January 12-13

Now what is there to talk about… hmm… how about… KARYN coming to visit? You read me right… we have our first visitor from Canada since our big move last year to Minnesota! Ken and I picked her up at the airport Saturday evening.

Picking up Karyn

Can you believe this is where Ken asked me to marry him??? updated and fancier but YUP

We took her right out to dinner at Matt’s where they do something called a Jucy Lucy. It is a hamburger with melted cheese IN THE MIDDLE! The bar that serves this is certainly not the most pretty and does not have the best service but the food was good and the portions generous.

Eating out

The kids were already in bed by the time we got home so we had to wait to say hello and give them the items Karyn brought down with her. Including CHOCOLATE for yours truly!!! Oh and socks! Gotta love socks!

Sunday was excitement personified. The kids were over the moon to see Karyn really WAS here… we even had a fashion show thanks to two adorable dresses sent to us by Aunty Esther.

With frog (there is a dolly dress to go with this one)

This is actually Echo’s dress, but Esther was unable to find a tiny one so instead Trinity is wearing and then handing down as usual

As Ken is starting his training this week Nana, Karyn, Ken and I went out for some pre work shopping at Kohl’s… Karyn bought the cutest shoes… sadly I was thwarted in my shoe hunt by a lack of my size being available. I have hopes that if we come across OTHER Kohl’s this week I may just be able to get the pair I liked though!

Karyn’s pretty new shoes;

After seeing Ken off with his bag of clothes we went down the parking lot to one of my favourite stores – Target! That left us the evening to hang out and give the kids the chance to get all caught up with Karyn. 

Those pj’s ended up being 3.00 a pair!

Karyn had a few items mailed here as well… including these awesome socks!

Awesome!

It has been almost 6 months since we last saw Karyn… this week is going to rock! 

Brushing Aunty’s hair

December 7-8

With the Candy Cane unit being so short Friday turned into the perfect day to watch a family Christmas favourite – Polar Express! In fact, Emanuel sat through it TWICE! I found a great site with worksheets that I could print out for the kids to use. You can take at peek at those HERE. I love this movie and would totally suggest that EVERYONE make it a part of their Christmas celebrations!!

We HAD TO celebrate our completion of our candy cane unit of course! 

PROUD

Of course, if you are in need of ideas… head over to Activity Village… SERIOUSLY!

Emanuel and his Advent Calendar

Christmas themed!

I have to share some more Art for Kids inspired art! Seriously their instructions are inspired! I have a reindeer one to do this coming week… so be sure to check back for that!

Santa and his elf by Gavin

Oh and a snowman

We also strung together paper chains… such a simple but fun craft to do!

Paperchains

Oh and don’t forget the Lego Santa thanks to Emanuel!

From scratch

We also worked on our Christmas carols… it is so cute to watch them work together!

Sing along

Ken and I took some time in the evening and ran out to do some VERY necessary Christmas themed shopping… had to get some more yarn for projects and start finishing off the bits of shopping for the kids. Leaving the kids to hang with Nana, Baba and their cousins.

Kids at the table

If you are interested in Candy Cane resources HERE is one with some recipes and all. Activity Village has a selection of Candy Cane related crafts HERE.

Saturday went slowly, Echo had a rough night the night before and Trinity and Emanuel woke up with slight fevers… of course with a busy Sunday planned with the Novaks we wanted to take it as easy as possible. Though Trinity, Ken and I did run out to buy new shoes (dress) for Trinity and a new shirt (fancy) for me. Kohl’s with a nice sale going on.

That left the rest of the day to work on the gifts for Sunday…

Echo in the pilfered shoes

Celebrating a birthday is ALWAYS fun and a two year old’s is no exception. Of course we had to play chase the baby with the camera as was shown in the previous blog post… Can you believe that lovely brown and pink dress was size 6-9 and fit perfectly?? Kohl’s clearance find.

Our not so baby baby

So with breakfast out of the way and  the birthday girl thoroughly photographed what is there to do? Well… schoolwork for the big ones! Gotta draw that butterfly Chrysalis. 

Monday AND Tuesday’s efforts

Once what we had set up was accomplished with only ONE time out we let the kids go run, play and generally do as they please. Then once that was out of their system and Ken done his computer related things we packed up the kids for a walk down one side of the street. The goal: to map the neighbourhood. Step by step, house by house… We have already worked on learning the name of the street we are living on, now it is time to  work on understanding how streets are set up… and enjoy the sunshine. 

Working on our maps

With her matching book and outfit

And after lunch some nice quiet time (can you believe I got in a nap too!!!). Naps were started late and ended late so to burn off the built up energy we ALL headed into the vehicles and went to a newly discovered park. Echo was totally ready to climb, slide and run her heart out. All of the kids were! 

Swinging birthday girl

Up on the hippo

We were there long enough to turn the boys’ faces red from exertion and as Zander put it… make him dripping with cold sweat. They played hard and were HUNGRY!

My 3 boys

While supper and kids were made ready Ken and I ran to Walmart to get a price correction on something and then went to Walgreens to get a sale price on pencil crayons and then finally DAIRY QUEEN for an ice cream cake. That leaves cake and presents. 

Cake!!

Both went over SUPER well… our Echo is well and truly 2. We still need to plan the kids’ party and the family party is set for middle of September. Planning in a whole new place with different people is definitely something new for us. Thank goodness she is only 2 so we have time to plan without her wondering why.

Presents first

Blow out those candles baby

NOMS

We took Tuesday as a one off day pretty much… wrote one more letter (under MASSIVE duress I might add) to go in the post box with the flag up (seriously that works here!!!) and drew our daily observation of our chrysalis. There are just days when everyone needs a break and that was today… well halfway as we also did a picture each in what is going to become their observation journals.

Gavin’s map

Which meant time was freed up to take MORE pictures of the girls in dresses… I just love the livingroom for pictures. Echo was adamant that today’s be mostly with Trinity. I love it when they feel like being buddies.

My girls

And then of course time was spent outside. Baba still has a bunch of those tree branches to take apart to be put out for recycling and until the neighbour boy came over to mow it was time to play outside. Then back out again to take down the trees with the neighbour boy and his older brother’s help! 

Watching the tree work

Now tomorrow is lined up to be fun… hopefully busy and always enjoyable. 

Hanging with Nana (Zander)