The gospel according to...

Recent conversation from McKay's classroom:

N: Jesus is the King.
E: NO he's NOT!
M: Who IS Jesus anyhow?

And there we have it ladies and gentlemen. A synopsis of world politics by three year olds.

One step forward, two steps backwards.

• Dan's application for permanant residency in Canada is moving at an astounding pace. They've told us the application is complete, he passed his medical, and they don't need more information on his police clearances. We expect to hear aye/nay soon.
  

• Dan has had a great interview cycle with the BC-CDC and although no letter offer has been seen yet, their HR department called him to ask for his SIN (social insurance number, just like Social security number) and birth date. We think that bodes well.

• We found out we can't bring our new car into Canada with us. Want to buy a car? Good news is that average retail value for this model/mileage in Atlanta is ~$2K more than we owe on it.
  

• Still no sign of getting into a daycare in Vancouver...this is causing me to stay awake nights.

• We finally told our neighbourhood we were leaving...this is mostly being met with denial, and the plans to form a "committee" to screen any potential buyers.
  

• Dispite all this, we decided to do a quick trip to the Mayan Riviera at the end of the month. Gramma has agreed to tend the livestock, and we're working on convincing K&K to join us for their first EVER vacation.
  

Not sure if any of this is progress, but it's movement of somesort.

Nuestra tierra casera y nativa

I have about a 15 minute commute with heavy traffic each morning.
To help the time pass, McKay and I usually sing.
BINGO
Old McDonald...
Twinkle Twinkle..
And O Canada.

They've been learning songs in other languages at music class lately. French, German, Spanish...

Today, on the way home from work M and I were singing O Canada to teach Dan how. McKay paused, then said, "Do it in Spanish Mom...".

Move over Stars and Stripes....

We've had a bit of progress towards Dan's immigration.

• I was approved as a sponsor on April 3rd
• CIC in Buffalo started processing Dan's application on April 13.

At this step, they need to prove the validity of our relationship, and confirm Dan's legal and health history. Still no real "guess" as to how long this will take, but it would seem to be ~2 months (with 4months error bars).
We're still aiming at a move this summer, probably before August. My Visa expires mid August, and Dan has a tentative job offer that they didn't seem to mind holding to August. Plans are to list the house early in June and hope it doesn't sell too fast. If it does...they we can always rent for abit if we have to. (Alan and Kayla...did you rent your place???).
I still need a job, and McKay still needs childcare...but we're hoping that will all just come together in some way. Oh...and a place to live.

Happy Spring Fertility Rite

(noting that there will be NO MORE FERTILITY in this house...)


McKay had a good time nibbling on and playing with his chocolate bunny this morning. A good quote:

"Hop, hop. AAAAA! My face! I can't find my face!"

Half-a-lunk

McKay is 3.5 Today...hard to believe. (And a clink-clink to Uncle Chris).

As per request, we're having Pizza for dinner, and going to the bookstore afterwards. I think it's time for "Where the Wild Things Are".

Tomorrow is Caroline's 4th birthday. This is the child who decided she was going to marry McKay three weeks after he started at his new shcool. They are inseparable. We had our parent-teacher interview today, and every picture had him and her together. She is very much a girly-girl, and a very very sweet little thing. Her party will be at the Children's museum, pictures to follow later.

A few take home messages from our interview:

• McKay has no problems with gross motor skills...an interesting story was told about a backflip off the slide leading to slide banishment.
  
• McKay has no problems with language development. "He sure is expressive." Dan and I like to call it "passionate".
  
• McKay is acting on an appropriate level for a three year old in peer relationships. (If you tell a girl you think her shoes are ugly, you can be expect to be told you are no longer invited to her birthday party). Apparantly BOTH of them were bewildered by why the other person was upset.
  
• McKay LOVES books, which they say they've not seen often with such an active child.
  

All in all a good report with the qualifier "He's only three" thrown in alot. This class has kids from 3.5 to already 5, so we have quite a range of accomplishments.

Genetics...

Found a caterpiller today while hiking.

We were all pretty entranced. Eventually, we had to leave and head back home.

McKay, being a smart child, blew the caterpiller a kiss. Unlike his Mama who at the age of ~3 kissed a caterpiller goodbye, only to have it crawl into her mouth. 30+ years later, I can STILL feel it. Ick.

Signed Confession

This came home from school yesterday.

I was not at carpet beause I was not listening. I was throwing my coat and hitting my friends.

-McKay


There might have been some coersion though, sinced when questioned by the judge he denies having hit any of his friends.

Ma Gastronomie

Well, it's as close as we're going to get around here, anyway.

The preschool piazza at McKay's day care is putting together a cookbook for the fundraising auction. They're asking for the parents to "help with the words" and the kids are going to "make the pictures" (quoth McKay).

Here is our humble offering.

Daddy Cakes

Ingredients (Multiply this by the number of servings desired)

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat an oven to 475 degrees F.

Select a baking pan or dish (once again, cast iron is king). Add the butter in pats on the bottom.

Calculate the number of servings and multiply the ingredients accordingly. In a blender, combine the egg(s), milk, flour and salt and blend until smooth. (Parent note: kids can break eggs! Let them drop them about two feet into a huge bowl. They will love doing it, and it is much easier to get shells out of egg than egg off of counter).

Heat baking vessel (with butter in it) in the oven until the butter is melted and the container is hot; watch carefully to avoid burning the butter.

Pour the batter into the heated baking pan or dish and return the pan to the oven. Cook until the pancake is well puffed and golden, about 12 minutes, or longer for larger pancakes or those with a thick layer of batter.

Serve immediately. When you make larger pancakes, cut them into wedges at the table.

Serve with maple syrup and cinnamon (or this heavenly stuff).

observation...

Dan noted yesterday that in the parenting world Pull ups and a Push ups are two very different things.

Proud Pirate....

Saw a car yesterday with three bumper stickers on it.

1. Flying Spaghetti Monster Fish
2. Every child is Honored at the Friend's School
3. Proud Member of the Religious Left.


I wanted to stop and MEET these people.