Cat In The Hat

Today marked the first day that my little baby girl read the entire Cat in the Hat book - all 60-odd pages - BY HERSELF.

And this reminded me that I think there are 2 kinds of people in this world.

Those that love Dr. Seuss books and those that don't.

Are you a Dr. Seuss Devotee? Or a Dr. Seuss who?

My husband informed me that he taught himself to read by reading Dr. Seuss books and Toria loves all Dr. Seuss books, too. On the other hand, as a child I did (and still do) consider them non-sensical and a waste of my reading time. As for Tomas, if it doesn't have the word Hockey inscribed at least once on every page then he isn't so interested. Both Tomas and I love to read (in fact, I just checked and the little stinker had turned his light back on and was reading at 10:23pm - a full 2 hours after his regular bedtime and 1 hour after his holiday "lights-out") ... i digress.... but come'on writers of this world give us something that makes sense. Work with me here, Dr. Seuss!

So to celebrate Toria's great feat - I show you a picture of Toria and her close friend Maya with their 'boyfriend'.

I'm back....

Yes, I'm back and I bring you....

Parent Night at Hockey



Tomas is in a red Team Canada jersey
Toria is the thing in pink.
.... and yes, I am The Mom out there.

Slugger

This is Toria at T-Ball - look at that swing!...


You must blow this up to see that look of determination on her face.... it is priceless.


Success - she made it to first base!

...
Now I don't have a photo of her on second base but I will share a "Toria" story with you...
In Toria's T-ball League - when the last batter hits - the players who are on each base just keep running until they get home (there are no outs) - in effect, the last batter always hits a grand slam. Anyway, Toria was a runner and on 2nd base when the last batter came to bat. Apparently, she was having a lovely chat with the Second baseman (a boy)... And she forgot to run... The runner who'd been on first rounded second followed by the last batter running the bases... the coaches were yelling 'run Toria. Run Toria.'... but Toria just chatted with the second base boy... And when she was done talking then, and only then, did she run to third and finally cross home plate.

Fun run.

The Thrifty Foods family fun run was held in conjunction the TEN THOUSAND person 10Km run... The 400 kids ran 1.5km (with parents chasing them) . [They were on their own course but crossed the finish line in association with the 10km runners.]

In sequence - here are the photos of the run...

BEFORE... All smiles!


They ran too fast to take pictures during the race but here they are after they crossed the finish line...



After a few glasses of water, an apple, and a yogourt - check out the smiles NOW.


Alas, at the end of the day - we must wash the butterfly face painting off and it makes us very very sad.


Can't wait for next year's race...

Field Trips & 1-year

On Monday I accompanied Toria's class to Swan Lake for a field trip.


On Tuesday, I accompanied Tomas' Class to Butchart Gardens (and what a bunch of posers- Everytime they saw a nice grouping of flowers, or a fancy rock, or a view, or a totem pole, or a fountain, or whatever - they'd all run in front of it and go "Cheese". Do you think they're a digital camera generation???)



On Wednesday I did taxes
then on Thursday the Beavers built Birdhouses!



On Friday I attended a planning meeting for an event I'm involved with but only TWO people out of an expected TEN bothered to show up. Not even the 2 'leaders' were there. Well, phooey on them.

And finally on Saturday - it was the 1-year anniversary of Tomas' diagnoses with Type 1 diabetes. This time a year ago - I wasn't sure how to get through a day let alone a week or a year but with Tomas by my side - we've done great.... He's an awesome kid andI'm very proud of him and how he handles everything.

Seeking Treasures...

Indiana Tomas and Indy Toria seek treasure in the forest...

Indiana Tomas (complete with ball cap and shades) searches his surrondings looking for trip wires and hidden treasures

Treasure:

1 metal garbage can lid

3 rings from rotted barrel

1 section of downspout

1 broken fire grate

1 loafer (shoe)

1 plastic l'il tikes screw (not ours!)

-----------------------------------

Toria does training for her role as Indy Toria by rock climbing... they couldn't find a harness small enough to fit her...

Go Toria!

