"I felt the rain down in Africa"

RKZ and I are in discussion as to whether this drool pattern on Buck's chest looks more like Africa or South America. I think it's a miracle and one of those continents is trying to speak to us (ha. ha.) Yes, you'll also notice that Buck is wearing a child's rosary in this picture. What can I say? He's Madonna with a spitty shirt.

Bad news for the Joads today (my parents) - their plumbing has gone south and it looks like they might need to spend a few thousand dollars fixing it. Seriously a bummer. If you're a praying folk, take a minute and ask that it's not so expensive. My poor mom has been finding interesting places to use the toilet. Good thing that there are so many hotels in Reno. I guess she's been frequenting the lobby for a day. Pa Joad is moving the motorhome back from winter storage, so at least they'll have a place to pee in peace.

Buck and I spent the day playing with Charlie ("cheer up Charlie" - Classic Willy Wonka...always in my mind). Turns out that Buck loves train sets. It's really good that I take him to play with other kids because otherwise, the kid would still be chewing on stuffed animals. I guess we're on a hunt for a 1 1/2 year old trainset tomorrow. Along with Buck's first hair cut. You'll notice he's getting nappy in the pictures. Soon - he'll be looking like a little dorky kid with short hair. Classic.

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin'?"

Buck, Clemmie and Charlie on an impromptu sleigh ride in Charlie's basement.
Clemmie hammin' it up for the camera.
Mommy pulling the crowd along.

Buck and I have been rushing around these days - just trying to get back into the swing after our short trip to Colorado. We are quick to fall out of any sort of normal schedule if given any opportunity. We've been having play dates and spending time with the crowd. Looks like everyone is branching off a bit as we begin to make plans with other people also. Ahh- that flush of first friendships :)

Been incredibly homesick for the 3 last places I lived these days all for different reasons: Toronto, Huntington Beach and Reno (and a little Colorado Springs, though I never lived there). Would be nice to have some time with close friends. Also, it'd be nice to spend the day talking or the night at a play. Ce la vie, I guess.

A little melancholy post for you all. Enjoy!

"Pop goes the weasel"

Buck hiding in his hamper.
"Pop!"
What a fun day with laundry for Buck. Can't wait until he can haul that hamper upstairs himself.

Well - I'm guessing that many people have stopped looking at the blog now that I'm about 12 days late in posting. We have been having the busiest time for some reason! It's not like the weather has been great or anything (the world's best excuse). Actually, it snowed about 4 days straight and was freezing cold again. But, oh well -- we did get down to Colorado for RKZ's father (Grandpa Grady/aka "the Duke" 's) retirement party. (and a late b-day celebration for the Duchess). It was a great time and the weather in Colorado Springs was GREAT!

It was such a good time, that I didn't take any pictures - a sure sign that when life is really fun, there is no time to record it.

The one thing I can't believe is that February is quickly coming to a close. Only about 10 more days - most of those spent in Lent. Speaking of Lent, they call today "Shrove Tuesday" instead of "Mardi Gras" here in Canada. Let me get a little info for you:

Shrove Tuesday is the term used in the English-speaking countries of the United Kingdom[1], Ireland[2], and Australia[3] to refer to the day before Ash Wednesday (the liturgical season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday). In these countries, and amongst Anglicans (and Catholics, I guess) in Canada, this day is also known as Pancake Day, because it is customary to eat pancakes on this day.
The reason that pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent is that the 40 days of Lent form a period of liturgical fasting, during which only the plainest foodstuffs may be eaten. Therefore, rich ingredients such as eggs, milk, sugar and flour are disposed of immediately prior to the commencement of the fast. Pancakes and doughnuts were therefore an efficient way of using up these perishable goods, besides providing a minor celebratory feast prior to the fast itself [2].

