Happy birthday Drew!

On Sunday September 11, 2011 Drew turned 5 years old.  I'm still trying to wrap my head around it.  We had a whole bunch of fun lined up for him...here's how it played out.

Once he woke up (H was up already) we got straight to business opening his gifts from James, Hunter and I.  He was very excited and once opened, he was busy for a long time playing with his new toys.

Drew got Hunter a gift, so he wouldn't feel left out of the action.

Next up was the ritual of marking his height on the wall....he's grown about an inch since the last time we measured him.

 Once we calmed down from that, we headed to our neighbour's place (the Hume's).  The Toronto Live Steamers club meets there once/month to run their trains around the track.

The boys were mesmerized.

And were thrilled to get a ride!!!  Seriously, best day EVER!!

Hunter wouldn't go on his own, so James went on with him.  I think James had as much fun as the boys.

At 4pm, Drew's party (his first, of two) started.  I was a bit panicked about this whole thing....I'm not entirely thrilled with how it all played out.  Should have organized more games, but when I asked Drew if he had fun at his party, his eyes lit up and he said it was the best party EVER....so I guess that's all that counts.

Craft fun...painting picture frames!

Hadley having some fun.

Grandma instructing the kids.....it was so funny!

K and J on the bouncy castle.

My uncle and cousins having some dinner.

Drew's cake, which was brought by Nana and Papa.  He gave strict instructions that he wanted blue and white icing with transformers on top.  Well done Nana and Papa!  He was thrilled!!

Hadley getting some cake.

Pinata craziness.  I love how Hunter is just waiting at the back...

He's got his nana to pick up the candy for him....why stress???  LOL

Drew opening his gorgeous painting from Hadley.

It's tough to open your gifts when there are vultures all around you!  LOL

Opening gifts from Uncle Jamie ("he sent them all the way from Golden?!?!?"  Drew was super excited about that)

Sparkler fun.

Perhaps that full moon had something to do with the craziness of the night!

The photo collage below was done by my friend Laurie (from Clover photography).  I think it captures the day perfectly.  Although, there is no picture of me pulling my hair out.....that should probably be added to get a true feel for the afternoon!  Ha ha ha

Happy birthday Drew.  I love you so much, little bean.  I am so very proud of you, and can not wait to see what the next days, months, years have in store for us!!!!

XOXOXO

It's been a week....

And I'm a little shocked at all that we did.....

Some highlights...

On Thursday we headed to Grimsby to meet Luc and Erin's baby, Tyler.  We stopped at Laurie's house to see a Miss Hadley (and of course, Laurie too).  It was a quick, but much needed visit.  Felt like forever since I'd seen my girls!  

beautiful Hadley

 James did take a couple of pictures of Tyler while we were at the Mallard's house, but I can't seem to find them on the computer.....I'm sure I'll take some more very soon and add them to this blog.  The important thing is that he (and his parents) are doing great.

We had left the boys with James' parents while we went to Grimsby, so this was also a fun adult afternoon for James and I!  He took me to McDonald's for lunch.  Quite the romantic, that husband of mine!

Who can resist pictures in the tub?

Saturday morning, Drew had his "closing day" game of soccer at the Trafalgar sports park (off of Maple avenue) in Georgetown.  This was a neat location as it is on lands that my grandfather used to own.....I remember dropping my dad off here, when I was a kid, so that he could help with the wheat, etc.  Pretty cool it's a park now.

Drew had a fun time, but mostly he enjoyed getting his trophy.  He is quite proud of it.

Nana and Papa came, of course!

Hunter got a tattoo from the creepy Mustang mascot.  

See what I mean about creepy??

SO PROUD!

 Saturday night, Nana and Papa came over so that we could all head to East Side Mario's to celebrate Drew's birthday with the embarrassing "waiters/restaurant singing to you ritual" that my family has become so fond of.

They brought a gift.

Papa showing Drew and Hunter how to open the gift.

After dinner we went to Baskin Robbins to claim Drew's free birthday ice cream (of course, the rest of us had to have something too!!)

So that brings me to the end of Saturday.....stay tuned for other exciting highlights from our week!!!

Labour day turned into "labor" day!

Our friends Lucas and Erin Hodgson welcomed their son, Tyler Ralph Hodgson into the world yesterday (September 5, 2011).  He weighed 6lbs15oz and is doing well.  We're going to see the little man (and his parents) tomorrow, can hardly wait.  Congratulations to them!!

I have been waiting for a little man to enter our circle of friends so that I can give away all of our baby boy clothes.  This has been pretty emotional for me, more emotional than I thought it would be.  I'm pretty sure we're done with babies (well, James is done anyways...lol)  Taking everything out, washing it and then packing it away to be given to another family has provoked some tears!  Ridiculous, I know, but it's what happened.

Anyways, we're super excited for Erin and Luc and can't wait to meet their little man.

Yesterday was a great day for the boys and I.  We met some friends at Rotary park in the morning.  Drew's newest playgroup friend was there, so they had a great time playing together (Drew still wearing his fire-fighter costume).  He told me yesterday that he was wearing it because, "people haven't seen a real fire-fighter up close mommy, cause they are always in their trucks.  This way they will know what one looks like".  Too cute.

Hunter playing in the sand at Rotary park

He's wearing it again today.

He wants to wear it tomorrow when we meet his teacher.

I hope I can get him to take it off by Christmas.

We went to Subway for lunch and then headed home.  Hunter had a nap and Drew and I worked outside.

We headed to Nana and Papa's for the afternoon/evening.  Here, we headed out for an adventure on the gator, worked in Nana's garden, the boys watched my dad split wood and we had pizza for dinner (their kitchen is all torn up as they are getting a new floor put in).

Hard at work in the garden.

It was a great night.

Happy long weekend!

School is almost here again.  I'm conflicted....while I am super excited to have some money coming into my bank account again (supply teaching) and anxious to get back on somewhat of a schedule with Drew (school), I'm sad that summer is over.  It has been a GREAT summer.

We went out with a bang this weekend.  James was off for most of it, so we got a lot of things done around home and then hit the road for the cottage.  It started on Wednesday.

James put a floor into the boys club house and now they can't get enough of it!  (they barely used it before)

I'm trying to tame down the wilderness that is my neglected front yard.  These are the before shots.

Drew was thrilled to help...."look mom, I'm carrying a tree!"

Work is so much easier in a fireman's suit.

 We had a crappy supper (chicken fingers and vegetables), so we headed to Jay's for some ice cream.

 Thursday was much of the same, although James and I dropped the boys off at Grandma and Grandpa's and then went to do some errands for Drew's birthday party and went to the dump.  Once we brought the boys home, it was work, work work!

Friday morning, I had an ultrasound for my kidneys at the hospital and then rushed home so we could leave for the cottage.  Traffic was brutal.  We took the 407 (which we try not to do).

It was worth it once we got there.  Lisa, Norm and the kids (and a couple of Lisa's friends) were there when we got there.  We unpacked and then hit the river.

Nana and Papa came on saturday after lunch.  It was blistering hot on Saturday.  We spent most of it down at the water.

Thank god for the water.

Our neighbours had a time capsule raising party (they had buried one 25 years ago).  We stayed for a little while, but then brought the kids back for some dinner and another swim before bed.  The kids weren't really into it, and I'm not that good at "mingling" with strangers, so it was more fun to just go swimming.  We did bring some photos to add to the new time capsule they were burying.  This one will be opened in 20 years.

We had breakfast with Nana and Papa and then headed back down to the water.  My boys just can't seem to get enough swimming in!

This was very serious work for a very long time...they were building a habitat for a frog that they had captured.  The poor frog!

It was sad leaving.  I'm not sure when we'll be back up again, it might not be until thanksgiving between James' work schedule and Drew's school schedule.

It was a great weekend though!  Happy labour day weekend everyone!