The small stuff.

Don't sweat the small stuff.
'The small stuff' is different for everyone. For us 'the small stuff' is a lot of the stuff.

Holden removed all the wine from the wine cabinet and made 'forests' for his trains to drive through. It's great to see the creativity when we don't pull the kids back as soon as they make a move in their own directions. We stay close for support and encouragement.

Life.

Holden and Afton are 22 months apart. Watching them grow up together and learn to play together, eat together, cause trouble together....has been fun, entertaining and often tiring. The energy of two young kids is crazy. Sometimes we want to be part of it and sometimes all we can do is sit back and watch them go. And then, they tire, we tidy up and then it happens all over again.

Cuddles!

Afton continues to a little cuddle girl.
We try to maximize on it as much as possible as we know it won't last forever.

We want to take pictures.

The kids have taking to running at the camera when I try to take pictures because they want to see the image in the little screen. Or Holden just yells, 'No pictures.'

The 'Santa Threat'

It's crazy how quick a mischievous boy will straighten up when you say, "If you're not nice Santa might not bring you a gift."
And then after I say it, I'm excited because there is that magic of believing and then disappointed in myself that it is used as a threat.
The excitement when we read the Christmas book is so amazing and the fact that after a few times I know all the reindeer's names is also amazing. And Holden asks, "Who's that reindeer? Is that Blitzen?"
The imagination is by far one of our best sides/abilities/trait/gifts...

Ahh...wood heat!

The kids have embraced the wood stove as much as us. They ask to go there to warm up after baths and after cold walks outside. They sit there to eat snacks. Afton blows air at it when she goes close because she understands that it is hot. Life is better. And it was pretty darn good before.

Waiting.

If I wait here long enough they will open this cabinet and let me play with the treasures inside.

Baby!

Afton is a baby lover. Whenever she sees one of her baby dolls she yells, "Baby!" and usually gives them a cuddle.
Afton is becoming a little girl at an alarming rate. "Hello." she says into the phone as she walks around with it to her ear. "Mine!" she yells when Holden comes close to her stuff, yesterday it was her jacket. She launches out of her crib. She drags chairs around the house and climbs up on everything. She spills her milk and says "Uh oh." and rushes off to get a rag to clean it up.
She likes to dance. She tries to jump up and down. She's quick to laugh and cuddle. And she nods when she wants something and shakes her head if she doesn't.

A few older photos that make me laugh.

Holden served up lunch. You can eat now he said.

It's hard to do naked yoga when there is a mini girl attacking your head.

Nothing completes a meal like a dance session on the chair.

Facts from a 3 year old.

On the drive home from a baby shower this week Holden shared these facts with us:
Afton was born.
Santa Clause is going to bring me a helicopter.

He spoke with such conviction that I thought I should submit a letter to Santa for myself.

Again...who needs toys?

We just had a wood stove put in. To replace the ugly brick gas fireplace that was 'ornamental?' Now it feels like we live in a warm cabin. Plus the kids have managed to get hours of entertainment from the boxes that the chimney came in.

Child approved.

The kids took some quality time to check that my bike was installed on the bike trainer properly and that it is all in good working order. They know that a happy mom is a good mom and that in my case a mom that gets her exercise is a happy mom.

Who needs toys...?

Especially when you can launch off the window sill onto the couch.

And watch the weather, the cars pass on the street and the slate being cut for the home reno's from you jump launch pad.

Oranges.

Some oranges are that delicious.

Art.

Our perception of what is art and what is not art depends how we see things.

Words from Holden.

"Mama, you need to buy your own chainsaw." After a morning of getting fire wood and seeing his Papa operating the chainsaw.
Later he said, "Papa needs to buy you a chainsaw."

"Big boys drink tea. Not just Mama's." as he was drinking sleepy time tea with me.

"I'll make it better for you in here Mama." after I told him that I would play lego after I went to the bathroom. By making it better, he meant putting the toilet seat down and turning the light on. It was better.

"I'm not a baby. I'm a big boy." after coming home from the Waldorf preschool where some older boys called him baby Holden.

"Can I help my baby." as Afton was trying to get off of our bed.

The best may have been when I heard a thump upstairs and then Afton crying. When I got upstairs Afton was out of her crib and no longer crying but playing happily. She had just woken from her nap.
I asked Holden how Afton got out of bed.
He said, "I helped her."
I had to ask, "Did you push her or pull her?"
"I pushed her." he replied proudly.
Papa suggested that if he was going to do that again he should put a big pile of blankets on the floor prior to the push over the railing.
He listened.

Holden's first day of school

This is an old picture (a month or so old) but I like it, so here it is.
Holden is attending the french preschool and despite the teacher's initial concerns that he did not understand french she has informed us that she is making great progress with him.
From a parents stand point the progress is obvious. We used to have to leave him there crying and now he happily takes his shoes off and runs up the stairs to see his teacher, friends and the classroom toys.

