Family Reunions

Sunday was the Annual Thompson reunion & the same "discussion" occurred between Brad & I. He complains that he doesn't want to go to his reunion, why should he "want" to go to my reunion? Well, I personally think it important to go & I love any opportunity to see my Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, cousins & their respective families. Reunions are good because they "force" this opportunity. However, I must be honest & admit that my "catching up with family" does not extend too far outside of the family that I already know. I probably have gone to 75% of the reunions, but I still don't know who everyone is...too much time is spent with those who I do know & catching up on what is going on in their lives.
Frankly, I don't really understand the grumbling that Brad insists on doing. I truly believes that he likes my family (if not, he does a pretty good job of faking it) & it is not like I subject him to speaking with the family members that he doesn't know (nor do I for that matter). I firmly believe that he does it because he thinks it is "expected". Everyone's day-to-day life is very busy & it is very easy for you to miss opportunities to get to know your family better or provide the opportunity for your children to get to know their family better. I love taking Sydney to family functions & watching her get to know her cousins & slowly start to interact more & more with them. Yesterday was no exception...when we pulled into the park, she immediately spotted the playground & lunch was no longer on her mind. But, alas the child needed to be fed, so it was inside for lunch- an entrance that I did not enjoy since EVERYONE was already seated & eating.
After lunch there was games for this kids. Unfortunately I was too busy gabbing inside & missed the photo ops while Brad was busy "directing" Sydney in the various skills competition. So, the only moments captured from the day were on the playground.

Although not well represented by this picture, Hayleigh did enjoy playing with Sydney but I think she wishes that maybe Sydney could move a little faster to make it up to the top of the slide. Five-year-olds don't have a lot of time you know to be waiting around.

Emily on the other hand, can't keep up! Actually, Sydney cheated & got a head start!

Next came the log rolling contest which Hayleigh was the star.

Which Regan too tried to master...

...and Sydney learned that maybe she should wait a couple of years before trying again.

The dreaded "F" bomb...

I can probably count on my fingers the occassions that I have heard Brad use the "F" bomb in the 9 years that I have known him. Well, one of those occassions was this weekend. In preparation for the new baby we are getting the "spare" bedroom ready for Sydney to move into. This weekend's task was a bookshelf & in the building of said shelf, frustration led to "the" word.
The first time he said it, I didn't say anything because I don't think Sydney really noticed & he had a right to be ticked. However, he then said it again & guess who "repeated" it? Thankfully Sydney's "ph" sound is actually a "sh" sound, so to the unknowing ear she just said "SHUCK". Nonetheless, I figured it was time for Sydney & I to leave the room & let Brad fix what he started.
So, Sydney & I went & made a brownie pie to have for dessert. I think she had much more fun doing this than watching "Daddy build?".

Yes that is another bruise on her forehead. This one was my fault, I was reading a notice on the door into swimming lessons & opened the other door right into her head! I knocked her right back on her keester! No glowing Mother acknowledgements for me that day!

I think I'm having one of those moments...

Tonight I think I am starting to struggle with the balance between a mother's pride & a mother's fear.

For the last week we have started to get more "serious" about starting the whole potty training process. Sydney has showed some interest, so we figured we would follow her lead & start having her use the toilet. Well for the last week she has successfully gone on the toilet in the morning & for 60% of those trips she has told us that she needs to go. However, her success is not as great throughout the day, which is partly the fault of her "support" team not emphasizing this new learning opportunity & Sydney's keen interest to keep playing rather than running off to the bathroom. So, I must say I am proud of her success because we really have no idea what we are doing & have not "researched" the best methods before starting. So, we are truly playing it by ear.

The next "big girl" thing she is really wanting to try out is drinking out of a cup without the "safety" lid on. So, tonight at dinner we let her drink her milk without the spill-prevention lid. Again, she did pretty good considering she is just starting out. So I was feeling a twinge of pride from the moment, but there was something else there that just blocking the full pride moment.
Well, I think I have figured out what the block is. I am starting to realize that she is growing up & becoming a little girl, not a baby. Because of Baby T2's imminent arrival, we stopped calling her a baby awhile ago. But really it was more of a semantic approach, now I am realizing that she is no longer a baby- but truly a toddler...sniff, sniff.

