On A Jet Plane

 

Well in true Jen fashion, I come to you while I am meant to be packing and cleaning for a move :)

Now this is not a permanent one, a couple of month, but still big enough that I should be doing more then posting on this here BLOG.

With Ants "new" job, meaning the one he started oh........ 2 years ago the ability to spend a summer over seas was high on our list of great job perks. However last year we weren't able to go and were totally bummed, and by that I mean hit really hard causing us to make irrational decisions like buying a old giant house. (we love the space yes, but the work it's going to take to update it...... what were we thinking)

Back to the trip, we are going on an adventure in Ireland. The kids are really excited, or Ava and Ella were till they found out that they were going to miss some birthday parties (so very sad)..... luckily they are still bribeable at this age and are back with the program.

We leave in less then 2 weeks Yipee!

Summer - Touch-Me-Nots

One of the neatest things is to see your kids experience something that you loved to do as a kid.  I still get all excited at the sight touch-me-nots, real name I don't think I've ever known...... Impatiens capensis thanks Google.

On Building

Ethan wants to build. He is constantly telling us about all kinds of great inventions. He will go on excitedly for days about one idea. So when one of the many, and I mean many remote control devices in the house fell apart it was a great opportunity to let his imagination go wild. He hit the recycling bin and came up with a plan. He and his dad set to work. Here is what he created.

Summer 2014 - Bear Den Mt.

I have to say this summer was a game changer in the parenting department. This was the first year that all three bambinos were willing and able to attempt some really cool things. We weren't sure how well Ella would do at hiking. So we picked a moderate trail and set out. Seems I have some training to do before next year so I'll be able to keep up with her.

We decided on Bear Den Mt. it was about a 45 min hike and low in difficulty. Ella led the way, Ava and Ethan close behind. Well Ava kept me company at the back for some of it. It was so wonderful to watch them climb and really enjoy the experience. I'm so glad this is something our whole family loves to do!

 

On the way down we found a stream and.....

 

Our Summer 2014 - Post 1

The order of these summer posts will not be in the order in which they occurred.

These are from our visit to my sisters house this summer.

Thanks For Hanging In

Thank you to the 2 or 3 of you who seem to have kept faith in the fact, that although I am unpredictable and able to keep to a schedule. That I would one day return :)
I'm not going to make any promises like I'll be blogging on a regular basis, but I feel like life has opened up a few doors lately that may allow me some time to catch you guys up a little.

So lets catch up......
I'm going to do the sad news first.
We had to put down our loving dog Penny in August. She was always such a great part of the family and we were all pretty torn apart about it. I cried for days, I didn't realize how big of snuggler she was and how much time we spent together.

 

As we are known for doing we made some big changes and bought a new house. We moved on October 15 to a beautiful old house about 2 blocks from our last one. This house offered us what we were really wanting more space and to keep the kids at the same school.

The move went smoothly enough, but with the short time that we gave ourselves we had not finished all the work on the last house. Our last month has been full of painting and the last of the renovations. Which has given us little time to really get settled into the new house. But the important things are done like the hot tub and the kitchen :)

I was looking back at when I first stared this blog and I believe it was around this time 7 years ago.... that's right 7. I had two little bambinos who weren't even walking yet. Now OH HOW WE'VE GROWN! These guys are so amazing I can't really put it into words.... probably has something to do with the lack of writing here. I have to admit that this parenting thing is a totally crazy experience and I am so lucky that I have these great little people to help me through it. They are incredible loving and understanding of all the crazy things we put them through.

I would like to do a recap of what we were up to this past summer, so maybe I'll be posting that later this week???

It was great catching up with the small group of you that still hung around :)

Last Day of School

This has been a weird year, it feels like it’s flown by, yet the winter felt like it lasted forever. But here it is the last day of school and yes I have cried. No no no not because these guys are going to drive me crazy this summer, ok maybe a little hehe

More that this is the end of something and that always makes me cry, I’m a sap that’s all there is to it!

Last day of School

First Day of School

Her RU-TOON

So after many a Saturday morning of convincing her she wanted to dance, the rutoon (recital) had finally arrived. I was worried that she would be to scarred to go on stage. She would not dance at home or in front of anyone. She would hide at the mention of it. But on that day she pranced out on stage and gave it her all. When it was all done she was all ready to sign up for next year.

Hello Summer 2014

One of the parks here in Cambridge has a BMX Bike track and I have been trying to convince Ethan to give it a try. This year I just loaded everyone bikes, scooters and helmets into the van and we went for it. He was a little shy at first, but once he got going it didn't want to stop.

