All ready to go

Except for the things that can't be packed at the last minute, we are all ready to go.

So we set out for the airport tomorrow morning at 7:45, let's call it 8:00am, Singapore time, or 6pm Winnipeg time. We then arrive in Winnipeg at midnight. So knowing, that its not 6 hours of travel time, that means that it is 24+6 = 30 hours! Yikes! I wish I hadn't figured that out.

See you all soon!! Well, not my Singapore readers (if there are any).

A big THANK YOU to Joe for doing the majority of the packing and organizing. And by majority, I mean all.

Monday Craft Update

Not a great week. Bringing Lightening McQueen on holiday. Nothing on the plane, as I'll get no chance.

Knitting
Nothing.

Cross-stitch
Did about 2 hours on Lightening McQueen kit (Cars).

Crochet
Finished a duckling. From the same book as the crochet bears.

Photography / videography
Loaded up some May and craft pictures.

Decluttering
A little bit of baby stuff to a friend.

Packing

As we are leaving very soon for our cross-Canada adventure, we've started thinking about packing. Making lists. Finding warm clothes.

Any suggestions on packing are welcome. We always over pack.

Finally!

I got my driver's license. It's all complete, I even received it in the mail, where I'm looking good in the picture, as I'm colour coordinated with the licensing colours.

But don't worry Singapore, I'm not planning on driving! You are safe on those sidewalks!

Monday Craft Update

Knitting
Nothing.

Cross-stitch
Got out Lightening McQueen kit (Cars) and washed the red thread.

Crochet
Finished another crochet bear (green & purple). Started a duckling.

Photography / videography
Nothing.

Decluttering
Nothing.

Arab Street

Today we went to Arab Street for lunch with Gary, Linda and Adam. Unfortunately, not much was open on Sunday, but we still had a great time. We walked around the area which still has a lot of the original "shop houses", which is a shop on the main floor, and the owners live on the upper floor. Not sure if owners still live there, probably is more likely used as an office. Most of the stores are fabric stores with gorgeous fabrics, as well there were rugs.

We ate at an Arab restaurant (our server was from Nepal, and the owners are Chinese). The restaurant was set up with cushions to sit on the floor, and had drapery all over to look like a tent. It was great for the boys, as we were the only family up there, so they could crawl around. I had some great hummus and a falafel sandwich.

After we walked around and saw the big mosque in the area. We were allowed to go inside. The mosque has been there since the 1920's.
This was our first trip down to Arab Street, and it was great to play "tourist".

Fresh Air

We got a lot of fresh air today. This morning we went with our friends, Jose, Chantal, Alex and Marie to their country club. Their club has two campuses, the golf course, where Joe golfed earlier this week and this campus, which basically is a swimming pool. They have a great kids swimming pool as well as two lap pools. It's a shame we didn't bring the camera. Martin was so cute playing in the little fountains, and Oliver jumped off the racing platforms (they are like a little box for the racers to jump off of - it's not like a diving board, but it's higher than he's jumped). Oliver said that was the best part of his day.

After lunch at the club, we went back home for Martin's nap and Oliver watched Finding Nemo (again). We saved money and didn't have the a/c on. After Martin woke up, Oliver, Martin and I played outside in the shady area in front of our house for about 90 minutes.

Everyone is exhausted, but it's a good exhausted. From too much fresh air and fun.

Book Review: The Age of American Unreason

I read about this book in the New York Times by Susan Jacoby. She talks about the anti-intellectual, anti-rational movement that there is in the USA. She mentions the rise of fundamental religion as one of the sources. But it's interesting, as the US brought about freedom of religion. But with the freedom of religion, you have to accept all religions, no matter how nutty they are. She spoke about their movement and how creationism and evolution are taught side by side as differing "theories", or else evolution is not taught at all.

Another source is the 1960s as the beginning of the downfall. The problem with the hippie liberals, is that they aren't as organized as the right-wing conservatives, so they don't get their point across as well. But it was also the start of the youth movement, that never ended. All music is defined by what the youth like, as well as clothing. I wear the same types as clothes as someone 20 years younger than I would wear. My niece, Julia and I both shop at the same stores. Is that really right? Shouldn't I grow up and wear grownup clothes, as opposed to be stuck in the illusion of youth?

And of course, she attacked the internet. And you know, she's right. I read a lot less than I used to. I decided to add the Visual Bookshelf on Facebook to see how many books I read this year. I've only finished 7 books this year. 7. I used to read that in a two week period when I was young. Yes, I'm busier now, but I tend to surf instead of read. Plus I craft instead of read. I'm also trying to read books to make me smarter (like this one), but then I don't read, as they are a bit boring. I've been reading "The 10 day MBA" for more than 10 days. I might as well have done it in real time!

Overall, the book was pretty good. But the vocabulary and some of the references were a little too intellectual for me at times. ;-)

A nice visit

Kristi, Tyson, Cass and Paul came for a visit this week. They arrived late on Friday night / Saturday morning.

On Saturday we had a nice pancake breakfast and went to see the zoo. They were impressed (as everyone always is), and we went out to Clarke's Quay for dinner with just the adults. (Oliver spent the next couple of nights telling us how much he missed us that night.)

Sunday, we had a birthday party in the morning, and then we met up at the Botanical Gardens and went and saw the orchids. They were impressive as always. Of course, the Cool House is a big hit.

Monday they spent the day at Sentosa Island, and have seen more of it that we have (that's not hard). Tuesday the boys went golfing at my friend's fancy golf club, and the girls relaxed. In the evening they did the Night Safari.

On Wednesday, I took the day off work, and it piss poured rain. Or as the British would say "it was chucking it down". We did the Hippo tours - the Heritage and the City, but didn't get off due to the rain. Afterwards, us girls went and did some shopping (I got a new swim suit).

