Frances Moving & Grooving...

Frances is now a speedster around the house.  She tries all sorts of different crawling positions now, and is able to stand pretty well when balancing on something and she crouches and gets up and down with ease.  Here is the video proof. You will note that she walks around pushing things... She tries all sorts of things and I think it is great!

Teresa Playing During Fall

Teresa loves being outside and playing...  Here she is outside enjoying the nice late fall we had (all these leaves came down overnight after a harsh frost, and were still green).  She also loves her bubble mower, so she can be like daddy...  To that end Santa brought her a snow shovel so she can spend more time outside helping out daddy :)

Christmas Morning (& Christmas Eve Special).

Some day this blog may return to its photo filled goodness, but until then I will continue to pummel you with videos...  So here are the videos of our Christmas morning.  At the end you will get to see a video of me being led around by Teresa on a leash as her unicorn.  She has repeated this indignity to me recently by saying I am a reindeer.  No one can ever claim that I do not indulge my daughter's in play.

So without further adieu (once again in two parts due to 10 minute YouTube restrictions) is our Christmas morning as a family.  I chuckled often when editing this one remembering the funny and cute moments.





And yes, here is my humiliation. You are not allowed to utter any dirty thoughts about what you see, as this is a young child playing with her father.

Teresa Dances!

Teresa is a musical kid, sadly her parents are tone deaf and have all the rhythm you would expect a geek and a Menno to have.  She tries hard though.  She loves singing the chorus to "Angels we Have Heard on High" and she does it with gusto.  She also has a number of other songs in her repertoire.  Sadly so far she seems to not understand 'Key' (not that I could explain it to her), but she is taking it upon herself to learn how to dance, and she already knows more moves than my 1 (I call it the 'White Man's overbite').

Here are a couple of videos of Teresa dancing in the house.  I must say I personally hate 'So You Think You Can Dance', but Cara watches it and I do find Teresa's dancing to it HILARIOUS.

Teresa and Frances Playing

Teresa and Frances sure do love each other.  Frances crawls into Teresa's room whenever possible and Teresa tries to play with her as much as possible.  Of course their relationship isn't perfect, but let's just say that it seems better so far than the relationship I recall between the two sisters I know that were born one after the other...

Here we go, all the fun and tears of the girls playing together.

And yes, this video is posting while we are (hopefully) en route.  God Bless scheduled posts!

Frances Eating

If you haven't seen it (or are among those that are about to witness it and are wondering what you are in for) here it is.  The most awaited video of the 2009 fall YouTube season: Frances Eating.  Please note, fathers were injured by sprayed by peas in the making of this video.  We would like to apologize for that and will have better father handlers on set for future videos.

Merry Christmas!!

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." - Matthew 1:20-21


May the joy of the birth of the Christ child be with you all year.

Kids these days...

So demanding...

So yes auntie, I took the picture from its frame, scanned it, tweaked it in Photoshop and am now ready to post the Santa picture.  According to Cara, the elf got the picture (at Polo Park) momentarily before Frances melted down.  Cara was disappointed.  I am disappointed.  The elf didn't understand why we would want a picture of our daughter howling.  As Fiddler on the Roof would tell us "Tradition"!

This was also the first year when Teresa had an actual conversation with Santa. It went something like this:

Santa: Teresa, what would you like for Christmas?

Teresa: I would like to give you the cookie mommy and me baked just for you.

Anything else?

Nope.

Thank you, I'm sure the cookie is delicious.

Yes, it is.

I love that our kid's Christmas wish was for Santa to simply enjoy the cookie she made for him.....priceless.

Frances' 10 Month Photo Session

Normally I am not about for these photo sessions and I merely see the end results - super cute pictures of our super cute kids.  Now that I have seen the magic that is these photo sessions I am now also amused by what goes on behind the scenes.  This was, according to Cara, a complete disaster as Panny decided to explore the chair (including almost falling off).  We all stood behind Cara in the vain hope she would look our way, and then during the 2 second focus / flash lag she would turn away.  So here are the best of the 50 (I'm guessing, but I had to delete a lot of pictures of half heads, etc) pictures that Cara took.

Trimming the Tree...

I know it was weeks ago, but here is the video of us trimming our Christmas tree...

It has begun...

Apparently while I was gone today Cara was told by Teresa that daddy would have read her one more story, and would have cuddled her in bed. Cara informed her that she was mommy and she wouldn't.

Anyhow, more videos... I have uploaded two, the first is some old clips from Ottawa. It is near impossible for me to recall Frances so small, and I may add that I love Teresa shooting Jackie.


The second video was taken a few days ago. Teresa wanted me to fly her boat, which being a cardboard box would be much too dangerous. I instead used a plastic grocery bin. I find it hilarious she tells me she has reindeer.

