Christmas Tree

We finally put up our tree today. I just haven't felt very Christmas-y lately and so I haven't been in a rush to put the tree up or do cards or any of the stuff that usually I have done by Dec 1st! Aidan started asking about the tree so I promised him we'd do it soon but if it wasn't for him it would probably still be in the bin downstairs!! Maybe next year things will be a little more settled and I'll have time for the Christmas Spirit :)

Once the tree was set up they put their new ornaments from their Aunt on the tree. I should have taken a picture of just the ornaments, they are really cute!

They were very pleased with the ornaments - they're wooden blocks and Keira's has a K on it, Aidan's an A - and then little felt arms and legs with a wooden face and a little elf cap. They had a great time decorating the tree but I think they thought it was a race! I'm glad there were only 2 of them because I was kept really busy trying to make sure they each had an ornament to put up as well as protecting the delicate ornaments and making sure nothing got smushed or broken or eaten. I have this one ornament and it looks exactly like a heart of jujubes with a little teddybear hanging from the point of the heart. In fact it is so lifelike that until he was old enough to understand, Aidan would constantly try to eat it. And now Keira is trying to eat it. She kept saying 'Candy!' while looking at the tree today!

Afterwards I got my little elves to put all the presents under the tree

They always look way more impressive under the tree. I didn't think we had all that many, but the tree is full - and I am so thankful for that!

Michael said the tree needed lights so I figured I'd decorate the kids while I waited for him to finish what he was doing and put the lights up.

This just makes me laugh!

So does this. I'm sure she had NO idea what was going on!!

See - her expression says "I have no idea what you did to me mom, and why would you then want to take a picture?!"

They are growing up so fast. Keira is potty training, in a booster seat, and loves to have tea and marmalade toast for breakfast.

Aidan is determined to grow his hair as long as his Uncle Luke's. Uncle Luke has hair down to his butt, so Aidan's got a long road ahead of him! His behavior at school is now mostly limited to the usual grade 1 stuff - butting in line, not listening etc - for while I am very thankful for. He is learning to read and write and lately has taken to writing sums (1+1=2, 6+6=12 etc) out on his little notepad in his room. He is so inquisitive and I like explaining things to him - like the components of what we eat (carbohydrates, protein, fat, sugar) and what they do for our body.

Potty Training and Other Adventures

It's always hard to know when to start potty training. Some kids are ready earlier than others and even if they are ready, it's a difficult process. We've had the potty in the bathroom for awhile but Keira has been really resistant to the idea of actually using it. She actually started saying 'NooooOOO thank-you!' when we'd ask her if she had to pee. Then one day when I was telling her that she should be using the potty and wearing underwear she actually said to me "No uh-wah! Dee-pa!" and I knew the time had come. When you can articulate that you are more comfortable in diapers and would prefer not to wear underwear, the time has definitely come. The challenge was to get her to do something on the potty. The girl can hold it for hours and hours! So this was my clever idea:

I sat her down on her potty in front of the tv with her own pop. I figured the tv would keep her sitting in one place (on the potty) and the pop would work it's way through her system and sooner or later ... but most likely sooner ... something would happen and then we could make a big deal out of it. My plan worked great until she sat on the couch and repeated her new trick - totally forgot the towel!

She has been doing SO well. A couple days later we made a special trip to Wal Mart to get her some Disney Princess underwear which she is thrilled with. She knows all the names and loves picking out which princess to wear. Right now she is good to go at home - knows when she needs to sit down and does her thing - but we're still working on learning what to do when we're out and about or at a friend's house. I think she's doing really really well since she's only 2 and almost 5 months and I am really enjoying backing off the diapers - especially since usually she manages to stay dry during nap and bed time!

In November Michael had his 2nd annual Grey Cup Kegger and was excited to wear his new BC Lions apron while cooking up wings. Unfortunately his team did not make it to the game but he was very thankful that the Roughriders did not take home the cup.

We had about 29 people here throughout the afternoon/evening and it went really well. The kids had a blast, got to stay up late and were tired and grumpy the next day :)

And really, what's a kegger without someone falling asleep / passing out and getting written

on?!? Aidan thought this was hilarious that Mike wouldn't wake up and thought someone else's suggestion that we draw pictures on him was the best idea ever. And once Michael wrote something we couldn't very well say no to Aidan. So he wrote his name on Mike's arm and then crossed it out. Apparently now it was 'invisible'. Just like on our bathroom wall and the back wall of his closet.

Can you tell I'm at loose ends and just looking for more sewing projects? Aidan's flame hat wasn't covering his ears so I decided to use the leftover house coat material and make him one with ear flaps. It turned out super good but I think I need a new mitten pattern because they keep on turning out super skinny. Hopefully they will work for Aidan's hands!

And then I remembered that Keira's hat is a little small so I made her one too. The beige polarfleece is just SO thick and soft, I wish I had enough to make myself a hat too!

Aidan had his Christmas Festival at school this past week and I took the kids down for an hour. They got their faces painted - Aidan got a snowflake on one side and a snowman on the other ...

... and Keira got a star on one side and a snowflake on the other. She wasn't too sure about it!

They threw balls through hoops

and glooped icing onto already-super-sugary gingerbread man cookies

But I think the highlight was the mini-golf set up in the library. Aidan was actually able to hit his ball and make his way through the course, only needing help with the last hole

I really loved watching Keira try to hit the ball and completely miss every time! We hit the ball together and she had a great time