Monday, September 13, 2010

THE TWO GRANDKIDS

It's been awhile since ilast posted. For those of you who foloowed when I writing lots, yoy will recognize the handsome young man in this picture. Yes, this is Owen. He turned four years old on the 2nd of September. The sweet young lady is Quinlan, his baby sister. She was born on May 6, 2010. She was a healthy 8lbs 7oz. Just over a pound smaller than Owen.

Owen started pre-school last week and goes 3 mornings a week. I am always amazed at how smart he is. He went to a corn maze with his auntie Erin this weekend and led her through. When they came to an intersection and had a choice of which way to go , he pulled out an imaginary map and looked it over. Then he said:"this way ". They got through the maze! He still loves the hot as you can see. That's him swimming under Quinlan in the second picture. She loves the tub as much as he does. She loves people and has a smile that will melt your heart.
She is starting to teeth now and is still happy . She also talks a lot. Typical woman.
Grandma is trying to get her to be a Gramma's girl. Good luck with that. She is too active to be a gramma's girl. Just kicks and kicks an smiles.

Hope this has updated a lot of good friends. i will try to post more but time is short. The next post will probably be about Liam, our newest Grandson from my son James. You will love him.
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, January 16, 2010

I was reading and catching up on some old blog friends and thought it was time I posted again.
It has been a very busy time up here in the Great White North. A little on the chilly side also. November was a cold month herein Alberta as you can see by the picture of the thermometer. Yes! that does say -32 Celsius(-21f). Mrs Moose took this one when we were out in the hot tub. The next day I think it was down a bit to -42C. Still went out to the tub though.

This picture was taken at Christmas. the lens is not dirty. that is steam coming off the water. As you can see, we wear hats to keep our hair dry. Not that they do much good, but it is the only way we can get Owen to wear one. he thinks , if he needs one, everybody does.The great mind of a three year old.
Here is Owen at Christmas. He and his parents went to Mexico for the Holidays and this was taken after they got back. he is sure getting big. Still the joy of my life. He loves to come to Gramma and Grampa's to sleep over. Here he is opening a helmet of his favourite Transformer "Bumblebee'. The only problem was that he wouldn't put it on. he was having too much fun playing with his new Hotwheels and his new slinky.
He is in Pre-school this year and loving it. I went to his Christmas concert and he introduced me to everyone, especially his teacher.
He sure has come a long way from being a little baby to a three year old boy.He is also going to have a little sister in May. I think he is excited about it. He just doesn't like that it makes his mommy tired.





This was taken at his last sleepover. Notice the snow on the arbour in he background. This was after 4 days of plus temperatures.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 12, 2009

CANADIAN THANKSGIVING 2009

I have so much to be thankful for. I have good health , a roof over my had, a job I like, food on my table. I live in a country that is basically at peace and where I am free to express my own thoughts.Where I can vote for whom I wish without fear of reprisals.

Most of all, I have been truly blessed with the most important people in my life.

My Daughter Kristin,my son-in-law Mark and of course, my grandson Owen

My son Craig
My daughter Erin and son James
And of course the love of my life, my wife June


Happy Thanksgiving to All
Posted by Picasa

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Three Short Years

It' s been a while since I last posted. The time has gone by so quickly.
We have been through more than a year of recession and comeback. Up here in "The North Country" we have survived pretty well. Business ahs been good at work, construction and renovations have continued and the family is all healthy and working.

As i look back ont he last year, I alsolook back on the last three and cannot help but be amazed. Owen has gone from this tiny little bundle of nine minute old blank slate to an amazing smart life-loving three year old.

He has learned how to crawl , walk, run and climb. He has gone from being silent (except for crying) to being able to carry on an intelligent conversation.
He has learned how to charm people, how to manipulate people and most importantly--- how to think for himself.

He can dress himself completely from head to toe. He no longer wears diapers and thinks only babies need them. Wait until he gets old.
He can get into his car seat by himself and do up the straps tightly enough so he is safe.
He can ride a tricycle like a bat out of hell and has a battery-operated jeep that can go REAL fast.
He loves the hot tub( ours is better than his parents) or so he says. He goes to preschool and does Gymmasticks. He loves peanut butter and bread.

His favorite movies are Finding Nemo, A Bugs Life, Wall-E , and Transformers. That is his favourite. He understands that Optimus Prime, BumbleBee and Hot Rod are the good guys and Megatron and Unicron are the bad guys.

He loves going to the park and expects me to take him there everytime he comes over in the summer. When he is here for a sleepover, we go in the hot tub and have a fire afterwards
He loves to climb on the playground equipment and thinks his old decrepit body of mine should keep up.

He doeslearn bad things from his uncles however. Since he loves the Transformers so much and Hot Rods old friend is an old Pickup truck/autobot named Kup. Hot rod refers to him as "old timer" and that is Owepulls his face real close and lokking straight into my eyes says" You're Old Tmer". Then he laugh and laughs and laughs. He has a wicked sense of humour

His uncle Craig has taught him a trick in the hot tub. They call it the floating head. He moves around saying"Where's my body, where's my body?"

