Macie's First Christmas Concert

                                         

Holy Cross Elementary has been a great school for us these past 2 years. The staff and location are amazing. We appreciate the experience we are having so far.  Dec 5, 2017 was Maice's Christmas Concert. It was great. It was all about Jesus.  Macie Sang her songs in french. She is doing so good learning the french language.

Wade and Kansas did very well waiting and watching. It was a good family event, saw tons of friends, and enjoyed some good Christmas music.

Waiting for the Concert to begin

Wade coming prepared

Stage overview

Macie on the far right middle- very focused

Macie is in Kindergarten with Mme Valerie and sang "JESUS" Tune to B-I-N-G-O

Holy Cross' ABCs of Christmas.

The world through the eyes of Children

Most of us know this sign as the universal sign for a gas station well known and widely used in the Canadian north, however after reading this you will likely never look at it the same.

While driving by this gas station, Macie, who is learning how to spell and read words, age 6, started to spell this sign.

At first, I am sure none of us got what she was doing, but after it sank in I couldn't stop laughing

Her rendition of it was 3-s-s-o. Three, s, s, o.. She spells it out and there is silence in the car. I look over at Esso and realize what she had done. I never noticed it before but the E is in fact a backward 3.  so now it will be know by me as 3-S-S-O

Thank-you Macie.

BABY STRESS

Yesterday we went to Edmonton to go and see a Paediatrician as Kansas has not been gaining the weight she should be. Kansas started out in the 90% percentile for her weight and has been dropping percentiles ever since. When she was 7 weeks old we went for a follow up visit to see the Doctor and that was when we first noticed the weight drop. She went from the 90th down to the 40th percentile. We went and saw a lactation specialist and she diagnosed Kansas with an Upper Lip Tie and Lower Tongue Tie. We then went to Edmonton a week later and Kansas had laser surgery done on her Lip and Tongue. She has a 100% upper lip tie and 85% lower tongue tie. After the surgery I felt her suck was so much better and we thought for sure after this we would see her weight gain start to rise. Unfortunately she dropped even more. From the 40th then down to the 20th and then down to the 15%. We finally were able to get Kansas to take a bottle for us so I started pumping all day long and got her drinking only from bottles so we could monitor her food intake. For over a month we have been only bottle feeding her know and she is getting more then enough milk throughout the day. We even started mixing some formula in with the Breast Milk just incase my milk is not fatty enough. It has not seemed to help and Kansas has now fallen to the 8th percentile. So off to a Paediatrician we went. Yesterday at Kansas appointment the Doctor said she has a definite Heart Murmur and he sent her for an ECG and an X-ray. We are know being referred to a Paediatric Cardiologist and are praying that it is nothing serious. My emotions are all over the place right now and even though I am trying not to worry about it 24/7 I can't help but constantly be thinking of her and what might be in our/her future.

Kansas getting her ECG test done, she was such a good girl.

GALAXYLAND

Yesterday we had to take Kansas to see a Paediatrician in Edmonton, which means a 3 1/2 hour drive to Edmonton waiting at the Doctors office and then worse we were sent of for some testing. Macie and Wade were such troopers for the whole thing that we decided to take them to Galaxyland at West Edmonton Mall afterwards. They had so much fun and even though I hated the price to get into the park and go on the rides it was worth it to see there smiling faces and having a blast. We also hit up Olive Garden for lunch which me and Mark realized we had not been to in forever. I forgot how delicious that place was. The kids loved it especially the all you can eat breadsticks. Take out the visit with the Doctor and I got to say it was such a great day with the kids.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

This year was probably one of our most epic costumes yet. We had so much fun building there costumes and putting them together. There amazing Dad did most of it, but I put in a little bit of my ideas.
Wade was Darkwing Duck, epic character when me and Mark were kids. Wades been watching some of the shows from a DVD we bought and loves him. Macie wanted to be a police officer, but when she put it on she looked so much like Officer Hops from Zootopia. When I made the suggestion, she was on board 100%. Kansas got a warm Panda Bear costume that was on sale for $4.99. The weather was junky and snowed the whole time, but we meet up with one of Macie's best friends Bailey and enjoyed the fact that is wasn't to cold outside just wet.  It was a great day and the kids had a blast.

we made up some Home Made Violation Tickets to hand out to the wonderful houses that gave us Candy. We added a thank you for the candy note on the bottom. It was pretty cute, and Macie loved handing them out. 

