Merry Christmas!

Well, it's 4:45 and both kids are having a nap (amazing) and dinner is in the crock pot. David is picking up Matt and Libby as we speak...squeee.. I can't wait! Once they arrive we'll eat dinner and open gifts, we'll get our family Christmas get together yet.

Hope your day was wonderful! I look forward to posting some pics of Sarah opening her gifts tomorrow.

30 Years!

Two days ago it was my 30th birthday. Being a "big" birthday, I thought I should post something about it.

The day started off well since David took the kids so that I could get an extra hour and a half of sleep. It amazes me how much better that extra hour can make me feel. With two little ones it's the simple things that often make my day.

We went out for lunch to McDonalds. This may sound lame (kind of is), but I like Big Macs and it's a child friendly place. We haven't eaten there in ages; Sarah loved her tray of fries and nuggets. She's all about "dipping" her food these days. I loved my big mac. We were all happy. I have come to understand why parents eat at places that I once thought were lame and with not great food or atmosphere. If your kids are happy and eating quietly, you as the parent will enjoy yourself and have a good time. Looks like we joined that club. After a tasty McD lunch we we walked around Walmart to pick up some essentials (conditioner, gel, snow boots for Sarah).

In the afternoon I cleaned the house and did laundry while Sarah slept and David entertained Calvin. David insisted that we should just relax and leave the house work, but I reminded him that if I did nothing today the next day would be bad and I already had a list of things to do that day. Oh well, life goes on right?

The highlight of the day was going out for dinner to the Keg with David. We had both kids babysat for two hours, which was amazing!! I am so happy that Sarah doesn't have any attachment issues and loves to be with other people, doesn't even look back (almost kind of sad sometimes). Two hours may not seem like a long time, but it was our first time away from both kids, and therefore the first time in a very long time that I have been able to sit and enjoy a good meal with good conversation. We then picked up the kids and headed home to put them to bed and then we had the evening to ourselves as well.

I'm glad to say that I'm happy to be 30, don't feel old at all and am happy to say that I am without regrets. A couple of friends here were talking to me about how hard it was to turn 30 since they thought their lives would be so much different than they actually were.

I feel the same sentiment but with a sense of thankfulness and wonder that so much has happened in the past 30 years. Perhaps that's why I feel so good about turning 30. I have accomplished more than I thought possible, reached so many goals, have been blessed beyond and experienced so much already. I know that this is due to God's goodness, my faithfulness, the support of David, my personal drive to reach my goals, and the fact that we held off to start our family. Of course, some years have been better than others, but that has helped me embrace and be thankful for the better times.

I know that the next 10 years + will be busy with raising kids and supporting David and our family in this career transition. Therefore I think fondly of the past years and look forward to the years to come. Cheers to 30 years, they've been good!

Happy Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas! Here's a bunch of photos of the kids in their Christmas outfits. Last night we went to our church's Christmas production; it was a great service/ show and definetly helped me get more into the spirit of Christmas. Today the plan is to take it easy, get some groceries and finish the last of the tidying up. Tomorrow afternoon my brother and sister in law, Matt and Libby, are coming out for the week. We are all so... excited! Should be an awesome time!

Tonight is our family Christmas get together back in Abbotsford, we sure are going to miss that! With my mom bringing her boyfriend and brother bringing his new girlfriend... it's sure to be a different experience. It's amazing how much our family is growing and changing. It's sad that we're so far away and have to miss so much of it. Thank goodness for modern technology. I can't imagine living far away without the phone and internet.

This dress was just too much fun for Sarah.

Loving licks, yuck!

Little Miss Domestic

Remember that post about Sarah cleaning up and watching everything that we do? Well, she seems to think that her little "corn popper" is also a vacuum cleaner. Whenever I finish vacuuming she takes her popper and "vacuum" the carpets. She goes back and forth to the corners of the room. She even puts her foot over the wheel and tries to press down, just like how I turn on/ off the vacuum. It's just so sweet!

