Menace with an iphone

Every time I go out of town for work, Mark sends me photos of himself and the kids doing stuff, usually just waving at the camera and other niceties. I get the feeling they're getting a little tired of all my travelling, though.

Friends! (finally)

Rain man

Gabrielle loves playing in the rain, but I suspect it's mostly because of the cute rain accessories: boots, jacket, umbrella. Isaac, however, genuinely loves playing in water. After this video was shot, he stayed outside, in the rain, running back and forth through the puddle for almost half an hour. It was cold, pouring rain. I kept checking outside to see how he was doing. I was fully prepared to bring him in from the rain and right to the hospital with pneumonia. Never happened. He's toughened up, our little man.

I wouldn't have believed it...

Those who know my father know that he doesn't share food with other men. In this case, it was Isaac who was agreeing to share his banana bread with him, and so I guess my dad had to be, uh, flexible.

New spring wardrobe

Gabrielle has become my sewing muse, allowing me to practice sewing on a smaller scale, butchering less fabric than I would have if I was making full-size clothes for myself. So far, I'm learning that there's a reason people buy cheap clothes made in China - making clothes is totally not worth it. It's hard work, expensive, and hard work. Plus who can figure out the sizing? I obviously can't. Gabrielle will be able to wear these dresses right through to elementary school graduation, from the looks of things. But she loves them, so I'm happy to keep churning these things out.

The one below may look familiar to you hockey fans out there. Don Cherry has a jacket made out of the same fabric.

My little sportsman

I bought the Adidas track suit on a whim one day when I was slumming it at Winners. A total 1970s throwback but looks totally fresh on a toddler, in my humble opinion.



Now that he's mastered walking, he's all about the talking. He must have a few dozen words. Some of them are ridiculous: "yayoop" is yoghurt and "poon" is spoon but we understand him and as a result, he's eating alot of yoghurt.

Playdate with Alison

As if parenting weren't already complicated enough, I have now added the role of social coordinator to my duty roster, setting up playdates for Gabrielle, at her convenience of course. Alison is one of the girls at G's daycare. She's not someone Gabrielle actually interacts with at school very much, but her mother and I have some stuff in common so I figured that should be enough to forge an eternal friendship? No, apparently, it's not. They play well for a few hours together on the weekend and then walk by each other like complete strangers at school the next day.

Keep your eye on the sandwiches!

Gabrielle and I went out on a mother-daughter date to the Byward Market, along with all the other tourists from the outer reaches of Ottawa suburbia. We stopped for lunch at the market bakery, also known as the home of the Obama cookie, and got a giant sandwich to share. I don't know from where in the depths of silliness it came, but "keep your eye on the sandwiches" became our catchphrase for the day.

Wheels

Gabrielle got her first real bike a few days ago. She loved riding around the store on it - zooping around the customers, cutting them off with a "scuse me!". She also insisted on getting a helmet right away. Somehow all the zealot helmet-wearers have gotten to our daughter and brainwashed her while we weren't looking! (All right, all right, take it easy out there - I'm clearly kidding.)



Mark sent me this picture moments ago. Heading off on her inaugural ride to school... Mark has to somehow navigate the stroller and keep G from riding off into traffic. I have no idea how this will end - stay tuned.

15 minutes later....

They made it!

Logan is four??

It's hard to believe. But I don't think that's what he's sad about. I think it's the ginormous and hilarious hat on his head.

It's actually a perfect size for those who are well-endowed in the cranium department. I love how Declan is rolling his eyes, like "oh dad, you're so lame...."

Isaac had a great time, just wandering around the cool little farmhouse the party was being held in. He was pretty independent for a change, which was nice for Mark and I, although we both assumed he was with the other one when often, he'd be off exploring.

Susie was there, helping to explain the strategy for pin the balloon on the fire engine.

Logan had a fantastic fire truck cake.

Delicious cupcakes, firetruck cake, marble cake, what's not to love about birthday parties?

G and Naya, cute as always...

Chaos

I shot this video because I was trying to get a movie of Isaac's walking skills (circa January 23, 2011) but Gabrielle kept trying to thwart my efforts. I love how the whole thing descends into madness very very quickly.

Picture by G

I can always spot pictures taken by Gabrielle when I'm looking through them on my camera. No, it's not her unique perspective on the world. It's her trademark finger sticking into every picture.

Mandelker/Peres clan visit

This seems like so long ago but it was only January! I love having my brother and his family visit, although I never seem to get any pictures of Amos. Next time, bro, fer shure...

