Big snow dump

The snow build up at the back door. This pic was taken early afternoon.

The snow build up on the back window ledge. Ok so maybe not so exciting to some but I found it interesting......

Around the 9th of December we had a big snow dump - around 20-30cms in the day and the day was declared a snow day for school also which meant that Riley got to stay home from school to enjoy the snow.

Emmy waiting for her turn on the snow board.

Riley doing some driveway shovelling.

Brad doing some driveway shovelling.



Hard to tell what is the driveway and what is the front grass and what is the road......but to gain some perspective Brad is standing essentially on the edge of the road and walking back up the driveway if you look closely you can see the pile that the snow plough left on its way through earlier......

The front steps needed a little shovelling too.

It just fascinates me how the snow can naturally contour like this.

This is the build up of snow later that same day, well early evening actually but still only a matter of hours after the first shot.

Fun in the snow.

Daddy and Riley took the opportunity to go outside one sunny (and cold) afternoon to try out some snow boarding. They had to go down to the mailbox and collect the mail anyway so Brad thought he would pull Riley along on the snowboard for some fun. Seems it is harder than it looks and Brad was a tad puffed out after all the running around. Riley on the other hand had an absolute ball and kept calling out for more.

Time for some snow boarding!!

Geesh this thing is jsut a little heavier than I thought......

RUN DADDY RUUUUUN!!!

OK Daddy's turn, puuuuulll........

I guess Daddy was a little heavier than Riley bargained for.......

Our first live Chrissy tree

The nursery where we got our tree, they had some gorgeous live wreaths there that I think I might go back and look at next year.....

Just when you think that you have seen all your 'firsts'......it seems that we are having a lot of firsts over here..... first snow, first thanksgiving, first halloween etc etc etc.......and this post is no different, this is our first real live Chrissy tree!! We were really excited to head off to the Christmas tree farm although I must admit it was nothing like I imagined and certainly nothing like I had seen before on the telly. The trees were all inside in a nursery conveniently set up in sections according to their different types. We browsed for a while and came across a scotch pine that just screamed for us to take it home.

A nursery worker picked it up for us, and took it to a special machine that shook all the loose needles free and then they kind of wrapped it in a mesh bag which made it much easier to strap on to the roof of our car and transport home.

Brad tying the tree to the roof of our trusty SUV.

Riley did his best to 'help'

I have no pics of the nursery inside as there were big signs up everywhere saying that no photography was allowed. I have no idea why, I cannot imagine there being big nursery secrets available for selling.........

Jean and Colleen helping to trim the tree with the decorations that they so kindly loaned to us for the holidays.

Riley and Emily triming the tree.

A little night shot of the tree with the lights on, I love having the Chrissy lights on each night over the holidays......so festive!

First snow of the season.

Our little house and cars weathering the first snow.

Well it had to happen, winter just had to arrive....... These following pics were all taken around the 29th and 30th of November last year. Gosh still seems too soon to be saying 'last year' but here we are in 2010.......

The view up our street.

Our deck chairs out the front, you know for stickybeaking LOL...

I just thought that the way the snow and ice was sitting on my neighbour's roof looked pretty so I took some pics.....

All set for chillaxin........

Goofing around in the hotel in Toronto after the Launch Party....

So what is one to do when stuck in a hotel room?? Apparently stage a little photo shoot. It was relatively late one night (or bed time at the very least) and I wanted a pic of the way that Riley's hair had dried. Of course no pic could be taken without Emily and they both wanted to see how the pic turned out and then wanted another and another and another taken......and so it went on for a good 20mins or so with lots of posing and lots of giggling. I couldn't resist but to indulge them and I am glad that I did because these are just too cute not to share.

Take me to my milk servant boy....

A lil snuggle for a lil sis.

Awww can you feel the love??

Very fuzzy and bad red eye but I just love this shot!

Too cute lil posers!

I have no idea how but when Riley's hair dried after his shower this was the result! Bad hair day or what????

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......