Christmas 2011

Spent Christmas at the Malhotra Burt's house.  Finn bunked in with the girls (they were remarkably good).  Tabs had a rather rough night (ie. puke) after a rather rich chocolately filled Christmas day.  Enjoyed boxing day a the Suuronen's.  Drive back stopping at Nana and Poppa's for a few nights.

Christmas tree 2011

After last year's bitter cold tree cutting day we dressed extra warm and headed out to a new tree farm. We took a short hike through the woods ( Andrew and I hiked the kids suckered us into pulling them on the sled meant for the tree) and selected our perfect tree. Andrew did most of the chopping but Finn and even Tabs helped finish it off. Andrew valiantly carried the tree back to the car while I pulled the tearful Tabs in the sled. Warm apple cider and cookies helped to put her back on track and it was home to decorate the sucker.

Santa 2011

I was pretty sure that Tabs would not sit on Santa's lap this year. She pretty much won't make eye contact with anyone, let alone a strange man wearing a beard. But Finn has always loved the "jolly old elf" so when I saw that our local farmers market was hosting Santa I decided it was the perfect venue for a meet and great. Finn was very cute and shy upon first encountering him and Tabs only allowed this photo to be shot after coaxing with a donut and hot chocolate. After our encounter with Santa we headed to the library for some Christmas stories and carol singing, then off on a horse-drawn trolley ride around downtown Guelph. A very festive morning!

Real cello

I don't think I really got the suzuki method until I saw Finn's face when his teacher presented him with his real cello. He has been working towards this day since early October. The progression went from nothing, to pretend bow, to real bow, to foam cello, to real cello. He had to do over 1000 bow holds to get this cello. He was so excited he was beside himself with joy. He still is! He is actually asking to practice. He loves his real cello. He can't wait to get a real bow to use on it. Right now he has is only plucking his songs but soon......only 1000 more bow holds perhaps?

Halloween

Daddy was away so we had a fairly mellow (if Halloween can ever be mellow) night.  Dressed up as a pirate and a lady bug.  Had a pretty good haul.  Ate a bit.  Left the rest for Mummy and Daddy - heh heh!

cello

Finn has started taking cello with his teachers David and Amber at the Suzuki String School of Guelph.
He is really enjoying it.  He has a "foam" cello that he can cuddle and practice holding properly.  We also have a bow that we have been practicing bow holds with.  We also listen to a CD of all the pieces of music he will be playing.  Lots more bow holds until we get our real cello.

Nursery school

Tabitha will be going to Gingerbread Nursery School soon.  She will be away from us for the very first time.  Cross your fingers.....

Update:  First day she seemed okay when I said goodbye.  Was more interested in doll house than me.  After I left was pretty sure I heard her crying.

Update:  Second friday:  Had to peel her off my leg while she screamed and cried.  All the kids started crying (10 18-30 month olds 2 care givers) and it was just too much.  Left and cried myself in the hallway.  When I returned she seemed okay.  Decided not to send her back.  Andrew will stay home with her when I take Finn to cello.

Senior Kindergarten

Finn is really excited about starting school again.  This year "jardin" is in a class by themselves - no split JK/SK.  His teacher will be Mme. Dominique.  He has the same bus driver - Bryan- whom he so loved last year.

Chilly first day of school

Camping and Tabs' 2nd bday with the cousins

Just after Tabs' birthday we headed north to spend some time with Stephen, Neer and the kids at the cottage on Oxtongue Lake.  We spent 3 nights at a camp ground close by.  The days were hot and the nights cool.  The cousins loved spending time together.  We even re-celebrated Tabs' birthday!  Fun, Fun, Fun!  Napped well on the way home!

Tabitha is 2

This is one thing I really hated losing.  We took a really cute video of Tabs on her second birthday.  She was taking about the animals on her placemat (that Finny gave her for her birthday).   It was really cute and you could see how well she spoke (birdie, giwaff, monkey).  Really cute cupcakes - white bears.  Boo hoo.

Tabs the 2 year old is chatty around family - super shy around anyone else (even Rosie whom she used to love chatting to!)  Clingy and hates to be talked to by strangers "Why lady talk to  me?".  Loves her brother and wishes she could be just like him!  Wants to be a big kid but still loves a cuddle.  Height and weight : not well determined as she had an absolute fit at the doctors (even though we had Finny there to show her how it went).

