Married to a Geek

So tonight a lady was walking around to find out if anyone wanted the extra sod that they had too much of. We do need some more and I love free stuff, so I jumped on it and asked where they lived. She told us the address but we live in one of those new communities where every street is almost the same name. I suggested going to the back alley to figure out where it is. But Darryl asks us to hang on and he pulls out his iphone and started to find it on his GPS. We are where the little blue dot is, lets zoom in and find it... The poor lady looked very freaked out. I guess she is not married to a geek.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

New Dark Hair

Last week I had my hair colored and it's taken me a while to get use to it.



I don't even look like those blond boys mother...

Jenn

Mondays...

For the moment I am sitting outside while Lucas and 3 of his little friends play in the dirt. It was suppose to be a vegetable garden for next year, but for the moment is quite a nice worksite for 3 and 4 year olds and their trucks. Nathan is upstairs sleeping soundly.



Much better then yesterday. I was in a crabby mood. Lucas pooped in his pants..... twice. Nathan took short naps... twice and Darryl worked for 2 hours (on a Sunday) I also went to London Drugs to get a passport picture taken and forgot my wallet. So yeah, today although Monday is turning out to be much better then Sunday.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

For Lesley

Tonight was great. I spent the evening watching the Sex in the City movie and making cards. The movie is great, although I'm not quite at the end yet, does she end up with Big? Although I'm glad Steve and Miranda got back together.

Here are the beautiful cards I made. Thanks Lesley, my teacher of how to make beautiful cards. I want to give them all to you, they are beautiful.

This one I copied mostly from the "You Crack Me Up Card" I even bought the white ribbon from Walmart.




Oh- great a happy ending. They ended up together.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Chain of Laughing

Yesterday evening Lucas was sitting on the potty while Nathan was in his little tub. Nathan splashed in the tub which made Lucas laugh. That made Nathan laugh. Which when he laughs he often gets excited with his whole body and it caused him to splash again, which made Lucas laugh more which made Nathan laugh more and flail his arms again, which had us all in hysterics.

So glad I had two kids....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Things to Mention....

An update of what has been happening this week:

• We are doing some sleep training with Nathan, which means we are letting him cry. It was getting to the point that only nursing would put him to sleep. So we decide to take the same route we did with Lucas, which was successful. So now we play his mix and go see him every couple of minutes, each time getting longer. It's been a day and getting much better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tonight. Last night he was up 5 times and one of those times it took him an hour and a half to oget back to sleep
• We bought some new Iams food for Emma, she is loving it. If you have ever met Emma you'll know she is a picky eater. We usually have to put some real meat on her dog food to convince her to eat it.
  
• Lucas went poop on the potty yesterday. He has the pees mastered but we are still working on the poops.
• Lucas and I or Darryl have been going for bike rides in the evening. It has been lots of fun. It's good that he is getting old enough that we can do things together.
  

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

The Joys of Living with a 3 Year Old

A couple of funny things Lucas said today:

"Mom there is a huge spike in my pants!"

It was his button snap that had broken. Then today in the grocery store Nathan started to get fussy.

Jenn: It's okay Nathan
Lucas: Et tuke play
Jenn: Pardon me
Lucas: It's spanish

So funny.....

Jenn

For Dad

So you can see part of the Emmys, i thought this was rockin'



Jenn

Teeth Ticklers

Today was Lucas's first trip to the dentist. It took some convincing but eventually he let the hygienist to use her tooth tickler, water gun and little vacuum. Luckily we are doing well with teeth brushing and she said they looked great. I brought the camera to take his picture but didn't get one because he was sitting on my lap the whole time.

Yeah Lucas! I have been trying to not influence my attitude (dislike) about the dentist on Lucas, which is hard. But I think it went well today.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Overwhelmed with Cuteness

On Friday we took my new lens and headed out to the zoo, to get some animal close ups. There is a baby giraffe, elephant and gorilla at the zoo. And with my new zoom lens you can take pictures of people without being in their face.







Till Tomorrow

Jenn

itunes 8 and Nathan's Lullabies

If you have been reading here for a while, you'll know I love music. I've recently download the new itunes 8 and highly recommend it. It has the genius playlist, which is the best thing ever. Although I'm surpised Apple didn't hire me and I make atleast 5 differernt playlists a year. =) Here is the one we've been listening to while trying to get Nathan to sleep.

