A birthday dream

So much to do, so little time...

However, I thought I would give you all the heads up about the imminent birthday season. Seb's current fantasy is to receive a Canadian Girls doll http://www.maplelea.com/ as a present at his Star Wars themed party which will be at his favourite Ethiopian restaurant.

I sure love that kid.

Fabulous weekend, followed by...

What a great weekend! Gorgeous weather & my love was home with us. On Saturday morning, Seb & Sophie went to the first meeting of the 2nd session of the Dovercourt Young Readers Society, while their parents went out for brunch (and this could be weekly, folks!!). Then it was off to soccer (which they lost in a big way), and on to a birthday party in the park. All topped off by after-supper baseball.

Sunday was all about hosting a brunch for friends, zip to Word on the Street with our neighbour Andrew, and then off to a family celebration for our friend Kelly having received her doctorate. Oh what fun! WotS was a fab as ever. We bought old mags, new books, children's and adults theatre tix, saw authors do their thing and just soaked up the literacy vibe.

Somehow though, Mondays seem to always follow Sundays...

Woke knowing that our childminder was off-sick and that the father of my children was not only long at work but would likely still be working when I went to bed tonight! Had a very grumpy and oppositional son and a daughter who gagged on her breakfast vitamin. We arrived at school 30 mins late...

I dashed back home to make a work call - only to have interrupted by a call from school saying that Sophie had vomited in the hall. Rushed to wrap up the call and dashed back to school.

Brought Sophie home - she seems fine and happy to be playing - swept the mass of rotting grapes from our yard so she can play out back in the shade (it's still gorgeously hot here).

Tried to do a bit of work but kept being interrupted by French Club queries and hiccups (why are there no rooms for us after-school when the main school is under-enrolled?). Found out that I had been selected for a last minute spot at a training on how to run big humanitarian simulations in Sweden NEXT week... Roped the ever-affable grandparents in to do childcare again (love ya G&L - get this: their only request is that this be Brownie points towards the kids going to NB for a longer summer camp next year...).

Found out that Seb & Sophie are in fact still registered for swimming lessons on Mondays, but we will lose our spot if we don't go today... Arranged to get Seb to swimming (post cross-country practice) and then on to a friend's so he can still attend to the Municipal Services protest at City Hall this early evening.

And it wasn't even noon!

We, the Luddites

Reason 18 not to have a tv. Last night, Sebastian and I worked on our individual knitting projects, Sophie wound wool and their dad read to us. I kid you not.

PS OK, it wasn't by candlelight but still...

Having babies

Our lovely friends, Malika and Andrew, got married a few weeks ago. This prompted the following conversation in the car with our 4 year old.

Soph: Does that mean she is having a baby?

Her parents glance at each other.

Me: Ummm, no. I think they really like children and will have some one day. But you know, you can get married and not have babies - like Uncle Arthur and uncle Kevin or Auntie Mary and Uncle Mark

Dad: Or have babies and not get married - like Mum & Dad.

Soph: (staring out the window absentmindly) I want to have a baby with you.

More parental glances.

Me: ummm. (then launches into long politically correct monologue of how to know when to have a baby).... And only then do you figure out that you want to be parents with this other person for the rest of your life.

Soph: OK but I want to have a baby

Me: OK but later.

You just never know when those questions are gonna come up.

Football fever

We are new to this soccer/football thing. So somehow we didn't realise that after the summer break Tuesdays were practices but Saturdays were playoff games.

Perhaps however the boys knew because they pulled off their first victory of the season on Saturday and so "advanced" a round! Too funny.

Jack & Seb were pondering the fact that their most talented player had not been at the match and perhaps they were a better team for it.

Stay tuned.

A diplomat? Seb?

Sebastian had the good fortune to attend not one but two festivals promoting the wonders of perogies. Saturday was the Polish Festival on Roncesvalles and Sunday it was the Ukranian equivalent in Bloor West village. Asked in public as to which was better-tasting, he paused and said "About equal, I would say".


Too bad the video of the (Ukranian) dancing won't load yet again...

Who did you run for?

