Fall had arrived on the Island of Sodor...

...but "Oh no!" tooted Thomas "These leaves are blocking the track."
Luckily Thomas had his die-cast friends nearby to help clear the way.   

These are the moments when I am acutely aware of the power of repetitive exposure to children's programming. 

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When I brought the trains outside, his jaw dropped for a moment and then he said "Whaa? We play wi' trains OUTSIDE?" Quite possibly the most brilliant idea I've pulled out in weeks.  Finding new ways to bring inside play, outside.  Making me happy and joyfully blowing his mind.






















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Slowly Changing

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This month of September.  It's flying by, and given all that's it brought, that's a good thing.  Will October bring some space to breathe?  I'm hopeful.

In the meantime, it's taken three weeks but

• My gal has (for the time being) given up the revolution and is no longer contemplating becoming the world's first grade one drop out.
• We have only one more month of a little guy's "I'm two and I will be heard".  Yes, I am aware of the fact that there is an equally loud "I'm three and I will be heard" phase.  I'm vacationing here in denial a little longer though - they offer cookies there.
• We're one week into the first cold of the season.  But that's one week closer to it being over.  Right?
• It's going to be October soon and I almost have my first knit of the season to report.  I love it to crazy bits.  I'd stop and take a picture today, but it's good to keep a little something to come back and blog about before the month rolls away for good.  

Let's just enjoy the slow change shall we.

Stuck on You

You can shake an apple off an apple tree
Shake-a, shake- sugar,
But you'll never shake me
Uh-uh-uh
No-sir-ee, uh, uh
I'm gonna stick like glue,
Stick because I'm
Stuck on you
(Elvis)



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And I'll say it again - opposite kids.  While my gal slowly warms to the new routine, I could barely convince my son to leave after his first hour long visit at his new preschool.  He was literally bouncing into the building and didn't even have a moment to spare a goodbye wave (although the giant leaping hug afterwards is so much better anyways).

Any parent who has searched for a daycare or preschool situation will know what I mean about the instant smile when you find the magical place where you know good things are going to happen.  I am so excited to see the doors that Tuesday and Thursday mornings will be opening this year.

The best part of yesterday was hearing my little guy describing exactly what he had done in "my cassroom".  There was a "big wed fireengen" and "cackers" for snack and "Miss Kewwy red stowy" about a "FROG! ribbit ribbit".

And...ahem...it includes a dance program once a week.  It's impossible to look at a burly little two year old boy wearing black ballet slippers without squeaky giggles and a quick *swoon*!

And we've made it to the end of Week One!  The weekend is almost here, a big pot of soup is bubbling and there is nothing on the horizon but some deep breathes and recovery time.  How sweet a Friday is!

The Back to School Edition

In the moments when we were excited about going back to school.


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For the recovery after I extracted her from my body and watched her march back into school.


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This September thing is kicking me in the emotional teeth.  A big move to the big school grounds.  A locker.  A full week.  Her best friend from preschool joining her (and the slings and arrows of friendship that are bound to return).

As expected, the tears and shaking head and hesitant mumbles of "I don't think I'm ready to do this today Mommy." started before we even headed out the door. The waiting mass upon arrival - not helping "No. They won't crush you. It's gonna be a-ok.".

15 minutes of calmly cajoling and reassuring...diverting...then bargaining...buying a few steps and managing to extract myself from the full body clutch. And the last sight was a completely tear soaked and quietly distraught bundle of fuchsia slowly marching into the unknown. I am fully aware that she'll be smiling and settling into her new surroundings before first break arrives - but it's those 15 minutes that I'm left with for the rest of the day. Six hours to wonder how she's doing and try to remember exactly what it was I used to do when the house wasn't in a summer uproar.  Coffee, a healthy splash of Mother's Helper, several rows of knitting along to a good audiobook - seems like a good place to start.

The Toof Teef

I'm a couple of weeks slow getting over here with our latest 6 year old rite of passage. After weeks (and weeks...and weeks) of gum pain and wiggling and then last minute tears (because 6 years olds get really hungry and eating with a 1/2 attached tooth sucks) Little Gal has finally lost her first baby tooth. However, I'm so slow about getting around to sharing, that even this picture is out of date - so we can now officially make that 'lost two of her baby teeth'.



