Baking and Decorating a birthday cake

This year Owen and Brandon have both really caught on to the excitement of birthday’s.  So for Aunty Claudette’s birthday (October 29th), I thought it might be fun for the boys to help bake and decorate a birthday cake for her, plus I knew she would think that was pretty special.  Over a couple evenings Owen, Brandon and I (and Daddy took the pictures, a very important part) made Aunty’s cake.  Wednesday night we mixed the ingredients and baked the cake — I realized at the last minute that I didn’t know Claudette’s favorite kind of cake!  I know, crazy, hey!  Owen and Brandon thought chocolate would be Aunty’s favorite – chocolate with chocolate icing (this is Dad’s favorite — NOT!).  Thursday night we raided the pantry and found our cake decorations…some Halloween bats and spiders, the candy rockets, 3 different types of sprinkles and my favorite — marshmallows (Owen felt this was the best decoration!). 

Brandon spent the night eating the candies and Owen decorated but once it was done, they both did some taste-testing!  Good thing it’s just family eating the cake!!

Craft Time

Owen and Brandon moved to daycare in the summer months, they have learned a lot and enjoy daycare so very much.  So much that sometimes on the weekends, Brandon tells us he wants to go to daycare today!  One thing they do a day care that our day home didn’t do much of and we didn’t do much of was crafts — gluing and creating on paper.  I mean we have the coloring books and crayons and do that a lot of the time; maybe we didn’t get into the gluing and glitter because we didn’t realize the boys were “old” enough for it.  Anyway, both Owen and Brandon have been bringing home craft pictures for months, they talk about craft time and so one Saturday after gymnastics, Aunty Claudette and I took Owen and Brandon to Michael’s to shop for craft things.  We picked up paper, Halloween cut outs (it was the month of October), googly eyes, feathers, pom-poms and a box to store it all in.  Owen and Brandon were so excited about their craft things and couldn’t wait to get home. 

Since that day, we have frequented the other “craft” store aka Dollar Store for more supplies.  The “craft” store just so happens to be on the way to day care, so every morning either Owen or Brandon will shout out, Mommy, Daddy, there is the craft store, we went there!!

My new project is collecting magazines and cutting out pictures and shapes that the boys recognize, to add to their craft box (which I should mention is now too small and I am also looking for a bigger box).

The witching hour and the silly hour

Evenings are hectic and short, before bath time the boys are usually irritating each other, cranky and uncooperative – the witching hour.  After bath time and into their pyjama’s, the boys are happy and full of energy – the silly hour.  They are very helpful at bath time, taking their clothes to the laundry hamper and climbing into the tub on their own (even telling us when there is TOO much water).  They laugh and giggle in the tub, splashing each other, the walls and the lucky person bathing them.  When bath time is over they have their towels wrapped around them and they head into Owen’s room to get their pyjama’s on and dry off.  This is where it begins….at this point they become so full of energy and so funny, that as irritated, cranky or tired Sean and I may be, you really can’t help but crack a smile and laugh along with them.  And when they see Mom and Dad laughing at what they are doing, well then it goes into over-drive! 

Here Brandon is getting dressed all on his own.  His arms missed the arm holes and he felt that his pyjama top was on quite normal — Sean and I had tears in our eyes laughing over this one.

And now Owen and Brandon are playing so wonderful made up game, where Brandon sits on a step stool on the picnic table.  Very closely supervised by Mom and Dad.  But you have to hand it to them, they have quite the imaginations!

Brandon and Kosmo

Okay okay, it’s been a while; I’ve been trying to fit everything into a day but some things end up getting bumped to the next day and then the next and then the next…

Brandon has started showing an interest in everything to do with Kosmo, our pup. Brandon never paid much attention to Kosmo, besides getting upset with Kosmo every time he was whacked in the face with his tail or got a lick of his cheek. But over the last few weeks, Brandon has been chasing Kosmo down to pet him, sit beside him, get his food and water and show concern and love for Kosmo.

