Some day maybe a post will have some sort of focus again. For now it's just another journal of what life has looked like (based on whatever pictures I've taken) in the last two weeks. I definitely haven't been very good about pictures!
So we didn't just get one snow day with that dumping a couple weeks ago. We didn't just get two snow days. We had THREE snow days. The last one really really didn't need to be a snow day, but alas. It is the bus company's call!
On January 20 we had a late birthday party for Dom so he could celebrate with his friends! It was our first time throwing a proper party for the kids and we wanted to stick to a budget. Instead of a rec center or something, we rented the amenities room at my parents' complex. This worked out great! Dom of course wanted a hockey theme, so we went with the old school Canucks colors and just kept it relatively simple. Ordered pizza, had some snacks and worms & dirt instead of cake, and the majority of the time the kids just played mini-sticks hockey.
Dom also requested a pinata, so I bought a happy face one from Walmart and put black posterboard on it to make it like a hockey puck.
Then I panicked when I found out we had booked 3 hours for the party and apparently most people only do 2 hours. And we were having like 12 age 6-7 boys over. Soooo I planned some games. Pin the puck in the net, and hockey Bingo. It was nice to have a few other things planned, but I bet they all would have just played hockey for 3 hours straight if given the chance.
We got in to decorate the day before which was a blessing.
Mom suggested we bring over their Playmobil hockey. Genius! Perfect activity for a kid who needs a quiet moment or a break from the mini-sticks craziness.
Dom was so nervous the night before and all morning. Once his friends started showing up it all melted away and it was just a giggle-fest.
Eva was very proud to be included at the beginning of the party. She napped for most of it. Dom invited cousin Rebecca to the party and she was the only other girl, so at least Emilia had someone to play with!
Me and the girls! I did most of the party planning and prep, and asked Dave to handle the hosting part with the kids. It was a nice balance and gave me a bit of breathing room. I really love the planning and prepping part anyway. The hosting part is exhausting for me haha.
Given how many sticks were flying around, I'm very impressed no one got hurt.
Getting set up for Pin the Puck in the Net
I don't understand why there was such a cluster on the right hand side haha.
Then we brought out the Bingo! Great activity, but I didn't think about the fact that many Grade 1 kids probably can't read all the hockey terms or find them on their paper. Everyone helped each other out though and we managed to get through the game.
After Bingo, the kids split up into teams and we had the big hockey tournament! Dave "refed" and the winning team got the "Stanley Cup"
Not all the kids are always into hockey, but everyone gave it their all, and many showed up in jerseys just as Dom had hoped!
Group shot just missing one boy who had to leave early!
So curious how many of these kids will be in Dom's friend group still 10 years from now. This photo will be pretty hilarious at that point in time.
The winning team with the Stanley Cup Dom and I created in a rush that morning haha.
I was absolutely TOAST after the party. We went to my parents and Dom opened his gifts. He was so spoiled. He loved every second of it!
After that it was home and I had a 45 minute nap.
In the evening I decided at the last minute to go to a Women's Clothing Swap at Hope. I got some great clothes, made a flower bouquet, and broke my Dry January haha!
Sunday morning we went to church, and then planned a last minute "chaotic family dinner" at Mom & Dad's. Just about everyone was there and it lived up to its title. Chaotic. We had boerenkool, the kids were loud, I sat at the table and rested. It was beautiful haha.
This doesn't make it look very chaotic does it... Well there were still 8 other adults and 2 other toddlers around!
Monday morning, after our 5 day weekend because of the snow days, I decided to keep Emilia home. She was feeling fine, but had this yucky cough. She stayed home Monday & Tuesday and by then I was pretty pretty pretty ready for some introvert time. Melt-downs aplenty.
Dom just casually reading a chapter book with his breakfast. I asked him some questions to see if he's actually absorbing it and yes. He is! Amazing.
Miss Emilia. She was very excited to be home "sick" with me. She didn't seem to realize that when they're at school I actually have things to do haha. We spent a lot of time doing puzzles, drawing together, and just hanging out.
The book Dom's been reading
Last Thursday Dave and Dom got to go to the Harlem Globetrotters game which was a birthday gift from Aunty Lasagna. The game didn't start til 7 which is Dom's usual bedtime. He did great! He was 1000% wired when he got home at 9:45, and he had a blast. He was nervous about how noisy it would be, but apparently he was very brave.
