Obi's blog

No one said it was easy.

2012-01-29T20:52:00.000-08:00

Certainly no-one has ever said that raising kids was easy, in fact there are more proverbs and quotes emphasizing how hard it can be. Even Socrates said: "Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers." And that was 470BC! I think as parents go Roger and Tracey try their best and they'll be the first ones to admit that there's always room for improvement. Some days can be simply exhausting, simple tasks like getting dressed can result in a tantrum, times outs and lots of mood changes in both child and parent. A few weeks back, they were especially having a hard time with Mr. Malcolm's behaviour and bad attitude. In recent weeks they've implemented a new technique modelled after Dr. Thomas Phelan's series called 1-2-3 Magic. So far there's been significant improvement in Malcolm's behaviour. There are still time outs, but I've noticed they're a lot more infrequent these days. The biggest lesson from the series is to remove all the emotional baggage that comes with power struggles and discipline. Let's just hope it goes in the right direction. Here are some pictures from a quick home photoshoot Roger did. Also, I'd like to end to two great quotes I heard about raising children:"Raising children is like chewing on a stone". "Those that teach children learn more than they do".

Happy Birthday Tracey.

2012-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

This is the year of the Water Dragon, it's supposed to signify abundance and good fortune and also specific to Roosters and Rats, that's Tracey and Roger, whoo hoo! Unfortunately, it also says to avoid year of the Dog people (which is Malcolm). We're not sure what this all means, but let's hope good fortune trumps anything bad for 2012. Here are some pictures from the past week.Here's a picture of me!"This is my tough face". Here's Melody and Uncle Glen, playing on the iPad.Melody has taken a liking to Roger's iPhone. It's difficult to get it back sometimes. We can only wonder what kind of technology is in store for her generation.Just last week we had so much snow. This week with the increasing temperatures and rain falling from the sky, the snow is almost a distant memory.Here's Malcolm building a snow castle in the backyard.

2012-01-15T20:58:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed a sudden snowfall late Friday night, so the kids woke up to a winter wonderland this weekend. The family got together and built a snowman. There's talk of more snow on the horizon with Wednesday bringing 5-10cm. I have to say, I love the snow a lot and Malcolm is excited as ever. Melody on the other hand likes to be outside, but is not as adventurous, that will probably come in time. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. Let's hope driving conditions don't get too hairy during the week.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2012, Roger mentioned that I'm going to be 49 this year! Whoa, I never really understood the dog years thing, but that seems too old. Afterall, I've got some spring in my step still. Well, I'm happy to announce that the family rung in the New Year with an outing up the mountain, a quick visit to the playground and also a celebratory brunch and dinner with the family. Here are some pictures from the past few days. Happy New Year to everyone, especially our friends, family and followers abroad. Best wishes to everyone in 2012!

2011-12-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is truly and exciting time for us. There are so many things going on, it's at times overwhelming. The house is decorated early, anticipation of Santa arrival is prolonged and the general sense of good cheer is all around. It's true this time of year is all about family. Tracey and Roger try their best to instil some tradition with the kids. Tracey had lots of Christmas traditions, but Roger's experience was a bit more spotty. To his recollection, some years they had a tree and some years they did not. With Tracey's experience things were more established. Her grandpa would make a huge breakfast, their stockings would hang at the end of their beds, etc... In light of our efforts I think the kids do really enjoy all the events at home and around town. This year the family was able to go to the Stanley Park Train, see the Trinity Street light display, Gingerbread houses at the Hyatt, Christmas Tree displays at the Four Seasons, the Christmas Market, visiting with friends, and last but not least have their picture taken with Santa. Just as fast as it all went up, all the decorations (with the exception of the outside Christmas lights) are now packed away for another year. Here are some pictures from the past several days celebrating all the events leading up to Christmas including some from Christmas morning. As always, Malcolm and Melody both got up early to see if Santa had dropped off some gifts, you can see the magical wonder in their faces.

Science World and Olympic Village:Vancouver Christmas Market:Visiting with Friends:Trinity Street Light Festival:Christmas Day:

"Mommy do it".

2011-12-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

Melody has been going through a preference phase where she wants Tracey ("Mommy") to do everything for her. It's even got to the point where she's ridiculous about even the smallest things. To give you an example, she was looking for her soother the other day and Roger had it in his hand to give to her, even though he was just inches away she exclaimed: "Mommy do it!" Hopefully this will be a short lived phase cause it's harder on everyone when she only lets one person do things for her. Melody has also been tougher to put to bed again. It may be because she's not feeling well, who knows! There was a pretty good stretch there where she was going down without much fuss.

Malcolm is now on winter break, already almost 1/2 way through the school year. He's doing very well at school. His behaviour is good, he's learning new things, and more importantly he's developing his social skills and getting along with his classmates. I think he's pretty excited to have a break though. Waking up early isn't always his preference, not to mention the mad dash to get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth and get out the door in time. Despite the school being a block away Roger and Tracey find themselves rushing a lot of the time.

Christmas is quite an event at our house, there has been a lot of lead up to the big day. Malcolm is very excited. I'm not sure Melody really understands, but she's going along with it all in stride. She's learned new words like: Christmas Tree, Gingerbread, presents, Santa, etc... Here are some pictures from last week at the Stanley Park Christmas Train and then dinner at Lombardos.

Christmas traditions.

2011-12-12T00:11:00.001-08:00

Well the family trekked downtown today to make their annual pilgrimage to see the Gingerbread Houses and decorated Christmas trees at the Hyatt and Four Seasons Hotels. This year Melody was able to walk around all by herself discovering all the interesting sites. Christmas is truly an interesting time around the house, decorations are up, the sweet aroma of baked goods fill the house (from Grandma's kitchen) and that general sense that the holiday season is upon us. The family will be heading down to the Stanley Park Christmas train again as well later in the week. I wonder what else is in store?

Happy Birthday, again?

2011-12-06T00:18:00.001-08:00

I wonder if it was confusing for Melody that we celebrated her birthday more than once. On her real birthday we went out for her favourite meal, breakfast, only we had it for dinner. She didn't disappoint; she ate bacon, sausage, eggs, etc... and came home to blow out the candles on some Dora cupcakes for dessert. A very quaint affair if you ask me, very cozy and nice. On Sunday, we had Melody's birthday dinner with all of her favourite family members. Roger bought an Elmo cake from T&T and despite the original snafu with the colour, it actually turned out ok. Grandpa Harry even had seconds! So another round of birthdays have passed for the family most notably ones for Malcolm and Melody. We officially have a 5 year old and a 2 year old in the house now. Here are a few pictures from Melody's party on the weekend. Next up, Christmas!

Happy Birthday Melody.

2011-11-28T00:03:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday Melody, you're brightened our lives and continue to be the brightest beacon. Two years ago today you came into our lives and as your Mom puts it "you've made our family complete". Really, you've simply been a delight. We love you dearly and hope that the ride thus far has been fun. Please continue to do what you do, you make us laugh, your sense of humour is really killer. We're so proud to have witnessed your development and growth, it has all been so amazing to watch. Your sweet little face is enough to warm our hearts forever. We love you dearly.

Five years late...

2011-11-23T11:35:00.001-08:00

Here's a video Roger finally got around to editing. He's been running out of space on the computer so he's been working on various projects to make some more room on the hard drive. Here's a link to the original post when Malcolm was born as well, link. Oh how he's grown, already a kindergartener.

Whew!

2011-11-20T22:48:00.001-08:00

A good night's sleep can be so illusive when it comes to having kids, let alone sick kids. It feels like we've been dealing with sickness in the house for months on end. Good news is that it seems like everyone is on the mend and we have hopefully put it all behind us now. Malcolm's cough is finally subsiding, and Melody's viral condition has seen much improvement in the last few days. Roger was even fighting an infection for the beginning part of last week and luckily with a dose of some anti-biotics he's back to normal.

The weather has taken a chilly turn in the past several days, but the family ventured out today to Granville Island. They enjoyed some lunch and shared an ice cream cone despite the near freezing temperatures. Everyone found out that Melody really likes mint chocolate chip ice cream. Here are some pictures:

Melody's word explosion has been fantastic to witness. The sweetest thing recently is that she calls Malcolm "오빠 / Oppa". Melody knows so many words now and is linking phrases together. She saw Malcolm climb the ladder while he was helping put up the Christmas lights and she exclaimed: "Oppa, up there!" Pretty cute stuff.

Happy 5th Birthday Malcolm.

2011-11-07T22:52:00.000-08:00

You've come a long way that's for sure. There have been some significant milestones recently and turning 5 years old is certainly one of them. We're all so proud how you've adjusted to school, kindergarten hasn't been much of a transition after all. Doesn't seem that long ago we were waking up through the night to feed you. Now, you've grown to become a big boy. You're strong minded, but kind when you want to be. You're talkative, but still somewhat shy. I hope that you know that you're family loves you very much and does everything within their power to give you a good life and try their best to help sculpt you into a fine human being. They try to give you every opportunity and expose you to many new adventures. You're a lucky boy, we hope that someday you'll realize it.

