Catchin' up on two weeks of...life...

I know it's been a while, but once the Ottawagonians left, year-end was on...and then the kids got the flu...oy.

We had sent the kids to Morden so that I could go in to work on the weekend and Gord could get his work done too, and the kids ended up coming down with the flu. Thankfully, Mom & Dad kept them, despite our guilt, and we can't thank them enough. Their flu lasted until Wednesday/Thursday last week too, which is longer than I thought most flus lasted. We had two tired, lethargic kiddos who didn't want to eat or drink anything but milk. Even Ella, who we have a hard time getting to drink milk on a typical day. Unless it's chocolate...yummmm...

We've got to start blogging more regularly, 'cause I just can't remember all the stuff that's been going on...

So here are some pictures of the last couple of weeks!

Cousin bathtime! The boat goes "booooop, booooop!"


"You can have it if you want!"


The kids in front of the fire on Christmas morning:


Ben eatin' a lukken and chillaxin'...


Ella eatin' a lukken and posin':


Ben playing with the brand new rocket ship that Santa brought him:


All the gals, havin' a drink:


Snack time!


Fiona's cute face:


One of the rare times that all 4 kids were not moving:


A Ruby close-up:


Sick Ben, eating (or not) his lunch:


Ella's first ponytail, and a drippy milk chin:


Sometimes after a bath, I'll comb all her hair back and let it dry. This is the result for the next few days:


Gord thinks he sees a resemblance to David Bowie:


Whatever. Movin' on...

Mr. Incredible!


Licking off the beaters after Mommy made pudding!


Ella has had a little word explosion (I think the visit from her chatty cousins helped tremendously!). She now says:
- mama (Good god, finally, after almost 21 months of waiting, I get to hear it!)
- No, no, no (Gord's fave...)
- Mine (Nine, nine, nine, nine x 1,000,000,000,000)
- Water ("waawo")
- Living room ("weewee woo")
- Please ("peaz")
- Cheese ("cheeeeeeeeez")
- Cracker (tacter, tacter, tacter, tacter x 1,000,000,000,001)
- More ("moh?" always followed by "tacter?")

When Gord picked them up at day care today, Ben had gone back into the babysitter's living room, so Gord called to him to ask him to come and get his boots on. He didn't come right away, so Ella went to the doorway, and said, "Beh!", waited, and when he still didn't come, she said, in a more demanding voice, "Behbehmeh!" which is Benjamin. Like we ever raise our voices and shout out Ben's full name. Ever. She'll also yell out something at Charlie (her name?) and again, like we ever yell at Charlie.

Ben made a trip with me to Old Navy last week to fetch our cell phone (yeah, yeah, I lost it there). So he knew why we had gone and such. And this weekend, I was looking for something and couldn't remember where it was, and he suggested that "maybe you left it at Old Nady!" Old Nady. What a hoot. A saucy hoot, but a hoot nonetheless.

Ben is slowly starting to get this letter thing. He can write a few and is learning the sounds they make more and more each day. Hopefully soon he can just read to himself so that we can go to bed early.

Speaking of bed, I should go to it.

Wow...happy new year!

Welcome to 2008!

I apologize for the lack of posts and pics and updates...Kathy, Greg and the cutest twinsies ever, Ruby and Fiona, are visiting and staying with us. It is non-stop cuteness and hilarity over here...much more than we hoped for! So much going on that I just don't have the time (or strength or energy) to download Christmas pics from the camera and recount our holiday season...maybe this weekend?

I just want to say that 2007 was a great year and we are so looking forward to 2008!

So much to update...

so little time to do it!

What's happened since we last blogged...

We went to see Walking With Dinosaurs. It was so totally cool, it's hard to describe. There was a man on the floor with the dinosaurs - the palaeontologist - and he talked about the environment and the types of dinosaurs and the like. Ben wasn't too scared, until the end. There were two herbivores out on the floor, wandering around, and the palaeontologist explained that the one thing that could break through the armour of the dinosaurs was the fiercest, most feared animal ever to roam the planet...the tyrannosaurus rex! And the screen lifted and out ran a little baby t-rex! So cute! But then momma rex came out, screaming, and that's when Ben hid his face in the seat! I brought him up on my lap for the last little bit, and he was fine. Gord and I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and we think Ben really did too! We didn't take the camera, 'cause we didn't think they'd let the audience take pictures, but they did. Even though there was a risk that the flashes would spook the dinos and cause a rampage! Ha ha ha!

