In the Tub

We went swimming yesterday and the boys enjoyed it so much that they wanted a bath together later that evening. We have really enjoyed the last few days with Daddy being off work.

On tuesday we went to Red Lobster where Daddy had Shrimp Tuesday (read... a lot of Shrimp!). Mads surprisingly ate some shrimp, tomatoes, biscuits and pasta pieces. Bobs shivered at the thought of eating a biscuit. He had fries. Not something we would usually let him eat but it was a special treat for everyone to be at a restaurant together that wasn't a pancake house.

We look forward to a busy weekend with a Raclette Night tonight with Sarah and Kristin. Sarah is due in a few weeks with baby #1. Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve. It is also JJ's birthday so we will be celebrating there and see where the night takes us with two little kids. On sunday, it is Sarah's baby shower at our house. Another birthday party is happening for a one year old at the same time so Daddy and the guys might head over there and the rest of the friends from the baby shower overlap will meet at the party afterwards. Busy times! We love being with family and friends.

Reunited Again

The babies and the toddlers are reunited with their BFFs again. They had been in New Hampshire for a month.

Christmas Dinner

We had duck last night with my family and our friend Shawn. Unfortunately I undercooked it. I also had the timing of the potatoes totally off. Fortunately my parents stepped in as they have prepared this dinner many times. They have learned that if everyone chips in with the prep work, it comes together.

Mads prefers to eat by himself now, using his own hands. He is willing to eat nearly anything. Bobs is still a picky eater and had apple sauce and a peanut butter toast for Christmas dinner last night.

Ducks are rather small... so we have no meat left. We have lots of side dishes left though, so this morning I planned on popping into Safeway to pick up a roast chicken. They didn't make any. Who needs roast chicken when they should have plenty of leftover turkey from Christmas? I did find a cold one made on the 24th that is good until the 27th so we will have Daddy's favourite for lunch. Hot Messy Chicken Sandwiches.

On the 24th we also went to Christmas mass. We were 20 minutes early but this wasn't early enough. They turned us away! The church was beyond full. It was sad. Next year they plan on having more masses. This morning when we went, it was not even half full(half empty).

Mads the Little Elf

Merry Christmas!

Last night we had cheese fondu for dinner and then when the kids went to bed, we set up all of Bobs' train tracks and added some new ones for him to discover the next morning.

Boy was he surprised! Santa brought him two new engines. We also opened some of Mormor and Morfar's presents last night to spread everything out. It is also a Scandinavian tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve. Daddy still doesn't quite believe me on that one though.

Mads loves wrapping paper more than the gifts themselves. Bobs was like that too. We opened gifts from Grandma, Grandpa and aunty P on Christmas morning, as well as from other friends.

Bobs is now, unfortunately, quite spoiled.

This evening, Mormor and Morfar and Shawn will be here for Christmas dinner. I am serving duck. They go in the oven at 1:00pm. Until then!

Friend from Ontario visits with kids

A friend from Southern Ontario ( originally a university/high school friend ) is visiting family for Christmas and she brought two of her three kids over for a playdate. At first, her kids were shy, but they warmed up quickly and played well together.

Y and Bobs had a picnic with cheerios under the dining table. We plan to get together again the day after New Year's Day for a birthday party. Same day as I host another friend's baby shower. It will be busy but fun!

Getting Ready For Christmas

Baked some sugar cookies before we left for Ottawa.

Bobs tasted and Mads napped.

When we got back, we had many packages delivered from Canada Post. Bobs helped himself again. This time to AMK's package. She said it was ok. We let him open it over Skype so AMK could see. He got a Thomas the Train pillow, and blanket - both made by AMK herself. Also a little bag to put all his trains in, and a Thomas book with small little trains. Mads got a peanut ornament.

And a box to play in.

Some decorations around the house.

An ornament from two years ago, and a new one for this year.

Mads crawling around the living room following a laundry dryer ball and playing with the new toy from grandma and grandpa that we brought back in our luggage. Can you believe it was found at a garage sale in Wasaga Beach? Great find as both boys enjoy it.

Personalized stockings. I am not a crafty person but I was able to find these at Superstore, and the stick on felt at Michaels to spell out their names.

Christmas is coming soon! Wishing laughter and peace this season to all who read this blog.

Last Day in Ottawa

Aunty P and Mads looking out over Kent.

Bobs and Grandma decorated the Christmas tree in the den.

Grandpa and Bobs running in front of Parliament.

Someone had made a snowman out of a Tim Horton's coffee cup, and coffee.

Older photos from G&G's Camera

Here is Bobs asleep in the Murphy bed in Ottawa.

And Mads at G & G's condo in downtown Ottawa.

The rest of these photos are older ones from G & G's camera that I thought would be easier to transfer over the blog than to e-mail them to myself.

Crazy hair before the summer's end buzz cut.

Photos from Grandma and Grandpa's Camera

 It's an early Christmas in Ottawa.

Bobs got a lego firetruck. He kept putting the fake fire piece on the truck itself.

Aunty P got to meet Mads for the first time.

Photos from Ottawa

 We have been hitting up all of the museums in Ottawa. Bobs has really enjoyed them all. There was the museum of Civilisation, the Natural Science museum, and the Museum of Science and Technology.

Mommy and Daddy have enjoyed two date nights as well. One night out at a grubby pub, and the next night out at a high end restaurant.

Bobs is sleeping in the den in a murphy bed and is able to sleep alone by himself. Mads on the other hand is sharing a room with his parents, and is keeping us up at night.

Mads got to meet Aunty P for the first time. She has been feeding us some of her delicious cooking.