We're glad you had fun at your birthday parties. Bowling was a lot of fun. We left the guest list up to you and the party was actually quite cozy and quaint. We know how much you loved all your gifts. Here are some pictures your Dad took during the festivities. Near the end of the month we'll get to celebrate your sister's big day of turning two. Happy Birthday Malcolm, you're well on your way. Grandpa Harry wins the prize for biggest gift, even Malcolm fit in the box himself.

Happy 23 months Melody.

2011-10-30T23:51:00.000-07:00

Happy belated 23 months Melody, you've been awesome... only one more month until you're officially 2 years old. You've come so far, I don't even know where to start. First of all, it's important to mention how happy you make your Mom and Dad. You've been an absolute dream, despite your incessant demands for "naks" in the car. It's hard to believe that almost 2 years have already gone by since you arrived. Now you're walking, (no make that running), talking, laughing, and even making jokes. You're personality shines through and brings smiles to all those around you. As every day passes you learn more and more, the communication lines become crystal clear. You know what you want and now you're able to let the world know too. I know there have been some bumps in the road, having a big brother in the house can be tough sometimes, but know you've made our lives richer. We are all awaiting to see the next chapter in your development.

Fresh Fall Leaves...

2011-10-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

It's the season again, leaves are falling along with the temperatures in Vancouver. We ventured out last weekend to capture some of the beautiful colours of Autumn and headed back to the Shadbolt Centre in Burnaby. Roger wanted to test out his new light modifier, the SaberStrip to take this years' family photo. Such a comparison against last year's photos with respect to how much the kids have grown. Also this time last year the family was in Hawaii enjoying their time in the sun.
In other news, Malcolm has come down with quite a cold. He's even missed some days of school. Last night he coughed and ran a fever of 38 degrees. He's quite lethargic and very sensitive. Anyway, we hope he recovers quickly. Melody is also sick, but she seems to take things much more in stride. Her word explosion is gaining more momentum. She's even now putting words together to form phrases. A few days ago when Roger came home, she said: "Daddy home", quite heart-warming really. It's quite amazing the words she picked up along the way.

Happy Thanksgiving.

2011-10-09T23:54:00.000-07:00

The sun broke through the clouds this afternoon, so Roger and Tracey decided to head back to the Pumpkin Patch this afternoon. It's definitely tough to find a dry day this time of year. From the sound of things, the kids did pretty great. They trudged through the mud and managed to pick their own pumpkins. Here are some pics from today:

Roger's back from Moncton.

2011-10-07T16:32:00.000-07:00

Three days may not seem like a long time, but it's an eternity when you're working as a single parent. Tracey's first night with the kids was pretty great, getting them both down by 8:15pm is quite a feat these days. The next two days were a bit more challenging. Sometimes we all wonder if it's actually worth it for Melody to have a nap because on the days she has one bedtime isn't usually until 10pm! Melody's sleep schedule has been a bit different from Malcolm's at the same age.

Malcolm is still doing quite well in Kindergarten, in fact the teacher Mrs. B has designated him as the caboose. This means he's the last one to come out of the classroom and he makes sure the lights are off and the door is closed, quite a bit a responsibility for a little kid. He's accepted this duty with great pride and confidence. We are all so proud of him. Oh, also he's back in the pool again this term trying to get past level 1. The instructor had recommended that he wasn't quite ready to move on. Roger said that he's more actively participating in the lessons now, dunking his head, blowing bubbles and even feeling comfortable enough to float on his back.

Melody is certainly growing up fast. It seems like everyday her words are increasing exponentially. She can mimic almost any sound and the great thing is now she's attaching meaning. Roger has been waiting for this stage for sometime, the word explosion has been detonated! Malcolm has even contributed to her learning. He tries to teach her new words everyday. It's very cute to see them both grow up, although there are some flare-ups they've been playing quite well together lately.

Malcolm and kindergarten...

2011-09-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

Despite a couple of tiny bumps along the way Malcolm's been adjusting very well to kindergarten. Again, we all think it's because he's used to the whole routine from daycare. He likes his teacher, he's involved in the activities, and is always excited to go. He has never once even protested about going to school.

Melody celebrated her 23 month yesterday and she's doing quite well too, despite a little cold she's picked up along the way. She has more words now, she can certainly comprehend so much and all that coupled with a bit of a growth spurt. Tracey and Roger had to hire another child care provider since Carol's Mom had to quit. The new lady is very nice. So far she comes twice a week with her 1 year old baby to look after Melody. All day long Melody points to him and says: "baby". In fact, everything associated with the baby she says "baby" whether it's the stroller, booster seat, play yard, etc... it's quite entertaining to watch.

In other news, Papa is in the hospital again. Last weekend he suffered a fall while walking and the repercussions of the fall have now translated into some other health issues. It's so ironic because the incident came at a time where he was feeling quite good. He'll be in the hospital probably for a few days undertaking a few different procedures. The good news is that the doctors seem to have figured out exactly what is wrong. We're all hoping for a speedy recovery.

That's all the updates for now. Here's a picture of Malcolm and Melody at breakfast yesterday. It was picture day at school, so Malcolm dressed up in a collared shirt. We'll have to wait and see how the pictures turn out.

Happy Anniversary

2011-09-21T23:52:00.000-07:00

Roger and Tracey have already been married for 6 years now. They celebrated by going out to dinner in Yaletown. It's funny though, when ever they go out all they do is talk about the kids. That night in particular was poignant because they both vowed to try and enjoy life more, life with kids that is. Roger especially felt like he was being too harsh with Malcolm, perhaps setting expectations too high for him. Afterall, he's still only 4. You do really have to enjoy every moment that is presented. Sure times will be tough sometimes, but all in all the kids are only young once. This time will never come back again.

So many transitions right now. First and foremost it involves Malcolm entering Kindergarten and Melody being looked after by a new person in the house. Luckily both situations have been great. Melody is so fixated on little baby E that she even cries when they leave. You see the caregiver that Roger and Tracey hired also brings along her son, baby E. All day long she points at E and says: "Baby". By the way, speaking of Melody's speech, it's exploding right now. She can say so many words now and everyday it's expanding. So far we have:Baby, Key, Hat, Hot, Shoe, Sock, Wow, Uh oh, camera, Obi, Mama, Daddy, up, Grandma, Papa.It's quite amazing to watch really. So all around we wish everyone the best of luck, Tracey, Roger, Melody and Malcolm.

Kindergarten, a milestone in the making.

2011-09-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I think it's been quite an easy transition for Malcolm. This week he's only been attending school 1-2 hours a day. They don't call it gradual entry for nothing. Actually, we have his daycare to thank. The routine that he's established there has certainly made the world of difference. The irony of it all is that his school day is only from 9-3 whereas his days at daycare were 8:30-4. He's so relieved that there's no more nap during the day. He's certainly tired by the end of the school day, he's asleep as soon as he hits the pillow. In fact, he fell asleep on the way to his first soccer practice this evening. It's certainly going to be a busy month, kindergarten, soccer, swimming and even skating lessons. There's some concern that he's overscheduled, but Roger thinks that keeping him busy will ultimately be better for him. I know he needs exposure to all these different things. We can't even imagine when Melody starts all her activities, whoa it's going to be even busier! The picture above is a little triptych that Roger created to mark his first day of kindergarten. He's growing up fast!

Malcolm begins his first organized sport: soccer.

2011-09-07T23:22:00.000-07:00

So Tracey and Roger have been trying to get Malcolm excited for soccer. So far, he's been quite good. He seems genuinely interested in trying it out. To Roger's surprise he wasn't the smallest kid there either. He has his first real practice next week. With Roger and uncle Albert coaching, at least there will be some familiar faces around. He's got some shiny new soccer boots, new jersey, shorts and soccer socks. We've all been kicking the ball around at the park, here's a short video of him dribbling with his fast little feet. Not to be outdone, Melody got her own soccer ball too!

We've all been enjoying the warm summer weather, feel bad for the folks out East that are dealing with the hurricane.

2011-08-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

The family had another eventful trip to the Pacific National Exhibition this year. Malcolm loves all the rides and this year they found out that Melody does too. Although they spent over six hours at the Fair, they kids didn't want to leave. Suffice to say, they went to bed late that night.

Friends come home.

2011-08-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

You can tell how much of an impact people make within a group by gauging how they affect the people around them. For almost 4 years now we've had our dear friends Ryan, Sue and their kids Adrianna and Matthew live abroad in Austria. We've been lucky to have them come home to Vancouver for a few weeks during the summer to re-bond. Roger's always said this, he believes that Ryan and Sue have always been the glue keeping the whole group of friends together. In fact, during the rest of the year because of the lack of glue, days if not weeks can go by without any of the group coming together. Now that the family is back home, they tend to try and cram as many visits together as they can. We're sure glad they're home, albeit for a short time. Here are some recent pictures:

Roger's back.

