Rock Climbing

A few weeks ago, we headed to Winkler Bible Camp for their family day. We spent most of our time at the rock climbing wall. Chelsea was super pumped to climb the wall. I give her oodles of credit. I was scared walking around the top of the tower and I used stairs and held a guardrail!

 Just for the record, this girl is just six years old. Six! She's so pumped.

 Okay, so just to explain a few things. That black line is how high you are allowed to climb if you aren't tethered. Chelsea is climbing a straight wall, but I am going to ask you to please note the climbing wall a little farther back in the picture. It comes into play soon.

 Chelsea wasted no time getting above that black line.

 And higher still...

 Now, here's where it gets interesting... See that climbing wall to the right? See that good looking man strapped into a helmet and harness? He thought it would be fun to climb up the hard wall right alongside her. (Just a note - he's never ever rock climbed before but he figured, "Sure! How hard can it be?")  Here he is, doing great. It'll be just a few minutes and he'll be beside her, right?

 Wrong. I wish I could show you the video, but I was laughing too loudly. Here is a picture of his progress. Oh wait... he fell off the wall.

 Here is yet another attempt. Again, please note his progress, and the black line. Still not above that black line..

 Oh wait, there's that beautiful six year old girl climbing ALL the way to the top. I wish I had a picture of her ringing the bell at the top, but I did switch over to video to capture that. Also, my cheering was probably an embarrassment. Oh wait, the title of "embarrassment" might be saved for that good-looking rock climber to the right who never made it over the black line.

All in all, great day with many memories made!

Partying 4 year old style

I am the first to admit that when it comes to parties, I have a slight problem. Okay, maybe I should be truthful. I go crazy. I can't help it. I just love birthdays. I always say, "Next time, I'll simmer down. I'll keep it low-key" and then each time, I go a little more nutso. Ah well, I love making the kids feel special and loved on their day!

 

This year was particularly fun because Gavin finally truly understood birthdays. Gavin chose the theme - Angry Birds. So Chris and I made some super fun balloons. Oh wait, in the spirit of honesty, I forced Chris to cut out paper designs and tape them onto balloons.

 

I also forced him to hang up the Angry Birds streamers I ordered online. We, okay I, decorated some bags from Dollarama to look like Angry Birds characters and then filled the goodie bags with Gavin's favourite things - a plastic Angry Birds cup, Rockets, Double Lolly pops, sugar straws, homemade sprinkle cookies, and candy skewers. In case you ever need an idea, the candy skewers were a hit with young and old, and were cheap and easy. We'll definitely do them again!

Of course, there was a cake. I had so much fun making this one, which is a good thing, because I worked on it for hours and hours and hours. There is just something so special about creating a masterpiece that I knew he would go absolutely nuts for.

This year, I finally got smart. Normally, I keep the cake a surprise and then just do a big reveal when we are singing Happy Birthday and the child blows out the candles and we cut it up. They really don't get a chance to see all the details. This time, I had the cake on the table for hours before the party. Gavin was in awe. He actually took time to sit in every chair at the table, to check the cake out from every possible angle. He was so pumped. After all was said and done, he said his favourite part of his party was eating the characters off the cake. His reaction was well worth the hours (and hours) I spent making this cake!

We started off the day with a sprinkle donut, because really - who doesn't want a sprinkle donut on their birthday? Seriously, how cute is this kid??

We invited three families over for bowling, because Gavin really wanted his party at the bowling alley. So we bowled with 8 kids for an hour. They all had fun. Is it okay for me to admit that bowling isn't my favourite thing?

After bowling, we headed back to our house for a BBQ. Now we're talking - chicken and steak kabobs, baby potatoes, caesar salad, veggies and dip, pigs in a blanket, chips and popcorn twists. Mmmm.

Now here's where the party gets a bit ridiculous. I had borrowed a bouncy castle from a friend. I also was lucky enough to win an hour of Glitter Tattoos. This was definitely a hit for boys, girls, and grown women! None of the men got a tattoo, but all the kids and ladies did. Gavin was super pumped about his Angry Birds!

Chelsea and Gavin after the party were still super pumped about the glitter. The tattoos have actually stayed on for almost 5 days.

Blowing out the candles. I love this picture! That's so intense candle blowing!

The cake was rainbow inside, as per Gavin's request!

Permagrins! I love parties. He loves parties. We all love parties!

And there is a quick snapshot of the party. Now, I'm planning Eli's first birthday. But don't worry, "Next time, I'll simmer down. I'll keep it low-key." ;) He'll be one! Where did the time go??

Dear Gavin at 4

This post will be a ridiculously mushy, lovey and gooey post about my buddy, Gavin. This boy makes my heart swell with pride. He is unbelievably kind and good hearted, and ridiculously cute. Those dimples get me every time.

 He is creative and funny. He's so eager to obey and wants to please those around him. He has a tenderness for children younger than him, playing the role of big brother well. In the past two months, he's stopped calling his brother "EY", and now always says "Eli". I realize this is a good thing, but it makes my heart sad to lose that sweet nickname. In the past year, his speech has grown by leaps and bounds. Most of his speech is easily understood now, and he just seems so grown up. No more "pea-bubba" sandwiches in this house - it's "peanut butter" all the time now. As an aside, that's seriously all this kid would eat if it was up to him. Half a peanut butter sandwich, watered down apple juice and applesauce - morning, noon and night. Vegetables are always a struggle and he still would prefer you feed him, rather than he feed himself.

If you've spent any time at all with Gavin, you will have heard his loud, contagious belly laugh. I adore it. He is just so full of joy, most of the time. He is very quick to cry these days, as he has a soft heart and seems to get offended easily, mostly by his older sister.

 As much as he doesn't want to give it up, we are transitioning away from his beloved sippy cup. This picture below still melts me. His cup, his big lips and his squishy cheeks. My baby has come a long way, but I just want to freeze moments like this.

Gavin lives loud and loves big. He is just a loud kid. I wonder where he got it from? ;) He is not shy. He adores his older sister. He still cries every day when she goes to school saying, "I just miss Chelsea so much!" and it's true. He comes downstairs after every nap, asking, "Is Chelsea home yet?"

 He still shows such a love for learning and reading. He has endless patience and will sit for hours, "reading". He loves when you will help him read, each and every word. Sometimes, just as I'm about to get frustrated and finish reading the book for him, he'll look up at me and say, "Mommy, I just love learning all the words" and my heart melts. He's still fascinated with counting and since we've pretty much mastered 0-100, now we've moved on to skip counting. He begs to go to Kindergarten. He's taller than most of the Kindergarteners - wonder if anyone would notice if I slipped him in?

He loves big and often and loves to cuddle. He'll run up to me just to give me a squeeze and a kiss. He says he loves me "one hundred and three - because that's a humongous number".

He still sleeps with his two beloved monkeys. His favourite foods are perogies and chicken nuggets, and peanut butter sandwiches, of course. He loves being at home. Every time we go out, he constantly asks if we are going home soon, even if he's having a good time. He says he "just loves all my things at home."

At four, he is still very into Mario and Angry Birds. He will sit for hours and hours, playing with his little figurines. We had to move them onto the landing of the stairs because the pieces were so small, they were a choking hazard for Eli. I wanted to put them in his room or the basement, but then Gavin looked at me and said with tears in his eyes, "but I want to be able to SEE you, mom." so yes, he plays on the little area on our stairs. Seriously, how could I say no?

He loves being outside. He has a scooter and a bike and although he loves to ride them, 9 times out of 10, you'll see me trying to push a stroller and lug a bike or scooter along with me, while he runs up ahead. Although every once in a while I manage to stick him in a pair of jeans, he much prefers pants "but with no buttons or zippers." He has finally mastered pulling up his own pants but still refuses to put on his own sweaters, shirts, socks, or shoes (thank you for crocs. Those he will do!). I'm not sure if he's just been babied up until now, or what the deal is, but it's definitely frustrating. Ah well, good thing he's cute enough to make up for it.

Don't get mad at me, but he still naps for at least 2 hours a day, sometimes longer. He sleeps from 8:30 - 7:30 and then naps in the afternoon. Because I'm working mornings come September, I had to put him in afternoon preschool, so I'm not sure how he's going to handle staying up during those two hours. Hopefully he'll be busy enough that he'll stay awake.

Gavin, you truly are the sweetest. I love you, Buddy. I love you one hundred and four.

H-brand update



There's been lots going on around here lately. This man finished his first year of preschool. He loved every single class. He's begging for Kindergarten, but he'll have to settle for two afternoons of preschool next year. He's grown so much in the past few months. He is such a sweetheart.  

 Chelsea had her dance recitals on Mother's Day weekend. She did fantastic. We'll be taking a break from dance next year as ballet wasn't her favourite and that's all that's offered next year for her age group. Don't worry though. She has dreams of being in skating and gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics.

 

 

This guy is such an absolute wonder. He is growing so quickly. He's mastered standing this week...

...and today he sprouted his first two teeth. Oddly, it was his top two that have broken through first at the age of 10 1/2 months. Usually it's the bottom two first, right? I'm not crazy here? Either way, I was pretty mushy about it. Teeth are just one more sign that he is growing up far too quickly. I'm going to miss these gummy grins!

 

I had to include this next picture. I have been working hard cleaning out the back shed and garage. I had put Eli in his stroller with snacks to keep him happy but at one point I asked Chelsea to give him something to play with so he'd be happy. I check on him a few minutes later and find this filthy kid! Chelsea had given him a plastic shovel that she had been using in the garden! Well, it definitely kept him happy and occupied!

And just a few more pictures to wrap up this post. These two kids and these last two pictures just crack me up.

And picture post - done!