Being Canadian

I got this in an email from a friend this morning and it make me alugh because of how true it was (except for the fact that I don’t know how to use jumper cables).

Forget Rednecks, Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say
about Canucks.


If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May,
You may live in Canada .

If someone in a Home Depot store Offers you assistance and they don't work there,
You may live in Canada .

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You may live in Canada .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation With someone who dialed a wrong number,
You may live in Canada .

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere South of Detroit for the weekend,
You may live in Canada .

If you measure distance in hours,
You may live in Canada .

If you know several people Who have hit a deer more than once,
You may live in Canada .

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' In the same day and back again,
You may live in Canada .

If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You may live in Canada .

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked,
You may live in Canada .

If you carry jumpers in your car And your wife knows how to use them,
You may live in Canada .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume To fit over a snowsuit,
You may live in Canada .

If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km --You're going 90 and everybody is passing you,
You may live in Canada .

If driving is better in the winter
Because the potholes are filled with snow,
You may live in Canada .

If you know all 4 seasons:
Almost winter, winter, still winter, And road construction,
You may live in Canada .

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car,
You may live in Canada .

If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly',
You may live in Canada .

And along a similar theme… we live on a cul de sac. This is the pile of dirty snow at the end of our street that is dumped there by the snow plow because there is no where else on the side of the street to put it…



All the kids on our street like to play in it…. (note Sebastian sliding down… it makes a good slide)


This is Sebastian making it to the top


He almost gave me a heart attack yesterday walking along the top like this…






I didn’t notice until I uploaded my pics but check out Jacob, the “kamikaze kid” jumping off the back of the snow pile….

bragging

I just took Kenzie's folder out of her backpack and saw that she had math homework. So I read the question to her. It was....

"What's the number: You say the number when you count by 2s. You say the number when you count by 5s. You say the number when you count by 10s. The number is greater than 20 and less than 40. What is the number?"

She is supposed to use numbers and pictures to figure it out. I turned my head and was about to suggest some ways she could figure it out and she said "30". so very matter-o-fact'ly.

She is a smartie-pants.

Kenzie's labels

CJs leg

on this day three years ago

Every once in a while I like to look back at my blog posts from a while back and remember what life was like. Today I randomly chose to look at January/February 2006. At that time we were living in Seattle, the kids were 1 and 3, CJ was a stay-at-home Dad, I was working at IBI and we were socializing and partying a lot. I miss that time. I know it's like looking through rose-coloured glasses, but all I remember were the great times. Get togethers with our friends, play dates, fun things to do in Seattle, happy hour with the ladies etc. Here are a few photos from back then. I can't believe how little the kids were.... CJ ... if you are reading this... we NEED to buy some plane tickets and go back to seattle for a visit.

CJ and Kenzie at Andrea and chris's wedding


One of my all time favs of CJ the stay-at-home dad


poor little Seb (it's a good pic of me though and that's what's important right) :)


Kenzie and her friend Katrina


so so cute






Friends (Bila and Dawn)


CJ running around Greenlake


Look how little she was....


The ladies. I miss them.


Christmas Eve with the Wheelers


Kenzie caught in the act!


The Boo



This pic is when they were even younger (maybe 2-1/2 and 6 months?)

Kenzie's 6th Birthday Party

Kenzie had her birthday party yesterday. I think it went great. She invited 15 of her closest friends (and her brother) to join her at Griffin Gymnastics for her birthday party. The best part was that CJ got on an earlier flight so when we got to Griffin, he was waiting there in the parking lot. Kenzie had fallen asleep on the way there, so she woke up when CJ opened the car door. She opened her eyes and saw Daddy and she was so happy.

The party went great. The coaches at Griffin took all the kids through an hour of gymnastics. Kenzie got to be first all the time, which I think she loved. After that it was upstairs for everyone where we had pizza (thank goodness it arrived on time)and cake and Kenzie opened her presents. She got so many great presents and yesterday evening and all morning today has been spent playing with her new crafts and toys.

