FIVE PEOPLE 2/12

Here is my family portrait for February. Not quite what I imagined, but I woke up this morning realizing it was the last day of the month already and I had to post something...I had to follow through with at least one of my big ideas!

The photo probably will not win a prize, but it is us, our family together, doing the things we do. I made Charline take it moments after Canada won GOLD in the men's hockey game! (we are standing in front of the tele). You can't really see in the picture, but our house is a disaster. The floor is covered in salt and vinegar chips and puzzle pieces, the bunnies are hopping and pooping on the couch, Will just dumped the tinker toy bucket and we had just been feasting on wings, chips and dips, beer and M&M's while watching the game.

Sam didn't want his picture taken so Jake just grabbed him and hung him upside down and had just plunked him back down (which is why he looks disheveled and blurry). Clara, on the other hand, loves her picture taken right now. It is slightly annoying cause she will leap into a picture at the last moment and mess up the frame. Her hair is also the longest it has ever been. I think she inherited Jake's thin hair and have preferred her hair at her chin (she likes it this way too, because it is like Sara's hair), but we are giving some long-ish hair a try.

I already feel sad that the Olympics are over and our 16 day holiday has come to end. This month has almost entirely been devoted to Olympic-y things and it has been truly fun and exciting.

The bigger kids also did a soccer camp for 5 days and loved it. Although I'm good at arts and crafts and parks, I have almost totally neglected introducing sports to my children. Up until a week ago, they thought any sport with a ball was called basketball and after watching Sam play baseball with some classmates and seeing him kick the ball instead of throwing it, I knew it was definitely time to step it up. Which I have...I have enrolled them in soccer, baseball, floor hockey and field hockey between now and July. Clara wants to do some skating now as well. I'm going to be the crazy sports mom who over schedules her kids (but just for a few months).

Anyway, I had better get my butt to bed. Early morning ahead...

COMING TO THE END

Closing ceremonies on Sunday and back to school on Monday. Kind of sad but it also might be nice to get back into our routine.

We are behind on our Olympic medal chart. Sam consequently thinks Canada is "winning."

It has been so fun to watch the events on the tele with my kids. Clara and Will like ice dancing best, and for Sam, it is a toss up between snowboard cross and speed skating. We are all looking forward to watching the men's gold medal hockey game on Sunday. Charline has quickly learned that when there is a hockey game on, we eat in the family room and drink beer.

And a few random pictures of other Olympic-y activities, like going on board the Russian tall ship:

I like this shot, mostly because of Will's really excited expression:

And an Olympic themed birthday party:

THE FANTASTIC ADVENTURES OF CORNELIUS & NIBBLES

Cornelius (Coco) and Nibbles, are finishing up their holiday with us. On Monday the bunnies return to their home in Sam's preschool classroom, and I know Sam will miss them tremendously.

Sam's teacher warned us that Coco may bite (all my kids discovered on day 1 that this is true), but Nibbles has had many fantastic, if not terrifying adventures, during his visit at the Chalmers' home. He has had early morning cuddles in bed, breakfast at the table, couch view of Sam playing Mario Kart on the Wii, books read to him, forts and obstacles courses built for him, celery soup made by Clara especially for him, rides in the doll stroller and Sam's green speedboat, and many, many hours clutched in the loving arms of Sam.

I did have to say no to having a bubble bath with Nibbles and taking him to the library with us and sleeping with him in the top bunk.

One morning I saw he wasn't in his cage and asked Sam where he was? He replied in his casual tone, "Oh, I know where he is mom...he is on the treadmill getting some exercise." Fortunately the kids don't know the password to the treadmill, but there have been some other close calls, like when Will appeared from around the corner, holding Nibbles by the leg...upside down, or when Nibbles found a secret dark corner under the boy's bunk bed and it took us over an hour to get him out (had to disassemble the bed). And then there was the incident of Sam showing his friend how Nibbles can do flips when dropped from a few feet in the air.

This afternoon the kids and I made a carrot cake for Coco and Nibble's farewell party. We sang for "He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and dug in. Sam offered Nibbles a bite of his cake and seemed surprised when he didn't eat it.

