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Since I named the blog for them, I thought I'd say a bit about my beautiful children. Anyone not interested in hearing a parent bragging about their offspring, now would be a good time to leave.

The Purple Princess - It was actually my friend Joy who owns and teaches at my daughter's Montessori school (which is fabulous by the way) who bestowed this moniker on her. She started there when she was just 2, after a less than wonderful experience at a local home daycare. Most children have a teddy or a blanket for security, mine had a purse. Each morning she would fill it with a new selection of things from home - socks (always purple), small toys, hair barrettes, and Joy's favourite on a frigid February morning: a purple polka-dot bikini "just in case". Most of her friends are boys, and she loves to get dirty and run and play at the park, she just likes to be properly accessorized while she does it. She is sweet and caring and funny as all get out. She also has a terrible temper, which I have to admit she gets from me.

Badness Jones - This has been the boy's nickname pretty much since he was born. I know I started it and although the 'badness' is self-explanatory, I don't really know where in my brain the 'Jones' came in. Although it seems like a negative title to give an infant, it is always said with affection. He's just a boy's boy. He was crawling by 5 months old, at 6 months he managed to climb into the wading pool face first. Every day I rescue him from the stairs, the dog's food, the toilet, numerous pieces of furniture and toys..... The crazy thing is that EVERYONE loves him. He has an easy smile and an infectious laugh, and as long as he's the centre of attention he's always happy, friendly and fearless. He loves big kids, and I've taken him to playgrounds and had groups of bigger kids, 5 and 6 year olds, just sitting in a circle around him. He has big beautiful eyes, one is blue and one is half blue and half brown. And since the day he was born they've been constantly focused and alert. I dread the phone calls from girls when he hits puberty - he's already the world's biggest flirt.