Permanent Riot

This One's for Grandma

2011-10-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Owen and Sasha have been taking piano lessons for about a month now and Owen played this with his teacher today. I'll post Sasha playing when I have some thing to share (read into that what you will)...

Waterfall Hike in Matapalo

2011-08-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

After our first relaxing day, we all set out to Matapalo, which is on the southern tip of the Osa, to go on a waterfall hike. It took us about an hour to get there even though the distance wasn't far. This was because the roads were so unbelievably bad that, at one point, we discussed how riding on horseback would have been faster & more comfortable.

The trip was run by an American ex-pat couple and set out from their house. The fellow (can't remember his name anymore) was a biologist so he pointed out all sorts of cool things as we walked from their beachfront home into the jungle. We saw crazy spiders, poison frogs, and many plants that served different medicinal purposes. He also pointed out one of many termite nests on a tree. My Mom tapped it and commented on how hard it was, so he poked a hole in it to show how the "soldier" termites would come out to attack whatever predator was disturbing them. He let some climb on his hand and then slurped them up, much to every one's dismay. While we all stood there with our faces in the universally recognized "ewww!" formation, he encouraged us to try some and assured us that they tasted like grass. One by one, we all did - except for Sasha. Girls who wear dresses and take ballet do not eat bugs. Now, had they been dipped in whipped cream...

When we got to the stream that would lead us to the waterfall, we began to hike in it which was a relief because it was pretty hot. As the hike got steeper, we thought we'd have to climb around, but our guide said the rock was like sandpaper so we wouldn't slip. We checked and it was exactly like sandpaper. So we totally stuck to the rock despite the incline & the rushing water. Literally & figuratively cool.

Once we got to the base of the waterfall, we left my parents, Sasha and Owen and climbed around to the top. Part of the hike was the ability to rappel the waterfall and Mike, James & I were game. Once we got to the top, we had a little session on how to rappel then tried our hand at it on a small 20ish foot portion of the waterfall. At the bottom of the first part, we settled on a ledge next to a small pool. To get to the other side, we had to jump into the center and swim over. I swear, this was the scariest part for me because I could not get the scary python named Gollum, who was surely lying in wait for me just inches below the surface, out of my mind. Of course it didn't occur to me that the temperature of the water would deter even the most malevolent of pythons...until it was over my head. Then I was fine.

Once we got through this portion, it was on to the serious bit. Peering over the edge, I wondered why things always seemed to look higher when viewed from the top. I was able to make out the rest of our group at the bottom, including S&O who were naked (surprise, surprise). Mike went first, followed by me and then James. It was a great experience and it was really different seeing the jungle while hanging 100 feet over a waterfall. As I watched James come down, I couldn't help wondering if the monkeys watching from the trees were thinking, "idiots."

From there, we walked back to the house and had a picnic at the beach, followed by some playtime in the water. It was an expert surfing beach though, and not a swimming one, so one did not want to go in more than knee deep. We know this because Mike went further and Mother Nature said, "really?" and he said, "uh, changed my mind."

While Sasha enjoyed the playing naked at the foot of the waterfall portion of the hike, she did not enjoy the hiking portion of the hike.

This is the big part of the waterfall we rappelled down. As I said, it looked worse from the top.

James, who looked like he did this all the time.

The end of a very good day.

CORRECTIONS: So James reminded me that our guide's name is Andy. He also pointed out that the first rappel was 50 feet and the last one was 100, though I think it may have been more. There may be another correction since we had this conversation a few days ago, I wrote nothing down and I've been on vacation which has meant a partial shut down of my brain :)

Finca Kobo

2011-08-03T23:12:00.000-07:00

For our first day on the Osa, I'd arranged for a tour of a local, organic cocoa farm named Finca Kobo http://www.fincakobo.com/tours_choco.html . Since S&O had spent two heavy days traveling, my Mom, being an awesome Grandma/Mom, said she'd stay at the house with S&O so they could just swim and hang about.

James, my Dad, Mike & I headed back down the jungle track to the highway and drove the few clicks to the farm. It is owned and operated by Alex & Jutta Mena, he being a native and she being an ex-pat Austrian. Jutta met us in their open-air cabana and my Dad and James spent a fair bit of time drooling over the hand made teak furniture. Alex explained later that he'd built if from stuff that was just 'lying around', which made my Dad just shake his head. Anyhow, Alex joined us and then took us on a tour of his farm.

It...was...awesome. In addition to cocoa, he grew bananas, pineapples, papaya, starfruit & cinnamon (it's from a tree! weird to not see it in a bottle). The most impressive, though, was that he was leaving a fair chunk of his lands as untouched primary & secondary rainforest. He told a story of how the monkeys were eating his cocoa pods. Not wanting to kill them, he asked his neighbours how to cope with it and they advised him to plant a perimeter of a particular banana around his cocoa forests because the monkeys were wild for this type of banana and would leave the cocoa alone. He did this and apparently it worked! So he's happy & and so are the monkeys.

At first, he took us around his 'yard' showing us banana trees & plantains and other fruit. He also had so many tropical flowers it looked like a florists shop on a good day. Then we went into the cocoa forest and I finally understood why Muslims get so excited about Mecca or Catholics get so excited about the Vatican. I could practically hear the chorus of angels when I first laid eyes on the cocoa pods. Then, of course, I realized that I was at the source of what was forcing me to go to the gym so much and could no longer hear the singing.

He walked us through the forest and then plucked a pod from a tree and sliced it open with a machete. Inside was this network of white pods. He gave us each one and told us to suck on it for a bit. We did so and we found them to have a fairly sweet taste. Within these pods is the cocoa bean. So they take these pods with the beans in them and let them ferment for a while. Then they take the seeds, dry them, roast them & grind them. At that point, you have a paste that is 100% chocolate and that's what the chocolatiers are buying and then working into either excellent chocolate, on one end of the spectrum, or the Hershey bar, which is decidedly on the other end. For Alex, his problem is not finding buyers - it's not having enough cocoa paste to meet the demand.

After the tour, we went back to the cabana. Jutta had prepared an unbelievable spread of their fruits and chocolate sauce for dipping. As I said: it...was...awesome. I ended up buying some of their crushed cocoa beans. When sprinkled on Costa Rican ice cream (so good, I won't even try to explain), it makes you go to your happy place with pretty much no mental effort.

Cocoa tree, with magical, mystical pods

I kept having to tell myself not to think of them as skin tags

Roots of a ficus.

Pod Poser

Inside the cocoa pod

Dried, roasted cocoa beans

Tasting the paste

After the tour, getting our strength back so that we could return to the house and spend the rest of the day lounging under the forest canopy, savoring Costa Rican rum

Costa Rica

2011-07-31T14:14:00.000-07:00

In March, our family flew to San José, Costa Rica and met up with my parents & James for two weeks on the Osa Peninsula. Though we had the option of flying from the capital to the peninsula, we decided to drive there and back, making it part of our adventure. Since we all arrived in the evening, we stayed at a nice little hotel near the airport and set out the following morning with our driver, Alex, for the Osa.

To travel that distance in Canada, it would have taken about 2-3 hours. It took us 8, if I remember correctly (we stopped for lunch, but still...). However, we saw a lot and got a chance to visit with one another. It took so long because the roads were often narrow and curvy and demanded a slow speed.

I chose to stay on the Osa because I wanted to be in a place that was not all built up and touristy, and we got exactly that on the Osa. It is in a remote area in the far south of Costa Rica that is largely a nature preserve and therefore, pretty much untouched. It is covered in rainforest and surrounded by warm water and lovely beaches and is one of the most biologically dense places on earth.

We rented a house (http://www.costaricaosahome.com/costa-rica-osa-peninsula-sombra/home-rental.php) which was in the jungle as opposed to a place on the beach because I read in several places that, on the Osa, it was actually cooler in the jungle than on the water. Turns out, that is true. It was a completely fantastic place. The house is completely open except for the bedrooms which had screens on the windows. We kept the doors closed all the time and, that way, no one had to fight bugs, frogs, spiders or (potentially) snakes at bedtime. Otherwise, we were livin' with the jungle creatures in total comfort under a great big roof. We went to bed with the sounds of the jungle in our ears and woke up to the sounds of monkeys as they passed by. I loved it and so did everyone else, or so they said.

Anyhow, when we arrived, Alex took us into the local town, Puerto Jimenez (PJ), where Mike & left the group. Alex took everyone to the house while Mike & I rented a car and stocked up at the local grocery store. Top three items on the list: rum, coke & coffee. With those essentials in the cart, we added things like milk, fruit & vegetables for the kids.

Once done, we left PJ and, armed with rudimentary instructions, tried to find the house. We knew we'd left the highway at the right point (a really nice one, by the way, provided to Costa Rica by China), but then we started to get a bit spooked as the road, which started out as a decent, albeit bumpy, gravel road, turned into a 2 track rocky path that seemed to be climbing & winding its way farther into the jungle than we (or, I, in any event) were prepared for. And it was getting dark. Dark on the Osa is dark. However, we persevered and found ourselves on a property with some housing and, at the end of the road, a lovely house that was to be ours for the next two weeks. This was confirmed when I opened the car door and could hear Sasha & Owen hooting with joy in the pool. Apparently, when they had arrived, it didn't take them long before they were naked & splashing around. We spent the rest of the evening getting settled and figuring out were everything was and just adjusting to being so exposed.

More to come...

On the way to the Osa, we stopped at a resort overlooking the Pacific. Owen got himself into a hammock without an exit strategy and was then forced to beg to be rescued (we relented...eventually).

One of the many bridges we crossed on the Osa. Everyone held their breaths and I even tried to assist my sucking in my stomach. It worked.

Drinks around the pool. Welcome to the jungle.

