Happy Birthday Amazing WOnderful Fabulous thoughtful kind Fun Elias Kai

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to you Elias Kai is 7 years old WoW Wow! It's early in the day of Elias' birthday, and he is up and opening gifts. He got some lego of all sorts and straws and connectors. It amazes me that Elias is seven. My baby. He is the child who has been my baby, I wasn't busy with other children the way I was with the others. Being my first we got to enjoy each other on our own. When he was just a baby I loved rocking and singing to him, carrying him bundled in my sling, nursing him to sleep so we could have an afternoon nap together. We walked miles together. We have a very special relationship, him being my first.
Now I love reading with him, talking about the chapters after we have read it, sharing what we thought. I love exploring new things together. This past year when he was in the hospital for a week we had hours of time together that was just me and him. We haven't had that since he was born. We drew, played games, chatted, sat in silence, read, cuddled and loved each other being there. He is growing into such an insightful loving boy, who is thoughtful with his friends and family. It takes awhile to get a place in his world but once you do, it is truly a world of wonder and love.



Birthdays have becoming very exciting for ELias. It has been difficult for him to be the centre of attention in the past. This year he really anticipated the day with excitement. His friend Rhiana had her birthday party this day which was a difficult decision to make. Should he have his own day or go to his friend's birthday. He decided it was really important to go to his friend's party and there were no regrets it was a wonderful day. The kids gathered inside their horse arena and they had races, playtime, horse rides, trampoline time and then inside for a sing song and cake. It was a great day and the kids came home exhausted. We then had more cake - singing to ELias and watched a movie together. We are having a birthday party with his friends in February. Elias is such a blessing in my life, as are all my children in different ways. I am so thankful for him.

The Birthday Fun Continues

Elias really enjoyed using the straws and connectors at the Scientists in the school, so it seemed a great gift for his birthday. Soon after waking and opening his gift he is busy building. Together with Ben they have decided to build a bridge- and wow what an awesome bridge it is.






After having tons of fun at Rhiana's birthday party we came home a tired crew. After Elias decorated his cake with sour candy and peanut m and m's. He choose a golden cake with chocolate icing, and cashew toffee ice cream on the side.... talk about sugar overload!! Everyone loved it. Seven candles took a few blows to get them all out, he was one determined kid.






Creations on display! ELias got lots of lego for his birthday, a car, a knight and a snowmobile/helicopter. One of the best parts of building lego is showing off the finished product.





Its such a great bridge and those faces are so precious we needed to get one more picture in there.

It's Elections Roots and Shoots style

Roots and Shoots with some helping hands organized a great mock election. The series of pictures starts with the end. Here the kids play what time is it Mr. wolf in celebration of Sam the Wolf winning the Election. Outdoor time throughly enjoyed. It's currently time for the Federal Elections and Roots and Shoots is holding an Elections of their own. The kids were really geared up for it as we have been talking at home about the elections and the choices we have to make with there being different parties. At the Roots and Shoots election we were choosing a mascot through an elections canada kit. Each candidate gave a speach and had a song to share. Then each child registered and choose the candidate they felt was best. Here Elias is registering his name with Sharon.
The next step is casting your ballot; ELias isn't willing to share who he's voting for when asked, he reveals it was Charlie the Raven afterwards because it thought his song was the best.
Every vote counts, and Aria was counted. Here she is choosing who she thinks she be the Mascot.
While others were voting there was a chance to color. Ben has had a keen interest in the election and was feeling very strongly about his vote for the Caribou who happened to be represented by his mum. When the tally was in and mum didn't win Ben felt very sad. We did have a great talk in the car about why people vote for someone- because of their song, that they know the person, that they like what the say and the way they say it, and because they will take action in a way you believe is best. It was hard to understand that I wasn't personally hurt by not winning.

Cake time!

After talking about cake all week long daddy decided on a lemon white chocolate cheesecake he got from work. The kids were a little unsure about whether they would like it at first but once they dug in it was cheers all around. Ben is getting ready to dig right in once he heard it really had chocolate in it!

Daddy with a lap full of wonders!! There was lots of help blowing out the candles and cuddles.

Daddy oh Daddy its your day!!!

Everyone gathers around to give birthday hugs and kisses, cards and presents. It is very exciting, and it wouldn't be a special day without a few feathers!!! Daddy comes home early as a special treat to himself. We have a special treat for dinner- chinese food yum yum yum.

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A bubble!!! For Christmas Elias got a kit to make his own bubble gum from grammy and grampy. Ever since he has been working on blowing bubbles. He has had lots of little ones but this is the first big bubble!! Elias said it was a birthday bubble for dad so we took a picture of it so we could remember. I remember trying to blow bubbles and finally doing it one day in the car with my mum and sister- it's interesting what you remember from your own childhood and then experience a second time with your kids. Very cool!






It's a giant card! Sometimes its better bigger! A what could be better then a giant card with a huge barn and animals on it to celebrate your day! Elias searched long and hard to find a really big piece of paper to make the biggest barn he could. Daddy loved it, the sheep, the barn, the horse, it all looked wonderful.








Aria worked really hard on a card that had a picture of her and dad eating all kinds of treats and drinking ice cappucinos. Since ELias and Ben having been going to beavers Aria and Daddy have been enjoying time together at the library and sometimes going out for a treat. She really captured that in her card. Ben drew dad with his new gifts- slippers and a pair of soft fleecey pants for tobogganing. So many great things to celebrate in dad.

Lego Land is calling.....

Homeschoolers gathered at the public library for the long awaited Lego club. Lego building is a daily occurence at our house, creations adoring every corner. The thought of combining buckets (and buckets!) of new to you lego with the chance to build with all your friends was an instant hit. This is undoubtedly an event that will become a regular in our schedule.








The boat. Pirate ship to be exact was a huge hit.
It was nice to see the boat accesorizing become such a big group project. Everyone dug deep into buckets to find the crew, captain and few captured traitors. Soon a second ship joined the ranks to form a small fleet.









For Aria lego time is lots of fun- but having a fairly quiet room due to high concentration levels is even better because the opportunity for her to talk is great. She wondered around the room chatting it up with the occassional construction happening. She choose to wear her ever popular dress today, which she pretends is her kimono. Chinese New year and our talks of some Asian cultures is having a real impression on her.










Elias is digging deep into the buckets for the perfect piece. There was a chance to work with friends we knew and people we just met. The parents got a chance to mingle and chat while the kids were really engrossed in what they were doing... a coffee bar would have been my only suggestion!

Busy Baking and looking Beautiful!

A tunnel of umbrellas.... or a mole home, it's all in the eye of the beholder!!! These umbrellas have had so many uses; dancing accompaniments, special force fields rides for stuffed animals, monsoon protectors, and of course umbrellas. Elias and Ben are on there way out for the evening while Mummy and Aria are having some time to ourselves. While it was hard to see the brothers go out, we get excited about wearing aprons and hats over the ever popular 'kimono' .










Oh what a cutie!!! and if I knew how to turn the pictures around, it may look even cuter... if that's possible. The assemble was a very important part of the evening. We tried on numerous aprons, in fact I didn't realize we had so many. Finally, we came up with the combination of kimono, with full apron over top, with half apron over that with a kerchief. I must say it really came together!











What a smile! After weighing the pros and cons the classic chocolate chip cookie was decided on. Aria really enjoys cracking those eggs- the sound is pleasing to her ear and of course tasting the dough. They were Aria's creation beginning to end, and wow did they taste good!








A close up of the stirring step. It was a treat for her to not to share any of the steps in making the cookies. Aria was thrilled to have her brothers and dad come home to have a taste... it was unanimous they are delicious!