Willy's first piano lesson

Willy had his first solo visit with Grandma and Grampy while we took Patrick and Kathryn to their swim lesson.  

He had a great time and had his first piano lesson with Grampy!

A maestro is born!

Willy's head wound

This picture was taken about 26 hours after the trauma.

Chicks dig scars, right?

Trauma

After all the icecream fun (below), Willy need a bath.  He was so enthusiastic in the tub that I got rather wet, so after he was dried and dressed, I went to my room to toss on my PJs quickly before we went back downstairs.

I get changed with Willy in the room almost daily, sometimes twice daily.  Usually he just wanders around taking the remotes or other miscellaneous stuff off Shaun's night table, or plays with our sound machine.

He was after the sound machine, but he must have tripped and his forehead landed in the corner of my cedar chest.  It bled (almost explosively) immediately.  It was very frightening.  I called for Shaun and whisked him to the bathroom where we cleaned him up and applied pressure, and a lot of paper towels, to slow and eventually stop the bleeding.

I called Shaun's parents and his mom was available to come with me.  We gave Willy a quick does of tylenol, because we were sure he'd have a headache, if nothing else, and then whisked him off the emergency room.

They were in no rush to see him.  He recovered pretty quickly and was wanting to run around.  Still, it was quite a head trauma for a little one so we waited.

Around 8 pm he fell asleep:

 and slept...

 And finally around 9 pm (he fell at 6)  we finally got a room and mom was able to put him down.  It was super hot in there and they were both roasting from the combined body heat.
Mom gingerly and slowly removed the bandage we had applied before leaving home and I thought I'd document the trauma:

 He actually looks very peaceful and cute asleep on the gurney:

By the time the Dr. came into see us, the wound had started to close on its own, so no stitches.  He's got 3 steri-strips and a bandage covering them which will stay on for almost a week.

I scream, you scream!

My parents brought Willy some Almond Dream Chocolate "ice cream".  I had completely forgotten about it being in my freezer until, after supper, I was craving some ice cream myself!

We did try dairy ice cream with Willy over Christmas and it was not good :( We were hopeful he would be just as enthusiastic about a substitute kind....

 ... and he was!  He thought it was awesome!

 But getting it on the spoon was a trick!  Slippery stuff!  Fingers were required.

More please!

Tea Party!

We've been at the clinic a LOT lately.  I am so glad we can go when we need to, without worry about $$.  We go when we need to, and we try to be respectful of not wasting anyone's time or money.

Anyway, I digress, here we are, again, at the clinic.  

 Willy just absolutely loves this tea set.  The last time we were here he HAD to take the teapot into his appointment, and was wary when I had him return it after our appointment was finished.

My little dude making us a cuppa tea.  And it was delicious!

Random Playgroup Pics

Took these random shots yesterday while the kids were enjoying playgroup!

 This one is from December (I think).  Its been on my phone.  I wanted to share it because, despite the scowl, Willy loves the horse!

Proud

Kathryn completed this entire puzzle by herself!

She was very pleased with herself and I was super proud!  Way to go, Kathryn!

Happy Kitties, Happy Kids, Happy Life!

The kitties are very happy to be dining on breakfast of canned food. They've been enjoying a 1/4 can each morning together.  The kids are just super happy to have all their kitties back together!

 Posing with the kitties:

 Take my picture too!

 I'm gonna get you kitties!!!

Reunited!

After a month of attempts, Shaun finally caught Isis in the live trap we had borrowed!  He had lamented the previous day that he was starting to feel like Wile E. Coyote and she was the road runner.

But his patience and persistance paid off and we had our girl back again.

She had a thorough check from the vet and blood work done, but despite losing 3lbs and having a mild case of fleas, she was in good condition.

She spent 2 lonely nights in the garage in a dog crate we were able to borrow, and then spent 3 days/nights in our room.  On Saturday morning, we re-introduced all the kitties over 'brunch'.  

 Ramses and Anubis had no issues with Isis re-joining the gang, but Osiris is still giving her a hard time by times.  But he gives the other boys a hard time too.  Probably just his annoying nature and the fact that he is still very 'kitten-y'.

Kathryn received new slippers from Grandma Dorothy - just like the ones Grandma Dorothy had received from Grampy at Christmas.  She was tickled pink and wears them all the time now.

