The Wastebasket

Moving to WordPress

2009-07-14T21:18:00.003-04:00

I've decided to move this blog to WordPress. I've had enough of the inability to make the edit window larger. The inability to choose a date using a calendar. What does 07/07/09 mean to you? Blogger has become stagnant.

The new address is http://twnl.wordpress.com/

Posted by Adam

Still No Word From Corbin

2009-07-14T11:04:00.001-04:00

It's been over a week since we dropped Corbin off at Camp Winston. He must be having way too much fun since we have yet to receive a phone call from him.

Now, our standards our not too high. One phone call is all we want. We would rather have it in the first week rather then the second week as a way of checking in and making sure that there are no issues - Corbin has a tendency to be unable to communicate concerns, issues or problems with authority.

Several years back, Corbin was identified as having a dairy allergy. The doctor said he should out grow it. When he first went to Camp Winston, they were aware of the allergy, so they kept dairy product away from him. Over the past 18 months, we noticed that Corbin was able to tolerate dairy products.

So last year, we told Camp staff that he could have cheese and other products (but not a full glass of milk - we believe that he is lactose intolerant). Unfortunately, that information did not get communicated and he was not able to enjoy foods such as pizza (well at least not with cheese). He didn't mention anything during his phone call last summer.

We took care of that issue this year. It was wiped off his file. But still, it would be nice to know how camp is going and if there are any issues that we need to discuss with staff.

Posted by Adam

Jeremy Is Having Way Too Much Fun

2009-07-13T20:13:00.001-04:00

Tina and I talked with Jeremy yesterday - our third conversation with him since leaving him with my mom.

He is hilarious on the phone. He sounds like he is 10-years old. He has been going to park and playing with the kids their. Tag. Rounders. Even some pretend gun game with some older boys.

If you know Jeremy, you know that he can be friends with anyone. He loves to play.

He has been to McDonalds. He has been to the International Villages. He has been to Ivey's house next door. He has been to the other neighbour next door (they have a Wii). He has been playing in the pool. He even went to some place that has inflatable castles and slides.

Babcia spoils him.

He does miss us, his house, his room, his toys and his guinea pig, but seems content in hanging out with Babcia and Grandpa.

During a previous phone call, he pretended to be Babcia saying "Hi, this is Babcia" is a high pitched voiced. Today, he had fun joking about things he could paint in his room (I intend to paint his room this fall instead of during the summer).

We miss you buddy.

Posted by Adam

A Week Later

2009-07-12T23:17:00.000-04:00

Week one without the kids is over. While we miss the boys, it has been nice to not have to meet their every need, demand and want. Sleeping in is a nice benefit. We haven't done much grocery shopping - eating out a few times and eating up what we have in the house.

Tina cleaned up the rec room. The toy bins are back in their normal spot and the toys organized. She did an amazing job with Corbin's room. Won't go into the grisly details of what she found in his room - let's just say that OCD is a pain in the ass. The room looks good. A lot of stuff was taken out and things were given a home on the shelves.

We did some minor shopping on Saturday. Looked at some washer and dryers at Lowes. They have a pair on clearance. Will have to act fast.

We tackled Jeremy's room on Sunday. We moved the filing cabinet downstairs to the Everything Room (had to remove some things to get it fit) and relocated Jeremy's dresser to where the filing cabinet was. This made the room look roomier and more like a bedroom and less like an office (part of our plan to move the office out of his room).

There was plenty of dust and crap everywhere. I gave the room a good wipe down and vacuum. I think Jeremy will be happy with the additional space.

Later, Tina and I went through a whack of file folders and tossed a bunch of stuff. I still have to go through our financial folders.

The house is looking good. Just need to work on our bedroom, the fish tank and just clean, dust and vacuum the rest of house before tackling the great outdoors.

One project I hope to get started before the boys return, is tilling part of the rear yard lawn, levelling the soil and sowing new grass. I'll also be relocating our patio as part of this project. If the lawn turns out, then I'll do the rest during the fall.

We have less than a week left without children. We hope to maximize our work and relaxation time before mayhem (aka Corbin and Jeremy) returns on Saturday.

Posted by Adam

Childless, Finally

2009-07-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

After Jeremy's soccer game Saturday morning we headed to Brantford for our annual "drop Corbin off at Camp Winston" weekend.

Corbin has been looking forward to Camp Winston for about two weeks now. How do we know? He talks about things he did at last year's camp.

We arrived late Saturday afternoon. Jeremy wanted to know if Ivey, the girl from next door was home. My mom said Ivey would be back Sunday. Corbin went straight into playing mode. We had perogies for supper.

On Sunday, Babcia joined us for our trek up to Sparrow Lake. The drive up was uneventful. Exactly one hour from Brantford to the 400/407 interchange (well worth the 10 dollar or so toll). In Orrillia, we stopped for late lunch at Boston Pizza. We arrived at Camp Winston at 2:20 pm.

Corbin immediately wanted to go fishing. Sorry buddy but here is your sleeping bag and your ruck sack. Headed over to Cabin 4 where Corbin showed us his version of unpacking - shoving the ruck sack into the bottom shelf. Okay.

Next, Corbin gave Babcia a tour of the camp under the watchful eye of Kerri, a camp counsellor. Tina headed over to unload the meds and I hung with Jeremy as he played.

About an hour later, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Brantford. Tina drove this segment. Traffic was much heavier due to all the Canada Day vacationers/cottagers returning to the Greater Toronto Area.

We had a quick bite to eat, gave Jeremy hugs and kisses and headed back to Windsor childless. The ride back was quiet - no kids saying they are hungry or need to go pee. What an whirlwind weekend.

Posted by Adam

Schools Out For Summer

2009-06-25T16:26:00.000-04:00

Corbin and Jeremy had their last day of school today. For Corbin that meant finishing Grade 5 and for Jeremy it meant he would be in Grade 1 come September.

Both boys seemed to enjoy school this year. Corbin played on the junior Basketball and Soccer teams. Academically, Corbin had a successful year. His reading is coming along and he seems to learning something. Jeremy had some difficulties, partially a result of vision issues, issues that we hope will correct themselves with glasses.

We have no idea who their teachers will be for 2009/2010. Several teachers and educational assistants have transferred to other schools. Lets hope they are willing to work with us.

