Summer Fun

Well, the kids are officially on the first day of summer holidays! 

Thanks to some inspiration on Pinterest, and our desire to try and accomplish things this summer - I made my own version of Things-to-do-With-Kids-in-the-Summer. I tried to make it somewhat realistic, since the Mr. and I are lucky enough to have to work pretty much all summer. Blech.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and now I just have to raid my stash of glass fronted frames, matte it, and hang it on the wall. This way we can cross activities off as we do them (just like a dry erase board).

Bison's "Switzerland"

While enjoying this awesome track from Bison (who has a free downloadable album on Noisetrade here by the way) I heard this quotable quote from my Mr...

"I've been a big fan of banjo music ever since I ever saw Kermit the Frog play one on the big screen." ~The Mr.

Overheard From the Back of the Van

Mikah:   Lukas, what if those eggs in our classroom don't turn into 
               chicks.
Lukas:   Yeah. Like, what if they are actually alligators or crocodiles...
Mikah:   That wouldn't be good.
Lukas:   Nope. Not good...
Mikah:   But... maybe really cool.
Lukas:   Yeah. But maybe one of them will be a dinosaur, or a baby 
               helicopter. That would be REALLY cool!


Sigh. So smart and yet...

Overheard From the Back of the Van

The Mr had this experience with Mikah and Lukas yesterday when he picked them up from the babysitter.

He told me that they had made it the usual block before the fighting started. I guess that Lukas took off one of his boots and started hitting Mikah with it. For some reason Mikah took offence to this and he started kicking Lukas. Lukas started crying. Mikah saw that Lukas was distracted, so he grabbed the boot Lukas was using.

By this point both boys were wailing, and the Mr said he figured the boys should have to work some of this stuff out for themselves and this was a good opportunity to let them try (plus we get damn tired of refereeing). It's a good thing that he kept quiet or else this conversation might not have taken place.

Lukas:    Give me my boot back!
Mikah:    You have to say your sorry and apologize.
Lukas (says in a monotone voice):    Fine. I'm. sorry.
Mikah:   That's not sorry enough.
Lukas (sighs, and says in an extremely exasperated tone)    I'm sorry and I love you?
Mikah:    More sorry.
Lukas:   I'm sorry, and I love you, and you're beautiful?


~there is silence for a moment~

Mikah:   ... did you mean awesome?
Lukas:    yeah... awesome.
Mikah:   Okay.


This seemed to be acceptable and Mikah gave Lukas back his boot. A minute later the hitting, kicking and crying recommenced. Don't feel sorry for the Mr though, he laughed the rest of the way home.

Happy Birthday Lukas

Lukas,


Today you, my last baby, turned four years old! Where, oh where did the time go? I think I'm feeling a bit melancholy about this birthday because I know what big changes happen between years 4 and 5. At three, you were still a toddler, true the outer edge of toddlerhood, but your poor mama could grasp onto that whenever I needed to feel that you weren't growing up so fast. But, I know that you are itching to keep up to your brothers and so I must let you go.


You have been so excited about this birthday and you have been counting down since January 2nd. For the last week you have been telling everyone you meet that, "it's soon going to be my birthday and I'm goin to be four!" You even picked out the cake that you wanted me to bake for you. I'm glad that it was the first thing on your mind this morning, and that my version of your vision measured up. You wanted cake for breakfast, cake for a school snack, and cake for supper. And upon reflection, it probably wouldn't have killed me to grant your wish this one time.


I'm glad that you had a great day and that your presents and little family party were such a big hit. I'm looking forward, with slight trepidation, to see what you will build with your tools in the following year. I'm also nervously excited for your dare-devil antics on your new 2 wheel bike. Hmm... I think I had better stock up on superhero bandaids next time I'm at Costco...


Love you little man.


Mama

Now We're in Trouble

Someone (we won't mention Grandma and Grandpa O here) just gave mister Lukas a tool kit for his fourth birthday. A real Stanley tool kit. So far, he has taken apart and put back together...

• the level that came in the kit
• the tape measure that came in the kit
• a old hard drive
• a toy robot
• and he fixed broken 'stuffs' in the fort outside

Oh, and he's measured stuff. Lots of stuff. He has been one happy little boy this afternoon!

Stay That Way

Toronto band Three Metre Day