Piano Recital Videos and Navia Singing

I just thought that I'd post a couple of videos for you to be able to watch of the kids this weekend.  Emma and Kaleb both played in the music recital and Navia learned a song in Sunday School that she keeps on singing around the house.  Enjoy!

Photo Heavy - The last couple of weeks

The last few weeks have been pretty busy around here with school activities, a long weekend, Braden going to Saskatchewan, finishing off my MYC teaching year, piano recitals and just hanging out.  This means that I guess I've been neglecting my blog so I thought I'd catch you up on what we've been up to the last little bit by showing you some pictures (notice how Kaleb's hair changes at the end!)

The kids' school had a day where every classroom chose a country and did a presentation for everyone in a kinda of open house style - opening the entire school up for the morning.  Kaleb's class did Kenya and Emma's class did China.

Kaleb during the dance sung in Swahili.

Navia was invited to stay for snack (which the teacher provided for her) and she loved it!

Emma standing behind the Great Wall of China and wearing the lucky color red.

Emma is in the dragon - at the very back - she had fun doing this.

Braden went to Regina to hang out with his family for an extended long weekend.  Mom (his mom) just had surgery the day before he arrived and Braden has a cold so when we went to visit Mom at the hospital he needed to wear a mask - how cute!!!  The only problem was that he didn't take the camera so there aren't any pictures to show you of this visit - next time!!!

He's actually talking to us on the phone when Jesse took this picture on his phone - gotta love the IPhone!

On the long weekend I (because Brade was gone) had 2 kids overnight - Emma's friend and her younger brother (which Kaleb gets along really well with).  Actually we had a brother and sister over on Friday night, two sisters over on Saturday night, and Emma went on an overnighter on Sunday night. . . it was a sleepover weekend!!!  

It was raining, but it didn't stop the kids from going outside and playing!

I pulled the old farm"garbage bag rain jacket" trick and the kids loved it!

The kids painting their very own planets.

The next day they got all dressed up and this is Emma as Daddy showing me her caterpillar.

Kaleb as the piano player (shirt and tie) showing me his witch stew.

Navia in her princess skirt (yep, 100% see-through!) gardening in the dirt.  Okay, maybe more playing than anything!

Emma's Spring Choir Concert (far right hand side)

I had my MYC recital at our house this year.  I split it into two separate recitals, rearranged the house, made cupcakes and somehow everyone fit and had a blast.  There were about 45 at the first recital and 25 at the second.  I had to show you my now living arrangement for it - it would definitely work again when you say "there are goodies and drinks to take OUTSIDE to eat".  The kids loved playing on the play structure and the parents hung out talking non-music to each other.  It was a good day!

What you saw when you entered the house.

My new front living room and dining room.

The view of the family room from upstairs.

The view from the kitchen.

My new favorite thing to make - 100 cupcakes decorated with a 1M tip, buttercream icing and confetti sprinkles - so easy and soooooo yummy!

My food for the second recital.

Navia sitting on the island during the recital.

Kaleb's Sunbeams 1 class doing their rhythm ensemble - Prelude in A by Chopin.  Kaleb is the second boy from the left. (note his hair!!!)

Most of my Tuesday kids (missing 3).

Most of my Wednesday kids (missing 2)

So, that's our lives the past couple weeks in pictures . . . hopefully I can keep up from now on and not fill up a post with so many pics - however lovely my kids are to look at - hehehe!

Disgusting Food!

I found this a link to these really cool hot dog creations that the kids thought would be so cool for supper, so we made ourselves some "hot dog aliens" or "hot dogs with worms" or "octopuses". 

 

They look disgusting and I'm not really one for combining it to eat, but the kids seemed to have fun making them and eating them :)  They are a really neat thing to make if you don't feel like making a "real" meal and want something fun for the kids - better than KD!

All you have to do in put the raw spaghetti noodles in the cut hot dogs and then boil them.

There are many different techniques to eat them though, as you can tell from the kids.  Some put ketchup over the entire plate, some put ketchup just in a pile.  Then there are the actually eating methods:

Shovelling the entire thing in your mouth at one time . . .

Slurping it all up . . . 

Or fishing for them with your mouth!

Beware . . .

I forgot about this until Gramma Bailey emailed saying that she enjoyed hearing this story and it was then that I remembered . . . quite vividly!  So, I thought I just had to share another "Navia" story with you all . . .

