living like a local: a fun-packed summer post :)

back yard fun

a new grill!

our big bunnies :)

we made oobleck this afternoon - so fun!

Over the course of the last few days there have been several moments I wish were caught on camera, including:

1. The kids trying to out-wedgie each other (yes really). They were giving themselves massive wedgies and then keeling over from laughter, and Alana actually gave herself such a huge wedgie that she fell down. For. Real.
2. Hendrik and Alana playing Captain Underpants on the trampoline IN their underpants.

I did capture the following moment on camera - the two olders sitting down quietly at their desk to colour/do workbooks/craft after lunch on Monday:

I'm trying to get in 30-45 minutes of reading (or blogging) after lunch and so far so good. There has been some mild pushback, but they both seem happy to be making comics (Hendrik - titled "The Mysterious Fart") and colouring (Alana, with the Spirograph).

And I can't believe it's August! Only a few more weeks (3) until the reality of a new routine will set in. I think I'll switch modes here and recap life with individualized blurbs:

Jordan
This little was under the weather last week and with multiple night wake-ups and an early start to the day (we're talking 5:30ish), nobody woke up feeling rested. Thankfully he's feeling better, and is back to more of a predictable routine - waking around 7:00 and sleeping for a few hours in the afternoon. He is in serious destructor mode these days, going for anything that is in order with a mission to make mess make work and make chaos. The tupperware cupboard, the pantry, the fridge, the books, the drawers full of clothes - anything goes. He also LOVES the dishwasher - he hears it open and he appears instantly. The cutlery is the main draw, and he is a help when it's clean (but will also remove dirty cutlery, no problemo). He's big into cats and dogs, loves eating toast, cheese, and rice krispies, and likes being chased, biting people, and giving high fives. He also likes feeding himself, exploring outside, hunting for soothers in his room, and cuddling with the big tiger Auntie Claire and Auntie Karin brought for Hendrik when he was born. There must be more but I'm on to the next one...

alana got glasses last week but the prescription is super mild so she doesn't wear them much. cutie!

Alana
This one is excited to go back to school, and I'm hoping that the absence of a few of her besties won't make it any less exciting. She LOVES swimming, and will jump at any chance to head to the pool where she is happy to roam around on her own. Steve took her for an after dinner swim on Monday night and she wanted to DIVE off the diving board... because it hurts her tummy when she jumps in. She has this cute jump-in technique that is almost belly flop - but not quite... so she'll likely be learning to dive and/or jump in feet first in the next few weeks. She's been getting up early and going to bed late, so is quick to tears when something doesn't go her way. I think it's also a stage, and as with Hendrik we have to remind ourselves that she's still little, even though she's big. She's been a night wanderer - coming into our bed in the middle of the night, displacing Steve or me back to her digs as it's too hot and crowded for the three of us in our queen-sized bed. She's super proud of her newfound ability to do the monkey bars, and parks with the bars are near the top of her to-do list. Going to Thames Pool is favourite activity for all, as it means we can swim and then play at the amazing playground. She's learning how to read some basic books, and loves Fancy Nancy, anything Frozen, Barbie books, wearing dresses, eating ice cream, and provoking her big brother. Her birthday is coming up so we need to start thinking of gifts... Dresses, maybe a transformer, the Frozen movie - these are my current ideas. Onto the next one!

doing water fireworks with oil, water and food colouring...

Hendrik
Just now, while making his Mysterious Fart comic, he said, "I love farts. And I love fart comics. Maybe my comics will be in the library one day... I want to be an author when I grow up so I can write silly books." How much do I love this? Minus the fart focus (but really, whatever). When I was little I wanted to be an author too, and I love how much he loves reading and creating. He is usually quite eager to swim, but with his dead-dying toenail he's been reluctant because it feels weird; I'm hoping it'll just come off already so he can get on with summer water fun. We went to Port Stanley on Sunday - where it was hot hot hot and busy - and he spent most of our time there under the umbrella putting sand in the cooler and reading his joke book. He has a few more weeks of soccer (it will be HOT tonight) and I can't get much info out of him as per what he wants to do in the fall (I'm thinking two activities - swimming + ?). He is getting more and more comfortable on his bike (no more training wheels) and loves taking the biggish hill down to the local park (Doidge). Again, there must be more but I'm drawing a blank.

The Bigs (Me and Steve)
Look at what Steve got to do at work this morning:

I still need to get the scoop - but how cool! Hendrik lost his glasses twice this morning (which almost never happens) so I was looking for specs while Mr. was - what do you even call this?! Anyways, he's enjoying work despite the heat, and is happy to come home to super soakers and kids that are eager to soak dad with buckets of kiddie pool water. It looks like he may have to put his work world on hold for a while come September because I got a full time job as a school librarian at a french immersion school with the Catholic board (it was a job that just sort of happened - not one that I went after per se). So big changes are coming for everyone, and to be honest I have mixed feelings: leaving Jordan, spending less time with the kids... I think these are the big ones. And as with any new job or opportunity, I feel both excited and nervous, but it's good for me - I'll get to see if this is work I enjoy, and my schedule fits with that of the kids (summers off, Christmas holidays, spring break etc.). I have a triathlon (a short one - Iron Girl) coming up in (gulp) 11 days, and I need to NEED to get a few swims in before then as I haven't been working out much at all. Steve is headed west that weekend for a wedding, so Grandma and Gramps are going to come and hang out with the kids. Here are a few more photos - stay tuned for more... Hope all you readers are having a fantastic summer!