Today when I pulled out the vacuum and started vacuuming she immediately picked up her popper and started "vacuuming" alongside me. The camera was handy so I attempted to get a clip of her being domestic. These are the moments that make me smile, the ones that I'm eager to share with David at the end of the day when he comes home from school.

For the past few days Sarah's been having some jealous moments when Calvin is awake and needing me, usually when I'm nursing him. She is a complete delight when it's just the two of us and then as soon as Calvin wakes up from his nap she becomes "not very nice." She is also very loving towards him, so this is kind of odd. I can tell that she's just missing "our" time together. Thankfully Calvin has good naps so I am able to almost always get a good chunk of time with just Sarah each day. Let's up she gets over this sooner than later, since the not nice moments just aren't very fun to deal with.

Our Cute Kids

A few photos from a photo session we had when Calvin was just 4 days old. These are some of my favourites. I wasn't thrilled with the photos as a whole, so that was a little disappointing, but the photographer did the session as a gift (trying to build her newborn portfolio and wanted to help someone out). Therefore, we were thankful for the ones that we got. I especially love the first photo of Sarah.

So I don't feel like I've had much to post about these days, as most days have seemed to fit the general theme of taking care of and playing with the kids, changing diapers, making food, doing laundry, cleaning, etc, etc. Calvin is sleeping longer and going for longer between feeds which has been awesome. Sarah continues to be a rascal and lots of fun (most of the time). I have to start writing down all the funny things she's doing, there seems to be something new each day. Oh, and I've also been busy completing all the Christmas card orders that I've had.

David's got 2 more exams left so he's been home more which has been GREAT! I think the busy time as far as card orders go is about done or close to being done. I've found that 2 orders a day is perfect for me, fills in the time a little without being too much at all. For the past couple of weeks I've had about 3-4 a day, with the most being 7 orders in one day. That was a busy day! I'm thrilled with how far I've come with this in just a matter of months but already a little freaked out about what next Christmas could be like. Time will tell, at this point there's no sign of things really slowing down. However, I think January/ February will be slower months (no holidays, less births and weddings, etc), so I'm looking forward to the break.

I can't believe Matt and Libby come in less than 2 weeks, we are so thrilled! Anyways, I'll hopefully post more regularly again as Christmas card season slows down. I get to ship my first order to the USA tomorrow, 60 photo cards off to California! That was really exciting for me, not even a referral, just a blind buy through a google images search. Yahoo! God has truly been good to us in so... many ways, we are so very thankful!

Playing Around

Not much new these days. David's done classes, I've been busy with the kids and card orders. So I thought I would just post the photos from the other day.

I love baby feet photos, I thought this was a great one.

Chocolate Advent

I've really been enjoying Christmas through Sarah this year, even though it's only the second of December. We've been playing with the nativity set, talking about the Christmas story, decorating, visiting Santa and reading/ looking at Christmas books.

When I saw the chocolate advent calendars in the store a few weeks ago I had to get one for her. Growing up, the chocolate advent calendar was something that I always wished I could have but never got. It seemed like something only the "rich kids" got. Then I got a little older and realized they only cost about $1.50 each. It would have only cost my family about $6. Oh well.

I took some photos of Sarah trying to open the first box and eating her first advent chocolate in the morning. She was a big fan! I can already tell that Christmas time will be even more fun with kids.

Daddy and Calvin Reading

I took this photo the other day and thought it was just too cute not to post. We're amazed how much Calvin is growing and changing each day. What a blessing he is to our family!

Santa Clause Parade

On Saturday it was the annual Santa parade down Sullivan ave, just three houses over from where we live. So we bundled up, walked down the road and watched the parade.

Calvin wasn't really into his first parade. David had him all snuggled up in the baby bjorn. I think he was warmer than everyone else.

Since the parade started at 5pm we had part of dinner before and part after. Sarah prefered her pepperoni stick over the candy canes that people kept giving her (thank goodness).

The Christmas season has begun!

