Dad Did What???

Notice the Orange Converse with the blue laces......

The Famous Track Suit and watch...I love that this picture shows my Dad's watch....you have to be a music geek to undrstand it, instead of numbers it shows key signature notations in the circle of fifths 12 being C major, 1 being G, 2 being D, 3 being A and so on...A music student gave it to him several years ago and he truly treasures it

My Dad is eccentric to say the least. Has always been that way and I love him for it. He does his own thing and marches to his own beat. I guess you would call him the "artsy" type. What other 75 year old man do you know that will wear purple or orange high top converse and pink hospital scrub pants in public or a black and red track suit to Church...Nothing he has ever does really surprises us

Its been hard over the last year or two to watch my Dad's zest for life decline...his eccentric nature has become more and more apparent and I'm not sure its always to his benefit. While his over all situation truly makes me sad there are moments that make me laugh and cry all at the same time and just shake my head...

There was the picture I received in the mail from him of an "It's a Boy" stork sign, sitting prominently in my Dad's family room (my sister had just adopted Zach a month or two earlier) On the Sign was the name "Zachary , Middle Name Crossed Out, Last Name Crossed Out...Les written in(Zach's Middle name)...my sisters last name written in. Birth Date crossed out and Zach's birth date written in...my dad had seen the sign in someones yard and taken it, taken it.Because it had Zach's name on it..(head shake)...

Last week my dad's cat died. A cat he had for more than 10 years. It was his only companion and truly devastated my dad. I felt so bad for him and told him when he was ready we would help him get another cat, if he wanted. Two days later he called and announced he had a new cat...a "stray" he had "found." and took home.My dad lives in the middle of California Suburbia and the likely hood that a healthy cat with a collar is a stray is very unlikely. My Dad swears its a stray and no amount of convincing has changed his mind...My only hope is that the cat escapes and find its way home. Not sure if it's old age or late on set kleptomania, but I'm still shaking my head.

(***after I posted this I found out that the cat was indeed the neighbours and has been returned home...thank heavens***)

The "Back to School" Happy Dance!

Grant & I will be doing the big time HAPPY DANCE in ten days!!! Why? The Rug rats are going back to school. Don't get me wrong I love summer and I love my kids. But I am ready for the routine and some peace & quiet. Keeping the pantry stocked will be less of a challenge too...I think I understand the phrase "eating us out of house and home" now. 48 Eggo's waffles gone in 12 hours...5 gallons of milk in 3 days...4 jumbo boxes of cereal in 5 days, sometimes I think they needed a snorkel. I won't miss the constant refereeing because "shes looking at me " or "he won't get of the computer." I will miss the kids sleeping 'til the crack of noon while I lazily read a book or the days relaxing on the beach or staying up all night for a "Harry Potter" marathon. But I'm ready for the change...even the kids are looking forward to a new year. So just one more hurdle until "the most wonderful time of year" The 164 item school supply list.... (not including clothes, shoes, or back packs)...but in my mind its a small price to pay for 7 hours a day of peace & quiet for the next 10 months. I guess that makes me one of those Moms but I'm perfectly ok with that. And kids we promise to wait until we are off school property to begin our much anticipated "HAPPY DANCE"

SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST 2010

Lined Paper...15 pkg

Duotangs....30 Kleenex...2 boxes
Oil Pastels (24pk)...2
Markers (12pk)...2 (thin)
Pencil Crayons (24pk)...5
Glue Sticks...6
Pencils (12pk)...10
Red Ball Point Pens...2 pkg
White Erasers...14
Fine Point Permanent Marker....6
Plastic Pencil Box....2
Scissors...2
Ruler....5
Pencil Sharpener...5
1” Binders...1
Key Tab Exercise Books...12
Unlined Paper...1 pkg
Black/Blue Ball Point Pens...5 pks
Highlighters...4 pkg thin
8 Digit Calculator...2
Notebooks....8 (150pg) 2 (80 pg)
Graphing Calculator...2
Sticky Notes...2 pks
Geometry Set ...3 sets
Graph Paper...3 pks
Dividers...5 pks
2” Binders ....6
Pencil Case...3

Berry Pickin'

Yesterday the kids and I went blackberry picking with the Hodacseks....Blackberries grow in abundance here on the Island, so it was easy to find a spot. We spent an hour in the bushes behind Superstore .....that sounds a little creepy Madison with the homemade berry pickers Maggie made.

....We then went to Air force Beach (part of 19 Wing Comox military base) to pick some more. ....Bailey enjoying the view.

Holly and Kaili

At least nobody was complaining about the view.


