A Visit from Grampa Bailey

Braden's Dad was in Toronto last week for his nephew's wedding and decided to take an extra week and come up here and hang out with us . . . we all had a lot of fun with him here!

I gave my babysitters the week off and Grampa watched them while I was teaching - 4 days of babysitting!!!

One morning he decided to make us breakfast after the kids had gone to school, so Braden joined and we had a great breakfast . . . I definitely could get used to this!!!

Yep - we had to get some HP sauce - I'm thinking there really isn't much that Dad eats without it!

The kids had Friday off and while Emma was out with a friend for the morning & Brade was at work we decided to head off ourselves. We did a quick ToysRUs trip with Kaleb's birthday money from last week and then headed to the Byward Market . . .

It's kinda a tradition to grab Beaver tails when we bring someone down here - and they are YUMMY!!! It was in the double digits so jackets were optional . . . a perfect day in the market!!!

Kaleb pretty much inhaled his and waited patiently for Navia to try and finish hers.

I had mentioned that there was a record store close by, so after our beaver tail we walked over so that dad could look around - and the kids kinda liked it too!

And then it was the most amazing place for a child . . . Sugar Mountain!!! The kids had a hard time choose what exactly they wanted as their treat, but after much encouragement I couldn't believe that they both just grabbed an orange drink! All those PEZ and just a drink??? No chocolate??? They mustn't be my children!!!

Navia waited patiently for Grampa to take the picture . . .

On Friday Brade and Dad went out for dinner and then to a Senators vs Bruins game. I guess the game wasn't that great and the Sens lost (as expected) but it was more about the father-son time anyway :)

Dad gave Brade this retro Ottawa sweater and the two guys looked great in them!!!

Saturday morning was the morning the kids had been waiting for all week long - the traditional McDonald's breakfast with Grampa . . . and this time wasn't any different . . . they LOVED hanging out, eating greasy food and playing air hockey!

Then we took Dad to the War Museum, as he really enjoys this type of thing. We had been given a family membership from my Gramma McGifford and this was the first time we used it - to not stand in line will be amazing!!!

Kaleb quizzing Grampa on historical facts

This was the usual stance . . . Dad and Braden - shoulder to shoulder reading or watching what was on display.

I really liked the display of what shrapnel would be like.

Hilter's car

Oh yes - even Braden gave it a try (and only Dad would be able to get him to do this!!!)

We went out for dinner after and then came home to watch the latest episode of Star Wars - Clone Wars . . . a much needed feet rest after an afternoon of walking!

Bright and early tomorrow morning (Sunday) Dad will be flying back to Regina and it will be a little quieter here and we'll all miss him hanging out with us - but it was great to have him here for the week!!! Who else can do such an amazing Italian accent and keep up with all the kids questions - hehehe!!! We love you Dad!!!

Navia's First Lost Tooth!!!

Navia and I were driving yesterday when suddenly I heard a little squeal from the back . . . Navia had been eating a cookie and she had 2 loose teeth and then only 1 . . . because the other was in her hand!

She's a happy, happy girl with a place to stick her tongue :)

Check out the little tiny tooth - and the tooth fairy came and I couldn't believe that she showed me a $5 dollar bill!!! Hmmm - that tooth fairy sure is generous!!!

Close your eyes if you don't want to see something gross . . . Navia and I wanted to see whose tooth was bigger - hers or my wisdom tooth that got pulled out a few weeks ago. Definitely mine!!!

Ewwww!!!

8 Year Old's War . . . Happy Birthday Kaleb!

For Kaleb's 8th birthday we wanted to do something a bit simpler than our past Spy and Star Wars parties - and one that didn't include us having to really do anything but show up - and we found the perfect place - the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa!!! We just found out lately that they have a few birthday programs and we thought that we'd give one a try - and it was a HUGE success!!!

I hadn't planned on making cake or any food for it, but instead Kaleb requested cupcakes and so I made some camouflage icing and put a few army men on them and ta-da . . . Kaleb LOVED them!!!

When we got to the Museum the kids wanted a few pictures taken . . .

. . . and then it was into the party room for our next instructions . . .

. . . first off - make their own shield to wear during the fort "war" . . .

Then it was time for to build the forts and start learning how to following proper military combat commands . . . the kids were split into a blue team and a red team. They needed to build their own forts on the one side of the river - making sure that there were lots of windows to fire out of.

Navia found the perfect window for her!!!

Then it was time to learn how to "ready - set - fire" and "fire at will". They learned quickly not to fire unless it was the proper time! The goal was to get their bags into the different pails, each with a different point value.

They also switched it up and alternated red and blue buckets on each side so that sometimes they would score for the other team - not good!!! but they always had daddy to cheat and put a couple extra bean bags in a bucket or three...

Then it was time for FOOD . . . which is truly the way to every boy's heart - especially if they are able to choose what army man they get to keep :)

We used the extra army toys to create waring cupcakes!

"Happy Birthday to You . . ."

You can't have a party without opening presents!

After the presents the kids were lead on a scavenger hunt in the Lebreton Gallery through all the military vehicles (from food services, tanks, motercycles & even a plane!) - exploring each one and learning a bit as they stopped at the pictures that they could identify.

Check out the plane on the roof, large tanks on the right and smaller ones on the left

The kids learned that although this truck was used in a peace-keeping mission, sometimes even those are dangerous. The officers that were in this truck were both shot, one in the head, and yet both of them survived the attack!

They learned that this was a slow-moving cannon

ATTENTION!

The kids loved the party and it definitely is a great place to have kids birthday parties. They offer 3 different themes to choose from - camouflage, secret codes and forts - and the "animator" that was in charge of the 2 hours was phenomenal!