Happy Hallowe'en

Well today was just as much fun as I thought it was going to be. We headed our for a Hallowe'en party at lunch time. Then home and Lucas had a nap before a fun evening. He was great for trick or treating. With having that nap we were out for almost 2 hours. He collect about 250 peices of Candy. I was surprised at how many houses had their lights off though and that the trick or treating didn't really pick up until 7pm. But Lucas said his trick or treat and thank yous very well. Hopefully he won't have any nightmares about "the hand that grabs you when you try to reach for a candy" candy bowl. We had quite a few comments on his beautiful butterfly homeade costume. Nathan was falling asleep after the first ten houses so Darryl took him home, but all in all I think both boys had a fun Hallowe'en.

Our pumpkin




The boys in their costumes





Lucas and his loot

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

It Looking Alot Like Hallowe'en

So this week has been very Hallowe'en theme. Here is a craft we did, that I love. The instructions are here.


The other thing we did was make Hallowe'en cupcakes. Chocolate cupcakes and then we added yellow and red food coloring to white icing and made orange icing.


Stay tuned tomorrow for the other "craft" we did which was making Lucas's costume.... a butterfly.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

A Downtown Adventure

Yesterday Lucas, Nathan and I went on the train to meet Auntie Karen for lunch. It was a double whammy day for Lucas. The train and Auntie Karen!!! He slept well last night. Here is a photo essay of it.

Lucas on the Train


Nathan on the Train




Auntie Karena and Lucas enjoying the statues downtown

Auntie Karen, Lucas and Nathan is a +15. We waved at a concrete mixer as he drove underneath and he waved back.

Enjoying more of downtown.

It was a super fun day.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Weekend Update

Weekends are not for stay at home mothers. Our work is never really done. Lunch breaks, non existent. A full nights sleep very rare. Weekends are really for people who have Monday to Friday jobs. But I do have a great husband who is also a great father.

So on Friday I went and spent a fun night with a bunch of ladies. It is an easy game of dice rolling. But not so easy that I can't talk while I roll the dice.

Saturday was a day spent relaxing and celebrating Ed's birthday, with our best friends.

Sunday we carved pumpkins and tried to roast the seeds (some worked, some didn
t) and enjoyed my mom's ever fabulous cooking.

Here is a great pic of my two boys. Although I laugh at it becuase it's Lucas who has been loving been shirtless lately not Nathan.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

I Love Paris

I've been to Paris twice. The first time I didn't like it, the second time I fell in love with the city. Two blogs I check daily are making me long for another trip there. The first one is Paris Daily Photo. This post really made me laugh. Smoking is very common in Paris. When I was there is second time I was quite pregnant with Lucas and I just had to accept the fact that I was going to inhaling some second hand smoke if I wanted to go out. I'm glad they have passed this law in Paris, but it makes me laugh that so many people are now outside.

The second blog that is making me long for a Paris trip is Smitten Kitchen. It is a beautiful food blog. I find it very inspiring. I want to learn to take beautiful pictures of food and post them on my wall. Her and her husband recently did a apartement switch for a week and her food tales sound so heavenly. The best food I ever had was in Paris. Started with escargot in this great garlic sauce. Then amazing rack of lamb and cheesy scallop potatoes. Even when Darryl and I were eating it we knew it was something special. In this listing I love how they talk about eating steak rare. That is so true. She talks about sandwiches and pastries. Ummmm pain de chocolate.... We also had breakfast every morning, yougourt, croissants, jam, caffe lattes and hot chocolate.

Maybe in a couple of years, another trip will be in order.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Grrrrrrr

So I get home from grocery shopping today and Lucas had a hurt on his finger. We open up the Diego bandiads that we paid 2.50$ for and it was empty. Grrrrrr.... part of me was mad, someone stole all those bandaids. I wouldn't have even noticed if it was one. But the whole pack was gone. But part of me did think, what if it was some mother who couldn't afford bandaids....

So the moral of the story, open the box before you buy bandaids.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Great Song

I'd like to think I know quite a bit about music. I consider myself a music lover. I heard a song on Brothers and Sisters the other day, thought I love that new song. I have to have it. But it was an old Cat Stevens song. The Wind.



Enjoy it, an oldie (or newie) and goodie.

