Kernscliff Park

Yesterday we enjoyed the beautiful weather by taking a walk on the Bruce Trail. I thought I was going to a good trail for the Chariot, but man was I wrong. The hills were much bigger than I remembered & Julia (who was Jason's companion in the stroller) did not like it. I also needed Tara to help me get it up one of the hills. I couldn't quite get it pushed all the way up.

Sydney & Evelyn had a great time, but on one of the hills Sydney got going down so fast that she couldn't stop herself. The trail is lined with wood chips, so she had a soft landing before I managed to run & catch up to her- but her face is pretty scratched up. I tried to tell her that she learned a very special lesson about inertia- she wasn't really buying it. So the walk got turned around after that & we headed back to the car which when you are letting 2 three-year-olds & a one-year-old (Julia did not want back in the stroller) make there own way- that was a long enough walk anyway.

Julia was much happier out of the stroller

Evelyn also learned how to pee in the bush. Never ending opportunities to teach new lessons when you are out with little kids. I do think that this lesson will be much easier with Jason than trying to teach a little girl to squat & not pee on her leg.

Dropping the morning nap is tough-
can't quite make it to lunch sometimes.

We may have had some bumps & bruises, but fun was had by all.

This is a picture that Brad would have deleted when taking them off the camera because she is not smiling, but this facial expression is one that she has quite often- it's her.

She says the funniest & cutest things

They often say that kids will say the darndest things & it really is true. There will often be a moment in the day that Sydney will say something & it will strike me as particularly cute, funny, or even odd. Of late, here are a few of my favourites:

• "Jason, I'm so impressed"
• "Mommy, look at what your son did!"
• "Momma" (not my favourite & not sure where it came from)
• "That smarts!" (we taught her to say this instead of crying when she bumps into something, but it is still cute to hear her say it)
• "I liked spending the whole day with just you" (she had her hands on my cheeks when she said this which added to the cute factor)

Finally, there is the Halloween costume discussion. We have a tiger costume that Regan wore for her first Halloween & Sydney wore for her first Halloween. Last weekend we got it out to be sure that it would fit Jason & it does. Before I tell you what Sydney said, first I will give some background. Over a year ago & for a reason I don't even remember, Sydney assigned us all animals. Brad is a tiger, I am a monkey, Jason is a polar bear & Sydney is a panda bear. If I ever call Jason or Sydney a monkey because they are being silly, she is very quick to correct me & tell me that I am a monkey.

Last weekend she asked Brad why Jason was going to be a tiger for Halloween. He told her that we had a tiger costume & that maybe Jason wanted to be a tiger, just like she was going to be Cinderella. Sydney told Brad that "Jason could be a tiger for Halloween, but then he goes back to being a polar bear!".

Walter Gretzky

You know Canadians are wild about Wayne Gretzky when they will stand in line to get an autograph or photo from Walter Gretzky. On Thursday night Brad & I went to the Leafs game. The Leafs were playing the Phoenix Coyotes & I am sure that Walter came to see his son's team play. I hope he enjoyed the first period because once the first intermission hit, he had a stream of people coming to him for the rest of the game. We were seated 8 rows behind him & I couldn't help wonder at all the people who were going to see him to get an autograph. I realize that his genetics created a great hockey player who is idolized by many Canadians, but really what do you do with the Dad's autograph???

First Steps to First Walk

Since I was tardy in getting the video uploaded after "the big bang" last week, it is here now for you to see & compare with his improvement. The first video is from just before the fall- I could not watch the video where he fell- it got deleted. The second video was taken tonight. Only a few steps, but he actually seems to be trying to control his movements which is a huge improvement over having him lunge at you.






As you can see, Sydney is not so impressed by the whole deal.

btw...I have been trying to get Blogger's video upload to work for me, but it won't load without a Title & doesn't allow me to add a title- Carrie can you help???

