Bix Neal

Back in the fall, Tavish was telling us about playing "bix neal" with a classmate named Arial, a new boy at school. Bix neal? We repeatedly sought clarification and came to believe he meant "big snail". Logically, we had to ask how it was played. Also logically, Tavish explained it the way any 3 year old would: "you run and "arr" and go "guuu" and run and yeah". Oh. Now, Arial also speaks Spanish, so maybe the game name was literally lost in translation? In chatting on the playground with Arial's Mom, she also had no guesses as to what "bix neal" was in Spanish nor in English. We even casually inquired with his teacher, who also had no idea what "bix neal" was. This was a sign. We needed to just accept "bix neal" for what it was ... a mysterious, but fun sounding game that pre-schoolers play to the confusion of adults...

MOMENT: "Bix Neal" returns

February 13th, several months after having not heard too much about "bix neal", Tavish excitedly tells us about the cookies they baked at school for the "bix neal tomorrow". My mind responded with a flurry of mental activity 'bix neal'? 'big snail'? no ... wait ...

Mommy: "Tavish, are the cookies for the Valentine's Day bake sale?"
Tavish: "Yeah, we made them for the bix neal for tomorrow and the elementary kids made stuff too!"

So, there you have it. These boys have been playing 'bake sale' on the playground. It is apparently common for the kids to 'bake' things in the little building and pass them to each other through the window and thus, you have a 'bix neal'.

Happy Valentine's Day!
We enjoyed our 'bix neal' cookies.

Rockin' Dos

Cute kids + Soap = Rockin' Siblings

MOMENT: Clean & Cute

The kids were given the gift of clean hair from Mommy and her creative washing ways...

Month 8

This month's photo was motivated by a gift Keva received from a long time friend of mine... not generally something I'd put her in... it's very girly, but also cute, fun, and was about to be too small. So, bring on tutu time!

MOMENT: Tutu Time

Keva was agreeable to the photos taken on our bed covered with a few white towels. I think the sequins were the tipping point between frustration and enjoyment. Our little ballerina was 8 months old on January 28th, 2013 with 8 teeth, functional rolling skills, solid sitting, and long hair (on top). It looked a little something like this:

Skater Boy

What would winter be without some skating on the canal and the introduction of a hockey stick?

Keva - the keeper of the chair device

Lacing up

He's off! 

MOMENT: Devices

We brought a folding chair to help Tavish with his skating. First, we offered him the back of the chair. He didn't move very far. We gave him the seat, it moved better, but was still unsatisfactory. The stroller seemed more promising, but Tavish eventually just stopped altogether. Hmm... so, we offered the chair again. "No, I think I'll just skate." And, he did. That was the last for the chair and our next time out - he was given a whole new device to skate with: a hockey stick!

Ski-sonal Fun

We awoke to a great amount of fresh, white snow on the morning of Saturday, January 19th. It covered the city, so Tavish and I donned our skis and made tracks around the yard, the neighbour's yard (thanks Grandpa Mike!), the neighbourhood, and the local park...

MOMENT: Skiable City

Tavish - such a trooper! He does a face plant, falls, and overcomes some rogue plant life all while on skis for the first time in a year. We were out for over 3 hours and not once did he complain or ask to come in. A great start to a ski-son indeed. Keva was happy to be out after her nap too, all tucked into her sled. Hopefully this indicates many seasons of family skiing in our future!

Mutual Adoration

Our alarm clocks are dusty. We have long been woken from our slumber by: thump, thump, thump (door opening), thump, thump (another door opening), thump, thump - "Daddy?" Sometimes, Tavish will just nestle in or play quietly, but more often it doesn't play out that way. When the sound of rattling toys accompanies "when can we go downstairs?", we know that our day has begun.

Sibling solidarity

MOMENT: Stuffed

When the rattling starts, Tavish perks up with "can I go see Keevs?!" Off he goes, giving Keva notice of his impending presence by knocking on her door and calling out "Keva?!?". On occasion, our children play together through the railing of Keva's crib. We used to check in on them, but after repeatedly being met with blank stares from them (what? why are you here?), we prefer to just tally the toys in the crib when Tavish stops the snooze button with "I'm hungry. I think Keva wants to say good morning"...



MOMENT: Venting

The communication vent

I went into Tavish's room one morning and noticed his music player on the floor in front of the heating vent. I didn't think too much about it until a few nights later when Tavish leaned over and whispered "goodnight, Keevs" toward it. It was on a rare evening that Keva was asleep before Tavish had a chance to give her a hug and say goodnight. Aw. I later asked him if he ever listens to his music anymore. He said, "not so much, but I play it sometimes for Keva". Again, aw.

Sitting Pretty

She's come a long way with her sitting skills. They improved over the holidays and by the middle of January - her skills were solid. Here is the pretty lady sitting proudly...

MOMENT: Like a Rock

No wobbling, no toppling. She's not budging. It's virtually safe to sit her up and walk away, although I have made a few heroic saves... Although not for this photo/video shoot, we usually put the nursing pillow behind her to cushion any unintended toppled. She must be pretty proud because when you don't leave her with a toy, she seems to find ways to entertain herself with whatever she's got on her. Such a welcome baby stage and we've got it. Yay us ... er, um, I mean ... yay Keva!