I am having a hard time getting more pictures on. I will try again in the morning... Sweet little Matty...Such blue,blue eyes!!
View out the window (if you couldn't guess)...
Olivia on our flight to Kelowna...
This is what happens when you don't put away the face paints where the kids can't get them. Just in case you can't tell, she is a puppy. Ha! Ha!
Such a sweet face...
Olivia and her new fuzzy vest and one of the 'acorn hats' that my mom made the kids.

Briar had his first bite of rice cereal...actually, his first bite of solids on November 11th. He really was into it the first time but has since not been very interested. We'll try again soon. Olivia was very stoked to help feed him.

I can't seem to keep up!!!

Okay. So lots has happened in the 20 or so days I haven't written.
My mom bought me a plane ticket to Kelowna for an early Christmas present; so Olivia, Briar and I all flew to visit my sister. We had a fabulous time!!! We didn't get much sleep due to being in a house with 3 babies that are all around 6 months and a sick four year old. We went on lots of walks and hung out. It was so great to talk to my sister without having to pick up the phone. Some days we end up talking three or four times on the phone, so it was great to talk about whatever popped into our heads. Her boys are so amazingly sweet. It's funny how you'd jump in front of a oncoming train only to save your own kids and then when you become an aunt, that list of kids you save suddenly grows. I love them to bits!!!!!!
Jeff is home and was treated to 5 days of rest and relaxation while we were gone. He had planned to sprawl out on the couch, eat pizza and be as loud as he wanted after 7 pm... He ended up finding the house too quiet and lonely without me and the little ones. Ha!! He stayed out in the garage and tinkered with his various projects because the house felt to 'weird'.
Olivia has come down with Briar's awful cold. You know she is feeling badly when she ASKS for a nap. She has laid on the couch almost all day today reading books and resting.
Briar slept on the plane both ways. The flight attendants held him while I got into our seats and thought he was pretty great. One said, " I can feel my biological clock ticking suddenly!!"
Olivia must have asked me 20 times if we were 'flying yet' while the plane sat idle at the terminal on our way to Kelowna. When we were finally in the air, she must have asked me 50 times "Is THAT Kelowna?!" On the way home, Olivia yelled repeatedly as we took off, "Bye, Tante Kirsten!! I'll miss you!!!"
To Be Continued....

Long time no blog...

I have been meaning to write this thing for a bit. Oh how time flies...We've had Halloween, Jeff has gone fishing and returned and I've developed an affinity to shopping on the 'net for used kids stuff (argh!).
We had a fabulous Halloween. It was a cold, clear night and we had a ball. Olivia was a cow and Briar was a pumpkin.
There was a little party at Olivia's preschool earlier in the day. Later, we went Trick-or-treating with Olivia's buddy, Angus, his mom, Sheila and his sister, Grace. Briar was all snuggled in his stroller. In fact, I had him dressed in so many layers that he couldn't actually bend!
Olivia LOVED the walking around in the dark and kept exclaiming that she saw a ghost! It was actually the poor, terrorized deer that were trying to hide from the teenagers blowing off their firecrackers, but she was convinced it was some phantom. Ha!
Olivia had quite a small bag for her goodies. Quite early on it was full and she resorted to saying, "No, thank you. I have one of those already," when being offered anything from a sucker to a chocolate bar. I think she just enjoyed ringing all those doorbells. Eventually, I emptied her little bag into the stroller basket so that she could get a bigger stash (for Mommy and Daddy to eat). It was actually hard to convince her to do that because she 'didn't want to be greedy'. Such a funny kid...
Briar has developed a love of maracas! Olivia handed him a pair one afternoon while he was in his jolly jumper. We haven't been able to separate them since. He jump and shakes, jumps and shakes. Quite hilarious!
Jeff and Olivia went down to my grandpa's boat the other day to give a hand 'winterizing' it. Jeff told Olivia that they had to get the boat ready to hibernate. She had a blast and told me all sorts of wonderful stories when they arrived home in the evening. When asked what her favourite part of the day was, she responded that 'loved looking at the engine'. I guess Jeff had her climbing into the tiny engine room to retrieve something and she thought this was the most interesting and awe-inspiring place. She told me that it was very hot in there and she put up her hood to keep her cheeks cool. I love her stories.
Anyhow, here are the pictures of our last couple of weeks.