Today the boys went golfing again, and Kristi and Cassandra toured around Chinatown and Little India. We went out to the Newton Hawker centre for dinner.

And they are off tomorrow morning for Hawaii.

Thanks so much for visiting us, we had a great time!!!

Television: Survivor (Spoilers)

If you are watching Survivor this season, and haven't seen the finale yet, stop reading.

What a great season of Survivor. The blindsiding that went on. There was the fans at the beginning, but the blindsiding of Ozzy and Jason, but especially Ozzy was a thing of beauty. And then Eric, giving up the immunity necklace at the final 5, was just the dumbest thing ever.

Pavarti won it all. I think that Cirie deserved it the most, and Pavarti ended up taking the credit for most of Cirie's moves. Between Pavarti and Amanda, I had hoped that Amanda would win, but I guess Pavarti made the better alliances.

But overall, it was a great season of Survivor. Bring on Gabon!!

Monday Craft Update

I'm now finished all projects on the go (except the Dragon - but that doesn't really count - I have YEARS left on it). I think I'll do a small crochet animal again and then start stitching Lightening McQueen. Ka chow!

Knitting
Finished the baby blanket. No idea what I will do with it.

Cross-stitch
Picked up the framed pictures.


Crochet
Nothing.

Photography / videography
Nothing.

Decluttering
Sold the bassinet.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there.

Mom, I can only hope to be half as good as mother as you were to Lana and I.

Paulina, you (and Todd) are examples of how to parent to us, and show us what is coming up ahead, and how to handle it.

Lana, your love and strength that you have for Marysa is amazing.

Happy Mother's Day to all!!!

For mine, it's been a pretty busy day. I got a flower from Oliver and a card made at school, Martin gave me a nice card with a picture of himself in it, and Basil bought me some roses and wrote a very nice note. We had a birthday party this morning, went to the Botanical Gardens this afternoon, watching Cars now, and going to go swimming and have Chicken Rice later on tonight.

I thought I was hot before

the air conditioner to the master bedroom has broken! And we have house guests (Kristi, Tyson, Cass & Paul) coming tonight, so the boys are in our room. The repair people don't know when they can get it fixed, they have to get a part for the compressor.

Hmm, I wonder if I can sleep on the sofa tonight?

Update on Oliver & Martin

MartinNO! Seems to be Martin's new name, at least that is what Oliver is always calling him. Martin is very inquisitive and Oliver's toys are especially interesting. He's standing with support quite well, and can move along a table while still standing (i.e. kind of walking). He also walks while pushing a walker toy.

He's enjoying food a lot more now, he prefers veggies to fruit, and he's quite lucky, as Basil makes him fresh baby food every day, so he only gets jarred on Sunday (when she's not working). He still doesn't sleep through the night. He's a pretty happy, smiley boy, and while I was bemoaning the fact that he got teeth, they just make him cuter.

Here is Oliver displaying his big blue bus that he picked out himself for being potty trained. It is certainly the favorite toy du jour. He talks a lot (don't know where he got that from) and his imagination is really taking off. He routinely makes up interesting stories. He very much likes to know the "rules" of things, and will often ask why, and if he can do something. His manners are getting back on track (they fell to the wayside there for a bit). He plays well with others, and is getting a lot more social. His favorite activity is still swimming.

Joe is busy with a lot of work from different sources. He was sick quite a bit in April, so he fell behind, but now he's feeling better and is always working away.

I'm good. On the last couple of inches of the baby blanket. You know how I feel about the last couple hours of a project. I hate them. I hope David Cook wins American Idol. Though I wouldn't buy his music. But I don't buy music anymore, as I never listen to it.

Hot!

Hot hot hot hot. Humid. Humid. Hot. Hot. Hot.

It is 9:00 at night, and the official temperature is 29C and feels like 35C.

I guess we have left the Hot and Humid season and entered the Very Hot and Very Humid season. We've been trying to save money and not run the a/c at night, but I woke up the other morning, and it was 29C in the room.

But on the plus side, it's no longer cloudy.

Monday Craft Update

Not too much due to being sick. Mostly decluttering as I was home looking at it.

Knitting
Worked on the baby blanket. It is now the only project until it is done. Less than 10 inches left. Now that I'm in the home stretch, I don't want to work on it.

Cross-stitch
Washed the Ocean numbers and the snow family. With much drama. But it's all good now. Both pictures are at the framers.

Crochet
Nothing.

Photography / videography
Loaded up pictures for March, April and crafts.

Decluttering
Got rid of more baby clothes, sized below 6 months. Listed the bassinet on Craig's List - which is an online classified site.

Whew!!

Okay, the snow family seems to be okay.

I soaked and soaked and soaked, continuously from when I first posted, until this morning. I added some white vinegar, as per advice I received. The water was still coming out with a tinge of blue, but last night when it was soaking, the water all slowly leaked out, and it dried.

I was thinking on it, and I figured the colour had come out of the white, and I was just seeing the background coming through, because it was wet.

The background has now faded due to my continuous soaking, but that's actually for the best, as it was a bit dark for my picture, so it stands out better now (or at least that's what I'm telling myself).

I'm off to iron the two pieces tonight, and hopefully find some time this weekend to get them framed.

Oliver is now daytime toilet trained!!

Yay Oliver!!! He's been this way for a while, but I implemented a sticker system, so that he got a sticker each time he used the potty. We had a bit of regression with being sick, but he's now done with the diaper, and fully into underwear!

With the sticker chart being complete, we took him shopping. At first he wanted Toby from Thomas the Tank Engine, then he wanted a van, but he saw a blue touring passenger bus that he fell in love with. So that's what we got.