HAPPY EASTER....

What a great Easter we've had. The fun started yesterday when the Easter bunny "hopped" by our house after the kids nap. We arranged with the bunny to pay an early visit to our house since we had a packed Easter Sunday and too much Easter fun in one day would be very overwhelming! 

The bunny was very creative and hid Charlotte and Jacob's eggs outside since the weather was so nice. The hunt led them to their new "balance bikes" from the bunny and bike helmets from Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Grams and Grandpa. The kids didn't know what to think when they first saw their bikes (shocked looks on their faces) but were very excited to take them for a ride. It will take them a little while before they are completely comfortable on them given they don't have pedals and it's up to them to support them with their foot work and balance but once they get the hang of them we likely won't be able to get them off! 

The fun continued today with an Easter hunt at Grammy's house after church and another Easter hunt and dinner at Grams and Grandpa's house. At shortly before 7 p.m. Jacob came to me and said "my go home mommy I'm tired"....the sign of a good Easter for sure!

Thanks for the fun everyone...we can't wait to do it again next year!

Charlotte, Jacob and Oliver's loot from the Easter Bunny

Seeing the bunny's treats for the first time....

No Easter would be complete without bunny ears 

Happy 1st Easter Oliver

Bunny ears...check....let the hunt begin...

Jacob hunting...

Look what I found....

Daddy and Oliver on the hunt.... 

Still hunting.... 

The grand finale of the hunt...

So excited to take it for a ride

Can't wait to take it for a spin

Loving their helmets... 

Charlotte getting ready to ride.... 

"Fire fighter" Jacob getting ready to take his bike for a spin

First ride on her new bike... 

Helping Grammy open her Easter present

Easter Basket at Grammy's

Loving her bubbles in her basket at Grammy's

Oliver's Easter Basket at Grammy's "Ollie's Egg" book...

Easter fun at Grammy's 

Grammy and the kids.... 

Jacob, Oliver and Charlotte with their Easter treats from Grammy

Hanging outside  

Happy Easter.... 

Grams and Jacob reading her Easter card

GG and Oliver share an Easter cuddle

Grandpa and Jacob all smiles for Easter

Oliver loving his first Easter....

EASTER PREPARATION....

Yesterday I introduced Charlotte and Jacob to "egg colouring". I had everything ready for them when they woke from their afternoon nap. They were very excited to see the eggs and colouring stuff waiting for them when they came downstairs. Claire and I put their bibs on and explained how to dip the eggs into the coloured water. I wasn't sure what kind of mess to expect after it was all said and done but they were very neat "egg decorators". 

As with many of the other "occasions" we have experienced with Charlotte and Jacob over the past few months (Halloween, Christmas, their birthday, New Year's and Valentine's Day) they are very excited about the Easter Bunny hopping by our house. Can't wait to see their faces after the bunny stops by....stay tuned! 

Hard at work decorating eggs

Using the wax pen on the eggs 

So proud.... 

The finished product....

SCIENCE CENTRE FUN....

This morning Charlotte, Jacob, Oliver and I went to the Science Centre. We boarded the 34 bus near our house and took it to Don Mills. From there we walked through the large parking lot and arrived at the Science Centre shortly before it opened. The kids were quite excited to see a big blue "tunnel" in front of the entrance so I let them spend some time going through it before we went inside. I figured it made sense for Charlotte and Jacob to burn a bit of energy before entering since I was on my own with the three kids!

Once inside we took the elevator to the Kidzone on the 4th floor. I wish I could have walked around with a video camera on "record" the whole time we were there because Charlotte and Jacob's faces were priceless. Everything was beyond exciting to them. While in the Kidzone we spent time rolling the balls in the "roller coaster" area, shopping in the market area, and playing music and dancing in the music booth. After an hour on the 4th floor I convinced the kids we should go and see other sections of the Centre, so we took the elevator to the 6th floor and found our way to the Rain Forest and the electricity section. As we were walking through the electricity area I noticed that the show with the "static ball" was set to begin at 11:30. I decided this was a perfect time for a break and to feed Oliver. So we sat on the benches and watched the show. Charlotte and Jacob sat quietly and listened a lot better than I had expected they would. Charlotte even put her hand up when the lady asked for volunteers for the "static ball"! Unfortunately she wasn't picked (no big surprise given her size) but at the end of the show the lady invited everyone who wanted to, to come up. Charlotte was already in the line before I could ask if she or Jacob wanted to go! Jacob decided to pass and stay on the bench so I went to meet Charlotte in line. We walked up the stairs, put our feet on the feet marks and I placed my hand on the ball and let the electric current do the rest! The lady was nice enough to take a few pictures on my BB (the quality isn't the best but they are fun to have). Of course once Jacob saw what was happening he wanted in on the action as well so I went up with him too. 