Aren't I corny? Oh, dude! There is my dad's sense of humour!!
Olivia's new eyes. Who needs coloured contacts?! Get some wooden veggies.
Briar with his toupee-like hair. Isn't he cute?!
Olivia and Angus writing in the gravel at the 'spit'...
The buddies on the giant roots...
Climbing to the roots...
Sheila, the witch, Angus, the snake, Grace, the witch, Olivia, the cow, Briar, the pumpkin...(I was a viking).
Which one isn't like the others?
Olivia refused to wear her coat under her costume because it would 'feel funny'. I love it! Comfort over aesthetics! That a girl!
Colouring a face on a pumpkin...
Our behemoth pumpkin, Ned, on a sled...
Mommy's little cow...
It's hard to tell, but she is asleep holding a book in this picture.
I love that smile...
She is the best big sister, isn't she?
Briar and his maracas. He's going to join a salsa band as soon as he can...

Pictures galore...

Here is our big boy mid-bounce! He loves his jolly jumper. I wish they made them for grown-ups... Olivia, the bird, bringing a leaf to her nest of leaves for her babies. She has a very healthy imagination.
The Boys...Freckles was just groomed the other day. He came home with a bandana and two bows in his hair. I swear Eli was laughing at him.
Briar has been loving his sling. I love it because I can get so many things finished while he snoozes.
Mama bird in her nest...
Mama bird found her chick. Let's hope she doesn't try to feed him any bugs.
Briar watches while we rake. He likes putting his two cents in. He's a great foreman.
Olivia and 'her' dog...
Olivia had seen the picture of Briar with a beard on the computer and asked me how I did it. I explained that I had drawn the beard on with the computer. She wanted to do it again but I was checking my email. When I told her that she couldn't do it right now, she informed me that she would do it herself then. I just dismissed this comment because I was in front of the computer and she couldn't get access to it without me knowing it right then. A few minutes later, I hear her exclaim, "He won't stay still!!" When I turned around, Olivia was trying to hold Briar while he bounced in the jolly jumper and draw a beard on his face with a felt pen!! She didn't manage to get much on him, thank goodness. Jeff and I had a good laugh.
Olivia and Jeff went skating. She's pretty stoked...
She really wants to be able to do it herself because Jeff promised her that she could get her OWN white skates when she could balance herself.
The Duck (aka Angus) came over for a peck around the backyard the other day.

Haha...

Okay...NOW does anyone recognize this expression?!

Olivia with Summer at Papa's house and Briar in Grandpa's arms...

Olivia and her buddy, Rascal, her favourite pony...
Briar now sits up for brief periods....
Tummy time....
Does anyone else recognize this facial expression?
Bean in her new sweatshirt...


The cubby drawers that Jeff built. I am so excited to get the playroom organized. I stand in the doorway and stare at the room with intense satisfaction. Eventually I had to close the curtains so that the neighbours don't think I am odd.

Jeff has been out on the boat, but has, unfortunately, had a mishap. Scotty, the guy on watch while Jeff was sleeping, fell asleep himself and drove the boat up on the rocks. Everyone is okay and the boat is still afloat but they've had to head to Port Alberni to get the boat repaired. Jeff is feeling pretty upset and frustrated. He may come home for a couple of days while the boat is getting fixed.

Anyhow, here are some pictures to satisfy the masses... Enjoy!

Time marches on...

Sibling snuggle...
Thinking....Hmmmm....
Oma and the kids...
Our cutey patootey...
Briar sitting in his fancy new high chair...
Do you like the new 'do?

I've been trying ot keep up the posts but, alas, I am not so on the ball these days. Trying to slow down time is like attempting to stop a full blown temper tantrum!
Anyhow, Olivia is in preschool on Tuesdays AND Thursday now. It's a choice that I am, so far, regretting. It just adds to my panic when there is something to do EVERY day. She is also in ballet on Fridays (SO stinkin' cute) and playgroup on Wednesdays. Needless to say, in the afternoons she is tuckered rightout. She's been playing a lot with her little friend, Angus. I find that I am missing her and our fun times together. My little buddy is such a social butterfly. Anyhow, this weekend I am going to try to ensure that we have a bit of Mommy and Bean time.
Briar has been not feeling very well. Consequently, he hasn't been sleeping well. Poor little guy has had a fever and is just, generally, miserable. Last night, he woke up screaming. I still don't know what was wrong. I have NEVER heard a baby make that noise. He'd, suddenly, go as stiff as a board while arching his little back and let out a terrifying scream. He looked so sad. Oh, how I wish I could have made it better faster. The doctor figures it is his teeth beginning to come through. Unfortunately, I don't see any bumps in his mouth to prove this theory so I am afraid that this misery will continue for awhile.
Jeff has gone fishing. He'll be running the boat and is very happy about it. I hear that the boat has lots of quota so he doesn't have to 'pick around' as much.
I've been just going along with the tide. I feel like I always have something in my hand to put away, something to clean up, somewhere to be or someone to pay attention to. I am a bit frazzled; so if I haven't replied to phone calls or letters, please, don't take it personally. I have you on my list, I promise.
Anyhow, I am going to try to get some pictures on here. Here goes....