monkeys on a bed

My mom came to visit quite some time ago but I still felt that I should put this up, as it is pretty cute.

Enjoy

Fall

This was a little while ago now, but we were raking leaves again today so it seemed a fitting blog entry! I forget most of the time that the pictures appear in reverse order from how I load them, so Xander in the sleeping bag is actually supposed to be last...I'm probably the only one who cares though so just ignore me!!!

Avery, as you will soon see, wasn't really in the mood for raking leaves that morning and Giles, in his brilliance and strength threw her in a backpack carrier and she quickly fell asleep! Shockingly enough (note the sarcasm, especially for those of you who have held Avery for any period of time) she started to get pretty heavy and so we grabbed a sleeping bag and blankets and she had a nice little nap in the middle of the yard while we kept working! Xander, of course, had to get into the sleeping bag the second Avery was done with it

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Looks comfortable, doesn't it?!?! I don't know how but both kids have always been able to fall asleep in these backpacks despite what appears to be a lack of neck support!

Xander and his new Excavator! Thanks Grandma Carol and Grandpa Dave! He was really helpful with the leaves....or was really trying to be anyways! If moving the leaves from one pile to the next and leaving a trail behind him the whole way sounds helpful, then Xander was the man! But we all had a good time...and as long as we're all entertained and busy its all good!!!

I guess Xander thought he would just give Avery a hand getting back up...the technique might not be quite right but his heart is in the right place! Avery was a good sport!

I don't know if Xander's bike has made it onto the blog yet, but this is the little bike that has grown in favor in our household over the last month or so! We had it during the summer but didn't really get a lot of use out of it (probably more from not being around enough to actually use it so he never get enough practice)! This fall, however, we have been home more and with this bike we can either walk at a fast pace with him or bike slowly alongside! Its been really fun to see his confidence and enjoyment grow with the bike as well! It has no peddles so it really works on balance...the theory is that you can essentially skip the training wheels stage! I'll let you know how that works out for us!

Laughing baby!

A little late, but this took place this summer when we visited the Ringer family in Toronto.

Avery was WIDE awake but Xander clearly needed a break from all of the fun we were having. Eventually more from our summer will probably trickle onto the blog as we uncover it, but this was too cute to pass up....we're a little biased of course, but I hope you enjoy!

"Bakers"

Xander pulled EVERY single pot and pan out of the cupboard so that he could "bake" cookies and Avery was pretty excited to assist him there! Eventually real food was needed and Xander pulled some grapes out of the fridge and they got "baked" as well before they could be eaten. Xander cleaned everything up when he was done, which is awesome, but I should have taken a picture of that as well...I think everything ended up on half the available shelf space, the doors barely closed!

Work together, play together!

Now that the weather is starting to get colder we are finding ourselves pulling out random clothes to be layered on! Before we could get out to the yard today I grabbed another pile of warmer clothes to see where we're at! Xander was already dressed to go out when these came in and would not calm down until he got this jacket on! Maybe he remembered it from last year! His patient father finally threw it on him so he would voluntarily take it off and realize that it was time to hand this one down the line!

Avery has a slight obsession with the strawberry bed in our backyard! She'll eat anything out of that area...dirt, rotten berries, ripe berries and in the case of this picture, white strawberries! She looks like she's fast approaching a realization that this is not going to taste good!

Harvesting spaghetti squash has never looked so good! Six years of marriage and he's still got it!

We collected all the plants that will be headed to the compost in this big tarp and the kids enjoyed the ride around to the front of the house!

I did help...a little....but someone had to take a few pictures and this was too hilarious a moment to pass on! Xander was having a good time, but he always tries to play things pretty cool...Avery was actually laughing out loud! It was too cute!

Hanging out!

Hanging out with Eli, Jonah, Avery and Xander all together has become progressively crazier and more entertaining an experience! We had this pleasure once again this past weekend and actually had a camera there for once (I know, a photographer who rarely has a camera with him...the irony is not lost on us)!! Anyways...enjoy!

This picture is a little dark and grainy, but Avery in all her rolls in only slippers and a diaper seemed worth throwing on here anyways!

Eli and Xander were outside "working" with Grandpa for a good three hours that morning! Its getting cold here, but other than a trip inside to get mitts, the weather isn't slowing them down in the least! Raking leaves, driving lawnmowers and skid steers and playing in the big sand pile made for a good time in both their books!

"What's going on guys? I can't see anything!"

Oh...by "raking" leaves, I guess I actually meant "shoveling" leaves!

Getting tired....but not going to stop!

Finger Painting!

We picked up some inexpensive canvases at the dollar store and unleashed the kids on them the other day! Avery is in a diaper, but Xander is just nude so the pictures had to be censored a little bit! We hung these paintings very proudly in the living room!

Avery was actually a little more aggressive with the painting than her big brother....go figure!

Xander wanted to take frequent hand washing breaks during this VERY messy process! I can't remember if finger painting or the bath afterwards was more enjoyable for him!

My Brave Boy!

Well...I guess the initiation into boyhood isn't complete without a trip to the emergency room and stitches to show for it! While pushing a rolling chair upstairs, he got too close to the stairs and followed it down the first two.... forehead colliding with the metal underneath. Xander did NOT enjoy getting the stitches done...but immediately afterwards was happily chasing Avery down the hallways while we waited for the x-rays to be taken!

