Back to normal!

Monday was the first day back to work after the break, but I stayed home due to the girls being ill. We finally got everyone on the mend and back to the regular routine. I picked the girls up today from Julie's and they were beaming with excitement! They had gone outside to play and they saw bugs and they poked them with sticks! Apparently this is uber exciting for 4-year-olds! Equally exciting was the juicy orange they got to eat and Maddie chimed in with "and I got to eat lot's and lot's of broccoli!" Yes, my kid adores broccoli! So much so, that last night she threw a bit of a fit because we didn't have broccoli for dinner (we were having noodles, at her request)! She is funny, she is VERY set in her ways and stubborn (sound familiar)? This morning she decided she wanted pancakes, which she has every Sunday with John. I explained that today was Wednesday and we wouldn't be having pancakes and she went into her "want pancakes now" routine in which she reverts back to being a 2-year-old! I calmly told her she needs to speak in her big girl voice because she sounds like a baby. She then slid under our dresser and decided she wouldn't come out. All of this happened before she even got dressed for the day! Sigh. She finally snapped out of it and then she was happy as a clam! Strange!

As I was getting ready to run tonight Emma says "you can't go running mummy because I love you the best and you need to stay here and fight the crocodiles!" Uh-huh! They always ask to run with me and I tell them when they are older they can so Emma says "when I all growed up I will run too, like this" and she proceeds to run around our bedroom! Too cute!

Sick kiddies are now on the mend

Emma and Maddie caught some sort of bug. Saturday morning at 3 am Maddie came into our room as she had thrown up in her bed. She threw up again at around 3, 9 and repeated the whole thing the following night. Sunday Maddie seemed to be on the mend and then it hit Emma. Emma didn't get it as badly as Maddie, but she still threw up twice yesterday and was very listless. I stayed home today to make sure they were over this thing and to ensure they didn't pass it along to the little kids at their daycare. It is now 3 pm and after a bout of fighting (a sure sign they are better) they are playing happily in the fort I made them. When they were fighting I gave them a warning that if it kept up I would take the fort down. I walked over a few minutes after and Maddie says "see, we are playing. She is smiling and I am smiling. Emma is happy and I am happy. See? See? We are friends. Don't take the fort down!" lol

In spite of their illness, we had a nice weekend with my parents who were here Sat- Mon. It was reassuring have them here with the girls being sick as they are parents and have been through many rounds of us sickies! I tend to panic, and this was the girls time they had thrown up in 4 years (not including spit up as babies) so I was a tad worried but they are fine now.

Gorgeous March Day

We had another gorgeous day today. I think it reached 20 degrees. It was a tad cool in the wind in the morning, but other than that beautiful! The girls and I kickstarted our day with a trip to Loblaws to get groceries. They were very good listeners the whole time and it was a real treat having them help me choose the fruits and vegetables (their faves are strawberries, blueberries, pink lady apples, broccoli and baby carrots). After dropping the groceries off at home we went to the park. The girls had a blast and we were there 2 hours. Emma came over to tell me that one of the big boys didn't want to play with her and it made her cry. Poor thing! Maddie would call out to me each time she got through the tunnel "by myself!" as this was something she could not do last year. Huge difference at the park. I could actually sit on the bench and watch them without fear of them falling off or getting tousled around when the bigger kids play "grounders." After a fun day we went home and watched The Princess and the Frog. Love that movie, as do the girls. Another great day of March break. It's going by too fast! Tomorrow we head to the "snake zoo" (the Metro Zoo) as Emma likes to call it!

Maple Syrup Festival

We took the girls to Bruce's Mill to see the Maple Syrup Festival with Jenn, Jeff and Kaitlyn. It was lot's of fun and a beautiful day (17 degrees woo hoo)! The girls got to go on a pony ride, a wagon ride and touch the animals in the petting zoo. Funnily, none of the kids wanted to touch the animals. With age brings a certain fear. Emma and Maddie used to pet any animal when they were 2 and 3, but now they are more aware I guess and therefore more hesitant. We then walked through the forest to see the maple trees and sap buckets and we got to sample some of the syrup. I couldn't eat it, I had a lick of Maddie's, but the girls all drank it like a shot! Gross! I mean it was good, but super sweet. Then we ate lunch at a picnic table and bought some maple syrup and maple syrup lollipops (oh, and fudge for John and I) at the store. All in all it was a great trip and we will definately go again next year. We will go earlier so we can sit down to pancakes. The line up was way too long so we skipped that part.

After the festival we stayed home and watched Princess and the Frog. I love that movie, and the girls needed quiet time. After dinner they had a bath and then went to bed without too much stalling. They were zonked! Great March Break so far and still a few days left!

