Happy 16th Birthday, Choo Choo!
When you were younger, it was so much easier to see the changes from one year to the next. But in the last couple of years, the only significant changes are … well, hair colour. I wouldn’t say you’re …
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Dear Choo Choo
37 posts tagged with this topic.
The End of Childhood Adventures
When you’re a parent with young children, you can see possibility, opportunity, and endless field of options. That’s part of being a parent, it’s being freed of expectation and looking towards the best …
The Last First Day of School
And suddenly, it’s the first day of school. But it’s a landmark “first” – it’s Monkey’s last first day of school, today she enters Grade 12. I don’t really remember my …
Happy 13th Birthday, Choo Choo!
I no longer have any children. I only have teenagers. Actually, to be fair, I seem to have a teenager and a vastly underaged adult. And Choo Choo, you already know which one you truly are. There have been so many times …
Return to the United Kingdom
Last year, when we were trying to determine if were going to go somewhere for Spring Break, we make jokes about going to England. And then we did. It was, easily, one of the best trips. It had it’s harrowing …
How Quickly They Grow Up
As a result of COVID, it’s been a bit hard to do some of the things one should regularly do as part of a healthy regimen. Like, say, getting an annual checkup. (I, in particular, am several years out from my last …
The Last Days
Ten years. A decade my kids have been going to school. And up until the last year, it was a central part of my life. I’m the morning parent: get kids up, shepherd them through breakfast and lunch-making, get them …
Another Apology to my Kids
Hey kids, I hope you’re looking at this blog, especially at the two tags I’ve created to help you find all the things I’ve written for you, and you find this. Because I’m assuming you’ve …
Healthy 10th Birthday, Choo Choo!
A decade ago right now, Mommy and I were preparing to go to Foothills Medical Centre. There, Mommy would have a caesarian section and you would be pulled forth into this world — not of woman borne! — with your arm draped …
She Choo-Choo choosed me
(Yeah, it’s grammatically incorrect. So shoot me.) Choo Choo and Monkey did a couple of early Valentine cards tonight. The one Choo Choo gave me might well be one of the best I’ve ever gotten. I’m rotating this 90 …
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Happy 5th Birthday, Choo Choo
I’m having some serious trouble, Choo Choo. You’re five. FIVE. You’ve hit that penultimate step from wee babe to being a grade-schooler (the last, obviously, is going to Kindergarten; at least we have a few months before …
Goodbye, my lovely three year-old
Well, Choo Choo, today I’m having a “last” moment. Today was your last full day as a three year-old. Tomorrow is your birthday. Tomorrow, you turn four. And I will miss you being three immensely. You are my …
Happy 3rd birthday, Choo Choo!
It’s one of those funny things you sometimes run into as a parent. In one moment, you’re nearly panicking at the seemingly rapid passage of time, that your tiny infant is suddenly racing around the house, reading books …
I hate you leave you in the morning, Part 2
Where once there was one, Now there are two. But the patterns remains the same. Wakened by one, though with hugs from both. We sit. We eat. We chat. Stories, changing of clothes and preparing for the day. Teeth brushed. …
A walk in the (amusement) park
Kids, we missed the Calgary Stampede this year. That was partly intentional, to be honest. Yes, it was the 100th anniversary, and Choo Choo was old enough to actually do some of the things there, but … well, it …
Vacation 2012, Day 2.5
Well, kids, this vacation is certainly having some ups and downs. I’m taking that as a good thing, by the way, since without variation things can get a little dry. That’s also a joke, incidentally — “dry” …
Vacation 2012, Day 1
Hey kids, You’re both sleeping right now. Soundly so. You’ve both had a big, exciting day, and I’m frankly amazed you made it as long as you did. You normally don’t pack this much into a few days, let alone a few hours. …
An apology to my kids
Dear Monkey and Choo Choo, Yesterday, I worked from home. This is not the first time I’ve done so. The reasons for working from home are also largely irrelevant. The point is that I was there, even though I really …
Happy 2nd birthday, Choo Choo!
Happy 2nd birthday, my dear Choo Choo! It’s almost impossible to believe you been with us only two years, you shining little light. Two short — and somehow, impossibly long — years ago, you found yourself suddenly …
Happy first birthday, Choo Choo!
Well, my little girl, you’re a year old today. A year ago, you came into our world early, confused, cold, and separated from Mommy. It wasn’t exactly how any of us had hoped you’d arrive, but we were happy to have you no …
Baby steps
Well, Choo Choo, your first birthday is fast approaching. Four days, now, as a matter of fact. On Friday, you’ll turn 1, and Mommy and I will shed a tear as a our last baby ceases to be a baby and becomes a toddler. …
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If I could save time in a bottle
Jim Croce’s song has been echoing in my head the last few days, as I’ve watched and played with you, Choo Choo. I don’t even know the words, so much as the tune, and the song’s desire to save the precious moments, and …
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New Year's Tea, 2011
I gotta tell ya, kids, 2010 was a pretty wild year. I know a lot of people who keep telling me that the years “just fly by” and before you know it, another year’s gone. The year past was definitely a change …
Merry first Christmas, Choo Choo
Sorry, kiddo, it’s been a while since I last wrote. I have no real reason/excuse, other than I just haven’t. That’s bad of me, and I will endeavour to write more often. Maybe one day, years from now, you’ll be able to …
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The end of summer vacation
Well, kids, I’m not sure if you’re going to remember this August a few years from now (well, Choo Choo, I’ll be impressed if you remember today, tomorrow), but this has been a fantastic month. It’s been a long month, …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 8
We were up perhaps a bit earlier than I’d thought we’d be up, but I’d also forgotten we were stopping in Redcliff to visit Marnie and her kids. Thankfully, Grandpa had enough sense to jumpstart us for the day. That …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 7
Despite the nice appearance and newness of the hotel, the Canalta has stiff beds that are really meant for only one person — any movement is felt by the other person on the bed. The pillows are massive and overstuffed …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 6
We were all slow to rise today, but we made quick work of breakfast. You said goodbye to your Great Uncle Ken and Great Aunt Marilyn before we headed to the car. Our first stop was to drop off Granny at the airport. She …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 5
We were supposed to go out to a lake near the Ontario border today, but Mommy and I threw up the white flag and declared us all “done”. We need a break. Monkey, you’ve been very patient being trapped in the …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 4
Wow, I wasn’t kidding, was I? It was a long day. A really, really, really long day. We were up and running and gone by just after 8:15 this morning, trucking our way up to an RV park just north of downtown along Main …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 3
At least we didn’t have to get up too early today, Choo Choo, and you let us sleep a bit longer. That helped rest away the many kilometres behind us. We hit breakfast, also at the Chicken Chef (there ain’t a lot of …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 2
Choo Choo, I don’t think you yet have a real understanding of time. And certainly, you don’t understand the idea of letting Mommy or Daddy sleep in. Today, I’ll admit, that wasn’t something we would fault you for, since …
The Great Family Roadtrip 2010, Day 1
Well, kids, today was a slow start to our cross-prairie adventure. The morning was otherwise ordinary, rising and having breakfast and dressing. But then I climbed into the car and took Asia away to her hotel for the …
Choo Choo's first Easter
Maybe I should actually have titled this: “Monkey’s last Easter where she gets all the eggs for herself”, but that just seems a little long. But it’s true, Monkey — next year, even if Choo Choo isn’t walking …
Arrived! Choo Choo!
Well, kiddo, you made it. Despite all the worries about antibodies running amok and the placenta suddenly appearing in the wrong place, you made it into the station, so to speak, even if you were a behind schedule. (I …
Two weeks to Choo Choo
It almost seems hard to believe, but we’re down to two weeks until you finally arrive, Choo Choo. Two weeks — well, pretty much right now — I hope to be holding you in my arms, holding you tight and letting you …
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Thinking of you, Choo Choo
You’re not even born yet, Choo Choo. You’re still inside Mommy. You’re real, and you already exist in our hearts, but you’re still just a dream, a vision of the future, of what’s — or rather, who’s to come. A little over …
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