Jenn

Edward Cullen Some Discussion

In the third book of the Twilight series the main character, Bella, has to choose between to men ( or one werewolf and one vampire). One of the big themes in the book is who is Bella soulmate. She does like both of the "men". It got me thinking about soulmates and how I feel about the term and what Bella is going through. I personally don't believe in soulmates or believe that there is only one person out there for everyone. I think that there are probably a variety of people anyone could be married too. I think it depends on where you are in your life and who you meet at the time. But I think marriage is work. I think that Bella would be happy with both Edward and Jacob, she loves them both. She chooses Edward but has to give up so much for him (live forever, never age, never have children). I'm not sure she should give up her whole life for someone who she thinks is soulmate. I worry that a whole teen generation will not get married now because they are looking for their "Edward".

What do you think, is there one person for everyone?

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

His Girly Side

When I was pregnant with Lucas I really wanted a girl. I am a girl, I have a sister, I knew about girls. Barbies, jump rope, fairies and princesses. Nevertheless Lucas is not a girl, so I have learned about trucks and construction workers and dinosaurs and lego and maybe I am more well rounded now. But we still do things that some may consider girly although I try to not cross the line. Crafts, baking and painting toe nails are things we do together. Well tonight Lucas wanted to skip his bath, but still needed to hang out in the bathroom while I washed Nathan. So he opened my cupboard and started to go through my makeup collection. It is not extensive, but I have some of everything. What's this mommy... gold packages of lipstick, blush brushes, different kind of mascara. Some were "cool", some smelled like strawberries and some smelled stinky (the old stuff). Just as I was thinking is this too girly, he pulls out the eyelash curler. This is the coolest thing ever, what is it? A car launcher? No Lucas it's an eyelash curler, but maybe we could launch cars with it....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Things That Have Me Laughing All Week

Two things I have to record because I am still laughing as I sit here thinking about it.

First, the Office this week was hilarious with As-tird. Instead of Astrid, Micheal thought the baby would be Astird. Really could there be a funnier name.

Second, Lucas really needed a nap today, he was up early from a bad dream and even was saying he needed a nap. But of course he didn't really want to nap. We started on the couch, but he was just goofing around and then whimpering rather then falling asleep. So we went up to read books in Mommy's bed and fall asleep. Once books were done we both shut our eyes and tried to nap. Of course his eyes are almost squeezed tight, then after a minute or so you hear this quiet fake snore coming from him. It was too soon for him to be really asleep, so I burst out laughing. Which made him laugh and then we got the giggles. He would do the fake snore again and we would laugh and laugh. It made falling asleep impossible. So I put him in his bed without mommy to make him giggle.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Monthly Newsletter - Month Thirty Eight

Dear Lucas,

Today you turn 38 months old and the last month ranks up there with one of the best months of our lives. You have had an unbelievable age and I love spending time with you. Sometimes I like to get you early from Lesley's just so that I spend more time with you. I was debating about putting you in preschool, but part of me doesn't want to be tied to it and have more time away from you, which may sound selfish, and I'll definitely put you in next year.



A couple of things that have solidified this month. One of those was the potty training. We haven't had an accident in weeks, even at night things have been going really well. I am so proud of you, it came easier then expected.



One of your other major accomplishments this month has been you dressing yourself. That also came very quickly and now you do it all the time. You pick your clothes, put them on yourself. If you get two legs in one hole, you call yourself a wormaid, which makes all of us (including you) laugh. I've been letting you pick out your own clothes, which sometimes backfires, as you chose bathing suits when it's 5 degrees outside. But you love to get dressed. Even today I came downstairs and you were sitting on the couch with just your shirt on, I asked what was going on. You siad you'd found a pair of underwear in your backpack and wanted to put them on. You'll often wear two shirts, or try to put pants over shorts. Really I roll with it. Just when you wear bathing suits and it's 5 degress outside, I'm sure to bring pants with us.





You love calling people on the phone. Again I'm all for this as I think it helps you to learn phone manners and numbers. I tell you the numbers and you find them on the key pad and dial. This is making people very happy as most family loves to hear your voice. Even if it's on the answering machine. You even like to answer the phone if your Dad and I can't get to it. The other day Darryl's boss called our home line and you answered, Kyle laughed and called you Darryls new adminstrative assistant.



We continued to play outside quite a bit this month. Darryl "sooped" up your plasma car with his rollerblades wheels. Now you go so so fast and we can't here you coming.


Here is a picture of you with your long hair. Daddy did a great job of cutting your hair this month. I would give you a little trim, but Daddy cut 2 inchs off. It looks great, but I do kind of miss your Beatle hair. Look at it blowing in the wind....





