Happy Kids, Happy Wife, Happy Life!

This one is for Anna.  Thank you again for the skirt!  K is enjoying it and I wanted to post a picture for you.

 Of course I had to take a picture of Patrick too:

 And proof we can fit all 3 kids in our tub at the same time.  We cannot, however, make them all look at the camera and smile at the same time.

The end of the dress

I've been talking to K for a while about her "wedding dress" and how it was getting too small and it was time to give it to Abby.  As luck would have it, Abby is going to be in a wedding in September and there was hope she would be able to wear the dress!

I explained this to Kathryn, who had been very reluctant to give up the dress, and she happily agreed to give it to Abby.

We let her wear it for a couple of hours in the afternoon - one last enjoyment - and I took some pictures to remember it.

Remember what it looked like for Boo's wedding? :  October 2009 (click to see!)

And now its super short!  Still adorable, but getting snug in the torso.

Thank you, Princess Kathryn, for passing along something you loved so dearly, so willingly. 

TV snuggles

Kathryn was relaxing on the couch and watching a Strawberry Shortcake DVD she borrowed from the library when Anubis decided to snuggle up to her.  He loves to snuggle with the other cats, but isn't really a lap-cat, so I think its super special.  

 Daddy asked her to smile for this photo, but I think the first one is sweeter.

My Journey: August.

I know this blog is dedicated to our sweet children, however, I need a place to blog about the journey I'm embarking upon and didn't see the need to start a new blog.

I know I'm overweight.  I know I'm not exactly healthy.  But, I'm actually rather OK with it right now.  Yes, I'd like to feel more energetic, and look better (especially in my bathing suit!).  This past year was very stressful for me with the birth and long recovery with William, with diet changes for breastfeeding because of his allergies and restrictions and with life stress which I will not get into but most of you are aware of.

After I came off the restrictions I kind of went bananas (without bananas!) with food.  I re-gained all the weight I lost while on a restricted diet.  I didn't really care and ate without thinking.

That has left me where I am now.  Although I'm not depressed with the way I look I'd like to look and feel better and have more energy. 
I have decided to embark on a journey for the next (almost) year.  My goal is to be at my happy weight by William's 2nd birthday and I plan to make changes slowly, month by month, on the way. 

I will only blog once a month, on the first day... kind of an accountability of the previous month and goals for the next month.

For August, my goal is to eat 7 servings of fruit/veggies every day and to start drinking more water leading up to 2L daily.  I've thought about my goals for September... but I'll wait to see how August goes.

Edited to add: I've decided to stop drinking pop as well, unless we're out somewhere to eat.  That should really help with the water consumption!

Willy in the pool

We've all been enjoying the pool.  We changed to salt water this year and along with the fantastically warm weather, its been such fun to swim.

Patrick and Kathryn are both much 'fishier' this year.  Patrick can touch in the shallow end and loves to swim under the water with his goggles.  He can almost swim the entire width of the pool with one breath! 

Kathryn can almost touch in the shallow end and also loves to swim under the water.  She likes to swim to you and back, or to the wall from the stairs and back.  She's also an excellent floater!  She's got the star-fish float mastered. Patrick, unfortunately, sinks like a rock when he tries to float, despite being relaxed. 

Both kids started jumping in this year, first with rings and then without! 

Willy has enjoyed the pool, but much rather would like to walk (run?) around the outside and toss things in.... just like Patrick used to. 

Although we've been in the pool since early June, we haden't yet taken any photos.

Willy and Shaun:

 waving:

I took some videos of P&K swimming but no pictures!  Maybe next time.

Finally!

Hurrah!  Finally someone in our house likes the mower. We bought it for  Patrick's 3rd Birthday but neither P nor K was really into it.

William got his hands on it today and took off!  I think he mowed the entire lawn!

Creativity!

Wanted to share this super simple craft idea with you.  As you know, I am not particularly 'crafty' or a crafts person.  I actually shudder when the kids want to paint or cut & glue.  I would much rather do a puzzle or play a game! 

However, I do like to create!  We recently borrowed back the laugh & learn house and unfortunately the letters that go in the mailbox are 'safely put away'.  Kathryn was a bit sad about this so I promised her we would make some.  I did wonder how I would keep them from getting ruined by Mr. W who isn't exactly gentle with paper products.  I asked around about a laminator and was told by Boo that Wm was selling them for $27! 

After checking them out and the price of the laminating sleeves... and thinking about where I would put another appliance... and if I would really use it enough to justify it... I decided I woud just find some wide tape and use that instead.  THEN I spotted self-laminating sleves!  They come in about 5 different sizes, no machine required.  There was a photo size that was perfect to fit inside the mail box.  The package of 5 cost me 2.88.

Kathryn and I had some fun yesterday afternoon creating post cards.  I made one for each kiddo and she made one each for P&W.  Here they are:

Front side:

Back: 

Story Book Park... again!

Adrienne has this awesome "pocket camera"... I really need one.  She always has hers with her and is able to get these awesome shots when we're together.

