happy birthday simon

witty, affectionate, shy

our softy baby guy

tenaciously two

still you seem new

precious son of mine

Manitoba '08

Highlight #1 Watching the boyz and their cousin James play together. Truthfully they didn't really play together. They played, in the same room, but technically not together. You can tell that they will potentially have use for each other someday. For now it was Emily who was the apple of her cousin's eye and vice versa.

Our dashing boyz got a clean cut just before our trip. Simon wasn't ready for all the texturing and layering Tommy put up with so he got the "10 second tidy". I was ready to 10 second tidy that hairdresser for cutting off Simon's manly sideburns. More MB highlights to come...

This was my 32nd Birthday. To celebrate, I wore a side ponytail and lipstick and served chocolate cupcakes in the backyard. It was fabulous. Actually, it was a flop. We had a heck of a time mushing our cupcakes into the sprinkles to get them to stick. But in the end my kids adored me so I was happy.

Birthday Wishes Matt-We love you and couldn't imagine a sweeter little bro :)Speaking of sweet, look at that 72 hour old Simon! Evidence of what happens in less than 2 years may be analyzed in the motion picture below...

Em's Pic!

New camera + New Software + Zillions of photos + My mom's nagging = Me eventually chucking some pics on the blog even though it drives me nuts that I'm not sorting through all zillion in order to find the best of the best. I'm think'n some of these are pretty cool though.

p.s. Just joking about the nagging part, mom. You've been extremely patient considering that the kid's hair grows another 2 inches between posts.

I keep telling Steve those extra large Tim Hortens do funny things to him.

Our little Plett clans united in March to celebrate Dad's Birthday and we snuck in a little early b-day party for Em too. It was funny, relaxing (parts), noisy and everything I could have hoped for in a 3 day visit. The plan is to have a hundred more moments like these this summer in the prairies!

Kinda worked out the way they refused to sit nice for mommy.

Em was almost finished this one

when she gasped "Oh no! I forgot

to include a cougar!!" And at the last

second: "I have to have a deer in there!"

It's always been about animals with

Emily. Her "Barbie Stage" was almost solely

about the little pets you can get

as accessories. A few years ago she

wanted to stay up late evening after

evening discussing whether it

was possible for her to really

become a tiger trainer one day.

I don't want to disclose too much

about her current aspirations but

do find it hard to imagine her not

working with animals or perhaps for

people. Something that allows her to put her compassion where it's

needed. You know, like caring for her elderly mother and father!

NINE.

Got a scooter, couldn't be cuter

B-day wishes to our first baby

Happy Birthday and many hugs and kisses today to our beloved Granny Shirley.

XOXO

Turning 3 is a wonderful thing.

Happy Birthday Mr. T!

We partied at home for most of the day and then hit the road for some real chaos HERE.

Simon the sixteen month old funny buddy. So easy-going, so loving, so chill. Until he suspects a boundary of any sort. Then prepare for "the pinch". As if out of nowhere, it comes to your back fat. Teeny razor nails and the grip of a hundred men. Through "the pinch", Simon has taught us who will have the last laugh.

6:05 pm tonite
(Pulling up Tommy's socks)
Me: Tommy, if you say "mommy, i love you soo much" then mommy will swooooooooooooooooooon!
Tommy: (thinks it over for a second) Mommy, I love you soo much!!!
Me: (swooning, kissing his face)
(Now fastening his shoes)
Tommy: I no say I love you so much mommy
Me: uh, well, that's not making me swoon
Tommy: (sparkly dimply smile suddenly looking up at me) I say, mommy, your breath is smell GROSS!
Me and Tommy: HAHAHAhahahahHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday James

Unarguably, James is one beautiful babe. He really is one of a kind, well, we've heard anyhow. Not like we actually see him, ever. So, with an ache to devour you little Birthday Sweet, wishing you a happy day! Love your funny family hiding in the mountains, way to your right, if you face the big window.

Emily Elizabeth

Only a glimpse of what has been swirling around Emily's right brain these days. The blank paper before her became the funny little beaver drawing above. This girl is knocking us out with her art, her happy attitude at school and her genuine friendships. Mostly by the way that her sweet Emmy spirit remains constant through the turbulence inherent with being eight-and-a-half and the older sister of two "loud", "boogery", "gross" brothers.