2011-08-09T16:38:00.000-07:00

Roger went away to Campbell River for a fishing and golf trip last week to take part in some Bachelor Party festivities for Andrew. Looks like fun was had by all. On the last day of fishing Andrew caught a monster of a Chinook, 23.3 pounds. While reeling in the beast, a seal even tried to take it away from him, evidenced by the two bite marks on the fish.

This past weekend uncle Andrew and auntie Deana tied the knot. Congrats to them. Here are some pictures from the past two weeks:

Seattle 2011

2011-07-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

Roger, Tracey and the kids spent a few days in Seattle. It was great timing on their part, the weather was perfect and the strength of the Canadian dollar was a definite plus. As everyone already knows, travelling with kids can be a challenge. They were happy to report that Malcolm did extremely well. He was so excited to travel, it is fun to see the excitement in his face about going somewhere. Melody on the other hand is a bit harder to handle. In her defense, she hasn't done many nights away from home so sleeping in a strange crib, in a different room and unfamiliar surroundings is probably a bit scary. The first night she screamed when they lay her down to sleep. Roger and Tracey then tried to get her to sleep with them, but funny enough she wrestled with them for almost an hour and proceeded to laugh at them. At around 11pm she did finally go down for a few hours. Luckily the second night was better. Like Tracey says, it's a lot of work. All the preparation, gear and snacks alone are enough to fill a big suitcase. Roger did get to see his nephew Vincent. He's going to be a senior at the University of Washington in the fall. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Air Time.

2011-07-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Recently a book came out called "The Art of Roughhousing". Roger's always been very playful with the kids, tickling them and throwing them in the air. Now there's some scientific evidence that it's actually good for them:

"We want to get a throwback to the good stuff," he adds. "The good stuff is play. And the holy grail is roughhousing." Roughhousing does more than keep kids physically active. "There are clear signs showing that it helps kids' academic success, it's associated with being more flexible behaviorally, being better able to deal with unpredictability," DeBenedet says. "Play—especially active physical play, like roughhousing—makes kids smart, emotionally intelligent, lovable and likable, ethical, physically fit, and joyful,"

Here are two images that Roger's photographer friend Ron took capturing the kids in flight. There's no denying that they enjoy it. Just look at their faces.

Bit of a scare today...

2011-07-17T23:15:00.000-07:00

Roger took Malcolm fishing for the first time ever this afternoon. Some milestones were met, but also a bit of a scare. During all the excitement of hooking his third fish of the day, Malcolm lost his balance and pitched forward off the dock and into the water. Luckily, Roger was right close and dove in after him and managed to scoop him out within a matter of seconds. The only casualty of the event was Roger's iPhone which was in his pocket at the time. It goes to show how important swimming lessons are. Roger watched him plunge into the water and literally sink like a rock. We're happy to report he's doing fine and seemed to have bounced back quite well. Here's a picture of his first fish held by his uncle Albert. Much thanks to uncle Albert for helping out and making Malcolm feel better. Funny enough, Malcolm caught more fish than anyone else, with 3 catfish under his belt.

Fever part deux.

2011-07-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

It's inevitable sometimes isn't it? As soon as Malcolm got better we had almost of week with both of them healthy. Now, it seems that that infection has now hit Melody, luckily her fever hasn't been as high, but Roger and Tracey have been up multiple times a night with her to keep her temperature under control. The bright side is that we still seem glimpses of the happy go lucky girl throughout the day, but it's no secret to anyone that she's not 100%.

Papa has also been going for regular treatments at the hospital to combat an infection he's had in his leg. Oh, when will this whole house finally be healthy? Let's hope soon. Here's a picture of the kids down at the Quay, despite Melody's fever she played and played like nothing was wrong. Malcolm is sporting his new Spiderman hat that Roger bought for him the day before.

Fever out of no where?

2011-07-03T13:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know what brought it on, but Malcolm has had a pretty high fever for four days now. Suffice to say our Canada Day celebrations were low key. Tracey and Roger were planning to take him to see the fireworks, but I guess it will have to wait until next time. Malcolm has no energy and no appetite- it's really tough to see him like this. The doctor said that it is a virus and could take 4 -7 days to run its course. We're on day 4 now so hopefully we'll see a big improvement soon.

Before he got sick, Malcolm had his first swimming lesson last week at the Canada Games Pool and did really well. He blew bubbles and got his head wet no problem. I bet he'll be swimming like a fish before the classes are over.

It's nice when Malcolm and Melody get along and just take a minute to enjoy each other's company.
This was the end of a fun day at Locarno Beach...the kids got to build sandcastles and play in the water. Hopefully we'll have lots of days like this all summer long.

Melody has been enjoying the sunshine and warm weather we've had for the last few days. She's a dare devil at the playground and loves to climb and go down all the big kid slides. She tries really hard to keep up to her big brother.

I almost forgot, Happy Anniversary to me! It's been six years since Roger and Tracey picked me up in Victoria and took me on the ferry to my new home with them. Sure have been a lot of changes in our household since then, but I'm still top dog! I love that Grandma and Papa live downstairs - it means extra treats and not much alone time for me. I'm a pretty lucky guy - I even heard that there might a special camping trip in my future this summer with Roger, Tracey and the kids.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T22:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know how it happened, but the whole family is sick again (including Grandma and Papa downstairs). I think this is the first time that everyone in the whole house has been sick all at the same time. Also, from all the symptoms we've seen there's definitely a trend going on. Not the best way to celebrate Father's Day.

Malcolm is very cute with all the holidays, he's a champion gift opener. Roger got some really nice things, a few books, bbq marinade and a super cool Empire Strikes Back t-shirt! The family went out for a nice breakfast, had a quick visit with Grandpa Harry and played at the playground. Also, you'll notice a distinct difference on Roger's face, the playoff beard is gone! Too bad about those Canucks, maybe next year.

Happy Birthday Roger!

2011-06-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's interesting where you find yourself with each year that passes. No time like your birthday to reflect back on the year that has gone by. The kids are a year older, a whole year of work has gone by, in Roger's case he launched his part-time photography business as well. He has mentioned that many of his personal relationships have changed too. He's made new friends and lost touch with old ones, who knows what will come going forward. One thing he really hopes for is for the Vancouver Canucks to finally bring home the Stanley Cup. We'll have to see what happens on Monday night!

So his birthday wish is this, he will strive to be a better husband, father, son, friend, manager, and photographer. Let's hope he's successful in every area. I'll report back in 2012 on his progress.

It's hard being a big brother sometimes.

2011-06-10T01:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, lessons of sharing and trying to get Malcolm to understand that it's his responsibility to take care of Melody are difficult concepts to teach and comprehend. Everyday, it's a roller coaster ride. We don't always know who's going to show up, Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hide. What Tracey and Roger have seen that ages 3 and 4 are certainly a delicate age, where sensitivities and fights for independence can create havoc in a developing mind and thus in the surrounding environment. Simple tasks become complex, defiance and stalling become so routine that it's now expected. What really breaks their hearts is that deep down they know how charming, wonderful, and fantastic he can be, he just doesn't always choose to show that side. Absolutely, there must be feelings of jealousy as well, although not always clearly articulated. Melody can do no wrong and that can be a hard pill to swallow. It's difficult to understand how much power a little boy can have over his own parents, but he does. He can make or break an event and ruin a good mood in a heartbeat. Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that he grows out of this difficult phase soon.

Here are some pictures taken at the park yesterday evening.

Happy 18 Months Melody.

2011-05-30T07:18:00.000-07:00

We missed Melody's 18th month milestone the other day, my apologies. She sure has come a long way. Here are some of the things she can do:

She understands sign language and signs for:
Milk, water, bath, all done, apple, strawberry, out, sleep

She's got some words, but they're not always immediately apparent:
Hi, Dad, Mom, Grandma, hat, hot, baby

She can also:
Feed herself, walk, almost run, stand on one leg, stamp her feet, jump on the trampoline, climb stairs, clap her hands, pick up very small objects with her pincher grip, give a kiss, wave hello and goodbye, give hugs and high fives, and most importantly recognize what she should and shouldn't put in her mouth. She can even shake her head no and nod her head yes. Lately, she's been shaking her head no when we ask her it's time for bed, which has been trouble. She certainly understands so many more things than we realize. Often times she picks up a scrap and heads to the garbage to throw it away. Tracey even asks her to put away her laundry and she shoves them into the appropriate drawer when asked. Well, suffice to say she growing and developing quite well. We can't wait for the word explosion to happen, but certainly she understands a whole lot of what's going on around her. Happy 18 months Melody, it has been delightful so far keep up the good work!

