Archive for September, 2006

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Great Wolf Lodge – part 3

Saturday, September 30th, 2006

Reid and I made it to the waterpark at 8:35 on Friday morning, having left Ken to pack up our stuff. It never ceases to surprise me how much stuff we seem to accumulate in hotel rooms but he volunteered for the task. For the first half hour, Reid and I were the only people in the waterpark, other than the 20 or so lifeguards on duty. Ken said it was like that on Thursday, too but I hadn’t noticed. First, Reid had to close the doors of the lockers – all of them, at least 25 or 30 that I’m reasonably sure that someone had carefully opened at some point. She gets that door-closing impulse from me, although I am outgrowing it now that I have given the obsession to Ken.

Reid decided to try the “beach” pool when the waves were turned off. When the started she almost drowned me in her attempts to get up out of the waves. The lifeguard had said there was a siren before the waves started but I didn’t hear one. We splashed and floated and played basketball (with a small boost, Reid could slam dunk) and I had Reid put her arms around my neck and kick her legs while I swam under the water. I think my dad did that with me when I was small. Ken came to get us at 9:45 so that we could take in one more forest friends show. Reid was once again excited to see Wiley but wouldn’t shake his hand or give him a hug. She did wave, though. With a couple more luggage cart rides, we collected our bags and checked out. I made Ken and Reid sit for a couple of photos and then we headed for Wheatley.

Posted in Uncategorized, Vacation | 17 Comments »

Your glasses, Mama? Let me get them

Thursday, September 28th, 2006

Reid is fascinated with my glasses. Technically, I think she is interested in anyone’s glasses but she sees mine the most. For a long time, when I have wiped my glasses with my shirt, Reid has insisted I clean them with her shirt, too. This is sometimes counterproductive given the food, dirt and I-don’t-want-to-know what else that gets on Reid’s shirt but since I think this is her first non-prompted sharing, I try to find the cleanest part of her shirt and take her up on her offer. Lately, Reid has appointed herself Vice President in Charge of Glasses Retrieval. As soon as we wake up she is up and getting my glasses from the night table. She has even tried to get them for me when I am in the shower. If I think my vision is getting worse, I just have to wipe off Reid’s fingerprints and the world becomes clearer.

Posted in Mama, Uncategorized | 14 Comments »

Great Wolf Lodge – part 2

Thursday, September 28th, 2006

I did something silly. Very silly. I decided we should stay in last night instead of going to see Niagara Falls. Now it’s raining, in fact, it sounds like the falls have come to see us. It seemed like a good decision when I made it. We’d had a great day here at the hotel and there was story time still to attend.

Once we got Daddy up and about, we went to a Forest Friends show where the mechanical moose, bear, racoon, crow and tree told stories. Wylie the Wolf was there, too and Reid waved at him. We howled like wolves and clapped and sang.

We went to the waterpark twice. At first, Reid and I went in the pools and on the lazy river inner tube ride and we splashed in Fort Mackenzie. The fort has little geiser and a range of water squirting devices. Reid was willing to climb up where the slides were but sliding down was not an option. After lunch and a nap – the Reynolds people slept long and hard – we all went back to the waterpark and into the water. Whether it was having Ken with her or the time in the other pools, Reid decided the water slides were fun. There is only one slide where two people can go together and, unfortunately for Reid it is four storeys high. I tried to do it, really I did but after climbing to what would have been the second storey, I chickened out. I was experiencing vertigo and all I could think about was being way up high in an enclosed slide and having both vertigo and claustrophobia to deal with (plus my girl, of course). We climbed down and went to a different area. Reid is so much bolder and more physical when playing with Ken. He kicked some water from a little geiser at her and she grinned. When I did it earlier in the day, she fussed a bit. They went under and through water that I wouldn’t have attempted with her.

Just before bedtime, we went back to the lobby for another show and stories. This time, Reid was asking about Wylie before we even left the room. Again we listened to the animals talk to each other and clapped while they sang. After the show, one of the people from the Cub Club read a book called, “Over in the Meadow” (or something like that) and we did the actions mentioned in the book. He finished with “Mmmm, Cookies” by Robert Munsch. We learned the Great Wolf Lodge goodnight – two stomps, two claps and a wolf howl.

Then, it was time for bed and Reid and Mama quickly fell asleep.

Posted in Books, Daddy, Uncategorized, Vacation | 3 Comments »

Great Wolf Lodge – part 1

Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

We got to Niagara Falls precisely 6 hours after we left Ottawa. I note this because the online trip tik said it would take 5 hours and 13 minutes but Ken’s estimate was 6 hours. There was heavy traffic as we left Ottawa, even though we put off leaving until after 6:00 and then construction in Toronto. There might have been other problems that Reid and I slept through.

