Sledding: the Dutch/Menno way

When your parents are too cheap to buy a sled....

...you get pictures that look like their from the 80's (minus the unfashionable clothes). Pictures, where you could take out your own kid, and replace it with a picture of yourself. Don't we all have pictures from our childhood where we are riding down a hill in a cardboard box?

Perhaps we've moved up in the world. Cardboard breaks down too easily, especially in wet snow. Plus, we've recycled every box we had. So, we resorted to using a reusable superstore box, adding some string to help pull him across the snow.

Joel enjoyed riding in the box (at least a lot more than walking in the snow), until it happened to tip over and he face planted in the snow drift. But, it was much easier to travel via box than stroller in this much snow. Here, his buddy Cody also enjoys a ride. Luckily we own two boxes and both boys enjoyed a trip down the street at the same time. Because we all know that sharing a box (too small) or taking turns (while Joel cried because he had to stand in the snow) wasn't going to happen. The boys had fun, I got a workout and we all got outside and enjoyed the snow.

Scrabble: our ex-arch nemesis

For the first time in our almost 5 years of marriage, we have finally done it. We have played Scrabble without fighting or me questioning Dan's choice of words.

You see, Dan grew up playing Scrabble and reading the Scrabble dictionary. I grew up never playing. But I like the game. I like creating words out of random letters. Its a challenge that my brain totally needs after looking after Joel all day. But I could never play with Dan. Dan uses these obscure words that most people have never heard of or use in everyday conversation. I constantly felt as though I was either stupid for not knowing these words or that I was questioning Dan's intellect by making him prove that those letters actually formed a real word.

But last week, we decided to give Scrabble another go.  We laid down some ground rules (like only using conversational words or words used in your everyday vocabulary) and started to play. We actually made it through a game and enjoyed it! Now, we are addicted and play almost every night!!!

It only took 5 years, but we've finally grown up! Now, if you'd excuse me, but there's a lovely man waiting to play a rousing game of Scrabble with me.

Puppy Love

Snow: His arch nemesis

The Fraser Valley has been walloped with a bunch of snow and cold temperatures (yes, -25 degrees Celsius is COLD!) Regardless, we decided that Joel should learn to love the little snow that we get.

As, you can see, this did not go according to plan. The boy HATES snow. In fact, he hates snow pants, and mittens. He hates the cold temperature (we took him out when it was a bit warmer...we're not that mean to him!) And he hates the hats on his head.

So, he sat down a cried. Then he screamed. Then he stood up and wanted to be taken inside (still screaming).

And proceeded to scream until everything was locked up tight in the closet and he was safely in his warm room snuggling.

Our little chef

Right from the get go, Joel took to helping us cook. At 3 months he instinctively knew how to stir cookie dough.

And now, at a year old, he insists on helping us cook. He really enjoys stirring food and sometimes, when we let him sit on the counter, he'll eat right out of the pan on the stove! He's a bit scary to cook around, since he MUST stir things on the stove. He doesn't like to "cook" on the ground with real ingredients...he knows the difference! He has to be right beside us, using the stove. Even when there is just an empty pot on the stove, he'll stand by the stove and cry until we lift him up and let him stir. Our little boy is definitely a chef in the making....but hey! Can you blame him? Look at his parents!

Our little Foodie

There's no denying that our little guy LOVES food. Literally, this is just a mere 1/3 of all the photos we have of him eating. 
Pudding

Carrot

Corn on the Cob

Watermelon

1/4 of a loaf of fresh bread that he stole right off the table

Cupcake

Whipping Cream

Steak (at 6 months, with no teeth). He ate the whole thing!
Pickle (at Rocko's!!!!)

Slice of sausage

Smoothie

Dirt (his personal favorite)

Angel Food Cake

 Brand loyal at 3 months. Starbucks coffee!

Chicken Drumstick

Peas...or avocado. We're not sure.

Pizza..one of his first foods that he stole right from us while we were eating it.

Cheetos!

Baby carrot...not impressed.

There's no denying it. Our little man is a foodie!

Baby #2

Here's an updated picture of Fetus2McCrimmon at about 20 weeks. Take your own guess about whether its a boy or girl...it will be determined in another 20 weeks or so. And no, we don't know. We aren't hiding the gender....it is what it is. And we finally have come up with names for either a boy or girl.(nothing a little midnight chat can't fix.....and yes, one name was determined by trying to be funny and calling this child a yam). No, its name is not Yam. (please people, do not name your children after inanimate objects!)  But the names will remain secret until this baby comes forth into the world.

Its all Fun and Games....

...until somebody poops on the carpet!
             ...and then proceeds to walk in it and have poopy footprints all over the house. YUCK!

The upside of the whole situation (if there can be one) is that Joel's diaper rash cleared up (hence the diaper free time).

It's true!

Coming around the end of May 2012....

Little McCrimmon #2 is on the way!

We are super excited (especially Amanda, now that the nausea has subsided) to welcome our second baby into the world!

The Completed Tree

Here's a picture of our tree all decorated.  No complete family picture since Joel was sleeping at the time, and we didn't want to wake him. Maybe next year!