apology

I was looking at someone else's blog and was annoyed by the fact that they don't update often enough... then I got embarassed... It's been since APRIL that I've updated this blog.

So much has changed!

In the meantime, Keith and I have become members of the Lac La Biche Evangelical Free chuch, I have run a 'free garage sale' for our community, I have gone back to work full time, we have gone on a 2 week vacation to Idaho, I've planned a family reunion and *finally taking a breath* many many many other things.

Can you understand why I haven't updated?? I've barely had the time to post pictures on facebook! And I've done that mostly because I felt pressure from family to get those up!

As I write this I am overwhelmed with decisions I need to make. Gavin hasn't been doing as well as I had hoped with me going back to work, but then again, neither have I. At first, I felt the value in being a financially contributing partner in the family, and the value in feeling like a person again instead of being just a mom with a kid attatched to her. BUT now I'm wondering if it's worth it. We REALLY aren't making it ahead financially... funny how that works when you make that much more a month... we aren't seeing eachother much (keith and I) and I'm really not that happy afterall. I realized I took pride in being able to be a stay at home mom, took pride in finding ways to save money for our family, took pride in making that little extra money with my discovery toys business and my homemade jewelry. Life really isn't that great being at work... at least now anyways. I miss spending special time with my son. I miss being his primary caretaker.. . I also miss Keith so much. I stayed up late last night just so I could see him come home from work... just so he could cuddle me to sleep. I think I fell asleep like 30 seconds after he got home... bummer. And then, I woke up to him gone again. I don't know how those people whose husbands work away from home do it. I love my husband, I want to see him every chance I get!! Every day!

Anyways, sorry I haven't kept up much. I know that most people who read this are also on facebook as well.... so I'm sure you've caught up with us there.

I'm thinking about quitting this blogger thing...

oh good grief..

one post a month? --- actually it's not even that.

Can life really be that much busier with a 2-year-old? -- I think it probably is.

ok, thats weird, I'm asking and answering my own questions!

Hahah! On to an update.

Gavin is getting so big! I almost daily have those moments where I see him doing something and say 'aww.. he's so grown up!' I know all you parents know what I'm talking about.

Things are definately more interesting around here too. Gavin has changed his personality a bit from when he was younger. He used to play a lot by himself, but now quite often likes someone even just to be in his room with him while he's playing if not playing with him. It's a bit challenging at times, because we got so used to just being able to do whatever, that now, it's seems as though he requires a lot more attention. Not that I mind it most of the time, but sometimes, he's throwing a fit while I"m cooking dinner or something... so it makes for some interesting moments.

He now has all 4 of his 2 year old molars (I think... he doesn't let me check for the last one without attempting to bite my finger off). I hate teething. The poor little guy turns into a monster and it usually takes the whole day of me getting frustrated with his whining and his fits for me to figure out that it's teething and he's probably in pain!

He also has his own twin size bed. My grandparents moved into a senior apartment complex and got rid of most of the stuff in their house... so we got a twin size bed, along with many other things of course. Gavin did really well there for a while in the bed... he was sleeping through the night, and just overall doing well. Since then, he's fallen out twice and we got used to just bringing him back into our bed. Last night was the end of that, unfortunately. So, after he got up and wanted to come to our bed... about 2 am... we went through about an hour of him screaming to finally get him back to sleeping in his bed. Then he slept the rest of the night, in his bed, pretty soundly. He was so worn out, but hopefully we won't have to go through much more of that so we can all get good sleep at night.

Another thing we, mostly I, am/are looking forward to, is going outside. We do it every single day. I enjoy living in town too... so we go for walks to get the mail, or just to go to the playground. It's great, and I'm really loving it. I can't wait for it to get warm and the ice to come off of the lake. Then it's beach time!!

Anyways, I'll try to remember to post some pictures soon. Thanks for reading!

KAren

Gavin is 2!!!

So we went to the world water park for his birthday a few weeks ago, and this is a picture of about half of it. From here you can see the kiddy pool directly in front, then the rows and rows of beach lounge chairs, then the wave pool. The tall tower at the end is the spot where people bungee jump off of. Behind us were all of the slides and the LARGE kid splash park.

















Here's Keith and Gavin in the kiddy pool... which was really nice, fairly shallow and warm.

And then we celebrated with his friends at the church munchkins and moms group. We had a pirate theme. :)

This is the cake I made for him.

And the 'tar' pinata that was full of candy and pirate loot.

like i said...

on my other blog... I'm a horrible blogger. I kept thinking, I should update that, I think some people might actually look at it... until now... and it's almost 2 months later!!!

Having moved into our new place in December and Keith starting his new job on January 1st, time sure has flown!

Also, Gavin is just 1 week away from turning 2... and boy do we know it! He has definately hit his 'terrible twos' and I'm scared to go out with him. On one hand, he wants to be independant, and do things himself, and then on the other hand, he's clingy and wants me to carry him everywhere. Not only that, but he answers EVERY question with 'NO!' -- doesn't matter what we ask him. It's been challenging for me to say the least! As well, the whole month of February (basically) has been filled with him being sick. WHAT A MONTH!!!

With all of the negative, (haha) I should mention the positive!! Gavin is talking like no ones business! While writing this, he said to me, Mommy, get down from mommy's bed. Banana please. HAHA! If only he really understood everything and could tell me where he's hurting! He's got quite the personality and LOVES to be tickled. He also is a fruit and vegetable MONSTER. His favorites are cucumbers, green peppers, bananas, strawberries and grapes. Hopefully he keeps up with loving these things!

We aren't going all out for his birthday this year. Keith wanted to take gavin to the world water park in West Edmonton Mall. We went this past weekend, the 20th of Feb, and even though he was sick, he had a good time. Here are a few pictures from that.

This is a view of the large wave pool at the water park... and immediately in the front of the picture, is the kiddie pool. It had mini slides, a waterfall and a few built in toys.

Gavin and Keith entering the kid water park. It was really cool, but there were a LOT of kids, it was really noisy and meant more for older kids. We really look forward to taking Gavin there in the future.

So all they did is go up the stairs (last picture) and then go down the slide. haha! It looks worse that it actually was. We spent the rest of the time there in either the kiddie pool, or the big wave pool where we had lots of fun playing in the waves.

Christmas

Christmas was so much fun this year! We decided earlier this year that this Christmas, we (my family) wouldn't buy gifts for the adults, just for the kids. MAN, did that take some of the pressure off! It was nice, because then there is no expectations, no disappointments, and no pressure. We just looked forward to the season, and to watching the kids open gifts.

Keith and I also mentioned how excited we were to watch Gavin. And he didn't disappoint! He still didn't know when we were going to open gifts, or even that those pretty boxes sitting in the livingroom actually had toys in them and they were to open. But once we let him know on Christmas morning that he could open the gifts, he started tearing through paper and showing genuine surprise at everything he opened. I was so excited to watch him, and I just loved that at this stage, he didn't ask for anything, and loved everything he got. I know it won't be the same in the future, so we are just loving this stage. Here are a few pictures of Christmas.

Opening his stocking, he knew EXACTLY what this was, and has carried around his 'hockey stick' for a few days now.

After opening his stocking and a few more presents, he was really excited and so to open this one, he climbed on top of it.

He got this gift from my mom and dad. He was SOOO excited for it, he didn't take it off for a couple of days. THankfully, it was just a phase, but he still enjoys it every single day.