When I asked her last night what teh best part of her party was, she said it was "seeing Daddy". Sometime I worry that she'll get spoiled with all the presents and stuff that she gets... but her comment made me realize that she still has her priorities straight. It made me proud.

getting ready to start












cake time


presents


My friends Gay and Helen


at home coloring the messenger bag. This is an awesome gift. We all helped out and it was super fun. Kenzie was happy to have Daddy home.

Its snowing again

I can't wait for spring.

on my mind

1. I'm proud of Seb for doing so well at the dentist (6 months ago he wouldn't open his mouth - today he got his teeth cleaned and polished with no fuss).
2. I'm surprised that Kenzie was told to brush her teeth more but Seb got kudos for having such clean teeth.
3. I'm sad that Kenzie is feeling coldy on the day of her birthday party.
4. I can't wait to see CJ - He's been away on business since Tuesday and I miss him.
5. I should have gotten webkinz for the loot bags instead of those mini barbie toys (the older kids are probably too old for what I got).
6. I should turn the fireplace off cause it's really warm - but its so cosy.
7. Should I be honest with Omi when she asks if the kids liked the soup she made?
8. I am so glad that Tyrone is presenting at the public meetings this week and that I don't have to.
9. Koda (the dog) is a PITA. She keeps stealing food from the counter.
10. I had fun at Angela's house yesterday.

weekend recap

So this weekend was a really fun weekend. On Saturday morning CJ decided to make a big breakfast with pancakes, egg scramble toast etc. We were talking about how the egg scramble reminded us for “the good old days’ in Seattle when we’d go out for brunch after a late night of partying and drinking and have a greasy breakfast and a couple ceasars to help with the hang over. So we decided to have a couple ceasars with breakfast to get us going. They were spicy and yummy.

Next we headed outside for some tobogganing. We have so much snow now that the ploughs don’t know where to put it anymore. It was a perfect morning for tobogganing…

Here are the kids (and Koda) about to head to the park.


Preparing for the first run.


And they’re off……


We let Koda off her leash but she decided to take off for the lake so after that she was tied to the post….


Another action shot


And here comes CJ doing his sled boarding…. (notice he’s about to take out Sebastian). CJ actually sacrificed himself and threw himself to the ground so as to avoid hitting our son. Poor CJ… I think he forgot that he had hernia surgery less than 4 weeks ago.



In any case, we all survived. After we got home and warmed up, Kenzie and I headed to the salon. We both got our hair and nails done… and she….. GOT HERE EARS PIERCED!!!

This picture was taken the next day.


She was very brave and didn’t even cry. But she did go a bit pale after they were pierced. By the time we were back in the car she was all better and was happy about her new “look”.

We got home and picked up CJ and Seb who had spent the afternoon shopping for a birthday present for Isaac and blowing up balloons. We headed over to Andrea’s for a small party for Isaac. Here are some pics…

Kenzie and the birthday boy.


I think this is a cute picture


And the cousins


At about 6:30 CJ and I left and bode farewell to our kiddos until Sunday morning (mum took them back to Oakville for the night). CJ and I then met up with Helen, Dave, Vikki, Greg, Jacque and Graham and we had a WONDERFUL dinner and a fun night. About 3 hours later we said goodbye and headed home. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Yesterday (Sunday) morning we woke up peacefully and lazed around drinking coffee and watching Lost Season 4 episodes. The new season is starting in a few days so CJ and I need to get caught up. I could have watched that show all day, but alas, we had to go to Oakville to pick up the kids. We got to Oakville in the early afternoon and spent the day playing Wii and hanging out at mum.s Then we sat down for dinner and mum had cooked the most amazing Indian dinner with a ton of super flavorful and spicy dishes (the kids got pea soup instead – which they love) . It was so yummy. My mouth is still watering thinking about it.

In any case, we are back at work/school now and another week has begun. CJ is actually going away on business tomorrow and will be gone until Saturday night. I miss him already and can’t wait for him to come home. Kenzie is having her birthday party on Saturday so I have a bunch of things to get done this week in order to prepare (loot bags, order cake, get decorations etc).

So that was our weekend recap… notice how I never recap the weekdays…ha!