Olympic Fever

I have to admit, I have Olympic fever...  Its a strange sort of sickness, whereby I celebrate with each Canadian athlete, as though I knew them personally.  I also am known to cry through the special segments talking about the athletes' journeys, and of course when they receive their medals.  I profess I cried quite a bit during the opening ceremonies.  And when I'm not shedding my happy tears, I'm speaking with a constricted throat as I try not to cry.  I didn't think I'd be so emotionally invested... although I certainly have a right to be seeing as my taxes helped pay for a lot of it!  We each have some Olympic swag now, mittens and t-shirts, and wear them with pride!  Actually, with a lot of pride!  I am so thrilled with the amount of national pride that I'm seeing Canadians display this season.  As a nation often criticized for our lack of national pride, (I mean, we are fairly overshadowed in that department by our neighbours to the south) I am delighted to discover that its chic to wear Canada emblazoned across our chests, and maple leafs seem to be more popular as mascots than the strange creatures they created for the games!  One of my most favorite parts of the opening ceremonies was the poet with his tribute to our wonderful country.  Brilliant. 

 

Aria and her cousins

 

Go Canada!
 

Parade of Athletes

 

Speed-skating

Aria's class celebrated the Olympics today at preschool.  They all participated in three races: speed-skating, bobsled and the torch relay.  It was very fun to watch.  We even had a lighting of the Olympic cauldron and medal ceremony.  The kids have been practicing for weeks, and it was fun to see them learning team-play and cheering each other on.

Preschool, Olympic Torch and General Musings

Aria has been attending First Kids Preschool for a whole year already!  Hard to believe.  Last Christmas my parents had given me money for doing daycare or something like that so that I could have some one on one time with Roscoe (only 2 months old then!), or nap, or grocery shop.  All the things that are easier with one less child!  Well, it turned out that Aria was old enough to start preschool, being that she was 32 months old and potty-trained.  I had always planned on putting her in this preschool, as it was in our neighborhood, highly recommended, reasonably-priced, and has Bible-based teaching.  It has been a delight to have Aria involved at this school, making new friends, singing songs, doing crafts, and having lots of fun playing and learning.  But, because of Roscoe's age, I had never gotten to be the Duty-Mom until just last week!

 Aria was so thrilled that I was coming to be the Duty-Mom.  She had seen all of her friends' mothers  come and help out, but I had never yet had my turn.  She was so proud to have me there helping, and I had a lot of fun.  I washed toys, stapled together the take-home papers, cleaned up, played with the kids, told a story, and took lots of pictures!

Our friend, Noah, was the Star of the Day, and he brought his mom and her Olympic torch as his show and tell that day.  She was involved in the torch relay as a runner the previous week, and shared about her experience, and showed the kids the inner workings of an Olympic torch.  They all got to touch the torch as well.
The day it ran through our town, I took the kids over to the park near our house to watch it go past, and to cheer on the runner, or should I say walker.  The lady carrying the torch was a Grandma in her late sixties, and she definitely was not running.  All the hoopla by the official race sponsors went by, and then we waited... and waited... Finally she came, and then, right where we were standing, her torch "kissed" (apparently that's the official terminology) the next fellow's torch, and off he went... walking!  I just think that if I were carrying the torch, I would run.  There's no way I could just walk with the crowd cheering, the music blasting, the adrenaline pumping, and the significance and history being represented by the flame in my hands.  Just a thought...
It was exciting though, and my husband and his staff came down to join us at the park.  We couldn't go down to the big celebration downtown, as it was Roscoe's bedtime.  And honestly, I don't think I would have enjoyed being down there with all the people and both kids by myself.  Instead, Aria's friend came over for a play-date, Roscoe napped and I had a cup of tea!  Speaking of which... I think that I hear my crochet projects calling my name.  Either that, or the elliptical... Exercise or tea and crochet... hmmm...

