I just read "Best Friends, Worst Enemies: The Social Lives of Children" by Michael Thompson & Catherine O'Neill Grace. It was excellent - in fact I was up until 3:00 one morning reading it! I got it from the library last spring and just got around to reading it but I should have read it earlier. It talks about group dynamics and how they affect children and how friendship is different from popularity. Basically it says that if your children has at least one good friend they will manage to get through school okay. Very reassuring! He has 10 points for parents, one of which is "Recognize the crucial difference between friendship and popularity. Friendship is more important."
Nana left this morning and we are on the last week of summer vacation. We're going to spend it doing something each child wants to do this week. Today I think we're going to the zoo since that is Delaney's choice and it is looking pretty nice out. I think the kids are ready to go back now and I'm ready to buckle down and get some work done.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Lots of chocolate cake...
So the birthday celebrations are over and we've almost recovered from having 5 9-year old boys sleep over. I think they had a good time. The goodie bags we made were a hit. They were a cauldron from Dollarama and Nana glued the Hogwart's crest on them. Sean and I colored chopsticks black and glued erasers on the ends to make wands. I put some candy, a Neopet and an erasable board (Dollarama again) in them all wrapped in plastic wrap. I wasn't sure if the kids were beyond those kind of theme goodie bags, but they thought they were pretty good. I think I'm going to go back to Dollarama and pick up supplies for Connor and Delaney's birthdays while they have all the Halloween stuff out. It is much easier!
We went to Gimli yesterday. The annual "Biking to the Viking" for MS was on. I'd love to do that with Connor next year! I'm sure he could do it if we rode the double bike (and got some practice in ahead of time), but you each have to raise $250 in pledges, which is a lot of money. If we could get a tandem bike (or borrow another ride-along), Sean and Aidan could do it too, but then we'd have to raise $1000 altogether!! Yikes!!!
Nana is thinking of renting a cottage at Gimli next summer. She likes it, it reminds her of Port Elgin where they go in Ontario. We walked the beach a bit and found a ton of stones. Then we went for lunch at a place on 1st Street with a verandah out front with tables. I can't remember the name, but the adult all had pickerel and chips and it was delicious! I don't think I've ever had fish that good.
It's been a busy, busy week. The house is painted (and doesn't quite match the eavestroughs even now), the fence is up, kids' hair is cut, Sean's and Delaney's eyes are checked and the birthdays are over. Now we're on our last week of summer vacation and then back to school! I still have to find music lessons for the kids - it is not turning out to be as easy as it was last year. Maybe I should have gone back to Yamaha...
Must go, Connor, (aka Mr. Moneybags) wants me to go count his money with him. He's almost got $100 and is saving for something - we don't know what! I think he is just into saving money right now, maybe I should call him Connor McDuck!
We went to Gimli yesterday. The annual "Biking to the Viking" for MS was on. I'd love to do that with Connor next year! I'm sure he could do it if we rode the double bike (and got some practice in ahead of time), but you each have to raise $250 in pledges, which is a lot of money. If we could get a tandem bike (or borrow another ride-along), Sean and Aidan could do it too, but then we'd have to raise $1000 altogether!! Yikes!!!
Nana is thinking of renting a cottage at Gimli next summer. She likes it, it reminds her of Port Elgin where they go in Ontario. We walked the beach a bit and found a ton of stones. Then we went for lunch at a place on 1st Street with a verandah out front with tables. I can't remember the name, but the adult all had pickerel and chips and it was delicious! I don't think I've ever had fish that good.
It's been a busy, busy week. The house is painted (and doesn't quite match the eavestroughs even now), the fence is up, kids' hair is cut, Sean's and Delaney's eyes are checked and the birthdays are over. Now we're on our last week of summer vacation and then back to school! I still have to find music lessons for the kids - it is not turning out to be as easy as it was last year. Maybe I should have gone back to Yamaha...
Must go, Connor, (aka Mr. Moneybags) wants me to go count his money with him. He's almost got $100 and is saving for something - we don't know what! I think he is just into saving money right now, maybe I should call him Connor McDuck!
Monday, August 22, 2005
Nana's here! And, Happy Birthday Aidan!
After a long delay at the airport in Hamilton - I guess there were thunderstorms and hurricanes in the area so the flight was held up for over 2 hours. Better safe than sorry, but the kids were so anxious for her to get here!
The next day was my birthday and Nana brought me a wonderful bath set, Sean gave me a shopping spree (which I actually did on Friday and told him he could give me for my birthday), the kids made cards and my mom gave me some money that I'm going to use on new shoes. It was a great day. Nana brought the kids each a game and we spent a lot of the day playing. Aidan's is called "Maya Madness" and is a math-type of game, we all really enjoyed playing it! Delaney has a ballerina card-game and Connor got a Q&A game about monsters. Lots of fun for everybody. We went out for supper and I ate too much and felt discgusting afterwards, but that's what birthdays are for! The nieghbours also came and hauled me over for a drink just before we were going out, so that didn't help...
Today is Aidan's 9th birthday! I remember EXACTLY what I was doing 9 years ago today - he was born exactly 45 minutes from now, so I could tell you exactly what I was doing this time 9 years ago, but you wouldn't want to know ;) We're going out to Boston Pizza tonight and then having cake (which Nana made and which is now baking and smelling heavenly) and presents. I think he'll be a pretty happy guy. His friend birthday party is on Thursday and we're having 5 other boys sleep over - I hope some of us get some sleep!
We went to see the Bears on Broadway yesterday. They were a lot of fun but Delaney and Connor started their bickering and I started yelling at them. Then Connor decided to revert back to his 5-year old self and we had a battle royale. That hasn't happened for months and months. I think it's because he gets embarrassed when I yell at him in front of other people, so I guess I'm going to have to be careful about that. But, as I told him, if he doesn't want to get yelled at then he should change his behaviour... Oh well, I am the grown-up in the situation as I keep reminding myself although it is hard to behave that way sometimes.
