Happy Easter... a few days late

Happy Easter! We were away for part of the long weekend so I'm a little late on my holiday greetings.

We spent Easter Sunday and Monday at Matt's parents. We had our egg hunt Sunday morning before we left for Little Harbour. The kids opened their baskets had a big breakfast, got their Sunday best on and went downstairs for another egg hunt, put on by our buildings super. E cleaned the place out, she had a full basket and had already eaten most of her chocolate by the time the big kids were finished.

Stoked for Minnie Mouse Play Doh

We came back home and opened some gifts sent up from the grandparents in Cape Breton and then it was time to hit the road. We made it to Little Harbour just in time for another egg hunt. The boys spent the rest of the day playing board games with Grampie and the Uncles while I got to sit, drink too much coffee and eat nothing but sugar with Grammie and the girls.

Why are gifts from Grandparents always more exciting?

Late night parties at the Brown's with lots of wine and cheese are what Holidays were made for. All the "big kids" stayed up waaaay past bedtime and had the silliest conversations with Matt providing some acoustic background music. Quick trips to Little Harbour are good for the soul, I have my theories.

Little help from the Aunties

The next day on our way home we stopped at a friend's place, she's actually the one who set Matt and I up all those years ago. She has a little gal around Max's age and a new little guy who lets me snuggle him. Its win win for everyone.

Once we got home it was a rush to get supper on the table, everything unpacked and to put two very sleepy little bunnies to bed. Then it was time for the adults to unwind with a new episode of Game of Thrones and pass out like we hadn't slept in weeks. Happy Easter indeed!

Happy Birthday to Me

Interrupting weekly weekend recap for a special announcement, today is my birthday!

We celebrated last night with a couple of friends, the babes and some ice cream cake. And, I got to open my presents early. We just got new dining chairs and it kind of kicked me into gear about re-staining our kitchen table, so Matt and the babes got me all the supplies to do it. No more excuses, kind of a brilliant/passive aggressive gift. Happy birthday, indeed.

the munchkins were SO excited to give me my presents

Woke up to actual Spring temperatures so thanks for the B-Day gift Mother Nature. We're getting out today to enjoy the sun and I'm not cooking a thing all day. This is going to be a good day, based solely on those two things.

Our Weekend 016

Oops, took a week off. Totally didn't mean to but with Matt being home in the evenings I find things here move a lot more quickly and before you know it, it's bedtime. Or time to watch another episode of whatever we're watching that week. So much more fun to watch new things with someone else. Now I'm not just talking to myself in the dark. 

Anyway, long week of restless babes, evenings were spent relaxing.

Started the weekend off right with a girls night with Katie. Coffee and two different Targets were involved so you know it was good. I didn't get home till way past the littles bedtime (planned that, bedtime sucks) and when I walked in the door, the house was quiet and Matt was looking for a movie for us. Neddless to say, best night ever. There was no way the rest of the weekend could top this. 

I realize how low my standards are.

Saturday was warm enough to make a trip to the Farmer's Market. I really love farmers markets, in an irrational way. If I'm near a veggie stand, I'm content. I'm sure that has a deeper meaning, somehow. Went got there close to lunch time so naturally we searched for food right away. We sat outside on the  second floor deck, overlooking the harbour and ate our breakfast pizza and sipped our hipster-y coffee and then the unbelievable happened. A helicopter flew by, right in front of our little el fresco brunch. The babes lost their minds. We did too though, it was so cool. We spent the rest of our day eating our market haul, including steak from our friend Phil. It caused the whole house to go up in smoke but Matt said it was the best thing he'd ever eaten so, worth it?

Sunday kind of drove itself. We left early in the morning for Dartmouth because Matt wanted to show me this cute little fruit and veggie shop near his new job. We figured since we were in the are, we'd stop at the mall and get some gym clothes for Max (he's starting soccer next month). While Max and I were shopping, Matt and E had some sneaky business to do. When we met back up with them, they had a new phone for me! An iPhone, no less. We ate at the food court, let the kids ride on those money grabber rides that cost way too much and last all of 5 seconds and got a little people watching done. We are totally not mall people. I think I've been there four times in two years. But this was fun, we got what we needed to get, there was no pressure or timeline to follow and the kids loved it. 

First picture with the new phone...

His reaction when I told him he couldn't have the phone.

Once we finally left the mall (I'd forgotten what sunshine looked like) we came home, made tacos and watched the Sword in the Stone. So, bring it weekend. Try and top this one. 

Also, I'm probably going to over post this week to make up for last week. Maybe? Don't hold me to it.

