Kate's Minnie "Nouse" Party

First off, let me say, the party was fun and a big success. Kate wasn't exactly in the best mood but you have to expect that with kids, right? Everything looked beautiful and came together so well. The kids seemed to enjoy everything. I almost had a heart attack a few times cause of the crazy kids with the bounce house slide. But no broken limbs to speak of!! YAY! Kate looked really cute in her outfits...Yes, there were more than one...lol. I truly have a little diva in the making. She loved all her gifts. It was fun to spend a day surrounded by family and friends and such good food... and oh boy did we have a good laugh.

Seriously, I think Erl should become a professional chef. Jackie turned our back yard into a little girl's Minnie Mouse Dream... And next time, I think we'll splurge the extra 1$ per chair for the better ones. ;o) Thank you SO very much to everyone who came together and helped make Kate's birthday party so memorable and beautiful. Life really is good.

Here are a few pics from our little girl's birthday party... She LOVES her Minnie. Teche and the little party guests...Katie and Grandma
For our little wild girl, Kate. Her 1st change of clothes...

Kate's precious Didi. (Kate's 2nd outfit change)

They so loved the projects...my silly little Charlie at the head of the table.

The Luxurious dessert table. They were so cute Creative Minnie centerpieces... Our smiling little angel.

Us with our terrible 2, right before she shoved me away!

Eric & Ella

What a way to finish off a great day, comfy in the arms of your favorite Grandpa!

Party Prep...

We're deep in the throes of party planning around here. I've been gluing Minnie's for weeks it seems like. Birthdays are a big deal around here, I know she's "only 2" but what is worth celebrating if not for the blessing of getting to have had your kids around for another wonderful year?

Ella and Kate both got vaccines a couple of days ago so they haven't been feeling that well but it looks like that's turning around and they are feeling like themselves again. Ella's starting to flip from her stomach to her back! She's getting so big. Last year, on Kate's birthday I found out I was carrying Ella. Now, she's a 4 month old bundle of love who gets to celebrate her big sister turning 2 with us.

Stay tuned for photos of the big day! Prepare for lots of Minnie Mouse!

The Gosselin Girls Meet Martha Stewart

I heard through an email that Martha Stewart was going to be at Sur La Table at the Grove in Los Angeles. I watch her talk show every day and love her other shows like the cooking one called Everyday Food. I'm a total Martha fan. So, Jack and I bought her book and decided to go with Nini. When we got to Sur La Table, the lady who was in charge of the line told us we didn't have to wait because we had a stroller and she was in love with my two little girls. Everyone kept stopping and telling us how cute they were. It always baffles me how people think they are twins! I mean, Kate is 2 and Ella is 4 months for crying out loud! So when we finally got to the table to have her sign our books Martha stops and tells me how cute the girls looked in their little outfits and asked if they liked to dress up. She said she loved their little bows. I was a proud momma right then. We took our books and moved on but Nia Levert had bought a book for me to have signed for Poune since she is a big fan also so I got back in line with Ella. Anyone who knows Ella has seen her poor little infected eye because she has a clogged tear duct that I've been trying to treat since she was born. Well, Martha looked at Ella and made sure to tell me to have her eye looked at and taken care of...lol I thought this was priceless. I hear it every day from Jaclyne and I have to travel to Beverly Hills to hear it from Martha Stewart too...lol. It was a good night with good friends and I'll never forget my experience meeting Martha.

Here is Nini holding the girls while Martha admires them... Kate wasn't loving the attention though. If you look to the right, you will see a camera. That's me. I didn't get to take a pic with Martha, I'm a little sad about that.

This photo was taken by a professional photographer, Frank Anzalone Photography. Martha signing my book.

My autograph. Enjoy, Martha Stewart. Do you think Martha would enjoy the fact that I used a pile of clean, unfolded towels that were on the table to prop up the book in order to take this photo? ...lol.

To Kate on her 2nd Birthday...

