Sigh....motherhood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGViouBPNIU


(Watch this funny song!)

Toque madness!

What can I say, I love knitting toques...especially these cute little ribbed ones. I was just using up some left-over wool from my SIL and made up this little stripe design and was left with just enough to finish.
Don't think that all I do is sit around and knit!! We've been getting better acquainted with some close by neighbors with two little guys and have been running around doing various playdates including swimming, skating and Junglemania just since Friday! We aren't really having a normal winter around here, so our usual activities in the snow just can't happen so we're having to get creative.
Shea is still doing amazing and has been out and about with no accidents. I need to get him to pose in his cute little undies soon, so we have pics like I had with Liam! (I know, I'm MEAN!)
Greg and I are hoping to finally make our little trip away (a belated 10th!) and need to get ourselves organized! It will be a much needed break!

number two

In addition to my recent success in using dpn's (double pointed needles), we are also succeeding well in the potty training area!! And yes, I'm happy about it, because in all other areas of my life, I am failing miserably! So let's focus on the positive, right!?
Riley is still struggling daily with attitude problems, crazy amounts of whining, crying and fighting and just plain selfishness. I am trying not to take it personally and accept it as a stage and a reaction to maybe him feeling out of control when he's not at home?? Who knows...maybe I need a family counselor.
Liam is doing alright, though is plain shy in any sort of group setting and his teacher has told me again today that he is sharing nothing with the class. Private? Rude? Shy? Scared? Your guess is as good as mine, as he doesn't exhibit any sort of fears of talking at home!
I am pretty much ready to let someone else deal with my children for me, but am trying to soak up the successes and the occasional hugs and sweet moments that will one day soon end when they are all grown. Then maybe I will pick up what is left of my self esteem and go from there.
For now...we will do the poopy dance and shake what our mama gave us!

more knitting

I finished two pairs of mitts, one for each of the boys.


...and a pair for my friend Lisa.


...and my first toque for whichever boy wants to wear it. My first experience with a circular needle and then dpn's.



I think I'll make a baby hat next?

about that "baby"

I'm referring to Shea...and I guess as he's nearing in on three, he isn't so much a baby. We took the crib down a little while ago, and though he's not officially in his car bed yet (we still have him in the playpen)...it has bumped up his "growing boy" status.
(Awww...just look at him.)

I took the diaper off him this morning and we only had one accident all day, so he's off to a great start there as well. We're doing a lot of running to the potty, followed by many cheers and special potty dances.
He loves his computer time just like the other boys, being totally capable of using my mouse and can find his kids CBC or lego site on my bookmarks and pick out his favorite games. It really is incredible what a two year old these days can master.
And like most two year olds, he likes to shout out "NO!". His dad especially doesn't like that answer, and asks him, "What did you just say?" to which Shea replies in a much sweeter voice, "I said YES!".
He loves puzzles and can do a 24 piece puzzle no problem.
He's talking a lot more and can usually say what he wants. Some of my favorite sayings lately are..."I got an idea!", "Are you so happy?!", "Let's do it!" or "I want you!", and "I really love you mommy."
He hasn't enjoyed this winter too much as it is either sloppy or icy out. He often wants me to carry him outside as he's had too many slips to count. I'm hoping we get a good dump of snow like the past two years, so he can try out sledding.
He still loves coleslaw and chicken noodle soup, and is obsessed with dipping and pouring and making anything fingerfood and sliming it all over himself.
He is quite social and loves it when auntie "Pum" and uncle "Uke" come over on Friday nights. He is usually pretty good at giving hugs and saying hi to the tellers in the stores! He loves going shopping and will say "Let's get this. I love it. It's awesome!". He's quite a mix of both boys, that I'm not so sure how he is going to be at 5 or 8. I think we'll have quite a load of fun next year when it's down to just he and I during the school hours.

my baby

Paper art

I love paper, and couldn't toss up buying yet another big pad of scrapbook paper as it perfectly matched my paint colors in the main living area!! So I haven't scrapbooked or made cards with it, no...it has become art.

(cheap art)

Beautiful faces of 2009!

8 year old trouble!

Determined to remain my strong-willed first-born...this one is causing me grief these days. If you are outside, doing active activities, he is pretty easy...but otherwise, how do you keep this one happy and obedient?? Your guess is as good as mine! He spent most of the Christmas season sticking to himself or whining about something (probably due to a combo of too many treats and people, and not enough sleep!).
I have high hopes for this kid, but it's taking everything I've got!

it's never too late...

...to build a gingerbread house! Christmas seriously went by THAT fast, that we had to do our gingerbread house only yesterday!!


(note the icing sugar snow blizzard on Rileys shirt!)

And now to introduce my new baby, a Canon Powershot SD780 IS
It is so small that you may need to click on this picture to see it, as it is only the size of my nose. I wanted something small enough to fit in my purse, and also to take short video clips. It took all the pics you see today and in my previous post...so it does not too badly. This was my Christmas present from G...thanks!

Happy New Year!

I was so happy that I actually made it to midnight last night and enjoyed myself!! It has been a crazy holiday season!!
Early on December 24th, our company arrived and it was go go go from then on. We opened presents at my moms, we had a party at our house, we opened presents...




we went to a church to hold our Christmas dinner and gift exchange (as there were so many of us)...
we went shopping, we knit, we ate, we had more parties at our place and my aunt and moms. Our relatives left on December 29th, and then on December 30th, we celebrated Rileys' 8th birthday with 5 kids from his class and the remaining relatives.



Then yesterday was the annual Davidson/Aylard hockey game, supper at the D's and then they brought their treats and special drinks to our place so we could put our kids to bed. Anna joined us and we played games and rang in the New Year together!
It all has been very good and now we are getting snow finally and will celebrating with the larger Davidson clan today, and the kids will be able to sled in G's aunts yard.
The boys are just getting colds in the last few days, but otherwise we've been doing just fine.
More later....the boys have given me all the time that they will allow!!