small update

Here's a mini-update in words;

- basement is leaking from water run-off again.  I think the eaves are the problem as they're not draining the water away from the house.  So we're going to look into roofing and eaves this summer.  Big damper on planning and budget as we were hoping to get a few more years out of it (knew that it would need replacing when we bought).

- had water dripping from the reno'd bathroom ceiling fan.  It's still a mystery on where the water came from, but we suspect that blowing snow got into the vent pipe and melted?  This happened in Baden as well.

- We're putting carpet in the basement, but now guessing on whether this is smart given the recent water leakage (again)...  It's not being "installed" though so we can roll it up in case there is water again.  We bought remnant carpet and under pad that will fill up most of the floor space, but not quite all.  We did it mostly for the kids to play on and wasn't expensive.

- The house still has small on-going projects that we're trying to finish.  Desmond's room, while "done", still needs trim - it's cut but not nailed on.  Same as the bathroom. Fireplace still needs a few pieces around the hearth, and grout.  I'm getting very frustrated with it all, because when I think we have time to do it, the kids just eat the days away and nothing gets done again.

- We are going to Florida for a family vacation during the first week of April and really looking forward to it!  Hopefully the weather is nice for us, and I hope that the kids do well flying again.  Marn's parents are driving down and meeting us there and staying for 2 weeks - the first with us.


Here's a mini-update in pictures;

 My new favourite picture of me and the kids

Vi before the new hair cut

Vi after the new hair cut

One of the many faces of Desmond these days

Smiles are very common too!

 Vi is just TOO CUTE!!!

Our pretty baby girl - "I'm not a baby, I'm a big girl!" (every time I call her my baby or something simliar)

Not much to report...

Andrew and I have been plugging away at the house.  Andrew is working on installing surround speakers in the living room, ran into a little snag drilling one hole so we are at a standstill there. Hopefully that will be resolved tonight.  I finally finished hemming the curtains yesterday and I am in love with them.  Just a final press and they will be great (already are great and let's be honest, may not press them...ever).  Here are a few photos of recent visits, etc...
Sadie and Des smiling together on the couch

Carey reading to Mya, Cora and Violet

 Vi by the fireplace in her dress.  Going through a dress phase right now...wants to have one on everyday so she can dance.

 Vi helping me make pirogies, notice the dress, again for dancing.

 Daddy and Des having a snuggle.

 Des is just getting strong enough to go into the exersaucer.  He loves it, but only for a few minutes at a time.

 Just remembering today how much I loved being pregnant.  Here is a shot of Vi snuggling Des in my belly. It was 11 days before he was born.  So cute. 

Christmas 2010

Time passes too quickly right now.  I can't believe we are this far into January and I haven't even sat down with Vi to write some thank you cards. 
Christmas was SO much fun this year with Violet.  From the cookies and milk to the presents, it has opened our eyes to a whole new world of enjoyment.

 One of Vi's favourite presents was from Des...wings and a wand.  She wore them most of the day and the next, and the next, and the next...you get the picture.

 Des slept through a lot of the early opening.  He wore the same outfit on Christmas that was passed down through all 4 Simpson's grandchildren (Brae, Sadie, Vi and now Des). 

 Great Granny opening her digital frame. 

 Merry Christmas hugs for Great Granny.  Thanks for the dancing shoes!

 Brae, Sadie and Vi waiting to go into the front room at Granny's to get their presents...

 

A giant double stroller!  Vi loves is, a lot of dollies and toys fit into it...and her new camera from the Asbury's fits into the carry compartment underneath!  You never know when you might want to take a photo!

 Kisses for her new dancing shoes!

 Sadie and Vi always say they are 'best friends', so cute...most of the time, until they fight like sisters.

 Great Granny babysitting Des while mommy has a shower!

 Des is growing so fast these days.  Where does the time go?  He is making a lot of sounds now and a-goo is making a daily appearance. 

 There are some things we wish Echo wouldn't teach our children...

 Attempted a photo shoot with both kids, lasted about 2 photos, then Des was hungry. 

 Violet's photo shoot outfit quickly morphed into a dancing queen and baking queen outfit. 

 A quite evening by the fire, Des was sleeping so peacefully, Vi was already in bed. 

Too funny, I got down to do some ab work last night and Vi comes shooting over to do it with me.  Andrew caught the photo.  Too cute.

