and peace at home with your pets.
Clark Griswold Jr & Sr
Santa knows that sometimes bigger IS better.
jumping for joy, it’s Christmas time!
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We wish you a Merry Christmas!
December 25, 2010 — IvaOur Bake-a-thon Tribute to Christmas at the Holder’s Tonight
December 25, 2010 — Iva
Sara’s traditional passover macaroons prove to be more popular than the Ginger Krinkles anytime of year.
Kids actually help Sara decorate this year’s gingerbread house.
Followed by a gluten-free orange cranberry loaf bake off for our grand finale.
our first week with Ian in photos
December 12, 2010 — Iva
We all enjoyed bonding with our new cuddly puppy this week.
Look carefully and you can see Oliver demonstrating some of the merits of crate training to Ian.
In the name of health and safety, I try crate training Oliver after losing a number of Christmas tree ornaments.
Apparently Mrs. Clause is a dog-person. Simon our cat, not so much.
It’s going to be a very good Christmas for our new pup!
Here’s one for the baby book…
December 12, 2010 — IvaOliver’s first time out.
Found guilty of standing on the kitchen table (repeat offender).
Shove over and make some room…
December 4, 2010 — Iva
Here comes Ian! We adopted him this week from the Humane Society. Will post more photos of our new baby when he sits still long enough for us to take some.
Meanwhile, he is making himself right at home.
First local signs of El Niña effect…
November 21, 2010 — Iva
Christmas lights up, tree decorated and first snowfall all early this year. One inch of snow, schools closed and city shut down. West coast winter is here.
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
November 20, 2010 — Iva
Getting an early start on our Griswold Christmas. Lights up, check.
Colin will be playing the role of Clark Griswold in this year’s production.
“Dad, you taught me everything I know about exterior illumination.”
Yo Gabba Gabba Live concert review by a mom
November 15, 2010 — IvaTo steal a quote from DJ Lance, “That was awesome”. We all LOVED every single minute of the show this past weekend at the Tacoma Dome. If possible, I would buy an old VW Van and follow the rest of the tour across North America. They played all the hits, DJ Lance worked his magic and the kids rushed the stage. Powerful opening performance by the whole gang with “The Name Song” and it just got better and better and better from there. If you haven’t seen Yo Gabba Gabba Live and they are coming to a city near you, “try it… you’ll like it”.
Giving 5 to Muno!
Freeze dance led by DJ Lance. 
Roxie kicking it old school style on stage beat boxing with Biz Markie. 
Oliver was so sad when it all ended…
but that’s before he found out about the After Party!
Schmoozing with the starz!
Let the Halloweek Festivities begin!
October 26, 2010 — IvaReal time blogging as we countdown to the big day.
Saturday, Marks the kick off event. Kids night out at the gym. Friends, crafts and fun.
Sunday, Dinner date and pumpkin carving.
Monday, Daddy date night at school. Songs, cookies and more pumpkin carving.
Tuesday, Buy more candies for the trick-or-treaters. Original supplies have been eaten.
Wednesday, With a team effort we made Auntie Sonja’s Witches Fingers Halloween cookies. Apparently they look like “hot dogs” to some people.
Thursday, Despite my suggestions, Roxanna has her own costume ideas and puts them all together herself. Meanwhile, I still need to decide how Oliver will manage to wear all three of his costumes.
Friday, School party, work party. what to wear? what to wear?
While most of the girls at school decided to dress as princesses, our daughter chose to go to as “Queen”.
Inspired by our recent Twilight’esque weather, combined with teething pain, Oliver dressed as Dracula for his first time trick-or-treating. Teething bites but candy is alright.
Saturday, Had a scare today that we had hit too much Halloween. I didn’t even know that was possible. Fortunately, just a false alarm.
The more Halloween, the merrier.
Sunday, Happy Halloween!!
It was all fun and games at the Gymboree Halloween party until..
a life size Gymbo made his first ever in-person appearance and scared the bejesus out of the entire kinder crowd. 
Roxie took cover and 
Oliver suffered from some sort of post-traumatic clown syndrome. Shortly thereafter our little guy took his vengeance by stealing the regular Gymbo doll from the other older Oliver at the party. Can’t wait to see what happens when we go trick or treating door to door tonight.
Best beware if you live our neighbourhood. The kids are on the loose.
Happy Halloween!
The Everything Must Go Sale!
October 24, 2010 — Iva
Hey Sara, come get your stuff or the Salvation Army will. We will be operating on a first come first serve basis. Sale begins 01/01/2011.
Update: 10/28/2010
It’s the sisterhood of the travelling coat.
You CAN Make a Difference
October 21, 2010 — Iva
Help save Yo Gabba Gabba! Please get your e’pens out and sign this petition to help save our favourite show, so that parents and children across North America can continue to get their Yo Gabba Gabba groove on.
Reward Management and Motivation Theory 101
September 29, 2010 — Iva
When the student becomes the teacher… “I have a great idea for my chore board, ‘Don’t choke my brother.’” Which I suppose is better than some of the possible alternatives.
and it’s only the second day of school
September 9, 2010 — IvaBy 9:30 this morning, Oliver had already:
- cleaned the toilet with his sister’s electric toothbrush,
- moved some furniture around the front entry, updating the coat rack from 4 hooks to 3, and
- taken it upon himself to reorganise the kitchen pantry.
At the end of all this, HE gave ME the “no-no-no” (also known in some parts as the “tee-tee-tee”) finger shake.
And for some crazy reason, I thought I would be the one getting more done around the house with Roxanna at preschool. If only I was as productive as my one year old. Serenity now!
Working Overtime
August 6, 2010 — Iva
This week’s play date ran a record 9 hours but well worth it when you are paid in smiles and happy faces.
Which one of these triplets is not like the other?
July 28, 2010 — IvaOliver shared in a Birthday celebration with his twin friends on the weekend. Party was such a blast, who said you can’t have fun sober. By the end, all of the kids were so wound up, poor Colin couldn’t even tell the Birthday triplets apart and mistakenly held hands with Declan for this family photo. Happy Birthday kiddos!
