September changes

Just got back from a parent info session for the kindergarten program. There is a smart board in the room, 19 other students will be in class, and they will be working on sounds, letters, numbers, and everything else in a regular K class.

It is a nut free school, grade K-4, and there are more than 500 students in the school. 500!!!! Realizing that the largest age demographic in the city is 0-4, I guess it shouldn't be that surprising, but still... That's alot of young children.

Had a really good day overall, too. Between over tired moody children, we got in a long walk in the "woods", and spent two hours at WEM as well (window shopping, picking up new school clothes for the Boy, and looking for the perfect toy to spend B-day money on).

We picked up a new suit for the Boy. He's outgrown the one we got last year, and he's been "making" his own. He'll put on his dress shirt and then a black t-shirt for a "vest". Then he'll come up to me and ask if it's the best suit I've ever seen. So, it was time for a new suit. Now we just need to get new dress shoes for the boys (and Girl) and we'll be all set.

Now I'm sitting downstairs when I'd rather be vegging in bed, waiting for the new clothes to be done in the dryer, since I promised him his clothes would be washed, dried, and folded on his dresser when he woke up in the morning. And when Mommy promises, she delivers.

Hard to believe the Boy is 5, Saturday is our 6th wedding anniversary, and Sunday is the Girl's 1st birthday. She's walking and toddling around just in time for it too. I had my doubts... I was convinced she'd have picked up walking long before this, but she had her own schedule. A week ago she just started walking and now will rarely revert to crawling.

We finally got ourselves a Wii. That's right, now we aren't quite up to date, but we aren't as technologically behind as we once were. Hubby has been racing with the kids, we've been bowling, playing golf, and the Rev Cowboy even tried boxing with Hubby the other day. It was hilarious until they got the hang of it. It really is pretty fun, though.

Next, we pick up a wii fit so I can exercise easier when the snow flies. I really need to learn to go to bed earlier, though. I'm finding myself so tired when I wake up in the morning, and all I want to do when it's nap time is sleep. Can't tough. Too much to do. Maybe in a few weeks when we get a schedule under us :) Hopefully....

We'll see how the next couple of weeks go.

Birthday pics

Happy Birthday, Boy!

Couple of pictures

Boy2 took this picture. He just loves grabbing the camera and pointing it at his sister. And she loves reaching out for it.

The Boy peeled a piece off of a cheese string and went "fishing" with it in his water glass..... Oh the imagination!

A whole new meaning to the phrase "Caught Red Handed" :)

Boy2 decided that straw painting was not for him, so he started using his hands....

The Boy put on his old harness (a horse backpack that had a tether for an adult to hold) and then put socks and shoes on his hands. He was being a horse.

hope this works...

Deadlines

I am fantastic with deadlines. Nothing better to motivate me. The Boy reminded me that I had told him I'd make him a quilt for his birthday after I'd made Boy2 his for his b-day. He reminded me yesterday. His big day is Friday. So, this morning we made an expedition into Edmonton to the Fabricland here on the west end. I also promised him we'd go to the dollar store to pick up balloons when we were done.

So, what started out as the Boy wanting to pick out green fabric to use, turned into him nearly having a fit unless I got him the Batman stuff. So we got Batman and a solid yellow to off set it. Brought it home and cut it all out this afternoon. Started sewing after the kids went to bed, and it's all sewn into strips. Thought I'd take a break and I'll sew the strips together tomorrow. Gonna be fun!

It's good, though. The Boy, after I was done cutting the squares out, took my rotary blade and tried to cut a square out of the table cloth. Yes, he did cut the cloth, but he also cut the side of his finger. Not a big cut, but enough to draw a bit of blood. Threw a fit when he saw it.

Then he broke down completely when I refused him a bandaid. (I know, I'm a horrible mother, but if the bandaid is on, there seems to be no connection between cause and effect) So I told him how serious it could have been. He knows he's not supposed to touch those blades. He not only picked up the blade, but had to pull down the guard in order to make the cuts. He knew exactly what he was doing, but didn't want the reminder of his actions.

The Girl has virtually started walking. Every day she goes a little farther and wants to go. Sometimes she'll just get down and crawl, and other times she gets up and walks, falls, then tries again. It's really exciting. The boys are really excited for her too!

