The other night Gaetan and I got to go on a date. We just went out to eat, but it was nice to have some time alone with each other. It was strange not having at least one of the kids with us, but it was a nice change of pace. I actually got to eat my food as soon as it came out :) It was also really nice just to be able to catch up with what's been going on with each other. I know that we see each other everyday and we do talk, but this was nice to be able to focus just on him. See how things are going at school, and what sorts of things he's really excited about in school.
It was also nice spending time with him alone, because, sometimes I worry that we won't remember how to date each other. Being so busy with the two kids all the time I want to make sure that we can still 'date' and that we still like spending time with each other. Of course, our kids are wonderful and we love spending time with them, but they will grow up and then it will just be us again. And I want to make sure that we still love each other's company.
And we do. :)
Its these little moments amidst all the crazy busy times its reassuring to know that I am the luckiest girl alive and I am reminded of all the little things that make him the love of my life.
JVG
Family photo Oct 2010
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The end of Oct
The end of October is bringing a lot of ends... and new beginnings! At the end of this week we will be moved into our own place. We've been doing a bit to stay busy, but I know that this week is going to fly. A lot of logistical things need to happen so make this weekend a success... but I think it can be done :)
This past weekend we did a few Halloween-y things. Since Tristan is getting older and is soaking everything up like a sponge, we've really had to think about what sorts of things we want him associating with things... like Halloween. We're not into the whole getting scared, ghosts and things of that nature, but we are into fall, leaves, pumpkins, dressing up for fun and getting candy :) I don't think that he understands a lot of it fully still, but this is a start. We went to a friends house all dressed up (in footie PJs) and had fun dinner and I made pumpkin cupcakes. And we are going to a music 'hootenanny' at church tonight. These are the types of things that I like doing with the family. :) I think that if we don't emphasize what society does as the norm for things like Halloween, Easter, and Christmas then our kids will have the appreciation and understanding of these holidays that are the important ones.
Tristan is getting smarter and smarter. He can now spell truck... which I think is pretty advanced for a 2 yr old! He has also learned how to put his own underroos and pants on... which is a plus for after he goes to the bathroom. He's becoming more and more independent on that front... he pretty much just tells us that he's going to the bathroom now.
I still love watching the kids play together. Lucy is so content just sitting and watching Tristan play around her. I can see that they will have their tifts every now and again, but for the most part I think that they are going to definitely love playing together. We asked Tristan if Lucy was his best-bud and he said very enthusiastically... YES! And then that was followed up with, "I love you, Baby Lu" :)
I also started helping a friend with an after school program that she started for elementary orchestra students. I'm just helping at the beginning to get things started, but it's a nice little thing to once a week. I don't know how people work and get their kids ready for anything... it can be quite the production number! It shows me how lucky I am that I get to stay at home with my children.
JVG
This past weekend we did a few Halloween-y things. Since Tristan is getting older and is soaking everything up like a sponge, we've really had to think about what sorts of things we want him associating with things... like Halloween. We're not into the whole getting scared, ghosts and things of that nature, but we are into fall, leaves, pumpkins, dressing up for fun and getting candy :) I don't think that he understands a lot of it fully still, but this is a start. We went to a friends house all dressed up (in footie PJs) and had fun dinner and I made pumpkin cupcakes. And we are going to a music 'hootenanny' at church tonight. These are the types of things that I like doing with the family. :) I think that if we don't emphasize what society does as the norm for things like Halloween, Easter, and Christmas then our kids will have the appreciation and understanding of these holidays that are the important ones.
Tristan is getting smarter and smarter. He can now spell truck... which I think is pretty advanced for a 2 yr old! He has also learned how to put his own underroos and pants on... which is a plus for after he goes to the bathroom. He's becoming more and more independent on that front... he pretty much just tells us that he's going to the bathroom now.
I still love watching the kids play together. Lucy is so content just sitting and watching Tristan play around her. I can see that they will have their tifts every now and again, but for the most part I think that they are going to definitely love playing together. We asked Tristan if Lucy was his best-bud and he said very enthusiastically... YES! And then that was followed up with, "I love you, Baby Lu" :)
I also started helping a friend with an after school program that she started for elementary orchestra students. I'm just helping at the beginning to get things started, but it's a nice little thing to once a week. I don't know how people work and get their kids ready for anything... it can be quite the production number! It shows me how lucky I am that I get to stay at home with my children.
JVG
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Fall things
We have all had a touch of this head cold that has been going around. I think it started with my kids, they gave it to Mom and Dad, which then we got it, and now its mutated again and my kids have it. :( Ugh. Ohh well... if this is all the sick we're going to have all winter I'll take it!
This past weekend dear SIL Zoe was home for a visit from Jersey (for her birthday). We had a nice relaxing family day at the orchard. It was fun to Duder, who go to enjoy the petting zoo, the slide and of course, cider and donuts! It was such a nice chill day with everybody... those are my favorites!
