beats fresh veggies and corn!

Well, we are back from the beach! Although it was VERY windy, we had a great day.  The kids played in the water all day while mom and I watched and laughed at them.  Kids can be so entertaining!

run gabby!

caught you!

all three having fun!

cheeese!

and of course, there will always be drama.

Today was a gorgeous day.  A perfect beach day!  Something we’ve had very few of this summer.  We headed to my parents cottage, had some lunch and then off to the beach.  Dad was cutting grass, hubby was working, so it was just mom, the girls and I.  Silly me, I forgot my hat, something I will never do again.  The result…a little too much sun and a headache.  I thought I was going to throw up.   After a couple of advil and some shade I was feeling a little better.  My dad took the seadoo down and I went for a short ride.  The water was very choppy so I didn’t stay out long.  There is just something about the feel of sea water spraying in your face….I love it!  Afterwards, we headed back up to the cottage for supper.  Mom has a huge garden out back, so we have been eating fresh beans, carrots, and beets.  Can’t wait for her cucumbers to come up so I can make some mustard pickles.  Hopefully it will be nice again tomorrow and then we can do the same thing all over again.

all the beach essentials

a peach on the beach

monkey see, monkey do!

posing for a pic (grace didn’t come with me)

my little beach bum!

Only another week or so and my favorite dairy bar will close down for the year.  I think that must be why I’ve been spending so much time over there lately.  I had a s’more sundae the other day and a banana split the day before.  I wish I could have icecream every day…it makes me sooo happy!  Can you see why???

banana splits and sundaes

a s’more sundae

Braeden arrives home today…in a few hours actually.  Hubby called me earlier to let me know he arrived safe and sound in halifax.  He had a great trip to edmonton and got to spend time with his other siblings…one of which shares the same birthday….how cool is that???  Vickie posted some pics…thanks so much Vickie!!!  Anyhoo, I’m just waiting for my boy to arrive home so I can hear more about his trip and then I am off to work.  I have to take braeden back-to-school shopping this weekend.  Nothing fits him anymore.

having fun in edmonton(man he is getting big!)

the whole crew!

braeden with his brothers and sister

they share the same birthdays

relaxing