Some HomeMade Fox Spray

Wades Dad is the best. Made this all from scratch. 

How cute is Officer Hops Car

Wade was in Transformer Heaven when we saw this awesome Dad

PHOTO DUMP!!

Life's been going pretty great so far, besides the stress of Kansas' weight, I am pretty happy with this three kids thing. I remember hearing people say how three is the hardest and you are going to hate it. I have to be honest and say I love it. It has been great and the kids are awesome. It helps I think that Macie is at school all day and Wade is so good at playing buy himself with his toys. It gets a little stressful between that 3 and 5, on days Wade has preschool and we have to pick him up, get home, wait for Macie to get home then rush snack into our mouth and head out the door for swimming or dance lessons, but we are even starting to get the hang of that and Wade is so good at grabbing his bag of toys and playing with his toys while we wait for Macie to do her things, and Kansas just cuddles on my lap and watches the world. I've been terrible at blogging so thought I needed to do a little update and put some pictures on.

Science Experiments while Kansas naps and Macie is at school

Being so good on our drive to Edmonton

Getting ready for Conference with our getting to know your prophets chain

Our favourite place to go for walks in Cold Lake (The Provincial Park)

we headed to Lethbridge for thanksgiving and were able to see all our cousins

watching Movies on the tramp late at night

Wade being a trooper with our endless Doctor's appointments

swimming at the hotel in Edmonton. Kansas has her surgery the following day. 

having a fire pit in the snow

3 MONTHS OLD!!

It is going buy way too fast and I can't believe Kanas is already 3 months old today. This past month in a half has been a bit of a gong show. I want to start buy saying that Kansas is an amazing baby. She sleeps amazing, 10 hrs straight at nigh time. She has the most adorable smile ever. She is almost always happy and content at home, she gets a bit fussy when we are out and about and like Macie screams bloody murder when we put her in her car seat. She is now starting to love her baths and diaper changes. She is awesome at tummy time and naps great during the day. She is already reaching for toys, smiling like crazy and recognizing Me, Mark and the kids. She loves sucking her thumb and  she weighs about 11 lbs 3 ounces, and her to dye for hair is still there, I can already put it in a ponytail, and  Everywhere we go people comment on her hair. Know to explain the gong show. When Kansas was born she was 8 lbs 11 ounces and in the 90th percentile. When we went for her 7 week check up she had fallen into the 30th percentile, a week later when we went back, down to the 20th percentile. The doctors were hugely concerned and had me meet up with a Lactation specialist. She looked at Kansas mouth and figured she had an upper lip tie and lower tongue tie. We were referred to a dental surgeon and in the mean time had to do tube feeding and extra bottle feeding, which was not going well at all. After the laser surgery on her lip and tongue I noticed her suck was getting better and my milk supply was coming in stronger so I thought for sure her weight was going to be picking up. Unfortunately it was not, we waited one more week for another weigh in and when that came back even worse the Doctor decided to send us off to a paediatrician. We see the Peds doctor in November. The Doctor did do a good check up on Kansas and thinks she is a healthy, strong, happy baby. Which mom agrees. If it wasn't for the visits I would have had no idea she wasn't gaining any weight because she is such a good baby and reaching all her milestones and looks like she is growing. But the Doctor still wants to send us to a Peds Doctor just to make sure nothing is wrong. So we have been praying hard that all is OK with our sweet little bug. We just love this little girl so much and are so happy we decided to have another one, she has filled out home with so much love and happiness and we all just adore her.

WADES TURNS 4!!!

Another year older and wiser too, Happy Birthday to Wade!

Wade buddy how are you 4 years old already. You are one pretty amazing boy that's for sure. Whenever you walk into a room people instantly smile when they see you. Everyone especially your Mom and Dad just adore you. From your infectious smile to your naturally funny personality. You just beam with excitement and Joy and that rubes off on everyone around you.I love you so much and hanging out with you and Kansas as Macie has started full time school has been pretty awesome. 

