June RoundUp

June was an interesting month..... it was busy with the end of the school year an all the fun stuff that comes with it.  Although this year was quite different.  This year was the flood. 

There was an enormous amount of rain over a day that the elbow and Bow Rivers really flooded.  Many people had water filling there basement and some lost their homes.  There was also significant damage to our beloved zoo.  There are some incredible stories about water up to the giraffes belly and the hippos getting out of their cages.  We live high on the ridge here so we didn't experience any personal damage and actually saw the spirit of the city come together.  There was a local state of emergency for weeks, so the last 5 days of school were cancelled.  Mostly not a big deal as the last couple of days of school are the fun stuff, but also a big deal as Lucas missed out on a lot of the fun stuff.  He did go back for half a day on Thursday to collect his stuff and say goodbye.  It was a good year for Lucas, he adapted much better then last year and had alot of friends in his class.  He also made lots of new friends which was good for him.  I'm glad that he is slowly coming out of his shell. 


We also did lots of fun stuff this month...

 Like drumming, which we went to with my Mom and Shaun.  It was a really fun experience.  It's cool cause you are all playing the same beat.  It's like a big jam session even though you are not skilled musician. 

We also did some golfing at the driving range, which made me think I could golf and since then I have been going with the girls for the last couple of Tuesdays. 

While part of me wonders what I am doing... I don't golf.... the other part enjoys being out and having a good time with such fun ladies.   Plus I think Darryl and the boys and I will go out in July when kids golf for free this week.  So I must enjoy it...

One day in June the kids and I went to the Lego store after school as Lucas wanted to get Darryl some Lego for Fathers day.  When we got to the store it was very quiet.  Really Tuesday around dinner time, not that busy.  While in the store wandering one of the employees asked if we had some extra time.  Part of me was thinking, no I don't want to do a survey, but the other part of me thought, but what if they give me a deal if I do the survery.  Of course the deal thoughts won out and I said yes we did have some extra time.  The employees asked if the boys would like to build some Lego, they had got some new Lego set that they needed built for the display cases.  The boys were excited, said they'd love to.  It was a once in a lifetime experience.  So for any of you going into the Lego store over the summer Lucas and Nathan built some of the Lego in the display cases.  



We also bought a new couch!  Our lovely old green couch was the first couch we bought when we moved out west.  It was a comfy couch that was good for napping, but I have been coveting this couch from Crate and Barrel for about a year now.  Luckily I found it in the as-is section at the store as it had a rip in the back about 3 inches long.  While dispointed the sales lady made me feel better by giving me a great deal.  This couch is great, it's hugs your body.  It's soft but you are still able to get up from it.

 I mentioned in the start of the blog about Lucas and the end of the school year and how things were odd with the flood, but really for Nathan there were a bunch of goodbyes.  He had a great year in preschool.  Finding the preschool was kind of a last minute thing, but I would highly recommend Leap and Learn where he went.  His teachers there Miss Shanon and Miss Jillan were fantastic.  I had the opportunity to volunteer there a couple of times and was really impressed with the way they handled the kids as well as their teaching and interaction with the children.  There graduation was also very cute. 

 Lastly the end of July as signified a big change in our lives.  The end of the Lesley era.  From now on neither of my boys go to Lesleys.  The great friend that I saw regularily 3 times a week will now be different.  It was always a treat to bring the kids there.  She was always so flexible with my schedule as it was never the same.  She also let me pee in her bathroom as I often forgot to do that the whole day of work.  =)  She has so many of the same values we did and the kids spent lots of time outside.  She teaches them so many of the important things in life, life how to treat people.  I don't know how I got so lucky to have found her to help me raise my kids at such an important and developmental time in their lives.  I will be forever grateful.   Luckily we still text and swim together.  So I still get to spend time with her, and I would have it no other way.  =)

Whew this is a long one....  took me days to write, hope it doesn't take you days to read.  If you even get this far.

Time for summer!!

Jenn

Nathan... lately

3 years old has been very fun.  We did go through a couple of weeks of the terrible 3's about a month ago.  Nathan wasn't listening and being a pain and whiny and crying.  But that lasted all of about 4 days and now he is back to his happy self.  That's one of the consisent things about Nathan is that he has always been a really happy kid.

One of the funny things in the last couple of weeks has been his imagination.  We play beach day and Lucas pretends he is Nathan's puppy.   I'm loving this stage where he is still my baby but he is so fun and sweet.

