Holiday Hanukkah

I'm not sure when we started doing this -- recognizing Hanukkah with Christmas.  I think it was about three years ago when Jenica's school did an especially nice job discussing all the traditions around the holiday season.  We got to thinking about Stefan's grandmother and how maybe this might be a nice way to honor her memory. 

It's certainly not elaborate (and in all likelihood, probably not correct), but we like the message of the "Celebration of Lights."  It's got a wonderful social justice element to it and reinforces the idea of standing up for what you believe is right. 

We light candles, read lots of books about the holiday, and play with our driedels.  I somehow totally missed pictures of that this year, but Jenica is starting to understand a lot more of the rules (and the strategy).  Look out next year!  Happy Hanukkah!

LOOK! There's an Elf on the Shelf!

OK, so I am not a big fan of the "you better watch out, you better not cry" part of the Christmas season, but this... well, this I couldn't resist. 

Our "Elf" arrived last night.  In a wind storm (perfect). 

He comes with a book that gives you the low down. The story is cute cute cute and the tradition is just fun.  In a nutshell, the elf has arrived to keep watch on things for Santa.  He flies back to the North Pole each night, when everyone is asleep, to give a report.  Then he returns to the house the next morning and "hides" -- the children have to find him all over again.  At the end of the season, he flies back to stay with Santa until next year.

The girls named him "Colonel."

 

Oh, and he's magic, so don't touch him.  :)

Certainly, this will force my kids into therapy, if nothing else I've done/said/forgotten to do doesn't get them there first.  (Yea, he sort of gives me the creeps too... )

Heck, at least it will be interesting.

Jenica told me last night before bed that she "wanted the elf to go away."  When I asked why she told me:  "because then I can fight with Kerry without him watching."

She's a thinker, that one.  :)

Holiday Festivities Begin

This was the weekend, it seems, that EVERYTHING was happening in terms of the "kick off " for the holiday season.  We decided to begin with Ferndale's Old Fashioned Christmas, given that I am pretty sure neither of the girls really remember going last year.  And what a difference a year makes!

Now that Jenica is writing more and more, she was able to compose a good 1/3 of her Christmas letter to Santa all on her own.

Kerry was NOT going to be left out of this business -- good practice for making her pretty cursive "K" at least.

Curious children, with lots to look at, is a good combination.

We stopped for a very brief chat with Santa (complete with flash glare -- thanks Mom).  Kerry would have nothing to do with this man in red.  Just wait 'til next year... I'm sure she'll change her mind...

Jenica was, and still is, very interested in all these "old places", as she calls them.  This building was most perplexing -- a jail?  "But... did someone LIVE in here??"  Hmmmm... not sure if "live" is the right word.
 

Kerry decided we needed to move on; there were lots more trinkets to collect and crafts to fiddle with.
 

Last stop:  Dancing around the Christmas tree and,

some Christmas cookies and hot chocolate.  Perfect.

Oh, and hooray! We also made it to the horse drawn wagon ride this year. 

No pictures from that -- too cold!  But so much fun.

Let the season begin!

Empty Piggies

Finally!!

This has been on my "to do" list for long enough.  The girls are official:  they have their own bank accounts!  And, they have more $ than I do!  But, really...that wouldn't be that hard.

And just as we were pulling away from the bank, and I was explaining about how they each had their own money safely in the bank, the first words out of Jenica's mouth were:  GREAT! Let's go shopping!

Oh boy...

Thanksgiving with the Fish

This blogpost is brought to you courtsey of the:

Truth be told, somewhere in here, a tradition is getting started. 

Last year we visited the Vancouver Aquarium on Thanksgiving on a last minute whim when our plans fell through. (We are so glad things are doing much better for a certain unnamed family this year.)  And, because it was so darn much fun last time around, we decided to do it again this year! 

So, we were up and at 'em, first thing today.  This morning we were feeling like risk-takers and tried out a new restaurant, a little out of the way on Cambie Street:

Report: Super delicious, no crowd, felt like an authentic "neighborhood restaurant" as opposed to a tourist joint, quite kid friendly, huge menu, GREAT coffee, and super duper, nice service.  Loved it. 

