Testing the new picnic table

Despite the slightly cool temperatures we just had the set up the picnic table the kids received last year for their birthday. We did have it set up on the patio but finally had to move onto the lawn so the kids could warm up in the sun.

Graduation

Last Friday we had our final appointment with the Neo-natal Follow-up clinic. We have officially graduated, and no longer require the follow up care. Dr. Baron and her team had been following our progress since the very beginning. She has always been delighted with our progress, and felt it was time to push us out of the nest.

Thanks to Dr. Baron and her team for all her assistance.

Looks like we may have a soccer fan

This is actually a gift for Grandad Simpson from Jason who picked up a few soccer jerseys from his recent business trip to Brazil. Grace got a hold of it one night and was running around the house with it on. Sorry Grandad, I cannot guarantee there won't be any nose boogies on it, we are all just getting over colds.

1st One on the Potty

For about 2 months now Avery has let me know when she has filled her pants, and then about a month ago she was informing of when everyone else was filling their pants, so I decided I would try her out on the potty. So off to WalMart we went to buy a potty. No one was very interested in it especially Avery. She was more fascinated with the frog on the front than she was sitting on it. But as time went on she started to sit on fully clothed of course. Then she started telling me she wanted to go on the potty but just as soon as she said she would immediately change her mind. Then came one early morning as her & I were lying in bed, 'Mommy, potty, poopy pants' So off I whisked her to the potty area. And I was taking her diaper off in walked Daisy the cat. And well that completely distracted her and that was the end of the potty. Then it happened. She was in the tub with Grace trying to make her laugh by farting in the water and making bubbles. But she was trying SO hard that it turned into a shart (half sh*$/half fart) so anyway I had to take her out of the tub, and decided we try the potty since I already had her pants off. She sat for about 3 seconds and decided she'd had enough, but then she suddenly stopped, smiled, and took a whiz.

I was going to post that picture, but then thought not many would truly appreciate it. You know you're a parent when you feel the need to document your kids first bowel movements on a toilet.

I'm a big kid now

Over the past couple of days Avery has shown an interest in sitting in a chair and eating her meals at the 'Big' table. At first we thought she was just throwing a hissy which is not out of the realm of possibility, but when she was asking for food on the table, we felt as though we should give her the benefit of the doubt.

If she keeps this up, by the time daddy gets home from Brazil, she will be dating and on her way to college. That will teach him for going away.

You look maaavelous!!

She is just so darn cute, that she just can't help but admire herself.

Row, Row, Row your boat

It is always nice to see the kids getting along but when they actually play together its even better. Grace has always enjoyed playing row, row, row your boat but usually with either myself or Letty. This particular morning she hounded Everett to play with her. At first he was willing, but it was too slow for him, so she recruited Avery to play with her.

Ready for Spring

With the onset of spring right around the corner, I got out the tricycles from the basement. Everyone was thrilled to be reunited with their Christmas gifts, and I think it brought back memories of everyone pushing them around for countless hours. Obviously with the same hope that we will again push them around for countless hours but this time it will be outside.

Our morning at Jungle Gym's

After dropping Daddy off at the airport, which was an adventure in itself, we went to Jungle Gym's. Jungle Gym's is the local gymnastics club where on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings they have an 'open' gym where parents can bring their toddlers to run willy nilly. Which is exactly what we did. It was only an hour but they ran, jumped and tumbled from the minute we got there to the minute they reluctantly left.

Now, I know that once I post this blog entry that Nanny Di will be telling the other side of the story so I will go ahead. Last week when Nanny Di was still here and feeling better we all decided we would go to Jungle Gym's but on our way there we were slightly detained by the local authorities. Its actually a good thing Nanny Di was there because she was the one who yelled out 'watch out for that cop' because if she hadn't I might be incarcerated for running over the police man who was trying to pull me over for speeding. I guilty confessed to my sin to the officer and she proceeded to write me a ticket. However she returned shortly to inform me my license plates were unattached. Not understanding what she was referring to, I ignorantly replied 'oh, OK'. 'Do you have 3 kids in there?' she asked 'yes' I replied, 'I thought so' she said and off she went to tally up my final tab. In the end, she informed my I was doing 90 in a 60 so that would have cost me $220 + 4 points ALSO she could have my van towed and legally impounded due to the fact that the plates were not REGISTERED to my vehicle, but then I saw a twinkle of 'girl, I have been there' in her eye, and she said to me 'I have 4 kids so I know what you are going through' so this is what I am going to do, I'll reduce your speeding ticket to 70 in a 60 (a $40 fine) and have these plates checked and we will call it even. Never, I have I ever been so happy to be stopped by a female police officer.

Nanny Di heads home

We have recently been honoured with another visit from Nanny Di. She arrived just before Easter and left last Monday. Even though she was thrilled at being here with kids, she ended up contracting our lingering flu germs and ended up in bed for about 4 days. She did make the best of it even getting down on the floor to play with Eeoyre & Grace, reading Everett's favourite book a thousand times and chasing Avery around the room. Ya gotta give Nanny credit.

We thoroughly enjoyed having you visit and Nanny even got her wish, the kids were saying her name by the time she left.