Who knew POPSICLE BEHAVIOUR could reveal so much?

Let's pretend it is 45 degrees Celsius outside and we are all sitting around together for the first time, eating popsicles.

Rather than sharing any details about either of our girls, I feel we could simply point you in their direction and you'd automatically have a PRETTY ACCURATE IDEA of what each of them is like...

Because in addition to this visual, you'd hear Juliet squealing with delight and Nory panicking to catch every drip ALONG WITH urging someone to PLEASE CLEAN UP HER SISTER.

Night and day, these ones :)

And then there's the funny reminder that, regardless of personality, KIDS WILL BE KIDS :)

Phil's Commercial Debut!

A while back, Emily got a text from a friend asking if she knew anyone who would be interested in shooting a commercial.  And, being the "best friends" that they are.....

EXHIBIT A:

....Emily knew that this gig was right up Phil's alley.  He attended an audition, was offered the role as "Police Officer #2", and spent four glorious hours filming with a new pal named "Rock".  CRAZY, RIGHT?!  The final cut was released last night.

ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S.  I was only slightly annoyed that Phil and Em took a picture together on Best Friends Day (June 8th).

P.P.S.  Stay tuned for another Shrimpy's commercial featuring two of Phil's best friends - Adam and Tim!

NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL....

^^^  She basically stayed on the paper...

 ^^^  Left Side:  The crayons BASICALLY stayed in the box.  Right Side:  That's BASICALLY a good visual of what remains after we do arts and crafts together. 

^^^  Threenager painting party :)

 ^^^  Hide-and-seek / tag / please run off all your energy

^^^  Daddy being the best sport around :)

 ^^^  Left Side:  "What do you mean we are on our last jar of peanut butter?!"  Right Side:  Sup?!

 ^^^  Alex hosted an early birthday party for Gem and we were in charge of the cake-making.  The theme was "CATS and CUPS" (hence MEOW and PARTEA).

^^^  This quiet, wee thing sneaking away and making me panic!

 ^^^  She has a bit of a personality...

^^^  I'm going to miss snuggling with this little sweetie every morning.  She's our coffee buddy!

Juliet is ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD!

Yesterday was Juliet's second half birthday and we had the traditional half-cake to celebrate!  The occasion marked the first time we've seen a child of ours really, COMPLETELY dive in to a piece of cake, making the affair seem like a bigger milestone than usual.  (With Nory, you might recall the Failed Cake Smash Session of 2014, along with her general dislike of all-things-messy.)

Some things about Juliet at AGE ONE POINT FIVE:

1)  She loves a good mess.  Give her watermelon.  Give her oranges.  Give her the fastest melting popsicle in the world.  She'll take it and handle it with as much grace as any sticky child can :)

2)  She believes that a spoon and a jar of peanut butter constitutes a meal.  #definitelymine

3)  She sneaks away and hides quietly in the best hiding spots.  FOR REAL.  She excels at hide and seek and I have had my heart racing a few times in the last couple of weeks.  The girl has SKILLS!

4)  She doesn't like to be away from Nory for too long. As time passes, she starts to ask for Nory in the sweetest voice.  It's really adorable, but kinda heartbreaking when she's not greeted as warmly during their sister reunion.  

5)  Juliet's developing some TOUGHNESS and THANK GOODNESS for that!  She is starting to defend herself when the Nornado strikes - something Phil and I feel is absolutely necessary ;)

6)  She goes through phases throughout the day where she needs to be held - and not sitting down held - but standing up held.  She will say "uppy!!!!!!" and refuses to be put down until she feels comfortable and ready.  Usually, these moods strike after she wakes up or after we get home from work.

7)  She loves Ben and Winka.  LOVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Who knew we would be raising two little cat ladies?

8)  Words we hear often:  kitty cat, pizza, shoes, outside, Auntie, Kari, Mommy, Daddy, Nory, "Nory bad" (ha!)....

9)  She loves saying bye-bye and blowing kisses.  She is also a hugger with the people she sees regularly.  It is SO CUTE! :)

10)  She loves having "taco time" (being wrapped in a towel).  It used to be related to baths exclusively, but she will now bring us a towel during anytime of day and ask for "taco time" with her clothes on!

11)  Being outside is her happy place and we can't wait for cooler temperatures in Canada!

We love you, Juliet Tyko!  The upcoming plane ride might be a tough one, but once we get to Lakefield, you're going to be thrilled!  There are so many people waiting to snuggle and play with you :)

XOXO

NARRATING the CAMERA ROLL....

^^^  Juliet LOVES running around with this scarf over her head.  She giggles non-stop and gets the whole house giggling too!

