Something lost, a lisp gained...

Well, the big news at our house is that Mathieu lost another tooth. It is his fifth lost tooth but the difference is this one was his front tooth. As you can see, it changes his whole look (too cute!!). He is also now talking with the cutest little lisp. And, of course, the tooth fairy came last night so Mathieu was excited to wake me up this morning at 6 to show me all his "moneys"

This weekend we spent some time at our friend Mathieu's cottage. We had beautiful spring weather so the boys enjoyed playing outside in the melting snow. Mathieu has two little boys of his own so the kids also liked playing with all the cool toys and Mathieu has decided that he wants a remote-control Tonka truck for his birthday just like the one Eméric has!

As for Gabriel, the other day he got his first big-boy professional haircut. He got to sit on a motorcycle during the hair cut so he loved it. I found it made him look so much older. He is officially past the toddler phase and really looking so much more like a little boy lately. Now, if only we can get him potty trained!...

Mathieu had his spring break last week so he spent a couple of days at a really cool day camp that he loved and a few days with me. It was nice to have the two of them alone with me for a couple of days. One day we took a walk to the local indoor pool and then went for a special lunch at McDonalds (Mathieu was thrilled!) They are really playing so much more together and it is very cute to see how much Mathieu looks out for his little brother. He really is such a sweet kid...

Vincent's birthday is this Friday so the boys and I will make a special family dinner for him- the tradition is to pick up food and cake from Patric! And of course, Mathieu's birthday is coming up so I need to figure out whether we are going to have it at home or go to a community centre. I think we will just have it at home since they are still so young they will be just as happy running around our place playing with toys (and making a mess!). We will definately have to warn the neighbours!

Le voyage d'amour

Hi,

We got back from our trip to Florida a few days ago and I thought I should take the time to write about it (in other words to stop and count our blessings!!) before the feelings, memories and energy of the trip get too swept away by the busy routine of our regular lives.

I feel it is important to stop a minute and acknowledge what a wonderful time we had. Some trips our better than others not necessarily because of a more exotic location or more flashy or fancy attractions but simply because the time spent with the people you love and the priceless memories that are created.

Vincent defined this trip as our "voyage d'amour" and I couldn't agree more. We only had 5 short days in Florida but it was so wonderful to get away to beautiful Clearwater, Florida after a difficult time in Montreal and truly enjoy being together as a family. It was so nice to be able to relax and spend a lot of time appreciating each other's company...I say it all the time but we are just so blessed to have each other and our two incredible kids that we get such a kick out of.

Although quite cold and sometimes rainy, Florida was beautiful and I was somewhat awestruck at Odette's lovely condo. Vincent says I reminded him of a little girl at the fair when I got gleefully excited (clapping my hands and everything) when we were first checking out her digs...! It was a beautiful and spacious condo right on the beach. The view from every window was amazing...For me, the pièces de résistances were the beautiful heated pool (as heat became necessary in order to swim in the cold weather!) and the fully equipped gym!! I definately took advantage of both...


As a mentioned, the weather was cold and windy most of the time but that did not stop us from enjoying our time there. We went out for dinner one night at Crabby Bill's - a family friendly restaurant that served buckets of fresh sea food. I was in heaven and the kids enjoyed it too- especially the balloon lady. For a few days afterwards Gabriel was still saying "I want to eat cabby bill's".

We took the kids to a beautiful aquarium in Tampa as well as a lovely zoo where we actually got to enjoy the sunshine. And, there were a couple of days where we went swimming in the pool with Mathieu as Gabriel was taking his nap. We would get all ready inside the hotel cabana then count "1.. 2.. 3.. go" and quickly strip down to our bathsuits and jump into the water as fast as we could to get out of the cold. The water was warm so as long as we stayed in we were good!!! We moved really fast when we had to run out of the water towards our towels!

Anyways, Mathieu loved being in the pool with us and has become quite the little swimmer! I think he was most happy about having us all to himself.

Vincent and I also really appreciated having a chance to go out for a dinner just the two of us as Odette offered to babysit the boys one night...Seafood linguine anyone???

We celebrated valentine's day with Odette and the boys with a lovely seafood dinner (what else??) at home. I think Odette appreciated having the company as she had started to find her time alone in Florida a little lonely...

Needless to say, it is a trip that we will surely never forget and always remember as a special time. As for me, I have to say that it did me a lot of good to get away and have some time to reflect on things.

