Drip Drip Drop...

I wish I was talking about the season of April since it is days away, but alas, I am talking about my nose. Itchy watery eyes, sneezing, aching and constant dripping everywhere! I have a cold. Nay. A MAN-cold. Meaning, worse than how my husband acts with a cold. An I-can't-do-this-anymore cold. I don't remember the last time I felt like this! Albeit, pregnancy is worse than this feeling, let's make that clear, but this ridiculous cold (and head ache to top it off) is not my way of bringing in the Spring. Oh wait. Spring DOESN'T EXIST HERE!

I took these pictures yesterday and sadly there is no change from today. Nothing telling me that Spring is on its way. I feel like I've bided my time when it comes to complaining, "We should expect this out of Canada! Late Springs are just a part of living here! We should be used to this by now" But this is getting ridiculous! This is the most snow I've seen this late in the season ever. EVER! I am almost forgetting what that round bright thing in the sky is called again....

Dear Spring,

Can I have the REAL "drip-drip-drops" in April instead of this nasty cold taking its place?

Yours truly,

Snoddy-dosed Baren

Television Tenderness

My kids are mostly crazy, but then there are moments like these that I only wish I could freeze! Yes, I caved about a year ago and we have a TV in our bedroom where more than occasionally the kids will sit on our bed and either watch TV or a movie. In this case it was a movie and I promise you, Jax and Ellie snuggled for a good portion of it. Adorable? Most definitely!

Before I conclude this entry, I DO have to say that Ellie and Jax are such cute little buds. He's such a sweet older brother. Always looking out for her, making sure she has a toy to play with, helping her with this or that, comforting her when she falls down and cries, even involving her in games (unless it involves tower-building---now THAT is serious business). It is so sweet to watch this relationship unfold. The older protective and tender brother.

Why?

Oh dear....

Closer

I've been a complainy-pants the last few months because Joe's job has been allowing him to travel practically every week, ...which "allows" ME to be lonely. I also have to end up changing my schedule last minute (because his trips are generally last minute as well), and let's face it... I shut down at around 4pm every day. That is the time where I get to look forward to him coming home for dinner to relieve me of the kids so I can refuel! It's especially hard when he's gone for multiple days in a row. By the time he gets back into town, I want to BUST out the door and yell "Freeeeeeedoooooom!" Well, in all of this feeling-sorry-for-myself I found out that a girl I play basketball with lost her husband about a year and a half ago WHILE she was pregnant with their fourth baby. My heart sunk when I found that out. I am still fighting the lump in my throat. I hurt for her. I feel like an idiot complaining about my nothing-problems. And of course there's nothing I can do but be a friend. AND stop feeling sorry for myself. I have a busband. I have three beautiful kids. Sheesh. Last night I made sure to let my husband know that I loved him, and I hovered over my sleeping children a little longer than usual before going to bed myself. In fact, I accidentally woke up Ellie in the process and instead of letting her cry herself back to sleep which is what I would normally do, I picked her up and held her close and rocked her with her cheek to my chest. It was so sweet and such a tender moment. Every once in a while she would look up at me and smile, then put her head back on my chest. I just wanted to freeze that moment. Click! Metal picture taken. I hope I never forget these times. She was such a sweetheart and my boys looked so peaceful. It's when I know I need to be more grateful that I contemplate what life would be like without them (which is an awful feeling) and then hold my family a little closer.

Bath Time!

My kids love bath time together! Together is the key word here. I remember giving Ellie a bath all by herself not too long ago and she hated it. She was like, "Who am I supposed to play with and steal toys from?" I guess you could say she's more of a social-bath time kind of gal. ...and hates getting out as you can see below.... (love the bootie and multiple creases!).

This is what happens when I ask Joe to help me get the kids ready after their bath. ...What sweet spirits?

Thanks Hun, ...for turning our children into mini-Dwights!

Four Year Olds Just Know

Jackson: "Water comes from the ground."

Me: "Yes, you're right. We get water underground sometimes. How did you know that?"

Jackson: "Because I growed up all the way to four and I just know it."

