Until Further Notice

Lucas has left the building. He no longer lives with us, Thomas has taken his place. The kid has gone Thomas The Tank Engine crazy. If there is something that does not have anything to do with Thomas he makes it relate.

For example

Lucas = Thomas

Ava = Rosie

Mommy = Percy

Daddy = Gordon

You head = Steam Stack

Your feet = Wheels

The floor = Tracks

Drinking = Filling your boiler

Walking/Running = Chuffing

There are so many more, I could go on forever. People keep asking me when he first watched the show and to be honest he never really has, he just read a book about Thomas and started his obsession from there. I really never thought I would be putting my child to bed in "his shed" and taking him for a shower at "the wash down" or "filling my firebox" full of "coal" at mealtimes, but this is how we have been talking now for about a month. When I call him Lucas he asks "why did you call me Lucas?" Sorry kiddo I thought that was what I named you.

I wonder how long it will last.

Even Christmas and ginger bread has to be train themed

Ava has been busy clmbing the stairs, even with obstacles in her way she still manages to get around them. She is a very determined little lady.

I thought this would be good enough to deter her, not in the least. She made it around and than pushed the gate over with an angry grunt, as if to say "Nice try Mommy, what else you got?"

We had a really good Christmas, busy but lots of fun. Both Peter and my whole family has been home which has been nice and. It sure is a different holiday from being in New Zealand, there are a lot more family events and get togethers. It is really good to be home. That being said I do miss the Christmas bach and summer festivities but we are surviving.

Yes Lucas is eating snow, can't get the kid to eat a meal but take him outside to play and ALL he does is eat the snow, now to figure out how to link those two together maybe meals outside? Somehow I don't think that will be a success.

Imagine That

Lucas has taken his imaginary 'egg' up to a new level, he insists on being called 'little chick' and hatches out of his cardboard box at least 3 times an hour, probably more. He has decided that I am 'mommy hen' Peter is 'daddy rooster' and little Ava is 'the feeder'. He spends a lot of time pecking at Ava's head getting fed. He has an over active imagination, which explains the slightest thing giving him nightmares.

He has also started to tell Ava off. I heard him just this morning saying "uh uh uh Little Miss what do you think you are doing?" and "Oh there is my pretty little lady, how are you?" All said in a sickly sweet little voice, I wonder where he has heard that before?

Our little lady does have a lot of names;

• Miss Greedy Guts - I can't keep the kid full
• Little Miss, just cause she is cute
• Miss Mischief, gets into everything
• Drool Monster, pretty easily explained
• The Ava Storm, she is on a mission to destroy anything built with blocks or train tracks

And after today a new name Ava Bear, man is she ever grumpy. She is usually happy chappy (look at that another name) but today and yesterday she has basically cried all day. I think her teeth are bugging her, at least that is the excuse I use for the empty bottles of infant Tylenol and teething gel lying around the house. Which all by the way only really sooth for the moment that they are given and then she realizes that they really do not provide any relief and the yelling for Mommy begins again.

The camera lies, she looks so happy and cute in this picture, really did not capture her mood today.

Oh ya and another name, The Ava Goon (poor little Lucas, look out for your baby sister she attacks sometimes). Her pants say Ballet on them, not sure she is going to be the ballet type at this stage more football, she loves to attack her brother. She is pretty good at it too, he will usually let her pin him down for lots of slobbery kisses.

Remembrance Day

I was asked to speak at Church for the Remembrance Day service, this is what I said.

These are my two younger brothers


As we were growing up they were always around for cuddles and kisses. I remember the older of my younger brothers had a favourite doll called "My Buddy" he took that doll with him everywhere. The younger one was like my very own doll. I took him everywhere I could. We played, fought and laughed together like kids do.

These are my brothers now, all grown up



I know them as Colin, on the left, and Andy on the right. But in this photo they are Sergeant and Trooper Oakley, both members of the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
Right now Andy is in Afghanistan he is a driver of a LAV 4 which is an armoured recognisance vehicle, much like a tank.

This photo was taken in May when Andy had just arrived in Kandahar. Colin's tour was finished and was getting ready to come home to his wife and kids. Just imagine his excitement finally leaving and getting to come home to his family while at the same time knowing that he leaves his baby brother behind in a war zone.

I have been asked how it feels to have brothers in Afghanistan. That is a hard question to answer because of course I would much rather have them home.

Then I think about what he is doing;

• As Lucas and I are at the library choosing bags full of books to borrow for free, I think of the children who do not have that freedom
• When Ava is sick and I take her to the doctor, I think of the mothers cuddling babies as bombs explode over their homes

So how do I feel? I feel proud! I am proud that my brothers are willing to risk their own lives so that others may one day have the freedoms we enjoy and often take for granted.

War is always such a political topic but regardless of whether you are for the war or not it does not change the fact that there are Canadian boys, men and women overseas fighting and dying, an that one of those young men is my brother.

He is always in my prayers, I pray for his safety but I also pray that he comes home unaffected by the horrible things he sees daily.

All of our soldiers need our prayers and are thankful to have the support.

The Canada I Know

We took Ava and Lucas to the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Legion in Waterdown this morning. I was proud to see so many young children there. It is so important to Remember all the soliders that fought so that our land can be so great.

