Cohen

Some babies are delicious. Cohen Beck Ulloa is delicious; dreamy eyes, sweet face, sweet temperament.  Sacha came over again today.  It was fun to hang out again.  Funniest moment, that I just have to include!  Sacha was changing a diaper and Alice was right there, as she always is.

"What's that?" asked Alice.

Next I hear Sacha calling "Wendy?".

"Boys bums and girls bums are different, aren't they?" I sometimes feel guilty that I have not yet taught my girls correct terminology.  I keep thinking I don't want to hear penis and vagina all the time.  Because they do say butt, bum, poo, pee and poo-poo head, and well there is already too much toilet talk.  At some point though, I do need to expand their vocabulary...

Back to Cohen, it was fun to have a few more snuggles with him and of course to see Sacha.  I hope we can meet up this fall!  Being on maternity leave is the best!

Mom and Dad (aka Grandma and Grandpa) also stopped by today.  We over lapped a little between guests but that was fun.  Mom and Dad stayed for dinner and gave us a lovely gift to help with our trip to Connecticut.  I'm so excited!  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Playcube with Luke and Maya

Play places, Luke and Maya and play places, they just go together!  I have taught with Diane at Blue Willow since 2004.  It took time to get to know each other, but wow, the times we've shared since then.  The journey to become Moms.  Everyones journey is so different.  What a blessing to share the journey though!

The kids had fun today and in the midst of the play place crazy, Diane and I still did manage to visit!  Kate and Alice enjoyed themselves, but Fiona, she was in HEAVEN!

Wasaga Beach

Going to the beach with three little ones without Ken is not my idea of a good time, but am I going to let that stop me from having a good time?  "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." ~Lao Tzu.  This sums up motherhood for me.  I love being a Mom and it gives me courage.  Courage to take a 1, 3, 5 year old to the beach and meet up with friends and have a fun day.  The girls were great.  Having friends there was great.  The weather was beautiful.  It was a lovely fun in the sun day. 

Thank you Ruth and Terri-Ann for such a fun day.

Madison

Today we went to the "sun park" in Alliston with Kate's school friend Madison.  Kate was so excited to see her.  They had so much fun together today.  I'm excited for Kate to learn how to make and keep friendships.  Navigating the social side of school is so tough.  I hope Kate doesn't get too roughed up figuring things out along the way.

Swimming at Gayla's Mom's House

We missed last summer what with Fiona being a new born.  And then looking back, I discovered that we missed three years ago too.  I thought this had been an interrupted annual tradition, but it seems that it is a biennial event!  Gayla and I taught together at Blue Willow years ago.  Double the fun of today was that Ilana, another friend that I taught with at Blue Willow was able to join us.  They both have two boys, but only brought one with them today.  Jake was at camp (Gayla's oldest) and Miles was at home (Ilana's youngest).

We had a great time swimming, we had yummy pizza and we renewed the bonds of friendship.  Maybe we'll be crazy and actually see each other next summer too!

Here are our cute kiddies: Alice, Liam, Fiona, Kate, Mason.

Fiona is 14 Months Old

This month I've been aware of how much I call Fiona "the baby".  But she isn't the baby anymore.  I told the girls that she's a toddler now.  I'm not sure when the official start of toddler-dom is, but she toddles everywhere.  She wants to talk, to communicate her wants and needs.  She wants to be part of everything.  She still doesn't want to be away from me.  My baby is slowing receding into memory, being replaced little by little with a girl.  And she is just the cutest little girl, especially when she waves and says "bye".

Tottenham Friends

I took these really pretty pictures of the girls last year, and when we were invited to lunch at Michelle's I wanted to do it again.  I'm so grateful for good friends close by! 

Amelie and Alice

Marisol and Kate

I look forward to taking these same pictures every summer!  Friendship is one of life's most wonderful gifts!

Cooper and Shawn

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

I wanted a lovely quote about friendship, and I think this is perfect.  I have so many wonderful friends that I don't get to see all the time, but when I do see them, it is wonderful.  We all grow and change and life goes on, but with friends, true friends, none of that matters.  You just happily pick up and carry on.  Spending time with Shawn feels like that.  We've known each other since high school and I can happily say that we've both grown lots since then.  I always enjoy hanging out with Shawn and Cooper.  And today was great.  Shawn and Cooper came over, Ken made a yummy BBQ lunch and we just had a lovely day.