This little bunny wouldn't leave my bucket alone.

After an hour or so at the beach we had more berries than we knew what to do with. By then we were hungry, over heated, and nursing a multitude of scratches. An appointment with the river was the only solution so, we decided to show Hodacseks our new favourite swimming hole, Angel Falls on Browns River. We stopped at Little Caesars on the way. 40 pieces of pizza gone in six minutes. They were like a pack of peronas, I'm surprised they didn't eat the boxes...

Angel Falls was the perfect remedy.

All of them were dare devils...even Dallyn jumped off the top.

Madison, Dax, Brian, Alex, Holly, Elizabeth

Dallyn, Kaili, Bailey

Alex ....After a good long soak we head back to Hodacseks to make Jam, Jelly and Pie filling.

For the next six hours we washed, cooked, canned and processed the berries, outside, on a covered deck, using a pretty sweet camp stove. It was a great set up. Towards the end though, I started to think the berries were self replicating...But at 10:15 we filled the last jar. This is the results of our efforts.......

42 jars of blackberry jam, jelly and pie filling. Well worth the effort.

Take a Hike!

Today was Grant's first day off in the last fourteen so we decided to invite some adventurous friends and go some where we hadn't before... we had seen pictures of some cool waterfalls a couple of days ago...but had no idea where they were or how to get there....So after a few phone calls these are the directions we got...

"Turn left on Forbidden Plateau Rd, The first bridge you cross is Browns River(not marked), Park on the shoulder before you cross the Bridge, the trail is unmarked on the downstream side of the bridge, follow the trail along the river for about ten minutes to Angel Falls."

It was actually straight forward... The trail wasn't too difficult...but there were lots of downed trees to climb up and over or go under

Madison & Tater... The river was extremely low so we were able to hike down it to the top of the falls

Angel Falls from the trail above

Bailey in the Falls...there were deep circular holes you could stand in

Dallyn & Riley at the top...Bailey half way up...Alex and Lauren at the bottom

Alex

Riley, Alex, Lauren, Me, Dallyn, Michelle......Using the rope to get back up to the top of the trail...it was steeper than it looked (at least I thought so)



Don't look at the next two if you're squeamish.....

Bailey slipped on a log and this was the result...I know a Kramer kid getting hurt, shocking. It was a pretty good gouge. We ripped a towel into strips and wrapped it up. When we got home and soaked it...it definitely required butterfly bandages (you were right Michelle)

Dr. Grant's handy work...poor Bailey

Browns River looking upstream to Angel Falls

I Will Not Self Destruct Entering a Nursing Home...

Serving in Relief Society is a huge blessing to me and my family but I have learned quickly that our Church callings often bring us out of our comfort zones. There are many things I have done in the last several years that I would have never done or learned to do on my own. Coordinate a table centerpiece to correspond with a monthly theme(Sisters here think its quite funny that in a big ward we lived in their was a "table centerpiece coordinator" and seriously she was awesome at it)....Assemble a hanging basket out of chicken wire & burlap using only pliers...Became computer literate by doing my Family History work...Understand the fine workings of my garden composter, not that I use it, but at least I understand it....

Monday, when the other counsellor in the presidency asked me to set up appointments for our Presidency Visits this week I didn't mind. But when she listed off the Sisters names, my heart sank. "Oh no, not the sisters in the Nursing Home" I thought.

I know that sounds terrible...but I have not set foot in a nursing home in 6 and a half years, not since my mom died. Not that I haven't tried, we took the kids trick or treating, at a facility, in Port Alberni a few years ago. I made it past the double doors and turned around leaving Grant with the kids. Something about the environment and the institutional smell instantly brought back the guilt and the vivid memories of my mom dying alone in a similar place...

I almost bailed on Sister Creaser this week, thinking of various "flu-like" symptoms I might suddenly acquire. After a few minutes of talking myself into it I picked up the phone and made the necessary arrangements. Things were set for this morning, but all week I wondered if I could do it. I was definitely going out of a sense of duty, but not desire.

As we entered the first Sisters apartment today, I started to relax,as she cheerful told us of all she was able to still do even though age and injury were working against her. "I hope I have this attitude and tenacity at that age " I thought. As we entered the second Sister's apartment, I instantly forgot were I was and felt I was in the home of an old friend. She told us how her testimony of tithing had help her, her entire life. Reaffirming my own testimony of tithing. " I hope I have her grace & elegance at that age" I thought... As we entered the part of the facility were our third sister resided I was amazed at the similarities between it and Saint Mike's in Lethbridge (the last facility my mom lived in). Decor, layout, everything was similar. The furniture in this Sister's room was identical. I admit I had to take a deep breath as I sat down. The memories of my mom came flooding back but the guilt and pain did not. As I listened to this Sister relentlessly tease my companion (they have been friends for decades) I could not help but laugh and relax. As we left this Sister in her gruff way said to me "Well I'm glad you came, But I'm not to sure about her! (pointing to Sister Creaser) I couldn't help but laugh. "I hope I still have my sense of humor at that age" I thought.

