September 29, 2009 by Dad.

Cezanne is really pleased to be the big sister and has been spoiled by both aunty Gillian and aunty Michelle, both gave her gifts to celebrate her new status in the world.

The gifts - “my little ponies” with brushes for combing the pony’s hair. Cezanne is really enjoying being the big sister and is a wonderfully eager helper.

Posted in Special Events, Just Everyday | Print | No Comments »

September 27, 2009 by Dad.

Sunday we got a chance to look at the craft projects Cezanne made while at Grandparents Day at school. Here are photos of her with her photo frame and apple wreath.

Later while I was away from my netbook for a moment, Cezanne took the opportunity to check her email… She seems quite comfortable at the keyboard already…

Cezanne has started showing an increased interest in her letters and is now a big fan of both WordWorld and Super WHY ? I think her new school is also helping as they have time set aside each day for both numbers and letters. We are working on letter when we get a chance, here are a bunch of Ms.

Thanks to NetFlix we can watch the Wiggles anywhere and just love all their shows, here we are watching “Growing Strong” - check our muscles !!

We also love our baby brother very much and want to give him kisses all the time !

Posted in Just Everyday | Print | No Comments »

September 26, 2009 by Dad.

Bed time tonight was later than it should have been, Dad was late coming in to make dinner because of the wall building in the back, Mom was busy with Etienne and dinner, so everything got pushed to a later time slot. Finally with both kids in bed, Etienne started to fuss. I went to help Lanelle with him. He needed a change and as I opened him up he started to cry and Cezanne could not resist the urge to come and check on him. This pushed Lanelle almost to breaking point - she had a long day already, but I let Cezanne come and see what I was doing and she very sweetly ( although she is still a bit rough ) took his hand, stroked his head and said, “I’m right here, it’s ok, I’m right here”. I just love that and it sounds so familiar

After getting her back into bed and him back on the Mother to feed finished he cried again and Cezanne again had to just make sure we were looking after him. She came into the room and asked if we were taking care of baby Etienne. Then she asked if she could sing him a song and she did a very  good job of singing her own version of a song Lanelle made up and always sang to Cezanne. She changed the words by herself to fit and it was really heart warming to see that she really cares and loves her baby brother !

Lets see how long this lasts

Posted in Just Everyday | Print | No Comments »

September 26, 2009 by Dad.

Today was grandparents day at school and Cezanne was so lucky to have one of her sets of grandparents visiting us from Africa…

The special event was for Cezanne and her grandparents ONLY, and while Cezanne is very comfortable with her Ouma & Oupa at home or when we are around, the same is not true when she is away from us or not at home. She was not really herself, the school looked quite different and it sounded as if none of her class mates where there. I think she felt a bit lost and overwhelmed. She was supposed to go from one class to another and in each class there was a fun activity all linked to the theme of Apples which is what they have been learning all about.

Sorry to Ouma & Oupa for subjecting them to this and then having Cezanne disappoint us all in her lack of eagerness to participate.

Oupa did take some pictures, but if they will be ones we want to post is yet to be seen

Later we played outside while Dad and Oupa did some landscaping in the backyard, a retaining wall is finally being built after being on the “to do” list for month !

Posted in Special Events | Print | No Comments »

September 22, 2009 by Dad.

Finally, Cezanne’s baby brother arrived on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at 3:50pm after a whole 5 minutes of pushing…

His name is Etienne Caelan Lambert.

The big boy weighed in at 9lbs 8oz and was 21 inches in length.

Cezanne is impressed with him and just wants to touch and kiss him all the time.

We have a blog just for him, click here for the link to his site. (http://etiennesblog.lambertsatlarge.com/)

Posted in Special Events | Print | No Comments »

September 20, 2009 by Dad.

In the hope that it would induce labor we went apple picking on Sunday. The idea was that if Lanelle picked enough low hanging fruit she would go into labor and we would have our boy born on 20/09 2009, like Cezanne is born on 20/06 2006.

We met up with the playgroup at Jonamac Orchards for the picking and found a whole lot more to do, there was a play area with a petting zoo, a hay bail maze, a corn “sand pit” and much more. After the kids played around we headed back to the orchards to pick apples. We bought a bag and then let the kids loose on the trees to pick from the varieties that were ready for picking. We picked Jonamac, Cortland, Spartan, Golden Delicious and a couple of others I had not heard of before. Cezanne did well picking the fruit from the tree and leaving the fruit that had already fallen, she had seen an episode of Caillou on TV where he had gone apple picking so this was fun for her to do.

After the picking the kids rode on the apple train which was basically a tractor that pulled a bunch of barrels all tied together - it was very bumpy and Cezanne came back crying - she did not enjoy the apple train.

After some snacks and a few photos we decided it had been fun but was enough of an outing for the Mommy who was now at her breaking point.

I got one !	Ride in style.	Cezanne & Rhiannon.	The apple pickers…
Daddy & Cezanne - Looking for apples.	More apples !	Do you see apples ?	We found a red one !
Another apple.	A fun ride !	Cezanne & Callum.	The big rocking chair.
I got a pumpkin.	Cheese !	Our Fall Postcard	Good enough to eat !

Posted in Special Events | Print | No Comments »

September 20, 2009 by Dad.

This evening we went to check on Cezanne as we do every night and found her in the following position…

Sleeping on the floor with Noddy

We figure Noddy must have fallen off the bed and that she got out to get him, but what we can’t understand is how neatly the blanket is pulled over her, clearly this was on purpose and not by accident.

Strange child…

Posted in Special Events | Print | No Comments »

September 16, 2009 by Dad.

Ouma & Oupa baked rusks and were not quite prepared for the helpful little assistant we have at our house. Eventually Ouma & Mommy gave in and gave Cezanne her own baking materials and she made a lovely batch of cookies and even put them in a fancy cookie tin for the tea party. Here are photos of Mommy & Oupa at the tea party. Yum !

Posted in Just Everyday | Print | No Comments »

September 13, 2009 by Dad.

A quick picture of Mommy still with the baby in her tummy and Cezanne just as we were about to leave for the airport to fetch Ouma & Oupa.

Cezanne has been waiting and asking about her baby brother for months and I am sure she is beginning to think he will never come out.

Posted in Just Everyday | Print | 1 Comment »

September 12, 2009 by Dad.

As a special treat we had another “half sleep-over” at Chloe’s house this past weekend, just before the arrival of Ouma & Oupa from Africa. The girls played beautifully together and there was not fighting - there there was also no sleeping either, but then the knew we where being overly optimistic expecting the two girls to actually sleep anytime before 10pm !

Posted in Just Everyday | Print | No Comments »