How many parties in a day?

Seems like there is a glut of kids parties at the end of the school year. Lucky Seb was invited to two on Sunday! This one is Nikko & Kai's. The shot is of my two with the birthday brothers (and parents). Very sweetly, Kai is wearing the t-shirt that we gave him on a different occasion.

Next month, that lovely family heads off for a sabbatical year in France. We will surely and sorely miss them.

Still diggin' the playmobil

We bribe them. It's that simple.

Whenever I go on a long haul trip, we give the kids a present each, usually presented on the middle weekend. This time Sophie got an awesome outdoor swimming pool, complete with slide and working shower (all in miniature playmobil size, you understand). (Hint: Maybe her dad could send her mum a shot to upload)

Seb was given a vet set and as you can see he was lovin' it. That boy just loves every single bit of Playmobil that he has ever met.

Me? I love that there is no bloomin' knight paraphenalia in sight. Though that white horse has been known to carry a white knight in its day.

Playing favourites

I need some help here, folks. One snap makes Soph looks better. The other snap shows off Seb's fine look (and his new bangs? Sure looks like they got cut).

Do you have a favourite? Photo that is, not kid.

Heaven help me if I had 3 or 4 kids to line up in a shot.

Oh, speaking of shots. Carrie snapped these ones on Saturday after they had emerged from their baths.

Counting down the days

Penultimate day of school and I do mean that school. We just got word that Seb has a spot at the Grove and can thus join Sophie there in September. Everyone please cross your fingers and toes that a) that's the place for him and b) he makes the transition smoothly.

---- Oh, his wise father suggests that I not blog to the world - too late... - until we figure out how Seb can be persuaded to see this move as his idea. Everyone on board? -------------

Me? I am counting down the days till I get home - 6 1/4. Still seems far away...

She has clearance

Nothing says 4 years old like learning how to skip without tripping!

Not quite daily dose

Ain't that a gorgeous dress that Auntie Sar gave her niece last year! Perhaps Annabel should have it next.

Sophie is sharing a hug with her schoolmate and little sister. Soph - like her brother - likes to zero in on wee ones and hug them repeatedly. We are trying to find kind ways to tell her to leave them be.

A baby is born on our street!

Reducing our wee avenue's average age by 8 or so years, Kate and Julie had a little boy on Wednesday. He is well and his mama is recovering (if that's what you can call those first days).

They have named him Oliver and no word yet on big brother Bruno's adjustment. The kids made cards - Seb's a factual welcome, while Sophie's is a word of advice!

Our children will meet him on Saturday; I can't wait to meet him in 10 days.

Who is cuter?

Sophie hasn't met a baby, a puppy, a kid, a foal, a piglet, a ... - well, you get the picture - that she hasn't loved. This pup was on its first walk in the big wide world.

The highs and lows of professional sports fans

As many of you know, Canada is grappling with its self-image after the post-Stanley Cup riots last week. M & I have long had deep reservations about hockey (it was the basis of our first big argument - alas, it has not been the last!); indeed we have mixed feelings about professional sports in general since it seems to promote a culture of couch potatoes and rowdy-ism (how many of those hockey fans play hockey or any sport once or twice a week?).

But we are human - and subject to the pressures of a certain 7 year old and the pressure he faces - so these parents make a large exception for the World Cup and professional soccer (with strict ring-fencing around the celebrity stuff of the UK Premier League).

So we were so thrilled to snag tix to the Toronto FC match on Saturday night. Thanks Chris & Kate!!! Seb painted his face and wore his David Villa shirt with pride.

And in 2 weeks, Seb is taking a school buddy to a baseball game for his birthday. At least there, we only have to talk about cheating and not violence!

Seb's favourite spot to read in the park

Boy + mag/book + tree = happiness.

We really challenged Seb's reading this past two weeks and he did read 2 chapters of Harry Potter by himself. Unfortunately, there was some backlash. At one point, we suggested he read to himself and he threw the book down and declared "I hate reading". Note to selves: stop being pushy parents...

We do let him read comic strips in French and the sports pages. He was really pleased his sister had got a fairy chapter book out of the library because he said all the girls at school loved them! But reading isn't his thing (yet). Books - yes; being told/read stories yes; but reading, nope.

why it's great to have a little sis

For those not in the loop, we are once again debating options as to where and how Seb should be educated come September.

Sophie would like him to attend her school. Why? "Because I could hold his hand at morning circle and he could come on field trips".

Monkey girl!

Trip to the Horse Barns

After yesterday's soccer match we nipped to the HorseBarns down by the Ex. Nothing too special but you can tell the kids are getting excited that their pony days are coming soon! Plus, they got neat mounted police cards to trade (yup, police...).

And BTW, Seb & I decided to call his self-chosen (did I need to say that?) outfit, his 'flora and fauna' combo.

Golden gloves?

I know the country is a bit hockey crazy at the moment but here are some fab shots from Seb's soccer match yesterday. He was in goal during the warm up.

Oh and there you can see the excellent assistant coach.

Belt it out

http://www.toronto.com/article/688336--after-school-opera-sets-t-o-kids-abuzz

This is a program that I have been hoping will interest Sebastian. Maybe this Fall? (and now there is no one related to us in the snap).

I know when I am not wanted

It's 4 in the morning. I am pulling yet another all-nighter for my current contract.

A slumbering Seb lies across the spare bed 'to keep me company'. Sophie is in her room; their dad may well be asleep on the couch. It's hot. Everyone is wearing as little as possible.

Sophie cries out. First a whimper, then a cry. I get up to go to her. Perhaps she wants water. But no, her cry turns into a wail when I perch on her bed and place my hand on her back. Wild-eyed she sits up and cries out: No mama. I want to be alone, and then tosses herself back on the mattress.

I retreat. I know when I am not wanted.

Silence returns to the deep hours of the muggy night.

And the nut was good...

www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/07/gruffalo-julia-donaldson-new-children-s-laureate

Have loved each every children's laureate and have yet to discover some of the writing for the older children. Here's to loads more years of exploring children's literature!

Ali, when you are back in T.O. will we have another book club?

We are off to the Railway Children on Thursday. I have to say it is NOT a classic read. But should be amazing on stage - with a moving train! http://www.railwaychildren.ca/

Conversion on the road to Addis

I don`t think anyone who we have introduced to Ethiopian cuisine has not been impressed by it and-or our children`s gusto for it: Uncle Mike, Brighton cousins, Nana & Gramps, and now Grandma.

It`s all thanks to Babush for starting Seb off on a good foot (or tongue) in 2004.

Patio-lolling

We did have 1 or 2 warm afternoons - evenings in May. It was too gorgeous to stay inside at the library, so I bent the rules and let Seb check out an English Tintin book, so we could enjoy a neighborhood patio.

Once upon a trip to Ottawa...

It was fleeting but we did nip up to the capital 10 days ago. We managed a trip to Byward market, a picnic and exploration of the Rideau Hall grounds, a visit with the Cormiers, a delicious supper at ``Gino`s restaurant`` also with the Cormiers, and loads of hide and seek. We also had a great afternoon at the revamped Museum of Nature, which you might recognise from a previous photo shoot (Seb as vet).

The garden is planted and flowers are blooming!

Taking on Grandma for the X & O championship