^^^  Phil and the girls gave this bangle to me on Mother's Day.  I LOVE IT SO MUCH!  It has the latitude and longitude of where I became a Mama.....at the Royale Hayat, Kuwait!

 ^^^  Phil and I at the Activities Banquet.  It was at a fancy venue and, even though he was up on the stage a couple of times, it was pretty much a DATE!  GO TEAM! 

 ^^^  Here we are on Kumari's Birthday, May 18th.  We love this woman SO, SO MUCH and I am already dreading our summer farewell this Thursday.  Watching her say goodbye to the girls is as heart-wrenching as it gets....

 ^^^ One of Juliet's favourite things to do in the courtyard is cruise around in this little wagon.  Nory, of course, has to hop in there sometimes, so as not to be left out ;)

 ^^^  It is UNBELIEVABLE seeing our mugs in a store!  It is even more UNBELIEVABLE watching someone purchase them!  I am still in awe of how far we've come since that little "I guess we're starting a business" conversation a couple months back.  LOVE YOU, GEM! xo

 ^^^  Nory in her new shark suit.  I like these swim suits because they limit the duration of The Great Sunscreen Battle.  Nory is a fan of all things under-the-sea and she insisted on giving her dollies a bath in her fancy new shark suit :)

 ^^^  A student made this drawing for Phil and I.  It features Phil (clearly!) and a quote that I always say/sing to my students.  I love gifts like this one - so meaningful and thoughtful :)  Thank you, E!

 ^^^  Left Side:  Nory as "Rapunzel" on her top bunk.  Right Side:  Snow White in the library at our school.  Snow White has spent a few days at our school this May/June and we've had fun showing Nory all of the wonderful things she will get to do starting in August (JUST LIKE SNOW WHITE)!

^^^  Here is our Summer 2016 Bucket List, featuring DANIEL TIGER!  Last year we had Olaf as our main man, but Nory's new big thing is D. Tiger and Company :)  We can't wait to get home to Canada!!!  I get butterflies just thinking about it!

 ^^^  I did a big clean out of the craft cupboard a couple of weeks ago.  It was a DISASTER due to a variety of reasons:  children that can now access it independently, cats that jump in the moment it opens, and a Mama who puts anything from the kitchen table inside of it when people are coming over.  Things are much more accessible post-clean-up :)

June is the weirdest month ever.

It's a month that seems SO FAR AWAY in August, yet maintains the power to surprise you upon arrival mid-year. 

SERIOUSLY!

How many of you count the months/weeks/days until June throughout the school year and then, BAMMMMMMM, wake up all baffled when it's finally here?  Either I'm just a freak, or you ALSO feel shocked when the month you've been dreaming of appears in an expected time frame....

In other weird news, Nory - our STAY CLEAN girl - insisted on making "slime" after school yesterday.  We had what we needed to make some slime-like OOBLECK instead, and we gave her the standard "you're going to get messy" pep talk before she got started. 

WELL. 

To our surprise, after minimal hesitation on her part, Nory (and some toys!) took the PLUNGE and played happily in Oobleck until bath time was the only option.  (That's why I tried to Facetime you, Dad!  I wanted you to witness the NORNADO getting HAPPILY MESSY!)

This is a GIANT STRIDE, people!

I'm also happy to report that Nory has become a little fact/wisdom-sharing guru.  Some examples for you on this fine Canadian Hump Day....

While eating a cookie at a friend's place: "This cookie is delicious.  (pause) And apples are crunchy!"

While getting ready to paint: "I'm happy you're going to paint with me, Mama.  (pause)  Just remember, everybody makes mistakes!"

It is SO, SO ADORABLE.  And random.  And that is the joy of AGE THREE :)

As for Juliet, she's been more social in the last couple of weeks and is absolutely IN LOVE with babies - real and pretend!  Here she is holding sweet Baby Liesel and two of her favourite dollies:

Please don't let this passion of hers give you any ideas about a third Parkinson child.  We're exhausted as is.  AND WE HAVE TWO CATS.  And although our cats SOMETIMES look like this:

There are other times when they look like this:

So.  In regards to Juliet's love for babies and a third Parkinson child.  The answer is NO :)

Phil and I have been busy at school - marking final projects and exams and cleaning up our classrooms.  Phil is officially done teaching for a while and he is having fun moving into an office on another floor of our campus.  I am trying to ignore the fact that my once colourful and inviting classroom now looks like a jail cell.  I'm also trying NOT to cry every time a student gives me a hug.  Transitions and goodbyes?  NOT.  MY.  JAM.

Only 10 days until we are HOME SWEET CANADA!  TEN!!!!!!!!  We can't wait to see all of you and make some more wonderful memories together this summer.

Oh - and in case you didn't get the courtesy call, IT IS JUNE!

Love y'all!
XOXO