Okay, we're caught up now!
The next day was my birthday and Nana brought me a wonderful bath set, Sean gave me a shopping spree (which I actually did on Friday and told him he could give me for my birthday), the kids made cards and my mom gave me some money that I'm going to use on new shoes. It was a great day. Nana brought the kids each a game and we spent a lot of the day playing. Aidan's is called "Maya Madness" and is a math-type of game, we all really enjoyed playing it! Delaney has a ballerina card-game and Connor got a Q&A game about monsters. Lots of fun for everybody. We went out for supper and I ate too much and felt discgusting afterwards, but that's what birthdays are for! The nieghbours also came and hauled me over for a drink just before we were going out, so that didn't help...
Today is Aidan's 9th birthday! I remember EXACTLY what I was doing 9 years ago today - he was born exactly 45 minutes from now, so I could tell you exactly what I was doing this time 9 years ago, but you wouldn't want to know ;) We're going out to Boston Pizza tonight and then having cake (which Nana made and which is now baking and smelling heavenly) and presents. I think he'll be a pretty happy guy. His friend birthday party is on Thursday and we're having 5 other boys sleep over - I hope some of us get some sleep!
We went to see the Bears on Broadway yesterday. They were a lot of fun but Delaney and Connor started their bickering and I started yelling at them. Then Connor decided to revert back to his 5-year old self and we had a battle royale. That hasn't happened for months and months. I think it's because he gets embarrassed when I yell at him in front of other people, so I guess I'm going to have to be careful about that. But, as I told him, if he doesn't want to get yelled at then he should change his behaviour... Oh well, I am the grown-up in the situation as I keep reminding myself although it is hard to behave that way sometimes.
Okay, we're caught up now!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Three more weeks of summer
I can't believe it has gone by that fast! It doesn't seem like we've done much. Summer used to last forever when I was a little kid. Then again, the school year did too. We're down to three weeks though, and that's it. We have only opened the rainy day bag once to pick an activity, and we haven't yet had to resort to the sunny day activity bag. Lots of days have been spent playing in the pool, we've taken 2 camping trips (the 3rd is this weekend) and we've spent almost a week at the lake. We went to four Folklorama pavillions (Greece, Czeck & Slovakia, El Salvador and Italy) and the kids liked Italy best. Why? The pizza of course! And they had a great show. Ends up that the woman I buy my organic food from's sister was one of the lead singers! Talent all over the place.
What else have we done? Mostly relaxed and hung out. We have some activities we want to do when Nana comes and probably some more hanging out. It has been a terrific summer (so far!). And we've booked our tickets to Hamilton for Christmas so the kids are already excited about that. It will be very nice, we haven't been in Hamilton for Christmas since before Delaney was born and we used to go every second year.
What else have we done? Mostly relaxed and hung out. We have some activities we want to do when Nana comes and probably some more hanging out. It has been a terrific summer (so far!). And we've booked our tickets to Hamilton for Christmas so the kids are already excited about that. It will be very nice, we haven't been in Hamilton for Christmas since before Delaney was born and we used to go every second year.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Parallel bars
Parallel bars
Originally uploaded by LisaOH.
Here's Connnor on the bars - his demonstration was great. Check Flickr for more pictures, but the ones I took during the performance turned out really dark (I have to get Sean to fix them). I was so excited I didn't wait for the flash!
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Camp
Connor and Delaney spent the last two weeks at camp, and Aidan went the first week. Friday was Connor's gymnastics show to demonstrate what they'd learned. He was chosen to demonstrate the pommel horse and was he ever good! He swung his legs around and did all the moves and then jumped off like a pro! It was terrific. The boys all did a dance at the end to "Wild Wild West" (not the version I know from the '80s though!) and it was great - I never knew he had such a sense of rhythm - he is really a performer. I would never have guessed. Delaney enjoyed her Montessori camp and the friends that she met. She spent a bit of time in the kindergarten classroom so that was pretty good. Aidan seemd to enjoy his camp, and he was really into raquetball so he and Sean are going to try to play a little bit this fall at the Y downtown.
I have to go register them today for swimming and other lessons at the Y. None of them want to take swimming, but I tell them they don't have a choice. I just feel more confident at the beach and stuff the more swimming lessons they have. I'm not doing it Saturday mornings again though, we need one morning off a week so I'm hoping to get them in right after school one afternoon. Both Connor and Delaney want to take gymnastics there, and I guess we'll see what Aidan decides to do.
So the kids are back home this week. I'm going to have to buckle down and get some work done, but they are quite happy to spend the mornings in their p.j.'s playing games and being quiet. It doesn't seem like we've had much quiet time at all since vacation started! We're going to the lake this weekend with friends and then camping next weekend. I still want to take them to the zoo and the IMAX and the Museum to see the gorillas - our summer is just flying by!
I have to go register them today for swimming and other lessons at the Y. None of them want to take swimming, but I tell them they don't have a choice. I just feel more confident at the beach and stuff the more swimming lessons they have. I'm not doing it Saturday mornings again though, we need one morning off a week so I'm hoping to get them in right after school one afternoon. Both Connor and Delaney want to take gymnastics there, and I guess we'll see what Aidan decides to do.
So the kids are back home this week. I'm going to have to buckle down and get some work done, but they are quite happy to spend the mornings in their p.j.'s playing games and being quiet. It doesn't seem like we've had much quiet time at all since vacation started! We're going to the lake this weekend with friends and then camping next weekend. I still want to take them to the zoo and the IMAX and the Museum to see the gorillas - our summer is just flying by!
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