Painting!

Crafts are always fun and I am so happy that Owen and Brandon have started to show more interest.  Owen found the painting supplies and wanted to paint, so we got the kitchen table all ready and let Owen and Brandon go to town.

And I swear it is Brandon’s mission to get as much paint on the paper plus get the paint as close to the edge of the table as possible – really to just keep Mommy on edge!

Owen took a break for some breakfast and then gave us that look!

And not to be out done by his brother, Brandon had to pause for a picture too.

Kosmo

Our pup doesn’t get a much blog time as he really should.  So he’s got a little more energy than most and so he sheds like crazy but he is wonderfully loyal and wonderfully cuddly.

Kosmo with his new Christmas toys – a stuffed penguin that has lasted longer than expected and his FOREVER favorite his ring.

Funny Faces

Owen and Brandon have become comedians these days with showing up each other’s funny faces. Owen has a one up on Brandon, as he has his glasses to use as props but then Brandon has this way of flashing his eyes that will get you every time.

And it ends with a kiss for Mommy…

…and yes I’ll take a little drool with it.

November…Movember

November brought us Movember and early Christmas parties.  Movember has been going on for quite some time but this year was our first year we…as in…Sean took part. A very dashing husband I have, he carried the ‘stach quite well – cute and quirky.

It was the middle of November and there was still no snow…so Sean raked the leaves and Owen and Brandon jumped in them, threw them up in the air, after all isn’t that what you do with a big pile of leaves?!

We deocrated the house early for Christmas this year.

Last year we hosted a Christmas party with all our friends, where the kids could all get together to play and the adults could get some adult conversation time. We did a gift exchange for the kids and a potluck. It was a big hit (at least I thought so) and so we continued the tradition this year. In order to ensure as many of our friends could come we chose to plan the party in November…thinking nothing else Christmas would be planned. I guess everyone thought the same way. We had a great turnout but the few could couldn’t attend cited Christmas party plans…hummm maybe next year I’ll plan it for December?? It was another huge hit (I thought so).

My good friend, Dania, baked a wonderfully yummy and equally cool cake and cupcakes for the party.

Brandon, my little b, woke one night and instead of climbing into bed with Sean and I, or waking me, he got up, walked into our bedroom and promptly fell asleep in our rocking chair. Sean came to bed a little later, glancing over to the chair and noticing Brandon sleeping….ran for the camera (of course). Then after getting “the shot”, took Brandon back to his room. And this is one of the many reasons why I chose to have kids, for these moments…

Army men and cars that’s what little boys are made of.

Family, Turkey, Superhero’s, Birthday cake and more…

Life got a little crazy, again, and now that things have calmed down a bit and I’ve had time to survey things around me, I realize my poor wonderful blog has been sitting by the way side for much too long. Sorry guys!

The month of October was filled with fun holidays, birthday’s and some new experiences. The month started out with some forethought. Since having the kids, Sean and I have tried very hard each year to take a family photo to use for our Christmas card. In the past it is usually a frantic last minute, oh my gosh, I have two weeks to do the cards, order them, write them out and mail them! This year I picked a day early on and booked our lovely assistant Claudette to press the button the camera for us.

Boys will be boys and after some fooling around and me learning to mellow out and allow them to fool around, we got some really great pictures.

Here are a few of the out takes….

With our end result…

This is us, our family.

Then it was Thanksgiving – this was a busy weekend with my too cute nephew Isaac turning 1 year old and Sean and I celebrating 7 years married.

The weather was great for October and Kosmo was able to enjoy a little more outdoor time.

Carving the turkey is Sean’s job and he thoroughly enjoys it.

Dinner was at Claudette’s and she went all out for us!

Brandon and Grandma had a nap together before dinner, while Owen sneaked the pumpkin cookies Aunty Claudette made for dessert.

Our traditional family picture, gathered ’round the turkey.

Our something new for the month….Owen and Brandon started skating lessons!!

It started out skating was going to be for Owen but then I Crestwood Skating Club that took children at 3 years old. This was perfect, Owen and Brandon could learn to skate together! Owen did really great right away, he listened to the coaches and tried tried tried – until his knee hurt from falling too much….and then he ate the snow off the ice. Brandon struggled at first, he cried for Mommy and Daddy and then pouted on the ice and learned a very good lesson that sitting on the ice for 30 minutes will make you very very cold. By Christmas time, Brandon was standing up on his own and smiling on the ice!

We celebrated Aunty Claudette’s birthday just days before Halloween.

Then it was Halloween – the boys had it made this year, they got to dress up for gymnastics, daycare, Halloween night and we even did the Scarecrow Festival dressed up this year and got to dress up in two different costumes too!

We had Iron Man and Spider Man…

And an army man and a dragon too…

Up up and away…

Way back in September….yeah way back….there was a sunny windy day, we were at home looking out the window and realized this was the perfect day to test out Brandon’s new kite.  The boys and I were filled with amazement at how Brandon’s batman kite would catch the wind and fly around above our heads…amazing.  It was a great expereince and one that I hope to be able to share with Owen and Brandon again soon….spring!?

Merry Christmas – Our December

Merry belated Christmas to all!

I have been sick for the past week and am finally this evening starting to feel a little bit more back to good ole’ Ang.  So this post comes a little late but understandably late, right?  As my posts have been been lacking and I have a surge of energy this evening, I’ve decided to do a month in review.

