Father's Day - My Husband

My sweet Ken... I knew when I married Ken that he would be an amazing husband and he is.  I figured he would be a great dad, I hoped he'd be a great dad.  I was concerned sometimes with his apparent disinterest in other people's children - even relatives.  But then I'd see glimpses of how great he was with little people so I thought, he'll be fine.  Seriously though, having kids of your own is so different, how can you know what it will be like?!


Ken is a wonderful father.  Watching him teach Kate things, the patience he shows.  He thinks ahead, he tries to help her master different things.  He seems to always be teaching her things.  And it's more than that too.  He is so tender and loving.  He's excited to develop the same sort of relationship with Alice - when she's excited to have a dad... right now she loves her mom and well, her mom!


So the idea was to take some pretty pictures in the garden of Ken and the two girls.  Sadly I got a picture of the chair, but no one in it.

Here are Alice and Ken.  We tried to convince Kate to be in the picture but she declined and ran away.

So I finally got ONE, that's right, only ONE of Ken and Kate and this was it, not great of either of them...

Took a few of Alice and Kate in their cute matching dresses (thanks Antoinette) but didn't get one where they were both looking at me.

Took a few of Alice... didn't really get a pose that I loved.

I was happy with this pose.

We're a happy little family, except when we're crazy or tired or hungry... okay having little people is hard, but we're a happy little family!  I'm so glad that Kate and Alice have a Dad that loves them like crazy.  (And when they're crazy and even though they're crazy...)

Father's Day - My Dad

I've had this as my profile picture on facebook for a while now.  I'm not taking it down until my Dad is out of the hospital.  I'm not sure what is happening in this picture.  I think it's Marineland, and if it's the time that a deer nibbled on my finger, Dad might be comforting me... or maybe he's just helping me feed the deer.  I like the picture.

Yesterday we got to do a really fun thing.  Dad has been in the hospital for going on six months... too long.  Between December and February he was in and out of the ICU four times.  Four times he nearly died.  Four times he had to be intubated with a breathing tube.  He went down to 130 lbs.  Getting his throat to recover to the point where he can have water and real food has been a struggle.  He's had numerous failed swallowing tests.  On Friday he finally passed the test.  Dad has been dying (perhaps not the best word choice?) for a cheeseburger.  Yesterday we took him a cheeseburger, fries and a coke.  Mom says she wished I'd gotten a photograph of Dad's face.  I'm glad we could do this... such a ridiculously simple thing, but it meant so much to him.  He should be getting out of the hospital in the next month or so.   The hospital part will soon be behind him.  Watching Mom and Dad through this crazy time has been at times devastating, but at other times it has been tremendously inspiring.  Mom has been there for Dad everyday (save one or two).  And Dad has endured with a positive attitude (almost everyday!).  I'm so glad he's my Dad.

Sister Shots

I keep taking them hoping that one day I'll snap one that has both of them looking at me smiling... one day it will happen I know it will! 

Bizzy Bees and other stuff

Let's see... some days I love dressing the girls.  I love dressing the girls when I can understand the weather... lately that's been difficult, but whatever!  Today's clothing challenge - well not really a clothing challenge, was trying to get Alice to keep her arms apart so I could get a picture of her shirt.  It is from her Great-Auntie Wendy and it says "I'm the gorgeous little sister".  Love it!!  Getting her to smile while fiddling with her proved impossible.

The following pictures were taken at Bizzy Bees - an indoor play place in Alliston.  Kate really loves it there.  Today we met Michelle and her two girls.  Amelie was born on May 4th and is pictured here with Alice.

This is sisters Amelie and Marisol.

Not sure what Kate was looking at...

Marisol got up to play with the ball and then freaked herself out trying to get back down.  What I love about Bizzy Bees is that anywhere the kids can go the adults can go too.  I went up and helped her out of her predicament!  I had fun! 

Marisol and Kate enjoying the ball pit.

Kate contemplating her next move.

Artistic shot... head and arm in a ball pit.

Kate waiting.

Leaving her mark

For better or worse Kate has the run of the house.  I've never really closed doors and we never did get baby gates.  We don't have safety latches on the cupboards and the only real baby proofing that we did do was to put covers on the electrical outlets.  It has never really been an issue...

So I've learned my lesson... just because there's a pen buried in the diaper bag that you can never find doesn't mean that your two year old won't.  And just because you never write on dolls, hands or leather sofas doesn't mean that your two year old won't.

Exersaucer Season Has Arrived!

She's technically still too young, but she's enjoying it - for a few moments anyway!

Alice receives her name and a blessing

Not long after Alice was born Ken brought up blessing her and I cried.  I wanted my Dad to be there and no one was sure when he would be getting out of the hospital.  We decided to wait.  About two weeks ago I decided that we'd waited long enough and that if we were going to bless Alice while she was still a baby we needed to make some plans.  Babies are typically blessed on fast Sunday in church and with that in mind I decided that we would bless her June 5th in our ward in Orangeville.  I wanted my Dad's approval but didn't know how to ask for it.  I phoned him and instead of asking for his approval I said, that we wanted to bless Alice and we wanted him there.  All that day he told Mom he had to get out of the hospital because he had to bless Alice.  She finally told him that I wanted his permission to go ahead and bless Alice on the 5th.  The next day when I phoned him he gave me his blessing - I didn't know this was prompted by Mom.  We started to plan.  Then Mom suggested we bless Alice at the hospital, that way my Dad could participate.

Everything came together beautifully.  Ken's parents were able to come, and three of his sisters.  My brother Andrew was able to come as well as my Dad's cousin Nancy and two family friends, Irene and Marge.  We reserved the meditation room in the A Wing of the hospital, which is in the rehab wing of the hospital where Dad has been for a few months now.  It was a beautiful day and Alice and Kate both behaved beautifully.  After the blessing Ken's family came to our house for a meal and some visiting.

I was pleased with the photos that were taken... however, I wish I would have taken a photo of Alice with her Dad, just Kate and Alice, and one of Laura and Joaquin.  And of course I didn't take any pictures of the little party afterwards... oops!

Alice in transit

Kate and her Uncle Andrew

Grandpa Bacon and Papa McCartney

Irene Black and Alice

Nancy Fine and Alice

The meditation room, York Central Hospital, A Wing.

Uncle Andrew and Alice.

My sweet little family!!

Alice and her Mom and Dad.

Alice and her Mom.

Alice and her Grandpa - the first time he's been able to hold her.

Brother and Sister.

Enjoying the beautiful weather...

and the lovely company.

It really is a nice outdoor area...

for patients and their loved ones to spend time together.

Lisa and her daughter Kristen - trying to look un-posed.

Alice and her Grandma

Alice and her cousin Kristen

Baby Rachael loves Baby Alice

Three of Ken's four sisters - Lisa, Laura and Maureen

Ken and his sisters

Alice with her Nana and Papa

Alice with her Grandma and Grandpa

Our precious Alice was blessed to be strong in her faith, to seek an education, to find a worthy husband and be sealed in the temple.  She was also blessed to be an example to her friends and family and to maintain a positive attitude during times of adversity.
Alice - your Mom and Dad love you so much!

Kate - "I go to mall. I go on a turtle."

Kate loves this carousel ride at the mall.  Her favourite used to be the sea horse, now it's the turtle.