Honeybees Deux

Marriage

2012-02-12T13:08:00.004-04:00

Like many loving kids, Burl and Ivo have both toyed with the idea of marrying me. I've declined citing my current marital status as well as our close blood ties. Ivo is over it. Burl, however - and sweetly - insists that "you're supposed to marry someone who is beautiful who you love. You're beautiful and I love you, so I'm gonna marry you."

Fine Fine Fine. Burl took his show on the road - explaining his plans to Ryan, who after the obvious objections asked, "What about me?"

Burl told him that "you can be your own grandpa."

It's called Hip Hop

2012-02-09T21:18:00.003-04:00

Ivo heard this the other day and said "THIS is the kind of music I LIKE!!!"

nature nurture not-it

2012-02-08T22:38:00.001-04:00

A couple days ago Burl was running around, doing cool moves, baiting anyone and everyone for wrestling and somewhere along the line, he repeatedly proclaimed, "I'll do it when I'm dead!!!"

I thought it was hilarious and amazing that he'd have this idea - cribbed or original - and think it bore repeating. A clear and strong memory I have of my father is his very similar refrain, "I’ll sleep when I'm dead." Obviously a weird little echo there. I told this to Burl. Dinner table discussion ensued, ending with Ivo asking, "Does your dad have an accent?"

Where to begin? "And how!" I told him. And then I corrected the verb tense.

Am I old-fashioned because, even in the digital age, I like 2 spaces after a period?

Pictures from 4 Feb 2012. We walked through the golf course to a nighttime sliding party. VERY FUN!!! The weekend weather was so nice, we went again on Sunday.

Boba Fett-ish

2012-02-02T07:31:00.003-04:00

Here is a link to a cool picture of Boba Fett - and there are a few links below the picture that look interesting.

Here's directions on how to draw Boba Fett.

But I can't find a good mask - I'll try later:)

Groundhog Day

2012-02-01T22:18:00.002-04:00

February 2nd is Groundhog Day. Here's a story about the lore of the groundhog and his shadow.

Ground hogs are also called woodchucks. You can see some pictures here and here.

How much woods would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?

He'd chuck as much as a woodchuck could chuck
if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

Treehouses

2012-02-01T21:32:00.006-04:00

Man builds Ewok village in Oregon!!! There are many pictures of tree houses and suspended rope bridges. There is also a video.

Here are some pictures from the fall of 2011. It was a nice warm fall.

We did a lot of gardening this past fall. We planted 5 little giant globe cedars. We had to water them every day.

We went to Hunter Brothers' corn maze.

January is almost over...

2012-01-29T19:38:00.005-04:00

But not without a little dental surgery - or, more precisely, dental work done while under anesthesia - since 4 year olds, like Burl, don't sit thru 1.5 hours of work...

Here are Burl's new front teeth - He has a metal crown back there which he says feels weird. Ryan and I drove Burly to the Oromocto Public Hospital on Friday just ahead of a province-wide school closing storm. We drove home into it. 10-15 cm of snow followed by 5cm of ice pellets.

We played in the snow Saturday.

Went to a Slammer's game - at least the opening of it - for Burl to join his pre-school mates singing the national anthem.

Here's a video of Burly singing:

burl 290112
Here's a video of Ivo from 2009:

Ivo OCanada Hockey
Ivo made up the word "ninjotic" back in December:

ivo nijotic

Many months later...

2012-01-23T20:07:00.003-04:00

Yes.
The blog has been directionless... and un-piloted.

But - a new direction is revealing itself. I want the blog to be a portal and repository of all things Ivo and Burl are interested in. Something they can drive.

So, Ivo wants to learn about "ancient cities." Burl is into infinity.

Look for links and pics soon...

Here is a video of Ivo and Burl on Xmas morning 2011. Ivo knows his ski goggles enhance his coolness. Burl is offended to receive cool-making goggles, complaining, "I'm already cool."

Ivo 251211 by thehoneybees

Here is Burl lip-syncing to Darth Vader:

burl starwars sync 210112 by thehoneybees

Ivo and Burl love Grocery Store Wars:

Lost Cities Photos - from national Geographic. These are pictures of the ruins of ancient great cities. These cities were "lost" to people for hundreds (sometimes thousands) of year. They were rediscovered and excavated by archeologists.

Here is a link to a great site about ancient Greece. There are sections on city states, mythology, and even some games.

Here is a fan-made video for They Might Be Giants' Infinity.

Here's something about counting to infinity.

oh yea...

2011-06-21T23:40:00.001-03:00

I'll be posting a video of Burl being trampled on the bouncy thing... at the zoo...

what it feels like to lose your child at the circus

2011-06-21T22:04:00.010-03:00

We lost Ivo at the circus. When I say “we” I mean, "Burl and I." Lost Ivo. At the CIRCUS!!!

Now, I don’t want to blame Burl, but he did have to pee, after we got back to our seats from intermission...

It is every mother’s dream to lose her child at the circus. It took 4 days shy of precisely 6-1/2 years for me to contrive a scenario in which Ivo and I would find ourselves separated by a line of not-quite-compliant performing baboons. As the reality that these seats, filled with other blond kids, were our seats … and Ivo wasn’t there was sinking in… I was scanning-the-crowd, I’d asked him 3x if he wanted to come to the bathroom with us – and he was having a good time with the group of kids… and he is 6-1/2 and has been doing a little being-in-public-by-himself stuff – and it’s all gone well so far. But, ahhh , the CIRCUS!!! I am freaking out now – but I wasn’t then. I was in FIND-HIM mode, and I knew I would.

I admit to having had a concern that he might attract the untoward interest of an animal larger than he. I was scanning, picturing him in my head; his blue shirt with #7 on it and a bull embroidered over the left chest and exactly how his hair was – I figured I’d spot those first. I was looking/prowling the stairs, eye on Burl. It was dark. The spotlights were starting to dart around the arena. The rave music throbbed. I decided I could move faster without Burl. I asked the woman next to us if she would keep Burl for me. Burl said fine. I was calm I turned to go and saw the Ringleader, standing in the spotlight with a little boy in a blue shirt with the #7 on it and a bull embroidered over his left chest. His eyes were pointing to the floor in the tremendous light. It looked heavy on him. It looked like he was trying to see out. He looked bright and I thought, “perhaps Ivo is a volunteer-participant from the audience.” I had struggled to hear clearly, the mic was sooo loud, the music, all beats and lights. I was wondering how Ivo was doing, if he had wanted to volunteer or had it been an accident? had he answered a quiz-style question correctly? The ringleader said something about “lost boy,” “mother,” “he’ll be at the sound system.” Had Ivo realized what he was doing?

The woman next to me said she’d watch Burl and I walked up a flight, over and down a flight, was passed by a baboon at the end of a family of marching baboons. Crossing the arena floor, I approached the sound system, not seeing Ivo. The thought of the loose baboons and the whatever-else animals there were returned. Where could he be? I had just seen him… in the spotlight. Long seconds later, he was behind the sound tech. The technician’s back was to him. The circus was not set up to mind errant waifs. Ivo was really on in own, in the center of a strange cement land full of circus animals. He was freaked.

We didn’t make a big deal of it. It’s fine now. I think this is like earthquakes. I know someone who was hit by lightning twice in his life. I do not know anyone who has had their house fall down in more than one earthquake. I will not lose him at a circus ever again. Ivo will not lose his way at a circus. He will never again windup standing in the middle of a one-ring circus, under the bright lights with the cheesy, preposterously dressed, booming loud ring leader. We have a better understanding of crowds, lights, excitement, impulse control and both of our judgments.

There is more to tell of tball, father's day and others - but not now.

more soon

2011-06-14T23:19:00.003-03:00

Just finished a paper. Big transition time of year. Lots of goood. Burl and Ivo and Ryan are awesome

more soon

ok - it's under control

2011-05-17T22:33:00.003-03:00

Boys in bath 12 May

Well, nothing to freak you out and motivate like thinking you've lost a diary you kept for more than 3 years...

thank goodness it's back... something about "unusual activity on yr acct" and so google/blogger deactivated my old blog - which I had to access thru and old email/pw and then google texted me a code to enter... kinda cool.

Things are fine -but they could be better... the weather is depressing - and aside from a constant battle to avoid succombing to depression - in general, I have an end of times kind of feeling... there are so many things that are up in the air - and I don't know on which side the coins will land or whether or when... There's an unsettling crisi-tunity aura - though, probably a lot of it is in my head... and if the sun ever shines again, I'll forget all about these crappy weeks which followed an over-long, unneccessarily cruel winter... I hope so...

Over memorial day, the boys and I (and mabe Ryan) are going to Maine to see my uni roommate and her family... They'll be in Boston for her huz's 20th uni reunion. It's the year of our 20th too - so, we're having a private reunion - and I can't wait!!!

I'm taking a summer course on Myth/archetypes... it starts on the same weekend - but should be ok.

Blue sky pics from mother's day - last sun I can remember - and short lived!!!

I made a hair appointment for Friday afternoon - I'm this is what I think will help me out of the funk.

omigosh my old blog is gone!!!

2011-05-17T21:38:00.001-03:00

I'm gonna cry!!!
o no o no o no o no o no~~~

Spring Firsts

2011-03-20T20:11:00.006-03:00

Many FIRSTS on this first day of SPRING!!!

Ivo's first loose tooth FELL OUT - We're awaiting the Tooth Fairy tonight!!!

Burl had his first HAIRCUT - When he looked in the mirror, Burl said, "I look like someone else!!!"

The first three pics are Burl with all the hair he's ever grown - including dreds in the back. The last two are Burl with his new do!!!

We had a playdate with a classmate of Ivo's and Ryan's friend, wife and 8 year old came to visit. They confirmed that hottubs are AWESOME - which is what I've been saying for a couple weeks. And now we're going to get one!!!

YAY!!!

The weather is changing - it's feeling Springy. There's melt and dead grass and even some intrepid green things poking up through the muck. Exciting!!! This has been a very hard winter - mostly because of the incessant viral attacks on Ivo and Burl. Also, the obscene amount of snow. Ryan and Gail hiked into the camp yesterday - over a meter of snow... but looking good!!!

We skyped with Mike, Jenny, Maddie, precious little Nolan and Mom - how fun! We are planning to invade their space next winter - that'll ease the winter suicidal tendencies:) So exciting:)

Burl has invented a new super hero - Gliderboy!!!