Posted by Adam

Heat Wave 2009

2009-06-25T11:24:00.003-04:00

Seems that Mother Nature is following the whole change of seasons thing to a tee this year. Not only did June 21 mark the beginning of Summer in terms of the Summer Solstice (and Father's Day), it marked the change from pleasant weather to stinking hot weather.

For about four weeks the air conditioning did not come on. Now, it's on a lot. We went from a very comfortable 22 Celsius to life-draining 34 Celsius (41 if you include the humidex).

I want the humidity to be gone. Now.

Posted by Adam

Soccer Update

2009-06-22T18:50:00.000-04:00

With a couple of games in the bag, it's time to recap the soccer season.

First, Jeremy and Corbin are still interested in playing soccer. Hooray. Will see how that interest holds up in the hot weather. Both boys will miss about two weeks worth of soccer due to camp, but I think that will give them a much needed break.

Second, both boys are improving their skills. Jeremy is getting better at throwing the ball in and dribbling it. He needs to work on tighter turns and hanging around in his territory. His coach is impressed with the improvement in his listening skills.

Corbin is becoming a strong defender. He is learning how to take the ball from an opponent and how to block kicks.

I'm hoping that the kids want to play soccer for the next few years. It keeps them busy and it forces Tina and I out of the house.

Posted by Adam

Point Pelee And Back

2009-06-13T17:16:00.000-04:00

Who knew that it takes an hour to get to Point Pelee National Park from Windsor?

Corbin spent the day at Cubs camp at Point Pelee (though the camp was an overnight camp, Corbin went for the day only). Tina drove out in the morning.

I was to pick him it up at 3:00 pm. On Tina's advice, Jeremy and I left Windsor at 2:00 pm. Wow that was a long drive. The Shriner's parade in Leamington did not help. The main road was blocked off at the Heinz plant, so (and other drivers) decided to go around the Heinz plant. But guess who was their - the damn Shriner's. Did a U-turn and got back to the main road, which was open at this point.

Arrived at bug-infested Point Pelee just after three in the afternoon. Walked over to the camp and Corbin was doing an activity with his pack. A few of the Leaders were sitting down and said that Corbin had a great time and they had no problems with him. That was good to hear.

The transition home went smoothly. Corbin gathered his back pack and bike and headed to the van.

We stopped at the Dairy Freez in Northridge for some ice cream. Back in Windsor we did a quick stop at Rogers Video to rent some games for the PS2 (the PS2 section is getting smaller by the week - might be time to upgrade).

It was a tiring but uneventful afternoon.

Posted by Adam

Gooooooooooal!

2009-06-13T11:30:00.000-04:00

Jeremy had a soccer game today. Drove out to the Vollmer complex in LaSalle, walked over to the pitch and setup my chair.

Today, Jeremy played defence, forward and goalkeeper. He is getting much better at dribbling with the ball. While in net, he stopped a few shots and made a valiant effort to stop a penalty kick (he did pick the right side though).

On forward, Jeremy actually took the ball to the net and scored. At first, it didn't appear he scored but then every one was walking to the centre of the pitch, so he scored. Yeah Jeremy. He was very excited.

Good game and the kids are starting to get a hang of things.

Posted by Adam

Electricity Can Be Fun

2009-06-01T23:38:00.001-04:00

Just before Jeremy's soccer game, I noticed that the lights in the house were doing 'unusual' things like dimming, flickering and all sorts of good things. Oh oh.

Tried some other switches and the same thing. Hmmmm.

Went downstairs and no breakers were tripped. Aye carumba.

I decided that I had to stay home and do something (rant, rave, worry, cry, laugh and anything else that made me look like an idiot). I told Jeremy to get out of his soccer uniform. He wasn't too impressed but rolled along.

The boys were getting anxious, so Bev took them outside. I called Tina to let her know what was going on. She was busy with her works Annual General Meeting. She called Pam & Chris to see if Chris (an electrician by training) could figure out the problem.

Tina came home and shortly after, Chris and Pam showed up. Chris checked the panel and discovered that one of the two phases into our house was dead. That explains why the lights were flickering. I thanked Chris and Pam for stopping by and immediately called the after hours line at Enwin Utilities.

About 30 or so minutes later, Enwin appeared. He took off the meter and told me the good news - the problem was with their line. His plan was to connect a temporary cable between the meter on my house and the meter on the house next door. A few minutes later another Enwin employee stopped by with the cable. It wasn't a complicated procedure and would take all of five minutes to complete.

Well, five minutes took three hours. Seems the neighbour next door wasn't buying any of it. Her husband was not home and there was a language barrier. The Enwin employee identified himself and even had the lady call dispatch. No go. Time to get the on-call supervisor out here.

About 30 or so minutes later, Val comes by and speaks with the neighbour. The answer remained a resounding "NO" and this time she called the police. Fun.

The Enwin employees and supervisor thought of alternatives. About two hours, I told the supervisor, I could wait until the morning for a new cable to be installed - I had partial power to the house (including the fridge) and it wasn't hot or humid (it got cold and windy). The supervisor thanked me for my patience and left.

As the other two Enwin guys were about to leave, the police showed up. They chatted and the police relayed the neighbours concerns to us. In the name of neighbourhood peace, I said I had no problem with waiting till the next day for a fix. So the police talked to the neighbour again and this time she capitulated.

Enwin guys looked at me and I said "I'm not going to turn down full power". So they got the equipment about 10 minutes later were done and we had full power.

My thanks for the Val and the afternoon emergency guys for their patience.

Now I just have to wait for the yard to be dug up. Exciting times.

Posted by Adam

P.S. A huge "THANK YOU" to Tina. You are awesome.

Geocaching

2009-05-22T22:51:00.001-04:00

While at Camp Cedarwin, Corbin came across some Scouts who were Geocaching. What is Geocaching? According to Wikipedia:

"Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world.

Treasure. Check. Hunting. Check. Game. Check. Electronic device that tells you where you are. Check. Of course, Corbin is going to like this (and so am I - a geek for electronic gadgets).

So I did some quick research and the GPS receivers start from reasonable $150 up to a whopping $600 plus. Wow. There are so many units with different options. My head started spinning.

