Double the sadness

Today your Vancouver grandparents left for Vancouver. It was a very sad and somber day. It was hard when it was just Aidan, but now with 2 grandkids it's making it very hard for them to leave. This morning they wanted to get you dressed up in your hanbok (Korean formal dress) to get some snapshots of you. Since they weren't able to get any good shots at your birthday party we decided to do a mini photo shoot. Don't you look like a Korean princess here? I can't believe we were able to get a good shot of you. 

I can't believe I was able to get a shot of you with your hanbok on! Usually it's a nightmare since
it can get pretty uncomfortable with all the different pieces.

1. Rosco enters the room
2. Going in for the kill
3. LICK!
4. Kendall: "Who licked me?!"

Your brother was amused at what was going on during the shoot.

Finally the shoot is over! You are free from your shackles!

At around 2:40pm we all got in the big car and headed to the airport. You (Kendall) were playing jam jam (clenching of the fist) with your Vancouver grandma and Aidan slept. When it was time for them to say goodbye , your Vancouver grandma had tears in her eyes and your Vancouver grandpa looked so small and sad. I felt so guilty! Auntie Jane told daddy that when she picked them up from the airport your Vancouver grandma was bawling the whole time :'-(

After we dropped them off at the airport we decided to go to Canada's Wonderland. Since daddy took a day off to take them to the airport we wanted to spend some time together as a family. Maybe the somber mood was affecting you guys because Aidan didn't want to go on any of rides.

I thought it was so cute how you were resting your head on Aidan's shoulder the whole time
you were in the double stroller. Look how unhappy Aidan looks.

My 2 cuties.

Like my pigtails much?

I'm obsessed with pigtails!

Your hair has always been pretty unruly every since you were born so now that I can tie it and make you look more like a girl I'm so happy. I tied your hair again when we went out as a family to have gourmet Vietnamese food at Saigon Star. We wanted to treat your Vancouver grandparents for everything they did for you guys while they were here.

You, as usual, were a little angel eating everything I gave you while Aidan was being a poor suck. He was not listening and not eating anything except bread and noodles. It's so frustrating because he is such a picky eater!

I love how you eat everything. It makes my life so much easier.

For fun I tied Aidan's hair into pigtails. Doesn't he look cute?
He was not impressed though. He said, "Mommy, but I'm a boy!"

Roller skates and Pippi Longstocking

We decided to take it easy today and rest at home since yesterday was a crazy day with Kendall's birthday party. Daddy and your Vancouver grandpa were busy most of the day building storage shelves for the furnace room. I decided that I would take you out in the afternoon to try out your new roller skates that you got from Auntie Sara and Uncle Dan. Since you already got a helmut, elbow pads, knee pads and gloves from your Vancouver grandma for your birthday I knew you were ready to test out your new skates. I drove you to a nearby school and we practiced on the concrete path. You were pretty good, I must say. You didn't fall once.

Taking a break before skating.

When we got home I decided to try out something with Kendall. My friend, Jenn, posted a picture of her daughter, Naomi on Facebook with pigtails and she is much more younger than you. I figured since Kendall already had long hair on the sides (only on the sides) it would be perfect to try out pigtails for the first time. I already had small hair elastics on hand and I must say she looks pretty darn cute! I wish I did this for her birthday party now.

My Pippi Longstocking

I was trying to capture pictures of Kendall on my good camera, but by this time she was getting
pretty annoyed with me.

I tried getting you in the picture by having you hold Kendall, but she was having none of it.
Sigh.

Here's a cute video I took of mommy tickling Kendall.

After bath time I took a video of Kendall doing jam, jam while eating her dinner. It's so cute when she does it because it's almost as if she's doing it to impress me. I know it doesn't seem like it in this video, but when I call out her name she just does it automatically even if I don't ask her to do it.  

Happy 1-year birthday Kendall

Today we celebrated your 1-year birthday party. We had a more intimate party than when we did Aidan's 1-year birthday party. We only invited our closest friends. It was more enjoyable that way.

Your outfit for the party. Your Vancouver grandpa took this photo of you at home before the party.
I was at the venue doing some last-minute decorations.

