Update via pictures (in no particular order...)

Kai's first time in the snow - his suit was a little large but it didn't bother him at all. He was mesmerized by the crunching sound under his feet every time he took a step.

Kai walking aimlessly around the front yard while Kira collects snow (aka "rice") in her "kitchen". Good imagination. 

Climbing up the back stairs

Today she wrote my name all by herself. I didn't even know she could write some letters, let alone write a word, so I was super impressed and proud of her that she could do this. She's posing with her work. 

Kira took this picture of Kai, thought it looked pretty cool.

Her hockey goalie snowman....with a basketball hat.

Grandpa Charlie's birthday, she sang him happy birthday and then helped him blow out the candle on his cake.

Colouring on the counter while Kai practices his climbing 

Kai loved this empty water jug and carried it around the house

posing for pictures for daddy. 

Kai loves walking behind the kitchen chairs all of a sudden. He'll walk all the way down to the corner and then out the other side, squeal with delight, and then do it all again. Hilarious.

And he's discovered his belly and belly button. He'll flash it to anyone that asks. 

Too cute.

Such a little monkey

Kira playing dress-up. She was a princess ballerina I think...Note the clip-on earrings too. Sigh. She's turned into a real girlie-girl.

Tearing apart her gifts on Christmas morning. I think she tore Kai's apart too, the whole thing was a big blur that was over before I could process what was happening. She really loves opening gifts - even if they aren't for her. 

We have been pretty busy lately with Kai's birthday party and preparing for Christmas. The kids have been a constant source of entertainment (not intentionally though I don't think) and have provided some much-needed comic relief while we are running around getting organized.

Kira decided this year to ask Santa for a "bike with pedals and 2 wheels" (she has a run bike right now with no pedals), I think Santa will deliver for her! She's very excited to see what Santa will put in her stocking and has been counting down the days until Christmas. She is much more into Christmas this year and it's fun to see her excitement and joy.

Today Kira + I had our dentist appointment. This would be her 2nd checkup, last time was ok, the dentist was only able to clean 2 of her teeth but did get most everything else done. Today she was so excited to go see the dentist that she actually started to pout and cry when she learned that Momma would be going first. She sat beside me for my entire cleaning with her lower lip quivering and her eyes damp. Hilarious. She brightened right up when the dentist took her to her own room ("with my own chair!") before I was done. The dentist managed to clean all of her teeth this time, Kira was even giggling during the process (she said it tickled). Afterwards she got a new toothbrush and toy - she was super stoked. Here she is in the dentist chair - she kept grabbing the dental assistants arm while she was cleaning her teeth.

Here are a few more pictures from various parties we've been at over the last couple of weeks. These include Daddy's company Christmas party for kids, Kai's first birthday party, and a potluck dinner with our friends and their kids. Merry Christmas everyone!

Walking around at Daddy's Christmas party - heading for the bouncy castle

He sure loved this stool

Yep, still loving it

Such a little character

Happy birthday little dude!!! It's not a party until Kai's removed a piece of clothing (he's a lot like Daddy)

Yummy cake, thanks for baking Grandma Rose

He looks a little like his cousin Isabel in this picture...

First pineapple tart!

Daddy is teaching Kira a very important lesson - all 9 members of the Wu-Tang Clan. She's got 2 so far, and somehow "Uncle Brian" made his way into the group. Well done Uncle Brian!!

Oh, this box looks like fun...

Maybe I can stand up....

Haha! Yes I can! Now how do I get down.

Kira fixing her hair while posing for the camera

Today is Kai's first birthday, naturally, he has no idea whatsoever, but we celebrated for him. After I picked the kids up from daycare we went down to Richmond and I got their hair cut, now Kai looks like a little man and Kira's hair is shorter and less likely to be eaten along with her meals. While we were in Richmond we stopped in for a visit with Santa, got a great picture of the kids (surprisingly!) which I will scan at work and try  to post next week. Kira also went for a ride on the little train and merry-go-round that they have in there. She had a blast and Kai loved running around and playing with all the new "toys" in the mall. 

Tomorrow we are having a little birthday party for Kai, I will post some pictures of the party later on. In the meantime, here are some older ones that I finally got around to uploading...

Kai LOVES sleeping with this green monkey, at any given time during the night his monkey is  under his belly or within arms reach. So cute.

Kira helped to decorate the tree this year....

....there were about 15 ornaments per branch which Kai knocked down as soon as he woke up from his nap

Jon purchased a chariot trailer for behind his bike so he can take both kids into daycare on his bike. Obviously it's too cold for this right now, but we did manage to give it a test run back in October. 

Kai heading down the slide with a little help from Mommy

looking at the wood chips and thinking it's dinner time

mmmmm, wood chips

The kids and Daddy heading off to the park

 

I love this picture! Kira loves to dance, but she'll only do it if she's in a "pretty dress". So here she is playing dress up and rocking out to the music. 

More adorable sleeping baby pictures. This purple elephant toy was reclaimed by Kira shortly after this photo was taken.

Kira loves this new swing at the park, she'll lie down and yell to go "HIGHER" and "FASTER", she's a little fearless sometimes, but she has a lot of fun.

So I've been pretty lazy lately and haven't gotten around to updating here. Not much going on out of the ordinary. Kids have been sick, both got their flu shots (Kira didn't even flinch with hers, which was amazing) and I've started swimming in the mornings before work (hence the laziness at night when the kids go to bed).

I have a couple of videos that I'll get around to uploading this weekend hopefully, in the meantime, here are some new pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Baby Camryn, our friends daughter - she's just under 2 weeks old in this picture. 

Kira's "light reading", heh.

Kai gearing up for streaking through the house, while Kira settles in with another light read.

Ready to steal the camera away

Her balloon that she got from her friends birthday party. It was her first birthday party that was  for a school friend, she had a blast. It was interesting watching her with the other kids, she definitely prefers to do her own thing...

Kai eating the camera lens cap

Such a happy kid

Happy Halloween!!

Baby Enzo (11 weeks) dressed as batman for his first halloween

Kira, Aubrey, Leyna, Everly posing with their loot

Kira the princess, Aubrey the mermaid, and Leyna the unicorn

Looking for places to trick or treat

Trick or treating with Aubrey at The Flying Pig