This Is New....

I don't mean to brag (insert sarcasm), but at this point, Edward and I are pretty conversant in contagion and it's various, miserable permutations.  And, not like I'm counting in a petty, somewhat childish way, but at least one member of our household (and usually two or more) has been sick 52 weeks out of the past 64.  

Last week, I got the stomach flu and a cold simultaneously.  I was secretly hoping it was food poisoning, because that isn't contagious.  Alas, Keith was up two nights in a row sick to his stomach, and Evelyn suffered the same symptoms last night.  Now, however, for the first time, we have two illnesses in the house at once manifested in two different people - Evelyn and her stomach flu, and Colin and his bad cold.

It looks something like this:

Colin passed out at the dinner table tonight, and Evelyn probably wishing she was passed out...

May this be the last time this year we have a confluence of nasty bugs.  Because between upset stomachs and perpetually runny all-over-everything noses, let me tell you, that's a LOT of laundry.

I'm also hoping this guy has had the worst of it - he had a rumbly, upset tummy at the same time I was sick last week - because at the moment, he is blissfully unaware of what lurks around him... and I think I have reached my quota of sad and miserable little people for the week.

Malcolm (and Sniffer) enjoying his snack this afternoon

Our Week

 Our week started off last Friday afternoon, when we were invited to the kids' school to participate in an assembly that saw Evelyn being recognized for having exhibited the quality of "Justice" from the beginning of the school year.  Edward and I had to suppress wry smiles when we were informed of her award, because the meting of "justice" by Evelyn has a very long history, and it is usually of the frontier variety.  However, she definitely has an innate sense of fairness, and most importantly, inclusion.  Unless if involves her baby brother....

During the assembly, they provided examples of what "justice" looks like in our daily lives.  I expected they'd talk about making sure everyone got an equal share of cookie - and they did touch on smaller "j" justice, but their prime example was Rosa Parks.  I don't think I knew who she was until I took American history in Grade 11, and even then she was approached as a catalyst for the Civil Rights movement, and not from the perspective of fairness, equality and justice.  It was a little humbling to see the level of awareness of this group of elementary students in relation to these big issues.

In any case, we are very proud of her!

My apologies for the shaky camera!  I was quite far away, and had a hard time keeping her in the frame... as you can see.

Malcolm loves oatmeal.  A lot.  I took this picture for posterity, although it doesn't represent the worst of it!

In his hair, of course.

This bucolic scene was taken this morning - the kids have a PD Day.  Let's just pretend the rest of the morning looked like this, too.

Overheard - The Catholic School Version

Colin:  Mummy, Baby Jesus isn't dead.  He's alive in our hearts.
Me:  Yes, Colin, that's what some people believe.
Colin:  You know who else is in our hearts?
Me:  No, who?
Colin:  Sloths.

Hallowe'en 2014

I had one wish for Hallowe'en this year, and that was that we would all recover from the stomach flu before the candy was doled out.  Happily, that was the case!  Everyone was in pretty good form when they headed out in costume; and I would say for the first time, they truly enjoyed the experience.   Keith got to live his dream of being a "rat mascot" and scaring people; Colin was happy to be a giraffe; Evelyn couldn't decide between a fairy, a cat or a zebra until she laid eyes on a witch costume our neighbour had outgrown and then it was an easy decision; and Malcolm... well, he did master a little growl beforehand, but for most of the trick-or-treating route he was a rather sad and tired lion.  But overall, it was a busy and fun night!

Malcolm Lion and his prey.  You do not want to get in between Malcolm Lion and his prey.

The pumpkins I decorated.  The two on the top were a little rotten, which accounts for the odd mouth shapes (and the small third eye on the one of the left).  But, of course, I had to include tongues, which I propped up with toothpicks.

Evelyn the booootiful witch

Keith the Rat Mascot

Colin the Giraffe

Rooaarr?

Ready to go!

Our pumpkins, lit.  The Big One is Edward's handiwork.

Leaves And Goats

"We're three birdies in a nest, Mummy"

The smallest chick

At the apple orchard on Sunday, hanging out with the goats

Thanks to everyone who expressed concern via phone or e-mail following yesterday's sad events.  Edward was under lockdown at work (his building is downtown), but much to everyone's surprise, he still got home on time.  The thing about life with kids, is that no matter what happens, you are propelled forward.... not always a bad thing, in my opinion.

Dance Class

I decided to enrol Evelyn in a City of Ottawa pre-ballet class every Saturday in the early afternoon.  It's been a bit hit or miss - today, she refused to do 90% of the class - but overall, I think it's a positive experience for her.  She finally warmed up just before the end of class, and managed to show Miss Candace first position with her feet to earn a sticker.  She's a little shy about expressing herself through movement, and told me that she "doesn't know how to learn dance".  I really hope this will gently help her get passed that feeling.  In my opinion, nothing is more liberating than allowing yourself to really dance.  Especially to your own drummer.

I was in dance class from the time I was 4 until I finally gave up at 18.  I went to a well reputed dance studio in town, and although I LOVED to dance (and still do!) I wasn't great at following a choreography or dancing in a group.  I spent a lot of time feeling discouraged and overlooked.  It took me a long time to find my groove, in every sense.  But for me, dancing is still an absolutely essential part of who I am.

All this to say that I wasn't overly keen on the "dance studio" model for Evelyn.  The City of Ottawa program is a perfect fit.  The instructor is fully qualified, but the atmosphere isn't competitive or pushy.  Of course, getting dressed up like a ballerina every week is definitely a big part of the draw:

Colin took one look at her as she got dressed in the kitchen and stated "Evelyn, you look beautiful".  That might have been her favourite moment of all.

Our Week

Someone likes the mint Girl Guide cookies....

Hallowe'en preview!

Evelyn's Thanksgiving handiwork

When I picked them up from school yesterday, Keith excitedly told me that he had "the BEST TURKEY EVER!!!" in his backpack.  His is the one on the bottom.  Colin told me his turkey's name is Larry (top right). 

Hanging out with me at the (free!) annual butterfly exhibit this morning at Carleton University

Keith and Colin size up the moth I'm holding.  This guy (and his orange) was passed to me by someone who was leaving, and I held onto him for a long time until I noticed that he wasn't looking too peppy.... then he started shaking, so I gently put him down in a plant.  The kids were fascinated by the "butterfly who died so the plants could grow" (the University lets them decompose in the plant pots as fertilizer)

Our token butterfly shot in foliage, courtesy of Myriam who accompanied us.  No idea what type it is, but there were at least 20 varieties of butterflies and moths on display.

The exhibit cuts up oranges and leaves them around so people can try to attract the insects.   The butterflies definitely prefer the available flower nectar, though.

The Exhibit was as cool as ever, although I really should have taken a picture of the entrance line.  It impressed me last year, because it was at least 30 people long... and then the greenhouse is pretty tight quarters with tons of little people running around.  So this year, we arrived early (on the O-Train no less, because parking last year was a nightmare) and were greeted by a line that snaked out of the building and, eventually, around the block.  Luckily, there is a lovely little park right beside the greenhouse, so we blew off some steam while Myriam held our place in line.  The fact that it was a PD day for our kids' board likely contributed to some of the exhibit's popularity.

The kids enjoyed the exhibit, although they're still a little physically small to see all of the butterflies on the foliage, and spent most of their time with their necks craned upwards.  Plus, despite patient orange holding and quiet voices, they were most disappointed that no butterflies landed on them.  We're also under the weather, which never helps.  But it's definitely on the calendar again for next year!