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We finally got our dump of snow a few weeks ago, Sean took the boys out to the backyard to play. Owen and Brandon loved it, Kosmo loved it, Sean took the pictures and I watched from the kitchen window — making lunch of course!
It was the best kind of snow, sticky enough to make show chairs but light enough to blow a handful into your brothers’ face.
There weren’t too many snow days this winter, so it was nice for the boys to get outside and play in their backyard.
Lately I’ve felt a little like I’ve been getting a little too wrapped up into making sure lunches are made, groceries are picked up and the laundry is done and haven’t been spending as much time playing with my boys. They will only want me to play with them for so long, will only want hugs and kisses for so long and will only hold my hand for so long.
Owen will start kindergarten in the fall and what I imagined to be an exciting time, has been, as I’ve mentioned before, a very stressful time for me (and Sean too). The two schools in our area are very over crowded, equally child care for the schools are hard to come by – those two elements has been an all encompassing stress for me lately (Sean can verify that for you!). At this time, though, I can say we have found a couple places to look at for child care — cross yours fingers everyone — and hopefully we can find one (I only need one) that we feel comfortable with, that can accommodate us and that Owen feels good about.
In a round about way what I am saying here, is that time feels like it is slipping from me, especially time with my boys. So I took a few days off work and volunteered at the daycare to help with fun swim day – that means 1 hour in the pool with Brandon and his daycare friends and then right after that 1 hour in the pool with Owen and his daycare friends. It was so much fun! Brandon picked which friend could hold my other hand, the kids loved floating in the canoe then on the count of 3, flipping over into the water – I had a line up of kids waiting for their turn! Owen was so proud to have me there with him, he shared me with his friends with a huge smile on his face! We piled the kids on the floating mats and I raced them around the pool trying to get them to slide off – the boys loved it!
The next day I went back and watched Owen and Brandon do their swimming lessons with their daycare friends. It’s been a while since I watched them and already they have become so good at swimming! They smiled and looked up for me during class and then waved bye to me after class! Melt my heart!
For a brief moment I got to experience that “stay at home mom” feeling. I talked to some mom’s I recognized from other activities with the kids, pretending for a moment that I was one of them. But as much as I loved the moment, I am very happy with my choice to work, even more that my work provides me the opportunity to volunteer as much as I can with my boys. best of both worlds….at least for me…
One Sunday afternoon we ended up at West Edmonton Mall and the boys noticed there was this pirate ship inside the mall?! Could they go on it? Sean and I weren’t sure, we’ve lived in Edmonton our whole life but had never gone on the boat. hummm….walking over to the ship we noticed guest services was set up right next to it, so we asked. For only a $1 you can board the ship and spend as much time as you would like.
Owen and Brandon LOVED the pirate ship. As we were leaving the guest services person told us we could come back with pirate swords and let the boys play on the ship.
Walking a little further down the mall they noticed these boats in the water, could they go in those boats? hummm…again Sean and I weren’t sure…walking over to the boats we noticed a little window with a person, so we asked. For a few dollars we could ride the bumper boats. We asked Owen and Brandon — who should ride the boats with you? Of course Aunty would ride with Owen, Brandon wanted Grandma so much but settled for Mommy.
Who knew the mall could be more than just shopping? Bring your children, they’ll get you to stop and see the details.
As I’ve posted before, Owen and Brandon are learning to skate and we continued their lessons through to the spring. With the addition of Edmonton Oiler hockey jersey’s they got as gifts from Aunty Claudette and Grandma K for Christmas their skating abilities seem to have increased 100%! Funny how a little motivation can make a big difference!
Before getting onto the ice, the boys get cozy as only brother can.
Once on the ice, after some warm ups, out come the hockey sticks and pucks.
Happy Birthday GG (Great Grandma)!
GG came to our house on her birthday for dinner and cupcakes to celebrate. Aunty Claudette graciously baked the cupcakes but left the icing and decorating to Owen and Brandon.
Lots of icing and sprinkles were a requirement.
After singing happy birthday and helping GG blow out her candle, we all enjoyed the decorated cupcakes.
Dress up is so much fun and I am so happy that Owen and Brandon still love to dress up. One such evening they decided it was going to be all about doctors and being sick. Owen and Brandon shared as best as brother can between being the doctor and being the patient.
