Zucchini

Either this child doesn't have taste buds, or she just really likes her vegetables. There was no change in facial expression in going from a bite of sweet potato to zucchini. There was, however, some doubtful responses to avocado...

I think it was mostly because of the texture... I mashed it by hand instead of in the blender so it took her by surprise. She's been doing such a great job with vegetables I think it's time to reward her with some fruit!

Sometimes after supper we like to go for a walk down on Block House Island. It's especially nice in the heat because of the breeze off the river. Anyway... there are always tons of HUGE boats docked for the night. Nice boats. Never in a million years affordable to us boats. I couldn't help but snap a shot of this one... not because of the size but because of the name. Lol.

Is there such a thing as TOO MUCH tutu?

Why yes I believe there is! And in a size 6-9 months too! Who would put this on their child? If the skirt was alone, MAYBE on a 2yr. old. But this is a ONE PIECE suit you're seeing here. I pity the 6mo. old who has to wear this outfit. 

Ummmmmmm... bug orgy anyone??

Anyone born in the eighties knows the significance of these feet.

Jelly shoes & neon nail polish! Oh yes. Juliet is livin' the dream!!

This is what happens when you shop with my husband...

You might remember this pic from an earlier post... Fishing Sofie

 Well... we now bring you... Goalie Sofie

 And... Biker Sofie

 And... the Bobble Heads

Adventures in Bicycling

We've picked up a new hobby... biking. My husband bought himself a bike a few months ago and said "now this is how we're getting to soccer this summer". And wouldn't you know! The kids & Papa have actually biked to every soccer practice. We have evolved, however. Or better yet, adapted. Juliet first started out in the chariot behind my husband's bike. She then graduated to actually riding her own bike which resulted in her being pushed by my husband most of the way. Most meaning all. We then got a bike attachment that trails behind my husband's bike so Juliet could be towed along. We attached the chariot to Juliet's "bike" for Sofie (see the peace train). We found Sam a sweet new bike on Kijiji cuz his bike was a tad on the small side and most recently I acquired my "everyday traveller" because my cruiser left me a good 5-7 minutes behind the family. It was either that or my husband was going to have to start pushing me.

The other day after soccer we went to the skate park, as per Sam's request, so he could show me his mad skills. It's a pretty awesome park.

oops.

After I got over my initial fear of Sam killing himself I was able to actually watch him go. My husband hopped on my cruiser because it's such a perfect skate park kinda bike. Or not...

Sam loves the park... maybe even enough for me to one day get him a trick bike so he could actually learn something.

So we've been biking all over the city. It's amazing how much you miss in the car. There is actually a bike path all throughout the city. You have to cross a lot of roads but it's otherwise pretty nice!

Not bad eh? We explored the whole thing yesterday on a 2 hour bike ride. It was great. Took us from uptown all the way to the river. Almost enough to kill me. Certainly enough to kill my ass. I think I'm going to put the cruiser's seat on my new bike. Oh and did I mention how much I love gears? Biking uphill is now a possibility and not a nightmare. AND... I was actually able to keep up with the fam. It was fun. Sofie loves the chariot & even sleeps in it so biking can run right through nap time...

... so long as my husband doesn't crash the chariot into the side of a bridge again. That kinda woke her up. Still, she didn't make a peep during our expedition yesterday. Fabulous! Oh... and look at the newest addition to the peace train...

Yep. A seat for dolly. Have we though of it all or what!

Sweet Potatoes!!

Do I have potatoes on my face?

all abord the peace train...

Carrots

Do we love them? Yes we do!! I dusted off the Baby Bullet I got from my father-in-law and whipped up some carrots for Sofie yesterday. It was a success. Next stop: sweet potatoes!

PS... Am I the only person who finds herself opening & closing her mouth when feeding her baby?? Geez... I have to actually concentrate on NOT doing it. Honestly. What is up with that?

Bunk Beds

Sam & Juliet share a crowded room... as you can see here and here. The idea of bunk beds has been floating around aimlessly for months and we FINALLY got it together & dealt with it. Bunk beds are expensive. Mattresses are expensive, and Sam desperately needed a new mattress to replace the tiny single piece of foam he'd created a nesting hole in.... literally. He slept in a hole created by his own body weight. So... my husband decided he'd like to build the bunk beds himself using the leftover wood from last year's deck project. SUCCESS! Once they were put together the kids & my mother got busy painting them.

Sam requested that his top half be red and Juliet wanted her bottom to be pink. She also requested a rainbow ladder and Sam was okay with that so long as no pink or purple touched his red. So after a couple of days and 2 brand new outfits of Juliet's covered in paint (argh!) they were done.

Complete with glittery stars for Juliet to gaze up to...

The kids (& me) are very happy with the success of the project and everyone is sleeping well. I've re-arranged their room to create a lot more space & turned "Sam's Sea" corner into a cozy reading area with bean bag chairs. The new found space has also doubled as a hockey arena courtesy of Sam. The last bit of effort will be to remove the blades from the ceiling fan so that Sam doesn't accidentally get decapitated climbing in or out of bed. 

Sam: "What are you eating mommy? Jelly?"

Me: "Chili Sammy. Not jelly. Chili."

Sam: "Oh yeah.... chili."

Water Baby

When you're born into a pool of water... with water in your lungs... in the month of February (which makes you Aquarius)... you are a true WATER BABY.

CANADA Day.

Yes I know... I'm a little late with this post. But believe it or not, there are other things I need to do in my down time (ie: when Sofie sleeps/rests her eyes)... like clean, sleep, shower. So my posting suffers. But better late than never eh!

Finally!!

let's go fly a kite!

Not only do we have a great kite flying spot... we have great kites. You absolutely CAN'T go wrong with the cheapest kites you can find (at walmart) ... And when I say you can't go wrong I mean my girlfriend's (almost) 3 year old son was flying his kite without even knowing it. He thought it crashed and when he ran over to us the kite lifted off again and he was good to go. He also flew it laying down.

It doesn't get much easier than that. Here are some more of my favourite pics from that day.

Sam: "Mommy, when will Madeleine lay an egg, for baby kittens?"