MINE

Yup, it's official. Sophie can - and does - now say M-I-N-E, while yanking a toy away from her brother or trying to cling on to something she might break.

We have been super busy - that actually is a constant - with family visitors and work (lots of late nights for M) and our "Toronto-warming" party - -- and all the work fixing up the house, even though we swore it was about warming our social network in the city and not our house. But we have almost all of our art up on the walls and furniture re-arranged.

The party was great fun. We asked people to bring tips on living well in T.O. - places to eat, bike routes, babysitters (that you have to pay), best bookshops, etc - as well as person that we had yet to meet. We invited 4 or 5 of the neighbours and some showed up with more neighbours which was terrific. Despite a no gift request, we ended up with 10 bottles of wine; so there will be more parties!

We've also been kicking up our heels a lot as family visitors mean free babysitting. So we went out solo on Friday night and I got to see a movie on Sunday with my sis and M & I dined with another couple last night and, and, and As you can tell, we're trying to cram it all in while the free babysitting is still in house.

Next challenge is to get the basement rented and prepare for a return trip to our friends' cottage in a week.

the next Maria?

It can really be great to have a parent who works for the corp. Not only do you get tickets to the talent show to pick the next Maria in the Sound of Music, but you get to circumvent the rules and go even though you are not 12. Seb cheered his heart out and was fascinated by the steady cam. He then dashed home to vote for his favourite singer (GOOOOOOO Elicia!!).

Makes up for the fact that said parent stayed so late at work on Friday that he missed the community supper and play in the park...

our cabin break

We were out of the big smoke for 6 days of cooler, cleaner air. The kids had a wonderful time, though Xin got the short end of the stick from Seb on a couple of occasions. And then Seb got so mad at himself for his own behaviour...

But the good times rolled:

a) being paddled about

b) making ice cream (in that funky blue ball)


c) going to a steam train (in Ghanian sugar sack clothes)


d) climbing on to the roof


e) and really, really wanting to.

No pictures of the lake but it was gorgeous. So clean and cool - can't wait to get back in 3 weeks!

one year of blah, blah, blah & snaps

It seems that out here in blogland, one is supposed to fete the anniversary of one's blog. Being me, I missed it. But now I see that I started this adventure on July 8 2007 and have posted 134 times in the first year. That averages better than once every 3 days; though I do tend to blog-hog (you know, blog a lot at once). But that's all based on when I have childcare or am procrastinating about working.

My first efforts were extremely basic; however, I think I have only just inched up to "basic" over the 12 months. I need to tackle some more video clips for your benefit.

And you all need to get with the programme and join up so you can comment. This IS a blog, not a one-way website. I mean poor words, words and chris - they have to represent the whole world! Fortunately, they have only given positive feedback; otherwise, I would be crushed...

Hope you are enjoying it. I am!

On a "kid-free" roll

I know this blog is supposed to be about the kiddie-winkles, but I currently seem to be on a kid-free tear through Toronto! Tonight, my sister agreed to sit the wee ones, so M & I are going to a restaurant (and hopefully eating lots of peanuts and shellfish and dairy products and eggs!).

All this non-parenting behaviour will come to a screeching halt tomorrow at oh, 7.10 a.m. when Seb wakes us up and we head to Kelly & Sam's cottage for 6 days. The dads leave Sunday night and we non-working mums spend the next 4 days working with the kids.

Just me!

Yesterday, it was "two parents, no kids" brunch. Today, it's a mum-free supper with a friend. So off to get a hair cut and pick out an outfit from the jammed closet. Have a booking for a seafood dinner in the Distillery District at 8; hope to get on to the patio because it is gorgeous weather here.

the 2nd R - Reuse

Kelly green- Grace Kelly green, I believe. This charming and oh so simple sun dress was worn by myself and my sister some 40 years ago... Even my sister was impressed at its quality and style. And look how curly Sophie's hair is getting in the humidity. Who needs a perm in this weather? Well, ok maybe her paternal grandmother!

This lovely green hat was on the floor in the playroom. Seb had carefully chosen some leaves to decorate it and claim it as his own style (he who went out today in bright green and blue plaid overshorts and a blue/red/white striped shirt, with blue & green socks).

Reuse - here the Wedges are playing a game from oh 30 years ago. Buccaneers! It's good fun and can be made more simple for 4 year olds.

