Christmas letter 2011

Almost everyone includes a letter with their Christmas cards these days, and I love to get those, but I'm really too lazy to actually send one out myself. So, since we're on the internets and all, I hope this update will do for those of you who are so inclined to check out our little blog.

Our kids are fun, sweet, sassy, strong-willed, busy, happy, awesome. Mia is five now. She began kindergarten this year, and is doing very well despite being the only girl in her grade (there are only four kindergarten students.) Her class is a four-way split (that's what happens when your school is comprised of only 60 students) that includes kindergarten as well as grades one, two and three. We were a bit unsettled about having Mia in a class with kids spread across such a broad age-range, but it has been fine, particularly because it allows her to regularly socialize with other little girls. Mia's taking vocal lessons this year, as well as swimming - two of her favourite activities on earth. She is a happy, inquisitive kid, with a flair for the dramatic. We're clearing a spot on the mantle for a Tony Award, as we think she is likely to have a successful career in musical theatre!

Three-year-old Liv began playschool in September, and loves it. She had a bit of trouble listening at the beginning of the year, but really came around after Halloween, when I began to encourage good behaviour with candy. I realize that bribery will not get me a spot in the good parenting books, but it seems to work - no more time-outs! Honestly, however, playschool has been a good place for Liv to have fun, try new things and socialize with other kids her age. Liv is still a tiny girl, and is not a big fan of eating anything that doesn't contain copious amounts of sugar. She loves swimming and music and reading. She is not afraid to tell anyone what she wants. She is 'spirited' and we appreciate that her singular focus will hold her in good stead when she's an adult, but it is sometimes a challenge to raise a kid who is so stubborn! That sassiness, however, is tempered with large doses of sweetness and light, and she is a really great little kid.

Mitch was promoted to lead operator at his company this year. He works for an oilfield waste management company, which was bought out by Gibson Energy this fall, so that transition will officially begin January 1. The new company will hopefully bring about some positive growth opportunities in the future. Mitch's 7-days-on, 7-days-off schedule ended when he took on his new role in June, but, on the up-side, his Monday-Friday schedule is a better match for Mia's school routine.

I'm still fortunate to be doing some contract communications work for a variety of organizations from the comfort of my couch. The flexibility allows me to be home with the kids and also have time to chauffeur them around to their activities and play dates. We spend quite a bit of time hanging out at home, and had a lot of fun playing this summer in the playhouse built by Mitch and our neighbour Joe.

We had an awesome family camping vacation this year to Wasa Lake in BC's southern interior, and then Mitch and I headed to Thailand for two weeks in October (without the kids! thanks Moms!) as a 10th anniversary gift to ourselves. We had an amazing time, and spent much of our holiday under the sea, obtaining our open water scuba certification, and then our advanced open water certification. We managed to miss the flooding in Bangkok by a few days, and got to spend a little time with our friends Frankie and Lisa (and baby Aedyn) from Singapore. We missed the kids like crazy but had a brilliant trip, despite the 24+ hours of travel in each direction.

Christmas this year was spent with both of our families. We are so lucky to live close by to my parents and Mitch's mom. There have been some difficult changes happening this year, but we are grateful for each day we are fortunate enough to spend with them. 

We wish you all a happy, healthy 2012. All the best from our home to yours.

With love and hugs,

The Berreths (and Rocky, the cat!)

oxoxoxox

Mia sings!

Mimi has been taking vocal lessons since September and really, really loves it. Here she is, singing "Where are you Christmas?" at her first ever vocal recital Dec. 9. We were a bit concerned she would take one look at the audience and bolt off-stage, but she marched up there, stood as still as a statue and performed like a pro. 


ox
Kim

I keep trying, for naught

"Okay guys, I want to get your picture. Together. It'll just take a second. Okay? I just need you to look at the camera and be nice to each other. Got it? Alright?"

"Okay, maybe not so much love. A little less of the hugging. LET HER GO."

"Can you please look at the camera? Just for a second."

"Good, Liv. Mia!"

"The camera! It's right in front of you! Can you please just LOOK AT ME?????"

"Nevermind."

Halloween 2011

This year for Halloween Liv wanted to be a tiger but, despite my best efforts, and those of my kind and helpful mother, I could not locate a costume (and I'm not a talented sewer, nor that creative, nor, let's be honest, that ambitious, so I didn't make one). So my mom eventually bought Liv this dragon outfit and it was a hit. She's been wearing it around the house for weeks, breathing fire and flashing her dragon nails, and it's all very cute. 


