Working Mom.

I am a working Mom. I know that means different things to different people. To me, that means I work inside and outside of my house. I don't get paid money to work at home, but I get paid in other ways-- hugs, pictures of E's, cards, letters, kisses, thank yous... It's rewarding in its own way.

Three days a week, though, I dress up, grab my briefcase, and head off to work.

I really like working. I feel human. I have adult conversations. I get to impact the lives of different people.

Because I work part-time, I get the best of both words, I think. I get asked: "Is today a Mommy-day" and get rewarded with a big YESSS! and a grin. I get to go on field trips. I get to help in my children's classrooms. I get to be home when the girls get home from school.

What's the cost?
We have to pay for daycare.
We need to run two cars.
I'm tired when I get home.
I really hate making supper on my work days.
I hired a house cleaner.
It's hard to be a "part-time" teacher.

I'm happy with our family decision to have me work. I am so thankful that I have a husband who supports me.

Requests from the Back Seat

The girls are getting to the stage where they each have their opinions of what should be playing on the radio when we're driving.

E-- Mom. Push the button and play Move it, Move it.
R-- Praise 106.5, please. *singing at the top of her lungs*
A-- Nothing with talking, Mom.

But, I control the radio.

My strategy-- get everyone where they need to be... alive... and without fighting.

So, when I want them to look out the window or if they are just ignoring me, I turn on some traffic/ news station. This is only good for short trips.

Peace and quiet= "Adventures in Odyssey". They've heard all the recordings a million times, but they still call for them again and again. I've heard them so many times I actually tune them out and start singing. This action leads to cries of "stop singing" and "turn it up, I can't hear". So, I just drive.

Mom's turn= CBC. Yup. I'm turning into my mother. She always listened to this. I like the fact that I can arrive at my destination more informed than I was at the beginning of the trip.

Alone time= Nothing on the radio. Relish the silence. This only works when there are no kids in the car. This is the best time to pray. I love the drive to work.

Let's talk= No Radio. No Tape. No CD. Just quiet. The best part of the school day are the 10 minutes in the van on the way home. Listen to the chatter. I hear so many things. "you like so-and-so?!" "I have so much homework". "Today, no one played with me!" "That was such a great lunch". "Piano Lessons?!" So many important conversations happen in the confines of a vehicle. I think I'll do the "birds and bees" talk in the car. With the kid in the backseat-- trapped. At night, so she can't see my face, but can still ask questions. This day is approaching very quickly.

Dad's turn= The fist-pumpin'-head- bangin' sounds of the latest rock legend. Played really really loud. I hate it when he's in charge of the radio. But, a deals a deal. You drive, you get to control the radio. I'm so busy handing out snacks and baby wipes that the noise just becomes background after a while.

Mom's going crazy= loud dance radio. You'll see and hear us coming. We like to car dance.

You'll be able to tell what kind of day it is by what's on the radio.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RfEYtboKbc

Life with a Van

Shh. I have a secret.

I really like my mini-van.



It's no big deal to me, but I met a few people tonight with strong opinions against the van.

So.

Here's my little rant about why my van is better than your station wagon.

My kids can look out the windows.
I can see them clearly in my kid-view mirror.
I have V6 engine.
I can fit 8 people. Comfortably.
I can pull my tent trailer.
All my Costco groceries fit.
My husband fits. Ok, he's 6'4". This is an issue.
24 cup holders. Yes. You read that right.
It's a Toyota-- and we all know that means "quality!"
8 speaker surround sound. "Adventures in Odyssey" sounds great in surround sound.
CD. Radio. Tape deck. Yes, a tape deck.
6 windows that open.
All the seats in the back pop out and you can fit a whole sheet of plywood in there. (Now, that would be helpful if I was handy, but I did fit an elliptical trainer in there once.
2 glove boxes.
24 cup holders!!

Take that, turbo-charged-Volvo-station-wagon-with-beautiful-buttery-leather-seats.

New Markers

We just cracked open a pack of fresh new Crayola markers!
The 8 pack of Washable ones with "washability you can trust!"

The lids all match the colour inside. They are not dried out. They are smooth on the outside-- not caked with jam or something like that. They fit just perfectly in little hands. And big ones.

This is one of my simple pleasures (that, and sheets that have been dried on the line, fresh coffee, and slippers).

What joy one can find in colouring a big fat red line in the middle of a sheet of paper!

The TV is off. No radio. Just me and little E colouring at the table.

All is right in the world today.

Sleepless Nights.

"who of you by worrying can add a single moment to your life"

Really.

My new bed time is 1:30 AM. I can't shut my brain off and it feels like the only quiet around me is after everyone else has gone to bed.

This is not recommended.

Really.

Do not make a habit of this.

Seriously.

I'm tired all day. And moderately irritable. If it wasn't for the new Veggie Tales DVD, I may have sent my kids, well, somewhere. Away. (Not really. I like them, but I'm just tired).

