How Ellie watches t.v.

All parents do is eat their words. Apparently I have been heard in the past saying ridiculous things like "I won't let my kids watch t.v." and other such nonsense. Let me say that every single parent goes against what they will "never" do. Trust me.

Technically they don't watch t.v....it's Netflix. Ha okay whatever. No matter what screen they're glued to, it is helpful to have them sustained in a sitting position and being quiet for at least 10 minutes if not more while I just get one or two things done and get on with our day. 

But, Ellie being Ellie can't just sit and watch anything....

I love Wren's t.v. watching face. Mouth open, tongue slightly out and her eyes in concentration mode. 

Tonight I came across this article (via Facebook of course, where all opinions must be shared, haha) on vaccines. Normally I really don't want to hear about the whole 'do or do not vaccinate' your kids debate, but this writer drove home the reality of why we should be vaccinating our kids and speaking 

up about it. 

I'm all for vaccinations, to the point where I have totally (and I mean totally) stuck my foot in my mouth at least once about it, but it really just came out wrong (and I had had some sangria..ha). 

I think this article is a good read on a practical level about the whole "issue". (I really don't think there is an issue, I honest to God think you are insane if you don't vaccinate your kids. In my opinion, it doesn't come close to debating things like breast or bottle, crib or co-sleeping, soother no soother, etc. Those things are in totally different ball fields from vaccines.) I will still like you, but I will think you are ca-razy. 

Speaking of which, we all have colds in our house right now and I am going to be booking our flu shots for the entire family asap. We did it last year and not one of us got the flu. Sold.

Now I'm going to watch the first episode this season of Modern Family online. Time to laugh!

Fall

Last week we dug up our mutant carrots in the garden. It was Wren's job to pick them up after I pulled them out of the ground and go pile them into a bucket for washing. 

Her other job was to pick the ripening tomatoes off the plants so we can bring them inside and let them continue to turn red...and then inevitably make them into tomato sauce. Because what else do you do with that many tomatoes before they go bad?

Ellie's dirt-lips indicate that she helps us in the garden by eating the dirt. It's gross, but it supports a strong argument against using weed killers or any other harsh chemical in your garden!

That being said, my garden is mostly weeds now. What can you do.

Wren, Ellie and I have already caught our first colds of the season. I'm sitting here typing away while Kenton takes Wren to preschool for me. She's pumped to be mostly better and back with her pals. 

And let me introduce the best toys of the year...the baby umbrella strollers. The girls have been going crazy with these things, rolling them around and around the house. We take them outside across the street to the park and they roll their strollers in the grass forever. It's hilarious. It keeps them entertained. It's the best toy ever. 

Oh but because they are different colours, they STILL fight over them. 

But there is very little that they don't fight over. Ellie is a fighter and will pinch, slap and pull hair when Wren gets up in her face or takes her stuff. There is a lot of crying some days!

We are totally enjoying this weather while it lasts. I'll admit I'm a little nervous for winter as I feel like cabin fever will set in easily with these two busy little people. I guess I will have to finally buy myself a pair of adult snowpants and get outside with them as often as we can.  

September has been a whirlwind for us. Kenton is busily finishing up his latest project  which has claimed all his spare time. We had Amanda Gallant do our family photos again this year, but with Kenton's parents, brothers and grandparents as well, which we can't wait to see!

Between my work, Wren's preschool and every other little thing going on, it's felt a little crazy over here adjusting to the fall routine. But we can't wait to rake leaves for the girls to jump in, carve some pumpkins and take the girls trick-or-treating. October will be fun. :)

Princess Tu-tu

 

My parents gave Wren this blue and white tu-tu, but it's actually Ellie that seems to love it the most. She picks it up and comes over to me, holding it up and saying "Mm!Mmm!" until I put it on her.

 

 

Oh, she also likes to sweep :)

 

This is her favourite bus, she bends over and pushes it around and around the living room. The back door always falls open on it and she gets annoyed and tries to close it every single time.

