Summer 2015

Hi All,

Well, since it’s just about time to post the fall 2015 update, I figured it was about time that I finish up Summer 2015.  I’ve actually had all these pictures uploaded since September but just haven’t had the time to write the text to go with them.  

The Three Cousins

Much more reflective of their true personalities :)

Both boys have grown up so much over the last few months and are becoming their own little people.  They just keep getting more and more fun the older they get and I just love hanging out and playing with them. 

Just hanging out being silly

Chatting with my boys

Ian is really becoming a very mature little guy, taking on his own independent responsibilities and really embracing his role as big brother to Alex.    He continues to impress us with his problem solving abilities and memory – often reminding us of things we did “when he was two or three”.  He is also developing a sense of empathy and appreciation for feelings of others, which often comes out as concern for Alex.  He is a very social little guy and really did miss seeing his friends every day over the summer.  He loved attending summer camp and was super excited to start back at school.  He continues to be a very happy, engaging and enthusiastic child, he is able to find fun in almost anything, even cleaning toilets and taking the garbage out! 

Ian ready for soccer

Ian as a cow

Ianosaurus

Alex has also grown up a lot over the last few months.  His language skills have dramatically improved and he is able to understand even more.  He has also made significant progress with potty training and has started preschool.  Montessori pre-school has been great for Alex – its really helped improve his vocabulary and he loves being around the other kids and there is a great variety of activities to keep him engaged.  Alex has really started to show his personality and sense of humour.  He is a pretty tenacious little guy - especially when he knows what he wants!  He is also very affectionate and loves to cuddle and hug - and has some of the sweetest smiles.  He is very in tune with the emotions of his family and is often the first to notice someone is upset as ask why.

Stylin' Alex

Boy did this ice cream make his day or what?

Not really sure if that's where that goes...

Ian and Alex are getting along better than ever as brothers.  It's been so great to watch their relationship develop.  They both watch out for each other and love to play together.  Ian often takes on a mentor role for his little brother and tries to teach Alex new things and celebrates his accomplishments.  Alex continues to idolize Ian and tries to do and have everything that Ian does.  They are such a sweet and rambunctious pair together.

RWARR!

Brothers

Canada Day fun

Ian went back to gymnastics over the summer after a several month hiatus - and really started to enjoy it again.  Alex continues to enjoy the parent and tot class and has become an excellent listener during class.

Alex's big finale!

The boys love when their cousins come to visit, especially Matthew.  The three of them really feed off the energy of each other when their all together and the result is often wonderful craziness!  I'm not quite sure where they find all the energy but it's a lot of fun to watch them and play along with them.

Distracted by something yummy...

A sweet quiet moment before bed

Having fun

Grandma took the boys to the Victorian Teddy Bear Picnic at the pioneer village.  The boys all had a great time, and they always love playing with Grandma.

Teddy Bear Picnic

Hugging the Teddy

Ian the bear

The boys with Grandma

Alex has been a big fan of Thomas the train, so when Thomas came to St. Thomas - we took the boys for the day.  They had a great time.  There were lots of activities for them to do and a small petting zoo, which they always like.  We also got to actually take a ride on Thomas - which was the highlight of the day.

Alex playing trains

Check out the snakes!

Petting the tortoise

Crazy fluffy chickens

Conductor Alex

Conductor Ian

Thomas and Percy

Meeting Sir Topham Hatt

Alex riding Thomas

Ian riding Thomas

Family day out with Thomas

Ian really enjoyed playing soccer over the summer.  He is starting to get a better idea of the rules of the game and his ball-handling skills are improving.  They are still too young to play actual soccer games, but they got very good at "kick the coach" - where the kids chase their coach and shoot their balls trying to hit him, and "save the eggs" - where they have to run weaving through pylons to get their 'egg' (ball) from the 'nest' (hoop) and then weave back through the pylons kicking their ball, and many other mini drills.  Alex was a great spectator and even got to join in with their last game from time to time (usually red light, green light).

Ian playing soccer

Congrats Ian!

Hugging his biggest (?smallest?) fan

Ian with his coach

Happily, we made it up to the cottage a couple of times over the summer.  The boys really love the beach and campfires at night.  Always a fun few days!

Running on the beach

Wading with Auntie Laura

Beach races

Alex having fun on the beach

Sand hole

Ian and Mommy buried together

Most of our time together is just spent playing and having lots of fun.  It's really the best part of being a parent!

Pillow Den

Peek -a- Boo

Can you find us - we're camouflaged!

Hi Mommy!

Happy Alex

Let's Dance!

Near the end of summer we took a day trip to Niagara falls to go to Marineland with Grandma and Zayde, Uncle Gary, Aunt Tif, Matthew and Ryan.  The boys liked seeing all the animals, riding the rides and hanging out with their family.

With the deer

Feeding the fish and ducks

Ian hanging with Grandma and Zayde

Ian and Grandma

Ian and Alex enticing the deer

Great Wolf Lodge is always a fun trip, and even better if its your birthday!  Everyone was very excited to go and we had a great time.

Yay! Great Wold Lodge!

Early morning exploration

Ian at Great Wolf Lodge

Daddy decided he wanted to plan a family day trip to Toronto and Ian convinced him to add on a hotel stay overnight.  We went to the Toronto Zoo and the Aquarium.  The boys rode their first camel at the zoo and between the two of them they must have yelled "shark" about a 100 times at the aquarium, with barely any loss of enthusiasm.  It was a really fun trip and really sweet of Daddy to plan it.

At the zoo

Posing with the giraffe

Ian riding a hippo

Ian and Alex riding a camel

At the aquarium

Can you spot the boy?

underwater Alex

Alex resting on the seahorse

Alex watching the jellyfish

Back to school was a big event this year.  Ian was very excited to get back to Montessori and see all his friends again but for Alex it was an even bigger deal.  He started his first full-time, full-day school.  He started with a week of transitioning and had absolutely no difficulties.  I brought him for drop off on the first day and before I had even fully opened the door he yelled 'bye mommy' and took off!

Getting packed up and ready for school

Ready to go!

Brothers on their first day of school

Well, sorry for the extremely late post - I'm actually planning to get Fall 2015/Christmas up within the next couple of weeks.  Despite this being a crazy study year, I'm going to do my best to enjoy my boys as much as possible and at least take a few pictures :)

Love Amanda

It's a T-Rex!