Teresa's Christmas Concert

Yesterday I was able to free myself from work long enough to attend Teresa's first ever Christmas concert. Sadly, I think I have been to the pinnacle and only have a downward slide from now.  It was among the cutest things you could ever witness, and I brought the camera so I can share it with all of you in the world of the interweb.  It is on YouTube in 2 parts due to their insane 10 minute limit.

The concert consisted of the class singing a few songs, playing instruments and then Santa arriving.  I will let the 12+ minutes of video speak for themselves.

Part I:


Part II:


I made a pile of videos from old footage (crawling, etc...) so expect a pile of posts over the next few weeks with videoish goodness.

C Minus 10!

With 10 days to go we are pretty much ready for Christmas.  Cara and I have essentially finished buying gifts and wrapping them.  The trim is trimmed, and the wreaths are hung.  Snow is finally on the ground, matching the -30 weather we've been experiencing.  It is really beginning to look and feel like Christmas, and thusly we have been baking (Cookie Monster Cookies presently) and watching classic TV specials with the girls, such as Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Muppet Family Christmas, et al.  It has become apparent to me that things like this are so much better when watched with your children.

Sadly though we had our first Christmas cry this weekend when we first put gifts under the tree (I have been told this is torturous and cruel to do so early, but to those Scrooges I say Bah, humbug!).  Teresa woke up and excitedly said "PRESENTS!" and then I explained them to her and how we had to wait but could look at them and shake them.  Initially she decided that all small gifts were Frances, somewhat bigger hers and the large ones mine.  Once Cara got up, I heard an excited scream to wit Teresa was saying "I can play with these downstairs".  Teresa had opened up a set of play cutlery that she knew was hers, and Cara dealt with the tears.  All is well now and the gifts have been untouched under the tree...

Beyond that things are winding down at school, and my wonderful family came by for 10 minutes before today as we needed to trade up the van.  We had a great visit (I never get tired of people telling me how wonderful & cute the kids are) and I drove them home and had to turn and burn.  In a moment that I suppose can be used as evidence of my lack of so-called 'true' manhood in the future, Teresa puddlified my heart.  I said to her, "I love you Teresa, but daddy has to go back to work now." Teresa then threw herself at me half-crying, "But daddy I love you, I need you here."  Man she's been practicing well...

As always here are some pictures from recent days, and I just realized one last noteworthy point...  Frances may have given up on her morning nap.  Today she chose not to and was a trooper until a long afternoon nap.:

Not that Frances is quite petite, but look at the ginormity of the snowsuit we bought for her.  It was a 6-12 month and 17 - 22 pound outfit.  She is presently just under 10 months and 16 1/2 pounds.  She is presently wearing the blue snowsuit from Teresa's youth (3-6 month) and it is pretty good.

I bought Teresa some bubble bath and this was her first bath.  I can't recall what these were, but they were something.  She lvoes bubble bath but she had a bad reaction last time likely due to a long bath and dry skin.

Trimming the tree.  Note all the non-breakable decorations.  As an aside I bought the LEDs that look like old lights this year and am pleased by them.

The angel.  Teresa insisted it not go on the top.  I won.

A normal day of mayhem & mess in the girls' room.  Frances now will crawl in there on her own and play with Teresa (or wake her in the morning to a loud, loving "PANNY!" from her sister.

Matching PJ's (What Santa doesn't bring me grandpa & grandma will).

Yup that is out gingerbread house.  100% daddy and Teresa made goodness.

Cara acquired a box recently and it is Teresa's boat.  They have spent time painting it.  As you can clearly see this is a cargo boat.

I put Frances in there to play with Teresa and it was a hit with both of them.

I included this so Aunt Carolyn can see Teresa's paddling stroke.  It needs some work, I hope you can help her improve on it soon.

Well, all I know is Teresa likes hiding in the box too, so there she is buried at the bottom...

Randomness as the Christmas Season Has Begun...

Well, advent is here and that means that Cara has begun to dress the house up. Just some random observations, funny stories (to me), etc... about the past week or so. I know Cara has the long, well written posts that pertain to great ideals. Me? I post stuff.

First, I just finished watching Muppet Family Christmas with Teresa. Some things are just a billion times better when done with your children (even when she pushed YOU away as you try to cuddle).

Secondly, we have had snow. It is still kinda here. Teresa was convinced that "snow = christmas eve". Somehow we dodged that bullet.

Teresa and Frances had their first bath together where they actually played with each other (before it was a throw Frances in and wash super fast deal). It was hilarious. They splashed each other, giggled, dumped water over their heads...

