More time at home

 Jennifer is catered to by all her siblings, and they put up with her remarkably well.  Daniel is especially gentle with her, and sweet on her, for a terrible toddler. :p

Matthew loves to make mail for far away family, and also to make machines out of stuff he finds in the recycling.  Be sure to ask what it is first, 'cause it may not be what it first appears to be!

 Melanie built a church at nap time, and had a big explanation of what all went on while I was resting, including how the man would get up to the top-it was a complicated route.

Daniel finds pillows very useful for sleeping in, instead of on.

Nathan built a farm, with fields of corn, wheat and I forget what, but something very unusual.  Plus he had a whole row of tractors for every purpose imaginable.

 

 Bedtime stories are still very important, and of course, cuddle time with Daddy.

Melanie likes to do the "handwashing dishes", ie. all that doesn't fit in the dishwasher.  I don't let her very often because the kitchen floor and cabinets require a lot of drying, and the dishes need a good looking over when she's in bed.  But it is hard to say no to an eager volunteer!

Help, Auntie Chris!

"Please don't send any more cute clothes for me 'cause Mommy puts me in them when they don't fit yet, and it's so hard to play when I'm tripping on them!"

Family Life

Cooking in our house involves little helping hands and plentiful interruptions.

"Mommy can you help me put my slippers on?"

"Uh!"

 Jennifer wants to come up watch, but her diction is lacking.

The kids are pleased to have an Uncle living close by, especially since he comes quite regularly,

 and reads books to them!

Well, maybe Daniel doesn't care about the books so much.

 And Jennifer is much too interested in the squirrels who are running around outside.

 One of her first words was "duh-wah!" which is, obviously, "squirrel!"  It is hard for me to accept that instead of "Mommy", especially since she is VERY much a Mommy's girl still.  She still doesn't say Mommy very often, but says Daniel and Daddy "Da-ee" as the same sound.

She loves it story time now, and will sit for a short book, especially if the other kids or adults are reading too.

Melanie is really getting into the big sister role.  She loves being able to carry Jennifer around.  (My rules are more slack now that the baby is getting so much stronger.)

 They spend time together at nap time if Jennifer's naps don't coincide with my schedule.

All clean for Sunday

 Two sparkling clean children are ready for tomorrow!  (The older kids, though very cute when wet are a bit old to take pictures of them in the tub/shower. ;)

Pairing up

 The other day some Mom was telling me that she, a mother of two, thought 3 was the perfect number of children.  Well, I didn't tell her so, but I think not!  (A perfect number is nonsense-it's just like ladies' hair, we're never content with what we are blessed with.)

Three is usually a crowd, but two is much more likely to get along.  

Jennifer would love for me to join her to make the last pair.

Toronto Island

 In September we went for our second annual trip to Toronto Island with the same gracious friends that guided us last year.  It was a perfect day, with weather that was cool in the morning, but warm/hot enough to get wet if you were so inclined.  The day started out with us in sweaters, and me wondering why I bothered packing bathing suits, but by the afternoon we even had ice cream before taking the ferry back to the van!

The kids just loved it! 

  

Do we have to wait until next year to go back again?

 Sailboats could be seen in the distance, and not a cloud in the sky!

  

Jennifer loved walking in the sand.  It was really challenging for her, and it just made her day.  She was happy enough in the sand, and hardly spent any time by the water!  (Which was just fine by me. :) )

One year old!