Goodbye 2016

Only 3 more days until Christmas!  I say this not with excitement, but more with relief.  You see, Christmas has never been my favorite holiday or time of year.  Too much spending, too stressful, too much eating, just too much of everything.

I don't hate Christmas.  I don't love it.  There are aspects of this time of year that I do LIKE....but nothing really about it that I love.  I guess I most enjoy spending time with my family & friends.  Not large parties but smaller intimate dinners or lunches.  Sitting around, watching a movie, not really feeling like much needs to be said or done.  Just enjoying each other's PRESENCE.

The year did not start on a high note, but it didn't end on a low one either.   So what kind of year was it?  It was a year where I continued to have hope.  There were times of darkness, despair, & disappointment.  But there were also days of celebration - celebrating my beautiful family, my amazing friends, and celebrating me!

Only a few more days left for 2016.  I know 2017 will be much much better & I can't wait for it to get started!
Y.C.

Wonder

At the beginning of the school year my teacher started reading the book Wonder to my class as a read aloud. My mom also had the book so I brought it in class to follow along. We don't read often, only when there's extra time at the end of the day. It was such a good book that I decided to start reading it on my own. Why not read it on my own and put it to some use! Anyways, just finished the book on my own and my class is way behind me. So, I'm going to write about the book and I'm not going to talk about non-important parts so if you decide to read the book I won't explain every detail.
ALERT: SPOILERS AHEAD!! If you don't want any spoilers just stop reading and I won't be offended.

The main character is August and he has a deformed face. The author didn't really go into detail about what he looked like. All the author said is his eyes are about an inch below where they're supposed to be, one ear is bigger than the other, and when he smiles his mouth looks like a straight line. He had had many surgeries when he was young so he got home schooled by his mom. Now he's going to school for the first time and entering grade five. Before the school year started the principal, Mr.Tushman asked three student that go to the school to come to the school, give August  a tour of the school and be welcoming buddies for August. When they got there they were all really nice to August but later on August found out Charlotte was a goody two shoes, Jack was a good friend and Julian was a bully. When the tour was over August and his mom left to walk home. When they got home his mom asked him how it was. August told her what had happened and that Julian hurt his feelings when he said "Were you in a fire or something," but Jack and Charlotte stood up for him and said "You're so rude, Julian.". His mom was really upset and said he didn't have to go to school.
On the first day of school, Jack hung out with him in his classes, Charlotte said hi to him in the halls, but Julian was talking about him behind his back in a bad way. At lunch Jack went to sit at a table with other kids so August sat by himself in the cafeteria. Then a girl named Summer came by to sit with him and they became very good friends.
Jack, Summer and August all became good friends. Then on Halloween August was going to go as Boba Fett, but changed his mind last minute to go as the Bleeding Scream. When he walked into class he sat at a desk and three people were talking. He over heard them talking and right away he knew one was Julian, but he couldn't figure out who the other two were. He soon figured out it was Jack and they were bad mouthing him. August felt so betrayed he left and went to the nurse's office to call home sick. When his mom picked him up and asked what was wrong but all he said was that he didn't feel well. He didn't want his mom to go tell the principal about what happened. After that August didn't talk to Jack after that but a little while after that Jack asked Summer what happened. Summer swore to August she wouldn't tell anyone but she felt bad for Jack so she gave him the hint of Bleeding Scream. At first Jack didn't understand but after a while he realized that the person in the bleeding scream costume was August. So he texted August and said that he was really sorry for what he did and August forgave him. Meanwhile Jack and Julian were talking and Julian started bad mouthing August. Jack is August friend so he punched Julian in the mouth. After what happened the principal, Mr. Tushman asked Jack why he did it but Jack said if he told him if he told him it would make everything worse and Mr. Tushman suspended him for two days. So during the winter break Jack e-mailed Julian and Mr. Tushman to apologize. after the winter break was over the grade fives went on a two day camping trip. August wasn't very excited for the trip because Julian was going to be there, but when he got to school Julian wasn't there. August had a great time except for on the last day they had an outdoor movie with other schools and there were older bullies from another school. A couple other boys from August's school were standing up for him. The other kids were pulling on him and calling him names. In the end they took August's hearing aids and broke them. When they got back Mr.Tushman had contacted the other school's principal and found what was left of his broken hearing aid. Now August had so many friends because they heard what had happened and how brave August was. Meanwhile Julian had missed all of the trip and that was what everyone was talking about so he was out of it and had no friends. It turns put that Julian had missed the trip because he got suspended for two weeks for writing mean notes to August and putting them in his locker. Julian's parents got so mad that Julian got suspended longer than Jack so his dad said that next year Julian would not be returning to this school.

I really liked this book and I would recommended it to all ages because M1 and Y.C have both read it already.


                                                                              M2

Future Dreams

I read something recently...

"When most are dreaming of graduations, weddings, family trips, retirement.  I'm just dreaming of another day, another week, another month, that I can spend with the people I love."

Actually I do dream of graduations, weddings, family trips, and retirement.  This is how I dream of those things: I do it with a longing and wonder of whether I will see it happen.  Some days I am determined that I will, some days I am convinced I will not.  This is what goes thru my mind almost everyday.  Thinking about the future, the future of my children, and what it would be like without me.  What keeps me going is the faint hope, the last thread of string I hang on to, that yes, I WILL be here for many more years.

Y.C.

Halfway Mark

We started off the day with a walk on the beach.  I never considered myself a 'beachy' type person but I think I could change.  Something about the ocean, waves, crisp air, clear sky...the calmness of it all.  I could get used to this.

Today is Day 3 of my mini-vacation.  Another day of wonderful company, amazing food, and shopping...

Y.C.

If Time Could Stand Still....

Content.  Happiness.  Bliss.  Blessed.

I don't know if these words do justice to describe how I'm feeling right now.

I was nervous before I came.  I was worried about how I would feel physically - a little part of of me was always afraid that I'd have to cancel because something would 'come up'.  Now that I'm here I feel wonderful.  My heart feels so full - in an amazing way.  And I haven't felt any odd aches & pains since I got here.  I don't know if it's only psychological - but I'll take any good feelings that come my way.

I'm watching 4 amazing women right now - making dinner, talking, laughing, enjoying each other's company. We will be doing a lot of this over the next 3 days.  It's making me smile.

I'm not thinking about tomorrow.  I'm not thinking about time.  I am thinking about now and I am thinking that this time is for me.  Thank you friends for sharing this experience with me.

My In-Laws

I live in a multi-generational home - my parent-in-laws and I live together so we are one big happy family of 7!

I think I am in the minority in that I get along with my parent-in-laws quite well.  If I didn't, I don't think we would've lasted the 13 years we've had.  In fact, I pride myself in that I have a very healthy relationship with my husband's siblings too.  And it isn't because I'M Miss Congeniality.  It is because my husband's family is truly the most loving, caring, respectful, honest, and generous people around.

I am thinking about my parents-in-law because we went out for groceries & lunch yesterday.  We do this often since I stopped working full-time.  I had to stop working because I got sick.  Really sick.  I really believe I am here today because of all the help my family and my husband's family have given me over the last 2 1/2 years.  And because I live with my in-laws they have had to burden more than they should have. They cooked for us, kept our home spotless inside & out, and even driven me to doctors appointments when I couldn't drive myself.  But I am most grateful to them for just being here for my children, for being their rock, their constant, when my daughters' world was turned upside down when I was most sick.  When I needed to focus my energy on healing myself & getting better I knew I didn't have the distraction of worrying about my children because I knew they are so loved & well cared for.

I know how lucky I am & am grateful everyday for having these amazing people in my life.

Y.C.

Happy Birthday D & A

Today I am thinking about my brother - Cow Fu.  Cow Fu is uncle in Chinese and that's what my girls call him.

I'm sure my girls will attest that he's a pretty cool uncle.  Even when my girls were tiny babies he would hold them and cradle them as if it was second nature (not even having children of his own at the time).  As my kids grew up, he was always there with shopping trips to buy birthday presents, fun outings to the Science Centre, or just coming to hang out with them for a few hours.  Then he and his wife went to Australia for 4 years but when they returned it was as if Cow Fu never left.  My children are so lucky to have him in their lives.