And I have no one to blame but myself. The brain just can't shut off.

School starts in a week.
Vacations are winding down.
Company's Coming!
It's raining.
I'm not sure where the money is going.
I wish we could all get along.
Why is it easy to say "we agree to disagree" and hard to put it into practice.
You did what to whom?!
Why is there so much laundry?
Who left that there again?
Is there a sale at the Gap?
Will you please stop the dog from barking.
You want to take me out for lunch?
It's time to play Family Feud!

So. Many. Thoughts.

Heh. 1:05 AM. Yup. That's about right.

Canada Day and Gilligan

A few years ago, we started a family "tradition" of spending the Canada Day holiday in Harrison Hot Springs. For a little village, they KNOW how to put on a fireworks display! We made the mistake of trying to get home after the fireworks a few years ago, so now we just book my mom and dad's condo for the days around Canada Day. It's relaxing-- no phone, no cable, and (usually) no internet. (This time I was able to tap in to someone's wireless, so we are connected). The girls sleep late, read books, and have watched almost all the episodes in season 2 of Gilligan's Island. I am getting a little tired of the shenanigans, but they find it quite amusing. Mike keeps assuring them-- "don't worry about the storm, girls, they were on the island for 15 years". Phew. I thought they'd never get rescued.

On Canada Day, A and R were in the Abbotsford parade with their twirling group. I am proud to say, we did it right this time! I packed a picnic, a big umbrella, the bbq, and met some friends and family for the big "show". I'll post some pictures soon.

Then off to Harrison for their big "parade". This consisted of two firetrucks, some decorated bikes, and the mayor in a boat. Elyse loved the "hoorade". I tried to get into it, but, honestly, it was a little lame. The candy was good. Then, a hamburger barbeque with our Dutch friends. Followed by the fireworks. They were worth the wait!! 25 minutes of delight. Elyse hated it. The rest of us ooohed, and ahhhed.

In all of this, I've been waiting for a recall phone call-- and I got one. On top of that, I got the job I wanted. It was a good day. I decided I need ice cream to celebrate. Mike decided we should watch how Gilligan and friends got off the island. That was an hour I will never get back. Really. Really! Really? Lame. Ok-- don't waste your time. Spoiler alert-- they get off the island. The professor's pants never get dirty, Gillian still has his hat, and the professor is still plump, even after a 15 year diet of coconuts, pineapple, and bananas.

Hot tubbing and playing in the park are high on our to-do list. Perhaps we'll even try to find some farmer's markets and do something with ourselves. Mini-holidays are fantastic!

There is such thing as a free lunch!

I'm all about the "Free". If I can find free family fun... even better. So, guess what I did on Saturday? I tried to find all the free things I could. I had some motivation to get out of the house because Mike was re-arranging the garage (building shelves, moving stuff around). So, away we went.

But, I forgot my camera. So, just imagine what it was like with me, a van full of kids, and a sunny day...

My friend Leenora and her Auguston peeps sponsored the movie Toy Story 3 at the theatre. So, we started there. It was E's first movie and it was in 3D, so she just sat there watching with her little glasses on like a pro. It was a fun story, but got a little intense when the Toys started to meet their demise in the garbage dump. At that point, E got a little worried, climbed on my lap, and fell asleep. It was an interesting coping strategy, but one I remember from Psych. textbooks. So, she missed the end of the movie when all started to be ok. The Toys all live happily ever after (spoiler alert!).

Moving on... we found the Optimist Family Festival at the museum. Bouncy castles, entertainment, face painting, airbrush tatoos, balloons, prizes, free hot dogs... and one, Mr. Flowers-- the balloon guy. The line looked short. But, we waited a long time for a balloon twisted into a bunny, a crazy hat, and a flower. I think he needed an apprentice balloon-tier-- and a new wig. By the end of all this, I had a killer headache and 8 kids at the playground. That was free, too.

We headed home. Kids were pooped out. Mom had a headache. Snacks. A little trampoline action. A fun Saturday.

Oh, and the shelves in the garage look great.

My little helper

Some of our famous words as parents come from ones we heard when we grew up. Um. I think I have one my children will probably cause some "eye rolls" in the future...

If you live here, you help out.

(This also comes out as the rhetorical question: "Do you live here?" when I'm particularly frustrated.)

So, I am very grateful for the help I get, when I get it.

Enter: the helper.


She's really great at sorting the cutlery!!

Things always go faster when there's a lollipop involved...

However, it's more like homeschooling than anything else.

Studying the intertwined nature of the plastic cutlery basket. This is a science lesson, for sure.

Followed by a short drawing session-- look at my E's mom!!


Must inspect the cuteness that is "me" in the mirror-- while I sing a song or two.


Music and Health classes covered.

So, when you live here, you help out. You never know, you might learn a thing or two.

It's not a fashion show... but...