The Studio

There are few precious joys in life, and for me being in the studio is one of them. That's where I get to see my songs come together and finally keep a record (be it a demo or for an album) of my favorite songs. Last night I got to record the vocals for "Today Is Gone" and "Your Turn." I'm releasing an EP in May (tentatively if things go according to plan which they rarely do in this business), and originally I wasn't planning on recording these songs, but the more I played them at home, the more I wanted the world to hear them. They are both pretty emotional songs, and I even started to cry in the studio last night as I was trying to get through "Your Turn." My poor engineer. Haha! I had one good cry and then it was back to business and thankfully I held it together for the rest of the session. Sheesh, am I an Ord or what? Anywho, being there was like a breath of fresh air. Like a reminder of who I am. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in being a Mom with monotonus chores and whatnot that I forget that I have talents and hobbies that shape who I am, too. Being a Mom will always come first of course, but last night was sure refreshing. I hope I have many more studio sessions to come. I can't ever imagine music not being a part of my life in one way or another. Thank you Mom and Dad for making music such a big deal in our home! It is one of my greatest joys!

A Proud Wife

A proud... and gassy wife! Let's start with: Joe has never made a successful batch of cookies in his life. He would even second that notion. Joe is an amazing cook though. He knows his spices and thickening agents and portions, etc. He could throw most anything together and make it taste really good. Baking cookies, however, has never been his forte. Well, last night I was desperately feeling like some cookies. I was about to make them when Joe piped up. I lovingly declined his offer to make them because in the end I wanted to be able to eat them and enjoy them. But after a few convincing words, I allowed Joe another chance at cookie-making. The verdict? ...Well, I did say I was gassy right? So, that means I think I liked them a little too much! Well done, Joe. Well done.

Grand-Pops

Ellie loves Grandpa O. They have this sort of unspoken connection that I think is the sweetest thing I've ever seen. Let me just tell you, although Ellie is generally a happy baby and is quick to smile I will tell you right now that there is something different with Grandpa. Before Christmas, my parents came to visit for a couple weeks. It had been months since Ellie had seen them and let's face it, she was probably too little to really remember them. Also let me preface this a little further---at this time, Ellie was such a clingy baby. There were times she wouldn't even go to Joe. If I left the room, she would cry for me to come back. Anywho, so my parents came through the door and I have Ellie in my arms. She sees Grandpa and smiles so big! So, I thought I would test it out and see how she would react with her Grandpa. She not only let him hold her (I got a swift kick to the curb), but she snuggled into him! Snuggled! (First time with any one other than ME). So, ever since then any time she sees her Grandpa she seems to light up the most for him. It makes me wonder if they were super-buds in the pre-existence or something. Seriously. She loves that man.

Noah-Bos

I can hardly believe that Noah will be three at the end of May. He had a super growth-spurt recently and it's always during those times when you notice those jeans are just a little too short or his shirts are starting to look like half-shirts that you think, "my baby is getting all growed up!" I always felt like Jax was so much "older" at three and I treated him way different. I am realizing that Noah is so much more capable than I give him credit for! He's starting to learn how to dress himself. Starting is the key word here, folks. He's generally accident-free now when it comes to potty-training. He can count to 30 (except "30" is actually 20-10! So technically, he can count to 29) and knows his colours and letters. And he can certainly stick up for himself. This morning at breakfast, Jackson said something that upset him and Noah's reply was, "I'm not very happy with you right now," in his subdued Noah-voice. Where'd he get that from? Oh right. Me. Anywho, although he's growing up fast, he's still my snuggly-bug! This morning while Jax went for the iphone to play games while waiting for me to come out of my coma, Noah crawled into bed with me. I moved over thinking he'd want his own space, but he just snuggled even closer. It's pretty adorable. Even at 7:30am. And at nap-time, he loves it when I stroke his hair and sing a song with him. His top choices are usually "Rainbows" or "Child of God." Any chance he gets to snuggle with me, he will take. It's pretty darn cute. He's also more interactive than he's ever been. Today I was having a tender moment with the boys and I said, "I love you boys!" And Noah, who usually just smiles and looks away awkwardly (like, "don't embarrass me Mom!), actually responded with, "I. Wuv. You. Too. Mum." Awwwwwww!

Sunny Paradise

We bought the kids sunglasses to prepare them for our bright and cheery Spring!

THIS, however, is our Spring. Snow still many feet taller than my children. Can I expect anything else out of living here? Definitely nay. It is the middle of March and I fully expect at least three more decent snowfalls before Summer finally comes. You see, Spring here doesn't really exist. It gets forgotten by Mother Nature.

Anywho, regardless of the mountain-high piles of snow, it really WAS a beautiful day yesterday, so we took advantage of the above-zero climate and played outside!

