Playing and Pumpkin Carving

I took the girls for a walk a couple of days ago (before we all got sick in our house, oh joy), and by the end of the walk Ellie had wiggled her bum down into the bottom of the stroller. She rode the rest of the way home like that. Happily.

I have just spent the last two days inside watching Despicable Me (too much blowing up of, well, everything), Strawberry Shortcake (insanely boring), Shrek (seen that a million times since she was 2) and Monsters Inc. University (which I didn't even watch because I was talking on the phone with a friend, I'm sure I didn't miss much though of that movie). 

But this is what you do when you're all sick. It could be worse I guess!

I'm not going to lie though, I used to kind of like a sick day from work. Just lounge around the house, nap, drink juice and watch a movie.

It's so much worse being sick with kids, because they. don't. care. At all. And if they're sick, they're way needier and whinier. I miss the old days, haha. 

Wren was not thrilled to see the bit of snow on the ground. I'm just going to assume she forgets how fun it is to play in it and that I will be forcing them outside to have fun-in-the-snow time on a daily basis this winter. For everybody's sanity.

Ellie has been trying out a new skill of jumping up and down on both feet. Let me just say that this took Wren a solid 2-3 years to figure out, so when Ellie did it we were quite surprised!

Last week I pulled a "counting" sheet out of her preschool bag and I had a good laugh. There was a small note at the top saying that Wren counts like this- "1, 2,...11, 12" and that she needs a bit of practice. Her preschool is great, they aren't drilling the kids or anything, it's all learning through play. This was the first time I saw feedback on a sheet like this. 

When I showed Wren the sheet she started counting that same way and I said, "No, try again." She rolled her eyes and said "1, 2, 3, 4, 5" like "UGH Mom, what a totally boring way to count." This kid even counts to the beat of her own drum, so to speak.

Above, Wren is wearing a tiny zebra sweater that is 3 sizes too small. I can't stand when she goes into Ellie's closet and insists on wearing her stuff! She has a closet full of great clothes, and she just wants to squeeze into an old favourite. 

On Sunday we carved a few pumpkins that Daisha gave us- they came from her grandma's farm! 

Okay, we came across this photo from last Halloween because Kenton didn't believe me that Ellie was sitting in a Bumbo while we carved. 

We pulled up this picture and all of us, even Wren, burst out laughing and continued to laugh for a solid 3 minutes straight. Even Ellie started laughing, at the picture! I am laughing as I write this and look at it again. It's hard to believe she was that humongous once. 

 Here she is this year, stacking and tossing tea lights. What a change. 

And here is the product of Kenton's hard work. He basically carved them all. 

This is the face Wren gives me when I ask for a smile. And apparently she just came from Mardi Gras. 

It sort of looks like I photoshopped Ellie into this picture, she looks oddly tiny next to Wren. Well I didn't. I don't even have photoshop. These truly incredible photos are all my pure talent. ha.

Ellie really liked it when we lit the tea lights to show them how they would glow. She kept going "Foof! Foof!" and flapping her hands in excitement.  

Can't wait to show photos of them trick or treating! 

Halloween fun at Prairie Gardens Farm

Wren waited patiently all morning for our trip to Prairie Gardens Adventure Farm. We had never taken her and Ellie, but thought this would be perfect for them this year! 

If kids dressed up, they got in free. So Wren layered her entire wardrobe onto her body and then put on her mermaid costume. 

A mermaid at a farm. I love it.

She painted a pumpkin to start at the TD Bank tent...and we got free half cup full hot chocolates from the TD truck. Ha, sorry, it was just so hilarious. It was like hot chocolate shots they were so small!

I wish they could have put a cut out for a face on Smee's character for Ellie to stick her face in. Mostly because it would accurately match their personalities!

We found the haystacks to jump around in...

Ellie was thrilled and jumped up and down and squealed! 

But she wasn't sure about the tunnel...

Flower power with Grandpa...

We took a walk in the Enchanted Forest, which actually had many items in it from the old Storyland Valley Zoo...when it had the Storyland theme to it, that is. We saw the three men in the tub, the clock, and other various statues that used to be in the zoo. I actually remember seeing all of those things there as a kid!

One of my favourite parts of the afternoon was watching Kenton struggle to get the stroller over this super wobbly bouncy bridge. It was a had to be there moment, so this pic is posted for my Mom who laughed her guts out with me. 

Oh hey here's all of us!

Ellie found this pumpkin baby and went over to it and touched it's head. She was probably confused. Or liked it. Not too sure.

She really liked poking her little head in the spot of Alice in Wonderland for this photo though!

Ellie and Kenton did the duck races with the water pumps...

And the girls found a sleeping cat in one of the tents. They merely observed it and left it alone to nap.

Wren loves music and enjoyed playing the bongo drums. On the other side, you could also use plastic tubes to drum on pumpkins. 

But one of their most favourite things was the musical group of pretend pumpkin people. But they were actually moving and playing some blue grass music! The girls were so into it and danced. It was so insanely cute. 