I found that a new version of "An Idiots Guide to Geocaching" was being released. One day, after soccer practise, I took Corbin up to Chapters and picked up the book. He was excited. I told him that after he was done reading the book and after I had a chance to review the key chapters, that, then and only then, would I look into buying a GPS unit. He agreed.

Corbin has been reading the book. He is not finished yet. I'll have to encourage him, so we can start this new hobby during the summer.

Stay tuned.

Posted by Adam

A Day at the Toledo Zoo

2009-05-17T21:07:00.003-04:00

Tina suggested that we should go to the Toledo Zoo this weekend. It's been a while since all four of us have gone. They were calling for sunny but cool conditions - perfect zoo weather if you ask me.

We headed out in the morning, leaving around 9:30 AM. Traffic at the Ambassador Bridge was light. We only had to wait a minute or so. No problems at US Customs.

We stopped at Denny's in Monroe. Wow. The place had been renovated. Looks good. The boys asked and received Mac & Cheese for breakfast. Tina and I had the All-American Slam. The food was hot and tasty.

About 20 minutes or so later we arrived at the Toledo Zoo. During fall of 2008, the parking lot was expanded. Much more parking available now.

The cool weather meant that the animals were much more active. The boys were enthralled by two bird 'fighting' with each other. In the Primates exhibit, we were amused by the show put on by four Gibbons as they battled each other for some Romaine Lettuce. A dominant female would just grab the lettuce out of the hands and feet of the other Gibbons. Very amusing. A baby Gibbon moved around looking for her share. It was quite the display.

In the Gorilla exhibit, Jeremy could not believe how close the gorillas were - right at the window. After viewing the fishies and the amphibians, we grabbed some ice cream before Jeremy and I checked out the hippos and the elephants.

We saw a dominant penguin stand it's ground with another penguin.

The polar bears were pacing back and forth and I managed to get some excellent photos. The boys enjoyed the train ride. Jeremy got to see the giraffes and Corbin got to take some pictures.

It was 3:30 PM. Wow time flew by. A quick stop in the gift shop before heading home.

Canadian customs was full, but it only took about 20 minutes to get through. It was a great family outing.

Posted by Adam

The Strike Through the Eyes of a 10-Year Old

2009-05-12T21:15:00.000-04:00

On the way back from soccer practise, Corbin asked when will he be attending karate classes again.

"Not until the strike is over" I responded.

"Oh, Sensei is on strike' Corbin said.

"No, the Community Centres are closed during the strike" I replied.

Well that made Corbin mad. "I'm gonna call the president" Corbin stated.

"The president of what" I asked.

"The President of America" Corbin retorted.

"That is different country" I said.

"Well, then I'm going to call 911" Corbin shot back.

"You mean 311" I asked. "Ya, 311" Corbin confirmed.

"Well they are on strike too. Some people are working there, but not as many as usual" I explained.

"What the? Then I'll go 311. I used the equipment on the school trip. I sat in a chair and used the headset." Corbin fired back.

That sums up Corbin's view of the strike.

Posted by Adam

Happy Mothers Day

2009-05-10T00:50:00.001-04:00

Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful moms out there. Enjoy your special day.

Posted by Adam

One Parent and One Child

2009-05-02T21:31:00.001-04:00

Tina and Corbin headed out early this morning for a full day of Cub Scout activity at Camp Cedarwin. The day was filled with activities that kept Corbin and his troop very busy. Digging for things. Orienteering. Trails. Geocaching. Rope courses. All sorts of thing.

Jeremy and I stayed in Windsor. First order of the day was to pull out dandelions. My arms were hurting after that job. Then I filled in the holes where the dandelions were with a mixture of soil and seed.

Next up, get the lawnmower running. I needed a new air filter. Hmm, let's make hot dogs for lunch instead. Oops ran out of propane. A quick trip to Canadian Tire was necessary. The place was busy. So much for a recession. Had to wait at the checkout. Got both propane tanks filled - should last the summer.

Made us hot dogs before working on the lawnmower. Jeremy helped me remove the spark plug. I cleaned the plug, replaced the air filter and changed the oil. The mower started on the first pull. I cut the grass. Jeremy played in the backyard. At one point when I was cutting the front yard, he came out with his lawnmower to help me. Cute.

After 5:00 pm, Tina and Corbin returned home. Corbin had a great time. He found a new hobby: geocaching. I knew what it was. So I told him that I'll look into getting a GPS unit and we can start hunting.

Tina was hungry. She went out to get some fish and chips. Tasty and filling. A good way to end the day.

Posted by Adam

A Hot Weekend and the Return of Angela

2009-04-26T08:20:00.003-04:00

Tina's friend, Angela, visited us this weekend. Tina and Corbin picked her up in London, which worked out well for everyone.

Angela brought the kids a present. Thanks for the Nerf guns, Ang. I'll be finding Nerf balls for the next 20 years.

On Friday, Angela helped Tina and Pam get Pam's house ready for Chelsea's Sweet 16 birthday party. Yes, Chelsea is 16-years old. Time really does fly by.

Jeremy and Corbin loved having Angela over as she spent lots of time with them. That gave Tina and myself some time to do some chores and errands.

Posted by Adam

Wayne Landed On His Feet

2009-04-22T18:10:00.003-04:00

The dealership - Jerome Taylor Pontiac GMC - where we just purchased the Montana SV6 from shut down for good. Mr. Taylor was unable to secure mortgage financing and had to close down his 16-year old dealership. Tina and I were kind of bummed because we really didn't want to start a new relationship with another dealer. But it was what it was.

Toady, out of the blue, Wayne Sanford, our go-to guy at Jerome Taylor, called and left a message that he was at the Gus Revenberg, a GM dealership about 10 minutes east of us. Tina called back and he just wanted us to know that he was alive and kicking and that we could still rely on him for top-notch service and assistance.

We felt good that Wayne landed on his feet and that he took the time to let us know. If you are looking to purchase a vehicle, we highly recommend you speak with Wayne Sanford at Gus Revenberg. Let him know that Tina and Adam sent you.

Posted by Adam

Feels Nice To Do Some Outdoor Work

2009-04-18T18:15:00.000-04:00

With Corbin's help I unloaded the van and had him help me with a few chores. I had him bring out the indoor plants into the garage.

