Day 1 of 31

I am going to try to post a picture every day in the month of October. I like to take pictures and want to learn more about my camera, and it also serves to remind me to enjoy the little moments and to capture Ben & Ella's youthfulness. Not that every picture will feature them, but you know what I mean...

Wish me luck!


"Freshly Hatched"

As promised!

Oooh, pictures!

Day at the zoo, with Ben, Ella, Sari & Estella:



Ella & Gigi:


Ben, posing:


Not quite right...


Now she's got it!


He was a little excited:


Ben in action:


New hat:


Pouty faces:


Ben & Gord overlooking Killarney Lake:


Playing in Grandma & Grandpa's backyard:




Our Kindergarten Graduate!


Showing us the classroom:


Surprise visit from Auntie Kathy & Le Petit Henry:


Ella wanted to pose with her baby, Estella Isabella:


Henry modeling his super-cute shark hat:


We were so happy to see these two!

It's official...

Ben is a kindergartener!



We *may* have been a minute or two late, and we *may* have had a miscommunication with the teacher as to where he was supposed to go after dismissal, but all in all, it was a good day. Ben loved it, which is of absolutely no surprise to us at all. I asked what they did, and he said that "Madame __________ read us stories...IN FRENCH!" I asked if he understood the books, and he said, "Nope!" :)

Tomorrow is the big day

Kindergarten. How did we get here so fast? Why can't I slow this train down? What I wouldn't give to have a bit time back, to relive some of the past 5 1/2 years. Or all of them.



I cannot put into words how much that sweet little boy means to me...but I still miss my baby.

A visit with GG

Sunday, we took a little road trip to Morden. We owed my parents a visit, and GG (my Grandma Lil) was there. Since we don’t see her very often, we try to jump at the chance to see her whenever it presents itself.

I think it’s really important for the kids to have a relationship with their great-grandparents. I have snippets of memories from visits to my great-grandma’s house. The smell, that of an old person’s home. Her ceramics. Playing in her yard.

Ben is always happy to bestow hugs and kisses on GG, no matter how long it’s been since we’ve last seen her. He is so outgoing and friendly and loving. He was on her lap and they were taking turns blowing into each other’s ears. Ben was giggling, and so was GG. They were so stinkin’ cute together.



Ella, on the other hand, likes to play shy with GG. Part of the reason she does this is to drive us crazy; she’s the second child you know, and she’s three and stubborn and moody – she tests us non-stop. Before we left home that morning, Gord asked Ella if she was going to give GG a hug when we got there, and she said “No. I’m going to be shy with GG.” Seriously people, she’s got attitude. Sure enough, she wouldn’t even look at GG when we got there, but after a while she was fine. I know that GG pushing her on the swing is what cleared it all up – push Ella on the swing and she’s your friend for life. And after supper, when it was time to go, Ella did give GG a hug and a kiss.

Hopefully, next time we see GG, Ella will remember that she pushed her on the swing and will be ready to shower her with hugs and kisses, like Ben does. I know that it means the world to GG. And to me.

A visit to the zoo!

During the warm weather we had a few weeks ago, the zoo called to us…little did we know how incredibly enjoyable the zoo can be in the winter! The animals were active – the monkeys were crazy, the leopards and tigers were prowling, the squirrels and lemurs were out and about, the snakes were slithering up and down the trees, the crocodiles actually MOVED… The camels were enjoying the weather too – and the zoo staff took one of them for a walk! Unfortunately, Ben and I missed it, as we were taking a bathroom break, but Gord, Ella and Grandma Susan got to see it! And they had a better view than the poor staff member following the camel, carrying a huge shovel!

And although this is a family-friendly blog, I do have to report that quite a few animals were very…uh…affectionate? frisky? carnal?...during our visit. What it is about us that brings this out in them, I don’t know. But you’ve gotta wonder… tortoises and guinea pigs getting busy (not with each other)…a goat that wanted to make out with my hand, complete with weird sounds…a spraying male leopard…monkeys and gibbons showing me their “parts”…why us? 

It was just a glorious visit to the zoo – both animal-wise (not the animal sex part though) and weather-wise – the kids wore their snow gear, and were great sports about it – they climbed snow piles and played at the playground. But I didn’t even wear mittens! That’s the way to enjoy the zoo in the winter!





THE guinea pigs:

Random picture post!

Ben modelling Daddy's knee pads - he was ready to help!


Sliding down a hill - he squealed with delight!


Getting ready to throw this at mommy:


All Ella wanted to do was have Grandma Joan pull her in the sled. And like a good Grandma, she did!


Tromping through the snow:

He finally decided to pose for me

As promised...

Wow. Two posts in a day? I think I'm setting the bar too high...

At my company's Christmas party, waiting for the swings to start swingin'!

Eating popcorn, waiting for his turn on the swings:

Ella eating popcorn:


Christmas Eve, surrounded by all the presents


Christmas morning - seriously, what a pile of presents!


Checking out the loot from his stocking:


It's "Wall-Eeeeee"


The only thing Ben wanted from Santa - a hovercraft!


A magnadoodle was on Ella's list:


Awwwwww:


A cool action shot, the lace in motion!


Playing on boxing day:


A funny shot of Charlie


Hot chocolate mustaches...


...or goatees


And now, the floor (in progress):