Before we returned to the Comox Valley, (Stay tuned for the final blog post of our seven and a half month epic trip) we had a quick visit with Ash and Andrew in Vancouver. We were finally able to watch Andrew coach his rugby team, 
Coach Andrew: Why did he kick that? Have we gone over kicking in that situation? Coach Tim: No. Coach Tim and Coach Andrew: Oh boy. 
Coach Andrew: Very good. That’s exactly what we’re doing well.
Coach Ted: You need to hit harder, run straight, not ever let up. 
Coach Andrew: I don’t know if Ted knows we’re up by about 30.
Victors!
wrestle with Andrew, (Not me because it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, like moi.) 
and celebrate Andrew’s birthday.
John: Andrew, here’s your belated birthday cake.
Shelley and John: (Sings) Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Andrewwwww! Happy Birthday to you.
Andrew: I bet U2 are shitting themselves.
Everyone: Oh! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Andrew: Awesome! Peanut butter squares. Yeah! Thanks dad.
Why this picture doesn’t quite fit: Didn’t realize that this conversation would become a post.
Shelley: Mmmmm.
Andrew: Mmmmm.
Shelley: Mmmmm?
Andrew: Mmmmm?
Shelley: Isn’t the dark brown cakey bit supposed to be on the bottom?
Andrew: Like a base? 
John: I wasn’t sure where it went.
Shelley: Weren’t the directions on the back of the box?
John: There may have been something there. But it didn’t make sense to me.
Andrew: These directions? The ones with the pictures? 
Andrew and Shelley: Oh! Ha! Ha! Ha!
John: Give it to me.
Andrew and Shelley: What are you doing????
John: Throwing it out. 
Andrew and Shelley: Nooooo!!!!! It’s good. We’re just teasing you.
John: Ha! Hah! Here.
Andrew: Mmmmm.
Shelley: Mmmmm.
Andrew: Mmmmm?
Shelley: Mmmmm?
Andrew: I think I just swallowed a lump of butter.
Shelley: John, weren’t you supposed to melt the butter first, then mix it with the peanut butter packet?
John: I did.
Andrew: (Whispers) Mom, I watched dad. He skipped the melting butter part, tried to mix hard butter and the peanut butter together, but everything stuck to his spoon, so he added another bit of butter, threw the sticky lump into the microwave for four seconds, tossed it back into the pan, tried to smooth it all over, with no luck, so he added another wad of butter, chucked it back into the microwave for 4 seconds. 5 seconds tops.
Shelley: That doesn’t sound like your father.
Andrew and Shelley: Oh! Ha! Ha! Ha!
John: I heard that. It’s gone. Andrew and Shelley: Nooooo!!!! We’re sorry. Really sorry. We promise to stop.
John: Jesus Christ! From now on make your own dessert. I try to do something around here and all I get is grief from you ungrateful bums. I don’t remember either one of you helping out.
Andrew: Dad, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I never give you a hard time. It’s mom. Mom brings out the worst in me.
Shelley: What?
Andrew: It’s true. I say something, you laugh, then I can’t stop. Obviously, it’s all your fault.
Shelley: What?
John: Doesn’t matter. I’m done with you two.
Andrew and Shelley: We’re done teasing too. Cross our hearts. Go on. You know you want us to eat it. You put all that effort into it. Please. Puhhlleeeease.
John:…
Andrew: It’s really good no matter what it looks like.
John:…
Shelley: Really, really good.
John: Last time. I mean it. Here.
Shelley: Mmmmm.
Andrew: Mmmmm.
Shelley: Mmmmm?
Andrew: Mmmmm?
Shelley: Mmmmmphhhh!
John: Don’t.
Shelley: Hee! Hee!
Andrew: God help me, I can’t help it.
John: Don’t.
Andrew: Is the chocolate meant to be only in the middle like a…
Shelley: Like a marble cake? 
Day 230, April 12th, 2014
Shelley and John
Honey Did you See That? 
I dont what to say about those squares that could be nice hahahaha
He had the right idea over the trash can..:)
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Ha! Ha! Poor guy. I caught Andrew eating more for breakfast so it must have been me making him wind John up.
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That was the cake you gave to your son on his birthday?????
Wish they had some Rugby around here.
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Ted, he loves that stuff. More, when I make it. Wink! As for the rugby, it was so cute. Follows his dad’s footsteps.
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Hilarious! Sometimes baking isn’t as easy as it looks. A couple years ago, I baked my first pie from scratch, for Thanksgiving. It was a chocolate pie and was supposed to be solid. When my mother cut into it, it was like a chocolate river. My dad nicknamed it the “Straw Pie”, he said he had to eat it with a straw. I posted a picture of it on my blog…it was pretty nasty. 🙂
Happy Birthday to Andrew!
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Ha! Ha! Am loving your dad. Poor John, it’s like he has to get stuff done as quickly as possible so he can check it off his list. And then we nail him. 🙂 I’m going to head over to your blog to check it out. But first, off to my parents for supper!
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Ha,ha! Glad you have a partner in crime with Andrew! You can gang up on John (sorry, John). I love the Mmmmm’s with question marks at the end. Mmmmm? LOL! If it has chocolate, peanut butter and pounds of butter, I’ll eat it no questions asked!
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Andrew brings out the best in me and apparently I bring out the worst. He says the same thing when Ash is there, I goad him on. 🙂 Honestly, the cake was gone in less than half a day. Just messing with John!
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I feel poor John’s pain. He just tries to bring a little joy to his family’s stomach and suddenly finds himself being made fun of. For shame, for shame family of John. Hasn’t John suffered enough?
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Ha! Ha! That’s a crazy good closing argument. You’re not a photographer, you’re a lawyer. Right???
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Aw, c’mon; everything in there tastes delicious no matter in what order it appears.
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I know. We’re awful. But it was pretty funny. Just read your comment to John, he says thank-you for your support. It’s more than his wife and kid gives him! 🙂
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I can only say John need I remind you about the jelly instructions? Never mind, you can cook something for us next week…..😉
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Babs, a great family story to pass on through the generations. That one and of course the bus through New York. 🙂
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I can’t stop laughing! This story brings back every John episode incident and memory from this winter! I tried so very hard to read this with compassion and empathy, however, the giggles and tears of laughter just couldn’t be squashed! (Sorry John, I know all this happens cause you’re just being an awesome dad, husband, and host!)
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From John, “I am saddened that you are laughing at me, not with me because you are right, I am an awesome dad, husband and host. What is wrong with my family?”
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HAHA! I have to side with John here…I too have made an honest effort at cooking something (anything) and ended up the butt of jokes. Teehee, as long as no one gets sick, it’s all good, right????
😉
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I will pass that on to him. Trust me, the pan emptied pretty quickly! Just giving him a hard time. Andrew’s fault. 🙂
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Yes, I noted that the treat never actually got thrown away. And absolutely, blame the kid…it has to be the kid’s fault. 😉
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Thank you. Maybe I should write a blog focussing on parenting tips. 🙂
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LOL! Peanut butter squares are awesome! 😉 And I love the interactive map!
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Oops, I almost forgot to mention–the rugby photos look fantastic. Great color!
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AWwww thanks. Maybe in all this rain, I’ll look up more photography tips.
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Thanks. They really did taste pretty good, just giving poor John a hard time. 🙂
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I have had children try to skip steps in their preparation, but haven’t met a man who was this silly! Really, for some reason the men I have run into are usually telling ME I don’t know how to cook! Hahaha! Smiles, Robin
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The nerve of those men. I’m off to see what’s happening in your life. 🙂
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