My first impression of the hotel – Great Wolf Lodge – was that it looked like a giant log cabin. As I went through the entryway to check-in, a wolf howled and I grinned knowing Ken would have something smart to say. He managed to keep quiet through the lobby with mechanical animals and more “rustic” wood furniture than I knew existed and even as we walked to our room along corridors with carpeting that featured bears, wolves, totem poles and leaves. I think it was the wolf silhouettes on the wall sconces that broke him and he said, “I didn’t think you get to Florida in 6 hours. This place is tacky.”. It is very “faux” but in a fun way.

We got into our room at 12:30 and Reid didn’t want to go to sleep. I think she was intimidated by our little in-room log cabin. Finally, I let her watch cartoons to entice her to the cabin with the light off so Ken could try to get to sleep.

Reid and I explored the lobby this morning, after the mandatory ride on the luggage cart (her dad taught her that). There is a bear, moose and tree that talk when you place your hand in the handprint associated with them. We sat on a couple of different types of chairs and a couch at Reid’s direction, which is a nice way of saying she bossed me.

We went to the Antler Shanty Grub Shack (a cafeteria-style restaurant) for breakfast to let Daddy sleep in. Reid insisted on serving herself. She managed to get about two tablespoons of scrambled eggs onto her plate and, after numerous attempts, she decided I could squeeze the tongs to get a hotdog (sausage) onto her plate. Of course, she had to carry her plate to the table. Midway back, not quite one tablespoon of eggs tipped onto the floor along with her sausage. She got the sausage back onto her plate but I wouldn’t let her pick up the eggs (I have *some* standards :+). Two-thirds of the way back not quite one tablespoon of eggs tipped onto the floor along with her sausage. Again the sausage was rescued but not the eggs. I offered to share eggs off of my plate but Reid calmly told me that she had her own and she did, approximately one teaspoon of them.

Wiley, the wolf mascot, stopped by our table just before we left. Reid finds mascots to be intimidating and a bit scary. Given my own clown phobia, I understand where she is coming from. Since he left, she has talked about him a lot. Distance makes me brave, too.

Time to get into our bathing suits and head to the waterpark.

Posted in Daddy, Uncategorized, Vacation | 39 Comments »

I love you, Daddy

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

Last night as she was going to bed, Reid said “Good night, Daddy” and he, of course, said, “Good night, Baby”. With the door almost closed, she said, “Good night, Daddy” again. Ken heard her and responded in kind. Reid opened the door, repeated her declaration of love and closed the door again. At which point Ken responded. Many giggles (Reid) and chuckles (Ken) ensued as they repeated the process a number of times. Mama, the party-pooper, had to intervene and allow one more kiss, hug and “I love you” pair before explaining to Daddy that Reid wanted to be the last one to say “I love you.” He called her “mini Barbara” when he kissed her and mumble something about control. I can’t imagine why. Reid finally shut the door, called out, “I love you, Daddy” one last time and climbed into bed.

I think I’ve mentioned that Reid talks in her sleep but she has been particularly chatty over the last couple of nights or at least right before waking. Yesterday she was talking about the potty, choosing clothes, and Mama. This seemed logical (since I’m a sleep-talker myself I can accept talking your sleep to be logical). Today, however, she said, “Knife, Mama, Mama’s knife.” Reid covets knives. She wants so badly to have one of her own. Since Ken fussed long and hard enough that I switched her from salad forks to plastic, blunt-tipped toddler forks, I don’t see a knife appearing next to her plate anytime soon. But a girl can dream (and she does ;+) When she woke up, I told her what she had said and she smiled a big smile. Maybe she remembered what she had dreamed or maybe she was smiling at how loony her Mama is thinking Reid talks when she sleeps.

Posted in Daddy, Uncategorized | 29 Comments »

Talking in her sleep

Tuesday, September 26th, 2006

I think I’ve mentioned that Reid talks in her sleep but she has been particularly chatty over the last couple of nights or at least right before waking. Yesterday she was talking about the potty, choosing clothes, and Mama. This seemed logical (since I’m a sleep-talker myself I can accept talking your sleep to be logical). Today, however, she said, “Knife, Mama, Mama’s knife.” Reid covets knives. She wants so badly to have one of her own. Since Ken fussed long and hard enough that I switched her from salad forks to plastic, blunt-tipped toddler forks, I don’t see a knife appearing next to her plate anytime soon. But a girl can dream (and she does ;+) When she woke up, I told her what she had said and she smiled a big smile. Maybe she remembered what she had dreamed or maybe she was smiling at how loony her Mama is thinking Reid talks when she sleeps.

Posted in Language skills, Uncategorized | 9 Comments »

A ride on a yellow school bus

Monday, September 25th, 2006

In that logic that reflects her particular priorities, I am pretty sure that Reid would report that the best part of the Carp Fair was the ride we took on a yellow school bus. As we were walking back to the car, there was a bus parked at the side of the road to take people who were parked even further away (hard to believe that was possible) to their cars. I asked if Reid could climb aboard and the driver took us for a ride. Poor Ken had to stand at the side of the road in the wind as it started to spit. Reid was in heaven, though.