Usually the stitches are covered up to prevent little fingers from picking at them, but I caught a few shots after bath time to share with everyone! We're still smiling!

The close-up!

Bubbles!

We had some fun with bubbles and I thought it worth sharing!

I love this picture of Xander....trying to catch a bubble! So focused!

Avery was a little less sure of the whole bubble experience! It seems her theory was touch but don't look!

Grandma Carol and the kids playing with bubbles in the yard!

Time to cool off!

After the food and presents at Avery's birthday party, we spent a bit of time cooling off at the pool in town! It was, thankfully, a beautiful day so everything could be done outside and the kids had a great time letting loose in the water! That includes you dad!

Avery, excited to go down the slide, but making sure daddy is coming with her!

Both Grandma's watching with smiles on their faces...ready to wrap in towels and provide snacks for anyone who needed to get out and have a break!

Avery made it to the bottom safe and sound...let the fun begin! She loved it and led whoever would take her hands to the stairs to keep on sliding!

Xander and Eli tried many new and creative ways to slide together! Now, evaluating the summer of sliding, I think this became Eli's favorite technique and Xander's was to run from the top and launch himself down on his belly! He got pretty fast by the end of August!

In moments of calm Avery enjoyed watching everyone come down the slide....she was a very vocal cheerleader which gave a few kids a little scare at the bottom...not expecting a little clap and scream from the sidelines!

Dunking Grandpa became a very amusing past-time....for both of them!

Avery's first birthday!

Well...a year has come and gone and our little girl is getting older! Bitter-sweet! We had a great day celebrating with family and friends...even getting lucky enough to catch friends in from BC for a little while (Kristin Bracewell and her two kids) and family driving from Ontario to BC (Giles' cousin Tim, his wife Joan and their five kids)! Our timing couldn't have been better! Here's some pictures for those of you who can't quite remember this day as it was several months ago already!

Ready for the attack....this cupcake is MINE!!!!

"This is great...are you getting all this, dad?!?

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Just thinking through her plan of attack here! Looking at things from all angles!

She really did play her party princess role very well that day....especially since (if I recall correctly) her morning nap was not happening! I guess she could sense the excitement in the air for her big day!

Avery would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to her happiness that day, if she hasn't already done so! The presents were a huge success and still getting played with and worn to their full extent!

Avery had a big brother and cousin who were quite willing to help out opening presents and checking out the new toys! Thanks guys!

Avery's new car was a particular source of jealousy for these older boys...after all, they needed to get in there and show Avery how to drive it!

Avery held her own though and decided to enjoy the moment in her new car while the moment lasted! Happy birthday Avery!

Been a LONG time...

Hello All!!

Well, I guess you could say I took the summer off blogging! Not really an intentional break, but all of a sudden I look at the calendar and we are into September and its been quite awhile since I've done any up-dating here! Thank you for your patience (most of you anyways...mom) and I'll try to keep up a little better now!

It has been quite a summer though! Grandparents coming to visit from Toronto, Avery turned one, hiking, playing outside (ALOT), gardening for the first time (with a mixed success rate), our first family road trip to Toronto (and I still love my kids after 24 hours in a van with them), a few weddings to shoot to keep us busy on a different level, visits with family and friends, and much more that I just can't think of right now! Its been full...oh, and a growing baby on the way in January!

Life is full and life is good....now I should move on to some pictures I guess, eh?!?

Announcement Time!

Most of you have probably heard already, but Giles and I will be expecting our third child sometime around January 17th! Which means there will be a 18-19 month time span in between each child which we are acutely aware of, but excited about none-the-less! This is a photo of the announcement as we were originally planning on making it until a funeral called us suddenly to Toronto and we then felt like a personal touch would be more fitting! I don't know if the writing is legible so small but it says we thought February would bring child #3, when an ultra sound a week later showed otherwise!

A few random shots!

I know its been awhile since I've blogged, and I thank all of you faithful followers for your patience! Here are a few pictures from the last weeks...I guess we really haven't been taking many pictures lately! Enjoy!

Now that Avery is also in a front facing car seat we can witness what a struggle it is for her to fall asleep in the car! First the thumb goes in her mouth, then she sticks the soother back in...then she gets frustrated and throws the soother on the floor, tries her thumb again and finds that unsatisfactory and now not knowing where her soother has gone, she lets her complaints be known. Its quite a long cycle, but eventually she falls asleep...not like her brother....on this particular trip he hadn't been in the car for 5 minutes and he was out cold!

Xander is a great helper....always likes to do things that he sees other people doing! This time it was helping Uncle Bubbles wash his truck! He didn't move around a lot, but that spot on the truck couldn't have been cleaner!

I'm not sure who was having the most fun...Xander or Todd?!? Actually, I'm kind of surprised, looking back, that he didn't want to use the pressure washer instead!

Xander, once again showing how fast and hard he can fall asleep! He had literally run upstairs, sat in a chair and closed his eyes! Giles picked him up to bring him to his bed and he was like a sack of potatoes!

This is him, sleeping in the chair...notice how he first ensured that his dog and teddy bear were comfortable in their chairs right next to each other....these three do everything together!