11.21.2011

a bunch of pictures! - 11.21

The past couple months... in pictures!

Zech had his 7th birthday on Oct 16th! As always, we had cupcakes for dessert after a supper of his choosing that night.

We had his birthday party the following Sunday (23rd). Some of his friends came over. We had a fire in the field across the field, roasted hot dogs for supper, and had cake and presents.

The day before halloween the kids made their jack-o-lanterns. Normally we do one for each, but this year I wasn't touching pumpkin guts! So, Josh opted for 2 pumpkins for everyone.

Ruthie made a vampire.

The boys made a zombie.

We all went out for Halloween and did this side of town. Then Isaac, Levi, Josh and I came home while Ruth and Zech went to do the other side of town with some friends.
Ruthie - vampire

Zech and Isaac - pirates

Levi - Yoda

Ruthie's 9th birthday was on Nov 9th! Once again, cupcakes and gifts after a supper of her choosing that night.

On the 11th Ruthie had 2 friends over to play video games (Josh set up the projector on the wall in the playroom), and for supper and cake.

And in amongst those pictures, a few of Levi just playing around the house.
sweeping the carpet?

playing cars with the kitten

eating cheerios - don't you hate it when this happens?

That's all for now. Hopefully I'll be able to post more often from now on!

11.18.2011

gotta get better from here - 11/18

Wow. Sorry it's been so long since I last updated here. We've had a lot of things happen in the past month - Zech's 7th birthday and party, Halloween, Josh's 31st (!!) birthday (no party yet though), Ruthie's 9th birthday and party... and we found out we're expecting #5 in June! Told ya, a lot has happened! Pictures have been taken, but haven't come off the camera just yet. Hopefully this weekend.
As if all that wasn't enough, we had a heck of a week. Isaac had gotten sick on Nov 1st - we weren't sure if it was a bug or too much candy, but there's something going around town (school, day care, nursery school, and Josh's school) so we figured it was that. Everyone else seemed in the clear... until I got sick Monday night. It continued all through the night and Tuesday morning - Josh took a sick day for me. Wednesday all was back to normal, until Josh got sick that night, continued all day yesterday. Obviously he stayed home, and again today as he was still sick into the night last night.
Levi caught the bug as well, though he didn't have any vomiting, but diarrhea instead - which has caused a very bad, very painful, diaper rash for him. Poor little guy. He seems to be feeling better today, and after some cream and tylenol last night the rash looks a bit better.
We're assuming this is the same bug Isaac had, so he should be in the clear. And I'm hoping Ruth and Zech get passed over. But I'm not holding my breath!

10.11.2011

Happy Thanksgiving - 10/11

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We had a nice weekend, doing nothing at all. The kids only got dressed to go outside to play, we didn't leave home for anything. Now it's back to work and school for everyone. I think Levi is happy - yesterday morning after breakfast he was standing at the window saying "bye isaac". Apparently he's gotten used to 2 day weekends and back to school!
No real news or new pictures, we're all just busy. Zech's birthday is coming up on Sunday - we were thinking about having his party that day, but I think we'll do it the following Sunday instead. Gives us a bit more time to get everything ready. This week is busy enough - with kids' activities, Josh going to Winnipeg on Thursday for school, and then he has a fundraiser thing on Saturday all day - it's a video game thing, at the school, so Zech will be going along. We'll probably go in the afternoon to join in for a bit. But with all that happening, we don't really have time to get to town to get things ready and gifts bought. He's not upset about waiting till the following week though.

9.27.2011

reading, a trip, and a wedding - 09/27

Well, Levi and I made it! The trip was very full, not much time to sit and relax, but I'm so glad we went. It was wonderful to see Nana, and the wedding was beautiful.
We drove to the city Thursday night and stayed over in the airport hotel so I didn't have any drive or parking to figure out in the morning. Friday morning we got up and ready, crossed to the airport at 7am and flew out at 8am. Levi was great on the plane - we were able to get a free seat beside us on both long flights (Winnipeg to Toronto, then Ottawa/Winnipeg on the way back) - on the short Toronto/Ottawa flight he cuddled up in my lap and slept. Many people said how good of a little guy he was, what a good traveler he was.
We got in to Ottawa at 1:10pm and met Nana at the baggage area! Levi was very confused by this point - he'd been looking for Daddy and Isaac at the hotel the night before and that morning - but not upset. We went right over to pick up our rental car and started on the way to the wedding venue. Everything I found said it was over an hour drive, but we made it in 45mins from the airport - and I wasn't speeding... that much. Anyways, we made it in time to get everyone changed and ready before a lot of the guests were arriving.
The wedding was beautiful and I'm so glad I was there for Katie. The venue (Beantown) was gorgeous - just amazing, honestly... just check through their website, though it doesn't even do it justice. The only bad part of the place was the pond - beautiful... but Levi wanted in the water so bad! We stayed for the day out there; ceremony, finger foods and visiting, dinner, speeches and first dance (on the island - with fireworks behind them!), then we started back to the city.
Good thing, as I mixed myself up with the directions to the hotel and missed the correct turnoff (since I wasn't looking for it at all), taking us through Ottawa and on to Kanata. We had to drive an extra 10 minutes on the highway before getting to a place we could turn off... then on the way back to Ottawa we got stuck in post-hockey game traffic by the arena. It took us only 45mins to get to Beantown... and 1.5hrs to get from there back to the hotel... which, for the record, is only 5mins away from the airport. Not a fun drive. But we made it.
In the morning we got all ready and headed back to the airport at lunchtime - had to drop off the car to avoid getting another day's charge for only a couple hours extra. We hung around the airport until our flights - Levi watched planes landing and vehicles out at the gates, and napped for a couple hours while we ate lunch.
Unfortunately then it was time to say goodbye and we got on the plane to come home. Even though it was short and very busy, I'm so glad it worked out for Nana to meet us there! It was a lot of fun... even if I am still exhausted from it!
Everyone was glad to see us home - the kids had only gone to bed shortly before we pulled in, and they heard Levi squealing, so they came out for hugs and kisses.
I got some pictures, too! First a couple from earlier this month, then the trip.

Sept. 16th
Levi loves books and stories


Sept. 23-24 - Mommy and Levi's trip!
Levi on the plane - watching a show on the little tv


Nana and Levi

I really like these next 2 of them

Mommy and Levi

Levi worked at covering the benches with wood chips

he worked hard, see?

he found more wood chips by the pavilion!

checking out the rental car

trying on Mommy's shoes!

watching a plane come to the gate!

he loved watching the planes and vehicles! many, many "wow"s and "look at that!"

Pictures I got of Beantown - and not nearly as many as I should have gotten! I got none of the chapel, the covered bridge, or the main hall.
the outside ceremony area

the pavilion

horse-drawn wagon to get from place to place - it's not too far to walk, though would be for some, but it's fun to take a wagon ride!

I know, I said it all ready. But I'm so glad I went and it was so beautiful! Levi was a great little travelling buddy and we couldn't have asked for better timing and weather!