Kate's Birthday Adventure!

This year I asked Kate if perhaps instead of a birthday party, she'd be interested in a birthday adventure instead. She frequently asks to go to the Aquarium downtown, and since we moved to Ajax, she and her sisters have frequently asked to go on the Go Train. I suggested that instead of a party, that we go as a family to the Aquarium on the Go Train. She said yes.

The trains come every 30 minutes on a Saturday. We were going to try for the 10:24 train, but we didn't make it. Figuring out the parking garage - every spot on the first floor was reserved, then figuring out where to buy tickets, the tunnel access to the tracks. We were such newbies! Neither Ken nor I knew what we were doing, but we figured it all out. Turns out that eastbound and westbound are on the same platform - yay, and when you buy a round trip adult ticket you get a kid for free, and since Fiona is under six, we didn't have to pay for her - triple yay!

We all decided that we love the Go Train. Ken and I have of course been on the Go Train before. The girls said that the train is better than the subway because there's a top level, and of course we sat on the top level. Monday to Friday the top level is the quiet zone. Thankfully on Saturday the quiet zone rule does not apply!

After we got off the train we had to figure out how to get to the Aquarium. Union station has been under construction for ages and everything looks so different. We (Ken) eventually got himself oriented and we made our way through the station to the skywalk to the Aquarium. Kate was starting to whine, we hadn't walked very far at that point and I looked out the window and saw someone's sleeping bag home. I pointed it out to her and she stopped complaining. It was cold and we were all thankful that we were able to walk most of the way inside.

Fiona played in the submarine in the play area for a long time. A long time. She played with the controls for a long time. Lots of different kids came and went, but she seemed to have the most fun with the boys...

After this we had a snack and finished up at the Aquarium.

After the Aquarium we walked a couple of blocks to the Olde Spaghetti Factory.

The walk was a little longer and colder than any of us wanted but we made it. The service in the restaurant was really fast. The food was okay, definitely not worth the money, but the restaurant had lots to look at and "entertain" the girls, kind of? I think the girls had fun, but we were all getting a bit tired. We walked back to Union Station having just missed a train and watched the boards waiting to see where to meet our train.

We went up to the platform and waited for the train and ran into a friend from Pickering Ward. Olivia and I chatted all the way home which was fun.

We had a fun-filled full day. The girls each picked out a treat "a loot bag" from the gift store. Kate really enjoyed her Aquarium birthday celebration. We all did! Happy Birthday Kate!! Thank you for choosing a fun family adventure for your birthday. We love you so much and we're so glad that you're in our family.

The First Day of Swimming - NOT!

I thought I was leaving too late. I had to refill my wiper fluid before I drove home. I spilled it on my hand. I did not go back into the school to wash my hands, I "washed" them in the snow. The traffic was great but then when I got to the girls' school Fiona was not cooperative. She wouldn't come with me. She melted down over and over and over again on the way to the car. We got to the car, we did our buckles, we drove to the pool at McLean Community Centre. Fiona was still being difficult, and then Alice decided she didn't want to go, she was nervous and she changed her mind.

We got to the change room, the girls changed, Alice discovered that a friend from her class was in her swim class, things were looking up. Alice got in the pool with her friend's class, Kate didn't know which class was hers. We checked in with the head lifeguard dude and the girls' names weren't on the list. He asked when I registered and then went into the office to look it up. Turns out swimming lessons are now on Thursdays... not Tuesdays.

The girls were crushed. They were on the verge of tears. I tried to laugh it off and it kind of worked but then they were being silly and locking each other in lockers, and I got annoyed and just wanted to leave already.

I told the girls I'd take them to Tim Horton's for dinner and a treat - I was given a number of gift cards for Christmas. The girls were reasonably good and sort of ate - the food just isn't good at Tim Horton's. There had been some meanness, some whining but not too bad. After they finished eating I said we should choose our treats. Kate loves vanilla dipped donuts with sprinkles. There weren't any. I suggested we go to a different Tim Horton's and meet Ken there and the girls could have their treat. Alice was upset, she wanted her treat right away. She started whining. She did finally agree that meeting up with her Dad would be fun.

We got in the car and that's when things went south. I pinched Alice's finger (accidentally) doing Fiona's buckle and Alice wouldn't stop whining and then Kate wouldn't stop insulting. Back and forth and back and forth and I threatened, one more and we're not going to Tim's. And sadly they went one more, and I had to follow through, but I didn't want to. So I thought we'd pull over and have a conversation, see if they could figure out a way to fix it. But on the way to pulling over they kept going and then I raged. It was a little ugly. I pulled over and phoned Ken and he said fine, they don't go. Also not the answer I was looking for - I really wanted a donut. (So lame!)

I hung up with Ken and explained about mean words, and saying sorry and being nice, and figuring out when to stop and when to stay quiet and how hurtful words can be, and I wasn't even finished talking when Kate continued to be mean. And then I was really done.

We drove home. No one was happy. Kate went right to her room, Alice whined at me about no screens. Alice whined and whined and whined about no screens until she finally stopped whining. I got to talk to Kate and we had a good conversation. Then Alice wanted me to read to her and I put her off, I was doing something, and Kate had come downstairs and she decided to read. And just when I thought that they were the worst, the became the best again.

We learn together. I hope that Kate and Alice and Fiona will always remember that they were sent to be in a family together on purpose. That their jobs are to help each other become their best selves. I hope they will always be best friends, that they will always love and protect each other fiercely. I love my girls.