First Official Walk

Technically speaking "the fall" last week would count as Jason's first steps, but tonight is his first official walk. He was walking back & forth between Brad & I (about 5-6 steps) with control- not propelling himself forward at you. He also did a couple of turns along the way too! I am trying not to pay too much attention to how much his right foot turns in when he walks because apparently they won't do anything about foot placement until a child is about 6 years old.

Sydney was not too impressed by our excitement over this event, she wanted to continue playing the games in her Sesame Street magazine. We tried to explain to her that this was a really big deal for Jason & tried to involve her- but she lasted a couple of minutes & went back to doing her thing.

Congratulations Sandi & Curt

Yesterday Sandi became Mrs. McLaughlin. The ceremony was held in Uncle Don's & Aunt Debbie's backyard and it was beautiful. You could tell that Sandi is one of those girls who has been planning her wedding since she was a little girl & I think that she succeeded in bringing her dream to life. The weather could have been a little warmer for her, but thankfully the morning did not bring rain forcing her to put aside all their hard work & preparations to have the wedding in the church. We were wondering what was going to happen when just as they were signing the registry rain did start to come down. But it ended almost as quickly as it started & it was only a little sprinkle- but a cold one!

Sandi remembers being a little girl & dancing at Kim & Pete's wedding & those of her other Aunt's & Uncle's weddings- so she did invite Sydney too. I was so thankful that we didn't bring her because it would have been such a long day for her & we really weren't done dinner & speeches until 2 hours after she is typically in bed. So Sydney & Jason stayed with Uncle Robb & Aunt Michele & had a great time on their own.

Sydney would like to thank both Aunt Debbie & Sandi for remembering to send her a birthday card last week. With everything that they had to do it was nice that they took the time to think of Sydney. She was VERY excited to get mail again. And we learned that mail that comes in a pink envelope is greeted with much more excitement than any other colour.

The stage is set

The groom very nervously waits

First come the bridesmaids, including Cara

Then finally the one he is waiting for
& she has a tear in her eye (I think Dad did too)

But after it is all said & done, he is much more relaxed
(but Sandi looks like she is freezing)

The damage

Almost a week has past & Jason's head is healing nicely. He now only has the scab in the one spot which got the most pressure against the wall. There don't seem to be any psychological affects either. He is still eager to walk with anyone who is willing to help him & he will even hold out his arms to Sydney for her to pull him up & take him on his way. Thankfully she doesn't comply with his request.

Older than I've ever been, younger than I'll ever be...

...that was the theme of the birthday card I received from my sister & brother-in-law. This morning Sydney jumped in bed & wished me a Happy Birthday & asked me how old I was. I just told her that my age had a 3 in it too. Getting older doesn't really bother me, but it does make me stop when I realize that I am much closer to 40 than I am to 30.


I had a good day. I took a vacation day with the intent of getting a bunch of things done around the house, scrapbooking & getting a pedicure. I got some scrapbooking done & the pedicure, but not one thing got done around the house.

On the weekend Jason was starting to try and take a few steps, so I thought I would try to cap off my birthday with his first official walk. So after supper Sydney & I were trying to help him. It was very cute to see Jason walk toward Sydney, so I told Brad to get the camera. Unfortunately, this caused too much excitement for Sydney & Jason with the result her toppling over with him in her arms & his head scraping against the bricks. Looking back, yes I should have known that this might happen. The video upload isn't working right now, but I will try to post the video before the fall.

The birthday party

Yesterday was Sydney's birthday party. We had it at Lowville Park & the weather was perfect. The only bad thing was the amount of bees swarming around- luckily no stings though. The kids played on the playground, ate lunch & cake, played kick the shoe & then played in the river with the little nets that we put in their loot bags. I hope fun was had by all, because Sydney had a great time. Brad & I drove separately, so I left first with Jason to get him home for a nap. He crashed before we got out of Lowville. Sydney followed shortly after with Brad & she crashed before he even pulled out of the parking lot. Sydney & Jason slept for over two hours- which is unheard of in this household- so I think they were definitely tired.

