Tree Hugger

Oh look what I found in the backyard....a big ole 9 year old in my cherry tree. I think all that strenuous climbing caused yet another tooth to fall out tonight. Anyone have any spare change...this tooth fairy has an empty change purse!

Oh and a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my hubby! It's officially tomorrow but I don't think I'll have a chance to blog again for a few days. How he puts up with me I don't know but I love him for it!!!!

But seriously....how could he resist such a lady-like person as myself? True love....twue wuv!

Good News & Bad News

Tonight the boys just completed a set of 10 swimming lessons at the local pool.

Bad news is that they both did not pass into the next level.

The good news is that they both did really awesome and made excellent progress. Honestly, I was really surprised that Nate didn't pass. He's a great swimmer but apparently his front crawl isn't up to snuff. His teacher was pretty strict and had high expectations. Oh well....he can swim and the rest is just technique I suppose. He also jumped off the diving board for the first time tonight...several times I might add!

Now Chad definitely should have gotten a badge for most improved swimmer....ever! This was his THIRD time at his level!!! At each previous set of lessons he has had the death grip on the teacher and had barely attempted each segement such as the back float, blowing bubbles and glides. There was just no way he was going to do any of it. Nothing could convince him at all. It was with trepidation I signed him up for a third round as 'Salamander'. It had been a year since his last set of lessons and I was expecting more of the same. First lesson was the same old nervous Chad but with each and every lesson he made just a wee bit of progress. He had a wonderful teacher who had the magic touch with him. By the tenth lesson tonight he was doing back floats (assisted but NO death grip), swimming with his feet off the ground holding onto floats and submerging his entire head in the water. Yeah! We are so proud. Okay....this is where I should confess that I completely BRIBED the child. I told him that if he passed his level I would take him to Toys R Us and pick out anything he wants within a certain price range. It really seemed to give him incentive. Even though he didn't quite pass he did so well that I will have to reward him somehow. We'll make a champion swimmer out of him yet!

The Partying is over!

Some random shots from our family party on Sunday.

Chad got an amazing super duper water gun. I shall fear for my dryness this summer.

Chad and his auntie Suzanne

Not sure which camera to look at! I made a 'Lemon Tower' cake and it was divine! Thanks Kori for the recipe.

Chad with Uncle Murray and Auntie Tracy

A Bedtime Reno Story....

All that's left is to hang the doors, get some new funky hardware and we're done! Yeah....another 'to do' scratched off the never ending list.

Pests

Having our own front door to the world is a new experience for us. And oh, the people it attracts!

Now that the weather is warm it seems the 'door-bell ringers' are coming out in droves. In the past week I have been answering the door for bottle/pop can collectors, newpaper subscriptions, chocolate bar sales, evangelizers of religions, walk-a-thon donation requests and a company wanting me to swap my phone service. And this has only been when I am HOME. Imagine all the wonderful folks I've missed!

Does anyone else have the pleasure of all this company? Add this onto all the telemarketing we receive over the phone and I'm a cranky lady!

Any tips besides simply not answering the door any longer?!?!?!?

Party Party

Thank you God for giving us the very best sunniest day we could have hoped for!

The boys enjoyed painting the little wooden cut-outs and treasure boxes

Here is the cake I slaved over all morning....ha ha ha!

Chad was delighted with all his wonderful gifts

Firefighter Keith to the rescue again. I will hire him out for birthday parties....he's good at amusing boys for at least 30 minutes :)

The Big Day

What perfect timing! Chad received a special parcel from Ireland precisely on April 18th! He received a lovely card from Ceara and a great vest and shirt as well! Thanks guys!

Here is Chad having a birthday chat with Grandad with remnants of his waffle feast on his face. He was allowed to chose his dinner that evening.

And here is the boy with his gifts from mom and dad. We haven't had too much time to play them yet but so far seem like pretty fun games!

