Heat Wave

So after living in a city with built in air conditioning (aka fog) for the past 7 years, I've seriously forgotten what real summer weather is like.  It's still May and it is hot!  I totally forgot what this was like and I'm loving it!  I made popcicles for the kids this morning and figured out how to use our air conditioner.  Time for shorts, sunscreen and splashpads!

Just a Great Day

I took the kids to Toronto Island today. I didn't have an agenda, I just wanted us to get out and explore. "How long are we staying?" asked Elijah. "As long as we want, we've got hours, right until bedtime if we need to" I answered (BTW, never say that to a child because then they will want to stay until bedtime).

In all we spent about 5 hours on the island and I am really looking forward to going back one day. We went to the Franklin Children's Garden, the Splash Pad, the Play Park, the Pier, The Amazing Maze, and The Farm. We got chased by an angry Canada Goose. I'm embarrassed to admit that I screamed in slight terror at this open mouthed bird charging towards us, poor Elijah will never like Canada Geese again. Olivia got to have a great play in the shady lawn (slings double well for a little blanket).

I saw Jeremy's face light up in sheer delight as he got soaked on the splash pad.

 

And we just enjoyed our time together. It was great.

My Charming Son

"Mom, Daria keeps trying to kiss me." Really? That's a new one, last I checked it was Jennifer who was after my son in his class. But he's not interested, he's declared he is marrying Anna, his friend from church. According to them it's a perfect match. They are both 5 and a half. They both have green eyes. They both go to church. They both love skating. What's not to love really? Here they are in church a few weeks back.

But Anna is not his first girlfriend. Last fall he was 'romancing' McKenzie in his class. His mom and I had a good chuckle over that one. She's also a teacher at the school I was working in and our kids went to the same school. We both had to have a chat with them about holding hands at school.
But his real girlfriend, until we moved to Ontario was Jen Fry. A former youth from Jonathan's youth group (the older woman). He'd loved her for years. Still does, but since he met Anna, decided that Jen was too old for him, but they were still friends.
I should have guessed something like this would happen. Jonathan admitted he never went through a phase where he thought girls were gross. He always loved girls. Like father like son. It's not just that Elijah likes the girls, they like him too. Last fall going to pick Jeremy up from daycare with Elijah was like watching the ex-high school star return to his old stomping grounds. Cianna and Jaden would shout out, "Hi Elijah" in adoring voices and open their arms up for a hug.
This week, friends of ours from Saint John came to visit. Their daughter Zoe was the first girl Elijah declared he was marrying, way back when they were three. Well, they wasted no time re-newing their friendship. At one point Jonathan joked that he felt like Elijah was cheating on Anna. Take a look.

If he's like this a 5 and a half, what are his teenage years going to be like?

Toronto Traffic

I don't like the traffic in Toronto.  I knew I wouldn't before I even got here.  I've never liked crowds.  I find the drivers are so impatient from waiting in traffic jams that when there isn't one they speed.  Everywhere.  Including parking lots where there are lots of pedestrians.  Drives me nuts.  And they don't use their signals so why bother even putting them in the features of their cars.  And so many of them have pricey cars, I never thought BMWs and Porches would be common.  Same with Hummers and Lexuses. 
But of all things I never thought I'd say, I am quite proud that I hold my own in the Toronto traffic.  Sure I'm a little bolder of a driver.  But I'm also a nice driver.  It's quite something to see the look of surprise and gratitude a pedestrian gives you for actually stopping and waving them forward at a crosswalk.  As for the traffic jams?  Well, I avoid them if possible, but if not, I've figured out some car games to play with the kids so they don't get bored, and really I think that's why everyone is so pissed off at the traffic because they are bored sitting in it.  Since I have Jeremy and Olivia with me at all times (and Elijah most of the time), I also have complete access to the 3 or more only lanes, which helps. 
So sure Toronto traffic sucks.  But it's do-able.