Goodbye Cornflake

This is what happens to the neatly folded laundry I put away in the boys' drawers.  At one point I just removed their clothing from their room.  This weekend I got them to wear their same clothes day after day.  I am NOT a laundromat.  Trying to teach them how to fold their clothes is impossible.  Of course they only have this many clothes because their cousin sends them all his hand-me-downs.  Maybe it's his fault.  My friends daughters fold their laundry and put it away.  They just know it's one of their chores, their mom says.  My boys know all about chores and how to put ALL of their energy and time in to trying to get out of them.  Aww, they're so creative!

Sunday night.  Time to get clean.  This is how we conserve water.

A tough weekend.  We decided Cornflake's time had come now that he was free ranging in the back yard.  He was still attacking anyone who had their back turned so we felt it was rather unsafe for little kids.  It was sad, but it needed to be done.  So now we just have Patches.  He is much smaller and very sweet.  

Boys growing

Matthew is feeling very independent these days.  Too bad the apple juice is sooo heavy.  It makes you get stuck in the 'fridge.

The sun came out at lunch time yesterday.  Matthew ran for his sunglasses.  He wore them all afternoon as we did yard work and played with the chickens.  The chickens are rather sweet the way they all come running to us.  I am the chicken lady after all.  Pie! ( see Chicken Run)

Clive came home from school desperate to make a windmill for the school pioneer project.  He did this on his own. He also finished his reading and wrote a two page story about Zuke.  Then I had to bribe him to get started on the fiddle.  Once he starts, he can't help but love it.  Tonight he is reading to David.  Oh how we love him!  Even when he has a fit because he can't make his pizza dough ROUND.

And then it's gone.

Another snow day was declared on Friday.  More of a "it'sFridayandIwantthedayoff" day for teachers I think.  So there we all were, with our kids, re planning the day.  We decided on more sledding before the rain washed the snow away.

He doesn't know what's coming.

Marc was attacked by children wielding snowballs.  Did he ask for it?  What do you think? And, why is he smiling like that?  The new crown?  Don't think so.  Nova Scotia red neck talkin' out the side of his mouth?  Perhaps.

It was a nice morning, not cold and just a little rain.  We sat by the fire until we realized it was just too wet!  We drove home and watched movies while the rain pelted down.  The snow disappeared, like it never happened.  I love winter on the coast, short and sweet.

Matthew decided to throw the toothpaste cap down his pants.  That's the sort of thing my boys like to do.  He proudly showed me this ring on his leg.  "It's toothpaste!" he said.  He tried to make out like he had planned this all along.  Like, this is how you make circles on your leg.  What's he gonna throw down there next?

Snow Day

At first the little bit of snow was just a tease.

Patches complained of cold feet.

Then, today, a PROPER snow day!  Well, we declared one even though the buses were still running.  These days are so rare, we just had to go play.

This is when those steep driveways in Cherry Point Estates really pay off.  Hard to climb at Halloween, but great for sliding down when it snows.  What a great day.  Finished with a game of Monopoly (Canadian) between mum, dad and Clive.  Clive won beautifully.  Daddy'll get over it...

The boys started the morning building log cabins and painting.

We decided to let the girls do some "free ranging".  They came right out to the front yard.  Some came in to the back yard where they were chased by dogs and kids.

While Matthew napped we built a fire in an attempt to keep the kids OUTSIDE.  It was cold!  The fire was a hit, as were the marshmallows.

Matthew woke up and joined us.  Jerry arrived home with three dogs.  We all gathered around the warm fire, David showed Jerry his new gap, Jerry's dogs ate any scrap of food that got away, the chickens went to bed.  A great day!

David's back

This morning Clive and Matthew played quietly.

David waited for his massive boiled egg that he had put aside yesterday for breakfast today.  He got a funny look on his face and spat out some white while hollering "my tooth my tooth!"  We assured him it was not a tooth, just some egg.  He started to tear up.

It turns out his tooth was on the table beside the egg.  Happy David is back after twelve days of distress over a loose tooth.  Hooray!

Pruning

My two little helpers.  They love to play together and today helped pick up sticks.

Gord, the pruner came yesterday and today and has allowed the fruit trees to "breathe" again.

The pond has ice on it, it's a little frosty, but so warm in the sunshine.

Here is our major apple tree freshly pruned.  I am already feeling better prepared for the apples that I hope will come this summer.

I am dragging the sticks out to the burn pile on the blue tarp.  Along the way a certain puppy will steal sticks to chew.  Matthew picks them up and comments on what a good helper he is.  Let's just say they are totally ADORABLE.  Clive hung peanuts in the apple tree to feed the birds, then added some sticks for them to sit on.  Marc feeds the hummingbirds from our back deck.  It's supposed to get pretty cold this weekend.  Snow would be fun...

David's 6th Birthday Pary

We had David's birthday party at Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics Club upon his request.

Here they all are warming up.  Matthew doesn't like this part.

All of the kids love this part.

Daddy helped out as well as the coach.

Chloe is very strong and very good at gymnastics.

David is terrified of going upside down, but he did his best for me.

Boing!

Big Chloe loves gymnastics too.

You have to run through the rolling hoop... this was supposed to be Anna's turn...oops!

Hungry kids after an hour of gymnastics.

Lovely boy!  He helped decorate his cake.

Blowing out the candles.

Still blowing out the candles.

At last, David cut the cake!  Everybody ate, and then it was time to go!  I think it was a great time.  No chaos, nobody hurt, short and sweet.
We are hoping David's tooth will fall out soon, he is NOT enjoying it.  However, the party took his mind off of it for awhile.

Yesterday afternoon Sharon came for coffee and patiently watched as this kitten fiddled around on my lap and then passed out.  Aahhh, peace.

David's Birthday

This is what David got up to see on the morning of his birthday.  He was soooo excited!

Of course Matthew didn't understand that it was David's birthday and not his. We are still trying to explain, but as Matthew says "it takes a long time".

A happy David!  He asked for a submarine, and Marc found one.  Actually three.  The little ones are supposed to go up and down with baking soda... not happening as of yet.

Just what we need after the holidays.  David wanted "puckcakes" for his class.  These used up the last of the icing sugar, so it's probably a good thing.

We sang happy birthday in english and french.  David's french is coming along and he seems to enjoy it. Both boys are thrilled to be back at school.  It is a pretty fabulous school.  I even wish I could stay there sometimes, and how will I ever keep Matthew home for another year!?

Welcome 2012!

Here I am again, to do this for at least another year.  While ordering last year's blog in book form, I realized just how valuable these little notes and photos are to me.  Thank you for the idea Sharon!

Having said that, I have no photos just yet.  We only made it to 11:00 pm on New Years Eve.  I think we should celebrate during the day on New Years Day.  (Note for next year).

I am making plans for various little garden plots throughout the back yard.  No doubt Zuke will help with the digging (argh!).  I also await the Scottish pruner... will let you know how that goes.  I really want kiwi's this year.

The beginning of a new year tends to be exciting what with all the great dreams.  I am enjoying this and am  looking forward to challenging myself (and my family) in 2012.