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.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer

Name something you would categorize as weird.

The interest my children have towards their Nerf guns and Pokemon cards.

Soup

What color was the last piece of food you ate?

Food? What's that? I had coffee. Does that count? I think I ate something white and yellow (egg) when I got home from the birth at 5:30 this morning. After 21 hours at the hospital though, all of it has become something of a haze.

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone?

7, maybe 8. Sometimes I savour it but often I am lonely for other people to be around, even if we are not interacting.

Main Course

Fill in the blank: I will _________ vote for ___________ in _______.

I will NEVER vote for A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE in a CANADIAN ELECTION!!!!!

Dessert

Describe your sleeping habits.

Erratic. I would love to say I get a straight 8 hours per night but since I have only had about 9 hours in the last few days I can't say that. I think my sleep patterns are LUCKY! They are often disrupted to allow me the honour of being invited to attend the births of babies. That makes me one lucky individual.

I lied

Quinn lost his other front tooth this afternoon and since I am a sucker for those big tooth-y grins, I decided I needed to take and post a couple of pictures of my sweet wee guy. Both of my boys are growing up SO fast!

Last weekend (and last post from me today)

Last weekend Noni (my sister) and Chris (her partner and the person my boys call "Our Chris) came over for dinner. It was a nice relaxing, eat some chicken wings and chocolate chip cookies, kind of night. This was the first time Ferg had seem them since his birthday and so a birthday present was given to Ferg.

Building tools!! COOLS!!! Ferg was elated. He loves to build. Chris took some time to help Ferg create a picture frame for himself and the corners matched up perfectly.

While they were working outside on their project, Noni and I worked on the wool she bought. It was a yucky, tangled mess. Funny thing though . . . a couple of martinis and a great deal of the visit later, and the yarn was completely untangled and Noni was happy!!

It has been a GREAT week!!!

It MUST be spring!

Last night we were able to take some time and spend it at a local parkette. It was a great family time and the boys had a blast. (Literally) They took their Nerf guns with them and blasted their way around the playground.

They were able to bike over to the parkette and play before biking home and vegging out with us on the bed in our room. (I am still so glad that the only television -- other than the one the boys play video games on in their room -- in the house is in our room because it not only doesn't get used as much as it would in a more common area but mostly because it makes us cuddle up together when we DO want to use it.)


The zip-line was a big hit too. Doug and I were able to sit/stand around and just spend time talking and reconnecting while the boys played. They are at so much FUN!!! They LOVE playing together and have such fun being brothers.

Ahhhhh, the world is a wonderful place!!!

Happy spring (again) to all of you. Now . . . to get out to the flower beds.

Another baby in the "family"

My best friend from high school, Kelly, gave birth to her third child this week. The first daughter for their family is named Victoria Rose and she weighed in at a healthy 9lbs. This sweet baby girl was born at home in her parents bed. Exactly where she should be.
Her big brothers, Benjamin and Matthew are over-the-moon that this little angel has arrived on their doorstep. They baked her a cake, brought mommy flowers, and overall were just elated to have a sister in the family.
Congrats Kel and Chris!

FRIDAY'S feast

Appetizer

Name a color you find soothing.

Brown. Always have. Always will. LOVE brown and other "earth" tones.

Soup

Using 20 or less words, describe your first driving experience.

Exciting, exhilarating, fun, romantic, illegal. The guy I was dating let me drive his dad's car when I was 15.

Salad

What material is your favorite item of clothing made out of?

Organic cotton.

Main Course

Who is a great singer or musician who, if they were to come to your town for a concert, you would spend the night outside waiting for tickets to see?

Joni Mitchell.

Dessert

What is the most frequent letter of the alphabet in your whole name (first, middle, maiden, last, etc.)

Since I am the only person in the family who was ever considered a "maiden" and that name is the one I still use, there is some figuring to do. At first I thought it was "N" but since both of the boys have been saddled with my last name AND Doug's last name in their respective name collections, "E" comes out on top!!

Monday's questions on Wednesday

Things to ponder...

M - What did you want to "be when you grew up" when you were a kid?

A singer. World renowned. Awed in all areas of music. Celebrated and revered for my talents. Alas, not to be. I still get to perform for a living but not for my musical and vocal abilities.

O - What do you want to be now?