Computer died and lost our photos

So I have been very bad about posting and had gotten my act together to repost again when horror of horrors the computer crashed taking all of our photos with it.  In the intervening months I have avoided updating this while I grieved the loss of the memories.  I think I can safely continue and try to fill in the bits and pieces from recovered (and borrowed) photos.

Official Finn 5th birthday!

Nana and Poppa came to visit for the big day and we took them to Riverside park to try out Finn's remote control boat, take a spin on the merry-go-round and enjoy a little picnic.

Finn: The 5 year old

Loud, energetic, brave and brash. Finn is a force to be reckoned with. He still loves cars and truck and things that go. Wants to be a motorcycle police officer. Would love to learn how to play the electric guitar. Loves running, riding his bike and being silly. Can't sit still unless looking at a comic book or the TV. Loves numbers and counting.  Hand writing not really his strong suit but taking some interest in drawing especially people.  Starting to figure out the reading thing.  Weight and Height :

Finn's 5th Birthday Dinner- the adults

We enjoyed a fun meal at Montana's the night before Finn's official birthday. Finn was surprised and shocked by the staff singing Happy Birthday to him and amused by the moose hat!

Finn's 5th Birthday Dinner- the kids

Sacred Heart Bazaar

July 1st and 2nd we jogged around the corner to the Sacred Heart Bazaar. As always the motor bikes were a big hit. This year there was even an American Gladiator-style "wrecking ball" game where Andrew and Finn tried to knock each other off their pad. Tabs' favourite was definitely the bouncy castle. She's addicted!

Canada Day 2011

Meeting the mascot for the duck day races!

Hands-free on the pony ride. Tabs loves horses!

Once again we headed to Riverside park to spend the morning enjoying the sites! We checked out the pony ride, the petting zoo and the duck racing. Home for lunch and then after dinner to the Sacred Heart Bazaar! What a day!

End of maternelle picnic

Finn and his 2 teachers from maternelle. Next year on to Jardin! Mme Edith on the left (the teacher's aide) and Mme Genevieve on the right. Finn had a great year and learned so much french.

Finn's party

We decided to have Finn's party for his 5th birthday before school ended so that all his friends could come. Uncle Tom and Auntie Rachel came up from New York to enjoy the day with us. We had a super hero-themed party at Royal City Park. Beautiful day - not too hot. The kids loved running around, playing super hero games, throwing water balloons at "Dr. Dino"(aka Andrew). Uncle Tom delivered a wonderful magic performance while the kids ate. Dr Dino had stolen the birthday cupcakes and the kids had to follow the clues to find the batman cupcakes. A great morning.

Franco-Fest

Finn's school held a special festival for Saint-Jean Baptiste Day. Free rides, a bbq, games, friends. Finn ran around screaming to his hearts content. Tabs also loved it and was as brave as her brother. She loved the bouncy castle and the mini ferris wheel. She never wanted to get off the mini train (5 trips +?) Finn desperately wanted to go on the swings. I wasn't sure but relented. He seemed keen at first and then a look crossed his face and I thought I was going to either have to ask them to stop the ride or watch his dinner spew across the grass. But then the look changed and he started screaming with joy! He loved it!!!

Father's Day June 2011

Hammock, book, beer. What more could a Dad want on Father's day? We've had the hammock since our trip to Mexico (2003?) and finally bit the bullet and bought a hammock stand. Totally worth it. Although not as relaxing when the two rug rats crawl all over you - cover your sensitive parts!

Around the house

Seasoning our yummy lamb chops! Such good helpers.

Finn topping and tailing the green beans. Only way he'll eat them. Guess they taste better with his sweat and tears flavouring them!

Finn's lego creation. He wanted us to take this photo so we could send it in to his lego club magazine. All the kids pose like this with their lego!

Finn's school had a crazy hair day. We added some of Andrew's hair product and let him go wild. Here he is adding some of his own crazy to the mix.

Love the thigh-high boots. Pushing the mower. Classic.

Burning off the eggs

After a morning of stuffing our faces with chocolate bunny treats a trip to the local playground was in order to burn off some energy. Hanging upside down seem to be the favourite position for the older folks. Working out the kinks in their aching backs?

Easter Morning 2011 - Perth

This year we were lucky that the Easter bunny paid us a visit at Nana and Poppa's house in Perth. No snow. A bit crisp in the morning. Perfect for hunting for chocolate in the garden. Both Tabs and Finn loved the foil eggs. Yummy. Who needs breakfast after all that chocolate?

Ottawa- trip to Museum of Science and Tech

Famous hockey players in our midst.

We thought Finn would love the trains. I think their size kind of scared him.