They did it... after 17 years the Canucks have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

2011-05-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

It's taken 17 years for the Vancouver Canucks to reach the Stanley Cup final, we'll just have to wait and see who we are going to face from the East. It will either be the Boston Bruins or the Tampa Bay Lightning. The excitement is growing in the city and we can't wait for the next round to start.

Another weekend bites the dust.

2011-05-16T00:03:00.000-07:00

Weekends seem to zoom by oh so quickly these days and this past one was no exception. On Saturday the family went over to uncle Andrews house and on Sunday we headed to the pool to attend a birthday party. Lucky the party ended just in time to catch the first game of the Western Final against the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks. The Canucks defeated the Sharks by a score of 3-2. Game 2 is on Wednesday.

Malcolm and Melody both were unsure in the beginning, but they took to the water like ducks soon after. Roger took the waterproof Olympus Tough 6000 along for the ride. Here are two pictures from the pool party.

Nicole in competition again.

2011-05-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

Nicole came by the house because she was in another singing and dancing competition nearby. Here she is in her 60's outfit. She had two song and dance numbers to perform tonight. Let's wish her luck. Doesn't she look great?

Here's our other performer, not quite ready for the stage yet:

17 long years since our last trip to the Western Final!

2011-05-09T22:29:00.000-07:00

We did it, finally made it to round 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We'll have to find out who we face either the Wings of Detroit or the Sharks of San Jose. All the games have been so stressful, it's funny to read on Twitter and FB all the comments about ulcers and stress watching the Canucks. Anyway no matter who we face we have to get to the final, it is our destiny. Here's a picture of Asia and Malcolm taking in the game against Nashville. They both have no choice in growing up as Canuck fans.

Despite a disruptive night....

2011-05-01T23:33:00.000-07:00

Well the kids did seem better today, maybe it was the sunshine, maybe it was the opportunity to run outside, who knows. Coughs are still hanging around, but as mentioned previously we hope things won't get any worse. We all went out to Trout Lake today to walk around and enjoy the good weather, even me... whoo hoo! It's been a while since we've gone out as a whole family on an outing. Too bad that the weather is turning sour starting tomorrow, we certainly enjoyed the warm temperatures we had today. Melody sure liked the swing, just like her brother.

Colds again, argh!

2011-05-01T00:32:00.000-07:00

Sad to report that the kids are sick again, coughs, runny noses, and less than happy attitudes. It sure has been quite a bad year with respect to colds, it just seems to rotate around. We're hoping that it won't get any worse for either of them. The picture above was taken on Friday, Daddy day. Roger takes Fridays off to take care of Melody. Here she is enjoying her lunch: soba noodles, smoked salmon, muffin, apples and her milk. We're pretty lucky she eats almost everything; however, she's been off of some of her greens lately. If only Malcolm would eat as well as she does, we'd have less issues with meal times.

Egg hunts and etc...

2011-04-18T11:44:00.000-07:00

It was a pretty busy weekend as always... finally we had some dry weather to go and play outside. On Saturday the family went down to the Coal Harbour Community Centre to take part in a big Easter Egg Hunt. Fun was had by all, especially Malcolm, Melody and Aaden. They had face-painting, a giant bouncy house, toys, crafts and even some rabbits/bunnies on hand for petting. On Sunday, Roger even got out to cut the grass for the first time this season. It was cute to see Malcolm going over the lawn with his bubble mower pretending to cut the grass. Roger's just waiting until he's old enough to do it for real.

Also, we're happy to celebrate the Canuck's third win in a row, one more and they're on to the next round. Here are some pictures from the Easter Egg Hunt:

Uh oh, not again.

2011-04-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

So I think we're in for another round of colds at the house. Poor Grandma has been sick for over two weeks with a sore throat and other cold symptoms. It's tough when the kids get sick, they're cranky, don't sleep well and it drains energy from the house. From the looks of things, it's going to be a bit milder than before so I guess for that we should be thankful.

In other news, Nicole took first prize in her category at the PEAK Invitational Dance Competition on the weekend. She did so awesome, she sang and danced her little heart out. She was sure swell.

Roger's back.

2011-04-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

Roger was away on business for four days and we're all relieved he's back now. It's definitely a lot of work taking care of all the household duties alone, but luckily things went off without a hitch. Tracey did great taking care of the whole family.

Malcolm's digestive issues are still wreaking havoc with things still. When he has to go, it affects his mood, energy and attitude. We're all hoping he'll grow out of it soon. For the most part, it's probably tied to his diet. He eats a lot of carbs, dairy, and not so many vegetables and fiber.

The family did their annual trek to the Vancouver International Car Show, this year for the first time it was being held at the new convention centre. It's a beautiful building.

The boy is growing up...

2011-03-28T00:25:00.000-07:00

Roger and Tracey had their first parent/teacher conference last week. The meeting went very well, Malcolm's teachers went on and on about how far he's come since he first started. He's gained confidence, his independence has increased and most of all he's shown that he's a compassionate little boy that really cares about others. They specifically mentioned that he's the first to rush to someone's aid if they get hurt. He often runs to the freezer to give them some ice. It's really heart-warming to know that Malcolm is exhibiting such exemplary behaviour. We are all so very proud of him. His transition to full-day kindergarten in the fall should be very smooth. Way to go Malcolm, you're doing great.

Super moon or not, we're not used to seeing this...

2011-03-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

So we just went a week battling Malcolm's fever and cough and now it looks like Melody's got the same thing. Luckily, it's no where near as severe, but it certainly hasn't been any cake walk. Her fever, cough, lack of appetite and now broken sleep has certainly evaporated any good mood she's had the last few days. We managed to get out this weekend despite both kids being under the weather. Here are some pictures from the weekend, including Roger's version of the Supermoon.

Happy Birthday to me, I'm 6 today.

2011-03-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

Many things have changed in 6 years, looking back on it all there's a lot that went on most notably, we added two more family members and even saw a few pass away. I guess that's the nature of one's life, a culmination of experiences and moments we share together with different people. As time goes on, some of the strangers we meet become friends and some of the friends we have turn into strangers. In the wake of the Japanese earthquake tragedy, it makes you realize how fragile it can all be. We are absolutely lucky to have what we have and now more than ever it's time to reflect and be thankful. I love my family and I know my family loves me. What more could I ask for on my birthday than that.

Here's my birthday photo and some taken this week at Grandpa Harry's store. It's the first time Melody was there since she's learned to walk, although she played strange at first she quickly got the lay of the land and got acquainted with all the merchandise in the store.

P.S. We really hope Malcolm feels better soon. He's got an awful flu right now with a relentless cough and high fever.

Malcolm last ice skating class...

2011-03-06T23:41:00.000-08:00

Whoa, it sure did go by fast. Malcolm made some really great improvements this winter. He's gone from literally not being able to stand, to being able to stand and walk unassisted (even glide a bit on his own). Hats off to Rick his instructor. Here are some pictures from his last lesson.

Melody has been good, she's been such a happy little girl. She sure does have some funny habits though. Many times throughout the day she'll go to her closet and pull down her jacket and hat to put on. She's also got something for shoes, she loves playing with them and carrying them around the house. It's sure been fun with her, watching her grow and soon she'll be able to talk!

Happy 15 months Melody.

2011-02-28T23:55:00.000-08:00

Wow 15 months already. Melody sure has come a long way. She measures 30" in height, weighs 24lbs and has a head circumference of 19". Growth percentiles have been leveling out, she's basically in the 50th percentile (except for head size, she's in the 75th in that category, just like her brother was).

She's been walking for quite a while now and has some awesome dexterity. Tracey believes it has to do will the baby-led weaning as she's been feeding herself since she was 6 months old. Annoyingly she can also pull off the electrical safety covers off of the outlets, cheeky monkey. One of the best things about her little pincher grip is that she can pick up every small speck, dust ball, or bit of paper off of the ground and feverishly comes and gives it to Roger or Tracey to dispose of, quite fascinating really, most kids would just eat it.

I'm not sure if babies can have shoe fetishes, but Melody sure loves shoes. She can't get enough of them whether they are her own or not. Words aren't coming fast and furious yet, but she sure understands a whole lot. It's cute to see her put electronic devices to her ear and pretend to say hello. So adorable to watch her put all sorts of hats on her head and say, "Hhaa". She also been using a few signs like milk, more, and waving bye-bye anytime someone puts on their jacket.

Happy 15 months Melody, you've been a dream. Keep up the good work.

Snowy weekend in Vancouver - New Westminster

2011-02-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty snowy weekend on Saturday and Sunday. The whole family went for a walk to the park to take in all the wonderful white. Malcolm had great fun at the playground going down the slides. See the videos below. Incidentally, all the photos and video below were taken with Roger's iPhone.

Happy Belated Birthday to our friend Wendy.