We also hit up John Ball Zoo for their Zoo goes Boo. They have a little trick or treat area set up so you can get candy and then, of course, the rest of the zoo is available for viewing. Duder was a monkey this year... he was absolutely adorable.
Baby Girl can now stand by herself.... I stood her up in her crib and she held on to the railing all by herself. She is so sturdy on her feet! She pretty much rolls places too... I'm not quite convinced that she will crawl, but I have a feeling she will be walking by the end of the year. She is a babbling machine too. This age is so much fun... they are hitting so many mile stones! Its times like these where I can see her doing things that makes me thankful that I get to stay at home with them and witness them all! :)
In the spirit of fall, I tried my hand at homemade caramel candy... which is DELICIOUS. Can't wait to eat some more cider and donuts and then when I get better run them all back off! :)
Tristan is a spelling machine. He can spell a bunch of 3-4 letter words. He knows all of our names and is starting to become more understandable with the talking. He loves his baby sister and is enjoying all her new mobile things, which means, he's starting to have a permanent playmate. :)
JVG
This past weekend dear SIL Zoe was home for a visit from Jersey (for her birthday). We had a nice relaxing family day at the orchard. It was fun to Duder, who go to enjoy the petting zoo, the slide and of course, cider and donuts! It was such a nice chill day with everybody... those are my favorites!
We also hit up John Ball Zoo for their Zoo goes Boo. They have a little trick or treat area set up so you can get candy and then, of course, the rest of the zoo is available for viewing. Duder was a monkey this year... he was absolutely adorable.
Baby Girl can now stand by herself.... I stood her up in her crib and she held on to the railing all by herself. She is so sturdy on her feet! She pretty much rolls places too... I'm not quite convinced that she will crawl, but I have a feeling she will be walking by the end of the year. She is a babbling machine too. This age is so much fun... they are hitting so many mile stones! Its times like these where I can see her doing things that makes me thankful that I get to stay at home with them and witness them all! :)
In the spirit of fall, I tried my hand at homemade caramel candy... which is DELICIOUS. Can't wait to eat some more cider and donuts and then when I get better run them all back off! :)
Tristan is a spelling machine. He can spell a bunch of 3-4 letter words. He knows all of our names and is starting to become more understandable with the talking. He loves his baby sister and is enjoying all her new mobile things, which means, he's starting to have a permanent playmate. :)
JVG
Monday, October 10, 2011
ABCs, 123s
Tristan and I have been doing a little bit of official 'school' in the mornings. I have been trying to put a memory verse up for the week that stays on his marker board always until we get a new one. We have been doing some simple math: 1+1=2, 1+2=3 type of stuff and he's getting it! It's kinda scary... we've been doing shapes, colors, spelling, reading and a little human anatomy. :) He's learned all the things on your face and is getting a lot of body parts. He can tell you how to spell his name, and Lucy's. I am thoroughly amazed!
Lucy has also learned to sit up in the past week. I used to try and sit her up and she was just fold in half pretty much eating her toes... which she seemed to enjoy enough ;) But then one day I sat her down and she straightened herself up.. and hasn't looked back since! It's crazy! They just do it one day, and that's that. She is starting to want to grab at a lot more stuff and get to things. She is showing more interest in what I'm eating and has even tried a breadstick :)
My children are such a blessing... they're giving me baby fever!! Ahhh!!! But I know that our heart is towards adoption, so we are looking more into that. I am EXCITED. I LOVE everything (even the bad whiny, poopy moments) of being a parent. Everybody says that being a Grandparent is better than a parent... I just can't even imagine. :) I LOVE IT.
JVG
Lucy has also learned to sit up in the past week. I used to try and sit her up and she was just fold in half pretty much eating her toes... which she seemed to enjoy enough ;) But then one day I sat her down and she straightened herself up.. and hasn't looked back since! It's crazy! They just do it one day, and that's that. She is starting to want to grab at a lot more stuff and get to things. She is showing more interest in what I'm eating and has even tried a breadstick :)
My children are such a blessing... they're giving me baby fever!! Ahhh!!! But I know that our heart is towards adoption, so we are looking more into that. I am EXCITED. I LOVE everything (even the bad whiny, poopy moments) of being a parent. Everybody says that being a Grandparent is better than a parent... I just can't even imagine. :) I LOVE IT.
JVG
Officially moving
We got the call saying that all our paper work went through and we are all set to move in. The move in date got pushed up earlier than we thought, so we will be moving the first weekend in November... which is SOON!
Things have been going really well at my parents place since school/work started up again, but I know that we just need our own space. There is a lot of communication that needs to go on between families, and within our own, to make it work... and it has been, but I feel at peace with this decision. I'm glad that things didn't go poorly and that we ended on bad terms with my parents. I am so grateful for them allowing us into their space and their lives in this capacity. It's been interesting living with them though... I have been finding out a lot of little habits or corks they have that i never saw before. Some funny... some odd... :)
My Dad keeps asking us if we really want to move out. I know he wants us to stay around because he likes seeing the kids all the time. And I really love having the kids be able to see them. It will be nice having our own space, and Portage isn't that far away that we won't be visiting quite a bit. :) It will be a change having the kids all to myself, but I think that we will adjust well.
