Bad Manners on my playlist

JR is in Toronto with Grandma Lois, Zayde and Jolene.     And the funny thing is, I needed a break, I wanted a break.    I get overwhelmed with this life whatever it is, and I miss the old - the parties, concerts, martinis for dinner, take out everything, coffee breaks, music.    So the babes go for a refresher and I spend the ENTIRE time they’re away totally consumed with how much I miss them – what are they doing, are they having fun, are the snacks as much fun as snacks with me…oh, lord.     It’s SO weird – who am I?   I need time for ME , I scream silently, then it’s here, upon me, time for just little ol’ me and I want them back almost immediatley.   It’s such a short time in my life.  He’s 3, she’s 18months.  This weekend Jolene will be 19 months and never again will I have a moment with her at 18months.   Gone.    Life is a series of lovely moments in time and if you miss that time, bypass moments, what’s left without them?     I’ve lived an interesting life for me, I felt rather well rounded in the realm of life experiences when JR came along but every now I then I get sidetracked, I miss the past… yet there ain’t no way I’d give up what I have now just to taste the past.     Lovely memories and I miss the crazy cats I used to play with but….that little guy, my little dude, the eyes,  expressions, somersaults…I can’t imagine being without him.     On that note, I have to shower and go see him because my heart is aching.     Squeeze!       

Here are two pictures JR took this summer….I have to say, the dude has an interesting eye.     First up, The Boot.     Bridge, water, water greens, a little yellow boot.    Very simple but I like how it triggers my memory of two very lovely people, Ed & Marie.   Cool neighbours, interesting stories, generous.     ‘Ol Blackie meets The Beads  follows….the picture speaks for itself.

Thomas we love you

Monday.   The dawn of a new day..a new week…a new life.  Literally.      JR and crew have been without a car for way too long, seriously.    Two and a half years in Colborne without a car when I used to be a girl who rode the rocket, walked everywhere, takeout everything and the GO train was always an option to visit the family in Oshawa.     And then we hit Colborne.    JR and I walked every inch of this town including a walk along Hwy 2 to the town of Brighton which appears to be right next door but when you’re pushing a stroller in the dead of summer heat then it is a walk to end all walks.     By the time I arrived in Brighton at the house Warren was shooting I thought I had heatstroke, and I probably did. 

We’ve been talking to JR a lot about going to school as I persue a job search – but really, my job search is only interested in one job, Property Manager at Ganaraska Conservation Forest.     The job of all outdoor jobs!      When a girl relocates from Toronto to Northumberland County to persue a new life, why wouldn’t she want to spend her days in a forest.     Fingers crossed, positive vibes my way, please.

Today we started our day with Cheerios and chocolate chip/flax cookie dough.    Mondays were made for making cookies…especially when it’s raining.     Once the blogs are updated we’ll head to playgroup then onto Grandma Carol’s for some time on the beach.    With the addition of the new (used) car, I plan on spending a lot of time with Grandma Carol this summer.    A wonderful, beautiful woman, someone for whom I have a great deal of admiration.

Play.   JR loves to play with Thomas.    But cars come a close second.    And playing “hiding” is definitely in his top 3.        Here are a few pictures JR took while he was playing with his train track in the office….as you will see, Jolene was there and Dad, too.     

I’m a little airplane now….

Friday, June 3, 2010.    9:20am.

This morning we prepare for a weekend of sleepovers, and a last minute showing request which means I’m packing the kids and cleaning the house as we move around the house.   Yikes!    No stress, but showering and hair primping are definitely out of the question.

Recently JR took a picture of me and while I’m rather critical of it I found his framing to be excellent.     The pic is from a week ago….no picture taking this week.    Also improving, pavement chalking. … pics to follow.

Okay, I’m off to do insane home staging, packing and bathing the children.    Is it time for wine yet?

Happy Weekend.

