Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Pumpkin-ness
Laid back passenger...
Unimpressed with the impromptu photo shoot...
Making the best of it...
Unimpressed with the impromptu photo shoot...
Making the best of it...
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Best Santa Picture Ever (from last year)
The Niece (age 2), Bennett (5 yrs) and Santa
Christmas 2007
_Bennett+(5yrs7mos).jpg)
Christmas 2007
_Bennett+(5yrs7mos).jpg)
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Bennettisms
While watching Star Trek Nemesis, after a scene where the crew was "transported/beamed" to a new location:
Bennett: Wow! Did they get there with their magic?
Heza: No, it's called being transported.
Bennett: Well, I think they should have just taken the stairs.
********************************************************************************
Watching the "Top Ten" on the music channel is part of our morning routine. Bennett sings along with many songs and I work with him to learn the lyrics to the ones he likes the most.
The other day I caught Bennett very confidently singing along with a song, "One Banana, One Banana, your a One Banana!"
The real lyrics? "Womanizer, Womanizer, your a Womanizer!"
I have no urge to correct him.
(Womanizer, by Britney Spears, seriously, how is she in the top ten? Did she not spend the first half of this year going nuts?)
Bennett: Wow! Did they get there with their magic?
Heza: No, it's called being transported.
Bennett: Well, I think they should have just taken the stairs.
********************************************************************************
Watching the "Top Ten" on the music channel is part of our morning routine. Bennett sings along with many songs and I work with him to learn the lyrics to the ones he likes the most.
The other day I caught Bennett very confidently singing along with a song, "One Banana, One Banana, your a One Banana!"
The real lyrics? "Womanizer, Womanizer, your a Womanizer!"
I have no urge to correct him.
(Womanizer, by Britney Spears, seriously, how is she in the top ten? Did she not spend the first half of this year going nuts?)
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
After being sent off to find the remote that he was seen with last, Bennett came down the stairs and said, very authoritatively, "I could not find the remote, so I got an orange instead!" And with that he ended his search. Problem solved. Remote still M.I.A.
After being served his second sardine sandwich (blame my mother, not me), Bennett announced that he does not like sardines. And it only took him TWO sandwiches to figure out that he does not like eating pickled fish with their heads still attached...
After being served his second sardine sandwich (blame my mother, not me), Bennett announced that he does not like sardines. And it only took him TWO sandwiches to figure out that he does not like eating pickled fish with their heads still attached...
Saturday, December 6, 2008
December 6, 2008
Niecie Girl II in her skivvies.
I see chicken legs.
Stunned Cabbage Patch Doll...
Sneak Peak at the Claus...
Bennett & St. Nick
I see chicken legs.
Stunned Cabbage Patch Doll...
Sneak Peak at the Claus...
Bennett & St. Nick
Santa showed him how to put two candy canes together in the shape of a heart. Bennett loved that.
Last year she screamed her pretty little face off. This year she did a cheeez smile and averted her eyes from the camera. I prefer the screaming pics.
His way of telling me that I should be focused on him and not snapping pictures of his cousin...
Goober.
Producer of The Niece! and the Encore Presentation as well!
Candy Cane Deliciousness...
In the car Auntie did not buy her...
His way of telling me that I should be focused on him and not snapping pictures of his cousin...
Goober.
Producer of The Niece! and the Encore Presentation as well!
Candy Cane Deliciousness...
In the car Auntie did not buy her...
"A minute inside my head" AND/OR "Why I usually just post pictures"
I called to talk to my Emily (not a rare thing) and happened to interrupt a birthday party for my uncle; incidentally, I was able to talk to him briefly and wish him a happy birthday. What a blast from the past...hearing his voice...like a three minute time capsule strait out of childhood. I don't think I have heard his voice since the last time I was down in those parts...about seven years ago. I hung up the phone with a huge smile on my face...slapped there by my quirky, crazy uncle and his wayward view of the world. He told me about my sister's Christmas card (from Hawaii) and how good it looked next to their pre-lit, fake palm, Christmas tree. And he told me about how lucky he is to still be around to see this birthday (only 53) since the doctors keep taking parts of him out...pretty soon there won't be any of him left! Or so he claims.
He did have some sort of cancerous tumour removed this year...pretty much a different body part for him each year and he is actually quite lucky to still be around! (This uncle is my biological father's brother and from a branch of my family tree that I don't often get to catch up with...my cousin Emily being the grand exception, as we usually call each other weekly, if not more...from our prospective countries...so catching up with him was a rare treat! My bio father passed away nearly two decades ago.)
We made out annual trip to see Santa Claus today. The Niece! replaced her scream of years gone by with a fake smile and refusal to look directly at the camera. Prior to her turn on St. Nick's lap, she proudly announced that she was going to be brave this year and not scream her face off. Oh how I love the 'screaming on Santa's lap' pictures. Perhaps K8 will be terrified of him next year...
