Weekend in Pictures

Thursday night Ethan and I went with Kellie to the Sidney Market. We only bought yummy things to eat, but we really enjoyed wandering around in the crowds.

Ethan was grooving to the marimba band - but was quite heartbroken at first when all of the maracas for the crowd were taken by the other kids. Luckily someone felt like sharing and I had to persuade Ethan away from the music with promise of a popsicle because he was having such a good time.

Friday we went to Cadboro Bay (or the far away Pirate park according to Ethan) to play and meet up with Uncle Axel and Auntie Natalie and Will.

We just played around and then had some lunch - and then Ethan found some friends that has extra fishing nets so he went to catch a Salmon. This is the equivalent to winning the lottery.
After our time at the beach we went to Starbucks for a hot chocolate. It was delicious.
Saturday we did chores (thanks for helping with the laundry, Kobe) and then we went to Kindergym to play without the camera.

Sunday morning we were up early so the whole family went to Thetis Lake for a walk (and swim for some).

Ethan no where to be seen because he is running all over the place in the first picture - and then Ethan gets tired and needs a shoulder ride. Papa the pack mule.

Beckett decides that he would like a turn walking too...

Kobe runs in the water and then poses nicely for a rare, non blurry picture.

Ethan wants a ride in the backpack since Beckett isn't in it any more. Beckett can't really walk so HE gets a shoulder ride so we can make it around the lake. Daddy is getting a good workout!

Daddy needs to cool off and of course Ethan needs to follow him in...

Beckett plays in the sand and gets really dirty.

Swim is over - time to go home so Beckett can have his morning nap (yes, this is how early our day started).

No dry clothes to go home in...

Beckett, Forty Seven Weeks Old!

This week you have started climbing. Climbing up the slide in the backyard. Climbing on the dog. Climbing over the ottoman. You even managed to climb all the way up the front and back stairs at our house.

I left you (but stood close of course) just to see how far you would go, and you made it to the top each time you started up a flight of stairs!

You are willing to do just about anything to improve your vertical situation.

You are also getting brave and standing up and letting go of any crutches and balancing. You are doing lots of up and down movement from your knees to one leg planted. You kind of remind me of a itty bitty surfer trying to get up on his board and catch a wave.

I know from my past experiences that very soon we won't be able to remember when you didn't walk!

Walk After Work

Troy comes home from work usually around 3 or 3:30 in the afternoon. The boys wake up about an hour earlier from their naps - so it leaves about enough time to change bum(s), have a snack and put shoes on before it is time to play with Daddy.
Sometimes we play in the backyard, but most days we head out for a dog stroll through the forest or down the waterway, with a stop at a playground in both cases of course!
Yesterday we went down the waterway to the "small pirate park" to play on the swings, slide, in the sand, and there was some running around on the grass and hiding behind trees. Kobe loving to dig down to the cool sand.
Beckett admiring acrobatic Ethan and digging with Kobe. It would be nice if summer stayed this nice.

Usual Monday Playdate Partners

Monday used to be the day that we went to Kindergym at Esquimalt Rec. Centre. Usually with Molly, Alex and Courtney. I'm sure when it starts raining again we will start going back - but until then we have been enjoying the sun. Almost every Monday we still get together at a park or the lake or their backyard (one of Ethan's most favourite places in the whole world).

These pictures are from the "pirate park" that is close to our house. We walk there at least 3 times per week. It is a great park and there are always lots of kids there to play with.

The boys run around like maniacs and climb on things, wrestle, jump - laughing the whole time. The babies usually sit near us on a blanket or crawl around on the grass trying to eat assorted random objects. The boys are really sweet and gentle with little Miss Molly (as seen in the pictures). It is so cute that I want to melt when they act like this...all big brother like making sure she is OK and giving little tickle, tickles.

I think that Beckett can't wait to get in on the action with the big boys. He spends much of his time watching them and trying to follow them around. Today Ethan and Alex were screaming back and forth at each other like little howler monkeys and Beckett got spooked at all the noise and started crying. He was OK once Mama picked him up - but it is funny how sweet they can be with Molly and how it kind of seems that Beckett has to make it through some rowdy boy initiations. I like to imagine that they are toughening him up to be a part of their posse.

Behind

Wow! Looking back I see that I am now 2 months behind in the story of our lives. I started back to work in May and since then when I sit down at a computer it has been to work furiously away while the kids are sleeping. Morning, noon and night!

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I often compose blog posts in my head while we are enjoying a particularly funny and satisfying morning - or while I watch the kids bounce around the park on perfect sunny days... Unfortunately, I can't seem to drag myself to the keyboard to record it, so the moments float around as warm and fuzzy thought patterns through my mind (or grey and foggy depending on the day we are having around here).

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It has been fantastic for me to be something other than a Mom. I love those kids to death, but sometimes I need to feel productive doing something other than tending to short people and housework. Doing my best at keeping balanced and fulfilled in all areas of my life.

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Once again we have made a couple of big changes - new puppy, and Mama back at work. And once again I feel like I am finally getting my rhythm back after adjusting to those changes.

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Ethan is in the middle of frequently rejecting his nap and being semi-psychotic in the afternoons. Beckett is opening and emptying drawers and cupboards, and cruising on furniture and falling and squishing fingers lots just as a good pre-toddler should. Kobe is constantly wrestling with Ethan and stealing toys from Beckett and uprooting plants and digging in the yard - BUT - strangely enough we have hit a comfortable feeling rhythm in our family where we are not so overwhelmed with life and we just have a good time everyday (crazy or not - more often CRAZY!).

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I hope that I can start finding the time not only to catch up, but also to make time to keep up with the website at least a couple of times per week. No promises to you or to myself on this one... I still have thank you cards from last year to mail and half done birthday presents and anniversaries and friends that are patient when months pass by and they haven't heard from me - AND the busy time of year for me is coming up soon at work...

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Just know that I think of my friends and family frequently and fondly. And I appreciate that you come here to check in on us - so I will make an effort to make the click worthwhile!