Blake loves to play Rock Band with us, although we usually don't connect him to the Wii, so he can play along, but we don't have to worry about the band getting booed off the stage for missing too many notes. Literally.
Tonight we put him on the microphone so he could sing, and we hooked him into the system. He's actually not bad with repeating lyrics, so we picked out Watcha Watcha Watcha Want by the Beastie Boys. Cue the music.
Picture this 3 foot tall rocker in our basement. He was shakin' his bootie to the beat, and singing into the microphone like he was born to rock. The kid ended up with a 96%! He beat my score on the drums...by a lot.
First our basement, next a world tour.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Construction zone
This was actually yesterday, when Brian and his guys framed and mudded the fireplace for us. We've ordered the tiles, the marble for the hearth, and Rick finished the painting today. So, in two weeks we should have a finished fireplace! To see more pictures, just head on over to flickr.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Warm and toasty
Today was the big day. We finally got our new fireplace installed in the basement. They arrived this morning at 10:00, and after lots of sawing, drilling, and pounding, but absolutely no mess (yes, the basement is actually cleaner than before they got here), we officially have a gas fireplace.
The two guys who installed it were great, even when Blake came home and decided to talk their ears off. They even cleaned the glass on our other two fireplaces! They also installed what was possibly even more important...a remote control to our fireplace in the bedroom. No more arguing about who has to get out of bed to flip the switch.
I sat downstairs this evening in the dark watching the flames. We got this cool black, porcelain back to the fireplace which reflects the flames, so the effect is like watching a fire outside at night. It was very relaxing, and I was toasty warm. No slippers required. Heck, no socks required!
Next stage...framing and tiling.
The two guys who installed it were great, even when Blake came home and decided to talk their ears off. They even cleaned the glass on our other two fireplaces! They also installed what was possibly even more important...a remote control to our fireplace in the bedroom. No more arguing about who has to get out of bed to flip the switch.
I sat downstairs this evening in the dark watching the flames. We got this cool black, porcelain back to the fireplace which reflects the flames, so the effect is like watching a fire outside at night. It was very relaxing, and I was toasty warm. No slippers required. Heck, no socks required!
Next stage...framing and tiling.
Monday, January 25, 2010
An update...turned out better than I thought
Just an update on my brush with Blake's head on Friday. Despite my worst fears, and throbbing face/nose on Friday night as I was laying in bed trying to sleep, I did not turn into a raccoon overnight, or swell up like a balloon. Just sore on Saturday (the kind where you're constantly wary of anyone getting too close to your injury). By today, I can still feel it, but nothing bad at all.
Blake spent the weekend telling people I "hurt his head", and that he "went to the bathroom" (to hide). I don't think he's too traumatized though. He was trying to jump off the coffee table onto the couch yesterday afternoon. He sometimes rationalizes this behaviour by telling me "I'm not jumping mommy, I'm flying." At least he's cute when he's driving me crazy.
Friday, January 22, 2010
That hockey player look...
Blake and Faith have taken to playing in a "boat" in our living room. The boat is our two big easy chairs pushed together, with seat cushions optional. Today, Blake decided to push the chairs slightly apart, and make a bridge from one of the chairs to the other with a seat cushion. As I bent over to grab the cushion and push the chairs back together "for safety", he jumped in an attempt to cross the bridge, and propelled his hard little head into my nose.
I know that they recently released a study saying that swearing helps with pain, but when your three-year-old is standing there, dropping the f-bomb a few times just doesn't seem appropriate. Instead I sat down, quickly, and contemplated the crunching sound I'd just heard the cartilage in my nose make. Yes...it did start bleeding. And, yes, I had to sit on the couch with an ice pack for awhile. When Faith asked what was wrong, I told her that I hurt my nose. Blake piped up with, "You hurt my head mommy!" True, although your head didn't start bleeding, so I win the pain game.
Now, I have this kind of dull throb over my whole upper face, so we'll see if I look like a swollen raccoon tomorrow. Joy.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Grossest photo of the day so far
My dad had surgery on his elbow to fix what 50 years of working on the farm will do your joints. They also did something with a nerve -- moved it from the bottom of the arm to the top -- to restore feeling to his fingers. Who knew these things were even possible?
The surgery went well, and he came up for Blake's birthday on the weekend. He showed off his "boo boo" to us. This is 10 days or so post-surgery, so it's still a bit swollen and the stitches are a bit Frankenstein-like, but definitely a very interesting picture. He had the stitches out the next day.
The surgery went well, and he came up for Blake's birthday on the weekend. He showed off his "boo boo" to us. This is 10 days or so post-surgery, so it's still a bit swollen and the stitches are a bit Frankenstein-like, but definitely a very interesting picture. He had the stitches out the next day.
Sucking the fun, one rule at a time
I broke down and spent a whole $4 on a crazy carpet for Faith a couple of weeks ago. She takes it to school every day to slide on the small, but surprisingly fun, hill on the playground. She's one of many kids with crazy carpets and sled saucers flying down the hill for the two recesses they get each day.
Today, when I picked her up at school she informed me that the hill is now "closed". Why? "Because it's too icy and muddy! Adults suck the fun out of everything!"
Yes, I informed her, that's our job. To suck the fun out of every kid's life, one rule at a time.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Happy 3rd Birthday!
The little dude isn't so little anymore. He turns three today!
He crawled into bed with us about 6:30 this morning and snuggled under my chin, and all I could think was, "Enjoy it now. It's going to end way to soon." Sigh.