Ellie

Ellie's sister, Katie

Emma

Alina (& Matthew, Emma's brother, is in the Snuggli)

Evelyn

Julia, Evelyn's sister, & Jason

When the wind keeps blowing out the candle, improvise.

Kick the shoe before getting in the river.

Sydney's crayfish

Three Years Old

Miss Sydney

According to child development theories the past year was supposed to represent "the terrible twos". A time where you are branching out, learning more about what is around you, what you can do, & 'knowing' what you want or don't want. Truthfully, the two's didn't seem too bad. We probably have enough fingers to count how many tantrums you had over the past year & even those were pretty mild compared to what we have observed others do (your brother for example). For you I wouldn't classify the last year as 'the terrible twos', but I would call it the year of crying. For a little girl who hardly ever cried at all from the time you were about 6 months old- you certainly became a sensitive wee thing over the last year.

There was a time that you would fall and have numerous bruises & we wouldn't have any idea where you got it or what happened, because you would never cry. Now, if you do anything as simple as bump your toe you cry & want us to kiss it. Lately Mommy & Daddy are not willing to play that game with you- we trying some tough love. I am thinking that your brother has something to do with your crying. You've loved him from the moment he was born, but I do think that you have missed the solitary attention you once got. Imagine what it would have been like if you were older when he was born?

You are quite a chatty thing & you speak very well. You still have trouble with your fff sounds & they all are still shh sounds, but you are willing to let us work with you to a certain degree to fix that. We are getting tips from Noreen- although she might start charging us soon for private consultations. You are still a book lover. Now it is neat to watch you because you will pick up some of your books and tell us or your baby what the story is about. You also will bring us books & ask us to help you because you don't know the words. Your Daddy & I are both thrilled that you love books so much & hope that it continues. You have been a good role model for your brother because he too is becoming more interested in stories.

Baby is your constant companion. You play with her, read her books, take her for walks in her stroller & sleep with her at night. The past few months there have been many phases of naked Baby, but Daddy refuses to let you leave the house with her naked- so I think we are starting to leave that phase again. Besides your kitchen, she (& her accessories) is really the only toy you play with. You still like puzzles, but have not been playing with them as much lately. You just got some new ones for your birthday- so maybe your interest will be renewed. What you do like is anything related to crafts. Painting, colouring, stickers, using scissors, & stamping. You love it all & thankfully will sit with that activity for awhile- which makes it more worthwhile to get out.

You go to daycare 3 or 4 days a week & although you have fun when you are there, you keep telling us that some days you don't like going to Jo's. It seems that you are the one who is having the most difficulty adjusting to Mommy going back to work. You also have not liked sharing your Mondays at Grandma & Papa's with Jason. Now that you are only there every other week, the Sunday nights that you have come home with us have been tearful. Lucky for you though, Mondays Jo takes you guys to the library which you love. So leaving Grandma & Papa's is tough, but getting you to Jo's Monday morning is not so tough.

Now that you are getting older, it is neat to see the difference in how you play with your friends. Before now, it would be a bunch of kids in the same room playing with toys, but not really playing together. Now, you will actually play together for a period of time. You also love when your friends will come play in your room with you. You really seem to like your room & you will often spend a lot time there by yourself looking at all your books.

You really are a sweet little girl. You are considerate of your friends, you are great with your brother (most of the time), and you do a pretty good job of listening to your Mom & Dad. If I had to pick two things right now that you do that drive me crazy, it would have to be (1) the crying and (2) the dawdling. Eating meals, unless it is something you love, is often quite painful. I don't want to be the Mom that insists that you eat everything on your plate- I just wish you would pick up the pace a little bit. Getting dressed is another adventure sometimes. You want to do it yourself-which is great- but your selection & time makes me cringe.

