Baking the days away

Last weekend was a baking weekend. We did some gingerbread house decorating at a classmate's house - along with about 15 other kids!

Then I was up very early on Sunday, so I baked cinnamon buns and made cheese bureks, which Sophie helped with. First time in oh, 15 years but still yum, yum, yummy.

Sophie would like to thank Eddie and Dorothy

On January 1st, each member of our family states an aspiration for the year to come. This year, Seb wanted to join a soccer team. me to sing more, M to be more organised and Sophie... to make a meal.

Auntie Dorothy's lovely gift of Eddie's Kitchen (by the ever wonderful Sarah Garland) had inspired our youngest to prepare a meal for others.



And so last night, we gathered with friends and neighbours to partake of that very important rite of pasage.








She and I had shared the task (60:40) and spent much of the afternoon readying the table:
Green Salad with tomatoes and peppers
3 loaves of fresh bread - plaited, balled and thin like a snake
Pasta with homemade pesto
Baked apples and ice cream!

It was a wonderful accomplishment. I hope I am invited to many, many more.

Good Attitude Award

When Seb moved to his new school, he lucked into a wonderful teacher. A teacher with vision and compassion - not flawless but still such a find. Unfortunately, in early November, he went on extended sick leave and might - only might - come back in late March. Sigh. Another adjustment. The substitute teacher has done her best and may now be awarded the long term job, in which case we will invest in her presence.

However, all to say that we were intrigued - and then busting with pride - to find out that Sebastian had been awarded one of her 2 weekly Good Attitude awards for his class last week. He got it for speaking up against 2 classmates who were being offensive toward girls - on the national day of mourning on violence against women too.

A beaming parenting moment and I won't share the other kind...

A letter we received from Seb's interim teacher

Hi,

I just wanted to let you know that Sebastian handed me an envelope that is adressed to the North Pole to a certain portly man in a red suit that he wanted to make sure I mailed for him...

Last week I overheard him saying that he would know if Santa is real or not because he would get the letter mailed without getting his parents involved because then only Santa would know the things he wants for Christmas. Hehehe.

If you'd like to get your hands on the letter, or would like me to email you the list let me know... :)

M

Who's a happy lass?

For those who need a boost today.

Yesterday was pyjama day at school. Sophie wore those fab astronaut jammies that Auntie Dorothy has posted to Seb 3 or 4 years ago. They are still going strong and coupled with the fleece dressing gown Nana bought her, she was cozy, colourful lass.

When she got home, she sought out my old and holey ZoZo monkey - which my Grandma had made me.

Something from Mum
Something that was brother's
And something of her very own.

Luck lass.

The acrobat

Upside down,
boy,
you turn you

An Ethiopian welcome

I just spent 11 days in Ethiopia (and 2 days traveling...); it was a great trip as I managed to train practitioners and not just remote managers, plus in Addis Ababa, I spent loads of time with the ever-wonderful Katy & Babush and kids. Ate well - never sick which seems a record for me on recent trips.

I managed to be there for Hannah's 3rd birthday party and enjoy all the work that Babush has put into their garden. (Check out their coffee bush, the chicken hut, the kickball and play house that B made)

Such a good job that we cheekily have asked him to come to France next spring to work with M on our courtgarden. And being him, he is considering it!

Birthday Party # 2

The very next day (were we crazy!!) we hosted 6 of Seb's friends for the eclectic mix of Star Wars, Ethiopian food and more tattoing.

The nifty thing about the tatoos was that you put them on and then you apply your own colour. Seb's Grove crew were happy to start using the pens in um, creative ways. So we ended up with a very colourful bunch of classmates on Monday morning!

Showing Star Wars made for a very quiet party. We 4 adults drifted around the house looking for something to do because we had made the front room a children's den with blankies and pillows, popcorn and drinks, while they watched Star Wars -the new hope projected on to a big sheet. Cool.

We headed down the road to Addis Ababa restaurant where the lovely owners not only opened early for us but made a big table on the dias for the birthday boy. The one non-Grover didn't even try the food but everyone else jumped in and most kids enjoyed it. They got a tour of the kitchen, played the usual finger games with the staff, ate carrot cake, and applied the coloured pens galore!

Birthday Party #1

Not a lot of detail to this one but I wanted to tip the hat to everyone who helped make Sophie's party a success. She invited 8 friends to Seussical the musical and then despite the TTC conspiring against them, they traipsed back as a happy clan to our house for tatoos and cupcakes! To be honest, not much Little Grey Rabbit happened.

But Sophie - in her bright birthday top from me - enjoyed every minute of it.