Last year he became a father of twins and I'm sure he will be a cool dad as well.   This past year I am blessed to have witnessed a side of him that is emerging.  That of "a dad" - a role he eased into, but is learning on the go none-the-less.

He is a dad that wipes down highchairs in restaurants.  A dad that worries when he hears a little cough or sneeze from his babies.  A dad that has to not only pacify his babies needs, but the needs of both sets of grandparents too.  A dad that is so proud with his children's first steps and first words.  A dad that changes dirty diapers and cleans baby vomit without so much as a wince.  A dad that has a sense of humour.  Cow Fu: Your children are very lucky to have you as a father & Cow Mo as a mom. 

I am so happy I am here to see all this.  I am so proud of the man, the dad, my brother has become.
Today my niece & nephew turn 1 - Happy Birthday D & A!

Y.C.

My Grandpa's Chickens

On Sunday me and my family went to see my grandpa's chickens at the farm.
I fed the chickens.  I was not brave enough to go near them so I was carried by my dad.
My sister went into the chicken coop to pick up the eggs but I was too scared to go.  And my other sister was squeezing my dad's arm and yelling because she was afraid too.  M2 was the only brave one there.

The farm was in Kitchener.  Afterwards we went to see my cousins at their University.  In University you live in a condo.  After visiting my cousins we went to dinner with them.  The restaurant's name is Cameron Chinese Restaurant.  We had Sweet & Sour Pork, Chow Mein, Chicken, Beef, Vegetables & Rice.  I had fun and it was great!

M3

Magical Childhood

I read a blog recently titled I'm Done Making My Kid's Childhood Magical.  This mom argues that some parents are excessive in trying to plan too much activities, the most elaborate birthday parties, and expensive vacations in the name of creating magical memories when in fact children do not necessarily need these things for their childhood to be 'magical'.

This made me think about what I am doing to make my kids' childhood magical, and more importantly, do my kids feel their childhood is magical?

We don't have big birthday parties at fancy venues.  Each of my children have had one birthday party at a children's venue.  All other birthdays have been celebrated at home, or at a favorite restaurant with just the family, occasionally their cousins, and for my 12 year old in last couple of years, a few of her closest friends were invited along.

We don't go on expensive vacations every year.  This year was the first time my 6 year old has been on an airplane.   We tend to go on family road trips within a few hours driving distance.

I don't go out of my way to plan 'activities' or crafts or 'special outings' with my kids.  Sure, we'll catch a movie a few times a year (but it's not a weekly or even monthly event).  We've gone to see live theatre plays/musicals, but only when I feel the production is relevant or interesting to them.  As for planning games, crafts,  & activities at home for them?  Well, I do keep an abundance of art supplies, have an enormous amount of Lego, and keep our bookshelves well stocked with books, games, & puzzles.

My children do not have themed bedrooms, designer clothes, or the latest gadgets.  We have a family iPad to share, M2 & M3 wears hand-me-downs from M1, and even she'll wear clothes her older cousins have passed down to her.  Oh, and the 3 of them still share a bedroom - and it's not because they have to, but because they want to.

So what do we do with our children?

We read with our children.   I'll read to my 6 year old (every night, sometimes the same book for days), and I'll read the same books my 12 & 10 year old read so we can talk about the books together.

We eat dinner together and talk about our day at work or school.  Even on the days when the older ones have dance class and they eat late after everyone else is done, we make sure either the Big Oh or myself (sometimes both of us) sit with them to talk about the day while they finish eating.

We hang out together.  Most evenings after dinner all 5 of us are in the same room getting settled down and ready for bed.  This may take over an hour, and during this time we could be brushing our teeth, reading a book, watching TV, surfing the internet on the iPad, or writing a blog, but we all seem to flock to the same room even if we are doing different things.

We volunteer to go on field trips with our kid's classes.  We go swimming & skating with them, not just take them to swim/skate lessons, but actually get in the water and on the ice with them to teach & play with them.  We go bike riding & play in the park in the summer, and we build snowmen & snow forts in the winter.

We take them to their many dance classes, recitals, & competitions.  We sit hours just to see them on stage for a few minutes.  We are there to give them a big smile and hi-five when they know they've done an amazing job.  And we are the first people they seek out to hug and cry to when they know they could've done better.

We make time for traditions.  We make time for friends and extended family.  We emphasize the importance of traditions and and insist our children participate, not by ultimatum & force, but by explaining why it is important and what the alternative would be without friends & family to share traditions with.

Nothing above seems very magical to me.  So I guess I'm not making a very magical childhood for my kids. However, they show me everyday through their words & actions that they wouldn't want it any differently and that is all that matters.

YC

Happy Birthday To My Baby

Today is M3's birthday.



As with any school day, I get a head start before the kids wake up to start breakfast & lunches.  I then go & check on the older ones to make sure they are out of bed and then help M3 with her morning routine.  Sometimes she lies in bed waiting for me to come in & help her pick out her clothes, set up her toothbrush, brush her hair.  Sometimes she's already up and getting a head start with the help of her older sisters.  Today when I went upstairs she was already in her school clothes and in the washroom brushing her teeth - today is going to be a great day!



M3 is my baby and she always will be.  I cuddle her more, kiss her more, and she enjoys playing "baby" with me more so than the older two did.  She is also my feisty one.  She has a temper.  She pushes our boundaries & tests our patience daily.  No, I am not waiting for her to grow out of this "stage" - I anticipate she will be like this forever.  This is what makes her HER and I love everything about her.



M3 reminds me everyday that being a family, a parent, is not going to always be just hugs and kisses, sunshine and rainbows.  There will be frustrations, tears, and meltdowns.  There will be cloudy days, rainy days and some downright stay-at-home-and-lock-yourselves-in-blizzard days.  And that's OK.  She reminds me that just blinding loving my children is not enough.   I need to be patient, compassionate, empathetic, and kind.  I can't do all the talking and teaching.  Sometimes I need to listen to my children, REALLY listen to them and learn from them too.



Happy Birthday M3.  Everyday you show me how I can be the best mom I can be.  I love you so much.



Y.C.

Honestly Me

I haven't been completely honest.  I haven't lied.  But I've been holding back.

There are many things I worry about daily.  In order to keep my sanity I have learned to push these worrisome thoughts aside and concentrate on the present.  There are many days that writing will help put everything in perspective and help me re-focus on the present.  Reminding me of what is important now.  What is happening now. 

When I say I haven't been completely honest I mean that a lot of what I write doesn't make it to this blog.  It is written and saved but never "published" because I'm not ready to "put it all out there".  Knowing that there are those very dear and close to me reading this, I am selective on what I share. 

But there are people out there who do share their innermost fears and feelings.  They are real.  They are raw and they are very very brave.  I recently started following a blog of a woman who shares her experiences (www.tanismiller.com).  She is a mother who unexpectedly gave birth to a special needs child.  She also unexpectedly loss that child, and is currently an adopted mother of another special needs child.  She writes beautifully and honestly.  I wish I was able to be as uninhibited in my writing as she is.  Reading her blog makes me feel stronger.  It makes me feel that with so many stories out there of faith, love, hope and just SURVIVING - that perhaps my story can be that too. 

Maybe by writing & posting this today I am getting closer to being the true honest person I hope to be.

Y.C.

My First Day Of School

Today is the first day of school.  I am in grade one.  My teacher's name is Mrs. S****.  My teacher had a surprise for us.  The surprise was a caterpillar.  I liked my classroom.    My best friend is V****** and she is in my class.  I also played other children in the yard.  A lot of those children were nice.  I went to another classroom and I listened to a story.  The teachers were reading a story together and showing us how to read like buddies and she didn't show us the pictures.  Afterwards she showed us the pictures.  I had a long day.  I liked the big school yard and I played with lots of different people.  I did school work today.  My school work was writing numbers and reading.   I even found my sisters in the schoolyard.  My grandpa came to pick me up from school.  That's all I want to tell you.  I'll tell you more tomorrow.

