Can you hear it?

The peace, the quiet, the stillness....the click of the keyboard....the sound of having three boys in school and one little girl blissfully napping. YAHOOO!!! I'm going to LOVE Tues. and Thurs. mornings!!!!!!! Ethan's been in school for almost three weeks, Aiden 2 weeks and today was Christian's first day in preschool. I felt a little sad as each one embarked on a new year but let me tell you I am going to FULLY enjoy my two mornings a week, a little under 2 1/2 hours each of just me and my girl. Ah, I can clean and organize without out the guilt of ignoring my children, I can blog and read (with only a little guilt that Rich is in work), I can go shopping with just one child... I may just sit and listen to nothing at all. Here is a little update on each of the boys and their fall endeavours.

Ethan has just started grade two. He seems to have a really sweet teacher... and so far no homework except for reading so Ethan likes her too. Though he still hates school - hopefully that changes. Ethan began a six week ice skating class with his friend. He's had one class so far and did well. He has done it with both his kindergarten and gr. 1 classes for six weeks each time - this time though he'll get more one on one time. Ethan is also playing soccer - he was just traded to another team b/c of scheduling conflicts! With having only one vehicle we knew Sat. mornings were going to be crazy with two soccer games but we were hoping that the games were one after another, but that wasn't the case. Every time Ethan's time changed so did Aiden's making it so I would have to go to every game - drop Rich and Aiden off at one field and take the other two to Ethan's games (even in the rain - yuck) and the fields were no where near each other. Well, the trade has now happened and the coach is willing to pick Ethan up when we need him too - phew!

Aiden has started kindergarten and loves school and his teacher. He had no problems going into class! He is going to be assessed by the schools speech therapist to make sure I guess that he is just delayed in speaking and has no other issues. I would like him to get the help if they can. He also began ice -skating lessons and did amazingly well. They didn't have a bar for him so he just had to go for it. He was able to skate a bit, he fell a lot but amazingly he was able to get up by himself. I think that Aiden is a natural athlete. Aiden began soccer this year and Rich is coaching him. Aiden is pretty focused while playing and loves that he has daddy time.

Christian just started preschool today. My baby boy is growing up! We don't usually put our kids in preschool at 3 - I like to have them home as long as possible but Christian really wanted to go to school - every day last year he would ask when was his school day (we called kids club his school). So, when I heard that a preschool was opening up at our school I signed him up. He walked right in and barely looked up to say bye to me. He's going to love it. He has been talking for weeks about showing this and that to his preschool friends. He also started ice skating on Monday and it was a gong show. He is with Aiden. However, unlike Aiden (and he is only 3), Christian spend the whole time (almost) flat out or sitting on the ice. By the end of the lesson he was able to stand a bit with the help of a small chair and an instructor holding onto the chair. It'll be interesting to see how he goes over the next five weeks. Christian also begins swimming lessons on Wed. mornings. Those he'll love and be great at. He's ended up being a pretty busy boy.

Our evenings are busy, our days are busy but ahhh, there is always Tues. and Thurs. mornings!!!!!

Almost slipped by!

Oops, Callia is five months old today and it almost slipped by without me noticing! I can't believe she's almost half a year. So here is an update:

- weighs in at about 11 lbs 10oz

-rolls over from tummy to back - at least in bed when she's trying to see the door

-laughs when I sing eensy weensy spider and make the spider go up her leg

-laughs when you nuzzle her neck

-loves grabbing hair, faces

-tries to sit up in her bouncy seat

-really watches us eat

-often nurses now in less than 15min. - very nice

-has about three naps a day - ususally two of them are at least 2 hours

-chats quite a bit

-likes to play with her soother and can hold onto it and stick it in her mouth

-mostly sucks fingers and thumb

-been sleeping in her crib at night

I think that's about it. I was worried about school starting and when she would sleep but I think it'll work. This little girl is the most flexible baby I've ever had. She really is an angel at home - I say at home b/c when were out with lots of people she can seem fussy but at home she is soooo good!! Maybe she doesn't like too many people like her Poppa?

Our Princess, Our Family - Complete!

When Callia was 7 weeks old we decided to have professional pictures taken of her. For each of our kids we've tried to do home photo shoots - Ethan we weren't overly successful - Aiden we got some cute ones (digital, whoohoo!) and Christian we someone come in to take pics. and they were fine but not exactly what we were looking for. After seeing friends pics. we found what we were looking for. On the day of the pics. I was totally nervous b/c I didn't know if Callia would be happy or fussy and if she was fussy the pictures would be hard to get. Anyways, she wasn't fussy and everything turned out fabulous. The experience ended up being so great b/c of the photographer Rima - as soon as we got there the atmosphere was relaxing - soft music, temp. up high so Callia wouldn't mind being naked, the boys taken elsewhere until it was their turn and we wern't rushed. If Callia fussed then Rima would suggest puting in her soother and we would get all ready for the shot and whip the soother out and take the picture. There was no rushing - we just waited for her to relax. It was very relaxing when Callia decided to pee all over my foot!:) Then when the boys came in Rima turned down the temp and turned up the lights and had a few tricks to get the boys to work with her. We went back a week or so later and picked out the pics. that we liked the best - very hard. The above are a few that we bought from her but are the proofs so what we have is even better quality. We did get an amazing family pic. too. If anyone is looking for someone to take fanastic pics. of their newborn go to http://www.rdcapturedmemories.com/. I wish we could have had pictures of all the kids like these ones but oh well - she is our princess!:)

Sore Legs

Yep my legs are hurting. Yesterday I went for a sprint. You see we were half way home when I realized that I forgot one of my kids. I asked my friend and the other kids if he was up ahead -no one knew so I ran ahead and when he wasn't there I knew it. Oops, I had forgotten Christian at school. My friend took Ethan and Aiden and I took the stroller and sprinted back to the school. I had so many thoughts going thru my head. When I arrived at school he wasn't on the primary playground - I was ready to lose it. However, as I rounded a corner there he was with a mom I know. She asked if I was missing someone. Thank God (literally) that she had noticed me walk by and when she went over to the intermediate playground and saw Christian she went up to him and asked him where his mommy was. Christian said - "classroom". She didn't think so, so she took him by his hand and that's when I found him. Phew!! I was so thrilled to see him and gave him a big hug. He had no idea why - he thought I was visiting Ethan's class. I'm glad he didn't know - I had visions of him freaking out and wandering around. When he saw me he just wanted to know where Ethan and Aiden were. I can't believe I forgot him - I guess it's not too bad - I've made it two years without losing anyone! Let's say I'll be doing head counts from now on!!