fridays are alot more fun when someone takes the day off work

eight months old

evidence the sun came out

We were worried that it would be raining as forecasted for the whole 2 days of the cousins' visit as the point of their wee holiday was for Isla and Eden to be able to run around in the backyard with the boys and muck in the sandbox. Thankfully after a rainy and dreary first morning the sun came out and so the cover came off the sandbox and the swing was towelled off. Perfect. We had a good few days together, playing, picking raspberries in the garden, walking to the park with Uncle Sam and going on a big adventure hike with me, bringing lots of sand back into the house from shoes and open pockets, and enjoying ice cream cones out in the yard (Eden's first one!). Thanks so much for coming over, Auntie and girls, we loved having you here!

the cousins are together again

corner of kenneth and craig

Every summer past we returned to Duncan to visit Sam's parents but somehow the timing was never quite right to get to the city's yearly festival. But this year ... we are here! ... and I was really excited to go. For those who have ever watched Gilmore Girls, our downtown looked and felt alot like Stars Hollow this weekend, no kidding. A big community breakfast, the usual Saturday Farmers Market (I'm pretty sure it's one of BC's best), all the merchants out with tables and tents full of sales and displays, buskers and a fantastic Newfoundland Childrens/Celtic band playing in the city square, and the Grand Parade winding through the middle of it. We bumped into 2 different old friends, Eli's Mom and our friend Kim (Hi again, Kim, I know you read this!) and I recognized girls from the local MOPS group and longtime business people from my days working downtown 15+ years ago. I still go into the bank and see ladies I used to work with. I love that. I love our history here, my memories and my little traditions (the exact same sandwich at the Dutch Deli every time), and knowing that we just might bump into someone we know. So it was so nice going to the festival and parade not feeling like a complete newcomer to town. In fact, quite the opposite.

not quite the running of the bulls, but almost

While Walter and I were busy playing on the living room floor all.day.long and saying/hearing "Tell Mummy when you have to go pee..." Sam took Henry and Felix down to Victoria for some all-day fun. I'm so glad Sam took the camera so I could see how their day unfolded and hearing it back from Henry confirmed that they had a great time! First stop was the Beacon Hill Children's Farm, a fabulous petting zoo in the middle of Victoria's best and most beautiful park. One of the big attractions is the twice daily goat stampedes which Henry thought was amazing ... he still talks about the running of the goats! The afternoon was spent at the navy base where Sam works which was hosting their Formation Fun Day for all the military families. The only pictures I have are ones of Henry on the kids ride-on train and seeing his seating position on the train I know he went at least twice, lucky boy! (We didn't tell Walter about this one.) All and all a fun getaway for those three, giving Mum and Middle a quiet house for all that potty training. 3 boys and that means we're over halfway there!!

i'm still a believer (three days blitz)

This was the weekend! After Walter giving us some very clear signs this week that he was more than ready to get out of diapers it was quickly decided to move up our potty training plans to this weekend instead of the end of the month. So I prepped and planned and prayed a little and yesterday morning we dug right in. 9 am ... Sam took Henry and Felix out for the day, the last diaper was thrown in the garbage, little tiny-bummed underwear were put on ... and we waited. Well I waited, watching his every move. The 3 Day Method worked amazingly for Henry and I totally believe in the psychology of its techniques. Giving the power to the child (instead of constantly asking them "Do you have to go pee?"), teaching them to understand their body's cues that they have to go and making Mum and toddler realize that this is all or nothing! No pull-ups, no going out to the store in a diaper, no exceptions. Love that. 10 am ... first accident ... and in the next few hours 2 more accidents on the floor before I could rush him to the potty. The 4th time I caught him mid-stream, scooped him up and got him to the potty to finish. 5th to 18th time (so far) he's told me he has to pee and we get it in the potty - brilliant boy! The other bit will take a bit of time more, as there were a few humorous and messy accidents today when I just wasn't paying really close attention to the hint-dropping-farty-boy. Lesson learned on my part. Needless to say Walter and I have spent alot of time together these 2 days and most of that time has been spent on the floor playing with Thomas and all his friends. And it's been fun. It's sweet to see just how much Walter loves those little engines. I gave him a special reward today of a new engine, in fact Flynn the Fire Truck, and oh my Walter was so very excited. He would not let that out of his hands for hours. And so we carry on, my little Peeing Engineer and I, every day a little better, a little more confident, a little less work. This has been weighing on me for months and I feel so very, very relieved we've gotten through the first, hard, unpredictable days rather well. My gorgeous boy, I'm so proud of you.

do you think summer has finally arrived?

canada day

We spent a few hours at the Train Museum on Sunday, our little getaway to celebrate Canada Day. Because, really, telling Henry and Walter that we were going to ride "Blackie" the train was just about the best outing they could ever be promised! We can always hear the whistle from Nana and Grandad's house and they remember going on the Christmas train last December with cousin Isla, who cried and was rather scared of the noise. This time they were rather big-eyed themselves when the steam whistle wheeshed but nothing, nothing, would keep them from a flag waving ride through the woods and over the water trestle on their dear Blackie. I'm so glad our boys love trains. Happy Birthday, dear Canada, I'm awfully glad we live here.