A week ago we returned from a fairly short-notice trip to Toronto. Correct: the twins rolled down the gate tunnel onto a plane not a month since the pressure cooker of our San Francisco trip. This time, however, our flight was direct, shorter than three hours, and we stayed in the same time zone. The whole deal was arranged by brother-in-law Glen as a surprise to my sister Sylvia. For three weeks she was in the dark about all of our devious scheming. For the crescendo we deposited Noelle and Lucas in cousin Ethan's room and hid behind the adjoining bathroom door. The unsuspecting work-weary woman then entered the room and had herself a heart-jarring surprise.
The general excuse for the trip was the long Memorial Day weekend, but Glen swiping his credit card for the air fare factored in to the equation. NL handled the flight rather well. At least, that is my report; Kel may claim otherwise. We sat three rows apart and I held Lucas for the first half of the flight. He slept like a good Christian baby from the moment I buckled my seat belts (only after being properly instructed in the technique). One and a half hours into the flight, Kel visited the cramped latrine and exchanged kids. Noelle had been causing quite a fuss for her, and she felt she deserved a break. Surely enough, Noelle found slumber in my arms, while Lucas, refreshed from his nap, fidgeted his way on Kel's lap for the remainder of the flight.
Our weekend primarly concerned itself with family time. Nephew Ethan shared his grandiose game room with NL, whose heads spun at the sight of one colorful plastic toy after the next. There was a five-foot high slide contraption, a playhouse with a door and two blue-shuttered windows, basketball hoop, a bag of giant Legos, and this, that, and the other thing, oh my, oh my. At any rate, the kids had fun.
We took in fresh air daily on walks in their Hogg's Hollow neighborhood, where Will Smith could've easily claimed "hundred thousand dollar cars, everybody got 'em". Our squeaky-wheeled Graco stroller was in true Clampett style.
Let me wrap up quickly: my parents' arrival on Friday night was another surprise for Sylvia, as was a most pleasant flight home for us Monday morning. The awesome staff at WestJet secured a three-seat row all to ourselves. The kids hardly slept but maintained civility and what verged on good humor.
Off-topic, Noelle currently sports four mature teeth, while four youngsters are in-line for take off at any moment. Lucas is still sitting on just two. We have full confidence in his abilities to produce a mouthful of choppers before Day 1 of kindergarten.
Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/May092#
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/TorontoMay09#
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Re-established out East
The kids' world has been full of activity since we returned. They didn't specifically request a full agenda. Neither did I; I was fine with a few 'down' days, allowing me to stretch and unpack. Normally there is no sign of a recent voyage within three hours of my return; now, with numerous bags containing dozens of infant paraphernalia, the task occupied a full two weeks.
The weekend following our smooth landing we attended the birthday party of Kel's indirect boss's twin girls. While preteens cavorted about on the monstrous inflatable water slide set up in the front yard, NL reposed on a blanket beneath the oak tree's massive limbs and observed the yell fest in wonderment. Earlier, they ventured into the back yard's 'Dora the Explorer' bouncy house. It was most definitely not their cup of tea: an eighteen-pounder just doesn't generate the downward force necessary for a satisfying bounce and, anyway, violates the product's terms of use.
A week hence NL came along for an hour of amusing action courtesy of a little league engagement starring a son of the lady referenced above. Though the kids were not on the edge of their seats pitch by slow pitch, Noelle did manage an occasional round of applause exactly one minute after the dozen spectators concluded theirs. She's still learning the game. I give the lil' miss full credit for getting her hands together at all.
As our Disney passes expire next spring, it just wouldn't do to procrastinate and sit at home on a ninety-six degree Sunday afternoon. Nuh uh, not us. Three consecutive Orlando heat record days leading up to that day can only mean one thing: the Wieleckis are heading out for NL's maiden voyage to Hollywood Studios. The day dawned, and concluded, hot, hot, hot.* We sweltered through a few rides but mostly stuck to the safety of air conditioned fun like the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show. It featured all your favorite Disney cartoon characters mounted on a stick and waved side to side in rhythm to clap-inducing tunes.
NL have surpassed their 10 month mark. What accomplished tikes they are! Simply enduring a dad like me should bestow esteemed accolades. Come June 25th they'll have earned the rights to one proper candle on a small cake. Whether a clown of questionable masculinity appears for an hour of balloon-shaping is yet to determined. What is for sure is that this post has run its course and deserves nothing more than a decent burial.
*There is a theme here: May, and June, and just about every month until January is "hot and humid"; there's an occasional downpour for variety's sake, and three times in two months you may detect a cooling breeze.
Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/May091#
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The weekend following our smooth landing we attended the birthday party of Kel's indirect boss's twin girls. While preteens cavorted about on the monstrous inflatable water slide set up in the front yard, NL reposed on a blanket beneath the oak tree's massive limbs and observed the yell fest in wonderment. Earlier, they ventured into the back yard's 'Dora the Explorer' bouncy house. It was most definitely not their cup of tea: an eighteen-pounder just doesn't generate the downward force necessary for a satisfying bounce and, anyway, violates the product's terms of use.
A week hence NL came along for an hour of amusing action courtesy of a little league engagement starring a son of the lady referenced above. Though the kids were not on the edge of their seats pitch by slow pitch, Noelle did manage an occasional round of applause exactly one minute after the dozen spectators concluded theirs. She's still learning the game. I give the lil' miss full credit for getting her hands together at all.
As our Disney passes expire next spring, it just wouldn't do to procrastinate and sit at home on a ninety-six degree Sunday afternoon. Nuh uh, not us. Three consecutive Orlando heat record days leading up to that day can only mean one thing: the Wieleckis are heading out for NL's maiden voyage to Hollywood Studios. The day dawned, and concluded, hot, hot, hot.* We sweltered through a few rides but mostly stuck to the safety of air conditioned fun like the Playhouse Disney Live on Stage show. It featured all your favorite Disney cartoon characters mounted on a stick and waved side to side in rhythm to clap-inducing tunes.
NL have surpassed their 10 month mark. What accomplished tikes they are! Simply enduring a dad like me should bestow esteemed accolades. Come June 25th they'll have earned the rights to one proper candle on a small cake. Whether a clown of questionable masculinity appears for an hour of balloon-shaping is yet to determined. What is for sure is that this post has run its course and deserves nothing more than a decent burial.
*There is a theme here: May, and June, and just about every month until January is "hot and humid"; there's an occasional downpour for variety's sake, and three times in two months you may detect a cooling breeze.
Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/gros.islet/May091#
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