A Little Garage Sale Bliss!!

Another spring has arrived.... and so my garage sales have been calling me. I unfortunately have not been as dedicated as in past years due to the fact that I'm only to be on my feet a few hours a day. This little playhouse is already a favorite of everyone. I am trying to explain to Patrick that the lawn is no longer his, but rather it is now the kids'. Just so cute for $20 and there will be room for another one to play by next summer!! It has a little patio which has now been christened with it's first popsicles!!
(Baby will be arriving in the third week of July if all goes as planned)



This is one of Kael Favorites!! It is called a "Sit'nSpin for those of you you haven't seen one before. If you ever rode the TeaCup ride at the fair- where you got to spin yourself around,... well this is a miniature version of that ride..... this one plays music too!! Ella just likes to sit on it and play the music, but Kael spins pretty fast.... it was hard to get a picture of this one! I am trying to teach him how to "smile" but he doesn't seem to understand the falsified smile yet. He does however often give me "monkey face" instead.... which he is showing in this picture. This find was actually made by a friend of mine (thanks Andrea) who knew I was after this treasure after Kael fell in love with the toy at a friend's.


Pat is just thrilled (NOT) that I keep bringing these "treasures" home.... but I have promised to get rid of some at the anual St. Adolphe garage sale this year.... and now I've put it in writing so I'll have to stay true to my word.
I also get some great things from the Freecycle network. This is a network that has been designed to keep usable items out of the landfills. I've gotten rid of things that were worthless to us... yet treasures for others. On the same note, I've gotten some useful kids stuff that was just collecting dust in someone elses home/garage. If you want to consider giving up some of your stuff or collecting some new (used) stuff.... consider joining.... it's free. The website is http://www.freecycle.ca/

Take care all,
Judy

Time Flies!

Time sure flies by. Kael is now 2 and Ella just turned 1 yesterday. She is such a big girl with such a BIG personality. She is well and we finally will be seeing someone about her eye (no pun intended!) at the end of the month! She isn't quite walking yet but has no difficulty finding trouble. We sure love her and the excitement she brings daily!

And here is the proof of our precious, feminine little Ella!!! "Boys will be Boys" comes to mind but it doesn't really fit. She eats everything and anything but this is the birthday cake she enjoyed with some of her friends. As Kael would say "Ella messy encore".

Kael has discovered that he loves to be outside. I try to get him out to play at least once a day. He loves wagon rides with his sister and helping in the garden. His friend Rebecca introduced him to child size watering cans, and we have since purchased 2 of them. While Pat tries to kill off our weeds, Kael nurtures and waters "the flowers" almost on a daily basis! He isn't allowed to go in the garden by himself, but from the edge he can reach far enough to water the first plant in each row so we'll see if we have a Master Plant in each row by the end of July. What a little boy he has turned out to be!

Hope all is well with everyone. We anxiously await the arrival of baby #3. We are about 10 weeks from term and I'm hoping to carry baby as long as I can. Thanks for all the prayers and help over the last month, I'm sure they are a big reason as to why I'm still at home and not in the hospital. Patrick's supervisory position with Central Regional Health Care Authority was extended so we are thrilled that he is home with us in the evenings. He really enjoys the job and hopes that the budget in the region will allow for something more permanent.

Until next time,
Judy

Pampered Chef Kids

I'm still blessed to be a part of the Pampered chef world and hope to continue for a while. Kael is easily excited when the UPS guys arrive with the big boxes because he knows that each will contain bubble wrap.... which his father enjoys playing with as much as he does I think. Who's the bigger kid??

Here are my little chefs in the making!!

Ella in the delivery box.... more fun than the contents??


Bamboo spoons..... so much fun!!

Quick-stir pitcher---- making just enough for Daddy and me!



I don't think chopping dominos will be covered under warrenty damage!!


NOTE TO ALL- Pampered Chef boxes are both stakable and climbable!!

18 weeks - Half Baked??

All is well on the home front. Due to popular demand (and lack of visiting time) I've swallowed my pride and permitted my husband to take a picture of the "oven". It's a typical pregancy in the morning picture... sorry fans!! lol
Kael is now aware that there is a baby in my tummy, he however does wonder why daddy's "belly" doesn't have one.... I haven't bothered to explain.
Take care all.... I blogging again later.... pics of the kids... love them!

1 +2 + baby =3

Well, soon to be big sister Ella.... She weighs as much as big brother Kael and has twice the personality. We are doing well as my belly continues to grow each day!!! I have gained 8 Lbs since quitting weight watchers and am almost 13 weeks pregnant so I am pleased with that. I'm still ill on a regular basis, but nothing like with the last two pregnancies. I think with the help of my obgyn we have been managing it with drugs with greater success than before. With a house full of kids, I don't get the sleep I need but I guess I've signed up for that on my own.... still worth it to be at home raising my own children ..... hopefully with our values and morals.

