Halloween

On friday we celebrated halloween with another daycare, it was chaotic at times but the kids had fun! Unfortunately, I was unable to get a group picture of my daycare kids so I have no pictures to share. I made cupcakes for the party and was in charge of crafts, while my friend took care of lunch and her next door neighbour took care of the games. Most of the kids had fleece costumes so we could only have them wear their costumes for a few pictures then we had to take them off.

The kids made ghost decorations and decorated pictures of pumpkins. I love the two ghosts hanging on either side of our patio doors! such a fun and easy craft! this ghost is Noah's.


Owen's ghost


This is about as dressed up as Noah wanted to get


Saturday we dropped the kids off with Julia, Danny and Molly, while Gavin and I went out. It was the second time they have cared for my boys, but the first time we have ever left them at another person's house! I was nervous as to how Noah would do because he's been such a Mommy's boy lately, but they did great! On the way out the door Owen yelled "bye" but he was already playing in another room with toys! The kids even napped well for Julia. I am extremely grateful to have such great friends that I know care well for my kids, it makes leaving them that much easier. We had left shopping for a pumpkin until last minute and on our way out Julia told us to take one of theirs. Luckily we did as the grocery store was sold out. Here are the boys carving the pumpkin.


A little pumpkin taste test - yuck.


The finished product, Owen chose the owl.


This morning we had plans to have lunch with Adam, Tirza and Kian. We wanted to try and get a group picture of the cousins wearing their costumes. Obviously that didn't work out very well. Noah was very uncooperative this time. He really doesn't like wearing his costume and cried the entire time he had it on. Oh well, the pictures are funny regardless. Kian was much more into wearing his costume as opposed to last year. Noah was a monkey, Owen a hamburger, and Kian was a bumblebee.








Halloween Dinner - the kids loved it! I think we've found a new tradition.






Gavin dressed up with the boys and we had a small scare when we thought the face paint wouldn't wash off! his fingers were covered in the makeup even after several washes, luckily it came off of his face easier. I was thinking he'd be staying home from work tomorrow!


Cute Monkey Noah. Halloween obviously isn't his holiday, let's hope Christmas doesn't have as many tears!


My cute little hamburger.


Trick or Treat Mommy!


Enjoying a mini chocolate bar after trick-or- treating

This year the kids started coming out at 6:30 but were mostly done trick or treating by 7:30. I think we got about 50 kids this year, a few more than last year. My boys did both sides of the street and were finished in half an hour, then they enjoyed handing out the candy to kids that came to the door.

Happy Halloween!

Big Boys Room

Transitioning into the big boys bedroom has been so far so good! Owen has slept in his own bed in his own room two nights out of the last week, which is two more nights than he has in the past three years! The bedroom move hasn't phased Noah on bit, it does take him a little longer to fall asleep at nap time, but night time sleep is going great.

The room is almost complete and I really like how it turned out. All that is left to do is purchase some new bedding and paint the dresser. Owen is quite proud of his new space, he likes to show it off to anyone he can!

Pumpkin Farm

This afternoon we took the kids to a local pumpkin farm. We've been going to the same farm for the past three years and just love how it's become a family tradition! I like comparing the pictures from years past, the kids look so grown up all of a sudden. We always enjoy our time at the farm there is so much for the kids to see and explore. The highlight of the day was taking a wagon ride out to the pumpkin field, the kids just loved that!

Silly Boys

19 Months Old

19 month stats:

Weight - 24lbs (just under the 25th percentile)
Height - 85.5cm (approx. 50th percentile)
Head circumference - 46cm (approx. 10th percentile)

While Noah may look like an angel, he certainly doesn't always act like one :). In this video Noah is unhappy because I had put pants and socks on him. He ripped off his socks and refused to play outside with Owen and I. This is the tail end of his temper tantrum.



Luckily not all days are like this.

The Things My Boys Love

Trains, tractors and more tractors!


A couple of weeks ago we met with a group of adoptive families for a picnic lunch and a steam engine ride! I think all of the kids loved riding on the train. We love getting together with friends that have also adopted from Vietnam, it is great to see our kids playing together.

We arrived at the steam engine just in time! seriously i was afraid we were going to miss the train ride.










Zack peeking out of the window.