I am married to a die-hard hockey fan. He is borderline obsessed with it, I think. So, on the eve of elimination from the playoffs, I forced him to enjoy the May sunshine and go for a walk in the park with his family. But, he dressed like this:

And, just because I love him (and it was his birthday the next day), I dressed like this:

We were teased and heckled a little as we walked around the lake... but the team lived to play another day, so maybe there's something to that. As a die-hard fan, He seems to think we made a difference in promoting our teams' morale (really, I don't think the multi-millionaires cared... but I digress...)

I am a strong promoter of a child's individuality. It has taken time to "give up" on matching socks and only be concerned with whether they are actually wearing socks that are clean. In fact, our two house rules are: Love Jesus. (this covers just about everything, btw!) Be clean. (this covers the rest). So, when the girls show some effort in putting things together, I now celebrate. I have learned that the way my children dress does not reflect on me, personally. How many times have we fought over "what do I wear?" It's not worth it, to me any more. Hey, if my kids love Jesus and are clean, what else matters... Chances are, though, if they "match", I probably put the outfits together, but if they don't... well... they love Jesus!!!



That said, here's a few prime outfit combinations of late--

"I did it all myself, Mom!"

May Birthdays!

Most of the photos I have of my birthday involve one cake with a pile of candles shared by me and my dad. I don't think I ever had my "own" cake! Now, I see myself repeating this in my own family. Both Elyse and Mike have May birthdays. Not only that, they usually fall in the same week as Mother's Day. So, this year the question was: "are you doing anything for their birthday?" Usually I throw this big party, but just didn't feel like I was up to it this year. ( I find that working out of the house is more taxing (and more rewarding) than ever. I gotta be honest here.... this just crept up on me this year!) I found myself calling family and friends on my way home from work to share in Elyse's birthday. After a snack of sugary cupcakes and balloon madness, I realize and recognize that these are moments to celebrate rather than worry about whether the house is clean enough or if the cupcakes have enough sprinkles.

So, did the kids have a good time?? I hope so!! This one sure did!!

(she's singing Happy Birthday to herself, here)

And 4 days later... we repeated the whole celebration! Look, there is no shame in an ice cream cake! Just pure goodness-- and he gets his own!!

But, he had to share it with the rest of us!!!



Oh, and then he spent the rest of the night playing with his new birthday gift... a PS3. He's been waiting for 3 years for this day. I found out that it "only does everything", but I'm not sure what that means quite yet...


Right-- it was Mother's day that week, too... Never a dull moment around here!

Cute (or embarassing) stuff my kids say...

I am terrible at recording memories of things my kids say. I have a friend who has a journal for each of her kids and what they've said over the years. Sadly, I wasn't that organized. So, here's an online collection that I hope will last for the next hundred years. I'm sure I'll be adding to it as the days go by. I'm certain there will be a few "why is that man so fat?" and "Is that lady having a baby?" moments, and I'll be happy to write them down.

"It's not doirk, it's doirk!" Ruth (age 3) who could not say "r" properly, after we said "dark" the way she said it.

"Clippord is a big, red, dog" Elyse (age 3), stating the obvious

E-"I want some beer" Me: "You want beer? or Root beer?" E- No, Fruit Beer! Elyse (3) at the top of her lungs in Dairy Queen. Too many hockey playoff games, maybe?

"You have a boobie crack, Mom" Anna (age 8). Thanks, sweetie.

E-"You're my auntie" Me- "No, I'm your mom" E- "Well, you're someone's auntie!" (elyse, age 3, love the logic here!)

Ice Cream and Goodbyes

After 2 years of being in our family, we have to say good-bye to Garima. She has been such a blessing to have in our home. We love her and will miss her! We now have to add "India" to our "places to visit" list. We celebrated at Dairy Queen, of course. Because nothing says we love you like a dipped cone!

Baby 3.0 is 3. A Mother's Day Reflection.

Three years ago, we welcomed our third little girl into our home. It was an unusual birth story in the fact that my mom, who is a maternity nurse (or was, up until last week when she retired), asked the Dr. if she could deliver the baby. It only seemed appropriate to name her after the first person she saw, so that's why we have an Elyse in our family.

We always thought that 3 would be a good number of offspring. After the first 2 were born in two years, we decided to take a little extra time to have our third. Maybe put 3 years in between #2 and #3. So, when the time felt "right" we decided to go for it. Well, our plans were obviously not God's plans. Rather than experiencing a year of physical changes, it became a year of watching other people's swelling bellies, other baby's cute little pudgy feet, and waiting. Tests came back normal. We couldn't understand why we weren't getting pregnant. It was very discouraging. I remember asking God why this was happening. I immersed myself in working full-time and resigned to the fact that we were a family of 4. The fact that we had 2 perfect kids already made me feel a little sorry for myself. But I understand, now.

