Wednesday, March 6, 2013

February at Our House


Evan, Darren & Isaac were being rocks with their Grandma blankets...


On Family Day, we went to a fundraiser for a woman at our church who is doing the Sea to Sea this summer.  There was an ice rink, hockey games, a bonfire, snowmobile & ATV rides.  Great weather and a great day!  Here's Evan on the ATV with Mrs. Reinsma.

And Darren on the snowmobile with Pastor John.  They had such a great time!

Another rare moment of cooperation where all four kids were working on one puzzle.

On the day of the big snowstorm, we got a lot of heavy, wet snow. We worked for a few hours and made a great snow fort in our front yard!
 Snacktime in the fort!

And because of the snow, our friends had a day off!  Mario Kart Party!!

Evan being silly...

Darren's elephant puppet to show Aunt Colleen!


The boys just finished another session of swimming lessons. Liam got to go for the first time ever!  The first two lessons he cried and cried before, and I had to physically pin him into his carseat to go.  He had a great time, though.  Now by the last lesson, he cried and cried because it was the end!  He did great, and even jumped in twice without holding the teacher's hand!  Great work, Liam!

Evan was enrolled in Level 3, but I didn't want to get his hopes up about finishing the level, because it was a shorter session.  At the last day, his teacher came up to me and said, "I know he was supposed to be doing level three, but I don't think he should have been in Level 3."   Uh - oh.  "He actually completed level 4 too!"  Great work, Evan!  We're so proud of you!!

And Darren was the youngest one in his group.  They worked so hard, and Darren completed the preschool levels and his level 1!  Awesome job, Darren!!


Saturday, March 2, 2013

A Visit to Clinton

We had a weekend visit to Clinton, along with the Trautrimas cousins.  Everyone had a great time!
The boys helped Oma bake cookies...
 
 
 Everyone learned how to play sjoelbak (spelling?)
 



Enjoying funny animals on YouTube...


Bathtime in that great bathtub!

 Playtime downstairs!

 Crazy hair...
Cars & trucks on the train table...

Fun with Uncle Adam


 Cousins - Evan & Owen...

And our many attempts at taking a group picture...






Finally...success!
 
Stair sliding on mattresses!




Sunday, February 17, 2013

Liam is Four!!

Happy Fourth Birthday to our Liam! 
What a wonderful little guy he is becoming!
He still loves to do puzzles.  He also works VERY hard on one piece of artwork.  Whether it's a small or large piece of paper, he will colour until it is full!  He's made some lovely pictures for people!


 He really wanted a Spiderman Cake.  I compromised by making a web and putting Spiderman on it...that was good enough.  For his birthday supper, he had some friends over and we had pigs-in-a-blanket, Kraft Dinner, and cake!

A few nights ago when I checked on him, he was sound asleep just like this, with the lights on and all cuddled up. I took a picture because it was so cute.
 The next day I told him about it and showed him the picture.  Later on, I saw him walk to the couch with his blanket.  I peeked on him, and he was "sleeping" again, looking up and waiting for me to take his picture again... so I did.
The day after he turned four, he said to me, quite disappointed, "I can't whistle.  I thought that when I was four I'd be able to whistle."

He still complains to me when he's bumped his forehead, "I hurt my forebrain."

He takes swimming lessons now, and does great!  He can put his face in the water, and swims with his teacher - even in the BIG pool!

His newest hobby is using Evan's Bop-It.  He has beaten novice, expert and master!  (the only other person to do so was Uncle Steve)  He is so calm and matter of fact when he does it.  I have a video I tried to post but it didn't work.  What a kid!!

Happy Birthday, Liam!  We love you so much!

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Winter Fun

Liam has really been into drawing lately.  His pictures are big, bright and colourful, and he fills the entire page.  He has a whole story to go with each picture, and carefully decides who the drawings should be for.


"Take a picture of me too?"   Isaac's been talking more lately.  He can keep up with any of his brothers - whether it's drawing, playing, running, or wrestling.
 Evan lost his third tooth.  The tooth fairy gave him a loonie but left the tooth behind.  Evan tried for a few more nights to leave the tooth out, seeing if the tooth fairy would come and give him more money, but no luck.   Finally he wrote a letter asking for $10 or $20 for the tooth.  The tooth fairy has yet to respond.

This football has always been a spaceship. Lately the boys have been bringing it to various rooms of the house to play in it, roll it around, or hide in it.  Darren decided it's a great (quiet) place to do some Bop-It.
 New record!! (and last picture before a haircut...goodbye curls!)

" Another picture?  Please?"


Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Fun in Belleville!

The VanBredas and Renkemas spent New Year's in Belleville.  It was perfect, because it had just snowed more than a foot, and these kids loved the snow!

Superheroes!!


BATMAN!!!

More heroes!

Frustration! 

The hill near Grandma's house was the perfect size for the small ones and even the older kids!  Uncle Steve built a giant ramp and everyone had to try it.

Here's Isaac wiping out...

Look at the air Reuben's getting!

And Nadine on the GT! 

Evan's just flying!  Look how high his sled is from his shadow! 

Go, Eli!

 And here's Judah!  Someone could fit underneath him!

Uncle Steve is a brave man!

Judah just barely touched him while going over!

Tante Sarah & Eli 

Daddy & Isaac wiping out! 



We had a great time together celebrating the New Year!