Last night I was teaching my Sunbeams 1 class in my basement studio and had the window open because it was soooo gorgeous outside and it was the first time that I could really do this.  Braden was upstairs watching our kids (he came home early because our babysitter couldn't make it) and a younger sibling from the class was also upstairs with the kids.  

As I was teaching every once in a while a little head would peak through the window and smile, which wasn't much of a problem, but our babysitter and I have discouraged it.  I was walking past the window, helping my students as they were playing when suddenly my face was soaking wet!  I looked at the window and there were two little girls with huge smiles and Navia holding a water gun!  I stepped up on a chair and told Navia not to do it and another smile came across her face as she sprayed me AGAIN in the face!!!  That little turkey!  

I ran upstairs and there was Braden on the phone (to Gramma Bailey!!!) and the girls with the outside water turned on and hiding around the corner.  A parent afterwards said that it was "cute", but I'm pretty sure that "cute" wasn't the word that I used when talking to Braden about it - lol!  

So, there you go - another day in the life of Navia's escapades!!!  Beware for little girls with huge smiles, twinkles in their eyes and the brains to know how to turn on water, fill a water gun and spray it - - - you might just be the recipient!!!

"Grey hair!!!"

Navia just ran up to me, jumping up and down, excited as anything!

"Mommy, Mommy . . . I'm getting older!!!"

"I'm getting grey hair Mommy!  I'm getting grown-up!"

"Mommy, Mommy . . . I"m getting grey hair!!!

"I'm soooo happy Mommy!"

I had to laugh outloud with this one!  A phone call happened right away to Daddy for her to share her excitement with him and brighten up his day a bit.  

She may drive me crazy, but she also makes me laugh!!!  I love you my grey-haired Navia!!!  

ps - there isn't any grey in her hair - just in case you were wondering what else she has gotten into - hehehe!

Sasha's Wknd Visit

About 2 weeks ago I got an unexpected phone call from my best friend out in Airdrie, Alberta - Sasha.  Her husband had just asked her what weekend she would like to come out to visit me out here in Ottawa!!!  I was sooooo excited and couldn't wait until she got here!  Ian, Sasha's husband, is such as great guy!!!

She came Friday night and we had a BBQ (actually Braden cooked the entire meal, set the table, watched the kids and EVERYTHING while Sasha and I ran to Manotick for a few things - he's a keeper!)  

On Saturday we took the kids to their last swimming lesson of this session and then home.  In the afternoon we went to . . . 

. . . the Parliament Buildings.  Sasha had never been to Ottawa before so we tried to get into the clock tower, but it was closed so we just went around the grounds and walked in the most beautiful weather.  Yep - while it was cold in Airdrie it was GORGEOUS here!!!

In the corner of the grounds there is a place where stray cats live and are looked after and there are a ton of black squirrels that the kids love watching.

Navia was full of squishy faces for the camera.  They look like family!

Kaleb and Navia had fun whispering at this wall to each other.  It was the coolest thing to be able to hear someone from such a distance!

Saturday night Braden and the kids went to Mike and Cynthia's for a BBQ while Sasha and I went out for a "night on the town" - okay - maybe just for a nice dinner without any children!!!  We had the best appetizers at Milestones - which we will be doing again, and hopefully soon, either in Calgary or Ottawa!!!  

Sunday was church and hanging out and then the dreaded "good-bye".  Kaleb was the one getting the hug this time.

Tears, of course, happened at the airport, but only because when you are lucky enough to have a friend like this it hurts to say good-bye.  I'm just lucky enough that no matter where we live it's like we've never been away.  When I got home from the airport I thought that I was going to be fine - and then I saw Braden . . . I immediatey started crying and just held him tight.  Yep - I already miss you Sasha!  You are a true friend and I know that God has blessed me with your friendship!  Thank you for coming and hanging out with me this weeknd - it was just what I needed!!!  You rock girl!!!

Daddy's Minds . . . Hmmmm . . .

This morning Braden ran out to the grocery store before school started to pick up some Children's Tylenol for Emma - her braces are sometimes hurting a bit right now.  I was planning on sending 2 tablets to school for her teacher to give her when necessary.  Well . . . as she was getting on the bus I saw Braden pull up and give her the ENTIRE BOTTLE of Tylenol!  This was a "what was he thinking" moment!  So, I had to call the school and let them know that Emma has a bottle of Tylenol on her this morning and could it be confiscated - medicine isn't allowed on school property unless there is a doctor's note.  Braden - the receptionist was laughing at your thought process - just thought I'd let you know (oh, and everyone else too)!!!