what's up with us?

It's been a long while since we last blogged.

Well, we recently took a trip to Canada. Aubrey is still whining, and is very cranky for some reason.

I am left to hold the fort down while Egan made an emergency flight to Philippines. It is a sad trip, one where he says goodbye to his father who passed last weekend. I wish we could be there with him but I have stayed behind with the kids. So far, the kids haven't been giving me too much of a hard time here.

Tonight, when I went to pick up the kids from my parents' house, Gerard was asleep and didn't want to wake up. So I left him there, thinking he would be asleep all night. But I just got a call that he woke up and wanted to go home. Good =) I was feeling quite lonely even though I loved having alone time with Aubrey. Having two kids, it's just never right when they're separated. But I cherish our one-on-ones. It just drives me crazy that I can't have one-on-one at the same time with both of them! I love these brats and couldn't imagine where I'd be without them.

Vacationing

We've been in British Columbia since last week, and we return to the bay tomorrow. It's been fun for the kids to travel and meet their extended family.

This trip was spent hanging out in Seattle, 4 days camping at Vedder River, and discovering around Vancouver. I'm pleased to say that I have enjoyed the city.. it's very biker-friendly and all the architecture around here is modern and beautiful. I love old architecture too, but it's a fresh breath of air to see something new.

Photos coming soon.

Aubrey just begged me to take her to the bathroom so she could look at herself in the mirror (that's the only mirror we have). She was wearing her too-small-for-her-head hat and a bathing suit, and she really needed to see herself. So I took her, and she was all smiles. After a while, I asked if we were done, she responded with "No."

Hmmm....

Big bro moment

We imposed a new rule on the kids: they're not allowed to stand on the armrest or backrest of our couch. They like to do this, and it always riles us up. So everytime the rule is broken, they get a little spank. Well I did so to Aubrey because she hasn't gotten the rule yet. It was just a reminding slap on his fat thigh, it didn't hurt (enough) but she also ignored it as she kept at it.

Meanwhile, Gerard is looking at me a little upset and grudgingly says, "Don't spank Aubrey. Aubrey's my sister!" I think this is his phase.

Last week, he said something similar. We were in my paernts' van on the way home from The Little Bits' show, and Aubrey had just fallen asleep in the carseat. My dad turns from the passenger sear to see if she was awake, so he says "Aubrey? Are you awake?" And next to me in the last row of seats was Gerard, who whispered loudly to himself, "Don't wake up Aubrey, she's my sister!" I don't think my dad heard that but I was laughing my A off.

A couple of times already, I've heard him shout to other kids at the playground that Aubrey is his sister :)

Aubrey talks in her sleep!

Late last night, I got into bed and shortly after, Aubrey started shouting "Mine! Mine! Mine! MIIINE!" and I thought something went wrong. I looked at her, and she was all asleep.

I did learn early this morning that yesterday, she and her brother bickered all day. That explains it.

But well, before I dropped her off with grandpa and grandma (Gerard stayed home to be with his paternal great grandma), Aubrey didn't want to leave anymore. She was having a lot of fun wrestling with her brother on the couch.

Kids.

Potty

Potty training is a little inconsistent, but Aubrey still does remember what to do when she needs to go and I happen to take her. It is quite early and I'm really proud that she's even racked up potty points already. On the other hand, her bro refuses and insists on being a baby.

Aubrey's new achievement

Our little girl has picked up polite manners, largely due to her big brother :)

He had been trained to properly ask for things he wants by saying, "Please may I have....." except his version is "Excuse me, please may I'm have...." (Yes, he says excuse me, and I'm). A lot of times, he doesn't remember to be polite so whenever he demands for something, we remind him what he must say to get what he wants, and he obliges.

Their dad also implemented this with Aubrey and she is also saying it. So far, I've reminder her to say it instead of crying for it. She has asked, "Please may I go up" and "Please may I have milk."