Our Weekend 015

Super busy weekend, but a good busy. We had a surprise visit from Grammie and Grampie, they brought pizza and the two littlest Aunties. Matt and I snuck out for an hour to grab dinner at the new taco truck down the street, because romance.

Saturday was Katie's birthday, she'd invited us all over for wine and snacks but Philip had the idea of bringing a party with us. Guerrilla birthday party. It was a lot of fun, showing up in party hats with garbage bags full of balloons. We love you Katie!

Earlier in the week I had purchased a Groupon for the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and since it was March Break here there was a pirate scavenger hunt. We dressed the littles up like pirates and headed out. Matt has most of the pictures so that will have to be another post for another day. It was so much fun though. The babes had a blast and it was practically free so, win-win.

Not too shabby for our first real weekend together. Can't wait for the next one, five days and counting.

Big News

So, Matt has a new job. A job that doesn't require him to travel. This is MAJOR.

Matt has always worked away at some point. When he was fishing, we lived three hours away and we didn't see him for two months. Then he worked in Halifax while Max and I still lived in Cape Breton for three months. Then Max and I joined him in Halifax, only for him to start working out of town.

After almost two years in Halifax, Matt has a new job. A job that allows him to be home for dinner. Every. Night. To read bed time stories, and wrangle slippery kids during bath time. He wakes up really early for work, now E does too and they spend the morning together. Max gets some extra snuggles while I put E to bed at night. Everyone is happier.

It's only been a week, but our lives already feel more structured. The kids are better behaved (so far) and I'm well rested, thanks to Matt both putting me to bed at a decent hour and chasing Ellie when she runs around the house half asleep at 3 a.m. And we have proper weekends! I haven't had a real weekend in far too long. So this is my first one, I don't even know what people do on weekends?

Future Gold Medalist

On Sunday, after watching Canada win the gold medal in men's hockey, by chance we got a call from Grammie and Grampie Brown. They wanted to come visit and thought it'd be nice to go skating. The original plan was to go to the Oval but that didn't pan out because of an unseasonably warm day (naturally) but we found a rink ten minutes from home that was having an open skate.

We packed up our winter gear and met them at the arena. Matt's two youngest sisters were already on the ice when we got there. There were Max sized skates waiting for us there, which was a surprise and even a pair for Matt. I don't skate and Matt hadn't for at least ten years but Grampie is a pro. He convinced Max - the child who won't participate in anything - to go out on the ice with him. It was Max's first time.

Ellie, Grammie and I sat on the bleachers and watched. E had a ball just watching everyone and gave little waves to everyone who skated past us. It was an awful lot of fun seeing Max not only do something, but enjoy it. He had one little spill but he got right back up.

Afterwards he and Ellie had a snack while we packed everything up and he talked about coming back to practice, so he could be like Sidney. And Grampie. Gosh he's cute, that Max.

Matt caught the skating bug too, so we're going back next week. Probably more than once. I may have to learn how to skate.

Our Weekend 012

Matt flies out to Newfoundland today, so we spent the weekend lovin up on him and squeezing in as much family time as we could. 

He had a weird work schedule last week and had to work Monday and Friday only, which threw the kids for a loop since they usually have him home for a week at a time. They waited in their bedroom window Friday evening, watching the parking lot and refusing to eat dinner until Daddy came home. It was sweet and a little sad. He was met at the door with big hugs and squeals. What a nice way to end your work day, no? 

Saturday we had dinner at Katie's, she over fed us like always and we left full and sleepy. The babes helped me make orange juice, raisin scones for dessert, and by helped I mean they quietly played on the iPad and let me do my thing. Awful nice of them. 

Sunday morning we made a big brunch and watched the Olympic gold medal hockey game. We're not really hockey people but it was kind of a big deal and the first time the kids have ever seen a game. So, it was fitting that Canada won! Max was really into, Matt was really into the fact that Max was into it. Ellie was really into brunch. 

Go Canada! 

Our Weekend 010

We had a visitor filled weekend, Matt's brother is home from Alberta for the week, he and his girlfriend and Matt's sister Beth came on Friday and brought pizza. Max is in love with uncle Ben, those two are thick as thieves. So, when he fell asleep (first nap in months, naturally) we were all a little disappointed. Seeing those two play is pretty cute. We tried to wake him but he wasn't having any of it. E on the other hand, had all the attention and her aunt and uncle all to herself. Which she loved.

Saturday was library day, we took Katie with us. Max insisted on taking the bus to give her the full experience. When you're four, the bus ride is half the fun. Afterwards we came back here to make and decorate Valentine's Day cookies. We used Natalie's recipe, it made tons and they were like buttah. Max loved decorating them and E loved licking the icing off. So it was a good Saturday afternoon, is what I'm saying.