Our December started with our new tradition of decorating the gingerbread house.  Aunty Claudette and Grandma K came over to help out – while I did some Christmas baking.

As I mentioned, along with the Christmas baking came help this year. Owen and Brandon helped roll and cut out our gingerbread cookies. All that practice time at daycare rolling and cutting out of play-dough came in handy.

Yumm….

Then we saw Santa – this was the third time we saw him and by then Owen and Brandon were old pro’s at it all.

We made a trip to Airdrie to celebrate Christmas with Uncle Derek, Aunty Colette, Zoe, Isaac and Grandpa and Grandma S. Colette cooked us a turkey dinner – which was so delicious – and waffles the next morning. Many thanks for filling our bellies. The kids enjoyed opening their gifts to each other.

Sean and I were pleasantly surprised with our first (of many) daycare made Christmas ornaments. This one by Owen.

One of the my worst sick days was the Friday before Christmas, I missed out on our first ever trip down Candy Cane Lane. Dad and Aunty Claudette took the boys and from their smiling faces and rosy cheeks when they got home, they very much enjoyed it.

Our traditional Christmas Eve get together with both our families turned out great (despite my being sick), the kids were full of love and giving kisses all around.

And of course, the boys got to open one gift that night – we enjoyed a few rounds of Hungry Hungry Hippos before setting out treats for Santa.

Despite being sick I tried really hard to slow down and enjoy the day – no racing around, no hurry hurry, no looking at the clock. I think it worked (at least for me), it was a very relaxing and enjoyable day. As much of our family came by as could and it was wonderful to spend what time they had with them on this very special day. Owen and Brandon found Santa filled their stockings with all their favorites and brought gifts of “just what I wanted”.

Maybe my calmness of the day helped but I was able to convince Owen and Brandon to put on their dress up shirts and ties (yes ties) for pictures. They happily changed and happily smiled for the camera.

Then they hammed it up for the camera.

I end this with yes another tradition, our traditional family picture in front of the turkey just before it is carved for dinner.

And as Brandon has told everyone he met this month, A Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Brandon’s 3rd Birthday Party

So Brandon is 3 years old now and likes to make his own decisions, well, so we asked Brandon, what would you like at your birthday party. The answer was simple, a bouncy house with a slide and a Tonka Tonka cake made by Aunty Claudette. It was done. The theme, place and type of party was deicded just like that.

The day started out a little cooler than we had hoped but when you are jumping and sliding you don’t notice the coolness.

What do you think they are talking about?

Mommy was tickled pink when Brandon and Zoe wanted to go down the slide with Mommy/Aunty.

Then there was the cake, the Tonka Tonka cake that Aunty Claudette and Mommy spent all Friday decorating, getting it just right.

Then it was on to presents. Brandon was gracious enough to let his friends help him open his gifts (so hard for all the kids).

Always the entertainer, the Bumblebee and Megatron masks were a hit.

After presents we had one last thing to do…break open the pinata. After a few swings by everyone the pinata didn’t seem like it was going to break easily, so instead we all took a hold of a ribbon and on the count of three, PULL!

Hey Isaac, are some of those twizzlers for Daddy?

I love this picture, Brooke showing Owen, Brandon and Nathan how it’s done with the tools.

Brandon was exhausted by dinner time and could barely keep his head up to eat — I think that is a sure sign of a fun filled day! Thank you again to everyone who came to the party, thank you for the gifts and for being a part of this very special day!

Brandon is 3 yrs old

My baby, Brandon (lovingly called Little B) has turned 3 years old (now lovingly called Big B). We had a small family birthday party for Brandon on the Friday before his party. Lucky for us, Aunty Colette, Zoe and Isaac arrived in Edmonton in time to join us. And what is a party without a few presents to open.

And opening presents is always so much more fun when you are pretending to be someone — like a train conductor or police man.

Moon Dough…wonderful stuff, easy to work with (I would even say easier than playdough) but man it makes quite the mess!

Oh my goodness and what is this gift…a two wheel bike with training wheels! Brandon was super excited for his new bike. He had been working all summer on pedaling his tricycle, every time asking when he was big enough for a bike like Owen.

So after a run around the living room, there had to be a trip outside and down the block.

Owen letting his brother take the lead (it’s his birthday afterall).

Showing off some tricks he learned (from his big brother, of course).

Big brother Owen, helping out his little brother with his new bike. This is what it is all about!

After the bike trip it was time to sing Happy Birthday and have cake.

Boys, growing up

So I have a 3 and 4 yr old now.  My babies are 3 and 4 now!  Daddy wrestles and rolls around on the ground with them (Mommy tries but they are getting pretty strong) and then one day, they chose to wrestle with each other — like Daddy does.

This feat of picking each other up, was pretty funny. Sean took the pictures and I laughed (all the while cringing and hoping no one got really hurt).

After the wrestling it was time for a snack. There is a new elementary school (actually 2) that have been and are built in our community. We drive by them all the time and tell the boys that soon they will be old enough to go to school. Owen is reminding us that next year he will be 5 – just like the number of raspberries on his hand.

Brandon reminds us that he will be 4 next year (even though his 3rd birthday is only a week away) and will be old enough for school too (well…..)