2011-02-24T06:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to you

We all love your super doo

You're such a good friend

We hope that will never end

You kindness see no bounds

It really quite astounds

You are simply the best

Head and shoulders above the rest

Happy Birthday Papa Mel.

2011-02-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

We had a surprise party for Papa Mel on Saturday, boy was he surprised. Malcolm did his best to keep things a secret. Almost 50 friends and family attended the event. Now what to do with all those left-overs.

Roger asked Mel what the most memorable moment has been in his eighty years and he said it was the day he got married. Next year will mark 60 years of marriage for them, amazing.

A couple of firsts for Malcolm.

2011-02-08T00:29:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Roger and Tracey took Malcolm to see his first movie at the movie theatre. All in all, it went well but he was a little scared during some of the scenes. They went to see Tangled, Disney's adaptation of the classic story of Rapunzel. He ate two bowls of popcorn, drank his apple juice and sat through pretty much the whole movie without uttering a peep. I don't think Malcolm will all of a sudden want to see more movies, but he did say he might want to see Cars 2, in June.
Also, as you can see from the pictures above Malcolm got to see his very first NHL hockey game. Grandpa Harry got some free tickets to a luxury box and Malcolm and Roger went to the game. They ate Pizza, Churros, Chicken Strips, Popcorn, Dibs, and drank Cranberry Cocktail and Orange juice till their hearts were content. Malcolm was a little scared from all the noise when the Canucks scored, but he soon got used to it and cheered along with the rest of the crowd quite willingly. Suffice to say, he fell right asleep as soon as they got home, which was 2 hours past his regular bedtime. Final score, Canucks 4, Ottawa 2. Thanks Grandpa Harry. Here's a link to some more pictures.

Life in balance...

2011-01-29T00:54:00.000-08:00

No one ever said that raising kids was easy and to those of you who think it is, here's the reality:
-Scheduling, without it things fall apart (Reality = things sometime fall apart anyway no matter how hard you try)
-Plan, plan, plan (Reality = kids are unpredictable no matter how well you plan)
-Sure parenthood is rewarding, but sometimes it can also bring the lowest of lows
-There's simply not enough time in the day to do everything
-Sometimes you feel like whatever you do, it doesn't change anything
-You cannot rationalize with kids who don't quite grasp concepts like "being late".
-Some things are simply beyond your control no matter how hard you try and force it
Suffice to say, although Tracey and Roger appreciate all that they have with respect to Malcolm and Melody, it doesn't mean that they sometimes wish that life could be easier. They do their very best to make sure both kids are safe, loved, fed, encouraged, and nurtured... too bad the nuances of each of those activities can be so complex and taxing. Malcolm is at an age now where he is inquisitive, eloquent, and even charming; however, with these traits also come things like unbelievably stubborn, at times manic, and irrational. Tracey and Roger both await the day where life is simpler, less hectic, and peaceful. Is that asking too much?

Here are some pictures from Tracey's birthday dinner at Memphis Blues. It was a meat-fest!.

Happy Birthday Tracey!

2011-01-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Tracey
Another year has gone by
Another year of happiness
Another year of family
Another year of growing
Another year of experience
Another year closer to retirement!
Love you very much,

Obi, Malcolm, Melody and Roger.

Whew, the computer is back and up and running again.

2011-01-15T23:42:00.000-08:00

Whew! The computer is back from Apple all fixed and running smoothly again. It's been over a week since Roger and the family have been computer-less. The good news was that the Apple Care warranty took care of it all. It was estimated at over $1500 to repair so quite a relief for everyone.

You may also have noticed that the blog has been given a face-lift. We hope you like it. Basically, every year Roger tries to update the look and change the banner. I'm not sure if he's 100% happy with it, but for now it will do.

Roger and Tracey have enrolled Malcolm in ice skating. He's already had his second lesson with Rick at the Moody Park Arena and is doing very well. Here are some pictures from Malcolm's first two sessions:

Meanwhile, Melody is doing well too. If you can believe it, she's cutting two more teeth on the right side, I think it's the cuspids. I guess with all that eating she's doing, more teeth will definitely help the process.

Mount Seymour Tobogganing...

2011-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Last week the Roger, Tracey and Malcolm headed up to the mountain for some tobogganing. Unfortunately they were met with a lengthy delay up the mountain due to a car fire. The fire department was deployed and it took over an hour to clear the incident. They weren't even sure they'd make it up the mountain. Patience was wearing thin, but they managed to tough it out and have an adventure that day. Chad, Wendy and Aaden even came along, sad news was Aaden fell asleep and rather than wake him from his nap they decided to go home. Luckily Wendy did get one run in that day. Here are some pictures from the event:

Vacation is over, now it's back to work.

2011-01-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

With the holidays now over, the family is returning back to their daily routines. Malcolm is back to daycare tomorrow and Roger and Tracey will be resuming work again. Carol's Mom has been helping taking care of Melody and she's been really great. We're all very thankful to her to be able to help out. Melody is so close to walking independently now, tonight she managed to take several steps on her own. Roger managed to snap the picture above of the beautiful sunset on New Year's Day, such a stunning site.

새해 복 많이 받으세요! Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

On behalf of our family to yours, here's wishing you the very best in 2011. We hope that 2011 is the best yet! Health and happiness to all.

Whew!

2010-12-26T00:42:00.000-08:00

Whew, it's over. After all that build-up Christmas has come and gone. Luckily not too much of an early morning for the family. Malcolm woke up at 6am, but Roger managed to coax him back to bed till about 7am. We opened our stockings in the morning and our presents throughout the day.

We were hosting Christmas Breakfast so we had to get ready with all the food and preparations. It was quite a spread, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast and the like. Also, several hours later turkey dinner prepared by Grandma. All in all, it was a pretty good Christmas, good food, great gifts and time with the family. Thankfully Malcolm was good, although he got his Candy on, chocolates, candy canes, cookies and baked treats galore. Now we'll have to figure out how to get rid of all that extra packaging and wrapping paper fall out. Here are some pictures from the day:

It's been tough...

2010-12-19T00:13:00.000-08:00

Everyone is almost back to 100% in the house, health-wise. Malcolm's cough has finally subsided thanks to the dose of the steroid puffer and Melody looks like she's turned the corner as well. Now if we could only find a cure for the boy's attitude. I think the most heart-breaking thing is that we know he can be so good. He's apparently an absolute gem at Daycare and when people visit the house you couldn't find a more charming 4 year old. Unbeknownst to many is how ornery and cantankerous he can be at home. A lot of times he's downright mean to Tracey, yelling at her being so oppositional that attempting mundane tasks like getting dressed can often spark a full-fledged tantrum. Sigh.

It's been quite a busy time at Malcolm's Daycare. He's had his first Christmas concert, breakfast with Santa, made gingerbread houses and even visited the local Kindergarten to share in their pancake breakfast with Santa; such a busy time this Christmas season. Malcolm's going to need some kind of therapy to work through the withdrawal that's going to happen in January. Here are some pictures from the recent events at his daycare. Pictured below are quite possibly four of the nicest and most caring teachers ever. (L-R) Miss Pam, Miss Aman, Miss Margaret and Miss Doris are pictured below:

Stanley Park Christmas Train

2010-12-09T23:42:00.000-08:00

The family made their annual trip to the Stanley Park Christmas train last Monday evening and from the sounds of things, a fun time was had by all. It really does help to go on a weekday, the crowds were certainly diminished. Lucky for the family it was dry and quite mild compared to years past. Here are some pics with Roger's new Nikon D700. Yup, a new toy for him, darn technology.

It's kind of ironic to see the pictures now cause the kids look so happy. You wouldn't have guessed that they are all so sick with colds now. Let's hope the family all gets very healthy soon.

Help Portrait Vancouver 2010

2010-12-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

Two years in a row Roger has been involved with the Help-Portrait initiative in Vancouver. This year it took place at the Union Gospel Mission, where approximately 600 people came through to have their picture taken. Here's some information about the event. Also, you can check out the blog link as well.

Help-Portrait Vancouver 2010 (Thank You) from Steve Tan on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Melody!

2010-11-29T00:05:00.000-08:00

It was a lot of preparation and hard work, but it all worked out extremely well. We officially have a one year old and a four year old. Melody's party was a lot of fun filled with friends, family and another round of cake pops. Bakerella has certainly made an impression on this family. The party was great, the birthday girl powered through even though she only had a 45 min nap all day. From what Roger and Tracey have said, she wasn't cranky, she didn't fuss, and she was a real trooper. The Doljabi went well, looks like she's got a future in the military using technology. She grabbed the sword then the iPhone, we'll have to wait and see if it really pans out. In fact, in the end she ended up grabbing all the items and passing them to Tracey. It was mentioned that she's got a future in philanthropy perhaps. So, she didn't walk by her first birthday, but we expect that it should be happening soon. Thank you to everyone who was in attendance, Melody thanks you as well. Here are some pictures from the event.

Melody's Birthday counting down...