M3

Documentaries - Part 2

Here is the continuation of the documentaries I have watched this summer on Netflix:


Fat Sick & Nearly Dead (2010) - Follows and overweight Australian entrepreneur and filmmaker on his journey to lose weight by juicing only fresh fruit and vegetables and drinking only that for 60 days while inspiring others to do the same.  🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Fat Sick & Nearly Dead 2 (2014) - Revisits Joe Cross the Australian who lost over 100 lbs in 60 days by drinking only fresh juices and to see how he and others who were also featured in the first "Fat Sick & Nearly Dead (2010) were doing 4 years after the first documentary was filmed.  🌟 

The Search For General Tso (2014) - Explores the origin of this Chinese dish you'll find on almost every North American Chinese restaurant (spoiler: this dish did not originate in China).  Also an interesting look into the proliferation of Chinese restaurants in the small towns USA.  🌟 🌟 

Little White Lie (2014) - Autobiographical documentary by filmmaker Lacey Schwartz who grew up believing she was a white Jewish girl and finding out that her biological father was a black man.  Interesting conversation about race, ethnicity, and how one identifies with their own race.  🌟 🌟

The Black Kung Fu Experience (2012) - African American kung fu masters - some highly respected individuals even in the Chinese subculture of kung fu actors & stuntmen in Hong Kong.  🌟 🌟

Hoop Dreams (1994) - A documentary featuring two inner city Chicago boys with hopes of scoring a college basketball scholarship and ultimately a shot a the NBA.  Not just a film about basketball but of how economics, race, social class, and education all plays a part in almost every young athelete's dream of making it into the big leagues. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

The Mask You Live In (2015) - This film hypothesizes that in today's society the images of men thru the media, television, sports, and even at home, encourages them to be stoic, repress their feelings, dominant, and violent.  One of the topics the film highlights is how sensitivity in a boys is seen as being a weakness and how as a child ages they become more aware of what society perceives what a man should be like and how a man should act and the implications of that. 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 

Amy (2015) - On Amy Winehouse.  Sad look at her rise to fame and how just a couple of bad people/influences in her life had such a profound effect on her life and death.  🌟 🌟

Dance Boot Camp

This past week M1 and I went to Dance Boot Camp. It was 4 hours from 4:00-8:00 so it was really intense. I will be listing all the classes from my favourite to least favourite.

Jazz Fusion (Bree): I liked this class because our teacher was Ms.Kate form the Next Step and the choreography wasn't that hard. I also liked it because we used a song I was familiar to (Me Too - Meghan Trainor) and most of the classes I didn't know the song.

Contemporary (Hani): I enjoyed this class because the teacher was nice and the choreography was easy and fun to do.

Stretch (Christina): I also liked this class because the instructor was nice and we did partner stretches that were very useful.

Acro (Kim): This class was good because I like Acro and I'm good at it and the teacher was nice.

Contemporary (Tiffany): This class was okay because I liked the combo that we did but the teacher would keep talking about her helper. She said that when we are older we should be like her.

Turning (Joe); This class was also okay because he was nice but some of the things we did across the floor were hard.

Musical Theatre (Jamie): I didn't really enjoy this class as much as other because although he was a nice instructor the move were kind of inappropriate.

Musical Theatre (Jay): I didn't like this class because we were supposed to do Musical Theatre but he made us sing which a lot of people didn't like.

Hip Hop (Apolonia): This class wasn't very fun because the moves were really fast and she didn't give us a lot of time to practice.

Jazz (Shawn): I didn't like this class either because we were supposed to do Jazz but we ended up doing Contemporary which I didn't like because we had Contemporary right after that. Also the teacher said that he only liked teaching one student and the rest of us were being rude which wasn't true.

M2

Tea Time

Today I went to Essence of Unionville for afternoon tea.  It is a fancy restaurant inside a hotel.
I ate three sandwiches: egg salad, tuna, and ham & cheese. 
I also ate some desserts.  One of the desserts was chocolate covered strawberries.  I also had crème brule and lemon poppy seed bread. 
Afterwards me and my sister took a picture with a fancy sports car.
It was a fun time.  I ate a lot and my sister ate a lot too.  I like the food very much.  I liked the restaurant.  It had fancy chairs and tables.  Everything was very fancy. 

M3

Summer Eats

It's been awhile since I posted any restaurant reviews.  This summer we ate out A LOT.  More so than usual.  We tried a few new restaurants and frequented some of our favorites.  Here's a list of the new restos our family tried.

Diana's Oyster Bar & Grill http://dianasoysterbar.com/menu/
I guess our mistake in going to a restaurant like this is that my family doesn't eat oysters.  We didn't even try their lobsters as we prefer them "Chinese" style.  We ordered the lobster bisque, clam chowder, fried calamari, bouilabaise, seafood paella, their surf & turf, shrimp & lobster pasta, and grilled branzino.  Although everything was well presented and palatable, I wasn't overwhelmed with anything except for the bill - but that was to be expected - I did check out the menu online before deciding to go.  I just wished that for the price we paid I was more "wowed". 

Essesce Of Unionville Essence Of Unionville
This restaurant is inside the Hilton Suites.  We went for afternoon tea and for only $20 per person buffet style ($11 for children 4-10 years old), plus the mixed reviews online, I didn't think I had high expectations, but I was still disappointed with the quality of food and selection.  The sandwiches were basic tuna, egg salad, ham & cheese and smoked salmon.  The desserts looked like they had been sourced in, and quite frankly, our local grocery stores have fancier/tastier desserts than some of the one they had laid out. 

Petit Potato http://www.petitpotato.com/MainMenu.php
A Taiwanese tapa-style restaurant whose specialty is Chinese desserts.  We went for lunch and ordered some popcorn chicken,  sizzling beef short rib on rice, pork cutlet omurice with curry, pork & mui choi on rice, & pork ramen.  Although we didn't try their signature dessert, a tower of French toast, whipped cream, fruit, & ice cream concoction, we did order the durian pancake, sweet sesame soup and egg pudding as well as two fancy drinks.  The menu items are pricey but we were happy with the taste, service and restaurant in general.  So no complaints here.  I like how we can preview the menu of most restaurants online and can't be surprised with prices.

Honey B Hive
Basically a dive/diner.  Stick with their $4.99 all day breakfast and you'll be fine.  Veer away from that and don't say that I didn't warn you.  We ordered a "chicken souvlaki pita" and it was frozen chicken breast with some tzatziki sauce and limp lettuce.  The pancake breakfast was obviously a box mix and done poorly at that - my 10 year old had two bites and couldn't finish the rest.  The steak that came with the steak and eggs wasn't seasoned and thin as paper.  Can't remember what else we ordered but I'm sure it wasn't good either.

Milestones http://milestonesrestaurants.com/dinner.php
Came here for M2's birthday dinner with 3 of her friends.  Although we have been to Milestones before, this is a new location.  It is in a busy area with a movie theatre close by but on the Friday night we were there it wasn't busy at all.  The menu was typical of any franchised restaurant - we ordered fried calamari, French onion soup, Ceasar salad, prime rib sandwich, and entrees off the kids' menu.
 
Papa Chang's http://www.papachang.ca/menu/
Another Taiwanese tapa style restaurant just around the corner from our place.   Most of the snack items are around $5 and come with 3 or 4 pieces, or just enough for 3 or 4 people to get a tasteful.    I didn't mind at all as this allowed our family to sample many items.  From the snack menu we ordered panko shrimp, skewered fish, popcorn chicken, green onion fried cake, we added a couple of rice bowls for $6.99 and bento boxes for $6.99 and we were set.  A lot of deep fried items so if you are craving some grease this is the place to go.  This restaurant was a pleasant surprise, however the place is small - seating for about 20-25 people only.

Documentaries - Part 1

We got Netflix recently.  I love being able to watch programs on my own time, at my own pace.  I guess with cable TV and PVR boxes you can argue that you can do that anyways but I hate our two local cable companies and I'm slowly changing our services to only the most basic so I can get local news and some live sporting and live special programs (re: Academy Awards, Grammys, etc...).  I hate how they basically have an oligopoly on the industry, over-charging for their services while providing crappy service.  But that's another rant for another post.

