Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Last Day Of The First Year Of School

[As transcribed by Daddy]

So off I went to my last day of my first year of school this afternoon. Actually, we were gonna go to the park and hit the splash pad, but the weather was ridiculously cold considering it's the end of June. So I settled for the promise of some candy after school instead.

I was very sad to say good-bye to Mrs. Bartlett - I really love her, as do all of my friends. We gave her and Mrs. Macintosh (who is also leaving) all of our presents and cards and gifts and things. School was fine - we watched a video in the library and got to do some watercolour painting. I'll miss all of my friends over the summer... I can't wait until it's September!

After Daddy came home from work, we went out for Japanese food and then did the grocery shopping. We were all pretty wiped out after such a busy day, though. Now that I don't have school anymore, I wonder what I'll do with myself?

I'll probably start by celebrating Gammy's birthday!


Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Goodbye Mrs. Bartlett

[As transcribed by Daddy]

On the way to school today, I kinda tripped and twisted my leg / ankle / foot... there were a lot of tears, but by the time I got to school I had pretty much gotten over it. We had a big assembly at school - my teacher, Mrs. Bartlett (who was also my Daddy's kindergarten teacher 30 years ago) is retiring, so the school threw her a big send-off with singing and stuff. It was nice, but I'm very sad that she's not going to be my teacher anymore.

Anyway, I came home and had a decent afternoon with Mommy. After Daddy came home from work we had some dinner and then walked over to the vegetable garden, where I played with some kid. By the time we got back, I was completely exhausted and totally wiped out. I claimed that I had been having a 'rough day' but it was really only just the last half hour.

Tomorrow I graduate from junior kindergarten, according to my awesome report card, which I brought home today! Phew! I passed!


Monday, June 28, 2010

First Barbie

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Another rainy day, and another day of scary television footage of riots downtown during the G20 hearing. Last night seemed to be peaceful, but throughout the day we were getting lots of reports to the contrary. It's hard to say what's been going on... getting all sides of the story hasn't been easy.

After lunch, Mommy and Daddy and I went for the first hike in the woods that any of us have had in quite a while. We found a nice chunk of the Bruce Trail to check out - I was just happy to be riding in my new car seat! I played Doctor Who in the forest - I pretended to be Amy, Daddy was The Doctor, and Mommy was Rory.

After we got home, we visited Gammy - who had a friend over - a nice lady who gave me my very first-ever Barbie doll. Given how annoyed I seem when my friends bring their Barbies to show and tell, you'd think I wouldn't be thrilled, but I totally was!

Also, Mommy and Daddy and I (but mostly Mommy) worked on a nice retirement present for Mrs. Bartlett.


Sunday, June 27, 2010

New Car Seat (oh, and a Riot)

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and Daddy slept in this morning - I took the opportunity to watch some television and play video games and stuff. Yet again it was pouring outside - Mommy and Daddy and I had lunch, watched some television that made us queasy, and went out for a drive.

Staying far away from the downtown core where the G20 protests started, we hit up the local car seat store and bought me a brand spanking new car seat! You've never seen a kid so excited to get a new car seat.

We came home and watched the season finalé of Doctor Who, but only after watching the shocking live coverage of the aforementioned G20 protests downtown. None of us could believe that we were watching that mess in our city.

Listening to: Stars - The Five Ghosts


Saturday, June 26, 2010

TV-Free

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I brought some drama down upon my own head by deciding to ask Mommy to help me change my clothes right when she was elbow-deep in compost and cleaning products in the kitchen. When she told me to wait, I freaked out and started crying in my room... which didn't go over well.

So, no television or computer games for me today. But that wasn't really all that bad - Mommy and I spent pretty much all of our time outside. We played, read, and worked in the garden.

School was good - show and tell day. After Daddy came home from work, he and I played hide and seek outside and stuff before ordering a pizza for dinner. I ate one whole slice and rode my bike around the block. Daddy fell asleep playing video games, so I decided to go to bed.

Listening to: The Chemical Brothers - Further


Friday, June 25, 2010

I Fell on My Bottom.