In the garage, I asked Corbin to sit on a milk crate and hang out with me for a few minutes. He turned on the radio and I emptied a bag of potting soil into the new wheelbarrow. Took it over to the hose and with Corbin's help, I moistened the soil.

I then began re-potting the plants with Corbin's help. Even got him to shove his hands into the new soil. No complaints. After a little while Corbin got bored, and asked if he could water his tree (a Rose of Sharon). I said sure, after which is hung out in the backyard for a while. I continued my re-potting.

I decided that a Coffee Tree plant would not come back inside and planted it outdoors. I still have to re-pot my Yucca Tree plant but that requires some hacking - maybe next weekend. I washed the old pots and let them dry in the warm sun. I also hosed down the easel so Tina could use it with Jeremy.

Back in the house, I worked on replacing the old thermostat with the new one I purchased. Installation was simple and straightforward. The packaging says 15 minutes or less for installation and it took less than 15 minutes. There is an error on the packaging in that it says you need two AAA batteries. You need three.

With that work done, I relaxed and enjoyed the warm and sunny weather.

Posted by Adam

A Baseball Glove, A Wheelbarrow and A Sub

2009-04-18T13:31:00.001-04:00

Taking advantage of the warm weather, I spent late morning and early afternoon running some errands with Corbin in tow.

At first, he didn't want to come, but like everything with Corbin, you have to tell him upfront what you intend to do. I said "don't you need a new baseball glove". He said "Yes" and reluctantly put on his shoes.

At Canadian Tire I looked at some BBQ accessories. Need to get a new ignition for the BBQ - ours lasted almost nine years. I also purchased a new Honeywell thermostat with touch screen and 7-day programming to place the existing Honeywell thermostat with 5-2 day programming. And Corbin did find a new baseball glove. He also tried out the riding mowers.

Next it was off to Lowes. There, I purchased a new 6 cubic feet steel wheelbarrow, some potting soil and some new plastic pots for the indoor plants. I pushed Corbin around while he sat on the flatbed cart. We had subs at Subway before heading back home.

I spent quality time with my Corbin, who seemed to handle himself with no problems. Arriving home, I realized that there were a few things I forgot to look at. Naturally.

Posted by Adam

Easter In Brantford 2009 Edition

2009-04-12T18:15:00.002-04:00

Travelled to Brantford for the Easter weekend.

Headed up on Friday in the new Montana SV6 aka Tina's van. Plenty of cops along the way but travelling at under 120 kph seemed to be okay. The boys watched movies on their DVD players, I played games on my Nintendo DS and Tina drove the whole way.

The next two and a half days were okay for the most part. The boys got their Babcia time. Tina and I managed some time alone, but not as much as we planned for.

Saturday morning we headed to church for the blessing of Easter basket. Jeremy was grumpy but managed to make it through the 15-minute ceremony. Next it was to the cemetery where my mom planted a flower at my father's grave.

While my mom was praying, Jeremy asked some questions about my dad. Yes, he is dead and this is where his buried. Then, with a straight face, Jeremy asked if the purse and plastic bag hanging off the cross were my dad's. We tried to contain our laughter. My mom had to walk away to avoid bursting out loud. I explained to Jeremy that that was Babcia's purse. "Oh" he said. I'm sure my dad was chuckling too.

Next, we did some quick shopping at Sears - seems that the whole Szymczak family needed new socks - "Sock Crisis 2009" - followed by a very short trip to Future Shop.

Tina and I went out later to get some things from Shopper's Drug Mart for my mom and took a drive around Brantford. Supper was excellent as usual - not many leftovers. The boys played and played and played.

Sunday was much the same. We headed back to Windsor after dinner. I drove back. Traffic was usual and no police this time. A good time had by all.

Posted by Adam

Karate Update

2009-04-04T15:42:00.002-04:00

Corbin has been in the intermediate class for a couple of months. Fewer kids but more demanding.

Sensei finally gave Corbin his certificate and removed a yellow band from his belt. Woo hoo.

Corbin needs to concentrate on improving and moving up in class rather than tangling with another boy. Mom and I know you can do it Corb.

Jeremy is excited about beginning karate classes. We may sign him up in September.

Posted by Adam

Montana SV6

2009-03-31T19:46:00.003-04:00

Picked up our newest vehicle, a 2009 Pontiac Montana SV6. This vehicle replaces the Pontiac Wave we leased over the past four years. We still have our 2003 Pontiac Montana.

Originally, we were looking at a Pontiac Vibe, but I saw that GM was throwing in the 'kitchen sink' on Montana SV6 - cash price of $15,498. At first when I saw the ad, I thought there was a catch. Nope. None.

We stopped by Jerome Taylor on Saturday and sat down with Wayne Sanford, our guy at the dealership. He got a non-grey (dark blue) Montana for us to test drive. We both took a drive down the 401 and local roads. The SV6 engine responded well.

While the vehicle was not loaded (no cruise control, no extended version, no roof rack, no aluminum wheels like the 2003 Montana) it did come with power windows and locks, remote locks, OnStar Safe and Sound for one year, disc brakes on all four wheels and a few other goodies.

In other words, it was the perfect vehicle for city driving and short trips (2 or so hours or less). Tina did not mind not having cruise control. She did feel much more comfortable in the SV6 and generally liked the vehicle.

So we headed back to the dealership and finalized the deal. And what a deal. Between the GM Cash Delivery Allowance, the GM Lease Loyalty bonus, the $1,000 in lieu of the extended maintenance, 2-year OnStar and 2-year XM radio, and a few other bonuses from the dealer, the total discount was $10,100. A $25,500 MSRP vehicle was being sold to us for $15,400. We used about $1,300 of our GM dollars. The walk-out-the-door price was $17,700 (taxes and transportation included). Wow.

When we picked up the vehicle, Wayne still couldn't believe the price. We couldn't believe the price. Wayne gave us a tour of the vehicle and setup the OnStar account for us. The vehicle comes with 1-year of Safe & Sound and 30 minutes of phone time. We purchased an additional 100 minutes for $19.99. The minutes are good for the year and can be used anywhere in Canada and the US (no roaming or long-distance fees).

