Happy Birthday Claire!

My dear Little Claire Bear,
Today you turn two. This year we have seen you turn from a tiny baby girl into a bubbly, bright toddler. You were just about one year when you started walking. To think of how much you have changed this year alone is mind-boggling. It has been one of the joys of my life to watch your personality bud and blossom.

You approach life with the spunk, determination, humor, and excitement that most people only dream of.

You don’t speak much yet, but you don’t really have to. You have always managed to communicate volumes through your facial expressions, or simply through your eyes. That isn’t to say you aren’t trying.

Your favourite songs right now are Caillou, and Veggie Tales. You do your best to sing them, and usually get the vowel sounds all right, and the tune only so-so, but you do it with such gusto! You sway back and forth and hop around while you sing and it’s so adorable I wish I could capture the moment forever in my mind’s eye.

I continue to be amazed at the things that you understand when we speak to you. I have been astounded at how you have seemed to grasp a thorough understanding of life and the world around you since the earliest moment of your awareness.

There are so many things I love about you and the way you are developing. I love the special bond you and Spencer have shared since you were born. You seem to understand him even when other people don’t. You love to play with him, tease him, and let him dote on you. This evening he was teaching you how to ride on his back and you were having the time of your life, squealing and screaming with delight. You were holding onto his shirt instead of his shoulders, so you were kind of choking him but he was so patient and seems to know how to meet you right at your level. And at the same time, you give him the love and adoration of a little sister, which he soaks up like a sponge. I love watching you two cuddle and play. And I think you’ll be a source of strength for each other for years to come.
I love the way you and Collin also seem to have this unspoken agreement between you, and quieter and gentler sort of bond. You play together so well when Spencer is at school, making forts, jumping on pillows, twirling around the room, playing animals. You and he are the ones that always show up together in the kitchen at mealtime or raid the pantry together. You crawl all over the counters and work together to sneak bits and bites of the food I’m making.

This year in April I went on a road trip with just you two and you were angels – playing in the backseat of the car together for hours on end. You two can also disappear for a long time into the basement and make a hurricane-force mess in no time, but you’re having fun together doing it. He likes to help you and share with you and do little things to make you happy, and it makes him glow. He’s the brother that would always want to give you something or do something for you, just because you wanted to – and that was reason enough in his book.
It's amazing how you stepped in and so quickly became your own special part of this threesome. You rough and tumble, but you're the first to hand out hugs and kisses if someone gets hurt.

You pass out the hugs and kisses more than generously to Katya as well. You are her number one fan and admirer and defender. You are thrilled that she sits next to you in the van, and you get so upset if you think anyone else might take her spot. She recognizes Me and you the fastest, and will often smile at you when you come around, which never ceases to amaze me because of the number of times she's nearly been smothered by your overeager love. It's not uncommon for me to find you all but lying on top of her while you're trying to give hugs and kisses. Some parents have issues with sibling jealousy. Even though you were so young when she was born, there was never a breath of jealousy, only adoration of your little sister.

The thing I love most about you is your confidence. You believe you can take on the world. I believe you can too. You march around our house, swinging your little arms and hips, giving directions to those who will take them, always sure of where you're going next and why. I hope that continues undaunted into your adulthood.

You are quick to laugh and have the most infectious laugh. It's not hard to get you laughing so hard that you're convulsing with silent laughter. You're always up for a tease or a joke.

Of course, it's not all fun and games. There are temper tantrums and fights with your siblings....but I know it's a season, and those things will pass eventually.

Even though you can match the rough and tumble of your brothers, you have such a girly side. You love pretty things like makeup and earrings, and you are proud of your pigtails and pretty clothes. You call them your "wee-wahs," your "pretties" and you always want to showcase them for your Daddy. And I can't believe that even at the ripe old age of 2, you can't get enough shoes and you know exactly whose shoes are which for the entire family. You notice them all.

