kimberly August 14th, 2010

Happy birthday, Adam! You are five years old today and this will be the last year you can demonstrate your age with the fingers and thumb of just one hand. Next year, you’re going to need to borrow a digit from your other hand. You’re getting old!

Adam, I look at you and see a determined, generous, creative little boy who never fails to entertain me with stories, songs and plays. Over this past year you have certainly developed a flair for the dramatic and I love being an ever-present member of the audience. Though your sense of humour occasionally leaves me scratching my head, your patience in explaining the jokes that I miss more than makes up for it. I am so proud of the ways in which you have embraced your status as Big Brother, striving to both watch out for and watch over Leah (you seem to have developed the parental eyes in the back of your head rather early in life). Each day brings with it a new reason to feel blessed to be your mum.

Tags: adam, Adam's birthday

• life , milestones
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kimberly July 29th, 2010

Since I have taken to spending Leah’s daily nap time attempting to catch up alternately on email and sleep, Adam has been left to his own devices on a regular basis, which usually ends up in a mess of paper, markers and glue.

Today, however, I managed to keep myself awake and away from the computer long enough to have Adam assist in making a mess in the kitchen!

I vaguely remember eating chocolate-oat bundles as a kid, but after scouring the Interwebs half-heartedly searching online for a vegan version, I decided it would be more fun for us to make up our own recipe. And so, Cocoa-Oat Bites were born!

Cocoa-Oat Bites

1-1/4 cups old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup cocoa powder
smidge of salt

1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, combine oats, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together coconut oil, agave and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and stir to combine.
Drop by small spoonfuls onto parchment paper and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Tags: adam, recipe, vegan baking

• baking , recipe
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kimberly July 13th, 2010

We’re only two weeks into summer holidays and already I’m so in love with the relative laziness that I can’t even fathom returning to our usual somewhat-crazed schedule in September. There is something so peaceful about not having to rush off to school, clubs and meetings that I am doing my best to make the most of this respite.

Toronto got hit with such a horrendous heat wave (at some points it felt like 42°C+ outside) that we were forced to spend a lot more time indoors than I had planned. Even in the shade, it was just too humid and sticky and gross to venture far from the air conditioned bliss of home. It doesn’t help that Adam hates the sun and heat so even early mornings were just too hot to go outside. (Leah doesn’t seem to have much of an opinion yet — she just likes getting to wear her sunhat.)

Thankfully, Adam and Leah have managed to become contented (albeit occasionally reluctant) playmates, with Adam orchestrating elaborate dramas in which Leah is alternately an enthusiastic participant or a very vocal protester. Either way, hilarity ensues. At least for me.

Last week their game involved captaining their own laundry basket ships.

Leah’s boat was abandoned when Adam insisted on having the boats separated because the captains were not getting along. (They kept grabbing toys out of each other’s basket and the screaming was reaching unbearable levels.) Finally Leah gave up and went to plot a new way to harass Adam, who promptly fell asleep.

When the humidity finally broke, I had two kids who were sorely suffering from cabin fever and were grateful for any and all opportunities to play outside. Our backyard is small and overrun with weeds (the only plant that thrives on our watch — Todd and I have black thumbs) but is the perfect space for soccer games and running and tumbling.

I wish the summer could last forever. At least for now. I recognize that in a few weeks I could be climbing the walls willing September to hurry up. But until then, I’m enjoying the slower pace and (mostly) happy kids.

Tags: adam, leah, playing, summer

• life
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kimberly June 16th, 2010

Look who has just completed his first year of Korean school!

Here is Adam, celebrating the end of class with a family all-you-can-eat sushi dinner.

Back in September, I never thought we’d get to the point where Adam actually looked forward to Saturdays and spending the day immersed in Korean. Unlike regular school, in Adam’s words, “Korean school is hard,” especially when you don’t understand what’s going on. However, by late February, something suddenly clicked for Adam and the prospect of spending five-and-a-half hours at a time in school was no longer so daunting. (He was also pretty excited to stop receiving time-outs, mostly due to not fully understanding his teacher.) Lunch has continued to be the highlight of the day, and while I can’t figure out what is so exciting about rice, chicken/pork and watermelon, Adam considers it a “special treat lunch.” Who am I to argue?

His teachers have been incredible this year, and while Adam isn’t terribly keen on practising Korean out loud so that anyone can hear him, he certainly seems to understand a fair bit of what is happening in his classes and occasionally pops out a new word or two that he’s learned.

This past Saturday was the year-end concert, during which each of the classes performed. I love little-kid concerts: they are comedy gold, with several kids taking it super-seriously, a couple kids who couldn’t care less and make no effort to hide their disdain, and then a few who are trying hard but aren’t quite following the others — hilarity ensues when the kids collide. Which they did. Several times. Sometimes with pompoms.

I was pretty sure that Adam was going to fall but he managed to stay upright and continue on with the show.

Adam’s junior kindergarten class sang two songs and I was so thrilled to see Adam actually putting some effort into it. Usually he is one of the kids who stands around, not participating, but this time he was really into the singing and doing the actions.

He’s come a long way and he’s already looking forward to classes resuming in September!

Tags: adam, korean school

• korean language
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kimberly April 25th, 2010

As promised (and scheduled), on Tuesday Adam and I headed out to Starbucks for our highly anticipated “date.”

This time, though, we were chaperoned by Clifford, as part of a school project. Each child was to bring Clifford home for an evening and let him participate in the family’s activities, which are recorded in a journal and shared with the class.

Adam was eager to introduce Clifford to the joy that is a Caramel Apple Spice, hold the caramel sauce and whipped cream.He was, however, slightly less enthusiastic about the prospect of sharing his sugar cookies with his new four-legged friend.

We were both thrilled to see that Lucy’s cookies are now available in all Starbucks locations; this was the first time Adam was able to enjoy a sweet treat without worrying about dairy (or egg or anything non-vegan).

It’s exciting to see that vegan options are showing up in fairly pedestrian locations without having to search for them. Way to go, Starbucks!

Tags: adam, clifford, date, lucy's cookies, school, starbucks, vegan

• fun stuff , life , school
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