A party for a princess

The invitation...

then... there was lots of planning and waiting!  This morning Kate decided she wanted to wear her new dress (meant to be a new spring dress, but whatever).  She posed beside her balloon bouquet and then with her sister.

We then finished the last of the preparations (okay mostly it was Ken dealing with food) and then we waited for our friends!  When all our friends arrived Sir William the Wise took over to invite the prince and princesses on a quest.

Welcome good prince and princesses.  I am Sir William the Wise.  It is my job to lead on your quest.  We need to discover if you possess the qualities of a truly royal person.

You must be intelligent, creative, courageous, and compassionate. 

You will have tasks to complete to prove yourself.  Are you ready for the challenge?

Their first challenge was to prove their intelligence, which they did through singing the ABC's, counting to 20 and making some animal noises.  Next up was creativity.  We started with kazoo music - it was awesome! Then it was time to decorate crowns.

Then they were off to find the dragon.  They were all given a sword.  Sir William also provided advice on how to use the swords.

Then off to the basement to the dragon's lair.  (The crawl space of course!)

The dragon (Lydia) quite happily handed over the treasure.

The treasure box (the pinata) was brought upstairs for the slaughter and well, the treasure box didn't go down without some serious fight!

Then it was time to feed the hungry royals.  The littles had pizza and veggies and the bigs had pulled pork sandwiches and guacamole and chips.  Ken prepared an abundant and delicious feast.

After lunch Kate decided that it was time to open her presents and so she did.

 And since all our little royals had completed their quest, they crowned themselves.

Next was the cake!  Or rather cupcakes.  My sweet friend Shawn was commissioned to make them.  They tasted as good as they looked.  They were so awesome!

All that was left was the couch picture.  Poor Alice who was at this point completely over-wrought was still subjected to being photographed.

Everyone had a wonderful time and Kate was showered with love and fun!  Yay for birthdays.  I'm so thankful for my wonderful friends and their wonderful children.

Three final notes because I want to remember.  First was that we missed Ciaran - he had a fever the night before and was unable to come. Second, Ruth (Ava's Mom) took most of the photos.  Thank you thank you Ruth!  Third, when Kate's friends started to leave when the party was over she looked so sad.  Darby and her siblings and her Mom stayed and hung out and it was the perfect ending.  Kate really truly had an awesome party!

Baby Three

Second ultrasound, but first pictures of the newest soon to be member of our family.  Perhaps I am just foolishly optimistic about my ability to mother three children, but I just don't feel the same nervousness that I felt when I was pregnant with Kate or with Alice.  I'm just excited for all of us to be here, for our family to be complete.  And that is exactly how I felt when the pregnancy test was positive.  We're all here now!

Disappointment

How do you teach your children about disappointment?  I've thought about that this week.  Today in church Kate had a few lessons in disappointment.   During song time names were drawn out of a cup for turns.  Kate waited and each time someone else was called.  As song time progressed her frown got worse and she started wiping away the tears.  My heart ached for her.  Each time a new name was drawn I hoped like crazy it would be hers.  Song time ended and her name never was called.  She was able to participate a little in the sharing time lesson, but she was still sad.  During Gathering Time there was more disappointment.

Each week there is a "star" child.  The star child fills a bag full of stuff all about them.  It's a show and tell, get to know you activity.  And each week one name is drawn for the next week.  There are still lots of children that have never had a turn so it might be MONTHS before Kate has her name drawn.  We talked about waiting for turns, about being excited for our friends, about birthdays and how they only come once a year.

She was so defeated today.  Trying to find the positives in all of this for her was a good reminder and lesson for me.  It is hard to deal with disappointment, particularly when they happen over and over and over again.  I'm so thankful that I'm a Mom and I'm SO thankful that Kate and Alice are my daughters and I'm thankful for all the lessons we'll learn together.

