Alice is 18 Months

Words, words and more words.  That's what I think about the last few weeks with Alice.  She is really trying to communicate.  She says a few words clearly - no, (okay now I'm drawing a total blank) and she says a lot of words that we can understand but probably no one else!  She has been my little shadow this summer, never wanting me to be out of sight.  I'm going to miss her so much when I go back to work.  I just hope the transition isn't too hard on her.  Ken has been calling her La-la lately and I think it's really cute.  She calls herself Ahla - I think she calls herself this because that's what Kate calls her when she's upset with her... so Alice might hear that a lot?!

Alice Speak
Mama
Dada
Kay = Kate
La = Glasses
Key
La = Flower
Bear
Gulping sound - she wants water
No
(Ken's addition to the list...)
Ball
lla - Cinderella
Baby (whole word)
Pee
Poo
Nuuh - nurse
Various animal sounds:
Dinosaur, monkey, sheep, pig, chicken, duck, elephant, dog, cat, chick, horse, goat, lion, bear, bird (twee twee),
She does a lot of animals.
Duh- Dog
Cow
ka - Cat
ella - elephant
ja - giraffe
ussa - outside
sta - stroller
Kaaa - Car
Pa! - Park
I'm sure I'm missing a lot, she says so much now.
(Back to Wendy - I just wanted to add a couple more)
caw-caw = marker
cra-caw = craker

August - WEEK SEVEN

Sunday - BARF!
Saturday night/Sunday morning it was my turn, Sunday afternoon it was Ken's turn.  I'm just thankful that there was enough space between turns that we were able to take care of the girls.  It was unpleasant and awful, but we were all able to take care of ourselves so that was a blessing.  We obviously didn't go to church and we obviously had a quiet day.

Monday - Alliston - Sunpark, McDonald's, Dollar Store.  Evening grocery store trip to Schomberg.
The ladies and I had fun in Alliston today.  We had fun at the Sun park (the Rotary park).  We went for a walk in the forest that is behind the park.  It's fun to explore the paths through the trees.  I wasn't planning to stay in Alliston that long, I was going to head home directly after the park but Kate asked to go to McDonald's and I thought, why not, so we did.  She didn't want drive-through either, she wanted the restaurant experience.  Next she asked for a new colouring book so we went to the dollar store and bought $12 worth of awesome, just check out the hats!  It was just a random fun kind of day. 

We bought bunk beds - well an invert-able loft bed.  Kate thinks it's fun.  At some point I want her to sleep in it, besides just napping, which she decided to do at 6 p.m. 

Alice is in love with the bath right now.  She asks to have a bath multiple times a day.  I think she is part fish.  She just loves the water.

Tuesday - Returned book club book to Orangeville, Swimming Lesson, Fixed Plastic Cover thingy on van, Dinner out at Mr. Gigi's in Beeton.
Today was another random but fun kind of day.  A few things that are noteworthy.  1) Book club - I'm part of a book club, though not a very good member.  I've been to two book club meetings - both of which were in my home and I have yet to finish a book before book club night.  The book this month was The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.  I didn't go to the meeting and I only finished the book last night.  I loved the book, it was so good.  It's a movie too.  Part of the reason we went to Beeton and ate out was because I wanted to go to the library and check out the movie.  2) Kate's swimming lesson was in an indoor pool in Tottenham today because it was cold and rainy.  The town councillor has an indoor pool and let's people use it.  Weird, random, but kind of fun. 3) I had the plastic cover thingy that is hanging down at the front underneath part of the van fixed today.  Goodbye scraping noise every time we back out of the driveway - YAY!

Wednesday - Visit Grandma and Grandpa, Play at Crosby Park in Richmond Hill, and a Thunderstorm.
Mom's still in bed, her back is still a mess.  I'm glad for the support she has around her - she has so many wonderful friends that have been popping in to make sure that she and Dad are okay.  They are well taken care of.  I really hope Mom starts to improve soon.  We stayed perhaps a little too long.  I say that because instead of falling asleep on the drive home Alice fell asleep nursing before we left (and then we didn't leave right away) and then when I put her in the car she woke up and Kate started asking to go to the park and then Alice started saying park, park, so what the heck, we went to the park.  The girls had fun.  We did have perfect timing leaving the park as we got to the van just before the heaven's opened. 