Christmas Trees and Such

My dad retired this past spring, and they are now reaping the rewards of their retirement plan... in the form of Christmas trees that they started planting in 2002. The Turner Family Tree Farm is officially open for business in Oyama, BC! We took a tree off the farm last winter, and here are some photos of our tree this year! I went out and picked a tree I liked in November, so that we could be sure to get one of the best. Mom and Dad have spent ours trimming and shaping the trees, and we couldn't be more pleased to have a tree farm in the family! They even have a "wrapper" for the trees so that they are easier to tie to the roof of your vehicle, it helps them travel well, and they're easier to take into the house!

Family shot!

This is the last picture I have with my parent's dog Belle. We got her in 1995, when I was in grade 9. She was such a fabulous dog, and just passed away this month. I'll miss you Bella!

I was taking photos of the kids yesterday, and Roscoe started to say cheese and made this goofy pose with his head tilted back! Every time I'd take a picture, he'd do this, so I couldn't get any natural shots at all! He must be picking up pointers from Aria because its super hard for her to give me a natural smile as well. What I've started to do with her is get her to tell me a joke (a three year old's version of Knock, knock or Why did the ____ cross the road), but as she's laughing at the end I can usually get some good pictures!
I stopped in at Walmart today to make an appointment FINALLY, to get Roscoe's one year old pictures done (only two months late!). Poor second-born child. Well, there's no reason to feel bad; at least its going to get done!
We took the kids to the mall yesterday so they could meet Santa, which we've never done before. Aria has been fairly Santa-obsessed this Christmas, and I figure, what's the harm? She'll probably only be this crazy for him for a couple years. I've tried explaining that Christmas is about Jesus' birthday, but she seems to think that means its Santa's birthday as well. So I said that Santa just likes to celebrate Jesus' birthday by handing out presents to everyone, because Jesus' birthday is SO important and exciting.
The other day when we came home from preschool she didn't want to close the front door. I asked why. She said so that Santa could come in. I explained that Santa doesn't come until Christmas Eve when she's asleep, and then he comes down the chimney. So she closed the front door, and promptly went into the living room and opened up the glass doors to the fireplace, so that Santa could get in! Funny girl! She's having a hard time distinguishing between the Christmas SEASON and Christmas DAY.

Cheese!

Christmas decorating

My friend Sherilyn was out last month and we went to the local Art Knapp for their Christmas Extravaganza... without children! It was so great to take our time looking around without worrying that some little set of hands would touch something they weren't supposed to. I found these fabulous cast iron urns for $25 each! What a steal. Normally they're $125, I think. Crazy. So, I decided to decorate them up for Christmas. I went to my parent's land and got my dad to help me find some cedar and some big pine cones. I then went back to Art Knapp and bought some orange twisted willow (so pretty!) and another kind of greenery for a grand total of $15. I then grabbed some leftover red plastic balls I had in my decorating stash and voila! Some very festive, chic (and cheap!) decorations for my front step.My husband was also being creative the other day while we were out at my parent's tree farm helping sell Christmas trees. My mom had started a wreath by cutting out a cardboard circle, and then cutting out another circle inside of it. She then wrapped string around the cardboard, fairly close together, and then tied it off at the end. Jeremy then added the greenery, tucking the ends under the string, which catches on the needles, holding the branches in place. I added a red bow that I had in my stash and hung it on our front door. My hubby's so crafty and he doesn't even realize it! I am super pleased with the result, and think I'll have to make some pine swags to match, and hang them on either side of our carport.

Starting Again

I think it might be fun to get serious about this blogging thing. But when can I fund the time to write? I'm sure I have lots to say, and maybe even an interesting point of view. But even right now, as I contemplate how this could all play out, I ought to be reading about Joshua entering the Promised Land, and prepping for my grade 6 class tomorrow morning.
And can I just say how excited I am for church tomorrow? We have Paul Young, the author of "The Shack" visiting our church this weekend, and doing an interview style preach with Stuart. I heard that it was excellent tonight. I've been madly trying to reread the book. I read it a year ago, and was overwhelmed by the freshness of his ideas of God and the Trinity. I can't wait to hear his ideas and thoughts tomorrow, and to read his prose with the perspective of his interview in mind. In reading the book last year I remember feeling as though what I knew of God being stretched outside of what I have experienced and learned. I felt as though Young coloured outside of the lines of who I think I know God to be. More on that to follow after I hear Young speak tomorrow.