Playing in the Snow

It has been a very cold, very snowy winter.  I have not encouraged the girls to play outside at all.  After school Kate wants to go home and go inside.  I think that before today she's asked to play outside maybe once.  Today I actually had Fiona in a snow suit and not in her bundle bag in her car seat.  So when Kate asked to play outside I thought sure, why not.  I use the baby as an excuse to not play outside with the girls.  And while it is difficult to play outside in the snow with a baby it can be done.  I've been a real wimp this winter.  Next year Fiona will be walking.  I plan on being the opposite of a wimp next winter. 

I suppose I'm not a total wimp though.  I walk to pick up Kate and I push the girls in a stroller through the badly plowed street and slightly better plowed sidewalk.  I take it back.  I'm not a wimp!  I'm awesome! 

Fiona is 8 Months Old

This past month Fiona learned to...

Crawl Forwards - not cross crawl mind you, she's doing an army/inchworm shuffle and as of this morning, it's getting pretty fast!
Sit Up - she still falls here and there, but she can sit up for long periods of time
Eat More - (kind of...) I let her try almost everything, she really wants to feed herself and if she can feed herself, I let her
Babbling - she continues to babble lots - b, n, l are the consonant sounds I hear

I am so grateful to be home with my sweet baby, babies really!  My heart breaks for Mommies that want to be home and can't be home.  Being home with my girls is my happy place.

Here are a few more photos of this past month. These photos are all from January.

Cookie Time

Ken and Alice went grocery shopping.  One of the purchases was a container of cookies... then I'm not exactly sure what happened.  I was doing something, Ken was doing something.  I gave the girls one cookie each and left them at the table.  At some point I thought I should go check what was what, I think I heard the water running... this is what I found.

The sink was overflowing - but thankfully into the next sink, not on the floor. The purple fork is floating in the water.

Sadly I didn't get a picture of the other guilty party!

January Funnies

January
Alice: Mommy you're going to die.
Me: Why?
Alice: Cause I cut your skin off.
(Later that day, before she was going to bed)
Alice: (While hugging me goodnight) I'm sorry Mommy.  I love you.  I'm not going to cut your skin off, you're not going to die.
The funny thing was, she wasn't angry with me.  It was just matter-of-fact.

Alice: Is Auntie Jennifer dead?
Me: No, why would she be dead?
Alice: Because she is getting old.
Jennifer's response: I don't know what to say… other than I do feel old most days. But I happened to be dancing like a fool at a girlfriend's birthday party last night so I wasn't acting too old last night! You can assure her that I'm not dead.

Last night we were listing things that we were grateful for before bed.
Kate: I'm grateful for when Alice doesn't touch my stuff.
Ken: I'm grateful for everyone making my birthday special.
Me: I'm grateful for my family.
Alice: Fart.
Me: What did you say? What are you grateful for?
Alice: Fart.

Kate: Mommy, I'm going to name my first born child, my name is still McCartney, Nutsy Michaela Bubbles Nutsy Flower McCartney. I'm so excited to grow up and have a baby. Except I think breastfeeding is boring. When Nutsy is 4 and a half and wants to play and I'm breastfeeding or Blossom is in my uterus, I'll say just wait, and I'll play with you. I'm going to name my second baby Blossom Elizabeth McCartney. Mom, what kind of a name is Nutsy? A boy name or a girl name?
Me: I think it's a squirrels name.
Kate: (Laughs) Oh, maybe I'll pick a different name then.

Kate: I have a secret crush on Aiden Wallace, I'm only going to tell you in this house, not in school.
Me: That's good because if you tell people at school they might tell everyone. If you want to get married in the temple you can't marry Aiden Wallace, or you have to bring him to church.
Kate: I don't want to marry him, I just want to kiss him.

Lovely dinner conversation this evening...
Alice: (Between bites of her pizza) I'm going to barf! I'm going to barf!
Kate: Alice, don't barf.
Alice: (Giggles) I tooted. I didn't need to barf. My body needed to toot. Silly me!
Thank you Alice.

