Galaxyland...

We went to the City this past week for a little get-a-way (shopping and visiting). We had a great time with our family and friends.

Monday we decided to head to West Edmonton Mall with the kids. Emma was very excited about going to Galaxyland this time. In the past she would get excited, but when she actually saw the rides, she would just watch the other kids. She would always say, "I will just watch, maybe when I get a little older I will ride the rides!"

Emma has been asking to go to Disneyland, but we told her we are not going to Disneyland to watch other kids ride the rides. This statement must have sunk in because Emma could not get on the rides fast enough this time around. With her friend Nicholas in tow, they ran from ride to ride, showing the operator their wrist band, then finding the perfect horse, car or seat.

Emma loved the little dragon rollercoaster and was prepared to go on the larger one (the junior one, not the huge one) with me, but Dann figured it was not a good idea. He thought it might be a bit fast for her and she might go back to watching rides again. I think she would have loved it, but I never pushed it (next time).

Nicholas and Emma on their dirt bikes

Emma saw the "Flying Galleon" ride and wanted to go on it with me. I was surprised she wanted to go on the Big Ship, after all, it is a big ride for a 3 year old. I forgot how high that ship really goes, especially when you sit in the very back row. My stomach dropped, so I can only imagine how Emma was feeling. I just kept laughing, encouraging her that we were having fun. Emma held my arm tight and said she did not really like the ship. Emma kept laughing cause I was (my psychology paid off) and after the ride stopped, Emma commented that the ship was a little high for her, but maybe next time she would like it more.

Ethan was a trooper the whole time at the mall. He slept and hung out in his car seat. We had to buy him a new outfit at Old Navy though, cause he had a big blow out (all the way up his back). Years ago a co-worker of mine in PR told me a story about his baby boy at West Edmonton Mall regarding the same thing. I believe he told me that his wife threw everything into the garbage and they purchased new diggs for Johnny... too funny.

Dann managed to get a pic of Ethan smiling... too cute!

We stopped at the petting zoo... the bunny was so soft!

This is Emma and her friend Abbey...
Two little Princesses

Emma took a liking to Nicholas' truck and zoomed around the basement.

No Name...

Last week friends from Kelowna sent Ethan a little something in the mail, but they also thought of Emma! Sarina & Hazel sent Emma this adorable Mexx pink star necklace and she LOVES it! Emma has woren the necklace everyday since she received it and has a special place to put it on her nightstand each night when she takes it off for bed!

Sarina & Hazel sure knew what to buy their friend (good job Jenny, you picked out the perfect thing!)!!

In this photo Ethan was loving his "Spa Time" aka: bath time...
He was enjoying the "Massage" he received after his "Jacuzzi"
(mom rubbing lotion on his tummy after his bath)!

Dann and Emma had a tea party the other night. Emma was thrilled to invite some of her doll & animal friends. Ice tea was served along with mini chocolates, which were left over from Halloween.

Rowena and her friend Vangie took Emma to the "Festival of Trees" last weekend. Emma had a hoot and she decorated a gingerbread man at the festivities.

Here is Ethan hangin' with Father Christmas.

We bought Emma a helmet for her winter activities and Dann was making the necessary adjustments!

With all the snow, Emma has been having fun playing in the backyard (before the real cold temps hit this week). She is playing hide & seek inside the big tractor tire... of course she is always up for a photo shoot!

And... last but not least

This photo was taken November 16 - Ethan @ 1 month.

He weighed 13lbs 2oz and was 24 inches long.

A hard challenge

Another BLOGGER buddy posted 100 things about herself and challenged others to do it too. It is harder than it looks, just like she said, but I gave it a whirl....

100 Things About Me...

1. I have two beautiful children, girl and a boy, who I love with all my heart

2. I have a handsome husband who I love dearly

3. I used to repair bank machines and load them with money

4. I was a bartender in the 90's... I can mix almost any drink out there (back in my day)

5. I was a waitress when I was in College/University and enjoyed the public & the tips

6. I have travelled to 19 Countries in Europe

7. I enjoy meeting new people (new people always have something interesting to offer)

8. I Hungarian Danced for 10 years

9. I can dance with a half full wine bottle on my head (a part of the Hungarian culture)

10. I miss my Grandma B. and Grandpa S. very much, I know they are watching over me & my family

11. I love Hawaii (Maui especially)

12. I love roller coasters

13. I have a high pain tolerance, but will never go through labor again... ouch!!

14. I love to travel, cannot wait for our next adventure

15. I love my mom and dad, they did a fantastic job raising my brother & me (Values, Morals, & Repect were very important to them)