He crawled into bed with us about 6:30 this morning and snuggled under my chin, and all I could think was, "Enjoy it now. It's going to end way to soon." Sigh.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Does this say mischief?
I can generally tell that Blake needs a haircut when his hair stands up about two inches off his head after he takes off his hat. I love his curls, so I put off the cut for as long as possible. Then, when he starts looking like we raise him in the wilderness, I call up the hairdresser (a lovely girl named Rachel), and get all the curls shorn. Sigh.
January 13, 2010
Did I mention that I love Faith's eyes? I made her suffer slightly for this shot...she's standing in the curtains by her window trying not to be blinded by the bright sunlight.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Brrrrrrr
Faith had a make-up lesson on Saturday morning at her riding stable. It was about minus 18 with the windchill that morning, so we all bundled up in a couple of layers of clothes, and I broke out the long johns.
Of course, as soon as we got to the stable, Blake decided he had to go pee. I'm living in a Robert Munsch story. As there's only a plastic portapotty at the stable, and it was minus 18, I tried to encourage him to wait, but to no avail.
So, we braved the ugly green beast. Did you know how many things there are to TOUCH in a portapotty? Things that a three-year-old wants to touch? Gross. I spent the time alternately peeling off layers of his clothes, and yelling, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Unzip the coat. Those "pretty rocks" in the urinal? DON'T TOUCH THAT!...and so on.
Anyway, we got down to brass tacks and what happens? "I don't have to pee Mommy." Gah! I believe he felt the cold and decided his manhood was better bundled up. If only he could have decided that four articles of clothing ago.
After this, we watched Faith trot around the ring on Texas, a little pony that's normally slow, but decided to speed up to do a turbo trot to keep warm. Faith stayed on, bareback, though.
Luckily it was a short lesson, so my toes were only partially frozen by the time it was done. Faith's feet, on the other hand, were toasty. Considering how much I just spent on new paddock boots, halfchaps, and thick socks, they'd better be.
I've had a taste of what hockey mom's go through and that was quite enough. Go away winter weather!
Of course, as soon as we got to the stable, Blake decided he had to go pee. I'm living in a Robert Munsch story. As there's only a plastic portapotty at the stable, and it was minus 18, I tried to encourage him to wait, but to no avail.
So, we braved the ugly green beast. Did you know how many things there are to TOUCH in a portapotty? Things that a three-year-old wants to touch? Gross. I spent the time alternately peeling off layers of his clothes, and yelling, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Unzip the coat. Those "pretty rocks" in the urinal? DON'T TOUCH THAT!...and so on.
Anyway, we got down to brass tacks and what happens? "I don't have to pee Mommy." Gah! I believe he felt the cold and decided his manhood was better bundled up. If only he could have decided that four articles of clothing ago.
After this, we watched Faith trot around the ring on Texas, a little pony that's normally slow, but decided to speed up to do a turbo trot to keep warm. Faith stayed on, bareback, though.
Luckily it was a short lesson, so my toes were only partially frozen by the time it was done. Faith's feet, on the other hand, were toasty. Considering how much I just spent on new paddock boots, halfchaps, and thick socks, they'd better be.
I've had a taste of what hockey mom's go through and that was quite enough. Go away winter weather!
After movie entertainment
Karen and I went to see our first movie of 2010 (and possibly the first movie of 2009 too...I can't remember anymore) on Friday night. Sherlock Holmes. A rollicking movie, with lots of grimy London to enjoy as a backdrop. And, of course, the possibility of Sherlock Holmes 2 in the wings.
After the movie, we headed over to Chapters, where Karen bought a book about learning, and I got a kick out of the strange titles that Chapters carries, My personal favorites were "Parrot Training" and the one pictured.
After the movie, we headed over to Chapters, where Karen bought a book about learning, and I got a kick out of the strange titles that Chapters carries, My personal favorites were "Parrot Training" and the one pictured.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
I am in hell
I just had to explain sexting to my 8-year-old. Curses on friends with older siblings! Although, I was impressed that George had the forethought to mention that sexting involves sending pictures of yourself, not just text messages. (He said that he read an article about it....hmmmm. This from a guy who IMed for the first time on December 24th, 2009!)
This was followed by a conversation with Blake. He likes to say, "I have a peeeenis." Then he added, "Girls have a bum." To improve his anatomy, I replied, "No, girls have a vagina." His response? A little grin, and a "he-he-he" laugh. Good lord...he's going to be the guy we warn our daughters about. (Reference: See the first paragraph.)
This was followed by a conversation with Blake. He likes to say, "I have a peeeenis." Then he added, "Girls have a bum." To improve his anatomy, I replied, "No, girls have a vagina." His response? A little grin, and a "he-he-he" laugh. Good lord...he's going to be the guy we warn our daughters about. (Reference: See the first paragraph.)
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Mystery solved!
Thanks to Gran Torino and Clint Eastwood, I had a mystery solved for me tonight. A while ago I took a photo of this person dressed in an amazing costume for what she told me was "Moan" New Year. Turns out that this is spelled Hmong! Clint Eastwood's character in Gran Torino has neighbours who are Hmong, spelled out for me in the movie description, but pronounced Moan by a character. So the costume was for Hmong New Year!
The Hmong have a very interesting history. To read about them, you can go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people
The Hmong have a very interesting history. To read about them, you can go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hmong_people
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