Halloween

So here we are! Halloween was great. Jake, Hayden, Sage and I drove to North Bay where Hayden and Anya and Emerald (Carol's neighbour's daughter, also 2 years old) were going out as the Three Little Piggies. I had come up with the idea and made the costumes. They were going to have tails on as well, but we decided not to attach them at the last minute. It didn't matter anyway since they sat in their strollers most of the time, the tails would have been in the way. So we arrived at Carol's house around quarter to four, and Carol showed us the piggie noses she'd made.
Anya didn't mind wearing hers for more than 2 seconds at a time, but Hayden and Emerald wouldn't hear of wearing them at all. We tried the sweaters on the kids and Carol finished getting herself ready for the big night as Edith Prickley from SCTV fame. She made her hat out of the bottom portion of her coat. She did an excellent job! She even found some sparkly shoe clips that she put on the corners of her glasses.

BJ came home and we finished getting everyone ready. Chantal (neighbour) came over with Emerald and we took pictures of the three of them running around like piggies. It was really funny because if the kid wasn't facing you, it was so difficult to tell who was who. Anya turned out to be the fattest piggie, because she wore the most clothes under her sweater. Also she had a size 2 sweater, and Hayden and Emerald had size 3s, only because there was only one size 2 to be purchased. Turned out good tho, because there was space under them for coats and other sweaters. It was a cold windy night, but luckily it didn't rain.

We put the piggies into strollers and walked the 2-3 blocks down to the fire hall where they were putting on a haunted house. Carol said it was awesome last year and they gave out candies and toned down the scary for the littler kids. We got there around 6pm, right when it opened, but there was already a huge lineup. Good thing we bundled the kids up so good, cuz it was COLD. Anya and Emerald hated being tied down in their strollers and screamed, cried, and squirmed almost the whole time we waited, which was about half an hour. Hayden was very calm and almost fell asleep. When we finally got inside, we let the kids get out and walk to collect their candy. There was a whole row of volunteers handing out handfuls of junk. I held out Hayden's bag for him and helped him say "trick or treat" as we collected our -er, I mean HIS goodies. Then it was our turn to go into the Haunted House. He was very nervous at the doorway because of all the screaming and loud banging and wind blowing etc, but I held him in my arms while we walked through and he wasn't too bad. The people inside saw that he was little, and instead of reaching out to grab ankles and spook us, they waved and said Happy Halloween.

Once we were out, we walked around the firehouse back to where we'd left the strollers. We passed a camera crew and the local news crew asked us if we wanted to be on television! Of course we did. We took the three little piggies on TV and were interviewed. I made a special point of saying my piggie was a boy, even tho he wore pink. She said boys who wear pink are cute.

Then we went home cuz the kids were tired and some of them (I won't say who) were a little screamy. We had a great time! Can't wait to do it again next year.

Hayden's Costume and Spaghetti

Here's Hayden's costume, but I will still wait to post the Halloween story until I have pictures of the Three Little Piggies all together. Also a great photo of Gramma with Sage, and finally Hayden Learning To Use A Spoon While Eating Spaghetti And Wearing Black Socks. Enjoy!




Incidentally I made this sauce with Portabello and Button mushrooms and it was very very good.

Lacey was a big help in getting the lumps off Hayden before I plunked him into the tub.

Oh and here's Kitty enjoying the Bumbo.

Bumbo

Halloween was great, but we forgot the camera. We await the emailled photos off Carol's cam and then I will post our Halloween story with pictures.

Meanwhile, Happy November First! 54 days until Hayden turns two! 55 days till Christmas! It's all very exciting.

This morning Lacey and I sat Sage in his bumbo for the first time. He loved it for a few minutes, but I didn't leave him in it for long cuz his neck is JUST starting to be strong enough.

The Doctor's Visit

I took Sage today to his first doctor's appointment. He is very healthy, so said the doc. His weight is 14 lbs 13 oz, length is 24 inches, head circumference is 16 inches. He cried his little eyes out at the needles, poor thing.

Looking

While we were in Toronto, I discovered that Sage likes to lie on the floor and look at stuff. Sometimes he would be crying and inconsolable in arms, and when I would put him down about to change his bum, he would almost instantly be content. Fortunately for him, I happen to have just the thing for his amusment. When I set it up, Hayden was amused by it, and then later the kitten was amused by it as well. A very versatile toy indeed.

In this picture you can see his new move about to happen. He rolls onto his side by lifting his little leggies up into the air. Great for him, motor-skills-wise, scary for me who can no longer let him lie on the bed with absolute security. I do NOT want a repeat of Hayden's babyhood mishap when he squirmed off the bed and broke his arm when he was 7 months old.


And then in THIS picture, I think I can finally see myself in his features! FINALLY!

Better Pictures

My camera didn't take very good pictures of the four babies on the couch. Anya had been playing with the camera and they turned out to be a little overexposed. Luckily enough there was another camera there taking pictures. Here they are.

Ultrasound Results

CONGRATULATIONS to Carol and BJ who learned at their ultrasound yesterday that they are expecting TWIN GIRLS!!! Still recovering from the shock of it, Carol and BJ are extremely happy, as is the rest of the family. I am getting goosebumps just typing about it! Her due date is March 20th, but with second pregnancy and now two expected, in my uneducated opinion I would guess she will go earlier than that. Her desire for another home birth is kinda out of the question also. Oh well! Twins!! TWINS!! TWINS!!!

Toronto trip pictures

After we got to North Bay, Sage said hello to Anya.
At Sheena's house, Sage wears his onesie tribute to Jake's favourite wrestling group, DX. I made this freehand with fabric paint. Jake, Hayden and I have silk-screen versions of the same logo that are bigger. Obviously, Sage's little onesie was too small for the print.

Sheena (that's Carol's mother in law) holding Anya and Sage.
Apparently when you say "smile for the camera" this is the face Anya makes.

Anya and Thea playing together with vintage fisher price toys.

Aww blue eyed Thea - priceless.
Sage on the Vandewater's living room rug.

Yellowknifers in town! Vanessa and little Rachel show off their baby bjorn.
All four kiddlets together and not crying!

Oop there they're starting to cry.

Vanessa nurses Rachel.

Vanessa with Rachel, Sarah with Thea.
Carol and Anya take a self-portrait.
Anya tries her hand at photography.

Carol claims the camera back from Anya...

Cutie little Thea and Sarah again.
Anya takes her own self-portrait.
Left to right: John Theodore, Carla Vandewater, their mom Florinda Theodore and what family photo would be complete without little Sage in it? He likes to muscle his way into other family photos also :o)

The four firm friends all together for the first time in a year. The four firm friends make funny faces for the camera.
Vanessa is taking a picture of....
..these cute little posing beauties. Note the inspirational Rachel sitting in Thea's bumbo (the seed gets planted in my brain to get one for Sage).
The gorgeous view of the Vandewater's back yard. Awesome colours not done justice here.

Anya gets a story read to her by Tina.

This is Anya's neighbour and friend Emerald, just two weeks older than she. They're playing with Static Electricity.

Anya's gymnastics class. Anya is on the ballance beam wearing a dark pink top and turquoise shorts. Sorry bout the quality of these photos.

The class ran up and down this yellow runway several times. Anya's making a breakaway here. The rest of them were running backwards but Anya couldn't hold back her exhuberance (sp?) and forged ahead of the pack.

Blurry pink and turquoise blob practicing a summer sault on a big bouncy ball while mommy helps her get used to the idea.

The end! Enjoy.