16. I miss my brother, as we don't see each other very often these days

17. I miss my friends, I wish we lived closer

18. I am open minded

19. I enjoy my house and neighbourhood

20. I have a nanny... does that make me a bad mom?

21. I love my nanny and so do my kids... and I am a great mom for it!

22. I love my job

23. I love helping others

24. Our honeymoon in Playa-del-Carmen was amazing, cannot wait to go back

25. I love Rod Stewart and Elton John too!

26. I like baking cookies

27. I saw Rick Springfield live in concert in 1985 (yup, I am old)

28. I love to two-step, and I am good at it!

29. I am a true Leo

30. I enjoy reading about astrology

31. I like most country music (much to Dann's dismay)

32. I married my best friend

33. I met Dann when we both worked at Brinks (we were friends long before we dated)

34. I want to go to New York City so bad

35. I love food, most everything

36. My favorite dessert is "Vanilla Ice Cream" (I keep Dairy Queen in business)

37. I loved camping as a child... Radium Hot Springs was my favorite

38. I miss going to my aunt's cabin (house) in Whitefish, Montana

39. I love the Bull Dog Saloon... great pub food (in Whitefish, Montana)

40. I love to shop

41. I am a bargain finder

42. I am good with my money

43. I am materialistic

44. Christmas is my favorite holiday

45. Fall is my favorite season

46. I love the sun... the hotter the better

47. I am a great listener

48. I am a loyal friend

49. I played the flute in junior high

50. I wish I learned to play the piano

51. I was on the Student's Council in Junior High and High School (Treasurer and Activity Cooridantor).

52. I had a paper route for many years growing up

53. My first car was a 1983 white Dodge Charger

54. I love reading true crime books (Anne Rule is my favorite true crime writer)

55. I am a bad speller, as most of you know from my blogs

56. I still have the necklace I received as a X-mas gift from the first boy I went out with in Grade 6 (he has since died in a car crash, so it is extra special to me now)

57. Death scares me

58. I have a will, I owe that to my children and husband

59. I love to hear the bagpipes being played (Amazing Grace is my favorite song to hear)

60. I was a six pack leader in Brownies (a Fairy)

61. Brownie and Band camp were a hoot... heck, being a kid was so much fun

62. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree (Criminal Justice)

63. Costco is one of my favorite stores to shop at

64. Ikea too

65. I love funny people (Dann falls into this category)

66. I talk to my mom almost everyday

67. I have worked shift work for 13 years

68. I spent almost two years in jail (because I worked at a Correctional Institute)

69. I love going for coffee with friends

70. I am excited to go camping with my kids

71. I enjoy cuddling and reading with my little girl... also love rocking my new baby boy.

72. I cannot wait to take Emma to Disneyland (Ethan too)

73. I love doing other peoples hair (there is still a little girl in me)

74. I love hot tubs, but feel sick in them, so I don't go in them anymore

75. I enjoy giving to others

76. I thank god every day for my health and my family's health

77. I do not think you have to go to church to believe in god

78. I do not think you have be religious to have good morals and values

79. I pray every night

80. I was an extra in the movie "Betrayed"

81. I love acting, and would like to get into some play or theatre group

82. I enjoy public speaking

83. I met Danny Glover in the Vancouver Airport (even got a photo with him)

84. I want to go back to Europe with Dann

85. I enjoy cooking and entertaining

86. I love interior design and home decor

87. If I ever leave the gov't, I would like to be a designer

88. I broke my thumb skiing

89. I like snorkling

90. I hate spiders, but try not to show it to my kids

91. I had surgery on my feet (bone spurs removed)

92. I like to scrap book

93. I admire Oprah

94. I like to talk on the phone

95. Happy Day's was my favorite show growing up

96. I was a volunteer at the Children's Hospital for 2 years and loved it

97. I enjoy dressing up at Halloween, but haven't for years

98. I like photography

99. I cry all the time while watching movies and T.V. programs (I am a suck)

100. My favorite show today is Grey's Anatomy

One Month Old

It is hard to believe, but one month has breezed by since Ethan was born (well maybe not "breezed" by as there has been a lot of sleepless nights)! We took Ethan to the health unit this morning and he weighed in at 13lbs 2oz. One might say he is strong and healthy!

