Kid Olympics

sunny, hot, temps 29

Having a great time with the kids. I'm not at all good with kids until they hit the double digits, and then I'm more relaxed. Once I can talk to them. And these kids are great. Two boys, two girls...so far no tears, no teasing, no taunting and meanness that come sometimes happen. Of course, the day isn't over yet... But yesterday was a joy. Rained a bit in the morning, but they all went swimming anyway.

I've forgotten what it's like to be a kid and not care about water temperature. They even went swimming for an hour or so in the pond. They found the big pool toys...the dolphin and the porpoise - and next thing we knew they were splashing away with Uncle Doug in the pond. Today, after pancakes and bacon the boys got back in the pool and devised the 'Kids Olympics" which entailed catching a football as you jump into the deep end, then running along the bottom of the shallow end, and finally their version of the butterfly. Pretty chaotic Olympics, but still no tears and no trips to the emergency department.

Yesterday we all walked down the road to visit Markus and feed him carrots and apples - then into the village for ice cream - and back home for the Canadiens game. Least said about that, the better. (we lost - there, I said it.)

Barbeque burgers for the kids, lobsters for Vic and Michael - salads for Doug and me. Ending with the brownies, which Theo's Mom made...dear Lord they're wonderful.

And today is just the most beautiful day. As I write all four kids have just finished playing soccer out by the pond and are now in the pool. We're off for crepes later, but will hang loose (as they say) in case the kids would rather just play around here. sirloin steaks on the BBQ for dinner - and salads. Frankly, while we try to get some good food into the kids we pretty much feed them crap...and hope Theo's mom put carrots and broccoli into the brownies. Like the Canadiens winning this series, it seems a forlorn hope. It's a little disconcerting when Markus is getting better nutrition than the kids.

Everyone leaves tomorrow morning, we have the the Adult Olympics of washing sheets and towels and doing dishes and finding single shoes and socks and underwear to be mailed after them.

And then the place gets quiet, and we try to pretend it's peaceful...just peaceful. And not empty.

Don Lingman

Sunny, cloudy, rainy. Temps 25

Pat and her dog Magic left today. Very sad. But we had a great time. After Sunday's Spa day (now look less like a lobster and more like a rose - a ruddy rose) we went to visit the abbey at Saint Benoit du lac. Benedictine abbey. Wonderful. I mention it sometimes in the books. Their vocation is to made cheese and sing Gregorian chants. Ironically, for men who chose to isolate themsevles from the world, they became world-famous for their chants and now people travel from all over to hear them. Eventually they surrendered to their success and have opened a little store, where they sell their cheese, as well as the produce from other Quebec monestaries - most notably the Trappist Brothers at Mistassini - whose vocation is....chocolate making.

Dear Lord! the best chocolate in the world. Yum, yum.

We spent 45 minutes in the shop, and 5 minutes in the chapel. Though, have to say, I really like the chapel. It's very austere and not every one likes it, but I find it restful. And when the brothers come in in their long black robes chanting, it's electrifying. But we weren't there at a service time.

Pat bought us salmon dinners from a local caterer and we had a quiet, relaxing evening at home.

This morning early, though, I had a call from our beloeved sister-in-law, Mary in Toronto with the sad news that her father had died.

Don Lingman - a gentle soul who'd suffered a stroke years earlier and struggled with that. Then was diagnosed with cancer. Still, his decline was so rapid it took their breaths away. mary called in torrents of tears.

So we're cancelling everything and heading to Toronto for the visitation Thursday and the funeral Friday.

So hard to lose a parent, no matter what age. And her children, Brian, Roz and Charlie (the guys who visit us) were so loving and strong. Hugging their grandfather, wiping his brow, whispering they love him. Imagine having the courage to do that at age 10, 12 and 13?

Remarkable kids - with an amazing mother. And father. And grandfather.

Am off now. Need to re-group a little. Had to cancel tea with Bal and Linda Mount on Thursday - but they're coming over briefly this afternoon with their daughter Bethany. So looking forward to seeing them.

Also needed to cancel lunch with Bernard and Pat Lemieux. Michael worked with them on the Neuroblastoma study. They invited us to lunch, then Michael was going to tour the lab again and talk to Bernard about the research...all in aid of Michael's book. So we're disappointed about missing that - but it can and will be re-scheduled. The main thing in our lives now is to get to TO.

have a phone interview with Chatelaine magazine tomorrow - but that's before we leave.

Sex and the country

mainly sunny, warm, temps 26

A perfect day. Doug's taken the kids out golfing. I offered to go and watch from the clubhouse, but he explained this was a par-three course and the club house is a barn with a lawn chair.

So I'm at home, blogging. And doing laundry and the flowers.

So far so good. The guest kids, Elan and Spencer are wonderful. It's hard being a guest, especially as a child. rules you aren't familiar with, strange food and smells. Poor Elan is afraid of dogs. And snakes. And bugs. And frogs.

Still, she's sticking it out and making the best of it. I admire that.

We're having loads of fun. Kids living in the pool. Stopped long enough last night for chicken wings, carrots, celery, hummus and chocolate chip cookies (baked by Elan's mother - bless her!) Then the frisbee came out, immediately stolen and eaten by Maggie. Just as we'd almost convinced Elan that dogs are wonderful and gentle.

Michael and I went to bed (at about 9pm) and the kids watched Wedding Crashers on the DVD. We all seem to have had a good night's sleep, with Rozie and Elan sleeping on the sofa bed in the screen porch. We were all quite jealous since it was a hot, muggy night.

Then breakfast of cereal for the boys, pancakes, bacon and fruit for the rest of us.

So far no upsets, or tears. Little Spencer, who's about as cute as a button, said he wanted to see Sex and the City at the Princess (he calls it the Queen's) Theatre in Cowansville. Will have to call his Mom to see it that's OK. Michael's already announced he's not taking him. But I might. Mary, our sister-in-law, says it's OK for her kids, aged 10 and 12. It's rated 13 with adult accompaniment.

How bad can it be? Famous last words. What could possibly go wrong?

I'll let you know.

But do they eat each other?

mainly sunny, warm, temps 26

One more day. Until the kids come. Doug, my brother, wrote from Toronto with a list of callisthenics we can do, to build up muscle mass before they descend. And take us down with them. Of course, it's far too late for that and we must now rely on cunning, and bribery.

Doug, his kids Rozy (who is just turning 12) and Charlie (10) are coming. His oldest, Brian (13) is at camp. Each of the kids is bringing a friend. Spencer for Charlie and Elan for Rozy. Doug is bringing his imaginary friend.

We have lists everywhere - of food, of activities, of hiding places.

Ice cream, candies, hard boiled eggs, cheese, orange and grape crush and root beer. And that's just for Doug. Actually, he's a vegetarian and doesn't eat eggs or mushrooms either. But, he does eat Caramilk bars.

We're watching the forecast, as though that helps. We waited anxiously to see what movie the local theatre, the Princess in Cowansville, would be playing while the kids were here. Praying for Kungfu Panda.

It's Sex and the City.

Never liked Sex and the City, and even less now.

They arrive tomorrow (Friday) mid-afternoon. 24 more hours. I think we need to just hunker down and pray for daylight.