Add to this realization of mine- I read my cousin's blog & she is talking about coaching her 3-year-old's soccer team. It made me realize that before I know it Sydney will be 3 and we could be looking at getting her involved in an activity that she can enjoy as her own independent person!

So my moments of mother's pride, seem to be mixed with wanting to slow things down & not have her grow up too fast.

May 2-4 Camping days are definitely a thing of the past...

I remember being in highschool & looking forward to our annual camping trip on the May long weekend. That seems so far in the past, that I can't believe it was ever warm enough to go camping. I do know that I have NEVER been so adventurous that I would choose to go camping on a weekend that was forecasted to be as cold as this weekend was...so I think it is definitely colder now.
Our weekend started with swimming lessons & Daddy came so that some pictures could be taken of Sydney's first set of lessons. Here are just a few...

Back float...she does pretty good, but does not like the water going in her ears.

Front float through the tunnel, but then with a big DUNK underwater.

After Dunk.

The rest of Saturday was just filled with doing...stuff. Maybe not the most fun for Sydney, but definitely a "must-do". On Sunday we made it more fun for her by going to Laura & Patrick's for lunch & play. Morgan has (or should I say "had") a very colourful play doh set, which is probably now mostly gray.

Happy Mother's Day!

On Saturday we had a wedding & Sydney stayed over at Grandma & Grandpa's. Therefore, my first present on Mother's Day was the absence of a 6:30 wake-up call from Miss Chatty in the next room. However once your body is conditioned to waking up at a certain time, it continues to wake up at that time. BUT...I did not have to get out of bed, which was a treat.
We picked up Sydney, Grandpa & Grandma and went to a Butterfly Conservatory for a Mother's Day brunch. We met Robb, Michele, Max & Michele's parents there & had a good time. Again, getting kids to pose is not always easy...

...we pretty much had to hold Max down & made Sydney do the "mermaid" pose.
Max was obviously much more interested in the millipede, while Sydney...
was not too sure about this thing.

After the butterflies we were off to Sandi's to visit with my Mom, sister, and extended family. Lots of fun was had with the girls playing tag (which I pulled a muscle doing- quite pathetic) and ring-around-the-rosie.

Sydney will play this forever if you are willing.

We finished the day with a couple of photo ops with Nana & GG before the drive home. All in all, it was a very good Mother's Day. I must admit that it crossed my mind today that this time next year we will have a 2.5 year old & a 9 month old...yikes!

Catching up with family...

This weekend my Mom came for a visit...well actually I can't call it a visit since she spent all of yesterday working around our house. Since I am not supposed to do any "heavy" housework, my Mom was kind enough to come down & wash our windows while Brad & I worked away at other items- no small feat with a year & a half year old underfoot. No surprise to anyone who knows my mom or me, but our windows look much better than if I had done them. My Mom has a clean fetish when it comes to windows.
There was a reward to my Mom's hard work. This morning my Aunt Marj, Cousin Lynn & her little guy Jack came by for a "play date". We have not seen them in years & it was great to see each other, meet Jack & gab. Again, what was Brad doing while Sydney & Mommy had fun? Painting. We did let the poor guy take a coffee break to meet the family.
Sydney & Jack are only a few months apart, so it was nice for her to meet her little cousin (second cousin, once removed- I think) & hopefully in the future they will be able to see more of each other.
It was nice to meet a Bowman grandchild that has brown eyes, since there sure hasn't been any yet on our side. Mom & Dad obviously passed the recessive blue-eyed gene to us since we keep having blue-eyed babies! I am holding out for Baby T2 to be our brown-eyed baby- only time will tell.

Here are some pictures from the morning.

