DPoD August 31st - #103

Gave blood today and dropped the little guys off with grandma since their new policy requires that children are supervised during the donation process.

They had a wonderful time playing indoors and out, reading 'Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb' and having a delicious lunch.

Hopefully this saves a life or two this weekend.

When are you eligible next?

DPoD August 30th - Monkey shows off Thomas the FIsh

Monkey ran down the stairs eagerly this morning and wanted to show off Thomas the fish over breakfast. He and the fish have become quick friends. He fed Thomas and then blew across the water to make some ripples. They chatted a little and Monkey looked in from the top of the tank and the sides. It was really, really cute. Thank you mommy for picking this up and thinking of our little Monkey.

Big C, sensing a distraction since both mommy and daddy were watching Monkey, made a break for mommy's breakfast. Way to think on your feet little guy!

Thomas Recall Update-They Suck

So we got our "free gift" in the mail today. This is the gift that is supposed to demonstrate to me just how sorry RC2 is that they put my children's lives in danger by going with a sub rate company to produce their toys and then charging me an obscenely high price to buy them. This is supposed to show me just how sorry they are that I had to drag my two children off to the walk in clinic (it takes 4-6 weeks to get an appointment with our family doctor) to get a requisition and then drag them downtown to stick a needle in their tiny little veins to draw blood to check for lead poisoning.

Our free gift is Toad. Toad costs $13 at Scholar's Choice (then I get 10% off since I am a member). The 6 trains that I sent back have a retail value of over $90. This is supposed to make me want to buy my kids more Thomas items?

Not likely.

Jerks.

Beta Fish Home-Free

That is what the sign said as I walked to lunch today. It is nearing the end of the month and people are starting to get rid of their stuff as the move from one place to live to another. Sitting outside of an apartment building on my way to Coriander Thai was a dresser. On top of the dresser was a beta fish bowl, the rocks for the bowl and some beta fish food.

I immediately think of how excited Monkey will be if I get him a fish. I grab the free "home" , then I go for lunch and swing by the pet store on my way back. Now having been a foster parent with the Ottawa Humane Society, I fully understand the importance of really thinking it through when you decide to get a pet. It is not advisable to add a new cat or dog to your family on a whim. I can honestly say that I don't feel that applies to a $2 beta fish. Well, $7 by the time I bought the fish and some water de-chlorinating stuff.

I told him on the phone that I had a present for him. He pretty much frisked me when I got off of the bus! He loves his new fish. He has not decided if he is going to call him Lightening or Thomas. He even came downstairs after he went to bed tonight to double check that the fish was fed and comfortable. Heck, maybe in a couple of weeks we'll get him a puppy to raise.

Then again, likely not!!

DPoD August 28th Part III - The Chronology of a Hibiscus

I'm considering this blogpost as an early birthday present to Sunshine. Her hibsicus is the most beautiful flower in her garden and I've been tracking it's growth over the summer so that I could do this near the end of the season. Here's a little look back over the summer at how things have progressed:

June 12th - last summer Sunshine had a beautiful hibiscus, however we had been told that it was a tropical plant and could be sensitive over the winter. The entire plant went woody and so far there were no signs of the hibiscus returning. That is until this morning when I noticed a little tiny green sprout coming up out of the ground where the gorgeous flowers had been the

year before.

June 13th: The warmth and sunshine brought out a neighbour as well. Things are looking promising. It's amazing to think of what might become of these two little sprouts no bigger than your thumb.

June 17th: The hibiscus is now growing almost visibly during the day. The boys are quite intrigued to see what it will become.

June 21st : It now begins to compete with the lantern for UV light. Best of luck to you little lantern.

July 3rd : The 3 main branches of the plant are now over 4 feet tall. Note that the lantern has now thoroughly been dwarfed.

July 23rd : The lantern has now been moved. The plant is now competing with the fence for height.

July 30th: The hibiscus eclipses the top of the 6 foot fence. Quite a feat in 2 months. There appear to be dozens upon dozens of blooms ready to go. Many of them seem yellow which worries me.

August 10th: The first bloom survives after a handful showed promise, but then yellowed and fell off. There may be more on the way.

August 27th: There are now more than 8 beautiful dinner-plate sized flowers in bloom from the first light until the end of the day. The hibiscus is truly the highlight of the garden and every visitor comments on how it's beauty is second only to my wife's (or did I add that part myself?)

and
finally
we
come to
today
which
could be
the
most
glorious
day for
the plant

August 28th: The total number of blooms totals more than a dozen. If only the plant knew how happy it makes Sunshine feel.

DPoD August 28th Part II - The Rookie Racer Lunch Bag

The Mailman came and knocked on our door today. I had my suspicions as to what it could be. Then I saw the title on the package and knew that it was Sunshine's order from Lands' End. As soon as Monkey saw that there was mail and was told that his name was on it he was nearly beside himself:




Monkey: 'Is that my Rookie Racer lunchbag? Is that my Rookie Racer lunchbag? Is that my Rookie Racer lunchbag?'




Daddy: 'Yes. Yes it is.'




Monkey: 'Can I open it? Can I open it? Can I open it?'




Daddy (searching for the echo): 'Yes buddy, just wait a moment'




After a zillionth of a second in getting a knife to open the package and then finding it, the elation began. The dancing and showing it off soon followed. Then the laps around the main floor of the house. After a quick call to mommy, here is the photo evidence:











Big C : 'Cheese!!"

DPoD August 28th - Big C the Cutie

This was just too adorable this morning.

'Daddy, it's for you!'

