Spring!

Yipee! Spring is finally here! I'm not sure where you are all from, but here in the Okanagan the snow usually melts in February and the street sweepers are out cleaning the streets by mid March.

Well, this year we still had snow falling in mid March! That was just an addition to the PILES of snow that fell all winter long. It was the longest winter we have experienced since living in the prairies over 12 years ago.

This may not be a big deal to some of you. In fact, I have a few friends who actually enjoy winter. However, I am not one of those people. Personally, I would rather wax my bikini line, give birth, or clean up puke than endure winter. I do not have tons of insulation on my body and I am CONSTANTLY freezing cold. Of course, we are too cheap to crank up the heat above 20 degrees so I usually wear 3 or 4 shirts just to stay warm.

Needless to say, I am so thankful that it is finally spring. Ethan, Brayden and I biked to and from school today. Yesterday I actually got a little pink on my cheeks from the sun during my playground excursion. And we finally planted the cedars in our yard that we have been waiting to plant. Ah yes, spring is here!

The only downside to spring so far was the tick that I found on my dog. Perhaps I will share that story on another post. You know me, I love to go into exaggerated detail with my stories. Let's just say it was not a good day in our home!

To those of you basking in the spring air... CHEERS! And to those who are still waiting for spring to hit... grab a last minute seat sale to Mexico and have a margarita for me!

Parenthood has hit an all time low

There are moments in parenting that you sit back, evaluate, and wonder what went wrong. Today I had one of those moments. I walked into the living room only to see Kenny teaching our 7 and 5 year old children how to play poker.

As I watched I noticed that Kenny was absolutely cleaning up! This was total robbery. I mean, the kids don't even really know how to play the game! And then an even worse realization hit me: Kenny hasn't won a poker match (he plays every Tues night with the guys) in months. Conclusion: He is redeeming himself at the expense of my poor children! What injustice!

Anyhow, I made some sort of snide remark and he managed to find it funny. Then low and behold the kids started winning. I'm pretty sure Ethan ended up taking the game. Kenny made it back into the good books of parenting and all three of them had a blast. It was actually quite cute and I can just picture them in 20 years still playing poker with their Dad!

Toews Family Western Canada Tour 2007

Have you ever planned something that seemed relatively easy only to have it all go wrong? Well, that would explain our trip to Saskatchewan this past week!

Saturday night after Kenny got home from work, we went out with another couple to see the movie Wild Hogs (you MUST go see it... hilarious) and then out for a bite to eat after that. We got home around 11:00 pm. It was then that Kenny came up with the plan to leave first thing in the morning for Saskatchewan. I had not done laundry or packed a thing. But, I figured it was a good plan.

Sunday morning I raced around throwing things into bags and desperately trying to find someone to watch our dog. We managed to get it all done and with kids in tow, we set out. Our plan was to go as far as Calgary and spend the night with our friends who moved there from Enderby. Ethan happens to be great buddies with their daughter, Chloe (important info for later). Enderby to Calgary is only 6 hours so we were ready for an easy trip. Here is how the day unfolded:

10:00 am - Left our house, dropped off our dog and headed out
10:45 am - Tim Horton's stop in Sicamous
This picture is of Kenny using the drive thru bank machine in Sicamous. Notice how the machine has braille on it. Now think about this, why would a drive thru need braille? Really, if a blind person is driving, we are all in big trouble!

11:45 am - Sudden stop just minutes before Revelstoke. The cars lined up as far as the eye could see. When we finally got to the guy with the stop sign he said, "The highway is closed due to avalanches. You can head up north through Jasper and Edmonton, or go south. Either way it will add about 5 hours to your trip." Hmmm, that's it? No other options? Ok, so we counted up the mileage and figured we would head south and just drive all evening and land in Calgary around midnight or so. Not so bad.
12:45 pm - We found ourselves waiting for the ferry to Nakusp with about 150 other vehicles. The ferry only runs once and hour and only takes 30 vehicles at a time. The second ferry sits idle on the lake... We get out of our van and walk around doing nothing... for 2 hours!
My sister Raena, the boys and her dogs waiting for the ferry

