Amber is usually the one who sends out updates and that kind of stuff, but she’s so busy and not feeling well these days, so I’ll post a Christmas Card Letter of sorts here. This is how I remember this year:
In January, we were living with my parents in the basement and feeling kind of squished. We started looking for a place of our own and found a cute little 4-plex right by our old high school. It had a basement and a yard so the thoughts of the boys having a space to play were very tempting.
At the end of the month Amber and I took a weekend trip to Edmonton for a worship conference. It was a nice refreshing time but Downtown Edmonton closes for the weekend, so we were stuck walking in -20C snowy weather trying to find a place that was open and without a huge lineup for our mealtimes. I wouldn't recommend Edmonton in the winter.
In February, we signed a 6-month lease and moved into our second place of the year. We bought some new furniture and a digital piano and were settling in for a new five-year plan. We’d stay there until our two boys were in school and then move on. Unfortunately, God had different plans.
In May we found out that Amber was pregnant with our third child. This was a bit of a surprise, but only a few months ahead of our plan. The spring brought many opportunities for church work as I sent out more than a dozen resumes over a month’s time.
We took a vacation to Winnipeg for over two weeks in June. When we left for Calgary two years earlier, we had promised ourselves that we wouldn't be making that 14 hour trip again, but as we've come to learn, nothing is forever and we cannot plan on anything. My June blog entries seemed to be focused on sleep and Star Wars.
We ended up accepting a bi-vocational position in beautiful Nakusp, BC in July to start in September. I was able to lead worship at the small Alliance church and work 4 days a week at a lumber mill making fence posts and rails. We had a new 10-year plan. We’d stay until Daniel was about 13 and then decide if we want to move on to a bigger centre. After about a week at the mill I developed a severe allergy to the cedar dust and ended up in emergency. I spent a lot of time in this small town hospital and the doctor advised me to quit my job.
We celebrated Josh and Amber’s birthday as well as Thanksgiving while we were there, but ended up moving back to Calgary in the middle of November – to house number four of 2005. It was so nice being able to spend time with Amber and the boys. It was somewhat stressful not having a job, but God was good and He provided in His own way.
We had a nice housewarming party and a birthday party for my brother in December. It gave us a chance to have a bunch of our family and friends over in a few days. Christmas was a busy weekend with a steady stream of people coming through our house, but it was great.
Now we’re back in Calgary. I have started a new job with a great company that offers me plenty of opportunities for growth and advancement. We are renting a duplex with a huge basement, and enough room to host several large family gatherings in the last few weeks. The boys are happy, sleeping better, and are acting like normal boys.
I'd like to say we have a multi-year plan, but I'm scared to even buy green bananas these days. Opportunities are still open for change and by next Christmas we may have moved 8 more times, or (hopefully) we will be settled and enjoying life teh way it is for a while.
Happy New Year and God Bless You from
Jon, Amber, Daniel, Josh, and baby mcbean
Friday, December 30
Mardi Gras in December
Our two boys are still having a hard time understanding girls. We had some friends over for dinner this week. They have 2 girls, one a few months older than Daniel and the other a little younger than Josh.
They are definitely a strange breed to our boys. With all their long pullable hair and pretty outfits, the boys were fascinated. They tried to play with them the way they do with their boy buddies, but apparently little girls don't like smashing cars and running into walls.
The one thing they have in common though is a need to get out of their clothes. After dinner, the younger girl was in the living room with the boys and she had pulled her shirt off. I went in to help this 20-month-old redress herself and Daniel and Josh both started yelling, "Nipples! Nipples! And boobies! Boobies and Nipples!"
I tried to tell them not to say that. But Daniel asked a very good question, "Is nipples a bad word?" I couldn't come up with an answer that made sense to me and to him. What do you say to something like that?
They are definitely a strange breed to our boys. With all their long pullable hair and pretty outfits, the boys were fascinated. They tried to play with them the way they do with their boy buddies, but apparently little girls don't like smashing cars and running into walls.
The one thing they have in common though is a need to get out of their clothes. After dinner, the younger girl was in the living room with the boys and she had pulled her shirt off. I went in to help this 20-month-old redress herself and Daniel and Josh both started yelling, "Nipples! Nipples! And boobies! Boobies and Nipples!"
