The Brown Family Buzz: January 2014

The highlight of the weekend by far for me was introducing Charlotte and Jacob to skiing!

On Saturday we all hopped into the car and headed to Centennial Ski Hill in Etobicoke to test out C and J's new skis, boots, helmets and goggles. We weren't sure what to expect but they loved it and we can't wait to take them out again! We spent 45 minutes walking them up the training hill and letting them come down on their own. Doyle did double duty by pulling Oliver in the sled and pulled C or J up the hill as well.

Although they spent much of the time heading straight down the hill their reaction to it made every minute worth while "Mommy I just love this" exclaimed Jacob…."I want to go faster" shouted Charlotte! "Can we come back after nap"…they both said as we packed them back into the car!

It was a surreal moment for me for sure after the countless hours I spent on the baby hill of Blue Mountain with my Tiny Tyke classes teaching kids their same age how to ski. I loved every minute of exposing Charlotte and Jacob to the slopes this weekend and can't wait to take them out again very soon!

Watch out ski hills everywhere….here come the Browns!

Jacob, Mommy and Charlotte at the bottom of Centennial Hill

Mommy showing J and C how it's done!

Birthday lunch at Aunt Ruby's Beachside Restaurant

I'm two days late in posting this but that's because we are in Jamaica and our wireless has been inconsistent in our room. I was able to get an ethernet cable from the front desk and am now able to share some pictures of Charlotte and Jacob's third birthday.

Not many kids can say they celebrated their third birthday surrounded by the sun, sand and surf but Charlotte and Jacob did just that (and for the second time in two years none the less)! Thanks to Grams and Grandpa we have been spending a wonderful sun filled week in Montego Bay Jamaica at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites with them, Kelley, Dave, Kieran, Quinn and Jal. We visited two years ago and returned here on Dec 27. Sadly we head home on Jan 3 but we will be leaving with many fond memories (again).

So….back to C and J's birthday blog…their day started with balloons, a happy birthday banner spread out in the hotel room and birthday girl / birthday boy ribbons (which they wore all day) and continued with Crayola colouring kits from Aunt Kelley, Uncle Dave, Kieran and Quinn by the pool, Crazy sun glasses from Aunt Jally, a birthday lunch at Aunt Ruby's beach side restaurant complete with funky birthday glasses (thanks to Kel) super cool twirly whirly flash light balls from Aunt Jally and dinner and cake at the Mexican Restaurant. It was a whirlwind adventure but they had a blast!

It is incredibly hard to believe that C and J are three. The past three years have flown by and there is no sign that time is going to slow down any time soon. We have seen so many changes in the this past year including being able to:

Talk in full sentences
Articulate what they like and don't like
Tell us when they feel sick, happy, sad, etc
Run, jump, skip and hop
Ride their "run bikes"
Throw a ball and catch it the odd time
Show their independence (helping us dress them and undress them they also love to "help" pour their own cereal, milk and get their own snacks from the cupboard)
Grown and gained weight (I don't have their official three year old weights / heights but in November C weighed 29 lbs and J weighed 27 lbs - a far cry from the 3 lbs 15 oz and 3 lbs 5 oz they weighed at birth)
Attend nursery school on Tues and Thurs from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. without Claire being with them!
Challenge us with their "selective listening" ;)

Charlotte and Jacob we love you so much and can't wait to celebrate many more milestones with you this year! You are amazing little people and we have learned (and continue to learn) so much from you!