Birthday Party Time!

Last Saturday the boys celebrated their third birthday with a few of their friends down at the local Rec Centre.  We rented the gym for a few hours, and Matt, Nik, Jules, Logan, Charlie, Graeme and Darcy got together to play, enjoy cupcakes, play parachute games, and spend some time together.  As you can see, they had a great time riding, climbing, building, jumping, rolling, and hanging out.  Thanks to our friends for a fun time!

Matt was quick to notice that his birthday shirt matched his new fire truck puzzle.  Happy Birthday Matt and Nik!

Happy Halloween!

Matt and Nik were both very excited about Halloween this year. They enjoyed decorating, going out "trick or treating" and giving candy to kids who stopped by the house.

The fun started with the boys showing off their artistic side as they painted their own pumpkins.

Matt and Nik were really looking forward to the first stop of the evening, Uncle Norm and Aunt Sandy's house.

As usual, Aunt Sandy did a great job decorating inside and out.

There are lots of toys to play with...

... including Uncle Norm's table hockey game. Matt and Nik caught on relatively quickly and had a great time moving the men, shooting the puck and scoring the occassional goal.


Time went by very quickly so we had head back to visit our neighbours, but not before the bags were filled with treats. Thanks Uncle Norm, Aunt Sandy, Grandma Vi and Lisa!

The rain had let up and it had warmed up nicely when we made it home. The boys were eager to show off their outfits to the neighbours.

Our neighbours across the street invited us in for a visit (and a beverage "treat" for Dad).

Many of the houses were very well decorated and even some of the parents got into the act with costumes of their own.

The final stop was our own house where Mom topped up the bags with some special treats.

Before blowing out the candles, the boys took some time to reflect on a very fun day.

Hanging out with Oma and Opa

Both Matt and Nik love to spend time with Oma and Opa, and they look forward to being at their house on Mondays and Tuesdays while Mom is at work.  Oma and Opa always do lots of fun things with the boys.... make them hats, teach them Dutch songs, read with them, have coffee with them in the new guest house, drive them around on the lawn mower tractors, and they always find lots of little jobs for the boys to do with them around the house and yard.  

Do you ever wonder why the boys say "No mommy, not yet!" when I come to pick them up?  Thank you Opa and Oma!

A Visit to the Apple Barn

Last Sunday we headed down to  The Apple Barn for another trip to the pumpkin patch.  We arrived just in time for a lunch of hot dogs and ice tea, and the boys enjoyed a hay ride down to the field.  They also found a large playground and spent quite a bit of time climbing.  It was a beautiful weekend and it was nice to be outside!

No, he's not testing the wind.  Nik always points his finger when he wants to make a point!

Our Halloween Party

Last Saturday we had a Halloween party with our friends.  It was a great chance for the little ones to dress up, spend some time playing together, and go "trick or treating" inside.  Matt and Nik dressed up as lumberjacks with flannel shirts, suspenders, and toy chainsaws.  

From left to right: Jules (snowman), Matt, Nik, baby Graeme (monkey), Logan (dinosaur) and his baby sister Darcy (kitten), Ethan (firefighter) and Charlie (monkey).

It was a beautiful day, and everyone got a chance to play outside after lunch and enjoy the sunshine.  Then Matt spent some time playing with Graeme - Matt was quite interested in all the baby toys and showed each one to Graeme.  They're growing up so fast!

Cash Is King

Matt reviews his bank account and is excited to see he has a healthy cash balance . Ready to take advantage of buying opportunities in the market, eh Matt?!?

Impromptu Concert

After dinner, the boys threw an impromptu concert in the yet to be refurnished living room. In addition to covers of three classics: Lumberjack, YMCA, and Jingle Bells, Matt practiced expressing his adoration to his audience and Nik does his best Rock Star imitation by throwing his "instruments" at the end of his act. Here are a few highlights:

Starting to Look Like Something

After more than two months of "camping", we can finally cook inside and use the dishwasher. The trades left at 10pm today after making very good progress in the kitchen. There is still work to be done including the installation of the pot filler over the cooktop, grouting of the backsplash, hanging and under cabinet lighting etc, but it really is starting to look like a kitchen again.

The family room mantel has been built up and now needs the magic of the plaster guy. That will happen next week which means the Audio Visual crew can start with their tasks by the end of the month. Exciting stuff!

Cat Lovers

Both boys are drawn to animals, but Nik is our real animal lover.  Yesterday he played with one of the kittens at Grandma's house - and the kitten was very content to play with him as well.  Matt also held the compliant kitten for a few moments.  Too cute!

How to Spend a Rainy Day

Thanksgiving Monday was a very wet and dreary day, and the boys were getting a little tired of being inside by the afternoon.  So we bundled up and headed outside to play in the pouring rain.  First we explored all the storm drains in our neighbourhood, then we came home so that the boys could "mow" the puddles in the backyard.  They had a great time and didn't seem to mind the rain at all!

Grandma's "Ears"

Everytime we visit Grandma and Grandpa's house, Matt spends some time playing on the lawnmower tractor.  However, he can't go on unless he wears Grandma's "ears."  Great look, Matt!

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

It has become a tradition to celebrate our friend Jules' birthday at the pumpkin patch, and so we headed over there last Saturday.  It was a bright and beautiful day, and the boys loved the hay ride.  They took their time choosing a pumpkin, and both ended up with a small pumpkin that was easy for them to carry.

After some snacks and playtime, we headed over to the petting barn to check out all the animals.  Both boys thought that the pigs were really funny as they ran around the pen, checking for food to eat.  They loved how soft the sheep was, and even stopped to feed the goat.  In the end, we came home with an assortment of pumpkins and fresh apples, and thoroughly enjoyed our morning!

