YOUR PROBLEM OR THEIRS?

I saw this online today and couldn't help but think, how true.  My hope is that this blog is a place that both K and Q will be able to look back on, laugh, appreciate and reflect on life.  You are never going to make everyone happy - work toward being your best self, be kind, work hard and surround yourself with people who appreciate you, support you, make you want to work toward something you are passionate about and love you for who you are.  As for the poster below, in my humble opinion, it's their problem, not yours.

KINDNESS & CARING

The TDSB selects a character attribute to focus on each month.  The character attribute last month was Kindness & Caring.  At the end of each month the school gathers in an assembly to commend and recognize certain kids in each grade who portrayed that months attribute.  The award recipients are announced in front of the whole school and they walk up to receive their award.  I was incredibly proud to learn that BOTH Quinn and Kieran were selected for their respective grades.  They received a certificate and a pin to put on their backpack.  They are selected by their home form teachers, and their teachers would have had no idea that they were awarding these brothers.  Dave and I work at a school that often talks about the importance of being kind to everyone, I was very heartened to learn that my boys are seen as kind and caring individuals within their school community and loved how proud of one another they were.

Kindness & Caring Bulletin board on display as you walk into the school

Grade one recipents

Cool drawing on the display board.

Grade 3 recipients

A FANTASTIC BOOK

For Christmas, Quinn received a book called, The Day the Crayons Quit.  ANT Jally saw it and thought the artist in Quinn would love this book.  The story is adorable and the art work is wonderful.  Q and I have read this book multiple times in the one month he has owned it.  He loves the art in it so much he decided to replicate his favourite illustration in the book.  Thanks Jally for channeling, encouraging and supporting Quinn's creativity.

This is the drawing in the book.

This is Quinn's version.  He took about 10 minutes to do this, handed it to me and said, it would be better if the paper was bigger!

HOUSE RULES

This mach subway art was my Christmas gift from Dave.  He said he saw it and instantly thought of me.  We now have it hanging in our kitchen.  Sounds like pretty good House Rules to me.  I love the gift, thank you.

MY LITTLE ARTIST

Quinn continues to crank out a ton of art.  His style is changing a bit, but the bold colours continue.  Here are a few of my latest faves.  All of these are done in about 20 minutes, right before going to sleep for the night.  It's as though he has to get one last colouring adventure out on paper before being able to shut it down for the night.

Beaver

He calls this his Cruise Ship

Toaster Head, Fish Bowl Belly Robot

TOO CUTE

I just went downstairs to get a glass of water and found that Kieran had put more water into each of my three tulip vases and taken the time to leave the radio on for them.  When I asked him about it he said that he learned in school that plants need water and sunlight and that flowers that had music played near by grew better.  Totally adorable!  Thank you for looking after my flowers.

CALL IT...

I saw this posted somewhere today and I like it, thought it was worth sharing.  Thankful to have one.

POST CHRISTMAS SLEEP OVER

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Darin gave the boys new pajamas and a bag of popcorn for Christmas with the promise of having the boys for a cousin sleep over.  Well, last Saturday night we headed to Hamilton and Dave and I crashed the party.  We love the time we spend with Kel, Darin, Owen, Kaitlyn, Nora and Maeve as much as Kieran and Quinn do, so thankfully, they allowed us to sleep over too!  We had a "cottage dinner" of burgers, salad and ice cream sundaes, played the newest board game, Quelf and laughed lots.  Thanks to Team Hamilton for hosting us yet again, we love the time we spend with you.

Quinn brought 1 piece of paper and a pencil in the car and this is what he drew as we drove to Hamilton

Groovy Hair Group

Quelf Team M.O.Q.

Aunt Kelly having to stand up and sit down 7 times with a shoe on her head, success!

Cutefaces

Waffle Breakfast

RAPTORS COURTSIDE

Wednesday January 8th arrived and boy oh boy was there ever a great deal of excitement in our house.  Before bed on Tuesday evening Quinn had taken special care in picking out the perfect outfit to wear to the Raptor game, he even went so far as to select clothes for Kieran.  Q wore red jeans, a black long sleeve shirt with a white t-shirt over top and the on top of those 2 shirts he wore his red tank top.  He chose red jogging pants, black t-shirt and black long sleeve shirt for Kieran.  He wanted the Raptors to know he was there cheering for them!  Dave, Kieran and Quinn left to meet Grampa Claw at the ACC and I received a few photos from the game showing off their incredible seats and letting me know everyone was having fun.  I was amazed that the boys lasted most of the game, arriving home a few minutes before 10pm that night.  Raptors won with over 100 points which meant free Pizza Pizza with their ticket the next day, does it get much better?  Thanks Grampa Claw for yet another incredible experience with these little people.

Thanks Grampa!

Cotton Candy, hot dogs, tattoos on the head, all on a school night!

The view - Amazing seats!

TAKE 2 JAMAICA STYLE

Tom and Mum decided that Jamaica for the first round was outstanding fun for all of us and graciously offered to do it again.  We were in shock, thinking that was a trip of a lifetime, but obviously extremely excited to go back.  The joke that Kieran showed up at the airport asking was: "How many people went to Jamaica for first time?  Answer, 11.  How many people are going this time? Answer, 12, that's because "OLIVER (all of our) family is going this time."  With one new addition, Oliver, to our extended family since our last trip, we were happy to have everyone there.  We are beyond grateful to Grampa Claw and Grams and taking us all away yet again, thank you does not adequately say enough.  We feel so blessed to be surrounded by a family that loves one another, appreciates one another and enjoys the time they spend together.  Thank you for creating life long memories with us.  These trips will never be forgotten!

Oliver crashed on Grampa in Pearson awaiting our departure, not a bad way to start the trip.

Captain Quinn and First Officer Kieran

Kieran challenged China to do the "worm" on the beach.  She cheated, several times!!!

And we all laughed

Q loving the Lazy River

All 12 of us

Jacob, Heather and Oliver

Race You Dad!

Jal, Mum and me

Q doubles up his Lemonade order while Kieran sticks to a strawberry daquiri

The race to kayak across the pool, chug a beer and kayak back.  Dave did the chugging on behalf of the underage paddler.

New glasses from ANT Jally

Happy Oliver

Cheers!

Oh no Oli, what happened to your face?

Grams, Kieran and Grampa Claw

BABY AT THE BAR!

K tried scuba diving in the pool and LOVED it.

Happy 3rd Birthday Charlotte and Jacob!

Chocolate Lips!

Releasing balloon wishes on New Years Eve Day

Lounging in the pool with my boys

New Year Eve Day 2pm, seemed appropriate to double dip...

Me and Charlotte admiring the swan cake at New Years Eve dinner

2014 ice sculpture

New Years Beach Party

A few of my favourite people.

THE CLAW

Kieran's coconut buddy, Harry!

Firework celebration at midnight.

Quinn, do you need help getting out???

Sleeping and buried boy on the beach!

2 monkeys in the tree