Happy Halloween

Halloween Came Early

Last night we had friends over for dinner & let the kids dress up in their costumes. Macie was a very pretty witch, Matthew a very bright dragon, Sydney was Cinderella, & Jason was a tiger. Jason's costume didn't last until pictures, so you will have to wait until Wednesday to see him in his costume.

Witching Hour

For the last couple of weeks, supper hour is a stressful time in our house. Jason is typically miserable. Trying to get supper ready is nerve racking because I have him right at my feet crying to get up & when you are working around a hot stove that is not always possible. Since their daycare is right around the corner from our house I started coming home first to get the main things done before I pick them up. I may be picking them up later that way, but the time that I have with them is more quality time because I am not working away in the kitchen. Of course, if I get out of work late that really isn't an option because I don't like to pick them up any later than 5pm.

Once dinner is on the table, the drama continues. Jason doesn't want to sit by himself in his seat, he wants in my lap. If I am still eating my dinner, I refuse to comply with his request but the crying is really exhausting. Sometimes he gives in & realizes he is not going to get his way, but other nights it continues too long & I give in because I just don't have the energy to enforce "the lesson" any longer. Aren't girls supposed to be the drama queens???

You would think that Friday would have been much better since I was home all day, right? Not so. Jason was demanding through supper-prep & I remembered what I did with Sydney when she was his age. She would sit on the counter with me while I got things ready. Again a much easier thing with her than with him. The whole time I was trying to get him to leave the toaster oven alone, or the thermometer, or to keep him out of the sink. I gave in on the sink, because it was keeping him occupied & with me right beside him he wasn't going to get hurt. Getting wet was the least of our worries.


Poor Brad when he came home. Jason wanted nothing to do with him, Sydney wanted me to put her to bed & even Logan wouldn't sit with him after all the kids went to bed.

FINALLY!!!

One of the things we have always loved about Sydney is her love of books. We hoped that Jason too would develop this same appreciation. Well, our "wish" came true. About 3 weeks ago Jason also became OBSESSED with books. As much as we were happy about this new love, it also had a major drawback. He wanted you to read to him CONSTANTLY! and when you really couldn't (i.e. making dinner, getting ready for work, or other more private matters) he would FREAK OUT!!! Full out crying fit! Which resulted in you feeling 50 % frustrated/angry & 50% guilty.

Thankfully in the last 4 days he started looking more on his own & if you directed him the right way when he came to you, would read on his own. It is really funny because when he flips through the pages he is making all sorts of sounds as if he is reading the story to himself...too cute.

Clifford (Puppy Years) is hands down his favourite.

Goodbye for now...

Sydney got "special time" with Mommy. I did not think taking Jason would give me

much time to visit & enjoy spending time with Nadine.

Yesterday Sydney & I went to Barrie to visit with Nadine, Drew & Adam. Next Thursday Nadine & the boys leave for Japan. Jeff, her husband, is already there getting things ready for them. Jeff works for Honda and got a 2 year contract in Japan (about 2 hours from Tokyo)- return date is November 2009. With busy schedules due to kids & stuff we have probably only averaged 1.5 visits over the last 3 years, but when your friend is moving halfway around the world for 2 years- saying goodbye means something totally different. The visit was somewhat changed because her oldest, Drew, was sick with strep throat but the youngest Adam is Sydney's age & her playmate did much to entertain her. He is completely a wild child. I watched in wonder to see if he was my future with Jason. When he wants (or doesn't want) something he will tune in or out as he pleases. I pray that she makes the 12-13 hour flight (thank goodness it is direct) with them alright & customs does not become an issue. Cooping a 3 & 5 year old up on a plane for over half a day & then force them to wait in a line to get through customs- doesn't that sound like a dream? Keep Nadine in your thoughts next Thursday & Friday.

On top of it being a fun day, Sydney did something to amuse & impress me. Amusement- we were going to Barrie for the visit, but she was convinced that we were going berry-picking. Impressed- she kicked on her back for more than 3 lengths of the hotel pool. Drew tried to beat her, but he is all about the kick & not about the propelling.

Dinner at the Hansen's- hotel living for a month,
not so nice when you are living it apparently.

Sydney is in this picture, she is under the water!
Yeah Sydney!!!