Today I was why out of my comfort zone but I learned two things....I will not self destruct upon entering a nursing home and the bonds of sisterhood in Relief Society are universal.

Comox Lake & the education of Dallyn

Sunset at the Lake

Dallyn & Jake jumping off the dock

Swimming

Holly

For Family Home Evening ,yes open the record books, the Kramer's(minus Madison, she was baby sitting) had FHE, we went to Comox Lake. Its been sticky hot for days here so swimming in the lake was a nice reprieve. Plus it saved us from turning FHE into "Family Fight Night"....

As we pulled into the packed parking lot at the Lake, our slightly naive, always inquisitive, 10 year old had a bit of an education. First, an old guy was walking down the road wearing bright yellow T Shirt and a black speedo (speedos should only be aloud at the Olympics, but nobody asked me). The entire van starts laughing, as one of my lovely teenagers says..."Nice banana hammock!" Without missing a beat Dallyn pipes up "Mom, What's a "banana hammock?" Me: "Uh, uh, uh, a speedo" Dallyn: "that's gross!" Me: "Yes, yes it is"....thirty seconds later as we pull the "loser cruiser" into a parking spot Dallyn says "What's that smell ??!!" Grant replies, "That would be POT, Dallyn." "Oh that's what it smells like." (how can you tell we live in BC) ...Not exactly what I had in mind for the "lesson" portion of FHE .

We all enjoyed swimming and then met up with friends...it was a perfect evening...minus the education of Dallyn.

My Kind of People

Robin, Michelle, Renae, Carolin

Loni, Lucy, Amy (baby Ruben)

I have always been blessed with GREAT friends. Every place we have lived I have gained life long friends. That was the hardest part of leaving Port Alberni, just over a year ago, was saying good bye to friends. The Comox Valley is the first place we have ever moved with no family ties. We knew just one family here (Dear friends, we have followed around the Island since 1996, I kid them that if they ever move we'll know where we are headed next)... but I worried...Would I have friends, would I have the kind of friends I left in Port....The answer is a resounding YES!

We were welcomed here with open arms...If there is a How-To manual on welcoming new families, The Comox Valley wrote it. Within a few days here I knew I was home.

Last week we had to say good bye to a friend moving to Manitoba...it still makes me sad just thinking about it, she is down to earth, can totally take a joke, my Visiting Companion, has a listening hear....I honestly think we were instant friends and I will really miss her. Seven of us had to go out just one last time.....

I feel sorry for any body who shared the restaurant with us that night...I have never laughed that hard in my life (I needed Advil & Depends, seriously). This entire week every time I think about it, I laugh, I can't help it, even now I'm smiling...Nobody could ever accuse any of these Mormon Housewives of having dull, boring lives...the fact that they are among the funniest people I know, sure helps. Strong minded, kind-hearted, trust worthy, accepting...I can just be myself, these are my kind of people...

Nice BUNS!!

Lynette's Recipe.. spread whipping cream & brown sugar in the bottom of the pan

It was super hot today...not sure what possessed me to bake...but the dough rose quickly in the shade on the deck

Good thing I have lots of counter space

and five cake pans...even I didn't know I had that many

NICE BUNS! if I do say so myself :) 83 to be exact

Today I made sticky buns for the second time in 17 years. 17 years ago, about 7 months into our marriage I tried making cinnamon rolls for my sweat heart, just they way his mommy taught me. Lynette had come to visit just days before and felt I needed to learn two things to keep Grant happy. Cinnamon Rolls & Pie. (I have never, ever made a pie, unless Saralee counts) Hamburger Helper & Kraft Dinner was the extent of my culinary skills then. So baking anything was a stretch.

I did the best I could and at least they resembled cinnamon rolls. Grant took the first bite and then made a near fatal mistake...

" They're ok but they aren't as good as my mom's" he mumbles in the middle of his Star Trek episode.

