Let's Go Bananas

Laika really wanted to have her birthday party at Go Bananas this year. We had been there a few months ago with some friends and they all had a great time. Eventually 5/6 of the kids removed their shirts so they could really run wild.

When Erik asked Leif what Go Bananas was Leif described it well.

"It is a bizarre habitat for Tarzans."

Here they are waiting at the door. Laika stayed princessy the whole time, and no shirts were removed, but they still had a wonderful time with 11 of their closest friends.

Ride a Bike in 5 Easy Steps

Today was our first day of a five day session at Pedalheads. They promise an over 90% success rate for losing the training wheels in the first week. How do they get those wheels off so fast? Well, they do everything that we do, but in a camp like setting, where EVERYONE is doing it, and the instructor says so (instead of mom) and it's all a big game!

Firstly - make sure kids can ride bike with trainers on

Secondly - force them to ride on grass (it takes some effort, but is soft)

Thirdly - tell them that the training wheels are what is slowing them down and making it hard

Fourthly - tell them to eat their snacks while you remove their training wheels

Last - push them really fast and say "Keep pedalling! You're doing it!"

All morning Leif was obsessing about not wanting to go to Bike Camp. He already knew about the possibility that they would take off his trainers, and he knew about the grass riding and was not interested in either of those. But he was the first one to ride really far all by himself, and he is in for such a treat when they finally set him loose on some firm ground! Laika took a little bit longer to get the hang of it, but by the end she could also keep going after her push.

We have four more afternoons of Bike Camp and then lookout SeaWall!

Happy Birthday Laika

When you wake up tomorrow you will be 4 years old.
This picture was taken when you were about 15 minutes old.  We were amazed that a baby so young could already be so lovely.

You still amaze us every day.  You are so brave, strong and confident.  You are spontaneous and you make us laugh.  You love your brother and baby sister.  You are smart and creative and very kind.  

We love the sound of your voice, the feel of your skin, and the colour of your eyes.  

I loved when you gave me an envelope that was full of love. 

 

You are our precious Laika and we hope you have a wonderful birthday.  

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy.

What did you do at school today?

Only two days left in the school year!  Leif has had a wonderful year at Kindergarten and Laika has loved her preschool.  Even though they are only 3 and 5 they have already learned how to evade questions about school.  So, "What did you do at school today?" usually illicits a response such as, "played", "painted", "played with my friends" etc.   Then later on, when we are eating supper they might remember something and add a few details.

So, it was really fun today when Laika's preschool sent home a yearbook that included a DVD full of pictures from the school year.  I knew her teachers were very well planned and trained and that there were always plenty of fun activities going on, as they have a calendar posted online.  But to see the pictures of all of the things that they had done was really fun, and surprising.  There were beautiful dancers, many visits from the 'puppet guy' and Mark the Chef, some guy named 'Steve' makes quite a few appearances.  There were magicians, musicians and cultural days when they learned about Diwali and Hanukkah, Greece and Brazil.  But I think that my favourite group of pictures shows the kids playing with exotic little creatures, toads, snakes hedgehogs, millipedes, some strange alien bug and of course a rosy legged tarantula.  

This photo was a big surprise to me.  "Laika!  You didn't tell me about this day!"

"Oh yeah.  Steve brought in some animals."  

Man, Leif really missed out at Crazy Lady Montessori school.

Toothless Wonder Learns to Wave

This afternoon I could not keep Tineke away from the window, where she was watching the guys with their blowtorches and hot pitch.  She would stand there babbling loudly.  Let go of the window and balance.  Wave at the workers.  Fall over.  Repeat.

Yesterday morning I put her on the floor of our bedroom to play while we could watch her from our cosy bed.  She was making all sorts of 'Hiya hiya hiya' noises and then she climbed up and stood over her box of toys so that she could wave at the teddy bears inside.  This was some serious cuteness.  I can't really say how cute it was, because it was way too cute.

See for yourself (and check out my awesome barrette)

OK.  Now that could have only been entertaining for about 4 people in the world, but I am one of them, thus it was posted.