He loves to help out. Today he helped me change a tire, go buy some new shoes do some grocery shopping, find a new movie: "Monsters vs Aliens",helped make scrambled eggs for breakfast, drain the hot tub to put in fresh water, pooper scoop, watch the new movie and then nap for three hours.


All in all I would say it has been a great three years. It can only get better.
Posted by Picasa

Sunday, August 31, 2008

IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER

It has been a extremely busy summer for us since my Mother's funeral in early July. Both my brother, who lives in Toronto and myself ( in Edmonton )were executors of her will. Being over 2000 miles apart and trying to deal with funeral homes, banks, and relatives is not easy. At the same time , being back at work during the busiest time of the year for building supply stores. I just felt like I was on a treadmill and running and running and getting nowhere. Thank God for my family. They were the ones who helped me get through all the stressful times and I thank them and love them very much.

I did get two weeks vacation from the middle of July to the end of July. The first week we had Owen everyday for a few hours. He is getting so big and smarter all the time He loves to be chased and has found a hiding place under the fir tree in the front yard. He not only hides but pretends to be a big monster and when you get too close, he chases after you roaring. If you turn back toward him , the brakes come on and he takes off laughing to beat the band. When you get too close he "falls " down, hoping you will fall for his little con job.

His language skills have developed tremendously. He talks in complete sentences that you can understand. He uses the proper tense for the most part and when he hears a new word, he absorbs it like a sponge and uses correctly within the next two days. I am truly amazed at how much learning children do in their first two or three years of life.

I built him a small sandbox in the back and he plays for hours with his trucks and cars and "diggers". He loves to feel the sand dribble through his fingers and watch what happens if he puts it through a strainer. He will dig holes and then immediately cover them up ,only to re-dig them. The sandbox seems to be his favorite place in the yard.

He is also extremely helpful. We bought him a plastic garden shovel and he uses it to dig in his sandbox. He has also offered to help me "pooper-scoop". Of course we say no. But helpful as he is,he is there to point it out to us. Poop is YUCKY.

He helps his Grandma pick peas in the row we planted beside the garage. He is learning to not pick the whole plant. He also is learning how to shell peas . As fast as you can get the pea out, he eats it. Corn on the cob is the same. I have never seen a kid devour corn like he does.

In early August, Kristin , Mark and Owen were away for about two weeks. Such along time to not see him or them. When he arrived at our house the first time back, he ran up the walk and threw himself into my arms. He is usually not a cuddler, but that day, he just laid his head on my shoulder for about five minutes.

He is developing a very devilish sense of humour. When he was helping me water the garden, he decided he should also water Grandpa. He had me trapped behind the house. Each time I would start to go turn off the water he would give a little squirt as a warning. If I moved too much, he would let fly with a full blast. I ended up soaked to the skin with water in both ears. And he laughed and laughed.

His Uncle Jim and Uncle Craig and myself took him to the zoo two weeks ago. Just the guys and he had a great time. Never fussed or whined once. We were there for about five hours and he thoroughly enjoyed it.
He has learned to wear his hat on hot sunny days and loves to wear his sunglasses. He used to take them off all the time, but now he lives in them.

Last weekend he phoned me. Mrs. Moose had talked to Kristin around five o'clock. At about ten to six , our phone rang and it was Kristin. Owen had picked up the phone and when she asked who he was calling, his reply was - Grandpa!
Not even two yet and already calling me. We talked about his birthday party which was yesterday and how his Mom would make cake and he would get presents. I did most of the talking while he answered-yes.

He will be two on September 2ND and it has been the most amazing two years of my life.
\
Posted by Picasa

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Canadians eh !!!






 

A Little Canadian Humor...
 
 

Forget Rednecks,

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Canucks.
 

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from

September through May,

You may live in Canada .


 

If someone in a Home Depot store

Offers you assistance and they don't work there,

You may live in Canada .


 

 

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,

You may live in Canada .



 

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation

With someone who dialed a wrong number,

You may live in Canada .


 


If 'Vacation' means going anywhere

South of Detroit for the weekend,

You may live in Canada .


 


If you measure distance in hours,

You may live in Canada .


 

 

If you know several people

Who have hit a deer more than once,

You may live in Canada .


 

 

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C'

In the same day and back again,

 You may live in Canada .


 


If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow

During a raging blizzard without flinching,

You may live in Canada .


 

 

If you install security lights on your house and garage,

 But leave both unlocked,

You may live in Canada .


 

If you carry jumpers in your car

And your wife knows how to use them,

You may live in Canada .


 

                   If you design your kid's Halloween costume

To fit over a snowsuit,

You may live in Canada .


 

                        If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km --

You're going 90 and everybody is passing you,

You may live in Canada .


 

                                If driving is better in the winter

Because the potholes are filled with snow,

You may live in Canada .


 

If you know all 4 seasons:

Almost winter, winter, still winter,

And road construction,

You may live in Canada .


 

If you have more miles

On your snow blower than your car,

You may live in Canada .


 

If you find 2 degrees 'a little chilly',

You may live in Canada .


