The babies are here

I saw the first sign of a new baby last night when we were on our way out. I knew that the mama bird was looking bigger and more full but I didn't realise that her off-spring had hatched. There are now two little birds but they must have been here for a little while already. Look at the size of them.



Through the window in the door and from across the yard I managed to get these shots. Sorry for the poor quality. I was trying to give them some privacy and avoid interrupting meal time.



I will post the pinata pictures and Friday's Feast soon. Hopefully later this afternoon.

Quinn is now 7!!

Quinn turned 7 years old on Monday. It was a great day and what follows are some of the pictures we took throughout the day. The first few are of the bike he got for his birthday but we picked it up (and gave it to him) on Friday. He is so much like his mommy. He loved getting the bike but he wished he got it *on* his special day and that he wasn't there when we bought it. He is all about the surprise, just like me. Oh well, now we know and he certainly didn't mind having his new bike. He just missed the surprise.







Aunt Jen is in town (well, now she is in Toronto but she was here Sunday and Monday) for training for her new job and so we were able to have her join us to celebrate Quinn's birthday. He was pretty excited about that. Fergus persuaded daddy and I to give Quinn his gifts before the party on Monday so there are some pictures of him opening his other gift from us (Mariokart for Wii), from Fergus as well as the money from Grandma and Aunt Jen.













Then we had 5 other children descend upon our home and the games really began. Liam (5), Alex (9), Shelby (7), Ellie (7) and Sydney (7) joined us to celebrate Quinn's special day. They ran around, played hide and seek and spent time on our swing while they waited for Doug to return with the McDonald's food that had been requested.









After eating they gathered their communal brain resources together to work their way through the well-crafted (if I do say so myself) riddles of the treasure hunt. This has become a tradition in our house. Both of the boys love treasure hunts and solving riddles so this offers them the opportunity to enjoy both. The treasure at the end of the hunt was the beginning of the loot they would accumulate to take home.









Then they returned outside to beat at the pinata (Jen has those pictures and I will post them once she sends them to me). Quinn and I had done some traveling and calling around to find the Sun pinata that he really wanted. He would have settled for something else but his heart was set on a Sun. The pinata has also become a tradition for him. Last year we had one of them that sports the ribbons you can pull on to release the prize inside (after everyone has tried hitting it once or twice) but this one did not offer such easy access so we used a baseball bat and, honestly, it was not our brightest move ever. Some of the loot became more crumbs than candy. Oh well, live and learn.







After they had collected all of the well-beaten bounty from the Sun they returned indoors (while it was a sunny day, it was NOT warm) where they began working on their T-shirts. The original idea was that they would decorate T-shirts (as we had done for Fergus' 5th birthday party) and the shirts would be the party favours for Quinn's guests to take home. He convinced me to do the pinata again though and so there were sweets too. (I managed to include fruit leather and sesame snacks in there as well so I felt like I was offering less crap and therefore a little less guilty.)



All of the T-shirts were AMAZING! It was so incredible to watch these children put so much thought into their artwork. Wow!!







Fergus and Quinn were finally able to wear their artwork today. Fergus creates a picture of something specific in his mind and that translates to the material. Quinn just goes with the flow in a more abstract way. Both did phenomenal work though. I am honoured to know them both and know that they have inherited the creative genes from their Uncle Nath, Aunt Jen and Aunt Eleanor (as well as many other talented family members).

















Finally, we had cake and presents. I think Doug opted to shoot video of the gifts and cake presentation however I still needed to share shots of the cake. It is "Bobby's Caramel Cake" recipe from Paula Dean. Quinn, Fergus and I love watching "Paula's Home Cooking" every afternoon at 4:00 on the Food Network. When Quinn saw the episode with this recipe he immediately declared that that was what he wanted to have for his cake. We worked diligently and created what was quickly labeled as being a wonderful cake! It was a hit with everyone but most especially it was a hit with QUINN!











Happy birthday my fabulous boy! How blessed is this mother who has two incredible boys who make her world a little more perfect every day??

Another feast

While I know I owe an update about Quinn's FABULOUS birthday party this weekend and info about the trips Doug has been making, I don't have time just now. Hopefully later today.

Appetizer

What is the nearest big city to your home?

Metropolitan city?? Toronto . . . geographic city? Mississauga

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets?

Depends on the secret. I generally tell Doug everything, unless I have been asked not to, but given that I work in a field where I can lose my job and all credibility if I breach confidentiality I do know how to keep my mouth shut!

Salad

Describe your hair (color, texture, length).

Just past the shoulders, freakishly curly with blonde streaks. When I am not feeling lazy and there is little or no rain forecast, I sometimes blow-dry my hair to be straight. At least it is soft with this lovely "Green Beaver" (DON'T LAUGH) shampoo we've been using. I know I am lucky. Most people with hair as naturally curly as mine find that it is quite coarse. Mine is not.

Main Course

What kind of driver are you? Courteous? Aggressive? Slow?