Ken: I can't believe it's February tomorrow.
Me: It isn't. It's January 31st.
Ken: Never mind then.

Decisions

I was talking with a friend the other day about making decisions.  We briefly spoke about making decisions and receiving confirmation from the spirit that the decision is good.  I expressed my relief and comfort in having the spirit to make decisions.  As well I noted that I didn't know how people made decisions - huge big decisions without this confirmation.  I suppose if you've never had something you don't know what you're missing, but I am so grateful to have a loving Father in Heaven and to have a relationship with Him.  I am grateful that He cares enough for me to give me quiet, calm assurance that a decision I'm making is a good one.  One that has His seal of approval.

Today I filled out the online paper work to extend my leave.  I am eligible to take a one year infant care leave in addition to my maternity leave.  There will not be any additional money of course, this is an unpaid leave, but I do not as yet have to walk away from my job.  I can change my mind if I want to, and request to come back early, but as it stands right now my leave will continue until May 19, 2015.  I feel so good about this decision.  A little scared, but mostly just good.

I love my girls.  I love being a Mom.  And I am grateful to be the wife of such a good, hard-working man that supports me, and will be supporting me for the foreseeable future!!

Ken Had a Birthday Shout Hooray!

When I was making a card for Ken this year I discovered a few things.   I had a picture of his first married birthday in 2003.  But then there wasn't another birthday pic of his until 2007.  I don't know why?!  It's funny looking through my photo albums - when I took pictures with film and had them developed.  I had pictures of Christmas and then the next pictures would be March Break with my nephews.  That was when you took pictures of really big deal significant things, which still doesn't explain why Ken's birthday wasn't documented!

Now I have more pictures then I know what to do with.  I love my pictures.  But, this is about Ken's birthday.  The other thing I didn't discover but reflected on, some more, is the fact that Ken has had a series of crummy birthdays since 2009.  His birthday is exactly two weeks after Kate's.  We've gone out to dinner, we've done little things, but mostly Ken's birthday has become completely overshadowed by his children's birthdays., Alice being a month after.

This year I wanted to do something special.  I wanted to get him special presents, have a special dinner and generally shower him with love! 

SO, I made three cards.  One from me, one from Kate and one from Alice.

Kate's card read: Dear Dad, I love you very much.  It is my pleasure to love you very much.  And I have great joy that it is your birthday.  Love from, Kate.

Alice's card read: Dear Dad,
Alice says: You can join my party. 
Mom - reads the card to Alice.
Alice: No, he can't, because he's part of the jail part.  My Daddy's part of Brave.  My Daddy's part of Brave!
Mom - okay Daddy's part of Brave.
Alice: I want to watch Brave on your computer.
Mom - do you want to wish Daddy Happy Birthday?
Alice: No, I want to say happy to you.  I want to sing the song first.  Happy birthday to Ken poop.

Kate was home with us on Ken's birthday.  That was the day we went shopping.  (I had wanted to go shopping the day before but the white car wouldn't start and so Ken took the van to Vaughan.)  The girls and I went in to Newmarket.  We purchased tea apparatus for Ken, from Home Outfitters.  (Some ballet stuff for the girls at the pricey dance store - no second hand stuff, sadly! Then the girls and I had lunch at Subway.) We finished off our shopping trip at the Real Canadian Superstore where we bought ingredients to make dinner and cupcakes.

I made fajitas for dinner - at Ken's request.  They were pretty good.  We sang and had cupcakes.

The pictures - Ken trying to blow out his candles, having to protect them from Kate, and then Kate inevitably having to blow out her own candles!!

Ken felt special!  He loved his cards, his gifts, his dinner and his cupcake, but the most fun was yet to come!

