Christmas tree!

On Sunday, we went with our friends Sheryl, Jonathan and Jack out to the Elgin Christmas Tree Farm. It doesn't open until noon on Sunday, which is a bit crappy since Owen naps about 1:30 and it's a half hour drive. We decided to meet for bbq first, which was great. We went to Meyer's in Elgin, one of two famous bbq places. Best ribs I've ever had. Seriously.

Then, on to the farm. I forgot my camera, but Sheryl used her handy dandy phone to get some pictures. Not much explanation is needed.

Days 3, 4, 5, and 6

Ok, so much for regular posting. But we are having a good time. One tricky thing I didn't anticipate with activities this year is the small window to do them. Kate is at school each morning and then we come home for lunch and Owen's nap. That means that activities must be done at home, or they have to occur between the end of nap and dinner. That is a small, cranky window. So, we've been doing things we can mostly do during nap time. Here's what has we've been doing.

Day 3: Decorated the house. This was mostly me putting stuff up, but Kate and I also went to target for some more lights and garland. She loved picking stuff out and she also got some Christmas specific art supplies. That is all she really wants most of the time - art supplies.

Day 4: It was Sunday and it was cold and raining. So Graeme built a fire in our little wood stove and we roasted marshmallows. Definite win. And I took pictures. Win again. Here they are:








Day 5: Library trip for Christmas books. Win.

Day 6 (today): Mail all the christmas cards. Kate got to put the stamps on, which she liked and then we walked to the post office and she dropped them in the slot. She liked it, but pretty lame activity. We will try for something better tomorrow. I think gingerbread man making.

Activity advent calendar

This will be our third year doing an advent activity calendar. The first year, Kate was two and she wasn't that into it. Last year she loved it and this year, even more so. We have done the first two days. Yesterday, the envelope said "open your first present". The first present was a chocolate advent calendar- something she's never had before. Needless to say, it's a hit.

Today, we had a hot chocolate tea party with her friend Felix. There were even fresh homemade scones. Another win.

I'm going to try this year to blog our activities and even (gasp!) take photos. I didn't last year and now I can't remember what all we did. Lt's see if it actually happens, I have not exactly been a bastion of blogging lately. Like, for over a year.

Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday after nap we went to a pumpkin patch at a nearby church. We went to the same one last year. It isn't the whole farm experience, but it's very nearby, the people are great and the pumpkins are reasonably priced. And the kids love it. It's enough for them. They each picked out some pumpkins and this weekend we'll do some carving.

20 months

Poor, neglected second child. Kate had frequent blog posts tracking her toddlerhood. Owen? Not so many. Today, our little boy is 20 months old. I don't know where to start. He is both the happiest and most skeptical little boy. He has a stink eye to rival his sister. He gives the best hugs in the world. At bedtime he goes around the whole room for kisses from each person.

He's not talking much, which is weird for us since once K started talking she hasn't stopped. But he's a signing machine. If you show him a sign once, he uses it from then on. Even with very few words, he is very good at letting you know what he wants. What does he want? Books. More books. Pickles. And more pickles. (seriously, the kid likes his pickles). Trucks. Playing with the Flintstone car in the front yard. Sand. Mud. Baths. Doing whatever his sister does. Making enormous messes. Getting into whatever he's not supposed to get into. Pickles.

One of my favourites

This is one of my favourite moments from the summer. Karen and I took the girls to Santa's Village and they all had their first ever roller coaster ride. It was so much fun. Their faces say it all.

First day of school

Kate has started going to a new school this year after nearly three years at our little co-op that we helped to create and build. It is bittersweet to leave that co-op and the amazing community there. Fortunately, although she won't be going there, we're still in the community through food swap, wine nights (well, I'm in for that part, not Kate) and play dates. And a few kids from our little co-op are going to our new school too. The new school is also a co-op, All Austin Co-operative Nursery School, and after two visiting days this week, we already love it.

Here she is on her first day. She was so excited, she started asking a full hour before we had to leave if we could go.