Matching the next level?

I may have taken it too far.  I like to match.  I enjoy coordinating our outfits on an almost daily basis.  It started when Kate was a baby.  I enjoyed wearing the same colour shirts, and it just never stopped.  When I went back to work Kate and I were still often matching and I especially enjoy matching on a Sunday.  We've even bought ties with the specific purpose of matching.  Too much?  I don't know.  It isn't done every day, just lots!

Well today I might have gone too far.  When I was visiting Suzanne I bought this cute jean skirt.  This past week we went up to Alliston one night and I bought three Joe shirts - all on clearance.  This cute purple sweater was $10.

But the real madness started when I received a package from my sweet friend Nadine.  Amongst the cute clothing was an adorable jean skirt for Alice... this got me thinking.

And there you have it, the next step in my matching madness!  I wonder what Kate and Alice will think?  

The first trip to the zoo this year!

Thinking about our trip to the zoo today makes me smile.  I love seeing the world through the eyes of my girls.  I love that Alice is well, Alice!  She's such a fun little person I so enjoyed watching her watch the animals.

A few other notes about today.  We visited the half of the zoo we don't go to very often - the Americas and Australasia.  We saw the as yet unnamed polar bear  - so cute, but because of the crush of people I didn't take a picture.  And because we hung out where we did we ate outside, that's right, we enjoyed lunch outside in February.  (I use the term enjoyed loosely.) All in all a wonderful first trip to the zoo in 2012!

Garbage/Recycling Day

I am my father's daughter in many ways.  One of the perhaps more peculiar ways is my excitement about garbage/recycling day.  My Dad was always very excited on garbage day.  I'm not really sure why.  I know he's always been very keen on recycling.  Growing up we recycled long before there was a weekly pick-up.  I recycled while I was at school in Lethbridge - and there was no weekly pick-up.  And it would seem that I am passing that bizarre attachment on to my girls.

I can't remember when it started but a few months ago (at least) Kate and I were watching the recycling truck and she started to cry when the Recycling Dude was dumping the contents onto the truck.  I figured she thought he was stealing her recycling bins.  She still gets slightly concerned each week when she sees the recycling bins on the lawn and is always very happy when they are put back in their rightful places.

Happy Garbage/Recycling Day everybody!

(The balloons are from Kate's birthday... not for g/r day.)

Playing in the snow, two days in a row!

Alice has lately become very excited about being outside.  There are several problems with this... First, it's January, it's winter and it's cold.  Second, she doesn't walk and playing outside with a crawler isn't the most fun thing in the universe.  Third, getting the girls in their snowsuits is a ridiculous process!

Yesterday I decided that we needed to play outside.  It was gorgeous and sunny.  It snowed but then it warmed up and after having a power struggle with the three year old we suited up and played.  (Seriously I think it took me almost half an hour to get all three of us dressed... RIDICULOUS!)

And just for kicks we played outside again today.  (I went to the temple this morning - I did an 8 o'clock session I'm proud to say - I can get up early and be on time for things!)  Alice LOVED the toboggan.  I pulled her around and around and around and she just loved it.

Is it possible to have back to back amazing birthday celebrations?

The short, sad answer is NO!

The long answer... well let's see, where to begin?  Ken's birthday is today but after everything yesterday I asked if we could go out for his birthday next weekend and Ken was fine with this, but I still wanted us to do something for his actual birthday.  We went out and picked up a few groceries last night.  The plan was to have a quiet day after church and enjoy a steak dinner and the left over Dora cake.

I think it might have been mentioned before that Ken likes to cook?  We talked about me cooking the dinner but Ken loves to cook so he was going to cook his own birthday dinner.  Before cooking he cleaned the kitchen - so far it's looking like an awesome birthday.  Somewhere between Ken starting to cook and the dinner almost being ready Kate pooped in her diaper.  Not anything terrible or unusual.  What was terrible and unusual was her response to my forcibly changing her diaper.

It was time to sit down to eat and crazy me didn't want her to sit at the table in her stinky condition.  She wasn't interested in being changed and kept running away so I picked her up, carried her upstairs and stuck her on the change table.  This is when the screaming/crying/wailing/weeping/teeth gnashing started.  The diaper was off, she was clean but she wouldn't let me put a new diaper on.  She wailed on the change table for a while.  Ken came up, we both talked to her.  I went down Ken stayed alone.  Ken left I went back.  It didn't matter what we said she wanted her poopy diaper back and that was that.

