What's Your News? Launch Party!!

The kids posing on the What's Your News? set


Some 5 months after filming wrapped up on What's Your News? the show was finally ready for airing. The week before the show started airing they held a launch party for all the children that were involved in the show. It meant a road trip to Toronto with both kids on my own as Brad was in Montreal but we did the trip and had a blast. The kids were treated to performances from other popular characters off the CBC network (sadly we have not been watching the channel so most of it was kind of lost on us but the kids really seemed to enjoy it anyway). There were bits of different scenes playing on a loop on two big TV screens and we were lucky enough to see Riley's scene pop up a few times. I tried to take a quick pic of it, not the best but here it is.


Our little 'Canadian' bear.

Just some of the kids that were involved in the show.

A little pose from my camera shy boy whilst we were getting ready to head across to the launch party.

Oh, really Mummy? Another pic??? Oh Ok...... LOL

The kids with the Director, Larry. A very lovely man who, believe it or not, remembered ALL of the kids names and what their scenes were and there were a LOT of kids!

We are still waiting for Riley's episode to pop up on our screens but I have been told that it will be in January some time........stay tuned!!

Our big boy turns 6!!!

Ok so maybe we spoilt him just a little??? But just look at that cutie patootie face.... and besides the biggest parcel there was a doona so really not that exciting to a 6 year old.....

I can hardly believe that it has been more than 6 years since Riley came screaming into our lives. In a way it all seems like just yesterday but as I sit here watching him play with Emily, I cannot imagine a day without him. He is such a kind, gentle loving and incredibly funny little boy who brings joy (and challenges) into our lives every day.

This past year he has moved schools again from Oakville to Sudbury and has entered Grade One. He is doing so very well at school and we are so proud of him. He is reading anything and everything he can get his hands on and besides all the transformers and bakugans that he got for his birthday I think his favourite present has to be the Captain Underpants books that he got from his cousin Alex back home. They have opened up a whole new world to him and he is loving every minute of it.

Since his last birthday Riley has also tried his hand at acting which he totally enjoyed and although it was one episode on one show (which as of Jan 9th 2010 has still yet to air) he thinks he is a big TV star now. He is very interested in trying to learn the guitar and to get back into soccer too. He is still missing all his family and friends from home and all the wonderful friends that he made in Joburg but he seems to be fitting in well here at his new school and has a few close friends too. It will be a really good thing for him for us to be settled here for 2 years as he will get to be involved in sports and other activities and build his friendships and life experiences.

He is always looking ahead to the future whether it be returning home to Australia and getting another dog (he still misses Jezza and BJ) or what he wants for his next birthday or whether or not he will be having dessert tonight. He is quick witted (yes Mum I think that may be what you call Karma) and funny and enjoys making people laugh. He is a very good big brother and loves Emily more than I can ever say. Watching him with her warms my heart in a way that I never knew possible, he is always begging for more siblings as now he has figured he wants a couple of brothers (not going to happen by the way!).

We are loving every day with our little man and are enjoying watching him grow and learn. Here's to the year ahead whatever it may bring to him!!

Birthday cake #1 Mummy's home job kinda sad looking I know but geesh it tasted GOOD!

The week after his birthday we had a party in a local gym (gym as in gymnastics type). It was a lot of fun and the staff were great at showing the kids how to use different things like the built-in trampolines and the other equipment (ok so I don't know the real names of them - leave me alone! LOL) The kids all ran around like chooks with their heads cut off and then came in the party room (which was crazy confined) for some pizza, cake and present opening. Riley was very spoilt and got loads of awesome gifts all of which he loved.

Having that many 5 and 6 year olds in one little closed up room was something only crazy people do on purpose! Just for the record I DID NOT KNOW that the room was that small and closed or I would have come armed with ibuprofen and vodka!

Cake #2 might have looked better but I swear my home jobby tasted much nicer! Oh and that little finger smudge was from an eager little beaver named Emily I believe......

HALLOWEEN 2009

Eyeball soup......

