Before you read what I write. Read who I am.

Originally from Alberta and in the last number of years having been living in Vancouver, British Columbia. We are now living in Woolwich, London where we inhabit a wonderful little 2 floor flat in the Royal Arsenal. The family has grown over the years from being just my wife and I to the family of four we are now. My work has brought us to London for the next two years where for the first time in ages we will live in the same house for more than a birthday. The experience is written below from then till now. With a view of the Thames from our windows and boat ride to work the new life begins.

23 Jun 2009

Bowling and a BBQ

We had our team event on the weekend. A Kansas city BBQ with bowling to boot!! It was an awesome time.



No Subtitles

I watched LOTR1 in the background of of my desktop while working today but alas as I had windows going across in front of it regularily there were no subtitles to get me through the elvish. It almost made it a better experience as I truly had no idea what was going on at times.

Kate just dropped Sebastian off at the ferry dock with Grandma and Grandpa so that he can go on his first double night sleepover! He's gone and I am spending the day tomorrow at home with Kate and Rigby to get some work done on the house and other.

I'm looking forward to spending time alone with Rigby and learning a few things about her which have gone otherwise unseen or unknown. The small amount of actual alone time we have had with Rigby is staggeringly small and now we get a 48 hour window to try and change our attitudes. This isn't to say we've been doing everything wrong or anything like that. It's more an admittance that we have not been doing everything right. :)

Different Topic:

Our downstairs neighbour has been a long term pain in the ass and I can't stand him in so many ways. I want him kicked out and moved to somewhere else so that I can have a quality of life for my family that goes outside of beer, rap and noise. On the other hand I see him wasting his daughter's young life and not giving her the things she so desperately needs to develop and thrive, most of all sleep. I hear now about her mom over napping her (up to 7 hours) just to spite daddy. They are "divorced" and are classically using their girl as a go between for their anger and hatred of one another. It's pathetic. Recently mom (possibly after drinking) got in to an accident that totalled her car but luckily injured no one.

Kate has suggestted to his (Neighbour) current girlfriend that he petitions for the full time care of the girl and that we would then provide the daytime care for her. This would of course involve the complete compliance of him (I hope) to not be constantly drinking, cranking up the music and generally being a complete ass. I don't know where that would go from there.

On yet another hand.... I have to say as much as I want to help this guy out and more so his daughter I really feel he has had enough chances..... but where does that match me and my life? Where did I get all my chances and what if someone drew the line a long time ago?

So? I've already asked my landlord to consider these options as there is the present of what has happened. I guess I'll write about it when something happens.

9 Jun 2009

SWING SET!!

We got Sebastian and Rigby a Swing Set for free off craiglist! I'm super stoked.

When I was a kid we had these awesome big wooden blocks in the backyard that stacked up and you could climb around inside them and on top etc. They were the best imagination toy ever. Then we got the swingset and it was also in the range of wicked cool.

I love the basics in play and having these things just makes me feel connected to the play that the kids are having.

That story is sizzlin'

Totally recommend (if you have kids under say......8) that you check out Yo Gabba Gabba. It's intense, awesome and if you yourself were a party kid in your teen/early twenties then Dj Lance and the beats will totally set it off for you. Also when they do they daily beat from Biz... I mean come on! learning beatboxing while dancing and having fun with BIZ MARKIE!! COME ON Plus the Shins and more people than you can shake a frikkin stick at that totally have rocked our world.

My favorite part of the show thus far was when super martian robot girl saved the party from being a dud by zapping up an 80's keytar band that busted out some Miami bass beats.

This links to an outside article but it's the only place I could find a clip of the awesomeness.

That's my Nick Jr plug o the day.

7 Jun 2009

And the boy rides a scooter

We got Sebastian a Vespa LX50 the other day. You may be questioning why we got our four year old son a scooter....

Well it's a 12V version that goes a whopping 5mph in high gear and 2.5mph in the lower. He rode it for about an hour and a half yesterday and absolutely loved it to death!

He looks awesome riding this thing and I am super happy about it all, even if it means less exercise somedays.
Did I mention it has training wheels?