MN Family

A whole lot of bakin' going on....

2011-12-14T14:16:00.000-03:30

Have you ever made hedgehog buns?

Pretty fun and uncomplicated.

When they are baked, this is what they look like.

This year, for a cookie exchange, I made a large number of chocolate truffle cookies. All were the same except for their toppings.

2011 Pageant

2011-12-14T14:11:00.000-03:30

Bertha was an angel, as usual.

Maya was the head angel.

Aidan was excited to be a wiseman.

Christmas-y Pictures

2011-12-14T14:10:00.001-03:30

Maya's friend from school invited a few close friends for a fun photo shoot session - with a Christmas theme.

I think Maya's holding a potato with tacks for eyes.

Thank you Wanita (friend Mel knows through book club) for going out to take a few pics this year!!

Wanita brought props (namely hats and glasses).

Taken with Wanita's extension (like an extendible cane with your camera on the end)...for fun angles.

November 2011

2011-12-14T14:06:00.000-03:30

Aidan loves to build and watch a good fire.

Bertha got to bring home Corduroy (from school) for a night and write/draw about their activities.

Trip to Labrador

2011-12-14T14:04:00.000-03:30

I (Mel) had a last-minute trip to Labrador this fall. One day, I packed up the car with Tim Horton's donuts and their big rental coffee thermos and drove to Sheshatshiu (about 30 minute drive outside of Happy Valley-Goose Bay) for a day of meeting some very lovely people.

I took this with my phone. Not sure why I didn't smile....

Aidan's New Roommate

2011-12-14T14:01:00.000-03:30

So, Aidan's persistent window leak was successfully (and FINALLY) fixed.

Since he was going back to having a room to himself (which one might celebrate), he was sad to be alone so, after a lot of thinking, we (meaning Mel & Scott) decided to tell Aidan he could have ONE low maintenance fish.

Meet "Sola Ringo Goldie" (a beta fish). "Sola" for the blue colour of the sky (in Japanese), picked by Aidan; "Ringo" for the beta fish named Ringo Star that suffered a tragic classroom death last year in Maya's class, picked by Maya; and "Goldie" was Bertha's suggestion for a name.

October pics being posted in December

2011-12-14T13:55:00.000-03:30

I seem to recall that someone gave the kids these glasses in their halloween treat bag.

So, can you tell that is was a cold night? Bertha has 4 layers on, I think.

Any guesses on what Maya is?

Scott and Aidan worked on this costume (awkward for carrying a bag of treats for a long period of time).

Bertha - a fairy princess (or something like that)

In our backyard.

First Day of School 2011-2012

2011-10-05T16:18:00.000-02:30

Excited to *finally* start kindergarten.

Outside the school doors on Day 1.

Walking to school on day 2.

Starting their way to school...

I asked them to stand holding their new lunch bags that I sewed just in time for school.

Bertha turned 6!

2011-10-05T15:40:00.001-02:30

Bertha wanted to bowl for her birthday this year.

Bowling in style.

A violin card - very creative (Kerry!).

A few snaps from Japan this summer...

2011-10-05T15:38:00.000-02:30

Aidan wanted this pose while holding 3 "fish" pencil cases from Grandma & Grampa.

Bertha's a star with chopsticks now.

Ninja attire in the ninja village.

Bertha practicing her ninja skills (blowing a pin at a target).

Hmmmm....

A cute frog on Maya's shoulder.

Aidan's favourite meal - zaru soba (with tempura sometimes).

We moved around THAT much that we traveled between cities with these suitcases in tow.

Lunch on the bullet train.

On the shinkan-sen.

Aidan buying train tickets with Grampa (in Tokyo).

One of several shrines that we visited.

A cool dessert on a hot day in Tokyo.

Hiroshima on Memorial Day.

Miyaji-shima: notice the non-symmetrical vertical posts (they are real tree trunks).

Up close...you can only walk out that far when the tide is out.

You'll have to ask Scott and Bertha how cool they were trying to be.

I didn't buy it.

Fun at the Swimming Hole in Flatrock

2011-07-13T12:21:00.000-02:30

Caplin have come & gone...

2011-07-13T11:58:00.001-02:30

Dead and alive caplin...in cool ocean water.