4 year olds say the funniest things!

I was singing in the car today and Emma says "mummy, can you stop? It's ridiculous and disgusting." What a little sass! It was so funny. I may not be a Canadian Idol contender but surely disgusting was a bit harsh! lol We had a great first day of March break. Lot's of time to play with their new toys. The weather was nice so we got outside for a bit. Tomorrow the girls and I are going for pedicures as part of their birthday present. They are very excited for Beauty Shop!

Yesterday we enjoyed a fun day at the ROM. The dinosaurs and gems went over really well. Emma hurt her finger (it was a papercut) and later she said she doesn't want any more birthdays because when she grows up she gets owies! lol So cute.

Maddie was out of sorts for a few minutes today and she picked herself up and went under the dinning room table with her blankie and her bookies. I asked her what was wrong and she said she just wants to be by herself. A few minutes later she came back in and was totally fine. Cute!

What a great 4th birthday party!

The party was a huge success. What a great place to have it and the girls and their friends were the perfect age. They started off colouring a chef's hat (made of paper) that they got to wear. Then they got some pizza dough and they got to roll it into a pizza crust and put their own toppings on. Both Emma and Maddie said no to the cheese they were offered. They both don't like to eat cheese on it's own, but don't realize that they eat cheese every time they eat a slice of pizza. So I snuck some on when they weren't looking. Maddie ate every bite and she said it was yummy. Then each kid got an 8 inch round piece of vanilla cake and they put icing on it and got to decorate it with a piping bag (different colours) and candies. The decorating part was hilarious. The girls tended to focus on colours and patterns and all the boys put their icing and candies into these huge mountainous piles. The organisers said it happens every time! Must be something in the chromosomes! It was such a great place because the kids were engaged the whole time. There were no meltdowns and they were busy creating pretty much the entire time. The presents they got filled an entire shopping cart and took us the rest of the afternoon to unwrap and (in some cases) assemble. There were a few meltdowns this afternoon but overall the girls were very good. They were tired by mid-afternoon. Too much excitement as they had their musical right before their birthday. That was good too. Most of the kids didn't say much but Maddie and Emma rhymed off a few of their lines. The kids were all pretty shy but the teacher said this happens at every performance and it's just good to get them used to performing in front of people. Tomorrow we are off to the R.O.M to see the dinosaurs and then family and friends are coming over for another birthday celebration. We get to actually eat the cake that the girls decorated! Yum!

1 more sleep until Em and M are 4! Party is today!

The girls woke up this morning around 6:50 but played in their room until 7:30 (I so love that they do this now)! Maddie must have asked me 10 times in 5 minutes what time her birthday party is among other questions she fired off without pause. Here is how the conversation went:

"Mummy, is it my happy birthday today?"
"Well Mads, actually your real birthday is tomorrow, but today is your party with all your friends."
"Oh. What time is my happy birthday party?"
"It's at 11, after you perform your Lady with the Alligator Purse show."
"What time is the show?"
"10"
"What time is the birthday party?"
"11"
"What time are the candles going to be there?"
"Not sure, maybe 12:30 or so?"
"What time is my birthday party? Is it NOW?"
"Nope, you have about 3 hours"
"And when are my candles going to get there? What did you say mummy? Is it now that my candles are going to be at my happy birthday party with all my friends, and my presents, and Rhetsy and Auntie Julie? And are there going to be muffins, I mean cupcakes or big cakes? Will the icing be pink or purple? Are we making pizzas mummy? I want lot's of peppe-yoni but just a little cheese and no green things. What time is the party, do we get to go now?"

She is one excited little girl! Emma is excited but much more subdued about it. She is more interested in being the star of their Music class show (she is Miss Lucy and knows all her lines)!

2 more sleeps!

The girls will be 4 on Sunday. Wow, wow, wow. I still cannot get over it. I guess the passage of time is something that flits by, especially once you have kids. I am excited for them to embark on this new phase and yet it is bittersweet, as they really are little girls, and not babies or even toddlers anymore. I know, I know, I say they will always be my babies, and they will. But they will become more and more independent of me and that will be hard. I love the cuddles, hugs and kisses and the fact that they still want "up" (I remember when it used to be "uppie peas" instead of "can I come up please mummy")? But since I can't stop it, I will try and embrace it. They are super excited about their birthday party. They had a mini one at daycare today and then tomorrow will be their party with 12 of their friends and on Sunday we will celebrate with just our family. Emma will be so excited to get her Queen Clarion (please send vibes that she doesn't lose the darn thing within a day) and hopefully Maddie loves her mermaid Barbie (the kid changes her mind within minutes)! Tomorrow they are also performing in their musical, "The Lady with the Alligator Purse." They know all their lines, it's just a matter of whether or not they decide to perform on demand! It's right before their b-day party. Tomorrow will be a very exciting day!

