kantors in quarantine - september 7

After our slurpee bike ride yesterday, Clara decided she was done with training wheels. Balancing is not as easy as she thought it might be, but she's working on it. 

kantors in quarantine - september 6

 Bike gang. 

Motivated by slurpees.

kantors in quarantine - september 5

Today was chore day in the Kantor household. We tackled some garage cleaning and, for one miraculous moment, I had six kids busily working at their assigned jobs (yes, even Leo... he and Janie had the hose and were washing off beach toys). I would have taken a picture but did not want to stop and ruin the magic. So instead here is a picture of a pepper from our garden. 

kantors in quarantine - september 4

Clara successfully wiggled her tooth right out of her face! It happened yesterday, as we were loading up the van after the beach. She pushed it with her tongue and - pop! - out it came. She exclaimed with a look of part joy/part confusion while Leo clapped in celebration.

kantors in quarantine - september 3

I lied. Last week was not our last beach trip - today was. We had originally made plans to go to the zoo today BUT! last minute, some friends asked if we would be free to meet them at a park close to them. So! We switched our zoo appointment, and headed to The Pinery Provincial Park to see our Moynifriends. And, oh boy, were we ever blessed with a doozy of a gorgeous day. 

We broke up our 2+ hour drive with a stop for lunch in Stratford - beautiful, clean, delicious Stratford. We enjoyed a breakfast lunch along the river with swans (and wasps) for company before moving on to The Pinery. 

Now, if you think you would enjoy...

1. wind and waves so impressive that it will result in an unexpected adieu to your watermelon floatie, which will thereafter bob along eternally somewhere in the middle of Lake Huron, despite your oldest son's best efforts to save it; 

2. some calmer river water, for a maiden voyage of your friends' new-to-them canoe. While there, allow your boys to adventure out on their own so they can get their independent selves stuck in a culvert and also catch a turtle; 

3. a yummy barbecue;

4. a second trip to the beach to play in the waves and some rain. The clouds will part just before you leave to treat you to the most lovely, beautiful sunset your eyes have ever seen - every time you blink, the sky will get more and more gorgeous and your heart will feel like bursting; and

5. good friends, who are fun to share life with;

... then The Pinery is for you. It boasts all of these things and more, and was the perfect Last Last Beach Trip of the season. 

kantors in quarantine - september 2

 Brothers going places. 

Leo is really going to miss his people when they all go back to school. Me, too.

kantors in quarantine - september 1

Today the kids got some new books to celebrate their hard work in the spring, and their (mostly) good attitudes and general helpfulness this summer. When purchasing the books, the cashier, referencing the kindergarten workbook, asked, "Are you getting someone ready for school?" Having forgotten how to speak to humans during months of isolation, I was caught off guard and said that, oh, these are for my kids and I'm just so proud of all they did this spring and summer and wanted to get them something AND THEN I STARTED TO CRY. Right there. In the book store. In front of the cashier. Who, no doubt, was regretting the small talk. I ended the conversation by saying thank you and, "I'm just going to weep my way all the way home now, thank you."

Good news: the kids got books and loved them. 

Bad news: I can no longer go out in public.