I got up IN THE MORNING today! GASP! We were unable to get into a paediatrician for her 2 week (totally busy offices!) so this morning we headed off around 9 am to take her to Public Health for a weighing and a quick chat with a nurse (since we had a newborn). Talk about breast is best – she not only made it BACK to her start weight of 6lbs 5oz (which is the goal) BUT is now 7lbs! Go breastmilk!

Happy 2 Weeks Echo!

After weighing we came home so that Echo and I could head out with She Chris to do some shopping… looking at things for her wedding next year and some general stuff… I caved and got Echo some crib shoes. Trinity had a pair when she was a baby too… I could not resist though 7.00 for the tiny shoes! OUCH!

Little Shoes

Michaels was another trap for my wallet… but I did really good – 1.94! Everything I bought was on super sale. (pat on the back) Paper for 9 cents a page, and two educational purchases both on sale for 75 cents.

Michaels Finds

We went out for lunch to a sit down restaurant where I spoiled myself with a coke and dry ribs (mmm) and Echo spent some cuddle time with Aunty Chris.

With Aunty Chris

The twins did a great job on their assignment for the day – to make a piece of art to go in Echo’s scrapbook. Gavin drew the whole family and Zander himself and Echo. Very nice! I look forward  to doing up the page for her book. I figured with summer almost over and our homeschooling area (aka the space around our diningroom table) a mess this was a good and brief activity.

Echo's Art

The majority of the afternoon had the kids outside in the backyard again… more apples to pick up and lots of sunshine to soak in. Just a little disappointing that it was so windy today, I am still hoping on a nice day to have one last picnic.

Out in the sun (Zander left)

This weekend Ken and I have to choose our favourite pictures of Echo to send to our respective grandmothers. Mine does not have a computer and Ken’s lives with his aunt who DOES have internet but is not one for computers herself. I figure if we can get a few good ones and send them off then they should have them before too far into September (I am still having a hard time believing she is actually TWO weeks old!). I am still working to find the perfect picture of her for announcements (if we end up sending any since I am planning a Christmas letter this year with pictures) and the wall.

The big excitements for the weekend are family ones – tomorrow morning is the free Michaels activity BUT tomorrow afternoon/evening Aunty Esther is coming to visit! We have not seen her in over a year as she has been gone to Grenada for schooling. It will be interesting to see how the kids respond to her after such a long separation. She is also Trinity’s other god-mother (with Karyn).

So now that all the kids are in bed (in fact this evening Ken and the kids FINALLY put the twin’s bed together) and the baby fed I need to finish some crafting and get tidying… next week we are going to finish the boys’ gardening lapbooks, make sure we are registered and push forward with our numbers and letter review.

Helping (Gavin right)

Hopefully we will get that doctor’s appointment scheduled and though we are not planning on making the NOT Back to School Picnic I need to renew my membership with one of the local homeschooling associations and maybe get us all back to the Legislature for more fun in the fountains! Gotta keep busy!

Echo with her August bear from Aunty Chris

Even though summer is drawing to a close (in fact in public schools in the city school starts on the 1st of September!) the weather has smiled on us. After my (once again) late morning (thank goodness the boys were lovely to Ken and played Legos happily for hours while Trinity SLEPT IN!) I got the kids out to tidy the apples (horrible tree showering us with nasty apples day and night!), and then Ken filled the air in the pool and we were good to go.

Fun in the sun (Gavin left)

After the novelty of having the pool out wore off I had them drag out their little IKEA tent (the big “real” tent is not  together though we hope to let the boys sleep in it tomorrow night) and their outside craft box and travelling trays. The twins have done this quite a few times this summer (though usually at the picnic table) but it is rather new for Emanuel. Art and PE for the win!

Crafting in the tent (Zander left)

I finished up a few more pages for my personal project… it is a little slow going since I am rather particular about how I go about it, but I am happy with the results. One of the pages in my paper pack and the Cricut do not get along – the paper is thicker and it goes a little thicker again and then a spot of glitter and I could not figure out the right setting BUT I managed a decent page regardless.

Another page done

I really have to get my focus back onto Echo’s stocking and the gift for a friend’s parent. I have limited  time on the gift but am waiting on Ken to finish a commissioned pattern before I press him for the second and final pattern section. The gold I needed for that project is the same as the gold for the stocking so no more excuses… well except laziness or cleaning.

We were unable to get a 2 week appointment at the paediatrician’s so the plan is to go to Public Health in the morning for a weigh and measure so that we have a record of her gains. We are still going to push through to get an appointment but I want some sort of record. I am more than sure she has gained (though I have not brought out our home baby scale) although I still feel nervous about the weighing – I ALWAYS do!

Can you believe SHE was once a light weight??

So not the most productive of days for me but the kids had fun, Echo had a nap in the sun and Ken got his to do’s basically done. So a success!

Asleep in the afternoon

I seem to be reversed in my schedule right now, another night up until past 3 am unable to sleep only to SLEEP IN… Ok so it has not even been 2 weeks but I still feel the urge to get things done only to find I don’t have the energy to follow through. But I did manage to call back Public Health for our 2 week check in, schedule Echo’s 2 month immunizations (not until beginning of November due to October being busy season) and check in with the government to find out I can’t deal with renewing my hold on payments on my student loans until the 1st of September. So something has been accomplished.

Last night Ken and the kids spent much of their evening prettying up our backyard. So today the twins continue the job with bad apple collection and then we refill our pool for one last summer bash. I figure fun in the pool, picnic at the little table and maybe some sprinkler action will make up for my lack of energy. After all the weather is nice for it!

Note the clean cut Kenny cutting grass cleanly

I have managed to get started on my personal project. I don’t have any of the pictures yet but I do have an idea of what I want printed and am able to put the pages together with that in mind. It is fun to do a project from start to finish in one go! Though I am not sure how quickly the pages are going to get done I have to have them done before Karyn gets back so they all have the same look and feel using the Cricut and other methods. The first page I did was based entirely on the new paper pack and came out rather cute I think.

Just waiting on the picture

We went out to the legislature today after our weekly produce run. I am so glad we managed it, though wish we could have gone more often this year! The plan is that if the weather holds for another week we can make another trip out. Parking in the evening is free and the kids had an absolute blast in the fountains. Echo slept through it all but got a little sunlight and some smiles from strangers.

In front of the fountain

Cuties

Tomorrow I am hoping to get in a bit of baking. We have cherries in the fridge and I am thinking cherry muffins may be a nice treat for the family. If they work out I will have to post the recipe. I have been working hard on applesauce and am hoping to find some new recipes for treats for the family. Maybe do up some more apple leather… But first I need to get my sleeping schedule back on track… hopefully!

Sweet pea