Posted in Daddy, Mama, Uncategorized | 99 Comments »

Gonna walk, walk, walk your wackies out

Monday, September 25th, 2006

(Imagine Raffi singing about clapping your crazies out)

It was overcast on Sunday morning and so I was anticipating another wet Walk for Heart but was pleasantly surpised that the skies had cleared by the time we got downtown. Being a bit of a pessimistic family, okay that would be just Ken and me, we took our coats in case it rained. So, we stocked up on free fruit, yogurt and chocolate milk since none of got breakfast before we left. I got the registration time mixed up and so we had to run. Both things seem reasonable until we started the walk and Reid refused to ride in her stroller and so we had a whole bunch of food plus clothing to try to keep track of. Reid wanted me to carry her for quite a bit of the way but eventually walked along the yellow line of the parkway. At one point, when we tried to get a photo of her, she lay on the ground and cried. Another lady took her photo but Ken wouldn’t. She finished the walk in her stroller asleep.

Since the Metcalfe Fair is on next weekend and we will be in Wheatley, Ken. Reid and I went to the Carp Fair after the walk. Reid managed to stay awake for the first 20 minutes of the 40 minute drive (of course) and then slept for an hour in the car in the parking lot.  By the time she woke up the unseasonably warm and sunny day had given way to the wind and cold and overcast day that had been forecast. 

I thought the velour Piglet track suit was cute on the hot day in July when Melissa, Roy and Dylan gave it to Reid but I thought it was *fantastic* when it was so cold and windy. Reid was stylin’ and toasty – now if I can just teach her to keep her hands in her pockets (or I could buy her mittens, I guess). As always, we sought out the animals and there were many – but at the farthest possible point in the fairground from where we had parked. Reid was again boycotting her stroller and insisting I carry her and, given the crowds, I didn’t try to talk her into walking. Carp is a little village that claims to have the “best little fair in Canada” and from the number of competitors in the heavy horse classes, they seem to somewhat justified in the claim. On our way out we stopped at the midway. We rode on a couple of different train rides – who would have thought a fair needed two trains but Reid was glad of it. Afterward, Reid wanted to ride on a motorcycle carousel. I had to buy more tickets and put her on the green motorcycles. I distinctly remember her saying “g’deen” but when the ride started, she yelled and cried – through four or five revolutions. Ken didn’t take a photo (not surprisingly, I guess) though I would have as further proof that I shouldn’t be allowed to put Reid on carousels.  Afterward, though, she wanted back on, only this time she chose a red motorcycle. In fact, she insisted that she had asked for red all along. Once she was on the right colour of motorcycle, she seemed to enjoy the ride. Reid also seemed to have got in touch with her inner daredevil and was trying to talk me onto another ride – one that seemed too scary for me as we left.

Posted in Daddy, Mama, Uncategorized | 183 Comments »

The tools of the (baking) trade and Kindermusik

Monday, September 25th, 2006

Reid and I made apple crisp on Saturday morning when we first got up. As I’ve said before, Reid likes to dump the ingredients into the bowl but this time she wanted to get the flour, sugar, etc out of the container and into the measuring cup. In addition to her growing desire to take over the world, she has decided that the scoops in the container are shovels. She is a specialist with shovels, you know, and so I heard, “Reid shobel” many times and my floor got a bit messier than is usual when we bake (and that is pretty messy :+) and Reid wielded the scoop.

We left the apple crisp in the oven and headed to Kindermusik. I thought Ken’s nose would lead him to it but he ate oatmeal instead.

We made it to Kindermusik on time this week, though we were late enough we had to join the circle where the teacher sits. Which is a positive thing for Reid as she loves watching Shannon but the parents seem to want to be “cool kids” and sit at the back of the class. Reid got to choose the first song we sang – “Wheels on the bus”, of course – and she did all of the actions about a half inch above her legs (she was sitting on my crossed legs) and in a very small space. She didn’t seem want to draw attention to herself but she did want to participate. As we sang “Old MacDonalds’s farm” and “Twinkle, twinkle” her actions got bigger. She marched in the circle and danced and really enjoyed the class. On the way home, she was starting to drift off and so I played a particularly upbeat song that she likes and encouraged her to do the actions. Her movements got more and more lethergic and in slow-motion but she managed the full song before falling asleep between tracks.

Posted in Kindermusik, Mama, Uncategorized | 100 Comments »

I just want to sleep, Reid says

Monday, September 25th, 2006

Well, she didn’t actually say that she wanted to sleep but this morning when we were waking Reid, she didn’t want to get up. I told her I had to go and take my shower and she could choose between snuggling with Daddy or using the potty. She said, “Daddy shower” and when we told her that Daddy had already showered, without batting an eye, or even opening one, she said, “Leo shower”. Of course, we said that Leo doesn’t shower and then she suggested it was Mars’ turn. Well, I laughed and told her the cats couldn’t shower because they couldn’t reach the tap. I have to admire her fast-thinking-while-trying-to-sleep skills.

Posted in Cats, Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

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