We finally got her changed - after some time alone in her room, and she eventually joined us at the table.  (It was at least a 30 minute melt down... if not 45?)  She was not in the best spirits and after the whole ordeal had finally ended dinner was ruined.  Ken likes his steak rare, it was medium well.  We like our veggies slightly crunchy when cooked and they were mush.  The baked potatoes were really yummy but cool.  It was possibly one of the worst dinners we've had in a long time.  And if the food wasn't bad enough the company was tragic.  Kate would cry then Alice would cry and round and round it would go.

Ken didn't complain and he did have a smile on his face.  I think we were actually able to laugh about it while it was happening.

And even though it was left over Dora cake for Ken's 33rd Birthday, it was delicious!

Ken my love I am so glad you were born.  I am thankful every day for the amazing husband and father that you are.  We will have a birthday redo!  I promise!

The Best Birthday Party EVER!

As one friend put it, I unleashed my inner party planner. I didn't know I had an inner party planner but I had so much fun planning Kate's party it is border line ridiculous.

First were the invitations.

After the invitations it was a matter of bringing the story to life. When the kids arrived they played with the toys and in small groups we decorated their loot bags.

Some were decorated by kiddies...

...and some were decorated by mommies.

After the loot bag decorating we played pin the party-hat on Dora. The game would have worked better if I had a blind fold.

After the game we had the first of two special guests make their first appearance! (Last night I called my friend Taunia, mother of William, Lydia and Darby. I was pretty sure William - 11 and Lydia - 9 were coming to the party with their sister Darby - 2 and I had a special task for them if they were up for the challenge, and they were!) Swiper (aka Lydia) arrived on the scene and told the kids that she stole the birthday pinata and she ran off. The kids first impulse was to follow her, but I reminded them that we needed to follow the map!

Our first stop was Kate's room. We were met by the Grumpy Old Troll. Their first challenge was a ball toss. The kids were entranced!

Our second stop was the guestroom on the lower level. The kiddies had to fish for cupcakes.

Our last stop/challenge was in the basement. As soon as we got there I realized this was a mistake as the only thing the kids wanted to do was play with all the toys! Marisol however was right into it and she and Kate found all the puzzle pieces.

All the kids came up to the living room and they took turns hitting the pinata.

A word or two about the pinata...

I made it. I used a balloon, newspaper, and a homemade paper mache recipe. I did three layers of newspaper, painted it white, then yellow and then glued on strips of orange triangles made of card stock. I thought it was pretty awesome. I didn't think it would be so tough?!

The three year olds all took several turns hitting the pinata. Mostly they were gentle taps.

The Grumpy Old Troll stepped in and saved the day!

After a few last whacks from Elijah (and a surprised me and his Mama)...

CANDY! My brilliant husband bought little bags from the bulk food store and made one candy bag for each child thus avoiding any nasty kind of free for all.

Then there was a pause to enjoy lunch.

After the kids at lunch they all played in the basement while the parents ate lunch. It was lovely. Again it was the G.O.T. and Swiper that entertained and kept the peace. They were awesome, they made the party. Kate was SO excited.

William and Lydia turned the crawl space into the GOT's lair.

I suppose there was one little man that didn't play in the basement. Ciaran wasn't to sure about the whole thing and stayed pretty close to Mom and Dad, sweet sensitive boy!

The best part of the party for me was watching Kate at cake time. She was so excited. She loved being sung to.

A word about the cake first.  Antoinette who looked after Kate (and will soon look after Kate and Alice) used to make lots of cakes.  She doesn't make cakes very often right now but agreed to make the Dora cake for Kate's party.  It looked as good as it tasted... even after Kate poked the map in the eye!

Now back to the enjoying of the cake...

She did such a good job blowing out the candles.

Everyone clapped once she had blown out the candles and Kate looked so happy it almost made me tear up.  It was so special for her.  

Kate really enjoyed her cake. Long after everyone else finished she was still happily eating her cake. I'm so glad that I discovered that she liked chocolate cake last week at Elijah's party.

Then it was time to take a group picture before they all started passing out. (Alice was sleeping.)

We took a picture of Kate and Alice in their cute matching outfits. The outfits were Christmas presents from Antoinette. She buys the cutest clothes. (She and Shawn buy the cutest clothes.)

And last but not least the birthday girl with her balloon bouquet.

I wanted today to be magical and it was. Kate was so happy. It really was the best birthday party ever.

Thanks go to Ruth Yung-Plumb for taking a lot of these pictures.