TERRY FOX RUN

Today was the Terry Fox Run at Annette P.S.  The boys were excited to put Terry tattoos on their face and arms and participate in the run with the entire school.  Upon picking Quinn up at school I was surprised to see him still wearing his cozy, yellow hoodie.  It was a gorgeous, sunny day and the afternoon was hot!  When I asked him if he was hot, he said, "yes".  I said, "why don't you take your sweatshirt off?"  He replied, "I wanted to wear it all day because I put a special sticker on the back of it."  He turned around and showed me this...  "I'm Running For My Grandpa."  I got my emotions in check, gave him a huge hug and told him, Grampa would be grateful.  Grampa Claw, it is clear that Fitz Boyz thought of you a great deal today!  xoxox

** Kieran quickly replied, "I ran for Grampa too, but I wasn't given a sticker!"  Sigh...

THE BIG GAP GRIN

Kieran was relieved to lose that final tooth early this morning.  Jeepers, the tooth fairy is busy this week!

Rise of the Guardians Tooth Fairy

ON THE MEND...

First tooth fell out late last night.  That second tooth is hanging, literally hanging on, I suspect it will be gone within the next few days.  Kieran's lips are cut, his gums are swollen and bruised and he has a pretty good sized hole in his face which is about to get bigger.  Advil, soft foods and his sunny disposition are intact so he seems to be all good.

Cute Face

LASER TAG INJURY

This afternoon Kieran went to a buddies birthday party.  He was silly excited to head back to eZone for a Laser Tag party, having been once before.  Unfortunately, laser tag and Kieran didn't jive today.  Laser tag happens in quite a dark area and "run ins" happen often; however, Kieran's mouth and another boys laser gun collided shoving his two front teeth farther into his mouth.  THANKFULLY, both of these teeth are still baby teeth.  I spent some time on the phone with his dentist today and we are hopeful that this means he will just lose those teeth earlier than he would have and no further damage has been done.  The first tooth fell out as he was heading to bed this evening.  My best guess is the second one will be gone in a day or two.  We are dentist bound on Monday to have x-rays taken to ensure that all is well.  In the mean time swollen gums, Advil, lose teeth and soft foods are happening in our house.

OUCH!

THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE

On Thursday evening we arrived home and Kieran unpacked his backpack.  His lunch bag came out, homework, and an amazing red shirt with a canoe on it that said Camp Pine Crest on the bottom of it.  He quickly took his t-shirt off and replaced it with the new one that Ms. Chang had so thoughtfully snuck in Kieran's backpack that day.  Both of Ms. Chang's kids (Emily and Matt) go to Pine Crest and as they were cleaning out drawers Ms. Chang thought to pass it on to Kieran given that he went to Pine Crest this summer.  Kieran wore it to bed that night, woke up on Friday and wore it to school.  He loves it.  Thanks so much for thinking of Kieran and passing it on.  You are so thoughtful, thank you!

WELL LOVED

Grampa Claw is one incredibly loved man!  He is the only grandparent that has actually been named by his first grandchild.  Tom was Grampa Tom for the first year or so of Kieran's life.  Tom has this tickle claw that he has done on little kids for as long as I have known him.  It works like a charm and you are almost guaranteed a giggle.  Once Kieran was able to put words together he dropped the "Grampa Tom" schtick and started calling him Grampa Claw.  Four more grand kids later, it is the only way they have ever known him!  We are all relieved to have his surgery behind, thankful for the incredible care he is receiving and happy to see him on the road to recovery.  I managed to get down to TGH to visit with him today and he has one heck of a "WE LOVE YOU, GET WELL WALL" happening in his room.   We love you Grampa Claw!

An amazing and massive get well certificate from the twins, Oliver, Heather and Doyle

Quinn's hands and a hug saying "I Love You This Much" and Kieran's CLAW

The special wall

LISTEN CAREFULLY

I saw this quote today and it resonates with me.  As exhausting as it can be, I think it is important to listen to these little people in our lives.  It is now that we are building and forming lifetime relationships with them.

SLEEPOVER WITH GRAMS AND CLAW

Last Saturday the boys had a sleep over at Mum and Tom's house.  With Tom's surgery coming up the following week they wanted to have some solid time with the boys, not knowing how long it might be before Tom's energy levels were back up.  We dropped the boys off shortly after lunch and the 4 of them hopped into Grams' car and headed to the Science Centre for the afternoon.  They all had a blast and it sounds like it was sensory overload.  Back to their house for dinner, a few rounds of UNO, Snakes & Ladders, magic trickery, books, movie and snuggles and all was well in their world.  They had a solid sleep, some Sunday morning cartoons and play in the local park and then met us at their all time favourite brunch spot, The Golden Griddle.  It was great fun connecting with Heather, Doyle, Charlotte, Jacob, Oliver and Mum and Tom over a yummy meal.  Dave and I managed to get out and try a new local hot spot in our hood called Cantina.  It was delish!  Thanks for the fun, food and love.

Building a dam at the Science Centre

Claw and Grams with all of their grandkiddos

An all time fave!