Smartie Pants

This morning while having our daily morning snuggle in mom and dad's bed, I told Violet that Santa was coming tonight and that he's bringing lots of presents for her.  She looked at me and said, "But Mommy bought me presents at the store already!"  lol
I said, yes, but Santa's bringing MORE presents!  Then she said, "When I open them, I go like this" and showed me her surprised face. I said, your surprised face?  She said, "Ya, like this..." and showed her surprised face again.
Too freaking cute!!

oops

The other night we were at a friends house to do an "annual" Christmas exchange/get-together with Violet and Desmond.  We put Violet down in their bed and as I was doing it, I pointed to their window (2nd story) and said, you better stay in bed and go to sleep because Santa's watching!  Something to that affect....  She said, OK, and fell asleep pretty easily, or so we thought.  About 10 minutes later we hear some crying, so after figuring out that it was "ours", I go up and see Violet and ask what's wrong.  She says to me while still sort of crying, I don't want Santa looking at me in the window!  Ugh!  Nice job!  lol
So I close the curtains and tell her that he's gone back home and won't be looking in any more.... she fell asleep fine after that, but thought it was funny.  Poor kid was scared that some dude (that she doesn't like!) is peeping in on her!
Sometimes the best intentioned plans just backfire on you!

Desmond is smiling and Violet is too cute!

Violet has given us a lot of great reminders lately to watch our language because little children are always listening.   We went to a surprise party a few weeks ago and on the way home in the car it was very late and Vi was still awake, we hear from the back seat, 'my milk is coming in'.  We were honestly not sure if we heard Violet correctly so asked her to repeat it.  She said it again and told us we needed to get home because she needed to feed her baby.  Andrew and I shook the car with our laughter...seriously?  MY MILK IS COMING IN?  Didn't even realize she was listening to me when I said that.  Little people have very big ears.  A few days ago we went to Swiss Chalet for dinner (still can't believe the story Adrienne told us about West coasters not appreciating the Chalet) and during dinner Violet was acting out a little bit.  Then out of the blue, she says 'a new car' with the Price is Right intonation and action (think Barker's beauties waving the hand overhead to direct your attention to the new car).  Hilarious.  Andrew asked Vi if she had been watching the Price is Right.  My parents come over during the day often with Sadie and my Dad is in love with the Price is Right, so the girls are often playing around the living room while it is on in the background, I don't recall ever seeing either of them watch the show (not really that fun as it is not a cartoon), obviously I am wrong.  They are watching and hearing it!  So funny.
Violet has been a little bit 'out of sorts' lately.  We are not sure if it is because she is teething, jealous or a little sick, but it is actually quite cute (don't tell her I said it!).  She wants to be rocked in the big chair and she has started to ask to get milk from my breasts.  Sort of a funny story there.  I have started to feed her from her sippy cup. She sits with me, like a baby and I feed her and then burp her.  It is a source of a lot of laughter as the burps come very easily and very loud (just her saying burp).  Then one night I had just finished feeding Desmond and she said Mommy, I want to you to feed me.  So I picked up her sippy cup and said, come on over.  When she was on my lap she said, 'no, I want you to feed me from there (pointing at my breast)', she then followed that up with 'I want you to feed me from your breasts (sounds like breathsts).  So cute.  I had read about this happening and told Violet she could drink from my breast if she wanted, but she had to wait until Desmond was all done because the milk is food for Desmond but just a drink for her.  So she said ok. Then I brought her up to drink, she has totally lost the ability to drink from my breast, it was hilarious.  She was trying to suck, but more like a straw and she was looking up at me with big eyes.  She said she was getting something but then came off and told Andrew she didn't get anything, but she tried to get some.  So I pinched some milk out and she tried to latch again and suck, but nothing!  So funny.  Since then she has asked a couple of times but only wanted to try again once. 

Desmond has been smiling for a while now, probably almost a month but this morning was the first time he looked up at me while on the breast and smiled while sucking.  I remember this was my FAVOURITE thing that Violet did when she was feeding.  Fills me with so much joy that I am able to give my kiddies the best start for health in this world with breast milk! 

Violet reading to Des this morning:

 Violet, Des and I making a snowman yesterday:

 Forgot to mention, my mom's old work Christmas party was this weekend.  Andrew had to work so I took the kids.  Violet would not go anywhere near Santa, but Des was ok.  She did however go up to him to get a candy cane...

Also, best wake up ever this morning.  Violet was in our bed last night and after Andrew left for work I got back in bed because Vi and Des were still asleep.  A little while later I feel a kiss on the cheek and a little voice saying 'I love you mommy'.  It was Vi, she gave me another kiss.  What a great way to wake up!