Monday, September 28, 2009

Skype-ing with Nana


How on Earth did we (as kids) function without the internet and all it's wonderful uses??? Just because Nana and Papa are waaaaaay over on the other side of the world, doesn't mean we can't see them everyday, does it? No way!

After many trial and error efforts to get Skype running on my computer (older version is the trick for my out-of-date dinosaur), we are able to grab a cup of tea, get comfy in our desk chairs, check the time-difference between countries (17 hours), and click the call button.

Once that distictive ring tone sounds I get a tingle in my tummy... We're going to see Nana and/or Papa! What a wonderful thing it is to know that we can see Nana with her blond hair, green eyes and beautiful smile looking right back at our anxious faces. Sometimes we can see Papa too, although he's usually at work when we're able to "call".

You just cannot put a price on being able to watch Nana walk out of her home office, go into some unseen room and come back with a perfectly preserved lorikeet (like a very colourful small parrot) that Papa found dead and is keeping in the freezer for some reason! And to HEAR those beautiful, albeit noisy, creatures while we're chatting away! Did I mention it's FREE?

I am assisting Mom and Tom with their loose ends (bills, etc) in Canada. There have been 2 instances where I've had Shaw and Telus on speaker phone while on Skype with Mom to sort out all glitches. How freakin' cool is that?!?!?!

Of course, I could not let an opportunity pass by where I don't add yet another form of technology into the mix... Time to grab my digital camera, take a pic of the boys chatting with Nana, and post it onto my blog!

Being halfway around the world from our loved ones is beyond tough. Keeping in touch via e-mails, phone, Skype, and good, old-fashioned letters makes the great distance just a little... less.

What will they think of next? I can't wait to find out!

Thanks for reading and happy Skyping to those who love technology as I do!




Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Out With the Old & In With the NEW!

I've decided NOT to scrapbook our before & after reno pictures of our home. Not only would it take me FOREVER, it would be pretty much pointless as the pictures speak for themselves.

I was looking through these pics the other day and realized I hadn't updated the pics to show how we've updated our house. A never-ending job it is to renovate gradually... The bulk of the renos were done just over 5 years ago and now we're picking away at little things that we had to put off or touch-up.

I've spend a substantial chunk of my day cleaning rooms to take new pics, then sitting at the computer editing said pics and printing them off. Good excuse to organize my office...it's like a bomb went off in here!

Here's an idea of some of the work that has gone on in our house since moving here back in 2004...


Stairwell to the basement

Back to School 2009

Has it really been over a month since I last posted? Yikes!

Now that September is in full swing, I have found a moment for my blog... School has begun!! Yippee!!

Grade 3 began back at McCammon Traditional Elementary. We were on the waiting list at another school for quite some time and hadn't heard a thing so we dusted off 'C''s uniforms and headed down the street the day after Labour Day. That very same afternoon I received a call from FG Leary Fine Arts Elem School... "There's a spot open for you. Would you still like it?" Would I? Would I?! Yessiree Bob! We flew down to the "new" school to register just before the secretary left for the day. Boy-O-Boy is my boy excited!

Now, what am I going to do with all these uniforms?? :)