Year 2, Party 2 - Family Edition

Most Sundays are spent with the Bedford side of the family and this Sunday happened to coincide with The Tavern Kids Campaign – an initiative of local children's band, Hey Buster, to "introduce the children of Ottawa to taverns.” Ah, the perfect excuse to celebrate Tavish's 2nd birthday with family, no?

Celebrate we did as a family among other toddlers, surrounded by live children's music and with the accompaniment of an adult beverage. The occasion was finished off with pizza and cake at our place.

MOMENT: Guitars, Drums and Violins - Oh My!

Tavish has developed an affinity for instruments and music. He can identify individual instruments in music - most of the time correctly too. Needless to say, he was mesmerized with the band and their instruments while sitting on Daddy's lap among the masses: "ge-taar! duhms! vie-lin!" etc, etc.



MOMENT: A Fine Drinking Establishment

Wouldn't you know it, Tavish bumped into a friend he knew at the tavern! They were able to 'cheers' the occasion with their sippy cups. Hmm, I wonder if this is foreshadowing for 17 years from now ... them socializing at a bar with a beverage?



MOMENT: Huff and Puff

Ah yes, the excitement of blowing the candles out had not waned since the day before. Tavish was just as elated to blow out his 'two can-ules' at the second party as he was at this first. Two candles, two cakes and two parties for a two year old.



MOMENTS: Cousins Celebrating

Who doesn't love cake and a new toy or two to play with? Thanks to Auntie Michele, Uncle Mark, Harrison, Finn and Grandpa for the new toys for the boys to break in!

Year 2, Party 1

Two years ago our lives were filled with such joy,
For into our life came a new baby boy.

The process of making something so great,
Took time and patience for our son arrived late.

We think the timing could not have been better,
For this time of year marks a change in the weather.

From trees drips sap if you’ve the patience to wait,
With care that sap becomes something great!

Come celebrate this occasion among maple trees.
With friends we will enjoy - the syrup we’ll seize!

We invited Tavish's friends and their family to the largest urban maple sugar bush's "Maple Sugar Festival" to celebrate and enjoy Tavish's second birthday. There was so much to explore: the sugar bush, the sugar shack, the pancake breakfast, the inflatable playground, the horse-drawn sleigh rides, the live music and of course, the cake!

MOMENT: A Sleigh Ride Show-off



The last person whose birthday we celebrated was named Barbara. Anytime Tavish heard "Happy Birthday", he was saying "Happy Birthday, Barbara". It took him awhile to get that it was happy birthday, Tavish - but he certainly knew how old he was and told us during the sleigh ride:



MOMENT: Syrup?

Tavish and Daddy checked out the buckets of sap. This was especially enjoyable after getting a sample of syrup from the evaporator in the Sugar Shack - yum.


MOMENT: Green Goodness

Tavish was drawn to the inflatable play structures. He's got some more growing 'up' to do for some of the contraptions, but he was eager to get into the green one. I went in with him the first time (brr on the feet - but fun) and Ahmed braved the green bubble with Tavish the second time. Certainly, Tavish enjoyed it ... and so too did the adults.


MOMENT: Candles on the Cake

Not too sure I've met anyone who loves candles as much as Tavish. He loves watching other people blow out candles. He likes blowing out hand drawn candles. He likes singing songs about candles. What a perk to get to do it himself!



Our little two year old is on a restricted diet right now, but showed no signs of disappointment for his yummy birthday muffin. Yum!

Two-riffic

My 'baby' is two. Whoa, two? Two! Two?! TWO?!? That's just craziness - but it's true, he is two. We spent the day together today and it was two-riffic indeed.



MOMENT: Friends at the Farm

Tavish and I met Rachel, Sam and Lucy (8 days old) this morning at the Experimental Farm. We also spent some quality time with some animals and a playground.

A cow puts the moo'ves on Tavish.



Tavish and Sam scope the joint in toddler unison.



Some goat gentleness.



Thrilled to be sliding again.



MOMENT: Potty Pee

It's true, on Tavish's second birthday - he decided to pee on the potty for the first time! No images from the occasion, but I guess spending time chilling on the potty with potty books paid off.



MOMENT: Splashes and Sushi

Post-nap, we headed to the pool for a splashing good time. Tavish has long loved the water, but today involved actual attempts at swimming on his front and floating on his back. It was impressive and Daddy made it in time to check it out. We then headed out for sushi, Tavish's favourite food. Fine, you caught me - it's my favourite food ... but it's sort of a celebration for me too this 'birth'day, right? Tavish loved his avocado sushi pieces and chili (that we brought) just the same. It was a special, special day.

Stay tuned for two two-riffic celebrations that are coming up this weekend.

Axe Audience

Everything seems to be funny to Tavish these days, including physical labour with large metal objects.

MOMENT: Splitting Wood & Splitting a Gut

Daddy made fire wood and Tavish made a great audience.

Winter Wonderland

Our family adventure this winter: winter camping with a toddler. Now, let's be clear: it was cabin camping ... with a wood stove, beds and a table - but 'camping' nonetheless and it was a success. We skied in, played in the snow, built a fire and had a good night sleep as well. When can we sign up for next year?

MOMENTS: Captured in Photos, Celebrated in Memories

We were pleased that there was still snow to ski on ...




A happy (albeit heavy on hills) passenger tucked into the Chariot.



Cool cabin! Let's check it out Daddy!



Family fun in the snow...





Lots of play, with a little work thrown in ... mostly for Tom, but he did have a loyal audience.



Our only 'family' photo from the adventure - oops.

Tub Toy Toss

Although we do have some guidelines for bath time and throwing in general, we apparently don't mind when they are combined for some good ol' fashion fun. Controlled toy tossing in the tub? Sure. Besides, how can anyone not see the fun (and the funny) in this?

MOMENT: Splashing Silliness

Daddy says "the water stays in the tub, Tavish". Mommy says "please don't throw your toys". To be fair, the water was in the tub and they were more of a toss than a throw. That's our story and we're sticking to it.

Winding Down

After a brief hiatus from full-time Mommying for some paid work, I'm reflecting on some of the wonderful moments of motherhood I was still able to capture despite my daytime absence. This entry is a tribute to my fortune for never having to miss the evening entertainment, er ... um, I mean 'wind-down' before bed in our house.

MOMENT: Food is Fuel?

I guess we can try to blame dinner for the energy spike before bed or maybe it was just giddiness from being back together ... regardless of what caused it, this fun went on for a long time. Note me trying to focus Tavish's energy (stretch, touch your toes, jump) ... then blow it with "3, 2, 1 - GO!"? Oops, guess we were all fueled by the fun of the moment. I'm so glad we were.