I booked Makenna and Abigail to come and babysit, I think maybe a month ago - well not quite, but several weeks ago!  And on Monday this week I made reservations at the 1812 Grillhouse in Bradford for Friday night.  We left all the girls and went out for dinner - for about two hours.  It was a snowy blowy night - and I'm glad we were there and back early!  The food was so good.  It is so nice to go on a date with my husband!  It was just lovely.  We both look forward to the time that we'll be able to leave all the girls for longer, to come back after they're in bed!  But for now we'll enjoy what we can.  Ken was so surprised.  I didn't tell him until the girls were here to babysit.  It all worked out perfectly.  And thanks to my Mom - we used her birthday money for Ken to pay for dinner.

This year, I feel like Ken was properly celebrated!  We love our Dad and Husband!  YAY for KEN!  Happy 25th Birthday my love!

*The 1812 Grillhouse is located at 1812 Hwy 27 in Bradford.  It specializes in Southern food.  We had hush puppies to start.  We shared fried chicken and waffles, and the beef brisket sammie.  For dessert we shared peanut butter pie.  We also had hot chocolate to drink because we were freezing when we first got there!  We loved it and we both want to go back again sometime and try more of the menu!

Ballet

Kate and Alice are taking a ballet class, every Thursday night at the Tottenham Community Centre.  Alice's class is first at 5:15 and Kate's class is immediately afterwards at 5:45.  

The 2/3 year old class is more like herding cats than ballet, but it's adorable!  And hilarious!  The teacher is really great with them.  Her ideas are great.  She varies the activities and they have fun.  This is the first time that ballet classes have been offered at the community centre in Tottenham.  I'm so excited because it's easy - the girls have class back to back, it's close - five minutes away, and it's cheap!  The girls seem to enjoy it!  I brought my camera this week and tried to get some good pictures, but mostly didn't!  Kate's class is a closed class so we can't stay to watch.  I'm not sure for how long we will do this, but for now they're enjoying it!  I love my little ballerinas!

Oh and one final note.  Alice is in the class with Amelie and Annabella, so fun.   

This past week

Monday - grocery shopping - exciting stuff!!  Tuesday - met with two of my Orangeville friends for our little scripture group.  We had an uplifting and fun chat.

Wednesday!  Michelle, Marisol and Amelie were unable to attend Kate's party on the weekend.  We agreed that we would celebrate Kate's birthday afterwards like we had celebrated Marisol's in November!  We went to the McDonald's play place in Bolton again and we had a grand time.  We ate lunch, the girls played, Kate was given a Princess and the Pea game (which we played when we got home and is a great little game!) and we had oreo cookie blizzards for dessert!  Not long before we were leaving Michelle told me some exciting news.  There are now ballet classes at the Tottenham Community centre!  When we got home from McDonald's I registered the girls.  Tomorrow is their first class!  SO EXCITING!

Thursday is now going to be BALLET DAY!  Seeing as we had only registered yesterday we didn't have much time to come up with the outfits... Michelle had been able to purchase clothing for Amelie at the Walmart in Alliston and so today Ken, Alice, Fiona and I made a trip up.  Unfortunately they only had tights, no shoes and no leotards to be found.  Alice of course didn't care but Kate... ugh.  All day Alice kept asking about her class.  She was excited all day.  She wore pink tights, a pink bathing suit and her pink slippers to class and was as happy as a lark.  The class was quite hysterical.  The two and three year olds were all over the place.  The teacher seems great though, so I'm very happy.

Kate.  When we picked up Kate from school and she asked about her ballet clothes she was very, very upset.  I was the worst Mom in the world and she kept going on and on and on.  Talk about ungrateful.  I tried to reason with her but eventually I had to threaten to not take her to class at all if she didn't stop complaining and insulting.  We were able to put together a pink shirt, pink skort, pink tights and her Dora ballet slippers.  It worked, for the moment. 

