Playing catch-up

I'm several weeks behind on posting - I know it.

I'm fine, the girls are fine, Charlie Brown is fine. I am sick of snow shovelling and work is very very busy (maybe a touch stressful) so instead of trying to write something clever or thoughtful each day, I generally follow my inclination to morph into a couch potato after the dynamic duo are in bed.

Anyway, this post is meant to be a catch-up photo and video log of the last few weeks, but without any scintillating comments. I know you'll forgive me as you spend a few minutes taking a brief journey through the crazy wonderfulness of our daily lives. (Photos run in order of oldest at the top to most recent at the end.)

Brilliant writer to return at a later date.

Third Tooth!

Skating on the Pond with Shauna, MacLean, Clara and Lily (from Korea) and Janet and Kate (just missing the Devine Ladies!)

Friend Kaiya's 8th Birthday

Chinese New Year with Nanny and Papa at the Mandarin

Cassidy at the Grade 1 Presentation of "Mortimer"

(See the little girl in stripes right under the screen? That's her.)

Video clip...

Feeding Charlie Brown

Video clip...

Stress and snow aside, this life is a wonderful thing.

Fun in the snow

Today our friends Galen, Noah and Maddie came to spend the afternoon. After playing with all the toys in the basement, baking sugar cookies, eating sugar cookies, and spending time with Charlie Brown, all five decided to head outside. They spent ages pulling each other around on our little blue sled as yet more snow began to fall.

It was a hoot to watch them...enjoy!

New Developments

(See post below this one for the tale of our outdoor skating fun yesterday.)

Two new things of note with the dynamic duo...

After a 6 month wait to see an allergist, Bryanna was finally tested today! The child who has always had extra senstive skin, is mildly lactose intolerant, and seems to have a really tough time in the Summer with eye and nose irritants now knows why...she reacts strongly to a number of allergens, but the most significant are (and Auntie Kim will be interested in these):

• cats
• horses
• dust
• ragweed
• and to a lesser extent, trees and grasses

Look at her arms some time after the testing...(she thought it was all very interesting and peered interestedly down at her arms as they were pricked and dotted by the technician).

Her reaction to the dust allergens is so significant that we have been recommended to buy special "dust mite proof" mattress and pillow covers for her room so I'll be getting on that. Oh, and no jumping on beds or couches! For the rest, she will mainly be treated with allergy medications and a puffer from August 8 to October 20 each year (who knew that the allergy/pollen season that affects her was so date specific!) We're glad that it's not worse and can be treated on an "as needed" basis.

And Miss Cassidy...well, she has been amazing me lately with how quickly her reading skills are developing. Yesterday morning I walked into her room to wake her for church and found her already wide awake and reading a book! I loved how involved she was in it - she didn't even pay attention when I snuck back in to take this shot.



Lianne

Skating Workout!

Yesterday was a real WORKOUT. Surprisingly it was also a fun day, and not just because I procrastinated further about reorganizing my walk-in closet! (Stay tuned in a few days for an update on that project. hee hee).

Wanting to take all our kids skating yesterday, friends Oliver and Vanessa and I cleared a section of the ice on our neighbourhood pond (the pond is huge...there had to have been at least 6 or 7 different rinks cleared by groups of kids and parents yesterday) in the afternoon. At least, we FINALLY ended up together as a slight misunderstanding on my part resulted in me clearing a small rink at one end of the pond while Oliver and Vanessa were working at the other. As I had forgotten my cell phone, Vanessa finally set out to find me. (As I mentioned, the pond is huge and you cannot see from one end to the other!)

So with Vanessa's help, we carted my two - already in their skates - back up the bank to the car, and loaded all our stuff (including benches, hot chocolate, snow shovel and various other bits and pieces) to head to the other end.

We finished clearing "our" rink and then had another wonderful hour. Should I mention this was my first time in skates in 20 years!!!! Not bad for this old mom.

We kept saying how much fun it was...and despite the extra effort to clear the rink, the kids (and parents) just loved it...we plan to keep it up since we have been blessed with a Winter cold enough to keep the pond frozen.

So my muscles were a little sore today, from climbing up and down snow covered hills, multiple shoveling sessions, and using some muscles that were definitely out of practice but I remembered - THIS is what made Winter so much fun when we were kids. Yahoo!

Cheers!

Together Again

For three years, my Bryanna and Cassidy were lovingly cared for by Sara, our super daycare provider. Sara's daughters, Cassidy and Kaiya, became true friends to my two - Bryanna and "big" Cassidy were in the same class at school for four years and with brief breaks for holidays, all 4 girls were together every single day for three years.

You can imagine our sadness when their family moved away a year and a half ago. However, they are only in a neighbouring town and we try to get the girls together whenever we can.

