The Tennis Staycation

We spent a fun-filled stay-at-home vacation last week. The theme: Tennis.

Papa took the week off work and attended daily tennis matches at the Montreal Rogers Cup, watching the likes of Maria Sharapova and Agnieska Radwanska.. The event kicked off with Family Day, and S1 and S2 attended. They had their faces painted, tried wall-climbing, and even gave some mini tennis a go. They enjoyed it so much that we decided to order a mini tennis net for home. Baby also joined the fun, readily getting her hands on any tennis balls that her sisters weren't using.

The week ended with Papa and Mama's very first date night since the birth of S3: The quarter-finals!

Baby Turns One!

It is hard to believe that our youngest is already one! She had a fun-filled day. While Mama was at work, she spent some quality time with her Papa. Meanwhile, her siblings went shopping with Grandma for birthday hats, balloons and gifts.

Upon Mama's return, after enjoying some Birthday Milk, she played with her siblings while Mama whipped up a birthday cake and some cupcakes. After a hearty barbecued meal, Baby attempted to blow out her candle. She then enjoyed her very first piece of birthday cake.

She had never received a wrapped gift before, and did not know quite what to do with it. Luckily for her, her siblings were happy to help her tear open her first gift!

How to get your kids to help with yard work

I was not expecting to be raking leaves in early August. However, Mother Nature had other plans, as wind and rain dumped many leaves in our back yard. Normally I would not rush to clear them, however the grass-cutting company was due any minute...

So I enthusiastically asked "who wants to help Mama rake leaves?" And much to my surprise, I heard a chorus of "I do".  Some miniature pink rakes and pink garden gloves helped, as the leaves were raked and bagged within thirty minutes.

Here is proof that kids can do yard work and enjoy it:

First Steps: a milestone photo

when a photo is worth a thousand words...

The 5-Day Experiment: a Week of Pinterest-inspired Breakfasts

It all started with an e-mail from my sister. Last week, she sent me a photo from Pinterest of a turtle-shaped waffle. I was going to make pancakes the following day, and thought why not make waffles instead...I shaped them after the turtle in the photo my sister had sent, and wondered if my daughters would be more likely to eat their food.

Day 1: Waffle-shaped turtles.

The older girls were amused, and thoroughly enjoyed their waffles. Although didn't even sample the banana appendages.

Day 2: Egg in pepper, which I labelled a "flower egg".  The older girls refused to eat this one. Although baby gobbled down the egg.

Day 3: Banana popsicles, dipped in yogurt and covered in sprinkles, then frozen. This was a treat given the evening before as I left for work before their breakfast on Day 3.

Day 4: Owl. S1 & S2 enjoyed throughly.

Day 5: Strawberry Fish. Also a big hit with the older girls.

Where to from here? Have I set the bar too high ? Will my girls refuse future breakfasts that are not "food art". Well, I am up for the challenge! Thankfully Baby doesn't need any incentive for now...

11 Months Old!

Baby turned 11 months old a few days ago

Stands well for up to 20 seconds

Took her first steps two weeks ago

But hasn't walked since

Loves to clap her hands 

Waves hello and goodbye

Adores her Grandma

Just recovered from her first fever

Has 6 teeth, with two more on their way

Loves to play ball

Can't wait to be as big as her sometimes caring older sisters!

Baby's First Canada Day

Baby's first Canada Day started regularly enough. After a good breakfast of breast milk and cereal, she stayed home while her older sisters attended swimming lessons. Ordinarily, she would have stayed with Grandma, but due to the holiday, she spent some quality time with Papa.

After her morning nap, and a quick lunch with her sisters, she headed off to some local festivities with her entire family. Were it not for the sweltering heat, she would have remained outdoors longer. As it was, she enjoyed some inflatables and a Mega Bloc station specifically geared towards her age group. Meanwhile, her sisters got their faces painted, bounced on some inflatable play structures, played mini-golf and enjoyed a cold snack.

Back at home by 15:30, Baby was exhausted and was ready for her second nap. S2 normally naps much earlier, but her parents made an exception, and both S2 & S3 slept soundly from 15:30 to 17h.  After a quick snack, Baby and her family headed east to join some cousins whose community was celebrating Canada Day in the evening. While she could not stay for the fireworks, Baby and her sisters enjoyed barbecued food, played on some old-fashioned play structures, and ended the evening by running (or crawling int he case of Baby) through some sprinklers.