This past Sunday, Chris, Sheri and I went to the Bon Jovi concert. OH MY GOD. So incredible. When we bought our tickets, we ended up in a section beside the stage (it was a 360 degree bowl). So we knew there was a chance our view would be obstructed. However, I guess when they actually set up the equipment, our view was completely blocked. So we were relocated up to 5th row, same section, but in front of the end of the stage! RIGHT WHERE JON BON JOVI CAME OUT THE DOOR ON THE STAGE. Like 15 feet from me. He is amazing! I was screaming my lungs out the whole concert. I swear, he looked at Sheri and I once! The girls at work were all jealous of our seat upgrade and laughing at my account of the evening! Can you tell I had a good time? Again though, no camera. I didn't want to bring our big digital SLR to the concert. I used my cell phone camera, but those pictures aren't that great. Oh well, I have the images seared onto my brain!

Ella is starting to say more stuff now (thank goodness!). Added to her repertoire now:

Pretty - sounds like pih-eeee - used to describe all things Christmas
Santa - sounds like data
Ho ho ho - yep, it sounds like it's supposed to!
Then she tries to say Merry Christmas, but it's just a bunch of syllables
And cheese for the camera!

BTW, I'm watching Love Actually right now. I love this movie. And it's all about Christmas. And it's funny. And it has Hugh Grant and Colin Firth and Liam Neeson and the yummy guy that Laura Linney likes. Whatever his name is. But it has Kiera Knightley in it. I don't get her appeal. She's way too skinny. But Hugh Grant is in it, so that pretty much makes up for anything!

Here are some pictures...enjoy!

Goofing around before bed:



Pinning down his little sister:


Here is the letter that Ben had me write to Santa (beyond cute!):


"Cheeeeeeeeeese!"


Hamming it up for the camera:

We're still here!

In case people are wonderin'.

What's been going on here? Lemme think.

Ben ended up being sick, sick, sick, sick, sick, sick on Friday night. We came home from our evening out with some friends and the kids were still awake. Ben said that his boobies hurt. Then he came to me and said that he needed to go to bed. So I willingly took him (Holy crap! He ASKED to go to bed!) After I tucked him in, he decided to barf all over himself, the bed and me. Of course, I stick my hand out, to catch the barf, I guess. Reflexes...they aren't what they used to be.

So it was a long night, me and Ben, up every 3 hours or so. We think it was all the pool water he swallowed at his swimming lessons on Friday night. A lovely thought.

He's back to his chipper self, terrorizing his little sister, refusing to eat, acting like a maniac. We were worried there for a bit on Saturday morning, when he was very cuddly and relaxed and low-key.

Knock on wood, but Ella is starting to say some words. She understands absolutely everything you say to her, but she just didn't say things herself. Here are some of her recent accomplishments (words that she'll say most of the time):
- Eye (Hi)
- Eye diddy (Hi kitty)
- Deeeez (Cheese)
- Doh (No or Go)
- Dap (Clap)
- Bwoooo (Blue - she said it this morning)
- Duh-dowww (Touchdown! BTW, Vikes win again! And maybe next year Bombers!)

And she signs lots of stuff still too. She is becoming quite emphatic with her "eat" sign. Very cute.

We were playing a game today where I would say "Go" and Ella and Ben would run and dance and shake their booties until I said "Stop" while holding my hand out. They would stop, and Ella would hold her hand out like mine. Then I would say "Go" and the game would start again. It was absolutely adorable.

Three of Ella's eye teeth have finally cut through...one to go. This girl is a cranky teether, believe me. Just when I get comfortable sleeping all night long, she decides to get really cranky and wake up for an hour and a half in the middle of the night. Just 5 more teeth to go...

OK, I'm tired and I need to go to bed. Here are some pics to round out this post...

Funnies!

While I'm thinking about them:

- Ben takes swimming lessons at a pool in the city - right by the pool, there is a big hill that overlooks a man-made lake. After lessons, Ben usually likes to run to or up the hill. Tonight, he and I ran up the hill, looked around, and ran back down. When we stopped running, I asked him to give me a high-5 for a fun run. He looks at me, says, "I'm all tuckered out" and then very weakly gives me the high-5 I asked for. I laughed out loud and said, "Bug, you make me laugh!" and he says, "Mommy, YOU make ME laugh!"