The house was crowded but I think it was ok. I've always had a very close relationship with these four and loved having them all crammed into our cramped little basement. Bwoo haha - call it little sister's revenge.

Carolyn managed to reconnect with the little boy who she'd helped us with so many months ago. The *boom* game she invented with him is still played here. The rules: bump something against the wall and say boom. Most often your head. Repeat.

The boys bonding in front of the telly. I think this is the first time I see Isaac looking like a little boy as opposed to a baby. His cool little man sweater goes a far way toward giving him that air of maturity.

The cousins had a blast. I think each of Ben and Amelia are developing their own dynamic with Gabrielle. Ben amused G while Amelia compared their hair types. All good.

Walking, laughing, falling

This is an old video, taken on January 2nd, but I'm posting it here for posterity...

Three years old, time for her first haircut

It just seemed like it was time, y'know?

Sitting in a pink race car while watching Dora videos makes hair cutting far less traumatic.

It was all going so well, and then the hairdresser put these crazy little rubber bands in G's hair and curlicued the fronts while I wasn't looking. She also moussed it up, so it maintained the wet look even hours later. It was a good cut, once all the gunk was washed out of it but I've learned my lesson and am not leaving our child unattended with an overenthusiastic hairdresser again..

Christmasnooch part 3

And we're back. Life doesn't stop because the blog does so I realized I'd better keep blogging if I have any hope at all of catching up with reality.

So Gabrielle's birthday seems to have become part of the Christmas holiday festivities. Although the thought of throwing her a "real" birthday party was daunting at first, it came together in the last 24 hours before the party and, I think, fairly successfully.

Before the party, Gabrielle and Maggie modelling their party hats:

Lauren arrived and we immediately put her to work. Actually, she was supposed to be there as a guest, but her favourite people just wouldn't let her stand around, empty-handed.

The plan was for all the kids to arrive, settle in, and then put their snowsuits back on for tobogganing! Bad planning on my part - getting kids in and out of their snowsuits should be a timed Olympic event.

This was actually Naya's first time tobogganing and she was immediately a pro at it, no surprise. I'm sure she found Dovercourt's baby hill quite dull. (This is also one of the last pictures ever taken of Logan's sled. Mark basically pried it out of the poor boy's hands so that he could take a ride on it and immediately broke it. I'm putting this in the blog so that we don't forget to buy you a new one, Logan. Mark will, he promises.)

Katharine didn't find the hill dull!

There's an ice track as part of the hill, where kids (and the occasional adult) go down, generally without sleds. G and Madeline were on their stomachs, ready to go down, and I inadvertently skated down, trying to get a winning picture of them.

When we got home, it was pizza for everyone. Who likes pizza??

The cake. Maggie, Gabrielle and I actually had quite a bit of fun making it the night before. I iced it overnight, as a surprise for Gabrielle. She thought it was bee-yoo-ti-ful!

Gabrielle just loves the idea of birthday cakes and birthday candles but the reality of it seems to overwhelm her. Notice the look of terror in her eyes as the cake approched.

Eating cake is far less scary.

As is opening gifts. Paper, bags, children, toys everywhere...

Saving the biggest for last! G doing her happy dance as the art easel from Nana and Grandad emerged.

One of my favourite pictures from the day. Thank you Nana!

The party ended with a balloon popping fest. It quickly descended into pure madness, Lord of the Flies territory, but it was pretty fun for the kids so I just went to my happy place and waited for them to collapse in a heap.

After the party, Gabrielle playing with one of Isaac's toys. Ain't it always the way... (and scooch over Grandad!).

Gone fishin'

Dear Faithful Readers,
This blog is taking a well-deserved break. Please check back at the end of February for new updates.

Smooches!

Christmasnooch part 2

Katharine and Ray spent real Christmas with Ray's family in London and then bravely strapped their kids in and drove to Ottawa on the 26th. We had a stocking redux the morning after they arrived and it was like Christmas all over again. As an aside, on December 31st Gabrielle asked if Santa was going to come again. After first Christmas, second Christmas, and then her birthday being celebrated at two-day intervals, it's no wonder. But I digress...

We finally had guests in our new guest room! Even Trevor and Maggie got some real estate on the new bed, with Ray apparently drawing the short straw and having to sleep on a short little cushion which was gaily covered in purple Dora sheets.



