The month of February and early March...

Olivia and Jaiden in the carriage... This is what happens when your kids are quiet...too quiet....Supposedly, he's (Angus) a puppy.
Olivia is an inch worm...Do you see her yellow mandables?
Briar enjoys the swing immensely...

The girls in the crocus patch....
Us with the horse, Chris, after our carriage ride through downtown....
Olivia and "Mother-Earth"....
Goat lovin' girl...

Something about Briar apparently attracts goats....
Olivia, the statue...
Checking out the sun-dial...

The kids with a whale...

Olivia looks a bit unsure of the mammoth....
Two little stars!!!
Brody and the pea-cock... Is it just me or does that sound like a kid's book?
Matty in his section of the double Bob stroller...

Gabe in his....
Olivia had her face painted at a school carnival...
Briar in his Bob...

Two BOBs at the beach...

Matty, blue-eyes...
Gabby, brown-eyes...
Moe the cat, psycho-eyes....

Olivia and Angus awaiting the cookies...

Grandma and Matty...
Grandpa and Olivia play piano...
Papa and Briar....
Briar couldn't find his cookie...Tell him where it is!

Super Briar in his white cape...
Swingin' Bean...

Well, a whole month has passed since I last wrote. I'll try to sum up quickly...We've been sick off and on (mostly on) with various ailments for the last month. I am SICK of being SICK!! Anyhow, it seems that we are just about clear of this latest cold.

Jeff has been working on gear for a boat in town for the last week. It's nice to have him home at night. I guess this is what 'normal' families feel like.

I have signed Olivia up for kindergarten here. I am still struggling with my decision, though. We may still homeschool.

Briar is MOBILE!!! He is crawling, pulling up on things, cruising the furniture and occasionally will let go a stand very briefly by himself. This has all happened in a week. Argh! I am happy for him...Not so happy to try to babyproof in a house with a four-year old big sister with an affinity for toys that come with ridiculously miniscule paraphernalia.

We'll be moving at the end of April. The house we're in is up for sale. It's sounds as if we'll be going back to our old place. I am happy to be closer to our Nanaimo friends; BUT I am going to miss it here A LOT. I love the sense of community, the fresh air, being close to the beach, all our friends, being close to family and to town. I definitely see family more often while living here and I will miss that. Oh well, that's the way it has to be...

My friend, Marnie, and her kids came down for a visit last weekend and we had a fabulous time doing the "Tourist in your own Hometown" thing. We even went in one of those horse-drawn carriages!! I have ALWAYS wanted to do that! The kids had a blast and we even managed to go to an IMAX movie. It was "Happy Feet". I don't know if you've seen it, but basic message (much to Jeff's chagrin) is that the penguins are starving because the aliens (people) are fishing with huge nets and depleting the fish stocks. She's been giving Jeff grief ever since. She's insisting that he can only go fishing if he uses hooks or if he can't do that he can "build houses by the sea since he loves the ocean so much". Yay Olivia!!!!!!!!

On Monday, I had to cancel my haircut appointment because I was too sick with a cold. Olivia and I laid on the floor to read a book. When we were done, I put my head on the floor as well. I was resting when Olivia started brushing my hair and putting barrettes in it. It was so lovely and relaxing! When I went to sit up, Olivia exclaims, "I'm SO helpful!" Not knowing quite what she meant, I briefly agreed until I noticed two clumps of my hair on the floor. Olivia figured that I could get my hair cut as planned so she did it for me!!!! There were two three inch long sections chopped from my hair....Good thing I have long hair and some to spare....

My sister, Kirsten, and her family came out for a visit a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, they go sick with the flu while they were here. (I was secretly a bit..um...happy that they got it since they had to extend their trip to recuperate allowing me to see them more often than I would have). It was a wonderful visit though and made me realize how awesome it would be to live close and have the kids all grow up together like we did with our cousins, Tim and Trisha. It was amazing having the three baby boys together! It was BUSY!!!! Olivia loved it. Big sister to ALL!

Anyhow, here are some pictures of our recent exploits...

Sorry Sorry Sorry

Okay, yeah, I have really let this slip. I'll try to get you up to speed quickly.
Briar got his first tooth on December 30th, 2006. One month later on January 29th, 2007, he got his second tooth. They are both located on the bottom. He looks adorable with them (he looked adorable without too); but when he gives you a bite, you know it!!! They are like two little lemon zesters! Oh, and Briar is beginning to get mobile. He can back up, go in circles and pull himself up to standing.
Olivia is doing great. She is actually starting to read a couple of words!! It has all just occurred so suddenly. The other day, she read 'Stop'. She knows all her letters and numbers. It's so interesting how kids learn. She asks me what letters are, etc. but I haven't really taught her any of this. She seems to be just figuring it out herself.
We have all had the stomach flu recently. It started with Oliva, then moved on to Briar and me and is now affecting Jeff. It has been awful!! We are definitely not feel 100%. And now, poor little Briar has an ear infection. When will it end?!
I have been dealing with schooling decisions for Olivia. I am finding the options so difficult. We are trying to decide between French Immersion and homeschooling. There are definite benefits to both. I have had a meeting with the distance education kindergarten teacher. It was very informative and she was great. I am not enjoying this. I am afraid that I'll make the wrong decision and scar my Peanut. Argh!!!!!!!!
Anyhow, I must get back to my little boy with his sore ear. I'll try to update with pictures soon.