- About a month ago (yeah, yeah, I'm late blogging about it), Ella had been playing with Gord's keys (she loves keys). The next morning, we were running around trying to all get out of the house on time, and Gord can't find his keys anywhere. No biggie, we'll just use mine until we find them. So we looked again that night, no luck. The next day, I decided to actually empty the sinkful of dirty dishes. And in the bottom of the sink, with all the dirty, wet cutlery, under the dirty, wet plates and cups? Gord's keys. The "lock" button is still a little squishy, but we figured out her hiding place.

- Ella does the cutest little signs - for drink, eat, sleep, baby, flower, please, etc. Adorable. Too bad we don't ever videotape her. Ever. Gotta fix that.

Off to bed...zzzzzzzzz...

Once upon a time there was a dragon and a chicken...

Ella the chicken:

See here for a picture of Ben in the chicken costume (it's a hand-me-down)...

Ben the dragon:


Starting out:


Doesn't this picture look spooky? It's a ghost...woooooooooo!


Actually, it's just 'cause the lens fogged up when we got back in the house. Ella was a little eager to dive into the haul!

Both kids surveying the loot:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

FROM BEN & ELLA!

Painting the "ghost" pumpkin:


Ben, after Gord painted him!

Of course, he didn't forget Ella! (the face paint is all her doing!)

Lots of pictures!

Post-bath dance:

Fun with the diaper box!


Sneaking a picture while Ella is playing:


Ben was playing away in his room, came out and asked Gord to come a take a picture of him! How cute! He loves his trains...


Coy girl:


Sittin' in the toy basket!


Enjoying their bedtime milk


Again, he asked Gord to take his picture...a budding model perhaps?


The finished fence (PLEASE ignore the messy, messy yard)

Stats:

Ella: 25 pounds 3 ounces & 33 3/4 inches tall
That is 75th percentile for weight and 90th percentile for height

Ben: 35 pounds & 37 1/2 inches tall
That is below average for weight and approx. 15th percentile for height

Funny how one kid takes after each of us. Except that I am NOT below average for weight!

Mommy returns!

Well, we made it to Calgary and back safely. We all had a really great time, and I need to thank Chris and Sheri (and Sari!) for letting me drag them out there. It was a lot easier on the pocketbook, that's for sure! Triple arm pump to you guys!

While in Calgary, we made a trip to IKEA - as if we would miss it! Let's just say that the car was pretty packed on the way home. I bought mostly stuff for the kids - toy organizers, miscellaneous organizers, plates/bowls/cutlery, etc. Knowing that we didn't have a lot of space really limited what we bought, but that's okay.

Sari was such a great little traveler - I think she did better than the rest of us! Lots of smiles and giggles. We played a lot of peek-a-boo. And she started a love affair with an empty water bottle. Whatever floats your boat Sari!

The wedding was great - Chrissy looked amazing! So beautiful. I had a really good time catching up with some old friends from my Commerce days. And we danced. And drank. And danced some more. And took silly pictures of each other. And ate cupcakes...yummy!

The kids were oh so excited when I picked them up yesterday. Huge smiles and Ella was even squealing. What a girl. Then they proceeded to ignore my requests and be difficult all night. Oh, how I missed them.

Just kidding, they weren't that bad.

We're off to see the dentist (Ben & I) and the pediatrician (Ella & Ben) tomorrow. I'll post Ella's 18-month stats afterwards.

That's all. I'll try to post some pics soon...I promise.

It's been a while!

Sorry for the s-l-o-w blogging as of late...we've all been adjusting to working and day care and activities. There's not a lot of time to log all the little details on here!

I'm going to use a lot of bullets below...it's easier to list it all out!

- We recently got Ben a little doctor's kit. He LOVES to play with it. When "Dr. Sheppard" is in the house, he likes to check your reflexes and laughs when you kick your leg up. He'll check your eyes and ears, listen to your heart and slice you open with the scalpel to look at your bones. Don't ask.
- One night, I took Ella's pants and diaper off in preparation for a bath. She had a bad diaper rash a couple weeks ago, so I was letting her have a little "free" time. Ben decided that he wanted to be naked too, but he took all his clothes off. He and Ella were running around and he says, "Ella, you might be bare-bum, but I'm naked AND bare-bum!" What a ham.
- Ella is still pretty much refusing to talk. She will talk in syllables, but not really form the words. I was singing, "Message in a bottle" (by the Police) tonight, and repeating that line over and over again ('cause it's the only one I really remember). Ella would move her arm around in the air and say, "da da doh doh da ta dah do". That's her Sting impression I guess.
- Ben and Ella are both taking gymnastics this fall. They both love it. We actually don't take Ella to Ben's class because she just freaks when she can't go out and play.
- Ben is also in swimming lessons and is doing alright. He tends to wander off from his class, and the teacher has to call him back about 5 or 6 times a class. Ben is now dunking himself under the water completely, and then he'll look up at us and say, "I'm doing great!"
- Ella and Gord are both getting over bad colds right now. Ella can't blow her nose so we're wiping it every 10 minutes or so, which is kind of a pain. How do you teach a kid to blow? Ben's old babysitter did it for us with him, so we've never done it before!

