A Visit with Santa

This year the kids received a personalized video message from Santa via the PNP! Owen was a little freaked out by the fact that Santa knew he'd played soccer and that he was asked to listen to his Mommy. Santa asked that Noah always be good while at daycare, oh how I hope they listen to the big guy in red!

The main gift that Owen is hoping for this year is a backhoe, that item certainly made number one on his " would like list". We delivered our Santa letters to the Canada Post mailbox during the parade and every day since then Owen asks if it's Christmas when he wakes up in the morning. While out shopping last week Owen spotted a remote control backhoe and we just had to take a few minutes to play with it in the store. This backhoe is cooler than the one that was previously bought so while my mom took the kids to a different area of the store I purchased the very last backhoe on the shelf! moments later Owen returned and noticed it was missing from the shelf and was heart broken :( he has been worried all week that Santa won't know that he wants a remote control backhoe because he didn't say that on his letter. I tried to tell him that Santa knows what he would like but he still wanted to make sure.

This morning Owen wanted to go and pay a visit to Santa at the mall. We've seen Santa at the mall the last few times but Owen didn't show any interest in meeting him until today. I asked him why he wanted to visit Santa and he said " I have to tell him I want a remote control" heh. We went early to a less popular mall and were second in line so we avoided the massive line up. The kids did great and weren't afraid to sit on his lap. Owen was able to tell Santa what he would like for Christmas and I'm sure feels much better about being able to clarify his request with Santa personally! Santa told the kids to be asleep in their beds when he comes on Christmas eve and Owen was quick to say "but there will be presents under the tree in the morning right?" that boy cracks me up!

Here are a few pics of the boys and Santa (not the prettiest Santa display but whatever there was no line!) from the sidelines.



In this picture you can see the "hurricane simulator" in the background. We laughed at how many people put their kids in there prior to getting their pictures taken. Lots of messy haired kids visiting Santa today :)

Santa gave the kids candy canes and I could hear Noah say "tank you Danta" and then he wanted Santa to open his candy cane for him. My kids make me smile so often!

I will post the picture from the photographer once we get it back later today. Our photo got jammed in the printer and wasn't ready for us once we finished with Santa. That is such our luck :)

I forgot to mention that this morning Owen gave away one of my Christmas gifts. While getting our coats on Owen asked Gavin if "Mommy could wear her gloves" (I asked for leather gloves) we asked him what he was talking about and he said "the gloves we bought for mommy yesterday" haha. so much for Christmas surprises :) after telling Owen that the gloves were supposed to be a surprise he then yelled out "surprise Mom!" so funny.

updated with photo:

Kids Toy Drive

On friday my mom and I took the kids on an outing to shop for toys for the Christmas toy drive. One of my little daycare kids was absent so the trip to the toy department was easier than I had anticipated. Owen found it difficult to give toys that he wanted to have himself so my mom had the brilliant idea for him to find a toy he already owned that another little boy would like. He chose to donate a Mr. Potato head :) he doesn't play with his much, but perhaps the recipient of his gift will.




Noah chose a toy story gift.


Sweet Hannah chose this toy :)



Santa waved to the kids as we donated our gifts and then we went out for lunch before heading home for naps!

First Snowman

Yesterday we enjoyed our first real snowfall of the year, the kids could hardly wait to get into their snowsuits and get outside and play in the fluffy white stuff! Even Noah was excited to get his snowsuit on and he usually hates being bundled up. The snow was perfect snowman making snow and the kids did a great job! It was hard to get a picture of the sweet little snowman because the kids enjoyed destroying him as fast as he was made! It was great to see how much fun they were having playing in the snow, it makes winter a little more enjoyable!

Santa Claus Parade

You can tell we've entered into a busier time of year by the lack of blog posts! I really need to try and make some time to update the blog more often. Last night we bundled the kids up and headed to the Santa Claus parade. We had a good time but had to wait quite a while for the floats to get to where we were waiting. Next weekend there is a smaller town parade and I may try and take the kids there, I found that it was a great parade for little kids last year.








After the parade I asked Owen what his favourite float was and he told me it was the tractor. No surprise there.

I've been busy planning activities for the daycare kids and getting things ready for the Christmas season, we have dozens of cookies to bake and tons of crafts to make. I'm exhausted thinking of the things we have planned to do! It should be loads of fun though!

Halloween

On friday we celebrated halloween with another daycare, it was chaotic at times but the kids had fun! Unfortunately, I was unable to get a group picture of my daycare kids so I have no pictures to share. I made cupcakes for the party and was in charge of crafts, while my friend took care of lunch and her next door neighbour took care of the games. Most of the kids had fleece costumes so we could only have them wear their costumes for a few pictures then we had to take them off.

The kids made ghost decorations and decorated pictures of pumpkins. I love the two ghosts hanging on either side of our patio doors! such a fun and easy craft! this ghost is Noah's.


Owen's ghost


This is about as dressed up as Noah wanted to get


Saturday we dropped the kids off with Julia, Danny and Molly, while Gavin and I went out. It was the second time they have cared for my boys, but the first time we have ever left them at another person's house! I was nervous as to how Noah would do because he's been such a Mommy's boy lately, but they did great! On the way out the door Owen yelled "bye" but he was already playing in another room with toys! The kids even napped well for Julia. I am extremely grateful to have such great friends that I know care well for my kids, it makes leaving them that much easier. We had left shopping for a pumpkin until last minute and on our way out Julia told us to take one of theirs. Luckily we did as the grocery store was sold out. Here are the boys carving the pumpkin.


A little pumpkin taste test - yuck.


The finished product, Owen chose the owl.


This morning we had plans to have lunch with Adam, Tirza and Kian. We wanted to try and get a group picture of the cousins wearing their costumes. Obviously that didn't work out very well. Noah was very uncooperative this time. He really doesn't like wearing his costume and cried the entire time he had it on. Oh well, the pictures are funny regardless. Kian was much more into wearing his costume as opposed to last year. Noah was a monkey, Owen a hamburger, and Kian was a bumblebee.








Halloween Dinner - the kids loved it! I think we've found a new tradition.






Gavin dressed up with the boys and we had a small scare when we thought the face paint wouldn't wash off! his fingers were covered in the makeup even after several washes, luckily it came off of his face easier. I was thinking he'd be staying home from work tomorrow!


Cute Monkey Noah. Halloween obviously isn't his holiday, let's hope Christmas doesn't have as many tears!


My cute little hamburger.


Trick or Treat Mommy!


Enjoying a mini chocolate bar after trick-or- treating

This year the kids started coming out at 6:30 but were mostly done trick or treating by 7:30. I think we got about 50 kids this year, a few more than last year. My boys did both sides of the street and were finished in half an hour, then they enjoyed handing out the candy to kids that came to the door.

Happy Halloween!

Big Boys Room

Transitioning into the big boys bedroom has been so far so good! Owen has slept in his own bed in his own room two nights out of the last week, which is two more nights than he has in the past three years! The bedroom move hasn't phased Noah on bit, it does take him a little longer to fall asleep at nap time, but night time sleep is going great.

The room is almost complete and I really like how it turned out. All that is left to do is purchase some new bedding and paint the dresser. Owen is quite proud of his new space, he likes to show it off to anyone he can!

Pumpkin Farm

This afternoon we took the kids to a local pumpkin farm. We've been going to the same farm for the past three years and just love how it's become a family tradition! I like comparing the pictures from years past, the kids look so grown up all of a sudden. We always enjoy our time at the farm there is so much for the kids to see and explore. The highlight of the day was taking a wagon ride out to the pumpkin field, the kids just loved that!