The best weekend in a long time…

This weekend was the best weekend I've had in a long time… I've been filled with so much sadness with memories of my dad that it's been hard to be happy… I was so sad to see this long weekend end.

Friday night my friend Lana treated me to my early birthday lunch at a great Japanese restaurant called Kasa Moto. Then on Saturday we just relaxed at home by having a barbecue in our backyard. On Sunday we went to church in the morning and then Kendall and I met with Auntie Jess and Uncle Wayne downtown to check out the Victorious Festival (a Christian festival with proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society). Daddy took you swimming so you guys didn't go with us. We tried to get halmi to go, but she just wanted to stay home :-(

Today (Civic Holiday), we went to Canada's Wonderland in the morning where we rode lots of big kid rides (the first time you were able to do so!) and then we went for a outdoor BBQ at Sunnybrook Park with Auntie Sara, Uncle Wayne, Auntie Jessica, Uncle Wayne, Emma, Noelle, halmi, Dan's mom, brother, Dan's SIL, Sophia and Isabelle. It was such a nice way to end the weekend. I just wish halbi was with us…

You riding the carousel. I realized that you were tall enough to ride a lot of the big kid rides. We ended up
riding Klockwerks, The Fly and Thunder Run. You had a blast!

Kendall stayed with daddy while mommy and you rode the big kid rides. Here she is doing the kimchi squat.

On our way to Sunnybrook Park, you guys passed out. Celebration!

It was supposed to rain today, but it turned out to be a gorgeous day. 

We didn't even have to bring any toys. All the kids had a blast running around. We must do it again!

Kendall was having so much fun. Here she is hopping towards me.

"Hi mommy!"

Uncle Wayne got all the kids (minus Noelle and Isabelle) to carry the mat to the car. You guys were being
good little helpers…

…but failed miserably #fail.

Her first Tiffany's

Today was a special day. We wanted to treat our mom to a day of shopping and dinner to celebrate her birthday. It's been a rough year for all of us, especially for her. We met our mom and Auntie Sara at Yorkdale this afternoon and browsed at a few stores before we headed for dinner at Seoul House. It's been so long since we had a day of shopping together. With our dad being sick and Auntie Jess and I taking care of kids, it was really hard to make time to do something fun for us. Although I did have to take you with me, you were really good (besides eating like a pig!).

Us sisters pitched in to get our mom her first Tiffany's piece. You can see from your grandma's face that 
she was so excited and happy. Just seeing that expression made it all worth it :-)

Isn't the necklace beautiful? It's the mini double heart tag pendant. She absolutely loved it!

Your outfit of the night. You looked like an angel from above today.

I can't sleep

I talked to my parents today because Auntie Sara told me that your Toronto halbi was feeling sick. Auntie Sara said your halbi lost a lot of weight and he just had low hemoglobin levels and was just super tired. When I talked to halmi on the way home from work (around 6pm) she said that your halbi had a doctor's appointment at 3:30pm today. This appointment happened before I talked to Auntie Sara, but she hadn't heard what the results were. Halmi said that the doctor found 2 tumors in halbi's pancreas… 2. Immediately I started freaking out inside. My colleague at work lost her dad to pancreatic cancer recently. It's called the "silent killer" because it goes undetected for a long time until it's too late and almost 85% of patients die within the first year. I know it's still too early as halbi is seeing a specialist at Sunnybrook Hospital ASAP to find out if this tumor is benign or malignant, but I can't help but worry. I'm just so worried that I'm shaking. I'm so worried for my mom because she is so dependant on my dad…

Problem solver

We have a tradition of borrowing library books every 2 weeks. It's a good tradition, but we tend to borrow at least 10 books at a time when we go to the library. Having all those books stacked on top of your dresser was becoming quite an eye sore. It also didn't help that you are a little bit of a hoarder and you tend to bring scraps of paper from school/daycare and you have it strewn about. Then you sometimes bring your toys from from the basement- whatever is the flavour du jour. What I'm saying, is that the top of your dresser was just too cluttered with crap. I've been thinking about it for a while now and I decided that a basket would be a good solution. It would keep all the books together, while keeping them hidden. And the basket would be a nice decor accent in your room. I told daddy about and he said if I saw something I liked, then I should just get it.

I happened to go to the mall today to buy Auntie Sara her birthday present and I stopped by one of my favourite decor places while I was there- Chapters Indigo. I had seen their woven baskets a few months back and I had it in the back of my head. Now that I knew we needed a basket, I wanted to check them out more closely. They had several different styles of baskets, but I settled in the one below. It was bigger and had a bit of weight to it. There was a smaller basket that I initially thought I was going to buy, but once I put some books in it, it started tipping over from the weight of the books. I'm happy with the one I got. Plus, I used some of my points so I got it for just over $20. Score!

For now, I have the basket beside your dresser. It's a beautifully woven basket. I would like
to get more for other spaces in our house. 

I only have 3 books in here, but it can fit a whole lot more.

Sunday fun-day

What a long day we had. Daddy couldn't go to church today because his right ankle had swollen to the size of a 9-month pregnant woman's foot. And it was also black and blue. He had sprained his ankle at the soccer tournament yesterday. Him and his soccer… Ugh!

Anyways, he had to stay home to rest his foot so I took you to church in the morning while Kendall stayed home with daddy. You wore your new sunnies I bought you this week. Don't you look so handsome? It's a little big for you, but I love how these look on you.

In the evening we went over to your Toronto grandparents' house for dinner. 

When we got to your grandparents' house I took some photos of you playing in their front yard.

What a little rascal you are.

Such a cutie pie.

This is when I love you the most- when you're happy and playful.

Your cousin, Emma, was there too so you guys played while watching TV.

Emma always goes in front of this french door and lurks!

Auntie Sara and Auntie Jessica was there too.

Emma walking in flip flops inside the house. Better take it off before egg woman (grandma) sees you!

Caught in the act.

Egg woman… er… grandma making Sam Gae Tang.

The yummy deliciousness of Sam Gae Tang.

Your Toronto grandpa playing with his Samsung tablet we (Auntie Sara, Auntie Jessica and mommy)
got him for his birthday.

I guess you learned this Korean song during your time at Korean school. I wasn't sure what the
song was called, but your Toronto grandpa was able to find it on YouTube.

You were also watching one of your favourite cartoon shows- The Octonauts. While we were watching
your grandma said how this green character looked like Kendall. 

However, you had assigned Kendall to this character- Peso (the penguin). You declared yourself
as the captain- Barnacles (the polar bear), mommy as Kwasii (the cat) and I don't know if you
assigned daddy as anything…

The Octonauts crew.

Look at the finished Sam Gae Tang. Doesn't it look yummy?? It was just as tasty as it looked.
You, even as a picky eater, gulped this down.

I took this super cute picture of you and Emma when she came back to our house to play.
You really love Emma and so does she. This makes me sooooo happy.

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.