Water Babies

Last summer was bitter sweet for me. I love summers but Nathan was young and Lucas wasn't independant at all. I even wrote about it last year at being frustrated but trying to enjoy every moment.

This year has been quite fun. The kids are still young, but that much older then last year. Plus Mackenzie is here, so I've been able to balance them a little better with her help. Yesterday we went to a lake (which was gross and had leeches) and camped with some friends. We had a really great time. I held Nathan and had water fights with Lucas. Then after Nathan sat on my lap and was memorized by the fire, while Lucas played with his best friends. Today we went to the pool and had a blast. Again having Mackenzie and Auntie Karen there was great because Lucas is doing so well with the water this year. He doesn't mind going underwater or getting his head wet. So I held Nathan and Auntie Karen helped Lucas with his swimming. Nathan decided he wanted to go down the waterslide (by continuously pointing at it.), so Mackenzie put him on 2/3rds of the way down and I caught him. Then Lucas decided he wanted to go down as well.

It's amazing what a year a difference makes.

Jenn

Differences in the First and Second Child

As Nathan continues to grow I find there are so many things that are different about him compared with Lucas. I am a much more relaxed parent when it comes to Nathan. I was much more by the book when it came to Lucas, where I enjoy moments more with Nathan. But there are certain things that I have to deal with when it comes to Nathan, because he is different, but also becuase he is the second child.

One of those things is biting. Lucas may have tired biting us once or twice. But once he was scolded he didn't do it again. Nathan has been doing it more frequently. Part of it is that he can't really communicate yet so when he gets angry he may bite to show his frustration. It also seems to happen more when he is teething. So I'm sure that is part of it too. But it is definitely a new challenge I haven't had to deal with before. Does anyone have any methods that worked for you to get your toddler to stop biting?

The other funny thing that shows Nathan is a second child is his second "official" word is Hi-ya. When he throws things he says "hi-ya".

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Too Many Late Nights

Friday: Bunco, a game where you roll dices. Mindless - yes. But always able to talk and play which is important. And play with fun ladies. I dressed up in my flapper dress as well. So that was a fun occasion to use it.


Saturday: Folk Fest. It was so much fun. Bellowhead was the best band of the night. We were all up dancing to their music. If you ever get a chance to see them you should. Glen Campbell was also very old and very entertaining. We continued to joke about his age, which made me laugh and laugh. I love Tammy and her love for music, suits me so well.

Steven Page and the Good Lovelies

Glen Campbell doing William Tell Overature. He had just taken the guitar off his head.
The amazing Bellowhead

Sunday: worked at the hospital.

Tonight: Bachelorette and then guilt about not writing enough blog posts. Today was a really great day all in all. I biked and swam and am really feel like I'm getting ready for that triathalon that happens in two weeks. Then my sister came down for a quick visit.

I am looking forward to spending the next bunch of days with the kids though. It's nice to have me time, but I am looking forward to spending time with my loves too.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Lucas's Monthly Newsletter: Month Forty Seven

Dear Lucas,

This month you continue to grow up and become a boy a kid and not a toddler or a neive child any more. We play with guns and get the bad guys. We use "light savers" and we are super heros, like lava man and cat woman. You know all about different kind of guns too, machine guns and swords. You also like to be loud, as demonstrated by this video, taken by Mackenzie.


Your favorite word is awesome. When you get really excited about something you say it's awesome. "Mom you've got see this it's awesome". You do say lots of funny things too. We were driving to Drumheller the other day and there were huge fields of canola, you exlaimed "Look at all those dandelions". All of in the car were in hysterics over it. One of the other things you say that is so funny and I have yet to correct you on in automatic toliets or facuets. You always call them pneumatic.


Sleep has been a little bit weird for you this month. You are falling asleep in our beds as you seem to be up later then Nathan and the two of you are sharing a room. So you like to fall asleep in our bed or the hall or downstairs. It is taking you much longer to fall asleep too.



You are loving the water lately too. In the last couple of summers you didn't like the cold water, but this year you are loving it. You don't mind getting splashed and will even laugh if it's in your face. I'm so looking forward to Kelowna this year as the last couple of years it has taken lots of convincing to get you in the water. But this year you love slip in slide, or waterslides, or just playing in the pool.


