Chrismas 2011

We had an awesome Christmas together- we've all been off since the 24th. We spent a few days over xmas in Kelowna with my parents- very fun for Elliott (he LOVES my Dad) and nice for glen and I to have some alone, together and lots of relaxing time. I think we've been on a hike outside everyday this holiday, it has been very mild in Kamloops and downtown here we don't have any snow.

Glen's co-worker gave him a 'baby calendar' for xmas.  Elliott gets to open a door every week and learn something about the growing baby, and add a sticker of a baby animal to the picture.  He loves it and it has nicely replaced the advent calendar.

 Elliott spent a lot of time dancing at my parents.  He doesn't dance like this at home so it was quite fun.  He has regular dance parties at daycare, so he had all sorts of cool moves to show us.

 This is all of us at the table for Christmas dinner.  My mom made a delicious Greek dinner- very vegetarian friendly!

Elliott and glen skating outside in Kelowna at the rink.  My Dad is skating somewhere there too. 

 Elliott and Bumpa 'racing.'  My Dad is the best sport- he did running races with Elliott everyday. 

 We are luckly to regularily get tickets to see the Kamloops Blazers.  We went to a game the other night and have another one tonight.  Elliott flipping loves it and spends the whole time watching the game and asking pretty good questions about the play.

We went for a winter hike on Sunday- which despite all the encouragement we have to do, Elliott seems to like hiking.  He said he wants to have a break from hiking on Christmas (like we are drill sargents or something). 

We went to a fun Christmas party on Friday night, and though this isn't the greatest picture, I tried to capture the essence of the kid's engergy.  They ran around the circle of the house for a couple of hours after we jacked them up on sugar cookies.  And then told all the adults ghost stories and sang and few xmas carols.  Glen held baby Gloria the whole time and she munched on his finger.  Glen said "oh I can't wait to have one of these!"

Hot choco

Elliott had hot chocolate at Starbucks last week and for the first time he had whip cream on it.  He couldn't believe how delcious that was (or that it was an option)!

Israel!

I went to Vancouver in early December on my own for the weekend to spend some time with my friend Israel.  It was SO nice... we spent every moment possible talking.  And we ate such delicious food and walked to all sorts of great places downtown.  So great to have a break!

Holiday Greetings

Elliott and Glen made this cute holiday video.  It's pretty funny!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/dEdMSCjdbVAhpW9S

winter hike

We went on a beautiful hike at Paul Lake today and had a picnic at the bottom.  I think we might re-create it with a bonfire on New Years Eve. So nice to be enjoying winter.  Good idea to have a nap on the way home- we are going out to our amazing "Wild Lights" at the animal park tonight and might need a little extra energy. 

xmas party

Glen's work puts on an awesome Christmas party for staff's kids each year.  We certainly had fun this year- Elliott's bud was there and they were so excited to see Santa.

There was a clown who made awesome balloons too.  I am still really nauseated on and off, but trying to get back into the swing of things.  Enjoying the times I feel good anyway!  Last night glen and I went out for a delicious dinner at a nice restaurant and fortunately I felt good.  Ate enough to make up for some of the missed meals!

sharing good news

I'm kind of curious who reads my blog.  I can see that their are quite a few people who check it- but I don't know who they are.  So I thought I'd share some good news here for those that do.

After a very long, complicated decision making process, glen and I are very happy to say that Elliott is going to become a big brother in June (actually, likely one day after his birthday).  Very challenging last couple of months for me (hence no blogging!) but I think I am starting to see the end.  Elliott is really interested in the whole process and literally shudders with excitement when we talk about it.  I'll let you know if that is the case in July!

Yeah little family!

Reading

Elliott loves books and we read many each day (including 3 at bedtime).  He has been really sick with croup this last week and we are so glad that life is back to normal and he is a happy little guy again. 

We love the ocean

We had a very fun trip to Vancouver recently (minus the 8 hour drive and 3 hours not moving in a snow storm!!)  We saw all sorts of great family and friends.  AND I didn't take any photos.  Besides these two on our last morning- Elli and I were having a great time playing at the beach.  We need more ocean time.  May be a resolution.

kids and cake

We've been to a couple of birthday parties in the last week.  Kids love cake.  Change that- kids love icing.

Lovely Sunday

 Our little friend Gloria came over for a little babysit last Sunday.  Elliott was so sweet he brought he 100's of toys for her to look at, and lined them up all around her blanket.  She was so angry when I changed her that she just cried herself to sleep and had a nap on our bed.  What a cutie.

 We also went skating last Sunday with our neighbours.  Elli and glen are such awesome skaters together.  Maybe by the end of the winter glen won't have to hold Elli's hands at all.

My fav picture of all.  B wasn't so into skating.  He didn't like how slippery it was.  So here the kids and parents are chatting, and B is making a snow angel.  Awesome.