And no, there's nothing green about this (no Rs and the colour is blue & brown as I mentioned yesterday). But here is proof that M likes it. And yes, that is the Ikea catalogue he is reading - cheeky thing.

Best quote of the summer to date

While we were out being adults, a major happening occured back home. Seb had his first regular bowel movement in oh, 7 days... He was extremely excited to tell us when we got home, and described it to me, then his dad and then the babysitter in careful detail - which I will spare you.

You see, after 5 days of 'it will resolve itself', the parents had decreed the "BRATY" diet (no comments please). Banana, rice, applesauce, toast and plain yoghurt. But it is boring, so boring. Seb tried to stick to it, but by this morning, he was asking to see a doctor as that seemed a potentially quicker fix.

He was extra thrilled to be back on track because Auntie Roberta had promised that once the gut had settled down, they would make the trek to Toronto's only peanut-free ice cream parlour. So almost as soon as he had pulled up his shorts, he was asking to go. And here comes the quotable moment, my sister's answer was:
"One poop does not a summer make"

We rewarded Auntie Roberta with a mini-cheesecake from She Takes the Cake - the cake shop right behind our house, the one which made the "best cake ever" according to Mike.

"Just the two of us, we can make it if we try..."

"Just the two of us - you and I"

Off for a coffee with my M. Yup, just me and him. No one in tow. Very thrilled. Big thanks to sis.

We will be taking our agendas with us and his phone...

Could be num-nums

Here is a link to an amazing array of fun food - some edible and some not. There is such creativity in this crazy old world.

http://www.juniorsociety.com/2008/06/15/play-food-contest/

Our cottage weekend

Seb decked out in his ever so non-matching fun in the sun ensemble.


Father and son went out for about 90 minutes of J-stroke. Seb loves to be on the water and shocking but true, will actually go for ages without speaking.


Seb and M in their ever so matching shirts (made from the curtains that hung in our Ghanaian guest room. Beat that Scarlet).

Auntie Row-berda getting in on the blowing raspberries action. It is contagious.


Seb enjoying a lovely spot-the-X type of book from our kind hosts, Kevin & Arthur.

Seb's favourite moment of the weekend? When we were about to eat at the picnic bench, and the last person on (who shall remain nameless) sat down, prompting us to lurch to the ground. It was quite funny. The gazpacho didn't even spill!

It's here!

Our couch arrived today and for the first (and perhaps last) time in my life, I sunk into/on to a new sofa. Thankfully, M immediately stretched out and proclaimed himself satisfied.

Here it is in its glory. Yes, that an antelope peeking out from behind. We'll have to find a new (or higher) home for that.


Here you can see the tweediness. It's chocolate brown and eggshell blue. And did I tell you about the stain treatment scheme we are on?


View from the stairs - you can tell that I didn't stage the shot b/c there in the corner is Bella, the blue donkey. We are going to move pine bureau up into our room, and hang a family heirloom painting in that corner instead.


View from the couch (with said painting still in cardboard box at back...)

HUNG - EEE

Sophie's vocabulary is growing in leaps and bounds. But nothing is more sweet than when she wants a bite to eat. She will start making high pitched noises that sound like "Hung - e" and then put her (inevitably dirty) fingers to her mouth. When you ask her if she would like something to eat, she nods her head most emphatically and states "yesh".

She also is a veracious eater. Yesterday for supper, she polished of almost 2 - yes TWO - huge pork sausages, about 13 large fusili (they probably have another name since they are the large kind) and 4 florets of broccoli. Meanwhile, her older brother downed 1 sausage (maybe) and 2 broccoli bits.

Also high on the cutey-patootey list are her kisses. She has blown kisses for some months now. These ones are different. It would be more accurate to describe them as smackers. She just purses and lets rip (they are afterall an off-shoot of her learning to blow raspberries which she - and her bro - do at all hours of the day). She gives them randomly and with much feeling. She was mad as all let-loose with me today and suddenly I felt this pucker on my arm. Hey, it was way better than a bite!

Wish our girlfriend luck though. Tomorrow morning, she and her lucky dad get to spend his morning off at a walk-in medical clinic to get her diaper rash treated. It is red and sore and probably fungal...

$12.69 + tax

That's what I just paid for 44 disposables. Just a price check for those of you who don't buy baby diapers much. Seemed like a deal after Newark, NJ.

