For the second year in a row, we made it out to the Santa Claus Parade. This time, we staked out a spot about halfway through the parade route. Last year, we were near the end and it took forever for all the floats to go by.
In retrospect, I think the paradites "save themseleves" for the last few blocks.
The kids did ok - it was about -15 with the windchill.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Sgt York
This would have been way cooler if he wasn't such a studious driver. Last year, a bunch of us from work did some go-karting. It was fun, except for the loaner helmets and realizing aftewards how sweaty you got in them.
A Christmas Classic
Visions of that orange syrup stuff they used to feed us at Chinese school ... are dancing in my head and likely still through certain arteries.
The big guy himself.
Actually anti-climatic. They must have been a bit behind schedule because he was moving pretty fast.
Neither the Mayor nor the Premier were out glad-handing either.
Neither the Mayor nor the Premier were out glad-handing either.
Pooped
The side of the boys crib broke, so the girl let him bunk with her for the night. Yeah - she's still sleeping in the tent.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Stages of development
Every time we take our kids to the doctor, I can't help but reference the developmental chart on the wall and "scoring" the kids, e.g. how many words, what motor co-ordination, what social skills, etc ... (actually, as I type this - I realize I should probably chart myself as well).
One thing about the boy that is specifically different from the girl ... he's physical. He likes to run at you, grab you, pinch your nose and often when you're holding him - he flails his arms around and usually ends up hitting you.
The other night, when I was holding him and he was flailing, I had to tell him, "no". Usually, this causes him to slow down or stop - often followed by a bit of a sulk. This night, he deliberately and distinctly reached around and cuffed me on the back of the head.
I could not have been more proud.
Every time we take our kids to the doctor, I can't help but reference the developmental chart on the wall and "scoring" the kids, e.g. how many words, what motor co-ordination, what social skills, etc ... (actually, as I type this - I realize I should probably chart myself as well).
One thing about the boy that is specifically different from the girl ... he's physical. He likes to run at you, grab you, pinch your nose and often when you're holding him - he flails his arms around and usually ends up hitting you.
The other night, when I was holding him and he was flailing, I had to tell him, "no". Usually, this causes him to slow down or stop - often followed by a bit of a sulk. This night, he deliberately and distinctly reached around and cuffed me on the back of the head.
I could not have been more proud.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Things to expect ...
This pic is a few days old, but I'm just using it as a placeholder. What I really want to say is ...
The boy has been soaking up new words for a few weeks now - so he's getting comfortable repeating words in the right context. This means that for the past few days, and probably for a few weeks more, if the girl was any indicator, I can look forward to being greeted when I come home by the boy stomping to the door from where ever he is - yelling "Da-da. Da-da. Da-da. Da-da.".
I love this part!
The boy has been soaking up new words for a few weeks now - so he's getting comfortable repeating words in the right context. This means that for the past few days, and probably for a few weeks more, if the girl was any indicator, I can look forward to being greeted when I come home by the boy stomping to the door from where ever he is - yelling "Da-da. Da-da. Da-da. Da-da.".
I love this part!
Friday, November 11, 2005
More good news / bad news
For a few days, I was able to say that I had started Christmas shopping. This thing (that the girl is riding) was an impulse buy when I saw it in a toy-store during a lunch break. It's powered by momentum that is initiated by turning the steering wheel, so you just need to keep turning to keep moving. Easy to use and steer. Very cool.
Except ... we had a few really nice days, so I brought it out for the kids to play with. So now my christmas stock is back down to zero.
BTW - just set up my PVR - using the Diamond XtremeTV USB external tuner. The hardware works well enough, but the really great thing is that it's bundled with SnapStream Beyond TV and Beyond Media software. Pretty much turns my desktop into a Media Center. Now I just need more drive space. 43 more shopping days.
Except ... we had a few really nice days, so I brought it out for the kids to play with. So now my christmas stock is back down to zero.
BTW - just set up my PVR - using the Diamond XtremeTV USB external tuner. The hardware works well enough, but the really great thing is that it's bundled with SnapStream Beyond TV and Beyond Media software. Pretty much turns my desktop into a Media Center. Now I just need more drive space. 43 more shopping days.