As a stay at home mom it is not easy to leave your children. Or more so, it is not easy for your children to have you leave them. I'm pretty happy to leave them in the capable hands of other parents, friends and/or neighbor children for the sake of my sanity and for the children's socialization. We all benefit.

I want to eat that.

And he did.
Can't really complain when the child is psyched to eat half an avocado, even if it was supposed to be for my salad.

The potty is gone.

Until we start potty training Afton in a few months.

They do look the same.

Our little boy is growing up.

Before: Holden has the best thickest hair in the family and used it all summer as a sun hat as he never really liked wearing a hat.

After: preschool attending and clean cut.

Our little girl is growing up.

Afton has enough hair for 2 little pony tails.

She also started walking last month and seems to follow the same fearless path that her big brother does. Jumping. Diving. Climbing. Crashing. Laughing.

A little sushi lunch.

I can do it by myself.

Afton no longer wants to be fed by us.
It makes her happy to do it by herself. She makes a mess. As kids tend to do.

Run biking.

I was a bit skeptical about the run bike. It wasn't until I understood the idea that the child will learn to balance and then not need training wheels that I realized that it was a great idea.
But still, it wasn't until we went to the bike shop and Holden pushed the run bike all the way up the stairs and then all the way down and then refused to leave it behind that we got one.
He loves it. He's fast and a bit fearless.
Outside, with his helmet on, he'll tackle hill and curbs, wooden stumps and jumps and has a blast. It's impressive to watch a little kid go. And some what stressful to try to chase him down when he rides away.

Is this okay?

Afton knows when she is doing something that she should not.

And that makes her laugh.

There may be trouble ahead.

Sleep.

The deep and sound sleep that follows a busy day.

I have...

...Mama's helmet!

I have Papa's helmet!

I'm wearing Mama's helmet!

I'm wearing Papa's helmet!

I'm taking Papa's helmet off!

No naps on the road.

Afton is not a big napper on our camping trips. But she will take some quiet time in her play pen. Sometimes that leads to a nap and sometimes it leads to emptying out the drawers into her play pen. In both scenarios we all get a little break from each other.

Showing off...

...his new ink...

...and his foot.

Break dancing.

I love that Holden loves to dance.
"Put some music on!" he says, "I want to dance!"
And off he goes flipping and spinning across the floor with his improve break dance style moves.
Then he says, "Dance Mama! Dance Papa!"

It's impossible not to join him.

Camping without fires.

Camping and fires just go hand in hand. This summers fire ban has taken away a bit of the fun of camping. Although, we totally understand why there is a fire ban.
That being said. We've made the most of our weekends outside. Enjoying the fresh air and the freedom. Riding our bikes and splashing in creeks and puddles with the kids.

Bedtime in the 1985 Bigfoot

We bought a 19' 1985 Bigfoot travel trailer this summer. The convenience of a heater, a fridge, a table, beds, storage, a sink, a stove, an over...etc are great with the kids. And we, as grown ups, enjoy them all too.
We've discovered that it is great for short haul trip or longer long haul trips. Dragging it far for a quick weekend isn't as cost effective as just renting a condo. But hanging out in any of the closer campgrounds that surround us is super fun.
Whatever makes us able to get out more with the kids makes all of our lives better. Rain or shine!

Heading home.

Holden did some safety testing at the airport.
Window can handle 30lb weight? Check.
Blind string can handle 30lbs weight? Check.

Blind string can handle chew test? Check.

Mama can locate bathroom with sanitizer gel? Check.

The kids traveled very well. People were generally very helpful.
Traveling with kids is all about embracing the idea that there could be chaos and maintaining your calm.

Splish! Slpash!

Even in the rain, a backyard pool is fun!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Admiring his cake from Grandmaman.

Blowing out the candles.

Waiting to eat the cake (icing).

Holden was lucky to spend the few days after his 3rd birthday with Papa's side of the family in Quebec City. He was spoiled and loved the attention (that he has been missing out on since the arrival of his sister). He enjoyed cake, playing with cousins, gifts and still talks about the fireworks that we watched from Grandmaman's yard.

Really...there were fish there!

Holden was a little hesitant to go play in the water park.

Getting side tracked by the beverage machine.

We don't have any pictures but:

When we stood at the end of the walrus tank against the glass the walrus would swim right up to the glass and slide their bellies against it. Sometimes they would rub their faces down the glass. It was so fun to be so close to them.
There was a sleeping polar beer. "He tired." Holden said.
Holden and Papa watched the sea lion show. Afton and I ate ice cream. We shared some.
We walked through 3 stories of fish. All were great.
I picked up a star fish in the 'touch tank' but I held it under the water. Holden then lifted it high out of the water. We got into a little bit of trouble. It was a 'touch tank' not a 'lift tank'. We'll be flipping over more rocks on our next beach vacation.
The Quebec Aquarium was a great place to go with the kids.