Week 46

Monday, Nov. 12th

Since I hadn't seen Dad in weeks and we weren't spending Thanksgiving together, I made a few quick phone calls and managed to get a gaggle of kids together.  It's not difficult.  You just have to say "cousins" and "park."

Tuesday, Nov. 13th
Previously posted, but still hasn't sunk in--our open house at East Catholic.

A friend found this picture and texted it to me.  I need one or three of these at my house.

Wednesday, Nov. 14th

Nathanael spent some of his birthday money on this cool remote controlled helicopter.  It's actually quite amazing and has provided hours of fun for the kids.

Thursday, Nov. 15th
Morning chores.  The kids pick two popsicle sticks each morning before school.

Trevor, with a substantial amount of coercion encouragement from Madison "tried" a hip-hop class.  He LOVES music and appeared to enjoy the class, but reported after that he "just didn't want to do it anymore."

Saturday, Nov. 17th
A Bourquin tradition...we celebrate Thanksgiving the Saturday before.

Sunday, Nov. 18th
My birthday.
I got gipped out of my Saturday birthday thanks to leap year, but at least it was a Sunday this year.  However our day turned out to be pretty normal / busy...dance convention, 2 hockey games, meeting at church, rehearsal... Thankfully there were nice surprises along the way like the entire cast singing Happy Birthday to me, an hour to have tea with Lisa, telephone song messages, Facebook messages, texts, cards, flowers...

By 6pm we were all able to meet up for my birthday dinner at Outback, just the 8 of us.

Scavengers!

Sweet faces!

Kisses from Renna.

Rocco jumping the gun for 'silly faces'.

And...silly face!!!

Turns out shoving a lemon into a baby's mouth is no fun when they don't twitch and shiver after.

The kids gave me beautiful homemade cards.  C4 wrote the Top 10 reasons I'm the best Mom. He made me cry. I had no idea that my sweet 13 year old saw me in this light.  Most of these I would not even say about myself.

1. You're so very kind.

2. You tidy up after us.

3. You're the best teacher.

4. You are tender and kind.

5. You appreciate what we do.

6. You're slow to anger.

7. Your cooking is amazing.

8. You work hard for us.

9. You love us very much.

10. You are raising us in a Christian home.

I drove home in Colombo's car by myself. Halfway home I panicked, unsure if I had picked up the cards from the table or not.  At home I burst into the house asking the rest of the gang if they had picked up the cards.  C4 had gone back into the restaurant because he forgot his hat.  He spotted them and grabbed them.  Phew!  Crisis averted.  I would've had a hard time letting that go.  I save and treasure cards like that and it would have really bummed me out.  Thankful C forgot his hat...thankful he knew me well enough to know that I DID want the cards!!!

We wrapped up the evening with an impromptu dance party in Daddy's office jammin' to David Crowder's Church Music-Dance.

I received many beautiful cards.  Very meaningful, very humbling, and for sure undeserved.  Thank you to my wonderful friends and family for making it such a special day.  I feel like the most blessed girl in the whole world, even though I'm officially 'pushing 40.'

Party Like a Sock-Star

It was time...

I spent the morning hyping the kids up, telling them they needed to hurry up and finish school so we could have a "Sock Party."

"What's a sock party?" they asked with eager faces.

"Oh, you'll see."

They were so excited so imagine their disappointment when I came down the stairs carrying a large laundry basket of socks. (see picture below)

"This is what you meant?!"

"No, really guys, it will be fun.  We'll sort them into piles by color and then make matches!"

They weren't buying it.  Except for Rocco. He had a great time swimming in the pile, squealing in delight every time a match was found.

At one point Rocco was messing up the piles and Nathanael said, "If you're gonna be a party pooper then just leave the party."

With great excitement, Rocco shouted, "YESSSSsssss!  I will have a poop party tonight."

So when it was all said and done I told the kids whoever could guess the closest to how many pairs we made would get a quarter.  Guesses ranged from 2 (Rocco) to 99 (Trevor).  What do you think??  I couldn't believe it--178!!  That is just messed up!  But wouldn't you know it, the very next day Trevor tells me, "Mom, I can't find any socks."

8 Months

The Girl is 8 months (11.6.12) which seems impossible.  Also impossible to believe is how much she changed this month.  It was a month of many 1st's.

First time in a swing.

First time with Cheerios.

First ride in a cart.

First time giving kisses.

In addition, she spent much of the fun making the face.

First tooth on 10/14.  I cried.  I knew it was coming.  I was at Nathanael's hockey game and I gave her my knuckle to chew on.  I felt the obvious sharpness of her first little tooth poking out of the gum.  Without warning and involuntarily the tears came.  They weren't happy tears. They were tears of "Why does this have to go by so fast? - and these 'baby days' are slipping right through my fingers.  Teeth equate to 'big babies' who can chew their own food.  No turning back."

First time standing while holding on.

First time crawling, commando style.

She is beyond precious and at such a fun stage right now.  She is happy all the time.  She can sit and play, scooch around on the floor, keep herself busy in the highchair, but also still very happy to be held.

She's on a great schedule; a 2-3 hour morning nap and a 2-3 hour afternoon nap, with lots of smiling and playing in between.  In addition, she's 'mostly' sleeping through the night.

She's eating two meals, lunch and dinner, and still nursing the rest of the time.  I cannot express how much we are enjoying her.  She's a complete delight and just fun to have on my hip- when I get my turn.  This is one very loved little girl.

Pictures were difficult.  She wanted to dive forward or flop over to the side.  Once on the move, always on the move!