We're so lucky to have friends that love our littles that much. It's really is amazing to see someone interact with them on that level of love that isn't directly related to them. The babes call her Aunt Katie and she and I have been friends for twenty years , so she technically is related, but still. They love her right back, too. E has started saying "Datie" and has plenty of "phone conversations" with her daily.

This is sappy, I know, but V-Day is this week and I'm feeling smultzy so there it is.

Our Weekend 009

It's finally February. January is always rough, the decorations from Christmas are gone and the weather is less than stellar. But then February arrives, and while it's still cold and nothing of note happens in this month, at least it's short. So there's that.

We spent last week and most of our weekend organizing, cleaning and going to job interviews (if you're Matt). It was a whirlwind five days home for Matt and we didn't really get to enjoy it very much.

Our new to us cabinets arrived on Friday thanks to Matt and the lovely people who sold them to us. Four in total and they're pretty much perfect. In every way. They are big and roomy, mid century, walnut, German made and dreamy. They're arrival prompted me to re-organize everything in my house to justify having them and giving them a purpose besides being beautiful. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had that problem?

featuring a rare appearance from Penny cat.

We did have dinner with friends on Friday, they brought Chinese takeout because they're the best, is why. And we went to playgroup at the library, but other than that the last five days have been a blur. I think. I'm not sure of anything anymore, my brain is mush.

Sunday we had planned on having a Superbowl party but then half of our party had to cancel - you were missed friends! - so it ended up being us and Katie (hetero-life mate extrordinaire). It was a lot of fun despite it being not really a party and more three adults eating way too much junk food while one enjoyed the game... me. And, then Denver lost immediately, so.

Oh, and the babies watch me do yoga from time to time and have picked up on it.

Max is crazy flexible...

I have big news I'd like to share soon(ish) but for now that's it. Cliffhanger! 

Party Like You're Four

Max had the best day. The party went smoothly, it was the biggest group we've ever hosted and I was stressed just thinking about twenty people in my house. But it was so, so good. I stayed up late the night before, decorating so Max could wake up to it all. Matt stayed up late making pizza dough and Ellie stayed up to be in the way, mostly.

The next morning we all got into Max's bed to open presents and have a balloon fight.

From Momma and Daddy, he got the usual clothes and little toys but the main event was his new scooter.

Gram watched Ellie for the morning so we could take Max out on his own for a few hours before the party. He loves space, comic books, super heroes and all that jazz so the logical place to take him was Strange Adventures. We let him pick out one thing as a bonus gift.

After that, we went for lunch at Smoke's Poutinerie, because naturally that's his favourite food. I'm fairly certain he had the time of his life. After our bellies were full of poutine, we came home and got everything ready for the party.

Matt cooked ten (!!) pizzas, my Mum made a pasta salad and I fininshed the two cakes I had made earlier that morning. Max is such an easy kid, he only wanted a chocolate cake, with frosting in the middle. I made an extra with frosting for everyone else. Just box cake, I can only do so much when there are ten pizzas being made in my kitchen.

We had Grandparents, great grandparents and friends here from out of town, that boy is loved no doubt. He got so many wonderful presents and ate his weight in sugar, as only you can on your birthday.

The Goose was so thrilled with everything that staying up late, stressing out and planning beyond reason felt totally worth it. He loved every bit of it and then some and I'd do it all again in heartbeat. He's so worth every new gray hair I have. I'll probably get a lot more of those now that he has a scooter.

A few more pictures of the party, after the jump...

Our Weekend 007

Most of our weekend was spent showering the Goose with love, in between snuggle fests we entertained family from to of town. My grandparents and great aunt, Nonna, came up for Max's birthday and treated him to a day out. A trip to the arcade and the movies with lots of sugary treats that only grandparents give kids.

Captain America goes to the movies

Since we had the day to ourselves (and Ellie Boop too) we deep cleaned from the night before and gave E her own little movie experience. We watched the original Doctor Dolittle and ate some snacks. Then we had a mini tournament with Max's new Star Wars Operation game. E's not very good, yet.

The party was a huge success, but more on that another day. Matt had a few extra days off to extend the birthday celebrations so we treated the weekend like a long one, still going actually! Hope you all had a good weekend.


*Today is Aunt Anna's 15th Birthday!! Happy Happy Birthday Anna, thank you for making incredible toys for my babes and teaching them to use their imaginations. I am so impressed with you for your ability to see things the way no one else can. We love you.*

Our Weekend 005

I took a couple weeks off of "Our Weekend" because, well mostly because all the days ran together and I kept thinking everyday was the weekend. Isn't that the best though?

