my vote

If anyone out there reading this, is in the know, please let me know if there is a public movement that I can join to officially end Day Light Savings. It's evil and I think if there is not already a movement, the mothers of Canada (excluding the already wise people of Saskatchewan) need to band together to do our part to ban this twice annual useless change to our clocks.

We're already in day four and my kids are still completely upside down. It's not as simple as going to bed later in their worlds. We're doing that and they are in turn actually getting up earlier than ever.
And I am not proud to say it but I was awoken to my son falling down our staircase this morning. Yup I found him in a heap at the bottom of the stairs at 4:45am completely shaken and out of it. And that's how and when my day began. Prior to Saturday night's change he had been sleeping in to after 7:00 now, it's 4:45 every day. Don't ask me how our brains work but it doesn't seem to jive with arbitrary changes to our clocks.

I hate it. I know all the mothers in my life hate it, so let's get active. Let me know if you're in.

As a result of our early early starts, this house has been in a bit of a dark funk since this weekend's visit from Grammie Donna and our PEI cousins. I'm just now getting the spirit up to post a few pics and report what a nice visit we had. It was loud and it was proud. What lovely little friends they're becoming. And it's interesting as always to observe who are the closest friends. It seems that Kate and Carter then Elliott and Lydia is the pairing off. E adores Lydia and talks about her adoringly. And Carter and Kate are just wild together, very physical: wrestling and laughing.

Here they are...

 Winding down with a little show time with Grammie.

Sunday morning and they're jammin'. Kate on drum, Carter rocking the drums and keyboard, Lydia is all harmonica and E if you look closely, is on the horn.

In other voting news, as Barack Obama was reelected today (Eastern time) I was reminiscing about his first election into office and me being very, very pregnant at the time. I thought to myself then (which seems only yesterday) that I would have a 4 year old when he started his second term. And now it's all here. How much the world or at least my world has changed.

Peace be with us all. Aimee

a howl

The remnants of Hurricane Sandy hit us this morning and the day was wet, wet wet. As such, the spirits at Kate's school were pretty low this morning, at least the parents' and teachers'. We were all imagining the evening of cold, soaked costumes and drippy makeup that were in our futures. However the clouds parted around 4, the sun started shining and we had perfect 15 degree weather to head out in.  Oh thank you Mother Nature. Thank you.

We had an awesome time tonight with our trick or treaters. They had super manners, spirit and stamina having made it to almost every haunted house on our double court. Elliott, Cody and Finn tuckered out two houses shy of Kate calling it quits. I actually wasn't sure she'd ever tire out. I think the candy was calling.

Honestly, from the second they saw our five year old neighbours Ben and Daniel, the kids started screaming - with fright and delight - and then they started running. It really was special. Not so much for the two sacs of candy we now have to contend with but for the neighbourhood's spirit. I love Halloween.

Our cupcake princess and deadly shark ready to roll.

 The back up team, equipped with wheels, bags to empty loot into and on site security.

Elliott trying to keep up with his very energetic sister.

Second time back to #5 in order to revisit the pumpkin witch.

 Elliott's favourite neighbourhood pal Oddie the cat. Oddie was looking a little spooky tonight.

Kate, Elliott and Daniel doin' their business.

Kate loving life.

Elliott fell asleep as I sang to him tonight, his sister on the other hand is wired and licked me three times during our good night ritual. I really do love Halloween.

Goodnight Goblins. AJ

hanging out

We stayed close to home again this weekend. Kate had a Halloween themed dance class that included a fundraiser fair with juice and cupcakes. Ah, it was 10am, why not get our sugar on. We raked leaves, went biking, ran errands. Cody and I also had a date night and while we were out, the kids learned and nearly perfected a new trick.  Check it out.

I guess Elliott is living by the mantra whatever the four (ish) year old can do, he can do better, or, at least as good.  It is unnerving to watch but I try to live by the mantra that I have to demonstrate confidence to help instil their self confidence. So far, so good.

 Taking a break from the bike trailer to stretch their arms and legs.

Friends hanging out enjoying the sun and the leaves.

Have a frightfully excellent Halloween week. We're looking forward to all our friends' and families' photos.
CAKE

our big boy

A couple things to record for posterity:

1. Elliott is sleeping in a big boy bed. He actually has been for a month now and he's loving it. You can see the pride each and every time he climbs in and miraculously, he stays put, which he had ceased to do in his crib.

2. He is trying out the potty and some big boy under pants. Yesterday Grammie Donna was with us for the day and took Elliott to get his first underwear. After a bit of hesitation he put them on and then it wasn't long before he sat down on his pink potty and again with a little coaxing from Grammie had his official pee in the pot. Awesome! Thanks for the head start Grammie.

Here's the proof:

Movin' on up.

