Christmas spirit

So for about a year we've been on a frugal living kick and the kids were doing fine until the onslaught of Christmas advertising and seeing beautifully wrapped packages come their way. Michael has figured out from friends that Christmas is a wonderful excuse to ask for gratuitous gifts and Leah is doing a good job following suit.

Upon examining our Christmas tree last night Gerry exclaimed that we have too many presents and maybe we should give them to some kids who will not be receiving any nice presents for Christmas.

Michael stopped to think of what Gerry suggested and all of the implications of him not getting his ps3. Leah on the other hand cheered and whole heartedly agreed with Gerry right away, but qualified her statement a bit to only keep her presents, and share everyone else's.

the end of busyness perhaps?

it feels like since last may we've been going going going; burying the thought of rest and relaxation deep in our heads, like a forgotten morsel of fine chocolate at the bottom of a purse waiting to be rediscovered, unwrapped and savoured. that chocolate's been bittersweet actually - i've finally spent more than one full day in a row at home if only because M has decided to become a grumpy little petri dish to house any willing and able virus wanting to stay awhile. things have literally come to a stand still with G being away for 9 days, the house already thoroughly cleaned with much thanks to a much needed visit from faraway friends, and A making her signature chicken pot pie for thanksgiving dinner tonight. i can't explain how liberating it is to not have to think about anyone's needs but mine own, selfish perhaps? welcome back rest, i've missed you.

nice, according to leah

Perfectly acceptable mealtime conversation.

L: Auntie E, I won't kill you.

An invitation to play checkers.

M: Leah, let's play checkers!

L: And I won't spit on you Michael!

M: Okay, uh...thanks.

Trying to change my mood to show some sign of happiness.

L: Mom? Are you happy I didn't hit?

car conversations

L: Today we went to church, Ca-oway and sweet and sour pork.

M: Leah, it's church, Calloway Park and...restaurant.

L: Ok, home, church, Ca-oway and westwant.

M: No Leah, first home, then church, then home, then Calloway Park, then restaurant and now we're going home. Say: home.

L: Home.

M: Next it starts with 'ch'

L: Uh, Ca-oway!

M: No Leah, church! Say church and home.

L: Church and home.

M: Yes.

L: Yes.

M: No Leah, don't say yes, after home its Calloway.

L: Ca-oway...and den...westwant...and den.....uh....home!

M: Yes, Leah did it!

L: Girls just wanna have fun, wanna have fun, when the working day is done girls just wanna have fun!!!

adventures with ee-mo

angie took the kids to one of her work functions - a hockey game that the bmo team was playing in and before that to watch the chicago blackhawks practice (this was during the regular season of course).  she was only interested in the practice but thought it would be nice to take the kids.  she gets to the saddledome late and the kids are still chilled from the walk from the parking lot, and they make their way down to the rink.  But the coach decided to make it a closed practice.  Angie was more disappointed than the kids, who had no clue what they were doing anyways.  They started to make their way out again but M had to pee so somehow they ended up in the flames change room (it was empty).  After M made his mark they did a little snooping before finally leaving.  G was so proud that his son shared the same space with his team.

wait do i have a phone???!!!

entry moved from the other site (which is now closed) from nov 2008

M: hi appa
G: hi michael, what are you doing? where's umma?
M: i'm playing lego batman wii. umma's in the shower. appa, can you go onto youtube and find the way to finish the level??
G: michael i have to work, we'll do it when i come home. 
M: appa, you can call me back on my phone, WAIT DO I HAVE A PHONE???!!!
G: michael i'll see you when i come home and we'll do it then, ok?
M: ok appa, call me back. bye.
G: bye

10 mins later:
M: uh appa, how come you didn't call me back yet? i'm waiting.
G: i have to work michael. where's umma?
M: she's still in the shower. can you just find out how to pass the level and call me back and tell me? just go on your computer and find out how.
G: michael i have to go, we'll do this later bye.
M: hmph

M harrassed G five times in a few hours. like father like son.

At Let's Play one day

So there were our kids in one of those riding machines that you put a 25 cent token in making it move up and down for two minutes.  Only G wouldn't give them any money, and in a line of four machines our kids were the ones 'pretending' it was moving.  

kid in the machine beside M cluching a bag-full of tokens:  why don't you put in a coin?

