firsts

Today saw a lot of firsts, especially where Maia is concerned.

Maiers and I were both up so early that I put on kids cartoons for her while we had breakfast, just the two of us. I don't think she knew the TV offered such things in the morning, since the TV almost invariably stays off until I'm making dinner! So I think that was a first.



We often try to plan something special but simple on Tim's day off. Today we went to the 'Great Gingerich Farm' to learn about making maple syrup from 'Farmer Sharon' and her son, and our good friend, 'Farmer Ben'. It was neat to see Maia's wheels turning as she began to understand all the stages -- tapping trees, collecting buckets, boiling in the shack (only 1 part syrup to 40 parts water!), cooling, canning, and so on. (Way to go, Gingerichs!) My little waffle-lover is only going to start every day asking for more waffles now, isn't she?! (Now that will not be a first.)



Another first was watching 'Farmer Don' arrive with 500 baby chicks that were less than a day old! Apparently, this only happens three times a year, so we really picked a great day. These little organic buddies arrived in five crates and were noisily finding their way under the heating lamp in no time! They don't come any cuter than this.










And if that weren't enough firsts at the farm, after Maia went to find Percy the Peacock, she came and helped sort the organic eggs into cartons based on their size. Where else can a 3-year-old do that?



Tonight after the girls had a bath together (splish splash, now that's simple family fun!), I put Maia's hair in rags for the first time. I predict my little curly-Q will wake up with a mission. She's very excited about the possibility of curly hair for once.



Nice smile, eh? No fakin' there.

Oh, and one more first? In response to my suggestion that she don mittens to go outside, my 3-going-on-13 year old actually uttered the words, "Mom, it's totally not cold outside." Believe it or not, it didn't have any attitude to it. Just communicating the facts like a pre-pre-teen is all.

Oh boy. Nothing stays the same even for one day!

number girl

While I was putting groceries away this morning, Maia got out a writing pad that helps teach how to draw letters and numbers. I turned around and suddenly she had written the numbers 0 to 10! Who knew? I knew she was recognizing the numbers now, but I didn't know she could draw them!

Doesn't she look satisfied?


Speaking of numbers, Maia has been trying to convince me that we need two more children in our family. She's got it all figured out: 2 girls. Names? Aya and Gliah! Where she came up with those, I have no idea!

Fearfully and wonderfully made.

funny family news

We all had our passport photos taken this week. Do you know how hard it is to get a happy 10 month old to stop smiling at the camera? Not to mention getting a shy 3 year old just to look at the camera. We actually didn't succeed at either, so we're hoping Passport Canada doesn't send us for round two! (I'm not even discussing how much I dislike my own photo, because it's really inconsequential. I just included all four because it makes Eliana look that much cuter with all that white space above her head.)



We've all been craving time outdoors. Now that the 'warmer weather' is here (if anything above 0 degrees counts as warmer) we're out every day -- out around town for walks, out front watching Maia bike up and down the sidewalk, out back on the swings and discovering the garden veggies that were blanketed with snow last fall before we could eat them. I think I mentioned before that some of the carrots are a little odd...



Maia was convinced this one was a little man carrot. We enjoyed him for a bit, but he went in the soup too.

To my surprise, I found a red onion that is still in decent shape. Who knew an onion could survive a Canadian winter outdoors?



Eliana is really getting mobile. Her choice method of travel is something between a crawl and a G.I. Jane army slither. Today, she discovered that electrical cords pull down lite-brites and that books can be pulled off shelves. Oh, joy!



Being mobile means it's way more fun to get around the crib than to sleep.


And for the last tidbit -- sorry, no photo of this -- would you believe I was approached by two young men in Zurich yesterday who thought I might have some 'weed' for them? One friend joked that my response should have been, "Yeah, stashed right back here in the infant car seat!" (Ironically (or perhaps not), I've been feeling compelled to pray more about the immense problem of addiction in our county... so maybe it was a gift to have a couple of extra fresh faces to picture while praying?) Still, me??? Those of you who know me well are laughing out loud, aren't you?

happy spring!

Today is the first day of spring.

Well, YAY for that!

Like the rest of you (except for Hannah, one of my students who claims she will miss winter), I have been aching for spring after an especially long winter.

And there are signs of it... sunshine that makes it warm enough to shed that winter coat (and even down to a t-shirt if you're sitting in a sheltered spot), the squeaks of bikes raised out of storage, our first trip to the park... even green things are pushing up out of our gardens.

