bedtime in the kids' room

A few months ago, night time in the kids' room looked like this:

 

 

A few weeks ago, it looked like this:

 

 

Nowadays, it looks like this:

 

Remember this from last summer?

Now this summer:

Christmas Morning Not-So-Candid of Dion

 

John's First Christmas Morning.

Naomi's Favourite Things. A Christmas Morning Candid.

Hallowe'en 2011

Adam wanted to be a bear again. Easily done, happy to oblige.

And since Adam was going to be a bear, Naomi also wanted to be a bear. So, we borrowed this costume from Clare, which she wore last year and had once upon a time been used by her Uncle Mac. Why, you ask, is Naomi holding a tiara? It's a mystery.

my third little devil

The kids were great - polite, cooperative, and enthusiastic. Other than that - not much to tell, though that doesn't stop Naomi from recounting over and over again: "I don't like that house. The man in a scary, scary costume. Mommy get the candy for Naomi." Adam was also too afraid to approach the werewolf.

And word to the world: I know many people figure that the mini-chocolate bars will be the crowd-pleasers but little kids really just want the "filler" - bellypops*, Rockets .... Nibs and anything fruity and chewy like Swedish berries were also popular around here. Naomi will even suck Smarties until the candy is gone and spit out the chocolate. Guess who's eating all the chocolate? Oops. At least I don't have to steal it. They just hand it over.

*What? You've never heard of bellypops? That would be Naomi-speak for lollipops.

playing hospital

ratchet = otoscope
Notice the patient's wristband (and outfit from Auntie Bev.)

Klippi cloth-to-bib-converter (from Kristin) + pipe cleaner = stethoscope

A couple of weeks ago, Adam took it upon himself to organise a session of playing hospital, effectively acting out a Curious George story. We've played quite a few time since then. John is always the patient. He, Naomi and I are doctors and nurses. The first time we played, he even scooted into the kids' room to copy John's name off the wall onto a sheet of paper because part of the story takes place in the admitting office, where a nurse writes down a lot of things about the patient. It might have been the tidiest thing I've ever seen Adam write.

Photos from John's Christening

I wasn't terribly impressed with how my photos turned out. And some that I wanted (John with my brother and with my Aunt Jean) didn't even occur. Ah well, I did get a bunch that were useable, though I had to work on the lighting for a number of them and even then ... 'nuff said. I'll try harder at Christmas.

Honorable Mention for family portrait. Naomi is doing her turtle pose like she does when she's terrified. There must be some strange man nearby. Adam has removed the tie, the tie of which he had been so proud because he had picked out a new one that was just like Daddy's. His shirt is also untucked. Will it be gym attire once he's a teenager?


Everybody else in this shot just looked silly. So I cropped them out. So there! John is pointing out the jewellery that Auntie Joan was kind enough to lend me. I forgot to bring any other than my wedding band. I like to wear jewellery of sentimental value for special occasions, so my Aunt's jewellery, including earrings that were my grandmother's fit the bill nicely.

One of the best shots on the "roll." nicely done, Ian Hobbs.

John slept through the entire ceremony. despite the heat. despite the water. y'know the water.

My family is so cute!

Another Uncle Ian!

The second of two Honorable Mentions for family portrait. Dion's smirking and ill-positioned. Naomi's not smiling. John's not either (and he had just learned that week!) though we'd excuse him for sleeping. And there's camera jitter. Sadly two honorable mentions is all we'd get. No first prize is awarded.

attempt at large group portraiture. not bad.

2 paternal grandparents? check! 3 grandchildren? - d'oh!

My dad is smiling because that crying baby? - - - not his problem! The joy of being a grandparent. Sometimes I think it's a shame one can't usually skip over parenthood, straight to grandparenthood. But then, I guess that robs you of the joy of seeing your children get their comeuppance.

John is just a model for the gown. I've started composing a post in my mind just for the gown. For when I get around to it. uh oh.

Great Auntie Joan got lots of quality time with John over the extended long weekend.

twofer: Colin and John

Saying Goodbye to the Echo

How sad is it that Adam's one shot of me turned out better than any of the three I took of him?

And how cool is it that there is a reflection of the licence plate on my shirt.
And now, a few words about our dearly departed dark red 2003 4-door manual-transmission Echo. Our first car. It was a lovely little car. It will be missed. It served us so well and I wish we could have kept it. But, alas, it would not hold three car seats and we have only one parking space. It had surprising get-up-and-go and surprisingly abundant cargo space - certainly more cargo space than its successor, our new (to us) Mazda 5, when it's configured to seat 5. It was great on gas, inexpensive to insure, and did not need any repairs in the 4.5 years/35 000 km we used it. Yes, it was overdue for a new battery (causing some inconvenience and concern late in my pregnancy when it wouldn't always hold a charge) and the dealer/wholesaler who bought it will need to do some cosmetic work and repair the radio but otherwise, the Echo was in great shape and had less than 100 000 km on the odometer. By my calculations, the capital cost to us was under $1600/year (not much more than one Metropass subscription!) or just over 20 cents/km. I think that's really good; correct me if I'm wrong. Farewell Echo, I hope your next owner appreciates you!

I got a lot of things done between the time school ended (notably, trading in the Echo) and John was born but one of the things I didn't get to was a photo record of my third-trimester belly, like the ones I posted two years ago. The one above will have to do. It's from 17 hours before John was born, at 38 weeks, 5 days.

Ed Note: I have literally 100's of photos to sort through because I've had lots of photo-taking occasions since June and just got a working computer. Luckily I have a 4 GB flash card for my camera. So, I'll be posting in semi-random order. I'll probably start with the least daunting topics. Patience, please.

Happy Second Birthday, Naomi!

Happy Father's Day, Dion!

In these pics are a card and bracelet by Adam (with a little help from his daycare teachers) and three books:
Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle from Adam,
I Love My Daddy Because ... , from Naomi (I helped choose), and
Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman from me. I can't wait to read it once Dion's done with it. I'm hearing lots of great things.

As a further gift to you, Dion, I won't post any photos of you.

Not bad, Adam.

Adam's first try at wrapping a present by himself. He picked out Lady (a toy train engine) for Naomi's birthday based on one of her favourite Youtube videos. The beads were his idea, too, although he had been hoping for glitter glue. I think all glue at daycare is glitter glue but we've only got the old-fashioned white school glue.

Not Exactly Random II

Adam in his Easter finery. He likes wearing a tie so much that he'll wear it outside the vest to call attention to it.

Naomi's finery included these shoes, which were hardly removed once she saw them. She wore them outside to play but I made her wear socks over them. Socks are a lot cheaper. She wore the shoes over a sleeper. She wore them to bed. When she wasn't wearing them, BearBear was.

BTW, I have decided that the Easter/spring/summer dress is mine to choose for as long as she'll let me. Other years, Winners has had the best selection. This year it was The Bay. The dresses were all to die for. And 40% off on Saturday of the Easter weekend. I could have come home with 8 dresses. I got it narrowed down to two, so I bought both, planning to return one. Despite a 7-0 consensus from my family (even Adam and Naomi agreed) I couldn't give the other one up. The purple/green/blue stripey one is definitely more Eastery and the crowd pleaser. The other dress will be worn for number 3's christening.