I'm heading to Calgary for the weekend and leaving my babies behind for 6 days! Ack! How will I do this? Not that I don't have every ounce of faith in Gord, but I'm am really going to miss them! And Gord of course, but he's a big boy.

And a happy birthday to Grandpa Ken from all of us 'Tobans!

I'll try to post again before I leave on Wednesday...

Shopping!

We headed out to Old Navy last night 'cause I heard through the grapevine that there was a sale going on...and we bought a lot of stuff. It may not be a lot to some people (cough...Chris & Sheri...cough), but to me, it was a lot. See, I'm the kind of person who buys one or two things here, one thing there, etc. But if you're around Winnipeg and an Old Navy, they have 25% off all baby & kids stuff. Heck, you probably don't care about any of the stuff we bought last night, but we dropped $130 (INCLUDING taxes) and got all of this:

Ella's windfall:

http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37708&pid=507047&scid=507047022
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37213&pid=507087
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37213&pid=507035&scid=507035042
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37223&pid=507038&scid=507038032
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37227&pid=398545
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37227&pid=505891
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37231&pid=505902&scid=505902002 (not exactly what I bought, but similar - no belt, pocket on a knee

(BTW, what is with all the skinny pants with tapered legs they have for little girls? I myself don't like the look (and it's not just 'cause it doesn't work with my body) on grown women, I can't imagine liking it on Ella.)

and Ben got:

http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37041&pid=505981
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?cid=37257&pid=505776
and a halloween costume that they don't have on the website! How weird is that?! I guess it'll be a surprise...

Eh, if you ask, we'll tell you, I'm sure! They didn't have any of these in his size, otherwise we would have gotten that one for him. He loves dragons right now...dragons and dinosaurs. We've actually bought tickets for us to go to the Walking with the Dinosaurs show coming to MTS Centre. I think I would have bought tickets for myself to go without Ben, it looks so cool. We decided to buy tickets for the 3 of us to go (Ella will have to miss this one...we think it'll be too scary for her), so hopefully Ben will like it. I am already excited to go.

Sorry, I digressed...back to the stuff we bought last night...yeah, Ella got a lot more stuff than Ben, but he can still wear 2T pants for heaven's sake! His 3T pants are still plenty long, so he's pretty much set for fall/winter. Ella, however, has basically outgrown all her 12-18 month pants, and needed a few shirts.

I need to see if Ben's 3T winter jacket still fits him...if it doesn't, it's back to Old Navy I go!

We're going to the zoo zoo zoo, how about you you you?

Some pics from our most recent trip to the zoo: (So that nobody is left out of the joke, 'Whazzat' is pretty much the only thing that Ella says - and she says it a LOT.)

"Whazzat?" (It's a chameleon.)

"Whazzat?" (It's a meerkat.)

Two little dinosaurs just hatching.

"Whazzat?" (It's a reindeer.)

Again, 2 kids, 2 levels of enjoyment.

For 34 years I would have sworn that the raccoon enclosure was a cruel joke - but I've seen the raccoon like 10000000 times this year. Proves me wrong, I guess!

"Whazzat?" (It's a prairie dog.)

"Whazzat?" (It's Ben being a prairie dog.)

The next two pictures show Ben rolling down a hill and Ella trying to copy him:

Tonight on CSI: Zoo - We're pretty sure that the standing camel did it. Perhaps it was hump envy.

"Whazzat?" (It's a skeleton, according to Ben.)

2 kids, 2 levels of enjoyment redux:

"Whazzat?" (It's an incredibly friendly and sociable prairie dog.)


Two birds: one caged and one flying free:

p.s. I was going to update you on Dottie (Dorrie? Debby? DooBee?) the really old Polar Bear but her enclosure was empty and they were cleaning it out. Another case for CSI: Zoo perhaps.