More updates...

Here are some more update pictures....A bump on a log...
Briar is chewing everything he can get his chubby little fist on. He has started to get up on his hands and knees. Today he has started to push himself backwards in the crawling position. Forward gear is coming soon!! Argh. I need to baby proof!!!!!!!!
Oma and Briar having a snuggle...
We have a new addition to our family. His name is Moe for 'mohawk'. He is all white except for a grey stripe on his head. Olivia absolutely LOVES him. He is a very gentle cat and loves to play chase with this toy mouse on a string that Olivia has. He even tolerates Briar's tugging and grabbing for awhile before walking away.
Olivia likes to pretend that Moe is a baby.
MMMmmm...Bed rails....
Briar is so cool.
My two sleepy guys share a nap.

Update....LONG overdue....

I haven't updated in ages....Sorry. In all honestly, I've been all creeped out about strangers looking at pictures of my kids. I know, it's ridiculous but you know me. 'm a tad neurotic. Briar all snuggled up in his BOB...
Olivia and the little stream we found near the beach. We played for a good half hour floating leaf boats down the stream and over the 'waterfall'....
My snowshovel helper...
The beautiful kitchen Jeff made for Olivia for Christmas. He even made an oven rack in the oven out of dowels!
When either of our kids are crabby, we joke that you 'just add water' and you have a happy child again...
My brother, Adrian, and his girlfriend, Bonnie, came for a visit...
Christmas dinner was taking too long for my cousin-in-law, Dru's liking...An unsuspecting Briar looked mighty tasty!!
Ummm...What can I say?

Even More Christmas Pictures!!

Here are some more pictures of our holidays... Christmas morning in front of the tree...
It turns out that Briar is as transfixed by the 'Holiday Fire Log' as his mommy is...
Christmas breakfast...
Olivia and her puppies. She loves them because that the little puppies attach to the mommy dog with magnets...
Olivia, Briar and Jeff's cousin's wife, Laura...
I saw what I thought was a UFO on Christmas Eve at 3:45 am. I took pictures, woke Jeff up in a panic, ran outside with bare feet in the frozen grass. After another 'UFO' showed up and a plane was circling (which I first thought was a military plane checking it out), I realized that they were flares. Then I ran inside and called 911 thinking that the plane was going down. It turns out that they were searching for a lost hiker....Oops!
After the storm ran through Port Alberni, Kenny's bug was foudn in the back of Ann's property up on the roots of a tree!!!
Olivia and her new love, Chuck Norris, the puppy...
Olivia wanted to hide him in our bag and take him home....

More Merry Christmas!!!

Here are a few more pictures of the last couple of weeks... Olivia at her Christmas pageant cuddling a parrot...
Olivia and her buddy, Julina...
Grandpa Jack feeding Briar Jack...
Olivia performing at the pageant. They sang Frosti the Snowman, The Hannukah Song, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, ABC, The Gingerbread Song...
Olivia's 1st french braids that I put in for the pageant...
This expression shows what Olivia thought of her 1st french braids that I put in for the pageant...
The kids and our Christmas tree...
Olivia gives new life to our stockings...
Briar and his perpetually exposed tongue...

Merry Christmas!!!

Catching up on the Christmas blogging.... We have had a wonderful and quiet Christmas. It has been relaxing! I finally feel like the stress and the business is slowing down a bit. It is Briar's 1st Christmas and I think he has been enjoying himself. Olivia has had a blast! From all the lights on houses to Christmas pageants, she has been really busy. Briar has begun pushing himself. He is also gettting up on all fours the last couple of days. He will soon be crawling and I am TERRIFIED!! I'll have to be so vigilant with all the tiny 'choker-sized' toys that Olivia has.
Our happy little girl as we hunt for our Christmas tree...
The one we picked and Jeff... I always feel SO badly cutting down a tree at Christmas. I imagine all the trees that were sacrificed for the holidays and think it would be wonderful if they could 'grow up'. Anyhow, Olivia and I said a little 'Thank-you' to the tree for being our Christmas tree. Olivia also thanked 'Mother Earth' (my little hippy girl).
This is the tree that Olivia wanted...
Olivia and I on the Spit for a walk...
Briar in his sling...
Olivia and Eli out for a walk...
My friend, Heidi, with Briar in the backpack sound asleep.
Jeff and the kids having a snuggle...