Renovation Update

We're down to the last few weeks of renovations, and the work continues to go well.  We've now moved into the entryway since the painting for the dining room and living room has begun.  The boys think it's quite silly to eat in the hallway!  You'll notice how the fridge and the box with our new kitchen sink are also in the hallway.

I've become accustomed to cooking outside with the help of a few cooktops and the barbeque.  Of course, we still have to have our weekend "pannenkoek" - breakfast just wouldn't be the same otherwise!  I've also discovered that pouring boiling water over weeds in the cracks is an effective way to kill them - and it beats going all the way through the house to the laundry room to empty out the pot into the sink!

Here are some photos from today showing the new colour in the dining room and living room.  We've gone lighter, and it feels brighter already.  The fireplace was built out of wood and concrete board, and will undergo a transformation over the next four days as it is plastered to resemble cast concrete.  Today was the first coat to help the concrete adhere to the wood.

Our kitchen/ family room also has a first coat of paint and the ceiling is completely done.  Crown moldings will go up over the next few days.

Dad's office has a beautiful new stacked stone fireplace.  The stone mason, who has also worked on projects such as the International terminal at the Vancouver airport and Harrison Ford's Bowen Island home, is a very meticulous man.  So far he has spent 12 hours putting up the fireplace, and it's not quite complete yet.  The mantle is a beam salvaged from an old church in Montreal and is a gorgeous piece of wood.  Today that room got its' first coat of paint and crown moldings.

Finally - the bathroom.  The ceiling and walls have been painted, and the new bathtub fixtures will arrive on Thursday, which means the tiling can start soon as well.  It's very exciting to see so much dramatic progress, and we can't wait to move back in!

Neighbourhood Fun

Matt and Nik always have lots of fun playing outside, especially when all the neighbour kids join in!  Most of the neighbour kids are older - Brett is 8, Will is 9, and Rebecca is 11 - and so they always have lots of new things to teach Matt and Nik.  Matt loves the rough and tumble of the boys, and tries to copy everything that they do.  Nik prefers racing on his bike, and Rebecca is always willing to have a race with him.  Julia, our next door babysitter, often joins in the fun as well.  Of course, it's also fun to share your dump truck with all the neighbours and give them rides too!

First Fishing Trip

On Sunday we joined our friends and took the boys for their first fishing trip to Silverbrook U-Catch trout farm.
It was a fun experience for everyone, even Mom got into the act.

Matt was content to relax with his fishing pole and enjoy the surroundings and sunshine.


Nik had a particularly good time and was eager to get involved. He is already asking to go back.

When we made it back home, Nik proudly showed off his catch to the neighbours.

Wall Art

We were pleasantly surprised Saturday morning when the drywall crew showed up... although it was a little early (7:15am). While we went for our regular Starbucks break, they made quick work of putting up the sheets despite all the cutting for the pot lights and speakers. By the time we came back, they were almost finished.

The nice clean sheets of drywall inspired the internal artists in Matt and Nik.

Nik was thrilled that he was allowed to make big pictures on the wall.



Matt took his time crafting his master piece. A few strokes here and there and then he would step back and admire his creation.

Each had to review and comment on the other's work. Here Matt is giving Nik his critique.

Reno Update

We've been seeing significant progress with our "little" renovation project. Here's a quick update.

The new fireplaces in the family room & den and living room were installed today. Matt was entranced by the flames.

The plumbing rough in was completed and is now ready for inspection tomorrow (along with the electrical that failed the first time because of all the audio video wiring). The boys were intrigued by the water that was sitting in the shower and bathtub (with the old hardware) in the ensuite. It is meant to test the seals but the boys were sure it was there for their enjoyment. While Nik took the practical approach and rolled up his sleeves, Matt attempted to walk on it... but, as evidenced by the very wet sock, was unsuccessful. The drywalling begins next week so it will all start looking like a home instead of a construction zone soon... we hope!

Working at Opa and Oma's house

Oma and Opa look after the boys on Mondays and Tuesdays while Mom is at work, and the boys love to be at their house.  They love to be busy with the tractors - if they aren't riding on them, they are fixing them - and Opa and Oma find lots of little jobs for the boys to do outside.  They love to help feed the fish, pick blueberries, feed the goat, and pick apples.  They were very excited that the apples are finally ripe, and told Mom all about their apple picking "work" on the drive home.

Thank you to Oma (and Opa too) for doing such a great job with the boys!  We love you!

Little Construction Workers

Both Matt and Nik have been fascinated by the work that is happening at the house, and they have started to copy Otto, our site manager.  They are always asking questions about what he is doing or what tool he is carrying around.  

Last week the boys' toy tool boxes broke, so we made a trip to Home Depot for a proper Stanley tool box.  Of course, this means that you have to get to work, and the boys wasted no time getting out the scrap pieces of wood.  Dad was there, giving lessons on how to use the drill, and the boys even took time to clean up after they were done working.  A productive work day!

Speaking of renovations, our drywall was delivered and it will begin going up on the ceiling and wall next week.  Matt thought that it made a great stage and put on a performance for us.  He's quite the actor!

The Newest Addition to Opa's Zoo

Opa has quite a collection of animals at his house... a goat named Ricky, a rooster named Charlie, an assortment of hens and baby chicks, two cats, and now a minature pony named Snowball.  Nik and Matt met him this weekend, and so far they don't know what to think about the little horse.  Nik got close enough to meet him, but Matt kept his distance.  We know that they'll be riding the little pony soon enough!