The 1st Loose Tooth

It is with great excitement and anticipation that Braydon proudly announces his first loose tooth.  It wiggles, and hurts a bit.

Ironically, he will be going to the dentist tomorrow anyhow, so we can get an official diagnosis.

Guess the tooth fairy should be put on alert - and she  better find some money just in case!

Follow up story will be provided soon.

The Busy Weekend before Halloween

It's hard to believe that it's Sunday night, it seems as if we had a weeks worth of stuff in the past two days.  I'm exhausted. Saturday started off like all Saturdays now - soccer.  And bbrrr, it was a bit chilly.

I love this photo of Kaylee and Rachel.  Rachel is Brad's little sister (1.5) and Kaylee so wants to have that same relationship that Brad and Braydon do.  This shows all is well in that direction.

Saturday after soccer, we decorated the rest of outside.  While we all know that this isn't "my" season, I embrace it as much as possible.  This weekend I embraced it for sure.  Chris picked up a graveyard for the front, and a few more lights.  Nothing really matches, but it's all cute.  Saturday afternoon the kids made a Haunted Gingerbread House.  They did most the work, I just helped with the icing a bit.  While waiting the main house to glue together, we took Takaya out for a walk.  Beautiful day outside, truly a nice October so far.  Of course, rain is expected for Halloween.  We took all the seeds out of one of our sunflowers from the summer so we can plant more next summer.

The kids have been on "fire" all weekend.  Bugging each other, full of beans, driving Chris and I a bit nutty.  I'm doing a cleanse this week (requires it's own post later) but the rest of the family ordered pizza for dinner.  

When the kids went to bed, I was tired - but managed a bit of scrap time.  The sleep itself was so sought after, I should have known it wouldn't have been a good one.  Kaylee woke several times and Braydon did too.  My best sleep 

happened from 7:30 to 8:30am.  We headed out for a family walk this morning, I vacuumed, then went grocery shopping.  

After lunch, we scooped out the pumpkins.  Kaylee (Princess Disaster, which also requires her own post) fell off the chair and knocked her head pretty good.  So she snuggled in with Dad and Braydon and I finished scoring a large bowl of seeds.  Can't wait to roast them, it's one of my favorite things about this time of year!  After nap, and a load of laundry (and putting away four loads that lived in baskets this week) we went outside to play.  KJ was pretty cuddly, but Braydon played hockey for an  hour.

When we came back in, it was time to carve the pumpkins.  We each had one, and the kids had already picked out what they wanted.  Chris drew out a wolf howling and I wanted to do the one like I saw on Ali Edwards site.  You need to know something about carving pumpkins in our house - it always involves power tools.  And let me tell you, that is the ONLY way to do holes in a pumpkin.

The children are still driving me crazy.  Too much weekend I guess.  They are in the bath right now taking off some of the dirt collected this weekend.  Seriously, I need a day off to get over my weekend.   And the one thing I needed to do this weekend - hem the costumes, well it didn't get done.  Thank goodness for week nights!

Too cute not too

share.  This little one just makes my heart melt.  Her pre-school went to go sing at the seniors house today so she wanted to look extra special.  Cuter than cute today she was.

I'm in tears as I type this because how I would give anything for my Grandmother to have been there.  It's the same senior centre that she lived in, and while she didn't get to see Kaylee sing today, I know how much she would have loved every single minute of it.

So while my Grandma didn't get to enjoy it, I'm pretty sure that someone else's did and that alone would have made her happy.

Sleep Tight, don't let the bed bugs bite

Shhh, the children are asleep.  Kaylee did not want to go to bed (which is totally normal), but tonight she was insistent on cuddling with someone.  Could be anyone, as long as it was someone.  I suggested to Braydon that his sister would want to cuddle, but he wasn't into it.

He came downstairs to get something and when he went back upstairs, his sister was crying.  So he invited her to come to his room to cuddle.

This is what I found when I came upstairs.

What makes me smile most......well I will have to see if I can find the photo - but let's just say that my little brother pulled this move more than once too.

Winter is coming and I have a cold

Yup, this cold that I have attempted to ignor is full force today. My head feels like it's going to explode, I cannot breath from my nose and my voice is quickly fading.

However, there is fresh snow on them there hills, so that easily brings a smile to my face.

Winter is coming.

The Dye Christmas List

Somewhere around 1998, we realized that Christmas had to change.

Each year, the Dye side of the family gathers to celebrate Christmas together. Truth be told, it's one of my favorite things of the season. I am lucky enough to have 5 cousins (there are 7 Dye Cousins together including my brother and I). We are fairly close in age, and all get along really well. Aside from being relatives, we are all proud to call each other friends.

Well, as we started multiplying - you know getting married, having children, our seven cousins and six aunts and uncles all of a sudden became a lot more. To date, there are now 7 cousins with 6 spouces, and a total of 10 "sub" cousins and of course, the remaning six aunts and uncles which brings us to a total of 29 Dyes.