Kael is doing well and is talking up a storm.... both French and English. Each time I ask if he wants "1 or 2" of something (carrot, sticker etc) he tells me "no mom, six". He talks to his sister regularly, about what I have little idea. He has been going through a rough spot with nightmares but we are finally getting past that. He has started to show interest in the potty.... but more towards the reward for going in the potty!! He tells us when it is cold outside, when the cats are funny and when Ella takes her slippers off. Perhaps he is a future reporter??? I'm just happy he is starting to be more social.

Ella is causing me a little stress.... not just because she is high strung. We have now been referred to an infant opthomologist (however it is spelled) for her eye which seems to becoming lazy because of the continued blocked tear duct. We have been told that the in office procedure will not be enough so we are on a very long waiting list to see a specialist. We've been told we may have to wait up to a year. For now she is on medication and we hope by God's miracle that the duct opens, as a year's wait may result in damage to her eye. Prayers are appreciated.

Thanks to AV for providing the cute photo for this post!! I'll try to find the courage for a few belly pictures sometime soon..... eek!

Big Girl Ella!!!

Here are the munchkins!
We paid our regular visit to our loving doctor this week to have confirmed that our daughter is a monster!! Never in a million years would anyone guess she was over 6 weeks premature! She took her needles like a good girl while Kael cried like an infant.... needing NUNU the whole time!! I guess he didn't feel the need to show Ella how tough he could be.
Kael weighs just short of 25 lbs while our little Ella weighs about 19. Ella weighs now what Kael weighed at 13 months! She is at the 95 percentil for weight and height in Canada, while her head size is 99%. I guess this is why she is wearing 12 month clothes at 6 months of age! She is growing and is healthy so we won't complain. As you see by the pictures, they are near the same size. She and Kael now "play" together as she can hold and grasp things now.... including NU NU which Kael is less than happy about.

Our Life Today

Well, I'm told it's about time I talk about Patrick and Me. Here it is....

We continue to enjoy our munchkins to the fullest! I love being home with them and if finances let me, I would love to do it for a while. This past week I officially resigned from my teaching job in Hanover School Division... sort of a bitter sweet experienc. I will miss teaching like crazy, but I WILL get to see my children grow for at least another year! Patrick continues to enjoy his new supervisory position and hopes that it continues. He is enjoying the leadership roll and it is a little more suited for our lifestyle as he has a little more "say" about his hours worked.
Weight continues to fall!!! Yep, I'm going to talk about it!!! Patrick and I decided after Ella being born that we would change our lives by losing some weight. I struggled with high blood pressure and continue to be at risk for diabetes (I've already had it with both pregnancies) so for me it was a health decision. Patrick was having trouble with night breathing (and dear lord... the snoring!!) so we decided to try weight loss together.
We started weight watchers on Aug. 1. They say it takes 23 days to form a habit and I now believe that. The first 23 days were terrible, worse for Patrick than myself. Now things are routine. Patrick has lost 31lbs and I've lost 26. No sign of high blood pressure, diabetes and Pat no longer snores!! What a blessing. I've added a picture of my "new" husband as many people say he now looks 10 years younger.... not sure how I feel about that! The goal now is to keep that weight off.... easier said than done I expect!

BOO!

Halloween 2006 complete! Patrick took the kids "trick or treat"ing. Kael has now discovered candy, which he hasn't had until last night. Kael was a tiger and Ella a bunny. Of course Ella had no clue what was going on aside from the fact that her costume was very warm.
I handed out candy to an ultimate low of around 40 children. We generally have well over 100 but I guess the snow intimidated many of the kids.... or at least the parents. Guess we'll have some weightwatcher points to contend with. We only had about 5 kids who appeared to be over 16 years old and many of you will be sad to know that I did not give them onions this year! Does anyone make kids sing any more.... what ever happened to that ritual... I remember singing many times! Candy anyone???... we have extra!
Patrick got many compliments on his art work. Many little ones informed me I had Dora in my yard. so cute!
What a joy our little ones bring!
Next entry will actuall focus on Patrick and I rather than the kids. As many of you request, we'll give an update on our lives and weight loss.

Daddy's An Artist!

We are still getting ready for halloween despite the snow that continues to fall. The storm is helping Patrick to be very busy at work. He was home late, ate, carved pumpkins with the kids and was off to work again. Kael is thrilled to have another Dora item to add to his collection.... I dread having to toss it out when it begins to smell.... he is going to hate me! For now, here is the work of our household artiste! (Not poor quality picture, it is actually dark in the kitchen when I took this so... not bad) Special thanks to our amazing neighbors for their inspiration and use of carving tools. Another update coming soon.....