Next year we will be getting you ready for school & the thought of that already brings tears to my eyes.

Sad trip home from the mailbox

Tonight was Brad's "drink night" with his work buddies, so I was running solo. We had a quick & simple supper so that we could play outside before it was time for me to get Jason ready for bed. We went for a walk to the mailbox & on the way Sydney asked if there would be another pink envelope for her. GG sent her a birthday card a couple of weeks ago which was pink (GG was a little early with the card) & now Sydney is in hopes of receiving another one. She was also saying that she didn't want to open it right away, she wanted to save it until her birthday to open (she doesn't get that from me!).

In retrospect I know that I gave Sydney the wrong answer. I told her that since Saturday was her birthday there might be a card in the mail. I was thinking that Brad's parents always mailed her card, but I was wrong. We opened the mailbox & there was a card, but it was for me not her. She literally dropped to her knees on the sidewalk & started sobbing. I was so totally caught off guard by her reaction I stood there a little stunned for a minute. I told her that she could open my card if she wanted & she could save it to her birthday, but the damage was already done.

Had I known how upset she was going to be that she didn't get a card in the mail today, I would have lied & told her my card was hers. She never would have known the difference. I think tomorrow's trip to the mail will involve preparing her for the event that there is not a card there. With a silent prayer that we find one inside anyway.

She's so cute

This morning at breakfast Sydney told Brad that "tomorrow is Mommy's day to stay home with the kids".

I hope to figure out our scanner at work to share the results of our photo session from a couple weeks ago.

Locked out

Tonight I was trying to get supper ready & I had something on the barbeque. I went out for a second to check it & when I come back I can't get in. Sydney has locked the patio door on me. This is only one of the problems. The second problem is that while I was out she climbed up on the stool (not a problem) & her brother climbed up right behind her! So, before she can turn around to unlock the door for me- I need Jason to get down. He of course sees me through the door & is laughing at me. I am sure that if my neighbours could hear me they were getting a good laugh.

I am telling Jason to get down off the stool, probably said it about 10 times before he actually did it. Laughing at me the whole time. Then I am telling Sydney to unlock the door. Thankfully she knew what I meant. When I get in we have a little talk about her not touching the door.

Then not even two minutes later, Jason is climbing back up on the stool again. The child can't walk yet- there is no way I want him standing up on the stool. Until suppertime, Jason continued to test me & kept climbing up on the stool. When he would not get down, I removed him from the stool & he laughed at me the whole time. Little bugger.

Oh yeah, we were on holidays last week

After being back to work for only a month, I had a week of vacation booked. We had no big plans, just day stuff. Which by the end of the week turned out to be a good thing since Jason had a case of Roseola. Nothing serious of course, but made me feel very guilty to have to call two moms of young babies. We had visited with Jenny on the Thursday to see Baby Kaitlyn & the very next day Jason was covered in spots. "The book" says that they are supposed to be irritable before the rash breaks out, but that was not the case for Jason. He was miserable most of the day Friday & Saturday morning. Thankfully he had returned to normal after his nap on Saturday.

Our week consisted of our company picnic on a very chilly Sunday- but of course Sydney still went in the pool. When it comes to swimming, she is so much like I was as a kid. Monday Sydney & I went to the dentist. This appointment was just for Sydney to watch them clean my teeth & see what it is all about, but she was a very good girl & let them brush her teeth too. Let's hope she is this cooperative during her official appointment next February. I am sure she will be- she's a pretty good girl about that kind of stuff. I am sure when I go with Jason in a couple of years it will be a completely different experience. Currently you practically need to put him in a headlock to brush his teeth.

Tuesday we went to my Mom's to stay overnight & do some visiting with friends & family. My cousin Carrie came up to her parents so we had a nice visit with her & her two kiddies as well as my Uncle Ralph & Aunt Marlene. On Wednesday we went to Storybook Gardens & the kids really enjoyed it. At first Sydney was hoping that we were going to another cottage for our holidays, but I think she really enjoyed all the different little things we did.

