Merry Christmas!

Here is the Merry Christmas post I started on Christmas! Merry Belated Christmas - as Luke would say...

The boys were super excited and were spoiled as usual. They got a Wii which was really the only item on their minds the last few months. It seems to be less addictive than the D.S. (so far) and we have played lots of family games: bowling, dancing, cycling, archery, ping pong and Toy Story. In fact, with the boys having to "earn" their Wii time by practicing, doing homework and exercising etc. - they actually seem to do more of that with less of a fuss, which is nice for us.

Grace, of course, knew something was different and exciting and had a great time playing with the wrapping paper and with her new toys. She also enjoyed a full turkey dinner with a Christmas cracker crown and all.

Here are some photos. The first one is of Liam doing his Dance Revolution moves with Dad as Luke (chilling out) and Grace watch. It is just like Guitar Hero but with dance moves. Very fun and a pretty good workout for a -20 day when you don't want to go outside for a walk. The bottom photo is of the kids with the beautiful stockings Aunt Kathy made. Luke is putting on a camera face...pretending he is not excited for Santa to come.

Photos with Santa

I have lots of half written posts that I've started and have yet to finish... I am in major sleep deprivation mode - kind of like how a brand new Mom should be. We were lucky that Grace started out as a fairly good sleeper but she has continuously become worse except for the odd night once or twice a month when she sleeps through...We've been trying to do the cry it out method but it really is terrible. Between Luke's school and hockey issues and less than 25 hours of sleep in the last 5 days (yes, I counted!) I feel headed towards a little - or big - meltdown. At least in a week Dan will be home for the holidays. He does have a paper to write though...

Grace took to Santa the way I expected (though she did love the Merry-go-round). I remember Liam having the same reaction...

On the move!

Off she goes! Looking so grown up too! 10 months has flown by. Grace in her princess dress and "babylegs" that I made...they sure do help protect crawling knees!

Luke's Baking

Luke has always enjoyed baking with us. I should find that adorable picture of him cooking in the buff with the Naked Chef cookbook...

He insisted on finding a cookbook specifically for children when we were at the library the other day. Then when Liam was at choir he started getting everything ready to make mini chocolate souffles. They did turn out well and were a delicious Monday night treat.

Christmas Photo Shoot

Grace modelled one of her three Christmas outfits in a photo shoot this afternoon - despite her red eyes and runny nose (from her most recent cold). She enjoyed rocking along with the music from the snow globe, playing peek-a-boo with the tissue paper and was very cute as she kept calling the nutcracker "baby."

We will attempt to get the three kids in a holiday photo this weekend. I like to use the front porch so no flash is necessary. Here is a sneak peak for any blog readers we may have out there!

We're still here!

Yes, I am really behind on blogging. I have to write about our trip to Edmonton, about our busy boys (hockey, choir, violin), about all the knitting, sewing and hair accessories I've been making (and housework I have thus been neglecting) and of course, Grace crawling. I am also thinking about a cloth diaper post for a contest : ) I read about. It is for moms who wear their babies, cloth diaper and breastfeed. Sounds like us!

For now, here's something funny I saw when I was flipping the other night. It's time to start getting pumped up for the Olympics! Enjoy!

Grace's New Trick

Grace loves to play peek-a-boo with any blanket, towel or piece of clothing. The other day I was busy typing and realized she had been waiting to play peek-a-boo with me. Too funny!

Luke's E-mail

Beth is away this week and Luke e-mailed her:

i did not gat anething today i jast waht you to no theat i am being good how is grace doing good or not?
love luke

On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 4:25 PM, Beth wrote:

Hi Luke,

How are you? Did you have swimming today?

How was school today?Any GREATS or WARNINGS?

Edmonton is good. It is only 2:24 here bu 4:24 there.

How are your Webkinz?

I hope you are being good for Dad.

Grace is good but very snotty.

Love Mom

Random photos

1. My brother is so funny...
2. Halloween mail!
3. More mail!
4. I love blueberries!
5. Sleeping on the kitchen floor. H1N1 or a tired Grade 1 boy? (Not H1N1...we got the vaccine...Luke was just worn out with a mild fever on a Friday night)

Luke loves singing!

