Friends forever

[his big buddy back in ON in July]

Me and my girl

A snap shot from earlier this month in Toronto (we are now in the UK) - it still says it all.

That's one big dog

And he ate it all. Though I have no idea where he packed it away.
[Time-delayed: we are actually now in the UK]

Tad delayed

Obviously, there was a lag in uploading photos b/c I have snaps from back in the days when we wore long sleeves (5 weeks ago)! Here Bruno (still an only child at this point) and Sophie blow some bubbles in the park and take in the SPCA's adopt an animal fair. We barely got out of there without a gerbil...

A visit to Rideau Hall

OK, it wasn't a state visit to the GG (that's Governor general for international visitors; that would be her Majesty's representative in this former colony that just rolled out a multi-million dollar fan club of a welcome mat to the young royals).

Nice shot of our happy lass at Rideau Hall back in June. That dress rocks - polyester and everything.

NB/TO pals

Seb & Sophie are ever so lucky to have friends who live here part-time and there part-time. Here being Toronto and there being New Brunswick. G&L kindly shared a day of Grandparent Camp so they could all get together and what fun they had!

The pose of the future

Seb, his buddy and buddy's sister take in another Blue Jays game (back in June)

Hockey happy still

Sebastian is not quite hockey mad but he is getting there. He even has me taking some shots on net and we now have a proper net ourselves. Last week was the last street hockey session that we could squeeze in with Jack & John and other neighbours. Afterwards, Jenny treated the boys to a movie and dinner.

So we took Sophie out for a meal that included a flaming sausage at a local Portugese restaurant and ended with a bubblegum machine.

Grandparent Camp 2010

Yup 2010. Sorry for the delay. G&L had given us a cd of snaps back in September but it kinda got misplaced. Lo and behold, we found it today as we moved my office into the spare room (that's what Grandparent Camp 2011 is about). We are creating a lovely reading nook where my desk and paraphernalia used to be. Photos to follow - though hopefully not one year later...

Camping southern Ontario style

Let's face it. Southern Ontario just does not present the camping options that spoiled us in BC and NB. It takes at least 4 hours to get anywhere 'wild'.

Since we only had one night, we stuck our new family tent and the new air mattress in the car and set off. Being a beautiful Saturday in July, the provincial parks were full, so we settled into a 'conservation area'. Seb picked our spot - right by the road but shaded and we erected our humungous tent. I have to admit that I got a bit emotional : "Oh the places we will go, the friends we will house, the relatives we will visit, the adventures we will have, the storms we shall weather."













We inflated the mattress, went for a swim (not sure how safe Lake Erie's water truly is...), walked on the beach, shot some hoops, and headed back to the campsite for supper and a chance to roast marshmallows on the campfire.

Somehow, the evening had the aura of a house party with everyone camping on the lawn. Voices, music (classic rock to the left, country to the right and disco kitty corner), nasty gossiping in the washroom, motorcycles and trucks roaring past every 15-20 minutes.

Don't get me wrong, we had a good time. We slept well enough in the end and the kids were happily oblivious, which is what it was all about anyway.








But pining for Fundy or Vancouver Island or Algonquin, we are thinking of being May/September/October campers, with a well-planned 4 day camping trip in the actual summer months.

Urban Gangsta week - part 2

Heeyyy, say hippppppppp, sing hooooooo, sing heyhipho

Urban gangsta week was not only for 7 year olds you know. Sophie grooved it over at Bob Abate Community Centre's Hip Hop camp.

For her, the highlight was eating lunch at camp; she got to have a lunch bag like her big bro. The group of 4 year olds danced for 20 minutes 3 or 4 times a day and made hip hop accessories (initial pendants, sparkly kerchiefs). The rest was just normal camp activities, the splash pad in the park across from the community centre, a trip to the park's pizza ovens, etc. She had two really sweet counselors in their early 20s.

There was a mini-performance on Friday but my camera's battery died so we have to hope that one of the 2 business cards that I thrust at other parents with cameras will bear fruit.

Grandparent Camp 2011

GC '11 has kicked off! Ok, it was delayed by 2 hours but it has officially started!! The kids say that they are looking forward to:
* going on a water slide
* eating Fruit Loops
* having a water fight with (great) Uncle Gary
* playing in the trailer
* seeing the new ride-on lawn mower
* watching tv ("but not too much, Mum")

Meanwhile, we parents are looking forward to:
* hosting some friends for dinner
* going to a concert (tonight)
* an evening of tidying up and culling toys
* planning our autumn
* having long breakfasts
* an un-interrupted road trip
* sipping some beverages on a patio
* and some footloose and fancyfree time in Montreal.

Urban Gangsta week - part 1

It was urban gangsta time last week in Toronto.

Seb (and Jack) was at a fantastic camp run by the Guerilla 12 arts collective and situated in the sunny art room of the main school where the Grove is located. Headed by 2 super cool and lovely adults (Alex & Liam), it was a huge hit with both boys.

The theme was graffiti, so the art was drawing and spray-painting canvas. Plus, they discussed the politics and ethics of graffiti and contributed to a local artist's (legal) wall show.The group (7-12 year olds) was a great mix and definitely 'alt' - with other kids raising the issue of Monsanto and GM foods at lunch and the rotten things that the new mayor has done. They trooped about in the alleys (scouting for graffiti), also playing simple & retro games in the schoolyard and cooling off in the parks.

I have no doubt that we will be registering again next summer - maybe for 2 weeks!