we're off

Bright and early tomorrow morning we're heading off. As such, I just wanted to drop a quick line to wish all the friends and family that check out the blog a very Merry Christmas. As I believe I have mentioned we'll be celebrating this year with my Mom and Dad in Orlando. The kids are getting pretty excited for time with Grandma and Grandpa and their Papa. Oh and to give Goofy a big hug, stay in a hotel and to share a room with each other. After watching them open a few presents tonight I dare say they're going to be very excited to wake and find that Santa stayed true to his word and kept them on his nice list.

Watch out Mickey and Minnie, the Jorgensens and Raus are on our way! xoxo CAKE

P.S. Disney please don't sue me for infringement on image usage. 

'tis the season

With a double bathroom reno still in progress, the opening of the new Terra Nova terminal, a trip to Calgary, prepping for a trip to Florida and an early Christmas celebration some things have had to give and I'm afraid one of them has been this blog. But I'm back, at least for a quick visit and to share some recent holiday photos.

A quick recap: 

Kate and I had a lovely, action-packed trip to Calgary. We had some quality grandparent, cousin and friend time. I'm very thankful we were able to catch up with as many people as we did.

We've been working on a double bathroom renovation and just like the shows on TV we have had many unforeseen stalls, costs and complications. Alas, I truly feel like we are a day away from completion. In fairness, I have been saying that for five days in a row. I guess tomorrow we'll know for sure.

This weekend we had an early Christmas celebration as Cody's Dad and Janice were in town for the launch of the new terminal. Quick sidebar - the terminal looks beautiful and seems to be working out as everyone had planned and hoped it would. So we broke it in and hosted a little family birthday and Christmas get together there this Sunday. The kids were wild. They had fun climbing on forklifts, freight and just getting dirty. They also got some early gifts, all of which were hits.

This Saturday, we pack up and head south to meet my Mom and Dad in Florida for a week of Mickey, Shamu and some well needed sleep and family time. Stay tuned for details of our adventure. 

Spreading piles of sparkles with Grandma Sherri upon our arrival in Calgary.

 Tickles from Grandma and Stella.

Smiles with cousins.

Kate and Carter helping Grampie celebrate his birthday before Christmas got under way.

Grandparents certainly know how to celebrate. The kids were thrilled with their Gator which is just like Cater's. 

Why a four and five year old would allow an oblivious two year old drive them around is beyond me. Here is one of many crashes.

Another crash and more laughter.

The four generations of Jorgensen men.

Elliott could not bear to say good bye to Great Grampie.

In case I don't have a chance to blog again prior to our departure, I do want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Eat, drink and get outside to make some memories. 

Love, CAKE

four

I can't believe it but our favourite niece Lydia, turned four this weekend. And what a birthday it was. Ten kids making their own pizzas and decorating their own cakes. So much fun because there was so much sugar.

 Spreading the the dough.

 Now the sauce.

 The evidence.

 The happy birthday girl/surgeon.

The boyz.

 

Our beautiful girl in an early Christmas present from Aunty.

Seems the sugar has hit!

It really was an awesome party - Elliott in particular seemed to love being part of all the big kid activity. We didn't even it make it out of Summerside before Elliott fell asleep. And he slept the entire trip home. Lydia enjoy all your loot because in three weeks we get to do it all again.

Kate and I are off early tomorrow morning. We're heading to Calgary for a whirlwind of six days with family and friends. Cody and Elliott will be enjoying some man time together; I wonder what that will look like.

Talk to you or better yet, see you soon. Aimee

santa claus came to our town

I can hardly type this blog as I can barely lift my left arm. Here's the story...

We went to the Santa Claus Parade tonight. The start time was six, so we arrived a few minutes before. Perfect timing when entertaining a two and three year old, less perfect if trying to get a good spot for said two and three year olds. So, both Cody and I hoisted a child up on our hips and sometimes on our shoulders. Despite the burn it was great fun and the kids were mesmerized. If the Moncton parade impressed them, I can't wait to see what their reaction will be to the DisneyWorld parades this Christmas.

Kate's favourite thing was "everything". Elliott's favourite thing was the "big trucks" hauling the floats, and the "fire trucks" and the "motors" (aka four wheelers). Thank goodness they didn't notice we didn't officially see Santa or the end of the parade.

 We're smiling because the hoisting has not yet begun.

 Best seat in the house.

Note that it was such a beautiful night here that none of us needed hats or mittens.

The final float of our evening.