It really is quite cute to see Brandon chasing Kosmo through the kitchen crying because he can’t get Kosmo to sit for a pet. At this point Sean or I will sit down and show Brandon how to convince Kosmo that he wants to sit beside you because he is going to get pets. When Kosmo does sit long enough, Brandon is so proud to be petting Kosmo, he is grinning ear to ear. Just the other day, Owen was trying to entice Brandon to play, Owen finally went over Brandon and said “Brandon, what are you doing?”, Brandon replied with “Petting Kosmo.”

The past week

We have had unusually warm fall weather this year and we have tried to take advantage of it. Most nights we try to get the boys outside to play before it gets really cold. We did sidewalk chalk one afternoon, drawing dinosaurs and light bulbs and trees. Kate watched us from her front window before Mom Jenn brought her out to our driveway to play too.

Another evening Sean raked the leaves in the yard and we encouraged Owen and Brandon to jump and roll around in the pile of leaves.  At first they were a little hesitant but once they jumped, they were laughing and jumping and kicking up the leaves.

There was one evening when it was just a little too cold to play outside, Aunty Claudette and Grandma K came over for a visit and at bath time Owen and Brandon wanted them to help with the bath.  So I took advantage of the break and got some things cleaned up around the house….now I am not sure if that was a mistake or not….after the bath Owen and Brandon found a couple hockey jersey’s and sang a very interesting song to Sean and I.  Grandma K taught them a song that goes a little like this….

nah nah nah nah,

nah nah nah nah,

hey hey hey…good-bye

Go Habs go!

Hummm….I am not too sure about this!! ha ha

Edmonton Corn Maze

One Sunday evening after we finished dinner and the boys were climbing the walls, there was a knock at the door. It was neighbours Nick, Jenn and Kate; they were wondering if we would like to join them at the Edmonton Corn Maze this sunny fall evening. We were jumping with joy…this is the perfect thing to help Owen and Brandon release all this energy. We all headed out and thoroughly enjoyed it. The kids ran and picked which way we should go, while us adults laughed when we realized how lost we were! I would strongly recommend this family event!

Owen and Brandon’s exciting news

Owen has some very exciting news to share….he has transitioned to big boy underwear!!  It was the middle of September and the daycare said they were ready to have Owen come to daycare in big boy underwear.  Mom and Dad were excited but admittedly a little worried how Owen would fare at daycare with so much going on.  The first week he had 2 accidents, one of which was the daycare admitted was their fault as they forgot to change Owen into a pull up for nap time.  Owen has done exceptionally well in his big boy underwear and everyone is so proud of him!

We are now working with Owen to help him figure out how he can tell when he needs to poop and how to get that done in the toilet.  It’s been a struggle and it’s hard for Mom and Dad not to get frustrated.  Although as I am writing this, Owen has had two small poops in the toilet.  That is so huge for him!!  Cheer us on…and if you have any suggestions I welcome them!

Brandon has some exciting news himself….he is potty training and doing very well too.  He seems more patient and willing to sit longer on the potty and has had some early success.  We have transitioned Brandon to pull ups when at home to help him feel more of a big boy.

Owen and Brandon are such wonderful brothers, they cheer each other on in the bathroom as they take their turns sitting on the potty.  We have a potty song (that we only sing in the bathroom) and special treats for going potty and staying dry.  We hold hands and hug while sitting on the potty….if someone might start to feel scared or sad.

The BIG treat is if either of them poop in the potty, we get a trip to Dairy Queen for chocolate ice cream.  Luckily for everyone we had one day when both Owen and Brandon managed to accomplish this feat!