So what have I been watching?  Well, M1 & I binged watched 8 episodes of 'Stranger Things' and now I'm stuck wondering when Season 2 will begin.  And I love documentaries.  I love real people stories - their trials & tribulations.  I love being transported out of my world and time and into somewhere I would never be able to go to.  I also love food and I love learning about our Earth and the amazing things it can do for us if we treat it well.  I love sad stories just as much as I love happy ones, and I love serious thought provoking stories just as much as "fluff" about movie stars & musician - if nothing else,  just to remind me of what a beautiful life I have and how grateful I am to be here.  Documentaries can be all this and more.   Here are the ones I've watched so far with a little blurb and personal rating of each.

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟  Loved it!  Definitely a must watch for anyone - I'd watch it again.
🌟 🌟 🌟  Really liked it & would recommend.
🌟 🌟  It was OK - but may not recommend unless you are interested in the subject matter.
🌟  I liked it enough to finish the documentary but probably wouldn't recommend it

Back In Time (2015) - A look back at THE BEST TIME TRAVEL MOVIE OF ALL TIME!  This is full of present day interviews of the stars and makers of Back To The Future & it's sequels.  A must watch for any Back To The Future fan.   🌟 🌟 🌟 

Kid Poker (2014) - Toronto native Daniel Negreanu's account of his rise in ranks in the world of professional poker playing.  Love how he seems like a just an average Joe kind of guy playing in poker games for millions of dollars.  🌟 🌟

Welcome To Lieth (2015) - How some citizens of a small town U.S.A. fought back against a white supremacist who was intent on moving into their town and possibly setting up a faction of a white supremacist group in the area.  🌟 🌟 🌟

Queen Of Versailles (2012) - This documentary looks and feels like reality TV.  A look inside the over-indulgent lifestyle of a time-share mogul and his wife and family filmed during the course of
2 years - right in the middle of the 2008 financial crisis.   Interesting look at how the rich and famous "cope" when they have to downsize  their extravagant lifestyle.  🌟 🌟

Trophy Kids (2013) - A documentary that follows families that push their children to become "prodigies" in their chosen sport.  The parents come across as overbearing, intense, win-at-all-costs, while the children seem stressed and unhappy.  🌟 🌟 🌟

I didn't really give any of these documentaries a bad rating - even the one star can't be considered a "bad" rating.  I have started watching some documentaries only to stop without finishing - I guess those would be the ones that I would give 0 stars to but I'm not going to list those.  There are a few more that I have watched.  I will continue this list with a Part 2...

Are there any documentaries that you would recommend?  Feel free to comment below.

Goodbye Summer

This is the last weekend before school starts.  The kids have new school supplies & their school bags are packed.  They are excitedly looking forward to next week.  Today my two older girls are with their cousins on one last summer outing and my little one is quietly playing on her own.  This is bliss.

I am thinking how quickly this summer has gone by and taking inventory on what we did.  There was two weeks of summer camp.  A week of dance camp.  Two weeks of volunteer work for the older girls and a family trip to Ottawa at the beginning of the summer. 

There were a few weekends with cousins.  Some birthday parties thrown in.  The Big Oh went to Wonderland a few times (gotta make use of those season's passes) with the girls.  We had some quality time with friends & family.  We watched a couple of movies, went to the theatre, and tried some new restaurants. 

We lazied around at home, completed a 3D puzzle, learned some new games & played some old one.  Went to the library and read some good books, went swimming at grandma's and at friends' places.  We watched a lot of Netflix - the kids loved "Full House" and "Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" and I was hooked on to "Stranger Things" and documentaries.  We slept late and slept in.

And between these activities with the kids I had weekly appointments to organize and keep - taking care of my health has become my "part-time job".  But I am grateful to still be here and able to do all these things and more.

Just because you don't (or can't) go on a fancy vacation, summers don't need to be "boring".  I hope my kids didn't think their summer was boring.  Simplicity is very much underrated.  Sometimes that's just what your body & mind needs - to slow down & enjoy life's simplest moments.

Y.C.

Only The Lonely

I had a conversation with someone recently about having children - or more specifically having more than one child.  I know that these topics are usually very sensitive and personal but in this case I felt close enough to this person that we could have a light-hearted conversation about this without any hurt feelings and without getting argumentive while defending our views.

As a parent I feel very strongly that children should have siblings.  Of course this view is shaped by my own families and my personal experiences.   I have 2 siblings and The Big Oh has 4.  Growing up my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins lived close by.  I remember having dim sum weekly and happily squishing 12-14 people around a table that was supposed to seat 10.  There was also weekly mah-jong games my parents played with aunt and uncles while my cousins and I ran around the house like banshees!  And it seemed we were attending a wedding, baby banquet, or birthday banquet every month!  As a child I enjoyed the games and hanging out with all the kids, as a young adult I might have even been annoyed by all the family functions that interfered with my own social life.  But now looking back, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

The Big Oh also had a similar childhood with even more uncles, aunts, and cousins than I.  Now between my siblings and The Big Oh's our children have 13 cousins.  They all live within relatively close driving distance and we make an effort to get together frequently.  And of course, my girls have each other. 

Our siblings help each other out with our parents health and finances.  We are there to help babysit. There's always someone to help fix a toilet, move furniture, or ask advice on fixing or buying a car.  We also cheer on and congratulate each other when one of us gets a raise or promotion, we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones.  We've fought, we've laughed and we've cried together.  Sure, you can share all these things with best friends, but I've got the best of both worlds: amazing friends and a network of brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and cousins - why wouldn't anyone want both if they could?

I've mentioned before that I've been sick, and without my family I really don't think I would be here today.  So yes, I am biased - I think it would be terribly sad and lonely to be an only child.  I know this isn't representative of all families or all brothers and sisters out there, but this is my experience, my family, and it is what I am grateful for today.

Y.C.

Device Free Week

I really wanted to set an example...I really did.  But just as I said "Device Free Week" I reached for my cell phone and wanted to put it in my calendar.  I admit - I can't do it.  So how can I set an example to my daughters and ask them to do something that I can't.

I realize that these electronic devices has become a part of our lives just like our cars, internet, and email - for some even as indispensable as electricity and running water.  So for my girls they are going device free (iPods and iPads and computers) for 5 days with an exception of 45 minutes every evening between 9:00 - 9:45 pm.  Day 1 and Day 2 - successfully completed.

As for myself?  Well, I already did some banking online today.  I check my calendar on my phone multiple times a day to make sure I haven't forgotten an appointment.  My family and friends automatically reach for the WHATSAPP or text message when we need to contact each other and now I'm on my laptop typing this post.  So no, I won't be going "Device Free" anytime soon.

So what are my girls doing during the last few lazy days of summer?  We've gone out to lunch with family, baked, we are working on a 3D puzzle, reading, watched some new shows together on Netflix, and playing a lot of mah-jong. 

Y.C.

Happy Birthday To My Meese

Today is M2's birthday.  She is 10 years old. 

Parent's are not suppose to have a favorite child - And for the record I certainly don't.  I love all my girls in their own special way.   They each have their own personalities, their own quirkiness, their own annoying behaviours - and I love everything about them, because that's what makes them their own special person.  But IF I did have a favorite I think it would be M2...

She is so funny.  She has a wicked sense of humour.  She sees quirkiness and weirdness in some of the most mundane things and then her silly grin will creep on her face like she just discovered a secret that she is dying to tell.  And she keeps a journal of riddles and jokes she's read or heard.

She is so sensitive.  And at 10 years old she already knows compassion and empathy.  Her feelings get hurt easily - sometimes with a word or an action that was never intended to be hurtful at all.  But even when she is feeling sad or angry at someone she'll think about how the other person is feeling too. 

She is so smart.  She is my gifted child.  You know, she did score in the 98th percentile in the school "gifted" test!  She'll be my doctor, engineer, scientist...anything she can dream of I know she'll succeed at.

She is so strong.  Have you seen her dance?  Her handstands?  Her push-ups and sit-ups?  How she flies thru the air with her jumps?  And those abs and glutes?  Rock.  Hard.  Steele.