 

She also tries to grab the camera...

The novelty of climbing on the kitchen table has (somewhat) worn off, but she still climbs anything else to get what she wants...

 

 

Sunny Girls

These first two shots are probably my favourite pictures that I took of the girls this summer...and I took them yesterday in the +30 heat of September!

"Just a little bit bigger mom!"

Ellie noticed the keyhole in her bathing suit..

They are the best :)

p.s. Just in case you didn't know this, you can click on the picture and it will show it to you much larger to get a better look!

1st Day of Preschool

Yesterday was Wren's first day of preschool!

She goes again on Friday, and then will be attending 3 mornings a week, m/w/f from then on.

She was so busy playing with play-doh at the table with her new little friends that she forgot to say 'bye' to Ellie and I. It was so cute and a relief to know she was instantly comfortable and happy to be there.

 

At first I wasn't sure if I was ready to be driving her there 3 mornings a week. A soon as I got home, put Ellie down for her morning nap, I jumped for joy with all the free time I was met with!

 

 

 

 

The end of summer

Wren has her first day of preschool tomorrow. She was so excited and today she kept saying, "One more nap and then it's pwee-school!" 

She meant one more sleep, same thing.

It's three mornings a week, m/w/f. I'm a little nervous about how much driving around that is, I'm used to being pretty lazy around here with them, or walking down to the playground all summer. 

But all in all, she is so darn pumped and I also get "free" time in the morning while Ellie has her morning nap. It's going to be good. 

Not to mention, her best pal Drake will be in her class (and some of her buddies from last year) which will mean the world to her. Even her friends, the twins will be back. She used to call them "The Two Semirs". (Their names are Amir and Semir and they look very similar). So funny.

Speaking of funny, this face that Ellie makes it hilarious. The little "V" crinkle above her nose is the best!

She is just starting to say a few words too. She lifts up her own shirt, pokes her belly button and says "bep! bep!" Not quite a "beep" sound but it's coming. And when she runs in the house she says "go! go!!"

We have also taught her to sign "please" and "more". She will say "ma!" for mom and "da" for dad. Or "ma!" for 'help get me down from this crazy place I climbed up!"

Wren picked out this dress when we went shopping for fall clothes. And then she put it on, went in the backyard, and I immediately scolded myself for such a stupid purchase. WHITE? Really?! It's already in the bag of returns to Old Navy. Honestly, what was I thinking. I hope she doesn't notice when it disappears...

The shirt Ellie is also wearing (um, peplum top, SO cute.) is going back as well. The gold polka dots totally disappear after one wash and dry. Not cool. (Luckily they said I can return it. 

Oh these two. In the last month or two, Ellie has started to assert herself in the household. When Wren doesn't let her play with a toy, takes something away, pushes her, etc. Ellie will pinch, scratch and pull hair. 

Sometimes it's warranted, and other times she just does it because Wren got too close or up in her face and it bothered her. I hear a lot of screaming and crying these days, and I have a feeling that won't stop for a very long time!

We are excited for the change of seasons, this household loves fall, a lot. 

Just this morning Kenton exclaimed, "UGH! I hate summer! It's supposed to feel like +30 some days next week!" while looking at the weather network. That's us in a nutshell. The cool nights are our favourites too. 

Well I hope I remember to take a "first day of preschool" photo to share tomorrow. Flashback to last year...um best face ever!

A few other photos that I can't remember if I posted...

Kenton's project: Dining room table with benches

The past few months Kenton has been working on a dining room table with benches for his cousin and her husband. 

And true to form, I am just as envious of these pieces as I was over the audio unit he built our friends! But in a good way. 

This project is coming along so beautifully, it will be such a great moment when it finally goes to it's new home.

(A little Ellie person wandering in the background)

It's hard to see what things will really look like in the end from these photos as they aren't very good, but you get the idea. Neither of the pieces have been sanded or oiled yet, but you can bet there will be photos as soon as that happens.