Jason enjoying some blueberry pie at the company picnic.

Not fancy face painting, but she liked it.

Storybook Gardens

Sydney could not wait to see Humpty Dumpty at Storybook Gardens.

We were trying to get her to kiss the frog to see if she could turn it into a prince, but she wasn't buying it.

Don't have a good picture of Jason on the carousel, he did not like it.

How do you get a group shot of a bunch of kids?

I enjoy taking pictures, but by no means claim to be a professional at it. My hat is off to those people who have managed to get a great shot of a bunch of children. I am beginning to believe that being a professional has little to do with it- luck is the main factor at play.

After my experience with Sydney & Jason last Friday at Sears, it was no surprise that getting a group shot of Sydney & Jason with their cousins proved to be difficult. Try sitting an almost 3-year-old (Sydney), a 2-year-old (Liam), a 1-year-old (Jason), and a 4 month old (Mallory) on the couch & see what you get. We didn't get that "classic" shot that you enlarge to place on display for people to marvel at the wonder of your skills, but we did get some funny shots. You will note that trying to keep Jason on the couch was the main issue with trying to get the group shot. Mallory may only be 4 months old, but she looks as if she is trying to separate Jason & Liam from one another. Maybe she'll be trying to protect her big brother rather than the other way around.

Before the chaos, Brad got this cute one of Mallory

Sydney liked the task of trying to get Jason to sit for the picture

Which as you can see, was not a simple task

Photo Session

Today I took the kids to Sears to get their portraits taken. My hope was to get at least one good shot of the two of them together, but was not being too optimistic. Getting a good picture of Sydney & Jason in the same shot? Has not happened since he was a little baby that could not move.

Since Jason's patience, ahh if you can even call it that, is much shorter than Sydney's we did his individual shot first. Five minutes into that 'attempt' I was starting to pray that I would get any shots of him. He would not even look at the photographer, let alone smile. First we tried sitting, but he seemed to want to stand. Then we tried a few things where he was standing & then all he did was cry. The photographer told me that she didn't have another session booked for awhile, why don't I take him for a walk & try to make him happy. Translation? Take him away.

Thankfully Sydney was being the dream child. I had done a lot of prep with her before we got there knowing that Jason was going to be the challenge child & I needed her to be on her absolute best behaviour. We went for a walk in the mall & there were the mechanical rides. I thought, hey why not try it? A special treat for Sydney because she was being so good & something fun for Jason to cheer him up. Wrong. He hated it. By this time I was thinking- let's go back try some shots of Sydney, give Jason some time to warm up a bit & try again. If it doesn't work, book for next week when Brad & I are on holidays & take the tag team approach. What was I thinking doing this on my own???

We went back & Sydney did a great job. Although, she kept sticking her tongue out. A new nervous trait??? There were so many great shots of her that I had a hard time choosing at the end. Jason??? Well, we did get 3 decent shots of him. But he is only smiling in one of them. And the only reason he is smiling is because he is about to lunge at me. Thankfully she could crop me out of the picture so that we could keep it as a keeper.

The group shot was out. I did order one sheet of the semi-sorta good one (& only one) because I decided that I at least wanted to have one photo to mark the agony I suffered. Also, I had bought the kids really cute 'matching' outfits for their pictures. I figured that this really could be the only year I could do that. Brad absolutely hates Jason's shorts. They are the same plaid as the capris that I bought Sydney & she wore a red t-shirt & Jason wore a blue polo shirt. Truly they are very cute, but I am quite certain that this picture could be the one that Jason looks back on & bitches about the clothes that his mother dressed him in. These shorts will be the equivalent to the many 'leisure' suits that my brother wore in his childhood.

I tried to get a picture of the 2 of them together at home, but no luck. Jason just doesn't stay still long enough.