Fall update

It has been an eventful end of summer here. Here's a little synopsis on what everyone is doing:

Mark has been doing grant writing for a First Nations band in the Okanagan region of BC. He loves the work and it's helping to finance our gardener :) He was in an accident about two months ago and has been nauseous/dizzy ever since. Physical therapy is helping somewhat and we are awaiting the results of his CT scan.

I have been busy thinking about what I want to do when I go back to work some day. As someone who has really never had a passion for one thing, I'd really like to do something I love. Researcher? Cabinet maker? Gardener? Author? Who knows, but I've been thinking a lot about it lately as Mia is all of a sudden on the cusp of toddlerhood and I find myself able to breathe freely some days when they aren't all beating the crap out of each other. Well, Mia doesn't really hit back yet but I'm sure she will soon.

I've also been cleaning out half of our basement so we can make a spare room/playroom for the kids. Things are on hold during the Jewish Fall Holiday Marathon, but I look forward to having everything finished by early November.

Akiva was offered the opportunity to go to preschool this fall but he quite adamantly refused. He's in gymnastics on Tuesday mornings right now and the rest of the week we keep busy with outings and get-togethers with friends. He still loves to work in the back yard and would happily build or move dirt all day long. He has been taking good care of our hens and loves to feed them snacks and check for eggs (none yet - they better lay soon or their names will be 'Soup' instead of Asumpta, Annie Rose, Queenie, Goldie, Phoenix, Prudence, Topaz, and Emerald).

He's much more conversational these days. He's very into asking 'why?' to everything (a habit his brother has also picked up). If he falls asleep in the car, he won't get tired until 10pm so I've started taking him with me to the grocery store at night or doing special project with him (baking, crafts, etc). It's nice to have time with just him as I feel like he gets neglected because he's so independent and physically needs me less than Benjy and Mia do.

Benjy is a whirlwind of language and intellectual development. He takes his cues from Akiva so his development seems to come in leaps and bounds. Since he turned 2 almost a month ago, he has started using full sentences and now complex sentences. He's convinced he doesn't need diapers anymore so we bought him some pull-ups (translation: diapers that you pull up like undies) and he's ok with that for now. My guess is that he will potty train himself before he's three. If I had the energy to deal with Mia learning to walk and reminding Benj to use the potty/getting him dressed over and over (he HATES clothing)/trying to keep Mia out of the toilet and from smacking her head in the bathroom while I tend to Benj on the potty...well, I just can't go there yet. Maybe in a few weeks. Or months.

He's a monkey physically, too. He taught himself to somersault and he loves to jump everywhere. He climbs the 7 foot mock rock wall at the park (I get dirty looks from other mommies for letting him do this) and seems pretty conscientious about his own safety.

Mia is about to walk. A few weeks ago I predicted she would walk October first. Really walk - not just take a step or two here and there. She's awfully close. I predicted her birthday about 5 days before I went into labor with her so maybe I'll be right here, too. She's definitely got a mind of her own but is a happy kid most of the time. She imitates some words. A few times, I've heard her say 'poop' and 'hat' right after I've said them.