Julia's 5th birthday

5 years ago yesterday, Keld and I were becoming parents for the first time. Julia had been waiting for her birthday for a while now. She was pretty excited for my birthday on Tuesday because it meant hers was next. She didn't wait for her special day to open her cards (and Kelden's).

To celebrate at school, she had prepared goodie bags for all of her classmates (she wrote the name of each of them-unfortunately I didn't know how to spell them all correctly) and she also helped Keld ice the cupcakes.

As soon as she got home she wanted to open her gifts. She was allowed to open one from Grandpa Bruce and Special's.

She wasn't that impressed at first to see clothes, but today we got quite the fashion show.

It's blurry when they dance.
She opened her other gifts even before the cake. She got more clothes, books and crayons, a V-reader.

Then, finally, we got the cake. and not just any cake, a castle cake. I actually broke it trying to take a picture of it.

Thanks to all who attended.
And now, Kelden's turn!

Catherine's birthday

I turned 34 today. People were thinking of me from all over the world! Here's the video of the celebration in Switzerland:

http://youtu.be/RSi1Ff3mL40

My Italian-speaking nieces are adorable. Like my kids, they hurry to blow the candles!
I had another niece singing here in Canada, but she let Julia blow the candles.

I was spoiled!

This was my 11th birthday in Canada. I tried to look for a picture of my first one, but I think that the earliest I found was 2002.

I haven't changed at all, you have to go way way back to see a difference :) Let's see if you can find me in this class picture. (You might have to click on it to enlarge it!)

Just in case you haven't found me, here's another picture taken the same day.

 

Now you can see what difference 30 years can make!

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.