The front of the house.

Bliss is a swim followed by potato chips.

When you're in the jungle and have your own pool, swimsuits are superfluous.

Had I known, I'd have packed only underwear and swim cover ups for S&O 'cause that's all they wore...when they weren't naked.

Recital Time

2011-06-15T10:13:00.000-07:00

This year, Sasha took ballet and enjoyed it quite a bit. All year, I kept telling her that, even though she thought ballet was great, come recital time, she would be hooked.

And she was. She loved the costume, the make-up and the extra fuss that comes with all dance recitals. It was held in our equivalent of Saskatoon's Centennial and my Mom & Dad traveled for the occasion. On the day, James sent flowers to the ballerina, who was most pleased. She & I got her ready and we all headed to the auditorium. Our friend and her daughter met us there pushing Sasha's personal audience to a total of 7.

The show was run completely differently than Miss P did and, despite all the chaos and hours in dress rehearsal, it really made me appreciate her efforts because she really put on a show. In our case, the kids sat in the audience with the parents & were called up in groups which totally interrupted the flow. Having said that, I still enjoyed it. Not only did Sasha's class do a wonderful job (for most of the girls, it was their first time on stage), but there was a really great tap number and some 'big girl' ballet (en pointe, of course). I wasn't sure who to watch: the big girls or Sasha, who sat with her hand over her heart & mouth hanging open.

Sasha with her flowers from James

All made up with somewhere to go...

After the performance, with her biggest fans.

This is a pretty poor video of Sasha's performance. It was taken with my little point & shoot and I was trying to watch & tape at the same time which meant that the camera tipped up a bit at times. Sasha & her partner enter last & Sasha is on your right. When the girls sing, Sasha is at the end of the line, on the right.

It's Sasha's World and We're All Just Living in It.

2011-04-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

This week, Rosie & I had the pleasure of going for a walk with Fashion Star and her side-kick/accessory, Ordinary Boy. I think the pictures speak for themselves...

*while I came up with the name 'Ordinary Boy', Fashion Star was entirely Sasha's creation. As we walked along, she kept yelling, "Fashion Star is here!!!" Ordinary Boy simply grew from that.

Rosie Update

2011-04-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

So our Word of the Week this week is actually two words: Pemphigus foliaceus. That is apparently what our Rosie has, according to our vet (whom I trust), a veterinary pathologist and a veterinary dermatologist (whom he trusts and therefore so do I). It is an auto-immune disease that basically has the immune system attacking the outer layer of skin (there are worse types of pemphigus, so that's me counting my lucky stars...one...two...three...um...four). There doesn't seem to be a real understanding of what causes it, though apparently it usually starts later in a dog's life and is commonly thought to be due to genetics, though there have been "some indications" that it can be triggered by medicine or ultra-violet light exposure. Who knows where Rosie conjured it up but the odds are that she found it from somewhere within herself.

So. It is considered a 'fatal dermatological' condition. This is due to a) disease progression, b) bad side-effects from the meds used to treat it or c) the dog's people can't take it & euthanize the dog. I think we all know option 'c' ain't gonna happen as long as I'm standing and as long as Rosie is too. As for option 'a', it doesn't seem to me that her skin is all that bad (especially compared to some of the photos on the internet...think warted gourds with patchy bits of fur...blech), plus she's already responded really well to the steroid treatment she's been getting. I'm awaiting a call from Rosie's doc to discuss this and other things like my membership in his Platinum Client's Club which means, not only do I get a Christmas card, but I also get a basket of assorted fruits! The only thing that I think may cause problems is option 'b'. So far, so good though. I also plan to find out what his long-term plans for treatment are.

So there we have it. Rosie is our gal, lumps, bumps & all, which is exactly what Mike says of me and I say of him.

She tried to finish the Vanity Fair piece on the Greek debt crisis but couldn't keep her eyes open...

S&O - Reality 1.0

2011-04-05T22:06:00.000-07:00

You may recall that S&O have been in gymnastics for a while, starting with a Mom & Me class (well, a Mom&Blair&Me&MySib class). Up until now, they've been in preschool type classes where the kids are around their age or a bit younger. The instruction was pretty gentle and, if kids ran amuck, then some mild correction was given...maybe. Their class was usually the only one in the gym and everyone got cookies afterward regardless of their performance.
Well, last week, S&O's coach said she'd like to move them up into the Beginner class which is for kids 5 & up. We were all dying of boredom so we happily accepted. The first class with 'the BIG kids' was today and holy cow, was it different.
The gym was full of older kids doing these amazing things (I pulled a hamstring just watching them) which was really distracting for the kids (& me). When the class began, there was no coddling, no invitation to participate, no hokey pokey. It was a hard core warm up (hard core for 5 year olds, but still...) and S&O were expected to keep up. Once they got rid of their Deer-in-the-Headlights looks and remembered to close their mouths, they did really well. They kept up pretty well and worked really hard. They both practically fell asleep at the supper table. It was awesome.

Owen, working on a monkey flip. You may notice that he has chalk on his hands. That's right, chalk. It's the big leagues now.

Sasha, keeping up.

Rosie

2011-03-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

This morning, Owen & I were giving Rosie a cuddle and he said, "I'll bet she's thinking she should have come here in the first place."

Introducing...Rosie!!!

2011-03-22T09:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been almost 2 years since Chester died and we (I, really) felt ready for another beast. I'd been stalking rescue sites for a few months and yesterday we went to a St. Bernard rescue outside of town and found Rosie. This is what we know about her: she was one of two Bernards who were housed outdoors. They had a habit of escaping and, when the owner tired of the "hassle", she turned both dogs over to the rescue (the exhaustion is a bit of a mystery because apparently no attempts were made to secure the fencing or make other attempts to create an environment that did not make escape so appealing). Rosie's mate was adopted out quickly but she was not. The rescue folks think that it's because she's small for a Bernard, weighing in at a mere 100 lbs. She has lived at the rescue in an outside pen for the past 2 years. She recently developed some weird skin thing that the rescue's vet said was an allergy - probably to some kind of bug bite. I'm seeing our vet tomorrow morning to see what he thinks. Anyhoo, as a result, her back half is shaved. The skin underneath looks pretty yucky but I think it's partly the medical condition and partly because she's a dirty mess. My Spidey Senses think it could be food related.

She's not been with us for 24hrs yet but has proven herself to be a calm, well-mannered dog. She craves attention (who wouldn't?) and is still trying to figure out what has happened to her. I figure it'll take a few weeks to see how we all adjust but so far, so good. I'll keep you posted! We're off to the dog store and then Rosie's in for a nice walk followed by some serious grooming.

Too bad Mike doesn't like Rosie...

To Owen's Future Partner:

2011-01-25T18:40:00.000-08:00

You're welcome.

Less is More?

2011-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

Not at our house...

Thrilling Christmas Event in Saskatoon

2010-12-26T09:12:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, everyone! We're in Saskatoon for Christmas and it's been fabulous. The most exciting thing, among so many, is that we actually had Rudolph sightings on Christmas Eve. S&O were in bed and we heard some thumping around upstairs so we went up thinking the kids were up & about. When I checked, who should I find peeking in their windows but Rudolph himself! I grabbed my camera and was able to get shots of him peeking in on both S&O (it was a bit dark so just his nose came through). The next morning, S&O were totally psyched to see the photos and felt pretty good knowing Rudolph knew who they were.

Owen & Rudolph

Sasha & Rudolph

Backing up a Bit

2010-11-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from S&O's 4th birthday party. Their Mamie & Grandpa Joe joined us this year, along with some great friends and it ended up being a really great day. Everyone played games in the yard, followed by lunch and dirt dessert for the kids. After that, everyone had a go at some piñatas and then it was naptime.

Our friend, Rob, got into the action and provided an obstacle for the foot races.

Sasha was torn between her gentle disposition and her lust for candy.

Owen was not so divided. He wanted the goods and was prepared to do whatever was required to get them.

Dirt Dessert

La Jolla

2010-11-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we drove to La Jolla, which is only about 20 minutes north of here. They have an area called 'The Cove' which is supposed to be really great for snorkeling so we thought we'd try it with the kids. We rented our gear & found The Cove. The water was pretty wild, though, with some big waves coming in. Not surprisingly, S&O wanted nothing to do with it. Sasha didn't like the mask & Owen was having nothing to do with the waves. Another fellow actually stopped by for a chat & said he put his kids in snorkel gear in a pool and now they're total snorkel/scuba people so I think I'll try that.
So, Mike tried to snorkel while the kids & I wandered around these rocks that formed tide pools and got to see crabs and other creatures that live in shells. Mike eventually gave up because the waves were wrecking the clarity of the water. The highlight of this part of the day was sitting on the beach and watching the seals goof around/hunt in the water. They were maybe 25-50 meters from the shore so we could see them really well. They were barking and diving and bobbing in the water. S&O thought it was really cool & they agreed that seeing the seals in the wild was much better than seeing them in a zoo.
After we returned the snorkel gear, we went to another part of the beach with bigger tide pools and we actually got to get up close & personal with some sun-tanning seals. It was awesome.
As if this wasn't enough of a treat, when we got back to the beach house, Owen & I were sitting on the balcony watching the water when we saw a pod of dolphins swim by. I wasn't sure of they were sharks or dolphins but when they started having a jumping contest, it became clear what they were. We called Sasha & Mike who also got to enjoy the tail end of the show (sorry, terrible pun). I think this means I need to stop here.

We rented a convertible which gets 2 thumbs up from the back seat.

Sasha and a snoozy seal.

Owen and same snoozy seal.

More snoozy seals.