You are practicing your maternal skills in your play these days. As I type this, you're sitting in Katya's baby swing in just a diaper, holding a baby doll to your shoulder and patting her back while you "talk" on a play cell phone, and watch Caillou all at the same time. You take after your mom. It's so sweet to watch you whispering softly to your dolly and kissing her cheeks over and over.

You're also a Daddy's girl. I have never known a little girl who loved her daddy so much, and rightly so! You love to hug him, to cuddle him, and to go to him and tell on me when I've disciplined you and you don't like it. :) When you go missing, I usually check the kitchen and then I check Daddy's office because it's the most likely place you'll be hiding out. You and Collin like to sit under his desk by his feet and have a snack.

One of my favorite times of day is bedtime when I put you down for bed. You take a sippy cup of water, and your favorite blankie, and snuggle down on your pillow. I turn down the lights and cover you up with your blankie, and you sigh and start to drink some water. Then I'll sing you a song. Usually we sing "Stay Awake" or "Jesus Loves Me" and you listen quietly. Last night as I sang you stroked my cheek. Moments like that are so precious they almost take my breath away. As soon as I'm done singing you whisper "I wuh you." And that's my signal to leave the room.

I love you too, my precious little girl. Our lives have been immeasurably blessed by you, and we look forward to all the days and years ahead.
Happy Second Birthday!
Love,
Mommy.

Thanksgiving Thursday with Carmen

It's weird to think of Thanksgiving being today. In Canada it's just another Thursday. We celebrated Thanksgiving last month. And if the weather permits, we'll celebrate it this weekend as well. So this year what Thanksigiving on THIS day means to me is that I really really need to get the Christmas tree up. I plan on doing that this weekend as well, before the Thanksgiving meal, and photographing my kids helping. If all goes well, those photos will show up on my Christmas cards. So since today is really the Thanksgiving is the one I've always known, I'll post extra "thankfulness" things here below.

Today, on this Thanksgiving Day I am Thankful for....
*the nearby church. I think it's going to be a huge blessing to our family, as its only a few minutes away, and it seems to act as both community center and church, being very active. Our family needs a central place to pivot around with our activities and in developing friendships, so it is a huge god-send to have that church close by.
*our new house. It's lovely and a very cozy place for our kids to grow up.
*our family who even though live far away, keep us in their hearts and allow us to invade their lives for large chunks of time around holidays.
*Spencer's sharp mind and his ability to read and do math beyond his years.
*All my kiddos who are the light and joy of my life.
*The patience of my family who love me even when I'm not showing them that they are the light and joy of my life.
*My hubby who is very patient and supportive and pulls an enormous load in supporting our family and steering this ship.
*the delayed winter. The long fall has been truly lovely and we're almost (ALMOST) ready to see our old friend, Winter.
*Sesame Street. Need I say more?
*Vlad's tenure
*Katya's successful and healthy birth
*Vlad's US citizenship
*Friends in our little town on the Tundra
*Neighbors and friends who lend us their trailers time after time after time so we can continue to move stuff up from the other house.
*Collin's school that he loves.

I'm listening to...A cartoon duck talk about water. And Vlad's fingers typing away on his keyboard.

Looking forward to...Getting the renovations in the Little House on the Tundra finished and renters moved in.

Praying about...Spencer's language issues, and Katya's skin (the yeast infection is proving to have nine lives). Spencer is still struggling with pronunciation and also, evidently, language development. Since the speech pathologist at school doesn't want to work with him, I've started a reading routine with him where I read something and he repeats it accurately with correct pronunciation. It's one of the things that helped both Vlad and I tremendously when we were studying other languages. And it does seem to help Spencer. At least I can say he's reading amazingly well!

What's for Dinner Tonight...Probably leftover vegetable soup and smoothie. Just like last night.

Found...not much of anything, actually, since my unpacking has been at a virtual stand-still. Maybe it would help if I'd stop blogging and snapping photos for a while...

Missing...the hairclippers. Of course. If I'd unpack it might help.

Burning Question of the Week...How many times do we tolerate the [not-understandably] beloved doggie nipping at our children before we give it away or call in the Dog Whisperer?

Not Me! Monday!

