Family Fun Extra Long Weekend

It has been a while since I last updated the blog, so I decided it was about time I did. 

We are capping off an extra long weekend of family fun and as ready as I am to return to work for a "break" I just spent some time looking through the pictures and videos I took over the weekend and was reminded about how nice it was to spend a few extra days with Doyle and the kids. 

On Friday we took advantage of being off during the week and headed to Ripley's Aquarium for the morning. We had a great time and enjoyed visiting Toronto's newest attraction. I can't image what it would be like on the weekend - I'm glad we enjoyed some time with the fish without too many crowds to fight through. 

Oliver all smiles on the tuna weigh scale

Charlotte in awe of all the fish in the tank

We found Nemo at the aquarium 

Jelly fish

Not sure what happened to the lighting in this pic
when I transferred it to the blog - but it's O showing C a jelly fish

The Brown Family version of 20,000 leagues under the sea

Charlotte captivated by Nemo 

On Saturday we started the day at Charlotte and Jacob's swimming lesson, then headed home for a play and the movie Frozen (the kids new fav) in the basement while D and I cleaned the "clutter" under the stairs and on top of the desk. It was quite therapeutic. We ended the day with a visit from our friend Gary and some final four on the TV. 

Sunday it was Oliver's turn for swimming lessons and then we spent much of the day outside thanks to the glorious weather. It was great to have it finally feeling like spring. Charlotte and Jacob loved zooming around on their run bikes - such a change from last summer when they were quite timid and didn't go very fast. Now we struggle to keep up to them! We ended the day with an early dinner at Duff's (aka the lollipop restaurant). 

Today as soon as breakfast was over Charlotte and Jacob asked to go outside on their bikes. So at 8:10 a.m. out we went. And once again we were running after them up and down the side walk. Charlotte was even bombing down the driveway (it has a bit of a down slope) between the Townhouses just down the street from us. Her feet out to the sides of her bike as she whizzed down the driveway were the highlight to watch. After nap the kids went back out on their bikes and actually road from our house to Metro at Bayview and Eglinton back to our house and then over to Pharma Plus and Sobey's at Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton. We have just put them to bed and unlike most nights it is strangely quiet in their room. I think a few bike rides a day will be our new plan of attack to tire them out ;) 

After being home for four days straight with the kids I'm once again reminded about how lucky we are to have Claire in our lives - the stuff she gets done during the day with all three kids on her own is amazing. We struggled at times to keep up with everything and there are two of us to divide and conqure.

Riding bikes in the driveway between the Townhouse
down the street from us

SO MANY WORDS….

I was gently reminded today that I haven't updated the blog in a while (thanks dad) so I made it a priority to do so as soon after the kids went to bed. Although they are all "tucked" away I will no doubt have to wrangle them (ahem C and J) back to their beds a few times before they officially fall asleep. It has pretty much become a nightly routine since Jacob figured out how to turn his door knob and break he and Charlotte from their room. They used to just talk to us from under the crack of the door but now we are constantly walking them back to their room and encouraging them to stay there and chat to each other while drifting off to sleep. I'm amazed at how every night continues to be a different adventure where bed is concerned - no two nights are the same anymore!

And then there is Oliver….we may just keep him in his crib forever! He loves his bed and is only too thrilled to see it when we put his sleep sack on and lay him down. He shifts his head from side to side, rolls over and buries his face in his blankets. The next time we hear from him is anywhere between 5:15 and 6 a.m. Although it is ungodly early we really can't fault him since he's been snoozing away (despite the chaos the other two create) since 7 p.m. In time we know he'll get back to sleeping past his very early hour but until then I enjoy the peace and quiet that comes from his room every night!

In addition to being a great sleeper Oliver has turned into a little parrot. He loves to repeat the last word that we say. Charlotte and Jacob used to do the same thing when they first started to talk as well! I'm still thrown off by it though because part of me can't believe Oliver is already at that stage….he's my baby….he's not supposed to be talking yet! But at 16 months…there's no stopping him - he runs, screams with excitement when he sees Charlotte and Jacob in the morning or Doyle and I come home at night and he talks…it may not always be clear…but he has so many words…I even captured some tonight just so I could share them with you….so sit back and enjoy what our little man has to say (oh and excuse his hiccups and the bruise on his forehead) 

SKI BUMS….

