Monday, September 26, 2011

Walking Man

Walking man walk on by my door 
Well, any other man stops and talks 
But not the walking man 
He's the walking man 
Born to walk 
Walk on walking man 
Well now, would he have wings to fly 
Would he be free 
Golden wings against the sky 
Walking man, walk on by 
So long, walking man, so long



Name that tune. "Walking Man"!!! You're right!

Well a big congratulations to our little walking man. Not sure he was "born to walk" as the song suggests. He's more of a talker, but we're glad after 14 months that he's decided it's time. Lincoln is really funny because when we started applauding Bennett for his efforts, Lincoln, I guess thought that he needed some attention and praise as well, so he likes to imitate Bennett and pretend he can't walk very well. This isn't his best show, but you get the idea.









Four Years, Nearly One Month and Counting...

Our anniversary this year was quite uneventful. Matt had to fly up to site (in Ft McMurray) so I was left alone in a hotel room with our 2 little guys. Matt did send an edible bouquet, but other than that, it was quite a forgettable day. Thus, I neglected to post my annual tribute to my dreamy man. Nearly a month has passed, but a couple of things that happened today reminded me that I forgot to mention the passing of our anniversary. As I continued the grand sorting of our house and home today, I came across these gems which are from our honeymoon:








Weren't we so young, tan (except for Matt's upper arm) and skinny? Maybe one day (hopefully prior to the resurrection) we'll get back to a form that somewhat resembles us in these pics. I won't hold my breath.

And the other thing that reminded me today of "the best day of my life" (as Matt tells me it is), is that last night when the home teachers were over, Lincoln kept begging Matt to let him hold his ring. I urged Matt to not let him cause Matt was talking rather than paying attention. Bennett was squawking so I went to go help him and forgot about the ring. Then today at dinner, Lincoln said "Daddy, ring?" wanting to hold it again, which made Matt remember that his ring was missing. We asked Lincoln where it was and he walked right over to one of the central vac outlets or inlets, I guess, opened up the flap and kept saying "Daddy, ring" over and over. We emptied the central vac, but I think the ring was too heavy to make it all the way there and I wasn't about to dig through the large cylinder of hair, dandruff and who knows what else from the previous tenants. Sick. Guess we'll have to buy another one.

Anyway, here's to us, Babe!!!  

A few more Canadianisms

I forgot some:

  • Sorry = "Story" without the "t"
  • A two story building = A two storey building
  • Center = Centre
  • Check = Cheque
  • Restroom = Washroom
  • 6th Grade = Grade 6
  • Going to college = Going to university
  • House = "Haoose"
  • Route = "Root"
  • "Next Window Please" = "Next Wicket Please"
  • Beanie/Hat = Toque


To be continued...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

We're Candians Now


We now live in Calgary and have for the past three or so weeks, but our furniture from Lewiston had to go ALL THE WAY down to Houston to meet up with our stuff in storage and then all of it got shipped together up here and just arrived on Friday. We've been living in an empty house for far too long. It's good to have our furniture and stuff, but I think I could do without our old aquariums and MVP trophies from high school. I've got a lot of sorting to do and it's really overwhelming. We packed our house up nearly 2 years ago to move to Korea in such a rush that a lot of stuff that should have been discarded wasn't. NUTS! Oh well. As for now, most of it is shoved in a closet and I have vowed to go through one box a day starting next week. I need a rest.

We're enjoying our house. I'll give you a house tour when I'm up to it. But just a block or two away from our place, we have the following view of the city:


We've joined the YMCA in town and Lincoln is loving swimming lessons. Bennett is hating the day care there. It's good prep for nursery in a few months, right?

Well, I always thought that Canada was just like the USA with socialized medecine, but I was wrong. Things I have learned include:

  • They have $1 and $2 coins so I always think I'm getting shorted when people give me change. 
  • Hockey is number 1, Canadian Rules football #2, NFL maybe 3rd.
  • 80% of what's on the radio HAS to be Canadian which is no good. Where is my NPR???
  • Babies don't get pediatricians unless they have really serious health issues, and you have to know someone who knows someone to get a good doctor or a doctor at all. What the? 
  • If you're at the grocery store, and you can't read what's on the food label, flip it over for the English side. EVERYTHING is in French AND English. I thought that that was only the case in Quebec.
  • Maternity leave is 1 year, and everyone gets 1 Friday off a month. 
  • Beig = Bag, although that's true for my in-laws as well. 
  • Kraft Dinner = Mac and Cheese
  • Mum = Mom (mum's the word here)
  • Credit cards have microchips in them. 
  • They charge you for monthly fee for banking services like letting you have an ATM card, making as many withdrawals as you want, etc.
  • Don't leave your passports in the console of your locked car in front of your house or else they will get stolen and then you will have to apply for your forth passport in 5 years. 
The End.