M looks over awe-struck that the kid didn't understand: because we can't afford it!!!

the kid's grandfather looks over at G, who is in his pj-equivalent, and looks down to the kids who are dressed like beggars because G can't match two colors if he tried, and you could tell that he felt bad for the kids.

random conversation at the mall

L:  can we ride the merry-go-roun?

G: Leah, i have no money, can't afford it.  Michael, tell her where money comes from.

M: *rolls his eyes and sighs* Leah! you have to work for it!

L: *turns to G* YOU already worked today

it doesn't work

After letting go a few bubbles herself, L went to pull on G's finger but it didn't work.  Tried a few others and expressed disdain: it doesn't work anymore...

lani mcdonald

so there we were waiting in line to renew the registration on our car in nov 2007. there was a very friendly old man in front of me observing L, commenting and comparing her to his grandkids. i would turn to look at G every now and then he had this look on his face that i've never seen before, but i still kept up our conversation until it was the old man's turn at the registry. while waiting for his service he talked to L and her reponse was to hold her breath until her face turned red as she pushed out a very stinky poop. G rescues me from the stink bomb and on his return he told me that old man was lani mcdonald! who??? his childhood hero! who??? on the old calgary flames team! ok, got it. so i ask him if i could shake the hand of my husband's childhood hero and as he does so he looks over to G, who is stunned at this point and bashfully shakes his hand too. we leave only to return armed with my camera phone to take some paparazzi shots. this should be a lesson to G to comb your hair every morning!

i heart star wars nerds

everyday i have to endure pop quizzes given by M to test my knowledge of star wars. he's discovered the limit on mom's knowledge about all things in his ever growing world, and is not surprised anymore when i fail the quizzes miserably. one day G comes home from work and M exclaimed to him that they are both star wars nerds! G's ego was a bit bruised but M was still proud and that pride has grown to be shared by them both. proud star wars nerds.

Uncle Steven, our plumber

So it was by coincidence that I found out an old friend from highschool is living in Calgary, and that he's a plumber. He came one time to save our ceiling from our toilet and L satstaring in awe as he made little work of what would have taken us two weeks to complete. She had to have her hair combed and changed hairpins several times before she felt able to present herself to uncle steven. L's first crush? or early plumbing aspirations?

the kim family girls choir

so after a year or so of hounding to sing for them, the kids have learned (most of) the words to 'hey jude'. the other day at superstore L spontaneously screamed out 'hey jew!!!' which drew the attention of other shoppers. which prompted me to break out into a chorus of 'don't be afraid~ you were meant to go out and get her~~~~' loud enough for the closer shoppers to hear but quiet enough that people aren't called to take L away from me. so there we were, roaming superstore with a full cart singing hey jude for 40 minutes or so.

Office Christmas Party

Deloitte put on a first-class kids Christmas Party. They booked a hall and hired an entertainment group to dress up as the characters from "Alice in Wonderland." M was amazed at first - "you work HERE? AWESOME!!"

I lost Leah as I was waiting in line at the buffet, and had to run across the hall to find her. I finally found her at the "bar" - a milk and juice bar hosted by the friendly rabbit:

L: I want ka ka (korean word for candy).
Rabbit: (holding up two pitchers) Apple juice? Chocolate milk?
L: No! ka ka.
Rabbit: I'm sorry, I can't understand you.

I watched in amusement for a little longer before I rescued the poor rabbit bartender.

L's Birthday

L's birthday fell on Chinese New Year this year. We had a small birthday/new year's celebration at Grandma and Grandpa Kim's house with Uncle Daniel, Auntie Jennifer and ee-mo. M slipped into his now too small hanbok, no problem. L flipped out when she saw the top to her dress and refused to wear it. She also put up a fight when it came time to saebae but eventually conceded and of course accepted the envelopes. Gifts have been trickling in the last week and she thinks everyday is her birthday.

toothpaste

Yesterday the kids and I made some toothpaste. Had a blast mixing it all together and tasting the sweet and salty powders. M seemed to like it. L swears up and down that she'll never use it again. Its yucky!

ummm costco

L's new favorite place is costco, we've trained her well!

T:  where's appa?

L:  ummm, costco

but really he's at work.  

G: where did you get that neckace?

L: ummm, costco!

got it from a birthday party goody bag

T:  where should we go today?  (thinking it would be nice to go to the zoo)

L:  ummm, costco

T:  where should we eat?

L:  ummm, costco!