Toria at her finest

Do you see those 2 white 'lumps' that were under Toria's pillow?

Yes, Toria decided she needed money. And her allowance wasn't enough. SO....
she found 2 tiny rocks, wrapped them in soft kleenex (she cut the kleenex to size!). She then placed the 'teeth' under her pillow because (and this is a direct quote) "The tooth fairy is old and doesn't eat carrots so she doesn't have very good eyesight so she'll take my fake teeth and leave me money!"...... Err not but you must admire the creativity.




Toria and I had a fantastic time at the (Grand)Mother/Daughter Sparks (pre-Brownies or like Daisy Girl in the US) sleepover. Here is Toria posing... do you think she was EXCITED!!


Now, this was a fairy-themed sleepover and each girl was to bring a fairy costume. Toria has many fine 'traditional' pastelly fairy costumes but Nope, Not my daughter. She has to be unique - she wore her 'ladybug' fairy costume. [Yes, she declared there are ladybug fairies so there is.] Her outfit was carefully completed with matching black wings, a tiara, and the shirt that said "LOVE".

I wonder where she gets her unique ideas and determination????


Just after the Sparks camp finished we were off to Toria's very first T-Ball game!!
Here she is getting some advice from the third base coach...


I'm not sure what weighed more - her or the back-catcher equipment!...Check out the pink glove.

Awesome job Toria!

Spring Break in pictures.

Photos worth sharing

Toria gives her teacher, 'the look', prior to beginning her Science Experiment. Toria demonstrated how an electric current worked by using a battery and electrical cables to run a fan and a light bulb.


Professor Toria responds to questions.


Did you know that Tomas got a hockey trophy?

What a smile! The next NHL All-star.

Brave Ones

Toria was at her friend S's house when S wound up to throw a ball for the family dog to chase. Unfortunately she threw the ball directly into Toria's cheek. Hard.

S started to cry because she felt bad but Toria was a brave girl and told her friend that it was OK.

S's mom said to Toria "Toria, you are a brave girl. That must've hurt."

Toria responded "Yes, I am brave but my brother is even braver. He gets 3 or 4 needles a day and then he gets lots and lots of finger pokes. He has diabetes and he is really brave."

The mom said "Wow, it sounds like you're both very brave."

Toria added "And sometimes my brother has to get needles in his cheeks. (points to her smiling cheeks) And not these kinda cheeks!!"

----------------------------

I love those brave kids!

My daughter, the brain surgeon

Toria received her report card today. Here is what her teacher said:

Toria is making very good progress in the K program. During our one-on-one meeting she identifed the names of all her classmates, teachers, and suppport staff. She printed her own sentence, which is not actually true, but she really wanted to write it.

"Mi MOM ES LAT FOWR SOWL EVRE DA"

10 bucks to the first person who can figure that out.

Just kidding. I'll tell you... at the end of my blog. Here's what else her teacher said

Toria accurately computes the sums of doubles (4 + 4, 5 + 5, 6 + 6, etc), and has an excellent understanding of the Power of Ten. She is able to 'add on' and to subtract to find a given total. This is excellent.

During "Center" (free play) time she enjoys playing in the classroom store. She has taken the role of a shopper, shelf stocker and grocery bagger. Her favourite role is being the cashier!

It is a great pleasure sharing my day with Toria. I am very proud of you.

WAY TO GO TORIA. We are also very proud of you.
Even if:

My Mom is late for school every day.

Kids kids kids...

[Background: The capital of the Province of Manitoba is a city called Winnipeg (pronounced Wi-na-peg)].

Driving home from swimming lessons - totally out of the blue...

Tomas "Do you know that in the city of Winnipeg you can Win a Pig?"
Me "No, I didn't know that and by the way, it is pronounced WinniPEG".

Tomas "No, it's PIG and if we go there we can Win a Pig, Mom! Really. True story!"
Me "Tomas, I lived in Winnipeg for 2 years and I never won a pig. And seriously it is pronounced WinniPEG."

At this point we are all laughing so hard at the absurdity of our conversation we're having a hard time continuing the conversation.

