Can you spot the difference?

Look closely ...

What has changed?

Isaac loves getting into our things. Of particular interest is Jen's collection of accessories. Getting a hold of her bag of scarves and pitching them over the bed and all over the floor is one favorite. As pictured, playing with her jewelry is another :-)

Wearing the ABC's

Nanny and Patrick c. 1975
Jen and Isaac c. 2008
While in Nova Scotia this summer, we had the opportunity to dress up Isaac in pajamas that I used to wear. Mom and Dad used to refer to them, and I guess Dad still does, as Paddy's ABC's. Isaac just barely fit into them so I seized the moment and did my best to compose Jen and the squirmy LM in a pose similar to that in a family photo of me and my Nanny, Dad's mom.

They're certainly a fair shade lighter by the time they got around to Isaac!

Greens Arts Barns Open!

After a couple of growing seasons
Thursday's Grand Opening
Taking in the farmer's market
Wow! After all the anticipation, the Green Arts Barns (now called the Artscape Wychwood Barns) opened on Thursday. Today we went to the first Farmers Market, which will held year-round on Saturday mornings. So much bustle and great food. We saw many familiar faces from the community, which turned out in force. The vendors certainly looked like they had their hands fulls and their stores emptied quickly.

It's such a great community feature. I can't wait to go skating there this winter or to take Isaac to the playground and water park next spring and summer.

Thanks Dad for your help and visit

What about apple pie for little boys?
Fascinated with the coffee pot
Dad was up for a visit this past week and got a chance to hang out with Isaac and enjoy Nonni's fine, fine cooking (yah, apple pie!). It wasn't all fun and games, though. Dad helped me to paint the upstairs, getting rid of the ugly pink hallway in the process. Between that and the various other chores we accomplished that week we got a lot done. Thanks for your help!

Warm Early November

Peering up from the bottom
Playing in the sand with friends
The really warm weather this early November was a boon to all the parents home with kids. Everyone made a real effort to get out to the park every day this past week before winter sets in. Pretty soon we'll have to bundle them up good and tight before taking them out.

I hope you enjoyed it while you could, kidlets!

Bye Bye Natasha

The Long Painful Goodbye
Turns out that our buyer found out about Natasha from Jalopnik.com's Project Car Hell. Apparently, in the eyes of our buyer, Natasha the 1987 Lada Signet beats the 1960 Dodge Power Wagon Town Wagon hands down. In fact, she was such a catch that he came all the way up from Michigan to tow her back.

While I know that the plaintive whine in the video is the winch, part of me likes to think that it is Natasha's sad cry of farewell.

What has fate in store for Natasha?

Blurriness courtesy of infant sized thumbprint on camera lens :-)
Our 1987 Lada Signet was named Natahsa by Al Shaw, one of Isaac's namesakes and her previous owner. She has taken us all over the GTA during the past year and a half. Included in the various errands and trips was the most precious delivery home of our most precious delivery.

Well, it's be a rough 6 months for Natasha and we've decided that the money needed to keep her purring would be better off in an RESP or spent on renos.

After putting her up for sale, we had some interest from local enthusiasts looking for a project but we turned out to be asking a little too much. After our ad was noticed by http://www.ladausa.net (who knew?) we received a flurry of enquiries and entreaties. By that time we had already found a buyer...

Stay tuned to find out what happens!

Witness to history

Isaac isn't the only one who's been waiting
If only we had someone as inspiring
Amazing to think that in 17 years time (or whenever Isaac becomes politically aware), an Obama presidency will be historical fact receding in the rear view mirror.

Hallowe'en 2008

Our little pumpkin
Poaching one from the bowl
So we had Isaac dressed up as a pumpkin this year, courtesy of Jen's efforts with some felt and a needle & thread. The weather was so mild that Isaac could toddle around outside, dressed as you see him, and marvel at all the older kids out with their parents. Fun times!

First Steps

Isaac has been gradually getting to the point of walking this past little while. A few months ago, he started cruising around coffee tables. Last week he took his first couple of steps. Finally, today he started putting it all together and, well, take a look for yourself...