I said nothing, walked back to the kitchen (3 steps in our tiny basement suite) and dumped the entire batch in the garbage, walked back and sat next Grant on the couch. A few minutes later Grant walks in to get another cinnamon roll..."Where'd they go?" Garbage. (Me crazy?, No just 6 months preggers with Holly) I never tried again. Even now when we see or smell a cinnamon roll I have still been known to say "Bet they're not as good as Mom's eh? ;) Today I Succeeded! "They're great Robin!" "Just like Mom's " "Better?" I ask. Grant just kept chewing....

Who you lookin' at???

I have a lazy eye...well two really. I use one eye at a time, and which ever eye isn't in use is staring off the opposite direction.My eyes switch back and forth constantly. Its always been that way, I have never known anything different. The only thing is as I have gotten older it has become way more obvious. There are only two things I can't do drive and see 3D movies. Driving, in the general interest of public safety having a person behind the wheel with zero depth perception and not always being able to tell which direction a moving object is coming from, not such a good idea. 3D, I remember sitting through old 3D movies as a child and thinking "What the heck?!" everything was off set in blue and red. At least with the new digital stuff looks like regular 2D for me with the glasses and doesn't give me a head ache (Despicable Me was awesome)

How people respond to my lazy eyes is down right funny....People never know which eye to look at,but assume I don't notice the confusion on there face ...People look over their shoulder to see if I am talking to someone behind them...I have even had people speak slower and repeat themselves, assuming my crazy eyes are some how linked to a lack of intelligence....My kids even have fun with it, I'll say go do the dishes to which on of my smart asses will ask,"which two of us are you lookin' at, Mom???(where on earth did they learn to be so sarcastic ;) But here is my favourite.....

Not long after school started this last September, twin boys that were in Dallyn's class kept showing up to play, I didn't mind them playing in the yard but I told Dallyn that until I meet parents(we were brand new to Courtenay) I don't want them in the house...A couple of weeks later,out of the blue, Dallyn runs inside and announces the twins mom is here to meet me...I was in the middle of mopping the kitchen...in a baggy t shirt (no bra on, there I said it), pyjama bottoms, my hair in a bright red bandanna, a total domestic goddess...well isn't that flippin fantastic I thought...I go to the door...I say oh hi its nice to meet you...she says "oh I am right in front of you," as she grabs my hand to shake it...I thought "that's odd"....her two boys who are identical except for there different coloured mo-hawks, are now standing beside her...I say "ok which one of you is which?" The boys quickly explain that the blue mo hawk belongs to A and the brown mo hawk belongs to B. The mom interrupts them and says "Oh sweetie I don't think she can see that" Oh. My. Gosh. She thinks I'm blind!(I am sure that could explain my goddess get-up) I quickly try to bail her out by saying "oh that's ok, I see just fine" "Are you sure?"she says....me:YES. "Well then what the heck is wrong with your eyes???" OK know I'm feeling a wee bit violated and thinking ouch that was RUDE...but I lunched into the full medical explanation just for the fun of it : cerebral palsy, oxygen deprivation, surgical intervention, ophthalmologist, physical and occupational therapy...I think the big words overwhelmed her...:) But Rule #1 is Never assume anything! Dallyn never asked to have them over again and for some reason I was ok with that.

My eyes are just part of who I am and I'm absolutely ok with it. Who you lookin' at??...Only I know :)

Gabriola Island and yes the Kramer's survived camping :)

Grant, the kidlets & I along with the Hodacsek family spent most of last week camping on Gabriola Island.(25 minute ferry ride out of Naniamo's inner harbour) We were our own little army. 9 kids (between the ages of 10 &18) 4 adults. It was a blast!!! Gabriola is stunning. We camped at the Hodacsek family property on the North side of the Island over looking the water. We spent the day watching, ferries and Cruise ships meander by....what a life!

Duke Point Ferry passing Entrance Island.

We (I mean Maggie, mostly) cooked and ate outside.....mmmm the best tacos I have ever had any where. I have to admit I truly coveted that camp stove as only a Relief Society sister could :0]

Twin Beaches...the second day was really smokey because of fires burning in the interior of BC, the first time ever a smoke alert was issued for the city of Nanaimo...That night we had thunderstorms (extremely unusual on the coast, 3rd time in 7 years) which helped clear the air.

Petroglyphs, from the Cowichan Nation..... we had to hike around a huge hornets nest to get there, but pretty cool to see.Also known as "Chunky Dunkin"..... Good thing we brought bathing suits :) ...this must be an issue on the Island...this wasn't the only sign we saw.

Malaspina Galleries...formed by frost & wave action against the soft sand stone, pretty impressive.

Our kids showing off for each other...jumping of the rocks just down from the Galleries...I was shocked even Dallyn was jumping.