When the growth started to happen, my Mom suggested that we should draw names instead of everyone getting gifts for everyone. And the Dye Christmas Draw was born. As the largest fan of the season and the "middle" cousin, I took on the coordinating task of this list. The "rules" are that you do not give to a direct family member (brother / sister / husband / wife / parent) unless it's the senior Dye Boys (my Dad and his two older brothers). You won't give to the same person for at least four years through the rotation. Under the age of 18 does not go into the rotation, as they will receive individual Dye clan gifts (eg, my kids will get two gifts, one from the Laurie Dyes and one from the Ken Dyes).

The 2008 list just went out last night. It's a bit late, but out none the less. I am giving to Auntie Pym. It will be a strange Christmas this year, as none of the Ken Dye's will be represented. Ken and Fran are celebrating 50 years of marriage, and are taking all their kids and grandkids on a a cruise. But I am sure that the Laurie Dyes and Gardiner Dye's, along with the five cousins, and four sub cousins will have a great time.

Hey, it's only 2 months and 9 days till Christmas.

The Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday morning, my friend Jodi and I headed out to the pumpkin patch with the four kids.  As experienced Moms, we knew that "opening day" with sunshine in the forecast - it would be busy and going early would be best.   Smart Moms we are.  Leaving the house at 9am, and arriving 20 mins before opening, we caught the first hay ride to the field and literally had  our pick of the patch.  

Telling kids that they can choose any pumpkin they want is kinda like setting me free in a scrapbooking store.  Go for the biggest bestest you can find.  I believe that the pumpkins may weigh more than the children.  I found a white pumpkin, and went small since I knew that I would be carrying the other two giants home.  

We took the tractor back to the main area and found....the line up.  The line up that us experienced Moms missed.  It was now probably 45 min wait, but we just got to play.  The kids found some hay bails to play in, and did a lot of running around.  Mia, Luca, Braydon and Kaylee all got along really well, and it was nice to catch up with Jodi.

I'm so glad that we made the decision to go.  We had a ton of fun and I got a ton of great photos and I can't wait to go again next year (before opening of course).

Harvest time

At the pumpkin patch today (that I will blog tomorrow) I was able to get some beautiful (IMO) photos of some of the fall foods out now.  Who knew food could be so pretty?

Tuesday in the rain

The rain is falling. Last night the winds were blowing. Fall is definately here.

This is the boys working in Braydon's book this morning. I love that when they get here in the morning they don't even ask about the TV. They find something to do. The two of them sat there and worked together on figuring out sounds and what started with what. They did have a problem since they though it was "carpet", not "rug" and the matching sound word was "rabbit" not "bunny".

Usual morning so far. Got up, showered, helped the kids getted dressed, got Kaylee off to school and walked the dog. Picked up Brad, let the boys play and then walked them to school. Got in the van, put in the Christmas music and put myself into work mode.

Yes, I said Christmas music. I know, it's early. But it's really a fall day, which means that Christmas is around the corner, so why not.

Will be a busy one from the time I get home till I get Braydon out for soccer practice. I'm marinating chicken, throw on some broccoli and cheese rice and find some kind of veggi.

Braydon took non perishable food for the Harvest Group, and I need to remember to bring some for Kaylee this week too. I worked on my LO this morning, even finished it!

Today is the last day of collecting things for my Week in a Life. I've really enjoyed putting this together and can't wait to see what the end result will be.

And now I lay me down to sleep

but something tells me I will be back up. I have a partly finished Lay out downstairs, and I can't usually sleep while it's sitting like that.

It was lasagna for dinner - made it last night, cooked it tonight. I love that. It is pouring rain outside. Has been all afternoon. I got to take the dog for a walk in the rain, but I actually enjoy it. It's the cold weather that settled in today. You know it's fall for sure!

Chris has a t-ball meeting, so I scrapped a bit. Tomorrow night is soccer, Wed is a Hockey Pool for him and Thurs is a t-ball gathering too. But it's a long weekend, we will get our time together.

It was a good day.

Lunch already?

Sorry, no pretty pic mid day, but I do have my camera so I will load something later.

Answers to my loyal followers:
Yes, Kaylee has eaten sushi. Both the kids love it. Reality is, Braydon really only like the rice and salmon, Kalyee likes the avocado and rice. Oh ya, Braydon love miso soup too. Lisa - when you come to Vancouver you will notice we have a lot of sushi places. A LOT! Plus I figure it's healthier than McDonalds.

Suzanne - sushi for breakfast is not good, so I share your comments. Soft cereal isn't that good either.

Busy day at work, but I thought I would take a couple moments to write down some stuff. I proved that I can drop off Braydon to school on time and make a 9am meeting. Pretty proud of that. I may have driven a little fast, but let's not tell anyone.

I have been in a series of meetings through the morning, and don't see an end in sight. I do need lunch, and have no idea how that is going to happen.

The rain has not shown up yet, but you look in the sky and you know it's coming. Chris has a meeting tonight, I'm hoping I can scrap. We shall see.

And so the day begins

Kaylee woke at 6:20 yelling "I want sushi".  That woke Braydon up, who went into his sister's room to ask if he could do her hair for her.  I live in a crazy world.

Children up, dressed (two choices of dresses for KJ today, at least she picked one) them, teeth brushed and downstairs.  Kaylee requested "soft cereal" which is oatmeal. Braydon wanted pancakes, and since I had the time, I made them for him.

Packed their lunches, did Kaylee's hair and walked Kaylee to school.  Took the dog, and Braydon rode his bike.  Went went the "long" way home and then picked up Brad.

I'm listening to Brad and Braydon have some funny conversations again.  Brad just said to Braydon "I have something sad to tell you.....I'm going to Whistler for Thanksgiving".  Brad thinks Braydon will be sad because Brad won't be there to play.  It's true.  Especially if the weather is nice out.

Speaking of weather, it's nice this morning but the rain is coming for this afternoon.  Guess I should enjoy the weather while I can!

Sunday Sunday

Another busy one for the books.  Not enough hours in the day. Or maybe too many things in the day?

Had fun with the new lens, but didn't get out to take what I wanted to.  Hope tomorrow the weather works that I can play some at work with it.  I did have the kids out, and caught some from there.  

Today I

• got up and got everyone dressed
•  made breakfast
• cleaned the fridge
• went grocery shopping
• played with the kids outside
• made lunch
• went to Scrap Arts and taught the altered canvas frame, had a great class
• bought myself an acrylic album, excited to work on that
• came home, played with the kids 
• met my neighbours brand new son
• made dinner, it was horrible (freezer burned hamburgers)
• bathing the kids as I type
• have a headache (may have something to do with the children) 
• need to make muffins / lunches / lasagna.

Busy week again next week.  I guess I should stop saying that, they all are.  It's not like all of a sudden we are going to stop doing things.  But I'm glad that I'm documenting this stuff so when I have that spare time, I will appreciate it even more.

and now for some photos and a few words

Let's be real - the favorite part of my day was the purchase of my new lens.  I have wanted one for awhile, and treated myself - fully supported by Chris.  This is a 18-250, which means it replaces both my zoom and my regular kit lens.  The best thing about it, I don't have to switch lenses anymore!!!  

I will sell my zoom that I already had - but I gotta say, I LOVE THIS THING!!!  Can't wait to take it out and play some.

So, today as mentioned below was busy.  Here are some photos to represent.  Please note the disclaimer on the closet - I am apparently the  only member of the family who is able to close it and put shoes away in an orderly fashion.  When I leave the house and allow the others to come back from a soccer game - this is what the front door looked like!

I will be right back

I know that I should have blogged the day - just been too busy!!  This is one of the first chances that I have had to sit and write.  Today I

• Got up and made pancakes - aren't I a nice Mom?
• Got the kids dressed for soccer in the rain
• Went and worked four hours at a work party for KJs school
• Went to a 5  year old b-day party, stuck around for a bit
• went to Michael's and used some of my gift card
• went back to the party
• Chris went lens shopping for me
• When I got home, I went lens shopping for me
• I bought a new lens  :)
• Bought dinner
• Made dinner
• Went to my friend's Carmen to help get her mojo
• About to watch a movie with Chris
• Did I mention I got a new lens????

Will be back with photos from said lens and lots more

Today I'm thankful for....

• being able to scrap tonight
• being creative, i love it
• my new bed that I'm about to crawl in
• that my time in the rain tomorrow will be four hours (ok, i'm not thankful for that, but I'm trying to be positive)

Nearing the end

You may have noticed that my last entry has a nice sunny picture of my beautiful Kaylee.  Ya - that's from the summer.  I needed something pretty to look at.

Yet here is another one of me.  Lucky you - three today!!

Okay, nearing the end of my day. Since my last entry I have made dinner for the family, poured a glass of wine, did "homework" with the kids, put the kids to bed, worked on two cards for world cardmaking day tomorrow and searched high and low for a pair of soccer shorts I have yet to find.  Oh ya, I had to go back to the grocery store because I forgot to buy oranges and tomorrow is our day for oranges.  Silly me.  So include in the list cutting up ten oranges.

oh ya.....I need to write stuff down

and take pictures!!  Oops.  I will, the day isn't done.  At work I was out of the office most of the day.  We were setting up for the Vancouver Snow Show.  Good to do something different.

Other things accomplished

• bought Birthday presents for the party that the kids are going to tomorrow
• made birthday cards
• attempting to make a card for the challenge tomorrow
• made dinner for everyone but me cuz I'm too full from a late lunch
• need to find soccer uni for tomorrow

Be back later