Disneyland

2010-11-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

The day after Halloween, we made the drive to Disneyland. It took about and hour & a half, so S&O snoozed while Allison giggled and took pictures of the interstate. The three kids were in heaven and there was actually quite a lot to see. We rode on a few rides - a rocket ride, Dumbo the elephant ride, the carousel and a boat ride where we got to ride through a huge Monstro (the whale in Pinocchio).

The last ride we went on was a roller coaster ride called The Matterhorn. S&O were beside themselves because they were tall enough to ride so, although we'd waited in lines all day long, waiting for this one was hard. I sat with Sasha & Allison sat with Owen. The car started moving and it was a really fast ride that was in the inside of the mountain a good bit of the time. Sasha was thrilled until we rounded a corner in the mountain and saw a big, white, hairy Yeti (mechanical, of course). It was roaring and moving its arms. We whizzed passed it and Sasha hollered her little lungs out. When we got to the end, the car hadn't even come to a full stop and Sasha was saying, "Mom, I was very frightened of that. I did not like that Granilla - it was too scary." I have to say that it was great fun discussing the ins and outs of the Granilla and why it thought that standing there like that was appropriate (it was not).

We stopped for ice cream in this western saloon and, much to our delight, a blue grass band came on stage and performed for a bit. Since she was eating cream of the iced and whipped variety, Sasha failed to notice. Owen, however, bounced and bopped to the beat and howled at the fiddle player who had a incredibly flexible face and fake teeth (we hope).

By that time, we'd had enough (that'd be the royal 'we' but we had the keys to the car...) so we did the necessary shopping and headed back to the beach.

Belmont Park

2010-11-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

There's a small amusement park about 5 blocks from where we're staying so we wandered over to see what it had. It has one of the oldest wooden roller coasters still in use, and S&O were crushed to learn they were too short to ride it. The consolation was that the carousel was just right. For the first time, they rode alone while Allison & I watched from the pavement (it was a bit nerve wracking, I'll admit). As always, Owen was ecstatic while Sasha was...bored.

After the carousel, we found this place called "Rope Adventures". It was this series of ropes and boards hanging 30 feet in the air. S&O looked at it and declared that they were going up. I was a bit skeptical but went anyway. We got strapped into harnesses and I paired Allison with Sasha thinking that Owen would need the most assistance.
Well, we got to the top, looked down, and Owen immediately announced that he'd done what he needed to do and was ready to go back. Because of the way our harnesses were attached to the overhead rails, I went with Owen while Allison continued on with Sasha.
I tell you: that child crushed Rope Adventures. She was here, she was there, she was everywhere. Allison was with her every step of the way (like it or not), and it reminded me of the visit we made home around the time of their first birthday when Sasha insisted that Allison (and only Allison) walk her all over the house, all day, every day. It was totally incredible. And she's just barely four. I'm guessing that Owen will be doing dressage while Sasha does the show jumping.

Waving from one of the platforms.

This is 30 feet in the air!

Clearly much more interesting than some stinkin' carousel.

Some Beach Photos

2010-11-07T16:57:00.000-08:00

Sasha decided she wanted to be buried.

It was impossible to cover those chubby cheeks though...

The beach, looking northward. The sand is incredibly soft.

Looking southward.

Enjoying lunch on the rooftop patio.

Halloween at the Beach

2010-11-07T16:40:00.001-08:00

Hi, All, from sunny and warm San Diego. We're staying at Mission Beach for two weeks (with one left to go). We arrived on the 29th, meeting Allison at the airport. We rented a house a block from the beach and hung out there while Mike & Ryan got ready for their big conference. On the first day, the weather was a bit cool & rainy but, since then, it's been hot and sunny. Yup, it was one beach day after another. Don't worry, though, I brought sunscreen.
Anyhoo, on Halloween, Allison and I let the kids get into their costumes and let them loose on the beach. Afterward, we tried trick or treating but there weren't many houses 'open for business' so it was short & sweet. Fortunately, S&O were satisfied with it and that's all that matters.

Mermaid Sasha doin' the Beach Boogie

A shark creeps up on the unsuspecting mermaid and...

...it's a full blown shark attack!

This is before we went trick or treating...

Improvised trick or treat bags. Sasha was not amused.

Halloween Ballet

2010-10-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

Sasha, in her regular ballet dress

Delft

2010-08-22T23:18:00.000-07:00

On our second Saturday here, we caught a train to the town of Delft, which is east-y south-ish of The Hague. It's an extremely old town (buildings built in the 1500s kind of old), full of canals. It was a Market day so we saw lots of antiques and, yes, junk (but it was Dutch junk and therefore very exotic...). I loved it. The kids weren't as thrilled. Their attitudes were more like, "Building shmuilding. Where's the park? There's the toy store?" I guess this makes sense since they aren't even aware they're in the 21st century so why should the 16th be such a big deal?

Holland - Days...?

2010-08-19T10:55:00.000-07:00

On one lovely day last week (they're running together now...), H&S&O&I went back to the beach to the Sea Life exhibit which had a 4 meter long crab. It also had sharks which were Sasha's personal favourite. We managed to fit in another marry-go-round ride, and Owen chose (gasp!) a car to drive. After that, we went to a restaurant which served Dutch pancakes (crépes, basically, but without the butter). We had a lovely time, and Owen declared his favourite part was the bus ride. We also managed to see some police horses in their trailers, waiting for their shifts to start (I'm not positive, but I think they were smoking then hid the cigs when they saw Owen (everyone smokes in Holland...it's required)).

Waiting for me to put down the camera so they can eat their pancakes.

Havin' a grand old time on the merry-go-round

Old Ezekiel, enjoying his monthly bath - need it or not.

BETRAYAL AT MADURODAM!!!

2010-08-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

In the Pluk exhibition, there was a display that recreated a lake and an island, using a corner of the building. The idea was that children would line up on a dock, climb into a boat in the shape of a wooden shoe, turn a wheel that drew the boat to the island, peek inside a hut on the island, then 'drive' the boat back to the dock where the next 2 children could go.

Sasha and Owen saw this and really needed to have a go, so we got in line and waited while at least 4 groups of kids went to and from the island. When they finally moved to the front of the dock, Sasha was just jumping at the bit to have her turn. Once the kids brought the boat back to the dock and got out of it, I told S&O that it was their turn. Owen jumped happily into the boat while Sasha, in a fit of who knows what, walked across the 'water' to the hut and went inside. H & I stood there, our mouths hanging open in confusion, while Owen sat in the boat waiting for his partner to get in so they could get going. An older boy (12ish) saw what had happened and also saw that Owen was not going to captain the boat on his own, so he hopped in and the boat started to move. This startled and horrified Owen, who then jumped overboard and made his way to me in complete tears. By then, Sasha had come out of the hut to see where Owen was. Having given up her turn, she was displeased to learn that she would not be driving the boat back and ended up stomping back across the 'water' to where we stood consoling a sobbing Owen. I don't know what made him angrier: Sasha's abandonment or the attempted abduction of his person by the helpful Dutch boy.

Waiting, ever so patiently, for their turn to travel to the island.

Where in the blazes is that brother of mine?!?

Madurodam - Day 7

2010-08-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was a beautiful sunny day so H & I decided to load the Babes into the cargo bike and cycle to a park called Madurodam. It contains many Dutch landmarks rendered small so one can essentially tour the country & its features as a giant would. The attention to detail was remarkable and they were featuring a display of the very popular Dutch children's story, "Pluk van de Petteflet", which we thought S&O would enjoy.

As is typical for 3.5 year olds, they were more interested in the fish swimming in the canals than they were in the buildings and towns on display. After seeing a few items, we headed straight for the Pluk display. It met all expectations as it had play areas and large pictures of Pluk and his cohorts, the Krullevar, Langhors, Mister Pen, Dollie the Dove, and the Stamper Family.

There was a room with mattresses and a slide that was supposed to be like the Stamper kids' room. When we went in, S&O were the only ones for about 5 seconds - time enough for one turn on the slide - then a handful of kids blasted their way in. In true Canadian fashion, S&O stood in line very politely for the slide, taking care to ensure that personal space was preserved for all. Sadly for them, the Dutch kids, who are used to a country that jams 16 million people in a space the size of Waskesiu, mistook their politeness for a lack of interest in the slide and walked right past them and onto the slide. H & I had to go and explain the cutthroat world of children and were treated to looks of disbelief with a hint of revulsion. Finally, Owen saw an opening and went for it, with Sasha bringing up the rear. They wanted another turn, but we just didn't have that much time.

Pluk drives a towtruck and lives on his own (like Pippi L.). S&O got to take the truck for a 'spin'.

Posing with Langhors

Holland - Days 4,5 &6

2010-08-14T05:57:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we got up and checked out of the hotel and took the tram to Marg & H's house. H and I madly cleaned their upstairs while Marg took S&O to the park across from their place (Marg's back was still giving her trouble). After lunch, the rooms were ready for the kids to nap so they did that while we vegged. The rest of the day was really about hangin' out and we needed that kind of a day - especially S&O, who were still working through the jet lag. In the evening, we had a visit from H's colleague Ben, a New Zealander.

The next day, the builders came for one last session. H stayed home to keep them company while Marg & I took the Wee Ones to this totally cool park in a big forested park near their house. I have no pictures of it yet because my batteries died but it is the coolest park I've ever seen. S&O's favourite bit was the zip-line for kids (truly!). We'll be going back so I'll get pictures then.

Tuesday was another quiet day. We all got on and in our bikes and rode downtown to a fabulous Dutch toy store where H & I were almost more rambunctious than the kids (we bought nothing for them and they went away only with a lesson in restraint...really). After that, we went home and spent the afternoon visiting with more of H's colleagues - Tom from Scotland who was about to move to Istanbul and a new posting, and Tadhg (sounds like Teig) from Ireland. S&O took an immediate liking to Tadhg because he was willing to chase and tickle them and, being a math teacher, it wasn't long before he was reviewing 1-20 with Sasha.

