Thursday, January 31, 2013

Preparing for our Visitors

'Twas the night before Christmas and all was a-flurry of present wrapping, letter writing and snack preparing...


MOMENT: The Good Stuff

Tavish wrote a lovely letter and left some of his favourite treats for Santa and Rudolph. He was meticulous in his wrapping job for the gifts he lovingly made for Grandpa, Grandma, and Auntie Colleen. Indeed, both Santa and Rudolph (and the gift recipients too, of course) were thrilled with what they found waiting for them.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Sound Sleepers

For the first few months, our babes sleep in our bed for ease of nursing and due to basic exhaustion instincts. They do make their way into their cribs eventually, but again out of fatigued decision making, they will return during the night nursing ... and sometimes stay if their provider falls asleep. We loved it, it is a short period of time and there are few things better than waking up to the sweet face of your young baby...

MOMENT: Co-Sleeping Captured

I once saw this image titled: Sleeping Next to a Baby. It made me laugh out loud. Although not at all accurate for us because our babies are in their own beds before they are moving around, we could still relate on some level:


This seemed especially accurate on our first morning in Arizona when we were all very, very tired from our long travel day and late arrival. I happened to witness a sweet co-sleeping moment that could have been dubbed: Keva the Space Invader. Mercifully, Tom doesn't require much space to catch some shut-eye - he was pinned at the edge of the bed while Keva was right next to him with her arm stretched out into the vast open space that was the rest of the bed.  

FLASHBACK: The More Things Change...

Funny how seeing something today puts you in mind of a similar event in the past. Although we don't have any images of Tavish as a space invader, we do have this photo that could be dubbed: Like Father, Like Son. I love it! Tavish busted out of his swaddle and assumes his Daddy's preferred sleep position. (*Note: the hairdryer and soother ready when needed!) 

A generational mirror image...

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Bethlehem

We enjoyed a neat Christmas-themed event while down in Arizona in a church parking lot. It was well run and had some great activities tailored for children...

MOMENT: Activity Heaven

Tavish, accompanied by 5 adults and his baby sister, took in all of the sites, sounds, smells, and tastes of what it would have been like in Bethlehem. He helped make some bread that he got to eat (and share...a teeny bite for each of us); decorated some pottery with great care and detail; wove a basket with the help of Grandma; added cloves to an orange after smelling some spices; heard some excellent music; hung out with some farm animals; and then - the highlight - dressed up in period clothing for a family outing captured!

Terrific Travelers

Our journey between home and Arizona is a long one requiring two flights and a late arrival on both ends... with two children who like the stimulation to stop before surrendering to sleep. This alone is enough to create concern for the parents traveling with two children. However, our children (knock on wood) seem to be wonderful traveling companions ... other than staying awake longer than normal.

Luggage hauler
Tavish ready for take off
Keva the co-pilot

MOMENT: Complimented Companions

Our children are wonderful. Yes, we recognize that there could be some small bias in that opinion. However, we doubt it even more now based on the numerous compliments we received from random passengers about how enjoyable our little ones are because they are "great travelers". Sure, Tavish was granted the use of the Ipod Touch for one leg and Keva still nurses, but we take the praise when we get it. Bottom line though, it's always worth the journey to be with family. The hardest part is always leaving...

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Holiday Concert

Another year. Another super cute Christmas concert.

MOMENT: Toddlers are Fun

One can't help but find these things to be sweetly entertaining. I couldn't resist including the first clip which doesn't show Tavish ... it just embodies how sweet kids are at this age ... and the accompanying music is priceless. Sit back and enjoy as these cuties wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...






Christmas at Home

We enjoyed our annual pre-Christmas festivities with Grandpa Mike where a new tent stole the show...


MOMENT: Tent-full Fun

We had a lovely roast beef dinner before we all went off on our respective holiday trips. We try to keep the emphasis off of gifts in our family by giving only one present to each child from us and one from Santa. This year, we decided to team up with Grandpa Mike to make Tavish a tent with a bed that we made for him (fine, Tom was the sewer for the entire project ... I have other strengths). It was one super-duper and an instant hit!

Opening the pillow bed to go inside...
...his tent!
Keva making herself at home
Family time
It's time for a family feast!

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Christmas Past

We went on a Christmas adventure to visit 1920s and 30s rural village life at Cumberland Heritage Museum with some family friends. What an adventure it was...


MOMENT: Old Time Fun

Our first trip to this place will not be our last. We were invited to send a telegram to Santa (to which he later replied); were given an envelope of pennies to send the telegram, make an ornament, and build an airplane; went on a sleigh ride; had a roasted marshmallow by a campfire; decorated a gingerbread man; sang some carols; signed the 'nice' list AND spoke with Santa to tell him that Tavish would like "a book about trains" and that Keva would like "a chew toy" (according to her big brother). Life in the 1920s and 30s did not disappoint!

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Holiday Cheer


Time to dust off the ol' camera to capture the spirit of the season on film! Sending you our smiling mugs from our festive family to yours. Below is the 'official' finished product that was mailed to family...


MOMENT: Smile!

Here's a collection of some (okay, many) of the finest photos one can take at home with white sheets, a lamp on it's side, the self-timer and a great looking family (who happens to be humble). Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Where it all began
Our boy at 3 1/2 years
Our girl at 6 months
A lady and her babies
Simple sweetness
Siblings looking out for each other
Hands to hold
Daddy and his darlings
Feeding trumps photos
That's better
Comfort of a kiss
Santa hat special #1
Santa hat special #2
Santa hat special #3
Sophisticated son
Silliness ensues
Even Rudolph's nose goes in the mouth
A seriously happy (and festive) family

Randy the Reindeer

There was a little extra magic added to December this year in the form of a little reindeer named Randy ...

MOMENT: Hidden Pleasures

We started something new this year to build excitement for Christmas. Every morning, Tavish would find "Randy the Reindeer" somewhere with a note written in a rhyming couplet (of course) that told us what Christmas activity we would do that day. On top of the note was a number that told us how many days were left until Santa came. There was also a calendar where Tavish crossed off the day before bed.

Randy found himself in lots of fun places and his writer found themself writing couplets late in the evening at times (once post-feed in the middle of the night even - whoops!). He even made the trek with us to Arizona. We all had a great time doing the activities he told us to do from baking and caroling to crafting and playing. Now we all have 11 months to recover! ha.

Monday, January 7, 2013

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It all begins with a tree ... and some Santa hats.


MOMENT: O Christmas Tree

The trek to the nearby market to select our tree has become a bit of a tradition, it seems. So too has wearing silly Santa hats while decorating it...