You and Nathan are getting along great. You are one of the people who can make him laugh. If he is fussing in teh backseat, you making funny noises at him will make him laugh. Or if he does something and you laugh, he'll do it again so you can both laugh at it. When you laugh, he laughs and it makes me so happy to have two kids.



Another reason that I think this has been a great month is our "talking". Most evenings you'll ask if I will come and lay with you once you've gone to bed. I come and lay with you and we snuggle under the blankets. We talk about what you favorite thing and least favorite thing was about the day. You often don't have any least favorite things, but sometimes you do and it's good that we talk about it. Whether it was the mommy got mad at you or one of your friends didn't want to share. We talk about life in those 10 mintues before you go to sleep. We also talk about all the wonderful things in your life, that ranges from playing with Auntie Karen, a new toy or Daddy making you laugh about something. It's great I hope you are always able to talk to me about your favorite and least favorite things.

love mommy.

Mountain Air Makes Us Say The Craziest Things

Today we headed up to the mountains. Although we live close to them we don't go there often enough, becuase those gianormous beautiful things help to put things in perspective. What specs we are in this big big world. We went up to see Oma and Opa who had a week of vacation there. We swam in the pool at their resort and walked around Banff. The kids were quite good. All in all it was fun way to sped the day.





Once we got home we were playing monster trucks and there was a conversation like this:

Jenn: Lucas did you tell Daddy what animal we saw in the mountains
Lucas: Deer
Darryl: Cool
Jenn: How many were there?
Lucas: 2, a mommy and a baby
Darryl: Was the baby's name Bambi
Lucas: Uh.... yeah. And the Mommy's name was Off Roader Guy.

Till Tommorrow

Jenn

Sleep

This is so much harder then last time. We are in the process of "sleep training", which in my opionion is a fancy word for letting your baby cry. It is taking weeks and weeks. I have been reading the blog from when Lucas was 6 months old. He didn't take this long to learn to fall asleep on his own. Really 3 nights and then Lucas was pretty good. Sometimes he'd take short naps, but generally it's was easy. Nathan is just so stubborn. That and he doesn't take a soother, which I think really helped Lucas. Sometimes I think we have it down pat with Nathan and then we have a horrible day and it's like we are starting from scratch again. Two days ago he took two naps and slept almost all night. Then today his naps were non exsistent and he cried going down to sleep every time. Ahhh.....




It is great when we achieve this.... hopefully tomorrow will be more sleep filled.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

My Favorite Holiday

I love Thanksgiving. It is hands down my favorite holiday. I love the time of year, I love the food. I love the lack of commercialism. I love that there is a holiday about saying thanks. One of the traditions around our table is to say what it is we are thankful for. Whether it's happy, healthy kids or good food or god or love. It's a time to reflect on the good things in our lives. We were lucky to have family and friends join us. It was a great weekend. Lucas loved spending time with Auntie Karen and Auntie Lexie. Nathan enjoyed making happy faces at Grandma and Pop and Oma and Opa. My mom made the BEST turkey. I don't know if it was because I ran or if I skipped lunch, but I loved dinner. I even ate Lucas's leftovers 3 hours after dinner was done and everyone was gone.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.

Jenn

Voting

This week there is an election here in Canada. With the election in the United States there has been lots of talk about voting and party principles. I read this blog a week or so ago about a woman who is strongly against abortion and therefore voting for the party which opposes it. It does make me question the reasons to vote.

Generally I am quite happy about what the conservatives have done over the past year. Lowering the GST puts money back in my pocket, the Universal Child Tax benefit gives us money for childcare the way we want it. But I am very concerned about the enviroment and I don't think he has done a lot for it.

The question is how do you vote? Based on how a party has done in the past, on what they want to do for the future or one one issue that I feel strongly about.....


Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Book Review: Kids Books

We have been fortunate enough to get some great books for Lucas lately. I think in another life I could have been a children's librarian (Jenn trivia: I did work in a library when I was a teenager). I love to read books to Lucas, especially when they are melodic. I'll even read a book twice to get the rhyming for it.



The first is one we bought last week called Runaway Pumpkin by Kevin Lewis. It's a good fall book. Not too Halloween-ie. But good for the season. It is about a huge pumpkin that rolls down a hill through a farm. Again nice and methodical and really fun to read.










Next is Wild About Books by Judy Sierra. It is a great read about a librarian starting a library in a zoo. Again very methodical. Plus I really like the pictures in it. Thanks Mom!