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! 

HAPPY THIRD BIRTHDAY…CHARLOTTE AND JACOB

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!

Opening their crayola colouring kits

Charlotte showing off her crazy sunglasses from Aunt Jally

Mommy and her crazy twins! 

Grams and Grandpa all decked out in their birthday glasses

Cousin Kieran reading Charlotte her birthday card

Dave and Doyle in birthday mode

Oliver sporting his birthday glasses

Jacob LOVING his chocolate cake from the buffet

Jacob has never met a dessert he doesn't like

Daddy celebrating with Jacob and Charlotte

Attempted to get a "nice" pic of the kids but no one would look
at the camera (C blowing a balloon, J looking at the ground and O smiling elsewhere) 

MERRY CHRISTMAS….

What a day….

Christmas at our house began at 4:51 a.m. when Oliver decided he was done sleeping for the day. I grabbed him from his room thinking he might fall back to sleep snuggled beside us in our bed but no such luck. He was more interested in "chatting" and squirming around. Charlotte and Jacob thankfully slept until shortly after 6 a.m. and we were able to keep them amused in our room until 7 a.m. when we decided it was time to head downstairs to see if Santa had visited. Luckily we all must have been good this year because we were greeted with many treats under the tree and in our stockings! 

The kids wasted no time tackling the loot…and by 8:15 a.m. we had unwrapped every stocking stuffer, present, eaten and cleaned the kitchen from our breakfast of eggs, bagels and bacon! 

We headed to my mom's where we were greeted with more presents and stocking stuffers. After more mass unwrapping we returned to our house for a two hour nap followed by a fun visit with Grams and Grandpa. We then returned to my mom's for a Christmas feast of turkey, cheesy potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies, rolls and Andrew's special gravy. 

The day ended with a quick bath and story for the kids and some wine and TV for Doyle and I. It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone for another year. I am amazed at the generosity and want to thank Santa, Doyle, my mom (Grammy), Andrew, Michael. Dad (Grandpa), Sandy (Grams), Jal, Cristin (Grandma) and Doug (Grandpa) for the many gifts they shared with us. We appreciated your kindness more than you'll ever know! Thanks for making Christmas 2013 such a memorial event!

First glimpse of the Christmas loot under the tree 

Jacob and Charlotte checking out their stockings

Oliver opening his new bib from Santa

Charlotte's Hello Kitty from Santa! 

Jacob's new Thomas Train Set from Santa

Oliver's new doggy suitcase from Santa

Charlotte with Uncle Mike and Uncle Andrew 

Grammy and Jacob

Charlotte with Grams and Grandpa

Charlotte and Jacob at Grammy's  

Oliver at Grammy's - what a difference a year makes!
So big now...

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS….

It is extremely hard to believe that it is Christmas Eve 2013. Where did this year go? It has certainly been packed with endless memories and fun filled adventures. Charlotte and Jacob were so excited when they went to bed tonight. I can only imagine how chaotic and over stimulating tomorrow will be - but that is one of the many joys of celebrating Christmas with kids in the house! 

I'm thankful we have power and that we never lost it. I can't help but think of the many families that will be celebrating Christmas away from their homes or around a tree in a cold living room. I wish you the best of an unfortunate situation. It's times like these that the true meaning of family / togetherness come through despite how dark and cold it may be. 

So…as you settle down for a long winter's nap…I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings….

14 MONTHS AND COUNTING….

Playing with a bus at the
Central Eglinton Community Centre

Today marks 14 months since Oliver joined our family. We have seen the biggest changes in Oliver the past two months and all reinforce how quickly he is growing. Since his first birthday on October 9 Oliver has:

• Started walking on his own
• Increased his vocabulary and uses simple words such as bubble, bap (for bath), nap, hi, dickle, dickle, dickle (tickle, tickle, tickle), nana (for banana) 
• Began pointing at things he wants
• Developed more of an attitude when he doesn't get what he wants! 
• Begun interacting with music and dances whenever he hears songs on the radio or the songs on the toy piano we have
• Become more interactive with Charlotte and Jacob and swats back at them when he doesn't like what they do!
• Made us smile and laugh every day since his arrival 14 months ago!

We truly can't imagine life without him - he's an absolute delight and the perfect third child. 

We can't wait to watch him change even more over the weeks and months ahead!