Stair Master

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Keva is a stair master now. This video was taken when she embarked on her first solo journey up, up, up the stairs...

MOMENT: I Think I Can

Everyone surprised themselves on this mid-July evening when Keva conquered her first flight of stairs. She wasn't too sure she could go the whole way, but she did! We weren't sure we would (patiently) let her take the time to do the whole flight solo, but we did! Taking just over 8 minutes to complete, Keva now has a whole new view of the world...

Algonquin Park

"Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe."

- Henry David Thoreau

Our fearless family of four finally made it out on a canoe trip that involved portages. Two in fact. Each way. It was memorable and wonderful ... and yes, we'll consider doing it again sometime...

MOMENT: A Trip To Treasure

The Captain of our crew

'Sweetride' loaded with precious cargo

Daddy, the 'Sweetride' carrier...

Mommy, the baby (and gear) carrier...

...and Tavish who leads the way!

We meet up with our camping companions

Keva and Finlay holding hands

Keva loving the camping life

Tavish especially loving the campfire life

The portaging families that knew they could!

Algonquin Park provided the perfect half way point to meet up and adventure with Jessie, Paul and Finlay. We enjoyed our two night canoe trip together, rain and all. I know that we are already keen to book again for next year. Memories like these won't make themselves, you've got to get out there and make the moments count!

Tub Twins

Tub time usually involves both kids at the same time. However, one evening Tavish went out on an errand with Daddy so Keva had the tub to herself and Mommy had a free hand to take some shots. In looking back, I see that we also took a few photos of Tavish in the tub at about the same age. Tub twins below, Tavish at 13 1/2 and Keva at 14 months...

Tavish having a splash...

...at 14 months in the bath!

Keva keen at 13 1/2 months to get in...

...for a spacious and solo swim

Soccer Season

We signed Tavish up for the "Skills Development" soccer program for the summer. At the beginning, the frequent GO train service during his class stole the show (and his attention for about a minute every time a train went by). Eventually though, it became more of a norm for him and he kept his eye on the ball...

Our soccer son

Two of his three biggest fans

MOMENT: He Shoots, He Scores!

Listening...

...and learning

Putting it into practice...

...and staying hydrated

There was one coach that was so much fun that Tavish didn't even flinch at the trains: Coach Andy. He kept the kids moving and the adults chuckling ... honestly, 4 and 5 year olds running around when many are clueless is so very entertaining. Tavish learned a lot and became quite skilled with his shots on net!

Snuggle Up

After reading stories one night in early July, Tavish asked, as he often does with me, "want to have a snuggle?". I could never decline such a delicious offer. We always have the greatest chats and sweetest snuggles together in those moments. So, tonight when I nestled down onto his bed and into his outstretched arms Tavish says: "Let's stay here forever". Mommy melts.

MOMENT: But What If...?

"Mommy would love it if we could stay here like this forever". (smile, snuggle) "What would we do if we got hungry?", I asked. "I'd go make us a snack".... thus began one of the most delightful conversations we've ever shared. Here are some sweet snippets...

Mommy: What happens when we run out of food?
Tavish: I'll go to the grocery store to get more food for us.
Mommy: What about if we get lonely?
Tavish: I'll play with you, Mommy.
Mommy: Thirsty?
Tavish: I'd go get you a glass of water.
Mommy: What if we want to exercize?
Tavish: I will bring us lots of things to do and exercize with...
Mommy: What if we wanted to play?
Tavish: We would go outside and run around and do all sorts of things, then come back...

This kids got it all figured out...

Mommy: It sounds like you would take really good care of me.
Tavish: And Daddy and Keva too. All of us. Together.

Seriously, I couldn't make this stuff up. That was a snuggle that was hard to leave, although there was a lot of giggling as the conversation became even sillier and my pre-schooler grew sleepier.,.

Swimming Lessons

This summer, Tavish took his first swimming lesson since he was 6 months old. It was at our local outdoor swimming pool and involved a 30 minute lesson every week day for 2 weeks. The pool was lovely, although the water temperature was ... well, frigid. Tavish braved it as long as his purple lips and shivers allowed him on the first day. He was the last kid left in the pool before he too admitted frozen defeat. He stuck with it though, every day the water seemed a little warmer and every day he swam a little bit better...

Tavish in Preschool Swim 3 - Otter

 MOMENT: To Swim or Not to Swim. There is No Question

Stopping to smell the sunflower on our
warm up run home from his lesson

Level 3? Check!

He's naturally comfortable in the water and probably has strong genetics for swimming too (brag, brag), but it was time for a formal lesson from someone other than Mommy. It worked, his first time in swimming lessons and he completed the level and is moving onto the highest level for his age!

The Urban Pond

"Every child is born a naturalist. His eyes are, by nature, open to the glories of the stars, the beauty of the flowers, and the mystery of life."

- R. Search

It wasn't until I was in my 20s, that I discovered that there were amazing things to explore in the area where land and water meet. I was in awe of the living things I found and have enjoyed watching that excitement emerge with the young students I've worked with over the years along the edge of various ponds. I knew it was time to introduce Tavish to this whole new world of exploration...

