Sweetie

That's all.

Oktoberfest 2012

We had a great time in Vankleek hill with cousins and friends.  If only the kids could drink beer!

First day of soccer

And it was all smiles.  Last year Oskie needed a lot of hand holding-literally-but this year the season got off to a great start.  Oscar even scored a goal!

Fifth birthday!

Party tomorrow.  More pictures to come.

Throw out the almanac.

Ok, this is getting crazy. It's our second day so far this year with temperatures above 26 C. We resisted the temptation to put the AC on, but it is legitimately hot out. The lawn is parched and the crocuses are long gone.
Did I mention it's mid APRIL!

Emma Sporting her Summer 2011 Apparel.

No, I don't know how to change it to Celsius.

Our Clematis vines are betting the snow is over.
Our peach tree is leafing out.

Saskatoons about to blossom.

Cherry blossoms normally come out at this time of year in Washington DC - not up here.

Muscari mania.

Dandelions. Some pleasures of summer are worth waiting for.

Hyacinth and friends putting on a display.

Honeysuckle.

And the rhubarb I've been babying for 2 years...

It's good to download your photos once in a while

Popstar?

I recently got the kids a mini squier electric guitar. Now Oscar is trying his hand at pop lyrics. His latest:

"Zoom back baby.
I love you.
I want to love you.
Fart."

The F Word

Over the holidays, Emma mentioned that her friend Serena had gotten in trouble in class for saying the F word. We were a bit surprised because we know Serena and her parents and she wouldn't necessarily have expected her to be the one among Emma's classmates to drop the F bomb in class.

Emma proceeded to ask me what the F word was.

Pause.

I told her that there were words that we were allowed to say and words that we're not allowed to say. I then recounted that, when I was 5 or 6, I had overheard someone in the schoolyard use that word, and then had tried it out on Auntie Laura and Uncle John as we walked home for lunch. They hustled me home and put me in front of Grandpa, (no doubt with rabid anticipation of my punishment), for me to tell him what I had said.

I also remembered that I hadn't really gotten in trouble, but that Grandpa had told me that I would get in trouble if I used that word again in the future.

I gave Emma the same admonition and we moved on to another subject.

Fast forward to last night. Annick mentioned that something stank (probably Mao) and Emma replied, "you stink." She was trying to be funny but it didn't go over well. Annick told her that she had hurt her feelings and that what she had said was offensive.

Emma replied, "Was that the F word?"

I guess she still as innocent as ever, despite what she's learning at school.