Tomas "Mom, I guess you never won a Pig there because you pronounced Winnapig wrong."
Me "Tomas, for love or money, you are cracking me up - but I kid you not - it is pronounced WinniPEG. Oh and furthermore - your father was born there."


Tomas "Oh cool, I wonder if he ever won a Pig."

*****
And so to Todd (father of my children), my in-laws and many friends who live in Winnipeg - why is it called Winnipeg and have you ever won a Peg? Err, dare I ask, a Pig?

POST UPDATE: The name Winnipeg is a transcription of a western Cree word meaning "muddy waters".

-------------------------------
And because Toria doesn't want to be left out of the silliness - she wants me to tell everyone that she has learned to swallow air and burp loud obnoxious burps on cue. Oh joy. I'm so proud!

Toria, Toria, Toria

The scenario: Toria is in her bed - it is bedtime - and I hear:

Mom
Mom
Mom
MOM
MOM
MOOOOOMMMMMMM

Mom:Yes?

(Expected question:) Can you get me some water?
(Backup expected question:) You forgot to give me 6 kisses?

(Actual question:) Did you know that they are called eyeballs because they are an eye and in the shape of a ball so that's why it is ball after 'eye' and because there are 2 of them they put an 's' on the very end of the word. So did you know that is why they are called eye-ball-s?

When you give a girl the camera

North South East West

Tomas to his dad: "Next Christmas I'm going to ask Santa for a trip to Paris so I can see the Great Wall of China."

Huh? (OK, so maybe geography needs a little bit of work but I'll take either destination! PLEASE SANTA! And then Toria had to get her 2 cents in...)

Toria to Tomas: "Tomas, ya know how Santa brings presents, maybe the Easter Bunny does too and you can just ask him for the trip!"

Odds 'n Ends

HAPPY NEW YEAR
- from our family to yours!

(Many Thanks to Uncle G. & Aunt N for the gift certificate to the Keg. Todd & I were planning to use it alone but we ended up visiting Granville Island in Vancouver and they have the great Keg right in the middle- so we used it as a family and had a fantastic time!)

In other news,

On the Christmas blog I forgot to show this classic Christmas picture: Tomas writing the letter to Santa (& Toria supervising)! This is the first year Tomas been able to read/print well enough to write it on his own. They left cookies and milk for Santa and oatmeal, sprinkles, and coconut for the reindeer!... and to write the letter he had to use a red pen, of course! Too cute.

Now - it is time for a science lesson. You've always heard that we lose 80% of our heat through our heads and through the seams on clothes but did you really know???

Well, we went to the Telus World of Science in Vancouver and they have this infra-red camera that shows heat! Way cool! In the first picture Todd is in the middle and he's wearing a big puffy vest. If you look closely you can see the seams on his vest (forming rectangles). The seams show up as hot red lines indicating that is exactly where the heat loss is! On the 2nd photo - he opened up his vest and he's one hot dude!

And finally, Tomas is watching the history channel, Toria is cutting up more Christmas wrapping ribbon decoration and taping them to her bed spread so she can have a bed spread with fringe. Yep, it is a normal relaxing-only-4-more-days-until-school-starts-day in our house.

Christmas excitement!

Wow-Wii. Tomas must've been REALLY GOOD this year.

Toria loves it all!

How much fun we did have this year! The kids are great.

Fa la la - Christmas Concerts!

What a great holiday performance! My children are true stars. Here are some photos:

Toria & her phenomenal teacher, Mrs. H. Then Toria singing her song!


Tomas is SINGING the song! [You may ask - why is he not wearing a shirt with collar? As most people, including Tomas, know I have a rule: If you're going somewhere important you must wear a shirt with a collar. (Tomas has 2 shirts with a collar - one for the summer and one for the winter). Ha, I was thwarted by a teacher. They were singing a multi-cultural song and she told them to wear a bright coloured shirt so they could be like a multi-coloured flag of many countries)]


The children paused long enough in their frantic excitement of counting down the days until Santa to pose for this picture!