Easter Weekend

Last weekend we had a whole lot of family and friends over to celebrate Easter. Oma and Opa came from Kelowna and Arnie, Lucille and Shelby came from Saskatchewan. The boys were also happy to have Auntie Lexis and Auntie Karen come for a sleep over too. I love having a house full of people. I love it when there are so many people to talk to and visit with and to see Oma and Opa with all their kids was great.

As usual Darryl made a delicious turkey dinner and mom brought over a ham so we were sure to have enough food for the 18 people we were expecting.








TI

Until next time

Jenn

Faces Part 2

This weekend Alexis reminded me I forgot about part 2 of the funny faces. So here they are.

Happy Faces

Surprised Faces

Mad Faces

More mad faces

We had a really great weekend. There were so many fun times and being with people you love, eating good food, drinking good wine and having good conversations. More and some pictures on that next.

Till Next Time

Jenn

What I Learned From My Week of Vegetarianism

A couple of months ago I was inspired by Oprah and her show about becoming Vegan for a week. In the last year or so we have been trying to eat healthier.  Darryl has high cholesterol (genetically) so he works hard to try and keep it down, so we thought it would be interesting to see if we could try not eating meat for a week.  

1.  It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be.  When I was first making the list of our dinners for this week, I thought I can't even coming up three days.  But I went through the Eat at Home blog and found some meals from there and then I made a couple of our "regular" meals just without meat.   It was really quite successful.  There were a couple of lunches I found challenging, but it all worked out.

2. I was hungry all the time.  I didn't lose any weight this week (not that I was trying to), because 2 hours after eating a meal I was hungry again.

3. I really love chicken.  I think I could give up more red meat.  But I'm not sure I could do chicken. 

Did anyone else given up meat for a while?  What did you think?  Anything you learned?

Till Next Time

Jenn

Faces

Today we were playing with the camera and making some different faces for it.  It started with Nathan..

Surprised Face

Mad Face

Happy Face

A second attempt at a mad face...

Thinking Face

Tomorrow I'll post the ones of all of us...

Till Next Time

Jenn

Go Fly A Kite.

We have a fair bit of wind here in Calgary.  I think a lot of it is the wind blowing off the praries, that and there are not as many trees here as there are in Ontario to stop the wind.  It's not as windy as Lethbridge, but we can still get some really windy days.  Yesterday was one of them.   But we took it as a perfect opportunity to use one of Nathan's birthday presents.


It worked really well. And we started a trend with the other neighborhood kids. Once we did it everyone else brought out their kites too.

Till Next Time

Jenn

Nathan's Birthday Saturday

On Saturday we had the double birthday party for Nathan.  The first party was in the afternoon with his friends and in the evening with his family.   It was a really fun day.  For the friends party we had a local pet store come and bring animals.  It was really good for the variety of ages we had and I found it very informative.  I learned lots about reptiles.  Like that a snake can "drop" it's tail if something attacks it.  Or that Scaret Macaws can live to be 150 years old and you need to put them in your will.  If anyone is needing a good birthday party idea I really recommend it. 

The anticipation of the animals before the party started.

Playing with the puppies.  They were a dachshunds chihuahua mix

The bird trying to climb Shaun

Lucas holding the snake

The chamelon

Nathan, Auntie Karen and Auntie Lexie with the puppies

Me holding the chamelon

After the animals we had some crown decorating and cake and presents.

 In the evening I could roast beef and mashed potatoes for dinner.  We had all of his family over and it was super fun. 

I love pictures where my house is full of people.

The boys watching Nathan open his presents.

Nathan with his birthday cupcakes

I included this one becuase Darryl and I are rarely in candid pictures together.  Thanks Tammy

 

 It was a super fun day and I think Nathan had a great day.  Thanks everyone for coming and making it so special for him. 

Nathan's Monthly Newsletter: 3 years old

Dear Nathan,

On the eve of your 3rd birthday I thought I should write this letter to you.  It's been months since I've done a monthly newsletter so there will be a lot to include here.  Mostly I can't believe you are three years old already.  Time is flying.  Although I'm' really enjoying this age, I wish things would move a little slower.

First off life with you is mostly awesome.  You are smart and funny and cute.  All of those things equally.  You are so funny.   People often laugh at your funny way of say things.  We were on the c-train the other day and you were so excited about things that other people were laughing at you.  Or if we ask you something you'll often reply with a funny "sure". 

Much more cuddly then I remember Lucas being.  You love giving hugs and snuggling in bed together.  This morning Lucas jumped into bed with you to wake you up and you were so happy to wake up that way.    Or the other day we were having a video conference with Grammy and you jumped on my lap and I rubbed your back.  Not a minute after you were sounds asleep on my lap.  It was such a nice thing to have that "baby" experience again.

Your speech has taken leaps and bounds this year.  You are also getting better at playing board games and puzzles and all the things "big boys" do.   A lot of your growing is influenced by having a big brother.  You often copy his dance moves and his kung fu moves.  You also like to "read" books like Lucas does.

As your personality is coming out more and more.  I'm glad you are taking on some of my traits.  Lucas is so much like Darryl it's nice that I have a buddy to do things with.  If I am ever going out somewhere you always want to come with me.  Last week I needed to go pick up a book at the library.  I asked both you and Lucas to come.  You jumped right on the opportunity where Lucas was happy to stay home with Darryl.  And that happens most of the time.  You are my partner in crime when it comes to running the roads, and I'm so happy to have a buddy.    Also like me (and Lucas too) you love to sing along to music. Your favourite song to sing along with lately is a Paramore song "You are the only exception".   I'm lucky the two boys in my life love music as much as I do.

You are not really partial to any character.  You'll enjoy Spiderman as much as Diego and Star Wars.  I think part of that is having an older brother.  You are exposed to more then I would normally do if it was just you. Your drawing is really coming along too.  A couple of week ago I was a work and Daddy sent me a text saying "Nathan just drew a person".   He sent me the picture of it and I thought it was great.

I love you so much, my baby.  Even though you don't like it when I call you baby and you correct me and call yourself a big boy.

love mommy

March Break: Part One

This week Lucas is off from school on March break.  He was a little disapointed by this as he loves going to school and loves learning.  It is amazing what a little sponge that kid is.  The other day we were talking about vowels and how each word has to have at least one vowel.  About an hour later he saw something with my name on it.  He says "Mom I know the vowel in your name.  It's 'e'. "  For the rest of the day we continued to play a game naming which vowel was in a word.  What's the vowel in the word chin? What's the vowel in the word table? (a hard one) etc.  He would get most of them by sounding the word out and know what the vowel is.  The other thing my smartie has started to do a lot of is writing sentences.  Yesterday he drew a picture that said " I love my mom and dadee"  and another one that said " "The tabl is over there"  Really I can't believe how smart that kid is. 

We have been enjoying Lucas being off from school.  Today we all slept in till 8:30!! Even though I still am working we have tried to make my days off lots of fun.  Sunday we all went bowling,which the kids both loved.

Both boys smiling when we were done in their bowling shoes.

Someone was pooped after the zoo

Our next activity was the zoo, which I always love.  And it was  really beautiful day out too.  We went with our best friends. 

The boys looking at the python

Love this photo the boys in the foreground and girafees in the background

The boys watching the prahnas.

The otters!

One of the days I worked the boys went and spent it with their good friends, who are usually in school too.
 
So I think all in all it's been pretty fun for them.  Not sure what's on the agenda today, but there may be a train ride involved. =)

Hope everyone else is enjoying there week.

Jenn