Oct 07 2008

It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses Their Edge

Direct complaints to Mr Lady regarding Places I've Been

So yeah; gardens, boat, sunshine.  Take two.  (To save your poor browsers, I went with thumbnails for this.  Hover for descriptions, click to enlarge)

Ever drag 3 kids out on an hour long car ride, a two hour boat ride, and then expect them to be even close to interested in walking around some bee-infested garden?  You can guess how well that panned out for the lot of us.  Fortunately, I am a creative woman with a decade of parenting under her belt, and I know a trick or two for getting kids interested in something.

Besides that. Everyone knows that. It worked pretty well for me, too, truth be told.

No, no, I was talking about every kid’s kryptonite: The Gift Shop.  PS: Whoever decided to put the gift shop at the entrance of everything, making it the Very First Thing every kid sees?  Can suck it.  Moving on.  I set a challenge for my boys that day; find and photograph ten shockingly, unexpected, secret things of beauty.  No small feat in the Garden of Eden, eh?  Each kid who found 10 got to go to the gift shop.

Of course, when 2of3 started pointing out bamboo fences in Japanese gardens *shock* and flowers growing in flower beds *gasp*, I had to clarify that I meant things that probably shouldn’t be where they were, things that made them want to stop breathing for the sheer beauty of them.

Game. On.

2of3 did really well in the end.  My favorite find was the old pulley system for the limestone he found tucked in a corner, and my favorite picture of him, maybe ever, is that one with the blue flower.

1of3 is a little more conservative, and so it took him a LOT longer to get his pictures, but he was truly dazzled by the ones he did. Especially the totem poles and that water fountain, which just weren’t there one second, and so totally massively there the next.

(Edit: Linds was kind enough to play editor and remind me that I forget to mention that yes, they all got some piece of crap that probably sitting in a landfill by now at the gift shop, even though no one actually got to 10.  We have the combined attention span of one cheese stick.) I found a few really beautiful things, too. We must have showed 20 kids that spider, which doesn’t look in pictures nearly as big as it was.

But all through my day, at the gardens, on the boat, in Victoria, I found that I am surrounded every minute of the day by the most beautiful things I could ever hope to see.

Yes, even my mother in law. God, I’m getting soft in my old age.

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46 Comments to “It’s All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses Their Edge”

  1. OHmommyon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Awe. You are so stinking sweet and made me feel all warm and fuzzy. ;) Lovely.

    Once upon a time, OHmommy wrote..Caboose Monkey

  2. Jainaon 07 Oct 2008 at

    What a neat idea for keeping them interested and involved. Those are some great pictures!

    Once upon a time, Jaina wrote..Stalling

  3. Xbox4NappyRashon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Can I ask an idiotic question?

    Have any of the kids ever tried to pull on the nose ring?

    Once upon a time, Xbox4NappyRash wrote..Quod erat demonstrandum

  4. Awesome way to get them to be more invested in the trip :-D
    Thanks for sharing the experience.

  5. Lindson 07 Oct 2008 at

    What a fantastic idea! They did a great job with the photos, too! At the end, did they all get to go to the gift shop? LOL

    Once upon a time, Linds wrote..Unconscious Mutterings

  6. MomBabeon 07 Oct 2008 at

    You totally soft. Next thing you know, she’s going to be living with you.

    Once upon a time, MomBabe wrote..Ghost Story

  7. Matton 07 Oct 2008 at

    I have decided to move to Canada. Do you have any ugly areas or what? Every shot I see looks like a travel brochure. Maybe you could do a post called “The Slums Of BC” to make me feel better about Los Angeles.

    Second, Your kids are amazing. Truly. You should get them into modeling or something.

    Once upon a time, Matt wrote..Healing

  8. mbon 07 Oct 2008 at

    you - all of you - are beautiful!

    Once upon a time, mb wrote..single mom-hood: does it suck?

  9. punk rock mommyon 07 Oct 2008 at

    dude you really are getting soft right before our eyes! haha. Great idea with the pictures and how freakin gorgeous is your family. Seriously I am all like jealous over here.