I'm starting week 8 of a 9 week semester. So far I've written 3 papers - one more to go - the final. Then taxes. Then HOTTUB!!!

This week, I'm going to a conference in Fredericton - it was great last year - and I expect this year to be even better - especially cuz I'll get to hang out with Lindsay at least 2 nights:

It's so good to have good news in the midst of the horrors occurring on this crappy planet... Japan earthquake, tsunami and, yes, multiple nuclear meltdown which worries me that I'll soon be unwittingly feeding my kids radioactive food - maybe food-labeling will improve? Sure, why not... And the start of another unwinnable, never-ending war - this time in Lybia. What about Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and the rest of the Middle East kleptocratic dictators...

HOTTUB

Back!!!

2011-02-16T09:19:00.003-04:00

It is my hope anyway.
I make many hilarious and inciteful observations every day - so does Ivo, so does Burl - and you're kidding yourself if you think Ryan's not in the action.

I am de-linking the blog from fbk - though I enjoy fbk - there are too many people - and some of them live closeby... Unnerving to my former bloggy self...

We have recently made out March break reservations - the kids are excited for a little Crystal Palace.

Ivo can read. Burl can write.

I am working on my MA.
There is a ridiculous amount of snow.

Back to School

2010-09-12T08:13:00.002-03:00

Drat!!! I missed August!!! Ahhh!!! Boo!!!

Ok. Let it go...

We had a great summer. The school year returned the week before laboour day for Ryan and the Tuesday following Labor Day for Ivo. Both school boys are adjusting 0 though neither seems to have time to eat his lunch... But, that'll come:)

Burl has been adjusting to the change - the change which denies him school entry and deprives him of Ivo... It's been weepy.

Overall, this has been the hardest week in recent memory... Lots of overwrought emotions; screaming, weeping, tantrumming - quite challenging. Feeling optimistic though:)

Speaking of optimism, we celebrated Gail's bday yesterday - FUN FUN FUN!!! The weather was beautiful, we all went out to dinner and had ice-cream cake:) Boys loved it!

Here are a couple videos from Labour Day weekend...

Ivo finds yr lack of faith disturbing...

Ivo finds yr lack of faith disTURbing!!!
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Burl is standing on yr foot

Burl - I'm standing on yr FOot
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Handheld video games in da house

2010-07-26T21:11:00.002-03:00

Ivo and Burl have been playing computer games online for YEARS - Ivo since he was 14 months-ish - gotta check ld blog... Burl same-ish -

On the way home from Cleveland they got a d$ and a leap$ter. Ivo loves his. Burl "when-do-i-get-da-play?" is also in love with the d$. Both are cool with the leap$ter but Burl has not embraced it as thoroughly as Ivo has embraced the d$. Burl likes what Ivo likes. When he lets himself, he likes leap$ter.

Anyway from before the handheld game days, Ivo playing a starwar$ video game, wearing earphones - for the first time...

ivo earphones starwars game
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Burl at t-ball practice... waiting to bat. He is oft overheard remarking, "dat too lo-ong." Very sweet Burl. Who likes to be called "Dash" and asks me to cheer "Go Dash GO!!!" while he's running the bases. He would like this cheer to be perpetual!!! Incessant, even. "What incessant mean?" he asked.

Burl: when is it gonna be my turn?
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Explore more family videos.

This was taken at the beginning of July...

Link to Ivo & Burl May 2008 in Taiwan - photos and commentary...
Burl is 14.5 months and Ivo is 3 years 4.5 months.
It's interesting because Burl now wears the Incredible$ shirt and calls me Elastigirl - elaborately detailing who in real life is who in the movie. It's fun. He thinks Arun and Bryce should be JackJack:)

JULY is the Busiest Month

2010-07-26T20:15:00.003-03:00

Or maybe it's August? September?

Overheard on baby monitor just now:

Ivo: Do you know what your "buttocks" is?
Burl: No.
Ivo: It's you BUTT!!!

There is a lot that isn't being documented, I admit. I'm making notes... I've got half-written things... But I just don't have the wherewithal I had when I was forced to sit, nursing, for hours... I could type. I could even do that thing...ummm, think? Yes, think!

Unless Ivo and/or Burl are using the computer - I don't turn it on before they go to bed. On workdays between 4:30- 8pm - I don't use the computer. Mostly. Pretty much.

We had such a great visit in Cleveland with all the Schaeffer sibs and offspring - we stopped in Montpelier to see Nicolle and Arthur's still new digs. We've got Brooklyn to look forward to and lots more Cleveland time to come!!!

I'm posting some videos that Ivo and Burl want to share with their cousins Mikey, Ally, Maddie and Arun and all their other cousins and friends. Ivo and Burl are addicted to TMBG -everything!!! It's great fun!

Ivo and Burl also have a few skateboarding videos especially for their hero, Mikey:

element skateboarding
how to skateboard for beginners
how to skateboard: lesson 1 - leads to more lessons
360 ollie

I will be posting more pics on fcbk asap.

I will also be removing the link to this blog from my fcbk profile very soon... this may/may not increase the blogging - not sure:)

Mirrors

2010-06-13T20:08:00.002-03:00

At the science museum 7 June...

Happy Sad Happy

2010-06-13T19:36:00.006-03:00

Imagine having always been strapped into a car seat...

Now, imagine NOT being strapped in!!!

Born freeeeeeeee!!!

From the community centre park to the camp - no seatbealts required...

happiness

delight

bliss

hope

Planted a crimson king maple tree in memory of Patty on the third anniversary of her death. A wonderful way to remember and cry and reflect and be together with forever fornow

Ivo & Burl on video

2010-05-31T07:20:00.002-03:00

Videos from Victoria Day weekend 2010...

Blindfolded Burl - this is his 5th time through and both he and I are a little loopy with our directions:)

Ivo and Burl light sabering. I think they're really really good!!!

Singing Muffin Man in the wind on the teeter totter.

EXTRA: Ryan and the boys playing from early May...

Summer Begins

2010-05-30T21:51:00.006-03:00

We've had a great couple opening-of-summer fun weekends.

Pics from Victoria Day, 24 May, Two-Four Wkend.

Lightsabering - not lightningsabering - in case you were thinking...

marshmallow roast

Lots of time in the wading pool and at the teeter-totter.

Black-fly protective netting

The boys were AMPED. We had to blindfold Burl to slow him down...

Pics from a truncated Memorial Day Weekend to follow.

May - April Switcheroo

2010-05-11T06:40:00.005-03:00

So the weather has turned cold and rainy - May has so far felt much more like April and in retrospect, I realize April felt like what May should be doing right now... But, long sleeves, vests and sweaters are all you need to enjoy - oh, also, winter jackets...

Ugh.

So, our yard is full of birds - blue jays and robins, finches and some other bird whose name we're trying to ascertain.

One things is clear, we do not give quarter to a diurnal owl... like we had been thinking...

Prompting our new joke; What do you call an owl who coos in the daytime?

A pigeon.

Maybe a dove, a love bird... but basically, a pigeon.

Ivo and Burl are doing great. Ivo is sooo into bugs and nature - he has a new terrarium with a magnifying glass attached - very cool. He's been examining earth worms and bright red lily beetles.

Burl has had a combo cold/allergies for the last few days - he's happy but runny nosey. As of yesterday, Burl is a computer-user. With few exceptions, Burl had been happy participating by watching Ivo play games - let's just say Burl has come into his own. He spent hours concentrating on games yesterday... mostly teletubbies on pbs and a couple games on cbc.

MAY DAYS

2010-05-02T18:50:00.008-03:00

Everything awesome.

Ivo & Burl awesome.

Weather awesome.

Pics and vid from yesterday in F'ton at market, science museum, walking bridge over the St. John River - with Lindsay and Geoff & Mitch and Jocelyn - Taichung peeps.

Today was as warm as the ac setting in Taiwan -> 25C!!!

Today we visited 3 sets of cousins!

These are days when Ivo & Burl are mistaken for twins.

Often.

Days when Ivo builds Star Wars ships with legos and draws pics of "Fat Vader" while Burl skateboards and jams.

Days when we eat red Thai curry with fried tofu and bean sprouts.

And organic german style sausage and local cheese.

Days when we pretend sweat potatoes are squash -and love them - but won't try "sweat potatoes."

Days when we feel luckier than lucky and happier than happy.

Days when we marvel that we own a lawn mower...

and a lawn.

Days when we watch birds at the feeders, bugs and buds...

We want a fire place like this!!!

Days when Ivo and my favorite song is This Too Shall Pass by OK Go - Rube Golberg video and live on Colbert Report.

Easter Video

2010-04-14T07:14:00.003-03:00

Here are the boys in the midst of a days-long ecstatic chocolate rush!!!

Easter Weekend Ivo & Burl with Ant & Egg
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Discover videos of people, family and friends.

Burl says,

I'm cool and I'm awesome.
Watch and learn, ladies.

All's well:)

Ivo & Burl on March Break

2010-03-11T07:27:00.003-04:00

We all had the 1st week of March off - and drove thru a snowstorm - wherein the hiway was invisible to us and 20km/hr was too fast - to get to the wonderful crystal palace hotel in Moncton... it was awesome!!!

the fabulous jumpin' star
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Family events, birthdays and parenting videos.
Burl still says, "I wanna go on the jumpin' star!!!"
More video likely to follow...

eek - I see that dailymotion has inserted ads before running videos - I'm going to look at my video options...
soon

Burly's 3rd

2010-03-10T17:39:00.002-04:00

I'm at a conference in Fredericton - and it seems as though I'll have some breathing room - more sooooon -

For now, here's beautiful Burl on his 3rd birthday 228 - and yes, Ivo has quite a set of lungs:)

Burly's 3rd Birthday

Ivo - That was AWESOME!

2010-02-25T07:48:00.002-04:00

FromVD/CNY:

oooh that was awesome! 140210
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Burl said: "A meanie is somebody you not listen to."

Picture Ketchup

2010-02-24T22:53:00.005-04:00

pics from CNY/VD 14 Feb 2010 - Grammie and Grampie gave Ivo and Burl red envelopes for CNY. It was a fun jammie-wearing day.

Grampie Doug's Bday is on 13 Feb. Once upon a time, we thought Burl might share his bday with Doug. We'd even dared to think that Burl might have come before Grampie's Bday. Of course, Burl came on the exact right day for him. The only drawback is that there is only a tiny 15 day period when the question, "Whose bday is next?" can be answered "Burl!!!" Burl is enjoying this preBday/3 time. When asked how old he is going to be he arranges his 3 middle fingers and says "3; Alvin, Simon, Theodore" - pointing to each finger in turn.