The four of us managed to get on the train for a ride as well which was bumpy and fun! 

There was so much to do and see for the girls, they absolutely loved it. And it was refreshing for all of us to be outside of the city and play in such a great place. Because it's so big it didn't feel very crowded...unless you were trying to wait for an ice cream cone in a very long line up. 

We all loved it so much that we have deemed it our new family tradition to come. :)

Family Photos of Fall 2013

It's that time of year again...time for some family photos in the beautiful fall weather. 

This year we got crazy and did photos with Kenton's side of the family and they turned out amazing. Thanks to Amanda Gallant of AG Photography for once again, doing a relaxed and fun photo session with our family. Here are a few of the photos from that morning:

Amanda always has a way of capturing photos of the girls at their pace. They look at her, smile and and are willing to participate in a few poses. That always helps me to relax and look happy in a photo, I know they will respond well to Amanda's laid back and gentle way of engaging them!

This photo is the best...see the one underneath it for a flashback from last year!

Dean & Judy, my in-laws. These photos were all taken in their backyard. I know, it's gorgeous!

Grandpa & Grandma Spiers. Lovebirds in purple :)

Is it so cheesy to say that I've always wanted the token "kissing your baby" photo like this one? I'm happy I finally got it!

And here are my good looking and completely single, brother in-laws, Kyle and Jordan. Snap 'em up ladies! I want a friggen sister in law already!

Til next year!

Fall roundup and Happy Thanksgiving!

September can be really full with school starting and routines back in place. But it's also a relief, at least to me. It's nice out, but not hot at night. I can also stop watering my flowers and not feel bad because, people, I suck at taking care of plants. I was totally sick of my garden and general yard care around my house around the middle of August. But I didn't kill all my plants and flowers as early as I did last year, I waited til at least the first week of September to let it all go. So that's an improvement. 

But sometimes between Wren's school (M/W/F) and me working (T/Th evenings and some Monday evenings) and then Kenton doing woodworking on the side...so like on evenings when the girls are in bed or on weekends..things get so crazy. I don't even know where September went. 

And can I just say that with all that, how does one fit in a social life? ha. Big problem, I know. But even a little social life is good to maintain, but not easy. 

However, I like our life at home, because when we are all here it doesn't move that fast. We have our routines down pat, it's just a matter of squeezing in any extras into it. 

So here is our September at a glance (and a bit of October!)...

Ellie is starting to think books are not so bad and will sit for 1 minute to listen to one. She calls them "bucka-bucks". 

Wren likes "climbing trees". No offence to Wren, but Ellie is 2.5 yrs younger than her and she blows her right out of the water for any kind of climbing in general. But that's okay. Wren can step up onto a low tree branch...

We've spent many afternoons in the park across the street. It's fun to watch the girls just run around and explore and roll down the hill. As I write this, Wren is outside in our yard picking out acorns from the grass and putting clover she picked from our..ahem..weed garden out front, and asking me to put them in some water. 

Wren occasionally poses like a diva.

Wren also changes her outfits 27 times a day.

Ellie still shovels dirt and sand into her mouth like there's a shortage. She actually took a tumble head first into the wet garden while reaching for a juicy dirt clump I'm sure.

Ellie tries to be a big kid and do all that Wren does. Don't all younger siblings? 

This year I have tried to be more on the ball with buying weather appropriate clothing before it's all sold out. I found this hilarious kitty toque at Superstore for winter. 

Wren sort of likes her hat, although it irritates her that the pom poms can't be tied up under her chin and that they're mostly there for decoration. 

Ellie doesn't care. But every time we get in the car she immediately rips off her boots, socks and toque. This kid is so different than Wren was at this age!

The weekend that Kenton and I took off to Calgary, Nana and Papa watched the girls for us and took them for a special treat to Galaxy Land. 

They love love love going, and they also love this red firetruck that they get to roll around in.

Driving cars on the ride. So cute!

A few months ago my mom had bought her and Wren tickets to go see Dora at the Jubilee. She totally loved it! We didn't tell her until half an hour before my mom came to pick her up. We have realized that  you save yourself a lot of sanity in life by NOT telling your kid about something as exciting as a Dora concert until minutes before. Parent trick #390. 

Our friends, Bryan and Sarah, were in town (from Brooklyn!) and came over for some family brunch as well! 

Ellie had an afternoon where she was in LOVE with Wren's Totoro backpack.

She is squeezing her little fists in glee over wearing this thing. 

I can't even wait for pumpkin pie this weekend, and I'm happy to say the girls are fans of it too. We are also going to try and clean up our yard tomorrow- with these two stinkers around I'm not sure how far we will get! But we have lots of dead plants and such to dig up so hopefully they are into it. :)

And finally, at preschool, Wren's class made "turkey buns". Little bread buns that in the shape of turkeys- the kids got to stick the "feathers" in it's butt. Their crafts are the best. 

Happy Thanksgiving!