Backsplash and Desserts

We saw `The Lorax' yesterday and the kids enjoyed it. We went to the Clova so it was just $15.00 for our whole family:) Koen thought the Lorax was cute and Kai laughed throughout the movie. It was good, the kids give it an 8/10. Oh ya, Koen kept calling me the `Lobster' last night and we realized he thought that was the name of the Once-ler.

{Above is the old backsplash in the messy looking kitchen, below is the new backsplash in a still messy kitchen}

Gary is almost done the back splash, he just has to seal it one more time. Next week we have someone coming by to give us an estimate on refacing our cupboards (they just replace the doors and put a veneer on the side to match rather than replacing the cupboards). It does seem ridiculous to spend big money on aesthetics rather than functionality but the orange looking cupboards do drive me nuts. We love our house and if we can put money into it to make it just how we want it then we save a ton of money not moving. I wish we had done the upgrades when we first purchased our home but we were just married, it was our first home and I was too scared to put even more money into upgrades, even though we were approved by the bank to spend much more:)

Koen can play all day long by himself. He makes up his own rules and plays for me, Kai, Gary and even his baby sister. Baby sister (in utero) has won several games already!

We are just prepping for our `big trip' to the island and looking forward to it! I am so incredibly tired so I'm taking Palafer (iron). I do feel very, very good physically so that is awesome. I totally credit prenatal yoga. We have our maternity/family photo session on Monday so I'm just hoping the weather is decent for that day. I'm also hoping the kids keep their faces injury free for just a few more days:)

{Playing with the 85mm a bit...man, I've never struggled so much with a lens before. I want to fall in love with it so I will persist.}

The kids are driving Gary and I a bit crazy so I'm hoping they will tire themselves out while we are on holidays. It doesn't help that we've had snow/rain every day.

We babysat Isaac for a couple of hours last night. I love him but it reminded me how evenings (or really any part of the day) will not be free anymore in just 10 short weeks. I am soaking up my selfishness now. Free time to do as I wish. With the boys being 3 and 5, it's just so easy as they really take care of themselves most of the day. I'm a bit nervous:) I'm very thankful that I have the entire month of June to just focus on baby and the boys and then have very limited bookings after that.

Baby girl is definitely craving desserts. Every night I want to have something homemade that involves chocolate. I don't do it every night but I want to:) These two minute brownies in a mug desserts are perfect! What else do I crave? Some awesome homemade mousse, banana cream pie, cupcakes with lemon frosting....oh man, so good. I don't want to waste the calories on store bought stuff and I don't have tons of energy to bake so fortunately I don't end up eating it very often. Oh, and whipped cream. It makes everything better. I've gained 22lbs so far which is pretty much on track with my weight gain with Koen. I'm still exercising daily so that's good too.

Well, better get to the laundry so I can pack our suitcases!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love, Louise

Movie Night

I can't remember the last time I actually watched a DVD...does my yoga video count? I just didn't have the time, patience, or one that I really wanted to watch. Well, I've been meaning to find a movie that Kai might like since he has only seen `Cars' (which I have never even watched with him). Last night, as a family, we watched the first half of `Up' and this afternoon we watched the second half. There was something really nice and cozy about all of use cuddled on the couch, under our warm blankets, in front of the fire place, watching a movie together. I loved it. Koen spent that time walking around holding onto his two drum sticks (which he holds onto all day...sucking them and banging things) and periodically coming on the couch to jump on us.

Kai could follow the movie pretty well but we did fast forward the first 5 minutes as it was incredibly boring for him. It was nice to do something different as a family, usually we just do family walks but now it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too cold! Snow tonight?!

Can I just tell you how Koen baffles my mind? Picks things up, walks with big items in his hands, climbs on top of things, great manipulation of objects in his hands etc. Koen and Kai are so different and it has been evident from the beginning:) Kai would be more tentative and wonder if it's okay to wander. Maybe a careful wild. Koen is a `let me gooooooooo!!!' kind of wild. Let me explore! I love different.

Yay for family nights. Love the husband and kiddos!