The word shrove is a past tense of the English verb "shrive," which means to obtain absolution for one's sins by confessing and doing penance.[7] Shrove Tuesday gets its name from the shriving (confession) that Anglo-Saxon Christians were expected to receive immediately before Lent.[8]

So, there you go. RKZ is helping make pancakes tonight (or clean, I'm not sure which) and Buck and I will pig out on chocolate cake before Lent begins(since he'll be in bed before the pancakes are passed out). Good times.

"Celebrate good times, Come on!"

Somebody decided to eat his washable crayola marker. Niiice.
Note to self: never leave daddy alone with Buck and art supplies.

OK, a quick post (as Buck screams by my leg) to clarify a few points:

1. We're going to Colorado to celebrate Grandma N's birthday and Grandpa D's retirement (hence the two events) Next weekend (the one after this one in a few days).

2. I promise I will not "hint" at pregnancies here on the blog. I will post it LOUD AND PROUD for the world to know after family has been duly notified :)

3. I love you all for wondering and calling and hoping. "These 3 shall remain: faith, HOPE and love..."

We're going to see the Bare Naked Ladies (it's a band, not a strip show) tonight and I can't wait. RKZ got the box from his work, so we're goin' in style. Should be awesome!

"These boots are made for walkin..."

Buck wearing the slippers I received from Aunti Hoonka for Christmas.
Slippers 2
Won't take them off to eat.
Another view of "giant foot"

So, for Christmas, I received a pair of slippers that I love from Coach K 1's wife Aunti Hoonka. They are beautiful slippers and were just the right present. I wear them so much that they usually end up right next to my bed as I go to sleep. Well, each morning, Buck comes into our bed (and then eventually climbs out of it). Inevitably, he lands near the slippers and then begins "demanding" (as you moms well know) that I put them on his feet (with his cave man grunts & points). It makes me laugh, so I always put them on him. Lately, he won't take them off until we leave for an outside activity & he can put on some of his own shoes (he's got quite a shoe thing going on). As you can see from the pictures, he loves the slippers. He does most of his morning activities with them on his feet. This makes it particularly hard when he's sitting down by a toy and the giant slippers get in his way - but, still, he won't take them off. Amazing.

On a "daily activities" note - it's so nice to have RKZ home again. He even stayed home from working out to take Buck for a while this morning. Love that RKZ.

We're gearing up for a trip to Colorado on Feb. 16! Can't wait to celebrate two great events at once! (More on that later).

"Who's gonna ride your wild horses?"

We have a lot of Buck's friends over these days (or the same 5 kids over and over)...
Here are Clemmie, Buck and Charlie eating grapes at the bar -
Charlie - he's from England (moved here a bit before us). This face pretty much sums up his attitude.
Buck - not as much personality as usual. I thinkt they were tired.
Clemmie (Clementine) is only interested in eating. She's a girl after my own heart.

Well, everyone knows that the Colts won the Superbowl and that Peyton Manning was finally the MVP, so we can stop talking about football already :) Of course, RKZ isn't even back from Florida yet, so tomorrow's post will be details of his trip (translated through me, of course). The one point I will share is that RKZ's seats were so good that they even had a canopy which kept the rain off of them during the game. Incredible! So he was not soaking wet for 3-4 hours which one girlfriend thought would have been poetic justice. I am just happy that RK loved the game & had a great time. He's an awesome husband and dad, so he deserved it.

My Sunday (yesterday) wasn't as insane, but had funny points. First, Buck was playing with my keys to keep himself occupied during Mass. We had lucked out and gotten a really close parking space near the front of the Church. Of course (you see it coming, don't you?) He set off my car alarm which could be heard throughout the church. Someone even commented on it after Mass (not knowing it was mine). I ran out, taking the keys, and turned off the alarm - leaving Buck with an aquaintance in the cry room. It's a good thing I think he's so cute!

Next, we set off for some afternoon swimming at the local indoor pool. Buck has decided that he must walk everywhere, including the pool. It was funny to see him fighting the waves (it is a wave pool) while trying to push my protective hand away. I can see that we're going to have to invest in a lifejacket ASAP, because he also loves the water. This includes the water slide, which we had to go down about 5 times. Buck loves to well "Whheee" as I panic a little thinking that we're going to wash over the sides (it's a amusement park type water fall).