We had no problems with the Wave and the lease - in fact, part of the discount included the last months payment on the Wave. After Wayne attached the licence plates, we shook hands, thanked Wayne and off we were. I found it hard to keep up with Tina. She was in heaven.

Posted by Adam

March Break - Second Half

2009-03-22T19:27:00.001-04:00

Jeremy attended a two-day day camp at WETRA (where Corbin's goes for horseback riding). Tina and Corbin spent some time together and I was back at work.

The weekend was spent at home. Corbin went to karate and we did some shopping.

It was a quiet and somewhat relaxing March Break - and the weather wasn't too bad this year.

Posted by Adam

March Break - First Half

2009-03-18T17:42:00.000-04:00

Unlike past March Breaks, we had no travel plans, largely because of the Disney World trip in January.

The first half of March Break saw me doing as little as possible. Yup, I was King of Loafing. I did a few things here and there, but not much.

We did some things as a family, such as, going to the park, going for drive in the 'country', going to play basketball in the school yard and a trip to the Detroit Science Center.

Played some video games with boys - Corbin earned two rental video games.

All in all, not a bad March Break so far.

Posted by Adam

Home Alone

2009-03-08T20:27:00.006-04:00

I took Corbin to Karate class, while Tina took Jeremy to a birthday party.

Corbin did well in his class - only having to do a set of push ups once. Despite his physical tics, Corbin appears to be paying attention and is learning new moves. He just needs to practise more.

It was time to take Bev back to Goderich. Tina decided to take both boys with her to give me some time alone and do some things around the house.

The break from the boys was greatly appreciated.

Posted by Adam

Corbin And Me

2009-03-01T21:20:00.004-05:00

It has been a crazy week. I don't know if it is the weather, but the boys needed a break from each other.

So, Tina and Jeremy travelled up to Goderich this weekend to bring Bev back to Windsor for the week. Corbin and I stayed in Windsor.

The weekend went well. I let Corbin overdose in Playstation 2 and movies, while cleaned around the house and did load after load of laundry.

We split a Delissio Pizza. Corbin loved it so, we'll be getting it again instead of delivered pizza - it's much cheaper.

He didn't give me any problems at bed time and slept in on Sunday.

A good weekend in Windsor.

Posted by Adam

Well That Was Fun

2009-02-28T19:04:00.000-05:00

Our boys fall in the "love playing with toys, but hate cleaning them up" category.

Jeremy is an expert at maximizing the 'spread' of toys throughout the house. Sometimes every room in the house - including the bathroom and the laundry room - will have a toy or two (or 30) in it.

Our house is not that big and when the toys start to migrate, it drives me crazy (which in turn drives Tina crazy). Two weeks ago, Tina cleaned up the house, including the crawl space and the toys. She did a terrific job. I was happy.

All was well. Until the boys made a mess.

So, like all other parents, we told them to clean it up. That went over like a lead balloon. Neither child was capable of cleaning up. They couldn't sort Star Wars toys into one bin and animal toys into another.

After repeated warnings, Tina grabbed some garbage bags and we started filling them up with toys. That pushed Jeremy over the edged. He cried his guts out. He even kicked Tina at one point. I found the crying amusing, but I did like filling up those bags. It felt good.

Now the toy bins sit empty on the shelf. The bags are in the garage and they boys, especially Jeremy, will have to sort them and then put them away. Our plan is to temporarily 'retire' some of the toys to minimize the messes and to help the boys concentrate on a few toys. Then we will rotate the toys to keep things fresh.

Posted by Adam

Cleaning the House Via Brantford

2009-02-16T19:19:00.002-05:00

Tina made a proposition I could not refuse: take the boys to Brantford and she would clean up the house, crawl space included.

By 4:00 pm I was out on the road and Tina was starting her cleaning project. I told her that any garbage can go in the garage and that I would take care of it.

So I spent the weekend in Brantford, where Babcia entertained the boys for a couple of days and I did nothing. Not a bad deal.

I came back to a pile of crap in the garage (yeah) and a very clean and tidy house (double yeah).

Happy Valentines Day sweety.

Posted by Adam

One Night With No Kids

2009-02-01T18:29:00.001-05:00

With Tina's mom in town, Tina and I decided to spend Saturday night in the Detroit area to have some together time with no kids.

We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in Belleville, Michigan. It wasn't that far shopping or from Windsor.

After checking in to the hotel, we drove out to the Ruby Tuesdays at Michigan and S Canton Center Road. Then we stopped by Lowes and Target before returning to the hotel.

The next morning, we grabbed breakfast at the awesome breakfast bar and then hung out in our room until 11 AM or so. We packed up and headed over to IKEA to do some browsing and shopping. We purchased a simple desk for Corbin and a few other things. Then we drove around eventually ending up in Auburn Hills.

We had a late lunch/early supper at Olive Garden before heading over to Great Lakes Crossing for some more browsing and shopping. Then it was back home.

An excellent and relaxing weekend. Thanks Bev (who watched Corbin) and Lauralie (who took Jeremy for the weekend).

Posted by Adam

Disney Revisited

2009-01-24T16:11:00.004-05:00

It's been just over a week since the Disney World trip. What an amazing vacation.

It was the first time that we have flown together as a family. Our previous vacations were all road trips. It was nice not having to worry about finding a gas station or place to eat or driving for 6 or so hours. Airport security was not as bad as I originally anticipated - I still think it is a farce, nothing more than security theatre - but that was only because the lines were not too long.

The best resource if this will be your first trip to Disney or if you have no been a long time is to buy a copy of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. It is an amazing source of information providing all sorts of details including positive and negative feedback from visitors on every thing Disney World.

Though we did not use them in the end, the touring plans will save valuable time on busier days. The information in the book we found most useful was the description of all the sit down restaurants, the rides and the shows.

Also coming in handy via the website TouringPlans.com (purchasing the book gives you free access to all of the website for a year) was a crowd level guide and which parks you should visit and which parks you should avoid. Helps you plan which park to attend on which day to improve your experience.

Initially we began planning our trip using the vacation planner at the Walt Disney World website, but the number of options and so forth made it difficult to plan it. I finally went to our local CAA (AAA) office and went over the trip. I booked it.

Advantages of booking through CAA? You get all documentation and items in one package. Also, the travel agent will check to see if there are any better deals on your hotel portion. We got a package that was about $100 cheaper than originally planned PLUS a $200 gift card to use at the park. We booked our restaurants through CAA - a time and money saver since there is no toll-free number for Disney Dining (though it is my understanding that the restaurant reservation system should be online in the near future, if not already)

Disney Magical Express - the bus that takes you between the Disney World and Orlando International Airport - comes highly recommended. Don't let the long line at DME check in scare you. It moves along at a good pace. That said, this would be a good time for the rest of your party to visit the washroom, grab a snack or drink, or to change into more appropriate clothes. It was nice not to have to worry about lugging your luggage and storing it at hotel if you arrive before 4:00 PM.

The parking situation at Disney is not well documented nor well explained. When you check in at a Disney resort, you are given a parking pass. This is your ticket to free parking throughout Walt Disney World. What they don't explain is how to use it when visiting the hotels - you usually need your Park Pass and sometimes a picture ID. At some resorts you can swipe your card for automated access.

We used our AAA/CAA Diamond Parking pass whenever possible. No problem using the pass at Magic Kingdom. Diamond parking was not available at Epcot during our stay and we never drove to Hollywood Studios (choosing the boats instead). We did encounter a problem at Animal Kingdom in that the Cast Member did not believe our passes were real. I told her that was a problem between Disney and AAA/CAA.

The Disney Dining Plan seemed to work out, especially at lunch. We had absolutely no problems using the plan - most Cast Members were helpful in maximizing the value of the plan. Because it wasn't hot during our stay, we found that we didn't drink or snack as much during our visits to the park. So we used the snack credits to get a bunch of fruit and baked goods to use as our breakfast. We did bring bagels, instant oatmeal and a few other pre-packaged foods with us to cut down on breakfast costs.

The Boardwalk Villas are fully equipped. Dishwasher. Stove. Microwave. Washer. Dryer. Utensils, cookware and dishes. You could cook a meal if you wanted to. Best part? Housekeeping would wash everything for you. We always had two single load boxes of detergent. Having the washer and dryer was a god send. We were able to pack half the clothes, freeing up room for souvenirs on the trip back home.

We didn't see every single attraction or spent the entire day at every park. The longest day was at Magic Kingdom - where we did the majority of attractions. The shortest day was at Animal Kingdom - where we visited a single area. We didn't get a chance to checkout World Showcase at Epcot. But that was a good thing. It gives us the opportunity to check out 'new' attractions the next time we visit. And there will be a next time.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 6 - Home Sweet Home

2009-01-16T22:25:00.004-05:00

Back to A Cold Reality

The Disney Magical Express was on time and the driver loaded our bags. The bus was full and we made one stop before heading to Orlando International Airport. The driver was a hoot. Making jokes and telling funny stories.

The airport was busy but the check in at Spirit Air was light. I used the self-service machine to get our boarding passes and luggage tags before handing our luggage to one of the staff. Then it was up to departures and getting through security. Fortunately, airport staff directed us to the family line and we proceeded quickly through the area - though I did have to take off my belt. Really?

A fast tram ride to our airside terminal and then a period of waiting. Our flight was pushed back about 45 minutes - it was late from Puerto Rico. But when it arrived at the gate, staff emptied and boarded the plane very quickly. Then the pilot was gunning it to the runway to avoid waiting to take-off.

The flight was uneventful. Those of us with a NintendoDS played it, while others read books or did crossword puzzles. There were no clouds between Orlando and Detroit, thereby offering an amazing view of the lit up cities below. The descent into Detroit was wild but smooth.

We had to walk a good distance before making our way down to the baggage claim section. While the rest of the gang waited for our bags, I put on my leather coat and readied myself for the extreme cold outside, hoping that our van would start with no problems.

It was freezing cold outside. I quickly found the van and turned key. No hesitation. Started right away. Turned on the heat and fans to full and left the garage. Tina had the luggage ready. As I parked the van she came out and I got the rest of the luggage. None of us could believe how cold it was.

No problem through Canadian customs. We grabbed a couple of pizzas at Little Caesar's for a very late supper. Guinea the Guinea Pig was happy to see us.

It was nice to be home after an amazing vacation. Thank you Babcia.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 6 - Hollywood Studios

2009-01-16T14:06:00.001-05:00

Hollywood Redux

It was our last day at Disney today. We showered, ate breakfast and finished packing. An itemized bill was left under our door and there was no need to check out if all was in order. The luggage was left with Bell Services and we headed to the boat dock to take the boat to Hollywood Studios.

My original plan was for us to go to Magic Kingdom. However, since we had done most of the attractions in Magic Kingdom, we wanted that experience to remain positive. So Tina and I decided the night before to give Hollywood Studios another try. It was closer to the hotel which meant we could spend more time in the park before coming back to the hotel for the trip back to Orlando International Airport.

It was cool - jeans and a sweater were appropriate attire. The boys had mitts and hats on. But it was very sunny, making for a pleasant day. We arrived after 9:30 AM and the park was not as busy as it was on Monday.

We managed to make it in time for the Jedi Training Academy - a live show that children participate in. To our relief, both Corbin and Jeremy were chosen to participate. The kids were given Jedi robes and lightsabers. Jeremy had some difficulty putting on his robe, so the 'Jedi Master' helped him out - Jeremy was front and centre.

The Jedi Master trained the kids in how to use the lightsaber. Then out of nowhere, Darth Vader appeared with two Stormtroopers. Darth Vader challenges the children to a one-on-one battle to see if they will join him. I don't think Jeremy or Corbin will ever forget this. All the kids were given certificates.

We took in some other shows and took some pictures with Power Rangers and Lightning McQueen and Mater. Another spin on Toy Story Mania (of course) before taking the Great Movie Ride - an attraction that takes you through various movie scenes and includes both live and animatronic characters. Other attractions included Muppets 3-D (a show that needs some serious updating) and Prince Narnia (Tina wasn't too impressed).

Lunch was at the ABC Commissary. We did some more shopping and watched a street performance of a director filming a scene. While Tina got our free 5 x 7 photo, Jeremy and I sat on a bench. The movie director introduced himself to Jeremy who had him audition for a scene. Jeremy played along. For his effort, Jeremy received a 'gold' plated cup and a business card.