Construction on Parliament

There`s an Amy Millan song called Wayward & Parliament.    The title reminds me of us, where we live but don`t  fit in…. square pegs, round hole.     My  little friend, JR, recently picked up his camera again after a 5month hiatus to document the road construction on Parliament.     Chalk it up to the neverending saga of sibling rivalry – the camera distracts him from really seeing what kind of attention Jolene is receiving while he`s peering through the viewfinder.     But, he picked up the camera and his paintbrush and he`s back into the swing of creativity and self expression.    Recently the little boy next door commented on JR`s painted toe and fingernails (toes – purple, fingers – green) with, “My mom said painted toes are for girls“.      Now I`m not sure if it was due to JR`s age (3) or the fact he truly doesn`t care but he just shrugged it off, looked in my direction and I reminded him, different strokes for different folks.     I`m not the type to box the kids into this is for girls and this is for boys … especially when it comes to expression.    If JR wants to wear nothing at all and paint his bum with bright blue magic marker (I missed the photo op on that one but similar to the green paint on his bum from last fall) then who am I to say.    Pink Hello Kitty to brunch….why not, just don`t get caught with your pants down in Colborne.      Doris Day said it best….que cera cera.      

Oops, sidetracked.    Construction on Parliament, right.    JR took a few snaps of the work.    More to follow.

Happy Wednesday after the long weekend.

It’s a snowstorm kind of day

7am and the snow is here fast and furious.  

We woke up to snow yesterday, too.    Due to mild temperatures JR was game for some outdoor playtime which turned into watching the construction crew repairing our road.    We brought the camera and he proceeded to snap a few shots of the crew vehicles.

We think due to the inclusion of the Chrismtas tree in our home, the excitement of Christmas, presents under the tree, JR has gone a bit bonkers.    He’s having a wee bit of difficulty keeping his energy in check, and yesterday he pretty much decided the only kind of attention he was interested in from mom was negative which made for an exhausting day.   It’s so disappointing on days like yesterday because we usually have fun together but when he loses check of his energy levels and it’s game on for negativity, it makes for a frustrating day.    Add to the mix mom feeling a bit under the weather so a short temper at best and you have short fuses and frustration.    But today is another day!    

Back to the photos.    So I took some pictures and he took some pictures.    The pictures posted here are JR’s – it was easy to decifer his from mine as I took pictures of JR & Jolene watching the diggies.     JR took pictures of the crew site.

Happy day.

xo

it’s a parade kind of day

So we’ve been off the radar for a few weeks.    I guess we can chalk it up to the realities of freelance life and the impact on everyday life, it kinda got me down so the picture posts weren’t flowing.   Unfortunately JR picks up way too many of my vibes so needless to say if mom hasn’t been inspired to take pictures neither has he.    Some days we like capturing all the moments in a day yet when life gets us down, well, not so much.

Do you hear what I hear?    There’s nothing like Christmas and Christmas music to put a smile on my face.     Today we’re busting out the boxes and putting up our festive decor.     JR has come to appreciate Christmas lights, loves them, but still not too keen on the big guy.    Yesterday I took the kids to the Northumberland Mall and to my horror the mall was filled with hundreds of little children (I’m a mother but not the biggest fan of a lot of little kids).      Something called “Wake Up Santa”.     We avoided the masses until on our way to the car we were stopped by a fellow Torontonian relocated and we decided to check out the buzz.     After just two minutes, thankfully, a pretty wigged pink princess emerged.    She expressed greetings from Aerial and Snow White and all the other princesses JR knows nothing about – boring.    Jolene couldn’t see so no interest there but after one song JR asked to leave.     Phew.     Back on track to the car but stopped again, this time for the Cobourg Police Child Identification people.     They took impressions of JR’s fingers and Jolene’s feet.    Both of them loved it.    And we all had way more fun stamping than waking up Santa.     

Next weekend we not only have a parade to participate in but we’re also heading to our old hood for an overnight with Taylor and the two gay dads.     Tree decorating.      It’s a lovely tree, a gay tree, but very lovely. I think it includes birds, berries and velvet everything.     A bit reminiscent of the Liberace bedsheets Rick tried to bring home, but way more festive.       That’s next weekend…we’ll bring the camera but can’t guarantee JR will pick it up.    He’ll be totally preoccupied with Taylor his half sister/BFF/JR’s favouritest person.  Didi rivals that but settles in at a very close second. 

