17 Months +

Ambrose & Maisie are SO very busy now! WOW! I can barely keep up some days! I am really taking advantage of the few breaks in the weather in this last week or so and getting them outside as much as possible to burn off some ENERGY! I thought it might also help to lessen the appeal of digging in the dirt in mommy's plants! Oh, man! That is an on going issue this week! To distract them I even tried dumping a bag of puffed wheat into a Rubbermaid container for them to "dig" and "stir" and "churn" their hands in, rather than my plants! It worked for about 10 minutes and was great fun until Ambrose started scooping cupfuls of puffs onto the carpet! So........ I don't know how effective my idea was because I STILL had to get out the vacuum at the end of it and vacuum up the mess - like I did with the plants! I will try it again, however, I think I would like to take the container out onto the deck on a warm day and let them go crazy! I am sure between the birds, dog and raccoon the spillage would be cleaned up!
I don't have any pics of this puffed wheat playing because I didn't want to let go of the container in fear of them tipping it over!! AND THEY WOULD HAVE!!





I caught Maisie with Daddy's shoes on!


Ambrose loves to PRETEND talk on the telephone! Hmmmm... I wonder where he see that!?

Funny Faces

Another Month Gone By

Well there goes March!! (I don't think I took any pictures in March!)

The kids were both sick with some awful virus (cold like). Maisie was sick first and it lasted a solid week of her not being well at all and then of course we just got over that and a few days later Ambrose got it! And another solid week of it! I really have to be thankful and don't want to complain too loudly because they haven't been sick very much all and when they have it has been at the SAME TIME! I think I prefer it that way if I have a choice as opposed to them getting sick one at a time! It just drags on for too long that way! Yes, I guess it is a little harder having 2 sick, but then at least when it's done - it's done!

In between the kids being sick we did manage a trip one weekend to North Vancouver to SURPRISE Grandpa Allison / Angus / my father in-law / Andrew's dad ( Ya! THAT GUY!!! ) and to celebrate his birthday with a BIG family dinner! It was great to see everyone again even if only for a few hours.

We had one more birthday to celebrate near the end of March and that was Sharon's!!
(Grandma Allison / M-I-L / Andrew's mom!) It was a very special birthday and we celebrated it in Whistler along with Andrew's sister and her hubby and two daughters. So we were all together for the weekend+ and had a WONDERFUL TIME! I think I can speak for all of us? It was really very relaxing and so nice just to spend time with each other in such a relaxed setting! I would recommend doing something similar to other families and I would definitely do it again!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARON!

Mealtime Madness!

I have to admit that there is never a dull moment! I think that is in part why Andrew and I fantasize about having more children!!

Yes, it is really fun to take your plate apart and put it on your head!

Uh-Oh!

Oh Geesh!! I am just not quick enough!! LOL!! I had posted these pictures with the intentions of writing something later the same day. Well, here it is DAYS later and I am now just getting around to it and I already have 3 comments!!! Yikes!! You guys keep me on my toes which is wonderful for me!

So, yes! The age of exploration!! I couldn't believe it when I saw Ambrose standing on the ride'm car and Miss Maisie doing her best to get in there and not miss out on anything!! They very much wanted to get at the VCR! I was glad the camera was handy although I nearly spoiled it all by LAUGHING!! You can hardly scold them for just being curious! Of course if it is REALLY dangerous, well, that is different.

The kids are 16 months old now and I think this age is so much fun! They can say some words - if you want to call them "words" as they aren't always very clear and they seem to be more comfortable speaking what sounds to me like MARTIAN. ??? They seem to be able to understand each other though! I have over heard them both in different rooms call out and answer one another! The words they have been known to say are: Cookie, Cracker, Banana, Apple, Dog, Caw-caw (for crow), Up, and Dada to name a few.....OH, and THAT - everything is THAT!! And they don't say Mama! Or Mum!?

B.F.F.

My Best Friend is having surgery today and she is heavy on my mind. She is the most amazing person I know! She supports me, she inspires me! She is my rock. I have known her for just shy of 20 years and we have shared many life experiences together. She is an incredible woman.

Thinking of you,

Prayers for you,

All my Daisy Love to you Chloe.

