Halloween Hello

Just a quick Halloween Boo from us Boyd's.



As I listen to night time fire works in the neighbourhood go off, and nibble on Jake's candy stash (he really shouldn't eat it all himself), I am reflecting about how lucky I am to have a little train man and a little Zebra in my life.

He just always wants to be a train man, what can I do?

Thank you cousin Marsha for sending this hand made hat and matching wrap via express mail. Amelia's first Halloween wouldn't have been the same without it!

Yes, it's been a long week of transitions and change, but it's all good. And nights like tonight make it all worth it.

 Jake was quite happy with his loot this year, but can you believe there are still people giving out raisins!

Happy Halloween from The Boyds!
Boo.

Welcoming.....

Amelia Veronika Sandra Boyd

Born October 25th, 2013 at 10:45 am
Weighing 8 pounds and 10 ounces

We feel happy, we feel blessed, and we feel tired.

Photos, updates, and life as normal will resume sooner rather than later I hope. In the meantime, we are laying low, getting to know each other, enjoying our beautiful fall weather, and trying to nap when the baby naps.

Be back soon.

Love the Boyds

Concert at the Library

I realize this blog tends to focus mostly on our little Jake, and secondly on the random happenings in my life and in my kitchen. Not often enough do I dedicate an entire post to our fine dad and husband, which is completely unfair because he brings so much into our lives that is worth blogging about on a daily basis. Maybe I should start a blog just about him. What do you think I should call it? The life and times of Daddy Boyd? Father Blackhawk? Matt's Amazing Transit Adventures?

While I work on that I will use this time to dedicate a post to our dad, the musician. As I have posted before our talented Mr. Boyd has had a few gigs in his back pocket already, but since moving to our new hometown his love of creating and sharing children's music has taken a back seat to other things like settling into a new job, providing for his family, co-managing a household, catering to his erratic and demanding pregnant wife, and entertaining his three year old every spare minute he is at home because by the time daddy gets home Lord knows mama and jake have spent enough time together!

Earlier in the month however, the public library invited him to come preform a one hour children's concert to help celebrate Canadian Library month in our city. Let me tell you there is something surreal and amazing about walking into your local library that you visit on a weekly basis, and seeing a stack of flyers there on the librarian's desk advertising your husbands musical talents.

It was a registration only event and though you can't really tell from these photos there were some 50 people there.

Brag alert: He was amazing! the swing in his step never faltered since his last performance. He picked right up like he never took "parental leave" from his side career. Parents, librarians, and random members of the public all enjoyed the show, but mostly the children - oh how they danced, and laughed and sang along at the top of their lungs. They caught on to his original songs in a heart beat and by the end were singing his back up like it was their job.

We are proud, so very very proud and happy to have back our funny, musical, dancing daddy (hey maybe that's a good blog name "Dancing Daddy?) that we have missed for far too long.

We love you dad....

Nesting, pumpkin patching and giving thanks

I love October, I love autumn, and I love experiencing those two things right here on Canada's West Coast. In these parts Fall has been magnificent. Days of cold crisp sunshine, colours changing from summer green to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Even the nutty browns look beautiful this time of year over here. I love the raking Fall demands, the leaf piles, the slow cooker stew and soup recipes that find their way back into the kitchen.

And I love Thanksgiving, especially this year when we have so very much to be thankful for. Our October blessing is coming soon, and we Boyds are excitedly preparing for the arrival of baby Boyd in our own ways. I am washing tiny clothes, receiving blankets, and spending lots of time in the baby's room trying to make it cozy and welcoming. Matt is installing car seats, putting together the crib, and finishing up lingering home projects. Jake is testing out old baby toys to make sure they are up to snuff for his new sibling. We are in nesting mode, and what better time to nest and make cozy than autumn.

We wanted to take some pre-baby family photos so we chose a pretty spot in the garden on a sunny day. About three dozen photos were snapped, with Jake making a funny face in each and every one. So at the very end, tired of begging him to smile nicely and say "cheese", we decided to join him and make silly faces too. Can you believe that turned out to be the best one? The new baby doesn't know what she's being born into! 



Rest assured sweet baby of mine, we can be normal... at least your daddy and I can be. Sometimes.

I'm huge, I know. I feel as big as I look.

I know that crazy, busy, routine breaking times are ahead, along with a sharp learning curve for all of us, but we are ready. Or at least we pretend we are.

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In the meantime, we have been enjoying autumn in our town starting with one of Jake's favorite October activities: leaf pile jumping. With the ancient oak tree in our front yard he's not left with a shortage of leaves, and he's been in heaven. 

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Unfortunately, we missed Thanksgiving with my side of the family for possibly the first time ever. We normally make an effort to be with both sides over the holidays, but this year I just couldn't make it to Vancouver. So we missed one Thanksgiving meal we always love to be a part of. But we were by no means deprived. Thanksgiving turkey at the Boyds was delish, and memorable, and plentiful. 

Gramps slicing the bird. It's his job.

I made a pecan pie from scratch for the first time. It was good. But next time I'd use chopped nuts. If there is a next time.

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But today was a highlight in our October for sure. We made a family trip to the pumpkin patch at the farm just down the road. Train rides, hay rides, and pumpkins for all. What more could a three and a half year old ask for.

For all the pumpkins in the patch we went home with this one.

And yes, Matt intends to carve it. 

Happy October everyone, hoping you are enjoying the change in season wherever you are.