FIRST DIP IN THE LAKE...

This past weekend we spent the night visiting our good friends Paul and Judy at their cottage in Muskoka. They have a wonderful spot on Lake Muskoka and we always enjoy our visits. 


We went up on Friday afternoon and stayed until mid-day on Saturday. Paul and Doyle raced in the Gravenhurst triathalon on Saturday morning and the kids and I stayed at cottage to enjoy some much needed fun near the lake. Judy and I took Charlotte and Jacob in for their very first dip in a lake. We chose a shallow part near the shore of their cottage and really only put them up to their knees but they seemed to enjoy it. Jacob found the water a little chilly and started shivering a few minutes after his "swim" experience began. Charlotte enjoyed putting her feet in the sand and squishing her toes in it. 


Thanks Paul and Judy for sharing your cottage and lake with us - we can't wait to visit again on the August long weekend! 

Charlotte and Jacob's first time in a lake (Lake Muskoka  - Torrence Ontario)

Jacob swimming in the lake

Charlotte enjoying her time in the lake

Charlotte loved squishing her feet in the sand with Judy

A lovely view of Lake Muskoka

A SOLID POST...

On the advice of Dr. Greenberg we started the kids on solid foods at 4 months. They weren't sure what to do with the rice cereal that we introduced at first but that quickly changed and now they know that when we put them in their booster chairs that food is on the way. Since that first introduction of rice cereal we have progressed through several veggies, fruits and even meats. They are not big fans of the chicken or beef in the jar and I can't blame them because that stuff smells terrible - but they love their veggies and fruits. So far we've tried:

• Sweet potato
• Butternut squash
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Waxed beans
• Peas
• Avocado 
• Bananas
• Apples
• Peaches
• Pears 
• Fruit medleys
• Mixed veggies
• Chicken
• Beef
• Baby Mumm Mumms
• Rice cereal
• Oat cereal
• Rice cereal with bananas 

I also bought the kids a sippy cup the other day and have been giving it to them at their meals with a bit of water. They have no idea what to do with it but they enjoy holding it and putting the spout in their mouth. One day soon they'll learn that there is liquid in it! 

Charlotte isn't quite sure what's on that spoon

mmmm I like cereal 

The kids pre-feed after a swim in their little pool

SURPRISE...HAPPY 65th MOM

This past weekend we celebrated my mom's 65th birthday. Her actually birthday was on Sunday July 10th but the festivities started on Friday night with the arrival of my brothers Andrew and Michael from California. Mom had no idea they were coming - she thought she was coming over to babysit for us so that we could go to a friends house for dinner - instead Andrew and Michael walked in shortly after 7pm. 


We pulled the surprise off perfectly! Doyle was leaving to "meet a friend who was visiting from out of town for drinks" when she arrived - but he was really on his way to the airport to pick up the boys. She came to help me with the bath / bedtime routine - this way I knew she wouldn't eat at home before she came. We got the kids sorted out, I got dressed as if I was going out and then made the potato salad I said "I was bringing to our friends house as our contribution to the meal". I was also keeping in touch with Doyle and my bros via my blackberry so I knew where they were during their trip home. As they got closer I grabbed the camera to show my mom some new pictures we had taken of the kids (so I'd be ready with the camera when they walked in)...while we were looking at the pictures Michael walked in our front door and said "I hear my niece and nephew live here" (he hadn't met them yet because he missed their birth by one day having left for California on Dec 29th and they were born Dec 30th)...mom just about fell off the chair - then Andrew walked in and she was blown away! 


The other special part of the weekend was being able to introduce Charlotte and Jacob to their Uncle Andrew and Uncle Mike! The kids enjoyed meeting their crazy uncles and shared lots of smiles and laughs with them during their visits! 


Here are some pics from our weekend festivities!

Michael and Mom

Andrew and Mom

Uncle Mike meeting Charlotte for the first time (Jacob was sleeping)

Uncle Andrew feeding Charlotte

The proud Uncles

Uncle Andrew, Uncle Mike and the kids

Self timer group "b-day" shot of the family

Mom and her grandchildren 

Charlotte loves her Uncle Mike!

One more self timer group "b-day" shot -
this time with Andrew's girlfriend Rachel

There are a lot of candles on that ice cream cake -
you better blow them out before it melts

Uncle Mike feeding Charlotte

Mommy and Charlotte

A PERFECT RECORD BROKEN....IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER!

It's official...Charlotte and Jacob have broken their perfect "healthy" record. After 6 months of no sickness....both kids are fighting nasty coughs and stuffed noses. I took them to their doctor yesterday and despite the fact I was convinced their cough was something more substantial it was confirmed by Dr. Greenberg that they are suffering from a summer cold. I must admit I too am fighting one as well - so at least we're in this together!

Luckily the kids don't seem too phased by their colds and are just as smiley and chatty as usual. I could have done with a bit more sleep last night (thanks to Charlotte's restlessness) but all in all I can't complain too much about this little "bump"!

Get well soon C and J :) 

A CANADA DAY LONG WEEKEND RE-CAP....

We had a fantastic long weekend...and we hope you did too! 


Our long weekend started on Thursday June 30, 2011 with Doyle taking the day off work. We took the kids to the doctor for their six month appointment, did some running around and had my mom over for a BBQ. It was a nice way to kick off the weekend.


On Friday July 1st (Canada Day) Doyle decided it was time to take the kids for their first run in the BOB jogging stroller. They loved it! Jacob "talked" away the entire 8k while Charlotte took in some of the sights and also decided to have a snooze. The looked so small and cute in the stroller. Doyle even said he didn't mind running with the stroller and that it was very smooth to push...it did involve a little extra work up the hills..but as my cross country coach in high school said..."hills build character...work through the hurt". 

Loving their new ride....

Pre-run shot (we didn't take a post run one)

Our day continued with some back yard fun..the kids lounged in their pool, we enjoyed some refreshments at our patio table and then had our friend Brent for burgers on the BBQ. We were also treated to some lovely fireworks from the neighbours that live a street over from us - it's a good thing they shoot up as high as they do or else we wouldn't have seen them ;) 

Despite the look on J's face the water is warm

Just by fluke C is holding her bottle.....but it won't be long until she does this all the time

HAPPY CANADA DAY! 

Saturday we went for a long walk around our neighbourhood, enjoyed some down time with the kids in the afternoon and then hosted 12 neighbours at our house for a pot luck dinner. We dined on tandori chicken, spinach salad, roast potatoes, pasta salad and a very yummy strawberry shortcake for dessert. The rain / thunderstorms ended our backyard fun at 10pm - but that was ok by us as it was feeding time for the kids! 


Sunday we celebrated our friend Neil and Geraldine's son Sean's 1st birthday! Charlotte and Jacob even got their first loot bag! It was great to see all of Neil's family and help Sean celebrate his big milestone. It is hard to believe he is one. 

Happy 1st Birthday Sean :) 

It's amazing how fast the time went by. I was sad to see Doyle go back to work this morning. Is it too early to wish it was Friday?!