Brothers and Best Friends...

These guys are so silly. It is impossible to get a really good picture of them both at the same time. I think these pics really capture their bond to one another. It is going to be neat to see where Luke fits into all of this.

Simple Woman

...a picture to share my thoughts on
This was taken almost exactly a year ago. I can't believe Luke is almost one. I was anxiously awaiting his arrival.



Thanks to my friend Mel's mom (Crystal) I'm going to try out this Simple Woman journal entry. I always love reading her blog and hearing what she's up to. Hopefully you will all enjoy hearing what I'm up and what is on my mind.

FOR TODAY: June 2, 2009

...Outside my window
The sun is shining, supposed to be + 20 today. I'm listening to the birds chirping and Sam and Andrew playing in the sandbox.

...I am thinking

that I have the best life ever being able to stay home with my kids and to not feel all the pressures that I used to feel at my management job. Usually my biggest decision of the day is what to make for supper...

...I am thankful for

our new play center. It keeps the boys entertained for hours.

...From the kitchen

Lunch for me and the boys.

Luke: bottle of milk, slice of bread, veggies and fresh fruit

Sam: cheese whiz bun, yogurt, fruit salad

Andrew: peanut butter/jam bun, yogurt, fruit salad

Me: roast beef bun, fruit salad

Dinner: BBq'd pork chops, pasta salad, garlic bread

...I am wearing

jean shorts, navy tank top and flip flops. I plan on being outside lots today.

..I am going

to take the kids for a walk/bike ride after lunch. We often go for a 3-4km walk and see horsey's and sheep along the way. Andrew rides his bike and Sam and Luke sit in the bike cart. We also pick up cans/bottles that we find in the ditch.

...I am reading

Feminine Appeal (7 virtues of a Godly wife and Mother) It's a book I'm studying with my great friend Amanda. Each chapter is a different virtue. There are questions at the end of each chapter that her and I answer on our own then we get together with our kids and discuss our answers. This book has been a great journey for me and helps me focus on taking care of my husband and kids. It is excellent and I highly recommend it to everyone!

...I am hoping

that I can go for a run tonight. I have a 8km race in less than two weeks. Ken has a meeting so I might just arrange a babysitter.

...I am hearing

Sam ask for cheerios for lunch. It is not going to happen...

...Around the house

just mowed the lawn and whippersnipped, laundry hung on the line, kitchen floor freshly washed.

...One of my favorite things

is tucking the kids in at night, reading to them, saying prayers and kissing them good night

...A few plans for the rest of the week

Tomorrow morning one of our neighbors Sandra and her son and daughter are coming over for a playdate, Thursday morning a playdate with Amanda and three of her boys while we discuss a chapter in our book, Thursday afternoon Ken's class is going on afieldtrip to his parents place where there is an irrigation lake. They are studying wetlands and are going to check things out. I'm taking the boys along with their rubber boots and I'll help Ken's mom serve juice and cookies to the students. Thursday night is Ken's and my datenight when we go for a run together and get a babysitter. Saturday evening we are hosting a year end BBQ for Ken's hockey team so tehre will be 20-30 people in our back yard eating and enjoying a fire in the firepit.

Luke's Eating habits!

This kid will eat anything and everything! He only has two bottom teeth at 11.5 months old but has no problem chowing down. The other day I was getting Andrew and Sam an icecream and Luke was reaching his hands out showing that he wanted some so I gave him a whole cone and he devoured it. This week he has also eaten a whole breton cracker with cheese on it, and an apple (peelings/seeds included). I think by the time he turns one I won't have to buy him baby food anymore.

He didn't even make that much mess, I guess he didn't want to waste any of it.

Luke got his first haircut!

This is Luke's BEFORE picture. His hair has been getting longer and longer and more wild looking by the day. It was a hard decision to make whether or not to cut it. When asking for advice half said to cut it and the other half not to.

The other day I went to get Luke up from his nap and his hair was soaked in sweat and all matted to his head and it isn't even that hot yet!

So that helped me make my final decision. Poor guy was cooking hot! Auntie Ang came by Thursday and chopped it off. Now people see how handsome he is without being distracted by his mop of hair!





This is our cutie pie after looking so much older! It still sticks up and is as soft as ever.

Little Luke!

Andrew's new Bike.

Andrew got a new bike yesterday. He actually wore out the one we bought him less than a year ago. The tread is worn through on both tires. This little guy is quite a trooper and can be seen biking all over town with his mom and brothers. The other day we biked to the school to visit Daddy and back again. Ken and I were discussing how far that is, a little while later we heard Andrew telling Sam that he can bike really really far, 4 kilometers. It was hilarious listening and than seeing Sam nodding his head as if he understood.
Our oldest boy is sure growing up.



We felt a little bad for Sam. We are going to buy two new tires soon and fix up Andrew's older bike for him. Right now Sam is just happy to push it around and to sit on it.

Notice the mittens on them both, it is only 6 degrees today. It's been a really cool Spring so far.

At the playground.

We couldn't go to the park without playing at the playground too. Andrew and his cheesy smile. Hopefully he is almost done with this poser smile. It's pretty nerdy.
It was a great day with these two. Auntie Mel kept Luke for the afternoon which sure made things easier.

Our Nature Walk

Every Tuesday I take the boys to a preschool for the morning. The moms meet in one room and chat or listen to a guest speaker while our kids play in a separate room with some of the students from the local college. The students are studying childcare so it gives them experience being with the kids. It is a great break for the moms and the kids always have a blast painting, playing with all kinds of toys, reading books, having a snack, playing in the gym etc. They often get to do things that us moms always hesitate doing at home due to the mess....like painting, having a sand table inside that they can play with, they have even had a flour table full of baking stuff.
Yesterday we went on a field trip with some of the kids and the College students to a local park for a nature walk. The kids were each given a brown paper bag to collect things while we were walking. At one point Sam's bag ripped because he kept filling it with rocks.
At the end of the trail we went into the nature bldg to check some things out. This snake was there. her name was Sophie and the boys were quite impressed.















After our nature walk the kids got to make a collage with their findings.














This is Sam and one of the kids checking out Sophie in her cage.












At the end of the day the boys were wiped and had a catnap on the way home.