A good friend of ours sent Ethan some adorable rain gear, which seemed very appropriate since Shelly lives on the west coast (especially after this past week). The rain coat and rubber boots are so cute, even though they are a bit big at the moment! Ethan will look very "styling" when he is sporting these new threads.

It is hard to tell, but there are dogs all over the coat and boots (one is even lifting his leg and peeing... too funny). I love the outfit!!

Thanks Shelly!!

Still Snowing...

"Old Man Winter" is still hanging his hat in our neck of the woods. I think it has snowed almost every day or every other day for the last two weeks now. UGGHHH!!! Will it ever stop??? Maybe next May... YIKES! Good thing we bought a house that has a third driveway pad... shovelling is so much fun and all (oh my back)!

Dann has shovelled the deck off many times, but now he made one side of the deck, where the stairs go down, into a snow hill for Emma. She likes to go down the mini-hill on her sleigh (hard to see in this photo). If the snow keeps coming, the hill will be as high as the shed by the time spring hits!

My cousin's are in Hawaii right now and my Aunt & Uncle go at the end of the month. I wonder if a family of four could fit into their luggage? I know Ethan could go on as "carry on" but the three of us may have a bit harder time fitting into their bags! I guess I will have to live vicariously through them...

Emma asked if she could feed Ethan his bottle last night and she did a very good job. She was thrilled and very proud of herself!

Dann was playing with Ethan in his room a few nights ago... tummy time etc. Ethan really looks like he was enjoying himself. His baby acne (darn hormones) is starting to clear up, and he is getting some chubb in the face and thighs!

this and that

Not much to tell you about. Here are a few new pics of the kids. Everyone is doing well, aside from the sleepless nights. I know this will pass and things will be on the up swing then... hahaha!!

Ethan is growing fast, but I guess when one eats every 2 hours (sometimes every hour and half) that is what happens!

The hospital did not take Ethan's foot print (unlike PR with Emma) so we did it last night before his bath. I needed one for Ethan's scrapbook and it turned out well!

Dann enjoys playing with his son and Ethan seems to enjoy watching!

The snow is still coming down, so we went out and bought new craft supplies for Emma (thinking it is going to be a long winter). Emma enjoyed being creative with sparkle glue, feathers, pompoms, markers and pipe cleaners!!

Finally...

Mr. Blogger finally let me down load some photos (after many attempts all week).

Last Friday evening it started to snow and did not stop until Sunday morning. Needless to say, there was over a foot of the fluffy white stuff!!! The streets were awful and so were a lot of the silly drivers around these parts! Because the snow started on Friday night, the snow crews were not really doing a lot over the weekend, which made for many accidents etc. around town!

We trooped out into the snow Sunday afternoon for the office Halloween Party. Emma was very excited about dressing up in her "Fairy Princess" costume, but was even more excited about wearing make-up (oh no... it's starting already!).

The crown lasted all of 1 minute, but she was cute with or without it!

The party turn out was awesome and so were the costumes. All the children enjoyed the crafts & games, and went home with tummies full of goodies!

Monday night Emma helped her Daddy carve the pumpkin. Everyone says I am the one with all the artistic talent, but I am starting to think that Dann has a lot of "artsy fartsy" in him too!

Dann has a very creative mind... just look at the final product!!

Halloween night was pretty cold, but Emma put her snow suit under her costume and she was good to go. Ethan stayed home with Grandma to hand out Halloween candy.

Emma and her little friend Darby headed out around 6 p.m. and they must have went to over 30 houses. I kept asking them if they were cold, but they always said they were fine. We went up and down our street (which is very long) and the girls hauled in big time. Finally, Emma told me that her bag was getting too heavy to carry. I took it from her and it was darn heavy. Some people handed out regular size chocolate bars and cans of pop... all that oil money I guess!

After we got home, Emma indulged in a few chocolate bars and then she headed to bed... she still fell right to sleep, even after all the candy. I guess that cool air and walking really did the trick!

Finally, just a few pics of Ethan this past week. He seems to be more alert and holds his head up very well. My baby looks like he is 3 months old... not 2 weeks old!

