Happy Mothers Day

I know that I am a little bit biased, but I have two of the sweetest girls in the world.

I also know that I am (probably) too hard on both of them, and I know that I (probably) get mad at them way too often. But, when I look at the two pictures below they both look so sweet and loving!!

I just wish that they could play nicely all the time and listen to their Mom & Dad!

That's not asking too much is it??

Sometimes I see the two of them fighting or arguing and I think back to when I was growing up and wonder how my two sisters and I ever survived each other! I can remember tormenting my sisters the exact same way my girls torment each other. I understand completely why the oldest child thinks that they need to annoy and bother their younger sibling (s). I can't believe that it's taken me almost 30 years and becoming a dad myself to realize that it was NOT ok to bother and torment my younger sisters!!

Hearing the phrases "Daddy she's following me!" or "Mommy she's putting her germs on me!" brings back many (too many) childhood memories for me.

And, somehow with all that tormenting and bothering I did to them growing up, my sisters still grew up to be the beautiful, caring, nurturing mothers they are today!

....Maybe it does build character, but now that I am a father, I would have to say no it does not!

Happy Mothers Day to my Mom and to my Sisters!

Sorry for all the misguided attempts at character building as a child!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY AMANDA!

To celebrate Mothers Day, the girls and I bought Amanda an Autumn Blaze Maple Tree.

Here I am plating the tree in our backyard with the girls' help.

Only after we planted it, while doing a simple 'Google' search to see what an Autumn Blaze Maple tree usually looks like fully grown did I decide to replant the tree about ten feet further away from our house.

Apparently these trees typically grow 3-4 feet per year!

A VERY HAPPY EASTER WITH COUSINS & SCOOTERS!

First of all, Happy belated Easter to everybody! Here are some of the things we did last weekend:

We had two of the cousins over for a sleepover and the next day after lunch decided to take the kids for a drive. This allowed their mom & dad a well deserved 'break' as well as gave the kids (all four) time to have a nap in the car. Although, it was a very sunny day and we did drive to the beach the water would've been still too cold to swim in, plus everyone under the age of eight was fast asleep in the back of our van. On the way back from the beach, all of the kids started waking up so we took them all to see Jumbo the Elephant statue. Jumbo the Elephant was actually a real elephant that was killed by an on coming train over 100 years ago in St. Thomas, Ontario. This statue has become a regular stop for all visitors to our house.

Photographers note: The girl on the left in the green dress is not a family member but decided that our girls and the cousins were now her best friends.

The kids having lunch (hot dogs) and watching a movie.

Everyone had a chance to play outside in our backyard.

We all went for a walk around the block the evening of the sleepover.

Everyone IS happy! At least I think they ALL are happy, right Hannah??

EASTER MORNING: 2011

Without a gate blocking their way, the girls have to be very patient and wait before they can come downstairs.

Before opening their Easter baskets, we all went on an egg hunt. The Silly Billy Easter Bunny even hid chocolates ABOVE all the windows!! He must have hopped all the way up there!!

For any of you who have not seen the movie 'Hop' yet, I won't tell you how the Easter Bunny makes all of those Easter chocolate eggs!! Caitlyn or Hannah would be very eager to tell anybody who asked them though. They think it's hilarious!

The girls both got scooters, knee & elbow pads and gloves for Easter.

Hannah got a new helmet as well.

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYBODY!