Mother's Day 2012

For Mother's day I received a wonderful breakfast, a handmade jewellery box and a Kobo ereader! Talk a bout spoiled!  We went on a little antique shopping trip and found an old type/printer letter drawer that I am converting into an earring display holder, and a small Japanese folding screen.  Then we went to Hamilton and had lunch in a little cafe by the water.  Afterwards we went for a drive by all the old houses in Hamilton and up the mountain to look out over the city.  Here are some of the pictures!  What a wonderful day!!

Aiden Riding his Balance Bike

For Aiden's 3rd Birthday Grandma and Papa bought him a super cool green balance bike.  A balance bike is a bike specifically designed for children ages 1-3 for the purpose of learning to control their balance in a safe way.  A balance bike resembles a regular adult bicycle because it has only two wheels and no training wheels.  There are also no pedals.  The child pushes with their feet to create momentum and stops/ maintains balance by putting their feet on the ground.

Aiden and a slow start as he felt a little insecure, but now he rides super fast with his legs flying out to the side not toughing the ground.  He rides around our block, to the park, and on the street outside our house.  He especially loves to go down the slope of our driveway to pick up speed!

Tough Lesson on Racism

" We have explored the earth, discovered the cure for numerous diseases and even ventured into space. Despite all of our achievements, some of us are as yet to see each other as human beings. Racism is man's gravest threat to man - the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason".

One of the hardest things in life I have learned is about racism.  Not to hate the racist.  If you do that you are only perpetuating the cycle of hate.  Instead you must foster compassion for all God's children.  In the face of hatred, only love can triumph. 

I am still coming to terms with this.  It seems human nature to face anger with anger, hatred with hatred.  However I know this moves nothing forward and creates a cycle of devastation.  It is now my mission to be a compassionate person, not only in the face of racism, but in all life's adversities.  I am thankful God has put people in my life to teach me this valuable lesson for myself, but more importantly for Aiden.  I truly believe in practising what you preach.  

"It demands great spiritual resilience not to hate the hater whose foot is on your neck, and an even greater miracle of perception and charity not to teach your child to hate." -James Author Baldwin

Dear Readers,

Grandma and Grandpa,

As my dedicated followers,....make that the only people who read this blog, I am taking into account that you have routinely check this blog only to find the disappointment of no updates.  I feel incredibly bad and guilty about it and can only blame it on school.  I promise to return your kindness in reading my blog by promising to post at least once every 2 weeks.  So please keep on following!  I am really happy to know you are checking in on Aiden and I am find us interesting and fun to read! :)

Your loving granddaughter, Ally <3      <---- this is a heart

Here is Aiden and I at our Chinese New Years celebration!

Aiden's 3 things in year 3!

If you don't know what I'm talking about read the previous entry.

Not a word of a lie, here is what he told me:

1. Ride my bike
2. Go to Gramma's house
3. ummmmm...HUG GRAMMA!

For your optical enjoyment here is a picture of Aiden eating a treat from the Japanese town in Toronto this winter.

p.s. I am signing Aiden up for a GAP kids competition to be the next GAP kid's model.  I will update when I have the picture I will send along with his entry paragraph!

25 things in year 25!

I am turning 25 this year and for my quarter life crisis I decided that every year I will make a so called 'bucket list' for that year with that number of years entries.  So here is my 25 things for my 25th year:

1. Road trip with Aiden and Greg to Ottawa

2. Run 5k

3. Eat Paleo for 1 month

4. C.N. Tower stair climb

5. Plant a vegetable garden

6. Practice yoga everyday for 1 month

7. Master Japanese to a conversation level

8. Paint a portrait of Aiden

9. Volunteer with Aiden for 25 hours

10. Loose 25lbs

11. Walk one time around all of Milton

12. Read 25 books

13. Learn one song perfectly on the piano

14. Learn how to sew

15. Reconnect with an old friend

16. cook dinner 25 times in a row

17. have 5 dates with my parents

18. Take my sister and brother out

19. Meditate 25 minutes everyday for 1 month

20. Save $2,500

21. Write and mail 25 letters

22. Talk to Miki at least 25 times

23. 25 family dates

24. Go to church 25 times

25. WRITE AT LEAST 25 BLOG POSTS! ^_^ (this one is for my grandparents!)

Aiden's Birthday!

Aiden is three! Wow that went by too fast! I can't believe I have a three year old!  Aiden wanted a cookie CARS birthday party.  So I decorated the house by putting up streamers, cars balloons, I made a tower of REAL tires (our winter tires) just like the movie, made posters imitating places in the movie and got some cool plates, napkins etc.  We invited Mom and Dad, Jenn and Eddie, Angela and Scott, Ben, and Clarise.  Aunt Anne unfortunately couldn't make it due to sickness.  Aiden had a blast.  He got a new bike, magnetic blocks, lego, clothes, a bubble blower, drums, a sticker book, and some games!  He is one lucky boy!  At the party Aiden had a 3D Lightning McQueen cake and rode his new balance bike! He had a minor collision and ended up with a very bloody nose, but all was well in the end.  He loved his birthday party.  Thank you everyone who celebrated with us! :)