After calling the bin a graveyard, Aidan rescued the living ones and they swam in his boot.

Washed them in the sink, dipped them in egg and breaded them for a BBQ.

Pre-BBQed.

Would you eat them? We did.


Aidan was determined to eat a fish eye this time. My camera didn't go off in time to show the eye (in picture) in Aidan's mouth.

Finally!

2011-07-13T11:41:00.000-02:30

Catching up on some house things....painting was an all-family affair (including visiting extended family).

Who's excited?!

2011-06-23T23:37:00.000-02:30

Last day of school today.

Not for Bertha. But she found a worm.

Grade Four Rug Hooking

2011-06-23T23:34:00.000-02:30

Each of the Gr. 4 classes (Maya's in one of them) produced a hooked mat. I (Mel) spent several hours a day for 4 days at the school and it was finished! I started with an orientation to rug hooking on a Thursday and I was binding the edges by the following Tuesday eve. This is Maya standing next to the three (she worked on the left one).

Father's Day

2011-06-23T23:27:00.000-02:30

Scott with the kids on Father's Day - just before he flew off for a conference.

That time of June...

2011-06-15T23:12:00.000-02:30

June is when all the kids' activities wind down with shows, tests and performances. It's also when Scott and I celebrate our wedding anniversary (this year marks 13 years), I celebrate another birthday and we do something special around Father's Day.

Maya (at a funny angle) dressed summery in under 10 (celsius) weather in St. John's.

Bertha and Scott both performed in a concert this past weekend. This is before the show....

I think Aidan took this.

I decided to throw in a picture of Aidan because he wasn't in any of the above pics that I selected. This is Scott & Aidan on a East Coast Trail hike.

Fairies

2011-05-22T17:59:00.002-02:30

These are Maya's fairy creations - the are made from bead heads, embroidery thread hair, wire bodies wrapped with embroidery threads and some fake flower petals. They are all holding onto a rope here...Maya is dangling off the edge. She wanted to convince Bertha that they were playing overnight and had changed positions since bedtime.

Ballet Debut

2011-05-22T17:53:00.001-02:30

Maya performed in her year-end ballet show this past week.

Above is her before the show. Below is her afterwards.

Another one bites the ..

2011-05-22T17:49:00.001-02:30

Aidan lost two teeth - one week apart from each other. This is his smile lately.

Bertha's hair & violin

2011-05-22T17:46:00.002-02:30

This was on crazy hair day.

Her violin teacher popped in for another student to practice performing and saw Bertha there - and - Bertha showed her friends what she's learned so far with her Suzuki violin lessons this year.

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-14T21:09:00.001-02:30

Mother's Day this year started with this breakfast in bed....though the kids hung around in my bed to "sample" various parts of it.

Just after opening Maya's card.

Just after opening Aidan's card.

Bertha & I.

Photo opp after breakfast in bed.

Supper was a lobster dinner! Aidan rubbed the lobster heads to "put them to sleep" before Scott dropped them into the boiling pot. A teary moment for Aidan which I expected to result in a loss of appetite for lobster. But not so. Aidan opened up his lobster, found it was a female lobster with lots of eggs and he ate them all - saying "that wasn't a happy mother's day for this lobster".

Maya has reached double digits.

2011-04-02T20:55:00.000-02:30

Nope. She hasn't acquired extra fingers or anything - she turned 10 today.
Here are some pictures from her bday party today - with some of her friends. The party was held at an art facility here - and there were 3 stations for the kids to work at. They could roam between a "free drawing", "cartooning" and "sunset painting" stations.

My friend and fellow PhD colleague, has a baking business called Posh Nosh - very impressive stuff (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Posh-Nosh-Confections/186466598039954?sk=info). She made bday cupcakes (see above) and take-home "pop cakes" (see below).

Kids & Music

2011-03-28T09:31:00.000-02:30

Maya learning piano with Wendo.

Aidan learning drums (on an electric set) - an acoustic compromise we can all live with.

Bertha is taking violin lessons with Scott.

Rug Hooking

2011-03-28T09:26:00.000-02:30

Maya and Mel are working on hooked rugs. Maya started and is almost finished her small piece and is helping with a larger project. The theme for this project (with a larger group of women) is around Festival 500, an international choral festival that is hosted in St. John's every 2 years. I'll post something when they are all finished (due by the end of April).

