Ty's first Christmas concert

We just got back from Ty's concert and it was too cute. He was right in there singing the songs and doing the actions. He was so excited to give me the present he made too. It was a sweet little Christmas ornament. I just love it!! After the concert I told him I was so proud of him and that I loved his singing. He said "Mommy, I was rockin'!"

(Ty with his antlers giggling with his little friends)

Last weekend before Christmas

What a great weekend it was. Friday we visited with my girlfriend from university, Krisha & her daughter Sydney. The kids had fun playing and opening their presents. Krisha & I had a great time eating goodies and catching up.

Saturday we had breakfast with Santa at Cullen Gardens then headed over to Little Feet for another Christmas party. Ty got to sit on Santa's lap twice that morning and he actually did really well. He was so sweet- the first thing he said was "Santa can you bring Vanessa a mailbox please". He didn't forgot to add that he "needed" a trampoline too but I was so proud of him for remembering Vanessa.

(Ty with his girlfriends Julia & Mikaela at Breakfast with Santa)

Sunday we were off to Ty's Papa Kelly's (Iain's dad) work Christmas party. It was a lot of fun- they had a little display of reptiles and rodents for the kids to touch and hold. Ty was very nervous but warmed up eventually. I think Iain and I had more fun then the kids though.Finally Sunday night my roommate from university Robyn came to visit. I successfully cooked a pork roast dinner for us and we got caught up while Ty entertained us.
It was a great weekend although I'm pretty tired today. I need to catch up on some laundry and clean up and hopefully this week get a present for my dad already and then I will really be done and ready for next weekend. I can't wait...

More Christmas parties...

We are having great time with all the Christmas parties so far. This past weekend we got together with the neighbours to celebrate and once again the kids had a great time. We bought both little girls princess costumes for Christmas so when they got all dressed up Ty announced "I want to be a princess too!!" I'm sure Iain was thrilled with that... Here's what we came up with. Ty was happy with this makeshift costume so it was perfect.
Last night Iain and I went to our work party. What a great night that was. It was at "Smooze" in downtown Toronto. I was able to get caught up with a lot of my old co-workers and I was even presented with an award for 8 years of service. (3 of those I have been working from home though) It was a beautiful pen & pencil set from Tiffany's!! I don't think I'll even need such a nice set but I love looking at the pretty blue box!!LOL! Overall it's been a great week with only more holiday excitement to come. I can't wait.

(Iain and I all spiffed up and enjoying a great night)

(This is my youngest brother Ryan, my parents and Iain and I at the party last night)

I ain't no Hollaback girl...

Well we are back from the Gwen Stephani concert. It was such a great night out with Dawn, Carol & Cathy. We had dinner at the Air Canada Club and could have watched the concert from there - the view was perfect (just a little far). We watched the opening band from there (I'm not sure who they were). Dawn and I sat together and our seats were amazing. We were about 40 feet from the stage. I've never been that close at a concert. The crowd around us was such a mix too. We had a little girl who might have been 10 yrs. old behind us and two men in suits in front of us. Everyone was on their feet dancing as soon as the music started.(Dawn & I in our seats- the little shine above Dawn's head is the stage)

( The Encore- Hollaback girl of course!!)

Update about my neighbour

My neighbour started her chemo treatments today. Iain and I hung out with her and her family last night. She was really scared. The doctor told her that she should expect to lose her hair by the end of the week. She also got some really bad news - chemo will put her into menopause. She did some quick checking about freezing some embryos but unfortunately that takes months of hormone therapy- time that she just does not have right now. Even after everything she has been through so far ( the mastectomy ) and what she is about to go through Iain and I were able to sit and chat and even laugh and joke around with her and her husband last night. They are incredible people and I can not wait until this whole ordeal is over so we can all plan a fabulous vacation together. I feel so fortunate to know such a strong person and I really hope I am helping in some small way.

Christmas pictures with the cousins

Well we got to my SIL's at 11:30am and didn't leave until 2pm and here is the best we came up with. The kids were actually really good- it's just really hard to get 5 of them all looking and smiling with open eyes. (This is Carter 4 1/2, Nolan 29 months, Ethan 9 1/2 and of course my little pumpkins Ty 28 months & Vanessa 5 months)

(I had to throw this one in because she was just too cute with her Christmas dress on)

Christmas is on the way!!