Speaking of gardens, I let some carrots 'overwinter' in the garden, and was surprised that most of them are still very edible after all these months! We actually had so many carrots crowded together (because I have a hard time thinning seeds -- the thought of ending a seedling's new life gets me every time) that we couldn't eat them all before the snow came. However, some of them are pretty interesting specimens. Exhibit A: this three-legged carrot. Perfectly normal. Just a couple extra limbs is all. (T'was yummy in the curried carrot soup we had tonight.)




We actually ventured outside for a picnic lunch once this week.



Another sign of spring: the return of the tundra swans. Every spring, thousands of these beautiful birds return to the Old Thedford Bog south of Grand Bend on their 6000 km migration to the arctic. We took along binoculars to have a good look.




I couldn't capture any great photos of the swans, but these photos will give you an idea of their beauty...
























Mom and Dave were visiting this week, and I got a few neat shots of them as well.




Eliana spent some time trying to figure out what was up with that moustache. Does it come off?


So... happy spring! Hope you enjoy these moments to the fullest.

retirement

At the end of February, my dad retired after 36 years with the Royal Bank of Canada.

About seventy of his colleagues, clients and family came together in Grimsby to celebrate. It was truly a great evening.

I think what I loved most about the evening was the opportunity to hear from so many of Dad's colleagues and small-business customers why they loved working with him and why he will be missed. As kids, we always knew he was well-loved. We were tipped off by the various gifts he would bring home over the years, including countless bottles of wine and even turkeys, especially at Christmas. But it's different being able to put faces to names and hearing the words of respect and appreciation for Dad first-hand. I felt that in just a few hours, we had learned a great deal more than we already knew about our Dad's work life and his reputation among colleagues and clients.

What emerged the clearest was the high value he put on the relationships he had formed through working with the bank, especially with his customers. His parting advice to Todd, who he has been training for his position: "The bank will take care of itself if you take care of your customers." I asked him if he could start his career over again, what he would have started doing sooner. He replied, "Just really enjoying my clients, building friendships and relationships."

They say you don't retire from something as much as you retire to something. Being that Dad is such a people-person, I look forward to seeing what he will end up doing after a southern holiday this spring, and a summer full of sailing, family time and some fix-it jobs. I predict he'll be back working part-time with the bank within six months!


The kids and grandkids, minus Christine, who was very much missed.


Dad receiving a GPS navigator as a gift from his boss.


Ma and Pa, donning the orchids the bank gave them. (Not your most stunning photo, dad, but I didn't have another one of you and mom!)



Princess grand-daughters who twirled in their lovely dresses throughout the open spaces of the ballroom every chance they got.


Sean and Gideon. Can you make out the mohawk on this little man?


I think Auntie Yolanda may have been more entertaining at the dinner table than all the grandkids combined.


Reesey deciding whether it's still fitting to eat with your fingers at these classy events.


Eliana peering over the table from her highchair. Finger snacks do just the trick when it's way past bedtime.


We surprised my Dad with a reworking of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean". The kids sang with gusto, just as we'd hoped.

The chorus (Bring back, bring back....) was:
Opa, Opa
Opa is leaving the bank, the bank
Opa, Opa
Opa is leaving the bank!




Congratulations, Dad. Enjoy the next season of your life!

ever changing

Things don't stay the same for long around here.

I am struck by the number of times people have inquired about Maia going to JK in the fall. Could it be that my just-turned-the-corner-on-toddlerhood eldest is already leaving the fold for school so soon? She has just had a major growth spurt and we've packed away a bunch of clothes and bought new shoes. (We caved and went with Dora. However, I did draw the line at the flashing runners!) The "hows" and the "whys" are coming in droves, and I love the curiosity. Every day we get a new 'show' -- an original song and dance. One day maybe she'll let me record one to share.


Eliana is changing so quickly as well. What a smiley kid she is with such a great sense of humour emerging. ... Her laugh is not boisterous like Maia's was from infancy. Hers is more a wide open mouth accompanied by few little gasps, followed by a great exhaling of air like an old man's laugh. I don't know how to better explain it. It cracks me up! Today she moved into a booster seat and seems to like it. (pic above) And man, is this girl travelling. Almost crawling. For a couple of weeks, I have had to return to her crib multiple times when putting her down to flip her back over so she could actually get some sleep. Understandably, her new-found love of travel around the crib and on top of the covers is way more fun than sleeping!





I am grateful and content to be mommy of these girls. Every now and then, I get a little itchy to be traveling or doing a little more with my music, but when I am most grounded, I can see that this very special season is a gift from God and one that will pass in such a short time.

Sounds like I am needed.

Content mommy out.