In the Netherlands, people cherish their children which is obvious when you see their parks and attractions for kids. The only thing they love more are their bicycles. Bikes are everywhere and they even have their own bike lanes and I don't mean just a little add on to a lane with a picture of a bike painted on it. These are separate lanes, often with their own curbs. Bikes have their own traffic lights and, when in a bike lane, a biker yields to no one (unless the little bike light is red...and then only grudgingly).

Being so favoured makes biking quite practical so Marg & H arranged for us to have a cargo bike which is what many Dutch people use to cart their children around. I have to say it's a great way to move about and S&O love the thing. They prefer it when H is driving because, "H goes faster." Raise 'em from nubbins and that the gratitude.

Trying to decide which toy they'll get now, and which one they'll get when we come back "tomorrow"...

"Stop it with the pictures and let's get a move on!"

This windmill is a few blocks from Marg & H's house.

Holland - Days 2&3

2010-08-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

After our very long day (and a half), we slept for about 12 hours and spent our second day pretty quietly. We ate at a lovely outdoor café where we could watch people and trams come & go. We wandered about a bit and Owen found a Dutch book called “De Coole Cowboy”. Needless to say, we got it and then went back to the hotel to read it (as best we could). After naps, H, S, O & I went to their house to check on the progress and found out that we could move back on Sunday. We picked up the strollers H had arranged for us and walked back to the center of town. We had an early night because a) we needed it and, b) we were going to the Pride Parade in Amsterdam the following day!

We woke up Saturday, went for brunch then got on the train to Amsterdam. After a few stops, it became apparent that everyone else in The Netherlands had the same idea. By the time we got there, we were jammed in so tightly that I came away with more Dutch friends that I’d planned on making. H had gone ahead to get a good spot so we made our way to the canal, found her, and prepared ourselves to be entertained.

Pride parades are generally pretty fun but this one was a total screamin’ hoot. The neatest thing is that the parade route was on one of the canals. The more industrious spectators found themselves floatation devices (dinghys, inflatable kayaks, etc.) and were able to see the floats up close & personal (I envied them occasionally and was glad I wasn’t them at other times). There were about 80 floats and we stayed for all of them. It rained off and on and Mama Nature was kind enough to wait until we were walking back to the train before unleashing a torrent on our heads. Sasha & Owen had never been to a parade before and thought it was awesome. With all the costumes, music, dancing and gaiety (ha!), I think any parade after this will be a let down – especially if the Shriners on their mini-bikes are the highlight…

Waiting for the next float...

2010-08-13T02:44:00.000-07:00

One of our favourite floats!

We all wore t-shirts that said, "Holland - ruled by a Queen, protected by dykes"

Wet and bedraggled

Holland - Week One

2010-08-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

Groetjes van Nederland! We are currently nestled snuggly at Van der Wyckstraat 5 in Den Haag, which is where Marg and H live. It was a bit of a mess getting here and it’s been quite a week, so I’ll let started straight away on the pictures & stories.

Day One:
Our flight was due to leave home at 10 am so I ordered a cab for 8:30, much to S&O’s horror (Who is this man called a cab driver? What kind of car will we be in? Can he really be trusted?). It all worked out though, until we got to the ticket counter. As it happened, our first flight was going to be at least an hour late. This meant that we wouldn’t make our connection to Minneapolis and definitely wouldn’t make the flight to Amsterdam.

The lady at the desk did this & that and made many calls on our behalf. Finally, she handed me a stack of paper and told me we’d be on a United flight to San Francisco, then a KLM flight to Amsterdam. When flying through SF one often needs to walk from 1 terminal to another & then go through security all over again. When I asked the United lady if this was what I could expect, she said, “Oh, no, just go to the next flight and get your boarding pass at the gate.” Silly me – I believed her.

When we arrived in SF, S&O were hungry but I told them we needed to straighten out our next flight and then find food. I looked at the computers in our arrival terminal but they were all United. Then I saw a sign for international departures so we walked & walked & walked until we got to that part of the airport. Alas, I did not see our KLM flight on that board either. At this point, S&O were moaning like zombies and trying to roll on the floor. I gave them a pep talk of the non-frustrated, non-threatening variety and we went off to seek advice.

Turns out, I had to leave the secure area, walk to the other end of the airport, check in with KLM and go through security all over again. Had I been on my own, I would have been aggravated. With S&O, I was smokin’. I explained to S&O what was going on and they agreed to co-operate so off we went. When we arrived at the KLM desk, S&O were back to being a pair of Moaning Myrtles so when the lady checking us in expressed concern that our seats were not together, I told her not to worry and that I was sure the kids wouldn’t trouble the people they were sitting with.

I came to my senses shortly and agreed that perhaps we should sit together. Then we hauled ourselves through security (S&O are pros now) and I called Marg & H to let them know when to expect us.

Turns out they were just short of murder & mayhem on their end as well. Their house had been overtaken by builders who were putting in their new windows and they had to move to a hotel, plus Marg had put her back out and was rendered pretty much helpless.

Anyhoo, back to us. Once we were sorted, we found some lunch and then had only a few minutes to wait before they boarded the plane (pre-boarding for children! Chivalry has come back to the airlines! Well…non-American ones anyway). The flight itself was 10 hours and I discovered that S&O are great in airplanes. It’s airports that send them ‘round the bend. I then discovered that that makes them just like everyone else.

We arrived safely in Amsterdam where H met us with some gigantic balloons in the shape of airplanes. Marg was on her back at the hotel in The Hague and sent her regrets. We followed H to the train (bonking people with our airplanes as we went). The train ride was great and, within moments of departing the airport, we saw a windmill, horses and even some cows. At that point, Owen decided Holland was indeed a fine place to be.

At the hotel, we had a nap, then went out for a bit of an adventure on the beach. We took a tram there, walked over a cobblestone path and found a merry-go-round right on the boardwalk. Owen stopped dead in his tracks, stared for a moment, then started jumping and squealing about the horses. H treated him and Sasha to a ride. Then we went to this area with trampolines and jumped for a while.

We had supper at this cool outdoor restaurant with the waves of the North Sea crashing behind us. The food was great, the drinks even better, and our waiter was willing to take our order in Dutch, French, German, English or Spanish. I managed to order my cocktail in a mix of English & German. After that, it was back to the hotel and bed.

Owen's first train ride

Sasha's too.

Engrossed in a Dutch cartoon - language is no barrier, apparently

H and her Twinnies

2010-08-12T06:25:00.001-07:00

Suppertime at the beach after a very long day.

Brotherly Love

2010-07-20T20:47:00.001-07:00

I was at the store yesterday and they had twin carts where S&O could sit side by side in relative comfort. Once we were done and the car was loaded with our goodies, I walked the cart to the storage area. I pulled Owen out then turned to Sasha and said, "Well, are you coming or shall I leave you here?"

As usual, the child was off on another planet so I turned to Owen and asked, "Shall we leave her here then?"

He hollered, for the whole lot to hear, "NO!!! YOU CAN'T LEAVE HER!!! SHE'S MY MRS. POTATO HEAD!!!"

Can't Fall Asleep?

2010-07-18T22:37:00.000-07:00

No problem - just find a book of stickers in your room and amuse yourself until you drift off.

Overheard During a Spanish Lesson...

2010-06-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

"Phil, how did you get so lucky to teach me?"

-Sasha

Random Stuff

2010-06-07T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today was the first really warm day we've had so I pulled out S&O's inflatable slide pool. They played in it all morning. Then they swam all afternoon too. They came in for supper and Owen fell asleep eating a drumstick (ice cream) for dessert. If this isn't the essence of summer, I don't know what is.

Mike's Mom & Dad came to stay with us for about 10 days. Here are Sasha and Mamie at a really nice restaurant, two lovely ladies enjoying some fine dining.

This is one of Owen ringing the bell at swimming. This is done to announce that the swimmer has passed the skills test for their level and will be moving up to the next level. This one was a big deal because S&O usually move up together but, this time, there was a skill Owen just lacked the confidence to do. So, while Sasha had moved up at least 6 weeks earlier, Owen languished a bit until he must have gotten bored and said, "the heck with this."

The Aftermath

2010-05-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Since yesterday was the first day we had any real contact with Vida, Kit & Lies, it was a very eventful day. After that first series of photos, the kids & I visited them again. That time, knowing that we came bearing crunchy treats, everyone was happy to visit. Vida paid attention to Owen and even ate some carrots from his hand. It was a perfect day...

Yes, that's a horse pillow and those are horse sheets.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Owen Has Died and Gone to Heaven (figuratively, not literally)

2010-05-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

On Thursday last, our doorbell rang and a fellow I'd never seen before was standing on the veranda. It turns out that he has several horses and mules and had just bought a sizable property in the north part of the city. He was currently boarding some of his Beasts elsewhere while he gave his pastures a chance to grow so that they could sustain all of his animals. The problem was this: an elderly man who was currently looking after 2 horses and 2 mules for him got sick and could no longer keep them. So, he was wondering if we'd be willing to let him bring those animals to our house for about 1-2 months.

Well, I had to bite my tongue not to say, "Of course!!!" right then and there. Instead, I showed him the pastures so that he understood exactly what we had and he was thrilled. I told him I'd talk to Mike and call him back.

On his way back to his truck, he said, "You know, I have to thank you for talking to me. Most of the people I've tried to talk to around here wouldn't even give me the time of day." Again, I had to bite my tongue not to make some crack about Republicans.

