Windy Day at the Pumpkin Patch

We were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch the previous weekend with Nana and Papa Joe, but we were all tired and decided to wait until this past weekend.  Saturday was gorgeous, in the 70's calm and sunny.  Unfortunately, Tony had to work, so we waited until Sunday.   Bright and sunny, but also cold and windy.  I'm not talking breezy... I mean WINDY!  Gust up  to 60 miles and hour windy... my neighbour's trampoline blew into another neighbour's house windy! The kids still managed to have fun, but our time was cut short.  If you look at Ryan's face in a couple of the pictures you can see he is fighting the wind.

Playing in the corn box.

Each of the boys got a turn cranking the wheel on this old machine.  You put a corn cob in and it takes the corn off.  They let us keep the cob... to make corn cob jelly... gave the recipe and everything... like that happened!!

Riding the train!

Hi Mom!!

Tony helping the boys get set up to slide.

Wee! This is fun!  I don't care if it is cold out.

No Ryan's were injured in the taking of this picture

Oh! This is how you do it!

Yeah!

Never too old for a slide eh Daddy?

Pony rides

The Great Pumpkin

With Daddy

... and Mommy

Ryan fighting the wind... makes it hard to smile.

Sean's an old pro, he can handle a little wind!

Escorting the pumpkin to the truck.

Sean's turn!

Baby Update

No major baby news at this point. I am 20 weeks or half way through and feeling great.  With the exception of the weight gain... I could do without that!   However, compared to my two previous pregnancies my weight is in check.  I've been walking the treadmill almost daily and even returned to the gym this week.  My goal is to get there 3 - 4 times a week.  So far I am on track to do it!  

Our next appointment will be on  Friday Nov. 14 at 3:45... mark it on your calendars and be sure to check back IF you are as curious as we are!   Now, I know there are still some people out there, like our daycare provider, who do not want to know if it is a boy or a girl.  I do not understand this, but respect it!  If you are one of these people... continue to the next post as there may be a spoiler ahead.

It seems that we may not make it until that week to finally share the news with the boys.  The other day I had Sean at the doctor, as per usual while we waited in the exam room, he pretended to be the doctor.  He usually pretends to listen to my heart and lungs.  This time he asked me if I had a baby in my tummy.   I giggled thinking the jig is up and answered maybe.  He looked at me like "mommy work with me the answer is yes in my game"  so I did.  Today I had to take him to my orthodontist appt. and he asked me while we were waiting "Mommy, how do doctors get babies out of the Mommy's tummy?"

At my last appointment Dr. Yazdi asked me "So what are we having?"   I told him I think it is a girl, but he thinks it's a boy.   He asked me what this was based on.  I told him he told me based on the first ultrasound.  He said "I saw it".  I said "You told me you did".   He answers "Damn I'm good!"   You gotta know him.  Anyway, I told him I still think he is screwing with me.  Unfortunately, he told me that if he was he would have told me right away.  Next he took out the Doppler and we listened to the heartbeat.  It was 138.  Those of you who have been through this before know that that is generally a male heart rate.  However, I also have friends that have told me their girls had similar heart rates too.  We'll see.

Needless to say I am anxious to find out and get on with the preparations.   A girl would be great, but ultimately a healthy baby is our goal.    Keep checking and I'll keep you posted.

Big Boy Seat for Ryan!!

Weighing in a mere 7 lbs (less than his birth weight) less than his big bro, Ryan is ready for a new car seat.  This past week, we made the switch, to a bottom only booster for Sean and a full booster for Ryan.   Let me tell you, he thinks he is something else.

Look at the pride in the smile.

Before he was told that the shoulder strap had to go over the shoulder...not under.

After the strap was moved.

Ryan is loving riding in his new big boy seat.  He tells everyone he sees about it.  Whenever we go out, he asks "Mommy, I unbuckle myself... my house" or Kiki house or wherever our final destination is.  Today is the first day he has been over anxious and unbuckled before reaching our destination.  On the way too and from Karen's (Kiki's)  we had to pull over to buckle up again.  

