So I seem to have hit a spree of NOT writing blog entries this past week. I promise much better behaviour for the rest of the month!! But this weekend was a busy one – we finally found the time to hold Ken’s Birthday LAN. Which is basically all of his gaming friends, their computers and alcohol parked in our basement overnight to game and hang out. This time round Fydo was able to bring her wife Kristen which meant I had company amongst all the testosterone.

We also had some boardgame time…

and with Kristen here I was able to do some baking while she held Echo who didn’t complain TOO hard after a while about being held by someone other than me.

The kids were just excited because she was willing to read them stories!! Best way to win the love of our kids after all!

The guys were parked in the basement in the twins’ room so the twins had to sleep in Emanuel’s room on the floor and Trinity slept in the playpen in our room. Not the best situation but their room is the largest and the easiest to clear. And of course reassemble.

The previous few weekdays have had us working on our reading, doing crafts and get well soon cards for Nathan. The kids all started work on Perler bead ornaments to go with the presents we plan to give this year for Christmas. Emanuel managed to get three or four done before he lost interest! Which was a bit surprising.

We are starting our time on the human body in earnest this week upcoming. We are still rather limited as the van is to be done this week but not on a specific day. With all the snow mom REALLY needs her car back. After all it is a little cold and snowy to be out in the convertible even with the top up. We are really hoping to get down to visit my mom – Mike gave her her Christmas present early this year – a new dog! Her name is Phoebe and she is 6 yrs old and a Kerry Blue Terrior. She was at the vet having been dropped off by the previous owners who couldn’t take her. Apparently she has been de-barked (something we would NEVER do) and had her tail docked but is a gentle and shy dog. Apparently she and mom are already enjoying their walks and time together. It will be interesting to see how she does with the kids!

The boys did attempt some time in the snow this week but it was bitingly cold so it was brief but fun!

Zander and Gavin

With the completion of Quinn’s stocking I have begun the toe on my nephew’s. Hopefully I can get it done before next weekend and then move onto focusing on gifts for our friend’s party which is tentatively set for December 18th.

Zander surprised us this week – Ken was helping him brush his teeth and was looking at the bottom ones to find… an extra tooth!! One of his bottom front had already cut through, and sure enough, the one in front of it is loose!! Something that Zander has spent the weekend driving us nuts about. First he was scared about it and now he is obsessed with making it wiggle either with tongue or fingers. So it is only a matter of time before that pesky tooth comes out… I am thinking maybe our Tooth Faerie is going to use matchbox cars as her tooth reward??

Sadly the boys missed Sunday School today – mom’s car was too cold even plugged in to start. We moved it into the garage tonight after Sean helped get it started. I miss our van… So instead they spent their time working on Perler bead creations and watching cartoons. Not my original plan but they were happy.

One of the bonuses to having a friend over AND all the guys was that Kristen and I were able to leave Echo here (it was too cold to easily truck her around) and head over to Michaels to do a bit of shopping and then stop at SecondCup where she treated me to a candy cane hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles!!! It was great to not only have company but a way OUT of the house… for some reason this past week has been more wearing than the past few. Maybe it is because the end of being van-less is in sight? (better be!)

I just feel like if we can get back our vehicle and be MOBILE again life will become immensely more simple. Being housebound at least in so far as ALL going out just us is very frustrating for me… you have to pick which kids go where or get friends to come along and I just want to be our family of 7 out enjoying each other. That and my follow up with my OBGYN is next Monday and I cannot reschedule. The logistics of getting me (and Echo since who knows how long we wait in the office) is mind boggling on a weekday. So please keep a positive thought for us.

Oh another first for me – Ken had us sit and watch Scott Pilgrim vs the World… it was… a movie. I was not overly impressed though Ken and the guys thought is was terrific. Apparently it is based on a graphic novel and done in that style. At times I found it a little hard to follow.

The kids rounded out their evening (tonight) by making sugar cookies with Daddy – using the letter cutters my mom picked up for them months ago! Talk about fun!

Baking with Daddy (Zander front)

Ready to bake

So though I have been feeling a little down in the dumps this weekend has been a breath of fresh air. I think all my frustration and doubts will melt away if I could just get us ALL outside!

Nom noms