News from the Tait Family

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A Very Late Christmas Update...

May we introduce ... Sam (as in "Fireman Sam") - Our Elf on the Shelf!

A magical moment... we love snow globes.

Our Christmas Stockings. Thanks Grandma for taking the time to make every single one of them over the years. They are so special to us.

Stella - AKA Santa's Little Helper.

German St. Nikolaus is coming on the morning of December 6th. Will he? We hope so!

Little Helpers...

Christmas Holiday Nap... Bliss!

Watching a Christmas Show on TV...

At the German Christmas Market

Noah loved his Bratwurst.

Back at Home - Fooling around.

Who wants to have an early Christmas present (because it's Christmas Eve in Germany)? I DO!!!!

Quiet Time on Christmas Eve! This is what it's all about!

Daddy's the Best!

Look at all the gifts!

And all the stockings are filled too - everyone must have been good this year!

Noah and Stella on Christmas morning - they were sooooo excited!

Noah helped Stella opening her gifts

Kisses for Sleepy Mommy ... everyone loves a nap on Christmas Day!

A little boy's dreams come true - fire trucks everywhere!

Party Time!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Frohe Weihnachten und ein Gesundes Neues Jahr - Ein Update von uns Taits.

Liebe Freunde und Familie!

Ein weiteres Jahr neigt sich dem Ende zu - eines der hecktischsten, aber auch der schoensten Jahre ueberhaupt.

Hier ein paar Highlights von unserem 2012:

Stella Rose wurde am 21. Januar 2012 im St. Paul's Hopsital in Vancouver geboren und hat somit unsere Familie komplett gemacht.
Noah war von Anfang an verliebt in seine kleine Schwester, gluecklicherweise haelt die Geschwisterliebe bis zum heutigen Tag an und die beiden lieben sich (meistens) ueber alles.
Aber wie das ueberall so ist, geht es auch nicht immer nur friedlich zu:
Nervenzusammenbrueche (ob Mami oder Babies), Traenen (ob Mami oder Babies :-), schlaflose Naechte (Mami UND Babies)... kurz gesagt; teilweise komplette Erschoepfung. Vollzeit-Mami zu sein ist mit Sicherheit ein Privileg, aber gleichzeitig auch unglaublich anspruchsvoll und zehrend - definitiv der haerteste Job, den ich jemals hatte - aber allerdings auch der mit den meisten Bereicherungen:
Ein Kinderlachen, ein "Danke Mami", oder ein "ooohhh you look so pretty Mommy" ist soviel mehr wert als 8 Stunden Schlaf am Stueck.

Im Mai sind wir zu viert nach Deutschland gereist. Noah war gerade 2 geworden, Stella war 3.5 Monate alt. Danach haben wir entschieden, dass wir erst wieder reisen wenn die beiden Teenager sind und sich 9 Stunden lang mit Videospielen beschaeftigen koennen!

Den Sommer hat Noah in einem Daycare Programm verbracht- eine gute Loesung fuer uns alle: Er bekam all die Aufmerksamkeit und koerperlichen Aktivitaeten die er braucht um sich auszutoben, Mami konnte sich fuer kurze Zeit mal nur auf ein Kind konzentrieren und Baby Stella bekam auch endlich Aufmerksamkeit, die fuer kurze Zeit mal nicht geteilt werden musste.

Seit September diesen Jahres geht Noah zu einer Montessori-Preschool, Montag - Freitag vormittags. Er hat neue Freundschaften geschlossen, gelernt neue Regen zu befolgen und seine sprachliche und soziale Entwicklung sprechen Baende! Aber das Schoenste ist: er geniesst die Zeit mit seinen neuen Freunden und Freundinnen und lernt jeden Tag neue Dinge dazu. Eine der Lehrerinnen ist Deutsch, und wir hoffen, dass ihm das bei seiner deutschen Sprachentwicklung helfen wird. Er versteht alles auf Deutsch, zieht es aber noch immer vor, auf Englisch zu antworten.
Letzten Freitag hat Noah's Preschool ein Winterkonzert veranstaltet. Die Kinder haben Lieder gesungen und Gedichte vorgetragen. Zweisprachige Kinder verschiedener Nationalitaeten haben dem Publikum "Merry Christmas" gewuenscht - in ihrer zweiten Muttersprache. Er durfte "Frohe Weihnachten" sagen! Schaut Euch den kleinen Videoclip an - verbesserungsfaehig aber super suess! :-)

Und nun ist es schon wieder Dezember - Baby Stella war 10.5 Monate alt, als sie vor wenigen Tagen ihre ersten Schritte gemacht hat. Unser Baby wird gross, denken wir uns... mit einem lachenedem und einem weinenden Auge - manche Dinge kann man eben nicht aufhalten.

Steven hat sich in 2012 auch nicht gelangweilt - neben langen Arbeitstagen und einigen Reisen in die US hat er seine eigene "web-based-talkshow" gestartet. "Tech-Talk-Tuesdays" - hoert mal rein wenn ihr euch fuer Security Software interessiert

. Am Wochenende und an freien Tagen widmet er sich ganz und gar den beiden Zwergen und genniesst seine Daddy-Zeit!

