This is my duck

Today Maddy was busy making some sort of craft project in the playroom. I walked by and asked her to clean up the mess of scraps on the floor. Then I left and walked into the kitchen.

Maddy: Mama, those papers are not from me. It was Ethan who cut all those papers.
Mom: Well it doesn't matter who cleans it up, as long as it gets done.

Dead silence...

Mom: Is someone going to help me clean up that mess?
Ethan: Not I said the duck.


Ethan: 1 Mama: 0

Dear Ethan, on your wedding day...

OMG will somebody please freeze time! Just a few minutes ago, during dinner, Maddy, Ethan and I were just chatting. I don't remember how we got on the topic, but we started talking about growing up. Here's how the conversation went:

Mom: "When you grow up will you and Ethan live close to each other?"
Maddy: "Yes, I will buy a house near where your house is. Will you still live here?"
Mom: "Well, maybe not in this exact house, but maybe in the next house we buy."
Maddy: "I will see where you live and buy the house right next door. Or if that one isn't for sale, I will buy a different one close by."
Mom: "What about you Ethan? Will you live close by? Then your kids, the cousins, could play with each other."
Ethan: "I will live with Jeh-Jeh."
Maddy: "No Ethan, you can't because I will find someone to marry and live with him."

At this point, I got up and did a few dishes. As I turned back Ethan asked me in a bit of a shaky voice:

Ethan: "Mama, when you marry, you come back?" (I think he was asking if when you marry someone, do you get to come back and live at home.)
Mom: "Well, when I married Papa, I lived with him."
Ethan: "Mama, when you marry, you come back?" in an even shakier voice. Then he burst into huge tears!!

Ugh, it was all I could to keep myself from breaking down too. I love you sooooo much Ethan. I'm quite sure that on your wedding day, the tears will be from me and not the other way round.

For now, I'll hold onto these days for as long as I can.

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend was the BEST!! The last couple of years we have been in Hawaii for Easter and so at first I was a little sad that we were staying home this year. Boy, was I wrong! The days off from work were so much more appreciated when we stayed home. I guess that's what they call a 'staycation'.

We started on Friday with dim sum with some friends we haven't seen in a long time. It was great to catch up with everyone and we haven't been for dim sum in a while, so the kids were very excited. That evening, my parents came to babysit and we enjoyed a great night out with other friends. It was awesome to have some adult conversation, along with great food and good wine.

On Saturday we went to Thunderbird Rec. Centre for their Easter breakfast and egg hunt. It was so well organized and had such a variety of things to do.

On Sunday, we packed a picnic lunch and headed off to Lynn Canyon to go for a hike. The water level of the river was much higher so we couldn't play down by the river, but the kids didn't mind. The weather was gorgeous and the kids did very well. They went up all those steps on their own and all the way to Rice Lake and back. While at the lake, we even got to see the excitement of a little boy and his dad catching a fish! The kids were super excited.

Finally on Monday we were supposed to head to Steveston to go biking. Due to a lazy morning, we decided to stick a little closer to home. We ended up on a great bike/run path along the Fraser River. It was even better than Steveston or the Seawall because there are less people. Maddy is really getting good on her two wheeler. She starts and stops on her own and has really good control. Ethan has gone back to our original run-bike and it is a better fit for him. He can go way faster and it is lighter for him. We had a great time and stopped to play at the playground before heading home.

Back to work, back to school. Wish every weekend was 4 days long! Happy Easter everyone!