Long time no blog...

I have been meaning to write this thing for a bit. Oh how time flies...We've had Halloween, Jeff has gone fishing and returned and I've developed an affinity to shopping on the 'net for used kids stuff (argh!).
We had a fabulous Halloween. It was a cold, clear night and we had a ball. Olivia was a cow and Briar was a pumpkin.
There was a little party at Olivia's preschool earlier in the day. Later, we went Trick-or-treating with Olivia's buddy, Angus, his mom, Sheila and his sister, Grace. Briar was all snuggled in his stroller. In fact, I had him dressed in so many layers that he couldn't actually bend!
Olivia LOVED the walking around in the dark and kept exclaiming that she saw a ghost! It was actually the poor, terrorized deer that were trying to hide from the teenagers blowing off their firecrackers, but she was convinced it was some phantom. Ha!
Olivia had quite a small bag for her goodies. Quite early on it was full and she resorted to saying, "No, thank you. I have one of those already," when being offered anything from a sucker to a chocolate bar. I think she just enjoyed ringing all those doorbells. Eventually, I emptied her little bag into the stroller basket so that she could get a bigger stash (for Mommy and Daddy to eat). It was actually hard to convince her to do that because she 'didn't want to be greedy'. Such a funny kid...
Briar has developed a love of maracas! Olivia handed him a pair one afternoon while he was in his jolly jumper. We haven't been able to separate them since. He jump and shakes, jumps and shakes. Quite hilarious!
Jeff and Olivia went down to my grandpa's boat the other day to give a hand 'winterizing' it. Jeff told Olivia that they had to get the boat ready to hibernate. She had a blast and told me all sorts of wonderful stories when they arrived home in the evening. When asked what her favourite part of the day was, she responded that 'loved looking at the engine'. I guess Jeff had her climbing into the tiny engine room to retrieve something and she thought this was the most interesting and awe-inspiring place. She told me that it was very hot in there and she put up her hood to keep her cheeks cool. I love her stories.
Anyhow, here are the pictures of our last couple of weeks.

Aren't I corny? Oh, dude! There is my dad's sense of humour!!
Olivia's new eyes. Who needs coloured contacts?! Get some wooden veggies.
Briar with his toupee-like hair. Isn't he cute?!
Olivia and Angus writing in the gravel at the 'spit'...
The buddies on the giant roots...
Climbing to the roots...
Sheila, the witch, Angus, the snake, Grace, the witch, Olivia, the cow, Briar, the pumpkin...(I was a viking).
Which one isn't like the others?
Olivia refused to wear her coat under her costume because it would 'feel funny'. I love it! Comfort over aesthetics! That a girl!
Colouring a face on a pumpkin...
Our behemoth pumpkin, Ned, on a sled...
Mommy's little cow...
It's hard to tell, but she is asleep holding a book in this picture.
I love that smile...
She is the best big sister, isn't she?
Briar and his maracas. He's going to join a salsa band as soon as he can...

Pictures galore...

Here is our big boy mid-bounce! He loves his jolly jumper. I wish they made them for grown-ups... Olivia, the bird, bringing a leaf to her nest of leaves for her babies. She has a very healthy imagination.
The Boys...Freckles was just groomed the other day. He came home with a bandana and two bows in his hair. I swear Eli was laughing at him.
Briar has been loving his sling. I love it because I can get so many things finished while he snoozes.
Mama bird in her nest...
Mama bird found her chick. Let's hope she doesn't try to feed him any bugs.
Briar watches while we rake. He likes putting his two cents in. He's a great foreman.
Olivia and 'her' dog...
Olivia had seen the picture of Briar with a beard on the computer and asked me how I did it. I explained that I had drawn the beard on with the computer. She wanted to do it again but I was checking my email. When I told her that she couldn't do it right now, she informed me that she would do it herself then. I just dismissed this comment because I was in front of the computer and she couldn't get access to it without me knowing it right then. A few minutes later, I hear her exclaim, "He won't stay still!!" When I turned around, Olivia was trying to hold Briar while he bounced in the jolly jumper and draw a beard on his face with a felt pen!! She didn't manage to get much on him, thank goodness. Jeff and I had a good laugh.
Olivia and Jeff went skating. She's pretty stoked...
She really wants to be able to do it herself because Jeff promised her that she could get her OWN white skates when she could balance herself.
The Duck (aka Angus) came over for a peck around the backyard the other day.