Another belated post...First Haircut

A couple weeks ago, my Mom was here & gave Sydney her first haircut. I was going to save these pictures for when I didn't really have anything to post, but looking ahead we have a busy month & I am afraid if I keep waiting she will have had her second haircut & I still haven't posted the first.

I realize she doesn't have much hair, but I really wanted to get her hair cut before she turned two & she was starting to get some hairs that were much longer than the rest. Needless to say, there were not many clippings on the floor- but that means that we are keeping each piece rather than just one curl. Although she didn't really "need" a haircut, it does look much nicer now. Thanks very much Nana.

Happy Birthday to both Dale & Kim!!!

Today is my sister's birthday & my mother-in-law's birthday. I won't expose any of their secrets by sharing how many years apart they are- just in case they are age-shy.
On the weekend Sydney & I went to Kim & Pete's for a visit while Bradley stayed at home to paint Sydney's new room. Sydney & I had a very good time, but Brad's day did not go so well. First he did not get as much done in the room as he hoped & then his day ended by driving around for an extra hour to find the restaurant that Kim, Pete & I were patiently waiting at. A 45 minute drive took him 2 hours...Brad may be a very intelligent person, but he can be directionally challenged. Especially in an area that he is not familiar with...but we had a nice cold beer waiting on the table for him when he arrived. We discovered that yet again, directions provided by Mapquest led him astray.
While we were out for dinner in Toronto, Nana was a brave soul & took Sydney & Regan out for dinner in Tottenham. Apparently both girls were very good & Nana did not develop any new gray hairs.
Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Regan tried to teach Sydney how to jump, so that soon she can use a jump rope.

Aunt Kim taught Sydney the rules of soccer.

Regan let Sydney play with her sidewalk chalk because she heard that Daddy won't let her have any at home. However, Regan's Daddy once said the same thing! So we will see what the future brings.

Future plumber apprentice.

On your mark, get set...

GO!!!

Kissing cousins.

Future Picasso???

This morning when Brad dropped Sydney off at Jo's, Jo commented that we have a litte artiste on our hands. Says she loves to paint & colour. As much as I love to hear that, I sure hope that soon Sydney learns how to put the colour on the paper rather than herself! Although I really like this daycare, Sydney sure is not coming home sparkling clean!

Yes, if you look closely you can see the paint in her mouth.
I knew taking her shirt off was a good idea.

All in all, things went well this week at Jo's. I think that it is a good switch for Sydney & she really seems to have fun. I think Brad might be happier if Jo was closer to the Mrs. Doubtfire image since Jo is actually only a few months younger than he is. If he is capable to raise a child & she already has a "tween" and a "kid", why should she be any less qualified?

Today we started at a new daycare...

A couple of weeks ago we had the working parents nightmare & realized we immediately needed to find new day care for Sydney. It was very stressful, but it looks like it might all work out for the best in the long run. Sydney is now going to a woman named "Jo" and it didn't feel like a rushed decision because I actually interviewed her the first time I was searching for care, but she didn't have all the days I needed. Since we now only need 3 days of care, with some juggling for the next month, this will all work out.

Jo's philosophy on "craft time" is much different than where Sydney was going. Today Sydney came home with glue still stuck in the crevices of her fingers because she was obviously actively involved in what the other kids were doing- before she would have been sectioned off from the rest of the troops. I think this is great, but it was a good reminder to me to not send her in clothes that I don't want to see stained.

Unfortunately the day did not end on a high note. At suppertime Sydney really spiked a fever, was really dazed, and pretty much was limp while I put her in her p.j.'s. Not sure what is wrong, but hopefully it passes through the night. The selfish side of me did enjoy it a little bit though- I got to cuddle with her for 45 minutes before she went to bed. I would have held her longer, but realized that unless I planned to do it all night- I better make the transition before it was too late.

Another very belated post...Easter.

