Milestones

Tanner turned thirteen on Friday. Thirteen!!! Where did it go?


I can see subtle changes in his face and body, even though he can't - but even as he's getting older, he still hugs and kisses me in front of his friends (awwwwww), and he is still absolutely silly
funny the games you can come up with when you realize your t-shirt matches the seat cover...

so we took Friday off and, as per Tanner's request, did the Toronto magic shop run, followed by a late-ish lunch at Gretzky's, where, in honour of the day, Tanner was presented with a really yummy chocolate puck and birthday wishes from Wayne himself (okay, it was really the waitress who overheard us talking about the birthday, and Wayne's signature was an icing sugar template, but come on, work with me...)

but a very satisfying outing, right down to the Holiday Inn strikers who were pounding drums and chanting so loudly we were compelled to cross the street to see what the hubbub was...

We still don't know what they were striking about, but it was very entertaining for the boys, and definitely not something we see in our little white-bread, well-behaved town...

actually, I love taking the kids into Toronto, because they are always fascinated by the hugely diverse population - we see the best stuff sitting on street corners, eating street vendor hot dogs and watching it parade past us... I still miss living there, although I truly love Burlington -

but I digress -

the birthday was a resounding success all round, with many new magic tricks and gimmicks received, Ben busy keeping the dogs entertained, and my baby becoming a teenager...

they all told me, you know, when they were babies, to enjoy every moment, because it would be gone before I realized it... I am so glad I listened, and was able to savour everything - first words, first steps - because it has passed in only the blink of an eye...

must stop blinking...