Waiting for Pannekoeken with chocolate sprinkles.  Yum.

Then, it was on to the Big Event:

Can you tell what this is?  Well, it's a beluga. 

"Baby beluga in the deep blue sea..."

Kerry has been on a beluga-kick lately.  Not sure why.  But often I am asked:  "HOW do they stay warm??"  And, we all there was a new baby in the tank, so we were all excited to see her too.  They are in the process of naming her and it's down to the top five.  I'm sure she'll be sporting a new name on our next visit.

Blurry, but here is a mama with the two calves.  They are just adorable.

We caught the tail end of the trainer's show too.

Got to admit:  it would be a neat job.

We've been regulars at this aquarium since we moved to Seattle (Yikes, was that 13 years ago?)

But the kids are what make it so special -- especially now that they are older.  I now find them talking to each other about the animals and I'm just delighted.

Jenica is also now at an age where she is unsatiable when it comes to learning.   All day long it's:

 "What is that?  Why is that like that?  What does that do?  Where does it live? How come?" 

 This makes coming here somewhat tiring, but also very worth it. 

On the way home, we stopped for a short walk

to admire the Lion's Gate bridge.

But it was COLD.

So, we didn't last too long.  :)

Another good day.  Another really nice Thanksgiving. 

So much to be thankful for, starting with the beautiful place we live...

(even on a gray day).

And ending with the beautiful animals we share the world with:

(OK.. so this was a sign IN the aquarium, but you get the idea...)

:)

Those Pearly Whites

Unfortunately, I've been dealing with a lot of these "pearly whites" lately.

The good news: Jenica's teeth problems are pretty much under control. Thank you to sealants and Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas). She had an appointment not too long ago to have a filling done (#9, I think) and all went just great. Jenica was laughing merrily and even shouted at one point, "Mom, this is fun!" I am no longer all that concerned about this one.

(My Daisy Girl Scout)

Now, with the other one, we've got trouble. We are are facing 11 cavities that need to filled, including maybe SIX that need crowns.  Mind you, this is for someone who is incredibly fearful of new situations, doesn't like ANYONE looking in/touching her mouth, and who will NOT accept the mask for Nitrous. Oh, and I should also mention that, for being a mere 27 or so pounds, she is as strong as an ox.

One big side note: we do not have any fluoride in our water. I think perhaps if we had things would be different, but maybe not all that much. I think my kids just plain have bad teeth. I swear, we are NOT a big "sweet" house -- no soda (ever), no candy, no sweet treats other than the occasional juice, which I also now severely restrict.

It seems to come down to two choices, (not including the 3rd one of  "let's just ignore it and hope it goes away"):
a) in-house sedation, but with some holding her down and perhaps lots of screaming/crying/hysteria, or
b) a hospital stay with general anesthesia.

Really expensive no matter what.

So, after noticing that one of Kerry's back top teeth is now nearly all black, and sometimes having her burst into tears at the dinner table because her teeth hurt, we've scheduled her dental surgery at the hospital.  We decided to go the humane route that will cost us an arm and a leg, and also scare us all to death as we wait for it to be over.

December 18th -- need to be there at 5:30AM.  (That right there, is torture for all of us).

All I can say is, here's to being a parent and all the very difficult choices that we have to make for our children.  I am full of anxiety thinking of sending another one of my children into a hospital situation that requires anesthesia.  I want to know that I've made the right choice.  Can someone tell me that... like... now?

Honestly, I had no idea how hard this would be. 

Parents can easily take something from a lesson one learns in AA:  One day at a time..

Busy Box Arrives

Well, it's that time of the year.  Stuck inside.  Rain coming down like cats and dogs.

Auntie M. put together a fun box and put it in the mail last week. 

However, Mom made us wait two days to open it.

Mom knew it was a "project box" so she figured if it got opened, there needed to be time to explore and create.

When it was finally open, we got busy right away!

Some of us were concentrating harder than others...

And didn't appreciate all the photo-taking.

But if you can get past the paparazzi, art projects are a great way to spend the rainy/windy/wet winter days!
Thank you Auntie M.!