Zeitmangel und die generell lange Tage und viel zu kurzen Naechte sind der Grund, dieses Jahr elektronische Weihnachts - und Neujahrsgruesse zu versenden. Und umweltfreundlich ist es auch!!

Einige von Euch haben in den letzten Monaten nicht viel von uns gehoert - Life is busy. Diese Phase geht hoffentlich auch irgendwann vorbei, es soll ja einfacher werden, haben wir uns sagen lassen ;-)
Man hoert vielleicht nicht viel von uns, aber wir denken an all unsere Freunde, unsere Familie und Bekannten und wuenschen Euch und euren Familien ein frohes undbesinnliches Weihnachtsfest. Alles Liebe und Gute fuer 2013 - vor allem Gesundheit.

In diesem Sinne - Froehliche Weihnachten und Guten Rutsch ins Neue Jahr. Bis ganz bald!

Steven, Patricia, Noah and Stella

Holiday Greetings - An Annual Update from the Taits.

Dear Friends and Family -

Another busy but incredibly exciting year comes to an end. It's been a busy one - if not THE busiest so far!
Having to handle a toddler in the middle of his terrible twos along with an infant has proven to be challenging.
As all of you know, 2012 has been our first year as a family of four, and we've been loving and enjoying every day of it (despite the many breakdowns, tantrums, complete exhaustion due to sleepless nights and the tears cried by both, babies and Mommy:-)
I feel like being a stay at home Mom is yet the hardest of all jobs I ever had - but yet the most rewarding one at the same time.

Our highlights of 2012:

January 21, 2012 - Stella Rose was born at St. Paul's Hospital/Vancouver, and completed our family.

May 2012 - we took a trip to Germany to see my side of the family - and decided NEVER to travel again, until the kids are grown up :-)

June 2012 - Noah started a part time day care, which was a good solution for all of us - he got to burn off his energy, Mommy got a little break, and Baby Stella got undivided attention for a while.

September 2012 - Noah started a Montessori Preschool Program, 5 mornings a week. He made new friends, got accustomed to new rules, developed new social skills but most importantly, he is enjoying himself in his group of new friends. His has developed incredible language skills in the last few months! Last Friday, it was Noah's first Winter Concert from Preschool - the kids sang Christmas songs, performed, and wished the audience a very merry Christmas, in multiple languages. Noah, being the only German-Canadian in his class, got to say "Frohe Weihnachten" - a bit shy, but super cute! :-) - see little video clip below.

December 2012 - Baby Stella has taken her first steps. No big deal for her, but big deal for us parents, meaning our baby is growing up.

It's been a very busy and successful year for Steven at work, including several trips, early mornings and later work nights. But once home, he dedicates all his energy to Noah and Stella - he's an incredibly loving Dad and every day so helpful to me.

Lack of time for many things is the result of our busy lives at the moment - therefore we decided to "go green" and send our Christmas and New Year's Wishes this way.
We realize many of you haven't seen much of us this past year, but be sure we thought of you all often, and this busy time sure shall pass.
We wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and a happy new year, filled with love, happiness and laughter - but most importantly good health.

Happy Holidays from our family to yours. We are hoping to catch up with you all very soon.
Love Steven, Patricia, Noah and Stella

Saturday, June 30, 2012

The last few months... have gone by way too fast!

It's been pretty quiet on the Tait-Blog lately - That is because we can barely keep up with every day life including all its chores and responsibilities - let alone with the family blog! Huh - I feel terrible and think about things to blog about often.... that is just before my eyes fall asleep sitting on the couch after the kids finally went to bed.

I am not gonna lie - I'd rather provide you with some new, interesting and detailed stories about what has been going on in our lives, but let's keep it real - a list of news will have to do for now!

The last post is from Easter - that was April. Since then... what exactly is new?!

Stella is now just over 5 months old, has been started on some solid foods, rolls over, loves bath time with big brother, sleeps through the night and actually sat up for approx. 5 seconds on her own yesterday. Where the hell did these past 5 months go?

Noah has started part time day care just recently and really enjoys it. There were a few tears and heartbreaking moments for both, him and I, when I dropped him off in the morning, but once out of his sight, he starts playing nicely with the other kids and seems to have a great time. Besides day care, he still loves his play dates with his buddies Izzy, Griffin, Ronan, Carter, Bailey, Evan and Isla,

Steven has been really busy at work lately. Plus, he has been traveling a lot - a nice break for him, but not so much fun for me.. after day 2 of just me and the kids I am usually ready to pull my hair out. Goes to show how much of a help he is to me on a daily basis, even if he is at work for most of the day and only around for a few hours in the evening. Everything helps. I am so grateful for his everyday involvement and participation raising the kids. I could not have asked for a better husband and father for my children.

And what's new with me? Not much really - other than fitting back into my clothes (:-), trying to keep it together as much as I can on days I have changed 5 dirty diapers before noon, enjoying tutoring my German students (which I could not do if Steven wasn't willing to watch both kids on the weekends!), and actually getting back a little bit of ME-time doing absolutely nothing (....and loving it), when Daddy is home on the weekends and more than happy to take both kids out on an adventure. I am one lucky lady!

Here's some pictures of the kids growing up (too fast) and having fun playing.