Summer vacation has started and the pool is perfect right on time! We've been taking it easy and getting organised before our trip home to Nova Scotia in a week. Wesley had his Kindergarten graduation and seems to be excited about heading off to grade one next year. Isobel has also been talking about going

to kindergarten in September and for now seems to be excited about it ;) the last few mornings they have been a bit confused about not having to get ready to walk to school but are happy to stay at home. Wesley got a new Lego set with money he has been saving and carries it room to room depending on were we all are. Isobel has been busy helping me rearrange her room. Ian will be painting it when we are in NS are she wants her ' big girl room' yellow.
For those of you wondering about the chickadee babies they have all fledged. Six eggs and six successful fledged. We were all pretty excited but a bit sad to see them go. They all had such a presence in the back yard with the constant feeding and chirping.

chickadee babies

The last few weeks the chickadees have been working hard in the back yard. They have been stuffing a bird house that Wesley put up a few years ago with moss, soft fir, feathers and grasses. The pair are very fast and efficient. I think she started laying her eggs around the 26th and has been sitting on the at least since 29th of May. We peeked a few days ago when I knew the mother wasn't in there and guess what? EGGS!!! We are crazy excited and the female has been sitting on the eggs most of her day. Her mate comes every now and then and calls to her from the trees. He sometimes brings her food and sometimes she goes to hang out with him for five or ten minutes at a time. I'll keep you posted, but so far it looks like there are four eggs. Yeah for chickadee babies!  (hatch date somewhere between the 6th and the 10th).

Paint paint and more paint

spray bottle and scrub brushes

Isobel's favourite thing to do right now is paint. She would paint for hours every day. Beyond just brushes and paper she seems to want to cover herself in it and thoroughly experience it with all her senses :) I have been trying to introduce some new painting methods and have been letting her revisit  the techniques whenever she wants. She often chooses the simplest ones and has yet to show any interest in a product. She does not wish to talk to me about what she is doing. She is completely immersed in the process of texture, colour and pattern...very interesting to watch :)

paint mixed with glitter

foot painting

paint and brushes

April

For the month of April I'm going to observing what the kids play with and what their interests are right now. I'm hoping to pull a few project ideas out for the summer and document what their up to all the same time :) soo...


What are the kids into so far this month
Wesley

• Lego -star wars, ships, buildings,weapons,dramatic reenactments 
• Rocks- collecting, sorting, displaying, books, 
• Outside - snow, digging, water flow, storm drains, signs of spring
• Magnetics
• Art Materials ( pencils, markers, paper)
• Science experiments involving chemical reactions 

Some mixing experiments

Isobel 

• Babies, strollers, doll cloths, diapers
• Watching for the birds
• Cars -parking lots, organising, ramps
• Duplo- cars and people
• Outside - climbing and tricycle 
• Art and sensory - poster paint, glue, pencil, water bins, mixing materials 
• Baking of any kind
• Planting seeds

bird watching

Wesleys favorite things

Here are some pics of Wesleys favorite things this winter :)

Lego

more lego

snow forts

even more lego

snow and lego together

skating

Isobels favorite things

Here are some pictures of Isobels favorite things this winter :)

Birthday Cake

cars and painting

dolls and strollers

Gymnastics

Kenny

november december catch up :)

November was a busy month, with Isobel's 3rd birthday and Christmas preparations. She had a great time and was very excited to turn three. Her favourite present was her double stroller from granny and her new baby Stella doll 'Sit' and extra baby Stella clothes.

 

December was a bit of blurry (kinda like our attempt at family Christmas pictures:) The kids had a great time over the break, we all played Lot's of trains, cars and Lego. Wesley was busy working on star wars ships and we all worked together on making an ATAT walker. Isobel was busy with the Thomas trains, painting and her dolls and strollers. We got outside tons, and made it for a few walks in Lemoine Point to feed the birds.