The nice part about this move is that most of our stuff is still packed from last time. When we moved in we just had to unpack things like beds, clothes... things that we need immediately. Mom and Dad had everything else... so this should be pretty easy. And the nice thing is if we forget something then we can always come back and get it... unlike when you move out of an apartment you have to make sure everything is out, or its gone forever.
Will let you know how things go... and put some pics up of the new place :)
JVG
Things have been going really well at my parents place since school/work started up again, but I know that we just need our own space. There is a lot of communication that needs to go on between families, and within our own, to make it work... and it has been, but I feel at peace with this decision. I'm glad that things didn't go poorly and that we ended on bad terms with my parents. I am so grateful for them allowing us into their space and their lives in this capacity. It's been interesting living with them though... I have been finding out a lot of little habits or corks they have that i never saw before. Some funny... some odd... :)
My Dad keeps asking us if we really want to move out. I know he wants us to stay around because he likes seeing the kids all the time. And I really love having the kids be able to see them. It will be nice having our own space, and Portage isn't that far away that we won't be visiting quite a bit. :) It will be a change having the kids all to myself, but I think that we will adjust well.
The nice part about this move is that most of our stuff is still packed from last time. When we moved in we just had to unpack things like beds, clothes... things that we need immediately. Mom and Dad had everything else... so this should be pretty easy. And the nice thing is if we forget something then we can always come back and get it... unlike when you move out of an apartment you have to make sure everything is out, or its gone forever.
Will let you know how things go... and put some pics up of the new place :)
JVG
Monday, October 3, 2011
Caring Big Brother
It is so fun to watch Tristan become a caretaker. He loves Lucy so much. My Mom had this doll that was for when Joni came over, but he has seemed to have commandeered it. He has this 'bed' set up next to his. It has a pillow and what was his favorite blanket. There is a little bottle that he likes to feed the baby with too. At night time when he's going to bed we tuck him in, say a prayer, and then I give him a kiss on the forehead and kinda rub his head. Today during naptime I was watching to make sure that he stayed in bed, and he looked like he was going to get out, but he was just taking care of baby. He tucked her in, gave it a kiss and patted its head. It was adorable.
He does the same for Lucy too. If she's upset he'll find her pipe, wherever it may be and give it to her. When she's having tummy time and she's reaching for a toy that's too far away he'll give it to her. Although, right now we're trying to get her to crawl to it... so that's kinda funny. When she's upset he'll pat her bunda. Its awesome watching him want to care for her in the ways that he sees us doing it.
It warms my heart that he is such a little lover. :)
JVG
He does the same for Lucy too. If she's upset he'll find her pipe, wherever it may be and give it to her. When she's having tummy time and she's reaching for a toy that's too far away he'll give it to her. Although, right now we're trying to get her to crawl to it... so that's kinda funny. When she's upset he'll pat her bunda. Its awesome watching him want to care for her in the ways that he sees us doing it.
It warms my heart that he is such a little lover. :)
JVG
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Fall is here!
The weather has been changing... the leaves are turning colors... there are apples galore... hot apple cider... donuts... must be fall. :) I was thinking about all the different seasons that Michigan has to offer and there are so many positive things about each. But I'm thinking that fall might be one of my favorites all around. I enjoy the crisp weather and the colors... its beautiful. Its been pretty cold and rainy this past week, but it's supposed to be pretty nice this upcoming one. So we will have to get in all our playing outdoors when we can!
I have started back up on the Korean train. I took some time off when I got really sick, and then when I was getting back into the routine of having Gaetan at school. But I'm back at it, and I'm feeling pretty good :)
Duder is starting to talk up a storm. And its pretty clear. It seems that he is learning to speak exponentially. Its exciting to see how quickly he learns just by hearing. You pretty much just have to say something 3 times and he has it. Its amazing just how much knowledge his little brain can soak up. Hopefully I will be able to input some good things in there!
Not a whole lot is going on. Just doing the same ole same ole... in a sense... ya know. :)
JVG
I have started back up on the Korean train. I took some time off when I got really sick, and then when I was getting back into the routine of having Gaetan at school. But I'm back at it, and I'm feeling pretty good :)
Duder is starting to talk up a storm. And its pretty clear. It seems that he is learning to speak exponentially. Its exciting to see how quickly he learns just by hearing. You pretty much just have to say something 3 times and he has it. Its amazing just how much knowledge his little brain can soak up. Hopefully I will be able to input some good things in there!
Not a whole lot is going on. Just doing the same ole same ole... in a sense... ya know. :)
JVG
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