First tooth

I remember so well little teeth popping up through little gums. All the pain and sleepless nights. And then tonight Ava lost her first tooth. So now they are on their way out......
There were tears and fear and then I finally just pulled it out.
Now we wait for the tooth fairy. It's all so very exciting!

:0)

The house is full of sand and dirty clothes, bags and tents, remnants of snacks and a bag full of stuff that didn't fit back into this bag or that. As the kids make their own lunches in the back yard summer slowly trickles away. I listen to all three of these crazy wonderful kids and hope they enjoyed this summer as much as I did. This summer was not full of reading and writing nor did we keep up on our math skills. Instead we ran wild at the park and took trips to visit family and the beach. We are all tanned and have sun streaked hair.
In two days we will wake up early to head off to grade 2 and later this week kindergarten. The kids have picked out their outfits, oh they are so cute (or cool, because, "Mom" sigh, they are just to big for that now). Our next couple of summers will look much different then this one. I'm so excited for what is to come, but a small part of me is hanging onto right now. I have a very happy heart!

Summer Love

So far this summer

Ava's sleep over, thinking about it still puts a smile on my face.  I heard more "this is the best day ever" a hundred times.  There were little girls running around with freshly painted nails, crazy hairdos and drawn on tattoos (best idea ever!).  We were surrounded by barbies and littlest petshops.  It was a late night and really early morning of giggling as Soots the cat woke everyone up before the sun.  I can't wait to do it again!

Our summer has been busy like most years, but Ant has been away so far :(
His new job has him training in Miami Florida. Which is nice for him, but he is desperately miss these crazy kids of ours and I don't blame him. 

I was however able to go for a little visit, and did I ever need it.  When ever I get away for a bit I realize just how much of me goes to my kids.  This is great and I feel like a great mom, I do however miss me sometimes.  The free and incredibly lofty Jen.  The things I can not afford to be while I'm needed so much of the time. So when I got to kick off my shoes and look into the sun, walk for miles on a rain stormy beach and spend time just watching the world around me I totally soaked it up.

I will be glad when I have my man back, so we can have some more fun with the kids this summer :)

Slumber, I think not

Our house is about to be bombarded by little girls in the next couple of hours. With pillows, pj's and I'm guessing a whole lot of energy. Ava is hosting her first ever slumber party. And as we count down the hours, minutes, seconds I'm afraid she might just burst with excitement! We have been working non stop for two days now cleaning and prepping. I'm so proud of how hard she has worked to make sure everything is ready.
There will be painted toes, scrap book pages, a game of charades and of course lots of loud giggles and crazy girls.
We are going to have so much fun!

And that's the end of Grade 1

This year brought reading and mathematics into the house, some crazy tall grown up kids, who somehow managed to keep all their teeth despite all their desperate efforts.

Ava was in a grade 1/2 split, I wasn't sure how she would do at the beginning of the year, but she rocked it.  With the added homework and the push towards learning more she soared through this year. She got all A's and B's and one lone C and I couldn't be prouder!  She's made the greatest of friends and has even planned herself a fun little slumber party later this summer. 

Ethan started this year a bit behind on some things and with a little help from some great, and I mean  GREAT! teachers he has caught up and is a super star! His second report card blew his first out of the water, he got all A's, B's and a lone C as well. What can I tell you these kids rock my socks off!

Ella was a tad bit disappointed when she found out she had to wait till September to start school. We went to her Kindergarten introduction one night after school and this girl is ready!  All that shyness got pushed aside as she walked right up to the sign in table all. by. her. self. And filled out her name tag all. by. her. self. And found her group all. by. her. self.  I could keep going with that but you get the point. 

Next year they are all in school..... all day...... every day...... excuse me while I go cry in the corner.

Although we have a whole summer of awesome before then :)

The First Day of School

Grade 1

The Last Day Of School

Grade 1

Wild times in the life of a parent

Ant and I got Friday night off thanks to his sister, she popped by after work stole our kids and took them away to the cottage.  They drove away with a smile on their faces.  We in true parent style,  minds going wild with all the crazy things we could do with all this freedom...... went out bought a deep frier, had wings and fries while we watched too many episodes of Game Of Thrones.

Aria

 Aria Rose

January 11 2013 - March 9 2013

Sweet Niece, cousin,

we said good-bye to you 

on the beach at sunset,

Ava wrote your name in the sand,

we found the perfect flower

to place by your name,

we each took one of the petals

to throw into the ocean,

as we did we remembered you

and LOVED you so

 And LOVED YOU SO!

Snack time

Hey Ella

Look out behind you, there is someone after your lunch!

This place