Sylvie just set up our wooden manger scene, along with a couple of additions. Yes, that is Santa over to the side, resting in a pink high chair. Those are his boots (perhaps with his feet still inside them, which might be why he needs the special chair) over behind that lumpish sheep or ox. She says "They are having a party." I guess they kind of were.
Remember the ranger and the rangel?
Sylvie wearing her Snow White false eyelashes, which she now begs to be allowed to wear everywhere. No, I don't let her.
And here is Snow White with her good friend, the Leaf Monster. What, you've never read that one?
We went away for a few days over this Thanksgiving weekend to a cottage in the woods. We took along these small white pumpkins, some glue, and golden glitter to make this little glitter pumpkin project. (I was trying to think of things to keep the kids busy since there was no television or internet where we were going.)
All you do is paint the tops of the pumpkins with ordinary school glue and then sprinkle glitter all over them. It's very easy, even for someone Sylvie's age. Luke enjoyed it, too.
It kept them busy for all of five minutes! (The glitter is very glamping, don't you think?)
I bought this pretty hairclip for Sylvie from Susan of DeChamp Designs at a recent craft show. Every October, Susan donates 20% of her sales to the IWK Foundation. Here is why.
Susan makes gorgeous, very intricate chainmaille and crochet jewelry, which she sells at amazing prices. Now's a great time to start your Christmas shopping with her, since you'll also be helping out kids at the IWK Children's Hospital. She's also joining our Mother Christmas Fair on November 24th at the Mahone Bay Centre.
I've been meaning to tell you -- all three of you faithful readers of this blog -- about Blackout 
I found the books meandering and long, yes, but in that satisfactory way books are long when you are being immersed in a world and you don't want the experience to end. Think the Harry Potter series or some other favourite series from childhood. I had borrowed both books from the library at the same time and I'd recommend doing that, or purchasing them both at the same time, as the first one definitely had an unfinished feel on its own. I do agree with that reviewer on that one point -- they are actually one long book. Contrary to him, though, I found all the research fascinating and enjoyed Willis's devotion to describing details of life during the Blitz . The time travel story raised some questions of logic, as those sorts of stories can't help but do, but overall it was well-done. I highly recommend these books -- they certainly aren't literary fiction but they are smart and absorbing.
We spent the weekend on the other side of the province. One of our stops was a tiny village on the Bay of Fundy called Harbourville, pop. 100 , where we happened upon this crooked house, which you can rent for a vacation stay. We were going to eat at the Schnitzelhaus but it was closed the evening we were there.
Harbourville is really gorgeous and it's difficult to do the place justice in photos. It's the kind of place where you have to stand and slowly turn round in a circle in order to take it all in. And then you walk a little way and stop and do the spin again.
We arrived at low ride, which is why those two boats are sitting way down there on the ground. Just six hours later they would be floating above the water mark, as the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world. We will definitely go back for to stay for a night or two, so we can explore the beaches, caves, and cliffs more fully and witness the dramatic change in the water level firsthand.
It's official. David is the best dad in the world. But don't worry, your favourite dad can be the official best dad in the world, too. After seeing a similar design for sale on a British site (at the scary, scary price of $41 plus shipping) I asked Lisa, the graphic designer who did Sylvie's birthday invitations, to make some up for me and she's now offering them to everyone at the bargain price of five bucks!
Luke turned seven on Good Friday and we had his party on Saturday in the church hall just up the street from our house. Last year I gave myself barely half an hour to set up so this year we went two hours early. That was a bit too early.
Sylvie insisted on wearing a pair of plastic high heels throughout the entire event. They had clumps of marabou-like fluff on the tops with purple jewels nested in the middles. For some reason the purple jewels offended her sensibilities so she tore them off, leaving only shreds of fake marabou. Inappropriate summer sun dress also chosen by Vivi herself.
I should've had the sense to take aftermath photos but I was too exhausted at that point. I am afraid the Easter bunny was rather lame this year.