Christmas PARTY!!

Yesterday the South Calgary Mom's Group hosted the 2nd annual Kids Christmas Party at the Shawnessy Barn.  It was held on the weekend this time around so that daddy's could attend and I must admit it was nice having an extra pair of hands around!

Here is Finley with her two BFF's Saydee (in red) and Cailey.  Saydee is going to have a little sister arrive at the end of February so she has been practicing with her baby doll and on Penelope.  She is going to make a great big sister and I am sure Finley and Cailey are teaching her the ropes....hahaha

Santa arrives!!!!

Almost every kid in the room cried + screamed like they were being murdered - no exaggeration.  Finley looks terrified below but she has never ever been afraid of Santa or the Easter bunny so I think it was just a general reaction along with the other kids.  Finley usually cries when she has to leave!

We decided to distract the girls and took them over to the craft and gingerbread table.  We didn't want Finley to see all the kids crying while sitting on Santa's lap because we knew that would scare her off.  THey had fun doing their crafts!

Here is Finley's stocking that she made with Daddy's help

Here is Penelope's - it's pretty weak but there limited supplies of stickers left for hers

Greg helping Finley and Cailey build a gingerbread house

Saydee showing off the gingerbread house she made with her daddy

Finley eagerly waiting for Santa

Penelope waiting for Santa

This was the best photo Greg got with Santa and the girls.  There was also a professional photographer there taking the photos so hopefully he got some better ones but I am also positive neither cracked a smile but I think they were one of the more well behaved kids!!

Finley playing the her gift from Santa.  There were 4 of these given out yesterday and it was super popular - kids were lining up to try it out

Penelope was not a happy camper!!  She has 2 top teeth coming in, this party was during her nap time and she hated her shoes and dress.  She cheered up once the clothes were off!  Santa brought her another shopping cart.  Apparently he didn't get the memo that she got this one for her birthday.  We took it back this morning to Walmart and tomorrow we are going to get her a new present. We will post it after she gets it!

Cailey and Kirsten opening their presents.  They DON't like Santa.  Actually that is an understatement - they hated Santa and they preferred  not to get presents or cupcakes if it meant not seeing him.  I can't wait to see their photo :)

 Penelope had a new outfit on since we were headed out to Uncle Brad's Birthday Dinner and was all smiles on the rocker.

It was a great time and really nice to have the dad's around!!  Thanks again for all your hardwork Michelle!!

A Weekend In The Deep Freeze

On Friday morning, me, greg and the girls packed up the traverse and headed off to Edmonton for the weekend but not without a few stops first.  

We stopped first at Cross Iron Mills as we needed to pick up a present from Bass Pro Shops for the girls' cousin Easton.  We also looked at the Coach Factory Store for a new handbag for Penelope for Christmas but they had no cute little ones for her!!

We then headed down the QE2 towards Red Deer where we picked up Cousin Madi and then met Jenn and Leigham for lunch at Montana's.  It was so nice to see them and the food was delicious!!

My Uncle Brian had been complaining because the closed captioning came on his tv and wouldn't go off.  He called Shaw and they said it was his tv.  So he went and bought a brand new quatro tv (super awesome btw) and Greg hooked it up Friday night.  When the TV turned on, the closed captioning was again there.  Greg went into the reset settings on the PVR and it was on there.  He fixed it.  My uncle was annoyed with Shaw but was happy to have an excuse to buy the new quattro tv.  And my mom got a new tv too!!!

My Uncle Brian had Bailey's and Hot Chocolate.  Penelope was quite the fan of it!

Finley helping Madi make her sign for the Oilers game.  Greg and I almost had her and Kristy write the following on their sign:

Can't

Beat

Chicago

They thought it was a great idea until my mom explained to them that it was not what they wanted.  It would;ve been pretty funny to see them show up at Rexall dressed in Oiler gear and that sign!

Cupcakes for Kristy's birthday.  The naughty and nice was spectacular while the rest were average at best

Finley trying to scam more cupcake from Toot Toot

Penelope loving the cosmobile over her stroller

The pirate ship all Christmas'd out

Finley loving the cosmobile.  It saved her during the shopping trip.

Finley not feeling well after a long day of shopping plus no sleep and too much excitement.  She threw up twice and then slept for 13 hours and woke up perfect Sunday morning.

Kristy finally working on her sign 

Happy 30th Kristy!

Ready to go to the game!

It was a fun but VERY COLD weekend away!  It was nice to come back to the balmy -12 Calgary weather on Sunday afternoon!!!!

88 Cents

Is how much it cost me to provide hours and hours of entertainment for F + P.  Two Witch hats on sale for .44 each is a steal of a deal.

Here are some photos of my witchy girls!

building a book sling

Finley and Pia (our latest + greatest nickname for Penelope) love books.  They read them all the time, love to be read to and more recently, Finley loves to tell you what is going on in the book (very good for language development).  My problem was storing them in the bonus room.  They both have bookcases in their bedrooms but that doesn't work well for the other room.  I currently housed them on a shelf on the expedit but it got messy real fast and I hated the look of it.

So while we were perusing the Toys R Us flyer, we saw an Imaginarium Book Sling.  It came in espresso, primary and pastel.  We have a primary toy organizer (thanks Kijiji) in our bonus room and a pastel one in the basement play room.  We decided to go with the espresso one with the thought that long after the toy organizers are gone, the book sling would be something we could keep for years and it matches the rest of the furniture in there.  So off to Toys R Us I went.  After a lot of looking and some help from a lady who tracked it down upstairs in their storage area, I got the book sling.  

On a side note, I cannot believe how busy it was for a Monday morning.  It was ridiculous!!  I tried kijiji but all the ads were of mom's wanting the sling, not selling them!

Here are the pieces that were in the box.  I thought that it would be easy to put together.

It even came with an allan wrench so I didn't have to go searching in the garage for the right screw driver or drill bit.

It was much harder that I had anticipated.  I had to redo 2 of the shelves because I did them crooked and couldn't get the screws tight enough.  But eventually I got it right!

The completed project

The new reading area.  I took the books currently in the bonus room and a bunch from Finley's room to fill it up with the books.  Both girls love having their books right by their chairs.  And there are less books in Finley's room which means less books for her to pull off her shelves and for me to pick up.

It was a fantastic investment!!!!

A Visit With Old Friends

We recently visited some friends of ours for dinner.  It was delicious - first time I have ever had cornish hen.  It was so very good - not sure if it was the type of meat, the marinade Oleg used or a combination of both - regardless I was very satisfied.

Here are few photos of Finley, Penelope and Michelle playing together.  I cannot believe how grown up Michelle is - starting kindergarten has been fantastic for her.  Such a little sweetheart!

I took Julia's advice and bought a second desk so that they each had one.  The second desk is not nearly as nice as the one that we already have but I got it for $5 on kijiji so it will have to do.  I will post photos of the new desk later on.  

Michelle got a Furreal Puppy for Christmas last year and happened to bring it out while we were there.  Finley LOVED it.  She played it with it a lot and was mad when she couldn't bring it home with her so I thought it would make a great Christmas present - except for the price.  I couldn't justify $60 on a toy she may not play with in a month so I happened to find one on Kijji for $25.  Her daughter quit playing with it and wanted a kitty version of it so it was our lucky day.  Finley went straight for them when we were in Toys R Us early this week so I know she will be so excited when she opens her present!!!

Thanks Julia, Oleg and Michelle for a great evening and for the Christmas present ideas!!