Happy 4th birthday me matie

This year Daxon decided to celebrate his 4th birthday with a pirate party. We originally decided that this year we were going to have something low key, as the last three birthdays were big parties (last year we rented a popcorn machine and a cotton candy machine). But as the day approached, it became clear that was not going to be the case. So began the planning of a pirate party.

Food is always a big thing around our house, you cant have a special event or party without food!! (personally, I think food is what makes a party) So to make it fun I came up with pirate names for all the food.

The veggie tray I called land lovers and made a palm tree for the middle, using a carrot and a green pepper. (I broke the handles off the plastic swords and used them to hold the pepper on the carrot and then used the other half of the pepper as a stand). I cut cheese cubes and called them pirates gold. What's a pirate party with out pirate swords?? So we cut fruit into pieces and stuck them on plastic swords, Daxon was such a big help with putting the fruit on the swords, I think he made most of them! We also served hot dogs and buns, but since I know Daxon prefers his hotdog without a bun, I cut some of the hotdogs both ways, half ways up and put them in the oven for about 10 mins, they curl up and look like squids! This was definitely a hit with the kids, we called them silly squid. We also have a pasta salad which we called treasure salad.

For the party favors, I first made a skull stencil using a picture that I found online and then put it on the front of a brown paper bag, using black spray paint I then painted over the stencil. I printed off tags that said "Thanks for being me matie", using a lighter I then burnt the edges and tied them to the bags with a black ribbon. The bags where filled with a 25 piece Jack and the neverland pirate puzzle, a glow stick sword, pirate stickers and pirate candy
.

For entertainment we had a treasure chest pinata, which I made using the steps from this site (I just couldn't justify spending $20.00 on something the kids were going to smash). I was so excited the way it turned out and it actually stood up to a lot of beating. We also had a tattoo station which we named "Jolly Rodger Tattoo" and extra glow swords from the treat bags which the kids had fun playing with.

I don't think we could have asked for a better day and a better little boy (or should I say young man) to celebrate!!

Happy October 31

If you ask Daxon what he wants to be to when he grows up, hes going to say a fireman. I think its a stage all little boys go thru and Daxon has been in it for two years now. So I pretty much knew the answer when I asked him what he wanted to be for Halloween and I was even luckier that he already had a fireman suite. (which he wears on a weekly basis, because hes 3 and he can) So what does a fireman need?? A fire dog of course, which he designated Tatum to be! I was lucky to find a lady who was selling a dalmatian costume which was the perfect size. So there you have it, I had everything planned a month before Halloween, well so I thought. You cant be a fireman and a fire dog without a firetruck. So after some searching, this is what we ended up with!

 The fireman and his fire dog

 The fireman pulling the fire dog in the firetruck

 

 The firetruck, which I made using two pieces of cardboard, that I painted to look like a firetruck and attached them each piece to the wagon with zip ties! 

It was a total hit with everyone who seen it and work out perfect for taking Tatum trick or treating around the block! Daxon loved pulling it. Since she is still so small I took her highchair seat and put it in the wagon, so she could be strapped in.

I cant wait to think of a matching costume for them next year!

The Pumpkin Patch

 Last weekend Derek unexpectedly had two days off, so we decided to head to pumpkin hollow and do the corn maze and the jumping pillow and see the animals! We took Daxon last year for the first time, but I think it was much more fun for him this time. He has so much fun running through the corn maze, we let him pick the way and it maybe took him 10 minutes if that! (last year took us a lot longer with Derek and I picking the path). He also got to ride on the cow train twice, which he was to small to do last year! Definitely will be a family tradition!!

Family picture

 Runing through the corn maze

We made it out!!

Jumping pillow

Jumping with Daddy!

Cow train! I love this picture!

 

What I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I thought I would take a minute to reflect on what I'm thankful for. All too often we sometime forget the smallest things make life so wonderful and the greater things that we sometimes take for granted.

-My Family and Friends, especially my husband and son
-The bouncing baby girl in my tummy
-My favourite song that come on the radio on my morning drive to work right after I spilled coffee on my lap and somehow make this little mishap not such a big deal and reminds me that the day is going to be good after all.
-The happy story on the new or in the newspaper, that brings tears to your eyes and reminds you that there are still caring people in this world!
-The sound of my sons voice at 6:00am in the morning on a Sunday yelling mommy from his room, although not so welcomed the for the first moment, it melts your heart that you are the first thing they think about after waking up.
-Lip chap
-Having a reliable vehicle (or three) to get me where I need to go
-My house, maybe not the biggest on the block, but it's perfect for us!
-Modern conveniences like my dishwasher and toilet seats (in Cuba they are few and far between)!
-Being able to provide my son, with everything he needs (and more at times)
-Having food on our table every night (and being able to order in when I don't feel like cooking)
-The Internet and Google, as all the answers to life's questions can be found on google
-Having good jobs that support our family

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving??