Better late than never, right?

This past week I did NOT happen to have a closer look at my daughter's "parts" while cleaning her during a diaper change, and come to the conclusion that something was missing. Upon closer inspection, I did NOT come to the conclusion that her something was not missing, but had simply grown in the wrong place. I did NOT watch her pee without her diaper on just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. I did NOT then start to freak out and call my husband before making a doctor's appointment for the next day so the doctor could take a closer look. I had NOT misplaced my phone and did NOT have to call over skype instead. When the receptionist asked what the problem was, I was NOT sure to use very proper names for all the body parts involved and tell the doctor's receptionist very matter-of-factly that my daughters *something* had grown inside her *something else.* She did NOT fail to really listen until she evidently needed to write it down, and then stuttered for a minute before asking, "Wait....WHAT was the problem?" I was NOT hoarse from some sort of throat thingy, and was NOT therefore yelling X-rated things at the computer...for the second time. She did NOT offer me an appointment next week. I then did NOT ask her for a refill prescription for diaper rash cream, and she did NOT offer me a next-day appointment. You'd think the first thing would sound more alarm bells, wouldn't you?! While waiting for the appointment and talking over the problem and contemplating the prospect of corrective surgery, my husband did NOT assure me that "they can make boys out of girls, so they can surely fix what's wrong." I then did NOT have a better look at Claire while I was changing her diaper and realize to my embarrassment that they look surprisingly similar. Evidently, more body parts than just fingers and toes are very small on new babies.
The doctor did NOT dismiss my question out of hand the next day, and we are now more-or-less unconcerned about this issue.
Just me, NOT being a paranoid, overly concerned and somewhat unobservant mommy.

What have you all NOT been up to this week?

Me again...

It's me again, messing around with my camera and the light in our family room. Sorry there are no wider shots. I didn't want to all the lincoln logs or my other bed-head children playing in pajamas to show up in the bakground.

Always chewing on a sleeve these days, thanks to some teeth I suspect are starting to wiggle their way to the surface.


Thanks to the four prescription creams, Katya's skin really is this pink and creamy. No photoshop!




I just love this one.



I wish this one had been a bit clearer, because I love her look of expectancy.


And, my favorite! In my opinion, the most perfect photo taken of Katya to date. I love how the gray in her eyes plays off the gray in her sweater. Again, no photoshop. Do you see how her eyes are changing from that dark blue in the sidebar photo to this deep gray now? Claire's did the same thing. I think it's stunning.

Thursdays with Carmen on Saturday

I am Thankful for....a good night of sleep last night, and for modern medicine. I am now slathering four different prescription creams on Katya and her skin is turning a beautiful soft creamy white. Has there ever been a more gorgeous baby?

I'm listening to...Vlad offering bites of his breakfast sandwich to the kids and me, and them discussing whether or not our dog went to the neighbor's house and ate garbage.

Looking forward to...Decorating for Christmas, and visiting my parents for the holidays. And HUGELY looking forward to getting my camera.

Praying about...getting renters for our Little House on the Tundra.

What's for Dinner Tonight...Something packaged. Probably a stir-fry or a lasagna. We are staying at the Little House on the Tundra right now, with virutually no groceries, so we are going meal-by-meal and will have to make something packaged.

Found...a store that sells cheap bulk food - lots of baking things, dried nuts and fruits, candies, crackers, healthful snacks....all kinds! It's a great store and doesn't smell puky like most health food stores.

Missing...the hairclippers is still missing. I've now decided that my boys look cute with long hair, and I'm going to let it grow out with some simple trimming around the back and sides. Except for Vlad. He needs a haircut or he'll soon start looking the part of the mad professor.

Burning Question of the Week...Does a bathtub or shower wall HAVE to have cementwall backing behind tile walls, or can I use the regular drywall?

