trip to Ikea

We got to Ikea in Edmonton and picked up a couple of things we needed. Got a guard rail for the bed for Norah. She is thrilled to be in her 'big girl' bed, and is transitioning well so far.









We also bought some fun room divider things to make a closet door type thing for Isaac. It is really annoying to not have closet doors. Really. But he likes this!




















And for the girl's room, we bought some sheer netting curtains. Then with a beaded curtain overtop, we have a fully girly closet! Doors would still be nicer, but this was WAY cheaper! And Norah loves it too.

A little spam...

We are selling off some cloth diapers that have been outgrown. We've got a baker's dozen of Sweet Bambino Small diapers, a half-dozen doublers and 4 small pro-care covers up for grabs. 4 medium pro-care covers will soon be available as well. These are hands down some of the best diapers we have used, very absorbant and easy to use.
Interested?

sitting pretty!

not only has Ruby found her knees and started 'commando crawling', but she is now sitting up very well. This has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for play. Woo Hoo!!

other weekend pics

An attempt to capture 6 kids in one shot. HA!
Not so successful.
L to R
Tyler, Anthony, Isaac, Ruby, Norah, Francis (not his best side)















This is more like what we ended up with.














Isaac and Norah on the bouncer in the yard. Fun!














Isaac and Anthony - great buddies.

zoo pictures

Isaac chasing the chickens. He was SO excited by them.
He kept telling them to "say cockadoodle do!"

Isaac and Anthony on the the train.














Ruby and the bunny in the petting zoo. She doesn't look too certain about it.















Norah and Francis soaking their feet.
She may have been imitating a duck. :)

where to start?

Wow - so much going on!

Let's start at the beginning. We went to Edmonton on Wednesday for a 10th anniversary getaway. Heading into Oiler country during the playoffs....
Kids were fantastic on the drive. Had fun at the hotel - 2 waterslides. woo hoo! Late dinner, which actually went very well considering we ate at what is usually bedtime. Norah bounced up and down and danced to the music while we ate. Thursday, we got our van converted for Rob. Then we all went to Ikea, Isaac enjoyed the kids play area while we shopped. Short list. Then lunch, followed by a car ride to meet up with our vacation buddies.

Got to Kathy's parents home in the early afternoon. We were spending the weekend with Kathy and Greg and their boys, and Corie and Scott and Tyler. 12 people in one house - good thing it was spacious! Isaac and Anthony hit it off from the get-go and were all over the house playing. Then we took the kids swimming. This didn't go so well for our kids, but what can you expect after 2 days of near-perfection ;) Norah found the little slide at the kiddie pool and was all over that. Up and down and into the pool...over and over. The girl has NO fear.

Friday brought a trip to the zoo...on the coldest May day we could have picked. brrr. Lots of fun there despite the shivers. Picnic lunch and fun in the petting zoo until 2 of the youngest in our party find the puddles.

Lots of conversation and fun with the 2 families. It was hard to leave on Saturday and head home. It was so much fun, can't wait to do it again!

Sunday was our church picnic. Again, cold day. We were so happy the rain held off though. Wish the mosquitoes had stayed away. Isaac got a plaque for best Sunday school attendance. Lots of fun games too. Now it's time to get unpacked and reorganized for regular life again!

and how did I miss this?

Ruby found her knees this weekend. She isn't sure what to do with them, but she is getting up on them. Ack! This is going too fast!!!

Taming the mountain girl hair

While in the 'big city' we decided to take Isaac for a haircut (much needed) While we were there, the thought came to get Norah some bangs cut. Since she won't let us do anything with her hair, and the front is always in her eyes, it was time. Dad had the idea originally, but Mom was really hoping to just keep it long. But Dad was right...














She sat so still for the hairdresser. Note the lollipop 'stored' for later on her shoulder. Not too sure about that. And a pic of Isaac's new, spikey haircut. Not a great shot, but doesn't he look so grown up?

getaway to Saskatoon

Mom and the kids took a last minute trip to Nanny's place in Saskatoon this weekend. Dad was off on an overnight work thing, so we decided to have a fun long weekend. Sasktoon is looking beautiful now, so green and lovely...and hot!

We made it out to Kinsmen park, where they have a Ferris wheel, miniature train and a Carousel. Lots of fun. They loved it. Then we played at the other playground at the park.



Both Isaac and Norah took on very tall slides. That was very exciting (for them) and scary (for mom, who was watching and trying to snap a good action shot while slinging Ruby)

Missed this yesterday

In all our excitement to put together the photo montages of the kids, we didn't pass on the big happenings here yesterday. Norah almost got stitches. She fell in our living room and managed to find the only loose nail in the baseboards with her knee. She has a big 2 inch long gash just under her right knee. A quick trip to the medical clinic (because they handle that stuff there, instead of the hospital) and a consult later, no stitches. Mom talked to the on-call doctor (who is her doctor, nice timing!) and decided that despite the cut being stitch-worthy, the location wasn't a good one for getting stitched. So she has a nice big bandage covering up the wound. Ick.

it's late, but we're on a roll....

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Isaac's turn

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a little video...

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a homemade card *heart*

a rite of passage

Like her siblings before her, Ruby has made a major step forward. She fell down our stairs. The top 3, just like Norah did a year ago. She even managed to work her way past the baby gate that was *mostly* shut. Rob has shut the gate, but not latched it at the top, so it was almost shut. She rolled into it, and I guess she managed to push it open. There was a thud and then the tears started. Huge, mournful tears. She was laughing within 3 minutes. All is well, and another child has survived their first stairwell tumble.

I *think* they are playing together!

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ok, not kid related

but too good not to pass on. wouldn't this be a fun church to attend?

there was much rejoycing about the land...

...as we cut open the watermelon after dinner

while cleaning the kitchen tonight

this was the smiley face that greeted me as I was turning back and forth to the sink. happily rolling about the floor was Miss Ruby, singing a song and giggling.

Norah found a duck

a duck finger puppet. she's dragging it all over, it's even gone swinging with her in the yard. note the sleeveless dress, she was wearing that outside. our weather has turned lovely again. :)

A little art work

For Isaac's wall, a little handpainted name sign. All part of decorating the room.

ahhh, a sweet, sleepy baby

Can you tell how long she is? Those are 18 mont overalls, that Norah was wearing when Ruby was born! This is one tall, solid girl.

May 3rd

look what we woke up to this morning. A (not so) gentle reminder that we do live in the North. And to think we were outside in the yard in summer clothes just days ago.

It's snowing. It's been really cold today, and now it's snowing.

Tonight, Rob had another meeting. Isaac wasn't impressed. As Rob left, Isaac said "daddy, you get one more meeting. that's it"

Norah is now using the word "cool" a lot. "Norah, do you want an apple?" "yesh" when you hand it to her "cool". Want to dance? "yesh. cool."

May flowers?

Where are the May flowers? Apparently, not coming out in the next couple of days. After over 2 weeks of gorgeous, sunny, warm - almost hot, days...we get this. Rain. Cold. It's 3 degrees, but feels like -3. They are calling for flurries overnight and a dip down below 0. But warmer again by Friday!

Today's funnies

"this is the cake I ever had" "um, Isaac, you forgot an adjective" "this is the BESTEST cake I ever had"

"Isaac, do you need help with your pants button?" "no thanks dad, it's a kid thing"

and Norah, who has turned her "yeah" into a "yesh" that's funny too