Lunch

Yesterday (hey! I'm caught up!!) - we hosted a little Valentine's Lunch here for some of Sam and Gabi's little friends (mainly Gabi's and 1 friend for Sam). We missed Isabella and Kaylee due to feeling under the weather - but did enjoy the company of 4 other Friends and their Moms! Thanks for coming!
We ate lunch together and then made a crown and Hershey's Kiss Mice. Here's Gabi and Erin:
Mrs. Sherry and Luci-Annand Marayahand here's Sam:Matthew - a preschool buddy of Sam's

As soon as I even move a pan from the cupboard or hint at getting out the Mixer, Gabi is right up here on the counter ready to help out! Here she is placing 3 chocolate chips on each of the muffins - still classifying them as Banana Oat Bran Chocolate Chip Muffins - but cutting back on the chocolate a bit!
And the following photo I would have used as my new header photo - another one in which the kids asked me to take their picture - not sure what is in Sam's mouth, otherwise it's a cute one!

music class

I have had all three of my kids in the same music program in a Woman's house nearby. Elijah went for ages 3 and 4. Sam went for age 3 and is now in a age 4/5 split, so he is doing a bit different work than just a straight-4 year old class.

I was amazed a couple weeks ago to see that he was supposed to write some rhythm segments in his homework (just a single page with a tiny bit on it each week) using quarter notes (ta), eighth notes(?I can't remember!!!) (ti-ti), and a rest. I was just so impressed at the information he is learning!! I'm not sure if I'll put Sam in it again this Fall as he'll then be receiving this same form of music in school. We'll see.div>Here is Gabi doing her music homework too - she's in age 3's this year and I do plan to put her in this Fall for a second year with Mrs. G.

sleeping beauty

Sometimes my kids like to sleep in strange places rather than their beds - and whatever, it doesn't bother me - so if they find it comfy, by all means... here is Gabi one night camping out on her bedroom floor (not comfy IMO) -

Happy New Year!

I received an email from Dayspring this week and it had this little bit on it... 12 Things God wants you to Remember in 2011:
God is for you.
God loves you.
God will guide you.
God will not fail you.
God will be with you.
God will provide for you.
God will bless you.
God will give you rest.
God will strengthen you.
God will answer you.
God will uphold you.
God will keep you.

princess night out

A few weekends ago, I had the privelege of escorting Princess Gabriella to a "ball". :) It was at a local community program that offered this free night for girls ages 3-6. Gabi was a good sport and dressed up in one of her outfits (she can be very stubborn at times, especially when it comes to wearing a skirt/dress - Sunday's used to cut it for that type of clothing, but she went through a phase where it was a fight to do that - but I've corrected that, thankfully!)... and she participated if I was close at hand.
At first the girls played some games in the gym - Gabi was a bit young to do that on her own, but would have joined in more willingly if either of her brothers were also there to participate. Then we went into a separate room - where Princess Aurora suprised us with a visit! It was soooo cool! She was a great actress - she danced and treated the girls sooo special - she sang a song for the girls and read them Cinderella and then she met each one separately and sprinkled them each with pixie dust:Princess Aurora asked the girls a question, now I have to remember what it was - something along the lines of "how do you know you are a princess in your heart, not by the mirror, but in your heart?" and these little girls said things like "b/c Jesus is in my heart", "God is in my heart" - it was soooo cute and could be a great little testimony to this Princess!making a crown (Gabi's fine motor skills are fine at work here - she is quite advanced from my experience thus far)What a fabulous time! My Princess and I.
Gabi will be starting ballet at this same community school this weekend - should be interesting!

September Seventh

Also known as the "first day of school" around our parts... it was a good morning and everyone is psyched! Elijah started grade 2. Samuel and Gabriella were both starting their Music Class that morning so they were excited and thinking it was time to go too and even packed a snack to have while the other was in their class...
It's hard to believe Elijah is in Grade 2 already - wow. This was the first year I didn't cry or even tear up letting him go into the School Year!
Samuel is excited to get back to his second year of Orff Music - ready with his Binder and playing the Tick Tock Block
And Gabi started her first year in Orff. I knew it might be sketchy as whether or not she'd stay on her own, though mentally she was very prepared. And yes, as it was I wasn't able to leave her so Sam joined Gabi's class since he of course, was with me with no where to go...Erin is in Gabi's class too, but that didn't make a difference for herWhen the second class came (they each go 1/week for 50min.) Gabi was going to be brave (all in her head again) - but in reality started to freak out when it was time to go in... I knew she was capable, so I had to say 'you're going in or else' and she did... now she's been to about 5 classes and she is so brave and wants me to go home during the class not just for a walk with Sam. Very cute. And I am thankful!

make a wish

I just stumbled upon these 5 pictures I had in my picture folder, but hadn't put them in my July Folder - silly me; they are adorable and I have to share... they are compliments of Uncle Matt during his excursion with Gabi to Build-a-Bear...
Picking her bear: Ice Cream Bearwatching it get filled:making a wish for the heart before placing inside:then fluffing up her bear at the air-table (with Sam who brought his BAB along):Way too fun! When do I get my Build-a-Bear date?!

three

Ok, I'll backtrack a bit to July - Gabi turned 3! Oh man! We celebrated her birthday with my Family one afternoon and then I had a 'friends party' for her too another day. Dora was the theme this year. I was able to borrow a Dora Cake Pan from Lisa (THANK YOU!) and so I decided to make the shaped cake 2 times. The first time took me about 3 hours - yikes! The second time took a bit less time since I had some icings/colours already made and I had a better idea of what I was up against.and then it was now, finally, Gabi's turn to go to Build-a-Bear with Uncle Matt! Although we knew she wouldn't go alone with Matt, Sam went along for the company. Gabi came home with very cute "ice cream bear"THANK YOU Uncle Matt!

Later that week I had a party for Gabi's little 3-Year-Old Friends; it was such an easy party to do! I had 5 little girls plus Gabi and Elijah and Sam. 4 of the girls were dropped off and Isabella was accompanied by her Mom, Sara - who then gave me a hand! Thanks Sara! The girls were so quiet and obedient - we started at the table colouring a map I made with Balloon Forest, Lollipop Lane and Ice Cream Palace...then we played "pass the present" and I even read them 2 Dora Books...Gabi opened giftsand then we had cake:and then Dora-popsiclesand since it was a very hot week, I had the little pool all ready for the girls to dip inbackpack goody bags:it was a great party! Thanks for coming girls!

magic dust

Jason took Elijah and Gabi to the store to see if they could find a bike for Elijah - but he had fallen on his shoulder a few days prior to this (separating his ac) - so he wasn't able to "try on" a bike... BUT little miss Gabi jumped on this bike and started to ride in the store. Daddy's heart melted and he came home with this precious little set of wheels for his baby girl - she is SO proud of it and rides it like a champion, keeping up to all the kids in the cul-de-sac with no problem.{June}

Erin and Gabi

You've noticed over the {almost} 3 years that we sometimes have matching clothes for Erin and Gabi - never in the same size, but the same otherwise! So when I spotted this adorable Children's Place daisy-dress on FB for sale, I snatched it since I knew Erin had the same one from last Easter. So... at the end of April when Gabi went to Erin's house while I took Sam to his Music Class Finale, Alexa got some photos of the two together...

mascots

February: We picked up a pack of the 4 mascots and let our kids each have one - one is being saved with some other Olympic merch Jason is displaying in his office.
Elijah likes Quatchi:GAbi loved Miga:And Sammy liked MukMuk: