My Birthday

My 51st birthday. Mixed feeling about birthdays these days. While I enjoy the festivities, it isn't the most pleasant getting older.  I don't feel 51 however, and I have a lot to be thankful for.

Some of my workmates and I went out for lunch today.  Vic got me a lovely Jenny Bird necklace and the kids got me a new hair dryer and mine died a few months ago and I  have been using Sophie's.  On Saturday evening, we went out for dinner with our friends, Kim, Bryan and Patti.

Happy 10th birthday, Fynn!

He had a great day!

He got to spend a bit of time with his buddy Alex after school.

Then he opened presents at home and was thrilled with his new Go Pro and a nice comic book (Archie) from Sophie.  Later this week will be his party (bowling alley and a sleepover) with some of his pals.

I love this boy madly.

So this is happening...

tomorrow Sophie turns 13.  How did this happen?

Her friend Hunter is coming over for a movie (LaLa Land) and a sleepover.  Tomorrow, I'm treating 7 girls to a lunch at Cafe Tasse, and then cake at our house.

Best mom over, right?

Sophie Version 11.0

It was Sophie's 11th birthday today.  I can't really believe it when I think back to that day 11 years ago when she came into the world three weeks early around lunch time :)  Knowing how prompt Sophie is and how she likes to be EARLY for everything, I guess this makes sense.

We took her out for her birthday dinner at Boston Pizza.  Her gifts from us were a new jean jacket from Amercian Eagle Outfitters, a dance t-shirt and shorts and two new magazines from Fynn.  It was a very happy birthday.

We love you very much. xoxo

#11 for Sophie & ski day #5

Sophie's 11th birthday is on the 5th, but we celebrated it a bit early this weekend with her friends. She had an Instagram-themed birthday.  She invited some of her friends from school to the bowling alley. I am grateful she has such good little friends in her life and nice parents too. If you Google Instagram-themed parties it can be a bit crazy, so we just stuck with themed invitations, a gorgeous cake (thanks to Paula who decorated it for me -- the only thing she asked is that I baked it for her first)  and treat toppers. I think it was absolutely perfect for #11.

In other news, Vic and I went to American Sniper on Friday night - our 3rd consecutive Friday out on a date!  It was a good movie, but such a tragic ending.

We haven't been skiing in a few weeks so I arranged a sitter for the kids for part of today so Vic and I could go up to Silver Star and do a few runs.  The kids were tired, and Fynn had hockey later today so I was okay with them staying at home as he would have been way too cranky with back to back sports.  This was our 5th time up skiing for us this season.  Conditions were not too bad - and always good to find an excuse to use our passes.

Downton Abbey tonight....ready for another week.

Birthday memories

Today was my birthday. I have passed the mid section of my 40s. I look back on the photos of the kids over the past 6 years since Fynn was born, and I can't believe how much they have changed.

For my birthday, we took the kids to get their haircuts and then headed down to Vernon to trade in some old ski boots, get new ones for Fynn and new skis for Sophie. Thanks goodness we can get a bit of money on the trades. We are now all set for when Silver Star opens later this month.

Katrina came over to babysit so Vic and I could go out for Mexican food and then a movie - this one. Silly movie but fun.

Fynn's birthday playdate

Fynn doesn't seem to be one for big birthdays. He just wanted to invite his buddy Chay over for a playdate. That suited me just fine.

They played at Junglemania for a good hour and then came back to our house for more playing and lego building. Chay had dinner with us (Fynn's favourite hot dogs, of course). This was followed by a birthday cake from Save-On.

A perfect way to celebrate his special day!

Fynn's 4th Birthday

Four years ago today (well, actually next week on October 10), this little guy was coming into the world.

This year, his gift from Vic and I was a new bike. He was so excited. His smile was ear to ear.

He celebrated his birthday by going to Junglemania with his friends. While at first I wasn't sure if the expense of having his party there was worth it (it is pricey) when it rained today, there was no way I could imagine all of those little boys running around our house and having as much fun as they did. Their fun was topped off by pizza, slushies and a great Spiderman cake from Save-On Foods.

Happy birthday little guy!

Birthday No. 7 - Soaking it all in

Number 7 was a good one.

