Valentine's Day and 11 months old!

We made a valentine craft and birthday card in one, our friend Esther was having her 'Valentine's Birthday' so we painted her some valentine's cards, using paper towel rolls shaped into hearts, a cookie cutter and a carrot stamp that I cut a heart onto the end. We ended up adding glitter and they turned out SO great!

We also did another valentine's craft where I taped the word love to the paper, then the kids painted over it, when it was dry I took the tape off (ripping the paper under- don't know how to avoid that) but it looks super cute hanging on the wall!

I also spontaneously did a Valentine's photo shoot with my munchkins as it was also Hudson's 11 month 'birthday'! At this stage it was IMPOSSIBLE to get all 3 together- Hudson hardly sat still for more than 2 seconds, but I managed some cute ones!

We ate heart shaped pancakes for lunch and drank milk out of mustache straws.

'I mustache you to be my valentine!'

And of course we had to have some little Valentine's treats!

M is for Monkey

This week was the letter M! M is for Monkey, Monster, Mommy, Mya, Muffins, Mustache
We baked blueberry Muffins, and 'Monkey Bread' Muffins.

We made some monsters.

Mya was over one day to play with the kids

Jaxon practiced his printing with a very interested little sister!

And unrelated to the letter M this is how Alivia walks around most days- she won't put this horse down!

We also got out for a walk/ bike ride and Alivia had a go on the balance bike!!

A Walk in the Park

After a lot of difficult days (and nights) lately, I feel like I've done nothing but complain. My patience has been minimal at best, I am quick to get angry and even quicker to get upset. I've had no motivation to do anything more than necessary (especially make dinner) and know I'm in a slump, trying so hard to have a positive attitude.
Thankfully an afternoon of sunshine, family, swings and some duck watching can do wonders. We decided to take the kids out to Mill Lake in Abbotsford, we went and watched the ducks swim around, walked around the lake and played at the 3 different playgrounds. It was chilly but beautiful with a gorgeous view of Mount Baker.

I think Daddy was having more fun than the kids!!

A few other highlights from the week- Hudson is now pulling himself up and standing! He did once a few weeks ago already, but now will stand everywhere he can find something to grab onto.

We also got out for a little walk around the block, the kids taking turns pushing Hudson

The boys going through the puddle- these 2 are gonna be trouble!

Still napping together

Haven't set up the trains for quite sometime, the kids  played together for  hours

I can always count on this little guy for a smile!

Now into another week starting off with an extra day with Daddy home, hoping to do some Valentine's crafts and baking, Jaxon also has swimming and we have a birthday party on Friday! 

Here we go!

L is for Lion

Almost back on track, we did (or re-did) the letter L for Lion.

I cut out the letter from construction paper and let Jaxon and Alivia colour it, then it hung on the wall so they could see it all week- it's all about a print rich environment (that's my ECE talking).

The kids also coloured a lion colouring sheet, which I also wrote the letter L on and Jaxon wanted me to write 'Lion at the zoo'. He's completely engrossed in printing and words and if he sees a sign or anything with words he asks what it says.

We did a simple lady bug craft cutting out circles, and glueing wings onto the body and colouring dots on.

That was all for the week, like I said- almost back on track! Hoping to get out to the zoo (weather permitting) and continue our letter hunt for the week.

We Survived!!

The word for this week is- surviving! I can only vaguely remember the events that have taken place before Tuesday night. We had 'gymnastics' last Monday morning and the kids did well, had fun and participated(that's key).

We had started learning letters again, but that sure didn't last long! We did start L for Lion but got as far as practicing writing the letter and colouring a cut out L shape, this one might have to be a redo.

The rest of our week was... unfortunate.
We got hit with the flu, and it was BAD! Tuesday night Jaxon was throwing up, Wednesday night Jordan and I started, Thursday night Alivia and Hudson had their turn. Jordan was home from work on Thursday and we were both down for the count, we watched tv, slept, watched movies, slept, tried to drink something and slept some more. Thankfully the kids were all either sick or getting sick so they too bummed out all day long (obviously I wasn't thankful they were sick but I don't know how we would have survived if they were their normal bouncy selves). We did have LOTS of cuddle time, like all day long I had somebody snuggling with me. It's one thing when your sick and you now how you feel, but when your kids are sick I find it so stressful, they all were hardly drinking or eating the past few days, along with fevers, throwing up and all that flu stuff, just heartbreaking. Thankfully it's just the flu and we're already getting over it! Still having 2-3 hour naps and regaining an appetite but the worst is behind us.

Sunday night I was much better, the kids were still down for the count

Saturday we were all feeling a little bit better and Jordan and I powered through probably 10 loads of laundry as well as cleaning the house after 2 days of nothing. In the afternoon we decided to get some fresh air and find a park to enjoy together.

Hudson almost fell asleep in the swing

Sunday we again didn't go to church as the kids have a bad cough now, fevers on and off and just plain tired- we did manage some crafts and of course movie night.

Jaxon's request- a bunny craft

Jaxon tried spelling Alivia (just copying what I had printed on a different paper)

I'm looking forward to a new week, praying for health (and sanity) and ready for our adventures!

Just had to share this one of Hudson- little hockey baby