~To my baby girl, Kate, on her 2nd birthday.
On February 7th, 2007, I found out news that would change my life forever for the better. I found out I was pregnant with you, my sweet little Katelyn. I didn't know you were a girl, but oh my gosh was I thrilled to hold you in my belly. I loved feeling you grow. I would sit there watching tv or driving and I would just hold my hand over my belly. With every kick and roll and tickle, I grew more and more in love with the little person growing inside. You were a stubborn one even then. Every time your daddy came to feel you kick you would suddenly stop kicking. I knew when I went for my ultrasound to find out if you were going to be a boy or a girl and you wouldn't let us get a peek, that you were going to do things your way. You weren't going to be pressured into doing anything you weren't fully ready for. And that rang true from that moment on... even still now. I expected you to come early because Charlie was born very early. But you weren't ready quite yet. Everyone came to meet you at the hospital when I was in labor and we were all sure you would arrive in no time at all. But nope, you made them all wait overnight. You even passed your due date of Oct. 18th and you finally decided to meet us on Oct. 20th, 2007 at 7:03am. I heard your cry and in that second we were bonded forever. My Kate. With your head of dark hair and your serious, dark blue eyes. Nothing about your birth was ordinary and absolutely nothing about you is ordinary. You are everything I have always longed for in a daughter. Bouncing gorgeous blue eyes, chubby kissable cheeks, soft brown curls, a little wild but cuddly and sweet, oh so funny, sensitive and loving and so, so smart. Not only smart, you are intuitive and curious. I love that about you. You have amazed us so much every single day with the progress you've made in your little life. I can't get over how many people love you so deeply and how many people you love back.
This year you did so many new things that it's hard to keep track:

~You got your ears pieced.
~You cultivated a great relationship with your big brother, Charlie. You two love to play together and make each other laugh and drive me absolutely crazy. You even learned the fine art of wrestling him to the ground and pinning him. Every little sister should learn how to do this to their big brothers. You also spend a great deal of time dancing together until both your stomachs hurt from laughing so hard. Charlie isn't the best dancer but you guys have such a great time. It's blissful to watch it.
~Along with me and your precious Daddy and your "Tattie" You loved your Grandpa Masse to no end. If he was there, you were in his arms. There was no doubt about that. Your grandparents are 2 of your very favorite people in this world.
~You inherited our love of Disneyland.
~You lost a wonderful and sweet Granny. I am so sad, baby Kate, that you will not be able to know your Granny, but I will be sure to tell you all about her and the profound effect she and Grandpa had on my life.
~You gained and immediately loved a new baby sister and best friend for life. You love "Bella" as you call her, like she is your own, as I had hoped you would. I want nothing more than for you girls to form a lifelong bond that nothing can ever break.
~You loved your baby dolls so much. You never were without at least 2 dolls at a time. You're such a little momma.
~You did lots of traveling, which is another love I hope you will inherit from me. You went to San Diego a few times, San Francisco, and even as far as Canada.
~You finally met your paternal grandparents and met your little cousins in Canada.
~You loved watching Barney and singing songs. "I love you", the ABC's, Twinkle Little Star.. among others. You also just started finding your love for dancing. You and Charlie crack me up with your dance routines. At least you have a cute rhythm.
There are a TON more things you learned and did this year but through the happy, nostalgic tears, I am having a hard time remembering them all right now.
And so now, on your 2nd birthday, I want to tell you that I will always be here for you, when you want to read a book or snuggle. Or when you fall and need me to kiss your knee. When you wake up at 3AM crying because you had a bad dream. I will always hold you and keep you close to me. But I will also try to let you go and discover the big world around you, I know you need that. As you experience and live your little life, please always know, I am your BIGGEST fan. I want everything in this world that's good and kind for you. You, my love, are the one that made all my dreams come true. I had my beautiful boy, Charlie and he made me a mom. But you are my daughter. I am the mom of a daughter. I can never thank you enough for that. I am forever grateful. You are so special. Don't you ever forget that. Always and Forever, Mama

Ariel's Grotto

Jackie took us to Ariel's Grotto today to celebrate Kate's birthday today since she has a photo shoot to do on Kate's actual birthday at the Trump Golf Course for a bridal magazine...(Way to go, J, by the way!) It was a great autumn day. A little warmer than I'd have liked but really fun. Kate was so proud to be wearing her new Minnie "Nouse" t-shirt. Kate was so in love with the princesses. She kept giggling to herself and doing little dances of happiness. She was shy at first with the 1st princess they encountered (Ariel). You don't get to see those photos though 'cause dumb me forgot to put my memory card back in my camera after uploading pics and so none of them got recorded... I'm so mad at myself. At least I got photos of the rest of the day. When they sat, we ordered our food and started eating. The food was wonderful. (Yes, I ate...no diets on Kate's birthday lol) When the princesses started making their rounds to all the tables the kids were giddy, to put it lightly. I swear to God, when Cinderella came to our table (she was the first one who came to the table) Charlie had a mouthful of tri-tip that he was chewing on and thoroughly enjoying and when he saw her, he spit out the full chewed-up bite into my hand 'cause he wanted to tell her she was beautiful. Proud mommy moment...lol. Now, Kate blew us away. She giggled and hugged and pointed, oh my gosh I wanted to eat her up. She was so girlie, loving those beautiful princesses. Her favorite was the pink Aurora. She snubbed Snow White for Aurora. After lunch, we spent a day at the beautiful fall-decorated Disneyland. It wasn't so busy and we got in a few good rides. It felt good to spend a day with no worries of anything except ensuring the kids have fun and of course not losing any of them...