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I had a quiet and uneventful morning today - school was pretty good, and eveything was going really well and all, but then POW - I was running outside and I fell backwards and landed on my butt really hard and kinda freaked out. They took me inside and then called my parents at work so that they could come and get me, seeing as how I was pretty upset.

When Mommy got to school to get me, she found me sitting on a couch reading books to Mrs. Macintosh. I seemed to be all right - calmed down, but with an ever-so-slightly-bruised tailbone. Mommy and I came home and played board games and stuff outside.

After Daddy got home from work, he and I wrote some secret coded messages for Mommy, and then we watched Doctor Who during dinner. Then we all drove over to the garden, and went to the office supply store to buy office supplies!


Thursday, June 24, 2010

Earthquake!!!!

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Today was somewhat interesting. I had a pretty average morning, and did a lot of playing indoors and outdoors with Mommy. It was kinda warm out there today, which was a nice change from all the rain...

...which suddenly didn't matter when we had an EARTHQUAKE (a 5.5) in the middle of the early afternoon. Although, wouldn't you know it - neither Mommy nor I even felt it. It seems like everyone else from Quebec City to New York felt it, but not us. Oh well. My first earthquake! When you add the fact that a tornado touched down North of the city, the World Cup is on, the G20 is coming to the city in a few days and security is insane and transit is messed up, it's making Toronto a wacky place.

At school a friend of mine brought some ring pops (which I love) to school for us all to share, but I thought I couldn't have any due to my allergies. When Mommy pointed out that it was fine, I was excited - but by then the ring pops were all given out. I was very sad.


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Movie Date with Mommy

[As transcribed by Daddy]

It was pouring with rain again this morning, unfortunately. Mommy made it up to me by playing with me all morning - we played games, did some crafts, sang songs... all that awesome stuff. I even snuck in some time to play video games.

After lunch, I went to school, which was fine. I wasn't all that interested in hanging around to play afterwards, because Mommy and I had a date at the movie theatre to go and see Toy Story 3! I was so excited - it's a good thing we got there kinda early, because it was packed. Anyway, the movie was great, even if I was watching it from between my fingers at times. Scary, but funny!

Mommy and I ran a few errands on the way home, and brought dinner to Daddy who was already at home waiting for us. The two of us watched TV before bed.


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

No Djibouti

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I was really happy to wake up and play with Nevi and Skye first thing in the morning - we all played outside, had two breakfasts each, and then we played video games indoors. Robin and Brian had everything packed up, and before I knew it, they were all out the door - I was sad when they left. We had a great visit, though!

With the Nixons having left Gammy and Grandpa's soon afterward, things went from pretty active to really quiet awfully quickly. After running some errands with Mommy and Grandpa, it was off to school, which was nice - we got to watch a play. It had something to do with hula hoops. On the way home, my friend Amarion gave me a lollipop! Wasn't that nice?!

After Daddy came home from work, he could tell I was completely exhausted. After a lovely dinner (I pigged out again) he and I sat on the couch and learned all about the countries of the world. I told him which countries I really wanted to visit (England) and which ones I didn't (Djibouti).


Monday, June 21, 2010

Cousin-o-Rama

[As transcribed by Daddy]

My cousins and I were up and at 'em pretty early - playing and hooting and hollering and running and snacking and stuff. Mommy and I gave Daddy his father's day present - the pencil holder I made at school, and then a totally amazing Doctor Who toy made from a drawing I did. He loves it! We got him a book, too.

Mommy and Daddy and Brian and Robin and Nevi and Skye and Willow and I rode on our bikes over to the park, where we splashed around in the wading pool and then played at the playground, which was fun. We came home and had a nice lunch with Gammy and Grandpa and all the Nixons!

Robin and Mommy and Daddy and Grandpa and I went over to our vegetable garden, where I made friends with some kid named Aidan. We didn't stick around too long, though, and headed home where I played with Nevi and Skye for the rest of the day. We only stopped to eat a massive dinner with everyone at Gammy and Grandpa's again. Phew! Snoozing with my folks tonight.