MOMENT: Pond Life

"The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful"
- E. E. Cummings

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."
- Frank Lloyd Wright

"Wisdom begins in wonder."
Socrates

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
- William Shakespeare

Tavish rode his pedal bike while Keva and I hustled along behind to meet at the pond with some friends/colleagues. Tavish was eager and engaged the entire time. We found a dragon fly nymph, pond snails, and all of the stages along the life cycle of a frog (eggs, tadpole, metamorph, frog). He was in awe. When it was suggested that the other child was ready to go to the nearby splash pad, confused ,Tavish replied with a polite "why?". Another pond explorer is officially in the family.

The Little 'Do' That Grew

The rate of hair growth for Keva is impressive, especially in contrast to Tavish at the same age. Seems that after all of her teeth arrived, she turned her attention to hair growth. This brought about a new-do for Keva's lovely locks...

Tavish at 13 1/2 months

Keva at 14 months

Keva at 14 1/2 months

Keva at 15 months

Heavy Weight Pizza

Tavish and I made some seriously incredible gluten free and dairy free pizza. I know, I too did not think it existed, but we made it together today and it was tasty, really, really tasty...

MOMENT: Full Tummy

This pizza was so delicious that even Daddy thought it was incredible. Both fellas in the family ate the mushrooms without complaint too (perhaps it helped that Tavish cut them all with a 'real' knife for the first time?)! We polished off both pizzas. With the last bite in hand and with pizza sauce all over his face, Tavish says very seriously "I don't think you'll be able to pick me up tomorrow". I think we officially found the family heavy weight champion of pizza!

Parked

We checked out lots of new-to-us parks in the neighbourhood and beyond, often in the company of our new friends here in Toronto, Renee, Maks, and Seb. There were wading pools, splash pads, and playgrounds - oh my!

MOMENT: Explore and Play

Tandem

Solo adventurers ... but still together

Keva and Seb sitting in the shade

Tavish and Maks off exploring

Mommy's hands were often too full of snacks, strollers, or baby to take a diverse selection of photos, but the sentiment of summer time park-style is well represented in this short compilation...

The Shirt of Truth

I returned from Ottawa with a gift from my dear friend, Jessie. She knows me so well ...

"My Mom is Blogging This"

Home Town Advantage

We headed back to Ottawa for to visit with Tom's family. The kids and I extended the trip to be sure we could catch up with some of the wonderful friends we moved away from. It was so great to be on our home turf...

MOMENT: You Can Go Back

Summer fun in the sun

Taking in the taste of the season

There were many more visits and plenty of playing beyond what was captured digitally, but this gives a glimpse into our adventures with family at a water park, Keva making some new discoveries, and catching up with some old friends ...

A Dirty Solution

Logic is useful for solving problems. Sometime near the end of July, Tavish used some 4 year old logic to help him avoid an uncomfortable situation...

MOMENT: Say it Like it is

Tavish had a cut on his foot that was filthy with dirt and needed to be cleaned. When the moment of soap came during bath time, Tavish was panicked. Then, with an alternative plan all conjured up, his fear was replaced with calmness:

"Mommy, you know how when people die, they decompose and turn into dirt? Well, how about we just wait until then and the dirt in my foot can just go into the ground then to help plants grow?"

Hmm. Logical when you see it that way, I suppose, ... Don't worry, adult logic prevailed. Sure, we had to deal with an unhappy boy in the tub for a bit, but at least he was unhappily sporting a clean (and uninfected) cut on his foot.

Lifted and Locked

The kids and I took a little side trip up to Peterborough and learned all about the locks on a boat tour with some friends. Tavish was enamoured initially with the boat, but was truly dazzled by the manual locks, the swinging bridge, then the lift lock was really something. Whoa! Nothing like some fine engineering and a boat ride to keep the summer interesting...

Someone is excited to be on a big boat

Someone else is more than happy to be along for the ride too

The whole crew in a boat up high

MOMENT: A Waterway Well Traveled

Keeping an eye on things

There was a narrator for the whole trip too, but for some reason, much of the story was missed by Mommy....

Snail's Pace

I can't believe this wasn't included in our highlight reel of our homage to summer at home! Our first month here was marked by Tavish's discovery of snails. He brought them food, he checked on them, he made sure they had water, he held them, he even made them homes, sometimes a mobile home...



MOMENT: Snail Science

"Even a snail will eventually reach its destination"
- Gail Tsukiyama

It started out as a passing note that there were snails around our new place and evolved into a lesson in science. There were questions (what kind of snail is this?); keen observations (it has four things sticking up from it's head but only two seem to have eyes); experiments (which one moves faster and why?); research (can we get a book about snails at the library?); and eventually conclusions of snail understanding that he likes to share with anyone who will listen (it has only one foot, it has two eyes and the other two tentacles are used for smelling and feeling around, etc). Such a great summer of discovery, snail style...

Summer Loving at Home

"Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
- Charles R. Swindoll

The summer was host to a lot of adventures, many of which we didn't have to leave home to experience!

The new homestead

...is a welcoming one...

...and filled with some great kids....

MOMENT: Home Is Where Our Heart Is...

It's also where meals and baby naps happen ... so we created a lot of our fun in and around our new place while we got settled in. There was plenty of activity to keep both kids (and Mommy) moving indeed ...