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.

I'm A Big Boy Now

I am very excited to say that Oliver is finally potty trained.  Back in August, I attempted to potty train him using a 3-Day potty training program.  After 5 full days of wet pants and floor, I gave up.  He just must not have been ready.  I know some of you may be thinking I gave up too easily but he made no effort.  He didn't even try to make it to the potty - ever.  I figured I'd just wait.
Fast forward to Friday Dec 10th.  I was looking after my nephews for the evening and watched an episode of Supernanny.  The family had a son who was also 3 and not potty trained.  Watching him was like watching Oliver back in August.  The Supernanny called the parents lazy.  I had to agree with her.  Not about them, but about me.  That is exactly what I was being.  It wasn't even like I took offence to it.  I knew she was right.  I knew I was being lazy.
I couldn't stop thinking about the stupid show all weekend so come Monday when Oliver got up, I put his pull ups out of his sight, put some underwear on him and decided I wasn't going back.  Getting underwear on him wasn't that easy.  He refused.  He cried and protested and wanted his pull up.  It was only when he wanted to go downstaris with me to do laundry that I could get him to put underwear on.  The rest is history.  It's been smooth sailing.  He's only had a handful of accidents.  He initiates going.  I rarely ever have to prompt him to go - usually just before a nap, bedtime or if we are going out.  I do still put a pull up on him at night.  Only twice has he woken up wet and both times were when he's fallen asleep at dinner time and not woken up until the next morning.  I will probably just put one on him until the bag is finished.  I am so very proud of him.  It may have taken a long time to get here but it's been going so smoothly I don't even care.  It was worth the wait. 

C'est La Vie

Today, we attempted to have family pictures taken.  Not only just us but I really wanted to get a picture of the grandkids on Shawn's side and Syd is even here so it was the perfect opportunity.  What a disaster!  Oliver was such a nightmare.  He just refused (aside for maybe 3 minutes) to cooperate.  I broke out all the bribes.  Candy, a new Hot Wheel, a color change Hot Wheel, Mcdonalds, anything he wanted at all.  I was that desparate.  Reed, he wanted nothing to do with being there either.  He cried more in the 90 minutes we were there then he has the 6 months he's been alive.  I didn't know what to do.  I wanted a picture so I told her to take them screams, tears and all.  Eventually, I just gave up and we left.  I didn't get any pictures that I wanted.  I wanted Reed to have his 6 month pictures done and that didn't happen either.  I don't know what was up with either of them.  It was such a horrible experience.  The photographer, Jillian was great.  She was very engaging and patient.  She gave it her best effort to get Oliver to cooperate.  I kept saying to myself "thank God she has 4 kids" because I like to think that she must have encountered such craziness either personally or professionally.  I was quite embarrassed.  It shall be interesting to see what kind of pictures we end up with.  I do know she got a few good ones of Jack on his own and I think of Oliver too for the 3 minutes he was cooperating.  Ahhh, c'est la vie!!