 


 

If you actually understand these jokes,

And forward them to all

Your Canadian friends & others,

You definitely live in Canada .

 

 






Sunday, July 13, 2008

Why Parents Drink- PRICELESS
















 Why Parents Drink

 The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees had not phoned in sick one day. Having an urgent problem with one of the main computers, he dialed the employee's home phone number and was greeted with a child's whisper.
" Hello ? "

"Is your daddy home?" he asked.

" Yes ,"
whispered the small voice. May I talk with him?"

The child whispered,
" No ."

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, "Is your Mommy there?"
" Yes ."

"May I talk with her?" Again the small voice whispered,
" No ."

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, "Is anybody else there?"

" Yes ,"
whispered the child, " a policeman ".

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee's home, the boss asked, "May I speak with the policeman?"

" No, he's busy ",
whispered the child.

"Busy doing what?"

" Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman ,"
came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?"

" A helicopter "
answered the whispering voice.

"What is going on there?" demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive Again, whispering, the child answered,
" The search team just landed a helicopter ."

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, "What are they searching for?"

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle...
"me ."

Free Animations for your email - By IncrediMail! Click Here!


Find it at www.seek.com.au Your Future Starts Here. Dream it? Then be it!


Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.


Be smarter than spam. See how smart SpamGuard is at giving junk email the boot with the All-new Yahoo! Mail






Sunday, July 6, 2008

Only an 8th grade education



I RECEIVED THIS FROM AN OLD SCHOOLFRIEND IN MY HOMETOWN

 

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895? 

This is the eighth grade final exam from 1895 in 
Salina ,  Kansas ,  USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the  Smokey  Valley  Genealogical Society and Library in  Salina ,  KS , and reprinted by the  Salina  Journal. 

8th Grade Final Exam: 
Salina,  KS, 1895 

Grammar (Time, one hour) 

1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters. 
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications. 
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph 
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie', 'play', and 'run.' 
5. Define case; illustrate each case. 
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation. 
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar. 

Arithmetic (Time, 65 minutes) 

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic. 
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold? 
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1050 lbs. for tare? 
4.  Di strict No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals? 
5. Find the cost of 6720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton. 
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent. 
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. long at $20 per meter? 
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent. 
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods? 
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt 

U.S.  History (Time, 45 minutes) 

1. Give the epochs into which 
U.S.  History is divided 
2. Give an account of the discovery of 
America  by  Columbus  . 
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the 
United States  . 
5. Tell what you can of the history of 
Kansas  . 
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion. 
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe? 
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, and 1865. 

Orthography (Time, one hour) (Do we even know what this is???) 

1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, and syllabication. 
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified? 
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, sub vocal, diphthong, cognate letters, and lingual.
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?) 
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each. 
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi-, dis-, mis-, pre-, semi-, post-, non-, inter-, mono-, and sup-. 
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, r ise, blood, fare, last. 
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays. 
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication. 

Geography (Time, one hour) 

1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend? 
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in 
Kansas  ? 
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean? 
4. Describe the mountains of 
North America 
5. Name and describe the following:  Monrovia ,  Odessa ,  Denver ,  Manitoba ,  Hecla ,  Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and  Orinoco . 
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the 
U.S. 
7. Name all the republics of: 
Europe  and give the capital of each. 8. Why is the  Atlantic  Coast  colder than the Pacific in the same latitude? 
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers. 
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth. 

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete. Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole new meaning, doesn't it? This also shows you how poor our education system has become... and, 

 

NO! I don't have all the answers. 


------- End of Forwarded Message -------


--
Open WebMail Project (http://openwebmail.org)


Saturday, June 28, 2008

I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER


This will be my last post for awhile. My mom passed away this morning in Thunder Bay, Ont. She was born on April 1, 1921. her husband , Hugh passed away on December 10 of 2000. She was healthy right to the end and died peacefully. I will miss hr terribly as will our whole family. God speed mom.
Posted by Picasa

Monday, June 23, 2008

Fwd: Fw: Home Depot Scam


Home Depot scam... be careful . A 'heads up' for those men who may be regular Home Depot customers.

Over the last month I became a victim of a clever scam while out shopping. Simply going out to get supplies has turned out to be quite
traumatic. Don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen to you or your friends. Here's how the scam works:

Two seriously good-looking 20-21 year-old girls come over to your car as you are packing your shopping into the trunk. They both start
wiping your windshield with a rag and Windex, with their breasts almost falling out of their skimpy T-shirts. It is impossible not to look.
When you thank them and offer them a tip, they say 'No' and instead ask you for a ride to another Home Depot.
You agreeand they get in the backseat. On the way, they start undressing. Then one of them climbs over into the front seat and starts crawling all over you, while the other one steals your wallet. I had my wallet stolen on March 4th, 9th, 10th, twice on the 15th, 17th, 20th, & 24th 29th. Also April 1st, 4th, twice on the 8th, 16th, 23rd, 26th, 30th, and three times last Saturday and very likely again this upcoming weekend.


So........... tell your friends to be careful!

P.S.: Walmart has wallets on sale 2.99 each.