Happy Halloween!

It has been a full weekend of Halloween fun. Friday we went to the Fall Fun Fest at school. Lots of games, a crawling maze, a cake walk, and lots of Matthew's kindergarten friends. Saturday we carved pumpkins and practiced wearing our costumes. Finally Sunday - TRICK-OR-TREATING! The rain held long enough for my monsters to run around our neighbourhood until they were too tired to keep going (about 7:45pm). Matthew dressed as Sully from Monsters Inc. and Michael was Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc. Such adorable monsters!

Birds of Prey

It has been a LONG time since I posted. Since my last post Matthew has started kindergarten, I have a new teaching position and Michael turned 2! Matthew's new kindergarten teacher is amazing! I am lucky enough to volunterr in the class most Tuesdays. They have been studying crows and birds of prey. They even had a Harris Hawk and a North American Kestrel come visit their class.

Matthew was a little scared to stand so close to the screeching birds.

Go CANADA!

Today was a day full of Olympic sights. Just shortly after breakfast we saw the torch run past our house.

Then I took Matthew to school with me. Our whole school walked to Burnaby Village Museum to see the torch pass through there.

Finally we had Dale Walters (Bronze medal winner - Boxing Bantam weight in the 80's and dad of one of the Gilpin students) and Shawn O'Sullivan (Gold Medal winner for boxing in the 80's) visit our school.

Matthew and I even had a chance to hold a torch that was part of the relay on Wed. Feb 10th.

Michael also got to hold a torch (they were handing them out in the morning when we saw the torch in the dark.) Every time he holds it up high he cheers like he heard everyone cheer this morning. Too cute.

I can't wait to see the Opening Ceremonies now. One more day!

Using the Potty!

Well, we have had a busy holiday season and it doesn't seem to be slowing down. But in the midst of all the bustle Michael has decided to potty train. Out of the blue he pulled me into the bathroom, said "Pee." Then when I out him on the toilet he actually peed and poohed! Yeah, Michael! Since that first occassion he has asked 2 more times with results both times. Could we be diaper free before two?

Santa's haircut

This whole Santa business can get tricky - and Matthew is only 4! We were sitting admiring our new Santa photo when Matthew asks me why Santa's beard was so short this year and more grey than silver. I claimed that I didn't notice any difference, so he went a got last year's photo to show me. Sure enough, last year Santa had a (fake) long, luxurious silver beard. This year Santa's beard was grey, shorter and much coarser (and real!)

I quickly explained to Matthew that just like everyone else, Santa needs to trim his hair and he must have done it recently. As for the silver/grey discrepancy I think he forgot about it while we were discussing Santa's haircut. Good thing too because I'm not sure what I would say.

If you have any suggestions let me know - the topic is likel to come up again knowing Matthew.

I forgot to tell Santa what I want for Christmas!!!

This was my last day off before Christmas break begins and the malls really get crazy, so I thought I would take them to see Santa. We were the first people in line to see the Big Guy and only two other families were waiting. Great! Matthew immediately sat on Santa's lap, Michael too. Within a second though Michael was screaming and reaching for me. We tried to calm him down - no luck. So I resigned myself to the idea of a photo of Matthew only with Santa. They took the photos. Then Santa was chatting with Matthew and gave him a candy cane. Santa also offered a candy cane to Michael. All of a sudden Santa was Michael's best friend! The VERY kind ladies at Santa's workshop noticed and suggested we quickly try to take a photo of Santa with both boys. It worked out beautifully (if you look closely Michael has a candy cane in each hand).
I was so thrilled we were there at such a quiet time as I am sure they would not have so patiently allowed us to sit with Santa for so long if it was a crazy shopping day.

I was thrilled with their photo and thought we had somehow managed to have a relatively stress free trip to see Santa, until we were in the van on the way home and Matthew blurts out "I forgot to tell Santa what I want for Christmas!!"

We decided to write Santa a letter instead of returning to the mall.

SNOW!!!!

This Sunday we got a bit of snow. Starting first thing in the morning Matthew was asking to go sledding (the snow wasn't even sticky to the ground). But by the afternoon there was a bit sticking to the ground so away we went. There was a whole crew of boys from the complex that went over to the school hill. They had a blast. Some of the bigger kids took turns going downhill with the little ones or pulling them on the sled. Michael liked to lie down on the sled either way.
(Michael is not falling off - he is purposely laing down and dragging his arms through the snow.)

Matthew learned from the bigger boys how to run, dive and slide head first down the hill.

Only one injury, when Matthew and Joel flipped the sled and snowplowed through the thin layer of snow and right into the gravel - with his face. Road rash! But he got up and kept on playing (after a minute of tears). Not too serious though.

With VERY rosy cheeks (we spent nearly 3 hours out in the snow), we all headed indoors for some hot chocolate and marshmallows. What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!