Random summer photos

Random summer photos

The boys having fun on the playground.

The boys having fun on the playground.

First bike trip with James. Biked up Wellington to Seven Eleven for a Slurpee.

First bike trip with James. Biked up Wellington to Seven Eleven for a Slurpee.

Getting ready to watch some Women’s World Cup!

Getting ready to watch some Women’s World Cup!

Liam started walking last weekend and went from one to two steps to doing laps around our house in a day.

Liam started walking last weekend and went from one to two steps to doing laps around our house in a day. Similarly, James tried riding his bike the other day and figured it out on his first try, and now he's been using pretty much all his free time driving up and down the block. Nate, much as I predicted, gave up his two plus years of excuses for why he couldn't / didn't want to ride a bike the moment he realized his brother had mastered it while he was still on training wheels, and figured it out the same day...

So the neighbours' daughter decided to run a lemonade stand yesterday, and it drew a steady stream of kids (whenever...

So the neighbours' daughter decided to run a lemonade stand yesterday, and it drew a steady stream of kids (whenever I looked out the window I never saw fewer than 4 or 5 kids milling about). She ran it from noon all the way until 6 o'clock, at which point she had to leave for supper and handed the reigns over to the girls from across the street. The girls from across the street successfully ran it for the next 15-20 minutes until they were called back inside, at which point they hand over the reigns the neighbourhood boys. One minute later the boys had chugged down the remaining stock (one almost full pitcher) and were running around the front lawn giggling and sugar buzzed.

James dresses himself for church!

James dresses himself for church!

Table for 1201 Event.

Table for 1201 Event.

Worked hard over the weekend to get our front yard clean.

Worked hard over the weekend to get our front yard clean. Nate was a legitimate help and raked with me the whole time pulling my smaller piles out of the way into a big one. Was quite proud that our yard no longer looked like it had just housed a hillbilly convention. Got home today to discover our boys had been there industrious selves and started staking sticks into the middle of our front yard to make a makeshift fence...

Waffle Iron Hacks:

Waffle Iron Hacks:

It's been a family tradition for quite a while to do home-made waffles every Sunday. However, the last two Sundays we've started extending the tradition by making lunch with the waffle iron as well. Last Sunday we used it to press grill cheese sandwiches to go with our tomato soup (worked pretty well). This Sunday we used for "make your own" "quesadillas". It worked fantastic and was great for getting rid of leftovers.

It's starting to feel like spring.

It's starting to feel like spring.

We brought a ringer.

We brought a ringer.

"Throw Pillows": file under poorly named items for households with boys.

"Throw Pillows": file under poorly named items for households with boys.

See also "Chicken Drumsticks"

James this morning, "This bacon tastes like candy canes!"

James this morning, "This bacon tastes like candy canes!"
(James often makes taste comparisons based on how much he likes something, not on how similar they taste.)

Liam's first swing and enjoying the nice weather.

Liam's first swing and enjoying the nice weather.

Liam following the cheerio path his brothers created for him.

Liam following the cheerio path his brothers created for him.

Yesterday we had veggie burgers.

Yesterday we had veggie burgers.

I ate one and a half and felt full (I only ate the extra half because it tasted so good, they were really filling).
Sara ate one and a quarter.
Nate ate a quarter of one.
James ate a quarter of one.
Liam ate one and a half and we cut him off...

You know you're getting old / don't go out for movies much when you instinctively reach for the remote to turn the...

You know you're getting old / don't go out for movies much when you instinctively reach for the remote to turn the volume down when the trailers start...

Any guesses how many meals it took this guy to polish of this casserole dish all by himself?

Any guesses how many meals it took this guy to polish of this casserole dish all by himself?

James was on a bit of a roll at lunch. Some quotes:

James was on a bit of a roll at lunch. Some quotes:

James, "I can't hear God. He needs to yell if he wants me to listen."

Later,talking about where to have quiet time, Nate, "I don't want to be in the basement by myself, I'm too scared."
James, "I'm not too scared! I'm one scared!"

Later yet, me, "James, behave!"
James, "I don't know how to 'have'."

Last Saturday it was cold (-38 with wind chill), but it had just snowed so I was going out to shovel and the boys...

Last Saturday it was cold (-38 with wind chill), but it had just snowed so I was going out to shovel and the boys were getting dressed to "help" me. James comes out of his room wearing shorts.

Me, "James, why are you in shorts, put some pants on."
James, "Why?!"
Me, "Because it's winter and it's cold outside."
James, "Well, if we go outside we have to wear snow pants anyways..."
Hmmm, he has a pooint.

A couple photos from the holidays, all shot in abysmal lighting conditions.

A couple photos from the holidays, all shot in abysmal lighting conditions.

Sara, "James, do you know why you're in time out?"

Sara, "James, do you know why you're in time out?"
James, "My heart says, what?"
Sara, "You're in time out because you hit mom."
James, "My heart can't hear you because it's inside my body."

I was at the pool with the boys yesterday, and James had wandered off along the side of the pool to get a better...

I was at the pool with the boys yesterday, and James had wandered off along the side of the pool to get a better look at what Nate was doing. After a bit he turned around and started running towards me. The pool being noisy, I didn't want to yell, so I put my hand up palm out in the universally acknowledged symbol for stop. James looked up as he was running, first at the hand and then into my eyes, slowing slightly as obvious recognition flickered across his face. Good, I thought, that was easy, I'm an amazing parent with incredibly well trained children. That's when I realized, he was now smiling with a look of determination on his face and running even faster. I was about to yell something but by that time he had closed the distance and was high fiving me...

I guess we still need to perfect our hand signals. On a semi-related note, James has perfected the sarcastic thumbs up. Which he sometimes pulls out when I do things like drop food on the floor while feeding Liam.

Guard mouse Halloween costumes.

Guard mouse Halloween costumes.

James, our 3 year old, has been to Tinker Town (local amusement park) exactly once in his life, yet it's obviously...

James, our 3 year old, has been to Tinker Town (local amusement park) exactly once in his life, yet it's obviously left a big impression.

For example, this morning, "My stomach is saying it's hungry for jam toast... and that it wants to go to Tinker Town", even though it's been month's since he's been.

Another common one, if he's sick or been injured, "I need to go to Tinker Town to make me all better."