Anyhow, the decision was pretty easy and the Beasties arrived Saturday morning. We now have Vida (Tennessee Walking Horse), Kit (Mule) and Lies (Mule). Another horse will be coming in a few days so check back for that update. They are all females, which is a bit of a disappointment to Owen. He is coping by pretending Vida is a stallion (note: stallion, not gelding). As expected, Owen thinks the mules are fine but he is desperate to make friends with Vida, who is the shyest of the three. Kit is the most outgoing and Lies isn't too bad but Vida is not sure we're worth her time at all.

Mike took the kids out this morning to buy carrots & apples. As you can see from the pictures, they were a real ice breaker, though Vida would only take carrots from Mike. Sasha, as usual, had no fear and was feeding anyone and everyone. Owen, after being a bit hesitant, finally figured out how to do it and was able to give some carrots as well. This is a big step for him because feeding is always something he's shied away from (whoo-hoo, Owen!). He is interested in riding Vida, but I told him that we'd be lucky if she lets us brush her. We'll see.

One of Owen's many pleasures will now be to wake up in the morning, open his blinds and check to see where his Beasts are. It's one of mine too, to be honest.

They'll be with us for a while so I'll post the good stuff as it happens.

Taking it slow with Vida

Kit & Vida

Owen, getting the hang of it.

Lies looks on while Sasha feeds Kit

Lies the Mule

2010-05-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

Kit the Mule

Vida

Running back to get more carrots.

I'm Not Alone

2010-04-28T15:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it was from lack of sleep or coming off the weekend illness, but Sasha was unbelievably irritable this morning. I struggled all morning to take the high road with her, and by lunch time my legs were about to fall off. I was making lunch while she was upstairs yowling over lip gloss. I had a moment, so I was taking 10 deep breaths and reminding myself that this is what I'd wanted when Owen came up behind me and announced, "I can't cope with her either, Mom."

Are You Kidding Me?!

2010-04-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

What a few weeks it's been. First, I had this cold/chest thing that hung around for about 2 weeks. Then, Sasha was sick over the weekend with something called a coxackie virus (sore throat, fatigue, whole-body rash, fever). So far, Owen hasn't shown any symptoms but we're not out of the woods yet since it can incubate for 4-7 days, apparently.

Sasha, quarantined in her bedroom, watching a show.

So, it was all looking like life was getting back to normal when we had this wind storm to end all windstorms last night. In the 7 years we've been in this house, I've never heard such a wind. It shook the house and there were gusts up to 110 mi/hr. When we woke up this morning, we were relieved that we still had a roof but heartbroken to see what happened to S&O's park (a swing set, but they call it a park).

Sasha with her park, in happier times.

The park now.

It won't come as a surprise, I'm sure, when I tell you that S&O spent the morning railing against the wind.

Just when my list of things to do looked like it all might fit on one page...

The Fortune Cookie Knows...

2010-04-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

Any of you who have spent more than 2 minutes with Sasha will know that she is a talker. In fact, there are only 3 situations I can think of where she isn't talking: when she is sleeping, eating corn on the cob or eating ice cream.

Last night, we went out for Dim Sum (Owen's request) and had a great time. When it came time for the fortune cookies, Mike & I howled when Sasha's fortune was revealed:

Of course, as we were laughing, all we heard was, "Hey Mom, why are you laughing? Mom? Mom, why do I need to be silent? Why don't I ask or say, Mom? Mom, is that my fortune, Mom? Is it funny? Mom? Hey, Mom. I'm thirsty. Are we going now? I'm tired. Papa, I hit a piñata today!..."

Gymnast in the Spotlight

2010-04-06T15:58:00.001-07:00

Yes, we are still here, despite the dust piling up on the blog. I have lots of stories & photos going back to January that will find their way to your computers but I thought I'd start with a more recent story.

S&O have been going to gymnastics for about a year now and our Owen was recently chosen to the the 'Gymnast in the Spotlight' for the pre-schoolers. There's a bulletin board at the gym for the chosen gymnasts where pictures of the kids are posted along with a little profile, which reveals the multiple layers of each child ;). I zoomed in on one of the pictures which, hopefully, you can read.

I think the child is chosen based on effort & attitude. That's not to say that Owen isn't skilled - he's coming along nicely - it's just that I think his coach nominated him because he's actually trying pretty hard in class. He's quite proud of this attention and Sasha is trying hard to ignore it (direct quote: gymnast in the spotlight is stupid). I told her that if she'd stop jiggling and focus her energy, she could be chosen at some point as well, but I think that's too far into the future for her. In any event, I give you our Gymnast in the Spotlight...

Trying to be cool about it all:

Owen, in action.

Overheard at Our House Today

2010-02-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sasha, upon waking from her nap: "So, Mom, what's the situation?"

Sasha, during her Spanish lesson with Phil: "It's very hard to know, Phil," and

"I'm trying my best here, Phil."

2010-02-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

Feeling Low but Not Dead

2010-02-04T21:04:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, the kids are still processing the deaths of their dogs as well as Eddy, my parents' dog. When they ask why they died (and they ask often), my stock answer is that they were old and sick and it was the kind thing to do to let them go.

Well, the kids got sick last week and I enjoyed the following conversation with Sasha:

"Mom, I have a cough."

"Yes, I know. It's because you're sick."

"Well...at least I'm not old."

Happy New Year!

2010-02-04T17:10:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all (I’m still in time for the Chinese New year so this totally counts)! 2009 was quite a year for S&O. They started the year as real 2 years olds - in diapers, needing a lot of help with meals, not too independent and trying hard to communicate without a ton of success. They ended the year toilet trained, communicating well, and even helping out at mealtime.

They started swimming in February with Mom & Me classes (back to back). The whole point of the class at that point was to get them comfortable in the water and to get them to swim underwater for short periods of time. Sasha took to the water like a fish and didn’t have even a moment of anxiety. Owen was not so sure about the whole thing but he had a great attitude and was as comfortable as Sasha within a week or two. After a few classes, we arrived home and Owen announced, “Mama, Sasha’s a little fish, I’m a big fish and you’re an old fish.” Warm feelings of motherhood coursed through my body and I thought, “I paid for this?”

We continued to swim throughout the year and, in August, I was told that my services would no longer be required because S&O were ready to move to the level where they would be alone in the pool with the instructor. Now, I’d fantasized about that moment, especially when walking past the parents gallery in my swimsuit (and let’s be clear - it was a momsuit which I’d always sworn I’d never be caught dead in...the ones with the belly control panel...and it was a bonus if I’d remembered to shave) but I reacted by getting all weepy about it. Go figure.

When I told the kids that being without me in the pool was part of their new world order, Sasha was excited and Owen was quite concerned because he was sure that, without me, he’d sink to the bottom. After I’d explained that they’d sit on the edge and take turns with the teacher and, therefore, not be left to drown, he was cool. That first lesson left me all weepy again and I was glad to be wearing glasses because they hide tears pretty well.

Since then, they’ve moved to the point where they swim under water using both their arms and legs for about 5 meters. Also, and this is the coolest part, they stand on the edge while another instructor picks them up and throws them into the water. They then have to swim to the surface, grab onto the ledge and pull themselves out. They both do it well and without complaint though Sasha would clearly prefer it if the instructor would throw her a little higher and a little farther. Perhaps that’ll be for the next level.

About the same time, they started gymnastics at High Sierra Gymnastics. We were in the Mom & Me class at first and my friend, Blair, was kind enough to come as a second Mom. We basically had a system where the one who felt most up to it would be paired with Sasha who seems to have been made to be in a gym.

In September, they started in the Lightning Bug class (3 year olds) which is where they are alone with the coach. We struggled with discipline for the first few months because they wouldn’t sit still or pay attention. Now, however, the coach and I have a pretty good system where S or O will be removed from the class in the event of unacceptable behaviour and they’ll have to sit with me (I’m not nearly as nice as lovely Coach Brit). So far, we haven’t had to use that option. They spend their time doing forward & back rolls, walking on the balance beam (forward, sideways and even backward...once), handstands, headstands, forward flips & backward flips on the bar. A Gymnastics Showcase is coming up on the 22nd so I’ll be reporting on that (maybe by May...).

By the time spring rolled around, I was saving on laundry because the Babes wanted to be naked all the time. It actually really helped with toilet training and they ended up being pretty well trained by about May-ish (or maybe it was April?). They still wore diapers for naptime and night time but they’ve since become continent for their naps and only wear diapers at night.

They managed to go for most of the year without any real illness and still have not been exposed to antibiotics (whoo-hoo!...knock on wood).

Their speech has also improved and we can get through life pretty well now because they can communicate almost all of their ideas. Sasha is still learning that she needs to be more specific when asking a question and that when driving around, for example, she can’t just say, “what’s that?” and expect a proper answer. This concept is taking a looong time to sink in.

Owen communicates really, really well. When he gets excited, though, he stutters and you can almost see his brain struggling to keep up with itself. His obsession continues to be horses, horses, horses. Books come in a close second.

Sasha has developed a definite preference for all things princess/ballerina. She has 2 princess dresses and about 4 tutus. She’ll put them all on, top them off with fairy wings and a princess wand then declare herself to be “Ballet Kitty Angelina Ballerina Princess Tiana.”

In fact, both S&O live in a fantasy world most of the day. They assume the identity of anything, from mushrooms to giants. And I am always the Mama of whatever they are. Unless they are different things, like a horse and a frog. Then, I’m a ‘horse/frog Mama’.

I’ve posted slideshows of each of the Babes to show how they’ve changed in the past year. Cheers!

Owen

2010-02-04T16:50:00.000-08:00

Sasha

2010-02-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Still Figuring out Death

2009-12-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

So far, Sasha and Owen have only experienced the loss of our dogs, Chester and Lia. Since Lia died when they were only 1 1/2 years old, they don't really remember her but they know about her because of all the pictures we have of her and the kids. Chester, on the other hand, is remembered quite well and they talk about him quite often. I don't really know if he's the one they're remembering or his death since it was pretty dramatic.