Fresh Air For All

Oh, how I do enjoy Saturdays! This is the day where we make a point of doing something as a family! It is usually always the same ~ out into the fresh air! We all LOVE it! Andrew, Debbie, Ambrose, Maisie and ROCKY!! I think Rocky enjoys it the most, to tell you the truth!

(Rocky is our, poor neglected since the kids came, dog) The kids just LOVE being outside too! (I guess most do!?) It is such a delight to see the smiles on their faces as they run around exploring and soaking up all this new environment has to offer! Happy Saturday!

A brighter day

Here is my family room 90% of the day! Yes, I do pick up 4-5 times throughout the day...... I am not sure why I bother? I think it makes me feel better for the 5 minutes I can see the floor or something??!

OH! There was a bright spot in the sky this morning - still couldn't see the sun, but it was much much brighter and a few small patches of blue. I could see the blanket of fog over the water rolling towards the shore so I packed up the kids in lightning speed and headed out for a walk! We managed to nearly finish our walk before the thick fog engulf us! :-D We had fun!

Yes, the vacuum is nice........... a little different so I think it will just be a matter of getting used to the features. It has a HEADLIGHT for crying out loud! Do YOU vacuum in the dark? heh heh heh No, really is just has "features" I am not used too!! Pretty fancy machine!!

Just another day...

I am getting tired of winter now. I don't mean to complain, that is not my intent, but I am just bored with the rain, storms, snow, cold, FOG and just plain dreariness! If only we had the odd day of sunshine in the mix I think I would feel a whole lot better!! All that sunshine Vancouver had a week ago............... I saw no SUN! FOG - FOG and More FOG!!! Blahhhh!! I think really I am just feeling a little "cabin fever"! I am trying to get out for a walk here and there, but I just feel so unmotivated by the weather! I also signed the kids up for a kinder-gym type program at the community centre which is great, but it is at such a bad time of day for them (when they should be going down for a nap) that I have only made it there 2x in the last 5 weeks, I think! Next time I will sign up early so I can get the early class!! There is also another cool program in our community which is completely free! - a "strong start" program I think it is called. I went to it by myself with the kids once and ended up leaving after an hour as it was just too much for me and the kids couldn't benefit from the activities because I was constantly pulling them away from what they were doing so I could have them in the same area at the same time! I need someone to come with me. And unfortunately we don't have family here. I would need someone who didn't have children, physically fit enough to chase and pick up and carry a toddler - so no bad back, knees or hips, someone who doesn't have a job and is available once or twice a week for a few hours. How do I find someone like this? It can't be a young person - they go to school or have jobs? And they can't be too old.................. ? Hmmmmmm. I know the kids are only 15 months old and I have lots of time to be going to programs and such, but I would like to do a little bit right now just for the socialization aspect if nothing else. Oh, well just sharing what I have been thinking this last month.

Oh, but some exiting news! I have a new vacuum cleaner! I know, I know! I am crazy for being so excited about a VACUUM, but ............... I am!! I am going to use it today for the 1st time! I will let you know how I like it. hee hee hee

It's Time...

Yes, it is time I spent some time here! Don't you think? I am feeling inspired to update this blog after spending a few minutes checking out my friend's blog! I haven't even allowed myself or had the time to do that in quite a while now!

Let's just start with a couple of pics. I need a place to start as it has been so long since I have done this!! :-) (photos taken dec.12)

Just a thought.....

You know I had a thought today. Well, first before I tell you that, do you know those "leash" things parents put on their kids? You know the ones. You don't see them often, but from time to time you will when you are out somewhere in a fairly busy public place. I have never liked them myself (as a woman without children), I actually thought they were horrible! My thought today was....... "I could use those leashes right now!!"

I wanted to go outside today for some fresh air (me & the kids) and that usually means in the stroller for walk, or if Andrew is around we will take the kids outside each watching one of them. Today Andrew wasn't home and I decided I would take them outside by myself - I watch them inside, so why can't I watch them outside? Well, sounds simple enough, but when you have two curious minds wanting to explore in different directions, it gets tricky!! And they like to try running now too when they have open space, so at one point I am having to decide, OK, "which one is a closer distance for me to grab, and which one could be in a potential more dangerous area?"

