She Heard It Was a Birthday Siesta…

The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree (or as Grandma Randi says, elephants don’t have giraffes). Case in point, Olivia has picked up her dad’s ability to doze anywhere, even while standing.

About-Face(s)

Olivia played the shy card at first, but eventually had a complete about-face.

A New Sleep Experience

Marriott’s been touting the “new sleep experience” they’ve introduced at their many hotels around the world. We’re buying their claims – our notoriously sleep-averse child drifted off to la-la land shortly after we situated her among Marriott’s fluffy new pillows and atop their soft mattress. Shocked and thereby distracted by the newness of a somnolent toddler, Beni and I failed in our pursuit of a new sleep experience.

Hoarse and Buggy

Biker buddies Aiden and Olivia yelled, screamed, and squealed their excitement about their trek around the neighborhood.

Red Bandage of Courage

Olivia seems to have more war wounds than the average two-year-old. Fortunately, she’s fairly resilient and quite adept at dressing her boo-boos.

Chinatown Syndrome

Definition of subject line: Similar in scope to its namesake, the China Syndrome, in its reference to a meltdown, albeit not of the nuclear variety. Instead the breakdown is one of self-control, most notably when an individual is enticed the heavenly aromas wafting through the open doors of a pastry shop in Toronto’s Chinatown.

By the way, the food was insanely scrumptious. In my opinion, the shop has transcended the traditional essence of baked goods to earn the right to proclaim that they are purveyors of baked greats.

Ferry Tales

Olivia and I took a boat ride to the Toronto Islands while Beni attended a film at the Toronto International Film Festival. We walked to a beach, rehydrated at a water fountain, and hugged some trees before heading back.

The Smiles and Smiles between Us

Family fun time at a city park, Canadian style.

Letter Perfect

Olivia does her impression of a pimento-stuffed olive.

Canadian Fakin’

We took a family trip to the 22nd Annual Vegetarian Food Fair in Toronto this weekend because we were running low on food at home. We faired well – an apt description for a couple reasons. One, we addressed the welfare of our empty stomachs by loading up on savory faux meat items and other veggie fare, and two, we scoured every inch (centimeter?? – I should be respectful of our metric neighbours, eh?) of the fair’s grounds before we bade our farewell.

Goggle Search

I googled “adorable picture of Olivia wearing (and causing) some spectacles at her mom’s workplace camping and cookout function” and got the above result.

In the Same Boat

The kids found themselves seated in the same situation as one another.

Getting Her Just Desserts

Olivia tried to conceal the evidence of a recent birthday celebration for Jeff. We caught her with her hand in the cookie jar – check that, the baking pan – on multiple occasions.

Footwears of a Geisha

Our daughter loves to raid our bedroom closet to try on our shoes. This morning, she found some zoris, flat-soled sandals worn by geishas, that her mother had picked up as a souvenir during a visit to Japan.

The Fruits of Our Labor Day

We enjoy playing the What do you like? or the What is your favorite? game as a family. For instance, we ask Olivia to name the toys that she likes, and she usually responds in list form. Perhaps not surprisingly, questions about food preferences tend to dominate our quiz bowl. Olivia’s response as to what Daddy likes to eat is always the same and never ceases to make us laugh. Apparently I am quite fond of fruit salad.

I’m not exactly sure where she gets that, but I do have a theory. I know that her favorite Wiggle is Anthony – he’s very passionate about his fruit salad – and that she adores G’ma – she made us a lovely fruit medley the last time she was in town – and so Olivia’s expressing her love by associating me with a very select group through the deliciousness of fruit salad.