Felix is Ready for Vacation

We are getting revv'd up to head south for a warm holiday with our boys in tow. Scuba Steve is going to come and even though I might not be able to drink to my absolute finest ability due to nursing, I'm hoping to read a few books on the balcony of our room while the babies sleep.

The other evening we decided to tell Felix about our plans. Stephen explained, "First we'll drive to the airport, then we'll get on an airplane, then we'll go somewhere warm with a beach and sand and go swimming."

Felix immediately doubled back towards our front doors saying "OK, hat on, coat on, AIRPORT go airplane. Go airplane, OK! OK!!"

I know it may not exactly seem like a big vacation to be bringing your 2 year old and 0 year old, but for so many reasons I'm excited to be doing this. I have so many great memories of vacations with my mom (who took me and my bro on a few airplane trips on her own) and some cross-country driving to BC memories with my Dad & step-mom & family. Some of my strongest childhood memories are of these trips and they were times when you really got to hang out with your family and do things together. My love of traveling grew until my solo back packing European adventure which I still say taught me more than University. I want to instill an appreciation for other cultures in our little guys young, and I want Stephen to still get to do some scuba diving even though we have little babies.

The "Nothing Better To Do NYE Party"

We decided to host our 2nd annual "No Better Plans" NYE party and it was yet another surprising success. We had 24 people show up throughout the night, many of them under the age of 7. We counted down the New YEar on Praia time (8pm Toronto Time) and followed that up with a costume parade down our street. A very very fun night...and they party went until 2am...we still have it in us. Probably our 2nd best party to date (2nd only to "Nothing to Break, Nothing to Steal")

Trying to get a group shot of the Chaves-Boodlini children.

Buffet style party food and toddlers are always interesting.

The boys essentially ate cheezies and chocolate for supper...not a bad way to end the year.

Wilbert and his drinking buddy, Paddy.

A group shot of the Praian people of Grafton Avenue after the celebratory parade.

Stephen and our wonderful neighbours from the other side of the brick

Later on that evening...just when we thought things couldn't get any weirder....

Gussette joins the party...the children sleep peacefully upstairs.

Re-enactment of the immortal maternity shot/non-sexual life partner style.

Ned perform's the March from Verdi's Aida on french horn kazoo. Not too shabby for an IT Professional.

Christmas

The only group shot we could get. We enjoyed a lovely, quiet Christmas morning in the house we built for the purpose of starting our family. It struck my nostalgic self as we were sitting on our dining room floor opening gifts for the first time that this was exactly where Stephen and I sat 6 years earlier when we got the keys to the house and drank wine and ate pizza dreaming of what we were going to do to the place and what our lives would be like in it. 2 boys, 2 cats, a mommy and daddy...it was a picture perfect morning.

Oh hello, I'm six weeks old and it is my first Christmas morning...yeah, life is good.

A lovely collection of Auntie's nutcrackers...miraculously none were broken...yet!

Felix getting right into his stocking presents.

Baby feet are even cuter at Christmas.

Ooooh....a top!

Cracking into the stocking and a view of the nice collection of gifts that kept being delivered to our door from our Sask/California/BC family.

Oh Keither...even if the boys aren't into picture time, we always have our gorgeous/scary Keith front and center.

Christmas Eve

Felix likes Great Grandma Hume's Chocolate Mocha Pudding recipe...he had 2 bowls full after a huge meal.

Opening gifts in the couch room.

We are already forcing the cousins to be friends.

This shot will be re-enacted when they are 16.

Felix spent most of the night in the porch playing with the old microwave.

Setting Up The Tree

A serious pine cone.

Stephen had Felix carrying five or six bozes and he couldn't see over them at one point...we missed the shot.

Public Transit Firsts

We were bored one morning and decided that Felix might want to go on his first subway ride. We were right. We went downtown on the streetcar and played on some escalator's in the path, had a coffee and muffin at Union Station, and then headed back home on the subway. What an adventure! This was also Wilbert's first time ever on the TTC...and Stephen got to try out our new camera.

Felix seemed so little.

Felix and Stephen check out the construction at Union Station.

We went up and down this escalator numerous times. Seriously...the downtown workers have no idea how fun their lives are. This makes me realize that I miss going in revolving doors with Lisa.

Wilbert slept through most of the experience. I was busy listening to the girl behind me who was talking about applying for the Executive Assistant mat leave at the COC...she currently works at Body Blitz.

Felix giving me a new bracelet made of a transfer. So sweet, so thoughtful. Wilbert sleeps.

Felix's mouth was open in awe for the entire morning. A very fun way to spend the day!

Matching PJ's

The good folks at my work gave the boys these ADORABLE matching pj's. Our neighbour, Bob, gave them a Big Brother and Little Brother monkey set that happen to match the matching pj's. You'd think this would be a perfect photo opportunity.

First step - find a time when the infant is awake.
Second step - find a time when neither has had a diaper blow out/soak through in the pj's
Third step - try to get the toddler to stay still
Fourth step - give up and just snap what you can.

I love the lighting on Felix's unicorn patch in this photo.