    Once upon a time, punk rock mommy wrote..I am Raising the Next Tina Fey

  10. Emon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Wonderful post!! Love all the shots. I’m totally stealing that idea when I drag the kids to the arboretum in the next couple of weeks. They do come up with the coolest angles.

    Em

  11. Caseyon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Now I’m totally craving an ice cream cone, thanks. The photoshop pictures are awesome!

    Once upon a time, Casey wrote..Flowbee Me

  12. Mom24@4evermomon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Awesome idea. Question–do your kids have their own cameras, and if so, which one? I’m looking for affordable camera ideas for my 8 year old for Christmas.

    Once upon a time, Mom24@4evermom wrote..A distraction

  13. Loon 07 Oct 2008 at

    damnit, why’d you have to make me get all squeeshy and teary-eyed and such? (sniffle) that was so sweet! (and unexpected from you . hehehehehe joking!) (not!)

    Once upon a time, Lo wrote..

  14. Jackon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Gift shops are punishment for parents.

    Once upon a time, Jack wrote..Who Wants To Buy An Artificial Foreskin

  15. the planet of janeton 07 Oct 2008 at

    ice cream!!!!

    (oh, and cute kids with pretty pix. love the b/w treatments)

    Once upon a time, the planet of janet wrote..It’s time to look ahead

  16. Latte Mommyon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I love, love, love that shot of you and the Donor on the ferry. And the kids are pretty cute, too. But you already knew that.

    Once upon a time, Latte Mommy wrote..The Vacation Correlation

  17. Mariaon 07 Oct 2008 at

    AUGH you make me want to have more kids. And Im’ not even done gestating my second. What a beautiful family.

    Once upon a time, Maria wrote..ten

  18. Elle Charlieon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I love the photos - especially the b&w ones with just a touch of color.

    Once upon a time, Elle Charlie wrote..Take that!

  19. Reeon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I’m not sure I even know you anymore.

    Snort.

    XX

    Once upon a time, Ree wrote..Cousins - Past in Polaroids 9

  20. Katherineon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I love this post. I love that idea; I love their pictures. What a beautiful family.

    Once upon a time, Katherine wrote..A Good Thing With a Side of Chips

  21. rainoon 07 Oct 2008 at

    you old softie you

    Once upon a time, raino wrote..Fricken Disaster!

  22. VegasDadon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Great pics and great trip. I haven’t been there in 24 years.

  23. traceyon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Sweet.

    Once upon a time, tracey wrote..Embarrassing Truths

  24. thedemigodon 07 Oct 2008 at

    This is GORGEOUS! I love how you’ve got all this zest for the beauty that surrounds us, but still with the dark whisky in the sippy cup effect underlying the whole thing.

    Love it. To bits.

    And in a weird coinkidink, I posted something similar in my blog!

    *clinking* sippy cups. :)

    Once upon a time, thedemigod wrote..The Icing on my Endorphin Cake from Yesterday

  25. thedemigodon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Oh and it doesn’t hurt either that you are the most gorgeous family i have EVER seen too! Screw the Brangelinas!

    Once upon a time, thedemigod wrote..The Icing on my Endorphin Cake from Yesterday

  26. Zoeyjaneon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Those are Gore-gee-us. Oh, the donor, lookit how fly he looks.

    Once upon a time, Zoeyjane wrote..On seeking, but not finding.

  27. Megryansmomon 07 Oct 2008 at

    GREAT pictures. I’m glad everything went well with the MIL

    Once upon a time, Megryansmom wrote..We Could Be Twins!

  28. flickrlovron 07 Oct 2008 at

    Gorgeous pictures! The boys did really well with their ‘quests’ for photos.
    And dammit, you ARE going soft! We need a hard-edge-Mr-Lady post to even us out.

    Seriously though? Very sweet.

  29. Tara R.on 07 Oct 2008 at

    You all are too beautiful. Your photos are great!

    Once upon a time, Tara R. wrote..What if I’m wrong?

