On the way home from daycare a few weeks ago, Alex and I heard a song on the radio by Simple Plan called "Your Love Is A Lie". In one of those awkward moments only your child can manipulate you into, he asked "what does he mean mommy?" So I explained that the man was upset because someone he loved lied to him.

Fast forward a couple of days later when I am trying to get Alex to bed. He is finishing the required toilet visit and we are in a struggle about him having to wash his hands and brush his teeth once complete at the porcelain throne. I was getting frustrated and told him he didn't have a choice, he had to wash his hands or I was going to be very upset with him. He replied:

"...but mommy, my love is not a lie."

How am I supposed to compete with that!?!

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What a fun New Year. Everyone had a cold from November until the beginning of February. Between Sarah and Samantha there have been four ear infections. Samantha woke up Wednesday night with the stomach flu (and the mess on her and the bed to prove it) which escalated to diahrrea, fever, cramping and loss of appetite. Things just got better from there. Joe was diagnosed with strep throat and as he got back to normal, fell to the stomach flu Friday evening. Sarah woke up throwing up later that same night. Even Jen caught it (sorry Jen).  I was supposed to play in a volleyball tournament with work on Saturday...well stand on the court and watch other people play around me but obviously I was chasing kids around with a bucket, clean PJs and Javex :)

As I say too often, it could be worse. I'm still recovering from surgery and so far I have not shown signs of this tummy issue and neither has Alex. Joe bounded back to normal after a day and a half, Samantha has finally come around and Sarah might be. We made it through with only two visits to the hospital with Samantha, and one with Sarah but neither had to stay there. The team had enough players to play volleyball without me (I think) and Joe and I didn't get sick at the same time. Joe and Alex got to go skating - twice!

I understand that this stuff gets easier as they get older and since we made it through this week, then I think rest will work just fine :)

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2008 Little Gym Graduation

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2008 Alex at Daycare

Alex started daycare today. He is only in part time but we are hoping a full time position will come up soon. He's been there twice to help him transition and loved it. The first time we went he waited patiently in the office with me while I settled some paperwork and after a while he politely interrupted us and said to the Administration Clerk:

" Excuse me? Is this where I hang my coat? (points to a coat rack) Cause I'd really like to go play now."

The day before his "first day", Grandmother Jen came over to make cookies with him that he could take in for the kids. That night, Joe took him to WalMart to buy some things he'd need. Alex got a new Cars tote bag on wheels and a bunch of stuff to pack into it. He was so excited! When he got to daycare he wouldn't let us carry the bag and he walked in like he owned the place. We had to call him back to say goodbye!

Apparently, the teachers were going through photos hung on the wall that showed "stages" of the day to help with routine. They'd reached the one that said the parents would come to take them home, and he asked "when are my mommy and daddy coming?" We walked in minutes later. He was asleep in the van shortly after we left the parking lot.

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Glasses

The long awaited and much sought after eye appointment for Sarah was this morning. She is very impared in both eyes but the good news is that glasses will most likely do the trick. If they do, she won't require surgery. She actually enjoys the eye exams but by the end of the second visit, she was getting tired and uncooperative. It was perfect timing, because it emphasised her reaction when the Dr put the lens in front of her eyes that emulate her prescription. She just stopped moving completely and studied my face in total wonder. Then Joe walked in the door after washing her pacifier and the doctor said "let her look at her pacifier" but she only had eyes for Joe. It was incredible. The doctor explained that some parents get very upset when they find out their child has a serious vision issue but we are just so impressed with that little fighter. She can walk, talk, eat, watches TV, loves stories... her development is on par with her age and yet she achieved it all with THAT vision? Imagine what she'll do when she can see! Besides, we picked out the cutest pink Disney glasses and they are going to look just adorable on her.

I picked up Natasha, Alex and Samantha at the park after Sarah's appointment. A quick trip to McDonald's and Subway then we took off downtown. While Natasha ran an errand, we drove by the waterfront and Alex got to see a submarine. After some MooMoos, we walked to the submarine to see if up close and lucked into seeing it leaving the harbor. We got poured on at the harbor but Natasha got Samantha to say Sarah's name a bunch of times while playing with them and it was so cute!

After supper and a bath, Sarah was running around upstairs and Alex asked "mommy what is on Sarah's pjs? Before I could answer he read the letters "B U M"... bbuu... BUM! Mommy that says BUM!" Sarah was wearing a BUM Equipment sleeper - Alex was totally right. He is actually starting to read... and that just blows my mind.

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When our night time ritual was coming to a close, Alex and I tried to get off his bed at the same time and somehow I managed to bump him such that his forehead took a smack off Joe's knee. It was a good crack and I felt so bad :( As I cuddled him and offered to kiss it better, he threw his weight into me which almost knocked me off the bed! I caught myself with Joe's quick help but Alex (who was in my arms) tightened his grip and said "I got you Mommy!!"

He honestly believed I was going to fall and he saved me. How sweet is that? :)

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Weeks ago I showed Alex how to blow on a dandilion and make a wish. So today, while waiting in the yard with me for Joe, he picked one... blew on it and as the seeds flew around said "I wish I could fly a kite".... it was adorable.

After everyone's naps (about 11:00), we coated the kids in sunscreen, packed the family into bike trailers and left Dan's house. We stopped at the top of the street to figure out a destination.

First Dominion: no kite.

Next Zellers :  Finding Nemo Kite - $5

We scooted down to Bowring Park and camped out on the hill behind the swimming pool to eat lunch and fly Alex's kite. He learned real quick and soon needed no help from us unless it hit the ground. Samantha chased him (or us) and Sarah ate. You should have seen the size of a chicken breast she decided she to eat!

We played until everyone started to look sleepy then packed them all back into the trailers and followed the old railway bed to downtown. After a drive by the waterfront and a quick jump into the bike stores, we follow the railway bed back to bowring park and up to McDonalds! By the time we finally got back to Dan's, it was 7:00pm. I wish I had some photos of this perfect day, but I forgot the camera :( You'll have to settle for this one that Natasha took of Alex with paint on his fingers. 

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2007 Little Gym Graduation

Alex graduated from his class at the Little Gym this week. We were encouraged to bring along anyone who'd like to see him show all the progress he'd made and cheer while he got his ribbon. Joe, the twins, Jen and I all went. Alex was over tired and didn't get much out of it that night, but Sarah and Samantha loved it. I don't want to put any of them in a program this summer because it will add more chaos to our schedule and I'd like to spend that time out with the kids but I think in September, I may have to enroll them all!

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2007 Gulliver Cabin

Over the last few weekends I've managed to get the kids to my folks place at least twice. The first time was just a visit for the day but the second time was for the Lobster Boil and we stayed overnight... thats right - while other people (mom and dad) were there. I've been holding off on that because we were up so often it just wasn't fair to the people who'd be up all night with us.

There are some awesome pictures here. The twins when mom put them to sleep by rocking them in a rocking chair together, Alex and dad playing at "putting out fires" with a garden hose and Dad trying to ge tthe kids to say "TOUCH DOWN" and raise their arms at the breakfast table.

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The kids play at my feet in the kitchen at lot. At Dan's that opens a whole new world of things they can get into because his kitchen is more "open concept" than my old cupboards were. Here is a picture of Alex, who put himself into a crock pot and Joe (jokingly) pretended he was going to make a stew out of him!

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