Alice's Birthday

I think Alice's generosity in all things is well demonstrated in the conversation that we had about choosing where she wanted to eat on her birthday. She at first chose Swiss Chalet because she knows that Kate loves it there. Then she wanted to go where Fiona wanted to go. We kept telling her that this was her birthday and she needed to make her choice.

She finally settled on Lone Star. We met Ken in Whitby and had a funny/silly dinner.

After dinner Alice wanted to go to get all of the supplies we needed for her party. We went to Bulkbarn, Shoppers and Dollarama, and by the time we were done it was too late to sing Happy Birthday and eat cupcakes - I suppose she was sung to at Lone Star - so that was good!

This meant that birthday fun was carried over to Thursday. We went to our swimming lessons, had subs, and then went back to the girls school for Scientist in the Schools, and then we came home for cupcakes. It was a bit too much for one night, and we weren't all in good spirits, and I might not have given Kate her cupcake very nicely. It might not have been nice at all...

We did have fun at the school. And the cupcakes were yummy. And because it didn't go quite so well we had take two Friday after school. Alls well that ends well? Or maybe I need to not plan too many things on one night? Or maybe birthdays are just crazy and I need to be calmer? Learning. Life is about learning. I think I'll be learning about patience forever! And Alice's birthday fun continues for one more day - party day tomorrow!

The Birthday Questions - Alice - Age 7

1. What is your favourite color? Orange

2. What is your favourite toy? My microscope

3. What is your favourite fruit? Raspberries

4. What is your favourite tv show? Alvin and the Chipmunks

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

 6. What is your favourite outfit? My dress that looks like I’m wearing a necklace.

7. What is your favourite game? Hide and Go Seek

8. What is your favourite snack? Goldfish crackers

9. What is your favourite animal? Cats

10. What is your favourite song? Hand Clap

11. What is your favourite book? The Missing Piece

12. Who is your best friend? Isabelle

13. What is your favourite cereal? Cinnamon Corn Chex

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside? Play with my friends

15. What is your favourite drink? Lemonade

16. What is your favourite holiday? Easter

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  Hudson (Teddy bear with Overalls)

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

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Lonestar (cheese quesadilla)

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

Family Day

I love that Family Day is a thing. Who doesn't need a family day in February in Canada?!?! We had a really lovely long weekend.

Mom watched the girls on Saturday while Ken and I went to the temple. The girls had a fun visit and then we all went swimming. I should have brought the pjs and the tooth brushes - I should just always bring them! Watching Alice and Kate swimming is so great - they've really improved with their lessons. Thanks Mom for making it possible for Ken and I to go to the temple. We had a lovely time and saw lots of friends. (Terrible selfie, but it's fun because it's terrible!) Mom made Alice muffins and iced them. We sang happy birthday to Alice - birthday part one!

Sunday was church of course, and Alice was the special girl of the day because it is her birthday this coming week. We did boomwhackers during song time - I wrote out Happy Birthday and Alice happily conducted and we did it a few times and sang. Alice was also chosen to be the body for the lesson about our precious bodies and how grateful we should be and how we should take care of them. After church we watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a family and it was so awesome - so long, but so good.

Today we worked together as a family to clean up the house a bit, and the girls were great. Everyone did something and really without complaint - so great! And then the Lim-Andersons came over and everything is always so great with the Lim-Andersons around. The kids play so well, the parents play so well. They were over for a few hours in the afternoon and it was perfect. After we had dinner we went to check out Chocolats Favoris and have dipped cones. Oh my. I should have gotten the baby size, not the small. The girls and I then watched the pilot to Little House on the Prairie while Ken did some work. It was a lovely end to a lovely weekend. I love my family. Life is good.

In Sickness...

Goodness! The last few weeks have been barftastic! I don't know if you can say it started with Kate - Jan 5th but hers was the first barf of the winter season. My poor sweet Alice, she's been hit the hardest. She's had a fever and diarrhea and she's been barfing on and off for three weeks. I actually broke down and took Alice to the doctor. Poor Alice had a fever that day and felt so miserable, but it was comforting that the doctor didn't see anything more serious than a virus. Fiona also had a fever and barfed three times, and has had a cough. All three girls barfed on the 31st. I'm hoping that everyone is officially on the mend. I'm hoping that we leave the barf behind us in January. This past week I took four days and only went to school once. Today is a P.A. day so at least I'm not missing more time with my students.

Alice could possible have gone back today, or yesterday for that matter, but I've been so nervous to send her back, because each time I send her back she ends up sick again. The girls were mostly all better yesterday so we played home-school and had a fun day.

 The girls felt well enough to go to swimming last night, and it was good to get out of the house.

This is today. After watching them fall asleep I was glad that I kept them home, well Fiona and Alice, Kate decided that she was well enough to go back. Sick kids make life complicated because both Ken and I work, it feels exhausting trying to balance work and home sometimes. It is however an excellent reminder to me that for the most part my kids are so healthy, and for this I am so grateful!

I Love Where We Live

On beautiful warm winter days it is amazing to take a family walk. We live in such a beautiful place.

Ken's Birthday

Exactly two weeks after we celebrate Kate, we celebrate Ken. Ken had talked about buying steaks and cooking himself dinner. I love that he loves to cook, and even though it still seems a little silly to me that he wants to cook for himself, I don't really argue the point too much!  He cooked steak last night - he used his sous-vide, it was so good. The girls loved it - all the girls! It was a birthday miracle.

Tonight we decided to go out to Moxie's. Ken and I used to go to Moxie's frequently before kids, but we haven't really gone with the kids - maybe once several years ago. The girls thought it was very fancy. Their kids' drinks were refilled and they loved their food - and their ice cream! It was a show - served on dry ice. We had a lovely evening celebrating our Ken whom we love so very much!

The Zoo with Emily and the Gang

I still marvel sometimes that the girls are old enough for me to take the three of them out and about somewhere solo and it just isn't a big deal. Ken had work to do. Jinx had work to do and it was a nice day, so we decided to take the kids and go to the zoo. Spending time with Emily is always balm for my soul, good friends are worth their weight in gold. We're a bit of a silly pair sometimes - not 100% awesome at watching the kids, but we didn't completely lose anyone... not completely. We split up for a bit to accommodate different needs, and we had a great day!