Mexico shirts

Wearing the shirts Tocayo and Regi brought back from Mexico

Renee on the Big Swing

The little swings were wet, so I suggested the big swing

Renee - "No Mami, no"

Me - "Let's try it and if you don't like it you can get off"

Within two seconds of being seated - "Push me high, up to the sky"

After picture taken - "Put camera away now"

But I wanted to send Marc the picture, so I asked her to sing a song and then I'd put the camera away. "Twinkle, twinle . . . . wonder what you are. Now put it away and push me high"

Renee and the Railroad

We were invited to a train party today, at Richmond Hill Live Steamers where they build and operate real model size stream locomotives. The tracks are really long, have different switches and routes, complete with a church on the side of the railroad, a barn (which Renee referred to as her house 3 times), a central store, complete with dolls and plastic flowers. At first she hesitated from going on the trains with the elevated track, but then she saw the ones that run on the ground and she loved them. We wet on 3 or4 times, each ride was about 10 minutes long, going up to 10 km/hour, and each one a bit different. She loved it. Too bad the boys were still on their trip, they would have been in heaven.

Twoot twoot, all aboard

On the actual train (self portrait using blackberry)

Enjoying cake with the hosts of the train party

Fort Henry

(this is Matthew enthusiastically pretending to be in the Marching Band)

In Kingston

As part of their summer vacation, Marc took the boys to Kingston where we went to university and where we met 17 years ago.

Samuel drawing at Pan Chancho

At the eastern ontario train museum

On parliament hill

When I showed this to Renee she said "who's that guy with my brother?"

Bedtime books

The boys reading books with their Buba, on their "boy's vacation".

At Babby's Tea and Taking a Picture with the Phone

Marc, Sameul and Matthew are visiting Marc's parents, leaving Renee and me at home for some girl time. Lovely, with a big focus on all things pink, from paydough to cookies to clothes. But more improtantly, it's given me a chance to enjoy the company of just one kid, there aren't 3 sets of pajamas to cajole, teeth to brush and shoes to yell about in the morning. We talk over dinner, discuss where Daddy and "my brothers Matthew and Sameul" are, and wy we can't go pick them up, and that she doesn't like cats. I get a blow by blow of daycare, who went outside, who cried, who was cutting with the "skisos".

We went to a "tea" at my grandmother's and used the occasion to put on her new pink party dress. Renee wasn't keen on letting me take her picture though. She insisted on taking her own picture . . . with a land-line phone! Perfect opportunity for me to take her picture with my cell phone.

Setting the table for dinner

End of Camp Dance Recital

Samuel loved his new camp this year, Multi Sport in the morning, and Dance in the afternoon. He came home with a few awards for being the "best listenner" and "best helper", super proud of himself. And did some great art work too.

These are pictures from his end of camp dance recital. He was front and center. His t-shirt was one of his arts and crafts projects.