I'm TWO!

Look who's TWO!

What an adventure we had for Kian's second birthday! Not one I'm sure we will repeat for his third, but you never know!

We decided to take a trip back to Ontario for Kian second birthday. For a few weeks Kian was told that he would be going on an airplane and was very excited about it. What he didn't know was that he would also be in a car, on a ferry, a bus, a train and only then the airplane. We decided that we would fly out of Seattle airport because the fares were considerably cheaper than flying out of Victoria.

All went well on the way to the ferry and just about off the ferry. That's when the excitement started to catch up with the little guy and he threw up in his car seat. Great way to start the trip! We pulled over after we got off the ferry and got him and the car seat cleaned up as best as we could before we hit the road and the US border. After customs we found a gas station that sold the industrial Febreeze and went to town on the seat. The rest of the trip to Seattle was rather uneventful and pleasant.

We found our hotel and left our car for the few days that we would be gone. We got on a bus and made our way to the airport. We were early even and decided to get ride of all the things we didn't want to carry so we could get some food before the big airplane adventure began. As we were checking in we were told that our car seat didn't have the required sticker that the airline needed to see and therefore would need to check it. As we checked it in I saw disaster happening but could do nothing about it. The seat was placed in a large plastic bag and had all its stickers placed on it and we were on our merry way.

Kian had a great time watching the planes take off and landing while we were eating and playing in the airport while we waited for our flight. He didn't, however, have a great time on the flight because the seats were so big and the lap belt that he was required to wear, went over his shins and therefore really safe for a toddler when he can lift his knees up and get out in half a second! Needless to say there was some crying and some lovely looks from some fellow passengers our direction. It's a good thing that they let me keep my bottle of Gravol to save the day and eventually peace was back.

The rest of the flight went smoothly, although we did experience the same problem on our second flight. At least it wasn't quite as bad that time. We finally arrived in Buffalo to see Opa waiting for us. Now just to collect our luggage and finally head to Oma and Opa's place for a nap!

About that luggage... our clothing arrived, but not the car seat, as I was envisioning when we checked in. As anyone with a child knows, you can't leave the airport without a car seat. Now to find it.... I must say that AirTran was very good about getting us a loner (one someone else had lost, no doubt!) and calling us for four days to let us know that they hadn't found it yet and even delivering it to us in Niagara once they had. I can't say that you would necessarily get that kind of treatment from some other airlines. What we were hoping was that they had really lost it and that they would replace the now smelly, barfy car seat that had been in a sealed plastic bag. Mark got the pleasant experience of opening that one and washing it! Lucky him!


FINALLY we made it to Oma and Opa's and I can have a nap!

We had a great time in Niagara seeing as many family and friends as we possibly could in 5 days. We didn't get much of a break or a chance to relax but it was worth it to see people we didn't get a chance to say good bye to when we left the province last year on short notice.

Kian got to celebrate his second birthday with his cousins riding around Oma and Opa's yard in Opa's tractor. All the kids had a great time and all the males in the group had a great time driving the tractor around the yard! it was nice to see all the kids getting along so well and Kian, being the youngest, as the leader of the group. Kian would run (and run and run and run.....) around the yard and there would be a mob of kids following behind him. At least I always knew where he was and didn't have to worry about him getting lost for the evening.


Kian and his cousins


Ice cream and cake!


Mom and the fireman


Opening presents

The weather was insanely hot and humid while we were there. I can't say that I miss that! Kian got to experience his first thunder storms, which I can't say that he likes very much and some crazy rain. That he will get more of. The majority of the time it was sunny but hot.

While we were visiting we went to Guy and Ginnie's wedding. It was a wonderful evening and they were lucky with an outdoor wedding that the weather cooperated for them. Kian was dressed very handsomely in his little suit and managed to stay clean for the ceremony and half way through dinner. That's when he go busy and daddy decided to take him outside to play for a few minutes. When he came back in he was covered in mud due to daddy letting him play in the mud puddle..... Good thing that mom always brings pajamas when we are out for the evening.

Our flight home was less eventful than the flight out. The people at the Buffalo airport were able to read the fine print on our car seat (that was no longer barfy!) and see that in fact our seat was airline approved and able to come on board with us. Kian was far more comfortable in his seat and could now look out the windows to see what was happening. He had a great nap in it to and Mark and i were able to relax for a few minutes.

I think all in all the trip was far too short and we would have loved to be in town a little longer so that we could visit all the people we missed and travel to Ottawa for a few days. Hopefully we will have a little more time next visit. Although next time there will be two kids to entertain at the airport....


Mom with Oma and Opa.


Auntie Renee, Auntie Marcelle and Uncle Bob


Mom and a handsome little man!


My two handsome boys!


I can still run in my party clothes!


Can you believe that Kian took this photo? I didn't crop it or anything!


Hi mom!


All in the tractor

Bung, bung, bung.......

First blackberrries of the season, fantastic!


As if the blackberries all over his face weren't enough he decided to fill the rest in with high lighter!

It is finally raining today. I know everyone in Ontario and Eastern Canada, as well as in the UK, can't WAIT for the rain to stop but we haven't had any here and desperately need it. Our garden is finally planted and we are expecting to be able to harvest a bunch of fall vegetables, and most likely share them with all our friends who have been doing the same with their spring and summer crops.

I made a discovery today that our plum tree, that we thought was only ornamental, actually has plums on it the size of cherries and they are SOOOO sweet. Kian and I wanted to pick them but it was pouring at the time and we need to get the ladder out so we will wait for dad to get home. In the mean time we have tons of raspberry jam to make. And dinner to make....

The last couple weeks are a bit of a blur, as with most of my weeks! I know that I had a birthday and celebrated with a great group of friends. Shawna was nice enough to bake a cake, that was wonderful, as well as cook a fabulous dinner. We all had a great time and I know that all the kids were worn out after an evening of playing together. I got a smoker from my family and friends and can't wait to try it out. Mark is convinced that the turkey for thanksgiving will be smoked this year. I'm not to sure about that but we can see.


A fabulous birthday cake made by Shawna for my birthday, zucchini chocolate cake.


Katie certainly enjoying her cake!


We were at the beach a couple times to cool down by the water during the hottest days of the heat wave that just passed us. The water is way to cold for me to go in more that a couple inches but it was enough to just be by it to cool down. Kian and I collected a bunch of nice shells and played in the sand. We also had a picnic with some friends and had so much fun that Kian decided that the next day we had to go back with daddy.

For the August long weekend we decided that we wouldn't go camping and maybe get some of our projects around the house done or moving along. We were able to make a dent in them at least. Kian is a wonderful helper, even if it is in his own little way....

Our renovations seem to be moving along slowly. Uncle Darcy came by yesterday expecting to be building a sandbox and play structure and instead helped in the spare room to remove all the cedar shake shingle off the wall and some more plaster. There is light at the end of the tunnel and I think we can actually think about having the room finished before the end of September. Kian was very helpful with his little hammer, wrench, pliers and screw driver. He proceeded around the room hammering all the walls and removing all the nails. He calls his hammer a "bung bung" and that's what he says when he uses it. The screw driver is a "wee wee" because it turns when you use it. The wrench apparently makes a good spoon for cereal... not too sure about that one.


Picking the first apples of the season at St. Ann's Academy.


Climbing with my hero, my dad!


Climbing the trees at St. Ann's Academy. By myself.....