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Formal Strawberry Picking

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I let Daddy sleep in a bit this morning (since he probably won't be able to on Father's Day) - I visited with the Nixons and my grandparents and had breakfast and stuff.

After we had some lunch, Daddy drove Mommy and I back to the strawberry patch - but first he dressed formally (in a black shirt and a green tie) like I told him to. Oddly enough, nobody out there seemed to think it was weird. I think he kinda liked it, actually. Of course I left my bottle of orange juice out in the field, so Daddy had to go back out there once we were done to look for it.

We drove home, ran a few errands on the way, and got ready for the arrival of Robin and Brian and Nevi and Skye and Willow. Once they turned up, they joined us all plus the Nixons for a massive dinner with ribs and chicken and salad and mac and cheese and strawberries and all kinds of goodies.

I played with my cousins in the back yard, and then it was time for bed - I tried to camp out in a tent with Robin and Skye and Willow but it was too hot. We ended up sleeping in my room - but not until ten at night!

Listening to: Free Energy - Stuck on Nothing


Saturday, June 19, 2010

Play Day

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I was up and out of the house early today - instead of going to school in the afternoon, Mommy brought me in the morning for the annual 'Play Day', where we kindergarten kids ride around on tricycles, scooters, play in obstacle courses, play in a big sandbox, and have a whole lot of fun. I had a pretty good time, according to reports. One kid had a hard time sharing the tricycles, but whatever.

Roger and Wendy are staying with Gammy and Grandpa this weekend, so I visited with them a whole bunch today. Daddy was really late coming home from work today, so I got to stay up later than usual until he got back. I spent a good chunk of that time eating dinner, playing video games, and visiting with Roger and Wendy. I even wore a pretty little dress for them.


Friday, June 18, 2010

Do Not Disturv

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I went over to the garden at the front of the house and got to work - we gardened for some time before I got bored and headed back home to go play in my room. Occasionally I'll hang a sign on my bedroom door with a crude drawing of Mommy with a big 'X' through it that says 'DO NOT DISTURV"... not because I don't like Mommy, but because Cinnamon Bunny is trying to have a nap.

Mommy suggested we all go out for dinner tonight - I told her that for once I didn't demand sushi. She said she wanted a salad. When planning this weekend's visit with Robin and Brian and Nevi and Skye and Willow, I told Gammy to "make sure there's going to be salad, because Mommy really likes salad."

Daddy took Mommy and I to a new restaurant, which none of us really liked all that much. Although I did enjoy dessert. Then it was time to do the grocery shopping.

Listening to: Band Of Horses - Infinite Arms


Thursday, June 17, 2010

Good Soup After All

[As transcribed by Daddy]

The weather sure was nuts today. It poured with rain, then it was warm and sunny, and then it got ridiculously windy, and then it poured with rain, etc etc etc. Mommy and I had a nice morning (protected from the elements) followed by a delicious lunch... of the pea soup that just the other night I had pretty much declined to eat. Weird. I enjoyed it so much I was almost late for school because I kept eating!

School was fine - I walked home with Mommy and Cheyenne and her Dad, and then had an enjoyable afternoon here with Mommy. We ate ice cream and went through old photographs together... I really got a kick out of seeing old pictures of myself as a baby, or of my parents when they were younger.

After Daddy came home from work we had a nice dinner and I had an awesome bath. There was also the top secret father's day present I worked on with Mommy in the afternoon, but we won't mention that.


Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A Pass on the Veggie Crêpes

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I was pretty much a perfect angel today, except for during dinner when I pretty much refused to eat the vegetable crepes Mommy made. But yeah, other than that, everything today was fantastic.

This morning Mommy and I went to the local farmer's market (it being a Tuesday) and instead of getting a muffin, I decided to change things up a bit and got a fruit tart, which I am saving for a special occasion.

School was awesome - gym and library, and by all accounts I had a fantastic day. I didn't bring any books home from the library today... I mentioned something about "helping organize the library", whatever that means.