The cousins generally had a great time playing together. Gabrielle did her usual following Maggie around with adulation routine and Maggie did her usual exasperated with Gabrielle routine. Maggie is a very mature little girl who seemed to understand the power she has over Gabrielle and so she agreed to keep her "ewww... broccoli!!" comments to herself.



G seemed to really like Baby Trevor. I'm not sure what he thought of her - he's a pretty easy going guy, making Isaac seem positively screechy (which he's kind of becoming, in any event). Trevor and Isaac's development were at very similar levels at Christmas, with lots of crawling and some standing going on by both. On the last day of their visit, Isaac took his first solo steps, so I guess he won that contest but not by much, I assume...



Jane demonstrated some culinary skills with a big knife. Gabrielle is rightfully scared of big knives, so I expect she was warning Nana repeatedly of the dangers of big knives. "Careful Nana. Careful! Nana? Careful Nana. Knives are sharp, Nana. Nana?"



Pat engaged the girls on the physics of Weebles. Also, note Mark in the background, enjoying a beer. He was the chef on duty that night, making his now-famous roast beef dinner, with Yorkshire puddings, roast vegetables, and all the trimmings. I guess making dinner is thirsty work - every time I looked over, Mark seemed to be chugging back Coronas between checking on the meat. Nice dinner babe - not bad for a drunk guy.



The boys in all their cuteness. Smile!



OK, now serious.



So cute. As different as can be except for the very obvious.

Next up: Christmasnooch part 3: G's birthday

Christmasnooch part 1

Last Christmas, in a fit of madness no doubt brought on by too much turkey, Mark and/or I (we can't remember who is to blame) declared "next year, in Ottawa!" It seems people were paying attention and actually took us seriously. As Gabrielle likes to say, "we have a job to do," and so as December arrived, we hurriedly unpacked our boxes, hid the ones we couldn't unpack, bought a wall bed, and crossed our fingers, hoping we could pull off hosting Christmas for the Draper clan.

Luckily, the family appeared in waves, and so we were lulled in, gently, into the festive season. The first arrivals were Pat, Jane, and Aunt Kitty. They arrived on Christmas Eve, had a short visit, then returned to the nearby hotel where they were staying. They returned on Christmas morning for the customary opening of the Christmas bags.

For those faithful readers of this blog who do not have the last name of Draper, the Christmas bags are my own name for what the Drapers call "stockings." They don't look like stockings - they look like laundry bags, or perhaps pillowcases for those nice Queen- or even King-size pillows. The bags or "stockings" are huge, and often filled to the top with goodies. Anyways, this is how Christmas morning traditionally begins - with the stockings/bags/cases. I thought it would be cute to get a picture of G and Isaac in their red pyjamas in front of the bags but Isaac wouldn't cooperate. By the time we were ready to open these, it was time for his morning nap, and so off to bed he went so that we could open presents in peace.



Here are Kitty and G comparing foot sizes. This is not a Draper tradition, it's just something they were doing.



Pat and Jane showed up on Christmas morning all gussied up, dressed to the nines. Whereas Mark, the kids and I were all in our pyjamas for the entire day. Next time, we'll agree on the dress code ahead of time. Pat showing off his profound tea towel.



G was great at opening gifts. She squeaked and squealed after every one, although she moved pretty quickly to the next one. Here she is pleasing me by modelling her new slippers, but you can tell she just wants to get it over with so that she can open more presents.



Finally Isaac woke up, much happier, and ready to open his big red bag presents. The first present was this plush soccer ball, which he absolutely adored and killed his interest in going any further. Luckily, G was there to assist, basically opening all his presents for him. I can't tell you how many times we said "Gabrielle, remember, those are Isaac's presents," as she squeaked and squealed with every one.



Isaac got a bit shy when Mark's friend Jim came for his bi-yearly visit to drop off the "ding a ling" card Mark and he have been passing back and forth for over 25 years. Isaac does the cutest things when he feels threatened.



Christmas dinner. It all came together in the end but it was a bit harried in the last half hour. How could I have forgotten to boil the potatoes??



After dinner is traditionally the opening of the "tree" gifts, so-called because they are put under the tree. So much for a Jewish girl to learn. Because Katharine and her family weren't here yet, we only opened a few gifts, saving the rest until the Draper-Quinns arrived in a couple of days. G got the Weebles she'd been pining for and here are the kids, unknown to me, chomping down on Belgian chocolates sent by Mark's Uncle Mike and Aunt Heather. Sweet sweet Christmas...



Next up: The Draper Quinns and Christmasnooch part 2.