Gearing Up for Burl's Birthday!!!

2010-02-24T22:33:00.003-04:00

Burl will be 3 on Sunday, 28 Feb.
228.
YAY!!!
Burl is awesome, possessed of an enviable joie de vivre. A delightful and delighted human being.

Burl sings Transformers
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

Burl heard "the lion sleeps tonight" for the first time tonight at dinner. He asked what's an "weem-a-wa"?
He sang of the jungle.
He sang of a sleeping lion.
He loves to sing!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ivo is likewise awesome and wonderful. He is very interested in Star Wars these days. Ryan and his brother had lots of SW toys which we now have at our house!!!

Here are Ivo and Burl building a tower on Chinese New Year - enter the Tiger.

ivo burl build a tower 140210
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Discover videos of people, family and friends.

Goals

2010-02-06T15:28:00.003-04:00

My current goal is to blog some amount, as much as possible.
It's astounding how little time there is when you work full time... Such a pity.
Everything is great though.

The xmas season was wonderful. Andrew was here. Ivo turned 5!!!
The weather has been reasonable. Extremly cold the last week or so - but overall, not bad. Reasonable.

Burl is on the precipice of 3!!!

I have been collecting quotes.

Here are a few:
Ivo on meditation: The ancient Greeces used it to talk to god. They hoped it would make Jesus come back to life. Where did you get this information? "From the internet.

Burl on Burl: I told you I could run fastly!

Weareliking this website: One Cubic Foot

Late October

2009-10-27T19:54:00.003-03:00

Burl is sleeping. Ivo and Ryan out running errands including; purchase of an ice scraper and a snow shovel.

There is snow on the ground. There is water on the ground. It is dark, but definitely daytime.

Ivo has got washing dishes down – he is thorough and joyful about it. Mostly, however, he is whimsically scientific.

Ivo washing dishes Burl making a caterpillar
Uploaded by thehoneybees.

I am currently NOT dusting, vacuuming or making beds so that Ivo can take part. Yea, that’s why I’m not doing that junk!

We had a very meaty Korean dinner last night. Fun. Ryan and I are not, however, accustomed to that quantity of meat with so little (zero, excepting kimchi) vegetables!

Burl is on day 6 of a very high dosage of amoxycillan due to an ear infection that came on during the flu (likely) - piggy (possibly) – he began symptom-exhibiting on Tuesday13 Oct. We took him to the outpatients on Saturday because it seemed like too long not to have kicked the fever. And good thing too,because, thanks to the media, I am unaware of any other possible health concernthere might could be. Totally. Unaware.

Yes, apparently, 2 year olds who don’t tug at their ears or in any other way communicate ear discomfort, are still susceptible to ear infections. Not all fever and flu-like symptoms are the provenance of piggy flu.

I forgot about the opportunistic bacteria.

burl tries to see himself, ivo bubbles
Uploaded by thehoneybees.

Anyway, Burl has also recently –over the last month, certainly – made several linguistic leaps. His inflection, joke-telling, fooling games and silliness with language are all DE-lightful. He loves talking about letters, he knows most of them by name, he knows all the colors – he has recently admitted of other favorite colors besides green. He currently “Also like blue.” He is mostly potty-trained. He loves puzzles these days as well as posing for pictures. He grabs things or positions saying “YOINK!” He yoinks things. He says “I love you” a lot and gives copious kisses and hugs. He takes one’s face firmly between his two hands, turns one’s head to the proper angle, and plants one. Kiss.

Ivo donkey poster, Burl really wanna see my picture
Uploaded by thehoneybees.

When ever anyone leaves the house, Ivo and Burl run to the window to wave and blow kisses. Ivo asks which way you’re going, right or left, to town or to Grammie’s… to determine which window in the house affords the best view.

Burl the cheese-saying, pickpocket
Uploaded by thehoneybees.

I started this post over the weekend. It is now Tuesday and I've only just finished uploading all the videos! More asap.

Thanksgiving

2009-10-11T21:15:00.008-03:00

Ivo can bake bread. Here he is on 5 Oct with his first loaf of bread made in tandem/conjunction with Grammie Gail . Ivo had an "X" made of tape on his shirt because, he said, "X marks the spot!"

This morning, Ivo made pancakes. He likes to do stuff and learn stuff. He says “tell me everything you know about space, mom.” Ivo can sing the entire Alphabet of Nations song by They Might Be Giants. I will try to get this on video.

While Ivo was showing me his bread, Burl was constructing a car out of a couple of apple slices and a chunk of bread.

The following pictures are from today in our yard, raking ropeswinging on Thanksgiving weekend.

Doing a lot of blind-gardening.
Liking it.

It will be 0C tonight. It’s about 6C now.

Autumn is here
Thanksgiving
Baby Arun has arrived!!!

Long weekend.
Lots of working.
Burl has been potty training since August. Still not 100%. Not sure why. Otherwise awesome.
Burl reads books outloud to himself. It’s very cute and systematic. He read a Chinese picture book book about sea creatures; “…what is dat? Dat a whale. What is dat? Dat a squid. What is dat? Dat a jelly fish…” He even does anemone. Hilarious.

more soon, I hope

ketchup

2009-07-18T22:48:00.007-03:00

all these great things have been going on - and we're hoping for another really great thing which hasn't worked out yet, but will:)

Ryan got a job teaching high school english on June 30th. It's long-term supply for more than 6 months and so, turns into a contract. We feel very lucky and hopeful b/c most folks looking for teaching positions have to sub around for the first year (or two).

Ivo is playing soccer and t-ball and being awesome.

Burl is super-heroing and joking and being awesome. He is also about to ween.

I love my job.

Day care is arranged.

We're looking for a house in Woodstock.

Nic Colle is on fcbk!!!

I'm up for any and all wordscraper games.

Pics of our new dogs, Stinky and Big Head. We just founnd them tonight on our way out to Lorne and Marilyn's:)

Digging up Dirt & Possible Obstipation

2009-06-11T22:58:00.011-03:00

Today was Ivo’s first ever soccer practice. It was sooo fun!

When we left the house, it was not even 12C – it was dark gray and a cold damp. From the time stepped out of the car in the parking lot to the time we walked up to the field, the sun came out and the temperature shot up to practically t-shirt weather.

Because it was so cool when we left the house and because it was sooo cold and misty-like-we-live-along-the-rocky-maritime-coastline – yesterday at minigolf (pics to come), the boys and I overdressed.

Burl often chooses, nay – demands, a fleece cap, so hats are an easy layer to get both boys to wear. They each had a long-sleeve t-shirt, topped with a short-sleeve shirt, fleece vest and jacket + the hats. Other kids were wearing shorts.

It was like we’d just arrived from another planet.

But FUN!!!

On his first water break, Ivo agreed to take off a few layers and to lose the hat. Burl made no such compromise for comfort!

My guess is that there were about 30 kids. This included the children of 3 of Ryan’s paternal cousins – it was as if the Lawrences had arrived to take over the mini-soccer league. It was like witnessing the reification of the joke about having enough kids to form a baseball team. Kind of neat.

And also, by the way, another of Ryan’s cousins, who has a 3 year old daughter lives adjacent to the field the kids played on!

These guys are all cousins.

That's right, Burl is palming the soccer ball!

Ivo Overheard:

For the past week, since he was informed that he’d been signed up to play soccer, Ivo has been telling me in an insistant manner, “I already know how to play soccer.” He doesn’t see the difference b/w a class and a practice. He doesn’t feel he’s in need of a class, per se.
The other day Ivo asked me what I looked like when I was little. “Like you,” I told him. The I showed him my 1st grade picture. Ivo’s been growing sooo much! –and his face is really kid-ding up. His jaw, cheekbones and eyes are looking so much longer, so much older!
Ivo tells people, “I’m really smart… I’m a genius.” He told this to his dr on Tuesday.
“I am talking and pooping at the same time. I can do this because I have a mouth and a bum-bum.” -while sitting on the toilet before a bath.
When talking about his growing pains, which are located mostly at the bottom of his shin bone, he says he was in pain “all day night.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Speaking of poop. We seem to be in a diarrhea crisis or else the early stages of compacted bowels. I’m hoping for diarrhea. Gotto go.
Oh yea, TODAY WAS RYAN’S LAST DAY OF CLASSES!!!!!!!!! He’s partying in F’ton:)

Burl and Ivo at Connell Pk on Sunday, 6 June...

Burl: I digging up dirt
Uploaded by thehoneybees. - Videos of family and friends from around the world.

What's It Called When You Smush Together 2 Words

2009-06-03T21:59:00.007-03:00

Just a few pics... everything's great.

Everyone's really excited and happy. And by "everyone" I mean all of us and all of our aliases! Big Iron Man, Robin, Batman, Spiderman, Good Spiderman, Bad Spiderman, Green Guy, Big Green Guy, BumbleBee, Optimus Prime, Big Iron Giant Man, the list goes on...

A tiny installment of Ivo Overheard: Keep in mind, we're not really a privacy-first family, so while Ivo and Burl were brushing their teeth, I was peeing. Ivo indicated that he was about to launch into a bunch of female anatomy questions - which is nothing new to him or me but just some days a guy wonders more than others... Anyway, I told him I wanted him to brush his teeth and that I would like to pee w/o having to answer questions. Ivo said, "OK, ...I just like to learn a lot." In the past he's told me, "I just ask so many questions cuz I wanna know what's going on!!!" And I need to be better about nurturing Ivo's need to know and maybe peeing alone:)

The rest of Ivo Overheard can be expressed in 1 word, "Spreckles". Ivo likes sprinkles on ice cream, freckles on faces - Spreckles was a natural outcome. This morning Ivo was telling Burl, "Those black things on faces are called spreckles."

There have been black beers sighted at the camp. Big ones - hungry, I suppose. The boys and I may hit Fredericton this weekend instead. It's Ryan's last weekend as a stooodent!!!

Apparently June is the windiest month in NB! Here's Ivo flying a gigantic windsock at school today! In the first pic, I believe Ivo is trying to inflate the air-sock using nothing more than his own lungs.

