Bumpy beginnings

Xavier had a terrible time adjusting to our new rhythm of life these past couple of weeks. With E coming four days a week as part of our daycare family it was almost like bringing home a new baby. He seemed afraid that he was losing his "spot". He had quite a few melt downs the first week and the stress caused him to regress by having a few "accidents" and wetting the bed a few times each week. It was eye opening to me and I had to pull out my bag of parental tricks to help him realise he just as important as he's always been and we love him just the same.
Add to all this the fact that Emma, his BFF, started kindergarten, let's just say it's been a challenge. He is much better now. The things that did help, is that E is a pretty laid back kid, phew, and he started going to preschool. He missed his preschool teacher over the summer and going back into her class (even though the physical classroom has changed) has given some stability back into his life.
Emma, on her side, LOVES going to school and going on the bus. In fact she loves taking the bus so much, she refuses to come back with us in the car when I go to pick up Xavier and E from preschool. Luckily we get home a full 20 minutes before the bus which gives us leeway when everybody's in snowsuits.
Xavier misses Emma so much that he will actually run out the door and jump into Emma's arms when she gets off the bus. So incredibly cute! Lucas is also very happy to see his big sister come home.
I love how excited Emma is to tell me all about her day, I've already learnt three new songs and one new dance from her already =) I hope this excitement follows her through until the end of her university studies, hehe.
Lucas has really been enjoying his 2.5, 3 days a week, of one on one time. He's such a cutie. Although I don't mind doing errands and grocery shopping with my whole gang, I love it when I can go with just Lucas. He's so cute in the store and such a flirt.

New beginnings

We are already in the month of September and this time next week Emma will have completed her first full day of kindergarten, a big milestone in the life of a young child.
This month seems to be full of new and exciting beginnings.
Emma will transform from a little caterpillar until a beautiful butterfly as she ventures into the new world of school.
Xavier will be entering into pre-school, three times a week, venturing to make new friends and get his caterpillar ready for its chrysalis.
Lucas will discover life with just Maman three days a week and of course continue to grow, learning new things, new words.
Another new beginning the unofficial start my daycare! I don't have my licence yet, but I am able to take care of four children including my own until I get my licence! This means the new official member of our daycare family will be starting on Tuesday. I am very excited about this. Emma fully understands that E will be part of our daycare family and will be here four times a week, the boys not so much. Whenever I tell Xavier that E will be here four days a week, he asks why? LOL. I am sure the beginning will be a little rough, but hopefully I can plan enough activities and crafts to keep them busy.
Keeping on the daycare vine, the basement is starting to take shape, which has gotten me really excited. All the walls are primed and one has a first coat of paint. Once we get all the paint up, next comes the flooring. It's all coming together. Good things come to those who wait and new beginnings.

Fun in the sun

We definitely have had a busy but fun summer. Part of that is because of this great new moms group that has formed recently in Winnipeg calleds Momstown Winnipeg. We've had car wash play dates, tonnes of stroller walks, play dates at the new Nature Playground in Assiboine Park, an outing to tinkertown and even an outing just for moms!
This group is so good for me and for the kids.
It gets us out of the house doing things with other people. Hopefully it will also garner some friendships for the kiddies and for me. I am definitely in need of expanding my social circle. I am so insecure with myself, however, I am constantly afraid of doing or saying something wrong. Gah! I need to learn to relax and try to convince myself I'm someone that other people can/do like. Why is this so hard? I always wonder how making friends seem to be so easy for other people.
I just need to relax.
How did this blog about fun in the sun turn into my self esteem issues? LOL. I was thinking of deleting that part, but I've decided to leave it on here as a reminder to myself.
Let's get back to topic. I really love picnics and thankfully this summer we've managed to have a picnic every week. Some were more organised, other were thrown together last minute and one was just me alone with the kids in the park, literally. Every single one of them was well worth it. It's so much fun hanging out at the park with the kids.
We've made it to the beach once this year, better than none last year, hopefully next year there will be more trips to the beach though! However, it's not totally lost for this year, even though tomorrow is September 1. EGADS! 9 more days and Emma reaches another milestone: kindergarten! I have mixed feelings about this one :-S
We did spend some time earlier this month at the CanadInns. The kids had a blast, we spent most of the time in the pool, a lot of times we were the only ones there! Xavier hardly swam though, he just going on the slide! LOL! What a guy. He will definitely be my daredevil.
All of these activities however, have hampered my concentration on my homework, so I really need to kick my butt and get my homework done for the end of next week. (that's my personal deadline). We'll see how things go!