2010-11-25T00:53:00.000-08:00

Can't believe how much time flies. Our little Melody is growing up fast. This past week we got rid of her baby tub and now she's in there like a big girl. She's so much more easy going than Malcolm was at the same age. As you can see from the picture, she loves the water, her brother not so much. Even a little drop on his face can sometimes trigger a full-blown meltdown. It's interesting how a brother and sister can be oh so different.

Step by step, oh baby!

2010-11-19T07:18:00.000-08:00

Day by day Melody's getting better and more confident about walking. She's really getting the hang of couch surfing. We're not sure if she'll be walking independently by her 1st birthday, but it might be close. Here's some video taken last night:

Melody Couch Surfing... from Obiwanhavanese on Vimeo.

Thinking of you...

2010-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

All jokes aside, as most people know I initially started this blog (for fun) to chronicle our lives as seen through the eyes of our Havanese dog, Obi. Most of the posts are dedicated to documenting the growth of the kids and all the trials and tribulations of this journey that we're all on. I hope one day we can look back on all the past entries and laugh together.

The blog has allowed me to share not only our lives with friends and family, but to also act as a creative outlet for myself. Sometimes the posts are simply updates, sometimes they represent an official log for us to come back to, in recent times it's an opportunity to capture the beauty that I see through my lens, and in today's case it's perhaps a voice to give me peace of mind that somewhere out there my Mother can hear me. It is a voice that has called out to proclaim my contentment, the joy and fulfillment I feel of being a father and husband, a true statement of well being. Today marks the 5th anniversary of my Mother's passing. It was a life-changing event that will never have resolution. Sadly, I have to admit, I don't think of her as often as I used to, but the fact remains although her death was tragic, that tragedy is unparalleled to the loss I feel that she never had the chance to meet my two beautiful and fantastic children. She was an amazing lady, I miss her dearly and today more than any other day. So again, I send this message out into space in the hopes that she can hear me and to let her know that I'm ok. I love you Mom.

Here's a picture taken in June of 1973, just after I turned 1, she was 25. She was just a kid herself.

Here We Bowl Again!

2010-11-14T22:53:00.000-08:00

Malcolm has been wanting to go bowling again for quite a few months. Roger and Tracey can't even drive past the bowling alley without him mentioning it. To celebrate that he has finally been staying at daycare for the whole day (including the afternoon rest), Roger took him bowling on Saturday. They had a great time and Malcolm really enjoyed his special outing with Daddy. Now we're gearing up for Melody's big birthday party in a couple of weeks and then the busy holiday season will be in full swing along with Tracey's return to work. Wow! It really is a busy time of year. I hope I still have time to fit all of my naps in. Woof!

Happy Birthday Auntie Suki!

2010-11-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

To help celebrate Aunt Sue's birthday, Roger and the family have been working on a little photo assignment that was sent from Vienna. They have been provided with 10 different photographic themes to work with and to interpret those themes in any way they see fit. They haven't quite finished them all yet, but hope to do so by the submission deadline tomorrow. At Sue's birthday party they will share all the submissions from the groups and pick winners in each category. Here's one shot that Roger captured to go with the first theme, "Something Inspirational". Can't wait to see all the submissions. We asked Malcolm to check on his baby sister to make sure she was feeling ok.

Thank you to Pardeep Singh...

2010-11-11T22:41:00.000-08:00

This past September, Roger got to second shoot for a pretty great photographer friend of his. His name is Pardeep Singh and his work can be seen here. Pardeep is a wonderful wedding photographer with a great eye and fantastic sense of composition. For obvious reasons he's booked solid year round. It was an honour working with him. Here are a few shots from Zareen and Gurpreet's wedding that Roger managed to capture.

Happy Birthday Malcolm!

2010-11-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Malcolm turned four on November 5th. First he had a party at school with all of his daycare friends and teachers. Roger and Tracey made Happy Face cake pops to mark the occasion. Their cake pop technique is starting to get more streamlined and efficient. This was their third attempt; everyone always seems to enjoy the yummy little cake morsels. After school, Malcolm had a pizza party with the family and some close friends. Meena and Jayden were even in town from Toronto so they stopped by for a visit. Malcolm was spoiled with lots of new toys; everyone was very generous. Some of the new additions to his toy box include a Playdoh Dentist kit, an indoor trampoline, a recycling truck, a firetruck, a Chuggington train track with a loop de loop and a talking Toy Story Woody Figure. Lots of fun! Malcolm is very lucky to have so many people in his life who care about him.
The rest of the weekend was quiet, but the weather on Sunday was beautiful so the family took a quick drive to Stanley Park for a walk and a visit to the playground. Next time, they better take me!

In three short weeks, it's Miss Melody's first birthday. Where does the time go?

Happy Halloween Everyone!

2010-10-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

The weather was quite tremendous this year, sunny and clear to take in the trick or treat festivities. Like last year we were able to double Halloween with Malcolm's birthday party. It was quite a small affair with only a few of his little friends on the guest list. A good time was had by all, it's definitely fun for everyone to see all the kids dressed up. This year Malcolm dressed up as an astronaut and Melody metamorphosed into a cute little butterfly. Oh, and to follow Bakerella's lead Roger and Tracey managed to make some pretty cool looking Jack-o-lantern cake pops. Malcolm's family birthday party is slated for later this week on his actual birthday. Here are some pictures from the event.

Aloha from the family.

2010-10-26T12:04:00.000-07:00

Whoa! A week without the family was sure something. Luckily cousin Carol and Papa took good care of me while they were gone. From the sounds of things, everyone had a great time. The weather was warm and sunny, the kids did great on the flights, the accommodations were fabulous and the beaches were stunning. I even heard Roger and Tracey say that the vacation exceeded their expectations. Melody was a superstar traveler; she loved the beach (she even loved to eat the sand) and after a little warming up she even loved the water. And she ate everything in sight- she even tried to take a bite out of Malcolm a couple of times. Malcolm was a true beach boy- he couldn't get enough of playing in the sand- he spent several hours at the beach everyday and never got tired of it. The family was also lucky enough to be able to spend some time at Aaden's fancy pool and and even witnessed Aaden walking on his own (Yay, Aaden!). The trip also included some yummy meals including a visit to the mouth watering "Cheesecake Factory". Sounds like Tracey will be up for a trip to Washington State to sample some more delicious desserts one of these days. Roger got to eat at "Todai" and it's fair to say that Melody lived up to her reputation of being an eating machine.
All in all, the trip was a huge success and Malcolm is already asking when they can go back. I'm keeping my paws crossed that the next vacation will be a dog inclusive road trip!

Pumpkin Patch 2010

2010-10-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

After much debate about the weather, the family headed to the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday for their annual romp through the muddy fields in search of the perfect (and for Roger's sake, not too heavy) orange gourd. It was opening day, but the crowds were light as probably the rain and wind warnings kept them away. Malcolm had fun and especially enjoyed the musical entertainment. After three years, Roger and Tracey have the pumpkin patch figured out- rubber boots,spare shoes and plastic bags are a must even if it's not raining. Today we shift gears to Thanksgiving dinner with Uncle Glen and family. It's always a treat when they come to visit. And then it will be time to pack for Hawaii- I hear that trip is less than a week away. I don't get to go, but at least Grandma and Papa take good care of me. I hope Roger will take tons of pictures in Hawaii...lucky ducks!

Autumn has arrived...

2010-10-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

The human members of my family had a chance to do an Autumn photo shoot the other day. Melody loved the leaves and tried to snack on a few. There really isn't anything that she won't eat! Here are some photos from the shoot. Malcolm wasn't very interested in having his picture taken, but Roger managed to get a couple of smiles out of him. Melody and Aaden got along very well and played together for a long time. Such a great picture of Chad, Wendy and Aaden. Hopefully, next time the family will do another shoot with me too.

So proud of Malcolm.

2010-09-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

Malcolm had his second official visit to the dentist yesterday and he couldn't have been a better patient. He did all that he was asked, did not fuss or cry and was simply amazing. He let the hygienist clean, brush and floss his teeth. We're all so very proud of him. Here's a picture Roger took to document the occasion. He made us all so proud. Maybe a bit counter-productive, but he got to have ice cream after his visit.

Roger takes a picture of Malcolm everyday when he drops him off at daycare. Here's a picture of Malcolm taken the other day next to his favourite teacher, Miss Pam. All the teachers have been so kind. We're all very thankful to all the staff there.

Our little girl turns 10 months old today.

2010-09-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

This day marks a milestone in your young little life

We're so glad you haven't given us much cause for such strife
It's hard to imagine you were so little
In fact, you've grown quite big not at all brittle
10 months old, wow it's gone by so fast
You laugh and smile at our whole family cast
We love you dearly, indeed we do
We're so glad you're a part of this family crew

Ups and Downs...

