And it was a good Christmas

I took time off from work from Dec 25 to Jan 4.  And I really did tune out of work.  I usually keep thinking about work even when I am at home but not this time.  It was a much needed break.

We had Christmas Eve dinner at my sister's.  My nieces prepared the delicious turkey and the rest of us brought the salad, sides, and dessert.  Ed found a TV channel that showed Cirque de Soleil all night and Sophia was quite fascinated by it.  I promised her that we would go see a show when the circus came to town.

Christmas day was pretty lazy.  Sophia and I made breakfast (it was Sophia's Christmas present to Ed) then opened presents.  We spent the day in our pyjamas, hanging out at home.  It was a very lovely day!

On Boxing Day, we loaded up the car and drove to Portland.  We visited my mom-in-law and her husband for a few days.  We found new things to do in Portland like go to the Children's Museum, bounce around in a trampoline park, and eat the freshly made ice cream at Salt and Straw.  We had lunch at the food truck area in downtown, and of course, helped the local economy by going shopping a little bit.

Back in Vancouver, we welcomed the new year with our friends, the Van Dops and LeFebvres.  We had a hot pot dinner and a sleep over at the Van Dop house.  New year's day was another hang-out-in-our-PJs day.  The kids played, we ate hot pot left-overs, and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a very enjoyable way to welcome the new year.

It was a good birthday

I have to say, Ed really put a lot of thought and effort into making my birthday quite wonderful this year.  Thank you, my loving husband, for making my birthday a very happy day.  It was all a surprise and I was quite happy to just go along with whatever Ed had planned.

First up, we headed to the Pan Pacific hotel in downtown Vancouver for a sumptuous brunch buffet.  I didn't know where we were going until we got to the hotel.  It was crazy how much food was there!  I was proud of how I resisted eating way too much.  I actually stopped when I felt full even though I was tempted to keep going.  The sea bass was amazing!  It was the highlight of the buffet for me.

There were two performers singing Christmas carols.  Sophia went on the stage they were on and danced to the tunes.  Several kids were on the stage.  It was pretty cute to watch.  There were also face painting and balloon animals to entertain the kids.  And of course, Santa was walking around handing out candy canes.

After brunch, we walked around the Jack Poole Plaza where the 2010 Olympic cauldron is located.  It was Sophia's first time seeing the cauldron and I explained to her that it was lit during the Olympic games in Vancouver.  Then she asked me if the polar bear blew the flame out when the Vancouver games were done.  Then I remembered that the polar bear blew out the flames in Sochi!  Wow, she remembered that detail from the Sochi closing ceremony.  I'd completely forgotten about it.

We went back home to decorate our Christmas tree that afternoon.  Ed had also made dinner plans for us that evening.  Again, it was a surprise where we were going.  When I noticed that it was getting dark, I said to Sophia that I felt sad that my birthday was almost ending.  She said that it can't end yet because I haven't had my birthday cake.  To which I replied that we forgot to buy a cake for me but that it was okay.  Then she ran to Ed, who was in the kitchen, and said, "Remember, Daddy, that you ordered a birthday cake for mommy and Auntie Vettie is going to come and drop it off later?".  I love how kids are so honest and pure!  I was laughing so hard but laughing silently so Sophia wouldn't hear me.  I still didn't know where dinner was going to be, though, but now I knew that the Van Dops were going to be a part of it.  And that I was going to have a birthday cake, after all.  Dinner turned out to be at Chefe Daniel, a Portugese place that Ed and I like a lot.

It was a fantastic day!  I was spoiled by my husband.  I am truly one lucky woman.  Thank you, Ed, for being so thoughtful and making my birthday very special.

The one thing that did not happen was me spending some time with my mom on my birthday.  She had a bad cough and cold, and did not want to infect us.  Before having a child of my own, I was quite self-centred about my birthday.  But after having Sophia, I appreciate 100 times more that my birthday is also an impactful day for my mom.   I should give her a "giving birth day" present!  Something to do for next year.

Another thing to note for me is how positive I felt going into this birthday.  I have not been welcoming to my past birthdays, almost cringing that here is yet another one and oh dear, I am getting older and older.  There have been birthdays when I just wanted to hide - no celebrations with friends, no big party.  I still do not like getting older but perhaps, I am getting a little more comfortable with it.  I have much to be thankful for and this year, I have chosen to focus on that instead of the number of years I have been in this world.   We'll see if the trend continues into next year...

Here are some photos:

Art wall

I had one photo canvas of Sophia that I did not want to hang on the wall all by itself.  So it sat on the floor for months until Ed came up with a brilliant idea.  Hang the photo and surround it with some of Sophia's art work.  This is her art wall in her room.  My favourite is her portrait of me (upper right) for this year's Mother's Day.  She drew lots of teeth and very long hair.  Too funny.

It is not okay

Sophia and I went to the play area at Brentwood Mall this past weekend.  I sat along the side of the play area as Sophia ran off to play.  A few minutes after we arrived, a little girl ran to her mom, who was seated beside me, saying "Mom, that boy yelled at me".  My heart sank when I heard the mom say "Oh, he's a boy.  Boys like to yell." Will the little girl hear enough messages like this as she grows up that she will just accept being yelled at as being par for the course?  With the Jian Ghomeshi story so current in the news now, it made me wonder how parents play a role in the fact that women do not report being assaulted by men.

Later on, Sophia ran to me to say that a boy pushed her off the slide.  I said to her that that was not very nice of the boy.  Then I heard myself say "But that's ok, just go play on the other slide".  Ouch.  So I quickly corrected myself and I said "Actually, Sophia, that was not okay.  The best thing to do is dust yourself off and try the slide again.  He if comes near you again, tell him to go away."

I don't know if that was the right thing to say but I do know that telling her that "it was okay" was NOT the right thing to say.

Trick or treat

This year, Sophia went trick or treating with her buddy Gabi.  We walked around Gabi's neighbourhood and the girls had a great time.  Gabi's mom and I did, too.  Doing this with friends really does make it so much more fun.  Gabi dressed up as a butterfly and Sophia was a gorilla.

Here are some pics.  Credits to Paula, the photographer.

And after we were done, it was time to divvy up the loot.  The girls had quite a haul.

Thanks, Gabi and Auntie Paula for sharing your Halloween with us.  That was so much fun!