The almost-art post

Family photo at the Knob

I had decided days ago that this post was going to be about art.  It seemed only fitting, as the annual art show at Juniper's preschool was on Sunday, and Linden has also been bringing home a bunch of stuff now that he's in daycare during the week.  Plus, I've got a bunch of pottery that is starting to make it's way home.  But then the weekend took over, and generated so many photos that I decided to push the art extravaganza to next week.  Plus, putting up photos is just generally less work than organizing a thematic post, and I need a break... not only was the weekend kind of crazy jam-packed, but the week itself was pretty much entirely consumed for me by a horrendous tooth-ache, followed by a surprise root canal. Yay!

Anyway, here you go: our weekend retrospective.

1. Haircut

I love Linden's head of curls.  So wild and unpredictable adorable and ever changing.  It very much mimics his personality. His hair had gotten long enough that he was often asking for a top-knot in the morning when I do Juniper's hair (which in and of itself is ridiculous and amazing).  But Clark and I made the joint decision that the mop of curls had to go... not only were they starting to get out of control, but tick season is upon us, and hair is a favourite hiding place.  Juniper will sit and tolerate a hair/scalp inspection, but Linden - not so much. I wanted to just... trim.  But Clark got out the clippers, and never looked back.  I was more emotional than I expected - in fact, Juniper came over at one point, and held my hand, and said "don't worry, mama - his hair will grow back.  Hair always grows back". True enough.  So here is the before - during - after series of shots detailing the transformation.  I hardly recognize him!  But he does look very dapper...

Pre-cut, from the side...

... and from the top (while playing drums)

Mid-buzz. "What is going on?' face. Or maybe "mama, why are you crying?" face.

Shorn.  Doesn't he look completely different?

2. Animals: We visited (and were visited by) a bunch of animals this weekend.  For example...

Dinosaurs!  Juniper brought these home from a birthday party. She specifically asked if she could have an extra one for Linden (who was home napping during the party). She looks out for him.

We were visited by four turkeys... two males and two females.  The males were totally putting on a show.

Regal or scary ugly?

Yes, we visited the lambs at Peterson farm again.

How could I resist posting when there was this much cuteness?

Watching the lambs. Linden resting his hand on Juniper's head. Seriously.

3. All the rest: I didn't get pictures of everything this weekend... for instance, Juniper went to a friend's 4th birthday (an event, which, incidentally, tired Clark out so much that he literally crashed when they got home, and lay comatose in bed while the rest of us had supper); Juniper was invited to a neighbour's house to make a sceptre and a crown; there was the grand art show which I will blog about next week - truly, it was a whirlwind.  But here are the shots that I did get from the other activities (namely, Open Day at Highfield Hall, and an evening hike to the Knob):

Juniper examining the "magic key" that she won after a scavenger hunt.  She thinks it might be to a fairy house.

Running up and down and all around. We were shouting "ready, set, go!" and then timing Linden and Juniper as they ran to a tree and back. Once, when we weren't paying enough attention, Linden asked a group of women beside us to count him down, and then ran back and gave them all hugs.

Tree climbing en route to the Knob

Juniper gazing out over the ocean

Heading home.