Depends on the destination, who is in the car, the reason I am in the car and who is with me. It is also determined by the behaviour of the people in the vehicles immediately in front of me. If they are being rude and or purposely driving in a disrespectful manner then I get angry and aggressive. For fuel consumption though (and carbon emissions by extension) I am trying harder and harder to drive more slowly and courteously.

Dessert

When was the last time you had a really bad week?

Can't think of the specific dates. Probably while I was working those midnights. I found it more difficult than I realised. I liked being able to earn the money for my family but I can't put into words how upset the whole process made me.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

When someone smiles at you, do you smile back?

That depends. Do I like them or not? If I like them or if I don't know them then yes. If I don't like them but they don't know it then yes. If I don't like them and they know it then no. So, mostly yes.

Soup

Describe the flooring in your home. Do you have carpet, hardwood, vinyl, a mix?

Hardwood throughout other than the kitchen and the bathroom. Mom's apartment downstairs is carpeted but I wish that it wasn't. Carpet holds yucky smells, even things like perfume and hair spray and stuff. Allergens are not my friend and it is worse downstairs for sure. Not her fault. The carpet was there before she was.

Salad

Write a sentence with only 5 words, but all of the words have to start with the first letter of your first name.

Someday soon Sam should sing.

Main Course

Do you know anyone whose life has been touched by adoption?

Yes. And it was a positive process once all was said and done. What a long and drawn out affair with many unnecessary costs for all though.

Dessert

Name 2 blue things.

I wish I could say the ocean and other waterways but these days they are so polluted with crap that it is nearly impossible to see any reflection of the sky. Instead I will say the hair on the heads of my children is partially blue and the big, ugly chair that used to be in our living room but is now downstairs where mom wants it to be is blue. Comfortable, but blue.

Now we sneak

We have a couple of new residents at 22 MacKenzie Drive and in no time at all we will have even more inhabitants. We have a dove who, with her mate, has taken over the flower pots attached to the wall outside our front door. The ground outside the door is littered with the twigs and grasses that either wouldn't fit or were rejected as not being comfortable enough to nest on. The eggs, we presume, have been laid as Mommy Birdie has not moved from her spot for the past several days. Daddy brings her food and fresh twigs every once in a while but she does not venture away from her soon-to-be off-spring.

It is a great science lesson for the boys and me. We have taken to slipping into the hose as quietly as possible. She watches our every move though. It is fun to watch the two of them try to fit on the "nest." He comes in and sleeps with his head under her wing and his backside in the air. I have never seen her sleeping though.

I will keep you posted. For now we are off to play some baseball with friends.

Stephanie's Monday Meme

What's your preference?

M - American football or soccer/futbol?

With a maternal grandfather who played footie professionally for England and a maternal grandfather-in-law who played professionally for Norway I figure I can only choose the black and white sport that flows not only through my veins and the veins of my husband but doubly so for my children.

O - Digital or 35mm?

I love the convenience of digital but hold romantic feelings about 35mm. (C'mon, I'm married to a photographer.)

N- Running or walking?

Who is chasing me? That would determine my preference. Ultimately walking is my preference but I have tried and continue to try to become a runner.

D - Coffee or tea?

Depends on the weather. Coffee with cream pretty much EVERY day but I do crave tea and love when it feels like tea weather.

A - Dog or cat?

Definitely dog. I have never really liked cats. They are nice enough I suppose but I feel that if I weren't deathly allergic to most furry creatures then I would want a dog.

Y - Hot or cold?

I'd rather be too hot than too cold. Too hot is uncomfortable for sure but I find being too cold just painful and I don't like pain. That is where Doug and I differ though. He would rather be too cold than too hot. Creates a conflict every other season.

Tuesday it is!

Appetizer

What was your favorite cartoon when you were a child?

The Bugs Bunny and Road Runner Show (and none of this edited crap that is on these days).

Soup

Pretend you are about to get a new pet. Which animal would you pick, and what would you name it?

Given my intense allergy to most furry creatures (especially cats and most dogs) I think I would pick a hypo-allergenic dog. I like bigger dogs, like Standard Poodles or Golden Poos but Doug does not so I would say we would likely have to get a picture of a pet rather than actually purchasing an additional family member. He likes big dogs versus little ones but happens to prefer the ones with fur rather than hair.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy getting all dressed up for a special occasion?

I really like it. I almost never do it and my version of getting "all dressed up" may be very different from some other people but I DO like it and do it when I can.

Main Course

What kind of music do you listen to while you drive?

LOUD and familiar. If I am driving and don't want to listen to CBC (like NPR for those who don't know CBC) then it's because I want to sing along with the music on the tuner and so I find Q107 and belt it out. Looks pretty entertaining I suspect.

Dessert

When was the last time you bought a clock? And in which room did you put it?

A clock? I try to avoid them. I think we bought one for the boys' room (at their request) about 3 years ago -- so they would know what time it is when they get up -- but before that it was likely 15 years ago. We don't much favour clocks in our house I guess.