3:00 pm - We finally get on the ferry. We are only 2 hours away from home but have been on the road for 5 hours. We drive the twistiest road in the world, having to go only 60 kmh and I almost lost my breakfast.
The boys wrestled in the back seat while we were on the ferry

4:00 pm - We see signs that say "Vernon" and we get very frustrated because Vernon is only 30 minutes from our home!!!
5:30 pm - We arrive in Nelson and eat supper. We realize that there is no way we will make it all the way to Calgary. We carry on to see how far we can get.
The boys fell asleep for part of the drive. The road was so twisty that Brayden was flopping all over the place!

9:30 pm - We arrive in Cranbrook. We have been traveling for almost 12 hours and are still 5 hours away from Calgary (by the way, we were 5 hours away from Calgary when we first stopped in Revelstoke). We find a hotel that takes dogs (my sister and hubby were behind us in their car and they had their two dogs). The kids get out of the van and as they run around in the parking lot they yell, "We're free! We're free!" We finally go to sleep around midnight.
8:00 am - We feel exhausted from our 6 hours of sleep and carry on.
Kenny kept hitting his head on the TV screen in our van! Hilarious!

12:00 pm - We stop just east of Calgary in Strathmore for lunch. It has been 24 hours since we were on the #1 HWY. We finally meet up with it again. What should have taken us 6 hours to do ended up taking 24 hours (with the hotel stop). It was about a 9 hour detour all told.
The boys checking the map to figure out where we are and how much longer they will be prisoners in their own van

5:30 pm - We reach our destination, Rosetown, SK!!!

As you can imagine, we were a bit concerned on Wednesday when we had to head back. We decided to stop in Drumheller since we couldn't do that on the way to Rosetown. The kids loved the dinosaurs.
The boys and Kenny are on the foot of this dino. We climbed up to the top of him!

The boys climbed up some of the hills in Drumheller

We also decided to stop in Calgary for the night. You see, once we hit the detour and told Ethan he couldn't see his friend Chloe, he became OBSESSED about Calgary. He wouldn't stop talking about going there and seeing Chloe. It got so bad that I finally said, "If you say one more thing about Calgary I might just go insane!" Needless to say, we made sure we saw them on the way back! The reunion was sweet.
Chloe, Ethan, Brayden, and Aimee


Thursday morning we made our way toward the mountains with fear and trembling! We had no clue if we would make it through. Thankfully we did and our trip home only took 6 hours.

Lessons learned?
1. Don't rely on the road report that says the road is open
2. Don't take any routes that involve a ferry
3. Don't drive around in Sicamous... blind people drive there!
4. If you have dogs, stay at the Model A Inn in Cranbrook
5. Some of the nastiest towns in BC are found on the Nakusp road!
6. Don't plan on going in or out of BC in March!

Back Home

Thank you to everyone who sent e-mails, comments or phone calls about my Grandad. I appreciated all of those thoughts and prayers. The funeral was really good. The minister did an awesome job of sharing Grandad's personality and life with everyone. My children managed to sit very well through the service (more on that later). All of Grandad's children, in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren were there which was great. It was actually quite a happy time with lots of celebrating and good memories.

I have so many stories to share about the last few days. Honestly, I had no idea that so much could happen in a span of 5 days! Really, this trip was very eventful. I will share more on that in my next post.
Now, about my boys. Before we left Enderby to go to the funeral I explained to my boys that Grandad was being cremated. I told them the basics about him being burned instead of buried. They both acted quite calm about the whole thing and seemed to understand it all. However, I failed to mention a very crucial detail about cremation.
During the funeral service I could tell that Ethan was getting bored. Maybe it had something to do with him holding the hymnal upside down and singing "Blah, blah, blah" during each hymn (really loud I might add) or maybe it was the way he sat backward, facing the crowd and stared awkwardly at the tearful mourners. Anyway, during a long section of talking during the service Ethan leaned over to me and said, "Mommy, when do we get to see the fire?"

"What fire?" I replied

"The one where Grandad gets burned" he said matter-of-factly.