I tried to tell them not to say that. But Daniel asked a very good question, "Is nipples a bad word?" I couldn't come up with an answer that made sense to me and to him. What do you say to something like that?
Security Guard
The other day, I left for work at 7:00am, as I have been doing for the last month. Amber was awake, but still in bed and the boys were sleeping.
Daniel woke up and heard me closing the door. Our three-year-old security guard got out of his bed in his pajamas and walked down the hall, down the stairs to the front door. He unlocked and opened it and looked outside.
He then came down the hall to our room and told Amber, "I thought I heard someone outside, so I went to go see who it was. There isn't anybody there."
The best part is that he left the door open.
Daniel woke up and heard me closing the door. Our three-year-old security guard got out of his bed in his pajamas and walked down the hall, down the stairs to the front door. He unlocked and opened it and looked outside.
He then came down the hall to our room and told Amber, "I thought I heard someone outside, so I went to go see who it was. There isn't anybody there."
The best part is that he left the door open.
Tuesday, December 27
Christmas Thoughts
I’ve been so sporadic in my blogging, I thought I’d put together some of my random thoughts and observations from the last few days. Amber will have pictures posted on Yahoo – check her blog for a link.
Christmas Eve was a very busy day – two church services and a family dinner, followed by presents and a bit of fight to get two little guys to bed.
A 18-month old girl will be totally overwhelmed, frightened, and at the same time fascinated by five older boys – all under 6 years old.
Apparently the job of McInnis Clan Chief has been open for hundreds of years – my Dad has decided to apply and try to get the ancestral castle.
We got our latest custom art piece on Saturday. A pencil drawing of Josh to go with the matching one of Daniel. Soooo cute.
Josh loves our neighbours’ big dog on the other side of the fence. Every time we go outside he goes and yells, “Hi Kudo! Good morning Kudo! Merry Christmas Kudo!” He also loves Grandma and Grandpa’s little Bijou. However, he was quite frightened of the little Bichon Frise that joined us for our Christmas Eve dinner.
We had family coming over at 7:30 Christmas morning to open presents, but the boys slept through the night and we had to wake them up at 7:20.
Daniel got a huge stuffed polar bear that was “wrapped” in a white garbage bag. He ripped a little hole and saw the long white hair and called out, “Bijou!” When we told him it wasn’t Bijou he was confused but kept ripping. The way it was stuffed in the bag and the way he was ripping caused the bear to kind of jump out of the bag. Daniel screamed and ran to hide behind Grandma. I don’t know what trauma he’s been through that had led him to believe we would stuff a vicious live animal in a bag and give it to him for a present.
The boys got pretty blue and gold Chinese pajamas that they changed into early Christmas morning. They lasted almost 6 hours. Josh laid down for a nap after lunch and when he woke up the crotch was shredded from knee to knee. Polyester doesn’t stretch as well as his normal comfy cotton pajamas.
The boys got a pink Dora tent, green high heels, and a blue feather boa.
Daniel ate about 5 pounds of candy Christmas morning, but still managed to do very well with his turkey, jello salad, and broccoli for supper
Josh ate marshmallows.
Going to the zoo on Boxing Day was a great idea. There were very few people and the boys could run.
Josh is afraid of imaginary bugs or snakes or something. We were at the zoo in the tropical rainforest area. The first time was hilarious when he pointed at nothing and screamed and grabbed Amber’s leg. She jumped just as much as him. It got weird when he kept doing it though.
This was our first Christmas in our own place since we got married almost 7 years ago. Loved it.
Christmas Eve was a very busy day – two church services and a family dinner, followed by presents and a bit of fight to get two little guys to bed.
A 18-month old girl will be totally overwhelmed, frightened, and at the same time fascinated by five older boys – all under 6 years old.
Apparently the job of McInnis Clan Chief has been open for hundreds of years – my Dad has decided to apply and try to get the ancestral castle.
We got our latest custom art piece on Saturday. A pencil drawing of Josh to go with the matching one of Daniel. Soooo cute.