Cute buns baby.

xoxo CAKE

falling

It's Sunday evening and we're exhausted from a beautiful Fall weekend. My old wrist and hip are inflamed from the yard work we have just started. The bags are filling up and the trees are still full! Perhaps if my little children didn't jump in every pile I made, the job would be quicker and the raking would lessen. With that said, nothing is more beautiful than watching these little souls run through the leaves, stare up at the changing canopies and seek out spooky references in neighbours' yards. I love October. Especially October here in the East - no snow, just sweaters and colour.

 Happiness is to me ... my Pumpkin Pie.

Hangin' with the wing man.

No rest for weary bones.

I'm falling...

Happy Birthday party night to my sister. Wish we were there to raise the roof. CAKE

discussion forums

It seems these days every time I ask people for electronic, sewing or health advice they say: Google it and check out a discussion forum. Yuck, I say. Maybe I'm lazy, maybe I don't follow electronic advice very well or maybe I just want an all-knowing blood-pumping real friend in my life. Alas, Google, my friend, I guess it's just you and me. So this is the issue, I have been having an awful time downloading my photos from my cameras. I figured the old card was worn out, but then it started with my new camera card, following Thanksgiving. Long story short, it wasn't the cards so I thought the problem must lie with me and screwing up the somewhat complicated settings on my new camera. However, it turns out (according to a Mac discussion group) that many many people in the Mac community have the same issue. Boo Mac. Good news is these guys gave me some pretty awesome advice. None of it fixed the problem but it gave me some bandaid aids. I guess you'd say I'm just a thoroughly modern problem solver. Or lame.

So, now, on to the last two weeks of our lives. First Thanksgiving was awesome. Grammie made a delicious dinner and dessert, the kids played like crazy (occasionally unsupervised) and there was lots of wine (and I'm the only wine drinker) and time spent outdoors. See pictures below.

This past week, Cody has been working like crazy so the kids and I have been spending long hours as our power threesome. Papa did get some quality time in this last weekend to take the kids to a Touch a Truck event and swimming. Again see photos below.

The weather is gorgeous here: mild but wet so we're using it to prep ourselves for the impending doom and gloom of day light savings and snow. Update complete, now on to the babes...

 The big kids with Carter's spooky class Scarecrow.

The Champions on their school's new playground equipment - shout out to your Mama and Papa for their fundraising efforts!

It's not exactly a photo finish race.

This thing made the Mamas ill just observing.

Pretty lady.

 Handsome gent.

Showing off his muscles.

The quiet kids' Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving Monday and heading to the woods for that which we now call a hike, aka, a stroll through the woods.

Yes sorry Elliott, the splash pants were a good idea but Lydia was the only one with a spare pair.

I think Elliott is like his Papa, he looks great in pink.

What the heck??? Are you posing and smiling Candace.

Oh no... no way... you too Donna?
Oh the power of a blog. You know you're going up so it's up to you if you're going to smile about it.

Cody's jacket lives to tell the tale of our lazy hiker Elliott.

Works for me Lydia, I'll take one in black.

Rain maker? For those in the know.

Kicking sparkling Terra Nova tires at the 'Touch a Truck' event.

Our tough chick Kate with her bro riding shot gun.

Whewpf that was a lot of work. I hope you enjoyed it.
Talk again soon(er). Aimee

desperately seeking octovin

Lunchtime with Kate is sometimes like a treasure hunt. She begins a story with complete sincerity and I have to go hunting for clues to try to make it make sense to me. Today was a sweet hunt. It started with the man Octovin. "He was a little scary but I was brave when Mrs. Raybold pushed the button and the music came out. His music is sad and mad. Do you know he lives in a place that is called Germany? It's over a very big bridge. I am going to be brave and drive there after lunch. Do you want to come?"

By this time I figured out she was talking about music class. And I predicted it was Beethoven. She agreed it was, but still insisted it was pronounced Octovin. So like all modern parents we went to the computer and YouTube'd him and his Symphony No. 9. When his image came up she called over Elliott and told him to be brave, "that's what Octovin looks like." As the music began, she closed her eyes and began to lead the orchestra. Here are snippets of her conversation: this song has a big girl song and a baby song. I love it. I love this song, it makes me jump. It looks like a monster is coming in Beethoven's house. It's still going up Elliott, it takes a long time. When Papa comes home I'm going to show him Octovin's music. That makes me jump. I couldn't hear my ears. They're singing kind of loud. I'm going to pretend that's Beethoven singing.  You know I'm making that music, I'm singing that. I really love this. I really love it.

Talk about music appreciation. I can honestly say I have never appreciated it as much as I did just now. Thank you Mrs. Raybould, thank you Ludwig van Beethoven and thank you Kate. I think Elliott sends his thanks too.

Here he is.

Happy Friday! xoxo the gang