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!  

Our Extended Birthday Celebrations

The Ducklings 4th Birthday fell on a Thursday, so we began our birthday bash that evening with a lovely dinner (and cake) with Opa and Nana, as well as Grammy and Grampy who flew down from New Brunswick to join in the festivities.  Colin and Evelyn wore the birthday hats they made in school... Keith's went missing somewhere along the way.

Colin at his birthday dinner

Malcolm never needs a reason to party, but this one did happen to include homemade pizza and chocolate cake

Keith, sans chapeau

Evelyn thought it was "the best cake ever".  Thank you, Daddy!

The anticipation... I can't manage to sing and videotape at the same time, which is likely better for us all.

On Friday, The Ducklings went to the Carp Fair with Grammy, Grampy and Daddy and had a blast.  There were even a few rides....

On Saturday, they thoroughly enjoyed their birthday party!  Thanks to everyone who dropped by, especially Aunt Deborah (and Liam and Siobhan) for coming up with the brilliant "decorate your own party hat" craft, and for facilitating it.  I guess old habits die hard!  And Aunt Jane, for helping to keep a lid on the chaos.  It was wonderful to see so many of our friends and family.  

Nana and Evelyn enjoy their cupcakes

The Doctors Irving diagnose a serious case of too much fun

And after several rounds of hot dogs, hamburgers, cake and pies in various forms, chips and fries over several days (this is a given with 3 day long birthday binges!), we're moving on to Monday morning: back to school, work and sensible eating... once we make our way through the leftovers, of course.

Everyone had so much fun!  We missed Aunt Benny and Uncle Sepp, but we look forward to celebrating with them next year.

Hat Weather?! And Too Late For Love...

Really?!  

It's not even the end of September!

One of the most entertaining (and heartwarming) experiences of The Ducklings first weeks at school is listening to them learn the national anthem, which they sing every morning in class.  In fact, their interpretations of the lyrics (which are, admittedly, a little odd and archaic) have ignited more impassioned, fiery debates than most witnessed in the hallowed halls of Parliament.

They have the "O, Canada" part down, but what comes next is hotly contested.  Evelyn insists its "our home and natee law," and then, "too late for love".  Whereas Keith is - unsurprisingly - convinced it's "too pastry love"... or maybe, "to pastry, love"?  No matter how many times I tell them that it's "true patriot love", they don't believe me.  "Patriot" is not a word they know, whereas "pastry" is definitely a favourite.  They sing the bilingual version, so once they get to the French verses, the Ducklings become even more creative.   They have a reasonable facsimile of "Car ton bras", but "épopée" throws them for a loop every time, and they end up descending into fits of bathroom humour hysteria.

I honestly don't know how their teachers keep a straight face through an entire classroom of children doing the same thing....

First Days Of School

Well, it finally happened:  the day I was both dreading and anticipating for the past few years.  I remember noting to my sister in February, 2013 that we would both be signing our children up for full-day kindergarten in one year's time, and marvelling at that monumental shift.  I watched them walk out the front door on their first day of preschool last September, thinking that in one short year's time, they would be on their way to kindergarten and the beginning of a scholastic career, that - for better or for worse - would take us through the next 13+ years.  That felt big.  Really, really big.

In retrospect, it felt a lot bigger then, than it does now.  Perhaps it's because I when I look at my articulate, funny, active and - gasp - increasingly reasonable almost-four-year-olds, I can see that they are ready for this newest challenge.  I'm not sending my wee two year olds out into The World.  They've grown up so much, even in the past month.  Perhaps it's because I was proactive in getting them ready.  From the social interaction they practised (and struggled with, in cases) at preschool and every other opportunity I could contrive; to identifying and addressing Colin's sensory needs; to meeting teachers beforehand and getting used to our new routines (and lunchboxes!) well in advance, I did it all with an eye to Thursday, September 4th.  After that moment, it would be in their hands.  I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they'll be fine.  In time, in their own time, they'll find their way.   And, upon reflection, every milestone has unfolded like that.  You set the stage, you encourage, and then you step back and watch with a bittersweet mixture of amazement and conviction.  You can do this.

And so, when Thursday morning arrived, and they got up, got dressed, ate a big breakfast and walked out the front door with their backpacks on, it felt a little anticlimactic.  Edward dropped them off at their school door, and off they went - only one with a few tears.  An hour  later, the resource teacher left a message on our phone telling me they were doing beautifully.  They came home excited, and the next day they didn't even notice Edward leave.  The biggest tears have been over the exceptionally sad fact that we don't live far enough away to quality for the school bus.

I know there will be challenges ahead - already, we've had a boy who pushed on the playground, and another who chased them around at lunch.  And we'll see how they feel about it all on Monday morning.  But this is what it's about - learning about other people.  These experiences, good and bad, will bring our children's own values and beliefs into sharper focus.  This is something that Edward and I cannot teach them.  It isn't always an easy lesson, but it is an essential one.

First day of school.  Someone accidentally hit someone else with their overstuffed backpack.  And that someone else was not amused, although someone was trying to make amends.