Lovely summer days

I've been busy with enumerating for the upcoming Provincial election, other than that we've also enjoying summer!
It was sweltering hot, which I love! My niece came over for a sleepover and we played outside a lot. Played in the sprinkler, played a water game and went to the nearby outdoor pool.
We've also been enjoying weekly picnics/play dates in the park. It's been a lot of fun.
I can not believe we are almost to the end of July. Received a letter last week telling us what time Emma will be taking the bus, her intro into the world of Kindergarten is starting to feel more real. I can wait until the end of the summer for the rest of the info though, don't need to be reminded of fall/winter. LOL!
Right now we are having a slumber party (part two) in the living room. Xavier was the first one to fall asleep sometime just after 7pm, poor little guy was so excited. The next one to fall asleep was Emma around 10pm! I think I'll have to make sure she takes a nap sometime in the afternoon tomorrow. Lucas was the little party goer this evening, he just went down at around 10:45pm! Oh boy! I hope this means he will be waking sometime later than his usual 5:30am, please? fingers crossed...
Of course, Lucas is not sleeping in the living room, I put him in his bed.
I should get me own self to bed now! Ta ta for now!

Family, friends and good times

What a beautiful and HOT weekend. This is the weather I dream of all winter long. What bliss. Saturday was the Frog Follies in St-Pierre-Jolys. We jumped into the van and picked up my sister early to make it down for the parade, which is the highlight for the kids (not the actual parade, but the candies being thrown to them)! Richard picked up my Danika and Kieran to join us while their parents were very busy with the St-Malo farmers market.
The kids had a lot of fun on the bouncy castle/slides and in the kids tent where they went from one station to the next. They also played on the new play structure and got spray on tattoos. After lunch was finished we headed to St-Malo to cool off at the Beach.
All the kids had a blast at the beach. I think Lucas really loves the beach! He would come up for a minute to the grassy area where we had a stuff to have a snack/drink and immediately run back down to the shore line. He didn't want to get in too deep, but he enjoyed getting his feet wet and playing in the sand.
Once adequately cooled off, we headed back to St-Pierre and enjoyed a nice pizza supper with my dad and Lucille. Lucas slept almost the whole time we were there!


Sunday we had a play date/visit from our friends Shella, Tomo and Yoshi! It's always cute to see little ones playing together (Yoshi is only 10 months old). Lucas is starting to learn to play with other babes, but he would still get upset when Yoshi would play with one of his toys, especially the musical chair.
We moved the play date outside where Yoshi enjoyed playing in the little baby pool for the first time, it looked like he was having a good time. We enjoyed a nice supper of bbq hot dogs, except for Xavier who was being his usually picky self. Unfortunately I had to go to bed (in preparation for my midnight shift) before the visit was over. Overall though it was a very good day and a very good weekend!

Ah summer

I love beautiful summer days! I wish it could be summer all year long!
Yesterday was such a beautiful day. We started off the morning by going to "J'apprends en famille" with the lovely ladies from Pluri-elles. I really enjoy learning how to be a better parent, and I think my kids appreciate it as well! :)
Once we finished up there, we headed to Parc Provencher to have a picnic (which I prepared earlier that morning). The kids had a blast! Playing on both the play structure and the splash pad, too bad I forgot my camera at home! Luckily Uncle Tony and Tante Nicole joined us for part of the day and took (hopefully) tonnes of photos. Can't wait to see them (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). Joëlle also joined us with Lucas' friend Gabriel and Maélie. There`s nothing cuter than watching a group of 1 year old kiddies play, hehe.
Before heading home, we stopped in quickly at the manor where I work to get some ice cream and strawberries (they were have a Strawberry ice cream social). The kids had the patience to just eat their ice cream and go! LOL!
Once home, the kids played in the pool with Richard while Lucas napped and I rested/prepared supper.
I wish everyday could be a fun summer's day.

Perfect day =)

Today was just one of those really lovely days.
The weather was better than could be expected.
In the morning we had a "car wash" play date organised by the Winnipeg Momstown chapter. The weather was really warm, but overcast with a nice breeze, perfect for the little munchkins. The kids had a really good time. Each mom brought a ride on car for their kids to wash. Emma and Xavier took their seriously and with much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, I was so busy chatting with the other moms, I forgot to take photos! I know! Me, forget to take pictures??? What??? I discovered two of the moms (who are sisters) have a Chilean background and one of the other moms is Mexican. The best part was that these moms were speaking Spanish to their kids! Since Richard doesn't speak enough Spanish to our kids, I think these ladies might have a good linguistic influence on them ;)
We came home to a spotless kitchen and lunch being cooked, thanks to Richard and Karina. Didn't have to do anything at lunch but eat!
After lunch Karina decided to take Emma and Xavier on a bus/shopping adventure! Lucas was the happiest boy on earth when he realised he had both parents all to himself! After Richard went to work, Lucas and I went on a lovely walk. We walked on Lyndale Drive (in the Norwood Flats) which runs along the Red River. Lucas really enjoyed this part. We kept walking until we arrived at Mémère's house (which preceded a 5 min freak deluge!)
Lucas was just as happy to see his Mémère as she was to see him. It was so nice to have a visit with just the three of us. Mémère even commented on nice a quiet it was =) After having a nice supper thanks to Pasquale's, Lucas and I headed home.
Lucas fell asleep just blocks from home where Emma and Xavier were already playing in the pool for a nice cool down. Karina and I joined them, well I only wet myself to my knees, at least I was there.
Now all three babes are snug as a bug ;)
What a perfect day...