2010-09-27T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last week was pretty tough, the mayor of Tantrum town was visiting last week and didn't leave until late Friday night. Thankfully he managed to turn things around and we had a pretty good weekend. Malcolm has shown us that he certainly can be better about his behaviour when he wants to. As for Thursday and Friday, we'd like to soon forget. That's the thing, anything can set him off... it can be something as routine and banal as asking him to brush his teeth or asking him to put away his toys, at least that's what happened last week. Tracey and Roger have also realized that his bad behaviour peaks when he has to do #2.
Melody is still suffering from the sniffles, but has been a trooper. Even with a runny nose and some congestion, she's able to persevere. Her forward crawling has developed further, she's able to propel herself quite a ways now. She's still better at rolling, but the forward momentum is improving. Her eating habits have been great, there's simply nothing she doesn't like. She certainly likes all fruit, but lately has been enjoying proteins such as, red meat, chicken and pork.

Happy 5th Anniversary to Roger and Tracey.

2010-09-18T23:44:00.000-07:00

Roger and Tracey managed to get out without the kids. Thanks to Grandma and Papa for watching Malcolm and Melody. R & T celebrated by having a nice dinner at the Heron Restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Vancouver. The rain just held off for them to enjoy a stroll around Canada Place.

With summer winding down...

2010-09-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

This cute little butterfly flew into our living room this evening. Isn't the costume great? Tracey managed to find a great one for Melody at Old Navy, 30% off to boot. We also got a new one for Malcolm, but it's up in the air as to whether he'll wear it. Malcolm is still touch and go some days with regard to his behaviour. Luckily, he's a good boy most of the time, but I swear the kid can be super sensitive and uber moody.

As you can see Melody's teeth are still coming in. With all four teeth coming in at the same time. They are still bothering her a bit, but still she's been such a trooper through it all. Thankfully, she's still sleeping through the night.

Roger and Tracey just told me that they'll be going to Hawaii in October, hence the look on my face. They'll be taking the whole family to Honolulu basking in the hot sun. I'm sad to see them go, but I want to wish them luck taking the whole family on vacation.

Oh, special shout out to Roger's friend Barry who lent him his new Nikon D700 for the weekend. What a nice camera. I know what Roger has his sights on now (insert Tracey eye roll here).

Labour Day weekend, so long.

2010-09-06T23:45:00.000-07:00

The last long weekend of the summer, we bid it farewell along with the good weather by the looks of things. It was quite busy overall, Roger even got to 2nd shoot for a large Indian wedding on Saturday. The rest of the weekend gave the family a chance to relax and gear up for the week ahead. Every one is doing fine, Malcolm is attending "school" (daycare) everyday now and Tracey and Roger are trying to get him to stay the full day. It's been a gradual process for sure, but Malcolm's made so much progress. He hardly cries when he's dropped off and he's even admitted that he has fun there. Here are some pictures from the weekend gone by.

Here are some pictures from Deep Cove.

Honey's delicious doughnuts, greasy but so yummy.

Here's Malcolm showing his sister some brotherly love. Don't know if you can quite see it, but Melody's already sprouted more teeth. All four top teeth have broken through now.

What a wonderful weekend.

2010-08-29T23:46:00.000-07:00

Malcolm had a great time at the PNE this year, certainly more eventful than years past. Not only did he get to ride on all his favorite rides including the giant slide, this year he was tall enough and brave enough to ride the Kettle Creek Roller Coaster. From the expression on his face you can see that he thoroughly enjoyed himself. He's certainly growing up. Maybe in a few years the family will be able to travel to Disneyland.

I'm also happy to report that we enjoyed three full days of exemplary behaviour. The only blip was last night when Roger went out for BNO and had to come home early due to Malcolm's late night wakings. For some reason Malcolm hasn't been sleeping all that soundly. Many nights out of the week he gets up for some reason or another. Roger and Tracey thought it was mainly due to daycare anxiety, but the wakings during the weekends are somewhat of a mystery. Here are some pictures from the PNE.

9 months in comparison...

2010-08-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

I think Malcolm was a little further ahead in terms of moving around, but Melody has sure dwarfed him with regards to weight. It's fun to watch both kids grow. For the most part they've been pretty similar with one clear exception: eating. Melody is eating regular food; implementing the Baby-Led Weaning approach has allowed her to eat everything. So far there's nothing she won't eat. Yesterday, Roger gave her fish, asparagus, pears, and watermelon for dinner. She gobbled it all up. Happy 9 Months Miss Melody.

Setup shot:

9 Month Comparison:

Malcolm @ 9 Months:
Weight: 8900g = 19.6lbs
Length: 71cm = 27.9"
Head: 45cm = 18.1"

Melody @ 9 Months:
Weight: 9661g = 21.6
Length: 28.5"
Head:18.5"

PNE, happy 100th!

2010-08-23T13:08:00.000-07:00

On Friday the family made their way down to English Bay to watch the PNE parade. It had been 15 years since the last one. Beach Avenue was lined with people to take in the special event. There were floats, performers, and even tethered balloons. Finally, to kick off the celebration the Beach Boys and Bryan Adams performed at Empire Stadium. Tracey got to fulfil a teenage dream to watch Bryan perform live. He played all his hits including "Summer of '69". Suffice to say, he rocked the home town crowd. Here are some pictures from the parade and one from the concert. Roger and Tracey were up close, stage right.

Rocky Mountaineer ride...

2010-08-15T13:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Roger, Tracey, Malcolm and Melody traveled by train to Whistler. It was their first ride on the Rocky Mountaineer train. It was a three hour ride up and a three hour ride down with spectacular views of the Howe Sound, Cheakamus River, Coast Mountains, and all the other beautiful sights one sees while traveling up to Whistler. They got to walk around the train, see all the different types of cars, and enjoy some snacks all while taking in all the beautiful scenery. The kids were great little travelers. They didn't fuss and were very well behaved. Here are some pictures from the trip, including the family lunch at Whistler.

Bowling redux.

2010-08-09T07:27:00.000-07:00

Malcolm has been wanting to try bowling again for some time. Whenever, we walk by the Bowling Alley he mentions how he would like to try again. Roger usually tells him that it's a rainy day activity and that the next time it rains they could go. Low and behold, the weather was quite wet this past weekend. Apparently the second time around was much more successful. Malcolm did extremely well, bowling an 82 (all by himself I might add). I'm not sure if he really understands the concept of aim and scoring yet, but he was very enthusiastic and compliant. Here are some pictures from the event:

2010-08-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

We discovered a great new park near our house yesterday called Grimston Park. It's only a few blocks away and it has a brand new playground and water park area. Malcolm had a great time with his new friend Emma racing around the wading pool.

Melody is doing great, she's adding to her long list of food she likes. So far she hasn't turned down anything. Watermelon and Mango still top the list, but she really likes chicken, rice and the Heinz cereal cookies. It's so cute to watch her eat, she shows such excitement and anticipation for what's to come.

Oh and here are some pictures from the family's recent trip to Spanish Banks. It wasn't busy at all:

Roger and Tracey got the opportunity to venture out without the kids last night. It's been a long time since they had a date night. They decided to head to the Richmond Night Market. Here are some of the delicious foods they tried, starting with the ever so popular meat on a stick, deep fried cheesecake and Sukiyaki Rice Burger. They managed to stock up on some Korean socks as well.

Whew, what a busy few days we've had.

2010-08-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

Whoa, what a busy weekend it's been in the house. We entertained three days in a row with three different groups. First it was Roger's family bbq on Saturday. We managed to corral all the family from Vancouver, New Westminster and Bellingham for a wonderful Kalbi lunch. Then it was our Miracle Berry, taste-tripping party the next evening. Uncle Lane and Jen were in town to help join in the festivities. And finally, Joseph, Nicole and Uncle Glen came over for a bbq dinner on Monday. Whew, it's been busy. Fun was had by all, here are some pictures from the various events. Oh and cousin Corina has been staying with us for the past few days, it's been really fun having her visit.

Melody's favorite food hands down has been watermelon, she just can't get enough of the stuff. In fact, she cries for it as soon as she sees it.

Happy 8 Months Melody.

2010-07-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

You bring us joy

You bring us laughter

After all, what more could we ask for

Today you are 8 months old

You've come so far

As babies go you've certainly raised the bar

We love you so

And we're so happy that you're with us

Everyday with you seems like Christmas

Back from Kelowna.

2010-07-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

The family had a great time in Kelowna visiting with Scott, Michelle, Sydney and Nolan. The weather was hot, the pool was cool and catching up with old friends is always wonderful. The new house is simply amazing and not just because they have a pool.

The kids have sure grown, Malcolm got along very well with both of them. Sydney is the sweetest little girl, she entertained Melody for countless hours, playing with her and keeping her company. Nolan was especially generous letting Malcolm play with his toys and share his books.