Later, we watched the Game, which I must admit was pretty good in the first half. Also, I was a liar in an earlier post when I said that they don't show American commericals here in Canada. I guess that the feeds coming from the States were allowed to show the commercials too, which REALLY helped my enjoyment. I guess we will have a party next year ;) Can you come?

"somebody's someone..."

Buck bundled at the Calgary Zoo.
Everytime I tried to close the strap on his hat, he'd start giggling. He thought I was trying to tickle him (so much like RKZ).
Buck, and his friends Keaton & Clementine (Clemmie) out side of the African Safari building (they have a baby giraffe! So cool).
Here are some pics of the world's worst mommies taking their small children to the Calgary Zoo when the weather is -9C/14F. There are actually (we all own them and didn't bring them) cute little "sleeping bag" like blankets that cover the kids and protect them from the cold. We forgot them (idiots) and ended up ravaging my backseat for straggling blankets to cover the kids. I think most of the kids are wearing snowsuits also. This makes entering a 23C/75F monkey building a bit of a challenge. Our kids were either freezing or sweating - no in between. Of course, I could barely feel my legs as jeans aren't adequate protection against the cold for mommies either. Eventually, we crashed in the food building for coffee and snacks along with about 50 other "bad mommies." Any time you want to bring your children to the Calgary zoo, let me know :) !!

On a completely different note, Buck & I spent the day playing and going to IKEA for bedding for our guestrooms (just so you don't have to ask when you come and stay). He was really great for having to wait and basically look at furniture for so long. I guess RKZ is loving the SuperBowl. He had 2 "celebrity sightings" on his first day: Naomi Campbell (the model) and Emmitt Smith (the football player). He seems to be having a great time, which is the most important thing. Even if we're all jealous.

Also, my Aunt and Uncle emailed to say that they are in "the southeren most end of the world. We have spent the day in Porte Arenas, the southern most city in the world, where it is summer and the winds were 50 miles per hour. It used to be booming, but then the Panama Canal came and so they do not have as much business. There are still 120,000 people who live here. Unbelievable!!!!!!!" They sail around the Cape of Good Hope tomorrow -- I guess my life is simply pedistrian compared to the people I love! :)

"Cult of personality..."

My brother Coach K 2 aligning some chairs at a game :)
Buck dressed like and playing will all of his Elmos - quite the addiction.

Currently avoiding all that needs to be done by adding trivia to our blog. Thanks for everyone who is reading by the way! I wish I had a counter so I could know for sure that someone (besides me) is actually reading this. I love all the comments and even hearing from people the traditional way (email, of course).

Yes, you all did read correctly, RKZ is off to the Superbowl tomorrow - even though I keep arguing that the "Big Game" doesn't start until SUNDAY. What could he possibly have to do in Miami, Florida (where it is in the 80's/20's) for three days? Just don't let me know...

Buck and I will be enjoying the sudden cold snap we are experiencing. You know it's a bad weather day when the ski area cancels your snowboarding class "due to weather."

Poor RKZ had to wake up early for another round of snow shoveling. That's right, more snow...quit your laughing people in California and Arizona (and Toronto, for that matter). I am tossing around the idea of going boarding with some friends on Sunday - rather than sit home and watch Canadian commercials during the Superbowl. Talk about being a kid and listening to your parents have a fun party downstairs while you try to fall asleep upstairs!! The network showing the game literally blacks out the commericals and sometimes we sit with about 30 seconds to 1 minute of just "Global....(insert picture of some innocuous star here)." It's infuriating. I guess RKZ will miss the commericals too - of course, I wouldn't say MISS exactly. I just hope they give away some cool goodies like they did at the Superbowl I attended :) - (shameless plug for myself).

Going to a live Superbowl is a once-in-a-lifetime occurance, if not at least really rare for your average working guy, so we're all excited for RKZ.

Oops! A just got a phone call, so I'd better go.