Happy Birthday Kira Jane!

It was 3 years ago today that Kira made her grand entrance into the world. She has since proven to be a very determined girl. She can flip from being a living doll, to a tantrumming monster, and then back again, all within 5 minutes. She is alarmingly smart. Her latest phrase is "Thanks Mom, you're da best." which she now says whenever I do anything for her.

As per Kira's orders, she spent the morning shopping at Toys'R'Us. I tried to talk her into many different toys. I was sure she would want a Little Tikes Kitchen, but she said, "Oh, no, that is too big for me!" She selected a small stuffed Dora doll, a carseat for her babydolls, and told me, "I think I already have enough toys, I don't need any more." I asked her if I could buy her a "Birthday Girl" t-shirt from the Gymboree across the road, and she said, "No thank you, I think I already have enough shirts, I don't need any more."

Grandpa Bob called to wish Kira a happy birthday and she sais, "Thank you, happy birthday to you too!"

After lunch, a parcel arrived from Aunt Gayle and Uncle Lynn. Kira loves her Furby and is telling them thank you in this photo. She was delighted with the coins taped to her card too and immediately said, "Oh, great, now I can buy my own treats at the hockey rink."

We picked the boys up from school and Kira had a little nap. Then we dropped Patrick off at a teammate's house to be driven out of town for an away game. Then the other kids and I took Damon to his team practice. Once again, Kira spent a birthday at the hockey rink.
Finally at 8:30 we got home and met up with Grandma Sue. The kids unwound to Dora the Explorer's Fiesta music.

Kira loves soup and asks for soup many times a day. It was no surprise when she asked for Chicken soup for dinner, so we made a Chicken Stew in the crockpot. I made some dumplings (which didn't turn out so great in a crockpot). For dessert we had a much requested "Strawberry Cake", which was a cake and icing made with strawberry puree. It was full of strawberry sweetness, and I'm having a hard time keeping Damon out of the extra frosting. It didn't turn out as great as I would have liked, but Kira was pleased with it and loved blowing out her candles.

She is looking forward to her family party with her cousins. We are having a birthday FIESTA!

Feliz cumpleaños a ti

Feliz cumpleaños a ti

Feliz cumpleaños Kira

Feliz cumpleaños a ti.

I hate school!

Why? I have to look at these sleeping beauties, knowing that I have to wake them up to drive their brothers to school.

This whole "education" thing had better be worth it. LOL

All of us

Here we all are with Grandpa Bob and Grandmama (Great-Grandmother).

Happy Girls!

Hanna is enjoying her visit with her great grandmother.

Puppy love

They make my heart melt. They are both so angelic when they are sleeping.

December 27th

At 7 am, Matt and I (not to mention the 3 little ones piled in there too) were lying in bed talking, when we heard a smashing sound. I ran downstairs to see what had happened and when I looked toward the living room, I saw Charlie make a dash out of the room and then I saw this:


Sadly some of our favourite ornaments were broken, namely the 2 glass balls with Patrick and Kira's names on them. I normally leave the tree and decorations up until after the Epiphany. But since Bob was here and was driving home that morning, I took the opportunity to pack up all of my ornaments and send them home with Bob. We are trying to get any excess stuff out of here before we put our house on the market, and I'd like to keep the breakables at Bob's house instead of in a trailer in the back of Matt's shop.

Boxing Day

Here are the kids with their cousins and their Aunt Marni. Aunt Liz just handed out "candy kebabs" and the kids are pretty excited. Thanks Liz!

Christmas Day

The boys woke up before Kira, Hanna, Daddy and I, so they waited patiently until 8 am when we let them wake up Kira too. Patrick was the most excited kid in the house!

Kira woke up in no mood for stockings.

Surrounded by opened stockings and gifts, here is our tree on Christmas morning.

Campbell couldn't wait until it was late enough to call Grandma and get her to come over and watch Jack Sparrow with him.

Happy First Christmas Baby Hanna! And look at the beautiful quilt that my friend Kathy made for her. It is so soft and warm.

Hanna and Grandpa enjoy some quiet time amidst the chaos.

Kira fell asleep before the Christmas dinner was served.

Campbell looks on as Grandpa tries to set the watch that Aunt Gayle gave him.

Cameras, glitter and lights! Puck loves Christmas.

Christmas Eve

The girls are ready to go to Grandma's house.

Patrick is admiring the heap of presents under Grandma's tree.

Here are Campbell and Kira with Cousin P waiting for presents to be opened.

Trying to pose 8 children in a group shot - SCARY!

This is as good as it gets. Hopefully Mike got a better one that he can e-mail me.

Hanna is sick of the constant media attention.


Kira loves her mermaid doll.

Damon opening his gifts.

Cousin P snuggling with Hanna.

Campbell and Cousin T jump in for a group shot.

After getting their pjs on, Hanna gets some hugs from Cousin M too.

Smiles

Just catching up with a Hanna-smile.

Mommy's babies

Campbell and his clone-sister.

Sleepyhead

Would you consider it a breed trait then?

I don't normally read comics, let alone Marmaduke, but the bottom right hand corner of this cartoon caught my eye.
Marmaduke
"Dog Gone Funny Joliet Ill. From the 2001 Mailbag. Mindy, Andy and Arin Bazzarone told Marmaduke that Gypsy, their German Shorthaired Pointer, goes to the bathroom tub and turns on the cold water faucet when she's thirsty. She hasn't figured out how to turn the faucet off."



That sounds strangely similar to another German Shorthaired Pointer I know.

The whole gang

Hanna meets her family

Hanna's arrival in photos

Here I am while waiting for the nurse to start my IV.

Seconds after birth.

Getting cleaned up a bit.

The cast and crew.