Thursday - Swimming Lesson and Marisol came over to play.
It really was a quiet relaxing week.  Kate was a trooper in her swimming lesson today.  The outdoor pool was cold because of all the rain and she didn't cry.  I was impressed.  Marisol came over to play after swimming lessons.  I think Kate is really going to miss Marisol this year.  Heck, I'm going to miss Michelle - we really need to do better at getting together this year.  It's just so difficult when you go back to work. 

Friday - Swimming Lesson, finished Lucy's dress, walked to the post office, mailed Lucy's dress and Suzanne's curtains and bought the girls ice cream.
We had a make-up swimming lesson for the missed lesson last week and it was at the indoor pool again.  Kate put her chin, mouth and nose in the water today.  She is getting much more comfortable in the water.  I'm not sure if she'll get a sticker - as in I'm not sure that she's met the requirements for whatever level Krystal has her working on, but I'm glad we did lessons this summer.  After the lesson we came home, I put Alice to bed and I went to work.  Kate watched videos while I worked on Lucy's dress.  Then I made Lucy a card and as it says above, we went to the post office.   I'm excited for Lucy to get her dress!

Saturday - Upper Canada Mall, Visit Grandma and Grandpa, Crosby Park RH
Yesterday I did a stupid thing.  See this spot.  This is the spot where I left my camera.  It stayed out all night.  (Alice and I were hanging out in the backyard and I hadn't taken pictures in a few days so I decided to take some pictures and then, well, I put the camera down and I don't remember the rest.  I didn't remember anything until I went to grab the camera this morning and it wasn't in the bag and I thought, no way, I didn't?! But I did.)

Can you see the spot still?  Man I feel like a tool.  It's a good thing I'm so careful with my stuff.  Not sure I should really be including this, but perhaps my children need to have evidence that I do irresponsible things too sometimes, and not because I meant to or I was disrespectful, I just made a mistake. 

Today was a weird day.  It was a day that felt like it happened to us.  We needed to get new shoes for Kate for the fall so we went to the mall.  But we went a little late and dragging Kate around to buy shoes wasn't the most fun thing ever and then there was a cranky/tired melt down that I did not enjoy one little bit.  We did have some fun and we did get cute shoes, it just ended badly and that made me sad.  After lunch we drove down Yonge Street from Newmarket to Richmond Hill.  Ken then continued to drive around while I did some shopping for my parents.  Then Ken did some more driving around while I delivered the groceries.  And wouldn't you know that as soon as I got back in the van both girls woke up.  And they both wanted to see their grandparents so we all went up and hung out for a few hours.  The girls really do love their grandparents.  (Mom's still in bed...)

When we left it was too late to do anything but find a park.  So we went back to Crosby Park.  I suppose there are any number of places we could have gone to, but I really do like Crosby Park.  Ken and I took turns eating our dinner and running around after the girls.

When it was time to go we needed a bathroom.  There was a stinky diaper to change and Kate and I needed to use the facilities. Sadly the little community centre/pool was closed. Pictured below is where Kate relieved herself.  After she was done she informed me that it was my turn. 

There might have been enough cover - okay not really, but what do you do when you gotta go?!  As I was saying there was some cover for a three year old, but no, I didn't take Kate up on her offer!

Someday these ladies will sit in these seats and they'll be going somewhere, without me and without Ken.  I'm thankful that day is still many, many years away.

I suppose today wasn't such a bad day.  And I suppose having a quiet random kind of week isn't too bad either.  Two more weeks of summer and then the dream... nope, let's say it like this.  Two more weeks of full time fun with my girlies.  Two more weeks of being a full time wife and mother.  And then I'm still a mother and a wife and I get to be a teacher too, to other peoples precious children.  I really do have so many blessings.

Trying not to panic

Just breathe.

Now that the sister visit is done it feels like school is around the corner so that means it's time to panic.  I like what I do, I'm blessed to be a teacher, but I love being with my children more.  Yesterday I was freaking out (on the inside mostly) because I feel so miserable about going back to work, but it's the right thing to do and I don't get that.  How can leaving my children be the right thing to do?

There's a scripture in the Book of Mormon - Alma 34:27 which reads: Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you.

The prayer in my heart yesterday was how I reconcile the feeling that it is right for me to go back to work even though I desperately don't want to leave my babies.  The answer was this, there's a student out there that needs me.  And that answer spoke some peace to me and I was grateful for it.  That was something that gave me peace when I went back to work in April, thinking about the impact that I could have on the children that I teach.

