Back from ?????

We're back!!!

We had company over the last week, friends of ours from Woodstock, Brian and Melissa. They got here last Wed, they left Kitchener at 6:45 and landed in Thunder Bay at 3:45 so it was a bit of a trek. It didn't take long for Ethan to get back into the swing of things, but Ava hung back a little. Her usual not looking at them(you know that if you don't look at someone they can't see you), but within the hour she was all smiles. I slacked with the pic taking, just relaxing with friends, it felt like we got in a good vacation:) I had my camera out, but we were doing different studio shots(on adults a change for me:) ). At least Mel got a couple of shots, so I'll share them. We also did a hike at the Sleeping Giant, a play group and a trip to the gym. We had a great time:). Wondering who the next visitors will be??? I'm starting to adjust to being here, but boy do I miss everyone:(

Back to our regular schedule and that means more pics of the kids :) Or so I thought, I'm using a new program so it's taking me for ever to get the pics out. Weee here's to learning new programs on a really slow computer :)

We went to a small play group yesterday. There were 4 Moms including me. It was in a gym and the kids had the run of it. What a blast!!!! These 2 were having the most fun with the red push car, Ava sitting in it and Ethan pushing her around in circles. Both of them laughing away:) We got Ethan a snow suit today, here's to leaving it to the last minute we got a great deal. I think we'll be out in the snow for pics tomorrow if all works out:)

Oh so proud

Well it was one of those moments when I just felt that this must be one of the smartest boys out there.....

.....OK OK so I think it's actually one of the cutes, silliest things he does and does it ever make me laugh. He has been doing variations of this for awhile now. At first it was peek-a-boo, then an adventure through the living room(1.put bucket on head 2.crawl around the living room 3.take bucket off 4.be amazed to be somewhere new in the room. With the occasional run in with......) now that he's walking it's a game of balance. How long can new walking legs keep you standing when you have no point of reference?

What we are up to!

Reading Books, Barney's a favorite right now. Although she's shy about it.

Ethan is walking around. He doesn't even need anything to pull himself up on any more, just gets up and starts moving. Ava's getting there but a ways to go yet. She walks around on her knees, but she get frustrated cuz it's slow.

Eating all kinds of new foods. Ethan is definitely more adventurous with food, he'll try anything you give him. His loves spicy and flavorful foods. Ava however is slightly more picky. She loves her meat and red peppers, still eats her veggies from a jar and is a big fan of apple juice.

Well here they are, all ready for our walk tonight before dinner. I realized a couple of things tonight....1. I should have got one of those covered strollers.....2. Getting these guys ready to go out in 40 below weather is going to be fun.....3. They should really make boots that stay on little feet cuz its a pain to stop and put them back on every 10 min....4. I REALLY DON"T LIKE THE COLD!

OK now that I've got that out of my system today was a long day. They decided not to nap together. So total nap time between the 2 of them was 4 hrs, which I guess isn't too bad except it's sat and the daycare at the gym closes at 3:30 so I didn't get to go. The good side though is I got some alone time with each of them which I loved. It just meant that tonight there was a lot to do, oh well what was I going to do anyway right.........

Ethan's eyes

Ava Art

I was just playing around on photoshop and I liked it!

Ava's first conversation

Ava- Happy
Me-Are you Happy?
Ava- Ya
Ok so it was short, but it was soooo cute. She was pointing out the colours on her sweater as I named them for her. She thinks that yellow is a happy colour:)

A visit with Nanny and Grandad

We had a fun weekend! A nice visit with Nanny and Grandad, on climbing toys and with building toys. They got here on Fri morning Ant landed at the same time which worked out well. We came back to ours for a short visit before nap time. Nanny and Grandad went to check into their hotel and were back before Ethan got up. This boy is the king of napping (it's to bad it's not so great at sleeping through the night) After we woke him up (we were all starving) we headed out to East Sides for lunch. We then had a fun trip to Wal-mart. OK may not sound fun to you, but to toddlers wandering the store is high on their list. Yesterday we were going to head to the sleeping Giant for a little hike, but the weather was cold and rainy so we opted for a mall walk instead :) They had to leave at 10:30 this morning, but we got in a nice breakfast before they flew out. Oh ya and Mommy and Daddy got to go on a date :)

Thats right it's SNOW!!!!

Not just some flakes, no it's still on the ground.