Good Friday was spent by travelling to Aunt Debbie's for Easter lunch. Unfortunately we did not have the happiest child that day, but were lucky enough to capture one good smile from her- thank you Nana.
Even the fun of an easter egg & goodie-hunt did not capture many smiles. She participated, but not with much spunk. The proof is in the picture.
On Sunday we tried the egg hunt again & Sydney really liked it this time. Her "treat" inside the eggs were raisans & she loved it. Wonder how many years we will be able to get away with that?
Nana was visiting for the weekend & Grandma & Grandpa ("Ga & Papa" in Sydney-speak) came to have lunch with us. Afterwards we took the third run of the Easter egg hunt outside. She still really enjoyed it, so I think Friday was just an off-day for Sydney.
Finally, the day came to a close with a bit of play & some final posing for the camera. As you can see, Sydney is still interested in the raisans hiding in the eggs.

Happy Belated Birthday Craigie!

Almost two weeks ago, my dearest brother turned the big 40. So that he didn't feel too old, Aunt Debbie made him a bunny cake. Whether you are young or old, you could not help but admire the cute cake. Although it may have been a bunny cake, Craig should be happy that Debbie made it & not me. He would have been lucky to get a cake that was level, let alone decorated, if I had been responsible!

Busy, busy day

Yesterday a gentleman from work, Milos, welcomed anyone from work who wanted to come into his home. He had chocolate eggs scattered around the property for the kids to find & animals for them to see (chickens, ducks, bunnies, pheasants, pony, and a goat). The pony & goat were on lend from his neighbour & we had to leave before the pony rides started...oh well, maybe next year.
Milos loves to cook for people & make sure that they are happy in his home. He did a good job yesterday & I think all the kids had fun. There were a few bales of hay set up for the kids to play on & it made me realize how easy it is to amuse kids sometimes. Or was it a city-kid thing? I can't imagine a kid from the country would even notice a few bales of hay sitting around & if it was haying season they probably would avoid it like the plague.

I'm sure Sydney would have loved to be jumping around on the hay, but...

her activities on the hay were more sedentary (picture taking with Ashley), or

checking out the bunnies. She also really liked the birds.

After Milos' we were off to Uncle Robb & Aunt Michele to visit with some cousins. Max was a late starter at the party because he was taking a marathon nap. The kid didn't get up until 5:30! Scott was joking saying that Max would still be up to watch SNL with Robb & I wouldn't doubt it.
Sydney started swimming lessons last week & her cousin Jack is in the class too. (I wanted to have swimming pictures to share, but Grandpa wouldn't come on the deck to take the pictures because he had to take his shoes off).

So here Sydney is fully clothed with Cousin Jack.

And her attacking Cousin Max.

Our attempt at a picture of all three of them was not very successful.

What a little ham she is...

Here are two of Sydney's common poses lately....

CHEESE!!!!
This picture was taken because I was checking the camera. I wasn't planning on taking her picture, but when someone is yelling "Cheese" at you, you must take a picture.

And the bashful look- don't let it fool you, it's mainly an act.

Tea Anyone?

This weekend we went to my Mom's so that Brad could help her with some painting. Sydney & I took off for the day & went shopping while the troops did the work. I maybe should have taken some pictures to show their hard labour, but that would have required staying around and Bradley did not want me in the house when they were painting. Protective Daddy.
So, the only pictures that were taken were of Sydney "having tea". It is really neat to see how her play is changing now. She is role playing more now & you are many times being "served" things, usually tea or soup. She loved playing at Nana's little table with the tea set. The set is porcelain (thankfully thick & not delicate) so the lesson of "gentle" needed reinforcement. Most times it appeared that the lesson was understood, but there were some lapses in memory.
Sydney knows that tea is hot, but she doesn't seem to know for sure which end she holds & from which end she pours. But that will come with time & for now she is just having fun.
Another thing that I really notice now is how much she copies what you do. The other day I was sitting with her on the couch & had my feet up on the coffee table. She couldn't reach the coffee table with her feet, so she hopped off the couch & went to get her little rocker (thanks Laurie) to pull up to the table to put her feet up. She really made me laugh- so of course I had to go get the camera.