Have Beans, Will Travel!

Since Grammie & Grandad were in town today & we'll be going up there for supper tomorrow, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get a sleepover in and Honey was more than willing to cash in. I mentioned it to her privately as I didn't want the other two to go into hysterics in front of the guests if they were upset about this development. I told Honey not to tell anyone what the plan was. So she promptly went into the kitchen and said "Sisters! Mummy just told me about something!" Technically honouring my request but opening a can of worms at the same time. Smooth operator! I changed the subject and got them onto something else but all afternoon, Honey kept asking "can I tell my sisters NOW????????"

Then we got home from our walk, had the silly fest (see pics in post below), got pj's on, teeth brushed, read stories and no Grammie & Grandad yet and it was already half an hour past bedtime with a longish drive to get to their house.... we started preparing her that maybe their bbq had gone later than they expected and she might have to wait and go another time. She was disappointed about this possibility but just commented that "maybe they didn't know their party would be so long!)

We were just starting the final bathroom run when the car pulls in! The sleepover is saved!!!!!! Honey was thrilled! She got her stuff and was out the door in record time. Her sisters went outside to say goodbye, I love you, goodbye, hug, hug, kiss long drawn out departure!

When we were tucking Lovey & Sweetie in, Lovey got upset and started crying in her bedroom. She didn't want to sleep in her room alone and was upset about that. Sweetie was out of her bed like a shot. "Lovey, I'll sleep in Honey's bed!" and she settled right in without a fuss!

Too Much Fun :)

Is there really such a thing? Although I occasionally crave a day of nothing, I also greatly enjoy having jam packed days full of fun that will turn into great childhood memories for the girls.

First thing today, they went to gymnastics and had a good time there. Then after lunch I gave them a bath and gave Honey & Lovey new haircuts. They've been begging for a haircut ever since Sweetie got hers recently. I tried to talk them out of it but they were very adamant. I love their long hair but it is a bit easier to care for with less length & bulk. So chop chop off it went. I apparently only have one style choice as all three ended up with pretty much the same length & cut! I tried to make Lovey's dip a little longer in the back but didn't do it smoothly enough and had to make it even all the way around so she wouldn't end up with a nickname like "mullet head". :)

They were incredibly pleased with the results. I don't think they really care about the haircut at all, it's more the novelty of the change and the fact that for the next little while, everyone they meet will say "oh my! did you get a HAIRCUT!?!?!" It's a novelty and the extra attention makes them feel special. Pretty cheap for an ego booster so why not?

I was just working on the haircuts when Tulip & her mom came over. They've finished building their new house and now live much closer (2 doors down instead of 5 :). They ran all over the house, playing dress up, Thomas the Train, Rodsters, tea party plus just general running around pretending this & that.

Grandad arrived to work on getting boards cut for the playhouse deck and then Grammie arrived with Max but she had to go get some groceries.

Shortly after she left, Nicolle came by to drop her daughter off to play and the fun & games went up a couple notches. More running around, more dress up and then we got out the play doh. A quiet, contained activity but pretty messy. Never fear, Sweetie used her toy broom to clean off the table when they were done (and then I scrubbed it down with disinfectant!)

Tulip and her mom went back to their place for supper and then Grammie came back and then Nicolle & her son arrived for supper.

Grammie & Grandad were off to a bbq and we got our own supper served and enjoyed our meal. You should have seen the look on Nicolle's face when she heard Sweetie say "Can I have a fiddlehead please?" and then she stared at her to see if she was actually going to put it in her mouth (she did) and eat it (she ate most of it). LOL That child is a rare breed indeed.

After supper we all went for a walk down the street (with 4,246,825 mosquitoes & blackflies!) and the kids had more fun running and chasing. Nicolle's son enjoyed pushing the hot pink baby carriage the whole way. Too cute.

When we got home it was pretty much bedtime but these girls still had energy for dancing around, twirling and laughing their heads off.

Heave Ho, and up she rises!

Because our backyard didn't have enough stuff in it, we're adding something else! The girls' birthday is coming up and Murray thought of getting them a playhouse! I kindof thought we should pay off our own house before they get one that's better than ours!!!!!!! However, it's his money from his grandmother and he gets to spoil his girls if he wants to. and then there's Grandad & Grammie. They're adding a deck platform so the kiddie mansion is off the ground.

Dad got all the lumber delivered here and has started construction and is teaching me some carpenter talk as we work on levelling everything. (carpenter talk bears a striking resemblance to sailor talk....) Lots of fun and I can't wait to see it all put together.

