Adventures in Mexico

Hola Amigos, we are back from a great week in sunny Mazatlan. Despite a few medical mishaps and Griffin being on a sleeping strike (except for the beach naps), the week was really amazing. We stayed at El Cid Marina which is a little bit out of the havoc zone and it too, was amazing, so clean and quiet - no fighting over poolside loungers or to get the last of the guacamole at the buffet. But what trip wouldn't be complete without at least one trip to a Mexican hospital (NOTE: all males may want to skip reading this part!). Poor Jasper ended up with a bad case of paraphimosis (just Google it, and be ready to cringe) and ended up in emergency at midnight the first day we arrived. However, we were pleasantly surprised to find a clean quiet hospital and top notch care (with english speaking doctors for us gringos). Jasper was "fixed" (not fun) and sent off with some prescriptions and was really none the worse for wear - what a trooper! Luckily Jasper was still able to swim and go in the ocean, I can't imagine how 6 days at the indoor Mexican McDonalds playground would have gone over.....
Oh, and of course we forgot our battery charger so we are waiting on Gma and Gpa to send over their pics, will post a few from before the camera died and some from our video camera.

Mexican Night at the El Cid Castilla - Mediocre buffet, but great headwear!

Jasper and Aaron in one of the two pools at the resort (and the one that Jasper didn't poop in!)

Griffin's favorite place to take a siesta - on the beach under the palapas!

Taken seconds before a massive faceplant by Griffin....we did a day trip to Mazaguas waterpark - super fun, super quiet but also a little sketchy. Poor Grandpa ended up as the next medical casualty of the trip thanks to some overzealous sledding!

Siesta Time!

Again, I have been very neglectful of the blog, but for a very good reason. Basically all of my spare moments (ha ha) have been spent building the website for Team Finn - my Ride to Conquer Cancer team site, and a site to honor Finn's memory. As well, this day especially makes why I am riding all that much more important as we lost a member of our extended family today - may Uncle Barrie rest in peace after his brief but brave fight with cancer.

Have finally created a YouTube account so I can post more videos without bogging down my blog. Aaron also broke down and bought a mini sized video camera that we might actually use more than once a year (sorry kids!). Anyways, Griffin is inching his way closer to walking - he can now stand unassisted for up to 10 seconds, and has attempted a few steps. He definitely has the bravery gene so hopefully it won't be long!
Griffin's First Steps?

Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet, Give me something good to eat!

So cute - no wonder they all cleaned up in the candy dept.

Griffin liking the vanilla cake, but almost too tired to care

Griffin and LC hanging out. LC is getting some groovy Trump-like hair!

Griffin and his older woman Halle!

Jasper and his pal Jack at Escuela

What a sugar sodden week it has been between all the bday cake for Griffin and the pounds and pounds of Halloween treats. I have managed to maintain a modicum of composure and have only packed away an average of 4.2 mini chocolate bars per day which I think is pretty darn good considering the huge stash thats currently in the fridge.

Now that the sugar rush is over we are counting down the days til Mexico...uno mas cerveza por favor!!!

Oh Baby How You've Grown!

This was wee Griffin one year ago today..."I'm free, i'm free!"

Its hard to believe that an entire year has passed since wee Griffin came in this world. He is the most chilled out little dude, the biggest cuddle bug, and the BEST eater (if not sleeper - ah well). He is on his way to toddling, and is trying so so hard. Thanks to a new fancy walker from Mimi and Papa, perhaps it will be sooner rather than later!

Griffin continues to work on his thick layer of chub, he has mommy and daddy to thank for that as we were both chunky babes. We don't have the official weigh in until Monday but I imagine he'll tip the scales around 25lbs!!

Griffin idolizes his big brother and somewhat unknowingly knows already how to push all his buttons, just the start of many many many many years of mommy having to break up brotherly beatdowns.

Happy birthday sweet baby boy. Mommy needs to go cry now...no more babies...and no more calling you baby Griffin I suppose. Love always xox

Griffin giving his best triple chin look

Getting spoiled by Mimi and Papa!

Digging into the chocolate cake which he didn't really like eating much (although I can't blame him it was dry - bad mommy)

Working on his 4th chin!

Thanksgiving 2009

The Cousins

Griffin and Ole Mor getting some cuddle time

The soon to be Cedar Ave Industrial Court - watch out Donald Trump!

Little Boys in Blue

Seems like not long ago I was sitting at the kids table for Thanksgving!

Griffin and LC hanging out

Jasper and his bud Amelia playing Ballerinas - hee!

Ok, so am I way late again with posting. Things have been really busy these past few weeks as I have been yet again a "contract" working woman of the world (full time mommy-hood excluded), as well as developing the "pro-bono" division of Fifth Gear Solutions. We recently launched V2 of www.mamamaven.ca, my lovely friend Tanis is really starting to gain momentum out there with her wonderful workshops and I am happy to be a part of her important little business. As well, I have been working on designing a website for Team Finn, and a website for our familial industrial venture that is under construction in Summerland currently - whemph! Go Fifth Gear go!

So, back to Thanksgiving. yet again we were able to do the double feed - once here in town at Greg and Al's and another up in Summerland. Yum! We also had the chance to visit the construction site for the Cedar Ave Industrial Court - Team Nielsen's first foray into commercial real estate development and hopefully not the last! Jasper and Griffin had so much fun playing with cousins, and Jasper even got to "sleep over" with Everett in Mimi's closet - so cute to hear all the giggles and fun (although not as much fun for Mimi who had to try to get them to sleep!).

Next post - Griffin's 1st Birthday! Sniff, my baby is going to be a big boy soon : (

Confessions of an iPhone Addict

Jasper and I went on a little adventure across the seabus downtown and at the shoe store I asked him to pick out a pair of shoes for mommy. These are the ones he picked and proceeded to try on for me - hoorah for fake-python stilletto booties!

Crusin with the walker at Mickey McDougall - we are getting braver every day!

Thanks Grandma for the new toque!

The only use for the easel these days - splash eachother with the water that collects after each rainfall

Proud Grandma!!

Griffin and his favorite pasttime - eating!!

Jasper "Finding Nemo" at Children's Hospital. Griffin's ENT has an amazing waiting room!

Griffin at BabyEats - loving being uber mobile these days.

Ok, so the entire month of September is gone and we are half way through October and I have grossly neglected my parental responsibility of blogging/bragging about my children and documenting their growth on film and blog. This, I blame on my new (ish) iPhone and my poor kids will look back on these past 6 weeks worth of iPhone only photos and say "Mommy, you were such a neeeeerrrrrrrdddddd and these photos are teeerrrrriiibbbblllleeee!!!".

Ah well, the fall trundles along and we are gearing up for Griffin's first birthday on the 28th. Jasper's fall line-up includes school (escuela) Mon and Wed, plus Gymnastics, plus Music, plus Karate (well, maybe not since the Sen-sei scares him and to be honest he scares me a little too). I started swimming with Griffin every Wed morning while Jasper is at school and he has taken to it like a fish to water. Jasper has pretty much officially given up the afternoon nap and now partakes in quiet time each afternoon, which has complicated my life since now I have to keep him busy 11 or his 12 wakeful hours - sigh.

NHL Draft 2024?!

What could be more Canadian than strappin on the (Lightning McQueen) skates early on a Saturday morning?! As soon as Jasper is able to stand on the ice without Aaron holding onto him for dear life we will beon our way to the NHL! No pressure of course....

PNE 2009

Jasper and Grandma going for a slide!

One more year til Griffin will get a ride in something other than the stroller!

Auntie Alison and LC visiting the goats

Jasper and tons of "Ming-Mings"

The Cousins

Ok, so I swore that I would never waste the money again to attend the PNE when you can simply go to Playland for a third the cost and a third the chaos and crowds. But, it was simply too tempting to join cousins Marley, Paige and LC and Grandma for a sunny day of fun and kiddie rides and those little donuts - yum.

10 Months!

This month was a big "girth" month for Griffin - I think his thigh circumference has at least doubled and it feels like so has his weight! Maybe this explains the voracious appetite? A few more teeth have made an appearance making a grand total of 10 and counting. The cruising is picking up speed and he is standing on his own for a brief second until he realizes what is happening. Happy bday my little boy!

Farewell Team Scotland

A lovely last day with Team Scotland. Picnic on the beach and muy bien dinner chez Aleman. Alas we will miss the clan so much. Until we meet in the Bridge in 2010!

Leslie the dog made with Love by Auntie Caldero

Auntie Feathers and the Griff - a lovely pair! (and no, I didn't post the semi-porn kiss shots!)

Its Brangelina! No wait its Feathers trying to keep control of the kids!

Table for cuatro

Toast to the Sunshine Coast!

Savage and The Griff chatting on the ferry

Team Scotland pre-dinner and post many glasses of vino!

MegaDob flexing his muscles

Griff still smiling despite post kiss from Sage!

Griffin and I just got back from a lovely trip to the Sunshine Coast to visit with our good friends Shark/Ty and Team Scotland. It was our first visit to Shark and Ty's new palace on the water and we weren't disappointed! Griffin in fact liked it so much he decided that he didn't really want to sleep at all lest he miss some of the fun at 11pm, 12am, 1am etc etc... Sigh.

Anyways, was nice to be treated to fresh crab and prawns (all 6 of them - damn poachers!) and of course lots and lots of alcohol, chocolate and good laughs. Since Aaron and Jasper had the camera up in the Okanagan, all I have are some semi-crappy photos taken from my iPhone.