Family Photos 2010

Remember that disastrous family photo shoot we attempted back in December?  Here are a few of my favorite shots.  I am very happy about the few photos of Oliver she was able to get in the 3 minutes he cooperated.  I'm still sad that we weren't able to get any of Reed but what can do you?

Photos are courtesy of Jillian Bickle in Cobourg.

Loose Teeth

Jack has his first loose tooth.  This is a time that I have been completely dreading.  Loose teeth give me the heebie jeebies.  The wiggling creeps me out.  Seeing teeth just hanging there is gross.  Watching people attempt to pull teeth out makes me sick to my stomach.  I had to inform Shawn last night that he will indeed be the designated tooth puller.  In my perfect little world, none of the kids teeth will get pulled out but will just fall out on their own in their own good time.  I however, remember what is is like being a kid and wanting your loose tooth pulled because it can get in the way and make eating difficult and being anxious for the tooth fairy to come.
Jack was very excited to tell me that when his tooth falls out that the tooth fairy will come and leave him gold coins under his pillow.  I was quick to inform him that the Tooth Fairy is not a pirate and although she does leave coins under the pillow, (I emphazied the coins part because this tooth fairy is not leaving paper money under the pillow) they will not be of the gold variety (unless he considers loonies gold). 
Although I have an idea of how many coins will be left by the Tooth Fairy, I question - How much does the Tooth Fairy leave for teeth at your house?  Did she leave more for a first tooth then subsequent teeth? 

Jealous Girlfriends?

I pick up the most recent copy of Sports Illustrated off the bathroom counter and began to leaf through it.  I get 11 pages into it and see this:

"The annual SI Swimsuit Issue will be published in February. If you're a subscriber and would prefer not to receive it, call our customer service center toll-free at 1-800-528-5000 and let us know. If you choose not to receive the SI Swimsuit Issue, SI will extend your subscription."

Really?  There are SI subscribers out there who do not wish to receive the Swimsuit Issue?  Who are these people?  They are telling me that there are enough guys out there who don't care to receive a magazine with hot chicks in bikinis?  Huh.  Interesting.

Excuse me....

while I get my ass kicked in Yahtzee Jr by both my 5 and 3 year olds. 

Final Score:  Oliver 21, Jack 19, Me 12. 

'Tis The Season

I hate the winter months,  Winter here in Durham is not what I call winter.  It's horrible.  It's cold but we don't have any snow.  I'm not exaggerating either.  We have absolutely no snow.  What does one do with small children during the winter months when there is no snow?  I have no idea.  I can only play so much hockey.  The grass is frozen.  The toys are frozen.  Everything is frozen.  My poor children.  I feel horrible for them.  It does not help with getting them outside for fresh air.  I don't know how many times I've heard they are bored of going for walks.  I'm stumped.   
Winter is also the season of colds.  I've already waved my white flag.  I did this a few years ago.  There is no avoiding colds.  I've already come to accept that between November and April, somebody is going to have a cold.  I should really buy stock in Kleenex.  Toilet paper too come to think of it.  That stuff is gold.  We have all had a terrible sounding/feeling cough for weeks now.  My poor Jack ended up with a nose/throat/double ear infection.  Reed's been put on puffers for wheezing.  Shawn has started taking Buckley's.  He talked me into trying it, I couldn't do it.  I swallowed the tiniest sip and spat out the rest. lol  It was awful.  It tastes exactly how Vick's smells.  Yuck.  No thank you. 
The kids are all tucked into their beds (hurray for quiet time).  It more often then not ends in naptime for Oliver and Jack doesn't have a problem being quiet as a mouse.  Reed, he has no sleep pattern.  He just sleeps whenever he feels like it.  We haven't any kind of routine.  I've very much just let him sleep whenever he wants for however long he wants.  I know it would be very benefecial to get him into a routine but we aren't really a routiney family and well, I don't really  have a problem with his sleep routine right now.  There will come a time (spring) when I will begin to mind it and I'll just cross that bridge when I get there.   
There is so much I could be doing now.  There is always laundry to do, there are toys everywhere, my floors would probably love to have a date with some water.  I think I chose to forget about it and will curl up and read a book.  That sounds a lot more pleasant.