Lucy

One of the toughest parts of being a parent is handing over the care of your children to someone else. Lucy lives on our street and we were introduced to her through another local friend. She had recently moved to Toronto from the US and had nanny experience. She took care of our children when I went back to work until school was out for the summer (March to June). It's always hard to let your kids go when you're used to being home, but it makes it more bearable when the kids have a good time with their caregiver. We were lucky that way...

MOMENT: From Lucy

"Plain old babysitting is expensive-
early childhood education is priceless."

I went through the photos and videos that Lucy sent to us during her time with our family and compiled them to share the story of Tavish, Keva, and Lucy. We've since parted ways, but this is a lovely reflection on the meaningful relationship they established in a reasonably short amount of time.

FLASHBACK: Nicole

When we were in Ottawa and I'd finally managed to line up some work, we hired Nicole to look after Tavish. She was lovely, patient, dependable and most importantly, she loved Tavish very much. We failed to capture any digital moments of these two together (blush), but there was a lot of playing, cooking, baking, singing, and cuddling. She was an excellent introduction to the childcare experience although our time with her was also short. She started in February (just before Tavish turned two) until the end of the school year on an as-needed basis. She moved to Toronto and Tavish headed off to Montessori school that fall. We don't have much, but we do have two photos of her with her nephew that were taken during the time she was with us. This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate our time with her. Thank you, Nicole. Tavish still remembers you fondly...

How Our Garden Grows

When Keva (and Mommy) woke up from a weekend nap, we discovered some gardening was happening to beautify our back'yard'...

"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colours are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again."

- Elizabeth Lawrence

MOMENT: Dirt Digging

Summer must be soon, Tom and Tavish made a trip to the garden centre with the red wagon. Tavish prepared his plot and Keva discovered that gardening involves some neat tools.

And On That Farm, He Had A...

Kids not only say the darndest things, sometimes they sing them too...

MOMENT: Old MacDonald

There's this old guy whose last name is MacDonald. He had a farm and Keva likes to sing the sound of the animals (and other random things) that live on his farm from the back seat. We were driving somewhere and while I did most of the singing, Keva made the sounds... cows went "moo", horses went "neigh", pinks went "oink" and the goats on this farm go "boo!". Wonder what the ghosts there would say? Thank you Halloween! E-I-E-I-O...

Face Games

There was a long stint in the fall where our entire family knew the specific rules for what to do with your face should a small human touch it in certain ways....

MOMENT: If You're Funny and You Know It...

Hours of entertainment all in one little face!

Undies!

Caeli, our childcare provider, was quite ill at the end of October leaving Mommy home from work for several days. It was an unexpected circumstance with an unexpected perk - we ditched Keva's daytime diaper for good!

A little lady and her undies!

MOMENT:  Undies

Sure, we raced the clock to get her to the potty when out and about, but she made it. We had no accidents for a long time. The road to diaper freedom was before us!

Halloween Haunt 2014

Being a full-time working Mommy this year left less time for creative costuming. This coincided well with Tavish's costume desire to be Luke Skywalker and a darling butterfly costume loaner from a co-worker!

MOMENT: Trickle Treating

Boy was it a rainy night this year! Tavish and a crew of his classroom buddies had a pre-party at a friend's place on the street. Then some donned rain gear while others opted for the full drippy costumes. The battery died in my camera but it was quite a site to see these kids keen to collect candy despite the cold rain pelting down on them! Drip, drip, BOO!

Trick or Treat on the Rainy Street!

Beauty Butterfly

First Candy Collection

A Rainy Blur of Excitement

Wet Bug Handing Out Candy

Luke Skywalker

The Force is Fierce with this One

MOMENT: Return of the Switch Witch

That awesome witch was up to her considerate antics again. Tavish sorted his candy the night before and left much for the Switch Witch to give to her naughty cat. In return, she left Tavish and Keva both with some new treats...

Pumpkin Time

Fall isn't complete without some pumpkin carving cheer!

Cute Little Carvers...

...Create Creepy Jack-o-Lanterns!

MOMENTS: Design, Dig, Carve, Light, Enjoy!

Mommy drew the designs, kids dug, Daddy carved - a family effort. The 2014 instalment of Halloween masterpieces were aglow...