Papa's Lists

Papa came to Toronto on a surprise visit with one of his lists! If you are not familiar, Papa makes lists of all the fun things we can do together. All the amazing projects and adventures we can experience as a family. We love Papa's lists. This time Papa's list included making a trap door in the shed for the boys to gain access to their secret fort, doing gluten-free baking together, and other special adventures with family and friends. We love your thoughtful lists, Papa! We can't wait to see your next list!

The Cummings are Coming!

We counted the days before seeing our dear, Canadian friends together with whom we spent many fun times in Brussels. The Cummings lived near us in Chant D'Oiseau and we enjoyed celebrating Canada's birthday together, going to a gite in France, having regular play dates and running together. In fact, Gudrun was one of the first women who signed up for the running team I started in Brussels! Gudrun, Max and Mario were there to support us after Mowgli died too. We are so grateful for their friendship and really happy they came up from the States to celebrate American Thanksgiving together. What a bonus that Papa was here too and that Gramma and Grampa could babysit Frunty, Pit and Mario so the parents could go to Feathers Pub after Scouts on Friday night. It was fun going to the St. Lawrence for oysters, hiking through the ravine and along the boardwalk, just enjoying being together! The boys particularly loved taking the Red Rocket downtown! And Mario loved the glow stick hunt at Scouts with us too! See you next time, Gudrun, Max and Mario! Which continent though!?

The boys' first badge!

All their hard work paid off as Frunty and Pit obtained their first Scout badge on Friday night. They earned their carpenter badge after drilling, sawing, gluing, hammering, nailing, sketching plans, and even using a chainsaw to explore the world of wood! Congratulations, Frunty and Pit! You are really hard workers and did more than you were asked with joy!

Baloo James told the other Scouts how proud he is that Frunty and Pit, newly arrived from Singapore, are already working hard on badges! Little does he know that we had a plan to make bird houses and do other wood projects just for fun and because we can get wood here whereas in Singapore we cannot! Working with wood with Aunt Dee and Papa was just for fun!

Carpenter's Badge

It looks like the boys' first Scout badge will be the Carpenter Badge. Although they spent three months preparing their Aviation Badge in Singapore, we have not yet heard about whether they have received it. Onwards and upwards! Now we are here in Toronto and with our new Scout friend and neighbour, Beckham, we are made privy to how many of our normal activities can lead to badges. It is hilarious! Frunty says it is raining badges here in Toronto! Well, let's enjoy it! We are currently making a bird house for fun...but...it may lead to a badge! Best wishes to Frunty and Pit who learn a lot everyday, not for diplomas or badges but for fun! Thank you to Papa for teaching us how to safely use a chainsaw (you're never too young...just ask Auntie Dee who generously leant the machine to us!)! What fun! And thanks to Beckham for clicking with us when we needed a friend right away! You are a sweetie!

A quote from the Dalai Lama

My true religion, my simple faith is in love and compassion. There is no need for complicated philosophy, doctrine, or dogma. Our own heart, our own mind, is the temple. The doctrine is compassion. Love for others and respect for their rights and dignity, no matter who or what they are - these are ultimately all we need.

Fun with Grandparents

The boys have been having lots of fun in Toronto and one of the reasons is because of more time with their grandparents. Gramma and Grampa took the boys to the Royal Winter Fair recently, Feathers Pub for poutine, and have taught them how to crochet and build a fort in the basement!

As I type this post, Frunty and Pit are hiking with Nonna and Nonno in Mississauga. It is a beautiful, mild day.

Not only is the time with the grandparents special and fun but it also supplements our homeschooling! Home Economics, Physical Education, yard clean-up...there is more to education than math and more math. What a wonderful opportunity for Frunty and Pit! Thanks to the grandparents!

Compliments.....

Compliments sure do feel great and I let the one below from our cousin, Daniela, in Bangkok wash all over me when I read it this morning. I invited her to join our blog to see photos of Nonno on his birthday. Daniela wrote me by email to say:




Thanks Kim for this beautiful present. Your blog it's really great .... I liked so much.

You are a fantastic mum, and .... you and Claudio ... fantastic parents.

A big hug, kiss to all the family!!