While they were out, the girls and I played Candyland and did puzzles.
Eva was cute playing Candyland. She came across very confident, but just picked up her piece and moved it to a very random spot on the board.
Dom got this as a gift and I actually got to play it last week with D&E. Dom whooped our butts which he loved of course. Good game!
On January 27 Dom had his first ice time with First Shift Hockey! He and Dave had done stick & puck for kids twice, which requires full gear. Dom did so great. He was very excited to be on the ice with Kirk McLean and Dave Babych as well - it's a program sponsored by the Canucks, so they are helping out on the ice.
This was after one of their stick & puck dates.
Jeff, Marta & Owen came over for dinner int he evening. Of course we had to have a hockey game on the TV.
Dom still has his teams I gave him in the summer of 2022 on the way to the cabin. He still plays with them daily. Best free gift ever! He also still knows all the goal horns and can correctly identify them within seconds. Weirdo :)
This brings us to JARS (Jeff, Adam, Renee, Scott) night! Scott drove Jeff and I down to Vancouver. We met up at Via Tevere and got our name on the list. 45 minute wait. No problem. We zipped down to Parallel 49 for a drink and came back, and then waited ANOTHER 45 minutes outside the restaurant as some table was refusing to leave despite their 90 minute max rule.
Needless to say, the restaurant owners felt bad, and this hot plate of appetizers was waiting for us when we finally got to sit down. DEEELICIOUS!
After Via Tevere we tried to stop at Superflux, but it was packed. Bomber Brewing it is!
Adam had some surprise reservations for us at 10pm at Resurrection, a cocktail lounge and distillery. Super cool atmosphere and super yummy cocktails! We were there until well past midnight. Way past my bedtime. I was in bed for a long time the next day if you catch my drift haha.
Sunday we had a date with Elissa and Michael in the evening! We went to their house for dinner. The kids had pizza, and the adults made sushi. Elissa had prepped everything and it was so yummy! Many moons ago (pre-children) we got together at our place and made sushi, so this was a fun little throwback.
The kids played so well and so quietly. It was magical.
And I got so many baby snuggles. Also magical.
The spread
My first rolls. They were scrumptious!
Monday Aunty Lasagna came over during the day to hang out with Eva so that I could get some stuff done. Dom happened to be home as well because we thought he was getting sick. Turns out he was just exhausted. Looking back at the last couple weeks I can understand why...
Anyway, I had a VERY productive day and it felt so good!
They collected sticks, got pompoms and made this fun centerpiece. Eva was very proud to show it off haha.
So nice feeling refreshed and accomplished so I could sit down and be truly present with the kids for a few minutes.
Yesterday morning Scott texted to see what Eva was up to. We didn't have any firm plans so we went straight out to their place to play with Phoebe after dropping the kids off at school. The girls played for a bit, we went to the park, and then came back for lunch. On the way there Eva was eerily quiet in the car.
Me: Eva, you okay? What's up?
Me: Eva, you okay? What's up?
Eva:... I'm just happy........ Happy to be going to see Phoebe :)
Feeding her baby on the walk to the park
THE SUN CAME OUT!! It's been so mild this week which is amazing. Especially when just 2 weeks ago it was pushing -20. When it's +12 degrees suddenly it really feels like spring time.
Tuesday evening was my weekly horse fix and hang out with Emilia. Blue and I had a good little snuggle - he was being very affectionate with me. Living out my childhood dreams of being with all the animals!
I have to brag about this too. I got his bridle on, by myself, on the FIRST try! He's usually a bit of a turd when it comes to getting the bridle on. I'll try for a few minutes until he gets annoyed and then ask for help and he'll continue to be a turd with the volunteer/staff. This time he was just so chill.
To top it off, Emilia had one of her best lessons yet. She was calm and extra confident. They gave her a crop which helped significantly with trotting because her little legs just aren't strong enough to signal to the horse to speed it up. So proud of her!
He is such a love. He was really digging scritches just behind his nostrils this day.
Emilia wanted to take a grooming break to be a part of the selfie.
And have one on her own
Still just can't get over how teeny she is <3 Fricking adorable.