Wade you are such a boy still and pretty much play with your toys from sun up till sun down. Your latest obsession is Transformers and have already started to build up a collection. Grimlock is your favourite. Dinosaurs and Paw Patrol have started to fade from your daily play and cars and transformers have taking over. 

Next to playing with your toys all day long are Bike Rides, swimming, the Beach, Playgrounds, Walks to Sobeys for a cookie, and sometimes working on your letters and sight words with Mommy.

You are one smart little boy and have mastered writing your name, you know all your alphabet and about 60 sight words. Your comprehension is out of this world and it makes me happy and terrified at how well you understand things. 

You love your best buddies and going to play with them over having them over is just about the greatest thing. Max Ellis, Duckey (Deklan) Hamilton, Malcom Burgess, Grady Hall (your cousin in Lethbridge), Brylin Lowry, and Maja Pinch just to name a few. Whenever we go to the park you instantly make friends and play so well with others. 

You have one pretty big appetite and it blows our mind sometimes how much pizza you can down. Thankfully Mom has worked hard at making sure you eat healthy or I swear you would already weigh 100lbs. Pizza, Ham sandwiches, Donuts, and Hot Dogs are probably your favourite food. You will also eat any kind of fruit and vegetable and surprisingly love salad. You always devour the meat and vegetable on your plate at supper time but are not a huge fan of rice, potatoes, and pasta. 

You had your booster shots the other day and weighted 41 lbs being in the 80 percentile for weight and I don't remember your height but you were in the 78 percentile for height. Nurse was happy and you were in a great spot on the BMI scale which made Mom happy. 

You still got that strong spirit in you and although you are thankfully done throwing temper tantrums, you can still get pretty upset with people quickly and it can sometimes be hard to get you to settle. Some positive words and hugs usually does the trick. 

Although you are super outgoing, you have this sweet shyness about you. I love it when you come to my side because the thought of saying hi to someone scares you, or throwing out garbage because someone you don't know is close to the garbage can. You were so nervous about your part in the primary presentation but after some bribing and words of encouragement you said your part so great and so clear. 

Anyways buddy I am so excited for this next year and watching you grow more into this amazing kid you have become. Mom and Dad love you so much. Happy Birthday!

BEST BUDS!!

OK, I know I just said in my last post how Macie and Wade fought more this summer then ever before, but really these two are the best of buddies. This summer was hard with Mom being super pregnant and then having a C-Section, So I do need to cut them some slack. When it comes down to it, these two play together all day long, having adventure and creating there fun. If they are not off playing then they are on a crazy walking, biking, or beach adventure with there mom and/or Dad. Today was Cops and Robbers, Thursday was our last big walk and picnic before Macie starts full time School. These two love each other so much and I hope all this time we and they have spent together will keep building there relationship and build an unbreakable bond.

KINDERGARTEN!!!

Why are we here, why are we already at this point in Macie's life. In some ways I am happy, Macie and Wade fought more this summer then they have there whole life probably. Macie is starting to outgrow playing Dinosours and Paw Patrol with Wade, and is enjoying doing more structured things throughout the day. Not that they fought a lot, but definitely had to find more things for them to do separately and had to intervene when they played sometimes as the fighting was leading to hitting and meltdowns. Playing at the park and the beach going for lots of walks and bike rides kept them pretty happy and mom sane, but come winter we won't be able to do that all day long, so having Macie in school and Wade in Pre-school will definitely help. I just hate that they are gone all day and all week. I wish school was only 3 days a week, until middle school. I do enjoy my space and some time to myself, but over all I enjoy spending time with my kids and I am really going to miss having them home with me. Thank goodness for Kansas.

So Macie started school on Wednesday, but only went for 2 hours, then Friday was her first official full day, then Monday it Starts. All day, 5 days a week. Which is crazy to me. I am so glad I held her back and definitely know that that was the right decision to make for our family and for Macie. Her Teacher is Mme Valerie and she is in the French Immersion program. Her school is literally in our backyard and on Friday I loved spying on her for recess and watching her running around and playing. I hope she has a great year learning and making new friends.