Poor munchkins

Last night Craig and I settled in to watch a movie (it started at 9 o'clock), when Logan started fussing.  When I went up to check, he had thrown up again.  Sigh.  I had thought we were in the clear.  Put him in the shower with Craig, change his sheets, start the laundry. Great. Another night like that. Get Logan settled into bed. Then Liam has to go to the bathroom. He's got diarrhea. Awesome. Get him to take some kids' Kaopectate. He hates it. I try it and see why. Who thought foaming stuff was a good idea? Settle him into bed with instructions to call when he has to go to the bathroom again. Go back to movie. Run up stairs because Liam starts screaming bloody murder. He's thrown up. And he "doesn't like it." Can things get much better?

Two good things: Logan only threw up the one time, and Craig was home to help.

Poor Liam spent most of the night (until about 3) alternating (and some times not alternating) between throwing up and sitting on the toilet. At one point, while practically sleeping on my shoulder, he rubbed my arm and said, "This means 'thank you'." Awwww. And while heaving in bed, he told me he thought "this was going to be a pretty bad night." Yes, yes it was.

Things we now know: Not much has changed since the last time Liam threw up when he was 2. He screamed every time, and back then, would only throw up while hugging me.  At least now, he can aim for a bucket. Unfortunately for Logan, he still screams every time.

They seem better this morning; fingers are crossed. I'm waiting a couple of hours to decide whether or not to postpone the birthday party that is scheduled for tomorrow. Oh, and it was 2AM when we finished the movie. Also, only 6 loads of laundry last night.  So, anybody coming to visit, lol?

Daddy at playgroup

Craig was a saint this morning and, despite not getting home until 3AM, took Liam to playgroup. I stayed home with Logan, who was sick from about 10:30 last night until.... hopefully, now. I didn't get into our bed again until 8 this morning after a very uncomfortable "sleep" on the kids' floor. I was finding that I couldn't make it in time from our room to, um, get the bowl in place. Plus, I wasn't sleeping anyway - waiting for the tell-tale coughing sound, throwing in another load of laundry, etc. I am so glad water and heating of water are included in our rent. I honestly couldn't keep count of how many loads of laundry I have done since 11 last night. One more note, before getting back to Saint Craig. Logan made his mommy so proud this morning when he leapt out of bed and said "Poop, potty" almost in time for me to get him on before the stomach flu hit the other end. A little messy, but wayyyyyy better than it could have been. Thank you, Logan!

So Craig took Liam to playgroup, by himself. So brave. And he had the foresight to take the camera! So here are some of the pictures that he wanted to share with you.

Here is Liam, carrying the pom-pom tray to the craft table. He has been itching to craft with pom-poms again for ages. Craig said he found the biggest orange one and held on to it for dear life until he got to use it! Note the hat....

A general picture of playgroup.  It looks like craft time is just finishing up and play time has resumed.

This is the part where Craig let Liam take pictures.  There are many more; I'll only post two.

Liam took this picture because he was a fireman.

This is cleanup time, when the real fun begins. Parents put away toys. Children run around, chasing each other, occasionally screaming. Why do we have toys again?  Oh, right, they'd kill each other. Seriously, this is what happens every day, as soon as there is floor space. And this is why Logan needs a nap when he gets home.

Birthday update #2

Here is the pure excitement that comes from a couple of balloons. 

We let Daddy sleep most of the day while we made cupcakes.  Liam will be having a "real" cake at his "real" party, so cupcakes would have to do.  He's soooo deprived!  After what we deemed to be enough sleep, Daddy got up. Then it was birthday time!

After all the presents were open, there were a lot of "NO, MINE"s going on.  We finally opened the gift that we brought up with us from Auntie Reggie and Uncle Daryl (and Aaron and Amy, too!) that we hadn't quite found the right time for. So here it is, the Thomas train set. Did you guys mention it had 147 pieces that night in Regina?  I think you may have left that part out, lol!  