SOOO excited to see Aurora.

Pretty Aurora

An excited Charlie

Birthday Brownie

Tanaka Farms

I went to Tanaka Farms with Tante Be and Tante Teche and the kids. Be, Chou & Nikki went too with Tante Richere and Boo Bear. ER and Richere met us there with their kids. It was a fun, relaxing day and Charlie was so excited to bring home his real pumpkin that Teche bought and his decorated spider pumpkin to show his daddy. It always feels good to hang out with the family and feel like you're a kid again. Thanks Tante Be, for inviting me! Love you...

The gang

The little gang...

A family vacation to Canada

Eric has been wanting to take his family back home to meet his parents and siblings and all his Canadian friends for a really long time now. There was never a good or right time to go, so we decided to go when everyone else was going for Bonnehomme's wedding. To say I was very nervous & apprehensive is the understatement of the year. But time after time, things were falling into place so I couldn't NOT go. We got our passports in time, we booked our tickets to go with the generous help of my mom and her airline miles, the kids were healthy and ready to go. So we went. The kids are FANTASTIC flyers. They are really great and easier travelers to my delight. But 10 days. 3 kids. That equals lots of work. Especially with them all getting sick while we were there and then staying at someone else's home. But Nini and Ben were amazing. They loved our kids like their own and they took us in so graciously. They made it very easy for us to feel welcome and at home. I couldn't have asked for a better place to stay. The kids loved them too. It took Kate a little bit to warm up to her, but Nini accepted the challenge...lol. She eventually got her but we all know our little Kate. She always takes time to adjust and she can't be pushed. Charlie and Ella are easy. They love anyone who gives them attention and time. Kate and Charlie were especially in love with Bobby, Nini's youngest boy who is such a sweet boy. He taught Charlie how to play hockey (In the house, no less!) Charlie and Bobby played tricks on Ben and Brendan (The older brothers) Kate didn't really make any new friends aside from Bebe, the family dog, which Charlie so nicely claimed as his own along with Nini and Ben's house. Charlie on the other hand made friends easily. He loved Tristan and Billie. He also loved that they found him a frog. It was actually a toad. Very gross. It rained almost every day while we were there ... but Canada is beautiful. The trees weren't quite turned in color yet but they were starting to and it was breath taking! I made lots of new friends and I have to admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was good for the kids to meet the other side of their family and I hope they can keep up the relationship with them. Eric was proud to show off his kids to the people he knew growing up. (with good reason, they're really something to be proud of, if I do say so myself... ;o) We had lots of fun going to all the parties and I got to go visit Montreal with my mom and her sisters and their hubbies and my grandmere Titite. I had a really good time there. I realized that I miss my aunts who don't live in CA with us. Eric got to reconnect with all his old buddies and really got a vacation cause I didn't bother him too often with the kids. I've had vacations every now and then but this was the one Eric had been dreaming about for a long time so I let him have it...aren't I nice? lol... All in all, it was a fun experience and I'm glad to have been at the wedding and to have seen a little piece of my husband's past and for the kids to meet their family. BUT DAMN I'M GLAD TO BE HOME! Eric with the kids before our flight to Canada.

Suzanne and Grandma Minou with my little Ella Eric and his dad, Claude.
Eric, Claude with the kids. First time meeting their grandfather.

At dinner with Grandpa Claude Our Whole Gosselin side of the Family except for me ( I was taking the photo)

... and le beau pere for obvious reasons.

Eric with his mom and siblings

Charlie and his cousins Alehandro and Diego. He really loved these boys, especially Diego.

In bed Arts & Crafts on a rainy day with Nini

Kate, Charlie, Jesse, Adam and Ava

Ella with her buddy EmerieJack & Charlie playing hockey in Dominic's basementKate, Charlie, Nia, Madison & AbigailOur little family at the wedding
Vieux Montreal, very beautiful Me and some of the gang at Schwartz's Smoked Meat...
The changing colors... Ella asleep on the flight home.Eric and Kate and a bit of Charlie going BACK HOME!! Woo hoo!