Other pics from Connell Pk tonight. My boys are the coolest little guys in the world. I don't ask them to wear sunglasses, backwards baseball caps or to be super-awesome, they just do it themselves!!! While at the park, both Burl and Ivo talk to as many people as they can - for as long as the people can be cornered into listening. I almost want to say Ivo and Burl assail strangers with their news and opinions... I shouldn't be surprised that my children TALK A LOT but it's always interesting to see them in action, telling people waaay too much about themselves, true and fantastic. Today, however, is special b/c it's the first time I can remember that Burl was understood saying something that usually needs context or translation; "I'm Robin. I fly."

Also, Burl's been suffering some mild allergies. I say mild, but what do I know? He's not quite been himself and when his nose runs (nearly constantly), he freaks out! Panic, anxiety... alarm. We're trying to help him deal/chill, whatever the kids say these days.

New blog I like: Language Log

Back in the Swing?

2009-05-25T22:05:00.007-03:00

So today at school, Ivo’s class was learning about SAFETY. Advice was dispensed such as, “Don’t touch the stove – it might be hot!” and “Only use scissors with a grown up” and the like. When the teacher got to “dial 911” in an emergency, Ivo chimed up, “You don’t need to do that – just call me, I’ll save the day.” Still, his teachers soldiered on, uselessly trying to persuade Ivo - and impress upon the other kids - that that there may be times when one actually could use the help of trained emergency responders, for example, what if he himself had an emergency? – No, Problem, “I will just call myself.” As luck would have it, Ivo was wearing his Superman regalia.

Burl was also dressed as Superman today. Life’s good. And safe. Burl is still calling me “Mama Robin” after having been Robin for the previous 4 days. Burl can be many things to many people at one and the same time, declaring, “Me mask on nose. Me Iron-Man-Giant!!!” It’s sort of a Choose Your Own Adventure superhero identity land around here.

We spent the weekend at the lake – it was great, but black flies are a-biting… We don’t like those guys.

Ivo knows our phone #.

Burl loves eating. Everything.

Pics from Saturday at lake (23 May) and the next day at Connell Pk- execpt for the swing pics which are from 6 May.

And, yes,if you're wondering, the boys do get noticed when they're out! Gail is taking the Grammie reins full-time - we are sooo lucky! Ivo and Burl are happy, well-cared for and super-duper-loved! The other day, Gail reflected on how life has changed recently; and that she usually tries to fly under the radar and prefers not to attract too much attention to herself - and that there is no anonymity when you're escorting 2 superheroes around!

KETCHUP

2009-05-21T23:13:00.008-03:00

There has been frost. There has been saturating rain. There has recently been sun sun sun!

Last night frost. Today 32C! WARM. SUNNY. BEEEAAA – UTIFUL!

I don’t have pics of today though and it’s a pity because today was the first day Ivo and Burl wore shorts. They began the day dressed as Batman and Robin. Burl loved being Robin – and all that that implies… Sidekick is fine, partner’s good too. After work, the boys returned with Grammie and Grampie from DQ (seriously – 32 DEGREES CELCIUS!) They were both wearing shin-length shourts – Ivo all red and spidermanny, Burl on a green alligator t-shirt, long Nemo aqua-scenic shorts, tall dark socks and cream colored tennis shoes. He looked sooo cute and so much like a retiree in Miami, F-L-A. The mostly bald head and dark socks… too much!

Here are pics of the boys at my office before we got it set up. It’s much nicer now.

Here are the boys making cookies with Grammie Gail on 6 May (I think).

Tonight is the first night since I started my new job that I haven’t brought my computer home! As Ivo would say, “It’s heaven!”

April was a long, wet, cold, lingering-snowy month. All but one of my tutorees had atrophied… I was getting worried about money and a little depressed. And confounded that, except for the school district and volunteering, I had not gotten any calls on resumes I’d sent out for advertised positions.

On 29 April, I got a call from MACC and set up an interview with the board of directors for 30 April, 8pm. In between, I finished our taxes and sent them in on the due date m(my first time doing Canadian taxes). On Friday afternoon, while tutoring, I got the call offering me the job. Started job on 4 May.

Ryan started his final Fredericton stint on 4 May. He’s getting busier and busier. This semester feels faster, is shorter – but no less intensive and work-heavy. This semester is unlike the other 2 cuz Ryan has one 8:30-8:30 day/week and the rest are in the 3-8:30 range. He has been getting to spend some mornings with the boys.

We’ve been to the lake 2 weekends. The first time in April with snow (pics, hopefully to follow). We had to hike in cuz the road was too steep and wet to drive. We stayed Victoria Day weekend 15-18 May – and went to Carolyn’s 70th birthday party!

Lots of afternoons at Connell Park.

Ivo had a mother’s day party at his school on 8 May. It was super fun and cute, He made me a visor, a bead necklace a book of pictures he drew of me in various situations (I’ll scan and post – they’re not situations I’d ever previously considered like, “a picture of mom as a transformer” and “my mom as an elephant” and “mom skydiving” ) and a clay handprint. I LOVE them all!

I have sooo much else to catch up on but have to get some rest.

I can’t figure out how to get pics from my camera onto my computer. I have some super cute pics on my new phone, - it’s nothing flashy, just the kind of thing an employed person might have:)

Easter Monday on Easter Tuesday

2009-04-14T22:13:00.011-03:00

And a little bit of et al-y'all. Read, "et alia" in a folksy twang.

Here is a picture I took out the living room window on Easter Monday at around 11am.

It was really really pretty. That is snow on the ground and on the window behind Ivo.

And really really upsetting.

We, who have grown accustomed to playing in the mud on snowless earth, did not even go outside. We stayed in, read books, ate candy and took excellent pictures of ourselves.

We did not do a big egg hunt. We kept running into and gathering eggs all long-weekend long. Inside and outside. One never knew when one might run into an egg full of chocolate.

Ivo and Burl got baskets with a chocolate bunny (which, as of Tuesday night, they're still both working on), a couple primate and oceanic figurines, plastic eggs full of play-dough and/or cchocolate, a book and a pirate book to share.

We had Friday 10 April through Monday 13 April off of school/work due to Easter. This, after having the first week in March off and 9 snow days this school year!!! A lot of holidays, special days, little miracles of togetherness, let's call 'em. But this one was especially luxorious, somehow. Just deliciously delightful. And we now have 2 proper swings!!!

We spent Friday and Saturday outside playing. Starting at the sandbox, over to the swings, around the yard, then to the mud!!! Burl sometimes skipped the first 3 steps and went straight for the mud.

A few things I want to remember are:

After playing outside ALL DAY on Thursday, Burl woke up in the night and needed some coaxing and calming back into sleep. I asked him waht he wanted to do the next day. He thought for a couple seconds, "Umm... play outside." And we did. That was before the snow, which has melted mostly.

Burl has started to sometimes say "IVO" - when refering to Ivo. He still exclusively calls Ivo "Woe-Wee."

Playing at Grammie's church last Wednesday, Ivo's last day of school for the week and in many ways, evening 1 of our Easter holidaze, Ivo noticed what seemed to be cartoon renderings of the Stations of the Cross. Upon taking in the Crucifiction, a disturbed Ivo asked "Why they trying to kill that guy?" That's Jesus. "Why they killing Jesus?" Politics, I told him.
Ivo's recently been introduced to the story of King Solomon. He likes hearing it. He wonders why they couldn't just share the baby and he is struck by the sheer reckless audacity that we call wisdom.

Ivo loves and repeatedly asks to hear the origin story of Batman. He is coming to understand that some superHEROES have no superPOWERS - kind of...

Flight of the Conchords is on... more soon, I hope. I bet.

Ivo & Burl March Round-Up

2009-03-31T21:43:00.004-03:00

Sandy might actually blog tonight.

Instead of my recent vlogging trend.

That facebook and it’s status updates… Makes me think of myself, the fantastic to the real, in sound-bites even more than I used to. It’s fun – but I just don’t think it’s enough. How am I feeling? – Indeed!

I do enjoy Word$craper though. Typo, intentional. I am always looking for a game, though, hint, hint:)

Although, we’ve had lingering sick and yick in the midst of a still unkind new season called Spring, which is teasing us more than half the time… Yes, we can see the first bits of tulips poking through. Yes, we are able to be outside without risk of frostbite. Yet, it’s swampy, muddy, snow-melty and wet. We still must wear boots and snow-pants-for-spring, fleece hats and mittens. Nevertheless, Ahh - the boys are talking and growing up a storm. It’s been awesome. So, w/o further ado,

Ivo Overheard March 2009

Ivo has been waiting for summer “for a long time.” Probably since New Years. Today at home on the swings, where Ivo is super-happy “all day” – if he could, Ivo mused, “I noticed that Spring won’t ever come…” DELIGHTFUL! I told him, yes, it seemed that way but probably spring would come sometime... hopefully soon.

At dinner tonight – of which Ivo ate happily and heartily, a welcome sign of health – a dog ran through the yard, followed by a young girl, followed by a family cousin! Very exciting! Where the dog might have run got us to talking about the skunk den beyond the rhubarb patch. “What should we call the skunk?” Ryan asked. “Skunklas!” said Ivo w/o hesitation. When asked about the name, Ivo said, “Like ‘Douglas’ – Skunklas.” Did we ever laugh! Ivo has always been a good namer-of-things (-mostly-animals). He remains quite fond of a soft rubber dragon he got at the Science Museum in Taichung. It’s the color of mucous and long ago, Ivo named him “Nostril.” It’s a gift. The first toy Ivo ever named was a panda bear he called “Beak.”

On having worn his Batman suit at school, “I just stayed it on.”

Ivo loves animals. Any animal he likes and wants to embody which he knows doesn’t live in Canada he simply adapts, modifies even, to make himself believable. “I’m a snow-armadillo!” “I’m a Canadian Sloth!”

A couple things Ivo said while he was feeling rotten: “BUT, I want to be dirty ALL DAY!”, the heart-breaking, “My brain is making me so angry I can’t stand it!” and “Mama, I like you but sometimes I can’t stand you because you gotto go and play with Burly…”, “BUT, I’m not even ti-orwd (tired)!”

For a little over a month, Ivo has been categorizing events, actions, stories, characters and people into real/not real. He has noted that “Real life is harder.” This is quite something and something I want to write more about.

Burly Babylon March 2009

“Ready, Set, Go… (RACE)!” Burl enjoys saying this and running forward fast.

Burl LOVES swings.

Burl’s receptive language is outstanding. Burl can fill in the blanks, recite poems and sing songs. When reading his favorite book, This is the Baby, Burl enthusiastically shouts out the refrain of "No, no, no!!!" and "Yes, yes, yes!!!" as well as filling in the blanks of nursery rhymes.