Anyhow, even though I tried to explain death to them as best I could, they were having trouble wrapping their minds around the concept. So much so that when I announced I had to go to the doctor a few months back, Sasha asked if I was planning to bring Chester home with me. Clearly they just didn't get the whole 'death' thing.

Then today, I was driving past the vet clinic and Sasha got really excited and asked if we could stop to see Uncle Chester. After I got over the amazement that she remembered the building, I tried once again to explain that Chester was dead and that we couldn't see him anymore. Inevitably, a little 'why?' came from the back so I tried a different approach. I explained that being dead meant you didn't breathe, didn't laugh, didn't eat or drink, didn't sleep and that one was just not there anymore for us to touch or hug or sit beside. After a long pause, I heard, "Well, that's sad. I'm quite disappointed."

"Me, too," I replied.

Halloween Birthday Party

2009-11-15T21:21:00.000-08:00

After a great horse-weekend, we had a few days to prepare for S&O's Halloween Birthday party. Up until now, we'd always had quiet little celebrations but I figured that they were old enough to enjoy a party. At the end of the day, we had 15 children and their parents.

My Mom and I made veggie lasagnas and macaroni & cheeses and we made chocolate brownie cupcakes with buttercream icing and Smarties. We didn't have a recipe as such for the lasagna but we had a bunch of vegetables, a few rum & cokes and Leonard Cohen singing to us and that seemed to do it.

Anyhoo, the morning of the party, Sasha & Owen were out of their minds with excitement. They were thrilled that,

a) they got to wear their costumes;

b) their friends were coming over; and

c) they were bringing presents with them.

They'd worked themselves up to the point that, when the people started arriving, they hid under their play table for a while. The costumes were great and most of the parents got into the spirit as well. Once they came out from under the table, S&O played with the kids and had their faces painted by a "Princess" who came to face-paint and make balloon animals.

The day was gorgeous - about 24 with no cloud in the sky. Taking advantage of that, we had a Scavenger Hunt in the back. After that, it was lunch time, followed by cupcakes and then it was over. S&O totally crashed and so did my Mom and I.

We ended the evening by going Trick or Treating for the first time. We went to 4 houses in the neighbourhood, which was totally enough. At the first house, after a general briefing, two boys came to the door, each carrying a bowl of candy. They extended them so I told Owen to "pick one". I should have been a bit clearer because Owen reached out to take one of the bowls. The look on his face was hysterical - as if to say, "this is better than birthday and Christmas put together!"

The morning of...Owen was reveling in the balloons.

Owen and his Rachel.

2009-11-15T21:08:00.000-08:00

Adrienne, Deven* & Blair

*When I told Owen that Deven was coming as a cowboy and that he could be his horse, Owen declared himself to be a wild horse and, therefore, not in need of a cowboy.

Our Bumble Bee in her cowgirl boots.

Team Pumpkin

Count Floyd gave out medals to everyone at the end of the Scavenger Hunt.

Owen, with his candles. He was successful on his 3rd attempt with some assistance provided by his friend, Jaeden.

2009-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Delerious from ALL THAT STUFF!

Last stop on the Trick or Treat Trail: Home.

Show Jumping Weekend

2009-11-02T07:06:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, my Mom came for a visit and we hit the ground running, spending the weekend at a stable which is devoted to show jumping. They were having a 2 day open house and competition and we went both days.

On Saturday, as we drove in, Owen was beside himself with excitement. We parked and walked over to the ring where we watched young riders compete in show jumping. There was also a ring where the riders warmed up their horses and it was pretty cool to see how they worked with them to get them to do what was required. It was also interesting to see what happened when the horse said, "uh, no." Sasha and Mike were bored and Owen didn't care what was going on, as long as a horse was involved. We just spent the morning there so all we saw was the jumping and we missed what sounded like a pretty great Halloween parade where the horses were in costume - perhaps next year.

The next day, Mike opted out so my Mom & I returned with S&O and it was so great, we stayed for the day. The stable provided a tour of the facilities so we climbed onto the back of a truck and rode on hay bales around the property. Then we got off and met the stallions (there were 4 or 5) who were housed separately from everyone else. Two of them were the ones that the owners compete with nationally and they were big.

We were then shown the 'other' barn where the boarders and other horses lived. They opened a few stalls so that S&O could say a proper 'hello'. Owen, as always, was totally into it and Sasha, because we were actually doing 'stuff' was enjoying herself too.

After that, they offered us horse rides. Now these were horses, not ponies so Owen was quite worried about the whole thing. Sasha didn't think twice and she marched over to her horse like they'd known each other a long time. Once I told Owen that it was 'now or never', he mustered some courage and went over to a horse called George. Owen was done first and was thrilled that he'd gone. Sasha's ride took a bit longer and, when I went to get her, Sasha was saying, "Mom, she forgot! She forgot!" I asked what she (the girl leading the horse) had forgotten, and Sasha pointed to some jumps in the center of the arena and said, "She forgot to jump with me." The girl explained that Sasha really wanted to jump and, as a compromise, she'd led the horse over a bar on the ground (the first step in jumping, according to her) which is why Sasha's ride was a bit longer. When I told Sasha that she had to be older before she could actually jump a horse, she seemed satisfied and added that to her list of 'things to do when I'm older.'

After that the stable provided a great lunch and then we went to a field where they showed off the mares and foals for that year (this horse stuff is big business). The mares, of course, were on leads but the foals were not so they did as they pleased. One, named Mia, noticed Owen and slowly made her way over to him, ending in a pretty cool encounter (pictured below). Once that was done, we went over to the riding ring where a man showed us how their 2 best stallions could jump (these are the ones that compete seriously). It was great for Owen to see a man riding because, up to that point, it was an estrogen saturated experience. Anyhow, it was completely impressive and one of the horses cleared a 5'3" jump like it was nothing.

That was the end of the day and we took two very tired but happy twins home.

Watching the young riders warm up their horses.

Owen and George

Waiting with Grandma to see the mares and foals (note the cowboy boots).

Mia, pretending to be interested in what was beside Owen.

She seems to be saying, "Hey! I'm a foal, are you a foal too?"

2009-11-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Now the foal has discovered the lovely tassle on Owen's hat...

...much to Owen's dismay (& delight when retelling the story)

Waiting to see the stallions jump,

which was worth the wait.

Learning to Wink

2009-10-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here's Owen, not really getting the hang of it.

Some digital intervention seemed to help.

Sasha mastered the wink quickly and is seen working on her 'come hither' look.

Leaving the amateurs in her wake, Sasha moves on to combine Blue Steel* with a wink, which is more commonly known as Blue Stink.

I think we can all agree where Sasha's gets this particular talent from.

*from the movie Zoolander which is really funny.

And That's The Way it Was

2009-10-11T00:25:00.000-07:00

It's time for a look back to see how far we've come:

Sasha: I think you can all see why she was crowned "Miss Beautiful Baby 2007"*

*sponsored by Exlax

Every time I see this picture of Owen I wonder if we should have named him Cletus.

Ballet for a Day

2009-10-09T06:47:00.000-07:00

When Sasha was born and they told me I had a girl, I remember thinking: Ooh! A girl! And then I thought: ooooh, a girl.

Since then I've been biding my time, planting ideas and watching them grow. I found a ballet class for 3&4 year olds taught at the school I'd chosen because it's a Royal Academy of Dance school, and called the teacher. I was a bit worried that Sasha was too young and, after a conversation, the teacher & I decided to give her a go and see what was what.

When the day finally arrived, we had porridge for breakfast to fortify the spirit and got ready. My friend, Blair (aka Bear), joined us at the studio. When it was time, Sasha marched into the studio and didn't look back.

During the class, she did her best to follow along and she was quiet and was not disruptive, but in true ballet fashion, you kind of had to keep up or die. There was one point where the girls were in a line and were asked to do a plié in first position. If they bent their knees enough, the teacher would put a stuffed dog through the diamond created by the legs and bark (very hilarious for 3-4 yr. olds). When it was Sasha's turn, she had trouble balancing in first position and couldn't get her knees to bend enough while holding that position. When it looked like the dog would not bark for her, Sasha, being resourceful, did a plié in second position and then bent over so she could enjoy the show (as opposed to watching her reflection in the mirror, as the others did). Creative, for sure, but not the exercise.

When the class was over, the teacher told me to bring her back again. The following week when it was time to get ready for ballet, however, Sasha was happy to put on her gear but was not so enthusiastic about actually getting the the car. I kept hearing, "well, not yet" and, "maybe later" so I called the teacher and told her we'd try again next fall.

Until then, I have these pictures:

She totally looked the part (look at those legs!)

Sasha is on the far left of the circle.

Here, she's pretty much centered and in focus. She's on the balls of her feet.

Sasha is the farthest left.

2009-10-09T06:45:00.000-07:00

Afterward, we went out for lunch with Blair.

Chef!

2009-10-07T21:18:00.000-07:00

One Friday evening, a few weeks ago, I was busy in the kitchen preparing to make meat sauce for a meal of pasta & meat sauce. S&O were in the playroom reading books when Owen wandered into the kitchen and asked if he could help. I decided that meat sauce was a great dish for him to cut his teeth on so I gave him an apron, a spoon, the title of sous-chef and I put him to work. After a few minutes, Sasha decided she wanted to be a sous-chef too and the three of us put together a pretty awesome sauce.

Sautéeing onions and celery

Cooking the turkey

Taste testing

Savouring the final product

2009-10-07T21:13:00.000-07:00

Later, things got a bit crazy when the sous-chefs stripped down and got funky...

