So while Steve is away in Korea, the kids and I have decided to start Christmas preparations. This includes setting the lights up on the tree. With their help. Did you know that you can stand on, sit on, and drive your riding toy over Christmas lights on a hardwood floor - and they still survive? Thank you Louise for teaching us something new :)

Lou has got quite a few new words now, and has started singing to songs in the car, much to her brother's annoyance. He's busy soloing, and trying to hear all of the words - and surprise - is singing in key :)

Louise wants so much to be a big sister. Whenever I ask Daniel to put on his coat or shoes, she runs over to grab it, and holds the coat open for him, or bends down to help him put on his shoes. It's so sweet to see. Daniel doesn't have any choice but to listen!

Daniel these days is the big scholar. He's got it in his mind that if he learns everything they're going to teach him in school now, particularly addition, then the teacher, after calling home to confirm that indeed we taught it, will send him back home to play. Where did he get the idea that school isn't good? Ahh well, we shouldn't disillusion him now if it motivates him to learn!

Hallowe'en

The kids were so cute on Hallowe'en. Louise was dressed as a cat, Daniel as the cat in the hat. I dressed in a bright animal print with a crown - maybe queen of the jungle? At least that's how it feels most days.

Louise had to be the most enthusiastic trick-or-treater out there. Once she discovered that she could hold her own bag (swinging it wildly with candy flying out), and that people would put stuff in it - she was off and running. Or at least running as well as she could - which is barely without the costume, and even more limited with it. The moment the door closed, she was toddling quickly off down the next driveway. Since we were only visiting friends, we had to run to keep up with her for frequent redirection. Fortunately she would get stuck at every set of stairs, (she needs a hand) so we could catch her.

Daniel, had somewhere learned "trick-or-treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat" and wouldn't be persuaded that it was ok to stop at "trick-or-treat". We compromised by teaching him to add an enthusiastic PLEASE at the end of the poem. Of course he could only manage to squeek it out, in a tiny high-pitched voice if I held his tail so he could be brave. So sweet.

Now, 7 houses - how are we going to get through the candy?

It's been the Summer of the beach.
Alice Lake, Rolley Lake countless times, Buntzen Lake, White Pine Beach, Tswassen Beach, Bowen Island.. there must have been more. I'm proud to say that we finished strong with a day at Buntzen Lake Oct 1st. The water was cold, but it didn't stop the kids & I from swimming - or at least it didn't stop the kids - and they weren't about to let me rest on shore. We finished off with playing in the fallen leaves on what's left of the shore (the picnic tables are in the water this year), feeling almost ready to embrace Fall & Winter. Of course we don't have snowsuits yet...

A one year old's world is a funny world. In Louise's world all animals except dogs (which say Woh woh woh) say Roar. This includes the fish. In Louise's world "Nya Nya" will call anyone if she yells loud enough. In Louise's world "yahh" means yes - silence means no. And when in doubt just say yes to every question - even if you don't mean it. In Louise's world she is an adult who can help her brother get dressed (it was really funny to witness her response to us nagging him to put on him pants - she went & got them, knelt down at his feet & held them open for him). In Louise's world, she is also Daniel's mirror & gets to do (or eat) everything her brother does - preferably at the same time. We're seriously considering renaming her "MeToo"...

What's really fun is seeing her hit the same milestones that it seems like Daniel has just passed. Daniel our ever so grown-up boy who is such a loving big brother. Having two really is awesome.. unless you're in a hurry.

The pic above is of Lou feeding deer at Auntie Singne's & Uncle Ron's place on Bowen Island.

Stinky Diapers

Potty talk belongs in the bathroom. Daniel has finally realized we're serious about this, and doesn't enjoy being taken to the bathroom to yell bathroom words with Mummy (I find it kind of fun though).

This has necessitated some serious reflection on his part. Now, when we are driving about town, he claims to see a green, multiheaded animal named 'Stinky Diapers'. He is so named because his face looks like a diaper. Apparently.