Burl can isolate a word out of a sentence or two, reproduce it and ask what it means. During a not-feeling-great booby-all-day-day, I told Burl that all this booby is making me nuts. He answered with a question, “’Nuts’ mean?” Narrowly avoiding falling into the snow, I said “whoa nelly!” Burl asked, “’Nelly’ mean?” And today when I got home from work, I told Burl “just a moment (for booby).” Burl replied, “’Moment’ mean?”

Burl can answer questions and talk about feelings and facial expressions. He understands the link b/w them. He can make an angry/mad face, sad face, funny face, sleepy face, happy face.

Burl’s expressive language is leaping and bounding. “Ooof! ‘owwy! (Oops! Sorry!)" - said with a coy shoulder shrug and Cheshire grin. Burl has gone from “Dee mee mee! Wowee! Wawu! (Just a minute! Ivo! Water! – meaning, “Here’s your water, Ivo!” to 4 and 5 word sentences.

He makes comments about sounds he hears, cupping one hand over an ear Burl says, “Noise” – often as much a question as an announcement. We discuss what he hears – he usual will repeat the (new) word. Burl talks about some toys "no no noise" and other toys "noise" and broken toys, head shaking, "No no noise- now."

When asked questions he doesn’t have a good answer for Burl says, “Nothing.”

Burl tries to pick things up off the pages of books, often saying “Mine” or “My ____!” Sometimes he gets frustrated amidst the futility of it all but I think he’s getting the idea.

Burl still - but not as often as when he was younger and tried to fit himself into his handheld toys – seems to not have the canniest of spatial perception.

Burl tells lots of jokes, clever punch-lines and knock-knocks, mostly. “Knock-knock?” Who’s there? “Orange.” Orange-who? “Ornage-Ironman!” and “Knock-knock?” who’s there? “No.” No-who? “No – YES!” Clever punch-lines now include “ALL DAY!” - which he cribbed from Ivo. We all say it now – it’s so funny. “My booby ALL DAY!” remains and is joined by others like “My cupcake ALL DAY!” “My swing ALL DAY!” Burl also uses "Tub-tub" as a punch-line too.

Burl kind of likes eating like Cookie Monster – which we are all trying to temper cuz it is ridiculously messy as well as no small waste of food.

Burl often talks in a Cookie Monster voice.

Burl loves his family. He eats better, sleeps better and is just happier overall when his whole family is around. When we sit down to a meal, Burl counts everyone, starting with Doug, on his left, continuing around the table pointing, “1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11…"
Burl knows many letters by their names and as the first letter of someone's name and even a couple other letters that are the first letters of non-humans. When Pat-a-Caking, Burl says, "B da Burl."

Burl will come running for food. "Wice! Wice!!!" he yells! He also loves "wice-wee-wees rice kri$pies."

Just a post from a year ago, Feb 2008.

Spring Swing Sing

2009-03-29T08:36:00.002-03:00

Burl loved swinging sooomuch, in the morning atConnellPark he just giggledon the swing. At home, he sang little mesmerized, trancy songs:)

Swing swingsongburly 2009.03.28
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo & Burl - Spring Swing!!!

2009-03-28T22:37:00.002-03:00

Ivo and Burl swinging today! It's Spring!!!

Swing eyesclosed 2009.03.28
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo and Burl Hit Fredericton!!!

2009-03-26T21:51:00.004-03:00

These words are a skeleton I haven't fleshed out. Pictures worth several thousand words.

Pics from Sunday 22 March:)

Also a meditation on Ivo.

Some Burl Babylon.

This Time Last Year - March 2008

2009-03-23T21:41:00.005-03:00

Last year around this time, already well into short-sleeve weather, jackets, water play, my half-birthday, Ivo toilet-trained! This year we are trying really hard to get out our bugs and play! We went to Fredericton yesterday - pics soon.

As for now, in the spirit of reflection;

Burl and Ivo A Video Review of March 2008

From 22 March 2008 at the Science Museum in Taichung. Burl splashes in the water while Ivo powers a train.

Rats! Looks like have to click to the video... boo hoo.

This is the Honeybees post from that day. More videos and lots of pics of Ivo and Burl enjoying Spring in Taiwan.

Burl riffing at *bucks on Gong Yi, 26 March 2008.

Ivo leading the pack at the Science Museum in Taichung, 23 March 2008.

The Winter of Our Discontent

2009-03-21T23:50:00.008-03:00

But I do protest, right off because I'm walking around INSISTING that everything considered, it's really Spring. Snow is melting into itself. Shrinking. No new snow for quite a while. And - blue sky -5C days.

Whaaa!

We have been taken down by a flu or something. An actual diagnosis is elusive. It may have begun on the first day of March Break, which was Burl’s birthday, 28 Feb. Ryan was sick for several days back then and Ivo’s been sick since last Tuesday, 9 March. It has been hectic and unpleasant. Seasoned with brightsides, for sure, but rocky waters, crashing against regressive-behavior volcanoes.

Also, I am having trouble moving photo files and am running out of room on my internal hard drive – so, pictures are piling up, like rush hour on the speedway in some massive urban metropolis.

This is the first time we have been really SICK since we got here. Ivo had a gastro period, had blood work – all good back - in ?Oct? – symptoms dissipated. But besides that, there has only been some growing pains treated with Ibuprofen. For both Ivo and Burl. Though Burl is sick less intensively, less lengthily, than is Ivo. This may be attributable his continuing breastfeeding. That aside, we all arrived in Canada, braced to face new germs and different viruses going around. But it never happened. There was no adjustment onslaught. Our bodies, aside from withdrawal from the humidity, barely noticed the difference. Oh wait, there were definitely lots of allergies over the summer. Mild, too. Lots of trees around. Grasses. Anyway, we were sick much more often, we went to the dr much more often in Taiwan.

If nothing else, I must report that tonight, during an Ivo Tantrum, Burl looked at me and said “My Booby! All Day!”

We laughed over it.

Burl got "ALL DAY!" from Ivo. Burl is also catching on to the importance of being first. Up until a week ago, when Burl wanted a book read, he would say "Book." and "Read Book." and sometimes he'd add even a little more direction, "Mama. Read Book. Livingroom." Now he says, "My book. First" when he wants to read a book - in a premeptive-stikey kind of way.

Also, Burl can accurately point and count up to 2. From there he goes to 5. Always. Then 7, 8. After that, who knows? 13. This is amazing because when Ivo stared to count, on a different continent, in a different language, he said, "yi, er, wu."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pics of Ivo and Burl riding Grampie Doug's tractor, Sunday, 8 March, last day of March Break

Ivo can move the lever to raise and lower the scoop!

Burl Reads!

2009-03-11T08:02:00.000-03:00

Here is Burl on the cusp of reading us his book...

Burl kinda reading 2009.03.04
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo & Burl Singing in the Car

2009-03-11T07:35:00.002-03:00

A little video from our trip last Thursday to Francophonic Grand Sault/Grand Falls, (former) site of the WORLD'S LARGEST IGLOO... Igloo had been rained on and dismantled just days before we arrived...

Ivo and Burl singing "Look out! "look out! We're buzzt buzzy bees!!!" and a little "O Canada." Ivo does an amazing, though abridged version!!!

Burl sings Ivo sings Ocanada
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl Blows Out his Candles!!!

2009-03-04T09:32:00.001-04:00

Here is Burl blowing out the 2 candles on his birthday cheesecake. He listened solemnly and blew with greatness of purpose!

BurlBlowingOut Candles 2009.02.28
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl: Yay-Dance!!!

2009-03-03T23:23:00.002-04:00

Burl saying "Yay Again" and doing a Yay-Dance.

Ivo runs by, "I got a strike!"

Bowling Alley on Burl's 2nd Birthday, 28 Feb 2009.

Burl Bday Happydance Ivo Got a Strike 20090228
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl's 2nd Birthday Pictures Pt 1

2009-03-03T22:47:00.005-04:00

Burl in front of his Birthday Kitchen. Glee! Ryan set it up the night before - and thank g-d, bc it took 3 hours!!! Burl LOVES it! So does Ivo. We have been served many many insects.

Ivo helping Burl open the present Ivo got him. Lots of tape. Red sunglasses. Very cool!

Burl looking on.

Happy Happy Birthday Boy!!!

Escape!

Birthday Nap.

Ivo Sings at the Slammers Hockey Game

2009-02-22T09:39:00.003-04:00

Here's the video of Ivo and his classmates singing "O Canada" with his schoolmates. It was a superfun Friday night. Ivo and I went for ice-cream first and took our sugared-up selves to the rink.

Hilarious - but fuzzy...

Ivo OCanada Hockey
Uploaded by thehoneybees

A Bit of Burl

2009-02-22T00:12:00.004-04:00

Burl is getting ready for his second birthday! When ever he hears-tell of birthdays, he raises his hand or hands, sometimes he says "ME!" When asked how old he's gonna be, he holds up his hand, fingers spread, while saying "2!"

He is talking a lot; "I up. Feet cold." "Daddy working." Video and details soon:)

It Upsets me that I Don't Post More

2009-02-21T23:13:00.006-04:00

But what are you gonna do? Plus, I have many many notes...

Ivo and his schoolmates sang the O Canada at the Civic Center on Friday, opening the Slammers v Timberwolves game. It took me while to stop calling them the "Wolverines" -I just think "Wolverines" sounds cool...

Ivo has been practicing the national anthem for a week or two. (I'm working on video.) His favorite part is "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee..." He sings it in capital letters. Sometimes it sounds like "...on guard wall-e..." His interpretation is interesting in light of the fact that he doesn't know what it literally means. Oh, but he feels it!

These pics are from yesterday at Library Story Hour. It was extra special cuz Ryan go to come since his class was canceled due to storm.

A little Ivo Overheard:

"But, I wanna be first all day!" - starting to think this super cute angry-sincere-desperate "all day" stands for "all the time." Ivo likes to be first, he's quite open about it!

"I know! I can DRAW a stop-sign! How do I draw an octagon?" Solving the problem of no stop-signs amongst the blocks, emergency vehicles, Superheroes and Villains. He was planning out what the conflict would be - the trigger was the Villains wreaking havoc on the city, disrespecting traffic signs was only the minutest of crime.

