Pyjamas marking the passage of time
Mallory likes to track her growth. So every month or so (sometimes two or three times a month) I get her to stand up against the door and I measure her. Sometimes the mark is a smidge higher than the last, sometimes it’s as much as a centimetre. But it never seems like a lot. And because I see her practically every day, it doesn’t register with me that she’s growing, weed-like.
Clip ‘n’ climb
Mallory was at her friend F’s birthday party today. F’s parents held the party at the kiddie part of Altitude Gym called Clip ‘n’ Climb. It was brilliant. There’s kids. There’s climbing walls galore. There’s these automatic belay things that let you down.
Mallory was out partying tonight
Well, okay, not really. But she was over at her friend C’s (movie and pizza night) til 8:30. Waaay past her bedtime.
Mallory and her friend C built a snow fort tonight
Before dinner. From the heap of snow built up at the end of the driveway. It was all that Irene and I could do to convince her to come in for pizza. Pizza for crying out loud. That’s how much fun they were having.
Fun in the snow
Today was skiing, playing in the snow, playing crafts and generally playing. Irene coached Mallory brilliantly out at Nakkertok, showing her how to herringbone up hills and snow plough down hills. It was amazing to see how quickly Mallory picked things up. And she also demonstrated serious determination and enthusiasm for the sport. A great [...]
Birthday party at Midway
Mallory had her official birthday party this morning at Midway, one of 22 parties the indoor amusement palace was hosting today. Pancakes, cake, bumper cars, jungle gyms, friends and presents.
Morning was actually a pretty good time to host a party there, I thought. There weren’t a lot of other people there.
Recidivism
So Mallory’s back to co-sleeping. It started a night or two after she and I got back from her grandfather’s.
Mallory loses her first tooth
I know the last few days have been a string of Mallory pictures and that’s going to get a bit tedious for those readers of mine who are not Mallory’s parents. For that I apologize. So for the sake of variety I’m offering up a different perspective on Irene’s and my lovely child. Just a part. Namely her first baby tooth, which fell out today.
Two hours and ten minutes from now
Mallory will be officially six years old. On this day, at 10:23pm January 2nd, 2006, our daughter was born. What a wonderful journey it has been. I speak for only for me – but I’m sure Irene has similar words – when I say that it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. That day was the happiest of my life up to that point.
Mallory as polar bear
So. Birthday party one, complete. In actual fact it was more like a New Years Levée family gathering than a full-on birthday party. Inviting J, one of Mallory’s friends was a master stroke on Irene’s part though. Allowed the hosting of a dozen or so other people to go on unimpeded by ‘Mommy I’m bored’, ‘Daddy I want some cake’ requests.
A big box, tobogganing and happy birthday Irene
Most of the world knows today as “New Year’s Eve” but to our family it’s Irene’s Birthday. Our family began by another round of presents, for Irene this time. Mallory decided to give herself as a present, so Mallory and I were up early, installing her in a box, taping it shut and wrapping it up.
Skiing
We had good skiing weather today, so Irene and I took Mallory cross-country skiing in Gatineau Park today. This is her third winter on cross country skis. Her second where she actually does some skiing. Our first attempt – pre-walking – was an unmitigated disaster. Our second effort was only a partial disaster.
Suddenly snow
I was quite bummed to arrive yesterday and find the farm almost completely snow-free. Mother nature sorted that for us today. It snowed pretty much all day.
And up to the farm
Mallory and I threw a bunch of stuff into the car and drove off to visit Grandpa Mike today. Despite the Ottawa area getting 30 cm or so of snow last night the roads were clear and only slightly damp until 401. Then it got positively November-like. A scattering of snow, five degrees above zero, and dry roads.
Gift orgy part one: Mallory gives us gifts
For the first time ever, Mallory gave Irene and I presents. And handmade ones at that. I got a paper snowflake and Irene got a bunch of ghosts. I love the fact that she sees it as an exhange of gifts rather than The-day-I-get-a-bunch-of-presents.