Unrelated

2011-03-28T09:22:00.000-02:30

Maya & Mel are working on a hooked rug together and Bertha was tasked with sorting light and dark blue fabric strips. She didn't stay on task for very long....Maya took this photo above.

The kids went to bed and I went to take a shower and saw this. Needless to say, I asked Aidan to clean it up in the morning. Notice - food colouring, soy sause, pepper, tin, shampoo, 3 glasses and 1 cup, tweezer and toilet paper - none of which normally reside on the counter.

Snow day!

2011-03-28T09:16:00.000-02:30

This is the schedule that Maya & Aidan made for their unexpected snow day in February...so that I (Mel) could continue working from home.

Hot chocolate in their backyard fort.

This is looking out through my office (basement) window.

What can we say....

2011-02-12T17:41:00.000-03:30

whether to love/hate, dis/agree, refuse/participate in Valentine's Day, all three kids are expected to bring and receive Valentine-themed things at school. A snapshot of their collective efforts.

Snow finally arrived..

2011-02-12T17:37:00.000-03:30

Mom & Dad wanted pictures of snow to show their friends in Bangkok - here are some from this week (I realize this isn't particularly exciting or pity-inducing for people in other snowy places across Canada).

'da garls'

2011-02-06T15:25:00.000-03:30

Maya's rug hooking - Bertha's a spectator.

In the kitchen...watching supper being made....

mid-hooking....a musical note

Bertha playing cardiologist

2011-02-06T15:20:00.000-03:30

Aidan's Drumming Circle

2011-02-06T15:16:00.000-03:30

Drumming Circle at Aidan's Party

Aidan's 8th Birthday Cake - a dinosaur

Drumming...

Januaray Pics - more Bertha than anyone else

2011-01-23T17:11:00.000-03:30

New sweater and hat from Christmas.

Falling asleep laughing...

Facilitated nonsense by Maya.

Violin practice - Scott and Bertha. A nightly ritual.

Out for supper celebrating Aidan's bday early with the grandparents.

Regardless of the expression - I'm quite sure Aidan liked the ice cream.

Ditto for Bertha.


If the picture were panoramic, you'd see restaurant staff singing to Aidan.	He specifically asked that this NOT happen.

Ready for violin lessons.

Scott & Bertha headed out for violin lessons this afternoon.

Negligent

2011-01-22T13:20:00.000-03:30

I've been negligent. I haven't posted anything in almost 2.5 months. My only - though weak - excuse is that I lost all of my December pictures due to my hard drive dying before I backed-up in December. So, no Christmas pictures except those people sent me. So, I'll post a few random pics from the last 2 months.

Maya - taken by Mel's dad, Maya's Grampa.

Corny shot of myself & Scott putting a decoration on a tree.

Bertha and Aidan swapped rooms - this is now Aidan's room.

Christmas in our living room.

Mom & Dad visited in the new year.

Dad/Grampa is demonstrating some magic with metal rings.

Magician-in-training. "A" for "Amazing Aidan".

Bertha waiting for pancakes.

Eating out to celebrate Aidan's bday early while my parents are still here.

Mel and Mom along the harbour.

Aidan & Grampa.

Starting Violin

2010-11-01T22:14:00.002-02:30

Starting with a "box violin" - literally.

Rest position.

Scott - practicing with Bertha.

The real deal arrived today!

Not that she's excited or anything...

Halloween 2010

2010-11-01T22:01:00.004-02:30

Self-identified wizard, bumble bee, and forest fairy.

Full-body length to get the full-effect...?!

Enjoying a treat before bed.

Shameless advertising - not that he's selling.

Other pics from October, now that it's November.

2010-11-01T21:29:00.009-02:30

Picture #1.
Copy cat picture #2.
Copy cat picture #3.

Aidan's joined Beavers this year - looking so hip, we know.

Random, candid shot.

Awaiting supper at Eleanor & Blair's.

Raking while it's still fun....not even in our own back yard (Eleanor & Blair's).

Going through pics from September - a bit late

2010-11-01T21:17:00.006-02:30

Maya & Mel at rug hooking presentation - book release. Very exciting....