Well our stockings are hung, the tree is up and the decorations are all around in and outside the house. Ty asks everyday if it's Chrismtas Eve yet. This is going to be the longest month for him although when I look ahead at our calendar we are booked solid for different Christmas Events & parties for the month of December. It will seem like Christmas every weekend to him. (Enjoying our Christmas decorations)
In the meantime I'm trying desperately to potty train Ty. Just when I really think he is getting it he has an accident and really couldn't care less. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Vanessa is sitting up to play now. Her milestones seem to be coming quicker as the days go by. I wish I could slow down time for her. I am just appreciating and cherishing this baby stage so much more then I did with Ty. I was in such a rush for him to grow up. Now he just seems so old. He still need his mommy though so I'll appreciate that for as long as I've got it. (My little angel having fun sitting up)

(A quiet moment painting - doesn't happen often)

Story Time

This afternoon Ty decided he was going to read a story to us. It was so sweet- he announced "okay mommy, Bee-nessa, take your seats I'm going to read Dora the splorer to you" Then he quietly whispered to me "Mommy I need my glasses". He proceeded to get out his Dora sticker book and sit beside Vanessa to "read her the story". It was actually not bad- Swiper, The Grumply old Troll and Diego were all in the story and he finished it with "The End". Vanessa was really listening to him too. It was such a nice moment I'm so happy that I was able to get a picture.

Our Christmas pictures

Overall I'm pretty happy with them but I just wish someone would have fixed my hair for the family shot. The kids were great - but it was still really hard to get everyone looking the camera and smiling (or at least not making a funny face. )

Great night with my little bums...

I was on my own with the kids tonight - Iain is at a stag- so we all decided to have a big bubble bath before bed. (Don't worry I'm not in the pictures) Vanessa was in her bath ring for the first time - instead of the baby tub. She was laughing hysterically as Ty splashed around. It was such a fun and silly night and the kids went down no problem for me after that. It's only 9pm now and I might just crawl into bed and read for a while. What a great night!!

On the move!

Vanessa is officially on the move. She rolled clear across the room this morning and hasn't stopped. This seems so early to me since Ty didn't roll from back to tummy until he was 25 weeks. (Vanessa is only 20 weeks) She is so proud of herself and we can't wait to show Daddy her newest accomplishment when he gets home from work.
I can also feel her two bottom teeth coming through. It's all happening too fast!!

Proud Mom!!

Yesterday afternoon I was watching our neighbours little girl Julia for a couple hours. Ty was very excited to have her come and play. I left them playing in the basement toyroom on their own but would peek down every 5 minutes or so just to make sure they were okay. I happened to hear them having the following conversation:

Ty: That's mine Julia
Julia: No Ty- It's mine
Ty: I know- we can share it together - you have a turn then it's my turn
Julia paused for a moment to think about then answered with: No Ty it's mine.
Ty: Oh... okay Julia

I was so proud of my little gentleman. He's already learning to let the girl have what she wants...

My Little TV stars...

What an exciting week we have had so far. Ty & Vanessa appeared on the evening news last night. It was a segment about starting fitness early in kids which I totally agree with so I was so proud that they were a part of it. They will probably be on again Thursday night too. We've been watching the tape a lot since it aired and Ty keeps asking to watch "his TV show" now. I've even gotten some emails from friends saying that they saw the kids on TV. I don't know who is more excited- Ty or me. Who am I kidding? It's obviously me... (Ty checking out the camera with the host Tonya Rouse)

As excited as I was about the whole thing I can not believe how pushy some of the other moms were with their kids. It was embarrassing. They shoved their kids in front of the camera and basically chased the camera around all morning. I will not deny that I was really hoping the camera would catch my kids at least a few times but I certainly just let them play as they normally do hoping it would happen. In the end my kids got the most screen time -probably b/c they were just sincerely there having fun not being forced into the situation. One thing that did bother me about it was- it was a segment about fitness and healthy living and two of the women that basically forced themselves to be interviewed were quite overweight themselves. They sat there talking about how they feel fitness is important for their kids when they have clearly never seen the inside of a gym themselves. These are also the moms that serve their kids fruit punch and cookies for snacks. It was just annoying to watch. Believe me I was not hoping to get interviewed myself- I was there only for the kids but there were a lot of moms & dads there in good shape that would have been much more effective for this particular topic.

In the end it really was a fun experience and I'm so happy to have a tape to share with my little TV stars when they can appreciate it as much as I do...

A Wiggly week!!

I just want to start out saying that my friend has scheduled a mastectomy for the middle of November. I can not imagine what it must be like knowing a part of your body is going to be removed in a matter of weeks but obviously being alive and cancer free is priority. If you think of it that way she will be alive and hopefully cancer free in a matter of weeks. In the meantime we are all trying to continue on with life as planned. The kids were all together for a Halloween party on Saturday then went Trick or Treating on Monday. They had such a great time.
Most exciting of all though was the Wiggles concert on Tuesday night. Ty did not stop dancing and singing. Iain picked him up a "Captain Feathersword" hat and he has been wearing it since. The concert was actually really entertaining for the adults too. They aren't the top entertainers out of Australia for nothing. We took the kids out for dinner after the concert and they were all so good. It was a busy beginning to the week but it's so nice to spend time with friends and even nicer that our kids all have fun together too.

How quickly things change

I am sitting here still in a bit of shock right now. My neighbour and very close friend has just been told she has breast cancer. She was going to have a lump removed yesterday and the doctors confirmed her worst fear. She is so young it just didn't seem possible. Hopefully they have caught it early and the worst case scenario will be a mastectomy. We'll know more on Friday.
Last night we spent the evening over at their place just hanging out and letting the kids play while us adults all tried to be positive and supportive but it is so hard to know what to say. I've tried to put myself in her shoes and I just can't. She is such a strong woman though. I'm sure she's scared but she's being so "matter of fact" about the whole thing. A couple of times she even said "well what can I do?"
I just can't stop thinking about what her and her husband must be going through right now and how I hope I'll be able to help them in any way that I can. (I'm just not sure how that is right now though).
In the meantime I'm appreciating my life and my family a lot more right now knowing that things really can change so quickly without warning.

Is it Friday yet??

I just got back from the apple orchard with Ty's preschool class. Ty and Vanessa are napping so I'm enjoying a little free time. It is just freezing out there. I had both kids bundled in their winter clothes with hats & mitts so I'm sure they were warm but I on the other hand wore a little spring coat, no mitts or hats.

I don't even know where my winter coat is right now. I have to get myself organized for this weather. The apple orchard (in Port Perry) was great. We were shown how to make cider and the kids got to pick apples and feed them to the sleep.
The best part is the fresh air makes them tired so I'm really counting on Ty sleeping for at least a few hours. He was up at 5:30am this morning and he was so loud yelling for me that he woke Vanessa up. It was very frustrating. I just took both kids downstairs to watch a video while I tried to get some more sleep on the couch so I'm pooped right now myself.
Otherwise this week has been great. I had a great time scrapbooking at my friend Krisha's place on Sunday. I got Ty's 1st & 2nd Halloween pages done. I'm going to try to get his 1st & 2nd Christmas done soon before I have a 3rd to add.
Tonight I am on my own with the kids. Iain is going to the Leafs game but I'm hoping to get out to the gym for a couple hours tonight. My mom said she wouldn't mind coming over and I'm sure by then I'll need the break.
This afternoon we are making banana muffins and picking up some much needed groceries but for now I'm going to officially turn the heat on in the house and make myself some hot chocolate before my little monkeys need me again.

My First Posting

Well I've finally created my own blog. I've been reading others and really enjoying keeping track of my friends this way so I decided to start one myself. My intention is to write in it weekly although if I need to get something off my chest then I may just need to write more often.

So far this week has been going very smoothly. I have a great weekly routine that is pretty consistent but there are always surprises that come up. The surprise this week is a funeral. Unfortunately my Nana McWhirter's sister Mary passed away this past weekend so my mom, my Nana, Vanessa and I will be attending the funeral in Hamilton on Thursday. My SIL (Melanie) has agreed to take Ty for the day. Ty has a blast with her kids (his cousins) so I know that he will have a great time.

Friday Ty has preschool but this Friday his teacher "Miss Peggy" has planned a trip to the pumpkin patch. Vanessa and I will be tagging along to help Ty pick out a pumpkin for Halloween. He is so excited. We'll probably go again as a family to pick out more pumpkins though. Iain doesn't want to miss out on the fun. This morning - and every Wednesday morning- Ty has soccer. Even though he's only been 4 times I can already see such an improvement. He tells me "I have to wait for Coach Deb to blow the whistle". He doesn't say it quite that clearly but I know that's what he's trying to say. It's great to see him listening and following instructions - even if I have to get his attention once in a while. This afternoon we are off to swimming lessons. Ty is such a fish in the water and entertains the class by jumping off the side of the pool- away from me- sinking to the bottom and coming back up yelling "More mommy more!" He seems to prefer to be under the water then above. I don't make it to the gym on Wednesdays but I think between soccer & swimming I get the best workout of the week. In other news today- Vanessa started in her jolly jumper this morning and loved it. Well I'm off to wake my little angels and get them ready for the afternoon.
Reading back on what I've wrote I feel like I do accomplish a lot in the day even if the vacuuming still needs to be done... I will get to that tonight once my busiest monkey is in bed.