May 12 - Another Great Day!

This morning we had to go to the Peds floor because the people who organized the photos wanted to get some press coverage. There were a couple TV stations there, the newspaper, and the communications person for the hospital. I'm not really sure when anything is going to be on/showing up in the paper but it was fun to see some of the people from the photos. I also took a pic of the other photo that was just recently hung since it wasn't in the previous photos. Once we were finished with that we went to see Anth at the fire hall. It was our second time visiting since he started but the boys were so young last time they weren't really interested in anything. This time they were able to walk around and check some things out. I know I've mentioned many times before that the boys love balls but it was SO funny today at the hall - they have some medicine balls there for working out so of course they're heavy and the boy could not figure out why they couldn't pick them up. Gavin got a 6lb one just barely off the floor - he was working so hard! After the fire hall, we went to Walmart and I bought the boys 2 more balls - I swear we have about a hundred but they're always so cheap and the boys love them so much that I can't resist! The last couple photos are of the boys with their new toys!

May 11 - Working Machine!

So today I set out to get a few things off of our 'to do' list accomplished. I actually ended up getting quite a bit done. Drawers and closets organized, laundry done, bottles packed up, kitchen cleaned, poop scooped, sandbox cleaned, garden raked and bordered - I was definitely tired by the end of the day! The boys had a blast! It was SO nice out and we spent the whole afternoon outside. While I was cleaning the sandbox they were splashing around in it and then, eventually, sitting in the water! Once it was cleaned and tipped over to dry, they were playing on top of it. When I was raking and putting in a border on the garden, they were playing in the dirt and when I brought out the pool they were climbing in that as well. SUCH a great day! It would have been better for sure if Anth was here though! I seriously can't wait for summer!! The boys are at such a great age right now - becoming so much more independent!

Once again, I am unable to comment on the pics because of all the crazy numbers and letters taking the place of the photos! I just have to comment on the pic of Mav - Poor dog was trying to hide out from the sun and the kids. I didn't know where he was and then HAD to take a picture of his cute little face poking out from under the lattice. Well...once Cars saw that he HAD to come over and see Mav. I just love how he ducks down to look underneath and then sneaks around the lattice!! haha

May 9 - Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was excellent. For starters, we weren't in the hospital like we were last Mother's Day! I was up early (only because I wasn't getting a good sleep at all) and we all went grocery shopping for some ingredients for a casserole to bring to my parents'. Anth was going to take the boys by himself and let me sleep in (I had to work nights that night) but I was up anyways and I love going out as a family. After shopping we went over to my parents for brunch. We were going to go out but figured it would be so busy and we'd probably end up waiting which would not go well with the boys so we decided to just stay in. After brunch we hung out outside at my parents for a bit until it was time for the boys to have a nap. I obviously had a nap as well (to prepare for nights) and then it was off to work for me :( Luckily we had a really good night though. Not too busy but I ended up going down to the NICU for the latter part of the night because they were swamped. Oh and I got a People subscription for Mother's Day :)

May 7 - Mini Celebs

As some of you who read the blog know, the boys were involved in a photo shoot thing done by Philomena Hughes for the Pediatric Ward. The photos were taken in August and September and were supposed to be used to decorate the Peds ward. I was at work today and Phil showed up with the pictures - FINALLY!!! Anyways, I thought the only picture that was going to be hung was the one with 8 naked babies with their backs to the camera but I was surprised to see a very large picture of the boys!!! haha hence the 'mini celebs'!! My friend Tracy made a comment "It's very fitting since Carson was a customer as well!" haha Anyways, now when I go to work there are a couple pics of the boys to look at. Apparently there is another one coming with the boys in it as well. Definitely a nice surprise!

May 6 - Playdate!

So I'm not really sure what's happening with blogspot but every time I try to download my pictures I get a bunch of writing until I actually post the blog, then the pictures show up, but when I try to edit the blog the pictures turn into a bunch of jumbled words again!! ARGHH!!! So I guess I won't be commenting on the individual pics!

