cousins + SLEEP issues!

All three of the children are sleeping AT THE SAME TIME! Hallelujah. I'd tell myself to knock on wood but I know it won't do any good - the J-bubs will likely be up again in the next hour or two. To say the sleep is not going well is a bit of an understatement; is it the 4-month sleep regression? Teething? The cold the kids brought home from school? I don't know and I don't really care - I just want it to get better! Though that's what I need to stop doing... hoping. It means I wake up disappointed, grumpy, and just a little bit angry that I'm still getting up every 1-3 hours to feed this big four-month old babe. Oh oh oh oh well - it'll get better some time. At least he's happy - when he's awake (and no one is trying to get him to sleep!).

We're back from another great weekend in Bowmanville visiting G&G and Erin and Lennon - yay! It was great to get the cousins together, something that doesn't happen often enough. We're heading to Denver in a few weeks and that'll be a wrap on getting our kiddies better connected with their relatives, hurrah. Steve is watching the Hilary vs. Trump debate and man is it distracting (and entertaining). I have lots more to write about - so here's a list for next time (maybe?): school (mine), school (theirs), volleyball. Weather (fall is here). There must be more! Anyways, here are some photos - enjoy!

cousins

pic-heavy

4 months!

The last two weeks have been great - school is in the swing of things, summer weather is still going strong, and we've made it out to some great events and happenings. PLUS! Jordan is four months old! I didn't make cake or anything but thought about it (/am still thinking about it). Since I'm running low on energy and baby JUST went to bed (and because I've been talking about going to bed early for days) I'm going to let the photos do the talking and, well, go to bed. More soon, I promise! 

A&H were pretending to be at the beach - with baby bro

my three birds :)

at the western fair and riding (sort of) high

running on the RUNWAY - we participated in an amazing even, jordan's run the runway.. we'll be back next year for sure!

alana near the finish line, all smiles!

zoom in on this if you can - hendrik is SO dramatic!

first day of school + Q&A

A week later, here's the first day of school post featuring a j-k'er and a grade one'r (!!). The first day wasn't rough; with all of the talk/prep about day one (to Alana especially), there were no tears and only a little hesitation. Hendrik seemed a bit wary and hesitant too, but that's to be expected; after two years with Mrs. B in the kindergarten room he's with a new teacher in a new part of the school (2nd floor what what). He's in a split 1/2 and it's mostly so far so good - unfortunately all of his buddies are in the Gr. 1 class, so it's time to make new friends and establish new connections (in a new environment), something that may be more easily said that done. He seems happy enough, and by the end of the week we were feeling in the groove at drop-off and pick-up. Alana asked me to stay with her every day and I did (just for a few minutes) and by the second day she was telling me about her new friends and what she did at recess (she ran away from her brother). Early in the week I asked Alana a few questions that I usually include with the birthday post, but Hendrik was keen to answer them as well, so far this year it's a first day of school inquiry; here's the Q&A:

Who is your best friend?
A: Chloe
H: Grayson

What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: A unicorn.
H: A farmer.

What's your favourite thing to eat?
A: Cheese.
H: Chicken thighs.

What is your favourite colour?
A: Purple and pink.
H: Gold.

What's your favourite movie/TV show?
A: "Dora you silly"
H: Pokemon.

What's your favourite thing to do?
A: Play.
H: Eat.

What's your favourite song?
A: Frozen song.
H: Shut up and dance with me.

What's your favourite toy?
A: Robin doggy.
H: Pokemon cards.

happy birthday!

Our girl is FOUR! We threw a small party / gathering on her actual birthday, and she loved having her friends over for what turned out to be a Frozen + Unicorn themed day. She woke up to her first gift from her big brother, a unicorn puzzle and a Frog & Toad book, and then the two kids scurried downstairs to open more gifts. There was a big box of Fruit Loops (highlight!), books (Uni the Unicorn was/is a favourite), an Elsa dress, Elsa dolls, Frozen clothes, a new scooter and Anna and Elsa dolls - and I think these take the cake. She's also really loved a new plush unicorn, a jar of paper stars and a ribbon wand. It was fun to see her so happy with the presents and attention and friends - and funny to see her picking all of them up in ferocious hugs and/or just because. Ooooooh how I love her! 

alana with her bestie | hanging with the kids | dishing out the amazing cake made by marg | unicorn cookie takeaways

alana and some of her friends... love it!

J in his exerciser... so far so good!

How cute is this baby?! He is, at the moment, sleeping - something he's been resisting over the past three or four days (day and night, boo!). Fingers are crossed (glued) that it'll get better; I need more than two consecutive hours at a time! Last night was better than the two before (thank GOODness) and I'm hoping for another decent stretch tonight. He has a minor ear infection which he's on antibiotics for, and I have to say administering the goopy pink liquid has been somewhat of a challenge (the same goes for removing a sliver from Alana's hand tonight). The kids start school in TWO sleeps (can't believe it), and I need to soak up the last of the summer with my babes. 

3 1/2 months and cuter than ever

les kids

at the pool this afternoon - fun for all