butterflies

Their first (legitimate) face-painting experience. They loved it. See smiles for evidence.

gardening for fairies

More Christmas presents! These ones from Grammie and Papa for the girls... fairy gardens to plant and love and hopefully grow. Thanks, Grammie and Papa!

a gift for everyone

We finally got to set up Joe's Christmas present. A sports net to chuck things at. It's a present for Joe... but maybe really for the neighbours, so we stop throwing balls in their yards. Merry Christmas, Neighbourhood!

an ode to spring

We love you, Spring.
Thanks for your warmth and your sunshine and all the bunny poop I'm finding on the grass.

note to self

Ask David if he could keep his foot cream somewhere else. A higher shelf, maybe.

a good day

A good day, a big day. Henry's been getting ready and waiting for his First Communion for a long time, and was eager to get his suit on and get going. So we celebrated our fellow with great gusto (even if kidney stones and an ice storm meant fewer guests...) and watched his "Amen" with a lot of happy pride.

Henry is a thinker. He is passionate, to both ends of the spectrum... a lover and a fighter. He is kind and thoughtful. He likes that his middle name is the same as the Pope. He says one day he might like to be a priest. And so this day was good for him. A long wait for the best prize.

We love you, Henry Francis.

And while we were at it... we celebrated Janie's birthday with family at the same time. Cake for everyone!

birthday gal

If you ask Janie how old she is, she will tell you three. She is a liar. She's only two. And just today. But truth-teller or not, we love her so much and are so happy to celebrate with her today. Miss Janie is two!

Her birthday included prezzies, a trip to an indoor playground (I guess I've never taken Clara or Jane to one before? As soon as we opened the door to go inside, they both went ballistic. What is this place?! With slides inside?!), french fries and cupcakes, and a few more prezzies that just arrived in the mail (thank you!).

Dear Janie - she's funny, in a grumpy way. She's not afraid to voice her displeasure with furrowed eyebrows and a disapproving, "heyyyy." She likes to look at books and can busy herself with her own games. She's all about fairness and equality. She has four big siblings trained to answer her every whim. She loves snacks and knows where to find them. She never wants to look at the camera. She is brave and bold and determined to keep up with everyone else. She really enjoys scribbling on day planners and piano books. She gives the best night-night hugs and smooches to each and every one of us. She can say her prayers and sing Twinkle Twinkle. And even though she looks mad at the world 80% of the time, she's really a sweetie pea. Trust me.

Happy birthday to you, our Janie. We love you oh so much.

birthday eve

Last night of being one. Whoop it up.

in the a.m.

Building a Lego Church on the stairs with the siblings before school, instead of brushing their teeth. As you do.

winners

My basketball playoffs were this weekend and - ta da - we won. We played some good, close games, so much so that watching the stress on Joe and Henry's faces as the score went back and forth was even more entertaining than the game. Won in the final and walked away $10 richer at the LCBO.

Thanks, ladies! I loved this season.

bubbles

Sent Annie immediately to the bath to marinate in bubbles today after school. She and her class played in tubs of shaving cream and - peeeeyew. She smelled like a bunch of desperate guys heading out to a night club. After she spent 30 minutes in the tub with her sisters... she still smelled but maybe a little less. Anyway, kindergarten. What an adventure.

He is Risen... again!

Every year! Easter happens every year, but it always feels like a surprise and it is always so good. So here we are, celebrating with our eggs and our people. Yippee-kai-yay. Alleluia.