Seb makes masks

For the past 4 Saturday afternoons, Seb has been participating in a mask-making workshop for 5-8s. Turns out that there was a blog...

http://www.ericmakesmasks.com/

Enjoy!

Quick snaps

Ever so busy here on different fronts. Here are some photos at least of various family members preparing a welcome banner for Auntie Jeet last week and playing with the lovely royal sceptres that Carrie and her partner made for the kids. In fact, thank Carrie for the snaps.

Let Girls Be Girls

Some of us push back.

Ain't no heels on our gal; she wants to run like the wind. Ain't no nail polish or jewelry either (beyond a vintage stunner that both she and her brother like to knock about in). Ain't never going to need a padded bra based on her gene pool! The only make up she gets is a kiss from me and the odd swipe of lip balm (Raspberry Lemon blast is the current fave - right from her Xmas stocking). She plays two mummies with a girl-friend with no designer diaper bag in sight. She takes gymnastics with a boy-friend. If she becomes a ski bunny this year, it will be because she falls down in the snow too much.

While we seem to have won out over anything pink (Pinkalicious musical for 2-6s, anyone!!>>??), she does covet all things sparkly... I think she would like to be re-incarnated as a disco ball. But there again, I know a number of boys who would like the same.

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Update of February 15th
http://www.parentcentral.ca/parent/news/gta/article/937688--porter-the-pink-princess-parenting-nightmare

Ready whenever you are...

A poetic interlude from Grandma

Found in my poetry anthology, handwritten long ago; hope you enjoy

I like old clothes,
Hand-me-down clothes,
Worn outgrown clothes,
Not-my-own clothes.
When somebody grows
And gives me her clothes
I don't say, "What, those?"
And turn up my nose
The way some people do
When their clothes aren't new.

I like old clothes
I really do.
Clothes with a history
Clothes with a mystery,
Sweaters and shirts
That are brother-and-sistery,
Clothes that belonged to a friend of a friend
Who wore them to school when she lived in East Bend.
"You lived in East Bend once, Blue Sweater", I say.
"Just think you are living in my town today."

I like old clothes,
Faded-out clothes,
Not-so-new clothes,
Where-were-you clothes;
And each time I wear them
I try to imagine
The places they've been
And the faces they've seen
And whose clothes they'll be
When they're finished with me. Mary Ann Hoberman

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Cricket magazine poetry contest for schools

Things I Like
I like the wind on my face
when I run fast
and the smell of the bakery
as I go past.

I like playing Scrabble
with my Dad
And when I beat him
I am glad.

I like cakes and candles
and birthday wishes.
And sometimes I even
like doing the dishes.

I like the way Mom smiles
on report card days.
I really worked hard
for those A's.

I like to visit my Grandmamas
who live far away.
I wish I could see them
every day.

I like paper kites
and anything blue.
And guess what, Cricket,
I LOVE YOU. James Hamilton (8)

I Like Things
I like onion rings
and other things,
like silver, gold,
red and pink,
icy water to drink,
stuffed animals
and roller skating,
the Nutcracker Suite
and never waiting,
sledding down hills,
Dad pulling me, too,
swimming,
and not wearing shoes. Lori Cooperman (6)

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Limericks
I can pack for a trip with great speed,
For I know in advance what I need:
It isn't clean socks
Or toothpaste or clocks -
It's an armful of new books to read. Eve Merriam

Little Jane who'd read all about bears
Went to see them asleep in their lairs;
This was a mistake:
They were all wide awake,
And dancing the tango in pairs. Edward Gorey

Going home with her books through the snows,
Went Maude, when a blizzard arose.
Despite winter's blast,
Maude got home at last ,
But the books had no jackets and froze. Wallace Tripp

Staring down fear

Both of our poppets took a big step today.

First off, Soph. We went to a real estate open house on Saturday (no, we are not going to move). She touched something and cried. We pounced on her for touching something and then forgot about it. Turned out that it was a splinter. Not something that bothered her during her Sunday ski but by this morning, it was painful and 1/2 surrounded by pus. Our youngster bravely stuck her finger out for the pin prick and tweezer tug and for the pus-riddance maneouvre (Seb was pretty 'grossed out' by this description). Don't get me wrong, she cried both vocally and tearfully. But she never pulled back or yelled 'stop/no'! She took the gain that came from the pain. Brave lass.

Seb meanwhile has graduated to the next level of swimming. It's in the deep end of the Y pool and definitely harder and more tiring. He's the youngest (7-10 year olds). The first week, we congratulated him and he seemed pleased. Last week, Carrie reported that he didn't want to go as his tummy hurt. This week, he mentioned not wanting to swim when he got off the school bus. Something was up.

I found him curled up in his bed. After establishing that he wasn't sick and informing him that I was pulling him from school tomorrow morning to go to a Black History concert with his buddy Jack, he told me that he didn't like the deep end. Ah, he had named the problem.

We brainstormed what we could do and decided to talk to the instructor together. Sure enough, young strapping John understood that one might be apprehensive about deep water and let him know he could take a break anytime and that he himself would modify some of the exercises so that Seb could keep up. He sailed through the lesson, giving it his all, even being a solid water polo goalie.