After 2.5 hours of fun the kids and I said good-bye to the Science Centre and hopped back on the bus to head home. As crazy as it was at times this morning I loved every minute of my time alone with the kids! It's moments like these that I'll miss when I'm back to work...

Charlotte and Jacob busy shopping in the market at Kidzone

"You get the peppers and I'll grab the bananas..."

Jacob cashing out...

Mommy and Charlotte in the "classic" Science Centre shot

POPE FRANCIS....

I was lucky enough to be at home and have the TV on earlier this week as white smoke  bellowed out of the chimney above the Sistene Chapel, signalling a new Pope had been chosen. Like thousands of others both in St. Peter's Square and watching abroad I was glued to the TV anxiously awaiting word on who the new Pope would be. His introduction came just as Charlotte and Jacob were waking up from their afternoon nap. As I grabbed them from their room I said "come with mommy, we're going to see who the new Pope is". They ran from their room directly into my room to see the TV. As Pope Francis appeared on the balcony I said to them "there is the new Pope...his name is Pope Francis". They were very interested and sat watching the TV for about 20 minutes. I kept asking them "what's the new Pope's name and they'd answer POPE FRANCIS".....now every time they see images of the Pope, whether in the paper or on TV, they'll say "mommy...Pope Francis".

I couldn't resist capturing this video of Charlotte last night as we watched CTV news at 6pm. 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY....

In honour of St. Patrick's Day we dressed the kids in green today. St. Patty's has never been a huge deal in our family but you can't let the day go by without at least showing a little green! 

Hope the luck o' the Irish was with you today!

HAPPY FIVE MONTH "BIRTHDAY" OLIVER...

I cannot believe that today marks five months since Oliver's birth. Never would I have imagined that the last five months would have flown by as quickly as they have. Time sure does fly by when you're having fun. 

We have had another busy month in our house. From February 9 to March 9 Oliver has:

• Gained weight and grown: Oliver now weighs 17 lbs 8 oz (up from 16 lbs last month) and is 28 1/4" (up from 27" last month)
• Started solid food: Oliver started his solid food journey with rice cereal on February 12. Since then he has had oat, wheat and mixed grain cereal, as well as sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, bananas, butternut squash and apple sauce. He has loved all of the new tastes we've introduced and hasn't reacted to any of them! 
• Continued to sleep through the night: Oliver is a great night sleeper. We put him down between 6:30 / 7 p.m. dream feed him around 9:30 / 10 and don't hear from him again until 6:30 the next morning. 
• Regressed on daytime sleeping: Although Oliver is a great night sleeper I've noticed he isn't as great a daytime sleeper as he was. Over the past few weeks he has started protesting his daytime crib naps (lots and lots of tears and stubborn crying) or will only sleep for short periods of time (30 minutes). The only time he sleeps really well during the day is if we're out walking with the stroller. I'm all for exercise and fresh air but refuse to let him get used to only napping while moving! 
• Started giggling: Over the last few weeks Oliver began to giggle. He giggles when tickled under his chin or washed with soap in the bath. I also learned yesterday (March 8) that he even giggles when he hears dogs barking as he did when he heard my friend Amanda's dogs bark at her house! 
• Showed signs of rolling: In the past week Oliver has begun to pivot his hips / legs from side to side like he's about to roll over but hasn't rolled just yet. Looks like it's only a matter of time before this skill becomes a future blog post sometime in the coming weeks! 
• Continues to be vocal and smiley: Oliver loves to smile and use his voice. He is forever interacting with anyone that talks to him. 
• Moved from size 2 Pampers to size 3: So long size 2 swaddlers...hello size 3 cruisers!
• Started wearing 6 month clothes: All of Oliver's clothes are now size 6 months and even some of those shirts are a bit tight on him! 
• Had his first case of pink eye: Thanks to his brother Jacob Oliver had his first case of pink eye...nothing a little eye drops couldn't fix though! 
• Attended his first b-day party: Oliver joined Claire, Charlotte, Jacob and I as we celebrated Wesley's 2nd birthday on March 8
• Activities outside the house: Public swim at Regent Park Community Centre, walks in the neighbourhood, Baby Time at Northern District Library, Stars and Strollers movie (Side Effects and Safe Haven)

OLIVER'S GIGGLES....

This morning Claire, Charlotte, Jacob, Oliver and I spent time at my friend Amanda's house celebrating her son Wesley's 2nd birthday. Amanda has two dogs who would bark each time the door bell rang. I looked down at Oliver during one of the door bell rings and he was giggling away in the swing - the funniest part was his giggle would get more animated when the dogs barked. He has giggled before in the past few weeks but never to the extent he was today. There is nothing more enjoyable than hearing the sound of a baby's giggle....enjoy!