This time of waiting had become a time of learning. Learning to wait on the Lord, learning to find the Joy in all circumstances, to trust God's big plans for us. And, learning about me. Why is it that every winter I wanted to crawl into bed and never crawl out? Why couldn't I be more of a morning person? Why did the world feel like it was stacked against me? Why did I feel like life wasn't worth living?

On the outside, I looked collected. On the outside, I was put together. On the outside, I had the perfect family. On the outside, I looked happy.

Inside, I was falling apart. There was something wrong with me. I felt like there was popcorn in my head and I couldn't form a reasonable thought. I wanted to run away from my life. I knew something wasn't right and needed help.
Enter: Doctor. Diagnosis: Seasonal Affective Disorder. Prescription: Celexa from October-May. I was a classic, textbook case.

Had Elyse been born when I wanted her to come, this revelation would never have come to fruition. So, thank God for his perfect timing. Thank God for his JOY!

About three days after she was born, I was looking at Elyse and knew we had to give her the name Joy. Anna had chosen Rebekah, she was named after my mom, Alice, but she brought me such Joy. She is a testimony to God's faithfulness to me. I am blessed to be her mom.

Now I lay me down to sleep...

It's important to document all the ways your kids sleep. Here are a few pictures of my two youngest. First, Ruth, who likes things in order and in a certain way...
And Elyse... who had a temper tantrum and ended up like this...


But, mostly, she looks peaceful and quiet. God bless them.

Student- Led Conferences

Anna and Ruth were so excited to share their ideas, achievements, and projects at their student-led conferences. It is so strange to have the kids boss me around in a classroom, as I'm usually the one doing the "bossing". We played Math games, read journals, looked at ways to improve, and celebrated success. We are so thankful to have children who do well in school and have teachers who bless them every day. Great work, Anna and Ruth!!

Mike-- Olympic Volunteer!

Mike's Volunteer Experience for Vancouver 2010 started last year when his boss approached all the staff in his office with the idea of taking time "off" to enjoy the games and represent all BC government workers. He was offered a driver's position in November, but declined when he thought he would be taking too much time off work. But, with the offer of "half-days" off, he couldn't refuse and decided to use his class 4 licence for something other than a bookmark. He was outfitted with an official uniform, had training, and the offer of an apartment in New West from our friend Nell B. All the ducks were in a row-- let the games begin!! He had to commit to 10 shifts over the course of the 3 weeks. Most of the time was spent waiting for someone to call, but he did have a Whistler trip and some Richmond "runs" over the course of the time he was on-call.



As a volunteer, Mike could get really close to places that noone else could. He got to drive BRAND NEW vehicles, and got plenty of free gifts.

Here is the cauldron from inside the fence.
This is at the athletes' village. He had free access to all the great spots, saw the Canadian Olympic hockey team eating lunch, and spent some time shopping in the athletes' exclusive store. It was a great experience for him and he says he'd do it again in a heartbeat! It was an experience he'll never forget!

Of course, he was away from home a lot. But, we decided that we would make the most of this experience together. So, we spent 3 Saturdays in a row travelling between the Fraser Valley and Vancouver. Every day we saw something different, every time was a new experience.

Our last Saturday was spent at the Heineken house. We got to skip the line because our friends Joop and Grace Admiraal have Dutch passports. It was a party!! Here's a few pictures of our time in Richmond:












The Heineken house was so much fun. We ate a lot of Dutch food, tried to speak some Dutch, and whooped it up with our new-found friends. The kids loved it. Mike bought me an official jacket as a "thank you" for allowing him to be away so often. We got a great deal on the one for Anna, too. Her pink jacket was getting a little small, and there was one orange jacket left in her size. It didn't have the official patches, so we got it on sale! Hopefully it lasts her for another 2 years.

Finally! Some photos of our Olympic Experience!

It's about high time that I posted some photos of our Olympic experiences. We've had some camera trouble, recently!

This was the first Saturday on the bus to the events. It was a rainy, yucky Saturday, but we had a blast!

At the Ontario 4-D experience with our crazy Dutch companions, Joop and Grace.

Yup, there's Scott Oake and Me (and Joop)
Our Second Saturday-- week 2-- Beautiful, bright and clear. We had tickets to a hockey game. Here are the 3 siblings that went together at the Olympic Cauldron. Just the week before, we couldn't get anywhere near it.

Easter bread

I was searching for a paska recipe (after I enjoyed it so much at my "evening" class) and found one that works in my breadmaker.
SUPER YUMMY!
Happy Easter everyone.


steph’s paska
breadmaker version
(aka cheater pants version)


I cup lukewarm water (I just use tap water)
2 tablespoons instant dry milk powder
2 tablespoons margarine or butter softened
3 teaspoons grated orange/lemon peel (I never measure, but I know I add a bit more- I like it zesty!)
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt (I use a little less- maybe ¾ of a teaspoon)
2 medium eggs, beaten
3 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Add ingredients in order listed, ending with yeast, to the baking pan of automatic breadmaker. Follow directions for mixing dough and allowing to rise. (On my bread machine there is a DOUGH/PASTA setting and it takes 2 hours).

