October? We owe you NOTHING!

October has been a tad challenging.

Not in the usual ways...
first off I've been sick-ish.
Better since mid month but not completely well.
Coughing through the night, tired during the day.
Sort of "Eh"

Then there is the whole being a teacher in Ontario right now...
"Eh"

Then last week the biggie...
Auntie Sumi, caregiver extrodinaire, took an emergency trip to India.
You know the babysitter who has not been unwell for one single day in 3 full years?
The Auntie that, if she was unwell,
would make her husband take the day off to help out
but would never ever cancel?

Yeah.
India.
But ben and I made it through 6 Sumi-less days
due to the kindness of others...
dude was with me in the mornings until the bell
(oh hour and fourty five minutes of quiet planning time how I have missed you)
and then at 11:30 each day
one saviour or another came rushing to our aid
to provide afternoon care.
Tammy, Bill, Carol, Kristen and Dre.

Something different and somewhat unpredictable
every.single.day?
Dude was off a bit.  Such is life.

Thursday night we stayed over
at Baby Eva's house...cuteness extraordinaire.

And then yesterday dude took the day off school
and went out and about
with Auntie Kristen, Dre and baby Eva
to investigate aboriginals.

His only response to "So, what did you learn?"
Mama, I am sooooo glad I live now
and not in ancient times!
I would NOT want to sleep on DEAD animals...
night after night after night.
Sooooo, gross.

And then?
Mama weekend.
Always starts with popcorn and hot chocolate
and then lots of storybooks in bed on Friday evening.
The one night each week that dude gets to cuddle sleep with mama
(and mama in turn gets to go to sleep at 8 ;)
Love it!

Today was wonderful in a cold windy rainy nasty weather sort of way.
An early morning goodbye to Auntie Carol and Uncle Bill
who are at this moment driving straight into a hurricane
on their way to Myrtle Beach.
16 Ben chosen books in bed
interspersed with energetic pillow fighting.

A light breakfast.
A bit of tidying.
Some structure building by the fire.
A bit of an art moment.

An impromptu trip to a local town for a pirate show at the library.

A lovely lunch out.

A couple of hours at the bookstore.
A Starbucks chai tea for mama
and a cold white kids milk for the wee one.
And TV...lots and lots of "boy shows"
4 x 30 minute shows in a row...he was THRILLED!
And finally the announcement that
"This was the very best mama day ever!"

Almost time for bed.
and I've decided not to ruin this day with report card writing...
even though I should.

Tomorrow?
More of the same.
And a Birthday Costume Party invite!