Finally, A Post...

No excuses. Except one: busy. Well, technically two: busy and TIRED!

The boys are crazy, but so funny and full of energy. We've had a great summer so far, with a couple of trips to the cottage (one of which was with Darren and Nicola again), soccer and general silliness. I won't bore you with details, just pictures. Well, maybe a few details.

Fresh off the plane, we had a "Welcome to Our Home" party for Darren and Nicola. To celebrate, Sebastian got out the bubbles. That kid will do anything for bubbles. Apparently, it's genetic, but I will not run. Not even for bubbles.

Nicola and Sebastian took a little time to admire Matthew's soccer goal victory dance. Once I figure out how to upload it, I'll post it. Just imagine Matthew running around the adjacent soccer field then barrel rolling for close to 2 minutes. Funny.


While at the cottage we got a chance to go for lunch with both sets of Aunts and Uncles. Since they live on different continents, it was an exciting event. Our children were, let's say, "spirited" and I wouldn't be surprised if cousins were put on the back burner for a couple more years. If the idea wasn't scrapped altogether.

The cottage experience wouldn't be the same without a campfire. In this one, Uncle Darren is likely answering one of Matthew's "But, Why?" questions with an elaborate (and factual) answer that would make any adult's head explode. Luckily, Matthew just absorbs it all and continues on an endless path of alternating "But, Why?" and "How do you spell *insert word of choice here*?"

Sebastian is quite a character these days. And by character, I mean: Huge. His 18 month check- up told us he's a ginormous 32lbs (for all you moms, that's a size 5 diaper and a size 2T shirt!). He's not saying much, but "Mine," "Bubbles," "Yogurt," and, of course, when a camera appears, "Cheese." I guess he says that last one when he sees the actual food as well.

Look at those adorable, chubby, edible cheeks!!

Here he's watching Matthew play soccer. Also, hamming it up.

While he doesn't say much, he's quite the singer. His favourites include The ABCs (which he has re-named The EFGs for the part he knows), and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Pictured here, complete with boat.

Then, there's Matthew. What can I say about Matthew, except: Where did my baby go???? He's ALWAYS talking (case in point: first trip to the cottage, he talked the entire 3 hour car ride, barely stopping to catch his breath). He is reading. Not just memorizing, but actually sounding out words and reading. He's also started spelling. Don't worry, he's started the Mensa testing this week.

Not only is he smart, he's athletic, too. So much so, that he feels using his hands for soccer can only be an advantage when you're that good with your feet.

To add to his genius, Matthew is also very creative. Not only does he have a stuffed elephant named "Elephanty" ("How about Elly, Matthew?" "Nope. Elephanty."), Rob also gave him the honour of naming his new fishing boat. Here you have him riding in Boaty with Daddy.

Here he is being dragged behind Boaty on the tube. "FASTER, DADDY!!" could be heard all across the lake. Finally, a rare moment of peace.

Lastly, a picture of the boys looking through loving eyes at their father. Disregard the obviously pointing finger, discrediting the look of loving and replacing it with one of "We'll listen for 3 seconds, then we're off like rockets in opposite directions. That's what you get for making us sit down."

So, there it is. A post. You're welcome.

Early Spring

The boys are finally playing together. Maybe for only a few minutes at a time, but beggars can't be choosers. Sebastian wants to do everything Matthew does at EXACTLY the same time that Matthew wants to do it. This has lead to a few battles, but luckily Sebastian is a big kid, so can hold his own quite well against his older brother. People warned me about two boys (like I could do anything about it!!): they don't settle their differences by working through it...if it can't be physically challenged, it's not worth the fight in the first place!

Early spring was cold around here, but we made the most of it. Matthew got a new bike and has learned to love it. For a little while he wanted to bring it in and sit on it for dinner. Although we would do almost anything to get him to eat dinner, we drew the line at a Tonka bike at the table.

Of course, Sebastian couldn't be left out. He needed a turn on the Big Boy bike. The hard part was getting him off!

These pictures show us before we really had green grass, but still making the most of our backyard. Winter seems so long! It's so nice to go outside even though playing in the sand box is futile when it's frozen.

Then, there's the slide. Both kids love their swing set. Unfortunately, I've put too much faith in my kids and not enough thought in their actual abilities and recently had to deal with a fall I don't want to repeat. As a result, I have become (cue music: dum dum dum): Rob. Oh well, constantly watching the kids saves me the monotony of pulling weeds.

Sebastian going head first

Matthew coming down right after. Looks like that one's gonna hurt. (He was fine. Yes, Rob's still giving me crap about taking the picture first. He'll eat those words when this makes it on the cover of Time one day).
Here are my boys in one of their favourite places: Matthew's toy box. It's good until one of them decides to close the lid on the other. While the other's still in there.
I can't seem to get enough of this picture. Sebastian is such a charmer, but such a little devil! I've photo-shopped the horns out.