And with this big event comes the loaded series of choices regarding the toothfairy. Given a certain girl's love of fairies there was no way the ritual lie (and happy imagination fodder) wasn't going to continue. The big question was "So, how much does the tooth fairy leave these days?" My husband voted for a quarter based on his childhood memory (and the fact that it used to buy him a bag of chips and a drink). I told him he was getting old and overruled with $5 - (and yes, I did actually google the phrase "how much does tooth fairy pay" and consensus seems to be in the $2-$5 range - and a parent who leaves iTunes gift cards).

Future playground discussion will either prove that I'm not keeping up with inflation or seriously overestimating the fairy reserves. I decided to leave myself some wiggle room by quickly whipping up a special pouch for the exchange of tooth and reward. The great thing about 6 is that the process is as exciting as the payout.

*I thought about taking pictures along the way for a tutorial, but then it would have taken more than the 15 minutes I had free and really this is such an easy peasy project. If you do want more detailed info though, just drop me a line.

I started with a rectangle of fabric approximately 8" x 5"and used 1/2" seams around the outside and a 1/4" seam for the drawstring top.

With wrong side of material facing you set ribbon or string in place.  Fold material over ribbon/string leaving plenty of room for a hem stitch.  Fold hem under, finger press and pin in place.  Stitch straight hemline (I used a 1/4" seam) being careful not to stitch over ribbon or string.  NOTE: You could also stitch without the ribbon/string in place and then draw it through aftewards - I'm just lazy and find it faster this way.  Fold fabric in half with right sides together.

Stich an L shape (I used a 1/2" seam) to complete your pouch, leaving the string/ribbon opening unstitched so that you can cinch the pouch closed.  I chose to go back around the edges with a zig zag stitch and to trim the corners with an angled snip just to make it cleaner.  Turn pouch right-side out and you're ready for a visit from the fairy!

 

That Special Thing

If you could stop the clocks and step outside of having to do anything else for a few uninterrupted hours - what would you be up to? Here's mine.

Theoretically this would be really fun to do along with the kids. Theoretically.

Realistically, the phrase "I want to paint" usually translates into mama setting things up, getting two kids organized with two different sets of supplies, finally sitting down with my own favourite bits, and then being told "I'm bored. Let's play a game." Despite my early parenting fantasies, my children have a very short attention span when it comes to arts and crafts (believe me...I'm working on building that muscle). They love to do it - it just has to be planned, concentrated and quick on results.

I can see faint glimmers of getting back to some of these special "me time" activities. In the meantime though, I'll settle for taking a brief time out to just daydream about it a little during 15 minutes of making someone else's sweet creation come to life. And luckily it takes infinitely less time to take a picture I love than it does to paint one.

Julia's favourite Princess palette and her fancy Easter nailpolish.

Puddle Jumpers (and Pokers)

April showers are right around the corner. We're dressed. We're trained. We're ready.



gotta.touch.it.gotta.touch.it.gotta.touch.it.

Cause that's what you do when you're a boy who's two.



gotta.jump.in.it.gotta.jump.in.it.gotta.jump.in.it.

Cause that's how you jive when you're a girl who's five.

Sweet Ways to End the March Break

I'd been hoping to make it to one of the local Maple Syrup festivals over the March Break and we couldn't have asked for better weather - warm, sunny and perfect for free flowing sap. (We saw that +5C and took a few steps further to +16C)

I still remember discovering where maple syrup came from when I was around my daughter's age. I also remember a big tin of syrup that would accompany pancake breakfasts for the better part of each year.

This is one of my favourite pictures from the beautiful Mountsburg Conservation Area. Something about the tones and the rings on the tree is really striking and I keep thinking it would somehow translate really well in embroidery. We'll see.

Something that does translate really well - that lovely sweet drop, along with several thousands more lovely drops - into delicious amber syrup.

I Spy

Over the weekend, my little gal and I went out on a "picture hunt" (and spontaneous candy run).

While crouched down and fixating on some typical folliage that I'm seeing everywhere right now, she had made her way up a berm and called down "Hey. I found a shell."

