Tales from the birthday sleepover

After a fabulous 3rd birthday party for little Miss Jasmine Jolyn, she and her sister and parents came to Nana and Grampie's for dinner.  They were having such a great time with their Aunties - that a sleepover seemed like a GREAT idea!  After such a busy day, they both went to sleep easily.  Now I realize this blog is solely about the girls, but I would be remiss in not mentioning a few very funny moments from that night.  Grahame and his friend Dion were enjoying some wine while reminicing and talking "guy stuff" with Dad in the kitchen.  They eventually decided to head "home" around 9:30.  On their way out, they came in to share some of their wisdom with us in the family room.  Dion had us all in stitches - quite a funny guy.  At one point, Grahame decided Dion was going to spill his glass of red wine and struggled to get it out of his hand. Once he did, he began mock kicking him and...quelle surprise...spilled some wine.  As he ran to get a cloth, Dion stood quietly and then announced: "I`m sorry, but I pooed in your refridgerator".  As we were doubled over laughing, Grahame comes tearing in holding a pair of Mom's underwear saying "it's ok, it's ok - I've got it under control".  Mom jumped up and grabbed back her undies - finding a rag instead.  Erin managed to corral the guys towards the door. 
Sharon and I slept in the room with Jazzie while Mom had Zoe in her bed.  Jasmine evidently had a lot on her mind that night.  No less than 5 times, she woke up, stood up and began chatting with me in the middle of the night.  The first time she was talking - and since I was half asleep - I completely missed what she was saying - but somehow knew she had asked me a question.  I wasn't sure how to respond - so I said "OK".  There was silence, then Jasmine said "No Fandra - do you 'member when Marney was a wittle puppy?".  "Yeah" I said - not remembering Marley every being a puppy.  "Yeah" Jazzie said "she was so cute".  She then snuggled back down in her bed and fell back asleep.  I stood up and checked to make sure she was covered in her blankies and then went back to sleep myself.  She woke up again and said "I tink I ate too much shoogah today".  Sharon immediately let out a low giggle.  I tried to keep it together. "Mmmm -yeah - you probably did".  Jazzie replied "yeahhhhhh.  Dat why my tummy wumbles".  She then crawled down and went back to sleep.  She woke up a few more times - I think at one point saying "in da mowning we tan get up and pway.  but not mowning yet." She is too cute that child!  When morning DID come around, the first thing she had to do, after giving Grampie a hug, was find Tiger and Sootie and feed them - which we did.
Zoe had her own moments.  Clearly stuffed up, she decided it was allergies. She announced this to me while lying in Nana's bed - quite dramatically.  After a big sigh, she said "I think I have allergies".  I asked her to what - and she said she didn't know.  The girls and I went to the kitchen to get breakfast, and Zoe decided it would be a GREAT idea to have a surprise breakfast for the rest of the family (which they had just seen Caillou do).  So they put plates out, cutlery, I handed them things from the fridge, they picked out cereal and crackers and soon had quite the spread on the table.  They were quite proud to show everyone what they had done! While sitting at the table, Zoe says "NANA...I have bad news". Mom said "Oh no - what?".  Zoe sighed and said "I`m allergic to tea."  Dad asked her HOW she knew this.  With no arrogance or sarcasm, she simply said "Because I'm smart". That easy. 
After breakfast we headed down Green Lane for a walk.  Zoe again impressed with her spelling - spelling out each of our names on the pavement.  As Jasmine, Sharon and the dogs headed to the house, Zoe decided that some adventure walking was in order.  She headed into the woods across from Marshall's and spent some time wandering.  I stayed on the edge walking, eventually leaning on the rock.  Zoe came out and said "COMMON" and brought me into the woods.  Now - in fairness - there was a time I knew every nook and cranny of those woods.  That time has passed.  I gingerly stepped around, fearing bugs,snakes, poo, wet icky stuff...whereas Zoe hopped joyfully through it all.  I followed her around as she explained the different parts of "her woods".  After about 10 minutes and the need to cross a muddy crevasse, I told her I would wait for her in the foyer of the woods.  She jumped around the back - I could see her moving behind trees.  She eventually came out and we crossed the road to Nana's.  "Oh - this is perfect Auntie Sandra - come with me".  She then took me into the woods between our house and the catnapper next door.  I was taking some pictures when Zoe stood up, threw her hands on her hips and said "Enough Auntie Sandra - put the camera down and come with me".  So - I left my camera sitting on a rock and followed Zoe through the woods.  At one point we went down a little hill - with only pointy rocks leading a path down through the sludge.  I paused thinking of how I could get down without breaking something.  Zoe looked back - clearly seeing the fear in my eyes - and said "Do you want me to come and hold your hand?".  "Yes" I said.  So she did - taking my hand and leading me down.  When I saw a way out onto the path, I took it and told her I would take the road more travelled while she bopped through the woods.  She seemed OK with that.  We found cool mushrooms, neat flowers and leaves.  Zoe kept exclaiming "isn't that INTERESTING".  She climbed Big Rock and, on her way down, she hit a bush - scratching her face.  I told her that this was all part of the adventure walk - a few scratches were ok.  She then purposely walked into another and exclaimed "I now have 5 more".