I'll try to post more pictures this week. Since I'm not that interesed in Facebook anymore, maybe this will be my medium again for kid pics. Of course, that means password protection is soon implemeted. Oh well.

Just Pictures

I don't often get sentimental, especially on a blog, but I want everyone to know that my family means more to me than anything. Losing someone so important makes you treasure the time you do have with the angels by your side everyday. Here are some of my angels.

Still a sucker for the sleeping pictures.
Indy's new favourite spot to sleep. Note the tongue.
Big Smiles.
Matching pajamas, sitting in a laundry basket. God forbid laundry should end up in it.
Silly Faces. When you ask Sebastian to make a silly face, this is the result. In person it's really funny. On camera it looks a little devilish...fitting.

Mommy and Matthew. Where's my little boy?

Love the ones you're with, cherish the memories of the ones you've lost and take lots of pictures.

Sebastian's First Haircut

We had to cut the curls. His hair was so long it was getting caught in his ridiculously long eyelashes. So, we took him to a kid's place where he got to sit in a Hummer and watch Blues Clues. We got a certificate and a curl or two to remember. About 4 weeks later, the curls are returning...looks like they're here to stay!!

Showing just how long it was.

Just chillin'.

The result.

I do have to admit I was a little upset...I sent Rob with my baby and he came back with this little boy. Sniff.

So Christmas was more than a month ago...

So sue me. We're busy, get over it.

Now, in the spirit of the long-past season: We hope your holiday brought you half as much joy and laughter as it brought us, and that 2009 brings you everything you're wishing for.

Christmas Eve

As per tradition, we spent the day of Christmas Eve with my family. The kids got some amazing gifts (as did the adults with our stealing game!), but the highlight of the day: Matthew wore a sweater. No, really, he did. Here's proof:

But then he took it off. Apparently it was too hot. Oh well; we have that one picture of him in a sweater. We'll treasure the memory.

Sebastian was really excited about his gift from Grandma and Grandpa: a dump truck that he gets to ride, and dump his body weight full of megablocks! Oh yeah, and honk the horn. Incessantly.

Matthew got Transformers. Here we're not trying to figure out what it turns into, but how to get it out of the damn box!

Matthew was a great Christmas elf. Here he's giving a gift to Grandma.

Here Grandpa is helping Sebastian play with some of his new toys.

And props have to be given to the photographer for the day: Way to go, Aunt Julie! Without her, no pictures would have been taken. Or at the very least, none with the same sort of panache. Also, we maybe would not have gotten this gem: The Serious Face:She did take a break at the end of the evening to read stories to Matthew. Luckily the camera was not far, and I got this one. A true treasure. A wonderful day was had by all, with more food than we care to think about (but the scales won't let me forget about!) and laughs heard a mile away (mostly Aunt Julie's antics). Our kids were pretty much asleep before we had them in the car for the ride home...a sure sign that they had a wonderful time. As did the rest of us.

We did not pose Matthew; this is really how he sleeps in the car.

Christmas Day

This was Matthew's first Christmas of understanding the concept of Santa Clause. It was great for us, because he got the concept, but not so much that he lost sleep over it! That being said, he did get up at his regular time of 6:00am, so we're in BIG trouble next year!

The best part of Christmas was, without a doubt, Matthew's sense of wonderment and absolute awe and amazement that Santa had come. To say it was magical sounds so cliche, but it's the only way to describe it. Totally wonderful is another.

Here he is finding the stockings that were empty when he left them.

Next, we went to see what Santa had left by the tree. The only thing Matthew asked for from Santa was a Hotwheels set that "dropped the car into a bowl." We're not sure where this idea came from, but it stuck with him. When it was left at the tree, his belief in the big red man was a sealed deal. As you can see, Rob is as excited as Matthew was. (Truth be told, he's just excited it worked after all the hard work the elves put into getting it together. After a bottle of Merlot).
Of course, Santa did not leave Sebastian gift-less. He's had his moments, but a lump of coal was not in the cards. He got a Wonderpets flyboat. Santa must have had some great elves to blow that one up. By herself. Without an airpump. Hot air jokes are not appreciated.
Since the kids are constantly fighting for our laptops, we thought they could get ones for each other.

Sebastian's from Matthew
And Matthew's from Sebastian
Now they fight over each others'.

The afternoon was spent with the Rob's family. Again, so much fun was had I neglected to take pictures. As always, we were all spoiled totally rotten and ate way too much. All in all, a fantastic Christmas!

Here's a picture showcasing that Matthew's "Tongue of Concentration" is, apparently, a hereditary trait.

Thank you for such a wonderful Christmas, family!