Luke has really enjoyed his music classes at school this year. Every day he is singing a new song. Unfortunately, I found out that he didn't participate in these lessons until recently but I think he is over that now. He was happy to have me tape a couple of his songs last night.

Halloween

We spent Halloween in Beaconsfield, Quebec. The kids went trick-or-treating in Mema's neighbourhood and collected quite a bit of loot considering the houses are much farther apart than in Toronto!

It looks like all the kids followed the red, black and white dress code (Tom snuck in some yellow). Liam did a magic show at school and apparently it was a great success.

Remembering Mema 1926 - 2009

1. Mema's 80th Birthday, May 2006
2. When we visited this past August, just after 420 Bishop Street was sold
3. Tim and Anna's wedding (2003). I don't have any digital photos of our wedding!

I'm not going to write too much right now or I'll just start crying. Mema had a wonderful life and wonderful family. Ten great-grandchildren - that says it all! I am so happy Mema got to meet Grace and the boys.

Playing in the Garden

Grace's Baptism

Grace was baptized today in a lovely service by Uncle Dan at St. Basil's Church. Grace's proud godparents are Dan's cousin Patricia O'Callaghan and her son Dan. When I see these pictures of Grace and her Dad I have these flashes way into the future...white dress and all. Has anyone watched the new show FlashForward?

Outside pictures

We did manage to spend some time outside at the cottage. Here we have pictures of each of the kids with Buck Lake providing a scenic back drop. I've also included a picture of Liam from Thanksgiving 2002. My how he's changed in seven years.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So thankful for both our families, good health, delicious food, a cozy home, a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children.

8 Months!

Grace is 8 months! (HELP! We need to stop the time...my little girl is growing too fast!) She's talking up a storm, enjoying lots of new foods, working on her top teeth and still trying to get her bum up to crawl. Grace is cuter than ever...even at 3 in the morning.

We were planning to go apple picking yesterday but it was too cold and rainy. I really wanted to take a photo of Grace in the pumpkin patch, but we'll have to settle for this photo on our porch with the pumpkin Luke brought home from his farm trip.

Aside from the weather yesterday, I really love this time of year - especially when the sun is out. There are so many little things to be thankful for: the cool morning walks, the leaves changing colour, hockey season and of course, pumpkin pie!

First Skate

Last night, the boys and I went skating for the first time this year. The ice at Ted Reeve was surprisingly good. Liam tried out his new skates and helmet and Luke slowly circled the ice as he was intent on not falling and getting his track pants snowy. Hockey starts soon for Beth, Liam and Luke.

Cutie pie!

Granddaughters and Grandsons

Grandpa, where are your red crocs?

U2!

U2 was back in Toronto this week. This would be a perfect post for Dan to write...but it seems that I've taken over his blog. Oops, sorry Dan!

While I was worried that Grace (and therefore, Liz) were going to have a terrible night (they were fine) I still had a great time on Wednesday night. The concert was at the Dome with the roof open, which was awesome, though the sound was very much how I remember concerts at the Dome - not the greatest. We were 4 rows back just behind the stage. Not as close as when we saw them in Buffalo but pretty good. One of my favourite parts was when they played "End of the World" and Bono sprinted around the 360 degree stage! Edge and Larry were in fine form too...I can't believe it has been 22 years since I first saw them play at Exhibition Stadium.

Dan went to the second concert on Thursday and was on the floor. I will leave it at that and he can fill you in on how amazing it was. The photo is a bit small - sent from Tim's phone - but it shows Dan right under "the claw" at the edge of the stage.

Papa

I finally managed to capture the elusive shot of Grace and Papa! Liam, Luke and Grace all have the same shade of blue eyes as their Papa.

Teeth!

Grace got her first two bottom teeth a couple of weeks before she turned 7 months. We haven't got a great picture of them yet but here's a cute one from when they just broke through the gums. She's also getting 2 teeth on the top but they haven't come all the way through yet. I've noticed Grace is drooling a lot less which is nice for her neck rash.

Did you figure out that the top photo is Luke? Sometimes Grace looks so much like Luke, especially with those long eyelashes. (This is Luke when he is one year old).