For anybody still looking

She cracks me up. The outfit is pieced together by trousers that Madeline wore back in Nairobi and the sweater/top from an ensemble via Nana. But they are clearly overshadowed by that cheeky monkey's grin.


Sophie's first swim suit



2030's 007


How sweetly they sleep. It was hot.


I just had to stage this shot. I mean how often do your clothes match a room! But this romper from last year's run on vide greniers blends right in with my aunt & uncle's guest room. Sophie was chuffed at my aunt's thoughtful foresight.

It really WAS fun

Just in case people get the impression from the last post that I wouldn't do the trip again, here are some great shots of the fun that was had by all. And that was just London.

Seb with his spirit guide Babush and "Big Ben" - who though 15 months younger is the same height and weighs more than our skinny-minny.


Riding yet another train; this one in Battersea Park. Seb declared his favourite moment in London was going over London Bridge in a mini-cab and singing "London Bridge is falling down".


Big Ben was protective of Sophie and when she wandered off, he would bring her back. He'll be a great big brother come November.


We even had a chance to hook up with Oxford-based Maria and Modou at the cafe in the park!

Flying solo with 2 under 5s

Seb was glued to the tv screen.

Sophie learnt what candy was and wanted more!


Tip No. 1 - keep them caged as much as possible

Tip No. 2 - give them candy and treats and whatever they want as long as they please stay in the seat/go to bed on time/ be quiet (or at least quieter), etc.

Tip No 3 - pack too many (way too many) diapers. As I found out, hotels know that they have you over a barrel and proceed to whip you. Sophie has/d diarrhea; I packed just enough nappies for the journey. But when that was extended by a day, I was getting desperate. Price of taxi to nearest 7/11 - $50. No thanks. So I stuffed Seb's night-time undies with a face cloth (terry cloth nappy, right?) and held my nose as I shelled out $11.50 for 2 - yes TWO - disposables. Some how, we made do with those.

Seeking some advice: how many candies or cookies are too many in a day? I mean, usually, it maxes out at 2 "bis", as we call them, in the afternoon and no or maybe 1 candy/day (though M threw that to the wind by introducing 1 tic tac for every time Seb emptied his bladder in the toilet and not his undies - but that's another post).

But when you are 4 1/2 and are got up at 6:45 and jump in a taxi (for 90 mins... - thank goodness the bladder was strong that time), struggle through lines and security, run to your plane b/c it turns out that you have to be bused the aircraft, are on the tarmac for 90 mins..., then fly across the Atlantic for 7 hours and 13 mins (that countdown clock they now have can lead me to desperation), then find our (heavy) bags) and struggle through US immigration (b/c the only route we could get back was via Newark...), then line up for customer service b/c we have missed our connecting flight, then take Air Train to a shuttle bus (that takes 45 mins to come), check in to the less than grand Newark Holiday Inn, and eat some mediocre pizza before curling up and falling asleep on the restaurant's booster seat, are 28 Jelly Tots and 12 tic tacs too many? I say not.

Back in the Big Smoke

So we're back in the big city after a number of wonderful summer holiday moments and some moments that I could have missed, thanks all the same. 10 days of travelling solo with 2 kids under 5 was just enough, too.

Back at the house, M has whacked and bashed his way through the back space and made it all flat. Now there are 2 flattened areas of dirt to cover over; any bets on how long they will stay that way! Mind you, I passed some raised tomato beds in someone's front yard; they looked awfully good...

Spent the morning unpacking, laundry etc, as well as rummaging through contents of fridge and larder to get it in some sense of order - and dealing with the poopy diapers that I had left to fester in the diaper pail - whoops. Better left unmentioned and unsmelt!

I was plagued with a head cold my whole trip. One flight in particular was really painful. Now I have clogged ears and everything is muffled, so I'm debating going to get it checked out b/c 3 days is long enough. But as we don't have a GP, I'll have to sit in a clinic for hours waiting to be seen.

The big leagues

My consultancy work must have hit the big leagues; I just went out and bought a heavy duty (25 pages+) stapler! That's how many big fat wasteful documents I print out...

But seriously, I am trying to desperately wrap up the project that I started in May. I have a 5 week over 9 week contract that I am late starting. And I was contacted last week to do a few more days on a project that I started in 2006. Yikes!

So much of a good thing. Hope the children don't suffer (mine or the world's).