I feel bad it has been so long since I posted an update.  We are finally in full blown spring mode.  I love it.  The leaves are on the trees and we can finally get outside.  Benjamin is just taking it all in.  I cannot keep him inside if my life depended on it.  He is out there all the time.  Its wonderful.  It just makes everything much better.  I love watching him run, play and explore.  He loves going on "adbentures"  and is constantly pointing out new places as we drive where he think the next adventure could be.  Its amazing.  The past few months have been good.  Benjamin had three morning sessions at the school where he'll be going to kindergarten.   It has been so helpful.   When we went to register him for school we couldn't get him in the building, but yesterday at the last session he was sitting in the classroom between a bunch of future classmates eager to play.  It makes me feel so much better.  I still think full day kindergarten will be a big adjustment for him, but I know he'll love it and I'm looking to this new stage in my life.   I am apprehensive and a little sad, but also excited about having a little more freedom and time for me.

Its hard to believe that summer is approaching so quickly and so is Benjamin's fourth birthday.  It sounds so strange even saying it, Four!  Wow.

This summer is going to be a great summer.  Benjamin is at fantastic age now and I think camping is going to be a lot more fun and a lot less work then it has been.  We're venturing a little further up north this year with my cousins camping and I'm excited for the kids to canoe and swim small northern lakes as opposed to the great lakes.   Its definitely different camping then southern ontario camping.   We're planning lots of day trips as well.  Its going to be great.

We are loving life and enjoying every minute.

This winter has been incredibly cold and long.  We have been hibernating and not leaving the house unless its necessary.  I think everyone is feeling the winter blues right now especially because spring officially arrived last week, but temperatures tonight are around -20 with the windchill.

Things have been pretty calm around here.  Nothing major this winter in regards to illness.  We were supposed to take a family trip to Niagara Falls on Valentines weekend, but Benjamin did come down with a pretty good cold which kept us home.  He had a low grade fever and was super wheezy so I didn't want to risk being 2 hours from home and needing his asthma doctor or the ER.  Thankfully with his rescue inhaler and a dose of steroids at home we managed to muster through it without a visit to the hospital or doctor.   Anyways our trip has been rescheduled and I'm sure it will be great.

We officially registered Benjamin for school in February.  That makes me sad and excited all at the same time.   We decided to enroll him in the local English school for junior kindergarten and then move him to the girls French school for senior kindergarten to grade 8.  He seems pretty apprehensive at the idea of school, but I'm sure once he's there he will love it.  We have our first introduction to his school/class/teacher on Wednesday already so he'll get to see beforehand where he'll be going.  I'm sure that will cut back some of the anxiety over it all.

We added a new member to our family a few weeks ago.  The girls have been begging for a pet (another one) for a while so we finally caved and they bought a bunny.  His name is Oliver and he has been a great addition to our family.  Benjamin loves doting over him and really shows lots of love to him.  It's very sweet.

That's about it around here.   Spring is around the corner and finally getting out of the house and outdoors is what we all desperately need..its so close....

January is flying by...not without a little excitement.  We can officially register Benjamin for school NEXT WEEK!!  That is crazy.  It doesn't seem possible and it makes me want to cry.  I am an emotional person anyways and I think last year was the first year I didn't cry as the girls started school for another year (yes grade 4 and 5).  So in September when Benjamin has his first day of school I am guaranteed to be a disaster.  It can't me true, not yet, he's to young, I'm not ready :( .  But the reality of it is that he IS ready.  I know he'll love it.  He'll have so much fun and just thrive.  We haven't decided exactly where we are going to send him yet.  The girls are in French immersion which he isn't able to start until SK, but he can to JK at the local English public school.  Its not a great school and that's my only concern..but it would only be for 1 year. Or we could see if he would be accepted into a French first language school.   I am not fluent but have OAC French and can understand quite a bit and the girls speak it very well now.  So I think that could be an option as well.  I always have the option to not send him for JK and just have him start in SK.  We'll see.

Everyone has been super healthy in our house so far this winter (knock on wood).  We've had a great winter.  We've been having fun in the snow, building forts,  and even enjoying a couple of snow days.  I love winter, and so do the kids.  Its so fresh and beautiful.  We definitely aren't complaining when it comes to the cold.

Benjamin does not have any appointments in the near future which is great..we're gliding along nice and smooth and happy at this pace.  So that's about it for now.

Wow...almost 2014.  Its so hard to believe.  This last month has just flown by..with all the business and excitement of the season its bound to happen.  We have had an amazing Christmas season.   We decided early on to go with the idea of  "less is more" and it worked out beautifully.   The girls knew from the get go that we weren't going overboard.  For once we didn't have the dilemma of where we were going to put the excess of toys and "stuff" they received.  It was perfect.   We snuggled and watched movies or read books about Christmas time and just ignored the madness outside.  Benjamin had a blast this year.  Just watching him get so excited about Santa,decorating, wrapping presents was amazing.  Watching him experience it all was just fascinating.   I stepped back a number of times just to watch him..what a blessing.  