In two hours, when dough is ready, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and divide in
Half- if using standard loaf pans
Trios- i use aluminum superstore “loaf pans “ they come in a pack for 4 for maybe $2 (dimensions are: 20cmx10cmx5.5cm) they are a bit smaller in size than a standard loaf pan.

Put into 2 or 3 greased loaf pans (kind of shaping it in there) and let rise in a warm area for approximately:
Half- 40 minutes
Trios- 30 minutes

Bake in preheated 350F oven for:
Half- 30 minutes
Trios- 20 minutes.

Turn out onto a cooling rack and let cool. Eat with cream cheese icing and rainbow sprinkles (our family favourite) or toasted lightly with jam.

Yum.

TaDa!

My report cards are done.
Thank you, thank you very much.

Overwhelmed.

My house is a sty. I admit it. I would much rather pack my family up and take them to Victoria than clean my house. I have piles, full cupboards, and clothes... well, everywhere. I am a mess. Where do I start? I am overwhelmed.

I watched the "Hoarders" show the other day and realized that I don't have THAT kind of problem. But, I do have the issue of being able to finish what I've started. It seems that the only time I can do anything around here is when the youngest is napping. In between working, laundry, picking up and driving to, I just can't stay on top of things. Last year I got a housecleaner to help me every other week, but the budget suffered some severe cutbacks this year and I had to learn to manage on my own. (The best part of a house cleaner is that she did all the things I needed to do in just one day). Enter, the fly lady.

http://www.flylady.net/

This week it's bathroom zone. I emptied my entire bathroom of debris. Half-empty shampoo bottles, gross bandages, and some nasty perfume that's been around for too long. It's cleansing and good for my spirit. Next week's zone is the master bedroom. I'll let you know how that goes as it has become a "dumping ground" for all the kids' stuff.

It seems that it happens every year around this time. I think the kids go through this SERIOUS growth spurt, which means nothing fits, so I have to go through the tedious chore of their dressers. Because my two girls are built so differently, I can't hand me down at all. It's such a drag. This means I have to shop. I know, it's tough... But, how to stay on budget, buy things that will last, age-appropriate, and will ultimately fit. My oldest is wide, the middle is narrow. Hooray for www.crazy8.com and their friends and family sale! It is terrific for moms like me. I bought about 4 outfits for each kid, some birthday presents, and a winter coat for $130. With the US dollar being almost par with Canada, this is great. Check them out. I love their stuff.

So, I'm also trying to lose the extra 10 pounds I found over the last few months. I'm starting with a detox plan, drinking more water, eating as little sugar as possible, remembering to eat breakfast, and not eating after 8. So far, just one pound. Perhaps if I exercised a little, it might go a little faster. I'll take the dog for a walk tonight. I promise.

Climbing up on my Lap.

I'm not really a morning person. I love the time when I hear the busy-ness downstairs and feel cozy and comfortable in my bed. I love listening to the girls chatting, playing, making lunches, compromising, getting dressed and talking to their daddy. I tell them I'm tired, but really, I love the noises they make. Well, most noises (screaming is always an exception), and sometimes I really just want to sleep in. But, today, I loved listening. It's my "day off", but not for anyone else, so I feel completely justified in laying there and just "being." So, I got up late, didn't feel like getting dressed, and just sat in a chair and stared out the window. I don't usually do that. But, I just got my really old chairs recovered and needed an excuse to sit in them for a while. On the outside, I may have appeared calm, but my head was spinning. I was making a list of all the things I had to do that day and feeling completely overwhelmed.

Then something happened.

She climbed into my lap and kissed my cheek.

She never does that.

Another hug. Another kiss. A smile. My heart melted, but my head was still spinning. "Gotta Do" list was growing...

She grabbed my cheeks and forced me to stare in her blue eyes. It was meaningful and magical.

What was my problem? How many of these moments have I missed in my rush to get somewhere, clean something, or do something? Don't get me wrong, these things have to get done, but do I sit down long enough for my kids to climb on to my lap? I know my oldest is 10 and shares my shoes, but she still needs to sit on my lap once in awhile.

Thanks for reminding me that you still need me.

A new venture....

With the Olympics over, I was thinking about what to write about. Sure, it's interesting to peek into our lives and see what we're doing, but how can I create a living legacy in my words? I started a blog to document some of the events in my children's lives so that I won't forget those little "cute-isms". But, how is that affecting my life and how we do life together? Do people really care about which drawer I vacuumed today? So, here goes... It's a new feature I'm going to call "learning along the way". What does this mean? It's observations and memories. Things that I'm learning. Working it out. I'll learn along the way.

