One did but couldn't; the other didn't but could

Ah, the great dilemma of getting the kids to school when they don't really want to go and stopping them when they do but shouldn't.

Seb woke up today and declared he was not going to school. Social dynamics have been going much better this last month - and he didn't identify that anyone was bothering him. In fact, he had some nifty toys to play with at recess. He didn't have a test. He just wanted to stay in bed, well, maybe in the house. He suddenly 'realised' that he needed to make the house ready for our visitors this afternoon. Hmm, something smells and I never got to the bottom of it. After, purposefully missing the bus and with some tough love, he gobbled down breakfast and walked to school with his dad. Bet that it felt like a long way.

I did get to the root of the other smelly thing - poor Sophie had thrown up early in the morning. We had heard her cry out once but since her sleep is sometimes restless and she settles immediately, we hadn't got up to check. She proceeded to put her face down on the vomity pillow and her arms on the vomity sheet and go back to some semblance of sleep. (Need to ponder what that tells us of her character. Any thoughts?)

When she got up - and bathed - she wanted to go to school (not as boisterously as usual). Sometimes, it can be just a quick tummy upset and nothing. But within 30 mins, it was clear that she was a bit listless and had complained of a tummy ache - though honestly, every part of her body can ache in a given minute if you ask her. She would stay home with me.

She threw up again part way through my teleconference ('Glue' is my new middle name) and is now asleep on the sofa near the computer - lying on an easy to refresh towel. I am into the 2nd load of laundry.

Kicker is that on the day that Sophie has her second in a lifetime tummy bug, we have friends and their 8 month old daughter arriving to stay for 3 weeks...

Aren't you honestly glad that there are no photos today?

March Break in Montreal

The little girl in the big hotel bed






































We 'nipped' up the highway to Montreal - driving through Thursday day which was unusual for us. The main purpose was to celebrate the visiting Maria and Modou's married life and the lovely baby Letizia. But we also managed to visit with Grandma and Grandad 3 times, see Monique and Georges, spend a morning swimming, and check out the butterflies and other insects at the Botanical Gardens with Deb and her gang.

Happy Birthday, dear Carrie

It was Carrie's birthday over the weekend, so we feted her with a supper on Monday night. The rest of my family made the most amazing (looking) cake. I think I had mentioned the notion of a rainbow cake earlier this year; well, they realised it.


The birthday girl and a plain white cake


The wonders of the cake revealed on one of Auntie Roberta's colourful plates.


Not the best shot of Soph, but she was lapping it up. (Notice how she is in stripes too; am I a cooking/lifestyles/fashion shoot genius or what!)


A close up.

Things that slip past a working-travelling mother

If I am the glue, then sometimes, just sometimes, it doesn't set hard and fast enough.

While I was gone on my Asia trip, we lost:
2 pairs of Seb's mitts (one as eventually found at someone else's house)
a fancy pen that I had just given Seb at New Year's
the medical insurance cards

Somewhere between yesterday and today, we all (Carrie, M, me) collectively failed to register that it was 'photo day' at Sophie's daycare today. One is supposed to dress in bright colours, brush one's hair and be sure to have no cat scratches on one's face or something.

Well, at least her dress was bright (even if too short/small and her tights didn't match the outfit). I arrived just as Seb was ominiously paged to come to the school office. It turns out - rather sweetly - that they invite big siblings down from their classrooms to do a second shot with the baby of the family. So moments later, he showed up for the photo shoot - even if his hair was sticking up and he had an old shirt on!

How come she looks so great when she wakes up?

Spring has sprung in Toronto

The nation's weather watchers say that winter is over and it sure felt like it today in Trinity Bellwoods park. Some tennis, a picnic, bike-riding. Wow.

Quotable Quotes

Me (looking around the upstairs playroom with some despair): Seb, do we have too many toys?

Seb: No.

[Ask a stupid question...]

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Sophie has a thing about throwing people in the garbage. For months, she would declare her deepest feelings for you by reassuring you that she would never throw you in the garbage. Last week, she had this monologue:

"I love my baby. I don't want to throw him in the garbage (Pause) or the compost."

[Perhaps she will reassure the baby next week that there will be no recycling tossing either].

A family that skis together...

From late February when we had snow.

Just a little outfit I threw together

How she came home from a playdate with neighbour Bruno

Non-exploitative child labour

She offered and was as happy as a lark (in February...).

Spinning, hopping, whirling

Seb concentrating on his dance moves. He has signed up for yet another term of ballet and thus was awarded his (H&M $10) ballet shoes for perseverance.


Love this shot!


Ouch...

March Break kicks off

We are all on holiday for 10 days! March Break started with a hair-cut for Seb and a whale spout for Sophie. Thursday, we supped with G&L on their way home from their shortened cruise. Friday was messing about at home, followed by a trip to the ROM (with its huge playspace and permanent collection onancient Egypt), where we met up with Seb's new friend from school, Amelia.

That night, I was taken to Swan Lake by our neighours John & Jenny, whose son Jack kindly decided that he would rather play with Seb & Sophie

What a week, Sophie!

Sophie has received a kindergarten spot at the alternative school over which we agonised for Sebastian http://http//www.thegrovecommunityschool.ca/. Thus, being true Canadians, come September we will have a foot in both French and alternative schooling, sending one child into each system to learn to navigate their labyrinthian ways.

She doesn't know yet and when she blurts out more and more French or lunges to hug a playschool playmate, my heart tightens. The Grove community school is still a work in progress and trying to be all things to all "like-minded" people but we are getting good vibes.But, we think she will thrive in its atmosphere and pedagogy and I am sure she will make new friends; she will enjoy the mix of junior and senior kindergartners in her class and having the same teacher for 2 years in a row. It will mean staying in 1/2 day enrolment, which is a joy for me, though extra childcare juggling, especially when I travel.

We think she has the right to return to the French education system (need to check that) after our year in France (2012-13) given her brother's enrolment and her language acquisition post a year in formal French school (therein lies a big potential challenge).

Sophie was also introduced to makeup this week. She was invited to the 3rd birthday party of a playschool playmate. We were a bit surprised that it would be at the YMCA, as that seems so organised and excessive for any 3rd birthday party we have thrown or attended thus far. And true enough, her dad said that his eyes could barely focus b/c of all the diamond jewelry on show and that the loot bag was worth more than the gift he had selected...

Anyway, what really threw us was the makeup session. Yup, part of the party entailed putting on nail polish and so it would appear, learning to apply makeup. This morning, Sophie took a piece of plastic and wanted to prod my cheek. I thought she was being a doctor - or perhaps a scientist taking a swab of skin. But no, she was putting on makeup she told me. They were 3 year olds!

Can't get her to The Grove fast enough!

(Apologies for the dearth of photos. Our family camera is acting up and I can't find Seb's download cable. This will be rectified shortly. Promise.)

Digging up some oldies but goodies - Part 2

Parties are for costumes

Munchkins for friends

Digging up some oldies but goodies

Seb as a mad scientist at his birthday party.

Some random pics to fill a gap

Après-ski marshmallows, anyone? Seb on his last day of cross-country lessons. Next year Sophie (with her back to us) will be old enough to take lessons.


Another of Carrie's lovely photo session with George and Sophie. They look awfully pleased to be in each other's company, don't they!

I am in Geneva for the week, so no new photos until Tuesday unless the kids' pop snaps some gems tomorrow on his day off (hint, hint).