We're planning on having a low key New Years eve at home with the kids and close friends.  I'm really looking forward to that.  Its going to be great.  I am just so content with life right now.  I feel so overwhelmed by the blessings.  I know that 2014 is going to bring about great things for my family.   I'm just looking forward to every minute of it.  It also comes with big changes as Benjamin is old enough to start kindergarten in September.  That is a crazy thought....Hopefully it doesn't come to fast :) .

I can't believe that we're already into November.  Its shocking to me....and a little sad to see the warm weather turn cold.  But things have been great here.   Busy as usual, but so good.   We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and Halloween.  The kids had so much fun...and we spent a lot of good quality time together.   This past weekend we spent in Toronto at the Royal Winter fair.  We had a blast.   We have never been and it was a great experience.   I definitely recommend it if you haven't been.  Benjamin is at the age now where its easier to do these things.  He was such a good boy.  Just having a nice family weekend away was great.  I am so thankful for that.

Not to much new is happening around here now...We're gearing up for Christmas.  We're taking a much more humble approach to Christmas this year.  One or two small gifts and focusing more on what we can do as family building memories that the kids will have forever.  I think about my childhood and the things that really stand out.  I don't remember any of the gifts I got...I remember the traditions we had.  When I was a little girl we would go to church on Christmas Eve and then go to Victoria park and see the lights.  I loved that.  I also remember my grandma's perfect table setting, that she had us help her with...and Christmas crackers.  We always had sausage rolls and pineapple juice in little wine glasses.  I love those memories and really want my kids to have similar ones.  Our focus is on family...and Jesus.  I feel so excited about this Christmas and the blessings that are going to come from it.

Anyways here are a few pics from the last month or so around here.

Well September is in full swing and we're getting into a pretty good groove.  Things are super busy but running smoothly so far.  The girls are off to great start and Benjamin has started a home daycare two mornings a week.  The process of finding home daycare was interesting.  Besides being super overprotective of Benjamin I was a little shocked  at some of the daycares.  I thought it would be an easy process, but at one point I was ready to give up.  Luckily we found an amazing girl who Benjamin adores.  The transition was super easy.  He went without tears the first day, I did not, but he was a star.  Everyday he goes he is eager and willing and he has been excellent while there.  Its been a fantastic experience.   We are so thankful for her.

Benjamin also started swimming lessons.  This is the first time on his own, without one of us in the pool with him.  The first class was a train wreck.  I didn't have huge expectations, but he didn't listen and kept wondering off.  The following classes have been better and he's done well...well for a 3 year old. :)

Tomorrow is a big day for Benjamin.  We have an appointment at the Developmental Follow-up clinic.  This is a clinic that follows premature babies.  They've been monitoring Benjamin since discharge.  He'll see a special doctor, nurse, and probably an occupational therapist and maybe a physical therapist.  They'll watch him and assess his development.  We had to fill out of ton of questionnaires for this appointment...they're looking at every aspect of his development.  Fingers crossed, this will be our last visit there.  I'll update after our appointment.

Other then that life is good.  We're chugging along happily just enjoying every day as it comes.

I feel bad for not posting sooner, but as you know summer is so busy. We have been having a fantastic summer.  We've done a lot as a family and I have loved every minute.  The second week in July we went camping with my cousins.  I have a very large family and as cousins we are all still fairly close.  So 10 of us and our families managed to get together with our kids and spend a few days camping.  This is the 3rd year in a row we have done it and its becoming a favorite summer activity.   We also spent a couple days in Toronto.  We went to the zoo and spent the night in a hotel and then spent the second day at the science centre.  That was a blast.  All the kids loved every minute of the science centre.  So much to do for all of them.  We've also done a few day trips to some local attractions which is fun.    We still have one more week of camping planned.  Its amazing how fast time flies.  

Benjamin has been great.  Growing by leaps and bounds.   He hasn't seen many doctors lately.  We saw the asthma doctor in June and he thinks that Benjamin has "viral" asthma that is brought on by colds.  He figured he would outgrow it and we didn't need to see him again unless we have major issues over the winter.  He also saw his eye doctor, but nothing has changed with his eyes which is a good thing as well.  Now we're just waiting for the appointment for his last developmental follow-up clinic with the NICU.  I assume we'll be done with them in September as well.  We'll see.

We started the hunt for home daycare for Benjamin over the summer as well.  I have been working a lot more and I think socially it would be good for him as well.  It has been an interesting process, but we think we found a perfect place for him.  He starts the second week of September, just 2 mornings a week.  I am anxious about the adjustment, but he already seems excited just from meeting her and her kids once.

I think that covers it all.   Life is fantastic and I have trying to just soak up and enjoy every minute with all of my babes.  I feel so richly blessed.