This past weekend Matt went back to work- in the city though (!!) - so he was home for dinner every night. My Mum is in town for a few weeks so the kids have completely forgotten I exist. There's been undecorating, organizing and purging in all the rooms and closets. I hate taking Christmas decorations down, it always feels so bare and unwelcoming without all those soft, white lights. Takes me a few weeks to adjust. But, I only have an undecorated house until the 17th. Max's birthday. So, that should help, except I'll be crying over the fact that I have a four year old. Not entirely sure how or when that happened.

It was Grammie Brown's birthday on Saturday. A big one. Grammie and Grampie and all the kids came up to the city for a party at Matt's sister, Beth's place. All of the "big kids" chipped in and got her a beautiful bag made from a ship's sail. We ate pizza and salads and the girls made her a lovely cake (which I wish I had taken a picture of) but it had a big pink flower made of sugar on top, is what. Happy birthday Grammie, we sure do love you lots.

The next night was the last night Matt was home before an eight day stint away in Cape Breton for work. We had a date night which we don't really get to do often enough, was much needed and as always, we ate. That's what all of our "dates" consist of, going to a restaurant we can't take the littles to, mostly. Eating food that neither of us has to/can make is a special treat, even if that's all we do before we rush home from missing our babes. Old folks, is what we are. Coming home in time to read stories and love up on the babes before bedtime is what we do best on date nights. Best part of the night. Hands down.

Fantastic weekend overall, including the snowstorm that kicked it off. Sad to see Matt go but we did get him mostly to ourselves for three weeks so one can't be too greedy, I guess. Cape Breton is lucky to have him for a week.

And because this post felt silly without pictures...

This is what happens if you try to sneak a nap.

Mission Accomplished.

Christmas in PEI (sort of)

PEI, Summer, 2013

The Plan was to head over to PEI for the big Brown family Christmas party. Matt's father is from there and almost all of his siblings and his parents still live there. Every year they throw a big family party on the first Sunday after Christmas. We didn't make it over last year, so we were pretty keen on making it this time. But, after two long trips, three illnesses, too many miles and gas fill up to count... it just didn't happen. We're all a little bummed about it. Everyone was looking forward to it but we just couldn't bring ourselves to get in the dang car.

Matt comes from a big family, I don't say that lightly, he's the oldest of ten. His Dad is also one of ten. To say there are a lot of Browns is an understatement. That's why the Christmas party is so important. Its the whole fam damily, including 50 grandkids and 30(?) great-grandkids. And these folks know how to party. Almost all of them are musically inclined - including Matt - and the aunts sure do know how to potluck. There are two new great gandbabies this year, just in time for the party. I was really hoping to snuggle them. Probably for the best though, that new baby smell is dangerous.

Great-Grammie and Granddaddy, they are the sweetest couple. In their nineties, married for 65 years,  but able to remember everyone's names and what they're all up to. I don't remember everyone, so I have no excuse. I must ask Grammie for some tips, gal is on the ball. We're planning on going sometime next month instead, it'll be a little easier to catch up and some space between trips is better for everyone's sanity.

PEI, a magical place, where my children play nicely with one another.

A Very Brown Family Christmas

*Warning: world's longest post*

Santa came to visit us, we took lots of pictures. Here are a bunch if you're interested...

The babes opened their presents from us and each other on Christmas Eve, first gift was their matching candy cane jams.

Santa left some elves behind to set up a very special present the kids, at 3 a.m. they had finished. Do elves get overtime?

Presents were left under the tree in the nursery for the babes, stockings were by the tree in the den along with Momma and Daddy's gifts.

We had a pretty relaxed morning, babes slept in until 8, took us an hour and a half to open everything,  (we're a pokey bunch), a big brunch and a Christmas movie later and it was time to hit the road. Christmas dinner was at Grammie and Grampie Brown's house, along with more gifts. Everyone was there, even uncle Ben, who had been away working the last few months. It was a full house, fourteen of us altogether! The next morning, we were the first ones up so we soaked in the quiet and had our breakfast, just the four of us. Once the rest of the gang was up it was time to play Catan, as you do in the Brown house. Three hours and a few minor fights later, the men emerged from the sunporch.

Aunt Anna made Max a T.A.R.D.I.S. and a sonic screwdriver. They are amazing. So is she. He's pretty smitten, we couldn't fit it in the car so Grammie will have to deliver it or maybe it'll fly here on its own.

Even with all the travelling, sick babies, cramped car rides and grumpy toddlers, this was the best Christmas yet. I'm sure I say that every year. Hope you all had a lovely holiday too!