we do July well

CORN ON THE COB HAS ARRIVED!  HALLELUJAH!!!!

and are we ever thankful!

now those boys are pro's in matters

husking and eating

Katherine's a bit behind...

Alexander "dafrin, eetin corn wong, dafrin eet like dis"

Benjamin "if I try, maybe I can get it all in my mouth fast, like daddy!"

Our Benjamin is a biking pro.

He's getting city sidewalks, alley's and roads and the rules of stopping and looking rather well too, which is a relief as we just don't practice that at all at home now.  If you see a vehicle at home, chances are 

A- it is daddy

B- they know us so will stop

C- it is a tractor so we will stop and watch

well, from the plaid, it's obvious the Loback clan all dressed up to celebrate a big day.

This time it was mommy's.  

and they wined and dined her in the way she loves best

a brunch not prepared by her (THANK YOU M&D)

a walk around her old neighbourhood (THANK YOU T)

good company (THANK YOU W&C & MB)

and lovely weather (THANK YOU BIG G)

while Benjamin biked,
Katherine and Alexander amused themselves in the Chariot
(which they both love...almost more then they love sharing it with each other)
Boppa and Katherine hit the slides at the park
Alexander the ramps
Benjamin and daddy the teeter totters
Mommy the restroom
(happy birthday oldie)
Uncle Cameron the swings
Auntie Wendy the good ole company
Meamme waved at the river boats

and after we laughed took pictures and walked bit more.

ICE CREAM!

we certainly have had a great summer so far.

and are so blessed to do simple things with great people.

Bug Lake

Friends.
What a blessing to have friends!

We all thought so this weekend.

We went with some dear friends camping for ONE night (that's mommy's max!) and every single moment was filled with adventure!

whether it was staying away from the fire
climbing into daddy's chair and not tipping over
watching the big boys be big boys and laughing uproariously
hearing daddy and Mr Dave exchange stories from yesterdays
or mommy and Mrs Chris feeding us and feeding us

there was plenty to watch and do!

We built and destroyed trenches a t the beach,

slept in  a tent

walked Mathey

picked wildflowers for mommy

(meadows of daisies

rolling ditches of canada anemones

trees with carpet of Indian paintbrush)

found patches and patches of wild strawberries and raspberries

and of course

because we were with daddy!!!!

we had to play in a puddle or two!

 good times had by all

time time time

10 months later.  

I feel like I owe someone an apology.

Updated computer 

Updated photo system

and 

consistent child bedtime

may make the impossible....

possible

14 months old 

Great little sister

walks the loop

chases her brothers

tattles on her brother

likes things in her hair

puts her hat on

takes her hat off

puts her hat back on

would change Alexanders diaper if mommy let her

puts dishes away

wrestles

licks the yogurt lid

dances

 Almost 3.  Rolling down the hill on his balance bike, somersaults, tree jumping, keeping up with a 5 year old, communicating and potty training.  What a sense of humour!
so good at sharing
so good at helping
so good at playing
so good at laughing
and climbing and being a great big brother and fantastic chum of a younger brother

5.  FIVE YEARS OLD.  Hammer and nails boy.

2 wheeler boy.

music class boy.

swim lessons boy.

great big brother

lego boy

great big brother

game player

great big brother

and at the end of this blog, the thing still drives me crazy.....

ABC's of fall - Katherine

My my my Almost 5 months old

Almost 5 months old and almost getting enough aunt and uncle time...almost

Almost wondering if I want to push my tummy up...yikes, almost!

Almost putting myself to sleep (dream on daddy!)...almost
Almost forming words (but getting my point across quite sucessfully)
Almost thinking Mathey's alright...maybe he can stay
Almost done with my bouncy chair
Almost fooling mommy that I like a soother (ha)
Almost rubbing a spot on the back of my head from wiggling so much
Almost kicking 360' while nursing (how does that feel mommy?)
Almost up every 2 hours every night!
Almost figuring out what my toes taste like
Almost too big for the snugli
Almost able to catch my brothers while they run around and around
Almost able to out drool a bib
Almost  out of clothes smaller then 6 months
Almost keeping a grip on toys
Almost convinced Boppa to let me have some of his coffee!  or peanut butter!
Almost got to sleep with Meamme (a few more bounces)
Almost entertained for a whole trip by Benjamin in the back seat
Almost look like Benjamin when he was small, and like Alexander when I am asleep, funny how that is seeing as Alexander never slept
Almost love my crib, rather be between mommy and daddy though
Almost ready to sit up (yikes)
and
Almost ready to take over the family as ring leader (look out Benjamin) and persuader (look out Alexander).

