Happy Halloween!

We're the spookiest family on our block this year. Hands down. (The kids helped with this photoshop project and had WAAAAAAY too much fun...)

Pump Track Party!

We've discovered a "pump track" in Gatineau Park and it's a load of fun for the whole family!  On Thanksgiving weekend, Mara took a rest while I took Zella and Max up with a couple friends from across the street, and Paddy of course!  Video editing has also become my new obsession and my second job.   I think it was about 1 hour of editing for each 5 seconds of video. George Lucas, eat your heart out.  (Full credit goes to the kids for the choice of sound track).

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving weekend for us was quiet this year, I finished chemo on the Friday before. So lots to be thankful for but at the same time lots to stay quiet and close to home for too. Saturday morning we managed a hike, which I was very proud to be able to accomplish. The two photos above show the kids wandering across a beaver pond bridge and then the larger landscape photo shows the area where we had snacks and slept in the sun while the kids played.

On the way out of the hiking area Paddy managed to find a porcupine and in defence of his family attacked it. Nose full of quills he returned to us triumphant. And stupid. He's done this 4 times this year!

Fall

The first shot is Zella and her new teacher Madame Sylvie, Zella is very happy and adjusting to grade two really well. Lots of homework! I can't believe how much really.

The second shot is Zella in the schoolyard showing me where she and Jacob have built a bird nest for the local bird population over the winter. She and Jake have been working on it every day for the last two weeks of recesses. It's a bit of an obsession really.:)

And the final shot is the last of our nasturtiums with the Fall sun shining through them.

I miss it.

I miss my hair. Cancer sucks. This is supposed to be a blog about the kids growing up, but I miss my hair and I'm trying so very hard not to let my cancer affect their little lives. I hope I am doing a good job.

Fashionista playmates

So another Pizza and Wine Friday night at Peter and Kim's tonight. The usual routine for these evenings means lots of fun adult conversation with wine and nibblies and then pizza delivered to the front door. What makes the evening totally relaxing for all of us is the division of kids and adults. As soon as we arrive there, as was the case tonight, or if they arrive at our house, as will be the case next time, the kids take off and entertain themselves for the ENTIRE time.
Tonight the kids managed to create a fort in the DARK backyard, put on dress up clothes, apply make-up and rationalize to us the need for them to have double servings of brownies for dessert. Yes, Hannah is wearing my $700 chemo wig. It looks better on her.

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing is always big in our house. This week I downloaded some new stuff from iTunes, mostly Katy Perry. Anyhoo, the kids have been dancing up a storm, complete with costume changes. Max is a fierce dancer, as evidenced by his shot above. The entire time he dances he looks like he's about to set off to war. Although hopefully not in that outfit. Which, yes, is an off the shoulder (waaaaaay off the shoulder) spaghetti strap silk dress. Zella is an elegant and powerful dancer. Her body is made for dancing. I could watch her dance for hours. Max uses up most of his dancing energy in the first 6 minutes and then settles in to watch Zella complete the show.

End of Summer

From left to right- Finn, Zella, Mia, Ella and Michaela

A few weekends ago Rob took the kids camping at Sandbanks with some other families who are great friends. This picture just got sent to us and I had to add it to our blog. It brought to mind a roving band of parentless children running free in the last days of summer, sort of like the old episodes of Little Rascals that I loved so much. Yes, Zella is holding a can of beer. Please note- it IS empty.

Mathew and Annabel

Mathew and Annabel still occupy a lot of time in Max and Zella's world. There are walks to be had and disagreements to solve, not to mention feeding and caring for two newborns. Both Mathew and Annabel have their own strollers and the sight of Max and Zel walking up and down the sidewalk with their babies is something I cherish right now. I know it won't be much longer til they shed this remnant of younger play. But for now I sit out front with my cup of tea and watch them very carefully navigate the bumps in the sidewalk so their babies won't wake up. I love them so much it hurts my heart sometimes.

Crocodiles and Pools

So birthdays. Always a conundrum. Magician? Trip to the Agricultural Farm? Cosmic Adventures? Bouncy Castle? Max's 4th was spent with a truckload of reptiles. Zella's was spent jumping in and out of the pool! Zel had about 12 of nearest and dearest and pink cupcakes and Max had about 22 kids and blue cupcakes. Both of them had a blast.

A new blog

This photo was taken 2 years ago. Max drank from a bottle. Zella attended Junior Kindergarten in the mornings. I stayed home with the kids a lot. We could often be found in clumped piles like this, reading books, talking, hanging out. A lot has changed in in the years since. We moved to Panama (http://www.monkeysjumpingonthebed.blogspot.com/). We moved back home to Ottawa. Max is in Juniour Kindergarten at a Montessori school and Zella just started Grade 2. Since returning from Panama I haven't blogged and I feel like I'm missing out on writing their story and posting their photos for them to look back on. So I'll start again.

Wondergoblins are how I've always thought of them. Full of wonder, full of goblin-like behaviour. But this blog is for my Wondergoblins, so they'll know how much I love them and they can laugh at their own antics when they're older.