Ollie Octopus

Allan and I have decided that it is time for the kids (Emma in particular) to begin Saturday morning chores.  Ollie Octopus helped them with their chores this morning.  He starts out with just a body and as the kids complete each of their chores they get to add a tentacle.  Luckily my mom hung onto all of her cute books from when we were kids that had patterns for these sorts of things.  Emma was very enthusiastic and excited about it and she encouraged Walker to get his chores done so that Ollie would have all of his legs again.  Admittedly I spent more time following them around encouraging, explaining, and helping than it would have taken me to do it myself but they were both so pleased with themselves once they were done that it was worth it.

Once Ollie had all of his tentacles back the kids got a cute little badge to wear and their allowance for the week.  They were far more excited about the badge than they were about the prospect of getting an allowance every week. 

Our hope is that we can teach them responsibility and at the same time the importance of saving and managing their money (no matter how little they may have).  Next week we will take them to open  their very own bank accounts, again they don't seem fussed about the money aspect of it but one day they will be.  Hopefully their excitement over Ollie will not have worn off by next Saturday!!

And what of our little Lillian...

She had her 6 month shots on Wednesday where they weighed and measured her.  She weighs 14 pounds 1 1/2 ounces and is 23 2/3 inches long.  She has only grown 2/3 of an inch in the last two months so I think Dr. Davidson's prediction that she will be a little shrimp is correct.  She is in the fortieth percentile for weight and the tenth for height and they still scale her with the 5 month olds because she was 4 weeks early so the numbers are probably even lower than that.  She is the sweetest little butterball there is and definately the runt of this litter.

Alone Time

I consider myself to be a very patient person.  It takes a great deal to rattle me and I do not lose my temper easily.  At the end of some days though it takes everything I have not to run screaming out of the house and through the streets in hopes that someone will have me committed to a psych ward so that I can have a couple of hours to myself.  Today was one of those days.  Luckily I have an understanding and intuitive husband who can generally get a read on me within seconds of getting in the door.  On these days he usually gives me the same sweet, sympathetic look to which I respond by putting my head on his chest and bursting into tears (poor guy).  Tonight he patiently got Emma and Walker's snow gear on and took them for a walk with the dog then sat and watched a movie with them after kindly ordering me up to our room where I could have some time alone.

Time alone on days like this almost do more harm than good as I sit and ponder all of the things that I did wrong...I shouldn't have gotten so upset with Walker when he smeared yellow paint all over the kitchen floor (ALL OVER), I shouldn't have shouted at Emma when she nearly bent Lillian in half or sat screaming at me for 30 minutes because I wouldn't give her a sucker before school.  I should have spent more time holding my baby while she fussed instead of insisting on getting the dishes done.  The list goes on and on.  Thankfully, if motherhood has taught me anything it is that dwelling on my imperfections and shortcomings does little good in helping nurture a peaceful and happy environment in our home.  It has also taught me that it is through the Lord that I can find the patience and long suffering necessary to endure these rare but difficult days.  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be home with our beautiful children each day to watch them learn and grow and witness the funny things that they do and say.

I love this little poem, it sums up my feelings tonight perfectly.

Hello Dolly!!!

On Thursday night we curled up together and watched "Wall-E" with the kids.  It was such a cute movie and despite the fact that there was very little dialogue, it was very entertaining. 

The best part about the movie was that Wall-E, the little robot, loves the movie "Hello Dolly".  As the songs from one of my all time favorite musicals played in the background of that Disney movie I knew that I had to get my hands on a copy of the dvd and watch it immediately!!!  Luckily my mom has all of the musical staples that we were raised on so I was able to acquire a copy very easily.  So tonight the kids sat down and watched it with me, most of it that is.  Walker is more tolerant of "mommy and daddy shows" than Emma is as it means that he gets to cuddle on the couch with Allan or I. 

Emma enjoyed the musical numbers but was impatient for the scene where Barbara Streisand wears this dress...

Unfortunately she had to go to bed before we got to that part of the movie so she will have to wait until tomorrow to see that fabulous sequined dress.  I, however, did not.  After the kids went to bed I finished watching the movie.  What happened to these kinds of movies and this kind of Hollywood woman?  The movies that make you happy hours after you watch them and the women that you don't mind your children looking up to because they are talented and classy.   My mom raised us on movies like this one and "Calamity Jane", "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and "Oklahoma".  It was not uncommon for my sisters and I to break out into one of our favorite musical numbers and sing every last word.  This, if I remember correctly, was one of our favorites.

I LOVE musicals!!!

6 Months Today

I can't believe that it was 6 months ago today that we welcomed our sweet Lillian into our family.  We have been so blessed to have such a good natured baby in our home.  She loves the attention of her older siblings and smiles so easily.   It may be because I've had two other babies to practise with or because she is such a good baby, but I have her completely figured out.  I love the way she smiles at me and tracks me around the room.  I love the way that she sleeps with her thumb stuck firmly in her mouth and that she smiles with her whole body.  Mostly I love that she is mine and that the Lord has entrusted me with another one of his sweet spirit children.  Here are a few things that she's been up to lately.

We started her on solids this week.  The first couple of days she just wanted to play

with the spoon but now she screams her head off if I don't get the spoon in her

mouth fast enough.

I'm not sure who likes her jolly jumper more, Lillian or Emma and Walker.

I've had to enforce a "no touching the baby" rule when she's in it or they would

swing her into a wall or bounce her into oblivion.

I love the face she's making in this picture.  She looks so goofy!

See what I mean by smiling with her whole body!!



The Playroom

This is going to be a rather boring post but I had to share my excitement over our newly organized, newly cleaned playroom.  After disassembling a spare kitchen table, putting 75% (literally) of the kids' toys in the basement, separating the headless Barbies from the Barbies with heads (sorry mom, I promise we will replenish your Barbie collection when you have another granddaughter), and throwing away approximately 30 pounds of old coloring books and crafts I arrived at this...

You would be really impressed if I had included a before picture but I was too embarrassed by the fact that the room looked like it was right out of an episode of "Hoarders."

It may be silly but just walking into this room makes me so happy, I would even venture to say joyful.  The kids finally have their very own place to play and be loud and make a mess.  They play so well now because they are no longer sitting right on top of each other while they are trying to play.  I still have big plans though, like a cozy little reading corner with a comfy rug and a place where they can hang their books, and a wall where they can display all of their art work.  Now I just have to try and keep it looking like this.

Bridgett and the Beast and another Birthday celebration

I know I've mentioned how sweet and gentle our Bridgett is but lately she has taken a shine to little Lillian.  She is so protective of her and now that Lillian is beginning to pay her some attention she takes every opportunity to be near her.  Most likely because Lillian is the only one who can't pull her tail, climb all over her, or yell at her...yet.

Luckily for Bridgett, Walker has become a little less of a brute and has decided that giving her long, tight hugs and making her beds is more fun than riding and chasing her.

 

Emma adores princesses so she and I were both thrilled when my parents got us tickets to Beauty and the Beast here at the Jubilee Auditorium.  We got to go with my mom and it was so much fun!!  Emma has never seen a play before and she was so excited to see real people dressed in costumes acting out one of her favorite stories. 

I'm sure that I watched her more than the play as she saw the enchanted castle come to life on the stage.  After each musical number she would sit up as straight as she could and clap her hands enthusiastically.  She was especially excited about the beautiful dresses that Belle wore.

We have started a new birthday tradition in our family and that is to go to Montana's for birthday dinners.  Mostly because they sing a fun birthday song and make you wear a silly moose hat...AND  kids eat free on Tuesday.  Walker wasn't sure what to make of all the attention but he certainly enjoyed the trio of ice cream cones he got for dessert!

Walker is 3!!!

Walker had his 3rd birthday today. I can't believe that 3 years ago he was just a tiny baby who was entirely dependent on me. Now he is my solid little boy that I can't even call a toddler anymore, well on his way to becoming the linebacker or running back or whatever such thing Allan has planned for him. Tonight as I watched him listen carefully while everyone sang happy birthday to him I felt that claustrophobic feeling again that pulls at my heart and takes my breath away as I realize how quickly my babies are becoming my big kids. Only for a moment though because he was so excited about his cake and the attention that it was hard not to be excited too. 

Auntie Tammy, Uncle Richard and Mikaela

cousins Mikaela and Kendall

True to form Walker had to have all of his new toys in bed with him.  You can't see the rest of them because they are on the floor beside him.

3 of my favorite things about the birthday boy

1) He idolizes his big sister and is sweet and gentle to his baby sister

2) He tells everyone that they are his favorite and I think has a way of making them feel like they are.

3) His favorite place to be is in the kitchen with me, even if it is just playing cars at the table or on the counter while I'm baking or making dinner.

Ten Days of Daddy

This post is a tribute to my sweet husband who made our Christmas and holidays so wonderful this year.  He had a blissful ten days off and the kids and I were in heaven.  As he always does, Allan made sure that everyday was full of something fun for the kids to do.  From visits with family to trips to the Telus World of Science and Galaxyland to lunch at Burger King (kids are so easy to please).  The kids are convinced that life is only exciting when Daddy is around.  It's okay, I don't mind letting him be the fun one. 

Telus World of Science

 Margaret Ziedler Star Theatre

Emma was completely enthralled with the star show...

Walker, not so much

Galaxyland

(I'm pretty sure that he was telling me to climb in the front of the firetruck with him)

Lillian's adorable little-big cousin Jimmer.  They are ten days apart.
We're confident that Walker will have some back up when he is protecting his baby sister.

On a different note, we have been potty training Walker all week.  He's doing fairly well but mostly he is just enjoying the new setup in the bathroom.