Sugar rush?

The other night the youngsters were wild - running, dancing, singing. When I wasn't joining in, I was exhausted just looking at them! I couldn't figure out where she was getting the energy.

At one point, I turned to FG and said, "What are you running on?"

Her reply: "The carpet!"

Miley and OMAoG

'Santa' gave Ben Miley Cyrus's new CD Breakout for Christmas. After listening to it, non-stop on the morning trips to school - I have a confession. I'm finding the songs...ummmm...catchy.

The worst (best?) is Wake up America -- its a boppy, poppy 'save the planet' song complete with a nice dig to parents in the bridge:
"I know you don't want to hear it;
espcially coming from someone so young
But in the backseat, yeah
They want to hear it
So come on, turn it up...."

So, if you haven't already do your Act O' Green.

All I want for Christmas

Last night, Ben was pretty upset.

You see he mailed his letter to Santa "too early" and had some things he wanted to add. But because we told him he could only ask Santa for a couple of presents, he wanted "to change it, but now it was too late."

"What do you want to add?" I asked drying his tear but fearing this would send me beating through crowrds at Box Stores and scrounging on ebay. Or worse -- it would make him greedy.

"Silver and gold crayons for drawing pirates; tape like the one in Papa's office and Santa's extra cardboard for making craft."

I think Santa will be ok with that.

Stop Look and Listen - Part 2

You might remember last year, I wrote to City Hall requesting a cross walk on Circular Rd. They told me no.

Well, this year I asked again and guess what? It arrived! Last month the city put a shiny new cross walk at the corner of Bannerman and Circular Rd. (thanks to DC at City Hall for listening).
Who says you can't fight City Hall?

My name is Deb

Hey, I'm not a painter, an actress or a musician.
I don't go to rich galas all subsidized by taxpayers.
and I don't know Jack, Stephane or Liz from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really really nice.
But I have a Prime Minister who doesn’t know what resonates with ordinary people.

I watch Canadian movies in English and French, not American.
And I spell neighbour and honour with a “u” because that’s how Canadian writers spell it in Canadian books.

I can proudly download Canadian music on my iPod.
I believe in Cancon, Soncan, not American Top 40,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell are truly proud and noble songwriters.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch (made in Canada by Canadian artists!)
and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!! because that’s how I first learned it on Canadian Sesame Street.

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey where Canadians sing the National Anthem on Canadian television.
and the best part of North America

My name is Deb
And I am an ordinary working Canadian!!!

My minivan is full of whale bones

My minivan is full of whale bones
from the beach where I grew up.
My son collected them on Sunday.
He liked the way the vertebrae looked
like picks and hammers.
Perfect for digging in the sand
making holes
finding lost treasure.

Tree school

I wasn't sure how FG would react with her big brother going to Kindergarten. They had both started daycare together and I was sure she would miss him. On the 2nd day of school I picked them up and she was sobbing.

I knew it. When I got her home, I took her in my arms, "You missed him today did you?"

"No," she cried. "You said I was a big girl."

"You are a big girl.'

"But I didn't go to tree school (meaning preschool) today. And all my friends went to tree school."

Ah, little one. As always, ready before your time.

Kreskin or Layton?

I swear my post was first
Layton proposes 150,000 new child-care spaces

Child care shift

Show of hands - how many people have heard anyone in this election address the working parents?

Ok, so the Conservations want to allow momtrepreneurs mat leave only when they pay an EI premium.

But what about the bigger issues of child care? (You do remember the mythical concept of publicly funded daycare, right?)

It's one thing to support moms and dads with newborns but the challenge is finding day care when you go back to work. Several friends of mine have their unborn children on wait lists for spots.

Here's my 3 point plan:
1. Support post-secondary schools in educating more Early Childhood Instructors.
2. Value them. Pay them more when they graduate.
3. Support opening more daycares in primary schools where infrastructure already exists.

Middle-aged white guys running for PM who likely never had to worry about it -- feel free to borrow it if you need to.

Kindergarten

Benjo posing on his first day of Kindergarten. Mama was fine until he was sitting at his first school assembly. No tears from him though. He was so proud! Thanks Madame T for making it a great first day.

Warning: my kitchen may contain traces of peanuts

Not those Peanuts, "the peanut" -- that highly-allergenic nut that my kids (and husband) would lick up by the tablespoonful! Now, it's a banned substance. Good grief!

Seriously though, some kids can have a scary reaction to it and I don't mean to make light of this.

But I was on Radio Noon yesterday in defense of the lowly nut.

Well, not just that nut but all banned food substances -- eggs, nuts, tuna, banana, kiwi, strawberry to name a few. Even though I would never send any of these items to school, my kitchen isn't peanut free. Traces of nuts are bound to be found on everything. So banning them only solves part of the problem.

Instead of making a growing list of banned foods, maybe we should get at the root of the problem. A little more research and a lot more education on the food allergies. The media doesn't help either. Think of the sensationalism around the Quebec teen who died of the peanut kiss only for the coroner to reveal it was asthma-related (traces of marijuana were found in her system).

Not the nut's fault after all.

A farmer called into say, that the reason why kids have so many allergies these days is that they don't play in enough dirt. I tend to agree.

Bristol's Baby...Where's Levi?

Not since Juno, have more people had an opinion on teenage pregnancy.

This isn't about lack of sex education in the school systems. Sure, we could use more straight talk. But even 20 years ago, kids were having sex in Grade 7. And I'm even less concerned that McCain picked a running mate whose daughter isn't a virgin. Who cares?