Kate's class was a closed class so we weren't able to watch.  Michelle told me that she has some clothing that we can borrow.  Next week I will take pics.  And probably video of Alice's class!  One more thing, Alice was very sad after her class was done.  She wanted to keep going.  She loved her class very much.  Oh and someday Kate will understand what being grateful is all about... I will keep teaching her and one day she'll get it!

Friday... nice quiet day at home.  Only thing to report was that for the third day in a row (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Kate didn't go to school Wednesday) Alice was a total mess picking up Kate.  I suppose Thursday it was Kate too - complaining loudly about her lack of ballet costume... but three days in a row of hysteria.  She calmed down faster today but still.  Ken was here to witness the ugliness today.  Alice cried and screamed the whole way there and the whole way home.  Today she thrashed and thrashed and I could barely keep her on the stroller.  One of the high school students that I frequently pass on the way to get Kate stopped and asked if I needed assistance.  I asked him if he had a cure for being two.  He said "being three?"  It was quite funny.  I'm really hoping that Monday will be a happy pick up!

Saturday!!!
SONIA!  Where to start.  Sone and I met at a YSA conference in Brampton in the fall of 1999.  She sang and I introduced myself.  I had actually met her before that.  My friend Brennan who moved to Ottawa came to billet at my parent's house in Thornhill and brought a car load from Ottawa.  Sone was in that car load.  Well she had now moved to Toronto.  We became friends quickly and easily.  We even lived together in Cabbagetown from June 2001-September 2001.  After we lived together she moved in with a bunch of girls in a house on Spadina.  It was while she was living in that house that she became friends with Ken.  I then also became friends with Ken. 

I spent a good deal of time with Sonia after coming home from university.  She was and still is a very important friend to me.  When she and Ben first married they were living in Toronto while Ben finished his undergrad.  Then Ben decided on graduate work in Ottawa, and off they went.  I don't even know how long ago that was now.  Sone and Ben have two boys, Moses, born the same year as Kate, and Knox, born the same year as Alice.  The last time that I saw Sone our first born babies looked like this... 

August 1, 2009.  Moses was not quite 3 months and Kate was a grabby handed almost 7 month old.  Moses did not think much of Kate.  Kate wanted to eat Moses.

 

(Oh and Sone, here's the picture of you in my house March 9th - Ben holding a sleeping two month old Kate.)

I can't honestly believe that we hadn't seen each other for four and a half years.  That is too long, but that is life sometimes isn't it?  Sonia and Ben and the boys came down this weekend to stay with Ben's brother, his wife and their boys in Pickering.  We were able to come be part of their family weekend and we had a great time.  It is always so wonderful to see an old friend.  To pick up just like you had seen them yesterday.  I'm not exactly sure what our kids thought of each other.  They kind of played around each other, but not really with each other.  Regardless of the kids, I had a wonderful visit with a wonderful friend.  And we adults all played a fun game that I cannot remember the name of.  (Must remember to ask, it was a great game!  And I'm not just saying that because I won!)

And now it is almost dinner time on Sunday.  It's been a peaceful relaxing Sunday afternoon.  I love going to church in the morning and driving less than 30 minutes to church!  YAY!  Life is good.  I'm looking forward to this week and celebrating the birthday of my love!

OH and I almost forgot!  TOILET TRAINING!  Alice is on the road.  Well, near the road in the Alice way that Alice does what Alice wants when Alice wants to.  She's been mostly peeing in the potty all week - mostly.  After two days of wearing underwear and peeing in various locations around the house, Alice decided that she would rather wear pullups and she's really done quite well.  With reminding and a hershey kiss she will pee on the potty.  So far we've had five days of only peeing in the potty (out of ten) and no accidents. Three of the days she peed in the pullup once and the rest of the time in the potty, two of the days... don't ask!   Like Kate it will take a while for number two to be sorted out.  She has plainly told me that she doesn't know how and she goes to her "hallway that I poo in".   

I really do love my life.  Life is more than good, it's great.  I love being a Mom and a wife.