Here's to a season of merriment and learning to work the parade system for next year.
AJ

let's make some magic

Yesterday I was way under the weather and this morning both the kids were definitely not themselves so I kept Kate home. Instead of resting, we got straight to work on a gingerbread house. Out of no where yesterday, she requested that we make one. It just so happened that earlier in the week I had picked up our annual pre-baked, pre-assembled kit. Let the merriment begin. For the most part it was quite merry. Elliott ate the candy while Kate and I co-decorated with the treats that were left. Meanwhile our home renovations continued in the background, Kate making each tradesperson stop to admire her work. They were all very good sports and she was thrilled with our end product.

"El, we decorate, we don't eat."

Our completed gingerbread house. Home to Shrek's and our good friend - Gingee.

Tonight the kids received a very special delivery. The return address was the North Pole and it contained the book The Elf on the Shelf. Supposedly, Santa is going to be sending one of his Elf helpers to our house to report back to him on Kate and Elliott's daily behaviour(s). When he shows up we have to name him, talk to him, we can't touch him and we have to put our very best feet forward in front of him. I can't wait. The kids long list for names include: Daadaa, Wazley, Waawaat. Hopefully we have a little time before his arrival to refine our options.

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas. Well, with the exception of having worn T-shirts outside today to play on our very green lawn.

One last shout out. This one to our cousin and nephew Aidan who turns eight today. Aidan, Kate was confounded after dinner tonight trying to figure out how we were going to eat your birthday cupcakes. Do you think you could freeze us a couple? We love you. Happy birthday!
CAKE

family portrait

Saturday morning Kate drew her first family portrait. Which is huge for Kate as she almost exclusively chooses to scribble. I was thrilled, especially with the conversation that followed.
Kate: This is Mama, this is Papa, this is Elliott, this one, ((the biggest)) is me and this is lightening.
Mama: That's super awesome Kate but I think you forgot Finnegan.
Kate: Nope, he's not here because he's dead.
Mama: Oh. Okay.

Later that day we finished up our earlier conversation.
Mama: Kate, I called Papa and let him know that you drew a great family picture and that Finnegan was dead.
Kate: Oh Mama, that was just a joke.
Well whephf!

Peace out. aj

two down

It's painful to watch the kids poke, corner and stab at their food, attempting to cajole meals onto their ever-elusive forks. They never eat much dinner, most nights it seems to be out of pure exhaustion. Tonight was no different. We were having lasagna and saw them starting to abandon their efforts. On a whim, I gave Kate my knife and showed her how it could help get food up onto her fork. It took 30 seconds and she had it. As always, Elliott had to have whatever Kate did. He took about five seconds and bingo, they were both eating, fork and knife in-hand. Even more amazing was that they both cleaned their plates.  Maybe it was the excitement at having graduated to big person cutlery, or maybe they were ravenous from not having eaten a complete dinner in a couple of years. Either way, though a simple feat, it was quite thrilling. Good job guys.

 One down...

two down...

one to go.

TGIF.
Happy weekend.
CAKE

first dance

Today was Kate's second last dance class, when all the kids' friends and families were invited to see the girls' progress to date. All organizational annoyances aside, it was very sweet. There was even a surprise visit by two of the company's ballerinas performing in this year's Nutcracker which brought on serious faces from Kate and Elliott to go with the serious music and dancing.

I never thought I would long to become a Dance Mom but the desire is growing. The ballerinas that help with the class are so strong and graceful, it's hard not to want for those qualities in your daughter (who currently is a little rough around the edges). Time will tell. In the meantime, January will see Kate graduate to Primary Ballet, hooray! We were close to registering Elliott for First Dance but I'm still feeling a little gun shy from Gymnastics. A warm, sunny studio sounds so much more appealing to an early morning spent in a cold arena.

Kate first in line for one of the exercises.

Again, first in line.

Kate's captive audience.

Kate and her dance partner Hayley.

Kate and Hayley in action.

A toy soldier brought to life.

Clara.


A couple weeks from now Kate and I will be attending DancEast's Nutcracker; I can't wait.

Thanks for the memories. Love you Kate. Mama, Papa, & E

my vote

If anyone out there reading this, is in the know, please let me know if there is a public movement that I can join to officially end Day Light Savings. It's evil and I think if there is not already a movement, the mothers of Canada (excluding the already wise people of Saskatchewan) need to band together to do our part to ban this twice annual useless change to our clocks.

We're already in day four and my kids are still completely upside down. It's not as simple as going to bed later in their worlds. We're doing that and they are in turn actually getting up earlier than ever.
And I am not proud to say it but I was awoken to my son falling down our staircase this morning. Yup I found him in a heap at the bottom of the stairs at 4:45am completely shaken and out of it. And that's how and when my day began. Prior to Saturday night's change he had been sleeping in to after 7:00 now, it's 4:45 every day. Don't ask me how our brains work but it doesn't seem to jive with arbitrary changes to our clocks.