Happy Halloween

Elliott was a dragon for Halloween.  Slightly ironic, seeing that he is quite frightened by dragons.  But he had so much fun visiting houses and went with his pals.  They were certainly more excited about going house to house than all the candy that they got.

Elliott was dead set on going to visit his friends house so at some point Elliott and B got a stroller ride from Todd. 

The week before glen and I were at an integrated health conference in Vail Colorado.  It was entirely amazing, and so super packed with lectures and groups and meetings with professionals that would take over a year to get in Canada. We both come away with a lot learned. 

Special weekend

Elliott and I had a very fun few days- glen was away for work and Elliott and I had all sort of adventures.  I didn't catch it all on pictures, but we went for Sushi together, and had his buddy over for dinner.  We've also been to 2 hockey games this past week- which he loves. 

 Here Elliott is at is first movie in the theater.  It was in 3-D, which isn't awesome for little people, and he ended up watching the most of it without glasses.  But he loved it, and didn't move for an hour and a half!  And ate the whole bag of popcorn of course.

 I learned that Elliott loves to rake leaves!  And he is good at it too!  There will be millions more for us to do in our yard next month.

Elliott and I went for an evening bike ride and collected all the beautiful leaves that are falling.  He likes to keep one in his helmet- he copies "Mike the Knight."

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a really fun, happy Thanksgiving.  Though it wasn't traditional in any ways, it was filled with friends and happiness (and really good food!)

 My girlfriend got married- it was the first wedding for the 3 of us to attend.  There were about 30 kids there all in all, so the dance floor rocked.  Elli had a good wipe out earlier that day and was a little sore, but he managed to have fun.  He has a special fondness for the flower girl!

 The following day we went up to Sun Peaks for an amazing brunch, and hike on a beautiful fall day.  We love Sun Peaks in the off season and it is only 45 min from our house.

On actual Thanksgiving we had a little party at our neighbours house.  The best part (besides not making thanksgiving and being with great people) was when B invited everyone downstairs so that we could watch the kids play rockband.  He is for sure going to be a rockstar- knew a few cords, could sing all the lyrics and has awesome rock moves.

last weekend

 Elliott wanted me to use washable felts to make him a zebra.  I am SO not artistic, but he thought it was great.

 Family board game nights!  Pretty fun!  Although the games are slightly mind numbing...

Last week

Sorry no blogging!  Work got crazy busy, and I got super tired of course, and though did lots, I skipped out on the computer.  Here's a brief synopsis of our week.

 Couldn't resist- the boys peeing in the backyard QUICKLY so not to miss a second of fun.

 A sweet neighbor girl comes over on Friday afternoons to play and help.  She had a great idea to dig up all the carrots.  The kids loved that- and then proceeded to eat a bunch of them!

Glen took Elli and his friend on a hike, and then ran into other hikers at a waterfall.  How awesome is that?  The boys are wayyyyyy different together than if there was a mom around.

Sept 23rd

Today is the first day of fall.  And even though I don't have a picture, I want to share this story.  This afternoon from 4-5pm Elli and his two neighbour friends got nude for an impromptu round of slip and slide!  It was warm out, but not enough to slide through a cold hose on a wet plastic mat.  Fortunately, the moms didn’t have to do it.  Tomorrow is supposed to be 29 and then next week we’ll go back to our hats and fleece.

Fluffy and Puffy

At our awesome Wildlife Park we got 2 new bear cubs this summer.  There is a naming contest and Elliott has submitted fluffy and puffy.  Might not get picked, but very descriptive!

Notice that he is wearing a hood?  And a jacket?  Last Sunday he was in a bathing suit and I applied sunscreen 3 times.  Kamloops changes seasons SOOO quickly. 

party

We went to a birthday party tonight with some fun friends.  This is Elliott and his best bud eating dinner together.  Elliott has great taste in friends- look at what this guy wears to dinner!!

Kids eating waaaaaay too much icing.  Elliott led the meltdowns about 20 min afterwards.

Windy Riverside

We have an amazing downtown park in Kamloops called Riverside.  We spent a lot of time there, but haven't visited the playground all summer.  Instead we stuck to the spray park and the river.  Today Elliott and I played on the playground during the decidedly fall weather.  Elliott could do all sorts of things that he couldn't do in the Spring- pretty cool for him. 

Hot September

For about the last week it has still been around 33 every day.  Today was no exception and we had a pretty darn fun day outside with friends. 

That's right- 2 fistin' popsicles.

 Grandpa Dan (glen's Dad) drove up to see us on his motorcycle.  Elliott and A thought that was pretty amazing. 

Elliott and our great neighbours played hard on the slip and slide for 1.5 hours. Krista and I laughed our pants off- watching them dive onto their bellies was SO cute.  We would have had spinal injuries for sure.

glen and fran

I think this is the first picture I've posted of glen and I!  We had a couple days on our own last week, and then spent our anniversary in Naramata with some good friends.  It is so beautiful there and we had a really nice, relaxed time.  So much good wine and good food.