Kate's 4th Birthday

To say that Kate has been excited about her birthday would be a gross understatement.  She has been so excited about her birthday.  As soon as Christmas was over she started to ask everyday, is tomorrow my birthday?  Well, it finally came!  In a fun turn of events we were assigned to be the duty parents at preschool and since Ken finally completed all his paperwork, he was the Duty-Dad at preschool today.

We had Kate's choice for dinner tonight - chicken, rice, broccoli, and cauliflower.  We had store bought cupcakes for dessert.  I do want to bake for my children's birthdays someday...  She opened her presents and posed with the birthday balloons and of course we sang happy birthday and she blew out her candle.  I think she had a very lovely birthday. 

We love our Kate very much. 

Kate's Lunch Time Party

How many kids get three birthday parties?  One at their babysitters, one with family and then one with friends?  Kate you are one lucky kid to have a babysitter that loves you so much!

I wish I had a picture (or at least a more recent one) of Kate and Antoinette.  I am thankful everyday for the love that Antoinette shows my girls.  They are happy and safe and loved and that is such a blessing.

Kate answers the birthday questions

Kate – 4 years old – January 8, 2013

1. What is your favourite colour?

            Blue and green.

2. What is your favourite toy?

            Car

3. What is your favourite fruit?

            Banana

4. What is your favourite tv show?

            Peppa Pig

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch?

            Eggs and toast

 6. What is your favourite outfit?

            Dress

7. What is your favourite game?

            Snakes and Ladders

8. What is your favourite snack?

            Little Bites

9. What is your favourite animal?

            Yak

10. What is your favourite song?

            Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

11. What is your favourite book?

            Hop on Pop

12. Who is your best friend?

            The girl with the flowers on her shirt

13. What is your favourite cereal?

            Corn Chex

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside?

            Play in the snow

15. What is your favourite drink?

            Chocolate Milk

16. What is your favourite holiday?

            Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?

            A stuffed animal

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast?

            Pancakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday?

            Chicken, rice, broccoli and cauliflower

20. What do you want to be when you grow up?

            The Wicked Queen

Explanations:

2. While I have seen her play with cars, not in a long time?

3.  She received a birthday card from her Great-Aunt-Wendy in England today with Peppa Pig on it.  She hasn’t actually watched Peppa Pig in a while, but she does like it.  Her favourites lately have been Dora, Wonder Pets, and Harold and the Purple Crayon.

7.  For Christmas she received Hungry Hungry Hippos.  She loves this game.  Today her angel caregiver Antoinette gave her Snakes and Ladders.  We played it right before she answered the questions and she won!  Guaranteed love if she wins.

9.  I don’t know where this love of yaks came from.  A few weeks ago in church she visited primary and went to the sunbeam class and told the teacher that her favourite animal was a yak.  Before that Sunday I’d never heard her say this before.  It makes me laugh, a yak, who knew?!

11.  Lately we’ve been reading lots of the Grinch Stole Christmas.  She asked me not to put it away.  We do read Hop on Pop lots too.

12.  On Saturday we went to the mall and Kate met a little girl (with flowers on her shirt) in Toys R Us and invited her to the play area in the mall.  She came with her Dad and little brother and she and Kate played for ages.  They were really cute.

20.  I was the Wicked Queen for Halloween and Kate was Snow White.  I hope that there isn’t more to this future aspiration?!

Christmas Break (Part Two)

January 1 - THE ZOO!

It was cold, but we bundled up and had MUCH fun!

January 2 - Bizzy Bees date with the Beitz family.  Kate, Alice and I went and met Sarah and her three kids and played and played.  I brought my camera but didn't take a single picture. 

January 3 - We had a Tottenham playdate in the morning with the Kondrat family.  They have three girls, two a little older than Kate and one a little younger than Alice.  We had a fun time.  Next up was home for quiet time and then we were off to Thornhill.  Ken had a doctor's appointment.  I sat in the van while the girls slept and slept and slept.  When Ken FINALLY came out we went to IKEA.  It's been since March of last year that we last went.  It was a sad day when I tried to take Kate to small-land and she wasn't tall enough to play.  Well tonight there was success!  Kate played in small-land and had so much fun.  But the best part of today came late tonight... I FINALLY FINISHED ALICE'S CROSS-STITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Okay maybe not the best part, but still pretty exciting!)