Maya's first day in Grade 4.

Aidan's first day in Grade 2 (as you can see in the background).

Mel & kids on first day of school - for everyone here (except Bertha, though she's pretty pumped).
Blueberry picking - not so good this year. And sadly, we were not terribly committed (as compared to other years).

3/5 Running for the Cure

2010-10-03T23:49:00.002-02:30

Warm-up before the 5km Run for the Cure. L --> R is Bertha, Aidan, Scott & Maya.

Very time conscientious.....

Maya in her first year of track

2010-10-03T23:47:00.001-02:30

Close to the finish line of the 1-mile run - among a large group of grade 4 girls in the city.

Igor

2010-10-03T23:40:00.005-02:30

So, we lost power for only 24+ hours. The first night was a night by candlelight. We stayed at the table from supper until bedtime, I think.

We lost a tree - sort of. This is what is left of it for now.

Aidan is uber safety-conscious (not really). I think he felt he could afford a few minutes off of his bike.

Celebrating Age FIVE

2010-10-03T23:37:00.003-02:30

Bertha got a very cute green bike with candies on it - and sparkly tassles on the handle bars. Who's feeling glamorous?

Looking FIVE and cute in her Labrador-themed coat (Thank you Mark - it finally fits her - it was worth the wait!)

Whoopie pies for her friends at school (pre-assembled).

Random Summer 2010 Pics

2010-10-03T23:09:00.013-02:30

Between bites at a Viet-Thai restaurant.

Taken by Maya.

Noodles - a meal and an activity.

Pre-canoe trip with Scott/Dad.

The remorse is written all over Aidan's face, don't you think?

Focused on knitting.

Focus. Focus. Focus on the fresh bean.

A puppy. Maybe the only and youngest puppy Bertha has held.

Riding lawn-mower with Uncle Matt....

Uncle Matt taking his life in his hands - or rather - in Aidan's hands (far worse).

Pics from August (and watermelon)

2010-10-03T23:03:00.003-02:30

Tely 10 Day

2010-07-25T15:18:00.006-02:30

Myself (mel) and the kids cheered people on during the Tely 10 run today (10 miles = 16 km). Below is Scott mid-run and the kids while we scanned and waited for people we knew.

A mid-July night's dream

2010-07-20T10:29:00.006-02:30

Tash, Jenn, me and Wendolyn about to eat our tea/coffee and desserts at the Ferryland Picnics.

Oh, but really, we are such happy shiny people....

Scott and I running with Maya & Aidan as they finish the 5K Run for Respect.

BBQ pizza on the deck...

Things in Nature - found in NL

2010-07-20T10:10:00.009-02:30

Looking closely, you'll see a furry baby bird between the two adult ones (taken at Cape St. Mary's).
A fossil found at Mistaken Point - estimated to be approximately 565 million years old impressions of multicellular organisms buried under volcanic ash.

Sundew carnivorous plant native to NL.
A butterfly. Don't ask me what kind.
A crab. Again, don't ask me what kind.
A whale seen off the coast by Signal Hill.

A whale waving at us at St. Vincents. It breached twice.

A warm day in St. John's

2010-07-07T22:19:00.003-02:30

Maya got to wear her summer-y dress recently. Our trees are a great height for kids to climb now....

Just because -

2010-07-07T22:16:00.002-02:30

- it's rare that we get a picture of us. This was taken at my birthday supper out with family.

Happy National Aboriginal Day

2010-07-07T22:14:00.001-02:30

It's a few weeks late but Bertha got to wear her cousin's 2-piece dress down to festivities in town.

Double rainbow...

2010-07-07T22:11:00.002-02:30

...means what? Double luck maybe. Canceled luck? Even rainbows can have shadows.

Dance Performance

2010-07-07T22:08:00.001-02:30

Bertha grooving to Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA".....

Dress Up

2010-07-07T22:05:00.002-02:30

Clearly more fun when you get to choose what you wear - Bertha was outfitted by Maya & Aidan (not impressed).

"Scott & Mel are annoying parents"

2010-06-15T12:38:00.000-02:30

Aidan was mad and wrote us a memo.

Gallery Opening

2010-05-17T10:17:00.002-02:30

Here is us in front of our mat this weekend at the show opening at the gallery.