Clone

This is a photo of Ethan sitting next to a photo taken almost 4 years ago with Emma (she was one week old). It is hard to see, but if you click on the photo you will see how much sister and brother look alike... scary!! Emma had a bit bigger feet and hands and her face seemed to be a bit more round, but the same hair line, facial features and expressions!!

I wanted to blog more photos, but Mr. Blogger is not cooperating... he says there is an error and the photo can not be posted.

Sometimes Mr. Blogger really ticks me off (does this problem only happen to me or have some of you experienced this as well?)!

Going Home

Ethan seemed pretty content and peaceful in this photo, considering he just got circumcised approximately 30 minutes before!! Dann went into the room with the doctor and watched the procedure. Dann was fascinated by the doctor's work and even took photos (I will spare you of those)!

Below is Ethan's going home outfit... not that you can make it out, but there are little tractors, trucks and cars all over his top and bottoms!

Too cute... thanks Grandma B for buying him such a sweet little boy outfit!!

We were just about to leave the hospital when we snapped this photo of Ethan in his car seat. Dann and I were so surprised, because when we placed him in the car seat, he never cried. In fact, Ethan quite liked it!! This was a treat because Emma cried EVERY single time we put her in there (yes 4 1/2 months of non-stop crying in the car). Needless to say, Dann and I enjoyed our drive home from the hospital... in silence!!

For the first couple of days it was hard to get a photo with Ethan's eyes open, but we managed to snap this one shortly after arriving home. I guess Ethan was wanting to see his new home!!

Welcome to the World

OUR BIG BABY BOY HAS ARRIVED!!

Ethan Daniel was born October 16th, 2006

Weighing in at 10lbs 8ozs, 21.5 inches long

Overall, everything went well (I only used a few bad words near the end). I begged the nurses for morphine, but I was denied. I told them I could not push Ethan out... they assured me I could.

Dann was a bit surprised when my potty mouth came out to play, but I did not scream anything loud etc... more under my breath and I apologized to the nurses and doctor after Ethan was out.

Dann was a great coach and the end result was worth it!!

I love baby feet!!

Ethan and Emma at birth looked surprisingly alike!! Ethan has a bit more hair and it is dark brown/black, unlike Emma's burgandy locks!

Needless to say, big sister is "soooo" excited about her baby brother, she could hardly contain herself!

My Brown Eyed Girl

I think that song (Brown Eyed Girl) was written especially for my little girl!! Emma truly has amazing brown eyes, and I am not just saying that because I am bias! Dann took these photos and Emma was just hammin' it up for the camera.

I wish we had something to Blog about, but not just yet. Soon we will have too much to tell you about... we are all just patiently waiting for the big moment.

Over View

Emma has finally gotten over her terrible cold. Although the last week has been very nice, the week before was cloudy and cool. Emma insisted on going outside to play in her skirt (without tights or socks) and her flip-flops. She would wear a jacket, but that is not enough when it is only 8'C outside. I got tired of fighting with her, figuring she would learn her lesson when she got sick! Well sure as heck, a few days later she had a whopper of a cold.

Emma now tells me that she needs socks, pants, a jacket and runners on when she goes out to swing etc. I guess she learened her lesson the hard way (my reverse psychology worked, but I paid the price too, as I had a grumpy, sick girl for four days straight).

Now that she is feeling better, Emma informed Dann and I that her dolly was sick. Emma got a cold cloth for Dolly's forehead and tucked her in with Teddy for a good night sleep. She really has a great motherly instinct to her!!

On a different note, Emma loves to play in her baby brother's room. She loves looking at all the baby gadgets, especially the Tweetie soother holder. Emma had to bring it to the bathroom with her one afternoon, and she accidently dropped it in the toilet! You'd think her world collapsed... she was devastated. Lucky the water was clean and Daddy was able to salvage Tweetie (yes, I put it in the wash).

BANANA BREAD ANYONE??

Emma decided she wanted to help me make banana bread. She loves to help me bake, but she loves to lick the spoon even more!! She was hoping for a few chocolate chips, while she waited for the spoon, but I did not have any in the pantry, thus she was getting a bit impatient.

Emma decided to use her time wisely and helped me mix the batter, hoping to get her fingers in for a lick...

I told her that she had to wait until we were done mixing all the ingredients together. Much to her dismay, she patiently waited for me to fill the bread loaf pan, so she could lick the spoon.

This is Emma's "not-so-patient" look!!