She is so loving.  She always remembers birthdays.  She always remembers to make or buy a card or present.  She still comes home after school with a hug or kiss for me.  She still comes and kisses me goodnight.  She cares about her sisters - she loves and protects them so much.

She is so beautiful.  Her smile.  Her eyes.  Those wicked tiger teeth of hers - just like daddy has.

Happy 10th Birthday Meese.  Love, mommy.

Y.C.

Summer Institute: Week 2

As I said before I am writing another blog about our summer camp. A lot of my electives were the same as last week but we did different things. These were my electives this week:

Music Mix: This week we had to impress our counsellor. So I used an app on the I Pads that creates your own Music. At the end of the week we had to share it with the class.

Digital Art: Last week I didn't have Digital Art but it was actually really fun. Since the Olympics are going on our theme this week was the Olympics. So we went outside to take pictures of ourselves playing sports. After that our counsellor printed out our pictures and we cut both pictures into stripes. When we do that we glue them onto a sheet of paper alternating our pictures. The final step is to fold it like a zigzag and when you put it on one angle you see one picture and when you turn it the other way you see the other picture.

Visual Arts: Our activity was to draw different shapes in a page and overlap them. Then we colour them using pencil crayon and pressing hard on the outline and just coluring regularly in the middle.

Math, Games and Puzzles: This week we did the same exact thing as last week except we played on the laptops a lot more which wasn't that fun.

Tech World: This week we had to research about a Olympic athlete and do a power point about them. My group chose the badminton player Michelle Li.

Comic Book Wizard: In this elective we also had to impress our counsellor by drawing whatever we want. I decided to draw Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Since this week was Olympic week on Wednesday we had our own summer Olympics. My team was team Jamaica. We didn't have sports we just had activities. My favourite one was called Ball Balance. We had to walk, run, skip, etc. across the yard balancing a tennis ball on a spoon without dropping it.

I had a lot of fun bot weeks at Summer Institute and I hope that we will come back next year!


                                                       M2

Challenge Embraced

Who woulda thunk it that I would one day have to print a retraction regarding one of my blogs (from last week)?  But M1 has explained her case to me that she is supposed to be in Grade 5 ballet next year and not Grade 6.  It’s M2 who is sort of a year ahead.  Most of M1’s teammates finished Grade 3 together.  Then one of them, Sean (probably the best dancer on M1’s team), skipped Grade 4 and went straight into Grade 5 so that she could try out for the National Ballet School of Canada (Unfortunately, she didn’t make it).  Several of M1’s teammates (or their moms) also asked to skip Grade 4 to “keep up” with Sean.  There are still dancers on M1’s team that are in the same ballet grade as her – this year and next year.  Sorry if this is confusing, but that’s how it was explained to me.

Also, about embracing challenges, M1 assures me she does plenty of that.  And I do agree with her.  Here are a couple of examples.

M1’s strongest dance style has always been Acro, which is like dancing with gymnastics (has lots of flips and flexibility moves).  So her solos have always been Acro or Open (combination of Acro and Jazz).  This past year her instructor wanted her to compete in Jazz – to broaden her skills and challenge her.  I remember I was against this because I felt she should compete in her strongest category.  (Maybe I’m back to thinking like I was a teenager and wanting a trophy.)  In her age group, there were already 2 or 3 girls better than her at Jazz.  (I say 2 or 3 because one girl is in a different age group depending on the competition.  There should be standard international dance rules!  But that’s a discussion for another day.)  So it would be tough for her to win any overall awards.  Most competitions give an award for first in the category, then top 3 overall (Jazz, Acro, Tap, Ballet, etc. combined).  But she’s not even top 3 in her own studio.

But M1 agreed to do a Jazz solo and she worked hard at it.  As I watched her rehearse, I saw that her Jazz skills were improving and her legs were so straight.  Then two of the girls who were stronger than her did solos in other categories, so there was only one from our studio that M1 had to beat.  For a few years now this girl, Marion, was regarded as the best Jazz dancer on M1’s team.  M1 was nervous to compete against her but as I watched them rehearse I felt that M1 improved so much this year she could actually beat Marion.  I am not a certified dance judge but I am a biased father, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

When it came time for competition, M1 beat Marion 5 times out of 5 (one time Marion had an injured ankle).  M1 also came in first in the category once but did not win any overall awards.  I was very proud of her performances, and would have been even if she did not beat Marion.

A second example is when M1 was asked to be part of a special Acro group this past year.  The group would consist of the top 2 Acro dancers aged 15, 13, and 11.  So a team of six and the way dance rules work, you take the average age and they compete in the 13 year-old category.  M1, being the youngest of the group was very nervous about joining this team, especially because the two 15 year-olds were top dancers in the studio.  She had danced with one of the 13 year-olds before and obviously the other 11 year-old was her regular teammate (Ellen).

M1 did join and I was very excited about this team.  To me it was like an All-Star team, selected by the instructors.  I also thought it would be a great opportunity for M1 to learn about dancing and about teamwork from the older girls.  As I watched them rehearse throughout the season I was worried that the older girls were not as committed.  M1 and Ellen were really excited to be dancing with the big girls but I guess it made sense that the older girls would want to focus more on dances in their own age group rather than this one where it might seem like they were babysitting.  However, my fears were unnecessary as when it came time for competition, the veteran savvy of the older girls shone through.  They all danced beautifully.  In fact, it was M1 who made the most mistakes.  But they were little mistakes that didn’t hurt the team.  They won first overall in 4 of 5 competitions!

Big Oh

Summer Institute:Week 1

This week I went to Summer Institute. Last year I posted a blog about Summer Institute and I said that I wanted to came back again this year so we did. I am also going next week so I am going to do another blog at the end of next week. At this summer camp the give you a list of around 15-20 different electives and you decide which ones are your top 10. Then based on what you decided on they will put you in 6 different electives. Here are the electives that I did this week:

Sportacular Fun: In this elective we play different sports and games like Chuck the Chicken, Capture the Flag, and Soccer Baseball. I thought that it was fun.

Music Mix: In Music Mix we sang a song. We sang "Love is an Open Door"from Frozen. I signed up for it because last year we got make our own song on I Pads and it fun, but this year we had to sing and I didn't really want to do singing.

Visual Arts: In Visual Arts we did Bleeding Tissue Paper Art. You cut tissue paper in different shapes and put it on your paper , Then you put a little bit of water on a paintbrush and put on the tissue paper lightly. When you are done you take off the tissue paper off and it will make a nice design.

Math Puzzles and Games: In this elective we play Math games and we do puzzles. One time we did the Monty Hall problem. We also played a game called 24 where they give you 4 numbers that you can add, subtract, multiply or divide to get 24 and you cannot use each number more than once. For example if the numbers are 8,8,1,6 then it is 8+1=9-6=3x8=24.  

Tech World: In Tech World we think of an invention and create a commercial on I Movie. Our group did a Hover Bike. It's like a hover board but it has a seat and handle bars.

Comic Book Wizard: In Comic Book Wizard we made our favourite movie or video game poster. I did The Secret Life Of Pets which is the one I watched for my birthday. Everyone in that elective didn't finish because we had to do 2 drafts both coloured and our good copy was supposed to be on chart paper.

I am going back to this camp next week too. I will also do another blog as I said earlier so I am looking forward to seeing what electives I will have next week.


                                                               M2

Making Friends - Part 2

Yesterday I wrote about how M3 hasn't made any friends in summer camp.  I KNOW it has only been 2 days but to a 5 year old it seems like an eternity!  Anyways, I am concerned that she will have difficulty making friends in grade 1 and I remembered how M2 had a similar problem.  I just hope I have the same patience I had with M2 - That I will remember to gently encourage her to take an initiative with other children, keep reminding her to be kind and friendly, and let her take her time. 

