Happy Halloween!

I never went trick or treating as a child and I never thought I would bring my kids (although I hear that now they are trying to bring the tradition to France-but it really sounds purely commercial). Anyway, I feel more Canadian than French in October. And it starts with the carving of the pumpkins that we do at Special's with Ashley.

Keld made the Tinker Bell one. We put it in the truck for Trunk or Treat at the church on Saturday. We all dressed up for the occasion.

 

I know what you're thinking Jeff and Becca, and maybe next year we will try to match a bit better...

After the church party, it was the school party for Julia. This year they had a parade in the gym (last year they didn't, but last year the little kids got to go to the bigger kids'classes to get candy, which they didn't do this year). Anyway, parents were not invited to attend that parade -I know their gym would be too small to have everyone- but I called this morning to say that I wanted to come see Julia all dressed up and they told me the time of the parade. So I went. I was the only parent, but it was fun to be able to take pictures of Julia and her friends.Well, her classmates. I wish she had a good friend. Maybe then she wouldn't cry when I leave (like when the school bus arrives...).

Yep, Julia changed costumes. And she changed again for the evening!

It's Keld who brought them trick or treating, since he knows the area pretty well :) It was cold and rainy but they got what they wanted.

It was a fun Halloween!

Great-grandmothers

When I had Julia, Granny Scott told me that she was her 25th great-grandchild. I was surprised at how big a family we are! I tried to calculate what number Zack is and came up with approximately  #54. I say "approximately" because I'm not sure I got them all (especially for the Birds' families) + my maths skills are not to be trusted (as you all know). Maybe Granny, or someone else, will correct me.  I know of another 6 great-grandkids born after Zack and there are more to come (I think 4 are already in their Mummies'tummies).

Counting for Granny Hayes is a bit easier. He is great-grandchild  #15 out of 17-so far.

That's the joy of families, they keep growing forever and ever!

Happy Birthday Uncle James!

We celebrated Uncle James' birthday early. He's one of my favorite birthdays, because he lives in Timmins and chooses a chocolate cake :)
I just wanted to specify, before you watch the video, that we prevented Julia from blowing the candles because she was sick (not because James didn't want help).

The first time I wished James a Happy Birthday was in 2001. I don't think we celebrated with him, but here's the picture.

Compare with the one we took last week:

Same place. Same pose. Same great guy!
Happy Birthday James!!!!

6 months + 1 week

That is how old Zack is today. Old enough not to cry for his needle. I was impressed!
He weighs 19 pounds 4 ounces for 28 inches. He is big, almost too big for his swing, his "chairs" and his bathtub.

But, even if he looks big, he is still a baby. He can't sit on his own, can't crawl, doesn't have teeth (if they don't come in another 4 days, Julia will keep the record). He can at least roll over now and travels all around the room, but does it mostly by accident. What I mean is that he doesn't roll over to get to where he wants, he rolls over to avoid being on his tummy. If I put him on his tummy, he has to roll over to go back on his back. Then he gets tired of looking at the ceiling and spots something he wants to reach, so he stretches his hand and Bang he's on his tummy, so Bang, quickly he goes back to his back and so on.

He's laughing at me, knowing I won't get time to take a picture of him on his tummy..

The other thing he can do now that he is a big boy, is eating solids. As you know, faithful readers that you are, he's not too fond of it...yet. Pablum and green beans are not his favorite, but we've moved on to peas this week and he seems to like it!

Otherwise, he's still the best sleeper I've had (he now lasts from 8pm to 5.30am) and his brother still loves him to death.

And we all love him too!

Introducing "Real Food"

As you might remember, Zack was quite hesitant when he first tried Pablum. He swallowed it for a few days, making faces, until he eventually stopped opening his mouth for it. So I was a bit worried about starting "real" food. I got excited though when he opened his mouth for the spoonful of green beans. My excitement was short-lived.

They say it can take some time for babies to get used to new flavours. So I keep trying, so far with the same results. And I have a feeling he's going to do just like for the Pablum, and refuse it completely. Because he still doesn't want his Pablum. I thought maybe he would like it now compared to green beans. But, no. No. No. No.

 I know something he might like, but I think I should wait.

Keld's Projects

Keld has been on parental leave for a while now but we don't seem to see him more than when he is at work. He was studying for his exams and now he is working on some projects.
For example, he has finished staining the bunk beds he made and they are now in Kelden's room.

He has also finished our headbord and footbard.
Before:

After:

Now,when Kelden is not bugging him,  he is working on his shed.

It's up, but it's not full...yet.

Our Wedding Anniversary (with slideshow #1)

I know, I know, my posts always have part 1, part 2. But this time, I can blame it on my sister Carole. She hasn't finished the slideshows I have ordered from her.
Anyway, we celebrated our anniversary last Wednesday. We got a card that very day from my parents.(I had to mention this, the French Post office is usually super slow).

Yep, this was our 10th anniversary, and this is what we looked like (I had a very bad cold that day- my excuse).

And this is what we looked like 10 years ago.

No difference! :)
For this anniversary, I wanted a picture. That's right, a picture. No big fancy (and by fancy I mean expensive) tool. Just a picture! OK, not just any picture. I wanted one that would be big enough to fit this frame.

This is the frame we were given at our wedding and on which the guests signed. As you can see, now, there is a collage of pictures in that frame. That is because not one of our wedding pictures can be blown up without getting blurry. That's why I wanted to take wedding pictures again, ten years later.
I asked Ashley if she wouldn't mind helping us for that. She agreed, without saying that I was crazy! She did my hair, my make-up, and took the pictures! Thank you sooo much. And James too  for watching Bruce, etc.
I made a slideshow with these new pictures, on the only music I had.

Voila, now I have to choose one of those new pictures for our frame.
Oh, and we did eat cake.

You're right, it looks too good, I didn't make it :)

Disneyworld X Meet and Greet

I have already posted pictures of some of the Disney characters we met, but we saw quite a few others.
I don't think I need to tell you who's who.

Yep, Julia, you're right, it's time to say bye bye princesses, bye bye Walt Disney World.. Till next time!!