This Life - A Canadian Mom and Stepmom Blogs About The Complexities of Her Life

Mr. Darwin, a question for you please...

Can a worm evolve into a bunny?

I thought it a bit suspicious that our resident snail, aka "The Gaffer" was able to metamorphosize - overnight- from a snail into a worm. Her latest trick defies all logical evolutionary science. But, since there are those out there who deny evolution altogether, perhaps the fact that Sherman, my squirmy little worm has transformed into .... Whitey the Bunny, a snuggle-bunny in fact.

This bunny travels with carrots, especially when out on her scooter, which is still an exercise in the oddest form of coordination, if you can even call it that, that I have ever seen.

It speaks Bunny, which is about as intelligible as Wormish was but a little less guttural in sound.  Whitey even speaks French Bunny which has many repeptive sounds that are reminiscent of the English, "we, we we..."

This Bunny likes to hope through the aisles at Loblaws and hide behind the bread section twitching its nose. 

The worm had no arms and feet and the bunny seems to be fairly self-sufficient in those areas, which is a nice treat, but the bunny is fast and skittish and the obstacles to our daily life that have been removed with this metamorphosis into a self-propelling creature, have been replaced by the speed and agility of the ever elusive snuggle bunny.

I officially take back any frustration I may have had with Sherman and her worminess and can only hope that our next adventure, which should be in another 6 months or so, will be with a turtle so that Mommy Turtle will be able to keep up.

You've Only Failed if You Fail to Try...

...says the legend of Princess Oochigeas..."A brave spirit makes all things possible."

I have had the extraordinary privilege in my life to spend substantial time with children who live this everyday. 

CAMP OOCHIGEAS, is a camp just outside of the town of Rosseau, in Muskoka, Ontario that is for children who have cancer. I would defy anyone driving up to the site to be able to find anything that signal that this camp differs than another in anyway.

But my does it ever. There are the medical facilities and staff. The nurses and doctors from SICK KIDS that must be on site for a session to run. The Medshed with blood work stations and chemo beds. The direct emergency lines to Parry Sound and Orillia hospitals.

There are the counsellors, whose average age is 24-25. Over 200 of them VOLUNTEER for one-two weeks each in order to have "nothing but fun" with the campers. Many counsellors arrive, excited by what they can do for the kids, but if their experiences are anything like mine were, they leave, overwhelmed by how much knowing these kids have done for them.

For 7 summers, I had the BEST TIME OF MY LIFE as a counsellor and swim instructor at Camp Oochigeas.  I met the most outstanding adults I have ever had the privilege of knowing and am proud that many of them are still my closest friends. I met the bravest kids I have ever known and I saw at least one miracle a day. A camper who arrived in a wheelchair and walked to the bus when it was time to go home. An amputee water skiing from a boom, a bald girl with the biggest, roundest Prednisone face possible boogieing on the dance floor to put Travolta to shame.

And Thursday night,at THE EVENING OF SUMMER DREAMS, I got to live a little bit of it all over again.  The Camp needs to build a barn which will work as their rec/community centre and the fundraiser was dedicated to this purpose. I know a lot of people who have spent the last two years working on this and their labour paid off with resounding success.

People around me spent thousands and tens of thousands of dollars on auction items and got great deals. I bought Cupcake (who was volunteering at the event) a Nicole Miller prom dress with matching shoes at the silent auction. I tried to win Beer for a Year, but my wallet just isn't up to most of the attendees. That's good though, the camp needs their money, their support and their donations.

From me it gets enthusiasm, tons of time (when I had it pre:kid life and when I have it again as the kids get older) and recommendations. I literally glow with pride over the 4 grads from my school who will be volunteering at Ooch this summer and who have said their desire to go has come from my infectious enthusiasm.

I could start a blog just about Ooch, what it means, what it is, what it has done for kids with cancer, what it has done for healthy me...these few words are too little to express its enormity. I am so lucky to always have Camp Oochigeas in my heart and the spirit of Princess Oochigeas in my soul!

Spring into Show Season

Garage Sales, Baby Shows, Fundraisers, Church Bazaars...

Spring is in the air and bargain shoppers are littering the streets. 

I am not one of those great bargain hunters who knocks on doors at 7:00 am for 8:00 am garage sales looking for the Limoges and Royal Doulton, but I do find it hard to drive by a front yard loaded with the cast offs of others.  Maybe it's envy or insecurity, but I am always certain that they will have something I have always wanted/needed but have never been able to afford. Then, guilty that I have stopped and discovered that I really haven't  been missing out, I buy something I don't really need and take it home for some future garage sale I may have.

But there are a couple of Toronto area sales that never let me down.  The Crescent School Garage Sale and the North Toronto MOMS Great Kids Stuff Sale. The MOMS sale specializes in newborn to pre-school stuff and is definitely the greatest place to start stocking up on toys, clothes, boots, shoes, high chairs and strollers. It is a fundraiser for the MOMS' group and is a shining example of the commando-like precision with which MOMS with a mission can operate.

The Great Kids Stuff Sale has been hosted by the North Toronto MOMS Group since 1995 as a fundraiser and service to the community. Now in its 13th year, this semiannual event is larger and more popular than ever. ~ 20th Semi-Annual Great Kids Stuff Sale ~ Saturday, April 19th, 2008 9:00 am -12:00 pm St. Leonard's Anglican Church 25 Wanless Ave (just north of Lawrence, east of Yonge) ~CASH ONLY~ High quality items for newborns up to 6 years old Clothes, Cribs, Strollers, Toys and More!! Thousands of brand name, gently used baby and kids’ items at great prices! Interested in selling your kids stuff? Click Here Clear out the stuff you no longer need, turn it into cash! Unfortunately, the Crescent Sale was last weekend so I cannot promote it for you or for them, but I can show you the Gaffer's big score and you can put it into your show/sale  calendar for next year.

Ladies and Gentlemen...taaadaaa!!! Matching purple Barbie bikes and scooters for the low, low, low price of $10.00 each.  Now we just need someone who offers co-ordination lessons for our little worm who just can't seem to get the hang of peddling and steering at the same time.  Perhaps you have seen me in the 'hood carrying the scooter along as we work our way to and from the park.

Last weekend was also the Babytime Show at the International Centre and although the only booth that really held interest for me at this stage in my life was the one with Doug Gilmour<3, Urbanmoms put on an awesome showing in the VIP tent and hopefully some of you met us there and are tuning in to our newsletter for the first time.

Welcome , have fun, and happy shopping!