On May 6 Jacob came over for the day. Jenn (his mom) had to work late and her daycare is only open until 5pm so we had an all day playdate :) Jacob was amazing (as usual) - he was so happy all day AND had a 3.5hr nap in the afternoon!!! We basically just played all day - inside and outside. Then we ordered pizza for all and Anth and I undressed the 3 babies for dinner and then a bath to follow. Just as all the babies were in their diapers and messy with pizza, Anth got called into work!! Ah! I then had 3 messy babies to bath and get ready for bed by myself! Not that I'm not used to bathing multiple children but it's definitely easier with some help. It actually seemed like an assembly line, washing all the babies. 3 faces, then 3 dumps of water over their heads, then soap up all their hair, then 3 more dumps of water, etc. It was really cute though! Jacob gets along with the boys SO well. Jenn showed up to pick up Jake at the perfect time. He was just starting to cry because I put him in the crib to get one of my boys dressed and he did not like it! My boys LOVE going in the crib after a bath - they always start jumping on the mattress and giggling. I think Jake just isn't used to it and probably thought I was putting him to bed. Poor guy!! Honestly it was the only time he cried the whole day so it was totally fine. Jenn came in and had some pizza herself before she took Jake home. Then it was bedtime for all - I had to work the next day so I needed some sleep!

May 5 - Potluck

We had a potluck lunch planned for May 5th at my friend Jenilee's house. Luckily Anth's shift got switched to a night so I only had to bring one of the boys - it's just so much easier that way. I wasn't sure how I would decide which one to bring, especially since both of them were so happy in the morning. Just as I was bringing some clothes out to dress one of the boys, Gavin started whining so I brought Carson :) I actually would have brought both but I thought there were going to be more people/babies there and it would be too busy. As it turned out it was only Jenilee and her son Mason, Natalie and her son Ivan and myself and Carson. It was so great to see everyone though. I hadn't seen Natalie and Ivan since Catie's birthday party!! All the boys were so good - no whining/crying to note at all!!

Mason

Ivan staring down Carson...haha!

The boys all did really well together. I love playdates!! After our visit we headed home so that Anth could get some rest before work. He has been working quite a bit these days but I guess that just means more time off in the future.

May 4 - Brando's Birthday Party

Bran is heading off to plumbing school on the 8th so we had to have his birthday celebration a little early this year. He actually starts school on the 10th (his actual birthday!) - Poor Guy! I had to go to work for a 2 hour inservice in the afternoon so the boys and I just hung around the house in the morning and then my mom came over to babysit and ended up walking them over to her house. I just met them all there for the birthday celebration.

Once again, I am trying to do this at work and, once again, I loaded the pictures backwards!! What can you do??

Uncle Bran sharing his birthday fun!

The boys (especially Carson) have started coming up to me when they are whiney and climbing up my legs saying "Mom, mom, mom, mom" repeatedly! It's kind of cute....but that doesn't last long!

April 29 - Crazy Kids~!

Today (as in April 29th) Anth and I decided to do a bunch of running around. I love when we all go out as a family. It's nice to have Anth there to help with the boys and they usually enjoy it quite a bit. We really made the rounds - Walmart, Home Depot, Costco, Superstore, the Children's Place and then FINALLY the park! The pictures are a little backwards but I'm attempting to do this at work and I don't feel like switching them all around.

Gavin playing with the rocks on the playground - the boys didn't really care about the actual playground just the rocks, sticks and dirt!

Trying to get his balance on the rocks

Cars, using a stick to dig in the rocks

The boys were trying to knock over the metal post while playing in front of the mirror

Gavin seriously just walked up to one of the clothes stands and layed down on it - what a turkey!!

Cars wanted to get in on the action too - he just decided to sit on it though.

I think Gav was shopped out! I seriously can't believe he actually laid down on the clothes stand!!

April 5-26 - A New Record!

Soooo...once again I have failed to keep up with the blog (which I'm reminded of frequently....ahem....EMMA!). I think I'm just going to have to accept the fact that I don't have time to update it everyday (or even close to everyday) now that I'm back at work. We have been really busy the past 3 weeks. We have definitely had some great weather and we've been taking advantage of that - mostly working in the yard but some fun stuff too. We have been changing a few things around in the yard - taking away one garden, building another - and then there's the seasonal work - raking, mulching, fertilizing, mowing. It all takes up way too much time especially when spare time is limited these days. I do LOVE the spring though - it definitely puts me in a better mood. Yay sun!! Can't wait for summer this year - the boys have already been loving spending lots of time outside. We've also decided to cancel our cable for the summer so that we maximize our time outdoors.