So after our first Canadian Thanksgiving came our first real Canadian Halloween. Let me tell you they really do go all out here for Halloween too, a good number of the houses are decorated with all sorts of spooky stuff (including our little effort) and boxes of candy and treats are sold in bulk in the stores. Going out to the shops I couldn't really see the need for such bulk buying but after having been out trick or treating I soon understood. Riley had a little spiderman head bucket for candy whereas most of the other children (and teenagers) that I saw had sacks more the size of pillow cases and bigger and they were full too!!

The day before Halloween there was trick or treating at Brad's office so Emily and I headed down for some treats. Her little pumpkin outfit was a hit and I think she enjoyed all the attention too. On our way home from the office we stopped off and got ourselves vaccinated against the H1N1 (swine flu). Emily was so brave having her needle but sadly within 3 hours she was very sick and vomiting everywhere. We had a very rough night and our trick or treating plans for the following night were in doubt but she is such a trouper and managed to put on her costume and help Daddy greet trick or treaters at our doorstep.

We learned a lot of lessons this year that we will carry with us into our next Halloween like the eyeball stew which was not such a big hit as anything more than a prop, it seems the kids want to get in get their candy and move on to the next house and I think I am going to have to invest in a bigger bucket too or a sack we were lucky this year that one lady took pity on his small bucket and gave him a bigger bag.



Mummy & Riley giving the eyeball soup a mix before trick or treating.

Emily all set for trick or treating at Daddy's office.

Brad all set for just another day at the office.........

Riley and Emily inspecting their harvest.

I found my thrills.........on Blueberry Hill

Can you see what I see.......

Well ok so maybe there were no actual 'thrills' but it was still very enjoyable. After all having such fun hiking at Onaping last weekend we thought it would be fun to get out and about again and try another hike. This time we chose Blueberry Hill, named for the good blueberry picking there in the Summer. There were two paths to choose from at the base of the hill, neither looked particularly worn, one had a little seat at the start which we decided was the trail up. The hike was supposed to be about a 5min trail straight up the little hill to the gazebo at the top. About 45 mins later and the complete opposite side of the hill we encountered a couple of guys (well actually the kids encountered their dog......and wouldn't leave the poor lil thing alone) seems we chose the wrong path and had circumnavigated the hill. Was a very enjoyable little walk though(which was close to 2hrs when all was said and done) and the brochure was correct the descent was markably shorter............

Even though I have since posted these pics on Facebook I just had to finish my blog post too!!

Getting set for the trek.

Always time for a little cuddle


And a pose......LOL

The seemingly illusive gazebo.....

The view from the top.

Our first real Canadian Thanksgiving

My turkey before going in the oven.

Today (October 12) is Thanksgiving here in Canada. This time last year we had only recently arrived, knew next to nobody and were actually still living in the Homewood Suites so we did not get to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year I was determined to get into the spirit one way or another. I figured that there must be other people in the Hatch office that were here on assignement without family and friends around (turns out I was not all that right.............ok so a little wrong). I extended an invitation to all the office and ended up having an Aussies only Canadian Thanksgiving LOL!! We had two guests both from Australia and we all had a very lovely lunch together and I think it is safe to say we are all now rolling around the place as we are all so full.

Brad carving up the finished product. I must say I was a little nervous about cooking a turkey for the first time but it was so very moist and juicy and delicious I am very impressed with myself (and thankful to Colleen for sharing her recipe with me).

The Aussies sharing in our first Canadian Thanksgiving together.

Onaping Falls

Today we had our first nice weather day in a long time and probably for a while as well. The sky was a beautiful clear blue and the temperature was a lovley 6 degrees (at one point I think it got up to 11). So we decided to take advantage of the fine weather and head out to explore Onaping Falls and see if we can take in the beauty of not only the falls but also the fall colours that are so beautiful this time of year. We were not disappointed.

All up we were there for just shy of 2 hours and in that time we did a lot of walking, stopping taking pics, and climbing up and down rocks, stopping and taking pics. Both kids did awesomely well. Riley really enjoyed being given the freedom to navigate his way up and down the rocks and did a great job and did not fall over even once. Emily also did really well and was carried only over the really steep parts and was held onto very tightly at all times by her Daddy.