It was the annual Terry Fox run yesterday across this vast nation and so the family went out on a beautiful autumn's day to run a 1, 5, 10 km circuit in High Park. Turns out that there were insufficient volunteers to mark the various routes, so we all ended up doing a 4 km walk/run. My love however did do it twice - the second time, he trailed after a bounding Sebastian (and I wore a really stupidly heavy backpack the whole way).

We ran for Grandad and Grandma and (great) Grandma and Jack and Sally and Thelma and friends from our youth and Derek and well, the list is too long, folks.

No grazed knees this year but Seb did get his first professional massage - outdoors no less. Check out how long Soph's legs are getting and Seb's new sporty togs.

The Grove will be running its own version next week, so there is still time to sponsor the young 'uns.

Poppets

My fleeting but eternal sources of joy.

Eyeing up what comes next

Sophie clearly has her eyes on Seb's bike as a hand-me down. Her dad has promised to paint her scooter a bright purple this weekend. Who knws, perhaps it's time for Seb to get the skateboard.

Gettin' creative with our protests

The kids were happy to protest against the Fords' bros. ideas - and then getting to dance too?? on video!!! So into that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNuuR12HxBc

How many of our T.O. friends can you spot?

Out & About in the Fresh Air

Weekend before last we decided to get some family exercise (something we do too little of). So we did some biking

hugged a few trees

 trod a few trails

La Rentree 2011

And so off to school it was. The children were bathed the day before, their outfits were chosen the night before, the lunch bag re-discovered at the back of the closet, contents discussed with both children. But still we ran late - and I have to do it solo for the next 3 mornings!!

The "new kid" practically ran into the school and couldn't wait to get started (they did two lots of reading and created 'me trees'). The savvy Senior Kindergartner (who had bolted from her bed the day before gleefully announcing "Just one more day till school!") hung back and then shed a few tears at the transition (her class ended up investigating bugs). Two wonderfully different individuals.

Moving around the UK (Part 2)

My sister splurged on a retro '30s era flat near St Katherine's Dock in east London. That means it was a 5 minute walk to one of my favourite historic sites in London - the Tower. Thus, we found ourselves spending a rainy, cool August day in another medieval setting. (The elephant is one of a series of life-size modern art installations made of chicken wire and linked to the temporary exhibit on the exotic animals that lived at the Tower for 700+ years - until the London Zoo was established (I didn't plan all these links).

The next day, Sophie and I headed to Oxford Street to buy 'school shoes' (which seems to mean black and only black in the UK), stopping to see a favourite installation on the South Bank. Then it was to Covent Garden to see the buskers and a favoured shop of mine, before heading to Kent to see my aunt & uncle. Uncle is doing a job of living up to the nickname Uncle Hoppy - as he recovers from hip surgery. I have included a snap of Sophie's favourite building - the Gherkin - which she would point to with glee from any vantage point (you can also see it over Auntie R's shoulder).

Meanwhile, Sebastian and his Auntie were exploring HMS Belfast - moored on the Thames - before scouring London for good Ethiopian fare (we have a connaisseur).

Thanks, sis; hope to see you in the New Year.

It was off to the UK (part 2)

Yup, there was even more to a European holiday. We headed back to the UK where we spent a lovely few days with Dorothy & Peter - who were celebrating 50 years of being sweethearts (more on that another time) and visiting cousin John and his crew. You saw the snaps here http://wedgley.blogspot.com/2011/08/summer-days-in-aldborough.html
It was a rambunctious time and an accidental foot in the face hastened Seb's loose top tooth on its way, while Sophie was whacked by a big stick that was trying to whack an apple like a baseball (the North American invasion of Aldborough).

However, there were some sweet moments like when some of the first and second cousins cuddled up to read together.

and last but not least...

Pony-riding! Seb did his week of afternoon lessons and passed into the next level. Meanwhile Sophie her 'balade a main' and then had afternoon tea with her parents, which included biscuits.

and all things Medieval...

Every August, the Medieval Festival runs throughout the Dropt valley - and includes Issigeac: http://www.medieval.dropt.org/vallee_images.php We made the most of it this year, spending one lovely afternoon with Noor. Though sadly our village put on its special day after our departure.

















Chocolate crepe and Orangina are medieval, aren't they?