I just checked to see if I ever blogged about it and I didn't, last year's talent show.  I love organizing/ running a talent show at school.  It's a funny thing to do because well, it's a grade 7/8 talent show and the kids are 13/14 years old.  Sometimes the talent is amazing, and sometimes it's good enough.  I love doing the show because every year there's some kid who does something that surprises everyone and that kid is a star.  This year's star was Gavagar.  Without going into too much detail Gavagar has a number of challenges that other students don't have.  He will have to have support in his life for lots of things.  He's one of the ones you worry about.  He asked me about the auditions when the auditions were over.  And truth be told I almost didn't let him audition.

He did audition and he performed and he blew everyone away.  He did a dance routine to a song called "I Can Transform Ya" (which I'm currently listening to on youtube).  He did a fantastic job.  He was so great and it meant so much to him.  He was so happy and the kids were all so impressed.  It made me so happy to provide this opportunity for him.

Today's panic was about time.  I feel crazy when I think about all the things I want to do before school starts.  I have two and a half weeks and there is too much to do and there are just too many people that I want to see.  I feel like I should take a moment to sketch out the next two and a half weeks and come up with a plan, but I don't know when to do that - perhaps if I didn't blog then I could!

I wonder if I'll find some perspective tomorrow... or will I find something new to be panicked about.  I so want to live Ground Hog Day (the movie that is) for a while... I suppose I'd tire of it eventually.  I just want more time, but then I always want more time.  Right now I'm wishing it was earlier in the evening so I could have more time to sleep. 

August - WEEK SIX

Sunday - Went to church in Richmond Hill, but without Mom and Dad, but went there after church and we all had dinner, Andrew came too.  Suzanne and Anna stayed at Mom and Dad's again.

Pinterest - I wonder how long this website will exist.  It is a virtual bulletin board.  You see something cute on the internet that you want to remember and you pin it to your board.  Then other people think the same thing is cute and repin it to their board and on and on and round and round. I saw a cute idea for a dress - take an old t-shirt, cut off the bottom and then attach a gathered piece of fabric to form the skirt and voila you've made a dress.  The idea I found was a little different from what I ended up doing, mostly because of the type of fabric I bought, but I think the three dresses I've made so far are too cute.  I plan to make one more for Lucy - it was going to be a birthday present, and I still intend for it to be a birthday present, it's just going to be late.

Other than the cute dresses, things of note, going to church Richmond Hill is always lovely.  There are just so many good people there.  There are good people everywhere, but the people of RH hold a special place in my heart, and why wouldn't they, that's where I grew up.  And lastly, Mom is not doing well at all.  She's in a ridiculous amount of pain.  I'm so glad that Suzanne is here to help out Mom and Dad. 

Monday - Quiet morning - Alice napped early, the boys played a roller coaster building game, then we joined Suzanne and Anna at Mom and Dad's and went swimming, had dinner, then came home.

It is not good that Mom isn't feeling any better.  It is good that we can still visit with her.  The grandchildren were in and out of her room, playing on her tablet and talking to her.  We had a nice time swimming and truth be told it's probably good that Mom didn't accompany us to the pool... not that we did anything wrong, but the boys were boisterous (big surprise there).  I think it is also good that no other residents from the building were swimming either!  Ken came down to the pool with us - he being off because of Simcoe Day.  He took some fun shots of the boys jumping/diving into the pool.

Isaac stayed the night with Grandma and Grandpa to help out.  He is such a sweet boy.

Tuesday - Kate's first swimming lesson of the August session.  Suzanne went to Riverdale farm and met up with her friend Neesa.  The girls and I were going to go, but didn't.
The swimming lesson was good.  Suzanne and her kids left about the same time we did to go do some errands and stop in at Mom's to pick up Isaac.  Our plan was to do the swimming lesson, come home eat lunch and then go downtown to meet up with Suzanne and Neesa.  I waited for Suzanne to call, and waited some more and then it just got so late that the thought of driving downtown was just not going to happen.  That being said, I'm sad I didn't get to see Neesa and give baby Caelum a squeeze.

And for that matter, I've never even met cutie Sienna.  I suppose there's always next year?!

Wednesday - Kirsty, Lucio and Michelle came to visit.  We had a lovely visit. (I stink and forgot to take pictures) Ken and Kate made pizza for dinner.  Ken took Isaac down to Mom and Dad's.  Alice barfed.
What to say. 