Hiking over to Sandy Beach

Look at all the pretty boats,we will never afford...I tried to convince Grant to take our picture in front of a big yacht called the Lorraine...for our family Christmas Card...but Grant is way too honest for that

Entrance Island Lighthouse

Silva Bay Marina

Having a mistress of any kind is wrong Grant! The guy on the boat is not naked...if you look closer he does have shorts on...but it made me worry for a few seconds

My favourite spot on Gabriola...Drumbeg Provincial Park.


We loved camping...and nobody puked, not once....YEAH! Other than a wasp bite & several good scraps and scratches from barnacles(Maggie has a fully stocked first aid kit just for my kids), it was uneventful and the most relaxed I've been in along time. Good food, Great friends, Beautiful scenery...I can't think of a better vacation.

Hell has frozen over...we're going CAMPING!

Apparently Hell has frozen over....the Kramer clan is going camping! After a near ten year hiatus we have gained enough courage to try camping as a family again. Our last attempt at camping was an epic failure. Mid-October, Southern Alberta...my in laws had just bought a palatial 5th wheel trailer (it was bigger than our 6 room farm house) and had come for an extended visit. Surprised when our 8 year old informed them she had never been camping, the in laws suggested going to Ridge Lake Reservoir 25 minutes from Raymond. Them in their heated house on wheels; us in our 1982 Ford Econoline Van. We didn't own a tent or sleeping bags. When we arrived at the camp ground it was deserted (everybody else knew it was too cold to camp on purpose) and too breezy to start a camp fire. I don't remember what we did between arriving and retiring for the night....all I remember is being so COLD. All the girls fell asleep in the trailer...Dallyn (under 2), Grant & I all drew the short straw slept in the Van...after only an hour of sleep the puke fest began. First it was Dallyn, then about 20 minutes later the van door opened and Alex was passed off to us, she had initiated nearly ever surface in the brand new 5th wheel. Now with two puking toddlers we made the decision to head home, leaving the older girls with their Grandparents, it was nearly mid night. It wasn't until we started the van and pulled on to the road that we noticed how foggy it was, I mean the thickest, pea soup I have ever seen. You could barely see the front of the hood let alone the road. We inched home. The entire hour and a half , the puking continued. As we pulled into Raymond we stopped at the ER, they shot both kids up with Gravol and sent us home with instructions to give them Gatorade a tablespoon at a time for 24 hours. It took days for my poor babies to recover. I don't think that Van ever smelled the same again...So I swore I'll never go camping again.

When the invitation came last week to go camping with friends a chill ran through my body...but the opportunity to see an Island we might not otherwise see and the desperate need to get away from it all...help me overcome the vomit flashbacks. So Gabriola Island hear we come !!! But I will throw in a few ice cream buckets just in case. And Madison please stop making gagging noises....its irritating ;)

Can I have a do-over please???

Can I have a do-over please??

This last week all I did was worry and the only thing I learned....that worry is wasted. I spent an entire week focusing on what was wrong and maybe I was even justified...we spent days waiting to hear from doctors and wondering if Grant's vision would be permanently affected by his concussion....our landlord wanted to do a yearly inspection, so I felt the house had to be spotless(oh and yes the house is that clean ALL the time ;) ;)...my Dad, affected by addiction and increasing memory loss, was very unkind because he hadn't remembered a conversation with me just hours earlier, trying to come to terms with a second parent struggling with declining physical & mental health is more difficult than I'd care to admit....and wishing that our family relationships could be more traditional and supportive...Right in the middle of my self imposed pity party...I came across this quote while I was preparing my Relief Society lesson....my topic HOPE (go figure :))

Even if you cannot always see that silver lining on your clouds, God can, for He is the very source of the light you seek. He does love you, and He knows your fears. He hears your prayers. He is your Heavenly Father, and surely He matches with His own the tears His children shed.

-Jeffrey R. Holland, “‘An High Priest of Good Things to Come’,” Ensign, Nov 1999, 36

I was schooled!!! Even though I felt alone, I wasn't. There was a silver lining...I just needed to change my attitude and look for it.....I hadn't had a bad week at all... We had had a great visit with my nieces and my sister in law(the other founding member of our "I married a Kramer" support group & one of my favourite people), spent a wonderful day on the beach, my house was totally spotless & my entire honey-do-list was complete (yeah Grant), through all the struggles with my parents I still have the best sister in the world and on Friday Grants vision tests and CT scan came back normal. It truly was a great week. The only thing about my week that needed changing was my attitude.