Daniel feels that he absolutely must yell out "Hi Stinky Diapers" to this animal in order to be polite. He prefers if we all yell it out the window together. I'm impressed with the creativity.

I'm always surprised when I lock eyes with Daniel. His eyes are always dancing with outrageous laughter. Since the very beginning he's always had a joke to share.

Here's a picture of Daniel & Louise, where they've moved their chairs to the playroom, and switched seats.


Here's also a picture of Daniel camping in rough-and-tumble campground, at about 16 months.

Daniel – July 2010 (age 3)

“Nanny, can I watch TV?”
“No Daniel, TV is only for special days”
“But Nanny, today IS a special day – you gave me a popsicle, and a candy AND a cookie!”

When it appears that Daniel is not listening, it's really that he's taking his time to figure out whether what you've said is logical with EVERYTHING else you've ever stated in the past. How do you learn patience?

Do butterflies sleep?
How big are God's feet?
What sound do flying squirrels make?
Mummy, why don't you know?

-Daniel - 9am

Louise has recently learned that her brother can be almost as helpful as her parents, and is certainly more attentive, and perhaps even more in tune with her "needs" (candy, chips, juice, that fantastic sharp shiny looking thing just out of reach). Last night she gave up on asking Daddy for a drink (he was watching TV) and instead turned to 3 year old Daniel who was only too happy to open her cup and pour her water from the bathroom sink. He ran off in delight at the prospect of legitimate water play, with her toddling happily behind him. Here is a picture of them helping themselves to - more candy maybe - while camping at Alice Lake this last week.

Louise likes to put rocks in her mouth. Partially for my reaction I think. Following which she chases me with her tongue hanging out to wipe it on my clothes. She seems to think it’s funny.

Ever conscious of language development, I’ve been saying ‘yuck’ and ‘that’s yucky’ when she munches down on another mouthful of rocks. Toddlers are their own creatures though, and will learn what they will.

This week at Alice Lake camping, she had woken up from a nap fairly cranky, and was finally pacified with a banana. Naturally she decided to amuse herself by eating from the peeled side too. I said ‘yuck’ to her, and she burst into tears! I was perplexed… until the next day. I was drinking hot coffee, which she wanted to share. I couldn’t share piping hot caffeine with my daughter, so I told her it was yucky. She frowned at me in confusion, trying to see if I really meant it, then promptly bent down, picked up a rock and put it in her mouth.

Louise thinks ‘yuck’ means to have a rock in her mouth. I guess she didn’t want to have to eat a rock when she was enjoying her banana!

Louise loves shoes. Louise really loves shoes. We went browsing for sandals yesterday and she grabbed onto one pair and would not let them go. She insisted on trying them on, and immediately took off slap-slap walking around the store in delight. There was no catching her – despite Daniel's best efforts. There was no looking at other shoes – she had chosen. We battled to get them off to check her size. We battled to get them off for bathtime in the evening. We battled to get her to bed. Our compromise was that she could sleep in her shoes. She went to sleep immediately. Louise is 14 months old.

Finished the second cup of coffee - and the blog still seems like an ok idea. Or maybe just more fun than this morning's task at work. So...


One of my favorite photos of my son. He's about 5 days old here. I think he's smiling because he likes wearing clothes matching Mummy's (hah - see if he believes that when he's 14). I just love the focus & delight you see in a baby's eyes with their family.

Does it work?

After a short night, with enough energy from my first cup of coffee - but not enough sense from my yet-to-be-had second cup - this blog seems like a good idea. Caroline (gilbank@blogspot.com) captures so many memories of her children on her blog. Of course with her memory, I'm not always sure why she needs to. It's us poor common folk who can't even remember which suburb we're living in now (yes, that was a problem on my commute home yesterday) who need all the help we can get. I wonder if there are paid blogger/memory keepers out there. And how would they do it? Could I just phone & tell my whole day to someone (not unlike my daily calls with my poor patient Mum) & see it magically appear for perpetuity? Hmm... maybe that's an idea for a business... not that I really want to start yet another business. I'm not even working at the job I'm at right now. Maybe I should get back to it, and stop playing with this blog!