Hh - House

This past week at school was Hh week.  Consequently, we were given the job of building a house.  This was a very stressful assignment.  First off, Sean was not going to be able to do it on his own, nor was he expected too.  The purpose was to have parent and child sit down and work on a task together.  Not feeling particularly creative at the moment, I felt it would make a great Daddy and Me project.  However, Daddy has been away a lot this month, so we... I mean they didn't get started until Wednesday after school.  Did I mention the project was due on or before Thursday?  Anyway, they decided to go with the old popsicle stick house.  Tony even got them in really cool colours.  Unfortunately, the glue was taking forever to dry and Sean had to be at CCD (catechism class) at the church by 5:00.  Enter stress!  We debated about having him skip CCD, but didn't really want him to miss out, he enjoys it.  Good thing he didn't skip, he was Student of the Week and got a delicious giant cookie decorated for Halloween.  But I digress, we scrambled around looking for something else to build with and came up with Mega Blocks.  All in all I think it came out pretty well.   We had a lot of fun... all three of us... and Sean was very proud of the final product.  After this picture was taken he took it upon himself to draw, cut out and tape windows on.  He could even tell us which room each window was for!  

Now we are on to Ii week and apparently Ii is for instrument... to be continued!!

Look at the pride on his face... LOVE IT!

Brotherly Love

Mommy's Little Helper

Both Sean and Ryan have taken to being helpers lately.   Actually, it is mainly Sean.  Oddly enough there are no pictures of his hard work.  I must rectify this situation, soon.  He enjoys dusting, sweeping, swiffering, washing dishes, washing tables and especially vacuuming.   Ryan of course believes he can do whatever big bro does, so he gets in on the cleaning too.

Trick-or-Treating at Stuhr Museum

Last Friday, we headed to the local museum for some trick-or-treating and good old fashioned fun.   

Tiff, Justin and their boys Aiden and Porter joined in the fun too.  Tiff and Justin recently moved to our street after returning to town.  Tiff is an old friend of Tony's from high school. They have been such good friends, they even traveled to Barrie for our wedding 6 years ago.  

Anyway, a good time was had by all.  The boys had a good time together and looked so cute as Spiderman, Frog (Super Frog as Ryan calls it), Thomas the Tank Engine and Scooby-Doo.  

We made our way down the treat trail and into Railroad Town.  By the time we got there, it was getting dark and rather spooky.  With tons of people roaming around it became a little nerve racking with the little ones, not to mention tiring, so we headed home.  

Now I feel like Halloween is over... unfortunately this is not the case.  It has never been my favorite, but it is nice to see how much the kids enjoy it.  Now I wait for it to be over... so I can start my Christmas decorating... now there is something I can get into!!

A Very Canadian Thanksgiving

Sunday, we were lucky enough to celebrate our first Thanksgiving together in quite some time.  With (a lot of) help from mom, I put together a full turkey dinner, stuffing and everything.  It was delicious and we were stuffed.  It was a lot of work (I understand why we don't eat this more often), but well worth it!

Sean wasn't big on the meal, the salad was good though.  Maybe it was the McDonalds Papa fed him on the way home from skating... what do you think?

Papa was explaining something to Sean across the table.  This may have been after he chose to do Goofy's Turkey, Lobster, Sweet PotatoPie... sing it with me everyone!! right BEFORE Grace.  You can imagine how that went. Papas?  What are you going to do with them?  

Like most Duncan family gatherings, by dessert someone has stripped naked and someone is drinking tea while others clean up the mess!

First Skate of the Season

A couple of weekends ago, we made the trek to the arena for the first time this year.   We had planned on going for lunch and then stopping at a sporting goods store to get Ryan a helmet and cage first.  However, since we don't exactly live in hockey central, no helmets were to be found.   Hopefully Santa will be able to hook him up like he did Sean a couple of years ago!! 

While Ryan liked the idea of going skating, he wasn't too happy with the actual event.  However, he did miss his nap and his skates are still a little on the big side, so his ankles weren't holding up.  We'll keep at it though.  

Sean was nervous at first, but was back in his old form in no time.  One of his coaches from IP hockey was there and commented on how much he had improved just in the time we were there.

The next day, Papa and Sean made a trip on their own.  This time Sean wore his equipment... but not his jersey... because it wasn't a game!  This time he got to ride the zamboni... can you say excited???

One more week and hockey starts again.  Can hardly wait!