1) identify and articulate problem 2) brainstorm solutions and who can make them happen 3) inform that person that the status quo is not working for you and offer solutions. Bingo! Let's hope we have made a breakthrough.

Dental migration?

Sebastian's other loose tooth seems to be reveling in all its new-found space. It seems to be migrating to the centre of his jaw. The adult teeth might be inching forward, which will take months to complete - if there is space.

Let's be honest, for all of Seb's father's pretty blue eyes and lovely smile, he is not a square-jawed superhero. Small of jaw and big of teeth does not a good combo make. So not intervening doesn't seem to be an option based on his father's dental history and overall genes.

The question is to what extent and to what cost. The dentist doesn't think we have to do anything for another 3 or 4 years and then extractions, possibly braces or retainer and ??? Anything as long as they both keep beaming at me!

Diablo, baby!

Lots of imaginative play indoors this morning.

But now it is high time for a lunch of sweet potato and red pepper soup, plus chevre on toast and then tromp through the beautiful new snow to Seb's mask-making workshop, animated by our lovely tenant Eric at the community centre.

January's roses

It snowed last night and again this morning. I love how it muffles the busy neighbouring street and turns our denuded working class block into a fairyland of lights and brights. I warm to our sweet neighbour who most mornings, shovels our pathway along with his and then still is promptly outside at 7.30 waiting for his lift to work as Seb crunches off to the school bus.

Oh, and how the chill brings the prettiest roses to bloom on Sophie's cheeks.

Maybe they are right

In the past few months, we have been given some beautiful pottery mugs. The sort of pottery that you don't put in a dishwasher. That you have to wash by hand. A task that you pass at great peril to young children - so you don't.

These kind gift-givers must sense that we are emerging from the intensive child-rearing years. Activities become optional(swimming lessons vs. diaper-changing for example); some tasks (setting the table, sorting laundry) can be delegated; and children can take care of themselves in various ways (less parental gallops to the loo, for example).

They must be right, those gift givers. So right that M is signing up for tennis and I am searching for a choir to join.

Santa escapades

I am not sure if Santa is breaking into an abandoned house or rescuing someone from a fire or doing daredevil acrobatics. But this is what young man conjured up. And he doesn't steal any sweets (My son that is. I can't vouch for Santa)

A family that skies together (2011 version)

We hit the trails en famille on Sunday. Most stunning sort of day to ski. Clear, crisp but not cold, lots of snow and happy ski bunnies who just hopped along to their lessons. Their parents had a chance to ski together and chat and at the end of the afternoon, we did a short ski all together, which I hope is just a taste of things to come.

Big mister broke in his new skate skis - and traveled about twice as fast as I did... Little mister was not put off by having forgotten his waterproof mitts at school. Young Ms. was radiant, jubilant, thrilled with her time out on skis. She had a huge grin on her face every time I saw her. Meanwhile, I rejoiced in the beauty of the setting, the weather and my family's health and happiness.

You all know that my first post-retirement port of call will be Marrakech. My better half hankers to spend the following year (or winter) a 10 minute drive from groomed trails.

Until then, every Sunday till the end of February, all or most of the family will be heading north for the day - and a few weekends - for some skiing. Lucky, lucky us.

How to give thanks for what we have (part 1)

I shall not wish the days away. Already we are 10 days into January.

Quick trip to St Lawrence market

and you can pick up some delicious fixings.

Lovely snap by Zia Lynn

When Lynn zipped through town with Vince and Leo in tow, she took this lovely snap of us but we failed to get one of them. Enjoy anyway!

They must be over

The holidays must be done because the closet where the knapsacks and work bags are stored is fairly empty today and because my scissors have made it back to my desk and are no longer buried under mounds of wrapping paper and ribbon.

Despite all the work and the flu bugs, we had a marvellous time - first cover to cover read for Seb, late nights, dvds, skating, theatre (Tea at the Palace by extraordinary Puppetmongers and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by two talented teens), relatives and out of town friends, big meals, grazing (check out the gorgeous gingerbread house), phone calls, presents (a baby doll! a foosball! magic sceptres?! vintage lego), board games (more presents!), pyjama mornings (and afternoons), fairy lights, purple hair, short hair, velvet, traditions (new pjs), hockey, love and laughter too.

Here are some of the best snaps.

Irresistible

New snow. Who knew?

It's out!

After almost 5 months of wibbling and wobbling, Seb's first tooth came out this afternoon. It was ferociously worked back and forth by his tongue or finger all day. He said he was going to sleep on his side so he wouldn't swallow it. But no need as it came out at home with the help of an apple.

It's a bit strange because there is no gap there, as his second row are looming (and crowding out his mouth...).

Our seven year old is definitely suspicious but oh-so-wants-to-believe in Santa, in tooth fairies, in magic (that benefits him). He asked me if I have put money under his pillow but since he asked in the wrong tense, I dodged it.

He popped the tooth under his pillow and fell asleep surprisingly quickly this evening. Unfortunately, about 60 mins later his sister woke up with a burning thirst and awoke him too. 10 minutes later, he trailed down the stairs in tears. The tooth fairy hadn't come yet....

So what do you think the going rate should be for a first tooth and how long do you keep up the charade???