"hullabaloo." "It's a hullabaloo." "But I'm making a hullabaloo." "I just wanna make a hullabaloo." "Hullabaloo is this, 'WHAAAAA!"

"I made myself up a peek-boo game for Burly... with the front of my hands!" The game consists of Ivo holding the backs of his hands over his eyes, fingers splayed, repeatedly folding them open at the knuckles, staccato, "PEEKABOO! PEEKABOO! PEAKABOO!" Cute. Burl does love that game:)

"...all the firemen and firegirls..." while talking about the characters in the very popular Superheroes and Villains Game Ivo spins all day.

Ivo's into phonics. He remarked, "I have a feeling Burl doesn't say 'el' like 'el' in 'elephant.' That's my feeling."

"Not a HORSE "hey" - a HUMAN "HAY!!!" - Ivo's response to the taunt that "Hey is for horses."

Ivo's Good Timing

2009-02-15T20:53:00.003-04:00

Ivo and I played his first game of checkers this morning. I will not go into the details of what it feels like to not be sure of the rules of checkers... but, there was a bit of confusion...

Anyway, Ivo liked the kinging part and when we finished he went on and on about how he was so happy that he had won. I said something about good timing to which Ivo replied "good timing to you, to you and your king..."

Pretty funny.

Burl is talking up a perfect storm!!! More later - gotsta goooo!!!!

Pics from 14 Feb2009 - Ivo and Ryan.

Ivo and Burl Celebrate Grampie Doug's Bday!!!

2009-02-15T10:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Birthday Grampie!!!

Happy bday grampie 20090212
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl & Ivo Video Updates

2009-02-03T08:38:00.003-04:00

Here's Burl performing his reaction to seeing a skunk. He's been spontaneously doing this for a couple months - but it's often unexpected since it happens sometimes for squirrels, bats, raccoons and beavers too...

Burl eew 2009.02.01
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo and Burl at Library 30 Jan... They're not sure about the dancing... they don't wanna look like idiots...

Burl saves his dancing for home
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Last, but not least, Burl reading...

Burl reads
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Just an Ordinary Basket...

2009-01-28T22:46:00.007-04:00

...not so fast...

Burl in Basket this morning. Burl is insane for "hide" and seek. He can't get enough!

Boys got red-lined, gray fleeces from Grammie Gail and Grampie Doug for Chinese New Year, YAY!!!

As is our habit on Wednesdays, I work in the morning while Ivo and Burl stay home with Grammie and Grampie doing fun stuff like baking cookies and writing ABC's. When I get home, we eat lunch and Doug takes Ivo to school and Gail to quilting. Burl and I pick up Ivo at 3 and we all go to play at the gym at the church where Gail quilts. It's a beautiful church.

Today, Lindsay and Ben joined us:)

It's just true - other peoples' stuff is better. Ben wanted only the balls we brought while Ivo and Burl took over the awesome beach balls Lindsay and Ben had brought. This left Lindsay in an awkward position...

I've been eating, what I like to think of as - a Sichuan Beet Stew over rice for days. I am alone in this endeavor.

Ivo the Yogi

2009-01-25T22:41:00.008-04:00

Ivo's been doing yoga with me. He does a mean Downward Dog, an excellent Cobra, a strong Mountain and a sincere Child's Pose. But these aren't pictures of that. These are pics from our 10-Minute-Dance-Party-cum-IronMan-Outfitting session...

A little more Burl - as DiXi/Dipsy - his adopted nom-de-super...

See the ball?

Burly BabelOn

2009-01-25T21:55:00.005-04:00

More Burly BabelOn:
· Having just seen Grampie Doug in the dining room, Burl got down off of his chair, looked around and asked, “Ampie? Ampie? Dere doo doe?/Where’d you go?
· “Dat doe day…”/That’s/It’s ok. – Often and especially when asked after the condition of his diaper.
· “Dere dee doe.”/Here you go.
· “Nor nelumb”/You’re welcome.
· Burl says “air” for where Ironman, birds and other superheroes, including himself, fly. “In da aye-er”/In the air, says he.
· Words whose pronunciations are indistinguishable – and therefore requiring a context in Burlyspeak – all manner of –men; IronMan, SnowMan, SpiderMan, SuperMan, BatMan.
· Some words of note; bird, owl, bubble (bo bubbu), inside/outside, bu-bu(computer), change sides (eye-eish booby).
· Counting sounds, mimics counting in contexts - he’s seen Ivo counting the stairs on the way down/up, counting multiples in picture books. Tonight on the way downstairs, he told me “5, 6, 8, orange.” He’s got a lot to keep track of! Also, he’s becoming more competent with colors. They aren’t all Teletubby-dependent, though many are Teletubby-based.
· At the Superstore, looking at toys that we’d already agreed - as a group - in the car and several times in the store that we weren’t gonna buy that day, but maybe we could get them for Xmas – which they know kicks butt – yet they have no idea when it is! Burl loved a couple things, one was a spiderman wrist mounted web shooter. “Home?” he said clutching the box. “Mine!” – turning around and walking toward the checkout counters. “Bu®L…” he said pleadingly. And finally, “Mis-Mis?”/Xmas? Cutie-pie:)
· Burl LOVES books – he’s not obsessing – but the word floats around. He has a long attention span, loves pointing/finding details in pictures. Love listening, sometimes reads along, sometimes repeats. Sometimes he looks at books himself. He reads a lot.
· This morning I asked Burl if he was cold. He said, “No – warm.”

Ivo in Action

2009-01-25T08:50:00.001-04:00

A video from yesterday - Ivo IronManning, or Metal-Manning, or possibly, Monkey-Manning with Ryan & Burl...

Ivo ironmanning around
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo Iron-Manning-Up

2009-01-24T08:08:00.002-04:00

Thie is an imperfect video - with lotsa Burly noise - of Ivo having a small portion of his Iron Man Suit put on...

I'm trying to get a better one...

Ivo outfitting burl NOISY
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl - Spatial-Relations-Uh-Oh

2009-01-23T22:13:00.002-04:00

21 Jan - At Church Gym... Burl starts out as a deer - he's squatting, making antlers with his fingers as the vid begins...

Burl deer ball
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo's Fighting Powers

2009-01-23T22:07:00.002-04:00

Ivo at Church Gym Wednesday 21 Jan...

Ivos fighting skills
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo & Burl - Snow & Gym

2009-01-21T22:34:00.007-04:00

Cold Cold Cold - lately.

Today - not so bad - maybe -8C but not windy and quite sunny. Doug has cleared the drive so the boys had some room to run around - they even broke out some of their vehicles! The snow is so high and powdery that the boys can't really walk through it - they sink andtip over. Today Ivo stuck his unmittened hands right into a snowbank - he didn't like it, poor guy.

Ivo is Ironman. It's more than an alterego - it's an alternate reality. He has an elaborate kabuki in which his machines dress him in his armor. The sound effects are ELABORATE. He portrays Tony Stark and IronMan. He makes a really serious-mad face when he's getting ready to "leap into action."

Burl also does a mad face, saying "humph!" now.

Burl does NOT like mittens!

More to say - but have to leave it with pics from this morning in the snow at home and this afternoon, playing in the gym at Gail's church.

Video soon.

Burl Throws his Own Imaginary Snowballs!

2009-01-16T22:14:00.007-04:00

Along with hide-and-seeking, Burl LOVES pretending to bombard people with snowballs he manufactures using the cold from the windows and magic dust! This entertains himand everyone around for 20 minutes at a time. Hilarious!

Burl also LOVES playing 5 Little Monkeys:)

Sometimes Burl refers to me as Sandy 0 he usually calls me mam-mam. He always calls himself Bu(r)l, Ivo - Woewie, Ryan - Papa/Daddy, Gail - Mommy, Doug - Am(p)ie, Andrew - Anrue...

He LOVES talking about the teletubbies. "Po - Scooter - beep-beep!" "Dispsy* - Hat!" - putting both hands on his head. "LaLa - ball-ball-ball!" - while making a dribbling motion with his hands. "Tinkie Winkie** - Ba(g)" - pointing to his forearm where a bag's handle would hang. Burl plays the mini guiatar and sings "teletubbies..."

Burl heard the question "Who wants pie?" on a cartoon. I do I do, I said. Burl said, "Daddy."

Ryan asked Burl if he likes potatoes. Burl answered, pointing to his lips, saying "Yea, da mou(th)." Ryan said and then it goes down to your belly. Burl disagreed, "No," he said.

Here's Burl, Ivo and Brett at Tim Horton's on Main Street.

Couple More Presents and Burly Talk

2009-01-12T22:22:00.006-04:00

Burl is talking a lot – it’s sooo fun!

I want to mark the age, 22 months old, Burl has started to play with opposites. (Ivo around the same age and here.) Among his favorite back and forth swirls are yes/no, up/down, in/out, on/off, yummy/yucky, mama/baby. He has an inkling of behind, under and their counterparts. He loves hiding-and-seeking and peek-a-booing – which he prefers to regard as hiding and seeking – in real life and in books and video. Among his favorite books right now are Caillou Mine!, Teletubbies Play Hide and Seek, Elmo Everybody Dance, Where’s the Baby’s Bellybutton?

Burl repeats anything he hears and wants to say. His rendition isn’t always recognizable – but there’s a lot of intonation. “De dah do!”/(Here you go.) handing you something, “De duh dum.”/(You’re welcome.), and “Dee En!”/(The End!), “Aw don!”/(All done!).

In his own way, Burl says; upstairs, downstairs, snowball, snowman, bed, eggs, pillow, horse, cow, pig, zebra, giraffe, school, me too, rice, soup, good-night, eat, ice-cream... the list goes on...

While shaking his head and saying a noun, Burl indicates that “there is not that thing.”

Burl enjoying Xmas Chocolate in his Skeleton PJs

Ivo and a flashless digicam in his Indians Sweatshirt

Candlepinnin’ and Winnin’

2009-01-12T21:36:00.007-04:00

A very fun Saturday afternoon; a little candlepin bowling – must learn rules - and a little lunch at Tim Horton's - oh yes, it was a scene!

Ivo was the only one among our people to bowl all ten frames. Burl made it about 3. Ryan and I, 7 or 8. The proprietor only charged us for 3 games - gentlemanly.

These are some pics from Saturday 10 Jan.