November updates

Our life here is chugging along as normal. We have moved most everything out of the other house by now. Well, almost everything... We still have two garages and one shed to empty even though we've had an official couch/mattress burning in the back lot. It's a work in progess, what can I say? Apart from the occasional power-tripping border guard (which really really riles me up, by the way!) it's a pleasant process as well. It's very nostalgic going back to our old house, and when I'm there I see why it was so good for our family to be in that house, and that place, at that point in time. Both provide for a whole lot of togetherness and not a whole lot of anything else.

We've gone down for most weekends lately and spent the days packing boxes and loading a trailer, which we then pull back up to Winnipeg and unload into our garage. The boxes are gaining on us. The garage is filling up. I have a goal of unpacking 2 boxes each day. Even that is a stretch. But even with the piles of boxes, this place is slowly becoming "home" and a pleasant one at that.

The worst thing about leaving our little town was the prospect of losing touch with the friends we'd made there. Thankfully, with rotating potluck plans fully underway, we will be able to continue building those friendships and strengthening those ties for years to come.

Our kids are still enjoying life at full stride. When I look at them I sometimes get the feeling that they are already graduated from college, all grown up. I want to take a running video of their entire lives so I capture everything and forget nothing. I have the adult sense of time, feeling that the moment is urgent because time is so fleeting. That tomorrow is already here and next year is just beyond the horizon. I have to remind myself of how slowly time moves for children; that "in one hour" is almost out of grasp, and "tomorrow" might as well be next week. It comforts me to think of time in this way, knowing that after their nap the day is all new, and they are seeing the world - and me - again for the first time. When I think of their childhoods this way, I feel like they do - that I have all the time in the world to be with them and enjoy them, and that it will be quite a while yet before they grow up and fly out on their own. The world is so much more refreshing, sparkling, and exciting when seen through the eyes of a child.

This week I have no voice. I feel pretty much fine, but my voicebox is plugged up, and I haven't been able to talk for any long period of time or to get any volume out. It's actually been great because I've had to address situations with a lot more calm and quiet simply because I CAN'T address them with anything else. To my amazement, things have been going more smoothly and I've communicated with the kids and even with Vlad better than when I have a functioning voice. The lesson for me? Shut up and sit down! Most things really aren't an emergency, and the kids tend to listen much better and communicate better themselves when they can barely hear me to begin with. Plus, it's easier on Vlad's nerves.

Collin continues to do well at his new school. He really loves it, and so do I. I have never been so happy about a school decision as I am about the decision to switch him from the other pre-school to this one. For example, the first day at his other school, when I arrived to pick him up he was all bummed "because of his snack." Because of his snack? The teacher said he couldn't find his snack in his backpack. He had managed to find his juice box but not his fruit strip. The fruit strip was right in the same pocket with the juice box, completley visible, completely obvious to any adult who checked....."who checked" being the operative phrase there. When he couldn't find his snack, obviously no one had stuck their hand in that pocket to take a split-second feel around. So he was the one kid that didn't have a snack, on his first day of school, and had to sit there watching the other kids eat and feeling left out, while his snack was tucked in his snack pocket across the room in his backpack. To me, this speaks volumes about the caring and nurturing that would go on at a school with teachers who wouldn't take a child under their wing and help out a bit more on his first day of school. When I picked him up at the other school, I got the feeling "Get your child, and leave please." This new school, however, is so much more friendly. It's lower income, but higher quality. The teachers seem genuinely interested in kids not just in general, but in THESE kids specifically. A truly caring attitude. They greet him with genuine joy whether or not they can see me or know I'm within earshot. They give the parents waiting in the hall to pick up their kids a brief summary of their learning experience every day after class. They stay on top of things and have structured class time with some obvious planning involved. Best of all, Collin's eye shine when he talks about school and he talks to us about the fun things that go on there, rather than just shrugging and saying "Yeah" when we ask if school went well. I LOVE this school and I'm so so so grateful that I've found it, not only for Collin, but for Claire and Katya as well.