It really wasn't too bad, but the potential is there for it too be hairy and realizing that was when "leash" came to mind. Right after the "leash" thought came FENCE!!!

How Cute Is This?

This is Lauryn!
Our niece. She is Andrew's sister's daugher.
I forgot I had this photo and just came across it today! I had to post it! She is just the cutest thing! I took this pic in the summer, probably July, at the cabin at Cultus Lake. Ahhhh, summer time......

More 1 Year Old Photos

A few more fun and funny pictures taken on their birthday. Ambrose can be such a Goof, Ham, Entertainer, or whatever you want to call him! He just cracks us up sometimes. Maisie has her moments too, but by nature seems a little more quiet.

Happy Birthday! (Oct.20th)

We Are 1 Year Old!

Oh, Ya! They are walking!

They have actually been walking for a while now! They both started at 11 months. Maisie did it first on September 25th and Ambrose a few days later on September 28th! Ambrose didn't stop once he started, but Maisie sort of regressed for a week and then she picked up right where she left off! I was a little worried about her actually because she would always want to be on "pointe" or try to curl her toes under her feet so I didn't think she would be able to walk properly until she flattened her feet out! As she gained strength and balance, she started flattened her feet out and her walking improved and is now go! - go! - go!, just like her brother!! Yes, it is oh! no! - no! - no! for mom as they can move so much faster and fall so much more!! :-)

Just Leafin' Around...

A Matching Set

Aren't these jackets the cutest? And they have matching pants!! They finally fit the kids now and we love them! They were made by the kids' Great Auntie Lyn from Ontario. She does such beautiful work! Thank you Auntie Lyn!

About Maisie...

Maisie likes to crawl into things.
Maisie has curly hair.
Maisie loves her Emmit (pink gund piggy).
Maisie is a messy eater!
Maisie is FASCINATED by her tongue!

Just Some Cute and Funny Pics!

Ambrose and his ring! He would put that thing in his mouth and crawl around and play with other toys all the while keeping that ring in his mouth like a black lab dog with it's stick!! Pic taken September 3rd.












Maisie having a funny moment to herself! Pic taken September 3rd.






NEVER EVER would I have guess this would happen!!! Especially AMBROSE!

The Bite

Oh my goodness! This was awful! What happened was, I had put the kids in the playpen (I keep one set up in the family room so if I need to leave the room for any length of time I can put them in there and know that they are safe until I get back) so that I could run outside to the shop and to get the stroller and bring it around to the front door of the house so it would be ready for me to put the kids in to head out for a walk. So I did that and came back inside and peeked around the corner to check on the kids and they were both standing, smiling and giggling about something. Great I thought to myself and proceeded to take off my shoes when I heard Maisie start crying. She was crying really hard so I ran to the playpen and she was still standing, she hadn't fallen or fallen on a toy or anything so I didn't know what was wrong with her. I picked her up immediately and held her and walked around for a bit and she continued to cry, which I thought was a little strange since I couldn't see that anything had happened to her. I finally sat down with her and she did start to calm down. I was rubbing her leg gently just trying to comfort her when I noticed "it". The bite mark!! WOW!! I couldn't even believe it! It has never happened again so what I think may have happened it that Ambrose was teething and just decided to bear-down on something and her nice soft squishy thigh happened to be "right" there! No Ambrose isn't a "biter"! ha ha ha Although I shouldn't laugh as I guess it could happen! Anyway, that is the story of "The Bite"

Sorry I am so SLOW at Updating!

I don't think that I am a very good "Bloggerer" or is it "Bloggist"? Anyway, one who keeps a Blog! I am just so slow at getting the thing updated. I don't know why? It is not THAT hard to do! Ok, my reason is (ya, ya, "excuse") that I can really only spend time on the computer in the eves and by that time of day I am DEAD DOG tired and just want to LAY on the couch!!! lol. It's true!! And even as I am trying to type this Rocky (the dog) is nudging away at my arm for some much deserved attention!! Sigh.....

Anyway!! I do have some pictures and small updates for you!!

I hope you enjoy! :-)