It has been a fantastic adventure. And all I can say is, thank goodness we have not killed the class pet! And thank goodness the adventure comes to an end on Monday!

OLYMPIC-Y THINGS AT WHISTLER

Dear mom,

Thank you for getting out of bed an hour earlier than planned, and coming over to our house to stay with my kids at 7:30am so we could drive to Whistler.

The views along the Sea to Sky Highway were particularly beautiful that morning, it was unusually peaceful in the car, and we arrived just as the first athlete completed the downhill course in the Men's Super Combined. Our seats were awesome, the sun was shining..I even took my puffy jacket off. I ate some chili, a Twix bar and drank a beer, got a bit of a tan and didn't have to entertain any children who may have been bored or hungry after 3 hours in. What an amazing, once in a lifetime experience!

And thank you for putting my kids to bed that night, tending to their coughs and sleeping over with them. Jake and I went out on a date with the Georges to a fancy restaurant in the Village. We drank some champagne, shared a delicious antipasto platter and watched an exciting (if not disappointing) hockey game on the screen.

And thank you, thank you for waking up early and watching my kids the following day as well. I skied for the first time since pregnant with Clara. It was my mommy skiing debut, and it was awesome! I don't think I could have skied on a more perfect day. (I wish I had my camera, but was concerned about smashing it into the snow in case of a wipe out).

(if I look a little over excited here, it's because I am)

(half of the Georges)

OLYMPIC-Y THINGS WITH SISTER IN LAW AND KIDS

I took the kids on the bus and went downtown to experience some Olympic crowds and see some more Olympic-y things.

I think the bus ride was the kid's favourite part of the day! I'm sure it had something to do with not having to wear a seatbelt.

We met up with Auntie Juli and her kids. Waited in a long line up at the food fair, played by a fountain, climbed a tree...

Walked to see the cauldron which was hard to see due to fence and crowds. Although Miley Cyrus (the Barbie) got a good view. Worried that I was going to lose one of my kids.

Finally, did get a couple of pictures of the kids in front of the cauldron (hard to see flame in the pictures...but it was there).

Stopped by Nana's office for hugs and to say hello.

She showed us something really cool...a real Olympic GOLD medal. It was awesome!

Went to check out Canada's Northern House (heard it was a good place to take kids), but got scared of the line up. Went to get a hot chocolate and a giant cookie instead.

And then made our way to the Art Gallery. Sam wanted to sit in the bobsled so we waited in another line, but we did get a cool free hat!

And then soaked in some sunshine and some good energy, and took some more pictures...

It was a good day.

OLYMPIC-Y THINGS

I am planning on doing lots of Olympic-y things with my kids this week.

Yesterday we met Annie and her girls at Granville Island. We quickly walked through the Atlantic Canada House which would of been fun if it was just Annie and I, and we wanted to drink some beer. We walked by the House of Switzerland, but again, it looked like a fun place to drink a beer and eat some Swiss food. The kids were excited about the pins they were handing out at the Pavillions, but they were mostly eager to feed the pigeons, chase the geese, visit the toy store, watch the performer juggle fire and play at the park. So that's what we did.

Could this be love?

One of my new favourite pictures!

HAPPY VALENTINES

Valentines Day was almost superseded by the Olympics, but I did manage to do some late night decorating and assembling and pulled off a fun and relaxing Valentines today with my kids. My husband sadly left on a plane early this morning, but we did manage a dinner date before he left, where I consumed a great amount of french fries and drank 2 delicious beers (Chimay blue to be exact).

Valentines Day traditionally kicks off with waffles (or some kind of pancake), bacon, fruit, smoothies, chocolate, tulips and a card.

And for lunch...a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a heart cut out and chocolate milk. Sam got a gingerale.

The sun came out today, and I took the kids to an outdoor skating rink that has been temporarily set up during the Oympics. Clara has declared skating her new favourite activity. She tells me that God has graced her with the gift of skating. Sam feels quite differently. I think he wants to be the best and the fastest right out of the gate, so by the second fall he stormed off the ice and went to pursue other activities (like running and climbing).