Northern Downpour Panic At The Disco
Words & Fire Sam Roberts
Details In the Fabric (feat. James Morrison) Jason Mraz
Slumber My Darling (with Yo Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer) Allison Krauss
When You Dream Barenaked Ladies
Waiting for an Angel Ben Harper
Lullabye goodnight, my angel Billy Joel
Kingdom Come Coldplay
Lullaby Dixie Chicks
Superman (It's Not Easy) Five for Fighting
Captain Wedderburn Great Big Sea
Somewhere Over the Rainbow Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Banana Pancakes Jack Johnson
Unloved w\ Jackson Browne Jann Arden
3AM (acoustic piano version) Matchbox 20
Then I'll be Smiling Matt Nathanson
You'll Be In My Heart Phil Collins
Running To Stand Still (U2 cover [acoustic]).mp3 Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviasuk
Push (iTunes Originals Version) Sarah McLachlan
My Darling Child Sinéad O'Connor
The Promise Tracy Chapman
Crazy Love Van Morrison
Wondering Where The Lions Are Bruce Cockburn

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter: Month Thirty Seven

A Typical Day

My birthday was on a Monday this year so fairly typical day for us. My best friend did come for dinner, which was nice. And on the Sunday I got in some serious shopping with out children, so that was really a great part of the day for me. If you cheer "fashion show", I'll take a picture of myself in what I bought......

In the morning Lucas and I cleaned. He sings along with songs and I love it!


Then a couple of his friends came over and he played while Nathan napped and I read Eclipse (which I am loving) While his friends were here we did watch some pavers out front. Lucas was very excited.



For dessert (after pie) I enjoyed some Bernard Callebaut chocolate.



Today my birthday present came in the mail. A zoom lens. Here is the same shot close and far away. And my favorite picture of Lucas.





Till Tomorrow

Jenn

29 For the first time....

Well since I am going to claim to be this age for years to come I guess I better make it a good year. =) Which I think it will be... I have an amazing life with all my boys, I'm going to go on some amazing vacations, will only have to work a couple of months. Yeah for the last year of my 20's.

Do you feel old mom? You shouldn't - I don't!

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A few bricks short of a load- but a full load hurts my back.

This week was a little crazy for me. All summer Lucas has enjoyed the outdoors and will spend hours playing with his friends. I always keep a fairly close eye on him and check even if he's playing in someone elses yard. But this week rain combined with potty training made me a little crazy. Yesterday I spent the whole day with Lucas, not breaks, no rides in the car, no friends, no nap. THE WHOLE DAY! It hasn't been like that all summer. And while I do love Lucas it made me fearful for winter. I'm going to have to have some serious fun stuff for us to do and sign us up for some classes, organize play dates. Stay at home moms definitely have all my respect. It's easier when your kid goes to school or at least has other kids around to play with.

The thing that helps keep me the most sane is thinking about the BareNaked Ladies cruise. YEAH!! I can't wait to go. I listen to the music super loud, Lucas and I will watch videos of the last cruise. Really it is the combination of two of my favorite extra curricular activities. Traveling and music.

The cruise is coming, the cruise is coming.....

Jenn

Blessed

This evening my parents came over to help put Lucas down and as usual stayed for a cup of tea and dessert. My mom has been sick and we were busy last weekend, and before that we were Ontario. So our usual weekly visits have been few and far between in the last couple of weeks.

Tonight it was great. I am so blessed to have really great parents. We spent an hour and a half talking about life and love. Darryl sticks around and participates as well. We have these great conversations, they are so insightful and wise. The conversations moves from stocks and iphones to being a teenager and going to university. They make me feel like my opioions are important, but also try to open my eyes to new things. They are the best teachers someone could ask for in life.

I did miss them, I am so blessed to feel that way about them.

Jenn

Wordless Wednesday

He can't go on the potty, but he can fly.....

Till TOmorrow

Jenn

Potty Training

Well we have started some preliminary potty training with Lucas. It's amazing because everything you read tell you to use lots of positive reinforcement. The problem is that in the first couple of days there is a lot of peeing on the floor, peeing on the ground outside, peeing on your clothes. Lots of peeing everywhere BUT the potty. It's hard to be positive when you are spending most of your day either in front of the TV while Lucas sits on the potty not going pee. Or the time spent cleaning up the pee. Yes Lucas it's okay, another accident, just let me scrub the floor one more time.

Luckily this evening we had our first break through of peeing on the potty. YEAH!! Darryl and I jumped so much. Gave all that positive reinforcement. Including the bribe toy we have been offering him for 2 days.