The kids are wildly curious about this thing that's going up in the backyard. Honey is pretty sure it's a playhouse with a waterslide AND a door!!!!! (because a playhouse with just a waterslide would be unacceptable I guess)

Stay tuned, things should be coming together quickly as the deadline isn't too far away!

Grace Under Fire!

This little girl is turning 4 and her birthday party is tomorrow! When we did her pictures, it was a chilly overcast day. As with most preschoolers, she had her own ideas on wardrobe and despite her mum's advice, she insisted on the sleeveless sundress ;) Having 3 girls who very well know their own mind when it comes to outfits, I wasn't surprised by this turn of events.

However, it wasn't long before my model got chilly and we really had to keep her moving and distracted!

Considering the conditions, she was a trooper and performed well despite the lack of warm weather!

Happy Birthday Girly Girl! :)

Just Stuff

After preschool today, Boo came to visit while Teena got her grocery run done. It's amazing how much easier it is to shop when you're on your own!



The girls got out the dress up stuff AND their winter hats from the baby days. They called them their "cuties" and kept them on even out in the hot sun. I couldn't believe they could get these on at all!

On a sad note, preschool is almost done for the year. I found out today there are only 6 days left. I can't believe it's coming up so fast. It's just barely going to be June! I've gotten used to my 4 mornings a week to get to the gym & run errands etc. I'm not going to know what to do with all of them around all the time again! Teena & I will have to switch off occasionally as well as plan group activities to keep each other sane!!!!!!!!!!

Oh the excitement!

One day a couple weeks ago, I was checking the mail on our way home from school and lo and behold, there were 3 envelopes in there. Each girl got her own and they were thrilled to death. The excitement went up a couple notches when we got them inside and found out they were birthday invitations. They carried those cards around all day! They told everyone about being invited to the party. They asked constantly how many more days til the party. The party, the party, the party. It was a HUGE deal. I phoned the mum up to let her know we were coming and to thank her for thinking to give each girl her own card as it had really meant a lot to them. She said it was her daughter who insisted on it and said "but Mum, we NEED three!"

The birthday party was the same day Murray was getting home so it really helped fill the day and distract them for a few hours. We went over around 2 but were a little late as there was a big squabble over who was going to give which gift. Apparently someone had claimed one of them the night before but then changed it around the next day & I didn't know what was what and they already all had cards on them so I told them it had to stay the way it was since the party was already started. Lovey was the one who was upset and refused to come out of the house. She sat in the entryway screaming and crying for 10 minutes. I finally decided it wasn't fair to keep the other 2 waiting anymore and said goodbye to Lovey and started walking the other 2 next door. I cut through the fence and stood in the driveway as Honey & Sweetie headed over. Suddenly, Lovey pops out with her present hollering "I'm COMING!!!!!!!!!!!" Funny how she had a sudden change of heart huh?

We were there for 3 hours and they had a blast running around with the other kids. The mosquitoes were a bit unbearable but those girls were moving around so much, they didn't seem to notice. I had doused myself fairly thoroughly with repellant before heading over so I didn't get many bites but there were so many bugs buzzing around my face it was still kind of gross. I didn't know anyone else so I just sortof stood around for the 3 hours we were there but got to chat with the other mum a bit. Our 4 girls will all go to kindergarten together in the fall so it's nice to get to know them a bit.

The highlight of the party was the piñatas of course and Sweetie had quite an impressive swing. In the picture you can see one guy in the background kindof chuckling at her aggressive attack. She may be full of mischief but she knows how to get what she wants and she wasn't holding back any with that bat! Most of the little kids gave the piñata more of a poke but just look at this two handed technique! She got good solid connections that sent the piñata swinging up and around the board it was hanging from. Small but mighty, hear her roar!

Welcome Wagon!

Murray had a work trip recently and the girls & I had to fend for ourselves for a few days. We survived but everyone missed Murray lots! Every day, several times a day "I miss Daddy" was heard. Usually at meal time and bedtime, especially story time! Murray reads to them every night while I clean up or goof off and apparently they have QUITE the system that I've yet to master! The reader has to sit in a chair that is positioned and angled JUST so and a bunch of other rules they tried to teach me :)

They were very anxious for the arrival day to come and asked how much longer it would be several times and looked forward to meeting him at the airport. They decided to make signs and I printed them on the computer and they coloured and decorated them. Lovey & Honey wanted theirs on sticks like flags.

Everyone that saw us walking through the airport had these big "awwwwww isn't that sweet" smiles on their faces. One man standing next to us at the window commented to his friend "gee, I never got a welcome like THAT before!"

Finally Daddy's plane landed and the passengers started coming in, he must have been seated towards the back as it took awhile for him to come in. He spotted them and their signs right away!

We are so glad to have him home!!!!!!!!!