A shell? In the middle of winter, in a subdivision, surrounded by trees, across from hayfields? Not likely. I gave her the "Mmm Hmm. That's nice."

But she's a persistent one, my gal. "You wanna see it?"
It's probably a little rock or something. "Yeah sure. In just a minute ok?"

Just a minute later, I stand up expecting her to have brought me the mystery shell-rock. No way. She's waiting at the top of that berm for me, guarding her discovery.
Up I go.
And you know what it was?
It was an empty snail shell.


"Hey! It really is a shell! You just found my shot for the day! That's so cool!"

{she smiles} "Mmm Hmm. That's nice." {and she's off in search of the next discovery}

Pins and Needles

The day started with vaccines and the quick reminder that a 5 year old facing a needle (even hours before the needle) becomes a cross between an emotional Oscar winner and an ultimate fighting champion. Little Man on the other hand just voiced his displeasure, shot me an accusing pout and then just as quickly moved on at the sight of a few gummi bears (when it comes to needles, 2 isn't so terrible after all).

After the drama and ouchies had passed, the better part of the afternoon was spent twisted and sprawled across the living room floor pinning fabric for my patchwork quilt. This is my second quilt (ever...and in the past 4 months) and I am once again struck by the realization that I love love love the piecework part, and am completely daunted by the giant assembly part. I'm definitely feeling less trepidation this time around, but am blown away by the size. Somehow, this "throw" has grown way bigger in reality than it seemed when I was cutting isolated pieces. It's safe to say that "throw" is as big as I ever wish to go (famous last words - please feel free to stage an intervention if you ever seen the words "quilt" and "king" in this space).

Scenes from a Mall

...that somehow didn't result in shopping.

It did include lots of decorations.



And some twinkly-eyed cheer, complete with Magic Tricks and a reading of a festive favourite story.



A round of Reindeer Hokie Pokie (sp?). Note the 'antlers in' and the 'antlers out' right before the antlers are 'shaken all about'.



And all proceeds going to Sleeping Children Around the World.

Since my daughter has never had any interest in sitting on Santa's lap (actually closer to a shy terror), this was a pretty cool way of fitting a 'no touchy-touchy' Santa scenario into our week. Although after all of that playtime lead-up, she actually did end up having a quick cuddle with the big guy after all (while her brother ran around terrorizing the reindeer and a small stuffed hedgehog).

First Snow

Those flakes kept flurrying yesterday. It was the last kick I needed to propel me into to full-on December-mode.

Somebody had forgotten all about snow (what with being 1 last year and all).
Needless to say...he was very, very excited by the stuff.

Contradictions (Hers)

As the mother of all contradictions, it seems only fitting that I have an equally contrary 5 year old. After recently reflecting on mine, let me introduce a few of hers.

My belly says it's hungry. (5:55pm)

My belly says it's full. (6:05pm)

Can I have dessert now. (6:10pm)

: : :

I can do it myself.

I'm getting to be a really big kid, aren't I.

Can you do it just for this once. (word for word - she says it the same way every time)

: : :

I know. (when I tell her to finish eating her breakfast)

I know. (when I tell her that breakfast is important)

I knnnooowww. I'm going to. (when I tell her to finish eating her breakfast!)

I don't know. (when I ask her why her Barbies are lying on the floor)

I don't know. (when I ask her what she did at school)

I don't knnnooowww. You read it. (when I ask her to practice her phonics cards)

: : :

Matthew hit me!

Matthew hit me! Punish him.

Matthew hit me again! Send him to the naughty step.

Well, I only hit him a little bit.

Photographic Evidence (and a map)

1. At the ages of five and two, you both really enjoy playing together...with the same thing...at the same time...for a little while.
2. After my first coffee, and about 5 minutes of trial and error, I can actually remember how all of the tracks fit together. Occasionally, I can even figure out how to add a second rail line.
3. I have enough sense to take a picture to remind us all of points 1 and 2.

Contraditions (Mine)

Just a few of the conflicting things I've said to my kids in the course of a week. Literal quotes, separated by hours...and occasionally only by minutes. It really is a wonder that they believe a word I say.

Don't touch your brother.

Don't touch your sister.

Give each other a hug.