Now what I've already conquered.
-kisses (gooey affairs, oh so cute)
-hugs (fists and everything, whole body experience)
-tired (rubs eyes)
-hungry (AAAAHHHHH)
-Alexander stepped on my hair (AAAHHHHH)
-Benjamin's humour (full body laughing)

-bed time (when I SAY SO)
-smiling at strangers (as long as daddy or mommy is holding me)
-enjoying auntie's and uncles
-excosaucer time
-bath time
-kissing Benjamin (good)
-mathey kissing me (not so good)
-daddy kissing me (SCRATCHY)
-mommy kissing me (another drool opportunity never missed)
-Alexander kissing me (brace for impact)

 Phew. Lots to say for an Almost 5 month old. Never a dull moment.
Every day with a Katherine is a good day.

ABC's of fall - Benjamin

 Peek a boo!
Being 4 sure opens up a new look on the world.
Sure I still snooze at times, I also get to stay up after little brothers go and pretend to sleep, I get to play on the Ipad every Sunday evening for a bit, a train game Auntie Samantha found.
I run, I shoot pumpkins and make them explode on signs, I climb trees and run through long grass.



 
 I wonder what saying no to mommy and daddy results in (I dont try it to oftren, the results are less than satisfying)
I offer my opinion on what we eat (doesn' seem to change the menu)
I dream and can remember my dreams (last night Nana said Look! Lights! and what was a bunny in the sky became northern lights with big booms but no lightning)

and I have many ideas of what I am going to invent or do or eat or go or wear or fix when I am a big boy!
-mouse traps
-fly traps with lots of poison
-live in Toronto for 9 weeks
-eat granola bars
-never feed my kids crusts
-have a bigger loop
- banana trucks
-my own landcruiser


Until then, I play and hang out with  my family, enjoying fall and the last days of hot dog roasts,  working in the garden, and being 4!  every day with a Benjamin is a good day.

ABC's of fall - Alexander

 The weather being so very nice, we have had opportunity to be outside hiking the back 40, playing in the sand box (seeing how much sand we can sneak past mommy into the house, using buckets, pockets, rolled up pants, shoes...) picking dried flowers, or dill, and atttending a local farms first pumpkin festval. 


We live near Valley Rd.  Most cities have one, that special road of small vegetable farms, or pottery shops, and tea houses.  That particular good for a Sunday drive road.  Ours includes a sod farm or two, geese, sand hill cranes, strawberry and other berry picking, and ever changing shrubs, trees and harvested fields with an occasional glimpse of the river.

 Yesterday we ran through bale mazes and went on a wagon ride.  Alexanders favourite part were definitely the horses, having us concerned for a moment when he went running out to meet the team.  Hang on! 

It's a challenge for us to remember he is just 2!
To scoop him up when he's tired (but you run forever in the house)
To be quiet for bedtime (did you go outside, mommy?  I have to get up and check)
To remember to help him eat (how much made it in his mouth, how much in his chair, how much on the floor)

And of course there are times when he is way past 2!
daytee roze - Katie Rose
bin - Benjamin
um down - lay down mathey
oneee - honey
ooogurt - yogurt
bin down - benjamin knocked me down
bin and urt - benjamin hurt my hand
out - outside
eeeee - slide
ike - hike
daddt ar - daddys chevelle
anket - my blanket
oes - cover my toes

every day with an Alexander is a good day.

Katherine and her parents go to Ontario

 Well, it's about time I was an only child and received the time and concentrated affection I deserve....and now expect.

Daddy and mommy packed their bags, patted Mathey's head, prayed a blessing over Me am me and Boppa and kissed the stuffing out of Benjamin and Alexander, as they left the boys at home and with me in tow, flew to Ontario for Great Grumps 80th birthday!

 Don't they look sad?  Like they are missing their boys?  We did miss my brothers very much, I kept my crazy smiles for only them, and focused my energy at meeting my Grump and Tattoo for the very first time! 

We hit it off like ice cream meets a tongue! 
And then Tattoo even took us for ice cream, along with Uncle Craig, Aunt Jennifer, Colin, Ella and Great Grump. 
I met mommy's cousins and auntie's and uncles.
I smiled lots at Auntie Samantha and beautiful Hannah
(Joshy stayed back for harvest, and Uncle Vince stayed back to tag along....we saw them from the airplane on the way home)


We went on a river boat cruise with Grumps family, what a blast
and had dinner with Nana's family, what joy!
We stayed with mommy's cousins, boy do we like them!  I think we've found a permanent place to crash....rental car included!

 mommy's childhood friend and her very pretty daughter played with us too!  such a good time!

 And home again we came!  Refueled, relaxed and ready to be a family of 5 again!  (funny how daddy took right off to work :)
Alexander dressed up the next morning to celebrate my coming home, Benjamin followed suit.  very pretty, big brothers.
and now we are all settling back to our squealing, zooming, up a few times a night, rock me to sleep, help me go poop, kiss my knee, get me some milk, change my bum, feed the monster, and read me a book routine.

and then make breakfast!

xoxo
Lady K.