2 years ago . . .

. . . we were only three (but one of us was pretty big).

My initial thought when I contemplate on Matthew and Renee's first 2 years is how much I miss Samuel. Seems weird, I think, but it is what it is. I miss the time I had to be with Samuel, and I think of how much more I remember of his two years than I do of his 3rd and 4th years and of Matthew and Renee's first two years too for that matter.

And then I am overwhelmed by just how much I can love all three kids. Samuel and I had a great time giggling away last night at bedtime and I thought "this has got to be the most I can ever love another human being", and then at dinner tonight Matthew was singing along as I washed his face and I thought "how can I love anyone as much as I love Matthew", and when Renee said "petty blaket" ('pretty blanket" and pulled at Matthews car duvet, not her new pink heart one) and smiled up at me I thought "I love her more than anything". And this is a regular occurrence. I am in awe of each of them and all of them, and the capacity my heart has, all at once.

Here's a little pictorial trip down memory lane

Dinner the night before

T minus two weeks

T minus two weeks

T minus 9 days

T minus 12 hours

Sleeping Beauty, the End of a Temper Tantrum, and Beat It

For the first time in the 726 days since she entered the world, Renee slept through the night. She had done midnight to 5 stretches a couple times, but last night was a full 8 - 6. Bliss, and here's hoping that she'll do it again.

Here she is, the scarf was her addition to her outfit as was the hair band (notable because she already had barrettes too). She's also wearing her "mekiko" (Mexico) soccer t-shirt.

We had 2 birthday parties today - a 4 and a 40. Samuel, Matthew and I went to the 4 and Marc and Renee went to the 40. After spending some lovely time outside, it started to rain and the attendees of the 4 year old party went inside, pizza and cake were eaten, Michael Jackson videos were played. And, Matthew saw a pair of rain boots in the closet. he took his shoes off and put the rain boots on because "ranin ouside mam" (raining outside mom). When Marc came to pick us up, Matthew refused to give up the boots. We ended up taking them off and carrying him to the car in the pouring rain without shoes on. He was furious. To add insult to injury, Samuel was sitting in the car seat Matthew wanted to sit in. He had a tantrum - fists in the air, yelling, whole body shaking. And then the stopped and said "all done", smiled and went to sit in the 3rd row car seat. Here he is in his "mekiko ball" shirt.

Samuel also donned his "verde, blanco y rojo" (green, white and red, colours of the Mexican flag) today. And he did some mean "breaking" (break dancing) while watching Michael Jackson videos on You Tube.

La Poule Maboule

As the end of the school year approaches, school shows and picnics are in full force. Samuel played the part of the Mouton Fiston. He did so well, reciting and singing in French.

Trip To Israel and Other Comments

How Matthew goes up the slide:And down the slide:
And how Samuel does it:
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And a few anecdotes to bring a smile to your face:

At bedtime tonight Samuel announced that he'd be going to Israel tomorrow with two friends from school. While he understood that we may need to cry a little because hed be away, he assured that it would be OK as he'd return by chicken finger day at school

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Matthew ran by a lingerie store this evening. Upon seeing several mannequins in bra and panty sets he points and exclaimed "bed". While Marc is pleased that Matthew is going into life with a positive outlook and confidence, the family is a little concerned about the weaning process.

Matthew also insited on wearing winter boots and sunglasses today. If only we knew where Renee left the camera . . .

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Renee says "la lu" (love you), "pretty", "Mac" (Marc) and "bilbia" (Silvia). She has also decided that she's had enough with being in the toddler room at Daycare and would rather be upstairs in the preschool room. We anticipate her departure for university in the next 12 months.

Samuel Speak (cont'd) and play date

Yesterday during his swimming lesson:

Ima (mom in Hebrew) I want to go swimming but not in the water where it's wet

_________

Today we had a playdate with Samuel's friend C. The boys had a great time growing a beanstock (i.e. piling and patting down sand), making a car (i.e. using pavement paint to paint the old cardboard box that all the summer toys were in, the toys of course were untouched). The car had to have tires which comprised of paper plates taped on to the bottom of the box and a steering wheel which was a plastic cup taped to the inside of the box. Vast amounts of tape were involved.

You'd think that Matthew would have been interested in playing with the older boys but he wasn't and preferred to go on the slide or play with his trains inside.

Renee on the other hand tried her best to be one of the boys. No amount of distraction would get her away from their paint and box. She was frustrated that she could do what they were doing, they were frustrated that she was interfering. But she persisted until she decided that she wasn't a 5 year old boy, and decided she was an adult. All she wanted to do was hold and cut the tape. Nothing else would satisfy her, thankfully pizza arrived shortly thereafter. She ate her pizza as she usually does - just the topping and cheese, off her and my pizza.

Samuel Speak

At school last week:

Samuel - when I grow up, I'm going to marry J and we're going to have 2 brothers and two sisters names Matthew and Renee and S (J's brother) and a dog named R (J's father) and a cat named M (J's mother). And we're not going to go to work or school or anything, just play all day

Eduardo (in his 7 year old wisdom) - what are you going to do for food? if you don't work, you won't have money to buy food?

Samuel - were going to hunt Kindereggs.