Then I thought about M1 & I  realized she never had this problem.  Not because she is particularly outgoing or friendly.  The word I use to describe all 3 of my children are "reserved".  They watch, listen and tread slowly and carefully in any unfamiliar situations.  But M1 was very lucky.  She met a boy in Junior Kindergarten - on the first day of school.  And they've been best friends since.
Yes, I know friendships come and go.  I've lost few friends over the years myself.  But I also have friendships that have lasted 20-30+ years which are still going strong today.  It truly is a blessing to have people in your life that have shared past happiness & achievements, and even sadness & loss.

I hope my daughters will be lucky enough to have friendships that will last a lifetime.
Y.C.

Making Friends

This morning M3 didn't want to go to summer camp.  It's only been two days.  She said she is not having any fun.  She hasn't made any friends yet.

My children are not naturally outgoing, talkative, social kids.  They need time to warm up.  They don't share their ideas or join in conversations easily with new people.  I know this and I encourage them to take it slowly at a pace they are comfortable with. 

When M2 was in grades 1 & 2 I remember M1 complaining to me that her sister would follow her around at lunch and recess.  M2 would want to play and hang out with her big sister's friends - which didn't bode well with M1.  Poor M2 would tell me she didn't have any friends.  Or she couldn't find her friends.  Or that her friends were already playing with someone else/another group.  I remember those two years when I would gently persuade M2 to seek out kids in her class to play with.  I went out of my way to host play dates so my child could get to know her friends better.  And it didn't help that her birthday is in the middle of August so it was always difficult to get her friends together for a party.  All I could do was encourage her, and remind her what a friendly, kind person she is and that one day she will have her own group of close friends.  Entering grade 5 this year, I am happy to say that she has a wonderful group of friends and she is no longer the shy, quiet, girl...She speaks up, and has been praised by her teachers on her ability to be inclusive and take a leadership role in class.

I feel a sense a deja vu with M3 already....but I'm older, less patient, I have less energy.  I hope I can give M3 the same reassurance and encouragement I gave M2.

Y.C.

First Day Of Summer Institute

I started Summer Institute on Tuesday.  I love Summer Institute.  My favorite person there is N***.  I like to play Just Dance on the WII-U with D*******'s group.  I only know one person there.  I like to read with N***.  N*** is a very fun teacher.  A lot of people like him.  I am a very good student there.  I am always good.  I never got in a fight.  I drew some pictures with D*******'s group. 

On Thursdays I will be going to field trips.  I like the book "Jake's Cake".  There is also a person in my group named Jake.  Summer Institute is fun.  It has different grades.

I will tell you more tomorrow.

M3
 

Restaurant Review - Honey B Hive

My choice in restaurants and food cannot be considered "refined", "fine-dining", "high-end" - whatever name you want to put on it.  I don't mind eating in dives and diners - but I do like a DECENT meal.  And I'm all for a VALUE meal.  Value to me equals food quality and service appropriate to the price I paid for it.  This doesn't mean the prices need to be cheap - I am happy to pay more for a good meal and dining experience.  But these points are all relative isn't it?  

Anyways, my brother J recommended a nearby restaurant called Honey B Hive.  Reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp were mixed.  Some raved about the great value and others (more discerning customers I suppose) had issues with the quality of food. It's basically an all day breakfast joint that also serves a mish-mash of diner food - think sandwiches, pastas, salads, they even had souvlaki and "AAA" sirloin steaks on their menu.  So our family of 7 gave it a try.  But alas, other than their $4.99 Breakfast Special everything was disappointing and lacking. 

We ordered Chicken Souvlaki on a Pita - pieces of frozen chicken breast with tzatziki and some lettuce is NOT souvlaki.  My daughter ordered pancakes which she ate 1 of (comes with 4).  She said it didn't taste good.  Of course it doesn't taste good when you are use to mommy & daddy's pancakes made fresh from scratch with real eggs and milk and vanilla instead of the one which we were served which I am certain came from a BOX (not even sure if eggs or milk were added - possibly only water)!  The Grilled Cheese Sandwiches were made with cheese spread and The Big Oh's French Toast was 4 HALF SLICES of wimpy looking bread. 

The menu had a build your own pasta section and some sandwiches and salad.  Do I need to tell you I won't be back to try it?  I mentioned earlier the one redemption was the Breakfast Special for $4.99 which is served all day.  Two eggs, sausages (or bacon/ham/peameal) toast and homefries (frozen) was a good value - but then again, who can screw up on eggs?

Make an effort to serve good food.  I'm not even talking about gourmet - just good, wholesome food.  Go ahead and charge a buck or two more.  It'll be worth it - customers will come back.  If you can't do it because it takes too much time or cost too much, then don't do it.  Slim down your menu and serve just your best.  Like I said at the beginning, we are not picky, selective, eaters.  We just want to eat food that doesn't taste like cardboard! 

And H.H., please hurry up and open your restaurant and put these local places to shame!

Y.C.

Embrace the Challenge

For the past two years my first two daughters, M1 and M2, have both passed their ballet exams with distinction.  This year, the ballet teacher asked if M1 wanted to skip Grade 5 ballet next year and move into Grade 6.  Now, I don’t want to give the impression that she is a really good ballet dancer.  The reason for this suggestion by the teacher is because M1 started ballet late.  She just finished Grade 4, while M2, who is two years younger,  just finished Grade 3.  So skipping Grade 5 just means she will be where she belongs.  Also, Grade 6 ballet will be the level where most of her teammates and girls her age are dancing.

But M1 is a bit nervous about this because she doesn’t think she’s ready.  Most likely she is just comfortable at that lower level and she may be concerned that she won’t be top dog or achieve distinction if she jumps up to Grade 6.  While it may be true that she will not get as high a mark in a higher grade, I still want her to embrace this challenge.  One reason is because the teacher thinks she can do it and at this point I think the teacher is the best judge of M1’s abilities.  The main reason, though, is that I want my children to embrace a challenge when they are faced with one.  Success or failure, there will be good lessons to be learned.  (Of course, I don’t want to set them up for failure, like suggesting they arm wrestle a bear or something like that!)

This desire of mine may stem from my own regret that I did not embrace as many challenges as I could have during my own childhood.  I played badminton competitively from age 12 to 16 and there were several occasions where I would lose my first game on purpose in order to compete in the consolation round.  I knew I did not have a chance to win against the better players in the main round so I decided to be “first among losers”.  Trophies were given to the champion and finalist of the main round and also the winner of the consolation round.  So to me, the trophy in the consolation round was more precious than the experience I would gain if I had lost in the main round.  I deliberately disobeyed my brother Pepe, who was doubling as my badminton coach.  I guess as a kid I was a materialist and now I am more of an idealist. 

After I stopped competing, I would sometimes think back about my badminton-playing days and I wish I did not throw games in order to win in the easier consolation round.  Had I tried my best, who knows how far I could have advanced in the tournament.  There were times where I played a weaker opponent and lost.  There were also other times when I played a stronger opponent and won.  So what if I had tried harder?  Perhaps I could have played a real good game and upset a stronger opponent in the tournament.  If I had lost, it would still be an honour to say I played against a real good player and gave them a run for their money.  Looking back now, 25 years later, playing a good, competitive badminton match would be more memorable and valuable than getting a trophy.

As a parent, we want our children to be better than we are and not make the same mistakes we did.  I hope my experiences will weigh in on M1’s decision.  “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance … I hope you dance … I hope you dance.”

Big Oh

An Old Friend

Today an old friend sent me a message via FB.  She is someone I met in junior high.  We were very close at one point during our early teenage years.  I remember hanging out at her house, sharing secret crushes, going to clubs (even though we were still underage), sleepovers - these were the years where we would be finding ourselves; testing the waters; choosing our futures paths - which university we would be going to, who to date/marry, what career path we were headed to.  And so our paths slowly diverged.  But it wasn't a bad thing.  It's called growing up.  It's called Life.

But today "Life" had her knocking on my door (well actually, pinging me with a message).  She had heard from a mutual friend that I am sick.  She just wanted to let me know she was thinking about me and offer me some words of love & encouragement.   The last time I remember seeing her and talking to her she invited me to her new condo for a housewarming.  This was more than 10 years ago.  And since then we really haven't talked or socialized.  The paths we were taking never crossed but today for a brief moment we met up (albeit thru FB messaging) and for that I am grateful.