Kate's Birthday

Nine. I'm not sure when I'll have the "oh my goodness I have a ... year old" moment. Maybe I never will. Maybe because my sister has an almost 18 year old, and my best friend has a twenty year old, maybe because of that having a nine year old doesn't seem quite so monumental. And each year, each day I grow along with her and the journey has been full and rich and most definitely nine years long!

We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa on Saturday. We were going to go swimming but it was so cold and Ken and I wimped out and convinced the girls to wimp out too! Mom was awesome and made cupcakes from scratch with buttercream icing - Kate's favourite. She ordered Swiss Chalet too, as per Kate's request. Dad wasn't feeling well in the morning, but perked up and was doing great when we were there.

There were other pics too...

Sunday Kate was the centre of attention in primary. She had the birthday song sung to her, she got to pick her favourite song, and she was picked for a few other things too. She was very happy.

Today, her actual birthday... I left her a card in front of my computer which she let me know was the perfect place to leave it for her. She had a great day at school. She took cheddar sun chips to share. She got a card from her teacher and from her aftercare teachers. She had her favourite dinner - pork chops and cheesy potatoes. I made cupcakes last night and Ken iced them after dinner. And now Ken and Kate are out at Best Buy buying a google home mini so she can play music in her room. She's so excited. It's pretty cute.

 

Kate. My girl. I think I'm too tired* to actually say anything profound but, I love my girl and I'm so glad that I get to be your Mom.

*(It was the first day back after two weeks off today... I couldn't sleep last night, and it took me two and a half stinking hours to get to school this morning!)

The Birthday Questions - Kate - Age 9

1. What is your favourite color?   Yellow

2. What is your favourite toy?  Mittens (Minecraft stuffed cat)

3. What is your favourite fruit? Apple

4. What is your favourite tv show? Teen Titans Go

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch? Homemade Mac and Cheese

 6. What is your favourite outfit?  Fuzzy Unicorn Shirt

7. What is your favourite game? Video – Animal Jam, Board – Snakes and Ladders

8. What is your favourite snack? Cheesy Rice Cakes

9. What is your favourite animal? Peregrine Falcon

10. What is your favourite song? Shake It Off

11. What is your favourite book? The Book With No Pictures

12. Who is your best friend? Arianna Cameron

13. What is your favourite cereal? Lucky Charms

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside? Run

15. What is your favourite drink?  Rootbeer

16. What is your favourite holiday? Christmas

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

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

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Cheesy potatoes and pork chops

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

The ROM

When I got a call from a telemarketer back in October I was making dinner and just listened to the talking, but by the end of the conversation I had signed up for a two year membership to the ROM. I think I am currently a little addicted to memberships. (We might have three...) BUT!! We use them.

Today was the second time we went to the ROM as members. Ken took the day off of work and he and the girls decided that the ROM was where we would go. It was really, really, really cold today. Right now it's -21 but feels like -30. I'm not sure what the high was that we reached today. At some point when I looked at the temperature in the van it said -17. YUCK!

We've parked at Warden station and taken the subway downtown twice I think. Ken wanted to try McCowan today. It's the end of the line of the Light Rapid Transit - LRT, and he thought this made more sense. It's right off the 401 and we were able to park for $4.00 right near the door. The LRT was cold. Really cold.  The tracks are all elevated above ground and the stations are very breezy. I don't think we really started to warm up until we switched to the subway at Kennedy station. Today, for the first time, we switched trains at St. George and went directly to museum station. We were outside for a total of maybe 10 minutes, which was honestly, more than enough!

They've reopened the Queen's Park entrance that was the main entrance of the museum in the 1930's. I should have taken a picture of Alice and the ceiling. She was absolutely captivated by it. It is so beautiful. I've got pictures of it somewhere - I've probably blogged it before!

Our first stop was the Viking Exhibit. It's the temporary exhibit down in the basement. The parts that I got to read were really interesting. Fiona pulled on my arm a lot, so I didn't get to read everything.

After the Vikings we went to the kids' area - Fiona would have become completely unglued otherwise! We saw some animal stuff and then played with costumes.

Then we had lunch.

 

We tried to take a cute picture with the balloon animal tree...

 

Then I really wanted to see the Dior exhibit. We went up to the third floor and ended up looking at European history, then Fiona and I got separated from Alice, Kate and Ken and when we found them again, Kate wasn't doing well. I begged, and said we'd be quick. We made our way there and walked around the beautiful Dior dresses for about a minute before Ken left with Kate and Alice. I feel badly because I thought Kate was being a real wimp... 

Fiona picked out her favourite dress.

And we called it done and went to find Ken, Kate and Alice.

Museum station is really cool.

On every subway car we went on people got up to the give the girls their seats. People are so good. There was one unfortunate angry looking woman that yelled at a young woman (in her twenties maybe) about being rude and kicking her hand. The young woman looked horrified, because it was horrifying, and she said she didn't know, and she said sorry. That was the end of that. I thought maybe one of the girls would comment about it, but none of them did. Maybe it isn't such an unusual thing for them?

And poor Miss Kate!! We got off the subway at Kennedy to go up to the LRT and Kate lost it and barfed all over the subway platform, twice. She cried and cried. She was so embarrassed and horrified, and so sorry for making a mess. She was so great about it and I was so proud of her and so sad that she really was sick. We managed to take the LRT back to McCowan without incident and thankfully set Kate up with a barf bag in the van (yes she needed it), and that was that.

Kate perked up and eventually ate and was feeling much better by the time she went to bed. Alice and Fiona seemed fine - I hope! (We shall see...) All in all a fun end to our winter break. And now it's the weekend, and time to celebrate Miss Kate, our soon to be nine year old!