Whoa Laddy!

Dino Princess started horseback riding lessons a week ago. We have been trying to find a new activity for her that combines her love of animals with her natural athletic ability. We may have hit the jackpot (well, maybe not considering that she's already asking for a horse of her own)!

Here's a photo of Dino Princess learning how to walk and then "post" on 28 year old Laddy!

New family photos

Now that we won't blow the surprise, we decided that for Mother's Day we'd get family photos done for Grandma and Gram.

Enjoy!

Happy Gotcha Day Froggie Princess!

April 4th marked the fourth anniversary of the date that we first met Froggie Princess. Thinking back to that day -- it's amazing that that sad, scared little baby is now now our delightfully happy and easy-going daughter. How blessed we are to have her in our lives!

Every year, several families from our 2005 travelgroup get together at the Toronto Zoo to celebrate our anniversary and rekindle our friendships. Yesterday was the date - but the weather did not cooperate, so we made a slight alteration in plans and had our reunion at the Ontario Science Centre. What fun we had!

So here is a photo of the seven girls from 4 years ago . . . and of five of them yesterday. Wow these gals are growing up fast! Happy 4th Gotcha day to the Chenzhou Gals!

Oh and I couldn't resist posting a picture of a science experiment we did yesterday. You are probably all familiar with the electrical thingy that makes your hair stand on end. Well we were hypothesizing about whether or not it would straighten Baby Blue Eyes' curly locks. Check it out! He's got a funny look on his face because he's shaking his head to loosen his hair -- not because we are torturing him. In truth, he was dying to get up there and so thrilled about the experience that he did it twice!

The Tooth Fairy Has ARRiVED!

Finally! After much angst about being one of only TWO kids in her class who had not yet lost a tooth, Dino Princess has joined the ranks of those who have been visited by the TOoTH Fairy!

She lost the first one April 1st, and a second one on May 2nd (not pictured here).

SO . . . how does the tooth fairy get under a kid's pillow without the kid knowing?

"She's tiny and you can't even feel her".

"Oh, sort of like a Minemoya (from the movie: Arthur and the Invisibles)".

"Oh yes, that's it!"

"So if she's so tiny, how does she carry my huge tooth out and fly away with it? If she was a Minemoya, it would be too heavy for her to carry."

Jeez, I hate all these little white truths!

Spring in our step!

Egad! I had no idea that it's been MONTHS since my last post. Seems like just yesterday that we were hanging out in white stuff -- when lo an behold . . . suddenly I wake up and it's May! Truthfully, this past few months have been insanely busy. Work, work and more work. But it's finally returning to some semblance of normal and as such I have a pile of photos to work through and post!

We ventured back to Florida in March with a much quieter vacation than last year. Two other families in tow, this time we had no side trips to the hospital and no extended stays (though we all would have enjoyed that). Just reconnecting with our kids and each other. Ahhh. . . that was fun!

We spent a ton of time around the pool, made some new friends, caught some lizards, visited the beach, got to see the launch of the space shuttle, did some shopping and checked out the gators at Gatorland (where the girls each enjoyed wrestling a real live one).

Baby Blue Eyes turns THREE!

Baby Blue Eyes turned THREE while we were in the sunny state! The big fella celebrated with his best pals from “school” at the local bowling alley. He was delighted to turn “free” and to have all his friends there to help him dig into the cake.

I often sit back and marvel at how quickly my baby has grown up to be such a charming and brilliant little man. He loves Lightning McQueen and anything with wheels. In fact a couple of weeks ago, the King was flipping through the sports channel and was ordered to STOP at the N@scar race. What was even more shocking was that the King complied!!!!

BabyBlueEyes is growing like a bad weed. He’s nearly as big as the girls (only about an inch shorter than FrogPrincess and weighing 2 lbs more) and I’m constantly being asked if he’s starting JK next year. Sadly, no – but I don’t know why not cause the kid is brilliant. At “free”, he knows all his colours, shapes, numbers and letters (even the sounds the letters make). Yah . . . I’m bragging!

Another perk of turning three is that BBE was finally able to join TaeKwonDo. When Dino Princess heard the news that he was joining she said, "Mom, I don’t know about this. You know, I have a picture in my head. It’s a picture of BBE not listening. Sigh . . . . I’d better get to work teaching him.” (this coming from the gal who taught her brother how to pee standing up).

And so she did . . . teaching him all the moves she could over the next three days. When the time finally came for BBE’s first lesson, that was even more hilarious! Dino Princess was the doting mother to her little prodigy. Every time Sir gave them another exersize, she took it upon herself to ensure that her brother was doing it right. At one point, the King and I were trying desperately to contain ourselves as she looked at him in disgust and said, “That isn’t how I taught you to do this!”. Fortunately, BBE was oblivious to the wrath of his sister and actually amazed us all at how well he did.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY big boy! We are so proud of you.