Last is my newest favorite Usborne book, Jobs People Do. It is a compilation of 6 of their books about people doing their jobs. It was a great deal 6 stories for 20$. Plus it is very true to life, funny and has different reading levels for different ages. So for Lucas who is still quite young we can just read the largest print, but when he gets older we can go into more depth. If you don't have any Usborne books, I highly recommend them.


Happy Reading...

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

3 More Trees

One of the things on my life list is to run a triathlon. I snooping around online and found there is a sprint triathlon in the community next to ours next August. So I've decided we should do it. It's still a year away, but we have started training. Yesterday I went out and bought a pair of runners. So today I thought we should test them out. I packed Nathan in the stroller and Lucas on his bike and out we went. Our usual path is around the pond that is by our house. There is a bit of a hill which Lucas usually has no trouble with, but today he was whining. I said just three more trees to the top the hill. We counted down, two, one, yeah we are at the top of the hill.

So tonight I was biking to train for the triathalon and carrying Lucas in the bike trailer behind me. We were at the same hill and I groaned. Lucas then said the same thing to me. Three more trees mom, three, two, okay you are at the top.

What a great kid....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Six

Dear Nathan,

Happy 6 month birthday baby! We are half way through the first year and really the harder 6 months. I even notice now that things are much easier with you. Your schedule is starting to regulate. You are sleeping better and starting to eat things other then mommy milk. These next 6 months are the most enjoyable. I love being home and it is starting to feel less like work now and more fun.


One of your biggest milestones in the last month is sitting up. Now I can sit you on the floor with a bunch of toys around you and you can sit and play for a while. It's interesting because some of your other toys that you are more restrained in, like your jolly jumper you fuss and cry, you like to be sitting. You still fall over occasionally but you seem to adapt to being on the floor better.




As we have hit the 6 month mark we have gotten into our stride. Nap times, awake times. You quite enjoy having Lucas around. It's amazing how you know your family. Whether you haven't seen Dad all day and he comes upstairs you put on a big grin for him, and he doesn't even have to give you a smile first. Lucas is also quite entertaining for you. Its funny how some days I think I did more with Lucas as a baby, but I think having him around you learn so much too.




You have become quite aware of the animals now. You love to grab the cat. Luckily Torin is pretty tolerant to it and almost seems to enjoy it. You also love it when Emma gets excited or "talks" to us. The other day Emma had a friend over and they were playing in the yard, you thought it was hilarious. But it's great because I think you are already learning a love of animals.



This month we have started to do some sleep training with you. It really feels like 2 steps forward and two steps back. We are letting you cry to teach yourself how to fall asleep. That being said I still feed you at night but only if its been at least 4 hours. Which I think is confusing you, but not sure you can go too long without food. So after night time and eating to fall asleep you don't like to not eat prior to your morning nap. But I am glad we have instituted a schedule and I'm hoping by next month it will be better. It is amazing how in the first year of life everything is about sleep. If you are sleeping well, things are good. If not I'm having a bad day. One year and it's all about sleep. The best thing is that after you cry and cry you will still give me big smiles once you wake up. Whew, glad the crying is more traumatizing for me rather then you.


Another big thing this month is that we are starting eating. You have taken to it really well. You are a big guy and eating is one of your favorite activities. We have started cereal and some meat. You really love to hold the spoon yourself. That makes quite a mess but I'm amazed that you already know how this eating thing works.



You continue to be a really happy baby. Most people who meet you comment on your smiles and how you give them to everyone. I think that generally means we are doing a good job. Which is something I try to remember, especially on those days that you cry.




love you dearly

mommy

Tooth Bump

Well all the good roads I was going down with Nathan seemed to have turned been turned upside down. He has started teething and all the good intentions I had of him teaching himself to sleep and crying it out have gone out the window. We were just getting that stubborn baby started with falling asleep on his own and now I just don't have the heart to do it. Is he crying becuase he doesn't know how to sleep or is he in pain from his teeth. Hopefully they will both poke through soon. Especially after reading the blog book from Lucas's 6 month and he would sleep through the night.

On a good note Lucas has been amazing. He is dressing himself all the time, he even has the shirt mastered. And we haven't had one potty accident. Ahh Lucas....... I love you.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Lucas at 6 months and Nathan at 6 months

Can you tell they are brothers?

Jenn

Meme

Here is the last meme going around. I got it from a friend of mine through e-mail (hi andrea) and read Hayley's today too, so I'm happy to jump on the bandwagon.


