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Leah turns 4

Sandy — Sun, 20 May 2012 04:58:21 +0000

For Leah’s fourth birthday, we invited a few friends over for some games (duck, duck, goose and the like), cookie decorating, party crown making and playing before having their families join us for lunch and cupcakes. Leah’s cake ideas ranged from a pretty fire truck with a mermaid to princess with Spiderman. In the end, I convinced her sprinkles on cupcakes would be fun.

On her actual birthday, I made her waffles for breakfeast.

Joel loves playing with buckles. He took a few steps after Leah’s birthday but isn’t into walking at all.

He’s figured out the playground though and loves going down the slide. Leah likes wearing her sunglasses.

I gave Joel a haircut the other day. It was getting long in the back.

Here are the after pictures. Not much difference when it was combed before. Now his bedhead doesn’t stick out so much.

At the park. This little guy is saying mama (reference to me and to food), da (to get attention, sometimes in reference to Morgan) and eye-yah (definitely in reference to Leah). Leah can make him laugh and rile him up like no other.

Growing up

Sandy — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:44:05 +0000

We had our first picnic of the year on our deck in March. Time to replace toques and mittens with sun hats and hoodies.

Morgan drove semi truck for a couple of months. Leah enjoyed checking out the truck and pretending to drive.

Every night Morgan was gone, he would email three pictures to me to show Leah before bedtime. It was a neat way of helping Leah still feel connected to Morgan and know that he was thinking about her even though he wasn’t there to tuck her in at night. He would take pictures of random things he thought Leah would like. Here are two of the pictures he sent. A row of tires at a truck repair shop and a car with a mohawk.

The truck is not permitted on the road where we live so we would sometimes walk with Morgan to the truck.

Joel is starting to have lots of opinions. He likes to do what everyone else is doing. I can no longer enjoy a snack unless he has some food too. He loves sitting on chairs but pushes the table away and he hasn’t figured out how to safely get off a chair yet.

Here is Leah singing and doing the actions at her preschool presentation.

Yesterday was such a beautiful day that we spend hours outside. Joel loves cars and spent quite awhile crawling while pushing a car around making car noises while I was baking. He also loves his truck which he sits on and drives around the house. He has figured out how to steer with his feet.

I love how Leah is all dressed up with her hair up and she is tromping around with rain pants on.

Joel turns 1

Sandy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:54:35 +0000

Joel loves his rocking horse. He can climb up and rock on it all on his own. He even stands up while holding the handles (which I get him in trouble for, I just say no to him and tell him to sit).

Hanging out with Granddad and playing with some toys before dinner. Joel has figured out how to put the shapes onto the poles.

Joel wasn’t too interested in his cake, though he knew all eyes were on him.

Leah enjoyed a cupcake. My mom took Leah to buy a present for Joel. Leah really wanted to buy him a rattle or other baby toys and my mom and dad had to convince her that a train would be more appropriate. My mom also helped Leah make a special card for Joel.

Joel enjoyed some snuggles with Grandma. Leah was excited about playing with Joel’s new toys.

On Joel’s actual birthday we had a very low key celebration. My sister made this awesome car cake.

Such a happy guy.

We went on a nice, little walk with Grandma that evening.

Joel loves using his walker and can now steer it.

Joel is 21 pounds and 31 inches tall. He is a very content babe. He sleeps from 8 till 7 at night and naps at 10 and 2. He gives his smiles very generously. He can stand on his own for about a second and is getting better and better at balancing. He loves to eat with his hands. We are so thankful God has blessed us with such a wonderful boy.

Snowshoeing

Sandy — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 03:36:03 +0000

This past weekend Joel went on his sleepover with Leah at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. They both had a blast, as did Morgan and I. We went snowshoeing up at Mt. Seymour. It was a beautiful day.

Out on the trails, it was so peaceful. After snowshoeing, we went out for some Vietnamese food before picking up our kids. It was so refreshing to spend some time alone and at the same time I was glad to be able to see our littles again.

Almost One

Sandy — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:29:30 +0000

Guess who turns one in six days?

Learning

Sandy — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:24:46 +0000

When I take time to savour, I learn so much in ways I do not expect. From a precious three year old girl who would like to simply watch ducks than rush off to the playground, even though time is limited.