It was time to leave Hollywood Studios and return to the hotel to wait for Disney Magical Express. While saddened to leave the park, we couldn't have finished on a better and happier note.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 5 - Cape May Cafe

2009-01-15T18:56:00.000-05:00

Seafood Fare

Knowing that we wouldn't have the rental car on our last night at Disney, I had booked a reservation at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club Resort which is across from the Boardwalk Inn and Villas. So no need to travel far tonight to eat.

We caught a boat over to the Beach Club and walked from the dock to the restaurant. Didn't have to wait too long to be seated but the table they were going to put us at was awkward with a column between two people. I asked to be seated at another table. If you have an odd number of people - like five - the seating is awkward at Cape May Cafe.

The boys had their usual food. Macaroni, pizza, chicken fingers and so on. I filled up on some shrimp, fish fillets and chowder. Everyone else enjoyed the dinner and especially loved the desert selection. The food was good and hot, but nothing to get excited over. If you love clams, this is the place to come. Next time we'll probably try the Flying Fish at the Boardwalk.

Full of food, we strolled back along the boardwalk to the hotel. It was cool but it was nice to get some exercise and fresh air after a good meal.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 5 - Animal Kingdom

2009-01-15T16:20:00.001-05:00

A Short Day

Decided to sleep in today and take it easy. We set off to Animal Kingdom, arriving before 10:00 AM. It was noticeably cooler today, but it was sunny.

Parking was interesting in that I had to put up with a Disney employee lecturing me about the Diamond Parking Pass. She was telling us that the coupon in our book is not valid - that it was a copy and that we were supposed to have a card. I said the coupon is not a copy and that any issue she had should be taken up with her management, not me. Eventually, I parked in the Diamond parking area and we walked to the front entrance. I complained at the customer service desk about that experience.

On our way in, we could smell the animals. We visited only two areas of Animal Kingdom: Discovery Island and Dinoland U.S.A. We took in the "It's Tough to be a Bug!", a 3D show that included crawling bugs in your seat. Jeremy was afraid of the show, but the rest of us liked it.

Next, we booked it over to "Finding Nemo - The Musical". We made it just in time, so no waiting in line. This was a live show based on the Finding Nemo movie and everyone loved it, even the kids. It was an interesting adaptation of the movie and included performers moving through the audience. Very well done and kept the attention of both our five-year old and 10-year old.

A short walk to Dinoland U.S.A. Corbin and I took a spin on Primeval Whirl - a spinning roller coaster - while Tina and Jeremy went on TriceraTop Spin - another Dumbo/Magic Carpet clone. Tina bought some tokens for the boys and they played a few carnival games.

Then we spent some time in the gift shop, where we all bought something. I purchased a WDW baseball cap, Jeremy picked out a bunch of stuff, Corbin a few things and Tina picked up some gifts.

It was close to lunch time so we grabbed a bite to eat at Restaurantosaurus. On the way out we listened to a band play African music. Jeremy danced like there was no tomorrow.

We walked back to the parking lot and I dropped the gang off at the hotel because I had to bring the rental car back to the Dolphin Hotel. We took it easy in the afternoon, hanging out in the hotel. My mom and Tina went out to the Boardwalk to do some browsing and shopping.

The boys and I chilled out in the room, watching TV and playing games on our Nintendo DS. I started getting some things ready for packing.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 4 - Chef Mickey's

2009-01-14T20:43:00.003-05:00

Character Dining Experience #2

Tonight was the 'main' character dining experience - Chef Mickey's.

We drove up to the Contemporary where the security guard gave us a third option for parking - drop the passengers at the front door and then park in the Valet Parking lot. Thank you very much. I do have to say it's nice to have a vehicle.

It was busy at Chef Mickey's. They are renovating a part of the restaurant so space is limited. About 20 or so minutes later, our buzzer buzzed. Tina had wanted a quit corner but that was another 30 minute wait. We were shown a table near the buffet and only beside one table, so that worked for us.

As we got our food from the buffet, the characters would come around. Donald Duck surprised Tina and the boys. Corbin had fun talking about Donald's misadventure in Philharmagic. The buffet was your typical Disney fare - there was lots of food. The highlight food wise was the desert bar. Soft serve ice cream and all sorts of toppings plus cakes and cookies. Watch out if you have a sweet tooth.

Other visitors included Goofy, Pluto and Minnie. The boys hugged the characters and posed for pictures. It made for a longer than usual dining experience.

It took a while for Mickey to come our area - be forewarned, seems everyone wants his autograph. But he did make it to our table and we took the mandatory picture or two. The boys ate it all up - the food and characters.

We purchased a picture of the five of us along with standard picture of the Disney characters. My mom stopped in a store to buy an album before we drove back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 4 - Epcot

2009-01-14T13:41:00.004-05:00

Future World

The day began like any other. Showers. Breakfast. Getting our stuff together. I didn't feel like walking to the front of Epcot so we drove over. It was cool but very sunny.

Epcot was already buzzing with activity. Corbin and I headed over to Mission: Space (choosing the non-spinning version). Then Tina, Corbin, Jeremy and myself took a spin on Test Track. Everyone loved the ride, especially Jeremy who liked the cold and hot rooms and the fast part of the ride.

All five of us went on Spaceship Earth. The boys liked the interactive exhibits inside the pavilion while Babcia was amazed at the electronic post card with a picture of her from the ride. Corbin and I went on Soarin', which was a cool ride - Corbin ducked when the golf ball came towards us.

Other attractions we visited included "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" - which needs an update and Living With the Land - a ride that the kids actually found interesting.

We grabbed lunch at the Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land Pavilion. It has an excellent selection of foods, deserts and drinks. One of the best food courts at Disney and it was recently renovated.

Just after 1 PM or so, we were done with Epcot. We decided not to explore World Showcase, because the boys were already losing steam - and we like to end things on a high note.

Tina and Jeremy headed to the hotel, while Babcia, Corbin and myself took a trip to a nearby outlet mall (which turned out to be a disappointing visit).

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 3 - Crystal Palace

2009-01-13T18:32:00.008-05:00

Character Dining Experience #1

We had no idea what to expect from Character Dining except that it can be a chaotic experience. The characters at Crystal Palace are: Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Winne the Pooh.