My Baby is Growing Up

April 18, 2001 was the day we met Chad! Oh, what a chubby bundle of delight he was. I remember getting a peek at him all bundled up like a papoose while they were stitching me up from the c-section and I thought he was just the cutest thing. He was a hefty 8 lbs 8 oz.

Chad was a very 'normal' baby. Nathan was SO good that we were spoiled as to what babies really act like. Chad cried a bit more than Nathan did and was always hungry (that has not changed). He didn't want to sleep thru the night....he insisted on night time snacks until he was around 6 months. We were thrilled when he finally slept thru the night!!!

He was a happy baby though....chubby and bright eyed. He was slow to walk and even slower to talk. Chad does everything on his own time table.

Chad has very little of my genetic make up in him....that kid is completely his father and his father's father! He's a delight to me because he's so outgoing, bold, cheeky and quite a rascal. Everything I was not as a child! Chad likes to get out of 'work'. He doesn't care for exerting much effort into anything that is not his idea. Going for walks is soooooo hard! Going to school is sooooo much work! Cleaning up lego makes him soooooo tired! He's rather dramatic.

He's really grown up this past year. He's gotten much taller and is slowly losing his baby 'chub'. Sigh.....it's quite tragic!

But we're proud of our little six year old. We love him to pieces and look forward to enjoying all the milestones he'll reach in the coming years.

Happy Birthday Chad!

So Very Irritated!

And I have only myself to blame.
This morning in my usual morning haste, I had an accident of upsetting proportions!
I went to start the dishwasher and discovered I was out of soap. I knew I had a spare bottle so I went to open that. The top was sealed in and my hurry to open it up, the liquid soap sort of burst and splashed back onto me! On my kitchen rug, my top and my BRAND NEW work pants from the Gap! I paid a good chunk of change for these wonderfully fitting pants and have had them less than a month. I frantically rinsed and rinsed but the damage was done. Dishwasher soap is very caustic stuff. So I have an ugly spotted kitchen rug, a ruined top and ruined pants.
I have told myself in the scheme of things in the world this is not a big deal. It's not working!
I'll get over it.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. I put the pants on my Master Card which carries 'purchase protection'. I have called and intiated a claim and just maybe I'll get some new pants?!?! I just hope there are still some at the Gap in my size.
I had to vent...thanks for reading :)

Thanks Taxman!

The tax refund came in this month. We had planned on getting bikes this spring and a great bike sale was to be had at a local sport shop. I haven't had my own bike since highschool! I had always borrowed my dad's when we went biking as a family. Keith did all the comparison shopping and found us some great bikes today. I have front suspension now which didn't sound that thrilling at the store but after our bike ride today I know what the fuss is about. It's lovely! Keith wants to improve his fitness, so he plans to bike to work each day instead of drive. Now that will trim his waistline and help with the budget since the cost of gas is so crazy! Nathan will inherit Keith's old bike as he's getting much too big for his current one. We hope that Chad will learn to ride on two wheels this year. Keith is still pulling him in the trailer but at 52 lbs it's getting a bit much!

After our bike ride we completely ruined any health benefit by having decadent ice cream sundaes.

Wee College Grad!

Tonight Chad graduated from his second year of Wee College. He was quite proud of his perfect attendance sticker and is very much looking forward to next year when he will receive his trophy! I will also be really excited to be all done 'doing' Wee College :)

I had to add this photo of Chad yawning during the singing portion of the programme. He did this about 15 times. He told me that too much singing makes him tired!

Easter Highlights

One of Keith's creative hiding spots!

The boys having their traditional hunt at Nana & Grandad's house

Arbour Day

Today we (Keith) planted a tree. We bought a Robinia pseudoacacia 'frisia'. Yes....I bet you know exactly what I am talking about! It's common name is a locust tree. It's got beautiful foliage and grows to be 600 cm. Not sure if we'll live here long enough to see it's full maturity but who knows what the future will hold!

This is precisely what Chad thinks of yard work....or hard work of any kind!