Friday, 25 September 2009

Three down and one to go

On January 1st, each family member states something that he or she would like to do in the coming year. To refresh your memories, mine was go to eastern DRCongo (I know, I know), M's was speak French more often, Sophie's was learn to swim, and Sebastian chose a camping trip.

So last weekend, as autumn leaves prepared to fall, we set out on Seb's adventure. I chose Sandbanks provincial park which is a southern Ontario gem, well-worth a repeat visit. http://www.parkreports.com/gallery/gallery.php?park=Sandbanks

Most of the campground was closed as it is off-season but that still left 100+ sites about 70% full I would say. Sure, we had one neighbour who inisted on booming his boombox (I suggested we allow the chldren to go and play outside his tent as soon as they awoke on Sunday morning) but otherwise, we had privacy and peace and stars, loads and loads of stars - plus virtually no bugs in September!

We had lots of fun setting up the tent (and striking camp) and collecting pail after pail of water from the water stand, as well as cooking on the campstove (which mysteriously balked at brekkie almost thwarting our pancake tradition) and roasting marshmallows over the campfire.

Unfortunately, our camera was ill (it has since recovered) and we only had the blackberry so all snaps are a bit fuzzy.


(Just a note about Jo rockin' a Sarah Palin hairdo - I am growing my hair longer and to ensure that it doesn't stick out in all directions, I apply a lot of hair goop. Voila, Jo a la ex-Gov.).




The weather was perfect; warm in the day - indeed hot in the sun - and cool at night. The beach is just glorious. Incredibly soft, white sand that stretches on and on. Just perfect for flying our kite and building sand turtles. Sebastian is really good at both. In another part of the park, there are large sand dunes to run up and roll down.

Just some notes for the next trip:
1- remember to pack the coffee pot
2 - have an answer for "Are we on a highway?" "No". "So why is Mummy not driving?"
3 - Know how far and how long it takes to get to the destination!
4 - check that your tent poles aren't cracked after 2 years of lying unused in a shed with fluctuating temperatures
5 - be sure to have duct tape in the glove compartment of your car
6 - tie Sophie's hair up before she eats roasted marshmallows...

The one 2009 wish left? Sophie's swimming lessons, so off we go next week to re-join the YMCA and get her splashing.

Wednesday, 23 September 2009

She lonely

Last Monday morning bright and early, our 2 year old headed off for her coveted dream - "her own school". We all took her on the first day but since then she hops on the streetcar with Dad and gets picked up by me at 11.30. Monday to Friday. It really changes the pace of mornings, and I have no idea how 11.15 comes around so fast.


Her very own backpack ("Wow, I have Sebby's back-pack", she said. Long may the enthousiasm for hand-me-downs continue).


Big bro shows her the way

Clearly she is enjoying herself at La Farandole; she often mentions her classmate Charlotte; she is speaking little phrases of French; she is ever so pleased with the fact that she has had no pee-pee accidents at pre-school; she likes to sit on the mini-sofa at circle time, and she loves, loves, loves to wear her hand-me-down backpack.

Sophie often mixes up "alone" with "lonely". Any person contemplating solitude or having a rest by him/herself is "lonely", according to our gregarious daughter. What will she make of her mama being home alone all morning long? In fact, she often checks to make sure that I will be ok by myself. Today, she told me to call the nursery school if I was lonely and then she would come home.

I have to admit that the only time in past 10 days that I have had a pang of nostalgia at one phase in our life being over was when the recycling truck rolled by last Wednesday morning. Nobody was there to greet it, to press his/her nose to the window, to scamper to the top floor to get the best look, to dig out "I Stink" and ask for it to be read. It was just me standing at the window and being a teeny bit lonely.




Out and about in Toronto wearing her new shoes


Humdrum and mundane?

What does your cutlery drawer say about you?




I think ours says that:
a)that we like to set a nice table - but don't very often (note fancy salad servers and bread knife on left)
b) that we appreciate lovely but practical things (i.e. main cutlery that is a couple of cuts above Walmart)
c) that we tip out hat to our heritage (with some wooden knives that have been in the family for decades)
d)that we try to cook quick, yummy and healthy food (and thus have a small grater, vegetable peeler, sharp knife to hand)
e) we enjoy our libations (check out the sturdy corkscrew)
f) we plan on fixing things but they never get done (note the broken garlic press that for the last 4 months has just needed a small thingy to hold it together)
g)that we have a young family (hence the colourful plastic and sippy cup spouts and many spreading knives)
h) that we like our children to experiment with types of food (allergies permitting; hence the practice chopsticks in the form of dinosaurs)
i) that we try to stay organised because we do have spots for everything...

Give yours a ponder the next time you open it. And be warned, I am coming over to snoop.

Saturday, 19 September 2009

Seb the snapper

A series on spinning - quite cool when you click on each photo alone.





A portrait of his sister with Uncle Mohammed

Friday, 18 September 2009

Not too sweet






Last year, our friend Lisa was appalled that we had let our grapes rot on the vine - or all over the ground it seemed. So this year we allowed her to get excited about our grape vine if she allowed us to get excited about her new novel (Rats of Las Vegas - get a copy today).

We are blessed with a bountiful harvest (we really do adore plants that thrive despite us), that we will continue to process in the coming weeks. The juice is delicious, though long in the making. Perhaps we will freeze some until you visit. Now that's a promise.

The times, they are a-changin'

It must be fall. Time not for death and dying and fading away, but for new beginnings and adventures and a sense of hope and optimism, especially if one has a school-aged family.

Over in London, our friend Katy is heading back to work full-time after 10 months of maternity leave; baby Hannah is going to be cared for by dad and brother Ben is off to a new school as a big boy.

Up in Orillia, the 2 year old twins have started nursery school and their baby sister Zoe is on her way soon.

Over in PEI, young Henry is now a Beaver. The cutest little Beaver that ever was - barring his dad who was one and is now a Beaver leader.

Here in Toronto, Ali & Dan have moved to town so big boy Sam can have an "alternative" public schooling; lots of Seb's & Sophie's playmates have started daycare or full-time school; neighbour Jenny has headed back to work 80% of the time; while near neighbour Priya is headed back to work in 3 weeks as her mat leave ends.

All of our peers combed through the Parks & Rec "Fun Guide", filling in the registration forms and paying our money to have the children in various extra-curricular activities. We wait for yet another sign of autumn, the start of the lessons; for us, it is crafts and swimming for Sophie and ballet, music and swimming for Sebastian.

And so, as befits this season of the year and of our lives, there are also big changes here at the wedgleys.

Two weeks ago, Sebastian started a new school and became a full-time schoolboy. Our lives now start an hour earlier in the rush to get him out of the house. The pace and stress set the day off to such a different start. Oh, the classes seem fine but it's the social pecking order and playground rules that are proving to be bruising (to him and me).

My lovely man started a new job (a promotion!) on Monday. He wears a jacket and tie most days. Yes, you heard me right. A jacket and tie. So we had to shell out for a suit - well, a two for one deal and all (anyone got spare ties? who wants to pay $65 a pop???). The up side is that he is better groomed, the hours are more regular and only weekdays which is good for the family. Plus he only has to take one streetcar to get to the new worksite. But there go Sunday evenings (what with the shoe polishing and beard trimming and shirt ironing [double ugh] and struggling to figure out what goes with what...).


And then poof, our little poppet grew up (into a Superhero).

She has been clamouring for "her own school" for the past 6 weeks. Lo and behold, on Tuesday her name came up for a part-time spot at the French language daycare. So we said yes. She will attend Monday-Friday 8.30-11.30, so even more rush in the morning. When I am not working on a contract, we will be a little more relaxed about attendance. But we hope that she will thrive with the attention of other adults and playmates, build her French and her independence. She seems so ready socially. She was very excited this afternoon - new school (je vais a l'ecole, Sebby) AND new shoes!

And me, I mosie along. I hope to pick up some contracts, push the boat out professionally by doing some reading/writing/speaking, and continue on as the family glue as my love has been known to call me. I think that was a compliment. At least I hope it was.

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Oh what a beautiful day!

What a terrific day. Not ony were we blessed with glorious September weather - slightly cool in the morning and evening but warm through the day with brilliant sunshine - but many happy things occurred.

So what that Seb was a grumpy puss as he got ready for school (More on that soon, really soon I promise). He got there on time with all his bits and bobs.

Sophie and Jo then made grape juice from our vine. We shared it with our nearish neighbours, Priya and Rowan who came over for a girls' playtime. A friendship of 2 year olds is blossoming.


Then Dad came home (as he was working nights and had an early dental appt) and we picked sweet, red cherry tomatoes. He made rissotto and we enjoyed it together in the garden, basking in the sun.

Sophie then put her daddy down for a nap, or something. M managed to surface and we actually had 20 minutes of uninterrupted conversation that included
a) helping Seb make friends at his new school and
b) agreeing that we would find the money to take an immediate part-time spot in the French language daycare.

M ticked off a few tasks before meeting a now happy Seb (who has a newly appointed "best friend" who he had known for oh, 10 minutes). Together they went to the park to meet up with dear Kai and his family.



While the Sophster napped, I secured the daycare spot. Then I turned my mind to work. It's been awhile since any paying work was completed. There is a recession out there, boys & girls. Yesterday, a gig that I had been approached about fell through. Nothing on the horizon.