The head table set up.

The banner started to droop a bit so I wasn't too happy about that, but I'm happy how it turned out.

Here's the manzanita branch with your photos. I also arranged all the flowers myself. I initially
wanted to use peonies, but they were not in season by the time it was your birthday so I went with
my backup flower- hydrangeas.

I got Flour Studio to bake 2 dozen cupcakes. This is the vanilla cupcake with strawberry buttercream
swirl. I stuck my handmade cupcake toppers on top.

My friend, Jenn, made the Goim towers. I gave her directions on what to put on the towers as well
as the spray paint colours. I gave her the dragon reference photo as well. I think it turned out beautifully.
I'm planning on keeping these Goim towers and displaying it in your room.

Isn't the cake beautiful? Flour Studio also made the cake. I gave them the cake inspiration shot.

I love how classy it is. I know lots of people do animal themes, but I wanted to do something different.
I love the rainbow theme.

The other cupcake flavour was chocolate cupcake with mint buttercream swirl.

Another view.

For the tables I made a flower arrangement of white hydrangeas with craspedias.
I put votive candles all around decorated with washi tape. I also scattered my paper medallions
that I made.

Here's how I displayed the popcorn favours. I used them as table seating cards as well.

Aidan was being a little sore sport. He didn't want to take any family photos. This is the best
one we got of him.

Your Toronto grandma and grandpa.

I wanted to take lots of photos at the party, but I couldn't. Your Vancouver grandpa took this photo
and he shot us in such a low angle. I have a double chin!

You and your Vancouver grandma.

Look how cute you are eating.

Everyone was trying to get Aidan to cheer up.

You and daddy.

Aidan was watching videos while eating lunch.

Getting ready for the doljabi. Because I was holding you I couldn't get any good photos of you
in your hanbok grabbing the 2 items. You ended up choosing the ball and the microphone.

I think Auntie Sara took this photo of Emma and Uncle Wayne. Maybe Emma ate something sour?
She's such a cutie.

The 3 boys- Austin, Nate and Asher.

Cake cutting time. I was sad to cut into such a beautiful cake.

The cake was so delicious.

The party wrapped up at 4pm.I was ready to crash when we got home, but there was so much to do!

Here are all the cards you received from your birthday party. I'm planning on keeping these.
I also kept Aidan's 1-year birthday cards in a box.

Some of these cards are Aidan's 4-year birthday cards.

Aidan got a pretty rad sweater from Asher and Austin for his birthday.

He was much happier at home than at the party.

Aidan got tons of gifts, but I forgot to take pictures of everything he got :-(

He got a Spiderman bike from Auntie Jane, tons of clothes from his Vancouver grandma, helmut and protection gear for his bike from his Vancouver grandma, a garbage truck toy from his Vancouver grandpa (Aidan asked for that), gift certificate and money from his Toronto grandparents, a tent and Lightning McQueen book from Auntie Jess and Uncle Wayne, movie certificate from Nate, and a sweater from Asher & Austin. Lastly, Auntie Sara and Uncle Dan got Aidan colouring books and roller skates. He was so happy. I was able to take a video of him trying on his skates. I think we'll go out tomorrow to try out his skates. 

I can't believe it's finally over. It took a lot of work, but I'm happy I was able to do this for you for your 1-year birthday.

Fashion show

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been so busy since your Vancouver grandmother arrived last Tuesday. We've been going out almost every single day and I've been waking up pretty early too. Today we went to Galleria as your Vancouver grandmother loves that place. 

When we came back home I decided to try several dress options for you to wear on your birthday party.

Hairband is from your Vancouver grandmother from H&M and the dress is from your Toronto
grandparents from Baby Gap. 

Same hairband as above and dress is from Baby Gap from your Toronto grandparents.

Hairband is from your Vancouver grandmother from Osh Kosh and dress is from my friend
Julie from Joe Fresh.

Although every single outfit looked so cute on you I think we are going with outfit #1. I also put you in more dress options, but you were getting cranky by then so I wasn't able to take any photos… Sorry!