Bennett is the most excited that he has ever been about Santa; previous years he could not have cared less. He was so excited and nervous that he could not recall his age or what grade he is when asked by Santa and he almost forgot what he wanted for Christmas. It was very cute.
Santa showed him how to put two candy canes together to make a heart and told him to give one of them to his mom. Santa was on very good behaviour. It was a good visit.
K8 spent about twenty minutes staring me strait in the face today. This is very momentous because she usually passes out in my arms (perhaps I smell like a nap?) and the amount of time she spent gazing at me and cooing at me today was more than all other eye contact I have had with her to date! She even gave Auntie a couple little smiles! Melt. My. Heart. Especially when she would loudly protest if my gaze broke from hers. Damn you Auntie! You suck at this game!
My son. Oh, my son. He has been such an ever increasing pleasure this year. I truly am enjoying mothering him at this age more than I have at any other age; I have said this same thing every year...but it just keeps getting better and better, this "son" thing. His stories and his imagination and personality and inquisitive way of seeing the world. So very often I find myself just relishing the moment or stopping everything and just listening to his take on whatever situation has captured his attention. This week he has been obsessed with Laser Guns and very slyly pointed out a laser tag game in Costco that he would like to see under the tree. He has also been particularly annoyed by the fact that the traffic lights are vertical in our province and he would really like if they were mounted horizontally like they are in Alberta (due to Chinooks...which we thankfully do not have here...thank you mountains!) Super heroes, Santa Claus and tattoos have also dominated the conversation. As I type this he is tattooing my feet with a black marker. I love that he loves tattoos...although the "temporary" variety are more than adequate for now: be them stick on or 6-year-old drawn. It's probably a good thing that it's sock season...
And his singing has just gone off the rector scale...this boy of mine! Apparently Nickelback's new song is "My Song!" and not "Gotta be Somebody" as the album cover suggests. This boy does a killer impression of that annoying Pink song, which I will not try to remember the name of, because it would remain in my head for the next five days. The top ten has become an integral part of our morning routine over the last month (step over annoying cartoons...thank god.)
He's getting his first acoustic guitar for Christmas and I think I have found a good instructor for him. Music lessons start in the new year. I have yet to pin down the ins and outs of working piano into his schedule, but will solve that in due time.
After searching everywhere imaginable for Bennett's "Christmas Shirt" and coming up empty handed, I took Bennett's "Easter Shirt" out of the closet for the rendezvous with Santa today. I later located the a fore mentioned shirt...on the ironing board, waiting to be ironed. I never thought to look there. He did look mighty sharp in his Easter Shirt, if I may say so, as he did in his Christmas Shirt prior.
"Holiday Shirts" are as important around here as buying dresses for the girls, as it's really the only time of year that I get to buy dressy clothes for my boy and I get to buy dresses year round; no one needs an excuse to buy dresses for god-daughters and nieces. With my boy, the goal is to find something that looks sharp and DOES NOT look like I am trying to send him to church.
And that is a minute inside my brain...and without a single sexual connotation. I'll probably go back to posting pictures tomorrow.
He did have some sort of cancerous tumour removed this year...pretty much a different body part for him each year and he is actually quite lucky to still be around! (This uncle is my biological father's brother and from a branch of my family tree that I don't often get to catch up with...my cousin Emily being the grand exception, as we usually call each other weekly, if not more...from our prospective countries...so catching up with him was a rare treat! My bio father passed away nearly two decades ago.)
We made out annual trip to see Santa Claus today. The Niece! replaced her scream of years gone by with a fake smile and refusal to look directly at the camera. Prior to her turn on St. Nick's lap, she proudly announced that she was going to be brave this year and not scream her face off. Oh how I love the 'screaming on Santa's lap' pictures. Perhaps K8 will be terrified of him next year...
Bennett is the most excited that he has ever been about Santa; previous years he could not have cared less. He was so excited and nervous that he could not recall his age or what grade he is when asked by Santa and he almost forgot what he wanted for Christmas. It was very cute.
Santa showed him how to put two candy canes together to make a heart and told him to give one of them to his mom. Santa was on very good behaviour. It was a good visit.
K8 spent about twenty minutes staring me strait in the face today. This is very momentous because she usually passes out in my arms (perhaps I smell like a nap?) and the amount of time she spent gazing at me and cooing at me today was more than all other eye contact I have had with her to date! She even gave Auntie a couple little smiles! Melt. My. Heart. Especially when she would loudly protest if my gaze broke from hers. Damn you Auntie! You suck at this game!
