Short Week

This week (weeks end on Sundays for me) was a short week for Julia since she had a PDday on Friday and a snow day on Monday. Yep, a snow day.

She had no school so she wanted to play....school. With her brother, her dolls...

She had to share the dolls with her brothers,who are not used to ask her as she's usually not there.

They really play well together...at least it looks that way on the blog :)

Zack's report

For his birthday, Zack got to go to the nurse. I don't know if he remembered last time, but as soon as we entered her room, he started crying. We had a hard time weighing him and measuring him, so you can imagine how he reacted when she came back ready for 3 needles...It took a while before our Zack was back to his natural happy self.

22 pounds, 30 inches. Very average  (if I'm not mistaken he's a little bit below the 50th percentile for weight and a little bit above for height). He's growing well and we're happy!

This past month Zack has really enjoyed going outside. He is jealous when Julia gets out in the morning and he has to stay inside because at 8 o'clock, it's still too cold for him. He waves at the window instead.

It's usually warm enough in the afternoon, and if it's still too cold, I put the "bubble" around the stroller and we go anyway (we've been inside too long!).

When it is nice enough, he likes to play on playgrounds, like his older siblings.

Getting fresh air to help sleep at night didn't work. This month, instead of "Sunday will come," I've been thinking "6 o'clock will come." I get up for Zack I don't know how many times at night (I try to give him some time, but he never falls back asleep on his own, I have to go (most of the time I just give his soother-should never have started that thing with him). Kelden wakes me up too (usually only once now- his major problem is that he still won't fall asleep before 9.30). Anyway, after 5, when Zack wants up, Keld takes him. From 6 to 7, I know I have a whole hour during which I won't have to get up (except on Sundays).  Of course, I can't sleep, because of piano playing and other noisy toys, but, eh, a whole hour knowing that I won't have to get up is wonderful. I should ask the nurse for some of the vaccines she gave because that night he slept without waking up for over 11 hours (I actually thought he might be dead).

No, you didn't read wrong, Zack can play the piano. and the harmonica too.

Well, what can I say, when you have a big brother to teach you, you learn fast.

Papa might help in teaching about tools...

Easter

We started celebrating Easter with, as I have already mentioned, Zack's birthday on Friday evening. Saturday, and also Monday, the kids enjoyed Keld's time off as he took them for bike rides.

It was quite cold (it was all white again on Monday) and they couldn't stay outside too long. So Kelden decided to hire his father for the vacuuming (I never do a job good enough for Kelden..he wants me to vacuum every morning and every afternoon).

Sunday started with the treasure hunt. The Easter bunny had come and left clues, along with chocolate, in coloured eggs. Julia would decipher the clues and Kelden would eat the chocolate.

Zack tried to help too.

 

Zack is obviously more of a morning person than I am.
The treasure was in the dryer, but I had taken a picture before.

I found a book somewhere for Zack, Keld bought a book and a hat CARS for Kelden and 2 stories for V-reader for Julia (to share with Kelden). The eggs contained chocolate mini-eggs (to share with the parents). We used to buy princess chocolates but Julia wouldn't eat it. She is now a Kinder egg fan and we had told her we would buy her one when they were on sale, which we did. Special also got them a nice little bunny and Kelden really enjoyed biting his nose.

Anyway, after the treasure hunt, we got dressed for church.

I couldn't get all three of them together. I couldn't get a family picture either. Well, at least I don't think we got a good picture.

The Primary children were singing during Sacrament meeting. Julia was really stressed-so stressed she was sick- but she did fine, as usual. Kelden, on the other hand, didn't sing a word. It was his first time in front of everybody, so hopefully next time he won't be as intimidated. He did a bit better for Family Home Evening, but, and you'll probably notice, they were pretty excited that day.

I didn't know what my family was doing for Easter, but on Tuesday when I talked to my Mom she told me that they had all celebrated together. My parents had all their children and grand-children with them, except for my family of course. They were together at Christmas too, and I had asked them to take a family picture, which they never did. So my Mom proudly told me on Tuesday that she had thought of me and had a picture for me. (Just to let you know, our last "true" family picture was taken 12 years ago when I came back from my mission. My parents did have their five children together once after that, in 2005. However, since I had come by myself, the family picture wasn't"truly" complete because Keld was missing. The 5 of us haven't been together since and I really wonder when we will ever be. My brother wasn't there last time we went to France and he probably won't be there next time either. That's why I have been asking for a picture of everybody but us, because it's the best we can get.) Anyway, my Dad sent me the picture.

Well, I was expecting a lot more people in the picture! Even in that picture, one brother-in-law is missing. I don't know when she will be able to try again, with everyone this time.
My Dad sent me a couple of other pictures and I thought I might share our traditions. The following picture is "the cake with the hen in the middle." I usually make a cake like that for Easter too. I had actually bought everything to make Cheryl's recipe for Easter Monday, since it's a cake with a hole in the middle (where I can put mini-eggs with a rooster on top. For some reason, I can only find roosters here. Knowing that, my Mom had come prepared last year bringing me chocolate and caramel hens). Anyway, I decided not to make the cake this year because we had enough leftovers from the birthday.

And this is the Easter tree.

I haven't started the tree tradition yet. I'm thinking about it. It's not as appealing as it's not edible :) Maybe I should hang some chocolate...

Happy Birthday Zack !

Zack is one year old today but we cheated and celebrated last Friday since everybody was off. I don't think Zack realized his big day was coming although Bruce's birthday a few days before should have given him a clue !

Julia, on the other hand, was quite excited for him. She really wanted to make goodie bags. I'm not sure why she liked that so much since she only put stuff in her bag that she already had at home. I guess she liked doing it for her brother and cousins.

She also insisted on birthday hats. She wanted them princess pink and we had to remind her that it was not her birthday.

She wasn't impressed however by our choice of menu: pizza. Our kids don't like pizza, even home made. Actually, I don't think Keld and I ever ordered pizza before but we thought it would be the easiest since there were quite a lot of guests.

Zack didn't eat anything but he was still happy to be the center of the party.

Unfortunately, he wasn't so  smiling after he touched the candle.

But he did like the chocolate cake.

We had to keep him somewhat clean because aunt Tina wasn't there :)
After the cake, it was time to open presents and Zack got lots of help.

He liked what he got, but so did Kelden, who was having a very hard time sharing, despite his great love.

Et voila! One year has passed. But I already don't remember life without Zack !

More Pictures From Kelden

Our photographer is always on the job.
He often catches Julia by surprise. Out of the bus and click!

Zack is getting so used to it that he now practices his poses. He tries to be all serious, but it doesn't always work.

Too bad the picture with his smile is so blurry!
Kelden has also tried his skills at church.

I do have pictures of some members, but I'm not sure I can post them on my public -and so popular- blog.

I had brought the camera to take pictures of Sister Dubas and TJ who left this week :( As promised, I am not posting pictures of Sr Dubas, even though her hand is pretty photogenic.

As you can see, he likes to take pictures but not necessarily being taken.
Ah la la our Kelden!