Air Races

2009-10-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

We went to the air races a few weeks ago. It is a huge air show held every year and is attended by people all over the country. There are aerobatic shows, static displays, air races (naturally) and the Blue Angels (US equivalent of the Snowbirds) performed. We got a box which meant we got a little area to call our own on the tarmac and we were treated quite well. It was pretty sweet, I must say.

Owen, posing next to our box. The expression on his face cracks me up..

Mike & his kids in the cockpit of a Cessna Grand Caravan which is a plane that has enough room for us and a pony!

No festival would be complete without attractions that relieve parents of most of the money in their wallets (seriously...I told Sasha she could have this or a ride up to the Space Station but she was not willing to wait).

Strong Sasha at the Park

2009-10-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

In the Pool

2009-10-04T09:28:00.000-07:00

Cannonball, XL L and XS

2009-10-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

Going to the Park

2009-10-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

There's a really nice park near Mamie and Grandpa's house so one evening, we went over to check it out. S&O had a blast and tried the teeter-totter for the first time with great success. They both also tried the fireman's pole which will take some more practice.

2009-10-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

Wine Tour

2009-10-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

During our second week, we spent a day driving around Niagara. After we satisfied Mike's need for whiskey, we went to a winery that had some kid-friendly attractions. The best was this train ride that took us through the vineyard and orchards around the property. We saw grapes, apples, peaches, pears, cherries and pumpkins and I'm not sure who had more fun - the adults or the kids.

Owen rode with his Grandpa Joe, who didn't seem to mind.

Ontario, Week 2

2009-10-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

After the first week, we began to venture out a bit. The first picture is one I managed to catch while Mike was goofing about with his kids. The next 2 are from an outing to Port Dalhousie on Lake Ontario. It has a carousel which was carved from wood in the late 1800s. Most of the horses had actual horse-hair tails and the rides were a whopping 5¢. Owen was beside himself as you can imagine. After a few rides, courtesy of Mamie (Mike's Mom), we went to the beach where the kids played in the sand.

More Ontario

2009-10-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

As mentioned, we spent an entire week in the pool. Everyday, we'd get up, eat and visit. Swim in the pool, have lunch then take a nap. Get up, swim some more, have supper. Take a bath, read a book and go to bed. It was a really great way to spend a week.

Our Bathing Beauty (rear view)

Owen, practicing his moves. I'm not sure if he's having fun or not...

Mid-flight

Ontario

2009-10-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

The last half of August was spent in Ontario with Mike's family. We were there for 2 weeks and we spent every day of the first week in their pool which was soooo great. Owen would typically go in for a short while and then get wrapped snugly in a towel and would sit on a chair and watch everyone else. I would have liked to see him in the water more, but that's what made him happy so that's what he did. Even when he was in the water, he preferred to be in the turtle which meant he wasn't exactly in the water, but close enough. Mike did make him practice his swimming skills, though, and he'd do that happily (mostly because he was with his 'Big Papa').

Sasha was a bit of a different story: we couldn't get her out of the pool unless she was hungry and/or cold (hunger was usually the cause since Mike's Dad kept the pool lovely and warm - just for the kids). Her gills are just now beginning to seal themselves. Twice, she jumped into the pool with no adult in the water and no water wings (BIG no-no) because she wouldn't wait. Fortunately there was at least one adult there both times who hauled her out.

Anyway, armed with water wings and goggles, Sasha would just float/swim/improvise her was around the pool. She spent a good portion of the time with her head underwater which is where she preferred to be (arms up over her back).

Before Mike arrived, I would take Sasha and throw her into the air so that she'd land a few feet from me, which she loved. It was a game she asked to play over & over. Once Mike arrived, she only wanted to do this with him because he super-sized it, to her delight.

Wild & crazy Owen and his Turtle. I've already decided that, when they're 16, Owen will get the keys to the car and he'll be the one to drive. Sasha will be relegated to shotgun status.

Our Bathing Beauty.

Steady as she goes.

Swimming...sigh.

2009-09-04T17:30:00.001-07:00

I've been swimming with S&O since January or February (or maybe earlier, I can't remember). Anyhow, it was something we'd do every Saturday and it was pretty nice to swim with my babes. Of course, I didn't enjoy the small, cold change rooms and parading around in my swimsuit so I'd often imagine what it'd be like to take them and then watch the class from the waiting area.

Well, S&O were moved up to Panda I which meant that they would be moving to a new level and I would be moving to the waiting room. I talked to them about the fact that they would no longer have me with them in the pool and, apart from a little anxiety on Owen's part because he thought it meant that he'd be totally on his own and therefore would sink to the bottom, they were at ease with the concept (I explained to Owen that he'd have a teacher to ensure his safety and he thought it was an acceptable solution).

So today was the first day of class. As we sat waiting for them to be led out into the pool area, I thought maybe I'd need to escort them out, or go with them to the door, or something. Well, when the young girl stood at the door and announced Panda I, I was left choking on their figurative dust they left me so fast. Off they went, bouncing with joy and they didn't look back. They didn't even look to see if I was watching and wave to me (like the other, clearly more devoted, children in the class).

So there I sat, oscillating between my happy face and my sad face, until I realized that this is exactly what I was working toward: confident, independent kids who don't need to cling to Mama. I just didn't think we'd get there this fast...

SPOILER ALERT

2009-09-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a bit of a Halloween preview. Owen's choice for a costume will come as no surprise to anyone.

I have to say that one of the perks of living with these two is the chance to have a second childhood (the first one having been totally awesome). I already have next year's costumes planned...

The Cowboy/Hockey Player Takes a Break.

2009-09-02T20:21:00.000-07:00

Most of you will know that Owen describes himself as a cowboy and a hockey player. On this occasion, however, he announced that he would briefly be taking on the role of 'dancer' (those cowboy/hockey player tendencies are hard to hide, though).

I Can't Decide...

2009-09-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

...wether or not to have a t-shirt or a coffee mug made with this picture on it. Or perhaps graduation announcement cards (We are pleased (relieved?) to announce...)?

Owen Likes Boats

2009-08-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Owen had the opportunity to drive the boat at the lake (supervised, of course) and he absolutely loved it. He'd drive anytime, anywhere and got so good at it that he could do it with his eyes closed (see Boat#2 video...).

Boat #2

2009-08-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

We're Baaack!

2009-08-30T06:44:00.000-07:00

Hi, all, we were gone for two weeks, this time to Niagara. So, I left off with photos from our trip to S'toon and will pick up where I left off. Hopefully I'll get caught up in the next while because I have so many great pictures.

The last part of our trip was spent at my parents' cabin. Like last year, S&O absolutely loved it. It was buggier since it was July but the weather was good and we were able to be outside quite a bit. We'd start our day with coffee and juice on the deck along with some breakfast cookies (don't tell Grandma...wait...she's the one who baked them). Once the caffeine levels were where they needed to be, we'd have breakfast and then unleash the babes on the forest but they mostly stuck around the cabin, exploring and throwing the ball for Eddy and Xena. There was a battle, though, with Sasha who kept trying to see if we really meant it when we said that she was not to go to the dock without an adult. She'd wander here and there and, when she thought no one was looking, she'd make a mad dash to the water. Fortunately with 3 adults on sentry duty, she never got away with it. Never stopped trying, either.

Since they were potty trained at that point, they learned about using the outhouse, rechristened the 'nuthouse' by Sasha, but really embraced peeing off the deck (do I see careers in diplomacy?). They also spent some time on the boat which was a favourite (more on that later). We went swimming and read books and just spent our days enjoying the smells and sounds of the lake.

Walking to the south bay with Grandpa

The water is very clear so hanging at the dock was never boring.

Hammering home an important point with that finger...

2009-08-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

S'mores by the fire

Grandpa's Girl

Reading with Grandma

Don't Get Me, James!

2009-08-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

That is what Sasha would say to James when she'd see him. And she'd keep repeating herself until he'd chase her around, as requested (in a roundabout way). If James was at work, Sasha would talk about whether or not James would 'get her' when he saw her. Now that we're back home, she laments the fact that James can't get her because she is, "...too far away." Sigh.

I love this picture:

After all that exertion, time to relax.

2009-08-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have noticed a real gap in posts at the end of June. That's because the kids & I went to Saskatoon to surprise my Mom for her birthday. The next few posts will be from that trip, where we spent a week in the city and then spent the last bit up north at the lake.

One of the things my Mom had been wanting to do with the kids was take them on a city bus. So, we organized ourselves one afternoon and made a plan. It was to go like this: once the kids woke from their nap, Mom & I would get them ready and catch the bus (likely the 4 o'clock bus which shouldn't be too busy). It would take us downtown to the terminal where we would transfer to another bus. The second bus would take us past Earl's Restaurant, where we would disembark and meet my Dad who would, hopefully, have been able to get a table already. After supper, we'd all get in the car & go to Kinsmen Park to ride the rides.

This is how it went down:
We were on schedule for the 4 o'clock bus so, setting out, we had the bouncy gait of those whose confidence in their grip on the world is unassailable. We arrived at the stop with time to spare but that was no problem because it was a nice grassy stop, shaded by trees. We waited. And waited. And waited. We checked our watches, waited some more and began to get nervous since our window to get the second bus was narrow. Meanwhile, Sasha and Owen were starting to think that the whole "bus" thing was a ruse.

