NO!

Could we all get to church on time - no.

Could I possibly get a picture of all of us in our Sunday best - no.

Can Kate and Anna go to the park without lots of screaming - no.  (At least not today!)

I'm not going to upload the video because it is too long and ridiculous but someday these two crazy, determined, strong spirits who will love each other, will watch this video and laugh and laugh.  For now we can enjoy some park pictures.  As we got closer to the park Kate started yelling "turn", never a good sign... 

Anna on a swing.

 Kate on a swing.  Both girls look slightly troubled, not a good sign...

 Kate and Anna taking turns on the bee...

... and this is where it all ended, Kate screamed at Anna to get away from the bee.

 Anna then decided to make some new friends.

 Kate decided to play by herself.

 This is when the yelling began.

 Great action shot of Anna actually yelling "NO!" at Kate.

Most of the yelling occurred while Kate stood by the bridge and Anna climbed up and down and up and down.  I think they'd still be at the park screaming at each other if Suzanne and I hadn't decided that the park visit was over!

Aside from the screaming we did have a nice time at church, Andrew came over, Ken made really yummy pizza and we did take other cute non-confrontational pictures!

Alice and Suzanne

 Suzanne and Joey

 Chef Ken (okay, this one is kind of confrontational)

Movie Time

Last night with both babies (okay so Kate is two and a half and not really a baby) asleep, Suzanne stayed home and watched all the kiddies so Ken and I could go see Harry Potter!! YAY!  I was a little stressed about leaving them - Alice especially.  The girls both woke up around midnight, thankfully we were home shortly thereafter. 

Today was supposed to be movie day with Uncle Andrew.  Suzanne, the girls and I were going to see Winnie the Pooh while the boys went with Ken and Andrew to Captain America.  By the time Andrew texted to say we weren't going to see him until tomorrow it was too late to go see the noon shows.  We all set off later in the afternoon.  End of long boring story, Suzanne, Ken and the boys saw Captain America while I drove to the movie theatre thinking we were going to see Cars 2 but by the time we got to the movie theatre all of the little girls were asleep.  I left Suzanne at the theatre and drove home with two sleeping girls and one fussy baby.  Anna woke up when we got home so we took pictures.  She is such a ham!

Anna being sad.

 Anna being serene.

 Anna laughing and stretching.

 Cutie Anna.

 Alice and Anna.

Later on I took a bunch of pictures of Alice and Isaac.  Alice was a bit grumpy so I think this was the best one.

Anna and Kate are different

They are seven months apart, they have different Mamas and well, their big personalities couldn't be more different. 

Their age difference is shown below.  Anna will totally sit and smile for pictures.  Kate says cheese then runs away... hence the picture is only of Anna.

A funnier difference is all about exposure.  I'm not sure what I have against purses but I don't carry one unless I absolutely have to and even then I don't always.   Consequently Kate doesn't know what a purse is.  Last night after Centre Island, Suzanne and her kiddies went to see Dad at St. John's, to Ikea and then to Walmart.  Anna and Kate now each have a "Pucci Pup". 

 

What does Kate think of her dog in a purse?  She called the purse a log.  In the books we read animals live in logs, not purses. 

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda!

Visiting with family is fun but tiring.  Trying to figure out what makes sense for the two and a half year old and the baby makes things more tiring.  Today Suzanne arranged to meet a friend at a park downtown.  The agreed upon time was between noon and one.  Kate still does nap most days so I thought let's take a pass today; we'll have a quiet day at home and Kate will have her regular nap...

Shortly after Suzanne left with her kiddies Kate dumped all of the sidewalk chalk all over the front porch... I watched her doing it and thought, I don't want to stop her exploration of the world according to chalk and figured that she would pick it up and she's usually pretty good about picking up stuff she dumps.  I spent about 20 minutes or so waiting for her to pick it up and telling her she had to pick it up.  Not sure when I finally cracked but I hauled her inside, dumped her on the couch and yelled at her.  (I then felt awful for a while for losing it.) The chalk is still all over the porch.

Next while I was changing a diaper, every book and toy was dumped on the floor in the front room.  Later on while I was nursing and things seemed a little too quiet I found Kate decorating her hands and face with a marker.  While nursing again she dumped salt all over the floor and table.  Then she got blood from her knee on my shirt for the second day in a row.  And between all of the "fun" I kept putting her in her bed so she'd have a nap... guess who never napped.

End of ridiculous story, a little Friday traffic wouldn't have been so bad!

Centre Island

Ken took the day off and we all went down to Centre Island.  The morning began with goggle testing and snorkle breathing.

Eventually we did leave the house.  After the car ride and finding parking there was of course a ferry ride!

And then lunch!

A brief pause to enjoy snaggletooth...

And then we were off to Centreville!

Sadly I haven't figured out how to be in more than one place at a time (meaning I only have pictures of half the fun)... Suzanne took Isaac and Joey on the bumper boats (Thomas wasn't tall enough) while I took Kate and Anna on the carousel. 

Next Suzanne took Isaac and Joey on the log ride, I took Kate, Anna and Thomas on the train and Ken sat under a tree with a sleeping baby and two strollers.  (Ken enjoyed himself the most as kids sitting near him were throwing bbq chips to the ducks which mostly landed on Ken's shoes)

Then it was one last ride - Suzanne, Anna, Joey and Isaac went on the mini-roller coaster. Kate went on the boats.

 And Thomas went on the Frog Hopper.

 

Next came some treats - Alice got to nurse, Kate saw farm animals and everyone had ice cream!  Then we all went to a splash pad and park on the south end of Centre Island.  Everyone cooled off and then it was time to head back.

I took a group shot with the skyline behind.

 Then Suzanne asked someone to take our picture.  Thankfully she took two... look at Kate in the first one!

  

Anna didn't want to sit in her stroller.  I asked her to make an angry face, I think she needs more practice!

Joey and Isaac!

Both our babes were asleep before we got to the van.  They had a fun day.

Swimming at Auntie Lizzie's house

The Bates' Summer 2011 Invasion is in full swing!  Suzanne (brave, brave, Suzanne) and the kiddies arrived Monday night around 10:30.  Tuesday was a hang out in Tottenham day.  Grandma came to visit.  The kids played in the backyard and Suzanne took all of hers plus Kate for an ice cream.

Today we braved the cool wet temperatures and a slightly barfy Anna and went to swim at Liz's.  She arranged a lovely little lunch for the kids, and of course they all had a ride in the elevator.  That's right, my Aunt Liz has an elevator in her house.  (And a golf hole in the backyard)   Suzanne was especially brave as she actually got in the water with all the kids.  Me, I took pictures!

This was actually Alice's first time in a pool!  YAY!  She loves water!