Parade!

The Big Man himself!

A Warm Spot to Watch the Show

Big Bear

Eating a candy cane.

Bundled up for the cold.

The parade was well appreciated by Finn. Highlights for Finn were the candy canes and suckers that were being handed out. Alex and I liked the nerds in Star Wars costumes and seeing our neighbour Dave driving the truck pulling Santa himself. Paul decided it was too darn cold to come out of the stroller and took a nap instead.

Memory of my Dad: Dad and mom took us to the Stoney Creek Santa Claus parade every year. We used to get hot chocolate and Grandma and Grandpa Smith's place afterwards (since they lived on the parade route). I used to dread the shriners and their genie with his huge scimitar. He used to scare the kids by scraping it on the road just in front of our feet. Of course, my Dad used to enjoy watching us get all scared. I guess he figured it built character.

Stuck to the Ceiling

Finn frequently grabs me by the hand and says "Come play Mommy". Then she leads me to her dollhouse. She picks which doll I get to play with (usually the Daddy doll). We then proceed to re-enact this scenario. Finn will hold her doll's head up against the ceiling in the bathroom of the dollhouse. She will then say "Help, help!!!". Then my doll with save her doll by pulling her down from the ceiling. Oftentimes we will then switch rolls and Finn's doll will save my doll from the ceiling. Finn created this game all by herself... I just follow her lead.

Soooo... this begs the question... what is with the ceiling in the bathroom??? Does Finn have some weird bathroom phobia? (This might account for our toilet training woes!) Could she actually be afraid that she will be sucked up to the ceiling? My guess is that Finn isn't totally convinced about this whole gravity thing yet. I think to Finn, falling up is just as likely a fate as falling down. What a strange and scary world it must be for a two year old... since ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Paul: He is holding objects better everyday. He also loves TV and will stretch into a really awkward position to try to see what is on. He is still the happiest little guy... he truly almost never cries. When I come into his room in the morning... he is usually awake, looking at his hands or the blanket. He just gives me a big happy smile when he sees me. The funny thing though... when he does cry, he crys like his heart is broken and it hard to calm him down. At his age, Finn cried at the drop of a hat (or whenever I dared to set her down)... but it was more of a demanding cry... not gut-wrenching sobs.

Memory of my Dad: He'd play the classic dad-game. He'd pretend not to be looking while standing on the dock at the cottage. We'd then sneak up and push him into the lake. Always good for a big laugh from the little guys. I play a million versions of this game with Finn. I try to grab a toy from her... but then let her win our little tug of war. Sometimes I pretend to forget where we are going... and ask her to show me the way. I think its fun for her to feel like she is faster, stronger or smarter than Mommy!!!

Flu Shots and Other Thoughts

Yesterday was our family outing to Ridgemont High for our annual flu shot. Before we went, I called Ottawa Public Health to find out a little more about the flu shot. As I suspected, the shot contains the preservative thermosil, otherwise known as mercury. There is quite a bit of debate out there about the safety of thermosil.

The public health nurse advised me that "there is only a very small amount of mercury in the injection". And that I'd have to weigh the risks of the mercury to the benefits of the flu shot.

Well, if someone offered me the choice between a really healthy and delicious bowl of vegetable soup or a Big Mac... but then advised me "there is just a little bit of arsenic in the soup". Well, guess what, I'd pick the Big Mac for my lunch.

All that being said, Alex, Finn and I all got the flu shot yesterday. We can't risk getting the flu and bringing it home to Paul... who is still too young to get the shot. As the parent of a baby... I really hope EVERYONE gets the flu shot. Even if you hate flu shots... this year tell yourself that you are DOING IT FOR PAUL!!!

Finn yowled when the shot went in... but recovered VERY quickly when I produced a lollipop. Some kids at the clinic were positively FREAKING OUT. If anyone has a good trick to prevent kids from developing a phobia of injections... let me know.

Paul: Has spent all day thinking about ways to solve our global financial crisis. What a good little boy!!!

My Dad: I asked myself after my last post whether my Dad would have like Grapples. At first, I thought... yeah. He loved grape stuff. Especially grape pop. Every once in a while I'd find cans of grape pop in the fridge at my parents place. But then I thought... no. If my dad wanted an apple... he would have just wanted an apple. Not an apple disgraced by grape flavour.