We went to Story Book Park again - another great trip!  The weather was threatening to rain, but it didn't, which was actually great because it kept the park pretty quiet.

Adrienne helped William have his first ride on the merry-go-round actually seated in one of the vehicles.  He wasn't too keen though, and she took him out half way thru and just held him for the rest.

 The kids really wanted to ride the 'big train' so we did that next. 

 Awesome shot! Such happy kiddos:

 Mr. Unimpressed on the teeter-totter waiting for lunch:

 Happy girl:

 How does this thing work?

 Ohhhh.... I get it: 

 I love how this picture makes him look like a bobble-head character.  Biiiiig head, itty-bitty body:

 William's favourite is the tunnels.  Not sure why the unhappy face:

 Snuggles with Adrienne:

After our pic-nic lunch we hit the water park again.  The temperature wasn't very warm but it was very humid!  It was really nice to cool off by walking around in the cold water.

Super happy boy in the splash pad:

 William 'accidentally' walked right under one of the buckets as it was dumping and got soaking wet!  As you can see, he wasn't too unhappy about it:



Super Pooper!!

William loves wearing Patrick's cape.  It has a "P" on the back so we've called it his super-pooper cape which is really an appropriate title for William!

He loves to run around in it - it seems to make him laugh.

My friend Adrienne came to visit and after she was done with her coffee cup, she rinsed it and gave it to a very eager William.  He had been trying to get it and thought it was pretty amazing that he actually got to have it.





He even knew what to do with it!

Cookies and Barbies

During William's nap yesterday we decided to bake cookies.  Patrick was my recipe reader and Kathryn is my mixer - she does an awesome job.  She also helped me put the cookies on the sheet this time which was absolutely hillarious with the sticky dough and her tiny fingers trying to push it off the spoon into a neat pile.  But despite not enjoying the feeling of the sticky dough on her fingers she preservered until the end!

While they baked, she brought down her barbies and proceeded to take over the entire kitchen with them:

We dressed everyone for a wedding and then she made an isle and someone got hitched.  She's very much into 'weddings' these days... I wonder if that is because every barbie/disney movie we watch ends with a wedding?  Probably. 

Its super cute to listen to her play (she hates that I'm listening and if she knows I am she tells me to stop).  She makes them talk, every bride has a mother, and sometimes there is singing!  Next time I should discretly video tape her... it will be such an adorable memory to capture.

William at the beach!

Shaun's parents took PKW to the beach one evening while we had the rare and fun opportunity to go out with friends for supper. 

Patrick and Kathryn love the beach.  Shaun and I aren't big fans.  Sure the water and sand are fun but its not fun after with the sand absolutely everywhere.

William absolutely loved the beach.  Just loved it.  Walking in and out of the water, throwing the sand around, getting mud on his head.  Apparently he was a real ham and had a ton of fun:

 He had fun walking up and down the small incline from the water to the shore.  I think he must have liked being in control of being in the water or out of it! 

Grampy keeping a watchful eye on Mr. W:

Shaun has some vacation (YAY!!!!!) time coming up so I think hitting the beach will be something we need to schedule so we can experience William's joy first hand. 

Story Book Park III

We are really enjoying our Story Book Park pass this year - we've been almost every week now.  This is trip #3 with the kids and Adrienne.

William's first ride:  He wasn't too sure what to make of it and kept trying to focus on things outside the ride so he was twisting and turning quite a bit.

 Dangerous animals: 

On Hang 10:  Patrick went alone for the first time!!! 

Whip Lash:

after lunch we hit the water park again.  Another awesome day!!!

Kitty hugs

Hugs for Ramses:

Story Book Park II

The second trip to Story book park!  My friend Adrienne was able to come with me and we had a fantastic day with the kids.

Adrienne brought her camera and captured these moments in our adventure.

We started with the kiddy rides:

Ferris Wheel

Not so happy about having to watch and not participate

Rocket Ships

Whee!

Swinging

Train

Adorable princess

Sweet little dude

Boats!

After the little rides, we went to the big rides area and took turns going on with the kids. Patrick is tall enough now that he can ride by himself!!! Kathryn is still under the limit

On "Hang 10"

In the trees

Riding "Whip Lash"

In the spinning Berries

P on Wind Jammer

Wind Jammer

Watching and snacking

 After the 'big' rides, we headed back to the park to play and have lunch.

The kids played at the park while lunch was set up

My plate is empty.  Need more food!

 After lunch, we enjoyed the water park!!!  Adrienne even brought her suit and went on the slides with the kiddos.

Adrienne and Patrick waiting in line for the pink slide

Kathryn after going on the pink slide.  This is the first year she has been tall enough for it!!

Patrick on the pink slide

William enjoying the new splash pad.  I love that there is constantly shallow water to splash in. 

Kathryn on the slide

Sweet smile in the summer sun

Patrick got creative on the slide this year!!

Soakin' wet and having so much fun!

We had a fantastic day.  The water park was lots of fun and we're planning to go back again next week!