The sleeping situation is always unpredictable, but for the most part things worked out very well. Malcolm and Roger slept upstairs while Tracey and Melody took the basement. Both kids adapted quite well to the new environment. The sad part is Melody and Malcolm both managed to pick up the flu the last day they were there. They're both fighting coughs and fevers. Let's hope they both recover fast. In the meantime, here are some pics from the trip and their mini-photoshoot at the house.

Lunch at the A&W in Merritt:

Beautiful Sky in Kelowna:

Fire Kelowna Style:

Underwater Family Shot:

Melody Relaxing in the pool:

Leb wohl mein Freund, güte reise.

2010-07-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

This week we had to bid farewell to our good friend Ryan, as he made his way back to Vienna. It was a week filled with good times and good laughs. It's pretty unbelievable that he and his family have been living in Austria for two years now. Here's a picture of uncle Ryan helping Malcolm walk along a beam.

Here's the shot below with the boys on his last day in Vancouver. See you next year Dr. Ryan. Next time we'll see you is Andrew stag! We all better start preparing for that doozy. Roger's started drinking more regularly to strengthen his liver for that one.

A big ball of worry, that's what kids are...

2010-07-13T07:13:00.000-07:00

No matter how old kids get, parents tend to worry about everything along the way. First it all starts with, how they're eating, how they're sleeping, are they pooping enough, are they peeing enough, so many concerns. Unfortunately, it never stops. During this next stage, we're worried about socialization, confidence, manners, and what we're fighting with right now is what is and what is not acceptable behaviour.

It's interesting because now that Malcolm is older some of the same fears that we had when he was a baby don't really even come into consideration when it comes to Melody, and like I've said before Tracey and Roger both agree that raising a toddler is way more challenging than a the baby ever was, well Malcolm anyway. The emotional and developmental stages are so different, so much more delicate to keep in check. We constantly walk along a tightrope made of eggshells, where any slight mis-step or movement can either send the boy into unbridled laughter or at the other end of the spectrum inconsolable frustration and despair. The maddening thing is that we just don't know what we're going to get. Right now if we can keep it to one meltdown a day we consider the day a good day. Today, was not one of those days.

Nevermind terrible 2's...

2010-07-06T23:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a rough go lately, as Roger tweeted the other day: "Reasoning with a 3 year old is an exercise in futility. Doing and saying the exact opposite of what you want is utterly exhausting."
Malcolm has been less than reasonable when it comes to doing simple things. Any number of things can set him off and his defiance to daily tasks like eating breakfast or cleaning up his toys sometimes send him into a crying and screaming rage. I think that Roger and Tracey's recent approach of working with a reward system for good behaviour has been working with some success; however, it isn't easy. We all know that Malcolm is dealing with a lot of things, the development of his brain, identity and not to mention the start of preschool. These are all stressful events at the best of times. We're all trying our best, let's just hope that things improve. I guess the most heartbreaking thing is that we know he can be so, so good. He's an articulate, energetic, intelligent and inquisitive little boy, too bad that boy leaves sometimes and we're left with an unreasonable, inconsolable, little lump.

Whew what a weekend!

2010-07-04T23:02:00.000-07:00

We're still waiting for the warm weather to arrive, is it really July? Roger, Tracey, Malcolm, Melody, Chad, Wendy and Aaden headed over to Bowen Island on Friday. A fun time was had by all, sunny skies, a nice (albeit anti-climactic) walk, and a rather relaxing lunch at Doc Morgans. I'm not sure if the group will be heading back any time soon, but it's certainly quaint and laid back. Here are some pictures from the trip.

Here are some other pictures taken at the playground tonight. Malcolm got a new hoodie and new shoes.

Melody is cutting more teeth, two upper lateral incisors. Funny thing is that she's following exactly in her brother's footsteps.

Happy Canada Day and Happy Anniversary Obi.

2010-07-01T22:48:00.000-07:00

It's been 5 years since Roger and Tracey made that fateful trip to Victoria. It's the one and only instance where Roger and Tracey spent the whole time in the car for the ferry ride. They wanted to make sure I was ok for the trip over. I don't remember, but they tell me that the ride was a bit traumatic. I lost my lunch two times and made a mess all over Tracey. Quite a christening it was. And to top it all off, Cleo, Tracey's then cat scratched my eye and drew blood. A mere 6 hours since I became a part of the family, I was already off to the vet for treatment. Luckily things have quieted down, and that cat is long gone, whew! The pictures are from a quick photo shoot that Roger did to mark the occasion.

Whoa, what a weekend.

2010-06-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

South Korea was eliminated by Uruguay on Saturday. Quite a match, Korea had several chances to score, but couldn't really capitalize on the play. It was a good run, hopefully they'll do better at the next World Cup in 4 years. On Saturday, Meena, Jody and Jayden came into town for a visit. Everyone went to New Brighton Park for a little picnic. The photo above is Auntie Deana chasing Malcolm. They sure look happy.

Malcolm started his first day of preschool today. Luckily it's a gradual entry to start. Tracey and Roger took him today for an hour and tomorrow a bit longer until he feels comfortable with things. So far so good, he seems to like it. He really likes seeing all the new toys and things. I'm not so sure he's interested in the other kids.

Here's Melody with Auntie Billie. Happy 7 months to Melody... whoo hoo!

Sweet 16... World Cup hopes stay alive.

2010-06-22T22:57:00.000-07:00

On to the round of 16 we go. It's definitely going to be a tough match against Uruguay on Saturday. We're keeping our fingers and paws crossed to make it to the next round.

Here's how it sounded when Korea scored goal #2 today at the Croatian Cultural Centre in East Vancouver:

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

Quite a nice Father's Day we had. On Saturday, Uncle Glen and the kids came over for a visit to help celebrate an early Father's Day with Papa. We all got to go for a walk around the neighborhood and visit Malcolm's two favourite places, the "Red Slide" playground and the "Blue Slide" playground.

On Sunday, the family went out to White Spot for a Father's Day breakfast. Here's a picture of the two fathers:

In the afternoon, Roger and the family headed down to the "Drive" to partake in "Car Free Day." They walked up and down Commercial had a few snacks and took in all the atmosphere. Here are some pictures:

High Key test...

2010-06-14T22:51:00.000-07:00

Roger bought a roll of seamless bright white paper from Beau Photo and wanted to test out some high key shots of the kids. Here are his first attempts with two lights.

Happy Birthday Roger...

2010-06-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

The family's first trip of the season was quite a success. Quite a birthday present for Roger anyway. He got to spend two days with his wonderful wife and two fabulous kids in my home town of Victoria. They went to the Buchart Garden, Beacon Hill Park and got to experience their first family ride on the ferry. One of Malcolm's highlights was his first time sleeping on a sofabed and ordering room service. Malcolm liked riding the ferry, stinking BC Ferries only allowing dogs on the car deck! Anyway, a lot of fun memories to commemorate Roger's birthday. Here are some pictures from the trip. Most of the pictures were taken with Roger's new birthday present, his Nikkor 105mm Micro lens, some really nice results.

Special thanks to Uncle Kevin in Korea for sending Malcolm's Korea jersey.

Now chicken?

2010-06-09T00:38:00.000-07:00

So in the past two days we've given Melody some strips of chicken and she ate it! I think she's eaten more chicken in the past two days than Malcolm has eaten in his whole life (pureed baby food not included). She's continuing to do well with all the table food.
The family is heading off to Victoria for a couple of days. I'm sure there will be lots of pictures to update when they return. I'm hoping the weather will hold for them, sunny thoughts, sunny thoughts.

Melody @ 26 weeks

2010-06-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

Melody had her six month shots and all went swimmingly well. We got her weighed and measured and her results were:

Length: 69cm / 27.16inches
Head: 45cm / 17.7inches
Weight: 8730grams / 19.24pounds

She's basically in the 90th - 95th percentile in all categories, whoa! The doctor said that she's more like a 12 month old baby.

The whole family went to Hats Off Day in Burnaby today... it was great. The weather was beautiful. We were lucky enough to be joined by Chad, Wendy and Aaden. Here are some pics:

Broccoli Melody and baby-led weaning.

2010-06-01T23:23:00.000-07:00

Well with Melody celebrating her 6 month birthday a few days ago, Tracey and Roger have started her on solid food. They're taking a different approach this time and have not started with any of the conventional pureed baby food. They're doing something new called "baby-led weaning". A somewhat newer approach to transitioning a baby to solid food. Basically, they're letting Melody jump right into real food and letting her lead the way. She started on broccoli, peaches, carrots, and bananas so far. She's been doing excellent. She only really manages to eat a tiny amount, but it's all laying a good foundation to generate healthy and nutritious eating habits. This approach apparently thwarts picky eating and we all know her older brother can learn from it. Perhaps, that's the best by-product of this new method, it's made Malcolm more interested in trying some new and different things. Who knows, maybe it will motivate him to eat more vegetables like his baby sister. Wish us luck.