They really do listen and hear us adults when we talk….To hear Owen and Brandon talk to each other using the words and phrases us adults use was really quite cute. When checking each other’s eyes, they ask…Do you see the house? When getting a needle in the arm, they say….Hold still this won’t hurt. And they both even donned the face mask, so not to catch any germs.
The daycare the boys go to is very good at being creative with lunch and snack-times and sometimes a few of those creative meals are such a hit that the boys ask for it at home. One such time was mini pizza’s. They had so much fun putting the toppings on and watching the cheese melt in the oven. My favorite part was when I asked them what do we put on our pizza’s – Owen and Brandon shouted carrots and cucumber. Okay sure, let’s try it out, who am I to judge?!
It wasn’t horrible but I wouldn’t make it my new favorite topping but the important part was I tried it and the boys thought it was the funniest thing (I wonder if they were just testing me??)
Grapes are a new favorite fruit in our house, green or red, we aren’t picky. One morning Owen and Brandon were picking through the container of grapes when they pulled out this one, very big grape. Why Mommy it’s a pumpkin grape! Of course Daddy HAD to take a picture and we all took a moment to look at the pumpkin grape. Owen and Brandon didn’t want to eat it, they wanted to save it.
A few days later we cut it in half and the boys shared eating their pumpkin grape.
Who says you can’t play and eat at the same time…who am I to curb creativity at the dinner table!?
Happy Valentines Day!!
I don’t usually post all the little cute things the boys do, but I think I may have to change that….
Owen and Brandon were so excited this morning that today was Valentines Day and that they could give their friends the valentines they made them. I was trying to entice them downstairs so I could start breakfast and I used the “I think there might be a surprise waiting for you guys”. Brandon cheered and clapped and asked, “Is Grandma downstairs?”, I laughed and said no, Owen was jumping up and down and said, “Maybe Aunty is?”. I laughed again and said no, why don’t we go and see? They found a red gift bag filled with some fun things. They both were so excited and told me “I love you Mommy” and then ran upstairs and shouted “I love you Daddy, these are my favorites”.
How better to start a day then with that excitement and love!
Hope everyone has just as special of a day!
I spent Friday calling around to daycares and dayhomes to figure out how I am suppose to make sure my child can get to and from kindergarten in the fall. Apparently if both parents work full time the education system sees that as an anomoly. What do you mean you can’t drive your child to school at 8:27 am and then pick them up at 11:27 am, oh and on Thursdays, it’s a short day. Why oh why do kids need a short day each week?? Like really? What is that?! Then, the school in my area tells me that there are lots of parents that walk their kids to school, maybe I can arrange something with them….why yes that makes complete sense?! How am I suppose to give back to the parent(s) taking my child to school each day?!
I can’t help but feel like our situation is very abnormal, very outside the norm….
Thanks for letting me vent. 🙂
On the flip side, the fruit at the new Windemere Safeway is absoultely amazing this week. The taste of the blueberries and raseberries and strawberries reminds me of a hot summer day sitting on the deck feeling the warm sun on your face swatting at the mosquitoes. Can you feel it too? Your must check our their fruit!
Last Sunday was one of those lazy days, I was in the kitchen making lasgnas, Owen and Brandon were role playing what their daycare teachers do all day — on the walkie – I’ve got 3 kids, can you take 2? Wind chill is high, we won’t be taking the kids outside today! To the front desk, to the front desk!. It was very amusing, apparently they really do listen to you! — and Sean was working on the photog biz. I opened a window, because it was THAT nice of a winter day, and in it came….the sounds of laughter of children sledding in the green (well white) space behind our house. Owen and Brandon perked up and glanced out the window…wait a minute, looky here, those kids are sledding! Owen and Brandon look at each other and then look at me – Mommy, we LOVE sledding, can we go!? Sean was game for it and Owen and Brandon buzzed with excitement as they got ready. They LOVED every minute outside and both Owen and Brandon walked up the hill each time!
Unfortunately there are no pictures of them sledding; I was preoccupied with watching them from the kitchen window squealing down the hill that I didn’t even think to grab the camera. But when they got back, they wanted, no they NEEDED hot chocolate with milk and marshmallows because they were cold! Sean grabbed the camera (a true photographer) and captured them enjoying their hot chocolate.
It was a wonderful Sunday!