This year, thankfully, Mia did not want to be a princess. She wanted to be a mermaid. They are quite different, I'm told.

We did a little of this:

(I know it looks like our pumpkin had some sort of weird rash. It did. And it was a bit like that all over, so this was its best side. Guess who inspired this fine sculpture?)

And a little of this too...

("Rocky is the best dress-up doll ever!")

ox
Kim

First official school photo

Mia, Kindergarten, October 2011


*Sigh* I know it's mostly because I'm her mother, but I think she looks super sweet in these photos! 
ox
Kim

Day one

I'm pleased to report school is going fairly swimmingly for these kids of ours. With the exception of a few (or, well, a number of) time-outs for Livvy in the first few weeks of playschool (listening is a bit of a problem for her - this is not news to us) they are both happy, and on the first day, I made it out of each of their classrooms relatively tear-free. (There was the inevitable sobbing in the car afterward, but at least I didn't lose my chickens in front of them.)

ox

Kim

Mia, 5, kindergarten

Liv, 3, playschool

And so it begins

Dear Mia,

Tomorrow is a big day for you and for us. Your first day of kindergarten is the beginning of a road of discovery, growth, change and adventure stretching out ahead of you. I have no doubt you will thrive in such an environment. You are bright and curious about every single thing; you soak up and ruminate on each detail. You enthusiastically write random words and ask how everything is spelled and count cows and cars and clouds whenever we go for a drive.

I am excited that you are moving into this next phase of life and yet, and yet…the sentimental side of me, which always looms large, is sad beyond articulation. It is so cliché to feel this way. My baby’s growing up. But how can I be expected to send you off into this world alone? You are only five years old. It seems ridiculous in some ways, though I know you are ready. I have spent the past five years trying to prepare you for this exact moment, and now that we are on its precipice, I realize how poorly I have prepared myself for it. I am bothered that you will be in someone else’s care for the majority of your day, that the circle of my influence will grow smaller. Your life is going to be so much bigger than just this little house and the people inside of it.

I have been so privileged to be able to stay home with you and your sister. I will miss the long, lazy days of hanging out with you and Liv, with no particular agenda or place to be. I have loved the flexibility of our time together, our ability to be spontaneous, to go for walks and play and read and bake whenever we wanted. Now there are schedules and places to be on time and structure where none has existed before. There are rules and processes and order. These are things I’m not really good at, and hope you will be better at them than me.

We went to meet your new teacher last week and she seems kind and sincere and I think you’re going to get along just fine. She will spend more time with you than I will for those three days a week when you’ll be showing and telling and doing math games and finger painting to your heart’s content. You will be out of my reach, out of my view, vulnerable. It will be a change for us both, having spent all of our days together for so long.

I anticipate you will happily and confidently embrace the tenets of formal education and all that it encompasses. I know it is a necessary and logical next step in a series of steps along the winding road of childhood. I am proud of you, who you are and who you will become. And I hope you know I’ll always be waiting right here for you, patiently, to come on home and tell me about your day.

oxox

Love,
Mom

"We need in love to practice only this: letting each other go. For holding on comes easily, we do not need to learn it." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

That's not my name! (with apologies to the Ting Tings)

Me: That kid's a baby, but you're a big girl, right?
Liv: No Mommy, I'm not a big girl, I'm LIV!

Some summer scenes

Rocky

So...we got a cat. I SWORE I would never have a cat inside my home, but, well, here we are, and we *love* him. His name is Rocky, but we often lovingly refer to him as Rockstar. Or Fatty. Because he is quite large, but he's also extraordinarily charming, and calm, and sooooo good with the kids, even when they maul him, and dress him in doll clothes, which is more often than I'd like to say. We adopted him from a friend, we have no idea how old he is, he likes to catch mice and bring them to us and then eat them, and that is gross. His favourite place to sleep is on Mia's bed, and more than once I have found them together there, with the cat all stretched out, his head on her pillow, while Mia clings to the edge of the bed, cover-less. 


Please, step into our parlour and meet our newest family member:

Isn't he handsome?

"Does this muu-muu make me look fat?"

Chillin' on the deck.

Playing Squinkies with Mia and Liv.

Guess who loves kitty the most?

I *did* mention they like to dress him up, right?