Christmas in Merritt

Coy and Calum's Daycare Party

Christmas at Calum's House

No son, not today

Calum must have thought that Santa was coming last night because he was wide awake at 4am. We got up, watched some kids shows, had a bath, breakfast and finally went back to bed at 7am. He's napping now, very excited about Christmas. We made cookies this morning for his treat bags that he is giving to everyone tomorrow. He may have tasted one or two before he put them in the bag.

Tomorrow morning we expect to start at a reasonable hour. Coy won't be arriving till a bit later in the day but the kids will open their presents a bit earlier. We will be going up to Merritt to visit my family - probably on the 27th. The girls are going to stay in Merritt and Kamloops with their relatives.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Getting ready for Christmas

Don and I have had a busy time at work lately but are just about ready to gear down for Christmas. We finally put our tree up last weekend. Calum, Dakota and Desiree decorated it. Calum thought that it was a two or three day job as he was still putting decorations on it yesterday and I think he'll want to continue today. You can tell we have a little guy helping because all of the unbreakables are at the bottom of the tree, resting on branches, just ready to fall off as you walk by. He loves it though.

We've started looking for some new furniture and Calum also enjoyed that. He had to try every sofa and chair he saw (many times) and was so keyed up that I had to carry him out of the store with him protesting the whole way. Next time, maybe we'll send him shopping with his sisters.

Dakota has her jazz band concert tonight and the kids will be out of school soon. Calum's daycare closes the same time so we will all be busy. We are looking forward to seeing Grant, Jen and Coy and Carole this Christmas. We are also looking forward to a visit to Merritt to visit Nanny, Papa and my family. Calum loves it out there and Nanny and Papa have a new puppy that he's going to love.

We have finished most of our Christmas shopping. I expect we'll be at the mall like everyone else on the weekend though. Wish us luck.

We've got some new pictures that I haven't had time to download but will post them soon.

Calum, Desiree and Dakota visits with Santa - poor Calum doesn't recognize Grandpa in the Santa suit.

3 times!

Calum has grasped the concept of potty time - mostly - but only seems to want to use it in the morning. Three mornings in a row now he's used his potty. It's been a learning experience for us both. We've really got to work on the "aim down" thing. He just laughs as I frantically try to both praise him for using the potty while yelling "AIM DOWN, AIM DOWN! No, not at mommy." This is one of those times I think it would be easier if he was a girl.

Happy Birthday Rob

Calum, Dakota and Desiree wish their uncle Rob a very happy birthday!

Early Morning Party

Don and I had a special invitation to an early morning cartoon party. It started at 2:30 in the morning and essentially went on till just before 6am. A fun time was had by all, especially our host, Mr. Calum (NO, NO, NO, NO SLEEP) Bain. You know you're a parent when you not only give in to the cartoons but can also get excited at five in the morning when you kid happily points out the different colours of the Christmas lights. For anyone else, knowing the difference between blue and green may not be a big deal but I was so happy that we kept playing with the mangled mess of lights (still waiting to be strung) for about a half hour. Calum is learning more words too and can now say red, white, yellow, orange, green and blue (Blue being his favorite). He also learned the ASL sign for "light".

Don and I are fueled by coffee and lattes today and our intrepid host of the early morning party will likely be busy giving the daycare staff a bit of a tough day.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Mom (for tomorrow)!

Calum and the Funny Ball

This ball lasted all of a week. Calum had fun with it though.

Potty Time

Potty training has begun. Send help. We bought Calum a Diego seat that he can put on any toilet. He has been wearing it on his head. When we finally got him used to the idea that it goes on the toilet, he has been running back and forth (with pants down, mind you) between both bathrooms EVERYTIME I try to get him to use it. He likes to sit on it and to flush (repeatedly). He usually tells me that he needs to go after, well, after he needs to go so we haven't actually had any success yet. This is going to take awhile.

As you can see from the pictures, Calum loves the snow. He was so mad when he had to come in yesterday. He kept going to the window to show me the snow. He had a play date with Bailee again this weekend. While he was napping, we made cookies and painted pictures. When he woke up they tormented the cat. It's nice having a playmate around. Calum is slowly learning to share and even let her sit on my lap this time.

Be careful in the snow. It's looking like a snow day for the kids, which means a long day for me.

All Calum wants to do is go out and play in the snow

He's a bit unclear on the concept of underwear

Calum loves Christmas lights

A time lapse of Calum's patented spin dance move

Calum loves to dance, Dakota is his spotter...

The definitive Calum dance move...headstand with arms out

He can read...almost

Whenever Calum sees letters - in signs, books, posters, etc. he tries to read them. It's pretty funny because he thinks that they all say E-I-O (like the Old Macdonald song). He has a book with a lot of E-I-Os so he thinks everything says that. It bodes well though, because he at least recognizes that letters can have meaning. Maybe we will have a little reader before kindergarten.

Our family as South Park characters