Another funny thing he is doing is that every game we play or anything he shows me is something he learned from a birthday party.    Really he's only been to maybe 3 birthday parties in his whole life.  So it's funny that every food was something he "tried at a birthday party".  Or every game he's played is one "he learned at a birthday party."   Those must be some pretty eventful birthday parties.

Here is a cute video of him from last weekend.  He's got the moves down to be a guitar player now he just needs the technical skills.



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

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. 

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

Brothers

Today Lucas had school in the morning and then went to a friends house for playing and dinner. Nathan hadn't seen him all day. As Lucas walked up the stairs Nathan was waiting for him with his arms open to give him a big hug.





I'm so happy they love each other.

Till Next Time

Jenn

Don't you love it when

your kid falls asleep in a funny way and you can take picture to remember it. =) So Nathan was eating popcorn and must have fallen asleep. Torin took the opportunity to snuggle up too.

Till next time

Jenn

Family...

This weekend was family day weekend here in Alberta. It's so nice to have the extra day off and I always like to do something together as a family. We didn't do anything overly special, but the weather was nice so we all went outside and slid down the toboggan run Darryl made. It was great fun to be outside getting some fresh air, especially because we are in a cold snap now.

But what I was most impressed about over the weekend was how well my boys got along. Most of the time I'm in awe of the two of them. They play really well together. I'm sure there will be phases in their lives where the don't get along very well, but I'm so glad they will always have each other. Whether they always have a friend to play with, or they need to vent about their crazy parents, I'm so happy they have a built in friend to share their live with, who has many of the same experiences. I hope they are always get along as well as they do now.






Till next time

Jenn

Some Recent Photos

Lucas and Nathan play alot with our best friends kids Matt and Shaun. Matt and Shaun are older, so they have a fair bit of influence on Lucas and Nathan. Matt and Shaun are very into airplanes, hence all the airplanes and the aircraft carrier.



This is a picture from dinner last weekend (or maybe the weekend before). I love it anytime I get all three of my guys together.


Here are Lucas and Nathan playing together again. I'm so fortunate that they get along so well.



Me and my buddy. Not sure if it's because he's the youngest or if it's his personality, but this kid is a lot like me. We both love to be out and about...

Till Next Time

Jenn

Funny Kid Tales

Lucas is working really hard on his reading. At bed time we often do I read a book to him and he reads a book to me. I have to help him sound out some of the longer words but he is doing really good. The other thing that comes along with the readying is the spelling. So I haven't heard the word Mom in a couple of weeks. It's always M-O-M or D-A-D. Today we were on the couch and it was I l-o-v-e you. I l-o-v-e you too. M-o-m

When I read books to Nathan I've started telling him the author. He always repeats it back to me and in a sing song questioning voice. Give that Back Jack by Phil Roxbee Cox. Nathan: Phil Roxbee Cox?

When Nathan hurts himself, he'll tell us by saying: Something hurts. I'll ask him: what. And he'll tell me "his knee" or "his hand" or what ever he thinks it is that hurt. So the other day Mom and I were talking in the morning and Nathan says "something hurts". So I ask him what, and he says "my feelings". It was so cute.

Till Next Time

Jenn

Pause

This weekend Nathan got sick. It started on Friday with a fever and lots of sleeping and developed into throwing up all through Friday night. Saturday he got better, but still had a fever and was quite snugly. Both on Friday night and Saturday night, Darryl slept in the spare room while Nathan slept with me. It wasn't a weekend where we had lots planned, but anything I did have planned or did want to get done got put on the back burner. Shopping is left to next weekend, and getting rid of some baby toys. Our dinner party was delayed and the bathrooms are still a mess. But it was a nice weekend to remember what is the most important in life. Being with the kids. Making sure they are happy and healthy. Listening to the sounds of him breathing in and out, even while he is sick is so peaceful. Snuggling with him on the couch while we watch movies and he laughs at the funny parts makes me smile. In this busy world, a world I make very busy, it is nice to be forced to slow down.

Till next time

Jenn

Almost like finding 5 dollars in your coat after a year... almost

Today Nathan was looking through Darryl's pictures on his phone. There were a couple of great ones that I don't have so I e-mailed them to myself and now I'm posting them here.

Till next time

Jenn

Brothers...

Here are my two beautiful boys with their two blond heads.



Till Tomorrow

Jenn

Accreditation

Hopefully my hair won't look quite like this after the next 4 days. At work we are having the CMA (Canadian Medical Association) in to do a major review of the program. This only happens every 6 years. We have to prove we are doing a good job with the students. If we don't they could potentially shut us down. So much of it is depending on what other people say about the program.... so yeah hopefully my hair won't look like this.

Till Tomorrow

Jenn