DPoD July 31 - Where has the time gone?

The title addresses 2 issues:
1) Where did July go? Man that was
fast.
2) How did my little guy grow up so fast. Monkey is officially a two-wheeled bicycle rider. He needs a little puish to get him going, but then he's gone, gone,gone. Here are some shots of him leaving our driveway and headed for the grocery store.

'Daddy, can I see the pictures???'

He did get adventurous on the way home and try to wobble his handlebars as he used to do all the time when he had training wheels on. Here are the marks that were left behind. Grandma agreed that we need some elbow and knee pads to minimize the skin damage. Either that or up our investment in Johnson & Johnson.

Ottawa Flugtag - Anyone in?

If you haven't yet seen the commercials, the flugtag sounds to me like an amazing event. Reasons that I like the concept:
1) You build a device that is intended to stay aloft once being launched from the side of a bridge
2) It must be manned (usually by the inventor)
3) The flugtag 'plane' must be colourful and dynamic in appearance
4) While purdy, them done crash up real good!
5) It's free, this Sunday in Gatineau

You can check out the details here: http://www.redbullflugtag.ca/en/events.php
Anyone interested in joining us?

A wonderful dinner out

Tonight we brought K to experience our favourite restaurant, the Lone Star Texas Grill. She was very willing to try and enjoyed her qeso dip and fajita very much. We forgot the camera at home, so you will have to trust me. K on the other hand did have her camera and took several pictures of the meal.

Once we got home we gave K a gift from our family. It is a very large towel with the Canadian flag on it. I took this picture:

Monkey took this one. K likes it very much and even asked if she could start using it right away.She is tired from having a very busy trip so far, but is enjoying herself immensely. Today they walked around the by ward market and tomorrow they will visit Gatineau Park. Apparently the Museum of Science and Technology is not on the agenda. K loves science and Monkey really doesn't understand how someone could come to Ottawa and not see his favorite place! We have assured both K and Monkey that we will be sure to take her before she leaves. Would anyone like to join us?

Thank you for the gifts

Last evening we had several guests in our home. K came down near the end of the evening and explained to me that she had some gifts for everyone. This is very generous and was greatly appreciated. We all enjoyed the Okaki (I think that is how it would be spelled in English) very much. We had never had anything like it!

As well, K offered each of us very pretty presents. The balls of woven string were made by a friend of hers in Japan. They are very beautiful and each of us will treasure ours. I have put mine on my keys - the one with the gold stars on a green background, while Saje has put hers on her cell phone. Thank you so much K's friend for sharing your talents with us!

DPoD July 30th - BNK drops by for a visit

esterday we had BNK over for an afternoon visit since his afternoon care providers were out of town. We had a little bit of play before a long nap for both Big C and BNK. Upon waking the boys had a little snack and then we made some peach cobbler with the fresh peaches that we had purchased in the morning. Here's how the boys made them:

Step #1: Add sugar

Step #2 : Add baking powder and cinnamonStep #3 : Add lots of yummy peaches

Step #4: Mix vigorously(be sure to smile, just like the cooking shows)Step #5 : whip the heavy cream

Step #6 : Lick the beaters


I think that there is more to this, but these were the only steps that the camera and good safety would allow. Please do try this at home! It was delicious!!

DpoD July 29th - Welcome K from Japan!

Yesterday we had the pleasure to meet our new international student K from Japan. She is very kind and polite. She is very excited to be in Canada as it is her first trip away from home. Her english is quite good. She loves her bedroom and our home. She has already told us much about her family and her home. Last night we had one of our favourite meals - pulled pork - for supper. Then we had cookies and ice cream for dessert. She was very happy. We went to the grocery store and purchased items for her lunch. She is very respectful.

Here are some pictures of K with our children, Big C and Monkey. She is showing them her translating computer.

Here is K getting on the bus with mommy to go to her first day at school. Have a great day K!!

A day at the track

Since we couldn't go to the track yesterday with soccer in the morning and a birthday party in the afternoon. We decided to make a morning of it today so that Mr I could join us and get to the airport on time.

Mr I found it to be a bit early. But since it is a reasonably long drive, he found a way to make up for lost sleep: (thank you to my co-pilot Grandpa for capturing this one!)
We arrived and Mr I and Grandpa decided to hang out and watch the cars. We had some socializing that we needed to do. My awesome friend the race official had to be located as did godfather Jeff and his lovely bride to be.

Between my awesome friend, her awesome daughter and Jeff Monkey got to get in THREE race cars. It was about the coolest thing ever!!We was really good about not touching the cars, just letting the drivers and their crew load him in and pull him out.
This driver gave him the visual tour first.
Then they strapped on all of the belts. It was really neat. As you can see, Monkey loved it.

Here's Mr I up where we were sitting to watch the races. We only had one chair since ours all got borrowed and not returned. We took turns on it-lol!
Monkey got to watch all of the cars that he had been sitting in racing around the track. What could be cooler??
Monkey was not at all happy to say goodbye to Jeff. He was quite sad to know that the visit would be a very short one and not repeated again for many months.
Thanks Jeff and Bride to be for the awesome books. Monkey loves his and Bic C is pretty much beside himself! You have them both absolutely nailed!!

A kickin birthday party

Monkey got invited to T's birthday party at the Midway. So daddy and Big C went to the train museum while Monkey went to the birthday party. As you can see...
He had an absolute blast!

From 3 wheels to 2

For a while now there has been discussion about dropping the 1 training wheel and learning to ride on 2 wheels. Slowly but surely Monkey's friends have been spotted proudly riding on only two wheels at the park, going past our house...none was motivating for him. Until....EMAN CAN DO IT!! Oh man, it was ON! We came home and after the initial tour on his new kettcar, he wanted to ride on those two wheels.

We had been loaned a stick that gives parents a handle bar but it doesn't fit. So we going to do it old school.

First Mr I took him out for a bit of a spin. They went tearing up and down the sidewalk with Mr I holding on tightly.
I got a video of Monkey and Mr I. It is a little windy and you can hear Big C riding his bike in the background.

Next it was mommy's turn. I took off my boots, put on my runners and gave Mr I the camera.
We had some good runs. And we had some good falls. We talked a little bit about the basics of physics. If you lean too far to one side, you'll end up on the ground on that side...
A bit more discussion. I remember this same discussion with my father while I was learning to drive a 5 speed car. Me-"I've had it, I want to go home". Him "I'm not unlocking this door, get back in the car and drive". Me-"no". Him, "yes".

I did it. And so did Monkey.
Ready? Go...I'm holding on with a finger...
no hands! Just him-glorious!!
He knows he's got it. My hand is hovering behind him, but he's on his own.
Another milestone.