Toddler Olympics!

I was hit hard with the flu this past weekend, but not as hard as this household has been hit with the post-Olympic blues*. The booster seats were hauled back to the kitchen, the TV is no longer on 24/7, and we are adjusting to our regular ol non-Olympic lives. To help with your transition back to reality (assuming you're struggling with the same blues we are), why not bask in some Toddler Olympics. And/or, you know, go outside or something.

During the 2012 Summer Olympics, we hosted Baby Olympics. This year, it was time for Toddler Olympics. The events were slightly more sophisticated than the Cheerio Scramble from Baby Olympics. We kept it small (like, miniscule) as now with siblings arriving on the scene, chaos can ensue... and quickly.

Fraser was very excited for Toddler Olympics and in fact practised his figure skating moves at Nana & Papa's... both solo and pairs.

"I skating!"

"I skating with Nana!"

Let the games begin.

Sit-on-couch-and-throw-balls-into-a-laundry-basket (that's an official, sanctioned Olympic event right?)...

Laundry Basket Bobsled (how all bobsledders got their start I'm SURE)...

And the Penguin Waddle (invented and requested by Fraser himself)...

Liam preferred the Penguin Waddle as more of a spectator event... which was simply adorable. (I understand, Liam. I would want to steer clear of the bash brothers (term coined by Chels) too).

 

Any successful event with kids (and let's face it- PEOPLE), must include food. So, why not make it festive in the most simple way possible? Like, I mean soooooo simple here folks.

Olympic rings...

Healthier Olympic rings...

Olympic rings on pizza...

The rings are all pizza-appropriate toppings except the blue things... those would be skittles. And also olives... those things are like poison. But otherwise... totally pizza-appropriate toppings.

Do you think that's enough versions of Olympic rings? How about some medals to mix it up. Everyone's a winner with Oreo, licorice, and gum medals...

And how could I pass up mustache suckers?! Classy dudes...

Chels was hoping that with the mustache AND Flames jersey, Nico would look a great deal like her childhood hero Lanny McDonald... success? I think so. Absolute doppleganger. You be the judge...

Let's see a side by side...

hahaha.

I love how REAL they kept it in the following photo (take special note of Fraser's super impressed expression)...

When attempting to get a group photo, Fraser was being, well, two, and did not want to smile on command (the HORROR!)...

Enter Carianne and her brilliance. She wisely whispered in Fraser's ear, "Your mommy will give you candy if you smile" and INSTANTLY, Fraser's face lit up.

I LOVE this candy bribery age!

Look out 2016. Summer Kid Olympics is coming, and no more of this cooperative-kiddie-everyone-wins stuff. These kids will be 3 and 4 years old by then, and the games will be ON!

*Actually, that was a lie. The flu was much worse. Like, HORRID. But luckily for me, Lowell was a rockstar single parent, and Dr. Dad lives two blocks away and makes house calls and deliveries. I suppose I'm still a lucky girl... even while puking my guts out. ;)

Olympic Fever

We are kiiiiind of into the Olympics around here.

Shortly before the Olympics began, Fraser's face had a disagreement with the sidewalk which inspired our FIRST Olympicesque shot and launched us into Olympic mode. And yes, we embellished the eye and tooth. Fraser was initially resistant to the concept... until the promise of candy was involved. And then our little hockey star was born!

After that (and with the actual start of the games), our efforts snowballed and our Team Canada spirit intensified...

 

Yes, Olympic fever runs high around here. In fact, we MAY have relocated the children’s booster seats to the living room for Olympic watching purposes. Hey…it was more efficient and a whole lot cheaper than purchasing 6 new TVs. I’m also considering installing a toilet in the living room.

We generally have a ‘no TV under the age of two’ policy in our home (and very limited thereafter), but that rule goes out the window for the Olympics.

And also for Ellen. (Degeneres... obviously.)

We're fans. Of Ellen and her undies. And believe you me, the only way that my underoos will ever grace the world wide web is on the heads of my children. Apparently...

(hehehe)

But back to the Olympics... GO CANADA!!!

Valentine's Photobust- behind the scenes

It is getting increasingly difficult to get good shots of these two hooligans. And by good, I mean totally posed with brilliant, not-at-all-fake smiles. Fraser is at the age where (shameless) candy bribery usually works, but even then... the temptation to steamroll Stefan is just too much. And Stefan. Ohhhhh Stefan. He has become a hard nut to crack! He doesn’t smile with a single look anymore, he’s MUCH more interested in using his army crawl/snake pull to explore than looking at the camera, and he does not yet grasp the very important concept of candy bribery.

And of course. If one of them is looking all picturesque, the other one is, well, not. With eyes half closed.

 

 Or they just both look ridiculous.

Okay, modify cheesey props.

Or not...

 

 Adjust positions? Noooo...

I guess we'll just have to settle for some individual shots.

 

 But even then...

This is me saying “Listen here son. If you WANT that gummy worm, you WILL leave that sticker on your face. And smile. While looking at the camera. And NOT pinning Stefan to the floor.”

Nope.

Another day, another try.

No? Alrighty then.

Sigh. They’re 10 months old and 2 years old…I have GOT to change my expectations.

Or, just use the props ourselves.

Funny back story here. A couple of weeks ago, I eagerly shared with Lowell, "It's Valentine's Day in two weeks and I got some props for a fun photo shoot!" He looked a little more excited than I expected him to, and I was like, "Ohhhhh. Sorry. FOR THE KIDS!" hehe. So here it is, Lowell. This photo shoot included me... appeased? No? hah!

PS- We did get a few semi usable photos of the children despite overly cheesey props and not-in-a-cooperative-mood children. Happy Valentine's Day from the dazzling duo...