Neighbourhood Watch

The play structure is a big hit...with everyone. Everyday, most of the neighbourhood children end up at our house. Some are invited, others just mosey on over, plunk themselves down on my deck, and watch their children play.

The funny thing is, I am a very anti-social person.

That reminds me, I would like a dead bolt for my birthday!

Sarah In Pictures

While the twins were being pushed for hours on the swings, Sarah got some "quality time".

Lazy or Smart? You Decide!

The twins love to be pushed on the swings. I tried to teach them how to pump their legs, but they refused. They want to be pushed. They want to be pushed for hours.

Yesterday, it was Dan's turn to dedicate a morning to pushing Katie (left) and Bethie. Being the devoted father that he is, Dan pushed...

...and pushed...

...and pushed...

...and pushed...

...and then delegated to the task to Big Sarah while he took a break and had a cola!

Some Birthday Snaps

Katie (left) and Bethie: waiting for the guests to arrive.

Sarah: Not seemingly impressed by her third birthday cake in 24 hours!

The icing was smushed into Sarah's face by a guest. Again, she doesn't look impressed!

Sarah: Having a look at all of her birthday presents!!!

The twins and their cousins opening Sarah's birthday presents!

Sarah, with her blankie, just watching the action!

A Present For Sarah

Dad wanted to know what to get Sarah for her 1st birthday. I told him that I had discussed this at length with Sarah, and she would quite like some bricks laid down between my side door and my shed. Dad, for some reason still unknown to me, decided that Sarah would appreciate something else instead. I suggested a swing set, and emailed him a photo of the one I had in mind. Again, concern was expressed by both Dad and Dan about whether or not this would be an appropriate gift for a one year old. Here is my reasoning: Because Sarah is our third baby, we have every toy under the sun already for her to play with. What she really wants is "quality time" with me and Dan. That's kind of hard to wrap up and stick a bow on it. A play structure would entertain the twins leaving Dan and I free to play with our littlest baby.

So, Dad bought a play structure. None of us have the skill to assemble this thing which boasts on the box "It takes two people 10-12 hours to build". Had Dan and I tackled it, we'd still be working on sorting the wood!

Tullio "volunteered" his two assistants, Peter and Cody. They are only 18 years old but highly skilled. Peter complained the entire time, mostly about how stupid the instructions were and that he could have done a better job designing and then building his own creation. At one point, I was inside the house looking at Peter assembling the "tree house". I said to Dan, "He's not doing it right". Dan said that I couldn't possibly know whether Peter was doing it right or not. Within seconds, Peter leaped up, threw the instructions and some tools on to the ground, and started yelling at Cody. Turns out that I was right. I was glad the twins weren't around to hear the language!

In the end, Peter and Cody did an excellent job, despite the "adjustments" I wanted them to make. They moved the play structure a couple of times until I found the perfect spot to put it. Then Cody moved my lilac bush too!

I was quite pleased and wanted a picture of Peter and Cody on the play structure. I ask Big Sarah (who is quite attractive) to bat her eyelashes and get the boys to pose. She refused. So I asked Peter and Cody to have their picture taken. They tried to (politely) decline. That's when Big Sarah stood in the doorway of my house and bellowed "Just let her take the damned picture! And smile, too!". They did as they were instructed. Here is the result:


PS. The twins absolutely adore this play structure. Sarah is happy because she is getting more time outside, and more time to enjoy the baby play structure without two 3 year olds knocking her over!

Bethie's Logic

We were having dinner and Bethie dropped a bit of pasta on the floor that I had scrubbed earlier in the day. I asked her to pick it up. Instead of doing it right away, which is not her custom anyway, she told me that I should go and buy a "little dog". I informed her that I need a little dog like I need a little hole in my head, and restated that she should pick up the pasta. Bethie told me that if we had a dog than the dog could eat the pasta. This would ensure that she wouldn't have to pick up any dropped food, and I wouldn't demand so much of my children anymore. I said that I would rather vacuum than have a dog. She replied, "But sometimes a dog is like a vacuum". This is true. But vacuums can be put in the closet and left there, similar to Bethie if she doesn't pick up the damned pasta (I didn't say that but I thought it!).

Happy Birthday To My Littlest One

Today, Sarah turns 1. My littlest baby (or as Dan would say, my last baby...we'll see, Dan!) is now a toddler who walks and dances and squeals with delight. She demands to participate in all the activities that the twins do, and refuses to take "no" for an answer. She bangs about and gets into everything. If I say "Sarah, no!", she laughs and continues to commit her offence at a faster rate. She is her own person.

We are done with the bottles every 4 hours. We are done with waking up in the middle of every single night. We are done having to entertain a tiny wee "lump". We are done with being tethered to the house. We survived. High five, Dan!

Happy Birthday, my Sarahburra!

Now, bring on the toddler years.