After Daddy came home from work, I didn't eat much dinner (as mentioned above) and as such didn't get any dessert. However, I understand this logic and don't have a problem with it.


Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Shake and Be Nutty

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I played "family" this morning - she pretended to be the big sister, I pretended to me the Mommy, and Cinnamon Bunny pretended to be the baby. Mommy's name was 'Batman', was a giant, and liked to spin me around in the back yard. We were THAT kind of a family.

Before school, Mommy and I discussed my vocabulary. As soon as I learned what the word 'vocabulary' meant, I announced: "So... 'vocabulary' is in my vocabulary!" That was the funnest part of the day I guess... school was somewhat lame today.

Daddy was a little late coming home from work, but I was pretty happy when we arrived, because we had delicious tacos for dinner! I helped Mommy make everything, and it turned out pretty fantastic. I sung the theme song to "Eat, Shrink and Be Merry" during dinner, only I sang it "Shake and Be Nutty."


Monday, June 14, 2010

Another Craft Show

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I snoozed with my folks this morning - we all slept in a little bit, which was pretty nice. Anyway, I had a pretty quiet morning... once again the weather was a little gray and drizzly, so there wasn't a lot to do. Mommy made Daddy an awesome omelette for lunch, so he made it up to her by driving us down to Kew gardens for the local craft show.

It was all right - we saw some paintings and stuff, some clothes, jewelery, some food... nothing that really blew us all away or that any of us absolutely had to have. We had a walk around and then went to the bookstore. On the way back to the car we stopped for a snack at the gluten free bakery... I was having a hard time being patient, so we bailed on going to the toy store and came home.

Mommy made us a lovely dinner, followed by strawberry jello made from the very same strawberries we picked yesterday. Delicious!

Listening to: Fun. - Aim And Ignite


Sunday, June 13, 2010

Rainy Strawberries

[As transcribed by Daddy]

It was rainy out there today - so any ambitious weekend plans were sort of stymied... or so we thought. After realizing how cooped up I was by the time we all had gotten some lunch, Mommy and Daddy decided to brave the rain and go for a drive anyway.

We hit Linton's farm - where we annually pick strawberries - in the mid afternoon, just as the rain stopped. We were the only people there, and had acres of perfect strawberries at our fingertips. It was amazing... if only we could time it so perfectly every time! We were happy, and came away with quite the fantastic berry haul. I made friends with a llama and a donkey, too.

On the way home we had another nice drive, and once we got home, Mommy made us a lovely dinner while we watched Doctor Who. Of course, for dessert I had freshly-picked strawberries.

Oh - and I find the World Cup terribly boring.

Listening to: Against Me! - White Crosses


Saturday, June 12, 2010

Grocery-itis

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Daddy's been pulling some late nights at work - this morning he pulled an early morning, too, and worked from home until about noon, and THEN headed into the office.

School was fine today - I played with my friends and stuff. Mommy let me have some ice cream when I got home... we did some work outside and that sort of thing. Nothing too out of the ordinary.

After Daddy got home from work, I ate two generous helpings of flank steak. I played some video games with Daddy, and then it was time for us to do the weekly grocery shopping, and as usual I was completely full of beans and spastic the whole time. What is it about little kids and grocery shopping that makes them so crazy?

Listening to: Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer of the Void


Friday, June 11, 2010

Strawberry Habit

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I were both feeling a whole lot better today. Who knows - maybe it was the lovely chorus of chainsaws that woke us all up this morning, as the neighbours finally had that tree in their back yard removed. At the end of the day, we went over and checked it out - after counting the rings in the stump, we discovered that it must have been about seventy years old!

School was good today - once I got home, I was a little bit bored, so I asked if Mommy and I could go over to the community garden. So... I got on my bike and we went over there. I had a good time (a noisy jackhammer scared me on the way), and ended up pigging out on the strawberries that grow in the little community strawberry patch thing. After eating a bunch, I turned to Mommy and admitted "Mommy, I really need to stop eating these." I think I've come to the realization that I have a strawberry habit.

Or rather, the strawberry habit has ME.


