Quote of the Day

Big C woke up this morning at 8:15 and here's how our first conversation went.

Daddy: "How did you get to be so cute?'

Big C: "By hanging out with mommy"

"I love her too much"

The Boat Show

Big C, S our Japanese guest and I hit the boat show today on the Rideau canal. Here are the perks to today's event:
1) there were boats
2) it was free!
3) there were really old cars and trucks

4) the locks opened up and boats went through, which was cool
5) there was a free boat ride on a flat-cruiser type boat
6) you could make your own boat to bring home. Big C made a paddle boat to take home to the pool (or bathtub I guess).
7) the weather was just fantastic!
8) there were lots of picnic tables to enjoy our lunch at

We'll so be going back next year.

Daddy n Big C Day #2

Since we had so much fun yesterday we decided to have another 'Big C gets to pick day' again today. We started by playing music on the computer and dancing in the dining room. We danced to about a dozen songs including some recent tracks (Sara Bareillis, Michael Buble, the one on youtube with the wedding where everyone comes in dancing) and some older tracks (Sandstorm, 'Days Gone By' by Dirty Vegas, Run DMC). It was a lot of fun. After a good lunch we were off to check out some ideas that Big C had:
the motorcycle store:
the donut store for a full-size donut (with both sprinkles and jelly):
then we went and bought two kites (one for Monkey) to fly in a big field:
we must have spent an hour and a half trying different things out and just playing with it. It was one of the most fun things I've done in....well....too long:
we wrapped things up by looking at clouds and trying to decide what they were. This one we both agreed was a turtle:
and this one daddy thought was a piece of pie with a bite out of it:

I've enjoyed the last two days so immensely that I'll be sure to arrange this for next summer as well.
Love you buddy.

Big C's big day

With Monkey at camp, daddy and Big C have been able to spend some well needed and much enjoyed one-on-one time. As such, it was 'bike week'. This was a great time to cut loose at least one of the training wheels, if not both. So far his progress on the single training wheel has been outstanding. Here's what he's got to show everyone:


Thursday was our 'Big C gets to choose day'. He chose going to the library to read books in the kids area (daddy read 11 really fun ones) and then we brought 7 of them home. He got to put 1 marble for each book read into the 'jungle slide' (similar to a Marbleworks) and watch them go into the barrel in the bottom. He was pretty stoked.
Next we played together in the pool. No sitting on the sidelines for daddy, it was all one-on-one time. We had a lot of fun. Laughing. Diving. Giggling. He even said at the end 'we're buddies daddy.'. We left just seconds before the rain hit to come home for a snack.
In the late afternoon we settled in at home for some book reading and then a snuggle.
What a wonderful day with a fabulous boy.

Uncle J's awesome visit

Uncle J dropped by for a visit the last few days. It was really spectacular. My brother and I had the chance to chat, bond and just spend time together. Mostly Big C was around with us too, so there were a lot of 'we're both little brothers' bonding moments. It was really touching.
Uncle J arrived yesterday afternoon and spent some time with Big C right away. The made the Marbleworks into all sorts of cool shapes and tunnels. They raced and chased marbles. Then we braved the enormous thunderstorm to go get Monkey and come home to make supper. Daddy put together some yummy burgers and veggies to go with them. Uncle J was the big hit for reading books and putting the kids to bed.
Today we were off to hang out. We didn't know what exactly the day would bring, so we took it as it came. Daddy had an appointment in the morning so Big C and Uncle J had some more time together playing with all the toys in the restaurant bag. After a quick stop, we were hungry for lunch. Uncle J mentioned that he had never been to Moxies, and daddy saw the opportunity for a 'Big Boys Lunch' (a tradition he intends to keep up whenever family visits). So off we went.
Big C was a great companion. A very grown up little boy. He made me quite proud and I told him so.
Next we were off to the 'airplane museum'. It was a great time as the three of us walked around, watched the little videos, sat together in some of the cockpits. Uncle J and I both commented on how nice it was just to be together.
We picked up Monkey and then met up with mommy and S, our Japanese guest, for supper at Lone Star. What a rockin' good time. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the company.
Thanks for the visit Uncle J, it was the nicest time that I've had in a while. Come back soon.

Shiner Part II

It's coming along nicely.

Guess how this happened....

Our new guest S from Japan

Our new student has arrived.
The boys are overjoyed and were eager to present her with her gift. She was beaming when she opened it.

This'll have to do until tomorrow

We miss you

The boys and I miss you lots. They're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel however since 'the day after tomorrow' doesn't seem as far away in little boys' minds.
The house misses you too. A few things decided to come out in bloom to show their affection.
And check out the peach tree! This one looks like it's in fabulous shape and will become part of our dinner tonight with grandpa. Mmmmmmm.

Culinary Exploits while Mommy is Away

While Mommy is out of town the boys have been known to get a few things that they normally wouldn't get.
Such as sleeping in mommy and daddy's bed with daddy (largely so that I know where they are first thing in the morning)
or an extra story at night
or even a request for a dinner that we wouldn't normally have at home - like pasta which often just doesn't do it for mommy.
This time the stakes were raised.
The boys have been requesting a certain meal for weeks and daddy thought that it was finally time to give in.
Here they are:

In case you weren't sure whether or nor the boys likes them, let's go to the videotape: