Twinkle Twinkle

This video is several weeks old, but we just found it on the computer and had to share. 

A little duet for their little sister: We love Isaac's lyrics at the end: "Twinkle twinkle little star. Ruthie Ruthie Ruthie Roo"

Sleeping Ruthie

Sweet little Ruthie, napping in her crib

She has been really sleepy since her 2 month vaccinations yesterday. At her appointment, we found out that she is up to 13 lbs 11 oz, and 24 inches long. That isn't much difference than the boys at 2 months, even though she had a head-start in her size at birth.

The Learning Tower

After seeing Learning Towers online, we thought it would be great for how much the boys like to help in the kitchen. The price tag was pretty steep , and we didn't even consider buying one. Then, we saw a tutorial online to build one. Enter our fantastic friend Julien. He built us this awesome replica, making his own plans to improve both the original and the plans we saw online. What a guy! :) Thanks Julien!!

Here is Isaac, putting it to good use and helping Jane make some cookies.

After Julien made ours, we saw it featured in Canadian Family magazine.

Just Like Dad

This picture is a couple of months old, but we forgot to share it. Isaac looks so much like Josh!

Little Artist

The boys draw and colour a lot, but it's usually mostly scribbles and out of the lines. We were recently wondering when they would start to try to stay within the lines, or make doodles that we can understand. Just a day or two later, Isaac drew his first picture that actually looks like something! He says it's Josh. The shape of his face and eyes are easy to see, but Isaac tells us that all the orange stuff is his whiskers.

Ruthie

Just a few random pictures of Ruthie from the last couple of weeks to share

Snow Days!

The snow is finally starting to melt, which reminded us that we forgot to share these pictures of some fun in the snow from a few weeks ago.

Isaac isn't standing in front of.the snowbank. The snowbank had just been trucked away by the city, because they were so high that it was getting dangerous for traffic. (He is standing on what used to be the snowbank) It's been a crazy winter!

The slide at the playground isn't very fun when we've got this much snow. Not much left to slide down!

 

The kids were light enough to walk on top of the snow...

 

But Josh kept sinking in. And not thinking when we left the house, he wore sneakers which kept getting stuck in his sink holes.

Again, this shows how deep the snow is, as Josh is sitting on the top of the park bench.

This is the best we could do trying to get the kids to stay together for a picture!

The snowbank at our front door has been huge for months. Look at how tiny the boys' dump truck looks up there!

"Friends Give Friends A Hand"

Jane was taping the boys as they raced around the family room a couple weeks ago. We can't help but smile while watching the end of the clip. After Simon falls, listen to hear Isaac say: "I'll help you get up, because friends give friends a hand." Priceless.

Cat in the Box

When we were in Taxis River for Josh's Grandmom's funeral, the boys had fun getting into things at Elwood and Jane's (Josh's aunt and uncle).

What do you suppose they are packing in that box?

 

Can you squint and see it in there? That's right - it's a cat! One heck of a patient and gentle cat.

Simon (our shoe man) had fun trying on Benji's work boots...

And we think he looks even cuter in the box than the cat.

Ruthie's Baptism

After lots of rescheduling because of the recent deaths in our families, we held Ruthie's baptism on the same same as Nanny McNulty's funeral. Ruth's middle name (Margaret) is after Nan, and we all took a little comfort in the idea of their two souls sharing the day. 

Father Bill, Grampie Logan's first cousin, is the priest who married us and has baptized all of our kids. He always has such kind and encouraging words, and simple clear messages. We are so fortunate to have him around!

Thanks to Auntie E for taking a few pics of Ruthie's big day.

Here is Isaac, standing at attention and trying his hardest when asked to help hold something for Father Bill. That lasted about 3 minutes, until he said in a stage whisper: "Hey Dad, do you want to help Bill?" And once his job was done, he announced: "Excuse me. Excuse me, everyone. I don't want to be a helper." Oh, the honesty of a three-year-old!

 Grampy McNulty used to joke that you know "it took" if the baby cried. And cry she did!

We were so happy to have Jane's brother Joe with us to be Ruthie's Godfather. Jane's cousin Martha is the Godmother but unable to make it from Massachusetts for the baptism, so Nan stood in. Ruthie will get to meet her wonderful Godmother when they visit in April.

1917-2011

Josh's Grandmum, Roberta Gibson, passed away a week ago today at 93 years old. It's been a tough/busy/emotional couple of weeks for us!

Grandmum was always so kind and welcoming to us when we would go visit her in Taxis River. She loved to call Josh "my first grandchild", and Josh's aunt Jane told us that she would refer to Isaac and Simon as "those precious boys" when she talked about us. Not many people get to meet their great-grandparents, but we are so happy that our kids have had the opportunity to meet 4 of theirs.

Here are a couple pictures of  a  visit to Grandmum's.

Looks like she and Josh are telling Isaac to smile for the camera...

...too bad he didn't oblige. :)

And here they are with the rest of their Gibson family (except Aunt Jane), who live right next door.

And here is Isaac playing with aunt Jane in front of Grandmum's house

1915-2011

Jane here, wondering how to begin this post. My dear Nan, Margaret McNulty or Nanny Mamulty according to our boys, died one week ago today.

Nan moved in with us when I was 14 years old. Having your grandmother on site has the obvious perks (baked goods!), but I can't explain all the little things that living with an elder can give you: opportunities to help each other, to teach each other, to laugh with each other, etc, etc, etc.

She had genuine care and concern for us without ever being nosy or over-bearing. She would be happy to talk about anything you liked, but would never seek information or judge. She didn't even really give advice. She simply served as an open ear, a smiling nod, and would offer a few words that could help lead you to your own decision. I recall standing with her about 7 years ago in her kitchenette making something (I really wish I could recall what) and she said: "Josh has been hanging around here for quite a while..." That was probably the most she ever inquired about my personal life. It invited me to dish, but it didn't require information. Of course I dished., and we were engaged a few months later. During the final few weeks of our 6-month engagement, Nan was hospitalized for her chronic lung problems. When her doctor was talking about her expected gradual recovery, she said: "Well, I have a wedding to go to in July." She made it out of hospital and danced at our wedding.

Isaac and Simon loved their "Nanny Mamulty." They loved going for rides on her walker, playing with her telephone, and just chatting with her. I think the could always feel how genuine she was and how much she loved them.


As I sat in my parents living room last night, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins celebrating Nan's life over food and drink (the Irish Wake, as we always to call it), I was struck with gratitude. I am so thankful for the memories I have shared with my family, the love they have shown me, and the things I have learned from them. As corny as it sounds, I sat there realizing that everyone was there as a result of Nanny and Grampy, both as individuals and as couple. We are here because of the family they started, and we have the relationships that we do because of the values they instilled in the generations that followed them. I hope that Josh and I can leave behind us a similar family that can love and support each other, and one that would make Nanny and Grampy proud.

Here is some of our clan, this photo taken at Nan's 95th birthday celebrations this past October (missing a couple of grand-children and all the great-grandchildren).

Loving                Loved                   Lovely

...my Dad summed up Nan simply and beautifully with those three words on card for a floral arrangement. (Maybe he missed his calling to Hallmark) Overshadowing everything she ever gave us or taught us, she loved us. She really loved us. Constantly. Unconditionally. Without expectations. And we loved her.

This reading (Micah 6:6-8) was part of her funeral mass, and it spoke to how she chose to live her life.

What shall I bring the Lord, the God of Heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? Will the Lord be pleased if i bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first born child to pay for my sins? No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

Sweet Pea

When we tuck the boys in at night, they often want to sing to Ruthie. Here's Simon singing one of their regular choices (Sweet Pea by Amos Lee) This is a song that we have sung to them since they were little babies, and  it's so sweet to hear them sing it to her.

"Sweet pea, apple of my eye, I don't know when and i don't know why 

but you're the only reason I keep on coming home."

A Few Funnies

Last Friday, the boys stayed overnight at Nan and Pop's when we went to a weekend workshop. Simon had a long nap on Saturday afternoon, and Nan suggested to Isaac that they wake him up. Isaac said: "Okay- I better go be with him though. You know, in case he wakes up and misses our parents." How precious is it that he was looking out for his little brother?

Overheard at home...

Simon: "Want play basketball, Isaac?"

Isaac: "No, I'm into break-dancing now"

And here's a conversation Isaac had with some stationary supplies while sitting at the kitchen  table:

"Hi Pencil. Nice to meet you. I'm Tape.
Hi Tape. Nice to meet you. I'm Ribbon.
That's a Cat Pencil. He's kind of a silly guy.
These are the crafts here. We're not done."

One Month Old

Ruthie went for her one-month appointment today. She didn't get her vaccinations because of the yucky cold she caught from her brothers, so we'll go back  next week to check up on the cold and maybe get the vaccine. She's up to 11lbs 12 oz and smiled at the doctor the whole time, despite her sniffles and cough.

 Sweet little Ruth, fresh from the tub

 

Is this not the cutest hooded towel that you've ever seen?! It was a gift from our friend Laura, who always finds the sweetest stuff!

Sparklers and Sprinkles

On Jane's birthday recently, Auntie helped the boys bake a cake. They had lots of fun, presumed from the squeals overheard - we only watched them put on the sprinkles just before lighting the sparklers.

 

Simon was delighted with the sparklers...then he got bored and decided to eat the leftover sprinkles directly from the bowl.

 

Isaac obviously thought that was a great idea and joined him.

 

 Crazy little boys

Nap in the Sun

Ruthie had a momentary nap in Isaac's bed  the other day. Sun was pouring in the window on her, and she just looked so peaceful.

 

And look at that cute little rump sticking up.

Big Brothers

Isaac and Simon have different ways of showing they care for their sister.

Isaac likes to hold her (for about 10 seconds at a time) and bring her multiple blankets and stuffed toys.

Simon likes to talk and sing to her, so getting a photo of them together is tough because he always wants to face her instead of facing the camera.

"Wufie Wufie Woo" (ie: Ruthie Ruthie Roo)

Play Dough

Isaac and Simon go through phases of wanting to do a particular thing all the time. 

Last week, it was play dough.

Simon is very detail-oriented, while Isaac thinks that bigger is better.

 

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Proud of his little 'ice cream' cone

Making a few minor adjustments to his sundae

  

After the first upgrade...

After the 10th upgrade...super-sized play dough sundae!