Dear J.T.:  Thanks for your message.  It really made my day.
Y.C.

A Voice

When I can't sleep I sometimes read, or watch TV, or write.  I actually write a lot.  Only a fraction of what I write makes it onto this blog.  I have journals for each of my children.  I have a journal for myself.  I write blog posts with every intention of publishing it here, but in the end, for one reason or another I just don't think it is the right "time" to share it yet and so it gets "saved" for another day (maybe).

I don't speak well.  Too fast, often repeating myself, or sometimes I just find it hard to find the right words to express what I want to say at that moment of conversation.   Writing solves all those problems.  I'm not a great writer by any means, but at least I have time to think about what I want to say, re-read & edit, and of course delete entirely anything that just isn't coming across the way I want it to sound.

Reading and writing has always been an outlet for me.  I remember as a child I already loved to read.  One of the first memory of a Christmas present I received was a picture book of Cinderella - it really is the only memory of ANY Christmas present I received as a child.  I remember spending my lunch hour in grade school in the library shelving books instead of playing in the school yard.   I've written in numerous diaries and journals over the years.  When I was younger I felt I didn't have a voice, at least not a voice anyone want to hear.  A lot of the things I couldn't say to my family, and I didn't have a lot of friends to share with, I would pour into words on paper. 

My daughters are now 11, 9 and 5.  From what I can tell, they too are developing a love for books and reading.  But they don't write much and I hope that changes.  Or perhaps they don't write because they feel they have a voice - a voice that is being heard and respected and loved - even if it is just by me and the Big Oh.

Y.C.

Happy Birthday To Me

Ever since I've been sick my birthday has taken a new meaning for me.  I noticeably didn't write anything last year or the year before on or around my birthday.  For the last couple of years I didn't want to celebrate it.  I hardly wanted to celebrate anything. 

But for the last 3 days I have been celebrating.  Kind of.

On Saturday my two best friends had an impromptu lunch for me.  Because it was planned last minute, only the two of them were available.  But sometimes that's just what we need.  Something simple but still wonderful.  Because it was only the 3 of us, we were able to have a lovely 4 course lunch prepared by H.H. and have it in her beautiful garden.   It was 3 hours of amazing food, lovely weather, and endless chatter about this and that - nothing heavy, nothing deep, just a wonderful relaxing morning/afternoon.

On Sunday I had dinner with my brother and sister's families and our parents.  Funny.  I don't ever remember celebrating my birthday (or theirs for that matter) as children.  I guess we must have.  But I just don't remember any birthday parties in any of our honour with our parents present.  Granted during our childhood my parents were working 12 hour days 7 days a week.  So our dinner was without much fanfare but again, it's what we are used to, anything else would seem contrived and uncomfortable.

Yesterday my children and husband celebrated with me.  M1 bought me a thoughtful gift (with her own allowance money), and M2 & M3 wrote poems and drew pictures.  Perhaps I got it wrong.  Instead of fearing special days and avoiding celebrations, my focus should really be on creating happy & beautiful memories for my daughters.

Y.C.

Keep On Dancing

I've written about my daughter's dance classes before.  I've written about how much enjoyment they get out of it.  I've written about all the positive experiences it has given us as a family and about the friendships they've made along the way.  I still have the same sentiments but lately I've been thinking really hard about the coming dance season and whether it is time for some changes. 

There are definitely aspects of dance I will miss as my children move out of this world: the family trips to competitions, the excitement when they learn new routines, seeing them beautiful & strong on stage full of confidence as they tell a story through the music & their bodies. 

So after some thought we have decided to continue with the same craziness that has been our life for the past 3 years - our life as a competitive dance family.  So no, it is not time to scale down yet.  We shall see how this year goes. 

To be continued....

Y.C.

My Cousin's 100 Day Celebration

On Sunday I went to my cousin's 100-Day Celebration at Dragon Legend.  My cousin's name is E***** C***.  She is a baby, she is cute and chubby.  She has a big brother.  Her brother's name is E**** C***.  He is 3 years old.  He played with me and my other cousin N*******.  We walked around the restaurant and played nicely together.  

Dragon Legend is a buffet.  At a buffet you get your own food whenever you're ready.  You don't have to wait for the waitress to fill in your order.   There was crab, shrimp, broccoli, and yellow noodles.  There was also Peking Duck.  My favorite was the veggies. 

I sat at the kid's table with my cousins.  Their names are Ga, Hong, Wai, Big S & Little S, C.E., & N.E.  My sisters were also at my table.  My grandparents were also sitting with us.  There were also other people at Dragon Legend.  I had a fun & wonderful time with my cousins. 

M3

No More Playtime Today

Is it so bad to not want to play with your children?

Most days I just want to sit and read and write.  But my 5 year old has other ideas.

It is almost half-way thru the summer and my children have only had 5 days of 1/2 day camp so far - and that's all I planned for the month of July.  I thought I could handle it.  One month.  Only a month of all 3 kids at home, should be easy, right?

Today I already made a board game with my 5 year old.  She said she would like to save it to play with her dad tonight (I swear I didn't convince her on that one).  But she is already getting restless and it isn't even 5:00pm yet.  Still another couple of hours before daddy gets home.

I've set a time limit or an activity limit on my 5 year old.  There's only so much reading, colouring, playing house, or dolls, or board games, I can do in a day.  One activity before lunch and one in the evening before bed.  Afternoons are MY time.

There are times I feel guilty about the lack of attention I give my children - particularly the youngest one.  But really, how many parents out there can be 100% there 100% of the time?  How many can be honest and say "That's enough - I can't do anymore."?  I look at my child now as I am typing away.  She is playing on her own.  Talking to herself and her toys.  She is fine.

Y.C.

Gratitude

A few months ago I wrote I had started going to church. Well I stopped.  So did M2.  But I am grateful for the experience.  It opened my eyes & taught me lot about myself and how I view religion, faith, and God.

I have taken to praying every night before I go to sleep and as soon as I wake up in the morning.   Every night I lie in bed in the evening and thank God for the beautiful day I just had.  No matter what happened that day, I am grateful that I am alive to experience it and to have shared it with my family.  I thank God for my parents & my in-laws, for keeping them healthy so they can help me with my children.  I thank God for the Big Oh.  For being able to provide for us & for his patience & strength. Finally I thank God for my children.  For keeping them healthy and for every day I am able to spend with them.

When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I think about is God and how grateful I am to Him that he is giving me another day.  That is how my mornings begin - with gratitude.

Whether you have a deep sense of religion or not I think being grateful & happy is an exercise everyone should practice daily.  Give it a try.

Y.C.

My Birthday Party!

On Friday July 15th I had my birthday party. It was kind of early because people usually go on trips when my real birthday is happening. Anyways, we had a movie and dinner party. Three of my friends from dance came to the party. The movie that we watched was "The Secret Life Of Pets". I thought it was a very good movie. Warning:If you want SPOILERS than keep reading on and if you don't than stop reading after this sentence. The movie was about what your pets do when you're not home. The main character is Max and he is having the perfect life with his amazing owner Katie until she brings home a new dog Duke. At first Max and Duke don't like each other and want to get rid of each other. Then when a pet care person takes then to the park and they get lost they find themselves trapped by abandoned pets. They go down the sewers with the other pets and find lots of other abandoned pets. Meanwhile his friends back at his apartment go out on a hunt to try to find their friends. Soon enough the pets meet up and go home together to their own owners. After the movie my friends and I went to go have dinner at Milestones. Then we drove my friends home and in the car we opened gifts. I got Scratch Art, A Tin Can Robot, Edible Bubbles, and an Ice Cream Kit. I had a fun and enjoyable birthday party with my friends.




                                                                  M2

THE LAND OF STORIES

(SPOILERS!)