Spencer's also doing great. He's jumped one or two grade levels in his reading since he started there about two months ago. He's just such a smart kid that I can explain a phonics concept once or twice and he gets it. So he's flying along very well in English. It's not quite the same in French, and although the language barrier is frustrating for him, I also feel that it's very good because it keeps him involved, requires more concentration, and doesn't turn school into a big party for a kid who can catch everything on the fly in English, whether or not he's paying attention. We're going to do something to help him catch up in French soon. But in the meantime, he'll continue to do well and he's still upbeat and positive about school although he misses his old school and his old friends. The best thing about this schoo? He's met a few kids who are almost as passionate about Bakugans as he is. I finally broke down and let him take a Bakugan to school to show his friends at recess. Imagine: the president of the Bakugan fan club (no, not really) not even being able to show ONE of those precious 21st century marble thingies to his friends while they were all displaying theirs proudly at recess time. So I finally relented, and now he's "in" as an official Bakugan collector among his friends.

Vlad is busy as ever. Working, working, working. The thing we both love about his work is that he can concentrate on developing the technologies that offer the most potential for both professional and personal development or achievement. He's meeting deadlines, planning his sabbatical, and juggling 20 things at once. And he maintains a good attitude doing it, too! Good job, Honey!

As for me, I'm busy figuring out how to be a mom. And I'm on the road to getting a good camera with plans to develop into a professional photographer. That's the plan, and I'm sticking to it.

With Claire and Spencer's birthdays just around the corner, unpacking to do, Christmas decorations to display, and a Christmas trip to take, it doesn't look likely that boredom will overtake us any time soon.

Not Me! Monday

This blog carnival was created by MckMama to give us a therapeutic moment and let us vent by admitting some of our imperfections or moments we'd rather forget, and find company in doing so. You can head over to McMama's Blog blog to read what she and everyone else have "not" been doing this week.

I am NOT currently typing a blog post while my nearly 2-yr-old little girl runs to the toilet over and over calling "poo-poo, poo-poo" and then practices getting on, grunting with all of her might, then getting off and flushing, then repeating the process.....all while I sit here typing. I would NEVER leave my two year old to potty train herself.

NOR would I spend most of the day online researching cameras and lenses and all that good stuff, and browsing photography websites and reading about different photography techniques....all of which are useless to me at the moment with the camera that I have now. NO, I would NOT spend my valuable daytime hours on simply pleasurable reading.

I also most certainly did NOT stress getting Spencer and Vlad out the door, kicking myself that it was the first day we were REALLY late (like 5-10 minutes) to school. Spencer and Vlad did NOT show up at the door about 1/2 hour after they'd left, telling me that I had obviously not checked the calendar because there was NO SCHOOL today!! Oops. Wasn't me! I would NEVER forget a holiday from school.

I do NOT need my calendar back on my wall. It's an archaic system, I know, but it works wonderfully!

I most certainly do NOT have loads of piled laundry to wash and to fold and they are NOT screaming at me right now to run and make some order.

photos of katya...

...because she's the only one I can get to sit still for longer than two seconds. :) And she's the only one that will wear hats.

I am Thankful for....Katya's lump to be going down. Also thankful for a husband who supports me in almost my every endeavor. Yesterday afternoon we made a "campfire" in our backyard and roasted sausages and marshmallows with the kids. Then after they left to play we sat by the fire and talked for quite a while about me going into photography. All in all, he's very patient and supportive and does what he can to give me opportunity for self development and creative outlet, whether that's putting torn-paper chalkboard murals on the wall, or building a small business. And I'm so thankful.

I'm listening to...Spencer play with Bakugans and Claire struggling as she figures out how to change her own pull-up.

Looking forward to...getting a camera that can catch my kids in action. Also looking forward to starting a potluck with our friends from our former town. And last, but certainly not least, looking forward to Claire being potty trained.

Praying about...a girl named Brandi who doctors can't figure out why her heart is enlarged. She used to be very active but now can't even shower without sitting down to catch her breath. They're running tests...Pray that the doctors can figure out the solution to this problem and can help her get back to normal.

Found...Did I ever say that I'd found my super duper battery charger? Yay! Also found Collin's crocs,

Missing...the hair clippers is still missing. Still. I REALLY gotta find that thing!

