Just playing the Geography of Canada game and we found out this interesting fact:
Treasure Island in Lake Mindemoya on Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron is the “Largest island in a freshwater lake on an island in a freshwater lake in the world.”
Did you get that? If it sounds confusing (a little!) read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoulin_Island
Isn’t Canada cool?
A few days ago Lucas decided to make me some earrings using a Fiskars heart punch and paper clips. So very ’80′s and I just love them. Yes, I have worn them out of the house and even to work!
I came upon a cool post on a blog I follow showing different ways to re-use toilet paper rolls. Some great ideas abound! Xander chose to do this one:
Okay, I think I really need to start using my real camera more often. Speaking of that…I did grab my camera for this shot outside of the boys window the other night of the moon.
May 2010
~love~
I have been trying to catch up on things here desperately before getting into the portrait season – I have been experiencing some serious photo biz withdrawal over the winter! In looking at images to put into Xander’s Baby Journal of the first three years (I know, I am soooo behind!), I came across this shot of Steve from June 0f 2009 when I was testing out my new Canon 70-200 2.8 IS lens. Sweet Love! The boy, that is….and the lens!!!
Found this one of Lucas.
And Xander…
And, I am now trying to find a pic of Xman for his third birthday. I know it must be around here somewhere. I did, however find this one of Steve when we had the boys’ Halloween birthday party of 2010. Gary, this one is for you:
Recently, I checked a book out of the library titled, “How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World” by Marjorie Priceman. 
This book is about a little girl who would like to make and apple pie but doesn’t have any of the ingredients on hand. We had a great time learning and reading about where some of the best places in the world are to get ingredients for apple pie. Did you know that the best cinnamon in the world is from Sri Lanka (which Lucas quickly located on our world map, thanks to Clever Dragons). If comes from the bark of the kurundu tree in the rain forest. Just peel off the bark – who knew! We went into the kitchen and grabbed a piece of cinnamon and, sure enough, it did look like a curled piece of bark!
At the back of the book is a recipe for the pie as well. Luckily, we did not have to travel the world (well, that would be pretty cool!) but had the ingredients at hand. So, this weekend past the boys and I make the pie. My first ever and so theirs as well. So yum!
The boys took turns adding the ingredients and rolling out the dough.
Xander added the apples and I managed to convince him to not take one of the sugared apple pieces for himself just yet!
I didn’t have any parchment paper for rolling the dough so I floured the counter instead. No good it seems. We ended up putting the dough into the pie stone in pieces. The top, too. Oh, and we used GF all-purpose flour which I think was part of the culprit for that one. I should have added more water. But, hey, first time and with substitutions to boot, I had faith it would taste just fine.
I think it turned out just fine and the boys we so pleased and proud. I must say, I was too. 
And, of course, they couldn’t wait to eat it!
I’d do it alllll over again.
I decided this time around we would make some Valentine crafts and I went to some blogs for inspiration. Oh, too much inspiration! But, I narrowed the ideas down to just a few and we had a great time making things! These hearts were fun to make and easy! I just used some scrapbook paper cut into hearts. Then the boys had fun punching a hole in each and hanging on the branches. If you are feeling crafty you must check out Little Birdie Secrets! 
I made this banner (finally!) after seeing it on the Simple as That blog. I chose some well-known love poems and then cut the letters out of the same paper I used for the heart tree. I let the boys glue them on to the poems and we strung them up together. And yes, I kind of copied the picture style from the blog with my iPhone. That’s flattery, right??? 
I had ready Sandy’s Circus with the boys and we were inspired to make our own mobile, with hearts, of course! It’s an ode to the inventor of the mobile, Mr Alexander Calder. The boys had a great time making the hearts and figuring out how to create the mobile so that it was balanced sufficiently. Lucas drew a schematic on paper for me and I cut the string accordingly. He may be a good engineer someday – (or Lego Creator)! 
When I came across these super kewl cards I just couldn’t help but try them out myself. So so easy and fun! Don’t be surprised if you see one in your mailbox sometime! This one was for Steve. I put a quote on the inside: “When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.” William Shakespeare. Perfect. 
We got the boys just a bit of chocolate and Pez. The Lego tags I found from Eighteen25. Yet again, awesome site. Lucas and Xander did their own drawings of Mommy and Daddy too! 
Lucas’ drawings… 
Xander’s drawings… 
All in all we had a great time being crafty. I loved having the boys so interested in helping out and making the house full of heart-love! I think we may have to keep the banner and heart tree around all year! xo
Lucas asked if he could fix one of his and Xman’s little soccer balls. I think he wanted to do something along the lines of what I was doing – fixing Xander’s shirt where it wasn’t originally sewn by the manufacturer. Love my sewing machine by the way!
I was a bit reluctant as I didn’t want him to do something so challenging as a first try. He may totally prick his finger and be off of sewing altogether.
Well, I am absolutely impressed! He is a natural and went slowly and deliberately. Good job my man!
xxxxxx
Tam 
Lucas’ handiwork is the top three edges of the ball.
…chess, drawing, reading, play, poetry, knot tying. We already did math and handwriting. Really, I swear.