So, I have recently been reading a new book series called, "The Land of Stories." There are 5 books in the series (so far) and I have read them all. Now, I may or may not spoil a few details about the book, so I'm sorry if I do😁. This book takes is written by Chris Colfer and takes place in modern day time. There are twins, a boy, and girl, Alex and Connor Bailey, who are total opposites. Alex is an A+ student whereas Connor is the one to fall asleep during class. But there is one thing they share, they love fairy tales, especially when their dad tells them ones that they had never even heard of! But that all changes when their dad dies in a car accident. Soon after that they discover a fairy tale world inside of their grandmothers fairy tale book! And they learn that (SPOILER ALERT!!!) their grandmother is the fairy godmother! That basically sums up the first book. But, if you want to follow the rest of Alex and Conner's adventures, then read the next 4 books!

I really enjoyed reading this book and if I had to rate it, I would give it 4.5 stars. The reason for this is, the book is so good and includes every little detail that you should know. But, as it does give you every little detail, it doesn't give you all the details right away. Or the author would give you wrong information and then when you get the actual facts/details you would go OHHHHH.... So what I'm saying is, I don't like the suspense or, cliffhangers. That would be the only thing I would think of as a thumbs down. But other than that, this series was amazing to read and I hope it continues!

                                  M1♍️

Canada Day Holiday - Day 4

I've been home for 2 days and I finally have time to sit and write about our last day in Ottawa.  Even a "mini" vacation requires 2 days to recuperate (and to do laundry).

On our fourth and final day in Ottawa we met up with some friends for brunch.  It was nice to try a "local" restaurant and not something touristy.  The restaurant was called "Pressed" and their specialty was waffles.  Everything on the brunch menu came with waffles and it was pretty good.  Give it a try the next time you are in the capital.

http://pressed-ottawa.com/

After brunch we headed back to the Royal Canadian Mint. We tried to get in yesterday but the tours were all booked so we made a reservation for today.  We picked up a couple of items at the gift store but neither was for ourselves.  One was a special Star Trek coin for Uncle P.   The tour turned out to be M2 and Big Oh's favorite part of the weekend.  Unfortunately, because it was a Sunday, there was no one working so we couldn't see firsthand the making of some of the coins. 

After the tour  were ready to head on home.  The first half of the drive went relatively smoothly but about half way home our travelling speed went from 100km on a major highway to about 40km!  What we didn't account for was the number of people, like ourselves, coming home from a long weekend at the cottage or from a vacation.  The drive that would have normally taken just over 4 hours became a 7 hour drive home!  Luckily the kids were troopers and weren't whiny at all.

Whenever we go on vacation we always ask the kids what their favorite part/event was and they will ask us.  My answer is always the same.  My favorite part is just spending time with them, not having to plan meals or cook, not having to follow a schedule and just relaxing.  And most of all, my favorite part of any vacation is coming home!

Y.C.

Canada Day Holiday - Day 3

Today I was determined to instill some culture & education on my children.  So The Big Oh was up early to line up for some free guided tour tickets of the Parliament buildings. We were warned the first day we arrived that if we wanted our preferred time we would have to be in line well before the ticket office opened - best advice of the weekend.  The Big Oh was in line at 7:25am (the office opens at 9:00) and he was already 11th in line.  By 8:00am the line was already snaked around the corner and by the time me the girls met up at 8:30am I'd say the lineup was easily a couple of hundred of people!   We were able to get tickets to Centre Block & East Block and enjoyed two 40 minute long guided tours that gave us some history of the Canadian parliament and the buildings - educational portion of the trip - check.  Now I was happy.

Unfortunately the second half of the day didn't run as smoothly.  It was a case of trying to do too much - my fault entirely.  I planned to do the tourist-y double decker bus tour of the city where you can get on and off at various attractions and explore at your own leisure.  There were two attractions I wanted to go to - The Royal Canadian Mint and The Museum Of Nature.  So we hopped on the bus but got off on the first stop to get some lunch.  After an hour & half lunch it was already 3:00pm & by the time we got to the Mint they were already sold out of tour tickets for the remainder of the day.  Because we didn't know this before we got off the bus, we had to wait almost an hour before the next bus came back to pick us up!  By this time the kids were getting tired & we wouldn't have enough time to enjoy the museum.  So no museum either.   When we were picked up by the bus we rode the remainder of the tour route & then headed back to the hotel.  I was disappointed but I think the kids were glad to just rest before dinner.

For dinner we just walked down the main street (which our hotel happened to be on) and just picked one whose menu looked appealing.   One thing I noticed was that almost every restaurant had some variation of poutine on it!  After 3 days I asked the kids to eat something healthy and no side orders of fries or onion rings!

We will be heading home tomorrow but not before trying one more restaurant & going back to The Mint for a quick tour!
Y.C.

Canada Day Holiday - Day 2

Day two of our trip to the capital started with an early morning walk to Major's park where there were food trucks, street eats, and games & entertainment for the kids. When else would I allow my kids grilled cheese sandwiches from a food truck and ice cream for breakfast except while celebrating Canada Day?  Even M2 asked, "Why are you letting us have ice cream for breakfast?".  Well because it's FREE!  Complimentary ice cream was being handed out at 10am en route to the day long festivities at the park!

After spending some time at the park we caught a shuttle to the Canadian Museum of History.  It turns out that all museums in the capital have free admission on Canada Day.  This museum had a nice children's area which M3 enjoyed.  Although M2 & M1 were a bit old for it, they were good sports and allowed us to enjoy a couple of hours at the museum without too much complaining.

By the time we finished at the museum it was getting more crowded and the line-ups were getting longer & longer so we decided to head back to the hotel.  And along the way we picked up some more street eats - this time some pad Thai, spring rolls, and pork skewers, as well as some mini pancakes. Today is definitely not a healthy eating day!

After some quiet time in the hotel we went out looking for some dinner before we headed back to Parliament Hill to catch the fireworks.  We found a small Japanese restaurant nearby and got in just before a huge down pour of rain.

The highlight of the day was the fireworks with the parliament buildings as a backdrop.  The rain stopped just in time for us to comfortably watch the show.  I hope my daughters enjoyed it.  I could tell they were in awe with just the sheer number of people on the streets and the friendliness of strangers that gathered to celebrate together.  And on the way back to the hotel what did we pick up as a late night snack?  Poutine!  From a food truck, of course!

Y.C.

Canada Day Holiday - Day 1

For Canada Day this year we decided to head to the capital & join the festivities on Parliament Hill.  We are spending 3 nights in the capital & we are hoping it'll be relaxing but with just the right balance of fun, entertainment & Canadian history & culture.

I got up early this morning to do some last minute packing. The girls got up around 7:30 and by 8:15 we were on our way.  There was a bit of traffic getting out of the city since it was still a regular workday but once on the highway it was smooth sailing.  Our first stop was about an hour & half into our 4 hour trip.  Nice rest stations all along the main highway with a good selectIon of  (expensive) food but that was to be expected.

When we finally got to the capital & checked into the hotel it was already past lunch time.  Hoping to get a tour of the Parliment buildings in before the end if the day we rushed over only to find out that all the tickets for the day were completely sold out.  Hopefully we will get an early start on Saturday morning and will be able to get tickets for our preferred time.

By now it was approaching 3:00pm & the kids were ready to eat.  We walked 15minutes to the Byward Market and amongst the food stalls and artists stalls we found a nice Italian restaurant, Vittoria Trattoria, where we could cool off inside.  The late lunch turned out pretty good!

By the time we finished lunch & walked back to the hotel we were all ready for a nap.  It had been a sweltering 30 degrees and we all just needed a rest - although M3 was insisting we go swimming in the hotel pool.

After a short nap M2 & M3 were ready for some swimming (although I'm sure the Big Oh would have rather slept more).  Unfortunately the water in the pool was so cold the kids could only stay in for 10 minutes.

So after washing up we headed out for a late dinner.  Being fans of the Food Network I had done some research on local restaurants.  The restaurant I wanted to try was a diner called The Elgin Street Diner which just happened to be on the same street as our hotel (about a 20 minute walk).  Unfortunately the restaurant did not impress us. The one bonus though, was we passed by a small bakery called Boko Bakery and we picked up some fancy cookies which made for the perfect dessert.

By the time we got back to the hotel it was well past 10 and we were all ready for bed.  Looking forward to a busy Canada Day!

Y.C.