Burning Question of the Week...How should I go about potty training Claire? And is it possible to do without putting pee stains all over the family room carpet?

I don't know them all...

The other day Spencer saw a poppy on my jacket. He wanted to know what it was for. I told him that Remembrance Day was coming soon, and the poppy was a way of showing that you remember the veterans, especially those who died in wars.
He said, "Well, what are their names? Do you know them all? I don't remember them. Can you tell me their names so I can wear a poppy too?"

I told him we don't have to know all their names, but wearing a poppy was a symbol that you honor veterans and are thankful for what they do for their country. He's been proudly wearing a poppy ever since.

So to all the veterans whose names we do know and whose names we don't, to those who we remember and those we never knew, we salute you and thank you, and remember your service for us and our countries on this Veterans Remembrance Day.

Remembering Remembrance Day

I've been having trouble remembering things lately. It has to do with my trusty dusty chalkboard still missing from my wall, which was a great tool for keeping track of life and I relied on it heavily in our other house. I'm starting on a chalkboard for our dining room - the only empty wall large enough to house a calendar chalkboard big enough for a family of six. I'll post photos when I'm done....

But I digress.

As I said, I've been having trouble remembering things. The other day I totally missed it that Spencer had an early release from school. Sure enough, it was one of the days that I was to pick him up from school instead of him taking the bus. So the school called me, and I was late. And so I'm getting paranoid that I'm going to be missing something again.

So the other day Spencer's school sent home a bookmark with the photo of an old veteran wearing a poppy (A sign of "remembrance" on Remembrance Day). The caption read "How will YOU remember?" And I thought, "Good question! How WILL I remember it's Remembrance Day?"

And then I realized I was supposed to be remembering the veterans, and not the holiday. :) lol

Yeah....I really need my calendar back on my wall.

Not Me! Monday

This blog carnival was created by MckMama to give us a therapeutic moment and let us vent by admitting some of our imperfections or moments we'd rather forget, and find company in doing so. You can head over to McMama's Blog blog to read what she and everyone else have "not" been doing this week.


On Halloween, I did NOT forget to take photos of my Ninja, Ninja Turtle, and Pink Poodle before they went off to seek a fortune in candy. I was NOT as excited about trick-or-treating as they were. It was absolutely NOT the candy I was interested in. :) The costumes were fun, too.

This week I did NOT try to straing the pulp out of a smoothie by pressing it in my French Press coffee maker. (Note: It doesn't work).

I did NOT laugh with delight when my nearly-two-year-old got frustrated when she couldn't open the pantry because I'd installed a new lock. *Evil laugh* Bwah-ah-ah-ah! No more vaccuming cereal messes!

When Collin refused to drink his deliciously healthy smoothies, I asked him "But you like slushies, don't you?" "Oh, yes!" "Okay, then tomorrow I'll try to make a slushie instead." I did NOT "make a slushie" by making a smoothie, putting a straw in it, and calling it a slushie. Collin does NOT drink slushies down with virtually no problem.

I am NOT still looking for my hairclippers. My boys do NOT show signs of it being missing for several weeks past their hair cutting day.

I have NOT taken to "taking toys away" if they are still on the floor 10 minutes after I've asked the kids to pick them up at the end of the day. I would never be so uptight about messes and stepping on little toys that I would deprive my kids the joy of playing with that toy for a few days!

When I've dropped Collin off at school the past few days, and leave knowing I have only ONE child with me for the next two and a half hours, I have NOT smiled with just a bit of glee and the feeling that I CAN DO WHATEVER I WANT!! I have NOT spent that time grocery shopping virtually kid-free. Because there's no way I would do something so boring with my "free" time.

I am NOT blogging when I should be packing school lunches.

What have you all NOT been doing this week?

Katya and Spencer

Okay, so I'm having a lot of fun photographing my kids and playing with my new editing software. :)

Anyway, I love this one:

 

Born Yesterday

It seems he was just born yesterday! How did he get so grown up so fast?

Katya's Growing Up

Here are some updated photos of our Little Lady Love.