A fun weekend! :)

A New Record

This afternoon Zoe and Jasmine broke a long standing record at the Metcalfe pool. This is the latest date we have EVER had anyone actually swimming in the pool. Yes you read correctly. It is September 23rd and they were in our 64 degree pool! It was Jasmine's idea and Erin and I were sure she would just put in a toe. But no, on went the suit, the floaties  and in she went. Zoe, never one to be left behind, was soon in there with her. Zoe even took off the floaties and did a "real" swim. At one point Zoe did comment that it felt like ice, but she still went back in.
We also had a visit from our chipmunk couple who are very brave and come quite close to us, especially Jas. It was a happy afternoon

Inukshuks and tree counting!

I spent some time with the girls this weekend in Hudson.  Our first order of business was a walk down Green Lane with Grampie.  Jasmine was trying out her new tricycle (courtesy of a garage sale Nana hit that morning) and Zoe was riding SUPER FAST on her tricycle!  They were intent on showing me the Inukshuks at the end of the road.  The girls would ride ahead and then circle back to us as we meandered along.  We stopped in front of the Marshalls' to draw on the pavement.  Zoe shocked me by writing out her name.  She further shocked me by writing out my name as I gave her the letters.  Wow.  She is growing up so fast!  We continued along and came upon the Dumont's house.  Zoe yelled back to me that she found the bridge and it was ok - she would cross it.  Uh-huh.  I didn't remember a bridge or water, for that matter, in front of the Dumonts', but evidently there is some little bridge over the ditch.  They both had fun playing in the little wooded garden area on their front lawn.  Mrs. Dumont came out and Jasmine ran over to give her a hug!  I heard her say "It's my birthday soon.  I'm 3 on my birthday."  Jasmine then jumped up on the big rock and declared "I'm King of the castle, Fandra is rascal".  Zoe followed suit - both of them having a good laugh at that!  We then drew some more on the pavement and finally reached the Inukshuks.  Jasmine immediately threw her arms around the first Inukshuk in a hug.  Unfortunately, they aren't so much made for hugging.  The whole thing teetered in her arms.  I ran over and tried to steady it - scared the whole thing would collapse on her foot.  I pulled her back while putting my knee in front of the rocks and pressing down with my hands.  I was trying to re-adjust the rocks to balance them again - and while I was doing his Jazzie yells out "Fandra - you're BREAKING it!!".  I had to laugh - from the mouths of babes!  Luckily - the Inukshuk remained standing....for the moment.  Grampie enjoyed his walk and seeing the girls doing their thing.

The next day, I dropped by on my way home.  The girls were outside with Erin and Grahame.  It was a gorgeous September day and they had just finished trimming their hedges and cleaning up the gardens in the front.  It all looked gorgeous!  While Grahame mowed the lawn, the girls and I played in their secret hedge-hideaway.  Then over to the swingset where we gave each other plastic shocks!  Then ended it with the girls putting on a show for me under the tree.  It was a lovely show with singing and dancing - and halfway through Zoe dragged over a chair for me to sit in.  I propped Zoe up and she sat on one of the tree branches as I held on to her.  She then began counting - and I joined her.  We counted all the way to 50 - laughing along the way.  Jazzie had to do the same!  I got some snuggles in between too!  They then threw themselves into the pile of grass Grahame had just dumped.  I told them I didn't think that was such a good idea - then Zoe loudly declared she was a "Grass God" and would never come out.  Erin wandered over to announce she had slugs and would the girls like to see.  Yup - bad to worse.  Seemed like a good time to head back to Ottawa.

:) Love those little munchkins!

Jasmine's First Day of school!!!

Little Jasmine woke up on Wednesday morning uber excited! She jumped out of bed and ran from bedside to bedside to tell Daddy then Mommy then Zoe that it is "my fuwst day of schooool"!!

I think she has been waiting for this moment since the first day she saw her sister go to school last year!

She had her backpack on over her jammies by 7AM and told me there was "no time for breakfast", she was ready to go!!

I tempted her into cereal and a smoothy and then had her dressed in a new school outfit that I bought her, thinking it was adorable... but she and Zoe had a different plan and before I knew it they had worked together to redress her in an equally adorable outfit!

When we got to school she was a little shy, doing her 'head tilted pouty face look', but she didn't whine or cry or cling, she quietly sat down at a little table and started to draw and bravely waved goodbye.

I think it was harder for me!!

So Zoe and I walked out and went to the bakery and to the sandy beach trails for some lovely one on one time which almost kept my mind off the fact that my little baby was 'all alone' at school!

When we went to pick her up she came running with the biggest smile on her face, she was so happy and proud of herself!! It was apparent that Jasmine had a blast and was "very good, very old for her age" as her teacher told me.

Today she was super excited to go again and this time with her big sister... And another chapter starts.

Preschool day 1 for Zoe

Zoe had her first day at a new preschool today! She insisted on picking her own outfit and was eager to get there! All went well, she got to see Ella and Cleona from her school last year. One of her teachers is a friend of ours who seemed excited to have her there... so little Zoe was happy as can be!!

I've got to admit it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't walk her down the street to Lise's school again this year, but the new school is a little bigger and I think she'll love it just as much !

Poor Jasmine was dying to stay too, her day will be tomorrow though... will post her pic then!

I know it's only preschool but I still feel like they are so old going off in their little back packs into a group of other kids. Can't imagine when they get to real school ... let alone university!! I'll stick to preschool now thank you very much.