Josh loves our neighbours’ big dog on the other side of the fence. Every time we go outside he goes and yells, “Hi Kudo! Good morning Kudo! Merry Christmas Kudo!” He also loves Grandma and Grandpa’s little Bijou. However, he was quite frightened of the little Bichon Frise that joined us for our Christmas Eve dinner.
We had family coming over at 7:30 Christmas morning to open presents, but the boys slept through the night and we had to wake them up at 7:20.
Daniel got a huge stuffed polar bear that was “wrapped” in a white garbage bag. He ripped a little hole and saw the long white hair and called out, “Bijou!” When we told him it wasn’t Bijou he was confused but kept ripping. The way it was stuffed in the bag and the way he was ripping caused the bear to kind of jump out of the bag. Daniel screamed and ran to hide behind Grandma. I don’t know what trauma he’s been through that had led him to believe we would stuff a vicious live animal in a bag and give it to him for a present.
The boys got pretty blue and gold Chinese pajamas that they changed into early Christmas morning. They lasted almost 6 hours. Josh laid down for a nap after lunch and when he woke up the crotch was shredded from knee to knee. Polyester doesn’t stretch as well as his normal comfy cotton pajamas.
The boys got a pink Dora tent, green high heels, and a blue feather boa.
Daniel ate about 5 pounds of candy Christmas morning, but still managed to do very well with his turkey, jello salad, and broccoli for supper
Josh ate marshmallows.
Going to the zoo on Boxing Day was a great idea. There were very few people and the boys could run.
Josh is afraid of imaginary bugs or snakes or something. We were at the zoo in the tropical rainforest area. The first time was hilarious when he pointed at nothing and screamed and grabbed Amber’s leg. She jumped just as much as him. It got weird when he kept doing it though.
This was our first Christmas in our own place since we got married almost 7 years ago. Loved it.
Saturday, December 3
Friday's Feast
Well, at least this gives me something to write every week. Not terribly parenty, but my life is mixed up right now, and I'll hopefully start posting again soon.
Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
I actually had to look up "courteous" at dictionary.com. (exhibiting courtesy and politeness; "a nice gesture"). It's one of those words that seems to have lost meaning in society. Like pH-balanced. Okay, enough stalling. Josh and I bought some chocolates from a hockey team raising money at Wal-Mart this morning. Does that count?
Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Hmmm. I did the pose a couple weeks ago. Background... One of the best things about the time we spent in BC was the mountains. I think I'd like mountains in the background, but through a big picture window. I'm imagining a big open room with a fantastic view of snow-covered mountains. I love the view, but I'm totally an indoors kind of guy.
Soup
Describe your voice.
Rather high. Annoyingly so on recordings.
Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?
Now that's a main course question. I'd like to commit to something. My life has been a series of changes and moves over the past 10 years, with Amber being the only contant. I'd love to commit to a job and a house and a future plan. Oh, how I want that. But I guess I'm afraid I'd be missing something.
Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
We just caught the last 30 seconds of the Oilers game after watching a movie. The last thing I watched straight through would have been our Thursday night reality TV ritual of Survivor and The Apprentice.
Appetizer
When was the last time you did something you would consider courteous, what was it, and who was it for?
I actually had to look up "courteous" at dictionary.com. (exhibiting courtesy and politeness; "a nice gesture"). It's one of those words that seems to have lost meaning in society. Like pH-balanced. Okay, enough stalling. Josh and I bought some chocolates from a hockey team raising money at Wal-Mart this morning. Does that count?
Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?
Hmmm. I did the pose a couple weeks ago. Background... One of the best things about the time we spent in BC was the mountains. I think I'd like mountains in the background, but through a big picture window. I'm imagining a big open room with a fantastic view of snow-covered mountains. I love the view, but I'm totally an indoors kind of guy.
Soup
Describe your voice.
Rather high. Annoyingly so on recordings.
Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?
Now that's a main course question. I'd like to commit to something. My life has been a series of changes and moves over the past 10 years, with Amber being the only contant. I'd love to commit to a job and a house and a future plan. Oh, how I want that. But I guess I'm afraid I'd be missing something.
Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?
We just caught the last 30 seconds of the Oilers game after watching a movie. The last thing I watched straight through would have been our Thursday night reality TV ritual of Survivor and The Apprentice.
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