Olympic photo links

Mike forwarded a link to me today. I usually don't open these jokes, but then realized it wasn't a joke link. It's an amazing collection of Olympic pictures! After looking at the following links, I realized that anything I might post would not even come close in clarity to these images. So, enjoy them. I did!

Opening Ceremonies:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/opening_ceremonies_for_vancouv.html

First Half of the Olympics:

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/vancouver_2010_part_1_of_2.html

Second Half and Closing Ceremonies:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/03/vancouver_2010_part_2_of_2.html

Ugh... it's over.

Yup. It's over. And, I've got myself an Olympic sized hangover. Not because of all the beer or anything fun like that, but because of the fun it was. And now, it's over. I have to upload some of our family photos to show you what we've been up to in the last few weeks. But, alas, the camera needs charging, the kids need lunches, and it just hasn't been on the forefront of my mind. I've had a lot of TV to watch-- after all, there were 14 gold medals for Canada! Terrific.

I will post a summary of our Olympic experience in the next week, but in summary, we went in to Vancouver all three Saturdays-- two with kids, one without. There were so many things to see and do that we didn't do anything the same any of the days we were there. That is, except for Mike... he spent the last two weeks volunteering as an Olympic driver. He spent a lot of time in the staff lounge watching events on TV and playing a lot of solitaire. I was left holding the fort. This has left me with a greater appreciation for parents who have to solo-parent. It is much easier to run a family with two chiefs.

As inspirational as the opening ceremony was, I was left with a ho-hum feeling after the closing ceremony. After the hockey game where the "right" team won, it was a bit of a downer. It felt a bit like a rock concert with athletes instead of back-up dancers. Really, people, balloon beavers? Floating moose? We are more than that. Buble in a red searge? C'mon. Very disappointing. So, in my mind, I'm going to think of the closing event of these games as the Sidney Crosby overtime goal. Awesome.

It's been quite a month. I'll post a few more details in the next few days.

Addendum to Last Post-- Re: Kids and Olympics

I was talking to one of my colleagues today and he said that he's never made better time to Vancouver than on Friday night (with 60,000 of his closest friends) for the opening ceremonies. He says just drive into Vancouver! Take 12th to Burrard and then park at Pacific Center for $6 all day. Considering that I spent more than than in transit fare and would have had a place to store all my extra gear for the day, I am taking my car next time! I agree with him because the streets were crazy with pedestrian traffic, not car traffic.

I have men's hockey tickets for Saturday, so we'll be headed in to town again! Mike is volunteering and is taking the West Coast Express today. I'll let you know how that went for him.

Olympics with Kids... We did it, so can you!

We spent the day in Vancouver on Saturday, and it was a "hoot!" A friend with 5 kids asked how we did it, so here's what I said to her--

If you have tickets to any events, the best way to travel is West Coast Express because it's also your transit pass for the day. If you go, plan to get there by 10 as that's when the pavilions open. We took skytrain from New West, because we parked at a friend's house. With a whole crew, I would start at the "Live Surrey" site, park the car, and get on the skytrain. Be sure to take a stroller or two as there is plenty of walking. Kids 5 and under ride transit for free. I found the hardest part of the day was driving home from New West-- if the ride was even 20 minutes shorter it would have been better.

However, another option is to park in Richmond and take Canada line in the Richmond O-zone. Or, just risk it, take the Cambie Bridge downtown and park somewhere near St. Paul's hospital-- this avoids transit all together, but you may have an issue with the truck in a parking garage. If you do this, you could bring your ice skates and skate at the Robson skating rink.

Free things to see-- Robson square, Science world (Sochi world), Ontario (4-D movie-- kids loved it!!), Granville Street (buskers, street performers, interactive art displays), Live City Yaletown (Live City Downtown is too busy), Aboriginal pavillion... so much more, just start walking!! Don't bother with the torch/cauldron-- too far to walk, and it's behind a fence. We haven't taken it yet, but there is a free streetcar that goes from Science World to Granville Island, and there's a lot to do on Granville Island, too. We ate hotdogs at Costco ($1.99!!) Best deal in town and it's right by the elevator to get to the Dunsmuir Viaduct between GM Place and BC Place. The Art Gallery has been transformed to a BC pavilion with interactive displays. The post office has trampoline stunts everywhere. The best place to pee is Costco or the Library, but there are a lot of portapotties near Robson. Avoid the CTV area-- too busy-- and find the live broadcasts by CBC. They have a great sock puppet display on the second floor. Plus, you may be able to collect a cool toque during their Radio 3 "toque sessions" (It was also my way of boycotting Pamela Martin... blech).

Wear one colour to stick out from the crowd-- we all wore orange-- it's easy to spot because everyone else is wearing red and white. Or, tie a balloon to your kids' belt!

Have fun!

So, the key to "doing this with kids" is-- keep them full of treats, eats, and time to rest! Make sure you have an extra pair of socks for the child who is drawn to puddles... believe me, you'll thank me later.

