Family Picture Sept 22-06

Family Picture Sept 22-06
Originally uploaded by Binky

This is how she sees us... Our family, drawn by five and a half year-old Action Girl, Friday Sept. 22, 2006. Note: my cool hair.

B.

The Solar System, by Action Girl (including Pluto)

DSC00239
Originally uploaded by Binky

This is a cut-out paper version of the Solar System that Action Girl (age 5) started last spring and finished over the summer. It hangs in our kitchen.

B.

Lego Super Car: Don't you wish you had one?

DSC00243
Originally uploaded by Binky

A really, really cool Lego car that Action Girl (age 5) made today. Side view.

Lego Super Car: She could make anything.

DSC00241
Originally uploaded by Binky

A really, really cool Lego car that Action Girl (age 5) made today. Front view.

Not so Easy...

We had a very interesting experience this afternoon. The main local army reserve unit had a display set up in the park, complete with a flying Griffon helicopter, all kinds of guns and rocket launchers, and a whole lot of people with assault rifles. As many of you may know, I'm actually a big admirer of the Canadian Forces and pretty firm believer that we/our armed forces and other government agencies should be in Afghanistan. I'm comfortable enough with the military that I walked around most of the displays with the girls. True to her nick name, action girls sat up in the turret of a "G-Wagon" lightly armoured vehicle. A fun half hour...

But... There was something very, well... sobering and wartime about the whole event. It felt like the recruiting fairs that were such a part of the first part of WWI. Maybe that's accurate, maybe that's not... I honestly don't know. Maybe I've finally come to the point in my life where, for me, the military in the necessary sharp end of the stick in a democratic and free society rather that something to idealize and dream about. I certainly don't have any less respect for it, even if my unease with it is new and unavoidable.

Basically, I believe in Canada having a strong armed forces and that we should be prepared to fight when its the moral thing to do (as in Afghanistan). I'd like to think that the fact that Canadians in uniform are dying in Afghanistan stops me from thinking this blindly or without, thinking more about it. It just seems a little more serious now that we're in our first sustained combat of my lifetime. Maybe it has something to do with being a parent...

B.

Weekend in Review

DSC00218
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

A pretty great weekend for us...

1) Friday night: fire side time with Supermom's parents (looked something like this...)

2) Action Girl (5 1/2) started gymnastics on Saturday. She really enjoyed herself and also got registered for skating (starts in October).

3) Potty training: Not going so well with Super Girl... at least we (including her) are trying.

4) Quiet day around home today.

A real entry to follow when I have more time...

B.

Someone Likes our Pizza Pic!

This is a pizza that the girls and I made on August 27, the week before they went back to pre-school and K. full-time...

Interestingly, I put the picture of it in my "Flickr" album and someone picked it as one of their favourite pictures... Here's proof:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binkygetsby/237196854/favorites/

Never underedtimate the appeal of a homemade pizza that... well, looks like a monkey...
B.

Our Summer in Pictures: Part 5

The Haunted Forest Tree Aug 2006
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

"The Haunted Forest Tree" - I don't actually remember this part of summer, but am very glad that Action Girl managed to escape from the scary haunted trees.

Personally, I was hoping maybe she'd draw a picture of our friends in Alberta.

Our Summer in Pictures: Part 4

Animals - August 2006
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

More foam animals, this time by Super Girl... man, we love foam animals... doesn't everybody?

Our Summer in Pictures: Part 3

Riding the Rainbow Aug 2006
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

Its not every day you get to ride the rainbow... (to the Skittles at the end?)

Our Summer in Pictures: Part 2

Nice Painting
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

I look at super girl's painting and just think she must have been happy that day, like she is most days.

Our Summer in Pictures: Part 1

Calgary Zoo 1 Aug 2006
Originally uploaded by binkygtesby.

The girl's artwork is the best, most accurate way to review our summer: Here is Action Girl's picture of the Calgary Zoo.

The Last Two Weeks...

The last two weeks have been a busy, happy, and successful time for us.

To summarize:

Number of Cat Escapes: 2-3 (all my fault)
Number of Parents Going Back to work: 1
Number of Girls entering Kindergarten: 1
Number of Girls entering the pre-school: 1
Number of Dads Fighting off a bad head cold: 1

I was able to take last week off from work to spend some extra time with the girls. Super-Mom was going in to school all last week to get ready for this week. This was a wonderful plan, aside from the fact that I managed to catch a really awful head cold and have been fighting it ever since.

Action Girl (5 ½ years) started Kindergarten at the same place where she did Pre-K last year. She was extremely excited about it and was, we're told, very helpful to the new kids in her class. Super Girl (2 ½ years) is in the pre-school class at the same centre. She hasn't been as happy about being back but seems to be doing alright.

Labour Day was a time for some down time with a big trip to the McDonald's Playland and premium ice cream for dessert. (Not our everyday routine...) Super Girl went down the big blue side at the Playland for the first time, with some help from her big sister. We're back, happy and healthy (except for me, but I'm on my way).

B.