More birthday fun!

 

Remember how I had the community centre booked and someone else sent home an invitation to a party on the exact same day? Well, we had a home party instead and it rocked. Actually, what I mean is, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!!! I still stressed out the night before about the clean up- wondering would any of the parents come in to use the bathroom? Would any parents want to go up and see the girls room? What if one of the kids notices how messy my house is and tells their parents??? Would anyone notice how gross my dining room chairs are? We got the house clean and decent looking and set it up all nice for conversation, eating, board games and of course video games. Then 10 of Olivia's classmates came over and the fun began. In my head I kept picturing a lot of yelling and running around but it wasn't like that at all. My mom commented how it was such a nice group of kids and she is so right. The dynamics of this group were awesome and the party for the most part was calm. Well....as calm as a group of eleven 7 & 8 yrs olds, two 5 yr olds and a 3 yr old can possibly be. I was so busy being the best hostess I could be that I forgot to take pictures!!! I've shared the couple that we took.

 The last 20 minutes of the party was spent outside decorating our sidewalk. The sun was shining and it was just a beautiful day.

Okay, I'm totally a TEACHER all the time. I made up some cute games and laminated them. Then I had the girls practice them so that they could teach their friends and also, in case there were any problems that might come up during the party. But the kids just did their own thing! Nobody played my beautifully laminated games :(

My Biggest is 8!

Okay, this is late. Olivia turned 8 on Monday, March 11th. When I saw the positive on the pregnancy test my world stopped and the world kept spinning around me. Literally! I was shocked and stunned. Dan made me take several more tests before he would believe it. I had severe morning sickness with her but the rest of the pregnancy was uneventful. Except if you count the gestational diabetes and the 50 lb weight gain. The day she was born I went off and worked my last day at the school I'm still at. I was showered with gifts and unwrapped them when I got home. I started to feel weird and nauseous so I had a bath. The bath was eventful and I called the hospital. The doc on call thought it was a stomache bug and wanted me to phone the hospital. Forget that, I wasn't calling I was going in. By the time we had grabbed my bags and Dan brought the car around to the front I could hardly move b/c the contractions were so painful. Then we had the longest car ride EVER and got to RCH in New West. The really rude, snotty, witchy lady at reception made me wait 15 minutes before I got admitted. All telling me to breathe. I get upstairs and nursers are joking around, while I'm in the bathroom trying to get into the damn hospital gown. I could barely do that simple act and had to call for Dan. So then they finally check me and I'm a 9. A big ole freakin 9! I felt so vindicated. So then everyone starts treating me different and seriously and not much longer I had Olivia. But first the intern checked me and couldn't tell what number I was dilated, the cord was wrapped around her neck and forceps were used. But of course this all turns out to be the best day ever b/c I was officially a mom. So here are some pics of Miss Olivia Lauren over the years:

 The arms over the head pose in the basinette.

 Check out that tiny fist. What is it with little tiny baby fists that are so adorable?

 Don't let Dan's tired eyes fool you. Lucky guy didn't know what it was like to get up during the night  until Alexis came along.

 Love that face. The monkey dancing thingy is gone. They all loved it but outgrew it.

 Olivia's first birthday!

 Scribbling on the wall. This is Pa and Avo's house. You should see the walls at our house. Covered with scribbles!

 Our little Canucks fan. There's Lexie in my belly.

 First trip to Portland I think.

 Hamming it up for the camera.

 See a pattern?

 Wearing daddy's hat during game #7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. All Vancouver fans would love to have her "oh well, the Canucks didn't win" attitude.

 Age 7.

Age almost 8.

Our Miss Olivia is creative, feisty, kind hearted, strong willed and high spirited. She loves her sisters and is kind to them - most of the time. She loves swimming, arts and crafts and cats. This girl is difficult but so special. She thinks outside the box and I can't wait to see where that leads her. She thinks boyfriends and kisssing are icky and I'm hoping that sentiment stays!

My Littlest is 3

 March 4, 2010 Brand new to the world. I feel so blessed to have 3 happy healthy little ones. I never imagined myself with 3 kids but all the work is so worth it. This third little girl has added an amazing dynamic to our family. I'm not sure how to describe it at this point but my heart just wants to burst when these 3 girls play together.

 March 2011- celebrating being one year old!

 March 2012- had to cancel her 2nd birthday party b/c she was sick.

 March 3, 2013- this is Cassidy in her first outfit of her 3rd birthday. And it was also before she got bonked in the face with the baby gate  (by accident) by one of her sisters.

This is her second out fit at her third birthday party. (There's a big red welt on the left side of her face.)

Bye bye baby stage. She's been done with diapers for over a year now and she doesn't want to wear pullups at naptime anymore. She still naps but when she doesn't it's not a huge deal. I can register her in a swim class and she can go in the water BY HERSELF!!!! In April she starts a gymnastics class that is NOT parent participation. And we've registered her in preschool for September.
I have to say 2 (the age) was exhausting. I felt too old to do it this third time. It literally felt like it was going to kill me some days! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I know it's not going to get easier but there's something "easier" when your kids get more independent. I'm looking forward to a time when all 3 can do everything in the bathroom on their own, or when I can go into the bathroom and shut the door! (That happens right?) I'm looking forward to the removal of baby gates and electrical covers. The thought of getting rid of all our sippy cups and valves makes me all giddy!!! I hate washing those suckers, especially after you've found one hidden under something that's been rotting away for a few days. Gross. But at the same time I'm savouring these days where someone climbs into my lap to read, and loving the little arms thrown around me when I come home. Looking forward to happy happy days. (and planning some Disney fun in the future sometime...)