After it was set up, I went to make supper.  Craig kept vigil to keep the track from coming/being taken apart.  I giggled in the kitchen. Craig said I was cackling. So not true. But I was laughing pretty hard.  I stopped long enough to take this picture of Craig running from one fix-it spot to another. 

I guarantee, after he went to work, it didn't stay the same!

Logan likes pressing the button to let the cars go through.  More often than not, his knee lands on the (blue) track.

Here is Liam switching the tracks.

Liam had a good birthday, with many new toys to play with and clothes to wear.  I comment on the train set so much because it provided the most hilarity for me.... Earlier Craig asked Liam what he was hoping for, and he replied "A kitchen."  Santa brought him one for Christmas - why another? "For Logan, because he keeps playing with mine." And people wonder if I enjoyed being an only child....

Birthday update #1

Liam started today with a knock-knock joke at breakfast. I can only hope this isn't a sign of things to come.  Other than that, both boys were very excited about the balloons on Liam's chair, and now the day seems to be carrying on as usual....  More later....

Four!

Just a quick Happy Birthday to Liam, who will be 4 tomorrow!!  My little guy... getting so big!

Who cares about daytime drivers, anyway?

Like everybody else, I like the city's streets to be free of snow.  But must they do it at night? Outside my kids' window?  Because it means they aren't going asleep until the job is done.  The whispering, the giggling, the hopping up and down.... It isn't so bad if Logan's asleep before they start, but no such luck tonight.

Speaking of Logan sleeping.... He fell asleep on our trip to do errands the other day.  Mind you, not until the last errand.  So we decided to give him a little longer to nap, as we were expecting company for supper.  Liam was dead-set on going home, but we managed to convince him to show Daddy where playgroup is. First of all, he was able to give Daddy directions, telling him left and right. Very impressive.  Then we got out of town and Liam said, "According to my calculations, we keep going this way for 2 metres."  I'm quoting!  Too funny.

Now shut your eyes and imagine this.  Okay, now open them so you can read.  We're driving back, and it's that dusky time when the sky is grey, the snow is grey and on the road there is nothing except sky, snow and the green and orange signs marking the edges of the road.  Liam decides we should play "I spy."  We look around, note the lack of "I spy" subjects, and Craig suppresses a giggle.  Liam starts.  "I spy, with my little eye, something that is white."  Hmm, I take a shot at making the game last a little longer, and say "The sky." Liam says, "Nope, that's not what I was thinking of. I'll give you a hint. It's on the ground." I hmm for a while and decide to go with "Snow?" And believe it or not, that's what he was thinking of!

It is 9:15. Apparently, although I cannot hear them from here, the front-end loaders must still be working.  Logan is telling me something very important, I can tell.  I better go see.

Monkeys and their cakes

A pretty good day all around for us today.... We went to playgroup, which went very smoothly.  I'll just say that we had a bit of an episode Friday that involved us leaving early, with much screaming.  And not as much embarrassment as you might think.  I assume we've all been there - or will be soon (insert evil laugh here).  Today, we agreed, would be much different.  And it was.  We left with no tears, no buts, and there wasn't a single disagreement during playtime.  That'll never last, I know, I know.

I did my midterm for my course a couple of days ago.  What a let down.  It was only one page.  I did it with a child on my lap.  Of course, I only got 98%.  One wrong.  I hear you, out there.... Why one wrong?  'Cause that's just how it is with me.  I'm just happy it's not on paper - that way I can't forget to flip it over and do the questions on the other side.  Now I'm doing the editing and proofreading unit.  Craig thinks this should be easy since I so enjoy finding mistakes in other people's writing.  Let's see how I do when it's my own.  And it's (literally) latin.

Another highlight of today: The boys played - together, at the same time - in the moonsand without fighting!  Logan was so excited, he kept turning to me and saying "Emo pay sand wit me!"  Translated, that's "Liam's playing sand with me!"

