The Happiness Project - Week 21

Our Canadian summer

is slowly coming to an end.

But Ethan and I have had a great time.

We made the most of our last weekend

on the continent

and went to Niagara Falls this weekend,

with my cousin

and her family.

We went on the Maid of the Mist.

Got close to the Falls.

Went for a walk

and got wet.

And checked out the

Cave of the Winds

 where we were given matching sandals.

Oh,

and got soaked!

Happiness is

Niagara Falls.

Family Picnic

I come from a large family.

Or rather, extended family.

Not many people comprehend how large it is.

Let me give you a small sample.

My father is one of 8 siblings.

Now, each sibling is married

and has anywhere between 2-3 children.

There are 19 of us cousins.

From there,

a bunch of us are married with kids.

Let me see...

I think there's about 13 kids from there.

The reason I mention this?

Yesterday Ethan and I attended 

the Jamani Family Picnic.

I told Scott there was almost

200 people there.

His comment:

"There's no way you have 200 people in your family."

I said there was 200 people there.

There's more in the family!!!!

Basically, 

this was a gathering

of my grandfather's family.

This is a picture of my grandfather

(he's the tall one in the white suit)

with his cousins.

The picnic was the children of all these

cousins.

There was even a huge family tree

and a binder which had all the branches.

It was quite the day!

First Grave on the Right - Darynda Jones

How is it, 

that I'm only reading this book now?

How is it,

I have not read it before now?

This book was great!

How great?

Well...

let me tell you.

Charley Davidson

is a PI who works with the

Albuquerque Police Department.

Her uncle is a cop.

She helps him solve crimes,

mainly murders,

cos she has inside information.

What kind of info

you ask?

Well,

Charley is the Grim Reaper!

Yup that's right.

She helps the dead pass through the light

that is her!

Now,

the best part of Charley

asides from her best friend, 

Cookie.

And no,

it's not the hot skiptracer,

Garrett

(can I add a yum here)

or even the mysterious Reyes

(double yum)

it's her sense of humour.

She named her boobs:

Danger and Will Robinson!

I know!

Who does that?

Charley does,

that's who.

And she's even named her ovaries!

Beam me up and Scotty!

Come on'

you know you'll love her!

I did!

High Five for Friday

We've had a fabulous week.

I cannot believe we only have

one week left of our vacation!

Where has the time gone?

Some of our highlights this week

include:

Swimming with cousins

Toasting marshmallows

Celebrating Grandpa's 75th

A great find at the comic store

Niagara Falls

Writer's Workshop - Coffee

I'm not a coffee drinker.

I'm a latte drinker.

My father-in-law was asking me,

recently,

what the difference was.

"A latte has a lot of milk?"

So I thought,

I'd use MamaKat's prompt

to learn the difference.

Coffee is brewed by mixing ground 

coffee beans with hot water,

steeping it,

then straining out the coffee grounds. 

It's drunk either black,

with/without some sugar, 

and possibly a small bit of milk

or cream. 

Espresso is also made with the same

coffee beans,

but darker roasts are used

to give a more intense flavour,

and the ground is finer.

Espressos also use an espresso machine. 

It has a more intense flavour than coffee,

which helps explain the teeny weeny

cups.

Oh, and no milk or cream is added!

Cappuccino is made with equal parts

espresso and milk,

where the milk is frothed

which basically doubles the original

volume of the milk.

This foam is then poured

over the espresso. 

Latte is also made with espresso.

This time twice as much milk

as espresso is used.

The milk is heated

using a steam wand.

The hot milk and espresso

are poured together. 

Whatever foam may have been formed

during the steaming process

is poured over the top. 

And now,

I want a latte!

The Emergency

I have a 7-year old.

This means I can now

pee alone.

Don't judge!

You know what I'm talking about!

Actually,

I should say,

having a 7-year old means

I should be able to pee alone.

Today,

Grandpa's out.

Ethan has showered and is dressed.

He's entertaining himself with the Family Channel,

comic books

and toys.

I tell him I'm going for a shower.

He is not to open the front door

and only answer the phone

if it's Uncle G.

Basis covered,

right?

So,

here I am,

enjoying my shower.

All covered in soap when I hear,

"mama, mama, mama"

thump thump thump

(the thumping is him running up the stairs)

"mama, mama, mama"

thump thump thump

"mama, mama, mama"

thump thump thump

I do what every mom would.

I quickly rinse

(I'm sure there's soap everywhere)

grab my towel,

throw the door open and

ask

"What's a matter?"

"Rasool mama sent you a picture of Hailey!"

This is the big emergency!

Yes England,

you may have a prince,

but Ethan has a new cousin

and she's more important than

anything.

Even more important than mommy's shower!

The Happiness Project - Week 20

It has been years since I last went to the cottage.

If I'm honest,

it was probably the year Scott and I got married.

Yup,

that long ago.

Which means,

Ethan's never been.

Part of the issue

is we are rarely home in the summer.

And for the last 2 years,

the times Scott's dad has gone,

it has not been a time Ethan and I could go.

Until now...

Yes, Ethan had his first cottage experience.

The view from the deck.

Ethan played with bubbles,

went for a swim,

and even went fishing with Grandpa.

Happiness is spending time at the cottage.