I hate it. I know all the mothers in my life hate it, so let's get active. Let me know if you're in.

As a result of our early early starts, this house has been in a bit of a dark funk since this weekend's visit from Grammie Donna and our PEI cousins. I'm just now getting the spirit up to post a few pics and report what a nice visit we had. It was loud and it was proud. What lovely little friends they're becoming. And it's interesting as always to observe who are the closest friends. It seems that Kate and Carter then Elliott and Lydia is the pairing off. E adores Lydia and talks about her adoringly. And Carter and Kate are just wild together, very physical: wrestling and laughing.

Here they are...

 Winding down with a little show time with Grammie.

Sunday morning and they're jammin'. Kate on drum, Carter rocking the drums and keyboard, Lydia is all harmonica and E if you look closely, is on the horn.

In other voting news, as Barack Obama was reelected today (Eastern time) I was reminiscing about his first election into office and me being very, very pregnant at the time. I thought to myself then (which seems only yesterday) that I would have a 4 year old when he started his second term. And now it's all here. How much the world or at least my world has changed.

Peace be with us all. Aimee

a howl

The remnants of Hurricane Sandy hit us this morning and the day was wet, wet wet. As such, the spirits at Kate's school were pretty low this morning, at least the parents' and teachers'. We were all imagining the evening of cold, soaked costumes and drippy makeup that were in our futures. However the clouds parted around 4, the sun started shining and we had perfect 15 degree weather to head out in.  Oh thank you Mother Nature. Thank you.

We had an awesome time tonight with our trick or treaters. They had super manners, spirit and stamina having made it to almost every haunted house on our double court. Elliott, Cody and Finn tuckered out two houses shy of Kate calling it quits. I actually wasn't sure she'd ever tire out. I think the candy was calling.

Honestly, from the second they saw our five year old neighbours Ben and Daniel, the kids started screaming - with fright and delight - and then they started running. It really was special. Not so much for the two sacs of candy we now have to contend with but for the neighbourhood's spirit. I love Halloween.

Our cupcake princess and deadly shark ready to roll.

 The back up team, equipped with wheels, bags to empty loot into and on site security.

Elliott trying to keep up with his very energetic sister.

Second time back to #5 in order to revisit the pumpkin witch.

 Elliott's favourite neighbourhood pal Oddie the cat. Oddie was looking a little spooky tonight.

Kate, Elliott and Daniel doin' their business.

Kate loving life.

Elliott fell asleep as I sang to him tonight, his sister on the other hand is wired and licked me three times during our good night ritual. I really do love Halloween.

Goodnight Goblins. AJ

hanging out

We stayed close to home again this weekend. Kate had a Halloween themed dance class that included a fundraiser fair with juice and cupcakes. Ah, it was 10am, why not get our sugar on. We raked leaves, went biking, ran errands. Cody and I also had a date night and while we were out, the kids learned and nearly perfected a new trick.  Check it out.

I guess Elliott is living by the mantra whatever the four (ish) year old can do, he can do better, or, at least as good.  It is unnerving to watch but I try to live by the mantra that I have to demonstrate confidence to help instil their self confidence. So far, so good.

 Taking a break from the bike trailer to stretch their arms and legs.

Friends hanging out enjoying the sun and the leaves.

Have a frightfully excellent Halloween week. We're looking forward to all our friends' and families' photos.
CAKE

our big boy

A couple things to record for posterity:

1. Elliott is sleeping in a big boy bed. He actually has been for a month now and he's loving it. You can see the pride each and every time he climbs in and miraculously, he stays put, which he had ceased to do in his crib.

2. He is trying out the potty and some big boy under pants. Yesterday Grammie Donna was with us for the day and took Elliott to get his first underwear. After a bit of hesitation he put them on and then it wasn't long before he sat down on his pink potty and again with a little coaxing from Grammie had his official pee in the pot. Awesome! Thanks for the head start Grammie.

Here's the proof:

Movin' on up.

Cute buns baby.

xoxo CAKE

falling

It's Sunday evening and we're exhausted from a beautiful Fall weekend. My old wrist and hip are inflamed from the yard work we have just started. The bags are filling up and the trees are still full! Perhaps if my little children didn't jump in every pile I made, the job would be quicker and the raking would lessen. With that said, nothing is more beautiful than watching these little souls run through the leaves, stare up at the changing canopies and seek out spooky references in neighbours' yards. I love October. Especially October here in the East - no snow, just sweaters and colour.

 Happiness is to me ... my Pumpkin Pie.

Hangin' with the wing man.

No rest for weary bones.

I'm falling...

Happy Birthday party night to my sister. Wish we were there to raise the roof. CAKE