Each in their own way

The big girls enjoy the shape puzzles.
So do the little boys.

And Astrid, too! (NOM, NOM, NOM...)

(In Astrid's defense (and/or for the record): given her oral-ness, at this point in her small life, Astrid has not yet had the opportunity to find out what to do with those teeny shapes. Mostly because I figure she'll do to the shapes what she did to the big wooden card... nom, nom, nom...)

Even without faces...

they're very cute!

Which is just as well, considering how often they do NOT look at the camera!

Let's try that again, shall we?

How'd you like to try the Sangria Friday again this week? So far, the forecast for the day is cloudy, but no rain, and besides, it's two days away. The forecast will change four times before Friday afternoon...

Given the strike, this week it'll be even more valuable. Did anyone go into an LCBO yesterday??? There is nothing-- nothing!! -- left on the shelves. Even when the strike is over, who knows how long it'll take those poor people to re-stock?

So, preserve your home stash! Come on Friday, and have a drink or two on me.

Library Rocks!

Not an expression of speech...

but the literal rocks outside.

Possibly the best part of a trip to the library.

Summer Days, at last!

Your children love...

Southwestern Coucous Salad

For the salad:
1 cup prepared coucous (follow package directions; very easy)
2 cups raw niblet corn (I used frozen, and popped into boiling water for 30 seconds to thaw, then ran under cold water to cool)
1 750 ml can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped plum tomatoes (I didn't have any fresh, so used a cup of tinned diced, drained)
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

For dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 T lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup copped fresh cilantro
2 large cloves garlic, crushed or minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, but I put them in)

Toss salad ingredients together in large bowl.

The recipe says to whisk dressing ingredients, but I put them in a blender to disguise the bits of cilantro, which would be problematic for some kids. (Mwah-ha.)

Add dressing to salad, mix well, and refrigerate for at least two hours. Ours was in the fridge overnight. Can be served chilled (as ours was) or at room temperature.

Everyone received a 2-tablespoon first serving, which they were required to eat. Seconds were up to them: everyone wanted seconds (about a third cup this time), and a few even wanted thirds -- but we were out!

I'd say this was popular.

Enjoy!

Row, Row, Row your boat

Hold hands with your partner, and rock back and forth as you sing. They love it.


(And yes, Indie does that all the time. She's not allowed to sit on the couch, see, but she is allowed to look out the window. And somehow this has emerged... she's not sitting on the couch, nuh-uh...)

Love this tree!

Eliana creates

Isn't this great? She'll spend well over an hour at a stretch, very quietly creating these beautiful and fragile "cities".Love it!

Invitation

Hello!

I was poking about on the Internet, as it my habit, and I stumbled across a recipe for sangria that sounds... well, I'm not sure whether it will be deeeeeelicious, or perhaps a little too sweet. It has potential, however!

Therefore, I am inviting you all to hang around after pick-up time on Friday, and try a glass. Or two.

Sangria Taste-test
Friday, June 19
My house
Starting at 4:30
Weather Permitting

Since I plan on doing this on the porch, this little event is weather-dependent. Until the roofers come (bring on that happy day!), I cannot sit on my porch when it rains... So, if it's raining, we will postpone until the following Friday.

Hope you all can hang around for a while!

Four tots, a blanket, and a couch

Josh and Owen are happy...

even Indie is pleased to be part of the group. (Eliana is not sick, she is pretending to sleep!)

But it's Milan who's just bubbling over with joy. All because of a couch and a blanket!

Got Wheels!

Not that anyone except Joshua really knows how to ride them... But they all managed to have a good time!

What he Said, and an Announcement

1. What He Said:

Owen, the first (and thus far only) child to arrive, trots past me, leaving a foul miasma in his wake.

"Owen, do you have a poo?"

Owen's usually pretty good at knowing, and quite helpful about it all. This is the boy who's been known to tell me he has a poop, then trot over to the diaper table, lift HIS diaper off HIS stack of diapers, and lie down on the floor with the diaper on his tummy, awaiting my arrival. Not bad, huh?

"No."

No? I guess it could have been gas, but it's awfully long-lasting gas...

"Are you sure?"

"No." ... "Ah-tid."

Astrid? Astrid, who has yet to arrive? Mwah-ha. Nice try, kiddo.

He was very gracious in defeat, however, and much sweeter-smelling in about two minutes!

2. An Announcement:

As the CBC is now informing me most days that the UV index is moderate to very high, the time has come for sunscreen. If you have not yet provided me with a bottle to stay in their bucket here, it's time to do that.

Also, would you please start putting sunscreen on your child before he/she arrives, so they're all ready for our morning outing? I will reapply after nap, so they're all ready for their trip home!

Thank you!

Awww...

He had to chase her around a bit in order to finally capture her,

but she doesn't seem to be minding!

Books?

A trip to the library means...

You get to play with a DINOSAUR!!!

No, it means CARS! And BLOCKS! And POWER TOOLS!

Books? Okay, we'll grab a few... but those, we can read at home.

Nesting

Take a field strewn with hay, a few lively toddlers,

and you get NESTS!!! Though really, only Eliana wants to actually sit in one.

Owen shuffles through his and sits only long enough for the picture. ("Are you done yet?")

And Milan doesn't sit at all!
Go, baby go!