It's never easy to get a group picture :)




The picnic area was fantastic and there was a little beach there as well. We didn't come prepared for the beach but we made due. Owen borrowed Ben's bathing suit, and Noah just wore his diaper. Noah was covered in mud because he and Molly found the puddle in the sand more fun than the lake. We had a great time! and plan to be more prepared for the event next year :)



Last weekend my sister Maegan and her boyfriend Bill got engaged! we are all really excited for them. We were invited to come visit them for the night and go to Bill's family farm for dinner. Bill had been promising the kids a ride on the tractor since we met him and finally the boys got their ride! The tractor is kept in the barn and as soon as Bill opened the barn door Owen was saying "Oh wow! look at that BIG tractor!" We got a ride around the farm in the tractor and Owen even helped drive the tractor by steering it! he was thrilled and probably could have stayed in the tractor all night. He keeps talking about when he goes back to the farm he can ride the tractor again. I don't think their love of tractors is going to fade any time soon. Congratulations again Maegan and Bill!



We visited the Orono fair the other day and the main reason for going was to watch the tractor pull. How long can two kids watch a tractor pull you might be wondering.....2 hours.... straight. Seriously.








The highlight of the fair was trying out the equipment displayed for sale. Papa joked that we need this "toy" for our back yard. Owen would love it, but it's not going to happen. Ever.


Visiting Sparky the dog. Noah would get close enough to give him a high five but wasn't interested in giving him a hug. Owen was fine with posing for a picture with Sparky.


We had never been to a petting zoo where you were in the pen with the animals. Noah was a little scared and would scream when the animals came up close to him Papa tried to show him how to push the animals out of the way, but Noah found screaching more effective :) he liked to pet the animals but didn't like them in his face.

CNE Fun

We took the kids to the CNE last Saturday and had a great time despite us getting there much later than we had planned. We had first made a stop at a Toy store to pick up the free Th@mas train that was being given away, Gavin and I both took turns going in and were able to get each of the boys a train that we didn't already have. Due to a major accident on the highway we had to find an alternate route, it took about an hour to go what normally would take 10 minutes, the traffic was crazy! Finally we made it to the CNE just in time for lunch.

The kids loved the rides of course. There were a few that Noah could go on with one of us and Owen was tall enough that he could go on a few rides on his own. He looked like such a big boy going all by himself on some rides! Noah especially loved the rides that spun around...no surprise there. He kept saying "weeeeeee" and laughing hysterically.





During the clown magic show kids were invited up on stage. Notice who's kids refused to go up without mommy or daddy? I wasn't going up either! someone had to take the picture :)


Owen quickly tired of the magic show and left his younger brother to join his parents on the sidelines. Noah stayed for the entire thing even participating with the crowd and following the other kids lead.





I forget the name of the building but there was a lesson on "energy" for kids. Owen was sooo excited he could have stayed there all day watching the fans. He even made his own pinwheel. While decorating his pinwheel the lady running the craft asked him what he was drawing and he replied " a picture of you" ha it looked nothing like her, but it was funny anyways. Of course he wanted a pink pinwheel :)


We made it to the super dogs show this year, last year we missed it because both kids fell asleep just prior to the show starting. Noah loved the dog show he clapped and cheered as the dogs ran by.

18 Months Old

So this post is a little late...we've been busy. The above little guy still keeps me on my toes but I wouldn't have it any other way, he still shows no fear about anything. Seriously. Last month he learned how to jump into the pool, it didn't even bother him to go under the water, he'd have Gavin lift him out and he'd jump back in immediately. Owen actually followed Noah's lead and tried it himself. I'm proud to say we now have two very enthusiastic water lovers.

It seems that as soon as he turned 18 months he was in the mood to try talking more. He's learning new words every day and is finally trying to repeat us. He points out every truck we pass while driving, he was in heaven during his 6 hour drive to Ottawa...many, many trucks. He even pointed out the same truck repeatedly. It made the 6 hour drive seem much longer :) We are happy he's starting to communicate more, but it sure makes him seem older now.

He is currently wearing size 4 shoes, size 4 diapers, and his clothes are between 12-18 months depending on brand. In the fall
I'm guessing he'll be in 18 month pants but I'm sure they'll be long on him. Owen must have worn size 18 months for a while, we seem to have an abundance of pants in that size! we haven't weighed him this month and I still have to make an appointment for his 18 month check-up, but I'll update with his weight and height later.

Happy 18 months Noah!