And then it hit me, Oh my gosh, this poor kid has thought that he would be watching Grandad get cremated!!! I didn't even think to explain that to the kids. It didn't even cross my mind. It's one of those things that everyone just assumes, right? Well, not my Ethan! I tried to hold in my expression and calmly explain that Grandad is actually already cremated and he is in the little box (shaped like a grain elevator) at the front of the church. Ethan looked at it for a while and said, "Grandad is too small to fit in there."

Oh the simple minds of children!

After the service I asked my kids what they thought of the funeral. Brayden commented that it was sad. Ethan said, "I saw people crying. The lady behind me was crying." (the lady behind him was my cousin, Melody, who of course, is a grandaughter to Grandad). I nodded and then he added, "I don't know why she was crying. She doesn't even know Grandad!" I burst out laughing! I of course tried to explain that Melody knew Grandad very well, but he didn't seem to get it.

At any rate, my children now know a bit more about death, funerals, and mourning which I think is a great thing to teach them. Now, if only they had a teacher who actually explained it properly to them the first time!!!



My boys just before the funeral


Grandad's 2 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, 4 grandchildren (and spouses) and 4 great grandchildren

My Grandad

Last week Friday, I was running out the door to get my kids off to school, and myself to work, and the phone rang. I couldn't pick it up so Kenny did. It was my Grandad. He called to say that his optometrist saw pictures of my boys (that my Grandad proudly wears on a button on his sweater) and thought my boys looked a lot like Grandad. Of course, my Grandad was proud as punch and just had to call to tell us that. It made me smile. That would be the last time we would hear from him.

Yesterday, March 10, my Grandad passed away. He was 90 years old. What a long life he lived! Last June Raena (my sister) and I traveled to Rosetown, SK to celebrate his 90th birthday with him and a huge crowd of family and friends. Raena and I said goodbye to him after his party knowing we would not see him again. His health had been steadily going downhill in the last few years and although his personality was still fully vibrant, his body was very weak.

He became very weak last Sunday and went to the hospital as he had done many times in the last few years. But with Grandad, we just never knew what would happen. He has bounced back so many times from such hard things, we were beginning to wonder if he would be like Enoch (the guy in the Bible who never died)! But his time had finally come and he died peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning.

My Grandad lived a very full life. He graduated from university which was rare 70 years ago. He was a farmer in Saskatchewan for all his working days. He met his wife, my Granny, when she was just a baby and he was 11 years old! He waited for her, married her, and raised two girls together (one was my mom). My Grandad had to say goodbye to Granny when I was just 4. Granny died of cancer. What an amazing story that he knew my Granny for her entire life from baby to last days.

After that Grandad remarried and eventually settled in Rosetown, SK to retire. He was very outgoing and loved to visit people in town. I imagine his funeral will be full of those he told jokes too and danced with at the senior's residence! He defineatly enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. However, with his weak body, he was not able to do all the things he loved doing in recent years. His passing is a loss for us but a real joy for him.

Kenny, myself and the boys will be leaving today or tomorrow for Saskatchwan. I was going to fly there with Brayden only, but the cost would have been over $900!!! Plus I had no one to take care of Ethan while Kenny worked. And I had no desire to drive alone with my 2 kids all that way. So, our whole family will be going. As of right now we have no one to take our dog so we can't leave until that is handled. All our usual dogsitters are away for spring break. I'm sure something will work out.

I am feeling good about my Grandad's passing. I feel like I have prepared for it for years and so it was not a shock to me. I am happy for him and thankful for the life he will live beyond this world. I have known many people who have seen heaven just before they die and the stories are amazing. Kenny's friend Randy saw heaven just before he died. He was so weak that he could not move or talk. He could barely breathe. But all of a sudden his eyes popped open and he started shouting "Oh wow! Mom can you see that! Oh it is so amazing! Mom, look at it! Oh wow!"

I'm sure my Grandad is doing a dance, Hugging my Granny, telling a joke and celebrating a body that will not waste away!


Me, Grandad and Raena at his 90th birthday



Grandad in his favorite chair wearing the button with my boys picture on it!

