Fun in the Snow

Ethan and I have spent a lot of time outside playing in the snowlately as the snow just does not seem to want to stop. Yesterday, we took Olivia with us. She had a lot of fun sliding down the snow banks with Ethan. She also enjoyed eating the snow - see pictures below.

Other than that, we have spent the past couple weekends at various birthday parties - a couple of friend parties and some family ones as well, including an early birthday party for Ethan at my mom's - as she (and most of my other family) will be in Florida for his birthday. We are having a bowling party for him on Saturday with at least 16 kids - it will no doubt be chaotic but hopefully fun too!!!

We are enjoying March Break this week. I am enjoying not having to shuttle Ethan and Olivia back and forth to school and activities. It is nice to relax at home. That being said, we have still managed to find some time for playdates and indoor playgrounds. I have also started going back to the gym (finally) and Ethan has been coming with me as well. It feels great going back to the gym...if I could only kick my chocolate habits I would be all set!

Here is Olivia enjoying one of her favourite foods - pasta. She is starting to get a bit of a belly - the girl likes to eat (and all healthy food). On Monday, we all went to Jack Astor's for dinner (the first time since Troy was born) and Olivia ate more than any of the rest of us. The dinner went remarkably smoothly- all three kids were very well behaved (of course having Paola there certainly helped). Speaking of healthy food, Ethan keeps telling us that he is going to start eating fruits and vegetables when he turns four (although now that the time is getting closer he is changing his story slightly - it is now sometime when he is four not as soon as he turns four).

My little buddy Troy....he is such a sweetie!! On Sunday Scott called me over to tell me how glad he is that we had Troy...I could not agree more. He is "talking" a ton and said "da da" the other day - just the sound but it was still great to hear. He is rolling over a ton and starting to briefly sit on his own. He is starting to eat cereal and is liking. It has not helped his sleeping though- he still wakes up at least 3-4 times a night!!!

Ethan is learning to read these days. He can read about 5-10 books. They are the simple kinds with lots of repetitive words. I think it is mostly from memorizing the words but it is great to have him read books to us!!!

Here is Olivia exploring my mom's new basement. She had a great time walking around in the big open space.

Here is Ethan and Olivia resting on the couch after deciding that they got up too early!!!

Ethan has had some funny questions lately - the first was how come the houses etc.. do not slide off the earth as it is round and the second was how did all the houses, people etc... get on earth before the first people were born. These are not the questions that I would expect for an almost four year old!!!

Here is Ethan at his early birthday celebration at my mom's before she left for Florida (for a whole month)!! We can't wait until she comes back.

Stay tuned...will report on Ethan's birthday party on Sunday!!