365 days of photos

I have seen a few friends do this, and decided it was a good idea.  I love taking pictures, and maybe if I focus on taking at least one a day, my photography skills will improve.  I decided to do it on January 1, thinking that was a perfect day to start, but didn't actually get a picture taken that day.  So, we'll go from Jan. 2, 2011 to Jan. 2, 2012.  I'm sure most of my pictures will be of my kids.  It will be fun to watch them change and grow day by day through the pictures!
The only problem is that I seem to be physically incapable of taking only one picture at a time!  So, by the end of the year, I am going to have not 365 pictures, but probably 36500!  My husband, who already thinks I take far too many pictures, will be so pleased!
So, without further ado, here are the pictures for January 2 and 3.
                                             The boys playing tickle monster with daddy.  They sure enjoyed having him home for over a week at Christmas!

                                          Cole says he's taking a nap under the tree.  No, we haven't taken it down yet.  Cole loves it.  He says it's still Christmas and it should be Christmas forever!

25 Days of Christmas

I have seen this idea on a couple of other blogs and Facebook pages and decided I want to adopt it.  Some people do it in place of a traditional Advent calendar, but I love the Advent calendar tradition, so I'm going to do it in addition to that. (Although I am still waiting for the Advent calendar I ordered from Stampin' Up to arrive!)  Anyway, the basic idea is that for every day of December leading up to Christmas, we will do one special Christmasy or family thing.  I saw a really cute idea on a blog, which I will have to find the link to, where the mom made 25 decorated envelopes and put the activity of the day into them and then hung them from a clothesline with mini clothes pins.  Next year I'm going to do that!  However, this year, since I didn't decide I wanted to do this until yesterday - Dec. 1 - and the boys are still pretty young, I am just going to make a list of 25 activities and we will pick one each day.  Hopefully, I will then blog about what activity we did that day, with some pictures!
I just decided to do this last night, but we did actually do a couple of Christmas activities yesterday.  We went to Walmart to get Christmas pictures of all the cousins together - minus the one who lives in Seattle.  We missed her!  Our 5 kids range in age from almost 8 months to 5 1/2.  Getting a good picture of them was an adventure!  I put on a lovely show for anyone walking by, singing "The Hot Dog Dance" from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, to try to cheer Zach up, after he was a bit freaked out by the photographer trying to position him.  We have several pictures where someone is looking away, making a funny face, picking their nose... Cole spent a while blowing rasberries, so about 5 pictures have his tongue sticking out!  And he has an epic scowl in one of them! But we did manage to get a couple of keepers.  I wish we could have ordered all of them, just to laugh at!  Some were pretty funny!  It's fun for the kids to have their cousins so close by and be able to do things like this!  Afterwards, we went and bought the boys their special Christmas ornaments.  I am getting them each their own ornament each year, so they will have a nice start on a collection when they move out on their own.  Cole is obsessed with Disney Cars, so he got a Lightening McQueen and Sally ornament, and Zach got a Tigger one.

Here are the ideas I have for the rest of the month.  Most of them are borrowed from other people.  We probably won't do them in the order they're listed.
1. Make some Christmas crafts.
2. Make a gingerbread house.  Should be an adventure with 1 and 2 year olds!
3. Make and decorate Christmas cookies.
4. Put up the tree and decorate the house. (Planning to do this on Saturday)
5. Go for a ride in the sled.
6.  Go to look at the lights.  Hopefully, weather permitting, we can go out to the Festival of Lights in Airdrie.
7. Buy a gift/gifts for a child who wouldn't otherwise get any.
8. Have a family movie night and watch a Christmas movie.
9. Make a snowman.
10. Take Christmas pictures - once the decorations are up.
11. Write Christmas cards and color pictures to send with them.
12. Make homemade Christmas gifts for family.
13. Go play at the Santa's workshop at the mall.  Maybe this will include a picture with Santa, but the boys are at that age where that might result in more tears than it's worth!
14. Have a special family Christmas breakfast.
15. Go to daddy's work Christmas party.
15. Read Christmas stories.
16. Sing Christmas carols.
17. Act out the Christmas story.  The boys might be a little young for this, but it'll be cute to try!

Those are all the ideas I've come up with so far!  I'm open to suggestions! 
I'd like to go to Once Upon a Christmas at Heritage Park, but our weekends are pretty busy, so I'm not sure if we'll squeeze that in.  Last year, we made fudge and took it to our neighbors.  This year, we don't know our neighbors very well, but that could be a great way to get to know them, so maybe we'll do that again.  Less fudge this year though, because that was a LOT of work!