Hubby and I have been together for nine years today. It's also his brother's birthday, so that's kinda fun too. Nine years ago, we went on our first date. Can hardly believe it's been both that long and that short. Friday marks our first baby's fifth birthday, next Saturday (the third) will be our sixth wedding anniversary, and the day after that will be our girl's first birthday. Time flies all too quickly!

waffles and movies:)

I have waffles on the waffle iron, Hubby is in Edmonton having breakfast with a friend, the boys are downstairs watching Hoodwinked (we go it and the sequel on Video on Demand last night. They LOVED it!), and my Girl is in her chair eating cheerios and pretzels. And I am sitting here, enjoying my coffee in the relative quiet of the house. (odd sounds coming from the waffle iron, though...)

I promised the Boy we'd do waffles this morning since we did pancakes last time. Boy2 wants raspberry jam on his (he loves the stuff), and I

think it's gonna be a good day. Do some shopping for Kindergarten today, maybe pick up a bookshelf or two, and all around take it easy.

Everyone seems to be a little funky. We all are tired (Hubby and myself too) and just a little bit off. I'm trying to chalk it up to the limbo we're in between the end of vacation and the beginning of school, but we'll see if things improve. I am getting tired of being yelled at, though. The kids have piercing voices (Hubby would say they get that from their mother :)

The other morning, I was welcomed downstairs to Hubby and Boy2 singing "Spiderman! Spiderman! Spiderman! Spiderman!" The

n Hubby started an improvised song that Boy2 started drumming to with his pencils on a container. They were having a blast!

I put on a Sharon, Lois, and Bram cd yesterday afternoon, and they went CRAZY!!!!! Did they do this for every child in the last 20+ years? All I know is Boy2 got a bloody nose when he and his brother crashed into each other after spinning in circles and rolling around on the floor.

illness through the home...

It's been a busy few days... Made cupcakes (vanilla and chocolate) and froze two dozen. Decorated a few we left out with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

Yesterday Hubby brought home some raspberries and beans brought by the office by a member of the congregation. So today I made some raspberry jam and washed and froze the beans. Then we had pancakes with new jam for supper.

The Boy was sick today. I knew something was wrong when he didn't finish his breakfast and all he wanted to do was lay on the couch. We went out and came back for lunch. He made it home before being sick, but he couldn't make it in the door. Felt much better after, though. Slept at nap time and wasn't sick again. Not quite his normal self, but a bit better.

Boy2 has started "reading" to his sister. He'll sit down with a book and actually recap the story, or make up what he feels is going on in the illustrations. It's pretty adorable. He's also started calling his brother by the first syllable of his name. Don't really know why, but it started right before we left and it doesn't seem like it'll go away anytime soon.

The Girl is still working on walking. She takes a couple of steps then she gets down and crawls. She did manage seven steps to Boy2 this afternoon, so she is getting more steady. I was convinced that she would be just motoring along on two legs by now since she was raring to get crawling, but she's proved me wrong so far. It won't be much longer, though.

Hubby hasn't been feeling well either. Monday night was pretty rough, and when he got home Tuesday he laid down on the futon and basically slept from 4:30 until morning. He got up to get into jammies and have a hot shower (the fever and chills were pretty bad), then he went right back to bed. It's been a bit better in the last couple of days, but again not quite back to normal yet.

Have a birthday next Friday. My baby turns five in 8 sleeps. Scary. Really scary. He's convinced that he's big enough to leave by himself or to watch the younger ones. Not happening, but it's neat to see how responsible he feels.

afternoon thoughts

I'm planning on making some cup cakes for the kids to decorate at various intervals. Also, for them to decorate at the Boy's birthday. They had a blast decorating little bits of cake at Gr'mpa's during our stay there, so I thought "Why Not?"

Now it's debating chocolate or vanilla, what kinds of candy to put on them, and how many. And do we do flavoured icing? It'll be fun.

The Girl seems to be in a bit better spirits right now, though. Seems to be a bit more her normal self. The boys are playing nicely, too. (Which makes me wonder when the poo is going to hit the fan...) But life appears to be more or less back to normal. There is a mess in the living room (where I finished vacuuming ten minutes ago), the floor is washed (even if there are currently more goldfish on it than in most ponds), and laundry is done (done yesterday thanks largely to Hubby).