January 4 - The girls and I went to visit Grandma and Grandpa.  We had a fun visit as per usual.  I think I need to document our next visit with pictures.  I feel like I haven't taken pictures in a while. (With the grandparents that is.)

January 5 - Newmarket Shopping Trip
There was MUCH shopping done today.  I think the most exciting shopping however was Kate buying her own birthday present.  Kate got to spend her birthday money from Grandma and Grandpa.  She chose a Princess Merida dress complete with a bow and quiver full of arrows.  What a cute Princess!

January 6 - I have loved being home with my girls the past two weeks, and that's what I need to remember.  I need to remember how blessed I am to have two weeks holiday at Christmas time and another week to look forward to in March. It's been a good start to the year.

Funny Conversations with Kate - mostly about baby 3

The girls and I went to visit Grandma and Grandpa today and Mom told me that one of her regrets about her children growing up is that she didn't document enough.  She wishes she'd written down the cute things we said and the spiritual experiences that we had.  It's funny because I've meant to write these few things down many times but I guess I found my motivation.

Cute story #1
It was probably two months ago now... so I don't remember exactly how it went...
Me: Kate can we have a serious conversation.
Kate: Yes.
Me: What's going to happen in June?
Kate: ??
Me: Are you going to have a new baby brother or sister?
Kate: Yes
Me: Where is the baby going to go?
Kate: In your tummy.
Me: No, after it comes out.
Kate: In the hospital.
Me: Yes, after the baby comes out we'll be in the hospital.  But where's the baby going to sleep when it comes home.
Kate: In Mommy's bed.
Me: That's right.  And where is Kate going to sleep?
Kate: In Kate's bed.  (pause, completely unphased)  Mommy, can we have another serious conversation?

Cute story #2
Again, this was a while ago...
Me: Kate, what's going to happen in June.
Kate: We're going to have a new baby brother or a sister.
Me: That's right.
Kate: Maybe Amelie will be our new baby.  (Amelie is the younger sister of Kate's friend Marisol.)

Cute story #3
Kate: Mommy, is there a baby in your tummy?
Me: Yes.
Kate: (Looking at my stomach) Can I see it?
Me: In June.

Cute story #4
This was more recent.
Kate: Mommy, is there a baby in your tummy?
Me: Yes.
Kate: Mommy, did you eat the baby?
Me: Kate, the baby is in Mommy's uterus.  Can you say uterus?
Kate: Uterus. 

Cute story #5
This was the day after #4.
Kate: Mommy, did you eat the baby?
Me: No, the baby is in Mommy's uterus.  Remember?
Kate: (in a sing-song voice) Mommy ate the baby, Mommy ate the baby, Mommy ate the baby.  (Followed by lots of giggles!)

Cute story #6
Today as we were on the way to Grandma and Grandpa's Kate told me that when she grows up she would like to be a dog.  I told her that wouldn't happen.  She was a person and people didn't become dogs, and dogs didn't become people.  To which she told me that she could use her imagination to be a dog.

Cute story #7
After we left Grandma and Grandpa's I gave her the card which Grandma had slipped into the diaper bag - I'm assuming for me to give Kate on her actual birthday (oh well!).  Kate stared at the card for a while and said K-A-T-E, that spells Kate.  She held it for a while before asking again if she could open it.  I finally told her yes and she pulled out a bill, a fifty dollar bill.  I asked her if she knew how much money it was and she said $50,000.

Cute story #8
Tonight as Ken was putting Kate to bed I heard the following:
Kate: Daddy, where's your uterus?
Ken: I don't have a uterus.  Boys don't have a uterus.
Kate: Oh, I have a uterus, I'm a girl.