The best mom I can be. I also want to be viewed as a leader in making environmental changes and in showing people how EASY it is to consider the planet we live on AS WELL AS thinking about ourselves.

N- What season do you enjoy most?

Summer. I love the heat. I love the sun. I love feeling as though it is just a matter of getting up, tossing on some clothes and running out the door. Fewer things to physically and emotionally weigh a person down.

D - Who is your think will win American Idol?

What? I truly don't know. I do know that my business partner has told me that someone who was recently kicked off should have been a contender for the winning spot. That's about all I know about American Idol though. I don't even know if the person was male or female.

A - What is your go-to dinner when you need something quick and crowd-pleasing?

hand-crafted vegetable soup or fritata

Y - What song is bouncing around your head today?

"Happiness Is A Warm Gun" (sad, isn't it? LOVE the movie "Across The Universe" though and love Joe Anderson's version of this song)

Something different

This is a series of questions created by my special Stephanie. She makes good questions.

Here we go:


F - Favorite Flower?

I love irises and daisies. The iris is such a true depiction of female genitalia and as someone who makes her profession because of the wonder of the female body, it stands to reason that I would love irises. And the rich colours. Daisies are just beautiful. Simple and lovely.

R - Favorite Singer?

Joni Mitchell. She is amazing. I love so many artists but at the end of the day, she is my one and only.

I- Favorite Music Group?

Very good question. Again I love many, many groups but Fleetwood Mac is my true love.

D - Favorite Meal of All Time?

Lobster Linguine at Osso Bucco in Brampton. It is my favourite restaurant and my favourite meal. Yummm, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. If you haven't been to this restaurant and you live within a reasonable driving distance of Brampton then you need to try it out.

A - Favorite Poet?

Jacques Prevert

Y - Favorite Game?

Scrabble. I love playing the IRL game better than Scrabulous but I will take Scrabulous if that is all there is on offer.

Is it Tuesday already?

Appetizer
Invent a new flower; give it a name and describe it.

Rays of sunshine and it is a tall flower with orange, yellow, red and purple petals. It is large and robust. It folds the petals onto itself through the dark hours and opens very quickly with the bright light of the day. Seeing it make a person smile!

Soup
Name someone whom you think has a wonderful voice.

I am blessed enough to be surrounded by people with fantastic voices. My friend Suna has a phenomenal voice and I have been lucky enough to receive a copy of her CD. I know Stephanie and Kristin also have a gift when it comes to song. NJ has a wonderful voice as well. Ahh, too many to choose from.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how clean do you keep your car?

Do **I** keep my car? 2! Does my husband keep my car?? 9+!!

Main Course
How do you feel about poetry?

I feel that there is a time and a place for it. I love some poetry (Jacques Prevert est fantastique!) but have to be in the mood for it.

Dessert
What was the last person/place/thing you took a picture of?

Funny you should ask. I had my camera with me today and took pictures of the boys last day of skating. When we got home I took a picture of the boys and their newly coloured hair. They are both sporting big blue patches. In fact I posted about that before I posted about this feast.

When we're bored

We do the silliest things.

To mark the change in the seasons the boys changed their hair. Fergus isn't a big fan of the streaking cap but loves the colour and the way it shows in his hair. It can be hard to get a real idea of how blue it is but here are a couple of shots to amuse you.

Take care

New business activity

My business partner and I are excited to be taking part in this event at the end of May. We attended to fall show Greenmom hosts but this time we will have a table and will have a chance to speak to expectant couples.

If you look at the cake pictures in the next blog entry you will see why I am excited that Kristin is planning to make a display cake for our booth. She is uber talented!!

Fergus' birthday was GREAT!

Here are some of the pictures from Sunday evening. We didn't remember to take the camera to dinner or the movie when we had his party. He had, as I previously posted, chosen a Japanese restaurant for dinner and had his best friend to join us for that and a movie.

Sunday evening he chose ribs and mashed taters for dinner and my business partner, Kristin, made the cake. Fergus, in case you didn't already know, is a huge fan of video games and saved his money last year to buy himself a Nintendo Wii. Kristin (who has been hired by people to make and decorate cakes) is incredibly gifted. I wish we had had the foresight to have put the real Wii system beside the cake. She was spot on.

He was over the moon.

Since then he has popped out to pick up an iPod Shuffle with his birthday money and a couple of games for their Mac.

I still can't believe that he is ten! The time has just flown past.