SnowDazed

2009-01-08T08:21:00.003-04:00

WoW! Today is the 4th snow/storm day of the 08-09 school year!!! It’s not unique – it’s not original – it’s not profound, but I LOVE snow days. My love is like the opposite of a phobia, a philia, perhaps. There’s no rationale that can account for my excitement on these inclement free days. I was all about typhoon days in Taiwan – and, as I remember, “shortchanged” is how I felt over the last year or two, both in terms of missing out on amazing ion-buzzing-weather as well as unscheduled days at home.

So, I’m not sure what to say about my so-so blogging of late… Lack of discipline? Sure. Busy, distracted, exhausted. I think it’s a combo – so I’m grabbing this snow day with 2 hands.

For now, I’ll be editing, uploading and commenting on pictures of Ivo, Burl addressing their after NY xmas presents from Cleveland - which they loved! loved! loved! Hopefully later today, I’ll be able to gather all my little scraps of wrinkled paper and write about how/what the boys are doing and saying.

Ivo is very very into jokes and riddles these days. He can deliver a few that he has memorized and he makes up new ones on the spot – he expects you to be able to do same. He will call you out if you tell him a joke when he’s asked for a riddle and vice versa.

Burl is saying 3 word sentences. Here’s a little sample; Burl raced over to Ryan’s laptop, grabbed the mouse, saying, “Daddy, bubu (computer), me!”

Here are some links to stuff I’m into right now:

From Asia, Rapture in a Bowl - NYTimes Mag article and recipes on "the rich, spicy chicken noodle soups of Southeast Asia, the love children of Indian curries and Chinese noodle soups." Yummy.

Amos Oz - I heard him interviewed regarding the current Israeli military action in Gaza. He's a novelist, professor and pacifist who supports the 2-state solution. I want to read his memoir.
Michael Wolff's articles/book exerpts on Rupert Murdoch at VF.
Tetris 'helps to reduce trauma' from BBC and also, Toddlers get post-trauma stress

MIND Institute at UC Davis - video lectures on brain, memory, learning, autism research

Burl Opens Xmas Elmo!!!

2009-01-05T07:20:00.004-04:00

Ivo and Burl were thrilled to get xmas gifts from their cousins in Cleveland - thank you thank you thank you!!!

Here is Burl getting a little help opening his new Elmo shape speak and say toy. Burl saw the big Elmo eye immediately thru a rip in the wrapping - he was sooo excited!!!

Burl elmoxmas
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Aunt Chrissy knows her audience!!!

More prezzies soon!!!
Video from 2 Jan 2008

Ivo Bowling

2009-01-05T07:17:00.001-04:00

Ivo had a fun fun time bowling on his 4th birthday. He did really well:)

Ivo bowl
Uploaded by thehoneybees

New Year's Wishes

2009-01-04T23:27:00.005-04:00

Yay!!! WOnderful holidays we had:)

Tomorrow Ryan's new semester begins in Fredericton, Ivo goes back to school and I will be arranging my tutoring schedule.

Burl, on the other hand, will be continuing the celebration of his NEW BED!!!

Whoo - hoo!!! And not a moment too soon, as you can see:)

Here is Burl filling out his old bed, nested in a loveseat of a sectional couch...

And here in his new bed, a futon matress and box springs from his aunt and uncle - Yippee!!!

What a big improvement!

Yea.

More to come soon, featuring...

Presents!

Play!

Snow!

Lotsa Ivo and Burly speak!

And do!

Predictions for the next 6 months...

Come back soon:)

By the way - Burl's current favorite books are on his bedside table. They are, in order of enthusiasm, Caillou: It's Mine! and Where is the Baby's Belly Button?

Ivo's 4!!!

2008-12-24T22:28:00.008-04:00

Ivo had an excellent 4th Birthday!

Andrew got in from Toronto late last night:)

Ivo and Gail made Ivo's cheese(bday)cake.

We all went 10-pinning- super fun - Ivo did better than the adults!

And a long overdue Ivo Overheard:

Ivo has taken to wearing an oversize pair of clear-lens glasses that he bought at Feng Jia Night Market about a week before we left Taiwan. He claims to not be able to see without his glasses and has said, “In Taiwan, I could see with my great eyes but in Canada, I have to wear my glasses all the time cuz of the wind (hand rippling across the air from one ear to the other) and the fog (both hands shielding his eyes).”

Ivo had blood drawn last Friday. After the screaming and gnashing of teeth, as the river of tears ebbed, the phlebotomist asked Ivo if anyone special was coming to his house next week. Ivo nodded and sniffed. Who? “U-U-Uncle Andwew!”

While getting ready to work with clay, I asked Ivo if he was gonna open the air-tight container. He said, “Yep… Cuz I’m strong.” After he opened it – which was a little bit of a surprise to both of us- he marveled, “I didn’t need help cuz I’m a strong strong guy!”

While doing clay, listening to D+, “Why they say ‘…friends for enemies…’?” – he likes thesong but only yesterday really heard the words – and boy, do they resonate for a super-hero-kid!

While watching Horton Hears a Who, “Why all the big animals want to take away Horton’s clover?” and “Why da girl kangaroo don’t hear it?” He seemed to like the movie but really didn’t get the central conflict of western civilization; that people can care so much about what you believe or don’t believe that they’ll use extreme violence to squelch out incorrect thought.
After I told him I need a break from the “whys” Ivo said, “…but I say ‘why’ all the time cuz I wanna know what’s happening…”

4, 3, 2, 1... Ivo Blast~Off!!!

2008-12-23T23:57:00.003-04:00

Wrapping Wrapping Wrapping...

Ivo's last night as a 3 year old.

The Superiest-Hero-y-est!

Wrapping Wrapping Wrapping...

Snow, Ice and Party

2008-12-14T08:13:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was an excellent day! In addition to Ivo's Xmas show, the boys got to play out in the snow. Burl really like it, he's a trooper but somehow, the combination of all his winter clothes, his tendency to wipe his face with a snowy mitten, and his relative... stiffness all work together to make his minus-zero playtime short and a little gtustrating for him. He can't use his hands, righting himself is laborsome... it's COLD!

We also went to an excellent Xmas party last night:)

No pics tho - too busy getting busy!

Ivo & Co Sing Jingle Bells

2008-12-14T08:01:00.006-04:00

I hadn't planned on filming this - so I missed the first bit. Ivo was AWESOME! He was so excited as all the practicing and talk of Xmas show/party came to fruition - he was literally bouncing!

Ivo looks really tiny compared to his classmates. His is a 3 and 4 year old class - and he's one of the 3's. Most of the kids are going to kindy next year - Ivo's going to preschool one more year. We don't want him to be the youngest and smallest in his class for his whole life!!!

By the way, on growth charts, Ivo's right at the 50th percentile - so he's bigger than half the kids his age and smaller than half the kids his age. I think there are a lot of tall-gened kids in his class!!!

Someone is making a video that we are paying for so that should have the whole song...

But for now, I give you, Jingle Bells!!!

Ivoconcert jinglebells
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo's 1st Xmas Show

2008-12-13T23:05:00.009-04:00

EXCITING!!!

HILARIOUS!!!

HEARTMELTY!!!

AWESOMENESS.

The 3-4 Xmas Show and Party was today at 2pm. Wonderful performance. Incredible use of space. Between "80 and 100" people were gill-to-gill in a standing-room-only classroom. The people had been ordered to bring dried goods, canned foods and/or sundries for a family the school had adopted. They had been ordered, too, to bring a plate of loveliness to share. That was nice. So tons of stuff, tons of folks. Kids dressed up and standing on tables at the front of the classroom. Bouncing. Spinning. They had made all the decorations for the tree, of whic I have no pic - yet...

The kids marched in and up onto the tables. 3 kids had to stand in front - and by the 2nd song, these kids had had it. Ivo was on a table standing next to his friend Lindsay. For the first song, Jingle Bells - which Ivo has been practicing a lot at home - so much so that Burl sings, "HEY!" at the end of all stanzas - all the kids sang out loud and proud. They shook and jangled. Ivo was super loud and just about half a meter behind for the first half of the song. He sounded good. You could definitely pick out his voice! Then his hat fell over his face, totally obscuring his vision. For the rest of the show, Ivo's hat was pretty low. His spirits, HIGH, his voice and moves, all there, less bouncy on hat patrol. The kids were all great - a lot of personalities on stage!

The kids also sang Rudolph, Twinkle twingle everygreen-prettiest tree I've ever seen, a song about there are no parking spot, can weplease go home?, Merry Xmas, and then they tricked one member of every child's enourage to go up and do the chicken dance. Let's just say, Ryan has never heard of the chicken dance, so you can imagine...

Hee hee hee:)

Burl liked the show. He likes going to Ivo's school and playing with toys and kids.

Ivo & Burl: Story Hour

2008-12-11T23:02:00.005-04:00

From Friday 5 Dec – Paul’s Bday!!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ivo and Burl listened to stories, played a parachute-bean-bag game and decorated construction paper houses with sparkly glue on paintbrushes – glittery lights.

The librarian played a game of toss the dotted-die, Burl wanted it sooo much - and he waited sooo patiently to NOT have it thrown in his direction. Poor little guy!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We may really get a snowday tomorrow. A storm is coming, lotsa precipitation and eventually a temperature rise which could ice up the roads and make travel risky.

2008-'09 School Year Snow Day #2

2008-12-10T18:44:00.004-04:00

We're keeping our fingers crossed for another one tomorrow!!!

Whoo-hoo!!!

These pics are from 30 Nov.

I'm Doing My Best!!!

2008-12-09T21:03:00.008-04:00

I wish I had the wherewithal to post everyday.

I wish I had the wherewithall to post every couple days.

I wish I had the wherewithal to post once/week.

I know I have it to post once/month!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Amidst weather of tremendous import, effect and not a little bit of consequence - already one snow day last Monday (1 Dec) - to another one quite possibly tomorrow... And yesterday... And this afternoon while I was driving home form tutoring. SNOWy!

And super beautiful and not too terrible - but this is a learning c-u-r-ve-y.

Yikes.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Both Burl and Ivo got vaccinated against their wills on Dec 2nd. Ivo for Meningitis C and his 2nd/last MMR. Burl got Prevnar (against ear infections is how I think of this one), an MMR and a DTP+Polio+hib (against Diphtheria and Tetanus and Pertussis + Polio + Haemophilus influenzae type b). Poor Burly was illin' with a little... limp in his step, an "OW!" here and there. A moan. Moaning. Discomfort. Fever the first day. Except for the fever and the leg pain - these unhappinesses have remained with clingyness and heartbreaking panic and constant nursing added on. At first I put this down to his being "in the wake of 3 needles." But there's a more simple - yet more complicated - derivation. Everything's gonna be fine - but let's just say I've been trying to catch his pee in a cup.