: : :

Don't touch other people's things without asking. (knitting)

No touchy touchy. (knitting)

Just because it's yours, doesn't mean you get to touch it. (diaper changing)

Don't just leave that there. Pick it up. Even if it's not yours. (you name it)

: : :

You can try it but it's gonna taste gross. (play dough)

Don't put that in your mouth, it's dirty. (most things a 2 year old discovers)

Just have a taste...you'll like it. (Quesadilla)

: : :

It's important to use the proper words for things. (homework)

Don't give up. If you don't know the answer then we'll figure it out together. (10:00am)

It's not a quesadilla. It's a Mexican Pizza Pocket. (Hey - that one worked!)

Go ask Daddy. He'll know the answer. (6:48pm)

A Crafty Case of A.D.D.

My brain is awhirl lately and I have little to show for it besides piles throughout the house and very little cleaning taking place around them. So which one should I tell you about today? (Get ready for a whole lotta linking!)

I could talk about all the squares and rectangles I've cut for the Amy Butler patchwork quilt that I was so excited to begin.

Or I could tell you about the stack of fabric that I just bought an hour ago after seeing this tutorial over at Sew Mama Sew last night. A festive tree skirt that has now pre-empted the patchwork quilt.

Picture a whole lot of white pulling this together.

Then again, I could post about the latest book that frequently has me curled up in a sunny corner daydreaming about a wardrobe overhaul.

Of course, I really should be updating you on the no-longer-such-a-Mystery sock which seems to have stopped in it's track at the 90% mark (and yes, that's just the one sock). But then I would have to confess to cheating on said sock with a certain shrug which I've managed to keep on the down-low up until now.

You can see my predicament; blog-hopping is a dangerous thing. The gal who is usually true to her 'one project at a time' rule has somehow gone way way way off the rails (and I haven't even brought up the baking, decorating, and kids play ideas that are circling in my brain).

So I think I'll just set all of those things off to the side and spend a couple of hours cleaning the house and contemplating some sort of direction for finishing a few things before the end of the year. Then I'll feel completely without guilt when I fall into craft-busting mode for the rest of the week. After all, this November that I'm loving so much is going to be a quick one.

On a November Day

We're taking a deep breath and taking in this wonderful between-holidays month.

We're filling up on every opportunity to enjoy dry swings and slides.

We're making playdough again. And I'm once again realizing just how handy a blog can be in pinch - like when Julia's teacher sends me home a recipe-less note reminding me that I signed up for playdough making duty. It seems we were doing the exact same thing on a November day last year!

A November day can be a very quietly special thing.

Choo Choo for Two

Two. Really? Wow. How?

It was a weekend of cake and balloons and giggles with our no longer 'almost' but now official Mr. Two Years Old.

And since he shares his middle name with a certain cheeky little blue engine, the affinity is no surprise. The sight of his favourite character makes him grin from ear to ear every time - so needless to say it was a one track day.

Friday Block (BAAAK) Party

Another rainy Fall day. No complaints here. I keep building and he keeps destroying.

And from the his rapidly growing list of new words, BAAAAK ranks right up there with CA(r)-CA(r), DAH(og)-DAH(og) and choo choo (which is more of a sound than a word). All the really important things in a little boys life.

Hope your Thanksgiving weekend (here in Canada) is full of equally joyful things to be grateful for.

Making Change

When is the right time to introduce allowance? The all-too-regular pleas to visit the toy aisle every time we go to the grocery store have answered that question for us. "Can we just look at the toys" never means "Can we just look at the toys".

We started things off with a reward chart last year, which worked really well at first, but then a bit of a 'credit crunch' occurred; advances on a couple of bigger ticket rewards and then a lapse in best behaviour (not to mention that the bank would often lose track on the sticker count). It was a great way to introduce the concepts around earning and value though.

But now it's time to step things up, because I don't think I hold single-handed responsible for adopting the entire Littlest Pet Shop population.

We started things off by sorting out change and tallying up the piggy bank count (which made me realize that our daughter has become independently change wealthy on a five year old level). And going forward I love the idea encouraging a division between spending, saving and giving. Click here for a great piece on this. There are also so many learning moments to share with money; sorting, denominations, comparing, patterns.

So all Barbies, Polly Pockets and critters take note - there's a new banker in town!