I'm not even really sure where to go with this blog but I guess I'll start with some more significant things that happened this month and then just explain the multitude of pictures.

Teaching is finished for me now. I have to say I'm definitely relieved that it's over but I look forward to doing it again in the future. It was very draining...especially since I started it right after I came back from Mat leave. It made for a very busy return to work.

The boys are full time walkers now. Crawling is a thing of the past!! It took a while for me to get used to walking into a room to find them standing upright but I have to say that I'm really enjoying it. It's especially nice since we're outside a lot lately. I can just imagine how dirty they would be if they were crawling through the soggy grass/dirt this spring. They come in looking a shade darker as it is!! and always with a dirt beard!! I guess I better get used to the mess!

They've each got a few words now. Definitely mom and dad but they're usually saying that while grasping onto our legs and whining at us!! Gavin says 'HI' CONSTANTLY - it's SO cute actually. When we go out shopping he's extra excited because there are so many people to say hi to and he usually doesn't stop saying it until he gets a response!! haha Cars just started saying 'Papa' yesterday! Now he won't stop - unless of course my dad (Papa) is actually here and then he won't say it at all! My mom is less than impressed (to say the least) that Papa came out before Nana.

I can't really think of much else but if I do I'll add it later!

I was having a little nap while the boys were playing and I came out to find Cars chillin in the diaper box!! haha He wasn't even upset or anything!

I know I've mentioned it before but the boys LOVE balls. Anth took them out a while back and bought them 4 balls from the dollar store - they were in HEAVEN!

Once again, Gavin in a hat - Our little Fire Chief! He tries to put everything on his head now - hat or not!

Ah yes - another Kleenex catastrophe!! I swear I don't leave them out on purpose - the boys just got a little taller and can now reach the bottom shelf of the corner unit!!

Mav - the protector

Anth's dad got us this bike trailer at a garage sale last year and we finally tried it out. Once the kids were in it we realized they should probably have helmets then I remembered that my mom had helmets at her house for their 2nd birthday (Yes I realize they just turned 1 but she LOVES shopping for them)

Much safer!

We rode to the Dollar Store so I could order some balloons for our Peds triple baby shower and had to take Carson's helmet off while we were stationary - he did NOT like it! Gav was actually fine with his though.

We just took a few pics on the way out to the baby shower - 3 girls I work with on Peds had their babies within a month of each other so we decided to do a MASS baby shower!

Gavin was constantly tangled in the 3 sets of balloons I brought. He was having so much fun though!

Cars getting ahold of a balloon while he can

MAYHEM!! So many kids!! It was so much fun!

TWINS! 3 sets born within 20 months!

The 3 ladies and their babies (Charlotte, Griffin, and Jaya) - SO CUTE!

Jacob needed to have a bath after the shower so the boys were supervising.

Anth and his mini-me (Gavin)

The boys got their first "official" haircuts April 23rd. As most of you know I have been buzzing their hair at home since last summer but this time we decided to take them to the hairdresser.

They were really good - they both sat in the chairs by themselves and didn't cry at all but the hairdresser that I was with who was cutting Carson's hair kept saying "He keeps moving his head. He's not letting me get this area properly" WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!!!

It was Anth's 28th birthday on the 24th. Emma and Adam had us and Amy and Lorne over for dinner on the 23rd and then our friends Tom and Ange and Kate (Ad's sister) and Will came over later for drinks and Trivial Pursuit. On the 24th we met Ad and Em for brunch and then headed over to Anth's parents' house for dinner.

Anth's mom cuddling with our nephew Cohen, her dog Buffy and Gav

The boys wishing they could harrass Buff - luckily for her there was a barrier between them!

Titi (Auntie Kari) and Gav singing Happy Birthday to Anth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Strawberry cheesecake from Sugardaddy's YUM!!

The next day Anth and I both worked while Nana and Dida (Anth's parents) took care of the boys. I was so excited that I didn't have to work today until the boys were up about 5 times last night only to wake up for the day just before 6am. Cars did JUST cut 3 more teeth and Gav cut 2 more so I'm hoping this is going to be short lived!!