Our Little Getaway

For about the last month Derek has been working about 2 hours away and working 12 hour shifts making it impossible for him to drive home every night. So Daxon and I have been going to see him on the weekends.

This time we decised to get a hotel with a pool and waterslide so Daxon and I had somthing to entertain us during the day while Derek was at work.

Daxon was so excited to see his daddy, it had only been two days since he had last seen him, but seeing he is a daddys boy, two days is much to long!

Supper! this boy sure likes his ketchup (or as Derek calls it, roughneck gravy)

Horse ride at the mall

And the best part!!! Watersliding with Daddy!

He absolutely loved it! He even went down by himself!

It's Been Awhile

Well over a year to be exact! I meant to keep blogging, but it kind of became neglected with all the changes that have happened in the last year. What has changed to ask? Well where to begin?

1. We moved from the little town we were living in, back to the city! We discovered that we weren’t small town people and although living in the town was much closer to where Derek was working ( a half hour drive compaired to at the most to an hour and half, if not more) we are definitely happier! We love being with our friends and family again!


2. Along with the move back to the city came a new house! Which we love! Although it is smaller than our last, all we needed to do was paint (and a few smaller things here and there). Considering our last two houses required a lot of work (down to the studs at times) it was so nice not spending every minute doing renovations.

3. A job for me! When living in the town before I had wanted to go back to work, just to get interaction with people, as there wasn’t much to do around town. But not being able to find a babysitter for Daxon, made this impossible. In the beginning it was a big transition, but we managed and Daxon loves his babysitter.


4. I became an auntie! My sister and brother in law had a beautiful baby girl on November 13, 2011 that they named Laila (I call her my little chubster). She is such a cutie and had already started to walk at 9 months old. It’s a totally different experience being auntie rather than mommy! And Daxon is such a good cousin.

5. I traded in my beloved kiwi green 2008 escape (which was my dream car) for... wait for it!!! A 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan (and yes I pimped it out with some awesome family decals). Yes, I have fallen into the trap and am officially a hypocrite. I had always said to everyone that there is no need for a minivan, that there is always an SUV that will fit your needs, but that is not true! It is so much easier putting Daxon in his car seat as there is so much more head room, no more bumped heads on the roof! And all the space is great, if you need to change a diaper on while on the run, the floor works perfect! Even Derek who said he won't drive it without Daxon or I had been seen driving by himself!

6. And the best news yet!!! We are having another baby!!!! That’s right, baby D or T (depending on if it’s a girl or boy and yes we want to find out) is expected to join us January 30, 2013 and we couldn’t be happier!

(The original date was February 2, but has since changed)

Well now that I’ve written this post, I’m hoping to keep things updated as I enjoy looking at past posts and reminiscing. 

Playing with the Pan!

Snapped this picture of Daxon playing with the cereal bar I gave him

Maybe he's planning on becoming a chef!

While Baby's Away, Mommy Will Play!

Last week, my sister and brother in-law were kind enough to offer to take Daxon for a few day's so Derek and I could get some work done around the house. I have to admit, the first day and a half I didn't get much work done. In fact it was the first time ever since Daxon was born, that I was in the house by myself (Derek was at work), so I had to take advantage of it! I had a bubble bath (and didn't have to worry about Daxon waking up from his nap), I cleaned the house (and it stayed clean for more then 5 mins), made cookies (the best I have ever made) and enjoyed a glass (who am I kidding, it was a bottle!) of wine. We did get a little work done, not as much as I hoped. By the end I was missing my little man (well from the moment he left I was missing him), but it was nice to have a little Heidi time and Derek and Heidi time.

Embrace the Camera

A welcome sight (Daxon smiling) as he's just getting over a fever!

My poor Baby

So we made it 3 months with out being sick, which is an accomplishment around our house, as it seems like since last April (when Daxon got sick for the first time) he has been sick a least once a month (including his birthday).

It started with him just being a little irritable all day and more tired then usual, which led to him puking all over me (the joys of motherhood that I wouldn't change for the world) and then again. So I checked his temperature which was 39°C (102°F), so I gave him a bath to cool him down (and wash off the puke) and some Advil and about an hour later he was running around and playing. He ended up waking up in the middle of the night with the fever again, but seems better this morning.

So this is what the day looked like!

Sleeping with daddy

While mommy did the laundry!

Where's Waldo Daxon

Can you find him?

There he is!

The case of the missing drumstick!

We celebrated St Patrick's Day with a Green beer with our feast we had for supper.

After we finished eating Derek looks over at the table and spots this little monkey, who had taken a drumstick right off the table (Oh so funny!). My immediate reaction was to take it away, but not without a picture first.

Of course you need the milk to wash the chicken down with!

Let the snow melt!

With the nice weather here for a few days, Daxon got a chance to try out his new spring jacket and rubber boot!