I remember when milk had that contest where the carton would moo if you won a prize. My Dad asked Jarrett and I - "so what happens... the carton moos and I win a prize?" Jarrett said - "Yup". My Dad then replied "Well I'd be pretty pissed off if I was all ready to enjoy a nice refreshing carton of milk and suddenly it mooed and I was stuck with a damn t-shirt and no milk". Good point Dad!!

Grapple With This!

I tried a new product called Grapples last night. They are regular apples, infused with grape flavour. No added sugar or calories. Just added grapeyness. I first saw the product on a TV show called "Unwrapped" on the Food Network. When I saw them in the store I decided to try them. Alex, Finn and I all agreed that the apples are quite tasty.

The problem is that they come packaged in more plastic than an electric razor. What is the point of a nice natural grapey apple, if it is surrounded by plastic that will never leave the environment. So... I sent an email to Grapple. I said " I like your grapey apples... but I won't buy them again unless I can buy them without all that plastic"... or something like that. I got a reply almost immediately. Apparently, Grapple agrees that the apples come with too much plastic and are considering alternatives.

I also took the time to fill in their customer survey. They asked what other flavours they should consider for Grapples. I think they should try Cranberry. (But I suppose then they'd have to call them Crapples.)

Anyhow... give Grapples a try if you see em.

BTW: It isn't lost on me that today is Remembrance Day. I'm grateful that there are people in this world who will put their own life on the line for the sake of improving the lives of others. I'm also hopeful that my kids will never have to.

Quad Queens and Other Stories

It all started with Quad Queens. I was playing Texas Hold-Em with friends. The game came down to me and my friend Holly. We were heads up... and I was holding a pair of queens. Two queens came on the flop. I made my first ever four of a kind and I won the game.

My luck has gone downhill since then. Last night, Alex picked up Finn to take her to bed. He was holding her in his arms when she basically lost her entire dinner. Yup... the old up-chuck so to speak. Alex ended up with spaghetti and pears all over his beloved Steelers jersey.

While Alex took Finn upstairs for a bath, I collected their soiled clothes and promptly put them in the wash. Except... I forgot to check Alex's pockets. So I washed his jeans and his fancy cell phone too. Ugggghhhh!!!!

I hope that is it for the curse of the quad queens.

Memories of Dad: Here is a bad luck memory of my Dad. I remember once when he stepped on a pin and it went right through his toe. I was still a pretty little kid. So he acted like it was no big deal and pulled the pin right out of his toe. Ouch

Paul and Finn: Paul has started to use his exercauser. He loves grabbing at all the toys.

Yes They Did

The election of Barack Obama as president is an inspiring reminder to us all that we can achieve anything we want and that the future is filled with promise. I wish my Dad could have seen it. I think he'd have been pleased.

Why I Love Halloween

I love Halloween because it is one of the last holidays not to be totally vanilla-ized. It's dark, it's edgy, it's pagan. It encourages kids to eat mounds of usually forbidden candy. There is always the threat of an egging incident or a smashed pumpkin.

Mind you - its not how it was when I was a kid. First, we used to shout "Anything for Halloween!" at the door... not the politer "Trick or Treat?". Although, I love that "Trick or Treat" implies retribution to be administered if you fail to deliver candy. Also, the night before Halloween was traditionally Devil's Night. When I was a kid you could count on eggs thrown at the school and soaped windows everywhere. You brought your pumpkin inside on Devil's Night... or kissed it goodbye. There is no Devil's Night here in Ottawa. Maybe teenagers would stay out of trouble... if we let them loose to be BAD one night a year? Maybe not.

Finn: Was a duck this year. She trick or treated with her friend G.D. The girls were invited into the first house they visited. After that... they thought they were supposed to enter every house, search for the candy bowl and help themselves. In between houses they gorged themselves on potato chips while riding in the wagon. Finn's favourite part was answering the door for the trick or treaters... she was bouncing with excitement.

Paul: Was a cute little puppy dog. I wore him in the baby carrier and he fell asleep. Very sweet.

My Dad: I remember that we always had TV dinners before we went out trick or treating. It was a big treat. When we were little my Dad took us out. I remember him wearing one of those ugly rubber masks. It was the 70's, he probably did not need much of a costume. When I was one... my parents dressed me like Aunt Jemima. Those crazy kids!!! I couldn't find the Aunt Jemima photo... but I found I fine Halloween photo from my second year.