Thursday, June 10, 2010

Rain, a Squirrel, and a Tree-Removal Crew

[As transcribed by Daddy]

I had some bad dreams last night, so I crawled into bed with my folks as they slept last night. I even managed to do a teeny tiny little bit of sleeping in!

Mommy wasn't much fun today - I think a lot of my Basil-related melancholy has rubbed off on her, and she had a sad day missing the little guy. It sure didn't help that the weather outside was chilly and dreary. I wanted to splash in the puddles on the way to school today, but unfortunately I wasn't allowed - going to school completely drenched is a bad idea.

On the way back from school, however, I got to do some limited splashing. Mommy seems to think that the squirrel we chased out of the house is trying to get back in... we keep seeing it waiting by the window. Meanwhile, the next-door neighbours are having a tree removed, so the tree removal crew were hanging out in our back yard during the day. They're gone now, but the tree is still there...


Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Missing Basil

[As transcribed by Daddy]

So I woke up to discover giant mechanical (humane) squirrel traps all over the house - all empty, of course. It wasn't until after I went to bed that people were able to chase the squirrel out of the house. Yay!

Mommy and I went to the farmer's market this morning, where once again I got my customary muffin, some kielbasa sausage samples, and a giant red tomato. On the way home I was kinda down in the dumps... because I really missed Basil.

School was okay - my nemesis and I were getting along today, but then he older brother called us both 'stupid' which made me sad. Maybe we're starting to see where my nemesis gets her wonderful habits from.

I had a quiet evening, and got to watch a movie on television before going to bed. Hopefully my up-and-down mood will FINALLY stabilize tomorrow ... ?


Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Chipmunk In The House

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy was outside working in the garden when I joined her all excited - "Mommy, Mommy... I just saw a little chipmunk in your room!" Mommy asked for clarification, and sure enough - I was so excited to actually see a chipmunk in her room.

Grandpa came over and helped corner the chipmunk (which turned out to be a little red squirrel) in the closet, where it escaped from immediately afterwards. It was pretty funny - all of us running around the house, trying to trap a small rodent. Eventually Grandpa got one of those live trap things and put it down with a path of birdseed leading to it. Let's see if it works...

In the meantime, the rest of the day was fine (but comparatively uneventful). I played with Mommy and sang a song about elephants at school.


Monday, June 07, 2010

Spent

[As transcribed by Daddy]

More of the same today. I was up ridiculously early after a difficult night's sleep - I joined my folks in bed, but tossed and turned. Eventually I was up and eating my breakfast... but the rainy day outside meant that most of what I wanted to do (go for a hike etc) wasn't gonna happen.

Mommy was trapped inside with me all day - Daddy had tons of work to keep him busy, and Cool Uncle Gareth (who I'm really sad is leaving tomorrow) has people to visit. I did some crafts, played a bit, and tidied my room with Mommy when I wasn't squealing or having a meltdown. I went from one emotional extreme to another.

After Daddy was finished work, Cool Uncle Gareth came home - Mommy and I had some quiet time and watched a movie in her bedroom before we all went outside to play. Dinner was great - but once again, I am completely spent. So is Mommy.


Sunday, June 06, 2010

Hooray Hooray for You Nork Day

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Today was the first annual 'Hooray Hooray for You Nork Day' - a holiday that I invented last week. Coincidentally, Cool Uncle Gareth is visiting from New York, so... we planned lots of New York-related activities.

First Cool Uncle Gareth bought me some 'city-themes' Lego, which the two of us made at the coffee table. I played with it outside as we had burgers for lunch. We all did some shopping for sandals, got some odds and ends at Value Village, and then went over to New York Fries for snacks (and more burgers).

For dinner, we all went over to Gammy and Grandpa's for some homemade sushi and tempura, which we all devoured. Finally, I led us all in a pretty rousing backyard parade where we all marched around holding toy dinosaurs and growling.

All-in-all, it was a pretty busy day - I was up and down and pretty moody, and by the end of the day I was so exhausted I could be found sitting at the table staring off into space in a total daze. A great homemade holiday!

