Kei is more than a little excited about the newest addition to the family. We have been without a home computer since our old one went kaput about a year and a half ago. And as much as I try to balance Kei’s excitement with my own mellow response, I have to admit that my photos look AMAZING on the enormous screen.
Kei and Thomas are planting a veggie garden. I’ve been told they did it just in the nick of time to grow veggies this year. Apparently Portland veggies don’t like to be planted in May.
I’m excited to see what happens, although so far so good. We are just starting to see little green sprouts that may or may not be the top of carrots (Kei was a little fuzzy on exactly where he planted things). I am hoping for some lettuce. Kei and Thomas spread enough seeds to potentially grow…well…about a million. I am hoping for two or three. I’m so low maintenance.
I’m ashamed to admit that the Easter Bunny nearly forgot to visit the Ishida house this year. Oh, he was prepared weeks in advance but nearly forgot to drop by on the night that mattered. At 11pm he hopped into the playroom (AND tidied it up), hid some eggs around the room and left behind a basket with some goodies.
Good thing Mrs Bunny was on the ball. When Thomas walked into the room and saw this, he laughed out loud and said “You can’t do that!”
It is a little creepy – and hilarious.
The plastic eggs were the highlight for Samuel. He still gets excited when he unexpectedly finds one on the floor.
The Portland Fire Department operates an historical firehouse for safety education. It’s a mini museum with fire fighter uniforms, hats and old equipment on display. Of course, given Thomas’ current obsession with all things Firefighter, we had to take him to experience the real thing. I tried to take him past the fire station near our house but shyness overtook him and he wouldn’t go near the fire engines in case we got into trouble.
The great thing about this fire house is that we could get up close and personal.
The highlight was the real fire engine experience where you get to ride in a fire engine complete with sound effects, video and the real shakes and shudders of a true engine. Very exciting!
Of course there was one little fear to overcome, but I finally managed to coax Thomas into sliding down the pole.
Samuel’s favourite part? Being thrown in the air by Daddy on the way back to the car.
Never get’s old.
Thomas is learning how to use chopsticks. He’s getting better but still needs a little help to actually get some of the food in his mouth.
And this one currently won’t eat anything unless he can feed it to himself.
If you try to spoon feed him, he’ll immediately pull the food out of his mouth again to inspect it properly. And it can be very messy when he’s eating apple sauce or pureed carrots.
He’s also very noisy and demanding when he gets hungry (aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!). It can become a little embarrassing in restaurants so we choose family-friendly, noisy locations.
Of course after a filling meal of sushi, it’s important to take a quick walk.
Or maybe a run.
The perfect Friday evening – no dishes, good food and everyone full and happy.
One of Samuel’s favourite things to do – hang upside down and collect balls and other objects from the floor.
A few random photos from a Wednesday with my boys. For the past three and a half years (since Thomas was born) I have worked four 10 hour days. That one day off a week was for spending time with my babies – playing at home, going to the zoo or the park or even just doing the grocery shopping together.
I have really enjoyed my Wednesdays but sadly they are coming to an end. It’s just become too difficult to work the long days and look after my boys on a Wednesday that was becoming less and less of a day off, and more about checking email every hour or so just to keep things moving at work.
So in June I will be reverting to a regular 5 day schedule. The upside is that I will be home in time to eat dinner and give my children a bath without having to squeeze everything into a 30 minute window.
Here are just a few photos of a regular, hanging out at home, taking a walk to Starbucks, Wednesday.
I swear that I have no idea where he got the idea to “walk” his brother. We don’t even have a dog!
P.S. I was lucky to catch this on camera. Samuel strongly objected just a few minutes later in the form of loud screaming and writhing.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering why I am holding an apple? I only have four teeth and a tiny mouth so there’s no way I could possibly eat this thing.
You underestimate me.
See those bite marks? All mine.
There is no mountain… ahh food… that I can not conquer.
And I just dare you to try and take it away from me.
Nicole Ishida Photography 