Bad

2010-05-17T10:12:00.004-02:30

Aidan performed with his "boys funk" (pre-break dancing) class last week.....dancing to Michael Jackson's "Bad". This is Aidan (far left). Notice the ONE white glove, sequined hat, rolled pants with white socks....

At the end of the piece, Aidan did the "worm" while the other boys made a pyramid.

FINALLY!

2010-05-07T22:03:00.002-02:30

This hooked rug is the product of a lot of [procrastinated] work.....that is going to be publicly recognized as a mother-daughter project. That is, a Mel & Maya project. But the truth is a number of people worked on it. We'd like to thank Scott, Tamara, Joanne and Marcy (Mel's mom) for their hours of work invested in this. To see more pics on this, visit http://melprojects.blogspot.com/

Successive Pics of B&A

2010-05-07T21:57:00.005-02:30

Another lost tooth

2010-05-07T21:55:00.001-02:30

Last year of single digits for our oldest...

2010-04-07T20:31:00.005-02:30

Maya blowing out the candles at her party (castle cake).
Walking home from having supper out with her friends.
Scott & Aidan icing the cake.
Her biggest wish for her bday was to have a specific doll (as seen below in a matching winter coat & winter gear).
First thing on her birthday, she opened her present from us (the family) and from Aunt Eleanor & Uncle Blair (necklace below is from them).

Vancouver Olympic Pins in the Mail

2010-04-07T20:23:00.006-02:30

Thanks to Uncles Vince & Vern....the kids were excited to open that envelope this week!

Sunny and dry

2010-03-16T22:01:00.003-02:30

It was so nice on the weekend everyone (but me) went for a bike ride and Scott patched some leaks on the roof - ones that were discovered after a major rainfall 2 weeks ago.

Starting Piano

2010-03-16T21:59:00.001-02:30

Maya has taken an interest in piano since our good friend gave 4 piano lessons to Maya for her birthday last year....and just doing them now. She practices faithfully everyday for about a month now. So far, she's enjoying it.

An Aidan Obsession

2010-03-16T21:57:00.001-02:30

He is obsessed with this furry stuffed toy (called a puffle...). This is him trying to look like his grumpy/worried gray puffle.

Another health hiccup

2010-03-16T21:53:00.003-02:30

So - B ended up in the hospital again (bacterial pneumonia this time) and is back home now. The first few nights home, she was on oxygen but she's back at room air, cough-free and her usual self. The prongs and tape (as seen below) are so nostalgic.

Glasses

2010-03-16T21:49:00.002-02:30

We have three people in our house now that have glasses. I stepped on a pair yesterday (mel, that is) - and they survived. Glasses - finding them, cleaning them, placing them where they won't be lost or crushed, negotiating patches on them - have become a regular part of conversations in this house. Everyday.

Probably the most snow we had all winter

2010-03-16T21:41:00.003-02:30

Which really wasn't THAT much snow. You can see that Maya has exposed grass by her knees.I think Aidan was attempting to make a coffin-shaped shelter for himself.

Aidan's Par-tay

2010-01-30T22:33:00.006-03:30

House was tidied and cleaned (there is a difference, for us)....balloons were blown and banners were hung....cake was made and plans for the party were underway since early this morning.
We planned to work and play in a snow house...but there was barely any snow most of it melted away this week. So, we played origami games (sumo wrestling, frog hopping and airplanes) first.

Then Aidan performed his rehearsed magic show. We taped it - for those of you who live nearby, I can show you sometime.
And then we had cake - Aidan requested a penguin (grade 1 kids at Aidan's school are studying penguins in January).
I have other pics but his friends are in it and I don't think I'll bother with trying to get consent to post pictures. Anyways - party was fun and I'm happy that we have a few months before we do this again for Maya's birthday.

Birthday Boy

2010-01-26T11:17:00.005-03:30

Turned SEVEN this week. Took him out for lunch with our family and his great aunt Eleanor and uncle Blair.

Got the fireworks and restaurant clapping/singing to go with the cake.

He's been practicing his magic lately so I made him a magic hat to go with his cape (from last year). He's pretty pumped about doing a show for his friends next weekend.