Cities, Crowds, and Ceremonies.. oh my....

We went to the dress rehearsal tonight. One word-- Fantastic. We were asked to keep things a little under wraps, so I'll honor that and not blab. Gotta say, though, it honored Canada-- our heritage, our history, our land, our people. You will be blown away! I'll discuss this after the big unveil on Friday.

However, I did not appreciate being herded like a lost cow through the infinite kilometers of blue fencing. With all the volunteers wearing their blue jackets and identical toques, it was very difficult to negotiate the crowds. Thankfully my dad came along. I call him a professional "crowd weaver". He can get through the tightest of jams. Plus, he was wearing a black jacket. Under normal circumstances this is hard to spot. But, in a sea of peacock blue-- easy. We were forced to make our way through Yaletown on our way to get to the sky train. I'm sure hoping Vanoc has thought this through, because after sitting on your butt for 3 hours, it's tough to find your way in the dark and in the rain.

On another note, the city is buzzing! People are everywhere, taking video and pictures (I make it my mission to get in as many backgrounds and videos as possible-- I can't wait for my sister to get here so we can do this together. We're pros). I saw some athletes looking "important", a couple of torchbearers, some poor guy trying to explain how to get to some place with very broken English, and of course, the busker at the skytrain station wearing his regalia and carrying a drum. Ahh. Vancouver. You are quite something. I loved the lantern fesitval on Granville and the light display at English Bay (which reflects nicely on the cloud cover). Again, the theme is free. I hope things are waterproof, too, because the weather forecast looks grim.

One tip-- find a police officer from Vancouver if you need to ask for directions. Since this is "Canada's olympics" the powers that be thought it would be good to show their support for all the police across our land. But, when you are from Nowhere, Saskatchewan, you do not know how to get to the skytrain.

More on Friday. We hope to take the kids to the city on Saturday-- I'll bring my camera!

Free Olympic Shows. A Public service.

A list of free concerts in Vancouver, Richmond, and the throughout the lower mainland from February 12th through 28th 2010.
Part of the Cultural Olympiad

ALL showtimes are PM

Fri Feb 12th - Venice Queen - 10:15 @ Ozone
Fri Feb 12th - Bedouin Soundclash - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Fri Feb 12th - Blue Rodeo - 9:15 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 13th - Matthew David - 3:15 @ Ozone
Sat Feb 13th - Jet's Overhead - 8:00 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 13th - Five Alarm Funk - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 13th - Daniel Wesley - 10:00 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 13th - Califone! - 7:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sat Feb 13th - Hey Ocean - 8:00 @ Ozone
Sat Feb 13th - Bedouin Soundclash - 9:30 @ Ozone
Sat Feb 13th - Jessie Farrel - 10:00 @ Livecity Downtown
Sat Feb 13th - Default/Wilco - 6:15/10:00 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sun Feb 14th - Keisha Chante - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Sun Feb 14th - Mother Mother - 8:00 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sun Feb 14th - Rich Hope - 8:00 @ Livecity Downtown
Sun Feb 14th - Daniel Wesley - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sun Feb 14th - Elliot Brood - 9:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Sun Feb 14th - Serena Ryder - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Mon Feb 15th - Sloan - 10:30 @ Atlantic Canada House
Mon Feb 15th - Serena Ryder - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Mon Feb 15th - Jet's Overhead - 9:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Mon Feb 15th - Matisyahu - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Tue Feb 16th - Fresh IE - 7:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Tue Feb 16th - Alexisonfire - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Tue Feb 16th - Buck 65 - 9:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Tue Feb 16th - Eliot Brood - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Tue Feb 16th - The Trews - 10:30 @ Atlantic Canada House
Wed Feb 17th - DRUM! - 5:00 @ Livecity Yaletown
Wed Feb 17th - Corb Lund - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Wed Feb 17th - The Arkells - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Wed Feb 17th - Hawksley Workman - 9:30 @ Ozone
Wed Feb 17th - Hot Hot Heat - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Wed Feb 17th - Ivy League Brawlers - 10:00 @ Plaza Of Nations (Edgewater)
Thur Feb 18th - Jully Black - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Thur Feb 18th - Keisha Chante - 8:00 @ Livecity Yaletown
Thur Feb 18th - Corb Lund - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Thur Feb 18th - Rumba Calzada - 9:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Thur Feb 18th - The Arkells - 8:30 @ Ozone
Thur Feb 18th - Our Lady Peace - 9:45 @ Ozone
Thur Feb 18th - Marianas Trench - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Fri Feb 19th - Deadmau5 - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Fri Feb 19th - DRUM! - 8:00 @ Ozone
Fri Feb 19th - Jully Black - 10:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 19th - The Arkells - 7:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 19th - Dan Mangan - 8:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 19th - Sam Roberts - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 20th - The Arkells/ Sam Roberts - 6:30/9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sat Feb 20th - Marianas Trench - 9:30 @ Ozone
Sat Feb 20th - Mother Mother - 10:00 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 20th - DRUM! - 6:30 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 20th - Hey Ocean - 8:30 @ Holland Park
Sun Feb 21st - The Odds - 7:30 @ Holland Park
Sun Feb 21st - 54-40 - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Sun Feb 21st - Jully Black - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Mon Feb 22nd - Colin James - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Tue Feb 23rd - Wintersleep - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Wed Feb 24th - Wintersleep - 10:30 @ Atlantic Canada House
Wed Feb 24th - Damian "Jr.Gong" Marley - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Thur Feb 25th - Illscarlett - 6:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Thur Feb 25th - Wintersleep - 9:30 @ Ozone
Thur Feb 25th - Inward Eye - 11:30 @ Livecity Downtown
Fri Feb 26th - Tokyo Police Club - 9:45 @ Ozone
Fri Feb 26th - Inward Eye - 6:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 26th - Illscarlett - 8:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 26th - Marianas Trench - 9:00 @ Holland Park
Fri Feb 26th - TBC - 8/9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sat Feb 27th - Matt Mays - 6:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sat Feb 27th - Matt Mays - 10:30 @ Atlantic Canada House
Sat Feb 27th - The Stills - 10:15 @ Ozone
Sat Feb 27th - Illscarlett - 10:00 @ Ontario Pavillion
Sat Feb 27th - Blue Rodeo - 9:30 @ Livecity Yaletown
Sat Feb 27th - Wide Mouth Mason - 9:30 @ Holland Park
Sat Feb 27th - Tokyo Police Club/Wintersleep - 9/10:00 @ Holland Park
Sun Feb 28th - Five Alarm Funk - 9:30 @ Ozone