Now we have to wait for the second time....

How long did it take you to potty train?

Till Tomorrow........ Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Five

Dear Nathan,

Happy 5 months baby. Yesterday I said that to you and you gave me one of those big smiles you love to dawn on anyone who will smile back at you. You smile a lot and will give smiles to anyone. You have yet to start and play strange. You are also much more free with your laughs. You are laughing everyday now. Whether it with tickles or playing peek-a-boo. You love to be happy.




One of your favorite things is smiling at your self in the mirror. Anytime we walk by one and you get a glance of yourself you smile away. You'll often smile and then hide your head like you are playing shy. It's so cute. I know you don't yet know it's you in the mirror, but another baby smiling back at you.


Physically you are getting stronger as well. You love to be upright. Often when I lay you down on the ground, you try to do a little sit up. Or if I lay you on your belly you'll lift your upper body so that you are doing a mini push up. You have also become a good jumper this month. Your jumperoo use to entertain you for 5 minutes and now you can jump and jump for a long time.


We also have taken you from one end of the country to the other this month. You have done a wonderful job of adapting. You have blessed people from BC to Ontario with your smile. Everyone loves a baby, but for your family you are so precious. With all the traveling it also means that we have done lots of snuggling in the same bed together. We'll sleep in the bed all night snuggling together. I love that baby smell and get to smell you all the time.



It's amazing how bringing another person into our family brings us all a little closer together. You are one more thing that we as a family have in common. Whether it's Lucas looking for you in the morning or him trying to get you to grab his nose. Or Daddy making funny faces to try and get you smiling, you help to bring us all together.







I love you baby
love mommy

Back in the Saddlle or Atleast the Potty

Well this week we have started to get back into a bit of a routine. It is a weird September because no one is going back to school or at least starting with new students. I love to be a teacher in September. The students are so excited and eager. Come December they are burnt out. I've also been reading other blogs about first days of school for many kids. But we are going to take on some new things here as well including the eat at home challenge.

The big thing is potty training. I've been doing research figuring out what is the best way, techniques, fun things. If you guys have any advice that worked for you, let me know. We bought a whole bunch of underwear today. Plus we have a bunch of cheerios by the toliet to throw in for aiming practice.

I'm also trying to get Nathan into his morning and afternoon nap. As he is 4 months old, some days it works and other days it doesn't.

Fall is a great time for new things.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

You Know You Are Getting Old When....

Darryl's boss was in town from Ontario with his wife. She was very nice and I enjoyed hanging out with her. But she is younger then me and I totallly noticed it.

We went to the zoo today and there was a baby giraffe born there on July 29th. They showed the video of her giving birth. I was really intrigued and not grossed out at all. Besides I've been through that twice. She was totally grossed out, but I made her stand there and watch the whole thing. =)

Till Tomorrow.......Jenn

Putting Us Up

We are lucky to stay with Darryl's sister and her family when we travel to Ontario. One of the conversations we had while there was about how expensive it is to travel in your own country. It is expensive for us to come and visit them, but they make it worth it. It makes us feel like celebrities they are so excited to see us. They cry when we leave. They give us there bed and bedroom to sleep in. They are excellent hosts and we do lots of fun and relaxing stuff.

Plus they have raised this amazing daughter. I admit I was a little apprehensive about how Mackenzie would take to having young kids around. I remember being a teenager and so I was a little nervous that now she is becoming a teenager that she would be spending most of the time with her friends. But she was amazing. She was so good with Lucas. One day he was so exhausted he fell asleep on the couch after dinner. They were lumps, she would read him books, they would make things with lego and run outside in the sprinkler. He misses you already.








Thank you so much for putting us up and putting up with us.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Marineland: A Photo Essay

One of our days in Ontario was spent in Marineland. Here are some photos of the day. I know it's the first day of school, but Lexie you've got to wait till the last picture....

After a 2 hour drive we got to see the Whales!

More Whales


Then Grammie followed the map to the next set of whales


Belugas



Kenzie and I feeding the belugas


Then off to feed the red bear corn pops

And the black bear

And feeding the fish

Waiting for the dophin show to start

Here's the dolphin show

Then off to the rides....
The ferris wheel

And Lucas's favorite the ladybug coaster. Where I was more scared then he was.

And of course the biggest waterfall in the world.

After all that excitement we needed some food. Off for the best chicken fingers in the land. Can you guess where from......

Till Tomorrow

Jenn