Winter 2014-2015

Hi All!

Finally! An Update!  This winter (and I guess the first part of spring) has been a great one for our family.  Ian and Alex are growing up so much and becoming even more fun all the time.  I've finished all my crazy work rotations and have a nice few months of relatively normal working hours to enjoy before starting my fellowship so life is great!

Ian has really flourished in his pre-school this year - learning so much that he's even starting to teach Daddy and I (like how to tell the difference between Asian and African elephants...).  He has started to take on more responsibility at home - helping out around the house with chores and watching out for his little brother.  He has also started to look beyond himself a bit and show some empathy towards others - especially Alex - standing up for him if he feels he's been wronged, or offering comfort - or figuring out really thoughtful things to do for other people.  He continues to be as agile as ever - leaping around the furniture and attempting handstands and trick jumps - he says he's taking "home gymnastics".  His level of understanding and his ability to put things together continues to surprise me.  This kid is going to keep me on my toes!   

Ian playing in a box

 

King of the Castle!

 

Alex continues to idolize his big brother - and tries to do absolutely everything Ian does.  This is often a good thing - like when it comes to getting dressed or potty training or speaking, but has its downsides as he will frequently try to follow Ian's lead and take a flying leap off a chair or couch - only to end up belly-flopping on the ground.  Ian is very patient with Alex for the most part, and very encouraging.  He also tries to engage Alex in play time, which is really cute to watch.  They are now sharing a room as well - which has gone even better than I hoped, with them often comforting each other overnight and allowing Mommy and Daddy to get a lot more sleep!

 

The boys made a fort!

 

Groundhogs coming out of their holes!

 

Ian and Alex - having fun

Alex has probably changed the most over this past winter.  While he is still a determined little man when he wants something, he has started to default to using words to ask for things and to communicate verbally in general, and is getting much better in dealing with disappointment.  He is getting better with more complex tasks that require concentration - like puzzles, stacking blocks and playing sorting games, and is remarkably good at colouring in the lines for a little guy who's not even 2 yet!  He is loving daycare and socializing with other kids - and especially playing with new toys.  He usually runs happily into his classroom with barely a backwards glance when we drop him off.  While food is still a major passion for Alex - he is sampling non-edible items less and less these days - phew!  I will sure be glad when those "mouthing" days are behind us!  All and all - he has been doing amazing - to the point that I often have to stop and remind myself that he's still only 1!

Alex getting ready for an outing

 

Alex rabbit-watching

Christmas this year was amazing!  Ian was super excited for everything around Christmas and was able to understand and anticipate Santa and Christmas morning, and even Alex was able to join in the fun and quickly got the hang of the excitement as well.  Ian also requested we celebrate Chanukah his year as he learning about it in school and thought it sounded fun.  So we asked Grandma to help out and started what will hopefully be a new family tradition!

Mini Golf at the Christmas party

Decorating cookies

Riding the roller coaster!

Face painting

 

Meeting Santa

 

Ian and Santa

 

Face painting

Chanukah celebration 

 

Lighting the menorah

Happy Chanukah!



Hmm... does this taste good?

Merry Christmas!

Ian and Brianne

Boys will be boys....

So cute!  Alex, Ryan, Auntie Hayley and Uncle Gary

New Year with the boys was also a blast!  We had early midnight for the four boys - and they really got into the celebration - who knew little boys would like to make so much noise? 

Happy New Year!

Yay! 2015!

Cheers!

As a mid-winter break, and to try out our new van - we took a day-trip to Toronto to visit the ROM and the aquarium.  We also parked and took the subway to our destinations - an adventure in itself! Both the van ride and the sight-seeing were tons of fun and the boys had a great time.

Roar!

 

Alex at the ROM

 

Alex being a dinosaur

At the aqaurium

In the aquarium tunnel

Look at the shark!

Daddy and the boys

Petting a stingray

Weekend afternoons while Alex is napping Mommy and Ian try to have some special one-on-one time.  We may put together a big puzzle, play some games or do some art.  One day Ian wanted to do face-painting!

 

Ian the dog

Ian as Skye

 

Mommy's turn!

One of the most exciting events of this winter was a birth of a new cousin: Samuel Michael Elliot on Pi day (March 14, 2015).  Congrats Auntie Jenn and Uncle Mike!  The boys were so excited to meet their new cousin Sam - and I'm sure he will fit right into the crazy gang in a couple of short years!

Hi baby Sam!

Samuel Michael Elliot and his proud and beautiful Mama!

Baby!

Congratulations Auntie Jenn!

 

Group cuddle!

Mommy took a week off with the boys for March Break - and loved having the time to hang out with Ian and Alex.  We went to the Reptile and Animal show at the Western Fair - always a favorite for Ian and Alex, and took an overnight trip to Toronto to go to the zoo, which was a huge success and tons of fun.  Ian especially was super excited the sleep in the hotel.  Both boys LOVED the zoo and seeing all the animals, and collected a handful of pressed coins to bring home as souvenirs.

  

A snake!

 

An Alligator!

Holding a gecko

Petting the giant snake

Hanging out at the hotel in Toronto

At the Toronto Zoo

 

Look at the tortoise!

 

Alex was sure tired out

 

The boys absolutely loved Easter hunting this year - and they were very spoiled by getting to do three different hunts - plus several re-hunts in the days following Easter. 

 

Look what the Easter Bunny left!

Look what I found!  Eggs!

Look they have treats inside!

Riding the Deinosuchus

 

Yum!  I love Easter!

Easter hunt #2

Jackpot!

 Well, I started this post before Ian's birthday and Alex's is coming up in just a couple of weeks - so I'll try to post a special Brahm Boys Birthday Edition after Alex's party.  Spoiler alert:  Ian's party went great!  Hopefully Alex's is just as fun :) 

 

Love Amanda 

 

Ian and Alex - Brothers!