New Traditions

Traditions - what a word. It can bring comfort and joy at the expectation of something that always happens, or it can do just the opposite. I've always loved traditions - the Easter egg hunt at Easter, dressing up for Halloween, roasting marshmallows while camping, going to the beach and eating fish and chips, turkey at Thanksgiving, and buying a beautiful scented Christmas tree every year. As our kids get older new traditions are evolving, especially at this time of year- lighting candles for advent to remind them and us that Christmas is about Christ's birth, buying them each a new decoration every year and a new one for this year - each night each of our kids opens up an advent box filled with either just a candy or a candy and something to do with advent. Some traditions carry on from childhood -each child receiving English chocolate in their stocking, opening presents Christmas morning, going on the Stanley park train. We started going on the train when we started dating, and have carried it on since. Of course now we're married and have three kids to bring along, which makes it a lot more fun. We've also added friends to the equation. For the last four years we've had a great time going with our friends the Janssens. We go to the Spaghetti factory for dinner and then head to the train. This year was fantastic - with 5 kids (one was missing at dinner) we were actually able to visit at dinner time and then we went to the train. All the kids were so great waiting for the ride (not that we ever seem to have to wait long) and had a great time on the train. Christian wasn't that fascinated by the lights -he was more fascinated by the engine. Once I got in his way and he told me off once I had moved back into my seat. The other two loved the lights. They all loved the petting zoo. We finished the night off with some yummy popcorn. Yep, traditions are good as long as they are guidelines and not the "rule". A few years ago I didn't see the need for traditions to change but as my family grows they have to - our trip to the train wouldn't be as much fun or doable if we did it the exact same way as when we were dating. Thanks Janssens for being a part of this tradition for this year and the previous three -we'll see what next year holds - you may want to venture out on your own once number four comes along!:) When blogger lets me I'll post the pics.

Weekend away!

Not the toilet in the Westin but on the underground tour.
Rich in front of the first starbucks. They are everywhere in Seattle.

A couple of weekends ago Rich and I were able to go to Seattle all by ourselves!! The weekend started a little rocky since we had to wait five freakin hours at the boarder!! After that the weekend was smooth sailing. It was so much fun to be able to what we wanted, when we wanted. We stayed at the Westin to celebrate the first time we had been away for two nights in a row for 6 1/2 years- very nice hotel right in the middle of downtown - each morning Rich got us a yummy McDonalds breakfast. May not be yummy for all but we love their breakfast food! We did some shopping and sightseeing. We did the underground tour - highly recommend it - it was a lot of fun! One night we ate at a delicious Mexican place and the second night we ate at the Space Needle - great food too. It was so awesome to get away and reconnect again - just the two of us.

The boys stayed at Rich's parents place and had a fantastic time. The went to a model railraod show one day and then the next they went to the driving range and to Jungle Jacks. They loved it. The cutest thing was that Christian found a lady from their doll house and carried it around with it calling it mamma. He brought it home with him and will still carry it around and call her mamma!

Thanks Mum

Okay about a year ago, maybe not quite that long ago my mum in law gave me this slipper/sock type things. I never knew what I was going to do with them or when I was going to wear them as I don't like socks, let alone slipper type things. Well, let me tell you I now know what I'm going to be doing with them. We installed laminate flooring this past summer - very nice in the summer but FREEZING in the fall and I suppose even more freezing in the winter. So I pulled out the socks/slippers last night and put them on. HEAVEN! It was the first time all week that my feet were not freezing. I am also wearing socks under these things. The nobby bits on the bottom feel kind of cool too. Thanks Mum. I loved having warm feet. Now I just need an all over slipper to keep the rest of me warm. Been freezing ever since I became prego.

Pumpkin Patches

The year everyone in our family went to a pumpkin patch, however, we did not all go together. Ethan had a field trip to the Apple Barn so Rich took him and on the same day I took Aiden on his field trip to Aldor Acres with Christian. Everyone had a great time - even in the mucky rain. Christian fell frontwards and backwards in the mud! Rich survived a bus load of grade ones! Aiden found the perfect pumpkin.

Our Big Boy!

We decided to put Christian in to his "big boy" bed on Saturday. By this time the other two had younger sibs. so they had been in big boy beds for months. Rich took the crib down - it hasn't been down since we put it up 6 years ago but I was okay with it since we'll be putting it back up in 6 months. We had no problem with Christian going to bed - he crawled in and we didn't hear a peep from him. He did fall out at least once that we know of so we put our big pillows down for him. Last night was night two and when we went and checked on him he was sleeping on the floor by his door. Aiden used to do the exact same thing! In fact sometimes Aiden would be right under the bed (he didn't use this little white one- he went right into a real bed). When Rich put Christian back into bed he woke up a bit and Rich told him to go back to sleep - Christian said "Why". Thanks! Right after I put Christian down tonite I put a load of laundry in the wash and I could hear the monkiey playing with the door stop. I should probably go and make sure he's sleeping and not playing.

Doggy Party!!

Sometime in the spring Aiden decided that he wanted a doggy party. It is great to be so organized and to know what you want months in advance, however, when it is mentioned almost every single day it gets a little tiring.

Well, finally last Sat. Aiden had his doggy party. We invited 7 of his friends. When they arrived they got their faces painted like little dogs and made dog tags out of licorice and fruit loops. We then played a game where they had to each find four dog bones to match their collars. That was followed by a game of Doggy doggy where's your bone. They then went into the kitchen and made dog houses - the kids were really into this and did a fab. job. I found these little sugar dogs at Scoop n save so each had a dog to put on their house. We then had lunch, played trainer says and opened presents. The event ended with cake. It was the fist time I have ever made one of their cakes. I swore I never would make one since IGA does a good job and is yummy but I didn't think IGA would do what I had in mind so I ventured out. It turned out not too bad and I did discover Scoop n Save which could inspire anyone into making their own cakes/cup cakes -it's an amazing store. Anyways, back to the party - I think the kids had fun and I know that Aiden did. Thankfully, he has not mentioned next years party -yet!:)

Maybe it could be both?

I think the only comment of heard more than congratulations or wow (or the stunned silence with the gaping mouth) is "so I guess you're wanting a girl". ERRR! I guess it's a natural assumption that we want a girl right now more than a boy but we honestly don't. I had to come to a place where I didn't care or else when boy number four showed up I would be depressed ( I almost was with Christian). I think now that a boy would be more practical - sharing rooms, clothes and toys. A boy would give Christian a buddy and they could share a room forever. I also know what to do with boys - how to play with them more importantly how to change their diapers (they have way less nooks and crannies). Of course I would love a girl -no matter how "impractical" it would be. We would go into debt with the clothes I would buy - we would have so much fun babying her - she would definately be our princess (though with three bros. she would probably end of being a tomboy). Most importantly the mom/daughter relationship when she becomes a mom would be great. Rich is like me and doesn't mind either way. Christian has no preference - in fact when we ask him if he wants a baby he emphatically shakes his head no. Ethan wants a girl and has proclaimed that he is moving to a new family if he gets another brother. Aiden wants a boy.

We were out for lunch last week with my mom, nana and aunt from England when Aiden let us all know that he wants a boy. My mom said will Ethan wants a girl. So at first Aiden said we can have a boy first and then a girl. I told him I'm only having one more baby. Aiden solved the problem b/w him and Etha - he then said that the baby could be both. I said I don't think so - we would like the baby to be one or the other. I used to have nightmares about that when I was pregnant with Ethan. Thanks Aiden - but the baby CAN'T be both!:)