1. What time did you get up this morning? 8:30, the boys slept in, so I got to as well.
2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the first film you saw at the cinema! Snow White, with money I got from returning beer bottles with my Pop
4. What is your favorite TV show? Currently, The Office, of all time Friends
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? Blueberry bagel or Cinnamon Raisin Toast
6. What is your middle name (s)? Lynn
7. What food do you dislike? Green peppers
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Weakerthans
9. What kind of car do you drive? Honda CRV
10. Favorite sandwich? Turkey with tomato and lettuce
11. What characteristic do you despise? Immaturity
12. Favorite item of clothing?Lulu Lemon jogging pants
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would
you go? Somewhere hot, tahiti
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Gap
15. Where would you retire to? Whereever my kids are. Which may sound crazy, but I want to keep my family close
16. What was your most recent memorable birthday? Best birthday ever was my 23rd. Big party, kareoke
17. Favorite sport to watch? Tennis, womens or mens
18. Furtherest place you are sending this? The two people who will read it are Goofball and Jenn and the Home Schooler
19. Person you expect to send it back first? I hope everyone does it, it's always fun to learn about the people whos blogs I read
20. When is your birthday? September 15th
21. Are you a morning person or a night person? MOrning, which works well, because Darryl is not.
22. What is your shoe size? 8
23. Pets? Emma the houdini dog, Torin and Tigger the cats
24. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us? Lucas has not had a peeing or pooping accident all week.
25. What did you want to be when you were little? Teacher or Radio DJ
26. How are you today? Really good.
27. What is your favorite candy? I don't really like candy, I like chocolate
28. What is your favorite flower? Lily
29. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? December 18th, we are going on our next holiday.
30. What are you listening to right now? Oprah and the money problem.
31. What was the last thing you ate? Earl Grey Vanilla tea and aero bar
32. Do you wish on stars? Yes
33. If you were a crayon, what color would yoube ? Orange..... I don't really know.
34. How is the weather right now? It's been hot and sunny all week, but going downhill next week
35. The first person you spoke to on the phone today? Tammy
36. Favorite restaurant? Wendy's, The Keg
37. Real hair color? Brown
38. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbies
39. Summer or winter? Can I go half way in between and say fall
40. Hugs or kisses? Neither from strangers both from my boys.
41. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
42. Coffee or tea? tea
44. Do you want your friends to email you back? Yes, it makes me feel loved and connected.
45. When was the last time you cried? At the Oprah where the mother accidentally killed her child.
46. What is under your bed? Usually Emma
47. What did you do last night? Watched Survivor, the Vice Presidental Debate, drank tea and had a peice of chocolate
48. What are you afraid of? Bad things happening to my kids.
49. How many keys on your key ring? Two
50. How many years at your current job? Mother for 3 years. Instructor for 5 years, X-ray technologist 9 years.
51. Favorite day of the week? All of them. Wednesday is Nathan and Mommy day. Weekends Darryl is around all day. Everyday because I get to spend it with my whole family.
52. How many towns have you lived in? 3
53. Do you make friends easily? Yes and no. Get along with most people. Good friends are few and far between.
54. How many people will you send these questions to?
55. How many will respond? No idea, but kudos if you got this far.
56. Salty or sweet? Sweet
57. Favorite soft drink? Coke! Coke! Although I've gone two days without it.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Twilight Series of Books

For the observant I have been updating the books I've been reading picture on the side. I have been indulging in the Stephenie Meyer Series and loving it. For those of you who have not jumped on the bandwagon, this is a series of books about Bella Swan who falls in love with a vampire. I don't really like vampires, or anything supernatural, but the author does such a great job of telling the story it is not over the top. I find it is like many love stories, but the conflict in the book is not that the dad forbids it but that he could "suck her blood". So even if you don't like vampires you will still like these books.

I am just finishing the third book and it is the best so far. Stephenie does a great job of making you love all of the characters. I love Bella and Edward. But I also love Jacob and think he is great. Oh and Alice, I love her too. I am just getting to the climax of the book with the big fight scene so there is still lots up in the air. There are times when I think to myself that it is unrealistic, how can everyone be in love with Bella. But then I remember its a book about vampires, of course it's not going to be realistic. I do prefer the action in the books rather then the lovey-loveyness when Edward and Bella are together.

So for those you who have read it, which was your favorite book? Who do you hope she ends up with Edward or Jacob? For those of you who haven't. I highly recommend it.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Wordless Wednesday

Since the Eat at Home Challenge month is over Darryl and I went to Wendy's for lunch today.




See my insights here. Although there was no Chiense Food or Swiss Chalet tonight, it just seemed like too much work....

Till Tomorrow

Jenn