Saturday, January 2, 2016

To the zoo with you

 Daniel wanted to go to the zoo for his birthday. I tried convince him to pick something cheaper, but really, his heart was at the zoo. He misses the days when we had a membership there! It was a foggy morning, but we knew it'd clear up and be pretty good.
 The tiger was first one of the first on the list. As usual, he is pacing about on his well worn path.
It is amazing, of the the very few animals from the animal kingdom that are at the zoo, what a lot of variety, what different abilities, colours, diets, habits.





 We attempted a photo shoot. It is not an easy thing to get everyone to look. And smiling when eating? Nope, that's too much to ask.

The baby gorilla was showing off to us, tossing a blanket around and had the youngest kids giggling like mad!
 We saw the penguins get fed. They didn't swim for us though.
 Lunch break. Despite it being November, it was warm enough to eat outside. A touch chilly when the breeze blew, but otherwise, just lovely!

 Climbing on the zoo's vehicles is perhaps more exciting than actually checking out the animals.
 Where is the rhinoceros?
 Zebras and zebra cars. Which get more attention? ;)
 The giraffes were inside. Pacing. I see why some people thing zoos are cruel. It does seem a boring existence.


 After we went through the last section Jennifer's feet were sore. Evelyn was tired. So Nathan and I carried a kid each, and we made it back to the van. I was happy to get away without using the stroller. It was lovely!

A warm day in November

 No jackets necessary.
 We're bored Mom. (Wishing for snow!)
 These duos have found things to do.
Catch!

Monday, December 21, 2015

Photo shoot

My Mom wanted pics of the kids...so I tried...some were harder to choose from the selection, and some were obvious winners. And I figures I should show up on my blog too, just for a change. ;)













Thursday, December 10, 2015

Just a dusting, and that was all

We still feel like fall here in our part of Ontario. Foggy weather. Occasional drizzles. It'll come...and we are ready and waiting!

We enjoyed the little that we got. It melted quickly on the stone, but if you went to the picnic tables and the sandbox edges, you could scrape together a ball!
 My mitten is falling off! My thumb is not in!
 Nathan managed to get quite the snowball!
Matthew scraped together some too, it kept okay on the wood.
 Daniel is all set to go out!
Jennifer enjoyed the snow too...and thought it looked very tasty!
On the subject of tasty...I found someone munching ice from the puddle on the driveway one freezing day, and I tried to calmly explain that that was not okay. YUCK!

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Talent evening

 After a talent evening at church where all we did was watch, the kids put on their own show.
 Some of it was serious and well done. Some of it was made up on the spot.
 And some of it was silly.
Including the audience!

Waiting for Breakfast

 Once upon a Saturday morning, after all the kiddoes were showered and clean...we had to wait for breakfast to be ready before we could eat. This is a very regular Saturday morning occurrence, as Daddy makes fried eggs for the family. What to do while Mom sets the table and that heavy cast iron pan takes "forever" to get hot?
 Nathan hangs around asking questions while helping set the table, or lend a hand in any other way he sees is needed.
 Matthew checks on breakfast. Is it ready yet? We're hungry.
 Melanie pays no attention to how much time passes, for she is in a different land in a different time, and has forgotten all about us and any hunger she may have had.
 Anything else we need on the table? Napkins....ok...
 Jennifer has finished hanging up her picture on the billboard
 while Matthew wonders if he can see a goofy face of his on the camera if I catch one by accident.
 Daniel and Evelyn are playing house together, Daniel being the owner, Evelyn the dog.
Evelyn pauses to be annoyed that I don't let her see what pictures I am taking
 but since she is just ignored, she goes off trotting with Daniel, as that's what he orders.
 Jennifer pauses to tell me about what she has hung and where and how she made it and why she made it that why and what colours she used...and I try to listen a while, but unfortuntately, get distracted.
 Is my breakfast ready yet?

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Wise and not so wise comments from the youth.

Jennifer:
"If it is then it is, and if it's not then it's not. If it'd medium, then it's medium."

Daniel, quoting AA Milne:
"Roo-dear"
"ruder."
"ha haha" (evilly)

Evelyn:
"You're my mommy, I'm your daughter. And Daddy is my daddy. And I am yours."