Finally! - February 9

Finally, my kids are learning to play. Together. 
Jude has a tendency to push Elise around. Elise has a tendency to be bossy. 
I was almost crying, laughing, watching them wrestle together, Jude letting Elise win every round. 
Adorable!! 

I think Jude was laughing so hard, he couldn't have fought back even if he wanted to!

Cheese - February 8

They each have their own "cheese" face. 

Too quiet - February 2

I could hear the kids playing while I sat down to write a quick email. 
Then suddenly it was too quiet. 

Before I ran to get my camera, they were both in here. I hadn't realized how big that cupboard was, they both fit in there easily!

They both like to hide, I'll have to remember that spot. 

A few good ones - January 29

It is SO HARD to get a picture of these two kids together, in the same room, let alone both looking. 
This took me lots of tries ... but a few ones worked! 

Jan 19

 

Just a cute picture to share.  It is so rare, and usually lasts only momentarily, to have them both sit still and be able to get a picture!

Growing up - July 6

I know I say this every time, but E is getting so big. 
I just love watching these two kids starting to behave like real siblings. Sitting back and just watching them interact with each other is a rare treat. 

Just watching her splash with herself.

I love this dress! 

Oops, she saw me spying on her. 

Both playing happily in the water, soaked!

Hot weather relief - June 29

We love our water table!
Our water table from last year was the victim of a horrible falling ice incident (we forgot to get it away) and so we've replaced it with a new one this year. 
It's great, better than our first because the play structures don't come out. 
Today was E's first time getting a turn to play. She is finally able to stand well enough she won't fall and bump her face on the table. 
She propped herself up with her armpit and used two hands to play. 
Adorable! 
It was so great to see both kids entertained together, not exactly playing together, but both playing with the same toy. 

I LOVE seeing them developing into siblings!

Like Father, like Son.

 J has a big noggin'. It's no secret. I like to think it is to hold his extra large brain!

I knew his head was a bit large (97%) when he was a baby, but as my only child and nearly everyone else I knew had candy apple headed children too, he looked perfect to me. 

The summer he was 6-9 months, he needed a 2-3 yr size hat - sure okay, no big deal. 

8 months

Last summer, when he was 18-24 months, his hat was a 6-8 yr size. Yep. A little hard to find a hat in 6-8 yr size that still ties on like little kids require. But I found one and a few other cute "little -man" hats, so no big deal again. 

Last summer, 20 months old. 

This year, I was able to buy J and Daddy matching hats. Not just close... matching ... the same hat! 

Banana Republic. One size S-M and one M-L. 

Crazy.

Banana Republic, size S/M

I admit it. I like to dress "my boys" alike. 

Before having J, I would have never expected to be one of "those" kind of mom's. I even made fun of my sister for it -before I had my own little boy (sorry L!)

Now it's my favourite thing to shop for. "Mini me" little man clothes for J. I had no idea they'd be wearing clothes form the same store so soon :) 

E got her new hat for Easter. She fits a perfect 6-12 month size hat now!! 

Enjoy the sunshine and the need for a hat!! 

Kim

Easter weekend -April 24

We had a great Easter weekend this year. 

Our plans changed. We were supposed to spend the weekend in Canmore with Family 21. I'm starting to feel like our trips to Canmore are cursed with a sick boy every time! 

Christmas? Check! Family Day? Check! and now Easter!

Despite the change of plans, our weekend was great. 

J was still feeling better. No relapses. Hallelujah!

Friday (and Saturday) we spent the day looking for a bike for Jude. 

I wanted to get a bike before he was much older and before they were sold out for the summer. 

A bit of an ordeal. I wasn't sure $120 (or more) for a bike without pedals was reasonable, we thought it might be feasible to buy a little "cheap" bike and take the pedals off for this season. 

We don't know anything about bikes other than how to ride them and so we decided to look round... bike stores and department stores... with two kids in tow... for two days... not my brightest move.  Sorry kiddos.

So after lots of looking, we ended up at a real bike store buying J a real pedal-less run bike. 

He loves the idea of it. He doesn't seem to love riding it much yet. That figures! 

Easter Eve I was out at 10pm looking for a basket for the egg hunt the next morning. I couldn't find even one! Maybe I was at the wrong store. But I did find the fake plastic grass and decided we' make it work. 

I ended up using mixing bowls and making nests for the goodies and then J used the nest to put his eggs back into. 

It worked great and he's non the wiser. 

E's view for the egg hunt.

E trying very hard to get into that egg. 

C and I left the kids with my parents and got a bit of shopping/ running around done then headed back there for turkey dinner. 

My all time favourite! 

The day was so much for beautiful than I was even expecting. Maybe I had just forgotten how wonderful "mid-teens" feels after such a long winter. 

 J trying out his new bike. Still unsure.

 Easter bubbles. Enjoying the sun!

The kids in their Easter outfits.

J's words of the day. We've been watching a lot of playoff hockey around here. 

I hope you had a great Easter. 

Kim

Lonely - April 22

You know, I realize that J was very ill this week. And as much as he was a trooper for pulling through with flying colours, I hadn't realized how much J's illness would effect E. 


She's never been without J. Ever. I mean sure, an hour here and there if I could sneak out for groceries with just E, but really, since she's been old enough to be "aware," she has always had J at her side. 


This past week was tough on us all. We pretty much couldn't leave J's side for fear of him being sick or just being so weak he'd fall over. The day I spoke with my doctors office and they told me to take to the hospital right away, I left her for almost 8 hours while I dealt with J. That's the longest I had ever been away from her. By probably 5 hours!
E was so patient. She sat quietly, watching J, trying to get his attention, chirping at him and patiently waiting for him to come over and smother her in hugs and kisses. She waited and waited. For an entire week. 
I've realized these past two days just how much she missed him. 
To see the two of them together just melts my heart. If having kids was just about that, I'd have a whole football team! 

I hope their love lasts forever! 

Kim