Summers are busy and weird and fun. We do all kinds of stuff, as I don't work very much in the summer. So we've gone to Stampede, the Zoo, Calway Park, Drumheller, Millarville and you have been quite good at all of these places. Sometimes you get hot or tired or hungry or scared. But we seem to be able to figure out what is wrong and try to correct it. Sometimes, like at Calway, it takes you a while to warm up to the experience, but then are more willing to try new things as time goes on. As you age you are getting more brave, we went to IKEA and for the first time you wanted to go play in their playplace by yourself.






We were also busy with Lori, Ian and Mackenzie visits this month. Lori and Ian brought you an amazing present, 2 suitcases of Lego, 67 pounds of it. You loved have the extra attention around. Mackenzie was awesome with you and you guys played together a ton. You also loved having Lori and Ian around and played lots of lego with them.




another fun one little dude, but stop growing up so fast. =)

love mommy

It's Over Already!!

Well after months and months of looking forward to Lori and Ian's visit it is over already. It makes me sad, because although they are family I inherited when I married Darryl. I do really like them. I really really do. As I'm sure most of you do as well, Lori often comments here and is witty and wise. For a while I kept soliciting her to start her own blog becuase of the intelligent things she had to say. Now Lori has been out once before when Lucas was a baby, but this was their first family vacation out here. I think it lived up to their expectations. We enjoyed chatting with them and playing cards in the evenings. Ian even put up with our singing camp songs in the car on the way home from Drumheller. We enjoyed laughing our heads off at the Loose Moose and watching the kids entertain us other nights. We talked about cities and jobs, news and parenting. We saw animals at the zoo and dinosaurs at the mueseum. We went to Heritgage Park, which Lori and Ian loved (Lucas, Kenzie and I spent more time enjoying rides and milkshakes).

It was really fun to have them here and I can't believe it's over already! Luckily Kenzie is still here, we won't be in total withdrawl.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Where Am I?

Sorry everyone for the lack of posts. Summer seems to be a busier time, I'm been doing lots of triathalon training and we have company so the blog seems to have taken a bit of a back seat. But I'll give you a quick update here.

First off Nathan is a real toddler now. He walks almost everywhere, and although he still loves to be with his mommy, he does love to walk around (looking like a drunken sailor) as well. Also I can tell he has a big brother and hangs out with the big boys, as yesterday he grab a "guy" from the sandbox and started to say "hi-ya" while holding him. Of course it was in his sweet sing song voice, but he is still very boyish.

We had an awesome weekend. On Saturday we did things here in Calgary that I haven't done in a long time. Some things are not conducive to doing with children, or doing when you are anal about your kids schedule. On Saturday we went to Millarville Market. The fresh and delicious food you get there is amazing. Then that evening my mom and dad babysat the boys (thanks again Mom and Dad) and we went to dinner at the Olive Garden and to the Loose Moose theatere. The Loose Moose is improv theatre and it is hilarious. We were a little sceptical, as when we first showed up there was only 30ish people there. When Darryl and I use to go there was about 150 people filled the theatre. But no it was so funny, even when just 30 people show up.

Yesterday we went to my favortie Calgary destination, the zoo. I think Lori and Ian have been suitably impressed with all things Alberta.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Great Day

Today was a great day. Not perfect there was still a Lucas episode where he cried for 40 minutes on the way to Costco, but the majority of the day was great. The weather is perfect outside. Nathan was great all day and up at a fairly reasonable hour. I got a bunch of things crossed off my to do list and we got soaked while playing water ballons. I made my favorite scallop casserole for dinner and then we went for a walk after dinner to the store for a dessert.

There was nothing spectacular, but sometimes simple can be great.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan a Walking Boy

1000th Post

Sorry posts have been few and far between, we been busy, but it a good and great way. Hopefully I'll update you about all our adventure over the past couple of weeks in the next posts. Here is some highlights from the Stampede.

I love Calgary and I love the Stampede. Some people run from it but I try to embrace it. We go to Stampede Breakfasts and go down to the grounds. Here are some of our picture highlights.

