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.

Aidan graduation

As I'm writing this, I'm filled with so many conflicted emotions- happiness, sadness and pride. It seems like yesterday that you came out of my womb and now, my baby is graduation from Senior Kindergarten… Where did the time go? I am so thankful for God that he gave me this year to be there for my dad and also for you and Kendall. How amazing is it that He restores all things? Praise be to God. I am so honoured that I got to share in this special moment with you. I love you!

The morning before I dropped you off at school. Don't you look handsome?

You and Kendall.

Kendall wanted a solo shot. 

The gymnasium was packed with parents. Daddy couldn't be here because he had to work, but I wish now
that he had taken it off. It was such a special day that I never want to forget. 

The graduation procession. You totally ignored me!

All the Senior Kindergarteners from your school that were graduating this year.

Singing O Canada.

Each of the classes had a performance that they did. This was your class's performance.

My handsome boy.

You made a self portrait of yourself.

Your favourite memory of Kindergarten.

Getting ready to accept your diploma.

You did it! You graduated Kindergarten! That is your teacher- Ms Stamkos and Ms Silverberg. 

The graduation slideshow of your class- Room 110.

You and your best friend at school- Mateo.

Another good friend of yours- Avishai.

You also love these girls- Amayah and Cailyn.

Here you are holding Cailyn's hand. What a guy!

You and mommy. I am so proud of you!

My little graduate. You are wearing daddy's white shirt backwards!

I love you because…

I love getting Mother's Day cards from you every year. Every year it gets better because you're able to express more of why you love me. Thank you Aidan!

You also planted a seed for me at school and presented me with the little sprout. 

Life of a mom

If you are a mom, then you will know that nap time is king. You basically have to arrange your day around it. Also, if you're like me where your toddler is no longer taking daily naps, but when they do, you basically honour that time. 

I usually take you out first thing after I drop Aidan off at school because that's when you're in the best mood- you're fed and you're not cranky. Today, I took you to the park because the weather was nice and then we went to Michael's to pick up a few craft items for a scrapbook project that I'm working on for missionaries- Bryan and Christina. Since Michael's is close to Auntie Jessica's house, we stopped by for a play date. By the time we left Auntie Jess' house, it was time to pick up Aidan from school. Lo and behold, you fell asleep on the way home. I had to chill out in the car for a good 15-20 minutes in order for me to let you sleep a little longer. 

And look how happy you are after your nap. That makes it all worth it!

Field trip + play date

I have a pretty well-established routine every day. It goes something like this:

6:30am -7:00am

Wake up and do quiet time with the LORD

7:00am-7:30am

Get ready

7:30am-8:30am

Wake up kids (if they aren't awake already), brush them up and feed them breakfast

8:30am-8:50am

Head out the door and walk Aidan to school

8:50am-9:00am

Walk back home

During this time to 3pm, I sometimes go grocery shopping, run errands, take Kendall to the park, meet friends.

3:00pm-3:20pm

Pick Aidan up from school and walk home

3:20pm-4:00pm

Give kids a bath and give them free time to read/play

4:00pm-5:20pm

Prep dinner, feed kids

5:20pm-6:00pm

Eat dinner with Dennis

6:00pm-7:15pm

Play in the basement

7:15pm-7:45pm

Get kids ready for bed, read them books, sing, tuck them in bed

7:45pm-11:00pm

PARTY TIME!

This was taken during the 8:30am-8:50am mark- on our way to drop off Aidan at school. Today, Aidan's class
went on a field trip to Kortright Centre. 

Aidan was supposed to have a play date with his friend, Maddy from school, but she was sick and didn't come to school for a whole week. You were so upset with me that Maddy couldn't make it to the play date so I scrambled to organize another play date with your friend Mateo. Luckily, Mateo's mom had asked me earlier that week to do a play date with you, so I called her up and it all worked out in the end. Daddy and I had a little mini date at our local mall and had dinner with Kendall at the food court. How exciting.

Kendall at the food court.

Twins- Daddy and Kendall.

Last supper

We had our last meal with our great aunt that was visiting from Korea today at Milestones. I'm glad she was here because she kept my mom company while she was still fresh from the loss of losing her husband.

Missing in photo are Emma, Aidan, Uncle Wayne, Daddy (they were sitting in the opposite table).

First snowstorm

You knee-deep in the snow after school today.

It is not easy doing the pick-ups and drop-offs when you have more than 1 child. And make that 10X worse when you live in a cold climate. 

We had our first major snowstorm yesterday. It snowed all day and I had shovel 3 times. I woke up with body aches this morning :-(

Because parking is nearly impossible by the school, I usually park at my friend's house who lives right by the school or I walk over with Kendall in the stroller. Yesterday, I was going to leave Kendall at home in the morning while she was still sleeping to take you to school since the weather was so bad. I knew that Kendall wouldn't wake up while I stepped out for 15 minutes. However, my friend Jenn (the one that lives near the school) wouldn't allow me to do that. She got her husband to walk over with a sled to pick you up. She also picked you up from school and dropped you off. That was so helpful. 

However, I decided to go out today with Kendall to walk you over to school since the snow had stopped falling. BAD MISTAKE! The sidewalks were still not plowed and I got stuck several times with the umbrella stroller. By the time I got to school, I was a sweaty mess. Luckily, daddy came home early from work so I didn't have to bring Kendall with me to pick you up.

That was yesterday after my 2nd time shovelling.

Walking home from school this afternoon. You can see that the sidewalk is still covered in snow :-(