Happy Anniversary

Can you believe that 6 years ago, Sean and I were just doing the wedding thing.  6 years ago we were a happy couple with so many dreams for the future.  I am happy to say we are living those dreams and still so happy….we have a beautiful home and yard, we have a hyper happy pup who has adjusted so well to the addition of our two unbelievably awesome sons. It’s sappy and you can groan all you want but it’s true.  Although Sean and I did laugh the other day….if you would have told us 6 years ago that we would be living life on little sleep, a messy home all the while raising 2 boys, we would have laughed and laughed and laughed.  If you know me, you know that I love my sleep and 6 years ago I would have never believed you if you said I could function on less than I was getting then!

All this is not just the result of our family that live in our home, but of our wonderful extended family of grandma’s, grandpa’s, aunt’s and uncles and great-grandma.  Our extended family has been so supportive and they seem to know just when Sean and I need a little time alone.  They have all been so wonderful to recognize when Sean and I needed a little holiday, when a “date night” is a wonderful reprieve and for everything else that they may think as small and meaningless but to us it is huge!  Washing the dishes, bathing the boys, just playing with the kids so we can get laundry done, walk Kosmo….we appreciate it all!! 

This year, on our anniversary, with the help of our family, we made it special.  It was a wonderfully hot (yes hot) fall day and we took full advantage.  Aunty Claudette came with us to Whitemud Park; a very cool area filled with trees and bridges, many narrow paths that go on forever.  Although most of the leaves had already fallen, the sun against the trees cast a beautiful light.  Beautiful light that only a true photographer could appreciate – right Sean!?  Sean brought his camera gear and enlisted Aunty Claudette to take family photo’s of us.  Sean set everything up and she clicked the button.  We got great pictures of the four of us, the kids and then even some of just Sean and I.  This is definitely a place we will come back too!!

Be sure to check out Korsan Studios for more pictures from our family photo shoot.

Happy Thanksgiving

Or as Owen and Brandon would put it…Happy Turkey Day!

There was no gymnastics on Saturday, but we were pleasantly surprised to have Aunty Claudette come by to make us her very famous, very yummy waffles.  Owen and Brandon were very helpful — adding the ingredients, mixing and then watching the waffles cook.  They loved the waffles; I think Owen ate quite a few.

After waffles Sean informed us we were going out for a quick trip.  We headed downtown or as Owen and Brandon describe it….where all the tall tall buildings are and lots and lots of traffic lights!  Sean took us down one street and then another and then stopped and said, here we are.  Here?  Where is here, nothing looked familiar that would apply to us….but being a sport I followed along.  Just a few steps from our van and there was a small flower store, inside there was an order waiting.  Sean ordered beautiful flowers for me — sunflowers and calla lilies and lots of other wonderful smelling flowers.  He’s still got it!

Sunday we had swimming lessons; Brandon loves swimming so much all morning he would run to the door and ask, swimming now??  Owen’s teacher told us of how well Owen is doing in class, he participates, sings songs and listens well.  The only thing he needs to work on is putting his face in the water…but none of the kids like that. ha ha  After nap-time Grandma and Grandpa H and Aunty Jodi and Colby came for turkey dinner.  Yes that is right, I cooked a turkey and it turned out really well!

We thankful for….family, health, happiness.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Welcome Isaac!

Welcome to the world Isaac.

Thursday October 7th, Isaac Bennett Stamp was born.  Weighing 9 lbs 6 oz and 21.5 inches long he was just a few ounces shy of his older cousin Owen and just an inch shorter.  We are so very excited and happy to hear of the birth of our new nephew and cousin.  Uncle Derek informed me that everyone is doing well, everyone is very healthy and Zoe is very exicted to start her big sister role!  When I called, Derek said Zoe was already taking Isaac around to show him, his shelf of toys, his spot at the dinner table and his new bedroom!  Zoe is taking her role very seriously.  Sean and I informed Owen and Brandon of their new cousin; initally Owen was very upset and did not want another cousin.  But once we told him that Isaac was Zoe’s brother and would not be living in our house, he smiled and was okay with it all!  Brandon was excited and clapped his hand and cheered!

All pictures in this post are supplied by Aunty Colette. Hopefully we will get a chance to see Isaac before Christmas.<p>