We decorated outside a few weeks ago, taking advantage of the late indian summer weather. This weekend, we made it official inside and the kids (and a few adults) decorated our tree. As the kids have gotten taller, the decorations have gradually moved up the tree, and spread out a little more. Watching them figure out the best spot for each ornament (including the back of the tree that no one sees) is great entertainment!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Bloooowww!
Turning 60 makes for a lot of candles on the cake. So Dad had to huff and puff to blow them out.
We celebrated his birthday at my house this weekend with brunch, and a coffee cake with candles. All my brothers were able to attend, minus Allyson and Jordyn as they just got home from the hospital, and Blake was trying to cough up a lung all weekend. So they stayed safely at home.
This meant a full house for us (seven extra people on Friday night) but lots of laughs, and of course, storytelling.
For Dad's birthday our present was to make him cry, but in a good way. We all contributed to a scrapbook for him that I put together, with pictures and stories. He made it about 5 pages in and had to the leave the room. He's such a softie! Hopefully he'll be able to make it all the way through the book by the time he turns 65!
We celebrated his birthday at my house this weekend with brunch, and a coffee cake with candles. All my brothers were able to attend, minus Allyson and Jordyn as they just got home from the hospital, and Blake was trying to cough up a lung all weekend. So they stayed safely at home.
This meant a full house for us (seven extra people on Friday night) but lots of laughs, and of course, storytelling.
For Dad's birthday our present was to make him cry, but in a good way. We all contributed to a scrapbook for him that I put together, with pictures and stories. He made it about 5 pages in and had to the leave the room. He's such a softie! Hopefully he'll be able to make it all the way through the book by the time he turns 65!
What happens when my brothers visit
This is what happens on our front porch when Curtis and Ryan get together.
Curtis actually started this "tradition" a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, because of how they were situated in the corner of the porch, it took me a week to notice. The neighbours must have loved it.
Yesterday, after I made them separate the deer for modesty, they decided to hang one of them by the hook at the front of our house, and then stick arrows in its side. They were "this close" to taking down some of the red lights at the front of the house to create a pooling blood effect, but took pity on George, so he wouldn't have to put them back up again.
And, this all happened while everyone was relatively sober!
Curtis actually started this "tradition" a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, because of how they were situated in the corner of the porch, it took me a week to notice. The neighbours must have loved it.
Yesterday, after I made them separate the deer for modesty, they decided to hang one of them by the hook at the front of our house, and then stick arrows in its side. They were "this close" to taking down some of the red lights at the front of the house to create a pooling blood effect, but took pity on George, so he wouldn't have to put them back up again.
And, this all happened while everyone was relatively sober!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Living with a wild animal
Blake likes to roar. Not just little wimpy roars, but huge, loud, menacing, scare small children ROAARRRS. He does this to the cashier at the grocery checkout, to strangers in the street, and to kids on the playground. He even came into our room at 7:00 am when we were staying at my mom's place and "snuck up" to the side of the bed to give us a morning roar. Luckily it was a quiet one.
So, I'm usually the one pushing him along in the grocery cart or holding his hand with this half-embarrassed smile on my face explaining that "he's a dragon today" or "he's a monster today". Once in awhile, he's also a lion.
Here's a video example of his roaring, this time as what I can only assume is a massively large dinosaur. Sorry that it's flipped the wrong direction...I took it on my cameraphone when I just starting messing around with the video, so I hadn't figured out the optimimum direction yet. But, it more than gets the point across.
So, I'm usually the one pushing him along in the grocery cart or holding his hand with this half-embarrassed smile on my face explaining that "he's a dragon today" or "he's a monster today". Once in awhile, he's also a lion.
Here's a video example of his roaring, this time as what I can only assume is a massively large dinosaur. Sorry that it's flipped the wrong direction...I took it on my cameraphone when I just starting messing around with the video, so I hadn't figured out the optimimum direction yet. But, it more than gets the point across.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
My newest niece
We have a new niece in the family! Jordyn Evelyn arrived at a little after 3:00 pm today, weighing 6 lb 12 oz. Congratulations Curt and Allyson! (And I love this picture because my brother's hand looks huuuuge next to Jordyn.)
Santa Parade
We spent Saturday morning at the Santa Claus Parade. Or more accurately, we spent Saturday morning waiting for the Santa Claus parade, and making sure none of the kids ran into the road.
Faith and George were up and out early for the parade because they participate in collecting toys and money for needy kids. This translates to riding in the back of the pick-up truck pulling the float and sorting buckets of loonies and toonies.
The rest of us, including Karen, Cordelia, and William, and Curtis, Allyson and Logan, all picked a decent spot to watch the parade -- not too busy, with lots of room to run. We then spent the next hour watching the kids roll around in the muddy grass like this:
The parade itself was fine for a parade, and we weren't freezing our butts off, which helped immensely. But, an hour to wait for Santa is a loooong time for little kids, and even longer for the adults. There were a few too many clowns for Karen's taste as well...even an entire band!
We did, however, walk home with pockets full of little candy canes, which we put to good use that night in our first Christmas martinis of the season. Cheers!
Faith and George were up and out early for the parade because they participate in collecting toys and money for needy kids. This translates to riding in the back of the pick-up truck pulling the float and sorting buckets of loonies and toonies.
The rest of us, including Karen, Cordelia, and William, and Curtis, Allyson and Logan, all picked a decent spot to watch the parade -- not too busy, with lots of room to run. We then spent the next hour watching the kids roll around in the muddy grass like this:
The parade itself was fine for a parade, and we weren't freezing our butts off, which helped immensely. But, an hour to wait for Santa is a loooong time for little kids, and even longer for the adults. There were a few too many clowns for Karen's taste as well...even an entire band!
We did, however, walk home with pockets full of little candy canes, which we put to good use that night in our first Christmas martinis of the season. Cheers!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Happy 60th Birthday
It was my Dad's 60th birthday yesterday. So, I would have posted this baby picture of him on his actual birthday, but my internet connection died. Bad timing!
Anyway, this is dad when he was 6 months old soaking up some rays on the farm.
Happy Birthday!
Anyway, this is dad when he was 6 months old soaking up some rays on the farm.
Happy Birthday!
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