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Cross-border shopping
Brought back a bunch of trinkets like this when I was in Florida in October. This "superball" has a light in it that flashes for a while after it's been bounced. Batteries cannot be replaced. The "superball" is in quotes because it actually doesn't bounce that high for it's size.
Four bucks.
Four bucks.
Some of the boy's favourite things #1
From this photo:
He likes to click lamps off/on. I think it's more the off/on part and not so much the clicking, because he likes grandma/grandpa's touch lamp.
He likes to stack coasters on the floor.
He likes to flip the vacuflow-cover. I caught him trying to stuff something down the vacuflow the other day, but it's only happened once, as far as I know, so I don't think that constitutes a "favourite".
Also present, although not necessarily visible - he likes to NOT tell us when his pants are full.
He likes to click lamps off/on. I think it's more the off/on part and not so much the clicking, because he likes grandma/grandpa's touch lamp.
He likes to stack coasters on the floor.
He likes to flip the vacuflow-cover. I caught him trying to stuff something down the vacuflow the other day, but it's only happened once, as far as I know, so I don't think that constitutes a "favourite".
Also present, although not necessarily visible - he likes to NOT tell us when his pants are full.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Woodshop
This is the swing that Grandpa made for us. We like to sit out there just lounging around, until the girl demands we go "supersonic".
We've also got a rocking horse (a unique piece, b/c Grandpa swore he's never doing another one of those again), matching animal-shaped clothes stands for the kids, several toy cars and trucks, and most recently, a glider for the front porch.
Hmmm, just typing all that - maybe we should up our insurance. It's front of mind, just because it's that time of year when everyone who gets a cent of our financial services bid-nezz starts calling around this time, in advance of trying to coax more fund/investment business from us in a few months. They mistake me for someone with disposable income. Ha! Disposable diapers maybe.
We've also got a rocking horse (a unique piece, b/c Grandpa swore he's never doing another one of those again), matching animal-shaped clothes stands for the kids, several toy cars and trucks, and most recently, a glider for the front porch.
Hmmm, just typing all that - maybe we should up our insurance. It's front of mind, just because it's that time of year when everyone who gets a cent of our financial services bid-nezz starts calling around this time, in advance of trying to coax more fund/investment business from us in a few months. They mistake me for someone with disposable income. Ha! Disposable diapers maybe.
Day after ....
It's becoming a ritual - the day after Halloween - the girl gets a bunch of costumes from sale bins. This is Belle. She got several other Princesses, none of which I can distinguish from each other, save the singularity of colour. Kinda like a visual cacophny of bride's maids dresses.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Kinda like Cher ...
Each day, the girl goes through an average of 3 wardrobe changes, usually including - what we make her wear; a dress she puts on as soon as she gets home; and usually one of her umpteen dozen princess dresses.
She calls this style - Amish-Pippi.
She calls this style - Amish-Pippi.
Baker
Jess made this snow man cookie to take to grandma's. Not to share, just to show. She pretty much at it all herself.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Kids these days ...
(The scene) - Halloween night. I've got distribution duty.
*Ding-Dong*
"Hey, it's the Dark Knight. Happy Halloween," I say.
"I'm not a dark knight. I'm Batman," says the kid brought up on Blues Clues and Caillou.
I huck the minimum allotment of sugar at the boy - barely fighting the urge to confiscate rather than bestow. But I have taken a vow; uttered the oath ...
*Ding-Dong*
"Hey, it's the Dark Knight. Happy Halloween," I say.
"I'm not a dark knight. I'm Batman," says the kid brought up on Blues Clues and Caillou.
I huck the minimum allotment of sugar at the boy - barely fighting the urge to confiscate rather than bestow. But I have taken a vow; uttered the oath ...
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Half full / Half empty
We had a really great week of weather. I even put my clubs back into my car just in case. But it was a full work week!
We just threw up some Halloween decorations under the wire. It's supposed to be a nice Halloween day, so we should get lots of kids coming by. We'll see how long the boy holds out this year. As you can see, he's working on his bite. (That one hurt - about as painful you can get without actually breaking skin.)
We just threw up some Halloween decorations under the wire. It's supposed to be a nice Halloween day, so we should get lots of kids coming by. We'll see how long the boy holds out this year. As you can see, he's working on his bite. (That one hurt - about as painful you can get without actually breaking skin.)
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