January 29-30

You know you have had a good time painting when at least ONE kid gets paint in their hair! Guess who? Yup, the long locked Trinity. Thankfully it was water paints and a scrub with a wet paper towel and a post paint bath did the trick, but for a moment she was channeling her inner rockstar with pinky red hair!

Time for painting

We were busy with our red and gold paint prepping the first part of two Chinese New Year related crafts this fine Tuesday. We made sure Echo was in nap before we began to limit the mess… I think in the spring when it is warmer I will throw them in old clothes, get a roll of paper and send them outside to paint and mess around!

Our completed items

I finished a quick but interesting project for the girls – cupcake BAGS! Little ones, but so cute, and while a little more complicated then say my slippers… they really are fun to make. Of course the pattern is up for purchase on CrochetSpot… HERE.

Cupcake bag

The reading continues with a daily book. I am very happy with our results!

Another book

Our Chinese New Year book for the day was a wonderful story with a terrific message of sharing and compassion. Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn not only shared some traditions from the holiday but also the actions of a child that were selfless and kind. Add in some beautiful illustrations and the kids were enthralled. Of course we made sure to make our mini book to add to our poster. I am really looking forward to the final assembly on that one.

Sam and the Lucky Money

The boys decided the snow was PERFECT for snowmen and made TWO along side the house. One of which I am told is TED!

The tall one with the hat is Ted apparently

Of course the MAIN point of excitement was not me making anything or any of the books we have read but REALLY the arrival of Ted for his week and a bit visit!

UNCLE TED!!!!

So I did NOT make the 30th a heavy day school wise. I mean, Ted vs. learning with Mommy… I know I would choose hanging with Ted so why wouldn’t they? It is so good to have him here with us again. Out of all there is to miss it really IS the people.

Hanging with Uncle Ted

With Uncle Ted came some special gifts from Alan and Xinny all the way from Japan!

Hello Kitty for Trinity and Echo to share

3 mini remote control cars

I also got some Gintama cell phone fobs. I have one on our phone right now!

I love these

There are definite benefits to being subscribed to feeds. Because we follow Art for Kids we got a free book of 10 monster instructions. Of course we had to hop right in. You can subscribe to them as well by clicking on their link on the right side of the page here.

Gavin and his

Zander with his supervisor

The kids were determined to have Uncle Ted come out and see their snow creations… the igloos and the snowmen were all examined!

Out in the snow

Of course we had to continue with our painting. Ken, Gavin and I had to paint on the symbols for the snake (thanks to Xinny). Gavin was a go getter and even took a piece of paper and painted them for us to add to our poster!

Our happy painters

Such a card

The kids also wanted to show Uncle Ted their Minecraft… It was definitely a show and tell sort of day all round.

So much fun

We rounded off the evening with the guys back the way they used to be… on the computers together laughing and hanging out. It feels like home!

Together 🙂

I am just so proud of Gavin’s brush work!

For the year of the snake

Look what Ken’s dad bought in honour of the tv show Moonshiners that we enjoy watching together!

Real deal, just less potent

So Ted is here… and it is AMAZING!

Looking at these pictures just makes me feel so… happy

January 20-21

It was hard to do it but on the 20th Ken and I had to make the drive to send Karyn back to Canada. I don’t think Trinity really understood what that meant. She really was thinking Karyn would just be back soon.

Missing Aunty Karyn

After dropping off Karyn really the rest of the day was resting and sleeping for yours truly. We stayed up late the night before (of course). It is so unreal, saying good bye again with no set date to visit each other again. BUT the visit was amazing and that is what counts!

Relaxing with Daddy

TV time

Monday had a slow start due to the ending of our visit. BUT we got our feet under us and worked our buns off to do our best with our school work. What to start with? Well… Art for Kids has always been an inspiration for us! This time we had THREE pictures to draw… the roses from before, an adorable penguin and a spider! Zander did all 3 on one page and then wrote a story with me about the picture (I will share that in another entry eventually I am sure). 

Gavin with two of 3

His spider on a rather amazing web

The three in one

The Lincoln Logs (I know, so classically AMERICAN) appeared on the floor for some intense family building, from instructions… but with some alteration of the roof! We had to liquidate ours when we moved so having a Nana and Baba set to visit with is great.

House

We made a family favourite for lunch – pita pizzas, just using tortillas instead of our usual pita. 

Pizza time!

As a SUPER special treat to make up for the lack of Aunty Karyn I busted out some Smarties of the Canadian kind to share with everyone! YUM!

YUM

We have made a great start with our Chinese New Year… of course starting with the traditional story about the great race to the Jade Emperor. My main resource for this year’s festivities is Activity Village. It is the year of the SNAKE! I have already contacted Xinny to get the characters to use for it and am looking forward to a couple snake crafts as well as our usual library books, colouring pages and time together talking about China! This year we are going much more stories and together time and less the country itself. 

Proudly coloured… with markers!

So life is trundling along with our new countdown to seeing Ted and Sean!!! After all these visits are done we are going to be one mopey family!

Pretty in plaid

Being a mother has its ups and downs and then there are those moments of uncertainty. I had one of those today tinged with joy. Echo officially has her surgery date for dealing with her PDA. It is a bit more complicated than go in and get done, stay the night and go home though. Basically the day before we have to head into the city (an hour and a half away) and do the pre-admission process. They will work through everything, examine her and tell us what time the surgery is the next day. THEN the next day we come in for the surgery (scary) and she stays the night for observation (which means I stay the night too). So the date then… THE date for surgery is March the 21st. We have to go in on the 20th for the pre appointment and then will (hopefully) be released to go home early on the 22nd. So enough time to worry myself sick about it if I so desire!

I posted on Facebook the dates and lovely (she) Chris has already offered to watch the other 4 for us! That is a HUGE load off my mind as we certainly did NOT want to drag the kids all over the city. I know that I WANTED this date and this done but not at the same time. This is MY baby and the idea of anyone doing anything to her makes me rather ill. 

Zander had a rather exciting completion – his first reading themed book – a Starfall one. He had to read each of the stories online and then do worksheets that corresponded with the sound lessons. He struggled a bit at times and complained (always) when I had him come up with and then copy sentences but I am hoping this completion will spur on more focus on reading!

Well done Zander!

I finally found a moment to do some practicing with my brush and ink… I CAN tell you that the two characters on the right are for Grandma (mother’s side) and the top mess was my attempt at Grandpa (mother’s side) BUT the bottom one shhh secret! 

Practice

And I am sure much more went on today but with a sore throat and no nap I am a little spacey! Tomorrow we end the week and I am sure I will have much more to talk about!!

Our sweety