Poor child

Brad & I split the child transport issues as follows- he does morning drop-off & I do pick up. There have been a few times in the last few weeks that I shake my head when I pick Sydney up from daycare and see what she is wearing. She has gone to school in clothes that don't exactly match (granted everything was pink, but not exactly matching pinks) or in jogging pants that hover just at the ankles.

Yesterday when I picked her up was no exception. When I first saw her I thought "Yeah" cute outfit! Then as I followed her up the stairs I noticed something & the conversation went like this...

Me: Sydney, did you take your pants off at school today?
Sydney: No, Mommy
Me: Are you sure?
Sydney: Yeah
Me: So your Dad let you go to school today with your pants on backwards? (!?!)

When I told Brad about this later, he laughed. He said that she got herself dressed this morning. I told him that he should at least check her over before she heads out the door! Man, she is getting picked on by "the girl" at school & it could be because her Dad is sending her to school with her pants on backwards!!!!

I wish I had a picture to post with this, but I obviously must not have been thinking.

Mean Girls

When sending Sydney to school, my fear was how would she handle the "social" part of school. She is such a sensitive little girl, I worried about what it would be like with her going to school with "girls". I am a girl, so I think it is OK for me to say that we are not always the nicest creatures on earth- especially to other little girl.

The week of Valentine's Day Sydney told me about a girl bringing valentines to school before the "party" day and telling Sydney that she didn't have one for her. I told Sydney that she must have misunderstood, but she said "No Mommy, she told me she wasn't giving me one". It turns out that it wasn't valentines that this girl was handing out, but invitations to her birthday party. Sydney says she was the only one in the class who did not get one- which I told her could not be true. I know that Sydney likely did not know the whole story & she was not the only one excluded from "the party" (which apparently Sydney's teacher had to put a stop to the little girl talking about it about a month before because it was all she would talk about). But that didn't stop my heart from aching for the pain/sadness that Sydney was feeling.

Today at supper Sydney told us that this same girl kicked her & hit her today. We didn't really get a clear indication of why this girl was mean to her, but at this age- it could be any number of things. I said to Brad that for all we know she could be mad at Sydney for not coming to her party! Kids don't always connect all the dots or understand the reasons for why things happen, but as a parent it is hard to watch your child get their feelings hurt & know that there is very little you can do about it except help them learn how to deal with these "experiences".

Family Day

Valentine's Day

Sydney & Jason had their own candlelight dinner complete with heart shaped veggies & fruit. Brad & I had our own dinner peacefully after the kids went to bed.
It's amazing how much more you connect as a couple when you are not continually saying "Sydney, get on your chair" or "Jason, move your cup in".

Family Day- Skating at Dundas Driving Park

Such fierce concentration!

The Bisbee Bunch joined us for a skate too.
Great job Macie!!!

Skating with Jason became easier when we switched to the double blade.

Events from the last month

Sleepover
My friend Wendy was home for a couple of weeks to visit family & she came with her girls, Ellie & Katie, to spend the weekend. To make the most of the kids time together we went bowling, out for dinner (10 kids + 5 adults = crazy), and there was plenty of playtime at home. It was sad to see them go, but friends can always come home again.

Illnesses Continue
Brad, Sydney, Jason & our daycare provider were hit at various times over the last month with more illnesses. Thankfully, I keep seeming to escape. Brad & I traded off half-days at home when Jo was sick & this is what Jason chose to do on his morning home with his dad. Kids are weird sometimes.


Sunday Dinners
Brad & I have taken some of the pressure off his mom for Sunday dinners. We are now hosting one a month (I know, that still leaves 3 for her- but you have to start somewhere). It means I spend a day in the kitchen getting ready, but it means that I get to have my family fill my house more regularly & I love that. The kids seem to love it too, because they are just as wild here as they are at Grandma & Papa's.
Getting ready for Valentine's Day
Yesterday Brad & Sydney spent the morning making valentines for her class. It was a much longer project than Daddy anticipated.

Pictures I missed from the Xmas holidays
Brooke & Bailey spent a night with us & the kids always love to play with their cousins.

Happy Belated 40th Bradley

A page from the birthday boy's baby book

A couple of weeks ago Brad turned the Big 4-0. I asked if he would like a party for his 40th & he said 'no'. Technically there was no party because it was just a family dinner like we would host any other time in the month, but I did invite Kim & Pete too. But really, it was Pete's birthday too.

I like to say that Brad got a new car for his birthday, since he did pick up a new one the very next day. However, the circumstances in which we got a new car were not good. The week before his birthday he got T-boned on his side driving to work. Thankfully he's OK, but his head got knocked pretty good & he had to go to the hospital by ambulance (for which we received a $45 bill this week). He still does not remember the accident at all- his first memory is the ambulance.

I think all in all he had a good birthday, but it seems that 40 is just another number for him.

Look at the candles!!!
(Jason is not too sure of the fire.)

Look at the smoke!!!
Thankfully the smoke detectors did not go off!

Baby Bradley :)