Trip out East Part Two: The Residence of Choice

Upon arriving in TO we had to wait FOREVER for our rental van.  We understood when we saw the Quebec plates that it must have been driven in special for us from Montreal.  We figured that a Quebec van was actually a good thing, because when our DD Brucie, was a crazy driver on the 401, we knew people would just say "Crazy Frenchman!"

While waiting in Terminal 3, an Airport Policeman (? I had no idea)  on a scooter came scooting by, he was very nice to stop and let us take pictures of his "hog"... the kids were pretty impressed!  I would have been impressed had he let them actually take it for a spin!  

Our residence of choice in Belleville was Chateau Paradise.  What a LOVELY place to stay.  We had the most amazing hosts, the most delicious food, the greatest laughs and we felt completely welcome by everyone, including Charlie!

Mark's sister Andrea and her husband Ken were so gracious... they bought special food, craft supplies and had Treehouse On Demand for the kids, they had Coke for Mark and they bought a coffee maker and brewed coffee for me each day, complete with flavoured creamer!  We were so spoiled!  The kids ate Froot Loops in a trough sized bowl, they drank Sunny D out of coffee mugs and they colored and played play-doh and did stickers till their hearts content!  And of course there was that cool helicopter and oh, not to forget to mention, Charlie.  (I think I will do a post all about Charlie, including the story of our one night stand... keep checking for that one!!!)  Here are some pics of the kids being spoiled rotten.

Play doh creations...

Yum... pancake breakfast...

The famous "sauca"  with balls of beef...

Coco sharing her pizza...

And the only word to describe our stay...

Trip out East Part One

We had a completely wonderful trip to Ontario!  Everything went so well.  I think I will Blog all of this in segments because I really was a good Mommy and took lots of pictures!

I'll start at the beginning... the first flight!  The kids loved the airport and the airplane, and even Coco did super great on the plane.  It's a 2 hour flight but with the whole process of getting up at 4:30am, then driving to the airport and checking in, then going through security, the kids did remarkably well.  I haven't flown (flied? flew? flewn?)  in a long time, definitely not since the new security due to 9-11 and I'm not normally a deceiver, and I honestly didn't try to sneak anything into the plane... While waiting in line they come around and ask if you have any creams, lotions, gels or liquids.  We all said no and then when my bag went through it's special tunnel, they pulled me aside and went through it and discovered a giant jar of butt cream (Nicole's not mine!)  Oops!  They are actually quite lenient for mom's flying with babies.  Unfortunately they must have thought Mark looked a little suspicious because while one worker was digging through my bag, the other one was asking Mark to remove his watch, wallet, belt, jacket, and shoes.  Once he was redressed, we were able to purchase our Tim's and board the flight!

Jayme sat with Auntie and Uncle for the first part of the flight.  Brady sat with us, both got window seats.  It was still so dark in Winnipeg when we left, so they didn't get to see much during take off.

The typical out the airplane window shot!

I must say that I really loved WestJet, they were so accommodating to us flying with a baby and they were so happy and nice, I liked them!

So here's my second attempt...  

Nicole loves having an audience, and the audience loves her.  I had to set the camera on the counter to catch her on this video, she often gets upset when I point the camera at her, so I tricked her this time.

Singing in the Tub

I've been trying to catch Nicoley singing and finally I did while she was in the tub... so cute!  She is singing "Stand up Baby, Stand up..."  My favourite part in the "ooh a ooh"  

I'm sorry it's kind of blurry... it's my first attempt at posting a video, I think I may have used the wrong setting!

New and Exciting

So I'm wondering what's new and exciting around here, and I can't really come up with much.  I feel that life is very, very enjoyable, very, very amusing, very, very busy, and really very satisfying, but that may not constitute exciting to all who read this.  But nonetheless here is what's "new"

Nicole has a new obsession with her Dora doll, she takes it everywhere and even sleeps with it.  She gets quite upset when anyone takes it or plays with it, or when I make her leave it in the car ("Dora can't go swimming Sweetie")  Brady has come to know, as only a  big brother can figure out, that he can get quite the rise out of his little sister if he torments Dora.  Today he was holding her (Dora) hostage with a plastic knife held to her neck.  (Do I need to be concerned?)  Needless to say he was very sorry after the spankin'.

Jayme loves reading, she's been good at it for quite some time, but now she actually likes it, she really enjoys Junie B. Jones.  We've even ordered a 10 pack set from Scholastic and she's agreed to let that be considered her allowance for the next month.

I've started teaching aerobics at the church on Thursday mornings... 

We're going on an airplane soon... THIS is exciting.  I'll try and remember to take lots of pictures.

Nicole says many more words, among her new favourites are "C'mon Dada" (or Mama, or Jay, or Brady)  Whoever she want to do something for her (usually find her susu)  Another favourite is "Show on"  we have a big TV addict on our hands.  She uses "help" a lot too, again usually for finding a susu or when she gets "stuck" in her highchair... watch for a video to be posted as soon as I get around to it!

I guess that's all I can think of that's new around here!  Life is good.

My Son, the Sweetheart

Today Brady made me SOOO proud... it was Book Sale day at school, the grade sixers were selling used books for 25 cents a piece, so Brady brought the loonie and a couple of quarters that I "paid" him for cleaning his room and bringing in the recycling bin from the back lane.  He bought a Dora book for his sister (so thoughtful!) and some truck books for himself.  A buddy of his had forgotten his backpack at home today and therefore his loonies were forgotten as well, so my sweet little guy gave his loonie to the buddy!   While walking home with the buddy and buddy's mom, the mom told Brady what a good friend he was and Brady didn't know whether to say "Thank you" for the compliment or "You're welcome" for the being a good friend!  His buddy had only bought one book with the loonie from Brady, so he proudly showed his mom the change he got back!  Sweet deal!  After Brady was given his change back I took him to the mall to buy a big gumball with his "moose money" and I told him that Jesus was proud of him too.

Nicole's First Swimming Class

This morning Nicole and I started a Mommy and Me swimming class... she LOVED it!  She is really quite the water baby.  I tried to get her picture a few times and I kept getting the back of her head because she was looking and pointing at the "wallow".  She kicked and splashed and "dumped" off the edge of the pool!  I think she liked that part best, we'd sing Humpty Dumpty and then she'd jump and said "dump dain" (jump again!)  

Brady's Shiner

The pictures don't really do it justice but this was a doozie!  This morning Brady was racing with a girl in his class and one zigged while the other zagged and they collided.  It started swelling right away and by lunch time it was red and by 3:30 pick up it looked like Brady was wearing purple eyeshadow!  Mark told him that that's what happens when he chases girls... and he adamantly reminded us that they were "racing"

Princess Party

Nicole was invited to a Princess Party.  It was just for her, no Big Brother, no Big Sister!  She got to keep the crown and as you can tell by the smile, she sure had fun!  I really couldn't get over how cute she looked!

When she got home she seemed really excited to show Daddy, Jayme and Brady her crown and her treat bag, with a

 bracelett and a ring and some treats!

  She

 tried it all on and pranced around like she was the princess!

Nicole's Social Life

Since I have my mornings with just Nicoley, we have been keeping ourselves busy!  It's almost too quiet to just stay at home (Ahhh! What will I do when she goes to school?)  

We go to friends houses, have friends over, go to the mall, or go to McDonalds.  It's fun and actually easy having just one kid.  She still loves her Susu, so when we drive places it's allowed and it sure is quiet!  I sure do forget that one-child life, and funny how I thought I was busy then!! ha

Max and Nicole at the Playland