Boo at the Zoo

I had this brilliant idea. I would take the kids to the Boo at the Zoo, we'd march in their parade, and go Trick or Treating and have a very enjoyable day at the zoo. Well, it didn't go as planned. Caitlin, who has been wearing her costume daily has decided she doesn't want to wear it anywhere. Connor, I don't think he cares one way or another. He just wanted to see some animals.

Here the kids are watching the peacocks. I would have thought that the 45 degrees would have been a little too cold for them, but I guess I was wrong.

 Caitlin took this picture of the peacock. She loves them and tries to give them hugs.

 Here they are watching the other little kids walk pass in their costumes.

 The trees are still changing colors up here. Toronto Zoo is located in the Rogue River park. It is gorgeous!

 Looking at the pumpkins. I tried to get them to sit and let me take their picture, but I was informed they didn't want to smile anymore!

 Yeah, still not cooperating with the whole picture thing.

 Inside a teepee. This is the first time we had actually went in. I think they enjoyed running around inside.

 Because it was a little chilly out today, the Artic Wolves were out and very active today. I think they have become one of my favorite animals. Connor likes them too, and was telling everyone that passed by what they were! Smart Boy!

 The kids love the movie Tangled. So every time we visit the zoo, they want to see Pascal. He doesn't look like he likes being called Pascal.

 Another favorite animal of ours is the elephants. I think the kids just like sitting on the cement elephants.

The secret to keeping one of the kids from running wild? Make them hold hands.

The American Eagle has a maimed wing and wouldn't survive in the wild. He is a beautiful animal and as we were walking away from admiring him, he was talking up a storm!
So although we weren't in any costumes, we still were able to trick or treat. The kids came home with a pencil, an Addams family tattoo, a yo-yo and stickers! Score!
Maybe next year they will actually want to wear their costumes!

When In Rome....

The midgets have started skating lessons! Hurray! 

Here they are in their gear. I'm not one to brag, but it only took me about 10 minutes to get them both dressed! High Five!

 

 Their instructor Miss Catherine is teaching them how to get up when they fall down. At least I think that is what she is doing.

 Well, they are standing up by themselves. That has got to be a good sign right?

 Teaching Caitlin how to take steps holding onto her cone. By the end of her lesson, she was already trying to take steps on her own!

 Connor, looks like he just slipped and needs Miss Catherine to help him up.

 Caitlin with Miss Catherine

 Coming off the ice.
Flash forward to today. Today was their 2nd lesson. Still really really enjoying themselves!

 Caitlin isn't waiting for nobody!

 Miss Catherine trying to help her, but she likes to do things "ALL BY MYSELF!"

 And off she goes!

 Talking something over with Miss Catherine

And there she goes again! I swear she has taken to the ice like a reincarnated figure skater! Connor, well, not so much. But if this is anything like swimming, he should be warming up to it here in a week or two, then watch out!
Connor had seen a picture of his cousin Henry Banks in his hockey gear, and for a while that is all he talked about, wanting to play hockey too! So we'll see if he is still interested in it.

Getting Ready For Halloween

I am a bad mother. This is the first year we have carved pumpkins for the kids. I know, just because I really don't care for the holiday, there should be no reason they shouldn't.  So off to the store we went to get their first pumpkins. And honestly, I think Jayson enjoyed this much more than the kids. Yeah, they were excited with the whole "let's make a happy pumpkin" idea, but not so much the deed. They split after the faces were drawn on and so Jayson carved (not that I wanted them near a sharp knife!) and I cleaned. And all I kept hearing was how icky it was.

 Here are the finished pumpkins.  As happy as we could make them. But really, who wants to see a happy face on Halloween? This is the one day you try to scare yourself!

 After we left our friends Ken and Heather's house with all of Kallee's wonderful and glorious (Caitlin's words, not mine!) dress up clothes, all I have heard was I need a costume mom! So as you could guess, we were toast when a catalog showed up in the mail advertising the local costume shop. Of course, she wanted every princess costume. Connor, I don't think cared too much.

