Confidence

Even 5-going-on-six-year-olds have dreams: I agreed that he could let the chickens out, feed them, and collect the eggs this morning. "Oh, I can do all that like an adult?" he asked. "Then some dreams do come true!"

Waiting for Grandmo

Incongruous parasols and all.

Dirt time

There are, obviously, many things I appreciate about my husband but one has been at the fore-front of my mind recently while he has been home so much. I love how he is thoughtful about ensuring the boys have a place of their own within all of our spaces and projects and time. This picture shows how our front garden has been evolving with plants next to toy roads. It may look unfinished or messy but it's a pretty good illustration of our life and I love it!

That mug

Kidisms

Currently my two favourite things that Walter says are: Whoopsie-daisy (pronounced: 'woopedadey') and Oh my goodness! (pronounced: 'Oh my doodess!'). Also he has started to call me Mom instead of Mommy. And speaking of calling me, yesterday Logan informed me that I have lots of names: Mommy, Mom, Janice, Bib (I guess that's how it sounds when James says 'Babe') and, most special of all, Jin-Janice (not sure where this one comes from!).

An Artist's Eye

While discussing what colour to re-paint our table once we've fully stripped it, we consulted a paint-chip wheel (is there a technical term for this?) so the fanciful names assigned to the colours were part of our discussion. Logan was interested, of course, and when we decided on the chip named 'Sweet Butter' he decided that a better colour would be 'Sour Butter' -- not a name on the wheel, obviously, but one he has retained and continued to promote in the month or two since our original discussion. Earlier this evening out of the blue he piped up with, "I think I would like to paint my fort... French Blue. Yes, French Blue would be AWESOME!"

Dirt Days

A bowl

One evening about a month ago, Walter wasn't feeling great. While he sat on my lap I noticed his fever rising and I went to get a bowl. I brought it to him just in time to throw up. He then felt a bit better and went to bed and was fine after that. This morning he woke up and complained about his stomach so I asked if I should get a bowl and he agreed. When I brought it back he looked relieved and made some gagging noises into it for a minute. Looking up at me sadly he said, "It's not working."

These Eyes

I was attempting to capture the baby's light-illuminated eyes this evening. I only took this picture to satisfy a brother who felt a little left out but it somehow turned out much better than any of the ones I intended to take. It has a better impact when it's full-screen so I hope I managed to upload it at a good enough quality to be viewed that way.

Funny faces

Brothers

One thing I have been enjoying lately is hearing the boys chatting while they play together. Our two-year-old is still in the stage where what he says has to be translated to most people outside of our family but I didn't realize just how well the boys knew each other until several recent occasions where I was stumped as to what he meant but his older brother easily translated for me. When my eldest was this age I was the one who knew best what he was thinking and saying. So, despite knowing that this is generally the way it goes and will go, it is with mixed feelings that I realize that I am no longer the closest. But it is good to have a close brother!

The bathroom sink

During our bathroom renovation our new vanity has enjoyed pride of place in the middle of our livingroom until such a time as it can be moved to its permanent home upstairs. It is not unusual for something new in the house to attract the attention of the boys and cats -- indeed it would be unusual if something James was working on didn't fascinate them all. But usually the original sheen wears off after a little and they move on to explore other ways of playing with other things. But this vanity has held their interest and attention consistently for such a length of time that James has suggested we buy a second so as not to disappoint them when we have to move it upstairs. I'm glad they're enjoying it now but I like having a livingroom too much to agree.