Anyone have more ideas for us?  What do you love to do around the holidays?

Growing Up

My boys are growing up.  Cole is potty training, and doing a pretty great job of it.  We're giving him cars from the movie Cars as rewards for going all day without an accident.  So, every time he goes on the potty, we can be sure we'll hear a very loud, "I want a new car!"  He doesn't quite get that he has to wait until bedtime to get one!  Sometimes, he'll tell me, "but it is bedtime!" in the middle of the day.  He loves his cars!  Every time he gets a new one, it becomes his constant companion for the next few days, even sitting on the floor with him while he goes potty! 
He also had his first sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Hansen's house the other night.  It was all his choice too!  We were over for supper and his cousins were there and were going to sleep over.  When it came time to go home, he didn't want to go, so we asked if he wanted to sleep there.  He said yes!  I fully expected a change of heart when we left, or when it came time to go to bed.  But he did great!  Mom and dad said he went to bed without a fuss and slept through the night - even when his cousin got sick right next to him! 
I'm excited at the prospect of getting a break every now and then.  It was sure nice to only have one baby to get to bed and then have some time to myself!  But, I have to admit, crazy as it may sound, there's a little twinge of sadness, realizing my little boy does not need me 24/7 anymore.  He's approaching 3 so fast, and his independence has just been growing by leaps and bounds lately!  He used to scream when we dropped him off at Sunday School, now he walks in and heads straight for the toys without saying, "see ya later!"  He wants to do everything himself these days.  I think our most common phrase now, besides "NO!" is, "I'm going to do it!" (or, "I was gonna do it!" accompanied by a wail, when I do something myself!)  Now, if I could just get him to feel that way about picking up his toys...!  Strangely, he never had any objection to me doing that one by myself!
And then there's Zach, who took his first steps yesterday.  It was so cute.  He was holding a shovel in one hand and a hoe in the other (plastic toys, of course), and they seemed to give him a sense of security to venture a couple of steps.  I think we'll still have a few weeks before he's walking all over the place, but he's headed that direction!  As much as I love those first toddling steps, I'm dreading it!  The child is already a menace!  He's really going to keep me on my toes when he can walk!  Haha! He climbs like he's part monkey! 
Yes, my babies are growing up.  And as much as I enjoy their developing personalities and increasing independence, it makes me sad too.  I love those little snuggly baby days!  I enjoy the dependence - and the inability to talk back and argue with me! But, grow up they must!  Every day is a new adventure!
I have been a bit remiss in picture taking lately.  I'll post some new ones soon!

Patience, grace, and unconditional love

I was a terrible mother tonight.  My son, who was overtired and overstimulated from an exciting, fun, but busy and napless day of playing at Grandma and Grandpa's and trick or treating, was having a meltdown as we were getting ready for bed.  And instead of being a kind, supportive, understanding mother, I lost it and turned into a monster.  I screamed at him, put him in his room and turned off the lights and shut the door.  No stories, no cuddles, no "I love you."  Just harsh words.  Then I went into my own room, slammed the door so hard it tore a strip off the casing, and burst into tears.  It's been a long, difficult week.  But there was no excuse for my behavior.  I'm the adult, and I'd just had a temper tantrum to rival that of my 2 1/2 year old.  Listening to the sobs of my baby boy, I immediately felt terrible, and went in to make things right. 
And here is the wonderful, amazing thing.  Within moments of me walking into his room and sitting down on his bed, he stopped crying and snuggled up to me.  He immediately accepted my apology and told me he loved me.  Within minutes, we were continuing to get ready for bed, talking, playing, and snuggling, as if my monsterous behavior of just a few minutes ago had never happened.  All was forgiven and forgotten, and he just wanted to be with and play with mommy. 
What an amazing picture of grace and unconditional love.  I fall short of being the perfect parent so often.  I lose my patience and snap at them.  I ask them to wait on me because I'm doing something far less important than spending time with them.  I get irritated with their demands and tell them to go away for a few minutes.  And yet, they love me.  They want to be with me.  They treat me like I'm their whole world.  And they are my whole world. 
I always thought that as their mother, it was my job to guide and teach them.  Turns out, they are teaching me just as much!

Come in the tent!

