We LOVE the Zoo.

We decided to renew our membership to the zoo.  Alice is too young to enjoy it, but Kate loves the zoo, and so do I and so does Ken.  Today marked our second trip to the zoo this year - the first was on New Year's Day, but this was Alice's official first trip to the zoo - yay!

After the zoo we drove to Richmond Hill, picked up dinner and went to the park!

Alice Meets Grandpa

My faith in the health care system and doctors has been shaken.  After Alice was born I couldn't wait to get out of the hospital and I was in no hurry to go back.  When Dad was diagnosed with C. Difficile around the time Alice was born I was in no hurry to go visit.  I felt extremely nervous about taking my newborn back into the hospital and was cautioned by my doctor not to.

Almost ten weeks later with Dad still in the hospital and with lots of urging from my Mom I decided to take Alice and surprise both my Mom and Dad.  We planned a trip to the zoo with a stop at the hospital first.  On the way I thought it would be so great if my Dad was in his wheel chair and then we could have a visit outside as he is still in isolation and you have to wear gloves and a gown in his room.

The surprise visit worked out beautifully.  I got off the elevator and rounded  the corner and who was in his chair being pushed down the hall by Mom?  The proudest Grandpa ever!

We went outside and had a short but sweet and slightly tearful visit.  Someday I'll be posting about Dad getting out of the hospital... someday.

A Tradition Over - for now...

I refuse to accept that we will never decorate eggs again!  Every year for five years I decorated eggs with the Bates Boys when I would go visit during March Break.  The year I had Kate we didn't go visit until May - Easter long past we didn't decorate eggs.  I opted not to go visit the next March break when I went back to work thinking that the travel would be a little overwhelming for Kate. 

This year as Suzanne was planning to come during the boys' Easter Break I thought yay, we can revive the tradition.  I boiled a dozen eggs, bought a decorating kit and carried it back and forth from my house to my Mom's the week they were here.  Sadly we never quite had our decorating EGGstravaganza. 

On Friday night Ken and Kate and I had a smaller, quieter decorating party.

A Royal Wedding and Goodbye

I can remember getting up to watch the wedding of Charles and Diana, I would have been 8.  I don't remember it very clearly, but I do remember.  With Suzanne in town we talked about watching the wedding together.  To do so meant the girls and I would stay over at Mom's in the newly renovated basement for a second time this week.  I didn't set an alarm because Suzanne was going to get me up.  Well wouldn't you know that Alice wanted to watch the royal wedding.  She rarely wakes up and stays up in the night but this morning she woke up at 5 and wasn't interested in going back to sleep.  Alice and I were therefore the first to arrive.

Suzanne got up eventually and joined the party.

Then feeling guilty she went and woke her boys who had asked to join.

Then Mom joined us.

And Anna.  (Kate came too but I deleted the picture accidentally.)

After the wedding it was time for some food.

 The kids ate while Suzanne packed and packed!

 Thomas and Joey collected their toys.

 Anna and Kate said see ya later.

 The visits are always over way too quickly and then it's waiting until we can do it again.  We miss you cousins (and sister) and wish we lived closer, but are thankful for the frequent visits and telephones, texts, facebook and blogs that make the world a smaller place.

Tea

My friend Zorana introduced me to High Tea at the Windsor Arms just before Kate was born.  We were supposed to go again before Alice was born, but Alice came early so we went with Alice.  My sister Suzanne always finds fun/cool/interesting/awesome things to do when I come to visit her.  Today it was my turn to take my sister somewhere awesome, so I took her to Tea.  Sadly the camera never came out of the diaper bag.  So, instead there are pictures of what we came home to.

The girls hanging out!

Anna was so sweet with Alice.  She kept looking at me while she got closer and closer to Alice.

Anna and baby Alice.

Andrew loves Anna and Kate.

And Kate and...

 Anna love their Uncle Andrew. 

The Ontario Science Centre

I must say, I've got to get more brave.  I trip to the Science Centre without Ken (but with my sister and brother) shouldn't stress me out so much!  Okay I wasn't that stressed but I was nervous about it.  I met Suzanne at the Science Centre.  We went for lunch first, Andrew joined us towards the end of lunch and then we went to play.  Thank goodness for Suzanne and Andrew.  They were awesome at helping with Alice or Kate - and of course Suzanne's four kids.  Two year olds are crazy... thankfully kids don't stay two forever!


The kids are admiring some a turtle.

Kate is standing in a virtual Koi pond.  She loved the fish virtually swimming around her.

Anna and Joey loved it too.

Anna and Kate playing in the water.

Kate and Anna in a cave.  Look at Anna putting her hand on Kate's back - so sweet.

Kate and Anna checking out some bones.

Kate reading a book in the toddler area.

Suzanne and Anna building stuff, Alice off to the side.

Joey, proud builder of tall towers.

Kate waiting for someone to help her pick up a guitar - they're pretty heavy.

Checking out the tunnel.

Suzanne and Alice.

Andrew playing with Anna and Thomas.

Kate and Anna and the dolphins that Andrew bought them.

Kate and Anna jumping!

Andrew and Alice.

A Monday with Cousins

Originally the plan was to go to the zoo - Andrew took the day off.  For this reason, Ken, the girls and I stayed over at my Mom's.  Well, it rained and the plans changed.  For most of the morning we did a whole lot of nothing.

Then we decided to go to Vaughan Mills with the promise of indoor fun.  Thomas and Joseph had lots of fun going on the go-karts and other rides.  Andrew and Isaac too - unfortunately it wasn't digitally captured!

Kate loves the fish and the waterfall at Bass Pro.