The Race
Jeff, I thought you might like a glance of your son's sportsmanship- when he couldn't beat her on his back- he flipped to his front & when that didn't work he turned around & swam back to the wall & thought that he won.
I am sure that you cannot wait until they arrive...hope to see you sometime in the next 2 years- what better time to vacation in Japan????

First Ponytail

It took over 3 years, but Sydney finally has enough hair on top of her head that you can get it into somewhat of a ponytail.

Ambidextrous & Other Neat Things

Every parent watches their child & wonders which hand they will prefer. We pretty much think that Sydney is a leftie, but if you watch her it is amazing how competent she is with each hand. Today when I picked Jason up at Jo's, she told me about her colouring experience with Sydney last week. She said that Sydney was colouring a square on the worksheet with her left hand & she picked up a crayon in her right hand & was colouring with both hands at the same time & doing an equally good job of it. She was amazed, said she has not in her years of doing daycare seen anything like it. I thought this was pretty cool & of course want to see it replicated.

My amazement with Sydney is her incredible ability to retain information. She can tell us what colour of crowns everyone wore last year at Christmas & when reading books- she picks out such detail in the pictures. On the weekend we were looking at a book with Diego & she asked why Diego was wearing Alicia's (his sister for those of you who are not Dora & Diego fans) shorts. I had no idea what she meant at first & then I asked her what his shorts were supposed to look like. She said blue & wouldn't you know that in the other book she has Alicia is wearing green shorts & Diego is wearing blue. You never can predict what she is going to notice or remember.

She hasn't said it in a few days, but for a few weeks whenever she got caught doing something that she knew she wasn't supposed to do she would say, "sorry, sorry, sorry" really fast. I've explained to her that saying sorry does not always make it right. You can't do something that you know you are not supposed to do & think you get a free pass because you say sorry. I am not sure if she learned the lesson or if she has just moved pass that saying.

She is still saying "Mama" too. It drives me a little batty sometimes because she tends to say it with a nasal tone & emphasizes each syllable. I'm not sure if it is because of all the babies she is around at daycare- there are 3 around Jason's age- or what, but I really like being Mommy or even Mom. Although, 3 seems too young for her to already be shortening it to Mom.

I've been tardy

I've had a couple of comments about my lack of posts. I meant to do it last weekend, but it just got too busy that I was never near the computer. Every evening this week we were either busy or I was exhausted & pretty much was a lump on the couch. So now, here I am & I really am not in the mood to say too much because I have been looking through our pictures since I haven't printed anything since early SUMMER!!! I have selected over 100 that I want printed, so I am hoping there is a sale on right now.

Anyway, here's some of what we've been up to.

Hiking
We took the kids hiking & I have been looking forward to them getting older so that we can do this more often. Sydney however informed me that we have done this three times now (which actually is correct) and she doesn't want to do it anymore. I guess I can hold out hope that Jason will enjoy it more. Especially when he can walk fast enough that we don't subject him to the stroller or the carrier (especially when his dad walks him into branches).


No More Highchair
In an effort to improve supper hour, we took Jason out of the high chair & put him in a booster seat. He still needs to be strapped in, but at least he isn't screaming as often to get out & we can better prevent him from getting his foot up on the table. Since this picture, the chairs have been reorganized. Jason was constantly grabbing Brad's arm during meals & his hands are never very clean- so the kids each sit at the heads of the table now & all is much better. Although, Sydney did her first flip off the chair today because she was leaning over too far.


Thanksgiving Preparation
Jason got his first taste of licking the beaters.


Rockton Fair

Going to the Rockton Fair is becoming our annual tradition. This year we went first thing Monday morning & the timing was perfect. We beat the heat (or most of it- Sydney & I were cooking on the Ferris Wheel) and most of the crowds. Considering the rain that occurred on the weekend, anyone who wanted to go & didn't hit it on Monday. Thankfully most of them were coming in as we were leaving.

This picture is from last year at the Fair. I cannot get over the change in Sydney. Especially after spending 2 hours going through our pictures from the last 6 months.

Woo hoo!!!

She wasn't scared at all.

Apple Farm

Another one of our annual traditions. Sydney was a very good apple-picker, but Jason was not letting go of his apple.