Island Living June 27, 2007

We couldn’t have been more thrilled to be heading back out to the Island.
Mad Spent two years commuting the daily ferry to get to school. There was something about being removed from the city. It was almost like traveling back in time of our own childhoods of exploring and walking to school without the persistence of the city’s hustle and bustle.

The island is quiet and calm. The only sounds come from the nature that surrounds the school and a trip on the summer solstice is a perfect example.
We headed out for the summer celebrations and year end graduation. It was utterly amazing to see Mad and her friends so grown up. Mad was the size of Baz when she started and now she and her friends are real kids.

Surprisingly, only a fraction of the children that attend the school actually live on the island but the entire group is family all the same. Next year most of the kids of Mad’s group will disperse throughout the city with the promise of staying in touch. I’m sure we will all try our best.
God, they grow up fast.

Sticky June 25, 2007

Coming back from the local fair, Baz had his first taste of cotton candy. Probably being hereditary, as I LOVE the stuff, Baz began to look like a baby bird as his tongue began to match the colour of his blue eyes.

Once he was done, he kept his hands up for the remainder of the walk home. I knew they were sticky but I’m guessing he was pretty clear about it too since the first thing out of his mouth when we opened the door was:

“No touch the CAT.”

Ms. Violet Beauregarde June 20, 2007

She swears she didn’t know what happened or how the gum got there but as time went on, by bedtime she admitted to trying to store the gob of gum behind her ear.

My first instinct was to grab a pair of ice cubes and freeze the mess out. Mad, who has always been a bit scissor happy was wondering if we were going to cut it. But where it was, the amount, the length of her hair and the general challenge made me get the ice and hit the internet.

I was quite surprised by my discoveries; WD40, gasoline – what were these people thinking? I wouldn’t put that on my carpet let alone my child.
Then there was peanut butter. The successful results were praised for sparing locks world wide plus Mad hates peanut butter. Gum removal and an inaudible punishment in one.

After about 5 minutes of the ice doing absolutely nothing, I dug into the peanut butter.
Mad, of course asked again if she should get the scissors, but with a small glob and a little massage, a pull and a rinse with some dish soap it was all gone, only the aroma of peanuts remained…. for the rest of the day.

Thunderberry Milkshakes June 19, 2007

We knew it was coming, but the sudden dark clouds and ominous rumble still startled us to the window.
Mad was absorbing her afternoon television quota when I suggested baking the almighty Tollhouse. She surprisingly wouldn’t have any of it. Milkshakes she alerted. Strawberry milkshakes.
Did all the health food preaching finally get to her?

She pulled out the mixer and we tossed each of her cravings; soy milk, frozen mango chunks, fresh strawberries, raspberries and a blob of honey.

“This is so good I’m going to save some for when I’m a teenager.”

Muddy Mudskipper June 13, 2007

Ah to be a kid – and a kid out of the earshot of your naggy mother.

Baz, who has always been the good sleeper, was sleeping and Mad who has not, was out gardening – at our neighbours.
My flowers, of course, only get picked and delivered. My neighbour’s garden on the other hand, got a little pruning and deep root massage from my darling.

Working At The Car Wash, Yeah. June 6, 2007

Trying to keep your kids occupied and entertained, especially as the summer months are beginning to role in could be a bit of a chore. A wonderous thing happened as I was thinking up my next creative craft for the kids, my neighbour stopped by.
She came to let us know that  she and her husband were going to wash their car.
Great! I thought. Maybe they want to do ours too?

But as it turned out she was a little more creative than me.
Reminding me that something so simple, that needed to be done anyway was probably just as much fun, or more, for the kids.

Mad excitedly had an excuse to wear her pink wellies and new rain coat and ran to get into the wet fun.

Swan Gazing June 2, 2007

We are very fortunate to live right by the water. It steps us away from the bustle of the city and gives us no excuse to pass up a breezy evening stroll.

As it was, it seems we weren’t the only family down by the water. This time of year is just brimming with new life.
There is an abundance of nature, from pussy willows, robins eggs and signets.

All too often I get absorbed in elbows on the table, cleaning up messes and getting to school on time. Not only do we have this resource but using it as a reminder that just a trip to the park or a walk around the block, taking the time to walk slowly and look down is really fun for them… and me.

This parenting thing doesn’t have to be all work. I need to remember that.