To not just take a quick glance but to really watch the ducks and the water and the leaves. To relax and take this moment in. To learn and to grow by experiencing creation. To sit contentedly in a wagon and watch the ducks puddle to and fro.

To take a trip to Stanley Park to spend time with the family even though we ‘don’t have time’.

To climb benches, to jump in puddles, to laugh, to play and to run even though we ‘don’t have the time’. To take the time to get to know each other better. To form bonds that can reignite by a hug and a tickle, even though months may pass without a word.

When I rush about, I miss all these moments I ‘don’t have time for’. I do it (usually) with the best of intentions. Let’s rush off to preschool for socialization and for learning. I have to get the bathroom cleaned and veggies bought before our friends come over. Shouldn’t making time for my children and my husband be ahead of these menial tasks?

At the playground

Sandy — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:13:50 +0000

Joel has learned how to climb up and down steps. On Sunday, I took the kids to a local park and let Joel climb his first play structure before I helped him down the slide.

Leah spent her time exploring the other playground equipment.

My sweeties swinging away.

That white stuff is snow. Leah really wanted to go sledding but the place that had the most snow was our back yard which I didn’t realize until we were in the van checking out parks. I took her for a few spins around the bark mulch as all the snow on the grass had melted.

Family Time

Sandy — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:47:29 +0000

Family time has become more limited lately, so we are trying to be very intentional to make the most of the time we have together. We went out to a local coffee shop the other night to get hot chocolate.

I picked the most child friendly one I know of. It has a little play room for the kids so we sat right in front of it but even then, Leah spent most of her time sitting with us. I wasn’t sure if she would want to sit still for half an hour and wanted her to have a good time as well. It worked out great as we all had quality time together.

I would smile each time she looked at me after she had her first few sips of hot chocolate. It reminded me of a bunny nose face painted on her.

This little dude showed off his stair climbing skills last night. He climbed up half of our stairs, with Morgan right behind him as after each step he wanted to look behind him and would have fallen down the stairs. He also likes to play with his spoons and sometimes I’ll give him one while feeding him to make the process go smoother (then he doesn’t try grab the spoon I’m trying to feed him with). Tonight, I put a small piece of cauliflower on his spoon and he put it straight into him mouth. He even put some rice from his tray onto his spoon and fed himself. He can confidently walk around furniture now and will stand on his on for a split second before grabbing on again. My little man is growing up.

Daily Happenings

Sandy — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 05:25:42 +0000

Leah checking out Grandpa Tom’s big truck with Daddy. She had some super curly, crazy hair that day.

Leah had pink day at preschool this month and she sure does have a lot of pink clothing. I realized later in the day my boy was all in blue.

To get two kids looking and smiling at the same time is a challenge that couldn’t be completed in the couple of minutes I was sitting on the floor with my camera.

On Valentine’s Day, we spent the afternoon at the beach.

We played soccer and Leah jumped in tide pools.

Joel slept through most of it.

As I was unpacking the van, I looked up and saw this.

Gratefulness

Sandy — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:17:05 +0000

I said good bye to a friend today. It wasn’t good bye forever. I imagine I’ll see her and her family within the next year when they come to visit family. There will still be connection.

So I wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of emotion when the time for good bye came. Maybe it is because I’m a little more emotional from being on my own this week with the kids. That may be partially to blame but I don’t think I realized how much I care for her.

Over the past few months, we’ve shared our hearts. Trusted. Cared. Prayed. Loved. I admire her in so many ways. I shouldn’t have been surprised when the tears threatened and I had to back away, bite my lip and stare out the window for a few minutes to regain composure.

I fully support their reasons to move. In fact, I said I am glad they are moving. I believe it is the best for them and their family. But my heart still hurts.

I’ve been learning more about gratitude lately and today was an emotional lesson. I am thankful for those in my life yet still complaints can come easy off my lips about others in my life. How can gratefulness and complaint reside in the same heart?

One amazing woman and her two awesome kids who we will now share through letters what we share around a table has made me realize how many amazing people are in my life who I need to treasure more. It is a lesson I’m slowly learning. Today’s lesson just cut a little closer to the heart than I’m really comfortable with.