Everyone needs (part 2)

more and more and more aunties - especially those who toss their heads back when they laugh!

And an ode to Seb

Ode to Sophie

This one's for Sophie & Childfree 2010 (Days 5, 6 & 7)

Daddy wore a clip in his hair; while Mummy let someone else brush her hair really really straight.

Well, you can see what we got up to during days 5, 6 & 7. Lots of our time is spent culling and organising kid books and toys, plus our own clothes, sorting our parental matters and all sorts of boring things.

Last year, I painted my tiny office during Grandparent Camp. This year, I got a new phone and a bookshelf - ever so professional now. But hey, the very next day I was offered more work, so it's doing the trick!

News from New Brunswick - they have called an election. Oh, and Seb's bottom teeth are both very wobbly but have not fallen out. AND his adult teeth are growing in behind (I think that is nature's way of saying "hurry up slowpokes" but has made me start to think about starting an orthodentistry fund).

May I introduce you to Madeleine?

Sophie loves, loves, loves to brush people's hair. It's a phase. Seb went through it but Sophie does it for ages every day. My cousin's daughter kindly allowed the young miss to brush her hair endlessly it seemed during her recent visit. But Sophie rarely tires before the scalp and thus her sibling was roped in too.







































Auntie Jeet got the hairdresser treatment too, as did Nana. But this itch just could not be scratched away. So what better gift than a second-hand doll whose hair you can brush and comb and twist and "pony" and mess and unmess"?


We named her Madeleine...

But I do think I am on to something, our Nairobi-based friend - and hairdresser - Andrea named HER daughter Madeline...

And in case you wanted any proof that a)Seb likes to muck around with wacky hair-dos or b) that he likes to monopolise his sister's gifts or even manipulate her choices...

Childfree 2010 (Days 3 & 4)

Think eggs for brunch, a matinee movie and reading a book - a whole book (admittedly slim and about childhood!) - in a single day. That's what Grandparent Camp is about.

Monday was much more pedestrian - sorting out parental affairs, culling toys. But also hanging out for 4 glorious hours with some dear friends from Vancouver - and being joined by M for lunch - unheard of!!

This time last year....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/atlantic/whale-knocks-5-into-water-in-nb/article1682226/

why, oh why, can't I hyperlink anymore???

Childfree 2010 (Day 2)

A long brunch, a longer hair appointment (where I was treated to wine with my cut), drifting into a bookshop and not stepping foot in the kids' section (ok, once but only for about 4 minutes), letting the rain come down and change our plans, making a multi-course meal for friends, and consuming langourously. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday...

The menu was:
* sweet and spicy eggplant on a rice base (c/o our guests)
* beef or lentil-walnut mini-burgers with as many toppings as possible - and not one was ketchup (blue cheese, goat cheese, maple onions, worcestershire sauce onions, sunflower sprouts, pesto from the garden, sun-dried tomato pesto, garlic aioli)
* green salad with as many bits from our garden as possible
* chocolate mousse with peach coulis
* decaf coffee and black grapes

We believed with all our might

I took the children to see Peter Pan a couple of weeks ago. It was a surprise and they didn't guess until we had arrived in the town of Stratford and had been given many clues ("there is a boy at the centre of the story"; "there is an animal as a secondary character"; "the main characters can fly"; "there is a fairy!"; "ok then, we read it is this morning, Sophie!").


Indeed, I had prepped the youngest with a condensed version two days prior and the morning of - a wise move as she cowered next to me when the lights dimmed and Captain Hook announced that all cell phones must be turned off unless you wanted to walk the plank! We just laughed it off as an actor playing Capt Hook, the meany. And then she was mesmorised. Just like her big bro.

It was a super production with lots of originality and we clapped with all our might to save Tinkerbell. We were lucky to have our good friends Jenny & Jack along.

Meanwhile, M had time to get us a camp site, find a good bookshop and read in the park. The town has a lovely playground; we spent ages in the terrific toystore (anyone for a sidewalk game of checkers?); there is a grassy stroll along the Avon river (!) where the children befriended a baby; the kids accompanied me to the small art gallery that had local artists on exhibit plus one room exploring images of animals in captivity (plus a great hands-on art room); and our tent withstood another night with all 4 of us squeezed in!

On the way home, we picked up some good old Ontario corn at an un-staffed roadside stand and had it for supper dripping with butter...

Childfree 2010 (Day 1)

I drove the kids and their Nana to the airport yesterday - the non-highway route of course. The rest of the day was a blur with the mental list of "things to do this week" startingt o overwhelm me... But it ended with eating at vegan resto in our 'hood that we have long wanted to taste. No glancing at the watch to see how much the babysitting is costing us.

Saturday is all brunch, and marketing, and lazy cooking for friends.

We have 9 days, folks. It's all about pacing.

Who is a big girl now?

She can reach and operate the water fountain all by herself and is all ready for school.

Mama camp (part 2)

In addition to all the other (documented) things we have done as a trio this summer - we have run an ice cream parlour; baked brownies; gardened (in the most unsual places); played in the park; waded at every wading pool in the city (it seems); gone to various of TO's finest outdoor things to do with young children (i.e. Riverdale Farm); read the Enchanted Forest series and umpteen other books; Value Villaged; hosted far-flung friends.

OK, it doesn't quite rival Grandparent Camp (b/c I refuse to serve Fruit Loops, on principle) but it has been a busy month for the kids - full of friends and learning and fun.

Here's looking at you, kid

Parenting constantly offers me new perspectives on the world around me. I am so proud to be Seb & Soph's Mum.

Who's that girl?

Does it get better than this?

Blue sky, big smile and a tall sunflower - all in our little back patch.

Take me out to the ball game...

We took the Brighton cousins to a Blue Jays game earlier this month and Seb still can't stop singing the baseball anthem. He asks for some help as the lyrics stump him. I am never sure what to insert instead of "buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks". Any suggestions?

Everyone needs

an auntie like this.

One who:
* sacrifices her time and money to trek to wherever you are.
* wears colourful clothes
* laughs at the joy in the wind
* pedals along with you in the back seat
* lifts you up when you are tired

Happy kids on the loose!

Fun times in and around Issigeac.