Ever since we played "in the tent" in our bed on my birthday, Cole has been loving playing "in the tent."  He has actually been asking to go to bed early, so he can get in his bed and play that he's in the tent under his Lightening McQueen blanket! And of course, anyone who happens to be in his bed with him has to come in the tent as well!  He wants Zach to come in the tent, but Zach prefers to crawl out! It makes getting him down for a nap or to sleep at night quite a lengthy process!  He likes to pretend he's driving his tent...not sure where he got that idea from!  He has quite the imagination, my boy!  We usually drive to Sobeys in Tuscany.  He loves grocery shopping!  Actually, I think he just likes Sobeys because he gets a free cookie there!  Anyhoooo, today we decided to make a big tent in the living room.  Cole and Zach thought it was great, but Cole was not so pleased that I was taking pictures of them in it.  He told me today that he didn't want any pictures.  I took them anyway!

In other news... we had a fun, busy weekend.  On Saturday, we took the boys to see Sesame Street Live.  Cole loves Elmo!  He was quite excited about it, and I think it lived up to his expectations.  Although he did find it a little long.  Maybe because he was excited because Daddy had told him we were going to go look for a new "jeep car" (powerwheels jeep) for him after the show.  I thought it was very well done, I was quite impressed with the staging, and it was fun taking the boys to their first show.  Zach really enjoyed it too - he was clapping and dancing along!  I'm quite pleased that both my boys really seem to enjoy music.

As promised, we did go shopping for a new jeep car afterwards.  The boys have a third hand Power Wheels jeep that seems to be on its last legs and no longer runs, and Cole has really been wanting to drive it.  After I think over an hour of deliberating, we ended up with a John Deere pick-up type vehicle.  Cole had great fun trying it out later that evening.  He's not the world's best driver! He got stuck in the trees, almost took out our fence a few times, almost ran me over, ran into his slide... I dread the day he gets his license! :)

A few pictures of Sesame Street

Cole's favorites, Elmo and Abby Cadabby

Trying out the new jeep.  Zach's not too sure about his brother's driving...

Hmm, actually, I guess this is kind of fun!

Of course, he may have thought twice if he'd seen this before he got in the car with big brother!

My littlest one is becomming quite the little monkey!

He's already figured out how to get up the slide!

Hey, where'd my chauffeur go?

Loves chewing on those fingers!

And yes, he climbed into the sandbox by himself too!

Thirty-four!

I turned 34 yesterday.  Yikes! That means it has been 17 years since I was 17!  !7 years since I entered my last year of highschool.  My last year of my childhood, my last year at ICA and in Africa. (aside from the year I went back to work.)  Some would say that I'll hit middle-age next year, but I disagree!  I plan to live well past 70, so I figure, I won't hit middle-age until I am at least 40.  Maybe 45.  :)  As my husband says, age is just a number.  And, aside from not being in as good of shape as I'd like, I certainly don't feel like I'm in my mid-30's.  I still love to get down on the floor and dance around, being silly with my kids.  I love to make up silly songs and rhymes and make ridiculous faces.  For my birthday, I went to the amusement park!  So, pbbbbbbt to getting older!
I had a wonderful birthday, starting on Saturday night.  Since my sister and I have our birthdays just 4 days apart, we decided to celebrate together with some of our girlfriends.  We had a great time eating chocolate, talking - as moms do, mostly about our kids! - and playing Taboo.  The last people left after 1 am.  That's the latest I've partied in quite a while!  On Sunday, we enjoyed a pancake breakfast at our church.  One of the perks of having my birthday during Stampede week - I can almost always get a free pancake breakfast on my birthday!  Then we went to Calaway Park, our local amusement park.  It's no Disneyworld or Six Flags, but we enjoy it.  It seems Cole is shaping up to be quite the little daredevil!  He loved the rides, even the scarier ones!  He even went on one all by himself! We'll definitely be going back again this summer.  Then we had supper at Moxies, which has my favorite dessert in the whole world, the White Chocolate Brownie.  Mmmmmm!  So, that was my birthday cake! :)  As we were leaving, we got caught in a hailstorm, with marble-sized hailstones!  Poor kids were pretty terrified, getting pelted by the hail as we were trying to get them in the truck!  And we were all soaked!  So, when we got home, we stripped off the wet clothes, dried off, and snuggled in our king-sized bed for a bit to warm up.  Cole and Zach had a blast crawling under the comforter and pretending it was a tent!  I think that might've been their favorite part of the whole day!

