I’m thinking of getting the kids a wii for xmas but wondered if anyone had any personal experience. I have to admit that I always said that I wouldn’t buy a nintendo, xbox, etc. as we had computers and I couldn’t see the point for just playing games. But I like how the wii has a physical activity element to it, so I’m considering it.

Anyone?

May:

• Ok, so remember my van fiasco? Well I bought a new van, a mazda mpv. It’s very nice, even has a dvd player for the kids on long rides. I’m saying good bye to north american made vehicles. My sympathies to all dodge caravan owners.

June:

• End of school year, kids and I go on vacation to Boston, lots of fun, the duck tour (amphibious bus) is a big hit:)
• I buy a giant water slide off ebay for the kids, wait for it to arrive

July:

• kids and I go camping in Saint Andrews
• Alec in summer camps.
• Woman runs a red light and hits the side of my van, fortunately I’m not hurt. Van out of commission for 2 weeks.
• End of July, taking too long for them to receive money order for slide, I ask them to cancel order.    

August:

• kids and I go camping to PEI with friends, have a great time
• I go camping to Mount Carleton.
• My sister rents a cottage in Shediac and the kids and I go back and forth to visit. My Dad and Aunt also come for a visit.
• I’m waiting for my money order to come back for ebay purchase, seller promised it is in mail. Finally I do a trace with my bank, they cashed it. She does not reply to my emails and she is suddenly not selling anything on ebay. Her ebay history that had before showed many positive feedback, now is made private. Stupid me, bought on ebay lots, never a problem, even paid with money order before for people who don’t have paypal and never a problem. I go on a mission, track down the PO box, find the drop off place, talk to the owner of the store, track her down. Small town, everyone knows everyone there. I think my money is coming back now.

September:

• kids back to school. Bram starts kindergarten and loses his tooth all on the same day. Alec starts middle school.
• Alec joins the hiking club, first hike yesterday, had a great time. I got to meet Harold there as well.

So what about me? The real goods? Nothing much new. Spending time with the kids and friends but mostly working as usual. Lots of good stuff to announce about all of that soon as well.

I promise a full update of the summer, life and all in the next week. Now that the kids are back to school (Bram starting kindergarten) things are balancing out. I shall try to make a habit of doing at least a weekly post in here again.

So I did it again. I seem to take a sabbatical from blogging every so often. Although this time it was replaced with something else. It’s still the usual, busy with work and kids, but I’ve more or less moved over to facebook as I find it so easy to keep up with friends and what’s happening without having to actually really write anything (yeah I know, I’m lazy, lol). So if you want to facebook me, send me an email lisa at simpleessentials.net and I’ll pass on the info to you.

The business is doing very well. The kids are growing like weeds and we’ve been doing a lot of camping this summer. I pop in to visit your blogs every so often and I’d love to see you on facebook:)

Bram turned 5 on May 4th. He had a kindergarten orientation at his school this week to prepare for next year. My little man is growing up.

I’m getting a “new” van, a 2003 Mazda MPV, hopefully next week.

The shoulder is stll healing.

This weekend with Mother’s Day coming up. I’m hoping to go with the kids to my dear friend Barb’s house as she’s having a Mother’s Day Open House. However she’s going through her own challenges and it’s hard to say what will happen on Sunday. My thoughts are with her. Then after, the kids and I are taking flowers to the cemetery where my Mom is buried. Bram has never been there and Alec hasn’t been there since he was 4. Mother’s Day is always a bittersweet day for me.

Busy as usual, no surprises there, but everyone is doing well.