Happy December! My first order of business on this long overdue post is to share some photos and news of Hendrik's 8th birthday, celebrated at the end of November. He was quite sick the week before his birthday party, but recovered just enough just in time for a few solid hours of fun at the Batter's Box (indoor baseball facility). There were some great activities organized, and a large room that was home to pizza eating, present-opening, ping pong, video games and more. Out on the turf area, we had our designated zone where someone ran a few games - dodgeball, baseball, tag etc.. Alana wasn't too interested in playing with the boys, and we knew Jordan would get run over if we gave him the green light to participate, so we ran around with them at the back and they had fun too (we played zombie tag). His actual birthday was the following Wednesday, and he woke up to presents and balloons and all of the special attention that birthdays bring... love! His meal request was flank steak and lemon potatoes, and since we'd done a double decker candy-topped cake on the weekend, we had cupcakes for dessert (and there was pizza for lunch - a good day of eating!). Some of the presents included books, Lego sets, clothing, Jurassic Park movies, an mp3 player, headphones - and the big one (from mom and dad) - a fish! Steve was all over this one and the two of them picked out the equipment together. SO, we have our first pet! Blue. Blue the betta fish. Also, I had him answer a few birthday questions, made up on the spot on his birthday dinner:
Who's your best friend? Edward.
What's your favourite colour? Grey
What's your favourite book? Secret Coders 6.
Favourite thing to eat? Pizza.
What's your favourite subject in school? Math.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A volleyball player I guess.
What's your favourite thing to do? Read.
What's your favourite thing to do in the summer? Go to Canada's Wonderland & go on the Yukon Striker.
What's your favourite sport? Volleyball.
In other news I finished my first practicum and am on Christmas break - yay! The last week and a half of school was a struggle as I was as sick as I've ever been... not fun. I caught a cough/cold from Hendrik but after talking to my neighbours (both retired nurses), I asked for a chest x-ray and voila! pneumonia. So I'm on antibiotics and feeling a million times better (but still on the mend); I had such a hard time sleeping, and I'd have these awful coughing attacks that left me with zero appetite and totally exhausted. Anyways, I'm feeling better and have been enjoying a more mellow (but still full) week.
The house is decorated and we are feeling the Christmas spirit - I can't believe it's mid-December! (This makes me think about my sister - due with her first babe any day now!) The kids have a holiday concert next week, and we'll spend some time here and some time in Bowmanville during their break, but the bottom line is that I am so SO excited for this time off. I know I'll love having the kids around more, but my fingers are crossed (cement-crossed) that they'll mostly manage to get along. Sometimes, Saturday will roll around and all we're welcomed with is bickering and fighting and yelling and it is just SO awful. So anyways, hopefully we - and you too! - have a great Christmas break!
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| reading one of our Christmas faves - Raymonds Briggs's The Snowman |
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| decorating the mantlepiece with Liz |
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| sugar cookies! |