Listening To: Ace Frehley - Ace Frehley


Saturday, June 05, 2010

First Big Field Trip!

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Today was the big day - the day I've been waiting for - my very first field trip! I was up really early, Mommy got me all ready and packed my stuff, and we walked over to the school good and early. I rode on the bus with Cheyenne (whose Mom accompanied us), and we had tons of fun when we got there. We saw lots of animals (I've been to the zoo about a million times, but this is my first time going as part of a class trip), ate some lunch, and then Cheyenne's mom bought me a toy tiger! Isn't that nice! It pays off to be assigned Cheyenne as a buddy.

Mommy and Gammy picked me up from school once we got back, at which point I had no capacity for friendliness and was kinda grumpy for no reason. We hung out with Cool Uncle Gareth. I had a snack - and then I was back to normal.

Daddy came home from work pretty exhausted, but had work to do and phone calls to make, so I didn't see him all that much.


Friday, June 04, 2010

Happy in the Rain

[As transcribed by Daddy]

This morning Cool Uncle Gareth came by and I showed him all of the cool websites I like to look at in the morning... we hung out a bit, which was fun.

I went to school in the afternoon - by the time I got out, it was absolutely pouring with rain outside. Most of the people on the street were running for shelter, but not me - I was so happy and excited to be splashing in the puddle, running in the raindrops, and hooting and hollering. I was a real sight to behold!

Once we got home I took all of my (wet) clothes off and watched a movie on the couch all wrapped up in a blanket and in my underwear. After Daddy came home from work we had a lovely dinner and went out to do the grocery shopping, where we bumped into Lisa and Leo and Matt!

Listening to: How To Destroy Angels - How To Destroy Angels


Thursday, June 03, 2010

The Return of Cool Uncle Gareth

[As transcribed by Daddy]

A quiet morning… school was good, but some of my friends kept forgetting the rules, which frustrated everyone. My friend Claire is on vacation, so I missed her a lot. Cool Uncle Gareth surprised me by picking me up from school. We discussed popsicles for pretty much the entire walk home.

I was really happy to see him, but was mopey every time he'd leave to visit Gammy and Grandpa. That, plus the rain was kinda making me annoyed. I made up for it by telling Mommy how much I love her about three thousand times.

Daddy was home really late from work, but was happy to see me before I went to bed. Anyway, despite having been to the zoo about a hundred times before, I CAN'T WAIT until Friday when we go there for my very first school field trip!


Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Overbutts

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I went to the farmer's market this morning - I got my customary muffin and the biggest, reddest and most delicious looking tomato I could find.

School was good - I got to hand in my first-ever permission slip today (for my first field trip ever... we're all going to the zoo on Friday). A real rite of passage, there. I also spilled yogurt all over the place in the classroom or something.

I got a popsicle on the way home from school, which was great - Mommy and I played in the laundry and did some work outside. We renamed 'underpants' 'overbutts' because we decided it's a more appropriate name - after all, one doesn't always wear them under pants, necessarily.

After Daddy came home we ate delicious cheeseburgers, and then while Mommy worked over at the garden, Daddy and I went out for popsicles (sucker didn't know I already had one during the day) and watched TV together.


Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Toy Garden

[As transcribed by Daddy]

Mommy and I played dolls this morning, and then it was time to go outside and do some more work on the garden and stuff. I mentioned that it might be cool to have my own toy garden to play with, which gave Mommy some ideas.

I went back to school today after my weeklong vacation, which was nice - Adriana and Cheyenne both drew me some pictures while I was gone, so that was nice. Mommy picked me up afterwards and surprised me with some new toys for my own garden in the back yard!

We set it up with a a makeshift pool, some Playmobil accessories, some miniature patio lanterns, and a popsicle stick fence. Actually, Mommy had a hard time setting it up because I was too interested in actually playing with it in the process.


I'm a happy kid living with my parents and our dog in Toronto. I'm goofy, sweet, smart, extremely chatty, and pretty much the cutest kid on the face of the Earth!