Haha...

Okay...NOW does anyone recognize this expression?!

Olivia with Summer at Papa's house and Briar in Grandpa's arms...

Olivia and her buddy, Rascal, her favourite pony...
Briar now sits up for brief periods....
Tummy time....
Does anyone else recognize this facial expression?
Bean in her new sweatshirt...


The cubby drawers that Jeff built. I am so excited to get the playroom organized. I stand in the doorway and stare at the room with intense satisfaction. Eventually I had to close the curtains so that the neighbours don't think I am odd.

Jeff has been out on the boat, but has, unfortunately, had a mishap. Scotty, the guy on watch while Jeff was sleeping, fell asleep himself and drove the boat up on the rocks. Everyone is okay and the boat is still afloat but they've had to head to Port Alberni to get the boat repaired. Jeff is feeling pretty upset and frustrated. He may come home for a couple of days while the boat is getting fixed.

Anyhow, here are some pictures to satisfy the masses... Enjoy!

Time marches on...

Sibling snuggle...
Thinking....Hmmmm....
Oma and the kids...
Our cutey patootey...
Briar sitting in his fancy new high chair...
Do you like the new 'do?

I've been trying ot keep up the posts but, alas, I am not so on the ball these days. Trying to slow down time is like attempting to stop a full blown temper tantrum!
Anyhow, Olivia is in preschool on Tuesdays AND Thursday now. It's a choice that I am, so far, regretting. It just adds to my panic when there is something to do EVERY day. She is also in ballet on Fridays (SO stinkin' cute) and playgroup on Wednesdays. Needless to say, in the afternoons she is tuckered rightout. She's been playing a lot with her little friend, Angus. I find that I am missing her and our fun times together. My little buddy is such a social butterfly. Anyhow, this weekend I am going to try to ensure that we have a bit of Mommy and Bean time.
Briar has been not feeling very well. Consequently, he hasn't been sleeping well. Poor little guy has had a fever and is just, generally, miserable. Last night, he woke up screaming. I still don't know what was wrong. I have NEVER heard a baby make that noise. He'd, suddenly, go as stiff as a board while arching his little back and let out a terrifying scream. He looked so sad. Oh, how I wish I could have made it better faster. The doctor figures it is his teeth beginning to come through. Unfortunately, I don't see any bumps in his mouth to prove this theory so I am afraid that this misery will continue for awhile.
Jeff has gone fishing. He'll be running the boat and is very happy about it. I hear that the boat has lots of quota so he doesn't have to 'pick around' as much.
I've been just going along with the tide. I feel like I always have something in my hand to put away, something to clean up, somewhere to be or someone to pay attention to. I am a bit frazzled; so if I haven't replied to phone calls or letters, please, don't take it personally. I have you on my list, I promise.
Anyhow, I am going to try to get some pictures on here. Here goes....

SO busy...

Jeff carving a piece of wood at the beach with Olivia's name...
Olivia picks out some rocks to throw at the beach...
Sparkler time...
Happy little guy smiling at his big sister...
Briar in the stroller at the beach...
Olivia's new 'do'....

