Well, we just got back form our visit to see the Pope. (How often does one get to say that?). We are trying to let life return to normal and then I think about the crazy stuff that goes on under this roof and know that normal is certainly relative.
Ysa lovin' Auntie Kristjaan!
Ysa with Spencer, Auntie Rhi's boyfriend. He's a farm boy and Ysa clearly is not a farm girl!
Ian is now on parental leave for 3 months and, for Ethan, it all ready feels more crowded in what he considered an already overpopulated house. He was asking why Ian gets to stay home from work and the topic of what "work" is came up.
Ethan asked, "Who works harder? You- who stays home with us? Or Dad- who goes to an
office?
I employed socratic dialogue and asked a question about the question, "What do you
think?" (He is too young of a man to know this is a loaded question).
"Well," he began, "You don't get breaks and you have to deal with stinky stuff - so I
think you work harder."
"I like the way your mind works Ethan."
Ethan asked, "Who works harder? You- who stays home with us? Or Dad- who goes to an
office?
I employed socratic dialogue and asked a question about the question, "What do you
think?" (He is too young of a man to know this is a loaded question).
"Well," he began, "You don't get breaks and you have to deal with stinky stuff - so I
think you work harder."
"I like the way your mind works Ethan."
Ysabeau is enjoying having her daddy home. On the way to see the Pope we left her with Poppa and Nana in Edmonton. Sleeping arrangments saw Ian sleeping with Ysabeau for one night.
I thought it best as we had to get up early and I didn’t want to be bothered by his snoring all night. Ysabeau kept poking her dad and telling him "to stop making all that noise!"
I thought it best as we had to get up early and I didn’t want to be bothered by his snoring all night. Ysabeau kept poking her dad and telling him "to stop making all that noise!"
Ysa and Auntie Rhi
Dinner conversation at our house always causes me a bit of anxiety. The kids are at such different stages and we now outnumbered so it can get out of hand really quick. Ethan is struggling with focus at school a little bit and this is becoming epically clear to us at the table.
We will ask him how his day went and he will tell us about all the games he plays at recess, in particular his favorite “pine cone wars” but then tacks on a gem like this at the end: “What happens to God when the universe ends?”
I love philosophy so I don’t want to ignore him but Xavier has entered this high demand eating stage where if you don’t have the next spoonful loaded and ready, he goes red, practically chokes on what he already has in his mouth and begins to shake and scream.
In the midst of this we just hope Ysabeau hasn’t left the table to empty her personal little potty into the “big girl toilet” (her favorite ‘helpful’ thing to do right now). Which usually means nothing has made it to the toilet to flush because it’s all over the floor.
We will ask him how his day went and he will tell us about all the games he plays at recess, in particular his favorite “pine cone wars” but then tacks on a gem like this at the end: “What happens to God when the universe ends?”
I love philosophy so I don’t want to ignore him but Xavier has entered this high demand eating stage where if you don’t have the next spoonful loaded and ready, he goes red, practically chokes on what he already has in his mouth and begins to shake and scream.
In the midst of this we just hope Ysabeau hasn’t left the table to empty her personal little potty into the “big girl toilet” (her favorite ‘helpful’ thing to do right now). Which usually means nothing has made it to the toilet to flush because it’s all over the floor.
Ysabeau is in the terrible 3s but that’s okay. She is allowed to be and do anything she wants after receiving with us with the best greeting ever after being gone for 10 days. It will wear off but basically even her tantrums seem adorable to me right now.
After one particular fit, I started calling her “Beau-dica” Warrior Queen.
She laughed and said “No mommy! Its not Beau-di-ca. Its Beau-di-COW.! MMMOOOOOOOO!”.
After one particular fit, I started calling her “Beau-dica” Warrior Queen.
She laughed and said “No mommy! Its not Beau-di-ca. Its Beau-di-COW.! MMMOOOOOOOO!”.
Ysabeau sitting on Poppa's new hip!
 Torchic | Ethan is still into Pokemon but has taken to colouring three Pokemon characters at a time, putting them on the fridge, and then asking to me which one really “speaks” to me. I told him to choose since he is the Aficionado. He choose Torchic – “because I can’t resist his cuteness”. |
I am okay with Pokemon now though because he offered the sweetest of sacrifices for me. I lost our new upgraded ergo baby carrier, leaving it on one of our walks (don’t ask). In tears, I gathered the kids up in the car when I realized what I had done and went to see if it still might be on the side of a busy road where I left it. It wasn’t there.
Ethan couldn’t bear to see me sad.
“I have to do it,” he said.
“Do what?”
“I have to sell my Pokemon cards. I will see them for $1 each”
“Oh don’t worry. Anyway, I appreciate the gesture but even that wouldn’t cover the cost”.
“Okay – I will see them for $3 each”.
“I don’t think Holy Family allows extortion at school. But really Ethan, you don’t know what that means to me.
This kid.
He really was offering to sell everything he has for me. (He doesn’t have all his toys here in Canada and most are at his other home).
Ethan couldn’t bear to see me sad.
“I have to do it,” he said.
“Do what?”
“I have to sell my Pokemon cards. I will see them for $1 each”
“Oh don’t worry. Anyway, I appreciate the gesture but even that wouldn’t cover the cost”.
“Okay – I will see them for $3 each”.
“I don’t think Holy Family allows extortion at school. But really Ethan, you don’t know what that means to me.
This kid.
He really was offering to sell everything he has for me. (He doesn’t have all his toys here in Canada and most are at his other home).
Above is a sweet picture of a tea party Ethan helped Ysabeau to set up. Most eclectic gathering of stuffies I ever saw:
That’s MerSheep (Ethan claims the sheep is part mermaid)
Pope Francis
An Ent (LOTR)
Lucy (Elephant who paints from Edmonton Zoo stuffy)
Xochitl (Indigenous Mexican doll)
Assorted others
Below is Ysa's minature tea set which is she equally loves. Sometimes she puts her little peg saints on the chairs. I can just imagine the table discussion: Best Marian Appartion. Go!
That’s MerSheep (Ethan claims the sheep is part mermaid)
Pope Francis
An Ent (LOTR)
Lucy (Elephant who paints from Edmonton Zoo stuffy)
Xochitl (Indigenous Mexican doll)
Assorted others
Below is Ysa's minature tea set which is she equally loves. Sometimes she puts her little peg saints on the chairs. I can just imagine the table discussion: Best Marian Appartion. Go!
And Xav. What a guy. I think this is his 9th consecutive month in stripes. He wears it so well. I accidently put the 10th month sticker on and had to redo the photo shoot. You really do stop counting with the second kid.
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