 Willy was just being his adorable self:

 And later, Willy and Shaun played some Mario Kart Wii together.  That boy does love his video games!  Some day he'll be a gamer just like his big brother and Daddy.

Playing Wii Fit with mommy .

Willy is still obsessed with us playing Wii Fit.  He loves to pick your activity (and often there is crying if we don't pick correctly) and watch you play.

 He also likes to join in on his own 'balance board'.

Happy 33rd Birthday Shaun!

Shaun had to work on his birthday (I personally think that your birthday should be a paid day off!!) so we celebrated after supper with Shaun's parents.

Back when I was talking to Kathryn about cakes, Shaun said he wanted a robot on his cake.  I was able to find a blue motorcycle transformer (close to a robot!) and a theme was born!  It was fun doing a theme for my 33 year old sweetheart.

 Opening presents with the kiddos.  Willy was not feeling the best and most of the pictures have him crying in them.  Oh well!  That is our life right now.

 Patrick read every card!

 Talking to Kathryn about her hand-made card:

 Being surrounded by family on your birthday is the best!

 Opening the gift from the kids.  It was a surprise bag with a transformer's theme, as well as passes to the movie theater:

 The cake I made.  Its supposed to look like the transformer just jumped down from space and totally destroyed the pavement... see the boulders?  the broken pieces of pavement/earth?

 Happy Birthday To You!

Kathryn's 5th Birthday Party!

On Sunday we had Kathryn's 5th Birthday Party in the party room at the grocery store.  

The store provides a lot of the food (including the cake!) as well as activities.  Kathryn choose to make pizza and do a craft.  

We arrived a bit early to set up our things.  I had baked brownies and heart-shaped cookies.  We brought gold coins, silver kisses, balloons and the goodie bags. 

Craft table ready to go

Setting up the goodie bags, balloons and the pinata which was a piggy bank this year.

 We rolled out dough for mini pizzas, and put toppings on them:

Saucy girl

 Then everyone had a snack of fruit, veggies and the treats I had brought.

 After the nibbles, we ate the pizzas and did a craft and some colouring pages.
Then it was cake time!  Kathryn choose this Little Mermaid Cake and I think it turned out nicely:

 We all sang and Kathryn blew out her candles:

Instead of gifts, the invitation had asked everyone to bring a toonie for Kathryn and a donation to the food bank.  Everyone was very generous and we collected a large amount of food for the salvation army.  As well Kathryn now has almost $50 including the contents of her piggy bank to purchase something special.  She is very eager to go shopping!  I'm sure that will turn out to be a lesson on value and budgeting.  

Fun with G&G Fessy

My parents were able to stay for a few days over Kathryn's birthday and we had lots of fun together.  On Thursday, we took a walk downtown in the morning.  I was able to run some errands and it was nice to get out in the fresh air.  

In the afternoon, we enjoyed multiple games of Cariboo Island which was a gift from my parents to Kathryn.  Both big kids love this game and Willy likes to watch.  I am sure he will also enjoy it when he gets bigger.

Willy is also going thru a phase where he absolutely loves to watch you play the games on the Wii Fit.  His favourites are the Rhythm Parade and the Obstacle course.  He asks us to play on the Wii Fit by getting our attention and then pointing towards the TV while stomping his feet.... the way we do when we're on the balance board. 

We all took turns 'entertaining' Willy.  I took a picture of my Dad figuring out the Rhythm Parade:

 And of Willy having a snuggle with Grandma and watching:

Thanks to Willy I've racked up 10 hours on the Wii Fit and now have a bronze piggy bank!  Plus, it really is a good alternative to just watching a DVD... for the adults at least!

Kathryn's 5th Birthday!

Kathryn celebrated her 5th Birthday in the morning by having a playdate with her good friend here at the house.  This was great for us too because it meant she was occupied and happy while we went about the preparations for her family party that evening.

Both sets of grandparents gathered at the house and we had Pizza Delight, the Birthday Girl's choice for supper.  

 Afterwards she went upstairs to change into a dress and everyone gathered in the livingroom for presents.

 She made her grand appearance and there was lots of flashing of cameras. And lots of posing from Ms. K.

 Kathryn received lots of lovely things: toys, clothes, accessories and jewelry.

Afterwards we came back to the table to sing and eat cake:

Happy 5th Birthday to my precious princess!  I hope you have a fantastic year.