Yesterday was the last day for one of the kids favorite care givers at the gym's daycare. She told me that Ethan sat with her the most of the time he was there. After the gym last night we did some grocery shopping. On the way out to the car the snow was falling and the kids were so entranced. Ava kept her head up waiting for the flakes to fall on her face. Each time one landed on her she would laugh. Ethan was all smiles. Today on the way to play group they were both

playing with the snow on the car:) I have to Ethan snow pants so we can go out and play. Play group was fun, Ethan made friends with a little boy who wouldn't stop hugging him. Ava did

some dancing when they sang her favorite songs :)

In the afternoon I put Ethan in the diaper box, then when I turned back again Ava had climbed in with him. I can't believe what they can do now!!!!

Ava Notes

Ava Ellen

Born: Sept 19 2006 9:16

Weight: 6lbs 13oz

Ava was born first, and was in a hurry to enter this great world. She liked to be held while she
slept. She was not really interested in feeding. We found out she had a heart murmur then, but was booked in to have a ECG on Nov 9.

At her one week check up the murmur was upgraded and within 3 days she was having heart surgery. What a trooper, they only needed to give her 2 shoots of pain meds. And her recovery time was really short. We were only in Ottawa at the sick kids hospital for a week. I also want to mention here what great staff there were and big thanks to all those great people:)

Ava's favorite place to be for the longest time was in the corner of the couch. She spent many a day and night ( she was a night hawk at first not going to sleep till 4 am) just sitting there happy as pie:)

Well it is snowing here today. This is not the first snow, but it has been snowing the whole time it took to put together this blog together. Thunder Bay winter here I come!!!!!!!

We have Walking

So we have a walker :) Ethan can now walk, waddling around the living room. OH so cute!!!!!

Ethan is a new bambino, we gave him a hair cut yesterday. I hope it looks better then the last time :) I think so except the wisp behind one ear which is still long, I'm waiting for him to be sleeping on the other side so I can snip it off.

We attempted to go to the story time at the Library today. It only lasted a short time because we haven't learned how to sit and listen yet. So I have decided that this is what we are going to work on. I'm going to take out some books (didn't do it at today because the Library I went to is not wheel chair accessible. How did we get to the story time you ask well it was interesting lol) and practice at home. Then once we can sit for at least 15 min while I'm reading we'll try again:)

A Halloween Story

The wind blew ferociously through the streets, carring with it leafs as well as the odd small twig. A stroller fighting this restraint pushes forward, releasing a small mitten immediately taken into a torrent of movement towards the curb. The green strips half hidden with leafs ...... It was a really windy day we were almost blown away. Ethan lost his mitt I'm really surprised that I found it when I went back to get it. I would have thought it would have blown away.

A haunted Halloween arrived. So much ado, plans and preparation filled the air with anticipation. Amongst it all slept a little chicken not yet understanding the intoxicating yummyness that was to come. We got them dressed in there costumes for the gym. Tues was actually the Halloween party at the gym, but we were invited to another party by the girls from the play group last week. So the chicken (Ethan) and the ladybug (Ava) piled into the car and headed to the gym. They were the only kids there so they got lots of attention.

Snatched from the patch, thrown into a box and now left alone on a floor. A pumpkin awaits the transformation, to become more. A face to bring joy or fear is the fate of a jack-o-lantern. The process begins, an audience waits in anticipation for the final result.....

Ant carved the pumpkin as we looked on. He got his inspiration from World of war craft . (for those of you who might not know what World of War craft is It's an Internet game in which...well actually I don't know what he does, but he enjoys it :) ) Ethan took to the pumpkin LOL it was a nice snack. Ava on the other was afraid of the pumpkin. She was afraid of it before as well as after it was carved. Poor girl.

Yum Tasty!!!!!

A chill in the air and no relief from the wind two children await with great anticipation what was to come. Dark strangers roamed the street rapping upon doors for wee gifts of the hallow season.....Ava and Ethan watch the few children who made it out for trick-or-treating. There were surprisingly few, we bought much too much candy expecting more. We took the kids out for a little walk and next door so they got the experience. Although they were far too fearful to actually take the candy. In the end the played with the leftovers in there packages and split a box of smarties they received on their big night out :)

Just a little bit about our fun Halloween Party that we went to on Tues. We got there a little late, but made it for the pizza (which Ethan was grateful for:) ). It was a little get together but it gave us a chance to get to meet a couple of new friends:) The kids ate their pizza and cracker fish. Climbed stairs and ran in opposite directions (while it seemed all the other kids stayed put lol). I wanted to just thank Lisa for the party and Anna for the invite :)