Est-ce que je peux aller au toilette?

Leif hit his second kindergarten speed bump, and came out unscathed.  Yesterday I didn't make him to go to the bathroom before we left for school.  I thought about it, but we were so busy (Laika, fully clothed down to raincoat had decided to lather her hands up with sunscreen to be 'ready for the beach').  He has visited the school bathroom a number of times without incident.  However, lately the students get to jump a beaver with their name on it down a little path every time they ask a question in french.  Leif couldn't recall how to ask to leave for the bathroom.  In his mind speaking in French became a necessity and he froze up.  He sat there ALL AFTERNOON  holding his bladder.  When Jen came to pick him up he was standing in the line up and began to sob uncontrollably.  She and Madame Myriam realized right away what had happened and made sure no one else did.  Jen got Benjamin's spare clothes, took him to the washroom and changed him.  To her credit, even Benjamin still doesn't know why Leif walked home in his spare pants.  By the way, Leif has a spare set of clothes at school, but was too stressed to find it.

Last night Erik and I both shared a tale of wet-pants.  I gave Leif my Grade 1 tree-climbing story.  I'll save my Grade 4 desk-pee story for when he needs a tale of mortification in the older grades.

Today Leif brought Mme. Myriam a card that read, "Thank you!  Merci!  Love Leif" with a heart breaking little picture of him standing there with his arms out for a hug.  Mme. Myriam called him over to thank him.  I asked if she gave him a hug.  Yes.  And a Kiss.  She's French you know.

He still loves school, and Jen, and his teacher.

Leif is a Grown Man

Sometimes Leif takes us completely off guard.

About 2 weeks after Tineke came along, he came and sat beside me and asked earnestly, "So, how's the nursing going?  Is it still stinging?"  He was not trying to be cute, but asked with genuine interest.

You could take two things from this:  either I'm sharing way too much information with my 5 year old son, or he's just very perceptive.  I'm sticking with the latter.

Last night at supper Erik asked Leif if he thinks we should have another baby in our family. Without missing a beat he looked at me, calmly raised his eyebrows and asked, "Would YOU like to do that?"  It isn't lost on him that I would be the one most directly affected by such a decision.

Oh, and in case you're wondering - he would still like to have 'chiplins' or 'forflins'.  We taught him the word 'quadruplets' and he thinks it's hilarious.  He also keeps saying, "Laika, maybe we're having quadruplets!"  But guess what - we're not.  

2 Month Old Kids!

Here are close ups of each baby at 2 months old, in chronological order.

When I'm interacting with Tineke she feels very familiar.  And when she's sleeping or nursing it's a trip down memory lane.

3 Isn't Enough

On Mon and Wed afternoons Jen takes Leif to school and Jacob comes over to play with Laika. This works well for me as I don't have to get all 3 kids fed, dressed and out the door for the day by 11:30.  It gives Tineke a chance to nap in her very own cradle, and Jacob and Laika play well together.  She feels like a big girl and there usually isn't an argument unless Jacob disobeys a direct command from the General.  Such as, "Ok.  Jacob.  So.  I am a princess.  So.  You need to go get me my wand.  Jacob.  Jacob.  Jacob. JACOB."

SHOW (and tell)

Today was Laika's first Show and Tell at preschool.

She brought her Cinderella megabloks carriage with her Angelina doll inside.

She wore her little green dress (slightly too short) with embroidered flowers and ric rac on it and topped off her look with her special flower necklace.

She was so excited!

I managed to take a few pictures so that you could see how shy she was.  She did say a few words, in answer to her teacher's questions.  She said, "Pink."  "Grandpa." "Doll."  and "Yes."

Tonight when Erik asked her what her favourite thing at preschool was she replied, "Show."

She hit the nail on the head.