Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all!  I trust that the New Year was ushered in in the most appropriate fashion.  For me, it was a quiet one.  Andy and I decided that we must be old when we thought it would be better to stay at home and watch the celebrations on TV rather than facing the rain and the cold to actually go down to Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto where it was all happening.  The TV event turned out to be rather good, showcasing a lot of Canadian talent which was interesting for us.

The year has started well with Jesse and I staying home for a "chill out" day.  He is playing Lego Star Wars on the PS3 that was under the tree this year and I am sitting stitching, watching the snow fall.  Andy has gone shopping for new clothes for work and Jenna has not yet returned home from last evenings festivities although we have heard from her and she is feeling a little under the weather today - wonder why!

I have made only one New Year's resolution this year - BE HAPPY!  Really once that's sorted, everything else falls into place.

One thing I wanted to share, I heard Andy utter this line to Jesse yesterday as they were cleaning up after taking out the Christmas tree.  The line was - "don't vacuum your hair"!  What parent hasn't heard that!

On that note, I wish you all the best for the New Year, may it bring happiness and prosperity to all.

Work Visa and Job Secured

Today we went to the border where Andy was granted a work visa.  Turns out that in his professional he is eligible for an exemption to some of the bureaucratic stuff so it was quick and easy - ha ha (Jesse didn't think so).  Jenna also got her work visa sorted so we can all stay.  The only down side was that they refused to give me one (oh dear, how sad).

Andy has secured a job at Sirius Satellite Radio.  He starts on Monday.

Jenna is still looking for work but there are some possibilities so keep your fingers crossed.

What all this means is that we can stay in Canada for the next year - whoopie!

Ice Skating

Yesterday we went ice skating.  It was fun and much easier than we thought it would be.  Our friend Mike took us to Nathan Phillips Park.  Once we got our skates on we managed to stand (a feat all of it's own) then it was onto the ice - gosh that step down onto the ice seemed very high!

Once on the ice there was lots of giggling - Jenna and I were holding hands - not sure who was holding who up.

We quickly got the hang of it.

Jesse did very well and did better when he was not holding onto anyone.

Andy enjoyed it too and managed to get his head around it quite quickly.

It's really hard on the ankles and legs - my quads are quite sore today so we kept having to stop to rest.  I sat down on the edge and couldn't get up.  Had to ask a nice Asian man for a hand up in return for which I took some photos of his family for him.

After about an hour we'd had enough - we couldn't feel our toes anymore as it was -10 so we headed off to the pub for lunch and a warm up.

Ice Rink

I think Jenna's having trouble standing up.

Jenna and Jesse.

Mike - How it should be done.

All in all, we had a great day!  Thanks Mike.

Lindsay Lights

Last weekend we went to see the Lindsay Lights - one family who decorate their home every year.  Thought I would post the photos for you to look at and the website where you can see what they've done in past years - Lindsay Lights Website.

The lights were beautiful.  Check out the website.

Also on Saturday, the Olympic torch runner passed our house.

Merry Christmas

Well, it's Boxing Day in Canada and I'm exhausted.  Not that we did a great deal for Christmas but there seemed to be such a rush leading up to it.  I think everyone in the Greater Toronto Area left their Christmas shopping till the last minute - me included.

For Christmas I got:

• A lovely cookbook from Jesse - Giada's Kitchen (she's one of my favourite TV chefs but does not come close to Sophie)
• A pilates mat  from Jenna- now their's no excuse not to put that DVD into action
• Tickets to Guns 'n' Roses concert from Andy (a date) 
• A beautiful pair of the paua shell earrings from my sister, Dawn, to match the necklace the she bought me for my birthday

I also got to spend the day with my family which is always great.  Jesse and Jenna got a PS3 with Rockband so you can imagine what they did all day.  The PS2 that we brought from NZ not working has been a continual frustration.  Unfortunately, none of the PS2 games we own work on the PS3 so we're stuck with Lego Starwars, some other random game that came with it and Rockband.  I'm sure the collection will grow soon enough.

We invited our NZ friends Layton and Nadine for dinner.  It was nice.  We served the traditional ham and a slow cooked chicken with a spicy paprika rub - divine, roast veges, green beans and brussell sprouts.  Dessert (not that there was any room left) was of course trifle, steamed carrot pudding with custard and fruit salad.  I didn't manage any of the trifle but I had it on good authority that it was good.

Must admit to being very homesick right now.  Speaking to my sister yesterday, she's camping at Bland Bay which is where we would be if we weren't here.  She admitted to hiding in the tent because it was too hot outside.  The thought of sitting at the beach with a bottle of Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters in my hand is a good one.  Unfortunately, not likely any time soon.  I also always miss my Dad at Christmas.  This is Andy's first Christmas without his Dad too.

Well, heading up to New Year fast and Jesse will be back at school in just over a week which seems very odd.

Andy has a job secured, at Sirius Satellite Radio - http://www.sirius.com/.  Turns out that his profession is exempt from some of the dramas of hiring a "foreigner" so all we have to do is cross the border and get the work visa.  Hopefully, we'll be doing that this week.  I get an open visa which means I can do anything I want, much less stressful than Andy's situation.  We will also activate Jenna's visa at the same time.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have exciting plans for the New Year.  May all your New Years resolutions come true!

The Room Was Filled With Miniature Michael Jacksons

Today was Northstar Montessori's Winter Concert - a Tribute to the King of Pop.  I tell you, it was simply an overdoes of cuteness.  They started with the toddlers and went to Junior High.

Jesse was the star of the show with his Dangerous dance assisted by Gregory.

I have uploaded the photos to the MobileMe Gallery.  Username is friends password is karls1234.

This link is for the video of Jesse's dance.

He rocked the house!

Dressed for the Snow

Snow boots, snow pants, snow gloves, a good jacket and woolly hat - I'm ready now!

I'm just heading for that big pile of snow over there - need to bring some in the car to school!

Outside at 5pm last night.

A snow penguin???

Having fun in the snow.

This morning awoke to more snow (surprised?).  It was different today though as it's not raining, just light fluffy snow.  Much more dangerous on the roads this morning as there's a layer of ice under the snow.  Not sure I'm happy to drive today.  I guess I'll have to get used to it.  Where's the summer when you need it.