Liam's birthday is coming up and I'm debating what to do for a party.  Although we seem to know lots of people, there are only 2 kids he says he'd like to invite, and I can't come up with any more.  Also, it's the opposite of our last place, where you were hard-pressed to find a girl his age.  So far we haven't met any boys for him to play with, they are all younger.  Of course, Liam's number 1 pick to invite for his birthday is Tyrell.  And I agree, that would be the best, but I don't think it's going to happen....  On a different tangent, Liam wants a monkey cake.  Soooooo appropriate....... yet difficult!

Now, off to bed so I can be a good mommy tomorrow!  Maybe our package from the pharmacy will have arrived!  Getting vitamins, etc. has never been so exciting!

Rocky bedtime road

It seems like with parenting, as with so many things, as soon as you think you've got the hang of it, the rules change.  You would think that, as parents, we would be the ones making the rules; anybody out there who is a parent knows the truth.  For about two months, bedtimes have been smooth - even fun.  Oh, how different the last couple of nights have been!  I am so glad the neighbours on that side moved out - no worries about the screaming bothering them.  Ahem, did I say screaming?  I meant the sweet sounds of boys going to sleep after their mommy has left the room.  And she's not going to get sucked back in, no matter how many different tactics they try.  "Hugs, mommy, hugs!"

Then, "SHRIEK!!!!!!!"

"Covers off..."

"I'm thirsty, I need to get more water."

"Covers on..."

"Pee potty"

"I need a book to read"

"Mommy!"

Sounds of whispering, a bit of laughter.... it gives you hope that they are the same sweet children you love, that they are cute.  Then:

"Mooooommmmmmmmyyyyyyyy"

"Twinkle star?"

Did I mention how cute and adorable they are?  When they are asleep?

Craft time again!

This was the sunset yesterday (at 2:30!).  It just looked so colourful compared to the greyness that is more prevalent - it really got my attention!

Friday's craft at playgroup was for the kids to lay down on a big roll of paper and have their outlines traced, then colour them.  Well, my kids did okay - surprisingly - at the laying down part.  The older kids (that were there because there was no school) coloured pants, shirts, hair, etc.  The younger kids mostly scribbled, then lost interest.  However, since ours turned out pretty well, we brought them home and took it a "step" further.

    

How cute is that?  To have their outlines painted with hand and foot prints!  And what a brave mommy, too!

I have been contemplating what to put on the walls in their bedroom, because it's such a big space.  Today, we solved that problem.

    

And now I have proof that they can be still!

Sleepover

Our neighbours' dog came for a sleepover for two nights while they were away.  She is a very well behaved dog and was so tolerant of the kids' excitability.  Despite all of our prepping them and stopping them and explaining again.... well, you would understand if she did get irritated.  But she stayed very calm and relaxed and seemed happy to have company in the house at night.  And the boys were super-duper happy, too, and continue to ask when she will be coming back.

Christmas Time

We opened gifts on Christmas Eve because Craig worked Christmas Day.  Except Santa, he couldn't come early.  Too many questions and expectations!

        

I just had to include a picture of Craig reading the instructions.  When will I ever get another one of those?!!

We kept an eye on Santa's progress around the world on www.noradsanta.org - which helped get Liam to bed, because Santa couldn't get closer to Iqaluit until he was asleep.  I really didn't think an excited kid could fall asleep so fast!

Santa enjoyed his chocolate chip cookies and beer.  And chocolate milk, because Liam just didn't believe his dad that what Santa really wants is beer.  So we had to have both, just to make sure.

The stockings were hung by the stairway with care.

Christmas morning!  Santa brought a "kitchen for boys" and a "vacuum-ee cleaner."  Two very excited boys!  I hope they are just as clear (and easy) for Santa in the years to come...

This was Christmas afternoon, just before we went over to a friend's house for supper.  

If you are wondering why Logan looks so mischievous (other than the usual), if you look in his hands you will find the chocolate he is sneaking.

It was a wonderful Christmas, not at all lonely, for those who were worried.  Thank you to everyone who braved Canada Post (and other shipping charges) to send gifts.  They were all very much appreciated!

Winter Solstice

This is Iqaluit at noon on December 21st.  I almost burned lunch... but if you're going to be in the North, you need a picture of the winter solstice, right?

East...

West...