My son. Oh, my son. He has been such an ever increasing pleasure this year. I truly am enjoying mothering him at this age more than I have at any other age; I have said this same thing every year...but it just keeps getting better and better, this "son" thing. His stories and his imagination and personality and inquisitive way of seeing the world. So very often I find myself just relishing the moment or stopping everything and just listening to his take on whatever situation has captured his attention. This week he has been obsessed with Laser Guns and very slyly pointed out a laser tag game in Costco that he would like to see under the tree. He has also been particularly annoyed by the fact that the traffic lights are vertical in our province and he would really like if they were mounted horizontally like they are in Alberta (due to Chinooks...which we thankfully do not have here...thank you mountains!) Super heroes, Santa Claus and tattoos have also dominated the conversation. As I type this he is tattooing my feet with a black marker. I love that he loves tattoos...although the "temporary" variety are more than adequate for now: be them stick on or 6-year-old drawn. It's probably a good thing that it's sock season...
And his singing has just gone off the rector scale...this boy of mine! Apparently Nickelback's new song is "My Song!" and not "Gotta be Somebody" as the album cover suggests. This boy does a killer impression of that annoying Pink song, which I will not try to remember the name of, because it would remain in my head for the next five days. The top ten has become an integral part of our morning routine over the last month (step over annoying cartoons...thank god.)
He's getting his first acoustic guitar for Christmas and I think I have found a good instructor for him. Music lessons start in the new year. I have yet to pin down the ins and outs of working piano into his schedule, but will solve that in due time.
After searching everywhere imaginable for Bennett's "Christmas Shirt" and coming up empty handed, I took Bennett's "Easter Shirt" out of the closet for the rendezvous with Santa today. I later located the a fore mentioned shirt...on the ironing board, waiting to be ironed. I never thought to look there. He did look mighty sharp in his Easter Shirt, if I may say so, as he did in his Christmas Shirt prior.
"Holiday Shirts" are as important around here as buying dresses for the girls, as it's really the only time of year that I get to buy dressy clothes for my boy and I get to buy dresses year round; no one needs an excuse to buy dresses for god-daughters and nieces. With my boy, the goal is to find something that looks sharp and DOES NOT look like I am trying to send him to church.
And that is a minute inside my brain...and without a single sexual connotation. I'll probably go back to posting pictures tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Perfect Moment
My newborn niece is asleep in the crook of my left arm while I type with my right and my purring kitty is bidding for lap space between the keyboard and baby; I am smelling that sweet baby smell and listening to a fantastic line-up of rock music, both old and new, while researching Humanism and listening to my son play Star Wars with his three-year-old cousin. Right now, at this moment in time, life is good.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
November 22-24, 2008
An afternoon with Joni: six of seven kiddos
Jaida Rae, Tyson, Jackson, Bennett, Lukey, Shay, (Taia M.I.A.)
Note to Shay: I can still see you!
Jaida Rae, Tyson, Jackson, Bennett, Lukey, Shay, (Taia M.I.A.)
Note to Shay: I can still see you!
Seriously cute baby Jacks (7 mos)
Birthday Cake with friends (Miss K & Sunshine M) & Big Bro
Lukey was napping.
At the studio for Birthday Portraits
Brothers. This shot melts my heart.
On the morning of her 5th birthday.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
While watching CSI with my mother...
Heza: Oooh, he's sexy!
Mother of Heza: Who?
Heza: Him.
MoH: The corpse?
Heza: Um, ya, well, if you look past the blood.
MoH: Stares blankly at her prodigy.
Heza: He has a very symmetrical face and really good bone structure.
MoH: Continues to stare blankly at her prodigy as if pondering where the hell she went wrong...
Mother of Heza: Who?
Heza: Him.
MoH: The corpse?
Heza: Um, ya, well, if you look past the blood.
MoH: Stares blankly at her prodigy.
Heza: He has a very symmetrical face and really good bone structure.
MoH: Continues to stare blankly at her prodigy as if pondering where the hell she went wrong...
Here's a little story...
Dad, who had open heart surgery last December to repair an aneurysm, has had on-going pain, among other symptoms and goes to see his doctor, who sends him to the hospital, who sends him to Vancouver by air ambulance (again) for a second surgery to repair part of the first graft on his aorta. Prior to departure, loved ones come and say good-bye, as there is always the possibility of not coming through a second open heart surgery. The surgeon in Vancouver determines that it would be better to wait a few months and sends dad home, after adjusting his heart pressure meds. Family if over joyed to hear that it is not as "bad" as they were told, and so happy that there is more time between now and the inevitable "repair job."
Several hours after leaving the hospital, dad receives a call from his surgeon, who has decided that said surgery should happen sooner than later, how does Thursday sound? See you there.
I am on an emotional roller coaster and I want off. But the ride has only just started and this roller coaster seems eerily familiar to one I (& my family) rode eleven months ago, only with slightly more warning.
Several hours after leaving the hospital, dad receives a call from his surgeon, who has decided that said surgery should happen sooner than later, how does Thursday sound? See you there.
I am on an emotional roller coaster and I want off. But the ride has only just started and this roller coaster seems eerily familiar to one I (& my family) rode eleven months ago, only with slightly more warning.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
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Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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