  30. elisabethon 07 Oct 2008 at

    What a great idea to keep the kids interested in looking around. Will have to try that.

    Once upon a time, elisabeth wrote..Things I am thankful for today

  31. mickion 07 Oct 2008 at

    How did you get the black and white with color spots? I love them! How do I do this with my camera? Or is it after in photoshop or something?

    Once upon a time, micki wrote..Piano Lessons Paying Off

  32. mnon 07 Oct 2008 at

    awesome pictures.

    nobody found gum on the sidewalk…”insert shock here.”

    that is such a pretty place.

    i wanna go. how much does it cost to fly to canada. where specifically are these gardens wah wah.

    cool pictures and more so, wonderful memories.

  33. tammieon 07 Oct 2008 at

    that last shot is like a magazine ad! you’re all pretty freaking gorgeous.

    Once upon a time, tammie wrote..yummy cupcake

  34. Kristabellaon 07 Oct 2008 at

    What a great idea! I would have just stuck with lots of ice cream!

    You and your family are so gorgeous!

    Once upon a time, Kristabella wrote..I Have Nothing To Say

  35. janethesaneon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I bet you’ve really missed me. Great photos. I visited Victoria years ago and bought a shirt with Victoria on the front (yes, in the gift shop). Then I went home and everyone was all, oooh, that’s your name. *roll*

    Once upon a time, janethesane wrote..Screaming

  36. Leslie Dillingeron 07 Oct 2008 at

    Beautiful pics! I LOVE the one of Josh and 1of3. Gorgeous!

  37. Missives From Suburbiaon 07 Oct 2008 at

    I can’t believe not one of those kids scored points with you by trying to get a photo with you, you gorgeous thing, you. Just proves they’re not as creative as their mother.

    Great post. Beautiful perspective.

    Once upon a time, Missives From Suburbia wrote..Welcome To the Sorority

  38. Loraleeon 07 Oct 2008 at

    Holy god those ice cream cones look so damn good right now that I am LICKING MY SCREEN. (You’re in the shot so it’s just an added bonus as well.) Hee!

    Once upon a time, Loralee wrote..Form letter. (I think that I am just going to keep copies of this in my purse.)

  39. Loraleeon 07 Oct 2008 at

    P.S. In my awe over the ice cream I totally forgot to mention my undying LOVE for Vancouver Island. I’ve been several times.

    I LOVE The Empress Hotel and Victoria in general.

    I did NOT love falling into the Japanese fish pond at Buschart Gardens nor being kicked off of the premises of a local night club for “Soliciation” of my GAY friend pulling up in a taxi when I was pregnant and wearing a cardigan sweater and jeans, however.

    ;)

    Once upon a time, Loralee wrote..Form letter. (I think that I am just going to keep copies of this in my purse.)

  40. tiffon 08 Oct 2008 at

    Looks like an amazing time. I am feeling like the slacktard mother,right now. You know the one, who never takes her kids anywhere?
    That’s me, right now.

    Once upon a time, tiff wrote..It’s the little things.

  41. auntieon 08 Oct 2008 at

    It’s really not fair that such a gorgeous family also got to have such a fabulous time! Love all the pics :)

  42. zandoron 08 Oct 2008 at

    That was a neat idea.

    Once upon a time, zandor wrote..Voting and Politics

  43. Margeon 08 Oct 2008 at

    I am drolling over your beautiful family and crying because you are so far away. I miss you, ya know?

    Once upon a time, Marge wrote..Simply Amazing

  44. Kimon 08 Oct 2008 at

    I could totally be bribed by ice cream.

    Once upon a time, Kim wrote..Hi, My name is Kim. I am NOT Perfect.

  45. Colleen - Mommy Always Winson 09 Oct 2008 at

    Simply lovely. Great shots by the entire gang.

    And - is there anything ice cream CAN’T fix?!?

  46. Aprilon 11 Oct 2008 at

    2of3’s pics are BREATHtaking!

    Once upon a time, April wrote..No Men