The picture above doesn't really say anything, unless you know some part of the story.  This is my grandmother and she is holding Lucio on her right and Harry on her left - they are her great-grandchildren.  I used to babysit Lucio and Harry when they were little - lots.  I babysat them during the week when their mom Kirsty (my cousin) and Pretz (her husband) had baseball.  I went to Jamaica with them, twice.  I was their nanny one summer.  And there was a summer that they went to the day camp I worked at. To say that those two little boys were a big part of my life is to not say enough.  I can't honestly remember the last time I saw Luc.  I saw Kirsty at her Mom's memorial service, and there was the one time I saw Harry when I was in Collingwood and he was the only one home... it's ridiculous how the busy-ness of life and a little bit of distance interfere with relationships. It was so nice to get to sit down and talk to Luc.  He is such a lovely young man with such a sensitive heart - just the thing every 22 going on 23 year old wants said about them I'm sure, but he is, so there!

I was reminded again today how much I love my family - my whole big crazy extended family.  Family is so important to me. 

I had fun looking at old photos with Luc, Michelle and Kirsty, which you'd think would have reminded me to take some pictures, but it didn't.  So here is another oldie!  This photo is my Dad's cousin Lenny Solomon, Kirsty and my Mom.  It was taken at Grandma's 70th birthday party in 1979.  We really did have such a lovely visit.  I need to make sure that it isn't too long until the next visit.

There are no pictures - you'll be happy to know -  of Alice being sick in the night - she barfed all over the bed.  Ken stopped at a Walmart (after dropping off Isaac) and bought some new sheets - now we have two fitted sheets and two mattress pads for the King bed.  This is a very good thing considering that Alice barfs at least every other month (or so it seems) and her barfing location of preference is the bed!  

Thursday - Alice barfed more.  Suzanne and the kiddies got the heck out of Dodge and went to Mom and Dad's.  Isaac went with Andrew and Rayna to Wonderland.  It rained, lots.  Alice seems to be better. Mom went to the doctor.
(Don't really have anything to add)

Friday - Suzanne did some packing.  Drove to Mom and Dads.  Andrew took the boys to see The Avengers - Ken and I almost went too.  Suzanne, Ken, the girls and I went to Vaughan Mills.  We all came home and Suzanne did more packing.  Then Kate barfed.

Alice, who was running around smiling and happy yesterday, continued to be absolutely fine, so we all went down to Mom's so Suzanne and the kids could say goodbye.  We hung out for a bit and I snapped a bunch of pictures of Anna and Kate.  What to say about Anna and Kate, the relationship that will someday be AMAZING is well, pretty bumpy.  There have been many ups and downs during the visit.  They have had sweet tender moments of play and fun and they've had moments where they have been absolutely awful to each other.  Suzanne thinks it's getting better, and I suppose it is.

We had fun at the mall with the girls and I'm glad in the end that the movie didn't work out. 

Saturday - Bye bye cousins.  I picked up my new glasses and engaged in some retail therapy.
Suzanne who is part brave and part crazy left at about 8:45 Saturday morning.  She and the kiddies set off for South Dakota.  They are going to meet up with Suzanne's very good friend Jill and her four kiddies and do all the fun stuff there is to do in and around Mt Rushmore.  I really hope that the illness that started with Alice and has now spread to Kate will give them a pass.  Kate was obviously not awake to say goodbye.  Anna was barely awake to say goodbye.

(Yes this is me and my sister, but notice the glasses...)

Alice said goodbye.  She called Anna Nana.  I'm not sure where else to fit in the detail and I don't want to forget it.

After a mostly quiet morning I put Alice down for her nap and went out to do some errands.  My glasses were ready to be picked up in Newmarket and I wanted to go to a few other places too.  Most, if not all of the fights that Kate and Anna had were about toys.  Anna had two Lalaloopsy dolls and they were a source of contention.  I should have just bought one for Kate when they were here, but I suppose they would have just fought about something else instead.  In any case, after I picked up my glasses I went and found a Lalaloopsy doll for Kate.  She was so excited.  

I took a few self-portraits with my new glasses but they all look funny and you can't really see the glasses.  I'll have to get Ken to take a picture later so the new glasses will just have to wait until week seven.  Week six is pretty darn full anyway.

One final note, I love it when my sister comes, but I hate it when she leaves.  We sing the same refrain every time we visit... if only we lived closer.