Careless, carefree teenagers have sex all the time -- some get pregnant; some don't. But there's one thing that hasn't changed since I was in school. Where's the father?

Levi should start taking a little bit of heat and 1/2 the responsibility. Even the new math says 1 sperm + 1 egg = 1 baby.

A friend told the Dad-to-be's My Space page says "I'm a f - - -in' redneck". Sure enough. He also likes to "snowboard and ride dirt bikes but lives to play hockey, go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing, shoot some s- - - and just f - - -in' chill."

Nice.

Maybe Levi will just have to trade his dirt bike for a Jolly Jumper and opt to chill in the sandbox. And the potty mouth? Well that will take on new meaning when he's changing diapers.

Hopefully both of these kids will grow up quick, be responsible and become good parents.

As for a 40+ Republican Grandma in the White House, let's hope we don't have to worry about that.

Dry in the night

About a month ago FG (3) said, "I don't want to wear pull ups to bed." And that was it for her. She's been dry ever since.

I have a funny feeling that's the way its going to be with her. She's just decide and do it. Mama's proud.

If a tree grows in the East End

My sister and my nephew came over for dinner tonight. Not from far, just from the West End (read: Cowan Heights subdivision). We've been in St. John's long enough now to consider the 1o minute drive from her place to mine "right across town".

Apparently on the drive over, my nephew Liam said to my sister

"Mom the trees are growing."

"What does that mean?" she asked thinking he was was observing the seasons.

"It means we're getting closer to Aunt Debbie's!"

Wasps

Monday evening, a wasp stung Ben & FG.

FG's pinkie swelled up. But Ben had the worst reaction -- his whole hand was about double the size.

We called the Healthline and Nana and luckily we both remember a few home remedies. First I removed all their clothing to ensure there was no wasp inside and to look for any sign the rash was spreading. We put their hands in cold water and then in ice. I also gave them Benadryl and Advil. That seemed to get it under control.

Luckily we were at home. It could have been a lot worse. I'll be sure to add a few additional things to my car first aid kit.

Counting Sheep

You've heard it before "Mama, I can't sleep!"

Tonight I told Ben that maybe it would help to close his eyes and imagine counting something like stars in the sky or fluffy white sheep jumping over a fence.

He agreed and squinted his eyes shut.

"1,2,3,4,5...." he started out before his eyes popped open again. "What to know what I'm counting?"

"Sure" Hoping whatever it was would lull him to sleep.

"Rescue Heroes and secret agents punching in a secret code into a key pad. and after that I'm going to count me playing basketball and getting all the points to win the game. Then after that...'

Not exactly what I had in mind but it worked.

Barber Festival

I took Ben & FG to the Races (note: Regatta should be dubbed "the longest running Garden Party" in North America). And all he could talk about was cotton candy. So, I caved. Like Mama, FG wouldn't go anywhere near the stuff but Ben gobbled down a full bag.

Mama: How was your first cotton candy?

Ben: This is my second time! I had it last year at the Barber Festival.

I started the bilingual wheels turning. Ben gets his hair cut at Central Barber in the Mall and calls the entire place the "Barber's". And cotton candy is also called barbapapa - yup, like those bulbous cartoon bonnehommes. But I was stumped.

Ben: You know Mama. The Barber Festival at the Barber's with the rides and everything.

Then it dawned on me. Thomas Amusements.

Insider's Guide to St. John's - Part Deux

It's summer in Sin Jawn's. What to do? Everything! Here's a list of my favourite spots!

Sweet Relic (42 Powers Court). Literally steps from the Fairmont Hotel, this place has great coffee and even better baked goods. Sweet! Grab a few treats and then hike up Signal Hill.

North Head Hike you can either take the road to the top and the 750 stairs down or do it in reverse. Either way its amazing! Check out this You Tube video

Coffee Matters With two locations on Military Rd and Water St., this place has great lunch (Thai curry and crab soup!) and brunch (try the croissant omelet sandwich). And yes, the coffee!

Atlantica One of the best dining experiences. Period (NYC, San Fran, Montreal included). Enroute's Best New Restaurant 2007.

Travel Bug If you left home without it, you'll find it here. Tell Peg & Gerry, I sent you!

WAM Want to know about our "galoot of a culture" or what the word galoot means, listen to CBC 640 AM on Saturday & Sunday morning, 6-9:30. Angela Antle will let you know what's showing where and who's playing what. Also check out The Scope.

Dripless Popsicles

1 package fruit flavored jello
1 package kool-aid
2/3 cup hot water
2 cups cold water
1 cup sugar

In a large pouring pitcher mix together : jello, koolaid, sugar and hot water, until dissolved. Then add cold water. Pour into Ice cups. Freeze and Enjoy!

Will not drip!

Makes 20 ice cups.

1st Annual Water Festival

"When is the next holiday?" Ben asked me.

"Saturday and Sunday."

"That will be the Water Festival!"

"Water Festival?"

"Yup. I'll start a list. Mama, how do you spell streamers?"

And that's how it began. We spent all Sunday delivering Ben's hand-drawn invitations to neighbors, making the welcome sign, water balloons, setting up the two pools (thanks Katherine & Shawn) and the Slip & Slide. Ben was the "manager". He said you need a manager to "get things done."

So, its official - the 3rd Sunday of July is now Water Festival weekend.