Jake and Quinn

Quinn and Oliver

A LEARNING MOMENT...

The boys often nibble on a piece of fruit as we read them a bedtime story.  Last Thursday, Kieran was eating a pear.  Sadly, the pear was not super ripe so Kieran wasn't too interested in eating the whole thing.  He went into the bathroom to toss it in the garbage but his aim was not very accurate and he actually threw it in the toilet. His immediate instinct was to flush - uh oh!!!  Friday we all went to school so it was a non issue.  By late Friday night, we had a problem!  Nothing was flushing down the toilet.  Dave tried to snake the drain, no luck, then he went and bought a toilet auger, again, no luck.  We called a plumber and realized that although this was a quick fix for them, it was not going to be a cheap fix for us.  We were quoted $430 for the job. We researched online what to do next and even considered purchasing a new toilet which was going to be cheaper than hiring a plumber.  Mum and Tom came to the rescue with the loan of their WetVac.  It sucked the pear right out of there and yes, we bleached it to the moon and back!  Thanks Mum and Tom for the loan.

The culprit

Pears and Toilets don't mix well

The pear made it all the way to the Closet Bend and then opted to go no further!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

It's hard to believe that today marks the first day of both of the boys officially being in "grade" school.
Quinn starts grade one with Ms. Masellas and Kieran begins grade three with Ms. Saunders.  Happy First Day Of School!

* It is my intent to take the boys pictures like this every year.  It will serve as a sample of their printing, haircuts and style at the start of each year.  Hopefully I remember to do it again next year! :)

Clearly it's time to return to school and fix the number reversals!

Grade 3?  Oh my!  How did that happen?

KIDNAPPED!

Due to the fact that we were at the CNE for my real birthday and did not get home in time for dinner/birthday singing the boys thought it was fitting to kidnap me after dinner last night to take me out for a surprise birthday treat.  Ok, kidnap is a bit strong but they blindfolded me and put me in the car.  I traveled with a red super cape around my head the entire drive.  The boys thought it was amazing, I'm sure the drivers in the other cars that spotted us wondered...  Once we pulled into a parking lot they uncovered my eyes.  We were at a Dairy Queen.  DQ is not somewhere we frequent, in fact the boys had never had a Blizzard in their life!  Blizzards beat cake by a mile in my world so it seemed fitting to have ice cream to celebrate one day late.  My Blizzard was delivered with a candle in it as they sang Happy Birthday to me.  Adorable!  Thank you for spoiling me!

On the way to DQ

Blizzard with candle!  Kieran is very concerned because there was a wasp flying around us.

A LITTLE BIT OLDER...

With the end of summer comes my birthday, the Ex and of course, the airshow.  Saturday marked my 38th birthday, how did I get so old?  My boys let me sleep in and upon waking they showered me with love, adorable cards, the birthday flag flying from the front of the house and my very own birthday chair.  I received a gorgeous dress from Dave and the boys and my only disappointment is that I have not yet had any where to wear it!  The boys were excited to take me to the CNE to celebrate the day.  As a parent, I view that more as a gift to the kids; however, I have fantastic childhood memories of my dad taking my sister and I to the CNE and Airshow always in or around my birthday.  We played games, did the ride thing, ate in the Food Building, watched the Superdogs and had Tiny Tom Donuts, delish!  It seems fitting that the tradition started during my childhood continues into my adulthood and creates equally great memories for my boys.  I would like to think that even when I'm gone K and Q will celebrate August 31st by going to the CNE with their friends or family, eat Tiny Tom donuts and think of me.

Tiny Tom Donuts - My Weakness!

Dave beat all three of us at a game and won a stuffy!

We saw the Superdogs Show

And even got to meet them after the show.  This is Kung Fu Panda

Self pic taken on the SkyRide across the top of the CNE grounds

Officer Kieran with his dog Q

The favourite ride this year!

My card from the boys.  Time to go back to school - letter reversals! :)

MILLS FAMILY GATHERING

Aunt Norah and Uncle Doug hosted us at their amazing home in Creemore about 10 days ago.  My cousin Mike was visiting with his two little boys, Riley (7) and Matthew (5) from Whistler so we drove up to Creemore to spend the day eating, drinking, swimming and laughing.  It was a gorgeous day and the boys were happy to spend it in the pool.  Thanks Norah, Doug and Fred for hosting us yet again this summer, we are so grateful for the time we have spent with you.  Mike, it was awesome to see you and spend some time with your guys.  Hope to do it again next summer.  xo

K enjoying Norah's raspberry bush

The 4 boys picking berries

Happy Birthday One And All

Quinn practicing his Belly Flops - on purpose!

The boys capture Fred

My cousin Mike throwing the boys in the pool!  Fly Kieran fly!

Quinn taking off

That was exhausting!  The guys slept 95% of the way home. 

ETCHINGS

Thank you Auntie Erin for the fabulous Etching Art presie for Quinn.  He has absolutely LOVED doing it.  Thanks so much, it's a total hit and looks fabulous!  We plan on framing it once it's completed and putting it up in his room.  Cannot wait for you to see it in real life.