Hubby is back to work today, haven't seen him since about nine this morning, although we've texted a bit. The two weeks without his crackberry were good, but it's nice to feel connected to him when he isn't here.

I think we may eat supper on the deck this evening. It's been pretty cool here these last two days, but it's warmed up a bit. The boys were asking for the splash pool, but that breeze is a bit chilly still. I don't need sick kids right now.

New beginnings...

Well, we're home sweet home, and it's been a fun two weeks. Hubby officially gets back into the swing of things tomorrow, and knowing that makes me so grateful that my health has returned. Yay for independence back!!!

It's been a long two days since coming home from our trip, though. The Girl seems to have picked up a bug (or it could be that she's been off her regular diet for a while) but she's been very icky. So much laundry! Her attitude doesn't really seem effected, though she's a bit more cuddly.

The Boy has been moody and stubborn. He goes off and sulks every time I tell him no, then comes back and tells me I'm mean and am frustrating him. We talk it out, though (since I'm trying to teach him good communication) and work through it. Doesn't change the outcome, but at least he's being heard.

Boy2 is down to one num. We brought two with us, and he bit through one on our way to Moose Jaw, and we've decided we aren't buying any more for him. He knows this and is taking better care of this last one. He threw a fit, though, when he was told we weren't buying him another one.

Slowly getting back into a routine will be fun. With Kindergarten starting soon, it may be a while before we're actually in the swing of things. But the Boy has his B-day coming up, and we're planning for that and the first day of school. I don't know which one he's more excited for:)

a duel to the.... home time?

The Boy had his first fist fight this afternoon (well, as much of a fist fight as an almost five year old can get into with a three or four year old). They were playing nicely, and I was watching from a distance (since sometimes mommies can cramp your style). Then I saw this little boy take the sandal from a little girl. Next thing I know, the Boy was waving his arms ("punching") and the other boy was hitting back.

At first I thought they were playing around, but I saw the look on the Boy's face, so I ran to see what had happened to start this around the same time the other boy's dad came (they were getting ready to leave anyway). When I heard that the Boy was hitting because the other kid took the shoes from another girl and my little Boy was being a knight trying to rescue the damsel, the other child's dad said that it was okay and they were leaving now anyways (some parents just don't seem to discipline and have consequences for their children, although they may have done when they got home).

But it brought back to mind something said to me about Hubby. There is such a keen sense of responsibility in this child of mine. Remembering when he had to go with Daddy to Spruce Grove to make sure there would be a house for us to move into... he's convinced that he's big boy enough to take care of his brother and sister so Mommy can go and leave them to get that much desired toy left at home... and now has had his first duel.

Ahhhh, how quickly they grow :)

Fishing pics

Spent the day out on Ditch Lake fishing with Gr'mpa. They were out for a half hour and caught 5 fish. Plus another 15 or so after lunch. I think that the boys are hooked :) Everyone caught fish and had fun.

Vacation Pictures

Just a quick few pictures of the trip so far. Since I can only load a handful at a time, most of them can be seen on facebook, or I can print some off and mail them if you'd like to see them. Playing at the park, at the RCMP Heritage Museum in Regina, Boy2 and the Girl holding hands while sleeping (so precious!), and reading with Uncle. It's been a fun holiday so far!

on the road again!

I tried posting pictures of the trip so far, but the wi-fi connection is too slow for it, so I'll post some when we get to Minnedosa. We're currently in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and the kids are watching Treehouse. It's the biggest highlight of staying in a hotel a few times on the road.

Hubby's made sure the hotels have had pools too, so as soon as we got in, they wanting to strip down and go for a swim. Hubby took them while I got the Girl down, then he did bedtime with the boys while I sat in the hot tub for a while. For some reason, my hip was really hurting so the hot water was absolutely superb! Plus, my incisions are healed enough to immerse now. Yay!

But I'm going to log off for right now. We need to find some breakfast and hit the road. The RCMP Museum in Regina is on our schedule this morning. It's really odd having a Sunday that isn't going to be spent in church. But the boys (and Dad) will enjoy the museum!