Emma's loyal to her grandpa!

Emma was being super cute today slurping her cereal and milk. John said "Emma, you are so cute" and Emma said "do you want to marry me?" and John said "yes, Emma, will you marry me?" and Ems replied with "no dad, I really like grandpa."! Maddie chimed in with her desire to marry "Rhetsy" (a.k.a Rhett) and she said "I will marry him but I won't kiss him." John was happy with this arrangement but I asked why she wouldn't kiss him and she said "because Rhetsy doesn't like kisses, he runs away. But can I hug him mummy? You think that would be ok?" Ha! So Maddie is chasing boys to try and kiss them already! Yeesh! What will the pre-teens and teens be like?

5 more sleeps until they are 4!

The girls are very excited about their upcoming birthday party. Whenever it is mentioned they say "we are going to make pizza and decorate a happy birthday cake!" I have heard great things about the place we are going to, so I hope it turns out well. Emma has been so consistent with what she wants for her birthday: Queen Clarion and a purple barbie with a purple horse. After finally successfully completing Operation Queen Clarion (only available for purchase in the states. I had it shipped to a friend's friend in Chicago, who my friend was visiting last week so she picked it up and will deliver it to me this weekend) I managed to track down purple barbie with her purple horse. Miss Maddie on the other hand changes her mind all the time. If she sees a commercial for Strawberry Shortcake she wants that. If we are watching a movie, she wants whatever character is in the movie. I can't keep up and she is so inconsistent. I finally got her Barbie mermaid, which she has asked for a few more times than any other item, and Buzz Lightyear. Let's hope those gifts go over well!

6 more sleeps!

My babies will be 4 in 6 more sleeps. I find it so hard to believe! Sometimes I look at them and marvel at how grown up they are. They get dressed themselves, and understand and respond to so much. And yet when they are tired, curled up and cuddling on my lap, or want to be carried up to bed and tucked in, I remember that they are still my precious babies, and I hold on to them literally and figurtively. I know that one day in the not-so-distant future, they will be too big to sit on my lap, or they won't want to. So every time my Emma or my Maddie want to snuggle up on the couch I drop anything and everything and cherish every second!

Maddie has a crush

My cousin Dan is in town from Madison, and our own Madison is quite smitten! She followed him around the entire visit and this morning she asked if he would be coming with them when their dad takes them out for pancakes. I told her yes. 5 minutes later she came to me and asked:

"mum, is the funny guy who sleeps in grandma and grandpa's room going to sit beside me?" and I said "his name is Dan and you will have to ask him." So cute! We got a great picture of them snuggling together on the couch. She will for sure throw a fit when he leaves tomorrow!

I ran in a 10 km race today and I came in first. There were only 20 or so people running, but still, I will claim that first place! I ran it in 54:45 which I was ecstatic about as I just wanted to break 60 min. I can definately improve in the next race because this was a fun run and I wasn't implementing my true race style (faster in the beginning for example). I told John to go for pancakes with the girls as is their usual Sunday routine, but I regretted not having them there to cheer me on at the finish line. Oh well, next time.

When John took them to the mall today they ran into Old Navy and Emma hugged the mannequin family that is on display in the front of the store. So cute! She also said she would marry John (it's always grandpa) when she is older, after her Happy Birthday.

Interesting bedtime conversations!

During tonight's tuck-in at bedtime Maddie says "mummy, do all humans get dead?" Not quite what I was expecting considering our normal routine consists of stories about princesses, cuddles and kisses. I asked her what she meant and then she went on some strange tangent about Tarzan and subsequently forgot her original question, so I've dodged that one indefinately. John and I are very honest with the girls but we keep things age appropriate so as not to scare them and so they understand what we are telling them. Yesterday at a friend's house Emma asked him about the tattoo on his arm. He hesitated as he did not know if he should tell her it's a tattoo (he doesn't have kids yet but his wife is expecting a girl). I told him to tell her the truth. Kids absorb a lot and are aware of a lot, no point in lying to them. But I wasn't about to have Maddie worry that all humans get dead! That's a conversation for another time.

Emma and I were watching the cross country 50 km marathon during the Olympics. There was a skiier way out front ahead of the rest of the pack. I guess she couldn't tell if he was in front or behind because she says to me "I think that fella is lost!" So cute. She also asked if dad (John) was my husband and I replied that he was. She then says "did you get married in the marrying castle with the kiss of true love?" to which I responded "um, yes, I suppose we did!" lol