Lucky Number Seven

It feels like seven years and it doesn't.  When we were first married I would look at Ken and think, where did you come from?  Who are you that you are my perfect match in every way?  How is it that I haven't always known you?  How is it that you are everything I ever wanted but didn't think I would ever get?  I still catch myself - every now and then - glancing at Ken and thinking, where did you come from?  I'm just so thankful that I have my sweet Ken at my side, always and forever.  Happy Anniversary my love.

Vaseline fail

This is why small children should never be left unattended with vaseline...

...change that. Never leave Anna sitting on the couch beside her Mom while she's watching television.  (Reason #467 why it's a good thing that Suzanne canceled the cable.)

Playdates Galore!

As the days fly past at ludicrous speed I can take some of the blame.  I tried to schedule as much fun into December as I could.  We have enjoyed many playdates over the last year and I have blogged about several of them.  Playdates have become more and more fun as Kate can interact and sort of play.  There are ups and downs of course and some playdates are smoother than others...

Case in point, Ashtyn and Kate.  Ashtyn's mom Catharine and I work together at Blue Willow Public School.  We went on maternity leave at the same time and Ashtyn is 20 days younger than Kate.  Ashtyn is very sweet and smiley, until we tried to pose her with Kate the thug.  What you didn't see was Kate claw at Ashtyn, hence the crying!

Next was the Richmond Hill crew.  We've hung out many times and it's crazy how big all the babies are getting.  This picture of Ava and Kate was taken in January when Kate was a week old.

This picture of Kate and Ava was taken on the 17th...

And here are Kate, Taunia, Darby, Ava and Ruth, such sweet people.  I will miss you!

Another playdate this month was with Gayla and Jake.  Gayla is another teacher that I work with at Blue Willow Public School.  Gayla and her husband Jeff went to Russia to pick up their beautiful Jake in July of 2008.  We haven't gotten together since April.  Kate slept the entire time. This time it was play, play, play! Jake did a good job sharing all his toys with Kate.

Most recently we played with Michelle and Marisol.  We met them at Kindermusik, they are our Tottenham friends - yay!  The girls had fun climbing over each other, playing with toys, and of course the stairs.

McCartney Family Christmas

 I feel like I need a disclaimer... I should have been more proactive about trying to pose people.  I so wanted to get all the girls, then all the guys, then the siblings... etc.  However my picture taking spirit was slightly dampaned because Laura and William weren't able to attend.  It was fun to capture Kate and Ezra's first Christmas.

Pretty girls and cutie Ezra.

Kate examining the loot.

Ezra enjoying carrots from Grandma's garden.

The kids table.














Wendy and Kate enjoyed some Christmas tunes.

The present frenzy begins.

 Lisa taking pictures of the frenzy.

Kate not quite sure how to unwrap presents.

Ezra not quite sure how to get the toy out of  its box.

Kate and Ezra having a race up the stairs.

Kate won even though Ezra tried to cheat by hanging on to Kate's ankle.

Kate enjoying Konrad and Braden's dance number.

The aftermath.

Dan attempting to spread holiday cheer.

It's Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas!!

Fang no more!

That's right, she now has six teeth!

More tree fun

Kate and Ken checking out the pretty lights.

The pretty tree all aglow.

Kate is eleven months old!

She is my joy and heart's delight.  ~Robert Wever

Kindermusik with Lisa

On the 15th of September Kate and I started Kindermusik with Lisa.  The class is every Tuesday at 12:30 at the Hillside Church here in Tottenham.  Kate loves her music class.  As we're getting ready to go, I sing her the hello song and she bounces and smiles.  There are three more classes in January and thankfully Antoinette (who'll be looking after Kate) has agreed to take her.

These pictures are from November 3, which was the last class of the first session.

Here is her class: (back row) Tyler, Kate, Marisol (front row) William, Elijah (standing) William

These pictures were taken today.  I'm so thankful that I've had a whole year full time with my sweet girl and that we've done so many fun things together.

And here's Kate with Lisa, and Elijah too.

O Christmas Tree

It occurred to me as I watched Ken with the tree that I have been a grinch!  I am embarrassed to admit that we will be celebrating our seventh wedding anniversary on the 28th and this is our FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE!  Oh my sweet Ken, I'm sorry!  I don't really know why we never had one.  We've lived in some small apartments but we could have squished.  In fairness though I should admit that we did have a small tree, a table top tree and I did decorate it...

...but Ken made fun of it.  This was in 2006 - when we had more than enough room in our apartment for a real tree.

And last year we were living with my parent's and they had a tree...

...but it wasn't our tree.


This year we're in our own house with our very own little person so of course we have to have our very own tree.  And here it is in all of it's glory!

And here is a proud Kenneth.  No, he didn't cut it down himself...

...he did however wrangle into his tiny Honda Civic.


I suppose I could have just made this about Ken and his tree, but Kate is pretty excited.

Merry Christmas!  Now all we have to do is decorate the tree...

Meeting Santa

 

I suppose stunned is better than sobbing?  This was the first photo that was taken.  After this the photographer, in an attempt to get her to smile shook some bells which Kate reached out for.  So instead the photographer tried to play peek-a-boo.  This is when Kate noticed me and started to cry a little and reach for me.  I thought I'll comfort her and we'll try again.  She was instantly comforted but when I turned back towards the man in red she screamed and clutched onto my sweater.  So stunned it is!

Stanley

Today Kate and I had the pleasure of having lunch with "Uncle" Stanley.  He's my dad's uncle - so my great uncle and Kate's great-great Uncle.  He really is so great.  We had a delightful time chatting.  It's so lovely to be with family, to feel at home with them in a way that you can't quite feel with anyone else.  Stanley is an amazing man.  He was the principal viola for the TSO for forty years.  He was telling me that he's been a member of the musicians union coming up 73 years.  They're having some sort of party to honour him.  I sat down and interviewed Stanley three years ago - asking him about family, his experiences growing up and all sorts of things really.  I just recently transcribed the tape and then wrote him a story.  I gave him the story today.  I hope he likes it.  He seemed tickled!

Fangs

I never thought trying to capture evidence of Kate's fangs would be so difficult.

After trying - there were lots more pictures than this I felt it was hopeless.  I mean she looks funny enough with the fangs - forget what a mutant she looks like trying to capture her from underneath?!  I was going to give up until the other day when I felt around in her mouth - as I do from time to time and felt a little something in the middle.  I was spurred into action!  Our sweet little dracula!  She has two middle bottom teeth and fangs - four teeth in total.  Who knows when this smile will change again.