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!