Alexandria's sixth birthday party

Yes. Alex's birthday was way back in August, but the kids both had unidentified spots on them the weekend of her party, so....

We had the photo booth from Daddy's work for the party and wanted to have it when we had the do-over. September came around and it was wedding show season, so the photo booth was out for both September and October. Then it was November and it was booked for weddings. Then it was December and ya can't have a party in December. Then it was January and school was just starting back up, so we wanted to give some time for that to settle. Then it was February and wedding shows were going on again. Then we went to Florida in March and it was March Break, so by the time we got invitations out and gave the guests time to be able to come to the party, it was April. We decided the 10th would be Alex's party and the 17th would be Zach's - since his birthday actually IS in April!!

Alex had all the girls from her class over for a dance party. They played dress up, took LOTS of photo booth pictures, built make-your-own cupcakes and had face-painter and a balloon artist over (Mommy won a free hour of face-painting). :)

Fun was had by all. It is a very interesting social experiment, though, to have that many girls together at the same time, each displaying her own way she gets attention. ;)

Fun at THEMUSEUM and Imagination Movers

Just some pictures to share.

Here is Zach building a "monster truck" at THEMUSEUM on King Street, Kitchener. We have a membership and go there every once in a while.

Here's a shot of Alex and Mommy goofing around.

Our family took a road trip to see the Imagination Movers. Both kids love the show and when the tour came around this way, we had a chance to go, so off we went to Hamilton. The pictures tell the story:

 Dancing so much all I could capture was blurry Zach:

 More dancing and spinning:

Cinderella's castle projection show - pure magic

Leave it to Disney to keep one-upping themselves. Just before the 9pm fireworks in the Magic Kingdom they had an INCREDIBLE projection show on the castle. I started taking pictures, then realized I needed to video the show. The part around the 1:20 mark is just amazing. It looks as if the castle is alive and the bricks are moving and expanding. Just unbelievable!

April Fool's: six-year-old-style

Last night Alexandria was talking about how the next day was April Fool's Day and she was looking forward to the jokes she could play.

This morning we were going about our normal morning routine and was waiting for some sort of tale to emerge. After a bit I realized she'd forgotten.

I reminded her and she promptly said, "Mommy! School is cancelled today because a quetzalcoatlus destroyed the school!"

"Really?!" I replied.

"Yup!!" she said proudly. Then she smiled and said, "April Fool's!"

"Oh, you got me!"

Pantless wonder

Mommy: "Where are your pants?"

Zachary (standing there completely naked from the waist down): "I don't know" (as he raised his hands in that cute I-don't-know way).

Where does she come up with this stuff?

I was putting Alexandria's hair back into a braid to keep it away from her ear. She has an ear infection that ruptured yesterday (which is not as bad as it sounds, and actually makes the ear feel better by relieving pressure.) So, her ear is leaking. It leaked all day yesterday - after it burst, last night and was still this morning.

As I was putting her hair back, she stretched her neck, put her chin up a bit, cocked her head and said, "A portrait of a girl with a leaky ear."

Sounds like a Van Gogh painting :)

Born to skate!

We got a notice home from school in December that Alexandria's class would be skating a couple times in January. I am very thankful we got so much notice. That gave us time to get skates and get her out on the ice. We were planning to go skating as a family over the holidays, but the holidays just came and went in a blink.

Zach was given skates from someone whose son had outgrown them. They brought them into the Parent-Child Resource Centre that Zach and I go to. There was also a brand new pair brought in - in my size! - so I snapped those up, too. Of course, Alex didn't have skates yet - and she was the one that needed them!

I put the word out on Facebook and Twitter and got a few responses back. I ended up picking up a pair from a woman here in Kitchener whose daughter had outgrown hers. They fit Alex perfectly.

So, with skates in hand and the date of her class trip looming, we had to get out there this week. (She went today with her class.) Mommy and Alex went skating at Kitchener's city hall on Monday night. It was a beautiful night. Crisp and cold, but no wind. I got Alex's skates on and then she patiently waited until I got mine on and we headed for the ice. I hadn't been on the ice for about 20 years myself! Luckily all I really had to do was stand there as she skated around me. :)

Alex did REALLY well for her first time out. She wanted to spin. :) She took it all in stride. All the falls and slips. She was in her glory and loved every minute of it.

Zach did REALLY well for his first time, too. I took him to the family and senior free skate at Lions Arena, so it was perfect. Not too many people and no rowdy older kids, since it was during school hours. He got really frustrated when he fell, though. He wanted to be perfect. I said he did really well and he'd respond with, "No I didn't!" with his whiny, crying voice. He didn't want to leave the ice, though and had fun. I should have sharpened his skates BEFORE he skated, which I think was part of the problem he had. They're sharpened now, so next time should be easier for him. (And, of course, he loved the zamboni that cleaned the ice after.) :)