Thanks, Daniela! Same to you!

Buca's with Andrew

We sure had a great night with Andrew! Minus Mowgli, it was a Val d'Isere reunion but Italian style with great company, food and ambiance. Thanks so much to Andrew for inviting us out and fitting us in during his busy work schedule while in Toronto! It was a super fun evening!

Bird Houses

One of the projects we wanted to work on while in Toronto was the building of bird houses because you can go to Home Depot and buy the materials whereas it is hard to buy wood in Singapore...or maybe even impossible. We wanted to do this project for fun and for no other reason but it turns out that the boys can earn a Carpenter badge for Scouts as a result of working with wood. Two weeks ago we got the cedar from Rona and last week we borrowed some tools from Auntie Dee. And then today was the day and we really worked almost from morning til night. We had to go to Auntie Dee's again to borrow a few more tools and then to the Home Depot again. So it was a big production but the boys are now in bed with their bird houses illuminated in their room. Tomorrow we will put them outside. It was a fun project even though it took a lot longer than we expected! Yes, you can buy a bird house for $9.99 that looks similar at Canadian Tire. But that's too easy and would not earn the feeling of satisfaction and...a badge! Well done, Frunty and Pit! And thanks to Papa for lots of guidance and to Auntie Dee for lending some of the tools! Hopefully the birds will be happy too!

Shaken not stirred!

We, the parents, enjoyed going to see the new Bond movie "SkyFall" with Uncle Chris and Auntie Laura last night in Whitby. We had martinis, of course, and dinner at Milestones before the IMAX movie while Grampa kindly babysat the boys back on Willow. Grampa took Frunty and Pit to Scouts and ordered gluten-free pizzas. They had a ball! Back in Whitby, we really had some good laughs too and it was great to have a double date! The highlight was not the movie but being together!

Happy 82, Nonno!

On November 8th, we enjoyed celebrating Nonno's 82nd birthday together!

The boys gave Nonno a chocolate Monopoly to play next time! And Pit made wormy cupcakes sprinkled with "mud" for Nonno! Frunty took great pictures and was the perfect waiter in his tux!

It was really fun to be together and especially great to have Papa here for the birthday celebrations!

"At Auntie Dee's...

we get to use a glue gun, we get to saw wood, we get to do stain glass, we get to spray paint our treasure boxes with shiny spray after painting it by hand, we get to repair a canvas, we get to draw an object with our eyes closed and with our right and then our left hands, we get to look in Auntie Dee's basement with her for interesting items we can use for projects, we get to rake leaves, we get to be together, we get to eat lunch on wooden tv tables in her livingroom, we get to be kids..."

by Frunty and Pit

"You know what mommy?! Auntie Dee is like Mary Poppins!"

by Frunty

More photos at the Longstaff's Cottage

 I had a problem accessing all my photos the other day but Papa to the rescue! Thanks for helping me get the photos off my card so I can post them on our blog, Papa.

 The boys played hours of Monopoly...the never ending game that is somehow always fun!

We got to spend time with puppy Fenwick...what a cutie! What a cozy cottage and a fun time together. Thanks again to Scot, Ninon and Kyle!

The Longstaff's Cottage

We finally made it to the Longstaff's cottage on Christian Island near Barrie, Ontario. We had a beautiful weekend together and it was great to be in the fresh air, sit by the fire later with hot chocolate, play Monopoly and other games and eat chili con carne! Just being together was fun and we hope to visit again in the summer! Thanks for a great time!

Art with Auntie Dee

I was looking for an art class for our boys in the Beaches and then it hit me! Who is the perfect art teacher in the whole world who continues to take art classes in her eighties!? Auntie Dee! How fortunate that Auntie Dee is very open about the idea of spending time with us and can demonstrate how to use a hand saw, glue gun, paint brush all the while displaying great patience and love while Frunty and Pit learn how to paint, sketch, do calligraphy, make stain glass and more...

 Frunty painted this scene based on an image in his mind of a vista he saw in Prince Edward Island.

Pit used his tiny fingers to paint this scene. No paint brush required!
We love Auntie Dee and our time together! Thanks so much and see you next week, Auntie Dee!