Today Lindsay and Ben and their mom came for a visit which was very very fun. And we had cinnamon rolls.

What is pictured is from last Wed (3 Dec) - a walk over the bridges where the St. John and the Meduxnekeag River meet. Oh - Burl is dressed that way because I'd forgotten to bring his coat. The car was full with snowpants, boots, mittens (which Burl does not like), hats... snacks... water and juice... but no coat. He is pictured wearing - in addition to his Taiwan turtleneck, fleece vest and jeans - his own hat, Ivo's extra shirt from his emergency schoolbag stash, my scarf and later, my jacket and a blanket.

Yes, it's just that bad - but it's just that bad.

Burl is talking sooo much. It's not all intelligible - but sooo much is. He says cool things, he understands everything, he's super smart and funny.

Burl Snowpants Walking

2008-11-24T07:07:00.002-04:00

Burl is pretty cute walking in snowpants... He looks like a starfish.

Burl snowpant walk
Uploaded by thehoneybees

22 November Snow that Stuck!!!

2008-11-23T14:00:00.008-04:00

Pre Play

Play

Apres Play HotChocolate (Almond milk w ovaltine and a little chocolate syrup)

What a great day! After all this fun and a nap fr Burl and more snow fr Ivo & Grammie, we went to Richard & Marie's for a fun visit andthen out to eat supper! The boys haven't been out to dinner since Chrissy & Jeff's wedding!!!

Burl & the Daddy-MomMom-Ivo Santas

2008-11-23T13:56:00.001-04:00

Burl LOVES these Russian doll Santas!

BURL DADDYSANTA_0001
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Burl Reads Bob the Builder

2008-11-20T08:02:00.001-04:00

Burl just loves this Bob book. I love the way he says "BOB!" Very cute.

Burl BOB
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Good News - Bad News

2008-11-19T21:48:00.006-04:00

Ivo's taken to sorting things into good and bad. Yesterday, he told me a couple pretty long lists of "This is the bad news" and "This is the good news." Come to think of it the bad-news list was longer, featuring such things as "We can't jump on the bed" and "We can't run in the house." The good news required a little priming, along the lines of we-get-to-read-books and we-get-to-play. Ivo wasn't upset at all about the bad-news, he was rather matter-of-factly listing these things that he knows.

Today at breakfast Ivo started listing things on each hand, "This is the good hand" and "This is the bad hand." He didn't get too far cuz of the excitement all around us, including Grampie Doug disconnecting and removing the broken dishwasher. One of the bad-hand-things concerned the dishwasher, "We don't like it broken. We don't like it when it unfixed."

Also, today Ivo went to the dr for the first time in Canada. The dr pronounced, "He checks out perfectly." Yay! We are going to have some bloodtests and another urine test done due to his stomach stuff earlier this month and his having recently moved from Taiwan. Even though lotsa stuff is metric in Canada, so far, personal weights and heights seem to favor the imperial system, and why not? The money still features the queen. A fully clothed Ivo is just under 35lbs (15.8 kg) and 37in (93.98cm). This puts Ivo exactly in the middle of the growth chart for his age - YAY!

A little more Ivo Overheard:

It hard to remember what you say yourself."

"People don't remember when they're babies."

"Babies don't know what they're doing."

"Babies usually make a mess. Some babies don't." Yesterday at his friend's house when he learned that her 2 Basenji sighthounds don't bark, he observed that "Dogs usually bark. Some dogs don't." I don't know where he got this construction - it's apt though and he sure knows when to use it!
While listening to Ryan trying out a few hilarious slogans for his company-in-the-works, Ivo asked, "Is is time to laugh?"

Today Ivo, Burl and I saw a huge buck in the back of a truck, stopped at a light. Ivo was horrified and disturbed and riddled with questions. Lotsa whys and "I don't want that hunter to eat that dear. I will stop him." I told him that hunters kill different animals at different times of year, that some kill deer, moose, rabbits, foxes, wolves-maybe-not-wolves - to which Ivo replied, "They hunt the wolves because they dowl all night. I was living in Taiwan, I heard the wolves dowling and dowling like this..." which is when he began howling - quite realistically. I don't remember any wolves howling in Taichung but maybe...

A tiny little Burly BabelOn:

"(S)quash"

"Juice" - and boy was he excited to have his own juicebox today. It was the first one he ever liked and embraced. Up until now Burl's been a water bottle guy. He also likes what we call banana juice but is really a smoothie.

"Up" - for standing up, usually applied to his toy animals. Shake-head "up" - for animals which fell or won't stand.

Doug and Ryan are making wine, one vat has visible bubbles percolating and the other doesn't. Burl regards them saying, "Bubble" and "Bubble-No."

Big Days in Every Direction

2008-11-19T08:22:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, Burl, Ivo and I went on a playdate at Lindsay, Ben and Mellissa's house. It was our first non-family playdate and we all had fun. Their family is a perfect age match for ours- even though Bena nadBurl really didn't play together - I'm sure that each was happy that the other was playing right there alongside him. Ivo was super-reluctant to leave - SUPER RELUCTANT. Cartoonish even.

Later on Tuesday, the boys went out in what I'd call lined-windbreaker-pants (but not snow pants) with Gail for an hour,playing in the yard. They had lotsa fun. Monday after school, I took the boys to Connell Pk cuz it was nice but COLD - we almost stayed an hour. Ivo was fine - even did a freezing outdoor pee - but poor little Burl was quite uncomfortable. Burl kinda looked like a 5-point start withhis coat,mittens and hat on - he was somewhat stiff.

I didn't take pictures outside cuz I'm pretty sure it's not great for the camera to get all cold and then warm up, covered in condensation - I've gotta check the manual - but I'm just going on instinct now. I'll save the camera for the snow!!! I think snow may be coming this week!

These pics are from last night.

Today, Ivo's got a dr's appt - his first in Canada. I guess it's a meet-and-greet/well-baby/kid visit but I'd made the appt right afterwe took him to the er on 5 Nov. He seems fine, but I have a few questions and want him seen anyway.

A tiny bit of Burl BabelOn:

When told we're about to go upstairs Burl wailed, "NO! NO! NO!" I laughed and asked him Who-do-you-think-you-are? to which he answered, "Bur(l)."

Burl says a versions of "Lightning McQueen," "bobby" for booby, "sun," "moon," "water," "bottle," "bubbles."
As of a day or two ago when Burl says "Daddy?" we can now ask him Where-is-Daddy? and Burl answers, "Schoo(l)."

Truer Words...

2008-11-15T12:15:00.003-04:00

Ivo just told me, in complete sincerity, "I'm weally weally fart."

Translation: "I'm really really smart."

He also loves the unfortunately named candies, "farties," I mean "smarties!"

Big Day(s)

2008-11-14T20:40:00.006-04:00

I posted a lot of pics on facebk - you may see some duplicates here.

Ivo Overheard:

While admiring my new pink wool socks, Ivo asked me "What number are they?" He wanted to know the price!

When Ivo tries to read double digits, like "27" or "33," he says "2-the-7" and "3-the-3."

Ivo and Ryan are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at bedtime. Ivo and I were discussing Charlie Bucket and how his family is so poor and how that means he doesn't have money to buy toys and even doesn't always have enought food, Ivo said, "...But Spiderman jump in that book and find all the people and give them some food and some jobs and some money."

Ivo told me this joke today, "Why did the chicken cross the road?" - "Because he wanted to get to the other chickens who were eating seeds at the farmer's barn."

When looking at his alphabet puzzle, Ivo asked "Where is l-o-men-o-p?"

Burl BabelOn:

"Light on."

"Light off."

"Down."

"Nummy"

"Tada!!!" - after accomplishing something

"Hop" for help.

Also Burl correctly identifies colors; purple, blue, yellow and red. He can accurately identify most of the animals in his big animal picture book. He pushes his chair around the house in order to reach things he wants - and when he can't quite maneuver it himself, he gets help. Burl is very very happy with himself lately!

Ivo and Burl played at Connell Park yesterday, came home, took a bath, ate an excellent supper - all seemed right on track. Burl slept from 7:30-8:30pm and then was up til midnight. Ivo didn't go down til... late. Both guys got up at 8am today. Burl's sleeping now but Ivo's still going strong.

Everyone's happy but we need more sleep!!!

Morning Has Broken

2008-11-13T20:28:00.005-04:00

Well, this morning broke yesterday. It was COOOOLD ~ brr!

Sunrise and Frost

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Here's Burl later that day, surveying Grampie Doug's work site.

Burl

Ivo Explains

2008-11-13T08:33:00.002-04:00

Where did the Super Amazing Honeybee Kid come from? How did he get those special powers? Ivo explains...

Ivo superamazinghoneybeekid
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Ivo Tastes a Snowflake!!!

2008-11-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

Video from 11/11!!!

Ivo tastes a snowflake
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Sooo fun!

Burl Says Rice Crispies

2008-11-12T14:16:00.004-04:00

When Burl says "rice crispies" it sounds a little like, "wee wee wees" - but he's saying them.

Burl rice crispies ivo thurrping
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Toward the end of the video, Ivo "THURRPS" at Burl causing them to tussel a bit

Today Burl said, "li(ght)" for the first time. I couldn't understand what he was saying so I asked him to show me and he brought me over to the light switch and pointed, saying,"li(ght)!"

Swing First

2008-11-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

Video from 11/11

Ivo wants to be first on the cold wet swing. Burl wants to be first too. Burl says "WEE!" for swing - asin "I wanna swing first!"

Burl fights back against the ivo first policy
Uploaded by thehoneybees

Today Gone Blue

2008-11-11T22:48:00.001-04:00

Snow!!!

Not too cold.

Camera and kids doing well:)

Video soon.

HoneybeesDeux Starts Now!

2008-11-11T20:39:00.001-04:00

And so did the snow!!!

Today was Burl and Ivo's first day of snow!!! It stuck to our clothes but not much else.

We saw the snow on our way to Maine, in the parking lot at the store, on the way back to NB - it seemed like hail but wasn't and finally, it snowed a bit while we were playing outside this afternoon!!!

It was awesome!

Ivo's been waiting his whole life to catch snowflakes on his tongue. Also he told me today, "I want to be first - all day long!"