Halloween

My boys LOVE halloween! It all starts after Thanksgiving, we head out to the pumpkin patch. The boys get a kick out of the hay ride to the patch. This year it was soooo muddy (which was just more awesome in the minds of a 3 and a 5 year old). We made our way through the field, and the boys ran around and found their perfect pumpkin. The Fruition pumpkin patch is great for kids. They had hay bale mountains to climb, a hay bale maze (a giant one too), and photo cut outs. We left with two great pumpkins and a whole lot of mud!

This year the boys took their pumpkin carving to a whole new level - with power tools. Max wasn't too sure what to make of them, but he warmed up to the idea and they started blasting those pumpkins. The boys did a great job drawing their pumpkin's faces, Grant went for a spooky look and Max wanted a happy face. Neither of my boys are big fans of the slimy seeds, so there was a lot of scooping with spoons to get everything out.

The last couple of years, they have teamed up so that their costumes are related. When Max was only two months old, Grant was a vampire and Max was his bat and last year they were Buzz and Woody from Toy Story. This year they wanted to be Mario & Luigi, and I have to say they looked pretty cute. We made our usual stops to Grandma & Grandpa's, Memere & Poppa's, and all of their aunt & uncle's houses to trick-or-treat before hitting our own neighbourhood. Their baby cousins, Henry and Shea looked adorable as a dragon and a lion. The boys had a blast running from house to house trick-or-treating. I was surprised that Max lasted for over an hour, Grant could have continued but I was able to talk him into going home to sort his candy. Halloween was a success in the Dowker household!

Wonderfully Windy

Well John, Becky and Brynn win the award for persevering through the windiest session that I've ever had. I was so excited about this great little location that I'd discovered, but hadn't had a chance to use. There was the most amazing fallen down tree, that was perfect for a bench, the trees were brilliant shades of yellow, red, and orange, and there were many stumps, rocks, and other interesting things scattered all around. Well, the sun was shining (which it hasn't been lately), the sky was blue, but the wind was whipping around. We met by the "tree bench", snapped a few, and then decided to explore deeper into the brush, in a hope of finding relief from the strong winds. As we explored the area, we came across a winding path that led to a beautiful open field, that was sheltered from the winds, and everything worked out.

Thanks again John, Becky & Brynn for being up for anything!

Five Minutes

Five minutes is just about the time limit that I can squeeze out of my boys to have their picture taken. Grant really wanted to pick apples this year, but we were having a hard time finding an opportunity on the weekends to go. One school night, after dinner, we hopped in the car and headed towards Picton, crossing our fingers that one of the orchards would be open. They weren`t, the boys were disappointed, so we settled on going for milkshakes instead. It was such a beautiful evening, that I convinced the boys (I think that the milkshakes helped) to stop at a boat launch on the way back to town, and shoot a few photos before the sun disappeared. All I want is one, one shot of the two of them together that I love, then I`m a happy mama:)

A sample of what I usually get from my silly boys!

Outnumbered!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Marnie & I have been good friends for nearly six years now. We met in prenatal class with our first sons in the fall of 2005 and immediately clicked. It's funny though, because her husband's father and step mother have been close friends of my parents for over 25 years - small world!

Anyways, there were four of us who hit it off, and continued to get together with our babes well after we were done with prenatal class. Our kids have been `buddies` as they call each other, since they were born, and there have been several additions to the kiddlet population along the way. Unfortunately we don`t get together as often as we`d like, but we have carved out some traditions such as buddy birthday, our halloween party, summer bbqs and cottage days, and good old fashioned playdates at our homes (as well as the occasional mommy only `playdate` at our favourite restaurants).

Marnie and Ted are pregnant with their second little boy, due at the end of September. Big brother Sam is so excited, and I know that he will fall right into his role once Henry arrives. Marnie looked amazing while she was pregnant. She does the whole pregnant thing really, really well! I was so happy to be able to capture some memories of her belly, and them as a family of three.

I am so happy for you Marnie and Ted, and I can`t wait to see Henry mix and mingle with the big buddies:)

Welcome Shea

I posted a little while back about my sister-in-law, Emma, who gave birth to my first nephew Henry in August. Well, her twin sister, Kate was also pregnant at the same time. They didn`t plan it, but it was an amazing surprise to have both Kate & Emma due 7 weeks apart.

Kate was due on September 28th, but in true `Dowker boy style`, Mr. Shea decided to come late. We were all waiting anxiously to hear that he had been born, and that mom and baby were healthy - and Shea didn`t disappoint. Shea Daniel Millen was born on Sunday, October 2nd just after noon. We are beyond delighted with the newest member of the family, and I became an auntie for the second time! Shea is absolutely perfect, and he is the spitting image of his daddy.

Shea is so well loved by his mom & dad, grandparents, many aunts and uncles, and his three cousins, Grant, Max, and Henry. The grandson population had doubled, and Poppa is already planning out the climber to be built in his backyard for the boys.

Shea with his cousins, Grant (5), Max (3), & Henry (8 weeks).

Shea(7 days) & Henry (8 weeks)