July 23 NOTE I totally screwed up and posted these out of order, but after weeks of this… not bad, one mess up!!!

The Novaks are not the only kids we are familiar with… so Monday was our chance to meet up with Bree and her son Quinn (I have mentioned him in the past… he is basically Trinity’s birthday buddy who was born the day before Trinity). I am so happy to share that Bree is expecting her second child!!! This is huge for us as when she was pregnant with Quinn and I with Trinity we were a country apart… funny enough, as we were leaving Canada our friends Kristen and Fydo ALSO announced that they are expecting their FIRST child!! Baby time!!!

Anyway… Monday afternoon we had Quinn and Bree over for a visit. Emanuel and Quinn bonded very quickly over Thomas.

Such a cutie

In fact, they brought special gifts for all of the kids except Echo who has to wait the few weeks until her birthday. Emanuel was over the moon with his Angry Birds blanket, and Trinity with her Hello Kitty themed stickers and nail polish. The twins have an iTunes card to use to buy apps once I get the iPad moved over to the US stores. Such thoughtful gifts!

Note the blanket

After fun in the sun room and watching cartoons together it was time to debate supper… since Bree had never been and Ken hadn’t in 3 years we decided on White Castle. It did not go over too well BUT it was fun and it was something we definitely wanted to try once with the kids.

NOT huge fans

Smiles

Echo with her American Godmommy

After sliders Bree took us all out for ice cream at a place a wee bit more familiar – Dairy Queen. 

ICE CREAM

Our 4 year olds

By this point it was sprinkling so we nixed the park idea and decided to head home for bed. It was a wonderful visit, with the promise of many more! 

Sadly through all this Nana had to go out to emergency to be checked out. It turns out she (and we later find out Zachary) was diagnosed with strep throat. Thankfully it seems only those two were caught with it. But not fun for Nana with 48 hours in quarantine. Thank goodness she had a bathroom of her own and a tv at her disposal. 

Of course we started our school time

Trinity and her Pre-K workbook

Emanuel and his Kindergarten review

July 21-22

I am not sure how many of my readers are aware of Ken’s history… but way back when (when he was young and spry) he was quite the soccer player. Up until his grade 12 year when he had an unfortunate accident on the field (really ask HIM to regale you with that one) where he broke his collar bone and could not be scouted for University soccer teams. Instead he became a kicker for the school football team and broke state records which lead to him playing University football (not the European kind but football football). Anyway off the beaten path but… Saturday became our opportunity to watch another budding soccer star who is dear to our heart! Our godson Anthony. 

Proud God-daddy

He was in the middle of his tournament so we took in one of his games. It was hot and humid (of course) and amazingly enough only Ken and myself ended up burnt. The rest of the Novak boys (less “big” Andy) were there with Darcy so it was a great chance to get reacquainted with everyone. John and Maggie (“big” Andy’s parents) also showed up for the game along with Kyle and Samantha (the Novak cousins). All people we had not seen for 3 years!! 

Reuniting with the Novaks (Aidan and Alex)

I suppose I should explain who the Novak boys are… well Andy (Andrew, “big” Andy) and Darcy have 4 kids – ALL boys! (little) Andrew was at our wedding way back in 2001! And was absolutely ADORABLE! Anyway he is now… almost 12 I think! And next is Anthony our godson who is 10, then Alex who is freshly 9 and finally Aidan who is going into Kindergarten this fall at the ripe age of 5 I do believe! Darcy and Andy are also Zander’s godparents. So you add their 4 to our 5 and  you have a lovely group of active, healthy and happy kids. 

Anthony

Our boy

Enthralled Echo

Look at him run!

Action shot

The boys made instant friends and Echo an admirer in Anthony… Trinity was a little less enthused but when you are the only girl in a sea of boys it CAN be a little overwhelming. I figure give her a few visits and she will fit right in.

Miss Trinity in her garage sale find shirt

Sadly Anthony’s team did NOT win but it was an experience all the same. And very clear evidence that we are not used to the humidity coupled with the heat. After the game we returned home to ALL (and mean ALL 7 of us) have a nap! Much needed! Once napping was accomplished we decided to head back to the Novak’s home for a visit. We were actually debating where we would meet up with them but a neigbour had an emergency so they were unable to come to us. In fact, this meant there were a total of 12 kids! 10 boys and 2 girls… so you can imagine Trinity’s lack of glee. 

Dog pile on Andy

Add to the fun a kitten and a puppy and we had a full and chaotic house. So what better to do to feed the masses then order from a place called 5.00 Pizza! Seriously large pizzas at 5.00 (or a little more depending on toppings) a piece. YUM! 

Pizza time

We pretty much had to tear the boys away from the fun when Echo finally decided she was completely exhausted. With plans to return already in the works it is a great relief to see the kids all settling in with another family so quickly. Our first day of our first weekend was a definite success even though the soccer game was not won. 

Echo and her Anthony

Sitting with Aunty Darcy

The boys

Sunday was a down day for us. We did go do some shopping, but most of our time was spent at the house getting used to our surroundings. Nana and Baba have set up each of the 4 larger kids with lovely beds… the twins have a bunk bed and Emanuel a single in one room…

New sheets and everything

Trinity (and by extension in her playpen Echo) is in the sewing room next to our room. Note the Hello Kitty sheets…

Totally Kitty

Of course, now that there was less kids around and some down time it was time to let the boys have their Tyrell Museum gifts. Gavin got a mosaic style craft project that uses stickers on a patterned image to make a lovely almost stained glass look…

Gavin at work

Zander chose his gem finding block. A definite success as he sat down and worked on this thing for lovely extended periods of time. It was like a treasure hunt!

On the look out for gems

Life has truly begun here in Minnesota… and tomorrow… Monday… it is time to begin our time homeschooling once again! 

We were not the only Canadians there that day!