We are very fortunate in Canada, there are many countries that either cannot remember not being at war or have the memories of tanks rolling down the streets fresh in their minds .

As a Mom I cannot imagine how it feels to know that you have no way to protect your children from the horrible things that are going on around them.





I am so thankful for the country I live in, the safety I feel, and the freedoms I have.





Thank you to all the brave Men and Women who have fought to make the Canada that I know.

No Worries

So it took a week for Lucas to get the idea about potty training. I don't know what I was worried about. Although that being said he is still wearing pullups (because I had a case of them) and he is not trained at nap or night time. But he asks to go to the bathroom when he needs to. He still can't pull down or up his pants and needs help getting on the toilet so it does add a a bit more things for Mommy to do in the day but I am happy to say it has been over a week that I have had to clean one of his poopy diapers, thank goodness. Can I potty train Ava now as well so I don't have to clean ANY?

Ava is still busy going backwards. She ends up in all kinds of interesting places but now is mostly able to get herself out by rolling or sliding. She has taken a couple of 'crawls' forward but mostly just lunges to get to what she wants. Soon enough I am sure. She is also pulling herself up on things. She has an activity table (Thanks Lori) that she has figured out how to reach and pull herself to her knees and can play on it. She has also played 'Ava Monster' to Lucas' train table and pulled off all the track. Luckily Lucas just thought it was funny and didn't have a melt down (he is a little protective of his train table).

Halloween is this weekend, we have carved our pumpkins and Lucas has his costume all ready to go. It is going to be cold on Sunday so he has to be able to wear his snowsuit under his costume. This won't be a problem, he is going to be a penguin (yes that is the one I bought before we left New Zealand). If I am sneaky enough he can be a penguin again next year. I am really not big into getting all dressed up, so Ava will not be taking part in the dress up events until she knows what is going on and probably than she will be a penguin (as long as Lucas has out grown the costume).

What Do You Want Me To Do

There are some things that you just wish you didn't do, as I play my day over in my head I realize this is what I sound like;

Sit down - Get up

Stop running around - Can't you move any faster?

Go play with your sister - Leave your sister alone

Quick eat up - Don't stuff it all in you are going to choke

Go and play on your own - can't you play quitely?

No wonder Lucas just randomly yells out words he has made up, he is so confused as to what his Mom wants him to do he has hidden off into his own little "Lucas Land"

My poor children, tomorrow I vow to be more patient

Who to Cheer For?

Lock Up Your Trains Lucas

Ava is on her hands and knees it won't be long before she is chasing you around the house.

Lucas' first day at Nursery school was a huge success, they have a Thomas there so what more could you ask for.

At our visit to the nursery school Lucas told Shelly (his teacher) that he likes Thomas. So Shelly said she liked Thomas too, well then Shelly just went too far when she said Thomas is green. Well anyone who is anyone knows that Thomas is not green he is blue. Lucas could not let it go he had to correct her. "Shelly Thomas is not green he is blue. So is Gordon and Edward. Percy, Emily and Henry are green." That ought to put her in her place and show her who the bright one in the class is.

Day 2 at nursery school and Lucas is already trying to bend the rules. They have a ball pit and it is only "open" at certain times. Well Lucas wanted to go in even though it was closed, so in he went, oops that was not such a good idea! In Lucas' words "Shelly said Lucas it is closed!" (Shelly is his teacher) Already taking after Daddy and trying to bend the rules

He is obsessed, he really is, the only thing worth playing is trains. We went to a baptism on Sunday and told Lucas, we will be going to a different nursery this morning with all kinds of different kids, it will be lots of fun, etc etc. You know just trying to get him ready for it. He needs that, you can't just spring new things on him or he has a fit. Anyway we get there and take him into the nursery. We walk around the corner and Lucas is gone, such an unusual thing for him, he doesn't move too quickly. I look up and see a train table. Lucas will be fine. He was still there when we picked him up, he probably would have stayed there all day if I had let him.

Lucas and Peter went to get hockey equipment today. He is going to start skating this week. We (by "we" I mean Peter) looked into lessons which Peter would have to be on the ice with him anyway and the price was ridiculous, the kid probably won't even be able to stand up so lessons from Daddy will be good enough for now.

Ava loves the baby Bjorn, thanks L-Train

No more breast feeding. Ava is fully on the bottle now and almost, I shouldn't say this because it is going to jinx it but here we go, sleeping through the night again. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel yet.

The other day she was up a silly amount of times at night so the following night I decided that was the end of that. She got up and I went in and cuddled her but she just kept screaming in my ear. Well if you are still going to cry when I pick you up you might as well do it lying in your bed so I can go back to mine. 1/2 hour later she was asleep and not up until the next morning. phew!

2 little cuties

I am starting to feel the potty train pressure. Everyone is doing it. Maybe next week we will get rid of diapers and go for the undies. What's the worst that can happen? Lots of wet pants and we go back to diapers, big deal. "They" say boys take longer so technically I don't have to start yet but really I am getting tired of changing his bum and he is getting so big it looks a little weird now when I lay him down on the change mat and his head is hanging off one side and his legs way down the other.