Still not amused.  Still trying to make amends.  Still no good picture of the first day of the rest of their (scholastic) lives.

Such is life:  the drama you think will ensue and have prepared for, is usurped by the drama you never anticipated...

Three @ Four!

It's that time of year!  Party time!  Not to be confused with school-starting-time, which may only be a reason to party for me (more on that, later).

The Ducklings are turning FOUR!  We would love you to celebrate with us.

Where:  Our house
When:   Saturday, September 27 from 10am to noon

As usual, it's a very informal, open-house gathering with no RSVPs and cupcakes for all!  Best wishes, only.

We hope to see you then!

Cottage 2014

Two weeks after Edward and The Ducklings left for the cottage, Malcolm, my parents and I packed up and drove east.  We did the drive over two days, and it was as painless as one could hope, even with the seemingly endless rain and road.  We arrived to warmth and sun in Shediac.  I wish I could say the weather stayed that way for the next 10 days, but as Murphy's Law dictates, that only happened two days before we left.  However, that still allowed us time to fit in a delicious lobster dinner!

All four kids and I travelled home on Monday - Edward and my parents left by car the day before.  I had members of the crew comment on how "brave" (not quite the word I'd use... but much more flattering) I was to attempt solo airplane travel with all of them, but I figured I could deal with such a short flight.  It started off pretty well, thanks largely to Edward's mother, Ann (aka Grammy) who made a picnic lunch for us to eat in the airport departure lounge, and accompanied us right to the gate.  The rest of the flight was a little more challenging - trying to help a kid pee in a tiny airplane bathroom whilst holding a heavy, wriggly baby took some creativity - but I know we did okay when the elderly ladies in front of us complimented The Ducklings on their behaviour.

The Ducklings came home a little more wild, a little more tanned and a lot happier.  They get to free-range, there.  Marshmellows roasted over a bonfire waaay past bedtime, trikes on the tennis court, shell collecting on the beach, sleeping in, dinner on the lawn, running in the waves.  Every bit of it essential to who they are, and to who they will become.  To have a retreat like this is good for the soul, and we are grateful they have the opportunity to experience it.  

Sometimes, in the depths of winter as we rush them into snowsuits, push them through their days and layer on the "if you don'ts", "come heres", "go theres" and "do thises", there is a definite peace of mind knowing an antidote exists.   I've promised them that on days like those, we'll take out paper and a pen and list all of the things we'll do next summer at The Shore.

Pants are optional at the cottage... well, for the under 5 set....

Bedtime story with Daddy 

Viewing an amazing private car collection (thank you, Bob, for organizing this!)

Is it possible the older boys enjoyed the cars even more?  Keith with Opa

Colin with Grampy

Parades in pjs!  With hats.  And neon yellow cavemen.

More of the parade - hats, noisemakers, cat kites, barefeet.  Aunt Sandra as the parade marshall, and Uncle Tom on the accordion.

Wagon rides (thanks to the Strattons for allow us to wagon-jack your family reunion!)

Grampy, Grammy and crew

Riding off into the sunset

Home again, home again...

While The Mice Are Away.....

...Malcolm plays with everything he can get his hand on, enjoying the cars, trains, books, bits of toast with jam, and having Mummy's undivided attention.

As we did last year, Edward is currently into week two of his solo parenting* of The Ducklings in Shediac, while I'm rushing around like a mad fiend at home trying to work through an endless pile of projects.  I started two months ago, crafting and getting art together for Colin and Malcolm's room at Colin's request.  Since they've left, I've converted the cribs to beds, cleaned, cleaned with more cleaning on the horizon, hung art, a blind and a mobile, and refinished and reassembled our new (old) kitchen table in anticipation of seating six.

I'm still in the midst of it all, along with a baby who is lonely in his room without his big brother, creating much drama and complaining; combined with a developing aversion to his morning nap.   So, in tiny increments, it is sloooowwwly getting done, often to the chorus of a much-put-out baby.  In other words, the same as last summer's mad dash, but louder.

However, I thought I'd post a few progress pictures of what's been changing around here!

It's AAAALLLLLL mine!

Our much loved kitchen table was getting too small, so I hauled out our old dining room table that seats 8, and went to work refinishing it.  Sadly, the table top was in such awful, irredeemable condition, that I went against my profound aversion to painting wood.  The stencilled part is the leaf, and if the pattern looks familiar, it is.

Colin specifically asked me for a mobile - thus:  Colin's Space Odyssey.  I started working on this months ago, and my vision (dimensional stars and planets) looked great on paper, but was actually very hard to make.  In addition to making my own templates, and assembling the pieces with exacting precision, I had to make tiny props out of aluminum foil and paper clips to keep everything in place while the glue dried.  So frustrating, but hopefully Colin will like it.  It's one of those crafts I will never do again!

The space ship with aluminum foil legs and tissue paper afterglow

A look from underneath

New art on Malcolm's side, including his gorgeous baptismal sampler made by a member of the church congregation

Cribs are now beds!! 

*with the help of Grammy, Grampy, Aunt Jane and Aunt Pinie, Merri, as well as the usual friends and family who are so generous with their time and patience.