Grey Cup Party

We had a bunch of friends over to watch the Grey Cup on Sunday. It was a full and noisy house but it was fun! There were 13 kids ages 1-5 (and 2 babies) and can you believe that everyone actually sat down for about 10 minutes and ate supper? Any Saskatchewan fans out there know that the outcome of the game wasn't good, same as last year, but it was nice to get together with everyone.

I went away for the first time without hubby or kids this past weekend. Myself and 7 friends had a great time at Elkridge Resort where we rented a cabin, sat in the hot tub, had a spa treatment and just had a great time visiting. It was a much needed and great getaway but it was also really nice to get home to everyone. Daniel and the kids had a good time, the weather warmed up enough for him to take the kids outside a few times. As much of a challenge as it can be to get everyone bundled up and out the door, he also got them wearing ski pants too! Way to go daddy! They were eating snow and can see from the pictures that Maggie wasn't too impressed with it.

Mitchell on the other hand was eating it from his hands and then went onto sticking his whole face in the snow giving himself a face wash.


Casey ate his fair share of snow too.




They had fun pulling each other around on the toboggans too.




They even got hot (warm) chocolate when they came in.


On the potty front, Maggie went #2 on the potty! It was a bit of a fluke, but it happened none the less. Daniel caught on that she was going so he put her on the potty and she finished in there. Everyone was quite impressed with her. Another first was Casey sitting on there with no diaper, that was the first time for him. Our plan is to just continue with putting them on casually and see what happens. If it's like many other things that we want them to do but they don't want to, it could turn into quite the production. I don't want it to become a struggle between us and them so we'll wait until they're ready.

Flu Shots and Cheerleaders

We went to get the kids' flu shots last week and they just happened to have a clinic at the Field House where I work. We took the kids out onto the track to run around and burn off some energy.

They also did some slam dunkin'.



The whole process of getting their shots was easier than last year. I took Casey in first knowing that he would get the most upset. As soon as we sat down in the chair and he saw the nurse his grip tightened on me. When she tore open the alcohol packet (before he saw any needle) he erupted - he knew exactly what was coming. Poor guy! After a few minutes he was okay. Maggie and Mitchell did good, they just cried for a few seconds. After they were done, the juice and smarties snack made things all better.

The kids have been interacting with each other a lot more lately. Now they actually talk to each other and try to tell each other things. It's made me realize how much fun they are going to have together and how great of buddies they will be (most of the time). They also have been playing pretend a lot more. Their favorite thing to do is say bye-bye and then we ask them where they're going. We can see the wheels turning in their heads and the most common response is that they are going to get groceries but they also go to work, play hockey and go on an airplane. Then they gather up their things and march off.

Maggie put her foot down with Mitchell the other day, I think she had had enough. I can't remember if it was at nap time or bedtime but it started when Maggie wanted to give Mitchell a kiss. He was playing hard to get for some reason which is strange for him because he loves to give kisses (I think he is going to be the little boy on the playground going around and kissing all of the girls). She followed him across the living room saying "Mitchell kiss, Mitchell kiss" and he just ignored her. She walked up behind him and pulled him down by the collar of his shirt and then dragged him a little ways across the floor. Daniel and I just looked at each other thinking, who is this girl? Obviously it wasn't a nice thing to do but it totally seemed like she was saying, "That's it Mitchell, I've had it! This is for not giving me a kiss and for all of those times you've stolen from me, pushed me, etc. Enough!".

The kids are just getting over a cold right now. We've been really lucky, they haven't had one in 7 months so we were due for one. Last weekend there was a big football game and because the kids were still sick we stayed home and they actually sat and watched part of the game. It was funny to hear them repeating what they heard, "Get 'em! Get 'em!" and "Are you kidding me?" and they also learned a touchdown dance. Here are our little cheerleaders.





With the Riders in the Grey Cup this weekend we are hosting a party. It will be a fun and crazy few hours! Let's hope things turn out better than last year!

A Day In The Life

These 2 videos that were posted by 2 parents of multiples have had me laughing out loud every time I've watched them. I can say that I have gotten almost every comment and been asked nearly every question in both of these videos, some of them numerous times.

Warning, the language in this video is not appropriate for children.

I laughed so hard when he asked, "Can I touch them?" - that just seems so crazy to me, but I've definitely been asked that question.

Fun In the Snow

Our Saskatchewan winter has definitely set in. The other day when I was driving to work at 6:15am it was -35 degrees with the wind chill. Yuck!

Before it got so cold we spent some time out in the snow. Our first time out wasn't the fun, happy time that I was imagining. Their mitts came off every minute (x3) and then they got upset when the snow would touch their bare hands. Casey was NOT impressed that there was snow on his mitts or that he couldn't hold onto the shovel the way he can without mitts. This boy doesn't like to get messy or have things out of place.

Things went better the second time we went out. I put their mitts on properly and I think it just took a bit of time to get used to the snow. They really didn't spend much time in it last year except for some toboggan rides. Mitchell really enjoyed shoveling snow...


And pushing the cars...he is going to be handy to have around this winter.

"Mitchell, where are you"?



It is a lot of work and takes a lot of patience to get everyone bundled up to go outside (and will be even more so with ski pants on too) but it will be worth it to get some fresh air this winter.

In other news, we had our first potty pee-er. I've been putting Mitchell and Maggie on the big potty everyday just with their diapers on to get them used to it (Casey will say he wants to sit on the potty until it's actually his turn, then he doesn't want to anymore). A few days ago I put Mitchell on without his diaper because he seemed to be in the middle of some business. Just as I was about to take him off he went! He stopped once he heard it and then did it again! We made a pretty big deal of it. That's as far as we've gotten on the potty front, but at least it's a start. Maybe Santa will bring them their own for Christmas.

We're 2. What's Your Excuse?

The kids got these really cute shirts from their little buddies Ruby and Leah for their birthday. They came at a perfect time seeing as we are knee/waist/shoulder deep in the terrible 2's.

This is our sweet Maggie...

And this is our tough girl Maggie...

Mitchell loves to build and fix things and whatever it is that he's working on (Grover K'Nex this day), he gets his face right in there.

Usually Casey doesn't spend too much time doing any one thing, but he was actually really into building Grovers.




No one has gotten out of their cribs the past week or two, so I'm thankful this isn't a regular thing (yet). Our crib tents are on back order so it will be another 3 weeks or so. On the diaper front, Daniel skipped the packing tape at nap time today and the boys had them off right away.

Photo Shoot

There are so many great pictures from the session we had done back in September. Here are a bunch of my favorites.




Goofing around with Daddy.


Mitchell was playing it pretty cool that day.



After a few failed attempts of getting the kids to sit still with us, Auntie Gail had a great idea. She stood behind the photographer and bribed the kids with crab apples, getting them to say please. It worked like a charm!


There are so many beautiful pictures of Maggie.



I love these ones of the kids running and then posing perfectly before they took off again.





Casey looks so serious in some of his shots and so smiley in others.



Our little tree-huggers.




I think this one looks like they are posing for their picture as a rock band. There is the lead singer, the back-up singer/eye candy and the drummer in the back.

There were lots of hugs and kisses.




It was so awesome that the kids held hands right when we wanted them to.



We really couldn't have asked for a better day - the kids did great and we have so many great pictures and memories!