Maizies first canoe ride

Maizie did great with wearing the life jacket. It didn't seem to bother her at all. She did have some trouble sitting up in the canoe and ended up lying down for a while. She did cry through most of the ride but I think that's because she was really tired and would have rather been napping.

Sofia is an old pro in the canoe and really wants a paddle of her own. She did take a turn with her Dads and mine! She is a bit cocky and was standing up and moving around a bit more than I was comfortable but no one fell in so I guess all is good. Maybe next time we go out we will let her wear a bathing suit and jump in!

A beautiful picture taken by Daddy!

Maizie

as captured by our friend Elizabeth

Sofia

As captured by our friend Elizabeth

Water Park

I have been taking the girls to a water park about once a week for the last few weeks. It's great fun and it's free entertainment! We go to the park most days in the winter so we need a break from swings and slides (not to mention have you tried sliding on hot metal with shorts on?) I usually try to get friends to meet up with us as Sofia seems to be braver with company.

I talked Sofia into running through the frog. She doesn't look happy but she was giggling.

Maizie & her buddy Liam.

Our friend Abdu was nice enough to lend the babies his toy.

Liam & Maizie watching the big girls Morgan & Sofia

Sofia giving 'walkies' to Maizie through the water.

I thought it was a good idea until Sofia picked her up and took her through the spraying frog.

Maizie didn't giggle.

So proud!

I am such a proud Mumma this morning. Last night we put Maizie into her crib wide awake and Sofia was in bed wide awake. We told Sofia that it was her job as a big sister to show Maizie how to go to sleep nicely. Then we went and sat in our bedroom and waited to see what would happen. Maizie did her usual jumping up & down and made a bunch of noise. Sofia popped out of a bed a few times to tell us that Maizie was making noise or that she loved us. But within 15 minutes both angels were fast asleep! It might be some time before this happens again but it was so exciting that it happened once! Maizie also blessed me by sleeping 10 hours straight again (the second time in 3 nights).

It is so much fun watching the girls play together right now. Maizie adores Sofia and watches everything her big sister does. Sofia is relishing her added responsibility and mostly dotes on her little sister.

Today they got new Little People toys, Sofia a car with a Mom & baby and Maizie a school house with a bus, swing, & teeter totter. As I type they are playing together on the floor with them. Maizie is flicking the swing back & forth and Sofia has the school bus & car loaded with people/animals and she driving it around the living room.

My favourite pictures from the weekend

So I realize that I am posting tons of pictures of the weekend but there has been a serious lack of pictures on this blog for sometime. Mostly due to the fact that I haven't been using my camera. It's slightly broken (the screen is wonky and you can't see what you are taking a picture of). I am just so happy to have dusted it off and get some good shots that I'm sharing lots. Plus, I have 2 of the cutest kids in the world! :)

The loves of my life

Blogger is being retarded and I can't flip this.

I was watching Sofia play in the waterpark and when I looked down Maizie had pulled her hat down over her eyes. I said "Where's Maizie" and a game of peek-a-boo ensued!

Stupid Blogger!

Sofia in a tunnel at the waterpark

GRRRR!

Uncle James & Auntie Kiki fought for naked baby cuddles after Maizies bath. Then they decided to put on her diaper!

Does your neck hurt yet?

Mumma trying to get creative with her shots and Sofia "posing"

Sofias Camp Trip

I asked Sofia to choose which pictures she'd like to share with her friends of our camping trip. We took Sofia camping a few times when she was 1 but we didn't make it out at all last summer. She was upset the first night and wanted to go home. It took a while to get her to sleep but the next day she said that she was happy we didn't go home.

Mason, Sofia, & Rori having a bit of tech time the first night

We took Sofias bike & as usual the helmet spent a lot of time on her head even when she wasn't on it.

Sofia & Rori roasting their own marshmallows (I think the Dads must have been on duty then I know I was trying to get Maizie down)

Playing with Vincent in the ocean

Maizies First Camp Trip

Maizie is a pretty easy baby and seems to roll with the punches. Driving for a couple hours, eating outside on top of the table, sitting in dirt all didn't phase her but sleeping in a tent in her playpen did. It took me a lot longer than normal to get her to sleep and she was awake a lot through out the night. She spent some of the night sleeping between Grant & I just so I could get some sleep. By the second night she was back to herself, she went down quickly and only woke up once. I wish we had been able to stay for longer, 2 nights is rarely enough.

Dinner the first night

Nap time (I'm thankful she'll nap anywhere!)

Silly Mummy forgot the sling so I had to fashion one out of a scarf. It did the trick.

9.5 months old and her first time swimming in the ocean

Playing with a starfish

Yes it was alive and we let it go shortly after. It wasn't harmed.

Camping bath!

Watching big sister play at the waterpark

Sofias' Produce Series

The produce section of our grocery store as seen by Miss Sofia

Today

Today I am so thankful for my girls. I love them and I am so pleased to be able to be home with them right now. Sofia is growing and changing and becoming a bigger girl every day. She is such a good girl and I am so proud of her. Her best friend, M, lives across the road from us and her parents have different rules from us. Sofia is getting very good at following our rules without being reminded. VERY hard because M is 1.5 year older and perceived by Sofia as a 'big girl'. Sofia always tells me "I just want to be like M" and I am constantly saying "I just want you to be like Sofia".

Today Sofia looked at the inside of my wrist and said "Look Mumma, there's trees in there!". She makes me smile. She's becoming such a keen observer. I am trying to loosen the reigns on what I let her do. Apparently I make dishes look really exciting because she is always wanting to help! Today I let her clean out some bottles for the recycling bin, she was so proud of herself. I forget sometimes that these boring tasks are new and cool to a 3 year old. Afterwards she went through the fridge and told me 7 or 8 times "When this aiyaya is empty I can wash it out and put it in recycle" while holding up different bottles.

Today Maizie climbing on top of a stool and sat down. She has also learned to pull herself up to standing by using a flat surface (the wall or cupboard door). She is getting so big and changing so quickly. When I was wiping her face today at lunch she took the cloth from my and wiped my cheek. She's big into sharing whatever she has with whomever happens to be near her (even the dog or cat has been offered a sippy cup or soggy cookie).

Today at lunch I ran back and forth between my girls who were sitting at opposite ends of the table getting kisses from each of them. Maizie squealed with laughter and clapped her hand while Sofia was kissing me and Sofia squealed "I have more kisses for you Mummy come back over here" while Maizie was kissing me.

Things I want to remember always: open mouth baby kisses with too much tongue, 'get my wittle bum', the beaming smile on Sofias face when I give her a highfive for being a good listener, Maizie turning pages in a book, Sofia teaching Maizie how to colour on the kitchen floor, Sofia putting our cat in a timeout because she had told her "three times no more kisses and you aren't listening so you need a time out. I should only have to tell you one time but I told you three and you're still kissing me. TIME OUT Tiva!", hot cock-at with a wid.