ALL showtimes are PM

Olympic Fever!

I admit it. I have Olympic fever. In spite of the budget overruns and the lasting effects of our economic misspending, I love the Olympics. I watch them 24-7 when they are on. Summer. Winter. It doesn't matter. I root for the underdogs. I root for the Canadians. I root for the Dutch. I root for the Jamaican bobsled team. I remember where I was when Ben Johnson won the 100 meter, and when it was found out that he cheated. I speculate on who will win this year's hockey tournament.... you get it. I love the Olympics. Now, they are in my home province. An hour away!!! I am so excited. Can you tell???

Hubby is volunteering as a driver and has to work 13 ten-hour shifts. He has a "smurfy" looking outfit, but is pumped about chauffeuring people around to the various venues. I am a little jealous as I applied to work the Olympics, too, but they didn't need me. *sigh* Alas, I shall enjoy them from the comfort of my living room. But, one perk is that we get to go to a dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday. Again, I'm excited.

In the next few weeks, we are planning to visit and experience as much of the Olympics as we can. I will take you with me, if you want. But, here's the kicker.... I have to do things for free or mostly free. My first stop is the live site in my hometown. (www.abbylivesite.ca) The Russian Figure skating team and the Japanese Short track Speedskaters are practicing just a short walk from my house. I've visited a few times already. On our way home from watching the figure skaters, they jumped and twirled, giggled and laughed their way up the hill. Told ya, Olympic fever!
And now, the Free stuff...
On Monday, Mike went to pick up his Olympic volunteer uniform and we spent some time in Robson square figure skating. Free, of course. Yesterday we watched the Olympic torch relay run past our house and collected all the free paraphenalia we could. These are my rules for experiencing this event-- it must be free, family friendly, and fun. Let's see how many things I can do!!!
(Thanks to www.citycaucus.com and their where to be for free links).

I'll keep you posted!!!

Hockey Superstars!!

We live at the end of a street that borders one of the only urban farms around. It is a peaceful place where the cows come to greet us, where the neighbours say hello and let you borrow their wheelbarrow, where the kids still play hockey on the street. We are so blessed! This is one afternoon where Elyse tried the goalie gear on for the first time. I couldn't resist a video clip! Enjoy.

Hockey Day in Abbotsford...

One of the newest features in our city is this great hockey and entertainment sportsplex. Here we are watching the Heat game from box seats!
Our friend Andy was called to play back up goalie for the weekend. He hadn't played pro hockey for the last 10 years, but the youngin's couldn't score on him!
We had such a great time! Thanks for sharing with us, Dar!!

A Toothless Ruth.

Here's the latest photo of a toothless Ruth (not a ruthless tooth!). I like to call her a little pumpkin. She whistles when she reads. Here's a little hint for the tooth fairy, wherever you are!

Blogs past...

In my attempt to find a way to store my photos "just in case", I started a live site in 2005. It is so cute to see my two girls looking so little. Check them out...

http://mkvanegmond.spaces.live.com/

So, I've decided I'm going to concentrate on just one blog at a time. It seems easier that way.