The Return of the DPoD - August 27th

The DPoD had to take a bit of a hiatus for a few reasons. For one thing, Sunshine was having a great time updating things and taking lots of pictures, so I stayed on the sidelines and enjoyed a good rest. The other reason was that after last week's soccer game one of my friends that I asked to come out to play for us really injured his knee and since his 9-month pregnant wife couldn't take him into the hospital I stepped up. All-in-all I didn't sleep for 31 hours, but when I did, oh boy did I sleep well. Regardless, here we are back in the thick of things with just one week of freedom left before school starts up again.

Last week we went off to Westport to celebrate our summer. Big C fell asleep in the back seat with only about 15 minutes to go in the trip. Poor little guy was a little out of sorts until we showed him all the fun that nature had to offer. We took a photo on Spy Rock and then headed out on a short hike. We then went into town for a walk to check out the local flavour. We saw lots of neat stuff and even had a snack of some yummy Nanaimo bars (mommy's favourite) at the local bakery.

On our way home we needed some lunch. We stopped off in Smith Falls for some lunch, but the parking lot is a much less fun spot to have lunch in comparison to the Train Museum. What a day to do it. There were trains - which made Big C very excited. Then there were all the trucks that were passing by on the street next to it - he was absolutely elated! Then, heaven behold, there was a school bus that came right into the parking lot - he must have thought thtat he took a nap and woke up in Disneyland (and for him I think this would be better than Disney!). After the excitement died down a little we were back in the car and off to get some well deserved rest. What a great day for the family to go out and enjoy!

The Girls are off

Friday night at 12 midnight these international explorers are off to Niagara falls-here's hoping they have a fantastic time and a safe journey!!

Ottawa Breastfeeding Challenge 2007

Here is the information on the 2007 breastfeeding challenge. It is the same day as the September car seat clinic (September 29) so I am not sure yet if I will be there or not. If the image is hard to read, just click on it and it'll open in a new window nice and clear. New this year is on line registration!!

You have got to be kidding me!

Another recall "Thomas and Friends, Curious George toys recalled for unsafe lead content". Luckily we don't have any of this stuff. I am getting really angry about the amount of money that consumers are shelling out on this junk. We trust our kids with it only to find out that it is a cheaply made shoddy product that is dangerous to thier health.

The happiest child in the whole world

So I am beginning to wonder if Grandma Carol is trying to get the boy to live at her house full time. Last week she went to Zellers and found him Cars (Rookie Racer) sandals with flashing lights on them and the pjs. This week she has outdone herself. She found him Cars sheets and a Cars bedspread. When she showed them to him he was so excited he was shaking!! They washed them and put them on his "Rookie Racer Bed" at Grandma's house for the sleepover tonight. I don't know if he is going to be willing to come home!!

Thanks Grandma-I love them!!

The New Train Belt

Monkey is built in a special way. His body goes straight up and down with no extruding body parts to stop his pants from falling down. He is also very tall, and that means that he needs pants that are long enough. They don't make pants that are both skinny and tall (and boy do the rest of us sure know how he feels!!). So we found him a belt that he can use himself and that has trains on it. Can you think of a better combination of things! It is a "myself belt". Here are some shots of it arriving today:

A day out with Thomas

What is the best thing that can happen in Monkey's life? A real life sized Thomas could come to town and he could go for a ride, that's what!!

Monkey slept over at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Saturday night and got up on Sunday to go and see Thomas. Aside from the fact that he staunchly refused to smile for the camera when posing in front of Thomas, he had a blast!

Our Trip to the Fire Station

We called and booked an appointment with the city to go and see the fire station. We got an appointment at a station in the south end. Off we went and the boys were so excited when we got there that they were hopping around. Here's Eric showing us where the firefighters work out to stay in shape.


Monkey loved to get on the firefighting machines. Here he is driving the boat. This was a hugely popular part of the trip.
The tour aspect of the whole thing was really quite lost on Big C. He was just so excited about the fire trucks that he ran around the place in circles the whole time we were there.

Look mom, FIRE TRUCK!!Running between the fire trucks FIRE TRUCK (you just need to understand the excitement that he uses to say these two words as if they were one magical word)

Look, look LOOK-FIRETRUCK!!!

This is a picture of the proudest little boy to ever go to the fire station.Back to the boat on our way out...Group shot on the truck.Solo shot on the ladder truck.

Bye bye...

DPoD August 17th Part II - When Mommy's Away We Will All Play

Mommy had an appointment tonight that she had to attend early in the evening. This was reasonably unpopular with the two young men in her life. The doorway was filled with a few tears (Monkey) and a couple of "No, no" 's from Big C (his favourite term right now). Daddy had to think of something to cheer the boys up and that thought had to come fast. What better than making cookies?

I'll tell ya. Making train cookies and decorating them with Reeces' Pieces.

The tears were gone in a flash and out came the stool, the apron, the beaters and the smiles. We looked up a recipe (which took surprisingly long to do to find a recipe that was simple and yet flexible) and got to business. Both boys helped in the mixing process by each putting a hand on the beaters. Monkey took over at the rolling pin stage and both boys pressed out the shapes. Monkey took the engine and Big C was in charge of the caboose. Great idea with the cookie cutters mommy! They were both given a small pile of Reece's Pieces with which to decorate their cookies. Monkey did a great job and was really into it. Big C ate his pile. Who can blame him? Before cooking commenced Big C was replaced by CC who had arrived home after a wonderful afternoon of canoeing!

Here is the rest of the evidence of the cookie making process. This was without a doubt the most enjoyable event of the entire week, maybe even the month so far.

We'll try to save at least one for mommy when she gets home tonight. We love you Mommy!