Today Cassidy and Kaiya arrived for a playdate and sleep-over and the moment they arrived, they were all playing at top volume and energy. Distance and time mean nothing to these four, their enthusiastic friendship triumphs over such minor obstacles. While Bryanna and big Cassidy tended toward slightly older activities for a while (Nintendos, listening to music), they often joined the junior pair for more energetic moments.

Witness the insanity:



Now, they are all quiet watching a movie together (hopefully preparing them for sleep!)...



Simple joys.

Happy New Year!

Once again the Thompson home was filled with laughter, chatter and music as we enjoyed our annual New Year celebration with our single mom friends and our sweetie pie kids.

We took all the girls to a movie in the afternoon and then home for dinner and "mom downtime".

The girls enjoyed their taco extravaganza whipped up by Anne Marie ... this is a popular dish with the fab five.

..and then they disappeared to the basement to prepare for "the Spa Experience". Yes, that's right, the moms were treated to the full range of spa services...manicures, massages, facials, make-up AND hair!

Met by the lovely receptionist...

...the moms then circulated through each centre before being presented with their very resonable bills.

(I, unfortunately, had to miss the amazing experience as my stomach suddenly reacted to one of the movie snacks earlier in the day.)

Once the kids were finally in bed, the moms enjoyed various hors d'ouevres and drinks while chatting about everything under the sun and watching the movie, Mamma Mia. 2009 arrived amidst the fanfare of ABBA music!

In the morning, we were treated to some fabulous dishes prepared by Chef Shauna...

Some more playtime and chatting and, of course, a last visit with Charlie Brown by all the girls ...

...and then it was time to go. Always a super way to welcome in the new year!

Later that day, Brya, Cass and I headed to mom and dad's for new year's dinner and had a lovely, relaxing evening with nanny, papa and Auntie June...and another delicious meal!

To all of our friends and family, we hope the holidays were a loving and fun time for you all. Every happiness and best wishes in 2009! (Now, to clean out the fridge and start some serious exercise!)

Love,

Lianne, Bryanna, Cassidy and Charlie Brown

We love you, Charlie Brown!

(Christmas photos are included in the post below this one.)


Well, the secret's finally out...On Christmas morning, Bryanna and Cassidy were beyond thilled to learn that they were soon to be the owners of their very own guinea pig...a cousin to Ms. Alice in California.

(To be honest, this was my concession to the incessant, never ending, pleading for a new dog. I figured this would be easier...we'll see.)

Nanny and Papa and mommy bought all the paraphernalia that a little guinea pig might need and placed it under the tree on Chistmas morning. Everything except the little furball itself, as the excitment of the day might have cranked up the little one's anxiety level just a notch too high.

But today we were off to the store for Bryanna and Cassidy to choose the newest member of the family. There was quite a group of the little ones, and after looking at the smooth haired variety and the mussed up fur ones, they kept coming back to one that seemed lively, adventurous and daring (leaping as he was over his brothers and sisters to get to food and to dash around the cage). So without further debate, they picked a little white furball (really, he is!) with some brows and gray around the neck and face. And before we had been in the car for more than a couple of minutes, the name was decided...Charlie Brown. When we asked why, Bryanna just confirmed repeatedly that it fit.


When we returned home, and settled him in his cage, he initially seemed quite happy...checked out his food bowl and water, wandered around the cage, showed some energy when the girls carefully held him. Cassidy, was a little nervous at first though that changed quickly, but for Bryanna it was love at first sight...



But then Charlie moved into his house, and there he remained for much of the next 9 hours. No squeaking or squealing, no resistance when we carefully removed him from the cage so that papa could make some adjustments and place the cage on its new table.

Personally, I think he has been in a stress-induced coma...imagine moving at only 6 weeks of age from a cozy warm home with 5 or 6 siblings to the Thompson home where, ah-hem, all is not always quite peaceful.

However, Charlie finally emerged under his own steam a few minutes ago, took a stroll around the cage and headed back in. I figure this will continue for some time to come, but the girls are delighted and being so careful around him...the volume in our home today was actually several decibles less than the norm.

He is very cute, and hopefully when his heart returns to a normal rate, his energy level will also return.

Enjoy meeting our newest family member!



Love to all,

Lianne

Christmas Snapshots

(This is strictly a photo chronicle of our day. See the post below this one for our Christmas wish for all of you.)

The St. Matthew's Christmas Pageant...


Lianne and Bryanna reading at Christmas Eve service; our friends Vanessa and Maddie:

Falling asleep on the way home on Christmas Eve...

Christmas morning breakfast - yum!

Enjoying our gifts...



A mid-day walk to the pond to prepare for the feast! (What a glorious day.)

Christmas dinner - prepared and enjoyed by all...the end of a peaceful, relaxing day.

But there was soon to be a new addition to our family...

See post above!