 So daddy went by the costume store on his way home from taking my car and ordering snow tires (yes, I said snow tires) and bought them these costumes. We tried to hide the bag, but they found them anyway. Of course they had to wear them!

 So Connor will be dressed as Lightening McQueen. This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that has met the kid. And Caitlin will be Belle. I am thinking we got her name wrong.

 And poor Caitlin! Wanting to dance and the only one that she could find that would was her Rapunzel barbie doll! They danced and danced!

 And on a side story, Caitlin has decided she really really likes taking pictures with my camera! She gotta hold of it this morning while I was making breakfast and took a lot of pictures of the house. I am seeing and understanding how they see things. Never mind the finger!

 Of course, I have a lot of pictures of her feet. This midget sure likes her toes.

If you are not careful, you will get a foot in the face with her yelling "tickle my feet please!"  I hope she develops a phobia of people touching her feet!

Salt Lake City

Before I forget, I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Eh!
We had an awesome visit with our family and friends in Salt Lake City. We had a blast and were very sad we had to leave! 

 Mom held a small get together to celebrate Connor and Caitlin's third birthday. Here they are being sung too! See the huge smile on Caitlin's face? She totally loved it!

 Caitlin and Kallee who became one of her new BFF's! Now mom is looking for a Tangled dress and shoes for Caitlin! Oh man!

 Playing at Aunt Sara's house on her trampoline and having a blast!

 Caitlin and two of her most favorite people in the world! She loves herself some Ali and Aunt Sara!

 Connor also loves Alison and his Aunt Sara!

 Rocking out on Guitar Hero!

 This must be the reason the kids love Aunt Sara so much! She lets them help make cookies!

 Caitlin with her best bud in the whole wide world! It brought tears to my eyes when she asked if Ali and Brady were coming home with us!

 We went to the Living Planet Aquarium with Papa Gene and Grandma. Here Papa Gene was helping Connor pet the Stinray. Caitlin screamed when she saw it, like Mother like Daughter! I know they are fish and all, but you couldn't pay me enough to touch one!

 They got to run around on Papa Gene's school bus, which was the thing they looked forward to the most!

 Papa Gene with all his Grandkids! This is such an awesome picture!

 Having a picnic at BJ and Tia's house! They absolutely loved playing with Jake, Kallee and Olivia!

 Smiling in the car! Such a weirdo!

 On our way home from BJ and Tia's house

 Connor eating his first icee.

 Caitlin and her first icee. We were planning on cheering Brady on to victory at his football game, but because of a concussion and sprained neck, Brady couldn't play. So we cheered for his team. Brady, it is more important that you sit out and let your brain heal than for me to watch you play. I can come back any time and see you play, I will not be tying your shoes for you in 10 years! Take care of yourself and do what the doctor told you to do!!! That is an order from your Aunt!!! Who will come back to kick your behind if you don't!!

 My little munchkin Brady getting ready for the birthday cake!

 Here they are blowing out the candles.

 Licking the frosting off the Mickey and Minnie figures that were on the cake.

Birthday cake will always cheer people up!

Growing Up

Man, am I the only one that has trouble adjusting to the idea of their kids growing up? Yesterday Connor and Caitlin started a Gymcraftics class at our neighborhood community center. It's just 2 hours every Thursday and mom is not invited! I checked them in yesterday, and they left without looking back. I mean, the only tears were from me? Thanks guys! I thought at least Connor would struggle, but apparently not. The only problem the teacher reported was Caitlin crying a little when they told her the baby doll had to stay in the class room while they went to the gym to run. And once there, she turned into Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner the Olympian). So all this worrying I did, and the next to nothing sleep on Wednesday night was for nothing? They are growing up, they will be three next month after all and starting kindergarten next September. Which sucks! Now mom needs to learn to adjust and figure out what I am going to do.