Little Miss Fall.....(or Autumn for those playing at home in Australia)

A nice pose from our big boy.

Sitting high on a nice rock.

Daddy and the kids with Onaping Falls in the background.

Riley traversing down the rocks and doing a super job of it.

Emily going down with some help from Daddy.

The kids taking a break from all the hiking and climbing.

I love this pic but Riley calls it the butt pic......

Riley was saying "Ahhhh my nature...." in this pic (he was dangerously close to the edge at the time soo so Mummy was freaking out just a little)

Mummy and Emily, Emily is saying Cheese in this pic and is trying to get away from me to run around but on a rock overhanging the falls I thought NOT!

Mummy and the kids.

Brad thought it was only fair seeing as how the rest of the family was in pics that the Durango get a pic too, so this is us leaving Onaping Falls.


And the beautiful fall colours.

Our little Emmy Bear is 2 years old today!!

Birthday Princess Emily!!

Wish I could say I made this one myself but I think we all know better than that by now.

The 'star' of the day!! (after pigging out on some fairy bread - which the locals here had never heard of or seen)

My gosh this past year really has flown by and I can hardly believe our little girl is turning 2 already. She has grown and changed so much in this past year. She has gone from breast feeding to (reluctantly on her part) being fully weaned and fully independant as far as feeding goes. She has gone from sleeping in a cot to sleeping in her 'big girl bed' (a Dora bed of course). She has gone from just walking to running rings around us all. She has gone from hardly saying any words to talking up a storm (not always coherant but an effort none the less). And she has gone from nappies to toilet training. She has a wicked sense of humour and often reels Riley in with promises of affection only to push him away laughing. She finds the passing of gas to be particularly funny too. She loves to sing and to dance around, and is not shy about having her photo taken. She is really growing into a beautiful little girl and no longer the least bit baby. We really are so very proud of our little girl.

Emily's birthday celebrations started on the Wednesday before her bithday (Sept 30th) with a small celebration at daycare where Emily got to wear a birthday hat and was sung Happy Birthday to and got to choose a toy for herself out of the birthday box. She was made to feel very special all day.

Next came the morning of her birthday (Friday the 2nd) where we all sat together on our bed and opened presents with her. She got a Dora look and see book (kinda like a Where's Wally but not so busy and of course Dora) and a Dora clock for her room from Mummy and Daddy. She got a toy Backpack (Dora's backpack) that talks and sings the backpack song and comes with cute little Dora sunnies, friendship bracelet and storybook from her still very proud big brother Riley and a radio control car from her Daddy. Yes we know she is a spoilt little monkey.

Then on the following day (Saturday the 3rd) we had a little birthday party for her. Sadly we do not know very many children here yet and so there was Emily, Riley and one other little girl Elizabeth (who is a couple of years older than Riley) the rest of our guest list comprised of Brad's work collegues who all put in a super effort and made it such a wonderful morning for Emily. They all bought her wonderful gifts including a gorgeous fur collared fall cardigan, an animal puzzle that makes the sound of the corresponding animal when the piece is placed in its correct position, a toy pet salon, some groovy Mickey Mouse sunnies and two custom built teddy bears. They also got together and spoilt me with a $100 spa voucher (my feet are just dying to be pedicured.........). Everyone graciously got into the spirit of the party and happily donned the princess party hats too which was really fun.

Hmmmmm now where to start??

"It's my party and I'll steal cake if I want to............"

The very lovely Colleen.

Daddy serving up cake for Miss Emily and the very lovely Sheila.

The 'R' boys; Rob, Raj and Richard (Raj & Richard are over here on assignment from Australia)

Like I said everyone was getting into the spirit of the day and here is a demonstration of that by Jean (the lovely Colleen's hubby).

For those whose heads are bigger than the average little girl's........

Our little angel girl looking like a movie star with her fur coat inspired collared cardigan over her princess dress, paired with her Mickey Mouse sunnies.