Random pic from tonight

2009-12-26T20:41:00.000-03:30

Trying out a rocket...

2009-12-26T20:40:00.000-03:30

...from their new science experiment kits they got.

Gift Opening

2009-12-26T20:33:00.003-03:30

Our relatives nearby (whom we eat supper with weekly) bought a Wii system for Christmas - in the name of something fun for everyone. We played - this pic is of Maya helping Bertha have a turn at golfing.

A hat I knit for Scott - I think it gives him a slightly hip look.

New PJs and stuffed animals from their great aunt & uncle...

Church Pageant

2009-12-26T20:24:00.004-03:30

King Herod (Scott) always has some current political humour - this year it was about the H1N1 vaccination. Maya was a donkey. Aidan a sheep. Bertha an angel. Mel, the mother of an ass (yes, mother ass).

Menno Christmas Potluck Plus Hymn Singing

2009-12-26T20:23:00.000-03:30

School Christmas Concert

2009-12-26T20:16:00.003-03:30

Maya's a reindeer, obviously.

Aidan is an elephant toy...

Shortbreads for a Christmas Cookie Exchange

2009-12-09T11:30:00.000-03:30

Hauling out the Christmas Gear

2009-12-09T11:25:00.003-03:30

Watching something on the computer

2009-12-09T11:24:00.000-03:30

Though Aidan always notices the camera.

Everyone in this house is toilet-trained.

2009-12-09T11:21:00.001-03:30

It's official now.

H1N1

2009-12-09T11:20:00.003-03:30

Somehow I didn't feel compelled to take picture of Bertha while she was sick in the hospital with the flu. But this is how I spent most of my days for 2 weeks and how Scott spent his nights for 2 weeks.

Halloween - The Owl, the Witch & the Fairy

2009-12-09T11:16:00.002-03:30

Random photos from the weekend

2009-10-15T00:59:00.005-02:30

Doesn't want to miss a thing.....

Aidan obsessed with the calculator.
Couldn't be happier.

Scott, Aidan, and Aidan's gecko.

Turkey Dinner with Eleanor & Blair

2009-10-15T00:44:00.004-02:30

Making wishes on accumulated wish bones....

Scott made a bacon-wrapped turkey this year.

Thanksgiving Tofurkey Dinner with Candace

2009-10-15T00:37:00.002-02:30

Laying Hardwood with Uncle Blair

2009-10-15T00:11:00.004-02:30

Cozy in Winter Jammies

2009-10-02T19:05:00.001-02:30

Chefs in Training

2009-10-02T19:00:00.001-02:30

Maya and Aidan are making one dish a meal and Bertha sets the table most suppers now.

Random pics from early September

2009-09-20T16:02:00.010-02:30

First day of school for Aidan (grade 1) & Maya (grade 3).

Can't take life too seriously

2009-09-20T15:50:00.004-02:30

Grandma & Grampa were visiting!

2009-09-20T15:48:00.001-02:30

Final summer blast (at Heart's Content)

2009-08-30T23:23:00.005-02:30

Matt & Katie were here!

2009-08-30T23:21:00.000-02:30

Berries come and almost gone

2009-08-30T23:16:00.001-02:30

Summer sports have ended

2009-08-30T23:11:00.001-02:30

News Report by M&A

2009-07-31T16:23:00.003-02:30

Lost His First Tooth

2009-07-16T23:25:00.002-02:30

At Jungle Jim's with good friends....wiggled it behind the menu (unbeknownst to the rest of us) to for a while until it came out. He's very excited is saving it to show his dad before deciding what to do with it. He's going to decide later after thinking through the various traditions around the world on what kids do with teeth that fall out - it'll probably end up under the pillow.

Weekend Away

2009-07-16T23:13:00.007-02:30

The picture above is the kids after a candy dance at the Miawpukek (aka Conne River) pow wow this year.

Beautiful

2009-06-22T09:43:00.005-02:30

Taken by our friend Peter.

my little chefs

2009-05-22T21:31:00.001-02:30

Aidan & Maya both wanted to make chef hats - so this is what they sewed (I coached and did some trouble shooting.....4 sewing machine needles later).

make a funny face

2009-05-22T21:28:00.001-02:30

this is (apparently) Bertha's funny face...