It's late, so I will post more pictures tomorrow. Just wanted to say Happy Valentines Day on the day.

(Jake...if you are reading this...I love you and miss you already. Sleeping beside our daughter is just not the same as sleeping beside you)

OLYMPIC TORCH

Last night, we took the bus to see the Olympic Torch pass through West Vancouver (our neighbourhood) and then mosied over to the nearby celebration event. It was so exciting. I may have even cried a little bit. Sam mostly loved that he didn't have to wear a seat belt on the bus.

Here is my only picture:

More proof of why I need to get a flash for my camera. Natural light photography can only take you so far...

So instead, I'm posting this video of the Torch Relay. I'm feeling it! I believe. And I'm such a sucker for beautiful music with beautiful images.

I'm also posting a picture of Nana (thanks for the picture Auntie Juli). The kid's Nana was one of the very first Torch runners back in October. Isn't that awesome?! We think so. We are very proud of her. XO.

So, our home is decorated with flags and red streamers. The kids made a chart to keep track of the medals won. We have our red mitts and matching Canada shirts and toques.

We are ready for the Opening Ceremony tomorrow!

FIVE PEOPLE TWELVE TIMES

I'm joining Tara Whitney (probably my favourite photographer) in a monthly photography challenge.

I'm going to organize a family self portrait each month for the rest of the year. No matching outfits or fancy make up...just us, as we are, doing our thing. I don't want my kids to look back on our life and wonder where their mother was or what she looked liked! I'm also going to write a little bit of the goings ons of our family at the time of the photo, and maybe even make a little book at the end of the year?

So...I'm not off to a great start, being February 10th and all, but I do have a current painting Clara did of our family.

I love that she wrote everyone's age above their heads, except for Jake and I. I remember never knowing how old my mom was growing up. She always told me she was 29, and then all of a sudden (like a year later) she was 39. It was very confusing.

Clara always draws Jake in a black shirt. She thinks this is his favourite colour. I think it is actually blue.

And here I am with short hair. Since June last year, I have kept my hair above my shoulders. My husband is still in mourning for my long hair.

It is true, I wear grey a lot, particularly in the winter. I feel like I can only pull of a bright colour if I have a tan.

Sadly, Clara is phasing out her princess/fairy/pink n' frilly love affair. Apparently it is not cool to dress up as Cinderella or sleep with your Aurora doll when you are in Grade 1. Currently, she likes the colour blue and still loves to play with Barbies and dolls. She also still dresses up as a wedding girl and likes to look beautiful (which she is).

I have written a lot about Sam lately. He still loves the colour green the best. He has been chewing non stop on his sleeves which makes me crazy. And when I put a short sleeved shirt on him, he chews the neck of the shirt. It is really gross. I guess it is a little better than him chewing his toenails.

Sam and Clara and Daddy also have been playing Mario on the Wii every night after dinner. The kids are really good. Better than me, for sure.

January also brought the arrival of the bunk bed for the boys, Sam turning 5, Charline from France, our house almost getting organized, Jake's disappearing gut (he looks hot), a somewhat regular Church attendance, a new layout in our bedroom...

ME THE TOURIST

Besides rediscovering the joys of grocery shopping without 3 children (or any kind of shopping for that matter), Charline's arrival has also had other perks. Like, rediscovering the city I live in. It is such a beautiful city too. I am so thankful to live here even if it is not summer yet and the forecast this week is rain.

In the past week we have hiked through a few different parks, visited a few different Markets (bought some fudge...apparently they don't have this in France. No oatmeal either), went to the Aquarium, saw the baby beluga (who is more of adolescent now than a baby), and I finally took the kids on the Suspension Bridge.

I have also discovered that I love taking pictures in the trees.

The kids love this picture...kind of like Where is Waldo?

Seriously, this is 1 of 3 pictures I have of me and all my kids. My goal this month is to take some pictures of us having fun together, even if it is me holding the camera out.