September Catch-Up Post

The month of September is rapidly coming to a close so I thought I'd share some random pictures from the past month that have been sitting on my computer and longing to be posted!

I feel guilty that we spent a lot of our summer indoors - partly because of the insane heat we had here, and partly because I felt overwhelmed by taking all 3 kids outside. We have a TINY backyard and the kids prefer playing in the lane in the front of our townhouse - but that means that I need to be out there with them since there are always cars coming and going. This past month the temperature has been more tolerable and Silas has been more content to watch the kids play from his stroller so we've made outside time a more regular part of our routine.

There is a small grassy area to the side of our house and the kids love playing with their trucks and cars in the dirt there.


Sidewalk chalk:


Can't remember why she was crying here but this is pretty normal for Keziah :)


Chasing the neighbourhood cat that we've named "Fluffy":


It's all fun and games until somebody gets scratched.


Double-dating with Taeya & Elijah at Ezra's birthday party:




Bottle time for the babies:


And a video to end off:

Baby Faces

Just Because He's Cute

This kid is almost 6 months already!


I tried feeding Silas rice cereal for the first time a few weeks ago and he wasn't too impressed.


What is this stuff, Mom?!?


Silas is pretty immobile still - not really rolling and not sitting either. Maybe because he spends so much time strapped in - to the bouncy chair, to the swing, in the stroller, in the high chair... I should probably let him have some more floor time but it is WAY too hazardous to leave him lying around :)


Silas has begun to express himself - unfortunately it is in the form of wild, insistent shrieking. Not really crying, but not really happy either. It makes things feel a little chaotic sometimes...


One of our next attempts at rice cereal - still not a big fan...


In the last few days he is finally starting to enjoy his cereal. I'm glad to have an option of something to give him when he's fussy/bored, but I'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect of starting solids for child #3. It can be a messy and time-consuming phase. And now when we go out, baby food is one more thing that I have to remember not to forget!


It's a busy life these days but we love our little Siley-Bear. He is full of smiles and giggles and it's just as enjoyable watching him learn new things as it was with our first baby :)

Growing Up

My little boy is off to preschool!


Monday was Micah's first real preschool day. Him and I went together last Friday for parent orientation and an informal playtime for the kids. I think I was more nervous than he was. As a kid I never would've thought that parents would feel insecure and the need to fit in. But it's like our first day at school too. You smile shyly at all the other moms and hope that they like you :)


On Monday I dropped him off for his regular 2 and a half hour class and he did great. He had absolutely no problem with me leaving. I'm sure it wouldn't have been this easy a year ago! When I picked him up I bombarded him with questions but didn't get too much out of him. I did find out that he went pee twice, put up his hand to ask a question in circle time, and that 2 of the other kids brought yogurt tubes for snack.


Unfortunately Micah came down with something yesterday and still wasn't feeling well enough to go to school this morning. I wondered if part of it was nervousness about going, but when I asked him he said he wished he could go to school, but his tummy just hurt. So hopefully he'll be back to himself on Friday.

The other excitement in Micah's life these days is a new friend. We met a boy who lives down the street in our townhouse complex. His name is Julian and he's 5. And he is outside riding his bike every waking moment (when he's not in school). Micah and him have started having races - Julian on his bike (no training wheels) and Micah on his tricycle. Julian beats him every time of course but Micah doesn't seem to mind. I'm sure Micah would love to be outside with him all day but I don't feel totally confident letting him play out there without me supervising. From inside the house I don't have a good view of the area where they like to play. And I'm not sure I trust Julian to be super careful after I've observed him whipping around the complex. So, I've been heading outside with the kids in the later afternoon when Julian's sure to be home from school.


Anyway, Micah doesn't know yet but we've ordered him an early birthday present with our airmiles - a spiderman bike with training wheels. He's getting too big for the trike and Keziah is ready to inherit it. I'm sure he'll be pretty excited once he realizes he can keep up with his new friend.


Even though other kids Micah's age are in kindergarten already (and riding bikes without training wheels), it feels to me like it's all happening so fast! When did this kid grow up??

It's A Zoo Here Today...

Come To Me

Are you tired?

Worn out?

Burned out on religion?

Come to me.

Get away with me

and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me—

watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me

and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30

(The Message)

Keziah-Bear

Keziah decided to sleep with her doll's pacifier for a few days...

Keziah makes our house interesting with her her little oddities. I don't think she resembles me much in looks (other than the white-blonde hair), but sometimes I see my own little girl-ness in her. Like her constant singing, or her extreme shyness in public, or her carelessness :P I don't recall having such a stubborn temper and strong will (did I, Mom?) but thankfully I think we may be out of the worst of the "terrible twos"...

I can hope, right?

Even though Keziah's vocabulary is well established, she still makes some funny mix-ups. Like yesterday for example... We often get farm-type smells around here, especially in the fall. Yesterday there was a particularly strong cow odour and Keziah kept sniffing at the air and announcing, "I hear cow's moo. I hear cow's moo!" When I asked her if she meant 'I smell cow poo' then she decided that, yes, that is exactly what she meant :)

I love you Keziah-bear...