I can say that I am feeling healed.

Blessings are being counted and recounted.

Stephanie

The sun begins to shine...

I feel that before I can continue this blog about all of our family adventures I need to take a moment to acknowledge what was lost.

Vincent and I were very devastated to go through the loss of yet another pregnancy. Today is a particulary difficult day as today was the day we were going to officially find out the sex. I was so looking forward to finally tell Mathieu that he was once again going to be a big brother as he had started to get suspicious of my growing tummy...

And so, as hard as it was to go through this again, everyday I am feeling stronger and stronger and I know that life goes on. I have to believe that there is a plan for us that we have yet to discover.

And once again, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have my husband beside me and my two beautiful boys. Once again, they have been the best therapy as I can't help but laugh and smile when I am with them. Looking at them puts everything in perspective.

Coming around the bend...

I would just like to say that it is 9:00 and I am still up and I did not have a nap today...I am officially still awake while my family has gone to bed. That hasn't happened in months...! My energy level just may start to be on the rise (well, for a while anyways!!!). I might even make it till 9:30!

My heart is smiling...

Hi,

Like many people right now, we have been quite effected by the news of the situation in Haiti. It really hits home since I have two colleagues at work who have yet to hear news from their family still living there. I particularly find it hard to think about all the children over there who are hurt or have lost their families. Apparently the orphanages are overwhelmed...


We decided to talk about the situation to Mathieu in terms that he could understand and absorb. We explained to him that tomorrow we would be going down to a place called the Red Cross where we could give money to help all the boys and girls in Haiti have new homes to live in and food and clothes. Mathieu took a minute to think about this and then went to get his piggy bank from this room. He told us that he wanted to give $100 dollars and proceeded to dump out his change and count out a hundred coins. He asked me, "Do you think $100 dollars is enough to buy a boy or a girl a new house?". If only...

Anyways, we are so blessed to have all that we do and so blessed to have a son whose heart is big enough to want to share the money that he has been carefully saving...

Wow, it has been a whole year since I started this blog. As I was updating the picture of the boys on this blog it struck me how much they have changed in the last year and all that has happened. I am glad that I have this blog as well as hundreds of pictures to help remind me of the many wonderful moments and memories.

Well, the latest news is that we recently got back from Winnipeg and Quebec city after our Christmas vacation. The boys and I flew out on the 18th and spent two weeks there and Vincent flew out to join us on the 25th. The timing was nice since he was able to come out to Portage with us where our whole extended family had gathered. It was the first time in years that all the grandchildren and great grandchildren were there at the same time so my Grandma was very happy and many pictures were taken of this photo-op! I also took a video of Mathieu learning to fiddle with my cousin's boyfriend. The room was swinging!

Our visit to Winnipeg was wonderful and very very restful. It was great to have a break from the regular routine and I so appreciated having the extra and very willing hands to help me out with the kids. It is such a break for me to have all the help and such a wonderful experience for Mathieu and Gabriel to get to spend so much time with his grandparents, aunts and cousins. Mathieu, in particular, is a very busy man when we go to Winnipeg and very much in demand! He went sliding with grandpapa and his cousins several times, skating with Grandpapa, supper, snowmobiling and sliding with Grandpa at his cottage, the movies with Grandmama, sleepovers at Josh's, play dates with the twins etc. It is so cute because to him, Winnipeg is still the most magical place on earth and he is convinced that when he is bigger he is going to live their "when I am big like papa and married"

In addition to being spoiled with free babysitting and a built-in house keeper, I appreciated being able to get together with my special friend Cori-Lee ("one is silver but the other gold", a night out with my sister's, as well as a date night with my favorite husband...

After our vacation in Winnipeg (and yes, despite the cold, I can call it a vacation!) we flew to Quebec city for a family celebration on January 1. I didn't quite make it to the end of the evening as I pooped out about 10 and fell asleep on Francois and Isabelle's bed but a good time was had by all and great wine was enjoyed by most!

Yesterday, the "la vraie vie" began with Mathieu off to school and Vincent and I off to work. Today, I was home but took Gabriel to the doctor for his regular check up. And yes, the rumors are confirmed as Gabriel's head measure on the 97th percentile. So yes, big head do indeed run in our family!!! She also said that he has grown more in the last 6 months than other times in his development.