Hi everyone,
I am sorry if we haven't been in touch for awhile. I am feeling like my head is spinning with all the stuff we've been doing in the last while.
Jeff has finished both courses he was taking (Marine Stability and Mariner's First Aid). He found the traffic heading into Victoria crazy each morning and was late because of accidents. Pretty frustrating. He came in second in the class for the first aid course and had 100% on the final for the Stability. Yay!!
Olivia has started ballet lessons again as of today. She had a fabulous time and listened to the teacher SO well. I was really proud of my little peanut. She told me afterward that I am allowed to watch but "don't smile at me while I'm dancing, Mommy." It is hard not to smile when you see her dance, jump and spin. I love it!
Briar is his happy little self. He has decided that sleeping just isn't that important, unfortunately. Consequently, I am pretty pooped. He wants to get up at about 5 am for the day. I take him downstairs so we don't wake up Jeff and Olivia and play with him on the play mat. Occasionally, I wake up on the carpet beside him while he bats away at the toys and sings his baby songs.
I have had to drive into Victoria a bunch of times this week. Once in awhile is fine, but I find doing it a few days in a row is extremely tiring. I've had tonnes of errands and appointments and have had to cart Briar along to most of them. He is pretty patient but by the end of the day he's pretty owl-y.
Eli, my dog, has been quite ill and had to be taken up to the vet in Nanaimo last week to be checked out. Poor guy. He was acting really oddly and I thought maybe the bear was coming back for more plums. Instead, his tummy upset caused a few nights of cleaning floors in the middle of the night. It really freaks me out thinking about Eli's mortality. I've had him since I was 18 and I guess I have always felt like he'd be here forever. Anyhow, he is feeling better now but I was definitely worried there for a bit.
Jeff has introduced Olivia to sparklers. She loves to go out to the garage with him, turn off the lights and wave the sparklers all over. It's funny to watch. All you can see is this moving light and occasional flashes of Olivia's light face with a wide open toothy smile as the sparkle passes by. So cute.
Well, I want to go put my feet up and take a rest. Here are some pictures of the last week or so...

16 weeks...

Briar is now 16 weeks. As of Monday, he weighed a whopping 17 lbs 14 oz.
Yesterday, Briar rolled over!! I don't know if he realized what he did. He was holding his toes and rolled onto his front and then rolled back. He didn't look surprised or amazed. He played it cool and acted like he did this amazing feat every day.
Briar is sleeping well again. I am SO glad. I was going insane with his 'twitches' all night. I feel so much more sane and capable with some sleep...Who would have thought?!
Olivia has been having a fabulous time. She and Jeff have been playing hide and seek and hop scotch (Isn't the thought of Jeff hop scotching rather hilarious?). She and I have been dancing our faces off and doing 100 pieces puzzles constantly. I must admit that I am rather addicted to these little puzzles. I have a huge sense of accomplishment when they are done. Oh, the small joys of being a mother!!
Anyhow, I don't have a pictures downloaded from the camera so I will have to add photos later.
Taa taa for now...

Some pictures...

Occasionally, I have difficulty adding pictures to the blog. Today, for some reason, it was no problem; so, I have added a bunch. Here is Briar in the stroller...
Again, our big boy in the stroller...
A picture that I assuming Olivia took with my camera. I found it when I downloaded the pictures onto the computer. Creepy....
Our Bean and the flowers...
Swinging Briar...
Briar and I pose for Olivia...
More pictures of Olivia's day in the pet show at the Sooke Fall Fair...
Olivia and her hot dog. She ate the whole thng!! (Notice the woman beside my poor pink lunged kid smoking a filthy cigarette. I didn't notice at the time. Oops.)

Briar has started Mother Goose. It's a baby group where you learn and sing nursery rhymes to the babies with other moms. I'm just glad they keep the doors closed when we're all singing away. I am sure it is not a 'heavenly sound'.
Jeff is home from a course in Comox. He's stoked to be back. He and Olivia picked blackberries today.
We had an incident with a bear in our backyard the other day. It has been eating the plums and tore down the back fence. I couldn't figure out why the dogs had been acting strange for the last few days (I actually thought there was going to be an earthquake. Don't they say that animals know?) Anyhow, the bear broek down the fence and ate the plums. Then the deer got in and ate every leaf and peach off my dwarf peach tree that had just grown peach this year. The kicker is that they took a bite out of each one and then left it. Couldn't they figure out that they didn't little it the first time? I guess Bambi isn't know for his abounding intelligence...
Anyhow, kids calling. I'll write more some other time.