Mercifully, a bus appeared about ten minutes later than promised, but all was forgiven as we climbed the steps and let the kids drop in our coins. I turned to see which of the myriad of seats my Mom, who was with Owen, had chosen and was taken aback to see that it was packed. The bus lurched back into the road and I lurched to the back with Sasha under my arm like a football (there was no way she was going to be able to make the trip on her own, talented as she is). My goal was the aisle seat in front of my Mom and, as I was descending, I noticed that the woman who had the window portion of the bench had also laid claim to a good bit of what was to be my share. In the past, I would have perched on what was left so that our sides would touch no more than was necessary. Back then, though, I didn't have a kid with me and I didn't pay $2.50 for a seat. So, I adjusted my angle of attack and came in with enough force to get most of my half of the seat back.

And there we sat for two stops until a lady vacated her seat ahead of us and my Mom & I could have an entire bench to ourselves. It would almost have been better to stay where we were because, with my Mom, I had lots of space to remember that the busses were not air conditioned and that it was quite hot outside. The ride to the terminal was fairly long - long enough to consider the fact that standards for personal hygiene were relative. Fortunately, my relative’s standards are excellent so I just aimed my nose in her direction.

We pulled into the terminal just as most of the busses were pulling out. The driver had made some time up on route, but it wasn’t enough. We gathered the kids and flew across the street (okay, I felt like I was flying, but I probably looked like I was chugging, with the sound being less of an explosive one and more of a groaning/gasping one) and just barely made it onto the second bus before it, too, resumed its route.

The second trip was really short. Too short to catch our breaths or stop sweating from the quick burst of effort at the terminal, so when we arrived at Earl’s a tad more disheveled than when we’d set out, it was a relief to see Dad was already at a table. It was an even bigger relief to see the bottle of wine arrive just as I was sitting down and saying, “I need a drink!” Yes, my Dad is that good.

We had a great supper together and wound the evening up at Kinsmen where we took one obligatory train ride followed by countless Merry-Go-Round (MGR) rides. I tell you, if I had a nickel for every time I went once around on a MGR, I’d be writing this from a grassy-topped cabin on the Næroyfjord in Norway. But I digress...

At the bus stop.

At Earl's enjoying cool Shirley Temples.

2009-08-02T09:47:00.000-07:00

Riding the train and Merry-Go-Round at Kinsmen Park.

2009-07-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

"It was a hoot!"

"...awesomely funny!"

"What a waterfall!!!"

These were just a few of the the things overhead by passers-by today at Wilbur's Farm. Sasha, Owen and I decided to brave the heat and go to this farm here in town. It had dinosaurs, a petting farm with lambs and kids (the goat kind, apparently there are labour laws protecting the other kind of kid...who knew?), horse rides and a log flume ride.

We started off slow with the dinosaurs then wandered through the trees to the goats and sheep. Owen insisted that I hold him above the fray while Sasha waded right in (anyone surprised? no? didn't think so). Once I'd had enough of Sasha's poop reports ("oooh, Mama, he's poooping!" "why he not pooooping on da potty?" and "his pooop is little balls, Mama!"), we went to the horses where they each had a ride on a horse named Yeller. After I asked the handler what the horse's name was, the horse and I looked at each other. My glance said, "oooh, that name has got to suck," while Yeller's glance said, "Idiot reads one book and thinks he's clever..."

Once Owen's equine needs were satisfied, I took them to the log ride. I was a bit apprehensive because it's like a roller coaster on water. You start off going down this nice, meandering channel, then you're hauled up pretty high and zoom down into this pool. I had no idea how the kids would react so I described the ride for them and asked if they wanted to try. They were both game so we got into a log boat with Sasha in front, then Owen, then me and we were off. Bobbing on our way was pretty enjoyable and I kept coaching them to hang on. Then we got hauled up, and tossed into what felt like free flight for a second or two. When we glided into the pool, we all got a bit wet which, in 30 plus degrees felt pretty darn good.

It turns out the kids absolutely loved it so we rode it three more times before we had to get home for naptime. The amazing thing is that Owen insisted on riding in front because that way, he could drive the boat.

As we were walking back to the car, Owen and Sasha were talking about how they thought their Papa would like the log ride and how he'd be so scared that he'd scream. I added that Papa might even be so scared that he'd ask Owen to hold him, to which Owen replied, "Nooo, I don't think so. Papa's too big for me."

Visiting an old horse

Pssst! Little giiirl...

If you are Grandma or Mamie, DO NOT READ.

This was lunch...lemonade and granola. Not one of my finer mothering moments.

The log ride. This is obviously not us because I was too busy hanging on to take pictures...

Sasha survived the trip home. Owen didn't make it.

Way Back When

2009-07-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

This was taken right after a feeding session, when Sasha & Owen were almost 4 months old. They were lying on a special pillow for breast feeding twins and were comparing notes, it seems.

Mmmm...soup and a show...

2009-06-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

...could life get any better? Maybe if there were chocolate soup, otherwise, no.

Not Long Ago...

2009-06-20T07:56:00.000-07:00

...bliss found its way to 10844. Everyone was happy and everything was good.

Evening Entertainment

2009-06-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

A ritual has developed wherein Mike and Owen goof around after supper. I was upstairs with Sasha (who'd drawn herself a bath) and came down to find the two arm wrestling. At first it looked like Owen was in trouble, but he held in there and was triumphant in the end. Mike took the defeat in stride, poor fellow. It's hard to be usurped.

Sasha, Trying on a Few New Looks

2009-06-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

New Feature

2009-06-11T08:18:00.001-07:00

Starting this week, I will be posting old photos once a week. I now get a kick out of looking at their old pictures (a new phenomenon, I used to just get a tight feeling in the pit of my stomach because those days were still too fresh in my mind) and I thought you guys might as well. I need a posting title though ('The Vault' is too widely used) so if anyone has any ideas, the suggestion box is open.

In the meantime, this was taken in the hospital on either their first or second day. We didn't pose them, they did this themselves. Sasha's on the left, Owen's on the right.

This was taken around Christmas 2006 so the Babes were about 2ish months old. At this point, most of the pictures of Owen show a boy who seems to be wondering how he got there.

Pool Party

2009-06-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, before the rain swept in, we went to our friend Blair's house for a dip in her pool.

Black Bart

2009-06-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

Owen, still high from this past weekend, is wearing my boots around the house. I may have to break down in the fall & get him a pair that fit.

P.S. For those of you who are shocked that I own a pair of cowboy boots, they're from my sister's wedding, which had a cowboy theme. Beats orange taffeta.

A Dream Comes True

2009-06-06T18:50:00.000-07:00

Today, we drove to a ranch north of town so that S&O could ride some ponies. I quite liked the set-up because we were able to lead the ponies ourselves around some fields which totally beats those carnival rides where the poor beasts just go 'round in circles. Plus it is the ponies' home so they didn't have to be carted about.
We had Paddy and Schroder and they were quite good to our kids (they were rewarded afterward with carrots). As you can see, Owen wore his cowboy hat very proudly. He was completely at home on Paddy while Sasha had a great time with Schroder. They rode for almost an hour and, as we were leaving, Owen announced that he would be returning next weekend.

Ridin' the Range

2009-06-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

Sasha Baryshnikos

2009-06-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today, I asked Sasha to show me some of her dance moves and she obliged. I think that those of you who saw me at my peak will agree that she has both my talent and my flair for choreography.

She's Definitely Mine

2009-06-04T08:28:00.000-07:00

I see many similarities between Sasha and myself, particularly when she's going after a bowl of chocolate ice cream.

Pancakes for Breakfast!

2009-06-03T07:33:00.001-07:00

Whenever I make pankcakes, I make a horse for Owen and either a bear or cat for Sasha. I am getting pretty good at it if I may say so myself.

Organic Gardening

2009-06-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

Well, nearly. I was able to convince them to keep their shirts on.

SqueakSquad

2009-05-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

During their visit SqueakSquad members, Marg and H, worked their magic on Sasha and Owen. "After a SqueakSquad treatment, I feel like I could take on anything!" opined Owen. "Yes," added Sasha, "Mom does a pretty good job, but she can't make us squeak like the SqueakSquad does."

From our trip to Napa back in April

2009-05-31T16:59:00.000-07:00

The nice thing about staying in a condo is that you can cook your own meals...

Owen and his Papa

2009-05-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Owen thinks that his Papa is totally cool. When he comes back from work, Owen runs to see him hollering, "Hi Papa!" (or sometimes, "Hi, Mike!"). Owen waves to him whenever Mike leaves and seems to prefer sitting beside him at meals. As soon as Mike settles in after coming home, Owen will approach him and invite him to play by saying, "I bet you can't catch Owen, Papa." Mike, of course, takes up the challenge and off they go.

Riding on the tractor (Owen has hearing protection, don't worry).

Recovering from riding on the tractor.

Mike & his kids.

Gymnastics

2009-05-28T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sasha, Owen, Blair and I go to gymnastics on Tuesdays. When we first started, Owen refused to do the warm-up activities and was only interested in the circuits we do where actual skills are practiced. Sasha was willing to do most everything, provided her wild energy could be harnessed (Blair & I take turns with her according to who feels most up to the task). After a few weeks, though, Owen relaxed and started doing everything. I dare say they look forward to Tuesdays.

Things Don't Always Go Smoothly

2009-05-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Sasha generally has a pretty good grip on life. However, every now and then things just don't work for the girl. Like the time she tried to dress herself and the time she stuck a bubble blower (with foam fan) in her hair (for the second time).
*note: when not being forced into functioning as a tube skirt, these are shorts.

Suffering at Tahoe

2009-05-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some more hot tub pictures from our stay at Tahoe. The hot tub had a built in disc player so we put in a compilation of S&O's favorite music, including such hits as 'Hot Dog' and 'Quack, Quack, Quack, Donald Duck", and rocked our way through the afternoon. When it was time to get out, the disc player clearly agreed with S&O's taste in music because it would neither stop playing nor turn off. So the neighbourhood got to hear it a few more times until we solved the problem by locating the circuit breaker.

Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggety Dog!