Don't judge me. Yes, Ellie is wearing a snowsuit twice her size. Girls clothing isn't as disposable as boys. Girls clothing is way cuter and I wasn't about to let her new light blue leggings get all wet and dirty. My boys sweatpants on the other hand, ...who cares, right?! That's what they're for! She's already out-grown her other snow suit and it was so wet out that I had to put something on her! So alas, this is what I found. She looked so cute waddling around!

This was a common occurrence. Poor thing! At least she was dry! (And yes, she laid there for about 5 seconds until she figured out how she was going to get up. Haha! I'm so nice....).

We walked around the block to our back yard, splashing in all the puddles along our way. The boys had a blast climbing up on to all of the snow piles and jumping or sliding off.

I like this shot below because it looks like Noah should be in a Snowy Mountain Trek Magazine or something.

We made our way back to the front of the house (Ellie kept losing her size 5 boots and still wanted to experience the freezing puddles without them. She's barely a size 3 now. Woops!). She was GIDDY each time she found a puddle and romped right through it, just like the boys, giggling each time! It was adorable. "Yes, Ellie, this is what we call the out-doors and fresh air." Sadly, it's been a very long time since the kids have played outside on a semi-warm day. I am hoping we get more and more of these and eventually the snow will melt. At this rate, it will likely be May? Like I said, Spring kind of gets skipped around here.

Seriously, that is a LOT of snow! I should either be grateful that the farmers will be getting so much moisture, or complain because Summer will never come at this rate.

Of course all the hill-sliding turned into a snow ball fight. How could it not? We had so much fun! And it was so refreshing to be outside and watch the kids enjoy themselves.

Dear Summer,

We miss you. We are ready for you.

Love,

The Burnhams

Best Family Portrait

A few weeks ago Jax and I were drawing together and I said "You should make something for Daddy!" So, I drew the heart and he finished the rest. Our family! Is that not adorable? The sensitivity and sweetness of this child knows no bounds.

Thank you BBC

This is also a thank-you to Jenny who is always giving me ideas of things to do or watch! If it weren't for Jenny, I would know nothing about upcoming releases, or this or that book. Jenny just knows things. I love it! When Jenny told me about BBC's latest version of Emma, I wasn't sure it was going to be as good as the Gwenyth one. Who can replace Mr Knightly? And who could make a better snob? I was gratefully and perfectly wrong. It was just as good as the Hollywood version (maybe even better in some instances) and it was spread out over four hours! How can you tell I just watched this? Well I did. Last night. All four hours. By myself. Whilest caressing a slurpee. It was lovely. The Emma was perfect, and Mister Knightly? Well, I must say this. I was skeptical because I really love the original, and the guy replacing him is not one of my favourite BBC characters (He's in Mansfield Park. I think). But he did VERY well! "Badly done Emma!" And the "ball" part. Even Miss Bates was perfection in this. She had a lot to live up to with the original, ...but she did an awesome job! I will say this though, Mrs Elton was far superior in the original. This one was good but definitely not annoying enough. I LOVED the Dad (Dumbledor!), I thought he was hilarious in a very subtle way. AND, the two lines I missed the most were Gwenyth at the end, "I hate John! ....I love John!" and Mister Knightly replying to Emma at the ball, "No. We most certainly are not," in talking about their friendhship and then they go DANCE!

Siiiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhh!

Anywho, ...thank you Jane Austen for having a romantic heart. And thank you BBC for elaborating the story to be even more romantic than the book. I heart a good romance.

Piggies!

So this is exciting for ME, because I've had to go through two boys to get to this point (...AND I have to cut their hair about every month which gets old). But with Ellie? I get to let it grow and grow and grow! And now it's long enough for pig tails. Kind of. I'm a little eager and I think it's cute anyway!

You can tell I have no idea what I'm doing with her part yet. I'll get it one day!

Too Much Love?

This is Ellie's new doll, Gabe.

The first time Ellie saw her cousin Gabe, she was giddy beyond belief! All she wanted to do was hold him and look at him and love him! The best is that although Gabe is only 4 months old, he is almost her size! A life-sized doll just for her!

The look of defeat. I took these pics a couple weeks ago because I wanted to compare sizes (they are both about 20 lbs) but Ellie could not keep her hands off of him. There might be a little too much love in that girl.

Poor guy. And we're done!