CHRISTMAS MAGIC FOR THE BOYS

Once again, Santa has out done himself with his video messages sent to each of the boys. Amazing!

Click Here to Watch Quinn's video

Click Here to Watch Kieran's Santa Video

MAGICAL...

Our family Christmas elf named Elfy has returned.  He arrived on Sunday morning and brought "snow donuts", a letter to the boys and some Santa writing paper so each of them could write a letter and he would fly it back to the North Pole that night.  The boys were elated to see their elf friend again.  For those unfamiliar with this Christmas Tradition here is the way it works.

The Elf on the Shelf® is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole to help Santa Claus manage his naughty and nice lists. When a family adopts an elf and gives it a name, the elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa Claus about all of the day's adventures. Each morning, the elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the fun. Children love to wake up and race around the house looking for their elf each morning.

There are two simple rules that every child knows when it comes to having an elf. First, an elf cannot be touched; Christmas magic is very fragile and if an elf is touched it may lose that magic and be unable to fly back to the North Pole. Second, an elf cannot speak or move while anyone in the house is awake! An elf's job is to watch and listen.

Elves typically appear in their families’ homes at the beginning of the holiday season.  On Christmas Eve, the elves return to the North Pole with Santa Claus--until next year!

Sunday December 1st, hanging from the chandelier in the dining room

North Pole Breakfast of snow donuts and candy canes who wouldn't be thrilled?

His book, letter and writing paper too.

Kieran reading the letter to us.

Let the requests begin.

December 2nd, tied up against the back door!

December 3rd he rolled himself down the stairs in a roll of toilet paper

This morning he recycled using the TP roll and the string he had used to tie himself up with and turned it into a swing!

CAVALCADE OF LIGHTS

With a promise to get the boys up and skating confidently this winter we offered to do a weekly family skate.  Dave suggested we go last weekend and truth be told, I had just had a flu bug run through me and wasn't sure I was up for it, but the boys are ridiculously excited and so we ran with it.  Dave had read online that the arena around the corner from us has free skate from 5-6pm on Saturday's so after ensuring everyone had skates and helmets that fit, off we went.  Low and behold upon our arrival there was a hockey team playing.  The boys were devastated so without really thinking it through Dave through out the suggestion of going downtown to the Cavalcade of Lights and skating on the rink at City Hall - what?!?!?!  Home for an early bite to eat and with absolutely no desire to leave the house again, off we went.  We are thrilled we did!  The boys skated several loops around the ice and had a blast, live bands were playing on the stage and to top it all of there was an incredible Fireworks/Laser show that was set off at 8pm.  We all had a great time and hope to make it an annual family event.

A "SELFIE" for you Jess Barrie! :)

In awe...

CHEERS TO 30 YEARS!

30 Years ago today Mum and Tom got married.  If you look at the blown up photo taken this day 30 years ago it is obvious that we have all grown and changed just a wee bit. Amazing to think that in that wedding day photo I was Kieran's age and MUM was the age I am today!

Happy Anniversary to two remarkable people I love with all of my heart.  I'm glad we could celebrate you with all of us together, even if it was 10 days early.  What we didn't do is get a group family photo at our brunch...  Next time.

We hosted an honorary brunch for Mum and Tom last weekend.  With Jal heading to Korea for work, we celebrated early.  We love you!

November 26, 1983

Oliver climbed into the tool box

Celebrating 30 Years

The Peanut Gallery eating on the floor

Snuggles with Oli

Snuggles with Jacob

Snuggles with Charlotte

CARLOS & ANDREIA

Although we are no longer dropping kids off at Humberside Day Care we have managed to keep in touch with a handful of the teachers from there.  Having been there daily for 7 years, although lovely to no longer be paying so much in child care fees, we do miss some of the people we had the pleasure of meeting there.  Carlos and Andreia were Quinn's teachers for his final SK year there.  They had such a fantastic connection with many of their kids, and Quinn had a soft spot for them too.  We hosted them for Friday night pizza dinner, some beers and a few laughs last weekend.  It was great to reconnect with them.  Thanks for all you do.

MISSING CANDY!

Dave and I were looking for the left over Halloween candy the other day, OUR left over halloween candy, not the candy the boys collected, and low and behold it was GONE!  We asked the boys where it was and they replied, "oh, we set up a candy store!"  They took me up to Quinn's bedroom and pulled out his nightside table drawer.  Nice candy store, please may I have some of the candy that I bought?  :)  Not a bad life when you have a candy store set up in your very own room!  Amazingly, they do not eat a single piece of candy without asking?!??!??!?!?! 

WORK WEEKEND

The battle of the "for the good of the home" versus "for the good of the man" won out.  During our midterm break (Friday and Monday off school) Dave opted to redo the remainder of the walk ways surrounding our home.  In addition to hosting a birthday party and volunteering in Kieran's classroom Monday afternoon Dave worked his butt off all day Friday, Saturday and Monday morning using up the stones and redoing the walkway down the side of our house as well as the full backyard.  The result is outstanding, and although I know he is glad it is done, it certainly made for an exhausting long weekend.  Thanks Dave for your unending efforts to improve, improve, improve our home.

Walkway BEFORE

Limestone screening.  The boys wanted to stay home from school on Friday to help.

A little before school shoveling

Looks great!

Working hard

BIG LOVES

Two of our biggest supporters in life are my sister Jal and our wonderful friend Pete.  They make a huge effort to touch base, connect, visit and check in often.  Jally was San Fran bound on Kieran's official birthday so she came to celebrate him at the birthday party the day before.  Pete had a busy Monday as well so he arrived at the house post party and spent about 90 minutes on the floor in our living room building the Lego car he had brought.  We are so grateful to both of you for your constant love and friendship.

A very awesome Playmobil cargo ship from Jally.

SMARTIE MATH

Monday November 11th happened to fall on our mid-term break this year which meant Dave and I had the day off.  We were able to spend much of Kieran's birthday with him.  We attended the Annette Remembrance Day service, brought the boys home for a birthday lunch and then went and volunteered in Kieran's classroom for the afternoon.  We brought 20 boxes of Smarties with us and spent a few hours doing Smartie math with the kids.  It was great fun!  Thank you Ms. Saunders for letting us take over the classroom that afternoon.  The kids were engaged and focused, amazing what happens when you bring chocolate into a lesson!

11.11.13

Monday morning marked Kieran's 8th birthday.  As he slept soundly on Sunday night we managed to build a desk and chair, decorate his bedroom door, rearrange his room, cleaning and clearing along the way.  As I cleaned the floors and moved his dresser from one side of the room to the other I was amazed that he heard nothing and never even stirred.  He woke up at 6am glanced around his room and although on many other days he might have rolled over and gone back to sleep he was amazed by what he saw.  He was up checking it all out and excitedly came in to snuggle and share his gratitude.

Birthday door tradition

The birthday boy sleeping.  Dresser is now moved to accommodate a new desk and chair where his dresser had been.

New desk, chair and lamp

Dollar bill erasers - perfect for K

New markers

And a whole bunch of love

PARTY TIME

We hosted Kieran's birthday party at our school last Sunday.  It was the perfect place to let 10 little people loose.  We started with a game of soccer on the field, once the rain started to fall we headed inside to the gym where we played dodgeball.  I brought a lot of glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets so we cracked them, dressed everyone up with some glow stuff, turned out all the lights and cranked the tunes which lead to some glow in the dark dodgeball, a short dance party and a few rounds of tag.  From there we hit a classroom and played pictionary on the whiteboard ending in Ketchum Hall with some snacks, D.Q. Blizzard Oreo cupcakes and the one amazing gift from his buddies and an equally fantastic presie from Aunt Jally.  We were glad Jal could join us for the fun. 

The boys with Godmum MaryAnn.  MaryAnn was a labour and delivery nurse at St. Michael's Hospital for many years.  She delivered 5 out of 6 Fitzpatrick kids and is Dave's Godmother.  Even though she was retired she managed to deliver Kieran as well and is his Godmother too.  She tried to make it to Quinn's delivery but he arrived in this world too quickly.  Although she did not deliver QBall she was the first one there to meet him.

Driving the new LiteHawk R/C Car.  A big LiteHawk day!

The new car!