BTW has Cara ever mentioned that at preschool it has been noted that Teresa has been asked to "Be more gentle" and "Have an indoor voice"? Personally, both are lost causes.

Yesterday I had Teresa playing with her Little People creche, and gave her Joseph and explained he was Jesus' daddy. Teresa informed me that "No, the angel lives with Mary". Me thinks we have a little work to do with her.

As per Teresa, Frances' new nickname is 'Panny' (pronounced like "fanny"). This is a shortening of Francey-Pants to just a bit of the second word.

I know there is more that can be said, I just can't recall it. And now I will steal some awesome pictures Cara took and post them in my post.

Just recalled... Teresa now will sit on my lap for a 30+minute story with very few pictures in the book. I really need to get her to read...

And lastly, Teresa is now trying to stretch her bedtime. One day she was up at 10:00 and told Cara that she closed her eyes but couldn't sleep... Poor girl.

p.s. I posted a new banner a month ago and no one noticed. \Enorme Soupir\

I will let the above pictures speak for themselves. Cara did deem the camera more important than the saving of our daughter.

Once again, I got nothing. I wasn't home but I assume that minimal clothing = easier clean-up.

This is just such a darn good picture.

Teresa & the Puddling of my Heart

I am not sure if it is something all fathers experience, but I know that my girls have been successfully melting my heart since they were born. Teresa though is honing her technique finely and is becoming exceedingly effective at it. Her new thing now is randomly telling me "I love you too" (even if I haven't said it first) and asking for cuddles at bed time. Tonight she stroked my head like I have stroked her head... She is awesome.

Teresa is getting more and more independent too. I don't recall Cara mentioning it, but she now can do up buttons, put on most of her clothing (and sometimes correctly!), and she will get herself up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom... She just keeps getting bigger and amazing me in new ways. She is starting to know her letter sounds and can count ordered objects fairly well (sometimes she forgets to stop).

Here are a few pictures I have recently taken that I don't think Cara has posted that I quite like.

She is a darling... And yes, she is now normally out of focus

Yes Frances is upset, but this is how the two girls seem to play with each other. Teresa really likes helping out now, primarily by telling Frances 'no' to things we have already deemed not allowed, and then carrying her away if need be...

That is my girl who pulled herself up onto my leg. She now uses her easel, car & walker to push around the house and walk.

Outtakes

I think it is worth mentioning that I now have to use the sports function on our camera when I take pictures of Frances. Even so.....

9 Months

Frances, you are 9 months old, and what a 9 months it's been. You are crawling so fast, pulling yourself up on the couch and scooting along.  It also seems as if you used up all your crankiness in the first 3 months of life. Now you are a delight and a joy, always smiling (unless Teresa tries to put a hat on you, or sits on you). You have caused many a heart palpation with your obsession with putting potential death traps in your mouth. You are eating three meals of solids a day, and man can you pack it away. I don't know where you put it all, considering you are a petit 16 pounds. You love the colour red, toys that flash and play music and your favourite part of the day is when Mommy sings to you (poor muffin, to have been born into a family who is tone deaf, but you don't seem to mind.) You go crazy when you see Bob the Tomato (I think it's the red) and dance to Veggie Tales. My days with you are filled with joy and laughter, and with Christmas coming up, I can't wait to see what you will destroy.

Note - Photo shoot outtakes to follow soon! 

Things That Make Me Laugh

Here are some moments I captured over the past few days that made me laugh, and that in turn stopped my decent into madness. Well, okay, it didn't stop it, but it certainly slowed it down a touch.

Teresa at breakfast

So, if I don't tell you Ken took this picture he will pout. Ken took this picture. Those of you that have known me a long time will recognize the look on Teresa's face. My friend Rachel calls it the "Friesen Stare".....God help us all.

Oh Rowdy. He stayed like this for a good 10 minutes.

Please note the two magnetic pens hanging from her shirt. That was a discovery she make all on her own. She called it a bow.

Eeeewwwww, Frances!

TMI

This morning, as I was making my breakfast shake Teresa was telling me everything that was going into it. When we got to the fiber powder she looked at me and said "Mommy, that is fiber powder and you put it in your body and it helps you poop." I swear to God, that is a direct quote. Maybe I can start forcing her to work as a nutritionist.....

She's so serious, but, then again, being a princess is serious stuff.

Retreiver?

I think Ken and I's decision to let Rowdy raise Frances, upon deeper reflection, has proven to be a poor one. Frances has taken to her retriever training like a fish to water. Currently, her favourite activity is to find an object on the floor, put it in her mouth, and crawl around with it. While I am proud that she is proving to be a quick learner, I can't help but feel this will affect her negatively in the future.

Okay, I know she isn't carrying anything in this one, but it's so friggin' awesome I had to include it.