Little Fish

Sarah is such a little fish! She loves laying in the water on her back and rolling over continually in the tub. I always cover myself in a towel while sitting near the tub or else I will become totally soaked. Anyways, I thought I would post a little clip of her in the tub this evening.

Playing with her Donut bucket from Tim when we went to the CNE. This is one of her favourite bath toys! Thanks Tim!

Uncle Michael and Auntie Rebecca Come to Visit

On Friday we got to see Michael and Rebecca one last time before they returned back to BC. It was so... good having family out. We feel so blessed to have family that adore our kids and enjoy spending time with us. Thanks for the vist you two, we miss you both already!

Sweet Sarah

Sarah has really taken to her baby dolls lately. I think it's sweet how she carrys them around as if she's burping the baby by her shoulder. She is indeed watching how I care for Calvin and the things I do with him. I'm just waiting for the day she tries to nurse one of her dolls.

The "I'm thinking" look, what a character!

Calvin is 1 Month

Our little man is one month old today! Wow, time sure does go by fast. I thought I would post a few photos of him in his big boy clothes; they make him look so much older! He continues to be a pretty content little guy with a pretty serious little look.

10 Years!

Yesterday David and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! Wow, how the time does fly! I have to admit that they have been pretty great years. We have grown so much together. We have experienced and learned so much already, about ourselves, each other and life. I am so thankful for a man that inspires me, challenges me and in general makes me a better person. I can't imagine life without him in it. We are truly a team; I love how we do everything together. Even the mundane become enjoyable or at least manageable when we share the tasks together. Not every day has been easy, but those days have made us stronger and better yet. I look forward to continuing to share life with David, he truly is my best friend.

We originally planned on going on some grand vacation for our 10 year anniversary, perhaps Fiji. But here we are at home with a one month old baby and a high energy toddler. It may not be Fiji but we're happy with the season of life that we're in. David was at school all day and then in Toronto for the evening at a food and wine show (no infants or kids allowed), we both didn't realize that the date of the show was our anniversary several months ago when he was planning on going. Oh well, what's a day. He came home briefly at mid day which was nice. Other than that, I spent the day with the kids and was able to see Michael and Rebecca one last time before they headed back to Vancouver early this morning.

Knowing that we wouldn't be together yesterday, we all went to the States for most of the day on Thursday. We did some shopping and browsing around which was nice. Kids bedtimes always seem to come so early though, so then it was back home for the evening.

Perhaps next year we'll go on that grand trip...or perhaps it will be many years away. Oh well, we have many other great trips that we can fondly remember in our "before children" days.

Bath Time for Calvin

It's funny how much bathing Sarah when she was a newborn intimidated me. For at least the first month David and I would always give her a bath together. It just didn't seem to be a one person job.

Well, three weeks later I have bathed Calvin by myself every time. It didn't scare me at all this time. David has evening classes most days of the week so I had to figure out bath and bed time with two kids right away. I'm pleased to say that it's actually gone really well. You can see in the above photo that Sarah always has to get right in there while I'm giving Calvin his bath.

Finally the other day David was home during bath time so I asked him to take a few photos since I am unable to give a baby a bath and take photos at the same time, just not that talented.


Calvin doesn't love getting a bath, but settles down pretty quickly and seems to enjoy it in the end.

Sarah showing off Calvin

The ever adoring big sister showing off her baby brother this morning.

Just a Sarah look. I can only imagine how many photos we have of this girl. I'm already worried that Calvin won't have nearly as many photos.

Daddy and the Kids

David's loving his Calvin time too. For the last couple of afternoons David's been having little naps on the couch cuddled up with Calvin.

End of the day cuddles continue to be a favourite time of the day.

Calvin and Mommy

Just because I'm so in love with this little guy...

Do we need 3 Bouncy Chairs?

Everybody seems to be fans of the bouncy chair! It hasn't broken yet, so we may be ok since I can't seem to get Sarah out of the chair.

Even Keisha gets cozy in the chair when the other two aren't around.