Lucas as a tractor driver


Lucas in the argicultural building.


Nathan loved all the animals.


Remember this picture, here is the updated one.


And here's one with Nathan

Here's the whole gang waiting for the pig races (not that good)

Here are the pig races, although I love the 3 cowboy hats in this picture the most.



Me and my little cowpoke



Of course we had some of these DELICIOUS mini donuts.


And when it was all done we were exhausted.

Till tomorrow

Jenn

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: Month Fifteen

Dear Nathan,

Today you turned 15 months old and it has been a big day today. I finally feel like you are walking. You've been doing it for a couple of weeks now, but you would default to crawling most of the time. You were just kind of practicing until today. Today you did more walking then crawling. You are moving from a baby to a toddler. You are toddling around.




You also seem to understand a ton more. I love that you nod your head now when I ask you a question and you do want it. For example you'll be sitting in your high chair and I'll ask if you want blueberries and you'll nod your head. You still point and "uh, uh" at it. I'll ask if you want and you'll nod your head. It's great as your communication seems to grow. I also know that if you come up to me and say bap, that means up. Or if you pant, you just saw a dog. But your favorite and first word is still ball. You LOVE balls.




Sleep has been going fairly well. You go to sleep well for naps and at bed time. But you have become an early riser and it's killing me. I'm still staying up late but you keep getting up at 5:30 in the morning. Then your nap time is early, or you fall asleep in the car, today you fell asleep on my shoulder while I was making our lunch. I am really looking forward to the early rising stage to be over.




We have lots of company around and I have lots of time off, so you have become quite crazy about me. Most of the time I love it and reslish it, but there are times when it drives me crazy. Especially when you get tired. You have been great though with carting you around to all the different activites. Stampede breakfasts, Calway, the Stampede. As long as I am carrying you around you are a happy camper. I really do love you too.

love mommy

Calaway Park and other Wonderfullness...

On Saturday we picked Darryl niece up from the airport. Lucas has been looking forward to this for a while. Every day for the last week he's been asking is today the day we go pick up Mackenzie. Well Sautrday it finally arrived, I think he a little surprised at the black hair and the black clothes (she is 14 after all). But after spending an hour with her, he is completely anamoured. They have made shrinky dinks, built a fort, taken millions of pictures of each other.
I am loving it as well, becuase she is great and fun and teaching me new teenage words like "fail". Which I know is not a new word, but I've never used it in the context of doing something bad. For example I forgot to put the lid on the sandbox 'fail"!. I overcooked the eggs - "fail". The boys are loving spending time with her and she seems to enjoy playing with them as well. Becuase of that my house is a little cleaner and mommy and daddy both get a little more me time. She is also someone fun for me to do things with. Last night we went to go and see My Sisters Keeper, which is a good movie, but maybe the saddest movie I have ever seen.

On Sunday we headed off to Calaway Park.
We've never been there before as Lucas has been a little young for it. Even this time it took him a while to warm up, but eventually he got into it and really enjoyed himself. Here are some picture highlights:







Hope you all had some wonderfullness this weekend.

Jenn

Summertime

Well summertime has started here in the nutshell. Although not as exciting as Allie's adventure's (at least not yet). Haven't blogged in a while (I know I'm usually pretty consistent with every night) but it's been a weirdish kind of week. ) Things around here are going well.

Lucas is kind of going through a weird stage of testing limits/not listening. We'll tell him not to do something, so he'll modify one bit of it and then do it anyway. Like he had a pen and was going to write on his bookcase. I told him not to write on furniture. 2 minutes later I look over and he's writing on his bed...... grrr..... I scold him and he apologizes. I'm hoping it's just a stage and he'll get over it.

Nathan is getting better at walking, communicating and understanding. It's great to watch him grow.

Garden is growing well. Did my big Zellers purchase yesterday. July 1st, they mark all there perennials down to 2$.

Went to a great Stampede party last night. I love Stampede. I love the smells and the city spirit. I'm looking forward to going a couple of times this year. So more pictures to follow.

Today we are preparing for our neice to come. The boys will be sleeping in the same room. But I need to clean clean clean today.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn