Thursday, May 19, 2011

LRT, Chopsticks and Soccer

A couple of weeks ago our van went caput...long story short, no one was harmed and 1100$ and a new timing belt later everything was fine. It did leave us without a van for one Monday. This meant that Katie missed her Active Bugs class. I had a few library books due, and I did have to find some way of getting them back. So, we went on an "expedition" (Katie's word!) and took the LRT to the downtown library. I've been wanting to take the girls on the LRT since the new station near us opened a year ago, but was always a bit nervous about the logistics of me taking both girls. I decided the wagon might be best. (I wonder if the Chariot is maybe too wide, and anyway, it was in the van at the shop, so wagon it was!)

Here's the girls at the LRT station.
The expedition was a big success. I kept Sam buckled during the ride for safety and they were both excited (Katie slightly more so) to be on a train. Next time, knowing how much time there is until we have to get off, I would consider taking them out of the wagon so they could see better out the windows.

Getting to the library was a challenge...I don't feel that accessible entry to the library is well marked. Took a bit of walking to figure out that I need to take an elevator up to the Citadel Theatre and then walk outside across the street. Then, the library has the dumbest wheelchair lift...I really feel that a ramp would make more sense. (I'm sure there must be a financial/construction difficulty reason for having the lift.) I ended up letting the girls walk up the 4 stairs while I lifted the empty wagon. Overall, it was a challenging experience even though I knew where to go...I can't imagine being a visitor to the city with a wheelchair or stroller. Anyway...!

The Children's Library was nice...but imagine my surprise (how many years has it been?) when I found that the library that I remember being downstairs was no longer there! They'd moved it to the main floor AND no longer have pets...I really remember the big old iguana and maybe bunnies? Ah well. The new library is designed much like other new branches I've seen. Computers for kids, a wooden boat to sit and read on and a nice seating area with train set and puppet theatre, plus a nice big classroom which was perfect for storing our wagon and bag while we explored. Fun!

After the library we had an early lunch picnic outside...it was a lovely day! The girls ran around a bit an then we headed back home on the LRT. A really great first experience. I wonder if they'll remember it at all?
The girls have been enjoying the new chopsticks given to them from preschool friend S at Katie's birthday. I think I showed you pictures of the girls at his place using their training chopsticks. Now, we happily have our own. Such a thoughtful gift (I believe they had to order them from Korea!).
It's no end of funny seeing the girls use these cute chopsticks to eat! We just need to have noodles more often now! (though we have used them to eat a number of unlikely foods)
Finally...Soccer! This is Katie in her soccer outfit (I know, we should say uniform, but we keep saying outfit!). In a group vote, the team has named themselves The Fire Hydrants. (silly name) Sam has no soccer outfit, but if not for that, you'd think she was on the team too!

The team plays games (tag, red light/green light, what time is it mr. wolf) in the rink in our community.Did I mention that Ben, as one of the assistant coaches, volunteered to store the soccer nets? Gave us a fun chance to practice a bit before soccer started. They fold up nice and flat.
Sam, running! She's not officially on the team, but it's hard to keep her from joining in. No one seems to mind at this age. I do try and bring things to keep her busy, like colouring. I almost brought bubbles but thought it might distract the soccer kids. The kid beside her is the brother of another player. Snack time is a favorite time!Ben does such a great job assistant coaching...the kids love him (and jump all over him sometime to show it!)Happy girl and proud mom after her very first soccer night.

We've had 2 more soccer nights since, the second was a horribly windy (It was CRAZY windy here for about a week.) and Katie didn't want to play and just sat on my lap. This week she was apparently right back in there. I missed it since it was super mosquitoe-y this week (vicious, you have no idea, I've NEVER seen mosquitoes this bad, biting in full sun and wind) so Sam and I went for a walk and had ice cream instead. It's beginning to feel summery around here. =)

Otherwise, it's been a rather interesting week. I have no photographic evidence to show you, but I MUST mention what a troublemaking two year old Sam's been. (P.S...Sam, I know it's not your fault, you're 2 and I forgive you) I showered the other day and of course, I have to take my hearing aids out for this. Sam went in the bathroom and somehow dropped/pushed one of my hearing aid down the sink. Long story short, I was able to do the plumbing and rescue the aid and after a day or so of drying out it seems fine. I feel very lucky. She was also found this week with something in her mouth that shouldn't have been (I'm not telling, but everything was/is alright) and managed to climb on our bed and on my night table to reach up to the top of our big dresser (it's almost as tall as I am) and grab a child protected bottle of vitamins and my favorite necklace...stuff I had put out of reach. Goodness, I may have grown a few more gray hairs this week. Remind me again, when does she turns three?

In better Sam news, she's loving pig tails in her hair, which I am delighted to do for her. She's been waking up happy lately. When she and I went for ice cream the other day, we sat on the Sunterra patio and as I gave her each spoonful of ice cream, she said "I love you mom." It was very cute. =) She's also really improved her colouring lately...she's definitely colouring specific objects on a colouring page, rather than scribbling randomly...and colouring it very thouroughly...no white space...not entirely staying in the lines, but showing amazing progress.

Also, we struck gold at a garage sale this weekend and bought the girls 3 skirts, a wand, a headband with fuzzy antenna and a princess hat...for 7$. Every playdate we've had lately there's been requests to play dress up, tough to do with only our one fairy dress. I really need to start sewing up some play clothes. We'll see...I have many things I want to sew. (I did manage a pair of pants for Sam this week that I will try to hem and photograph for you...cute summer pants!...the mosquitoes made me do it!).

That's all for now, enjoy your long weekend, we're enjoying ours.
Lots of love,
Heather

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

More about 4

Well, apparently life with a 4 year old and 2 year old keeps us busy since blogging has been slow.

On Katie's actual birthday we had the grandparents over for cake. Gram Mary made the cake. Katie loved it!
Our gift to Katie was a bicycle. She loved it too.
Ben was smart and got Sam's trike out of the attic since we knew they'd both want to go for rides.
It has training wheels and pink and silver streamers and a bag. We've gone for several rides since and it's great fun!
The next day we went to Tim Hortons for coffee with Mrs Ferguson and Gram and Papa (we don't make it every week anymore but when we can!). I brought new play dough for the girls to keep them happy while grown-ups chatted.
Katie, Sam and Dad on Katie's kid birthday party day, the Saturday after her Tuesday birthday. Katie wore her Birthday Button from last year for about 5 minutes before putting it on a chair and saying that her friend N's mom (Julia) could sit there. Strange. =)I had trouble keep the guest list small, and in the end we had about 30 people and about 12 of those were kids 4 and under. It was a little loud and crazy and we probably won't have that many people again, but it was also kind of fun. (from top Left: Steph, baby G, D, Katie, S, N, C, H)We kept things simple with takeout pizza and cut veggies and dip. I made cupcakes baked in ice cream cones...and I don't think I got a picture of a single one! The kids really enjoyed them and they were even easier to serve than regular cupcakes since they didn't have any paper wrapper. I definitely recommend.
(Sam, M, D, L)
As much as I tried to keep things simple, I did want to try one activity for the kids and ended up having them colour paper lunch bags that I later used as treat bags. A little chaotic but in a way it was a good way to channel the kids energy for a few minutes. A more active game would have also worked well if we had had the space to contain it. The weather was ok, but nowhere near as beautiful as last year. (W, G and C)Present opening was a bit chaotic too...all the kids crowded around. Funny how much each kids took ownership of their gift and really wanted to give it to Katie. Fun. Using throwaway plates was good too...Honestly, clean up only took 15 minutes after everyone had left. I'm so glad that she had a fun party with her friends.

More photos to come, including Katie's first time playing soccer, but I must share this cute video of Sam. I think it was taken the day after Katie's birthday, or around there. Sam's been making this funny noise lately and it's just fun to make her do it. Enjoy!

Untitled from BabyLuch on Vimeo.