We met up in the morning with Grandpa and visited the avionics museum and had a great time getting lost in all these big and small aircraft of one form or another. A lot of times Charlie had to step back to see the size of these aircraft and certainly the rocket was a big hit.
There were also plenty of small aircraft for him to think that he could pilot them as well.
The museum wasn't too busy at all and we were able to enjoy ourselves casually meandering around and pretty much all of them Grandpa new on a first name basis ;-)
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/
For lunch we went to Grace O'Malley's which was interesting...
In the afternoon after a long nap we went to the Allans and played in the fresh snow. Charlie learnt to eat snow, and caught on quickly. Then we built two big igloos (forts more like it) with the Allan gang of four. Awesome time and got his full face loaded with snow for the first time as well. Lost his breath at that time and screamed once he caught it. It only took a few minutes to get it back under control and going in the house wasn't an option.
He had a ball out there in the snow and couldn't get enough of it. But when he did he rang the doorbell to get in, we were too busy shoveling.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 22, 2007
American Thanksgiving
It snowed all day here. The snow was supposed to come overnight but it came in the morning and for the rest of the day.
We went to bed kinda late so Jay and the boys where in our room looking for Charlie at 9.am. I heard them come in but he was still snoring loudly at that time in my ear so I don't think he heard them. Once they came in he sat up to attention and immediately was as happy as can be. No need for grooginess or any of the normal stuff. Straight, let's go play.
Outside was kinda fun but we needed boots. A trip to Loblaws, which felt more like a trip to a Target rather than a grocery store, and we had the $4 fancy gloves and the velcro $19 boots. What a good deal and this made-in-china stuff was really well designed. They were sold out of snow pants unfortunately, so Charlie was a bit cold making snow angels.
After Jay and the boys left we made our obligitory trip to home depot as well and got a few things to keep me tinkering around the house the rest of the day.
Matt and Jay came over for diner and bath time too. Charlie wasn't much interested in food at this time and lately has been leaving it to later in the evening, much to Mom and Dad's detriment.
He was super tired though and had a great day, even though the snow was so fluffy that the best snowman we could make was 6" tall.
We went to bed kinda late so Jay and the boys where in our room looking for Charlie at 9.am. I heard them come in but he was still snoring loudly at that time in my ear so I don't think he heard them. Once they came in he sat up to attention and immediately was as happy as can be. No need for grooginess or any of the normal stuff. Straight, let's go play.
Outside was kinda fun but we needed boots. A trip to Loblaws, which felt more like a trip to a Target rather than a grocery store, and we had the $4 fancy gloves and the velcro $19 boots. What a good deal and this made-in-china stuff was really well designed. They were sold out of snow pants unfortunately, so Charlie was a bit cold making snow angels.
After Jay and the boys left we made our obligitory trip to home depot as well and got a few things to keep me tinkering around the house the rest of the day.
Matt and Jay came over for diner and bath time too. Charlie wasn't much interested in food at this time and lately has been leaving it to later in the evening, much to Mom and Dad's detriment.
He was super tired though and had a great day, even though the snow was so fluffy that the best snowman we could make was 6" tall.
Pretending to read
Forgot to mention on the flight down to Ottawa the attendant gave me the little tear sheet about the flight details after he read it out over the intercom. Charlie was wondering what it was so I used my finger and read it out to him.
He, in turn, took the paper and used his finger but from left to right then zig zag and mutter words here and there but funniest of all was "always wash your hands after you pee" now that was funny since it was just said matter-of-fact'ly.
He, in turn, took the paper and used his finger but from left to right then zig zag and mutter words here and there but funniest of all was "always wash your hands after you pee" now that was funny since it was just said matter-of-fact'ly.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Trip to Ottawa
Charlie and took a trip to Ottawa today from Chicago for a 5 day R&R. It' s american thanksgiving and an excuse to hang out with the all Charlie's cousins.
Our plans are big, visit the air museum with grandpa, go skating, see a hockey game and get as much time in with Kevin and Derek as possible - Charlie's words not mine ;-)
Mom was with us at the airport before takeoff since she was on her way to Toronto to meet up with with Tante TT for a trip to Bahamas for their own R&R. It was a bit of separation anxiety but I was able to contain it with distractions such as pilots, dogs and general swinging him around.
Charlie was pretty funny since there's a Starbucks down in that area of the terminal and he asked for money from me and could have ordered the 'chai latte' on his own with no problems, he's a pro at that phrase and imitates it quite often throughout the days and nights.
Now, this was the first flight he was really genuinely excited about. He just couldn't wait, and was always wondering why the plane wasn't there and why we hadn't taken off yet. Very anxious. The rest of the plane was pretty much asking the same questions as he was for example we'd be all settled in and just waiting at the gate (we took off over an hour late) he'd say, why aren't we leaving? when are we leaving? Of course, his voice carried throughout the front seats and the people I could hear would respond "Ya, why aren't we leaving?". It was funny and he was very well spoken about it (not whinny just inquisitive).
Once we took off he fell asleep and was out for the rest of the flight. We got the bulkhead which means that while in his car seat he wasn't squashed in at all and plenty of room to kick back and sleep (a mistake we made on an earlier flight where we were extremely squashed in in one of the back rows of a previous trip to Ottawa...without Mom that time as well).
When we landed he woke up with plenty of questions where Mom was and if on one side of the plane was Ottawa and the other Toronto. Don't think he understood my explanation. The funniest part is that I only speak french to him and at times they are words he hasn't heard before and i know it, so he just keeps asking me why and looks at me puzzled. Funny, but i refused to kick in English (since that's how he learnt the English words in the first place!).
I did manage to read a lot of my Lonely Planet for Israel while he snored in my one ear.
At customs we got pulled over by the guy to another area to have Charlie's documents further checked. I guess the guy didn't like the sticky note that Eileen scribbled just before we left. No one had questioned us in the past, and as the guy said in the back, there is no legal requirement to have letters certified or notarized for having a parent bring a child to Canada. Oh well, it only took a moment to get through. I think in the future I won't have Charlie talk to the gate agent and we'll get an 8.5x11 sheet of the same note from Eileen. It was just a fluke however, i'm sure.
Uncle Matt was waiting for us on the other side and for 15 minutes that's all I heard from Charlie, was that he wanted to leave that side room (so did I) and go see Uncle Matt, then when he saw Uncle Matt, he was shy. Funny.
Anyways, Charlie loved Memere's tub, it had bubbles and those jet sprays and he just didn't want to get out (although bath time he typically never wants to get out at the best of times).
Our plans are big, visit the air museum with grandpa, go skating, see a hockey game and get as much time in with Kevin and Derek as possible - Charlie's words not mine ;-)
Mom was with us at the airport before takeoff since she was on her way to Toronto to meet up with with Tante TT for a trip to Bahamas for their own R&R. It was a bit of separation anxiety but I was able to contain it with distractions such as pilots, dogs and general swinging him around.
Charlie was pretty funny since there's a Starbucks down in that area of the terminal and he asked for money from me and could have ordered the 'chai latte' on his own with no problems, he's a pro at that phrase and imitates it quite often throughout the days and nights.
Now, this was the first flight he was really genuinely excited about. He just couldn't wait, and was always wondering why the plane wasn't there and why we hadn't taken off yet. Very anxious. The rest of the plane was pretty much asking the same questions as he was for example we'd be all settled in and just waiting at the gate (we took off over an hour late) he'd say, why aren't we leaving? when are we leaving? Of course, his voice carried throughout the front seats and the people I could hear would respond "Ya, why aren't we leaving?". It was funny and he was very well spoken about it (not whinny just inquisitive).
Once we took off he fell asleep and was out for the rest of the flight. We got the bulkhead which means that while in his car seat he wasn't squashed in at all and plenty of room to kick back and sleep (a mistake we made on an earlier flight where we were extremely squashed in in one of the back rows of a previous trip to Ottawa...without Mom that time as well).
When we landed he woke up with plenty of questions where Mom was and if on one side of the plane was Ottawa and the other Toronto. Don't think he understood my explanation. The funniest part is that I only speak french to him and at times they are words he hasn't heard before and i know it, so he just keeps asking me why and looks at me puzzled. Funny, but i refused to kick in English (since that's how he learnt the English words in the first place!).
I did manage to read a lot of my Lonely Planet for Israel while he snored in my one ear.
At customs we got pulled over by the guy to another area to have Charlie's documents further checked. I guess the guy didn't like the sticky note that Eileen scribbled just before we left. No one had questioned us in the past, and as the guy said in the back, there is no legal requirement to have letters certified or notarized for having a parent bring a child to Canada. Oh well, it only took a moment to get through. I think in the future I won't have Charlie talk to the gate agent and we'll get an 8.5x11 sheet of the same note from Eileen. It was just a fluke however, i'm sure.
Uncle Matt was waiting for us on the other side and for 15 minutes that's all I heard from Charlie, was that he wanted to leave that side room (so did I) and go see Uncle Matt, then when he saw Uncle Matt, he was shy. Funny.
Anyways, Charlie loved Memere's tub, it had bubbles and those jet sprays and he just didn't want to get out (although bath time he typically never wants to get out at the best of times).
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Charlie spells his name...well...last name
He's learnt the alphabet then just the vowels (in French) then lately it's his last name..in French again.
He loves singing songs and remembers them better than Daddy. First there's Cintille Cintille Mon Etoile (twinkle twinkle little start) which he really digs and same with Petit Papa Noel. He watched that one and Vive Le Vent on YouTube and both Daddy and Charlie love those:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnn33GdkcxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhBqOCcpSyo
We've got a repetoire of good songs now and he sings them pretty much all day every day.
Bed time is a little later these days around 8pm and sometimes as late as 8:30pm and he's still having 1.5-2 hour naps mid day.
Sabrina has been helping out a few days a week now for a month or so and she speaks exclusively French to Charlie and even a lot to Eileen too! He's a chatter box on the phone too but doesn't realize people at the other end can't actually see him. Weird I know but he's ahead of his time I guess.
Since Halloween there's been plenty of candy requests but typically they fall on deaph ears.
French School is on Saturdays, music class on tuesday's and gymnastics on Thursday. The last one probably being his favorite, but clearly Saturday being mine ... it's the only one where I take him ;-)
He loves singing songs and remembers them better than Daddy. First there's Cintille Cintille Mon Etoile (twinkle twinkle little start) which he really digs and same with Petit Papa Noel. He watched that one and Vive Le Vent on YouTube and both Daddy and Charlie love those:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnn33GdkcxU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhBqOCcpSyo
We've got a repetoire of good songs now and he sings them pretty much all day every day.
Bed time is a little later these days around 8pm and sometimes as late as 8:30pm and he's still having 1.5-2 hour naps mid day.
Sabrina has been helping out a few days a week now for a month or so and she speaks exclusively French to Charlie and even a lot to Eileen too! He's a chatter box on the phone too but doesn't realize people at the other end can't actually see him. Weird I know but he's ahead of his time I guess.
Since Halloween there's been plenty of candy requests but typically they fall on deaph ears.
French School is on Saturdays, music class on tuesday's and gymnastics on Thursday. The last one probably being his favorite, but clearly Saturday being mine ... it's the only one where I take him ;-)
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