So the mild weather has been nice, lots of outdoor time.  JR had a little friend come over a few weeks ago.    She lives next door, she’s 8.   Her name is Cassidy but JR couldn’t say Cassidy when he first met her (I think he was around 14months) so he called her Gigi and Gigi she shall be.       Cassidy loves babies but it’s interesting to watch the dynamic between her & JR change now that JR is on the verge of little boy (he’s kicked diapers except for bedtime).    He can now express “no” clearly when he doesn’t want to play a certain game, a bit of a new experience for Gigi who usually calls the shots so amusing to watch the new interaction.  He still adores her but troublesome because he wants to do everything she does which includes jumping off the top of the slide from her play center – resulting in JR smashing his chin into his knees because he’s not quite ready for such a  jump.     Anyhoo, here are a few JR pics during a rare break.

And now I must go dig out the Christmas decorations then get the family ready for the Cobourg parade.

hugs.

cheese and crackers

Posing for JR

Red hair & freckles

Jolene attempts a puzzle

one little two little three little indians

Today we’re singing Raffi songs compliments of JR’s half sister Taylor and Uncle Scott & Uncle Rick. 

And today we’re all exhausted.     JR slept with us last night – he woke up crying at 12:45am so in an exhausted state I just lugged him into our bed and he quickly fell back to sleep….until the wee hours when the thrashing, kicking, flipping, flopping, head butting started.     Yawn.    JR woke up feeling f-i-n-e but has dark circles cause me to wonder….just how peppy is the boy, and will he go quietly at 7:30 this evening because I really need him to go quietly tonight.     We were supposed to indulge in a chocolate party tonight but I can’t drive (suspended license….stupid rules) and Warren can barely keep his eyes open so we’ll have to take a party pass.   Boo.

While he was only in the mood for a few pictures, here he takes a look at his toys.

Thomas the toothbrush

What day is it today, mommy?   Thursday.     Thursday starts with T.

What are you doing, mommy?    About 10 different things but at the moment I’m posting your pictures.

We have entered the million little questions phase of JR.     I find this phase enlightening, entertaining, charming yet completely annoying.     I put aside the annoying while I remind myself this too will not last long and sooner rather than later my little guy will no longer be mine,  nor little.     That is why I try to find charm in everything he does, well, except painting the diningroom floor grey with a roller he found in the mudroom – I lost my cool a bit over that and I do believe the roller went flying back into the mudroom.    He then reminded me about how he had helped Daddy and Grandma Lois paint the mudroom floor and how he wanted to use those new mad painting skills on the diningroom floor. Ah, clarity.   Creative, helpful, a go getter.    Me like.    Scrub scrub scrub.

That aside, last night during toothingbrushing JR discovered he had left the D60 in the downstairs washroom so an impromptu photo session was had by Dad.     What makes this photo session a delight (to me) is the choice of shirtwear Warren is sporting.    Love it.     And Warren, next time we speak of the seal hunt in Newfoundland – I got you on camera.

Enjoy your Thursday, with wine.

xo

Back in the ‘hood

So we recently spent 8 days living out of backpacks and cloth grocery bags and we’re all rather happy to be back at our little country home in the ‘burn.      Today we spent the morning playing trains and having teatime.    This afternoon was a trip to Home Depot and a stop at the bridge in Grafton to pay respects to the latest soldier returning from Afghanistan, Sapper Steven Marshall.     As the entourage passed by JR waved and called out, “thank you!”      Wow, it was worth the frozen fingers.

Here are a few pictures he took around the house after morning tea and biscuits.

Chana

JR’s kitchen table

Teapot

Jolene’s Bumbo

JR’s kitchen

It’s where he sleeps

What he doesn’t like to use, for $100 Alex

Hi everyone, it’s me!

Hi everyone,
This is JR Denomme's blog.
JR is 2 1/2.
He recently began taking his own pictures most likely because he has always had a camera in his face.
His pictures are his own -  no photoshop, no cropping.   They are posted as the original image.

This blog is maintained by mom until JR is old enough to work a keyboard so pretty much by the time he's 3.

I recently took him to Ikea Leslie and as we pulled  into Ikea he noticed a construction site, a condo development, with 5 active cranes nestled between Ikea & McDonald's.    He asked if I had brought the camera so we could take pictures.   Sadly I had not.     It was a day he wanted to take pictures, some days he wants nothing to do with a camera preferring popcorn, crafts or cars.

This is my attempt to share a bit of JR with all of you.

In closing, this is how JR see's the world.

A diggy in my neighbourhood