Ok, so I got this quiz from my friend Elina via e-mail. I sometimes find these things interesting as do most of you (whether you admit it or not). Anyhow, I did the quiz and was shocked at how right on the results were for both me and Kenny. So go ahead, take a minute and see how accurate the results are for you. Post a comment on my blog and tell me what your score was.

Oh, by the way, my score was 34 and Kenny's was 49! Now it is your turn!

1. When do you feel your best?
a) in the morning
b) during the afternoon and early evening
c) late at night

2. You usually walk:
a) fairly fast, with long steps
b) fairly fast, with little steps
c) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
d) less fast, head down
e) very slowly

3. When talking to people you:
a) stand with your arms folded
b) have your hands clasped
c) have one or both your hands on your hips
d) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
e) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair

4. When relaxing, you sit with:
a) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
b) your legs crossed
c) your legs stretched out straight
d) one leg curled under you

5. When something really amuses you, you react with:
a) big appreciated laugh
b) a laugh, but not a loud one
c) a quiet chuckle
d) a sheepish smile

6. When you go to a party or social gathering you:
a) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
b) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
c) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed

7. You're working hard, trying to concentrate and you're interrupted;
you:
a) welcome the break
b) feel extremely irritated
c) your reaction varies between these two extremes

8. Which of the following colors do you like most?
a) red or orange
b) black
c) yellow or light blue
d) green
e) dark blue or purple
f) white
g) brown or gray

9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before
falling asleep you are:
a) stretched out on your back
b) stretched out face down on your stomach
c) on your side, slightly curled
d) with your head on one arm
e) with your head under the covers

10.You often dream that you are:
a) falling
b) fighting or struggling
c) searching for something or somebody
d) flying or floating
e) or, you usually have dreamless sleep
f) or, your dreams are always pleasant


POINTS:

1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e) 1
10.(a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1


Now find out what your score is:

OVER 60 POINTS : Others see you as someone they should
"handle with care." You're seen as vain, self-centered,
and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they
could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become
too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS : Others see you as an exciting, highly
volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to
make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as
bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who
takes chances and enjoys an adventure.
They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS : Others see you as fresh, lively, charming,
amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in
the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go
to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and
understanding;
someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS : Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful
& practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but
modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but
someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the
same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it
takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it
takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and
fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and
steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did
something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to
examine everything carefully from every angle and then , usually decide
against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your
careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and
indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone
else to make the decisions & who doesn't want to get involved with
anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees
problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those
who know you well know that you aren't.

Has Sibling Rivalry Come to an End?

Some strange things have been happening in the Toews home over the last week or two. I'm not sure what to make of it all, but I am beginning to think that aliens have come and abducted my children, replacing them with mere fabrications of their true selves.

Here are some of the observations I have made:
- My boys are now playing game cube together, happily!
- I came out of the shower the other day to find them engaged in a wonderful time of playdough, happily playing!
- The other day they opted to play cars together (happily) over watching TV!
- Yesterday they asked if they could go to the hill up our street and play... together...happily.

I am not quite sure what to make of all this. The hours of fighting have been replaced with hours of playing happily. Yes, I keep using the word "happily" because this is an anomaly in our home. Let me explain.

From the time Ethan was old enough to move, my boys have been fighting. Brayden, being the dominant older child with a compulsive need to be in charge, didn't like sharing toys, ideas, or space with his brother. Ethan, being the free spirited younger child liked to push each and every button that his older brother possessed including: not playing a game according to the rules, sitting in Brayden's spot at the table, copying every word that came out of Brayden's mouth, etc. Together, they were a ticking time bomb. Their fighting resulted in many time outs on the couch, privileges taken away, and heaven forbid, forced time together working out their problems.

But somehow, the tables have turned and now they live in peaceful bliss together. As I write this they are playing dress up... together... happily. What has changed about my two little gems? Maybe they are finally tired of fighting. Maybe time really does heal all wounds. Maybe they have actually learned how to enjoy each other.

At any rate, I will relish in this newfound tranquility and pray that it does not come to a crashing halt anytime soon!