____________

At the Royal Ontario Museum:

Samuel - when we go into the Bat Cave I'm going to be scary [sic] so you're going to have to close my eyes [sic].

(he was fine in the Bat Cave after all, until the teens on a field trip started yelling, that scared all of us more than the flying "bats" and "cockroaches" on the ground).

___________


Samuel sings all the time. He makes medleys of songs from all the Jewish festivals Avadim Ainu . . . Degel Sheli . . . Nerli, nerli . . . Eretz, eretz, eretz, etc. etc.

He also loves the Waving Flag song and sings it at the top of his lungs. He also loves to watch the video and can get quite taken with the pictures of Haiti. "Haiti's broken and they can't fix it".

His favourite song: Ha Yom Yom Shishi and Hinei Matov.

A Few Recent Pictures

I'm well behind, so here are a few posts and pics to catch up.


Self-portrait with sister:


Once in a while, my wrists hurt and I hear braces at night, Matthew and Renee are modeling them there:

Renee tries to dress herself, with some success:


But she refers not to have her picture taken, she'd rather have the camera herself:



Matthew loves, loves, loves my shoes, especially these and a pair of red flats.


Not to be left out, here's Renee wearing Marc's shoes:

Our Boys Can Close, and Open

Matthew is obsessed with closing latches, locks, buckles. He'll can easily close the buckles on all three cart seats and the booster seats, he wants to close the childproofing gates.

Samuel figured out how to open the door to our backyard. This is not an easy feat. In addition to having a screen door and glass door that lock, we put a chain on the glass door at least 5' 8" off the ground as a way to "child proof" the door. A few weeks ago, Samuel moved the living room chair to the back door, climbed on it, undid the chain, unlocked the glass door an the screen door. he went outside, and so did Matthew. By the time we realized what had taken place, Matthew was 6 houses down, watching a street hockey game on his way to the park with the swings. Luckily the dad of the kids playing hockey was keeping his eyes out.

Driving

Matthew and Renee went into my Dad's car for the first time a few weeks ago, and loved it.

The love "driving", as does Samuel. For Samuel though, it's for real. I frequently let him drive n my lap for the 6 houses from where we live to my sister's house. Sometimes though, he prefers to stand between the seats and asks me to drive crazy (meaning I accelerate and turn). All three kids roar with laughter.

Matthew and Renee love staying in the car when we get home. They figured out how to turn on every possible button, and best as we try to undo everything they leave on, on more than one occasion a caring neighbor rings the doorbell (usually just as they're about to fall asleep) to let us know that the lights are on, back door is open, etc.

Mazalada

The Mazal family (my mom's side of the family) had it's first ever reunion - dubbed the "Mazalada". We gathered from all over to my uncle and aunt's beautiful home in Monterrey, Mexico. To be surrounded by aunt and uncles who doted on us and our kids, by nieces and nephews who loved playing with them, by cousins to relax with, was priceless. To travel 12 hours each way with connections and layovers, was not so proceless, but we did well all things considered.

Matthew insisted on pulling this carry on bag (could he have subconsciously known it was full of food?), once in a while he stopped to rest, but insisted on doing it himself without help.

Samuel showing matthew the view from the window seat

A view into traveling with 3 young ones

The pool at my uncle and aunt's home. It's a roof-top pool in a home build into a mountain side, aptly dubbed "the spa" by my cousins

All three kids loved the motorized Dora bike . . .

And pushing my aunt Laura, the hostess, on her "car" too

Matthew and Renee enjoyed their first, second, third, etc, popsicles. Lucia, one month their junior, shows them how it's done.

The play ground at my aunt and uncle's house

"And you shall tell your granddaughter" Regi and Renee at the Seder.

Matthew and Samuel had coordinated outfits that matched Renee's (sorry we have no pics)

The girls (my aunts, cousin, mom, sister, Renee) at the hotel

Samuel and Eduardo loved "driving" my cousin "Big Alejandro"'s mini

The three ids on a boat ride, wearing their Canadian Olympic t-shirts

The family enjoying the pool and surroundings

Renee loved wearing her life vest, especially when out of the water. She put it on by herself.

Renee took a day or two to warm up to her great aunts and uncles. Mateo, the host, persevered and soon enough Renee as happy with her "Matoto"

Taking a carriage ride

My uncle and aunt's house

We did a ton of fun activities, this is just one - they have these giant plastic balls for kids to go into a float in a large pool of water. Most kids run around the balls like hamsters, tossing themselves around. Samuel took a more Zen, floating gently approach.

And matthew had his own (age appropriate) pool of balls too

Renee and Lucia (my cousin's daughter) lvoed kissing and hugging each other

My mom and sister let us take their first class seats on the first (and unfortunately shorter) of the flights home

And, if you were wondering what traveling with a four year old and two 20 month olds looks like . . .

Mateo, Laura, Mateo, Moni, Alejandro, Alejandro, Any, Rodrigo, Alejandro, Lucia, Sophie, Maria, Ricardo, Fabi, Julia, Sophia, Cuqui, Sue, Alex, Dave, Seth - que padre la pasamos, Dick y Renee ubieran estado felices, what a great time we had, Dick and Renee would have been proud. XO