I'll close this post with a few pictures, but before I do, I've been reflecting on some of the things that I've done in my 34 years.  So here you go:
I have lived in 4 different countries - Canada, Mali, Niger, and Cote d'Ivoire.
In Canada, I have lived in 4 provinces. 
I have moved 13 times between cities/provinces/countries/continents.  That doesn't include moves between houses in the same city and the numerous moves back and forth between ICA and home.  (Since we had to pack up all our stuff each time we left ICA for vacation, it really was a move.)
I have visited 6 provinces, at least 17 states, (I might be forgetting a couple), and 10 countries. (not including Canada and the US)
I've ridden a camel out to the sand dunes in Timbuktu.  Yes, it is a real place!! It's in Mali.
I've swum in the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Carribean, and the North Sea. (Brrrrrr!)
I have shared a room with at least 2 dozen different people - I can't even count all the roommates I've had!
I've had six different sets of  "parents" - not including my actual parents, of course!
I've lived in dorms, done room and board, lived in a basement suite, lived in 2 apartments, lived with roommates, and owned 3 homes. (none of them by myself though.)
I've jumped out of an airplane- twice!
I've gone skinny-dipping, a few times. ;)
I've eaten goat, camel, frogs-legs, crickets, and flying termites- yes, all on purpose!  Probably several other bugs not on purpose, and likely other meats I'm happy to remain blissfully ignorant that I ate!
I've learned at least 10 words of 6 languages besides English, and greetings in 3-4 more besides that.  The only other one I can actually speak anything resembling fluently though is French.
I've married the love of my life.
I've had 2 wonderful, adorable boys.
There's much more of course, but I don't want to bore you! 
All in all, it's been quite a ride!  I feel so very blessed to have had the life that I have had for these first 34 years, and I look forward to seeing what God is going to hand us over the next 34 - and hopefully more - years!

And now, here are the pictures:
One of our friends, Sara, made us these very lovely and delicious birthday cupcakes!

Cole getting ready to drive his car at Calaway Park.  He loved this ride!

Cole and Jeff flying the airplanes together.  Jeff doesn't do rides, so it was pretty special that he went on one with Cole!

Zach's only ride - the carousel.  He loved it!

Driving the car again with Cadence and Jordan.  You can tell from Cole's face how much he loves this ride!

O Canada!

I love Canada Day.  In fact, I love any holiday!  I love any excuse for a celebration!  Although I spent many Canada Days outside of Canada, one of my favorite memories from the years we spent in Canada was going to the parade and fireworks.  Alas, Calgary does not have a Canada Day parade.  I suppose because the Stampede parade is only a week or so later, and it's just more difficult in a big city.  So, every year since Jeff and I got married, we have headed out to Drumheller for their parade.  It brings me back to my childhood.  Sitting in the front yard of a family from the Church (whose name sadly escapes me at the moment!), having hot dogs afterwards, and of course, collecting the candy.  I still love collecting the candy!  You might say, I'm like a kid in a candy store at the parade.  :0)  Sorry for the lame humor! But seriously, I love sharing this little piece of my childhood with my boys.  And watching their excitement as they wave their flags and run into the street to collect candy.  Well, Zach doesn't run into the street yet, but he would if he could!  Making memories of our own, that hopefully we'll carry on for years.

We decided to be brave this year and stay out and camp in Drumheller for the weekend.  The rest of my family has done it for the past couple of years, but we haven't been able to, for various reasons.  So, we loaded up Jeff's truck with our tent, way too much food, way too many clothes, toys, and a whole lot of firewood - seriously, it looked like we were moving! - And off we went to brave living together with a busy toddler and an equally active 9 month old, in a 20x20 canvas house.  (You'd think that in all my many moves as an MK, I'd have mastered the art of packing light.  Nope.  Not even a little bit.)  It went remarkably well.  In fact, the boys loved it!  The first night, Cole said, "We should go camping more often!"  When we came home, he said, "No, no, go back to the campground!"  They both loved being outside, and the freedom that comes with that.  And Cole loved being able to sleep with mommy at night.  Although, getting them to go to sleep at night was another story!  We kept ourselves entertained playing at the playground, swimming, going out to the playground at the Tyrell Museum, and visiting with family over at my aunt's house.
After the busyness of the past month, moving and settling in to our new house, it was wonderful to have a break together as a family.  We came home tired and stinky and ready to sleep in warm beds that wouldn't deflate on us, but very happy and thankful for the break, and with some wonderful memories.  And a whole lot of pictures! :)