The celebrations began this morning with Sophie opening up her gift from Vic and I (a new bathing suit for Disneyland) and a Pillow Pet (from Fynn, who became very upset when he realized he couldn't keep it).

Just before 11 am we headed down to the Salmar Classic to set up for the party. I was getting a little antsy because Vic was supposed to be home by about 10:30 from taking his practical exam for his gun safety course (no, he is not hunting, just wanting to skeet shoot with his cousin Neville). Vic's truck got stuck in a deep ditch near the rifle range and he had to slice open one of the sand bags to use for traction to get out. He arrived, just a little late but had the pizzas with him.

It was so fun to have seven of Sophie's friends so happy to be at the party. It would have been eight, but MacKenzie was sick.

They were excited about the movie (which turned out to be not too bad), popcorn, pizza, juice (I bought from Zellers to keep the costs down a bit) and a Barbie cake from Save-On. After the movie the girls played tag through the old theatre. Kind of neat having the whole place to ourselves. Lots of burning off energy before some quieter time when we opened gifts and had cake. The girls are even at the stage where they can chat reasonably calmly to each other about school and then we started talking about the various places they were born (with Cami's birthplace in Montreal being the farthest away). We did beauty goodie bags this year: 1 flavoured lip gloss and 3 mini nail polishes from Winners (I bought in bulk).

One of my favourite moments is when Melissa said, "this is the best party ever!"

Sophie is playing with her new toys now, Fynn is napping and I'm resting.

Happy 7th birthday Sophie - we love you very much.

keeping it simple: birthday/play date

Fynn had his little buddy Caleb over for 2 hours this morning. It was a little birthday celebration (Fynn's real birthday is not until the 10th). Keeping it simple with one little friend is working for us a lot better than a big party with too many presents and too much chaos.

The boys played, had a cupcake with a special car treat on top and then played outside. Eventually the play outside turned into a wrestling match when they started fighting over Fynn's run bike, so we averted further squabbles and returned inside and played peacefully.

Ah, peace. Sophie was helpful and decorated the cupcakes. She's turning into a great little helper.

just your presence please

The modern parenting dilemna: how to control the avalanche of stuff your child gets for their birthday. Sophie's birthday is in early February and we still aren't quite over Christmas and she has been asking about sending out her birthday invitations for 2 weeks.

This year I did some web research and checked my conscience. After consulting Sophie, we agreed that this year we could try something different. We've inserted in her invitations the little note that she is holding in her hand in the photo. It says "instead of presents, we would be very happy to have your presence at Sophie's party. Sophie is saving up for a special item, so if you would like to bring a toonie, Sophie and her piggy bank would be thrilled."

I debated this for quite awhile. I know some etiquette books say that children need to learn how to give and receive gifts and by suggesting they not bring gifts (and just a $2 toonie) they are not learning this "skill." Plus, it may sound gauche to suggest a monetary figure. I beg to differ and I think those etiquette books were written 20-30 years ago when there was much less easily accessible "stuff." You can get a Hannah Montana barbie doll for $5! Toys are not that expensive anymore. Hence, we have too much stuff.

Sophie wants to buy a Build-a-Bear when we go to Disneyland in April and she is saving up for it on her own. I think this will be a good way to teach her the value of a dollar, savings, and hopefully lessen the burden that other parents feel when they have to go out and buy a present.

6 on Sunday

Ahhh....the birthday (week) is behind us.

1. She is FIVE. The pool party on Saturday was a success.
2. I have never seen so much of this kind of merchandise by way of gifts.
3. She also got one of these. I am trying to understand the mania.
4. I picked up this today at Chapters. Looks so good. Sadly, the subject matter is very close to home with Vic's dad in advanced dementia.
5. Rented this last night. Very disturbing. I'm still thinking about it.
6. good night!

sunday

today we celebrated sophie's birthday with her maternal grandparents, cousin Travis, Auntie Sue and Auntie Joanne.

instead of travelling the long drive to Oliver, we met about half way and had lunch here.

she got some fun gifts. i took a photo of her tonight as we set up the family room set of these.

later we stopped at Chapters and I picked up the newest selection for my book club (my pic). a tiring but very nice day.