So I stuck my oar out and sent off a "hi, how are things" e-mail to an old contact. No request for work - just an "I'll be in town soon" sort of thing. 5 minutes later he had called and asked me to do a desk-based project in October for 2 grand. Nice. That pays for daycare for 3+ months and hopefully a big, joint birthday bash for the kids.

Sophie woke just in time for us to head to Dufferin Grove market and rendez-vous with not only our relatives but 10 friends that we had planned on seeing and another 10 or so that we just bumped into (gotta love that community market). Sticky buns were had by all, as well as a lot of sand in the hair and dirt on the face.

Rowan has a near and dear playmate; (another) Sebastian is 2 too and lives just a few doors down (he even has a teeny brother like her). But Sophie may get her chance at a near and dear too. On the way home from the park, we finally met some of our new neighbours. A lesbian couple with their almost 3 year old son have moved in down the block. Sophie could just walk to his place next month (ok maybe in 2 years). They seem really interesting and "good neighbours" fixing up their home and all. We look forward to getting to know them and the women across from them (who were headed out on a scavenger hunt with friends and babies). The big question is who will move in directly across from us and when.

By the time we made it home, we were tired and dirty and hungry. So what better than (please don't faint dear Italian friends) pizza in the tub.


Worked liked a charm and the kids were out like a light at 8.30 - bit late but very happy and squeaky clean.

Sunday, 13 September 2009

For Sophie's record

For the linguists in the audience, the girlfriend turned a "mine" into a "yours" this week.

Mum: I think that's my pen, Sophie.
Sophie: Mama, that yours.

Seb was making a bit of a racket yesterday morning. From her bed Sophie pipes up: "Seb stop being a lion." At least, that is what I was told she said because I heard, "Dad, stop being a lie-in".

As for toilet training, we are soooooooo close. Especially at home. So we are opting for undies at home and pull-up diapers out and about. The end is nigh!

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Yet another oldie but goodie



Yup, it's yellow.
Yup, it's a 3 piece ensemble.
Yup, it belonged to me and my sis and smells like some old closet.
Yup, she's adorable.

Thursday, 10 September 2009

2, count them two....


Last time we checked, Sebastian had "perfect teeth".
This time he had not one but two cavities between his back molars. So we now have 2 toothbrushes (one on each floor) and go through the nightly rigamorole of flossing (it's hard enough to do to oneself).
Did you know that most kid fillings are done with any anasthetic??? None. He didn't even use the red stop sign that he is holding.
I was sort of hoping that the pain would scare him into brushing more and flossing daily, but there was none.

Ready our defences.


Meet Froggy. Our front line defence against H1N1. I have long (oh about 5 of my 6 years of parenting) refused children's items that seemed gimmicky (overpriced yes, gimmicky no). But in the effort to bribe, plead, force my children to wash their hands more this flu season, I caved.

Froggy sits next to our super hip, urban, adult sink in the "powda" room.

Wednesday, 9 September 2009

We love going to people's cottages!


We love playing Globe Trotters in the shade.



Rocking on size-appropriate rocking chairs


Wearing sarongs



Hanging out on the dock


Cheeky chipmunks aptly named "Chippy".


Mad uncles

Ducks that visit at least once a day for food.

Going out for a paddle.
A drizzly hike on the rocks.



Don't ask!

There are also some unbloggable snaps of nude sunbathers (it was hot this past weekend); kids - not us - by the way.

THANKS SO MUCH DEAR HOSTS!

A fish's gotta swim, Bird's gotta fly, A girl's gotta work

(You don't want to know how long it took for this video to upload - and it was very very late...).

Check that

Glorious in green gingham

Tuesday, 8 September 2009

Ode to a fallen leaf

As you may recall, Sebastian fancies himself a bit of a photographer (amongst other things). Here is one of his "sessions".
















Every single shot is different (and there are more!), but you get the idea.

Friday, 4 September 2009

154 today?

Sebastian and I were walking to the park today when we saw two boys (brothers?) sitting on their stoop opening presents. Of course, our 5 year old wondered why.

Seb: Maybe it's their birthday.

Mum: mmmm. Maybe their mum just left on a trip [i.e. she bribes her kids like I do]

Seb: Maybe.

Mum: They might get an end of summer present or one to start school. [Quickly realising the implications of what I just said]. But I don't know anyone who does that.

Mum in quick recovery mode: Could be a special day in their religion.

Seb, hedging his options: Jesus is 154 years old today. Nana told me.

Mum: Ummm, so what's Christmas about?

Seb: silence which is unusual for this fella.

Life is good

Life is good