In the words of my friend Andrea Buhler Tisher, "(I think) Facebook ate my blog." So for those missing our blog posts please check with my facebook page. I'll try to keep this going but its seems other people are good or better at posting pictures of our kids on facebook.

In addition to pictures of our kids, I could be blogging about the fact we went to DAN RAY's WEDDING this weekend. He married the lovely Christina Lui in a beautiful, thoughtful, purple themed wedding. And despite the fact that Dane and I contracted the some sort of stomach virus going through the preschool we were the MC's.  Good times.  I could also blog about my annoyance with gluten-free (for no real good reason), the fact that Case is coming for a visit, or that we have had a fabulous sunny and warm weekend.  But I know if you are reading this you really just want to see pictures of Ben & Sam. So there you have it folks.

Ode to Aunt Casey

a familiar scene around our house

As you all know Casey spent the last 15 months in Vancouver at film school but really she spent it with us and went to film school for some of the time.  Now the "industry" has called her south to the land of real Mexican food (and real Mexicans), Aunt Juby & Uncle Kyle, Target and hopefully a run in with Beyonce or the Muppets.  We are glad she plans on making it big one day and having a four bedroom house in East Van to come home to. A home that she buys for us in exchange for us always keeping her room full of clutter, just the way she likes it.  Thanks to Casey:  Jane did not go insane on mat leave with two kids, Ben knows how to dance to Adele, Dane had someone to watch a lot of movies with, I had another person to feed vegetables to, Sam had someone teach him how to say birthday at the tender age of 11 months and so much more.

Don't forget the little people (or your vegetables) in Vancouver. We love you!

Sam turns ONE

Casey helping with Sam's birthday dinner

Grandma Chris in the house

new stacking cups!

birthday banana cake

First year in quick review

getting ready...

feeling very ready

voila! he's come along way.

Super midwife Liz

Aunt Casey meets Sam

most common view for many

getting bigger

and bigger

Sam being helpful

Ever had a war with your tupperware cupboard? Don't worry...Sam to the rescue!

Blast Ball!

in the dugout

hot corner!

Blast ball is an simpler version of T-ball.  Go Orioles!

Cheering!

The fans getting ready for blast ball

On the street waiting for Dane

Sam "cheering"

Big Sports Day at Camp Good Times

Ben starts "blast ball" and Dane does the Sun Run

Check out the numbers

Dane's running mates - Shaun & Andrew

Our Food Blog

Ben and I have been playing a lot of "make believe" for lack of a better word. We pretend he is a book seller and Sam and I come to his store to buy books. He also has an elaborate "kitchen" set up. It is really a couple shoe boxes filled with lego, blocks and other knick knacks that all have an exact role.  Today he wanted me to cook in "his" kitchen instead of the usual where he helps cook in our regular kitchen.  He wanted to make Apple Pie, which then morphed into Apple Chestnut Cobbler.  Here is our latest food blog post:

Ben getting Annie ready in his (or somedays 'her') high chair

Enjoying the cobbler

Apple Chestnut Cobbler (can you see the actual chestnut)

satisfied Annie

Ben wanted to take a picture too - and the football was the camera

Peek....a......Boo

Sam circa 1950

We have noticed that Sam reminds us of baby pictures we've seen of my dad. Check this out!

Look who is pulling himself up?

SAM and his baby buddy Briar Chapman

Ben is coming in to wake up Sam

Rochelle and Jane get a night out at Jessica and Ryan's wedding (Courtney: picture up for you!)

Ben Turns Four

As most (all) of you know, Ben just turned FOUR!  The Grand-Splinters were here as well as Grandma Chris.  We had a neighbourhood hockey game in the back parking lot on Sunday complete with cheering and hockey cookies.  On Monday night we had mac and cheese and baseball shaped cupcakes.  Then Ben and Grandma and Grandpa Splinter were on Global News. No, not just a flash of his birthday but a whole story. We are working on editing in all the news casters' conversations about it because it was hilarious but here is the link for the piece.

And here are some pictures of all the action.

Neighbour Dan in goal, aided by dad Andrew

Two year olds Levi and Chelsea eating more than playing

Super neighbour and mother of a future Canuck, Lisa

Birthday Boy Ben (yes that is a bike helmet)

Grown ups who play with us! Trevor, Dena and Asher

Sam and Jane cheering

Aunt Casey and Ben (what you can't see is that Casey is wearing Dan Ray's size 'something big' roller blades with no brakes)

Dane on his new blades (no Jane will never have them), Tyler's smooth moves and Ben talking to Trevor (talking not playing, surprised?)

Our colour coordinated neighbours Levi and Gideon

Opening one of his presents

baseball treats!

And Sam just being cute