Fortunately, we had an early reservation for the Crystal Palace. That meant it wasn't too busy inside. In fact, it wasn't too crazy nor too loud. Perfect after a full day at Magic Kingdom, especially a wet afternoon.

Standard Disney fare at the buffet. Prime Rib and Rotisserie Chicken were the feature items. The kids ate up the Mac & Cheese with Mickey shaped pasta, chicken nuggets and french fries.

I ate my fill of food. Going up several times. Everyone had a great time. The boys got to follow the characters around the restaurant in a parade not once but twice. This was the perfect ending to an awesome day.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 3 - Magic Kingdom

2009-01-13T16:31:00.005-05:00

A Great Day

Time to experience Magic Kingdom in a full day visit that also included Character Dining at the Crystal Palace. They were calling for some light rain in the afternoon, so we made sure to take our rain ponchos and umbrellas. Drove to the parking lot and walked over to the monorail station at the Ticket and Transportation Center.

We arrived about 20 minutes before the official opening. Tina positioned herself to rent a stroller and Corbin and I positioned ourself near the front to head over to Tommorowland and take a spin on Space Mountain.

It all worked out. Corbin and I didn't have to wait at Space Mountain. In fact, Corbin was able to sit in the first car of the train. He was scared and excited - I reassured him that Space Mountain has no loops. He loved the ride. FYI - Space Mountain is closing in March or April for a refurbishment that should take about 6 to 9 months. Babcia, Tina and Jeremy were waiting for us.

Next it was a spin on the Astro Orbiter (one of Jeremy's choices), Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and the Tommorowland Speedway. Corbin had a chat with the Mad Hatter and Alice in Wonderland before the boys and I took a spin on the Mad Tea Party (another Jeremy 'must go on' ride).

Then it was time to line up and wait at Dumbo The Flying Elephant. Tina took a great picture of me waving and Jeremy waving AND sticking out his tongue. Sure to become a Szymczak classic. We did a few more rides and shows in the area before a frustrating wait in line to get an autograph from Winnie the Pooh and friends.

It started to gently rain. It was still warm but we put on our rain ponchos. A few more attractions before grabbing yet another filling lunch. Some more rides and shows before heading over to Pirates of the Caribbean.

We spent a lot of time in the gift shop at Pirates of Caribbean. A long time. But we used our $200 gift card to get a bunch a stuff that we had delivered to our hotel (that service comes in very handy). It was still raining but we did go on the Jungle Cruise. Corbin and I went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The next attraction was the Haunted Mansion, which was a hit with the boys, especially the part where they flip your car around and you see a ghost sitting beside you. Freaky.

Decided to go back to Tomorrowland and do some of the attractions we skipped over in the morning. The boys posed with Buzz Lightyear. We had done much of Magic Kingdom - or at least enough before anyone got tired and ornery. It was time for our first Character Dining experience.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 2 - Boma

2009-01-12T21:22:00.006-05:00

Dining African Style

A later reservation to Boma meant that we had some time to relax in the hotel before heading out to eat. Despite the cooler temperature, Corbin went for a swim in the outdoor pool that also has a water slide. He grabbed some pool noodles and spent close to 45 minutes in the pool. The cooler weather didn't seem to slow him down.

After drying off and relaxing some more, we walked to the car and drove over to Animal Kingdom Lodge. Took less then 10 minutes to get there.

It was busy at Boma, but it didn't take to long for our buzzer to buzz. We were shown to a booth close to the buffet. Our server was top notch and knew how to handle the boys. He was very friendly, adding to the excellent atmosphere. We lined up and piled on the food.

The feature was prime rib (medium or well done). There was a great range of African-themed food to choose from. I went up three times before hitting the desert buffet. The boys finished early and laid down on both sides of Tina - I knew that the booth would come in handy.

The desert selection was excellent. It was difficult to choose a few items. Everyone was full. We recommend Boma as a place to eat.

On the way back stopped at the gas station near our hotel to see if I can pick up some milk, OJ and baked goods. Was able to score the milk and OJ (from concentrate - this stuff should be banned in Florida) and some junk food. Then we had to deal with Jeremy needing to go pee right away - of course.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 2 - Hollywood Studios

2009-01-12T17:21:00.008-05:00

Disney's Hollywood Studios aka Crazyville

Our first full day at Disney. After a quick breakfast, we walked down to the Boardwalk and grabbed a boat to Hollywood Studios. The weather was overcast but warm enough to wear shorts with sweaters.

The place was buzzing as we walked up to the front gate. Jeremy and Corbin were excited. Tina and I noticed a lot of groups of Brazil. Like everywhere. We walked over to the Tower of Terror ride. Corbin didn't want to go on it, but I did manage to talk Tina into going.

Like all Disney rides, the waiting line is broken up into section. First, you get herded into a room where Rod Sterling appears on TV, telling you what happened at the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Then you end up in the basement. Next, you are guided to a number on the floor in front of the elevator doors. The doors open and you take your seat, buckle in and wait in anticipation. The ride moves up and you are treated to some more Disney theatre.

All of a sudden the 'car' moves forward and then into a completely dark room. Oh oh. Then the car drops. And I mean it drops. Then it goes back up. It drops. Up. Drops. I swear that on one drop the hang time was at least 5 or so seconds. Tina was screaming. That was a great ride. Exiting the ride, there was a boutique that had your picture. And there was Tina and I in our glory - me with my eyes closed (or looking away from the camera) and Tina with one of the best terrified looks ever. So we had to get the picture.

Corbin and I walked over to the Rock and Roll Roller Coaster and got a FastPass despite the tour groups were taking all the FastPasses. We wandered around some more, and ended up in the Pixar area. The wait for Toy Story Mania was at least 50 minutes. FastPass was available for 4:00 PM - I kid you not. So we waited in line to take pictures with Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

I noticed that the line to Toy Story Mania was much shorter and the wait was only 30 minutes. Part way through the line is a talking Potato Head that has a conversation with you. So Corbin had an excellent chat. Toy Story Mania is a ride - two people per car - where you wear 3D glasses and shot a gun at different scenes. It's a blast. Even my mom loved the ride.

Headed back to the Rock And Roll Roller Coaster. Didn't have to wait too long with our FastPass. Had an issue after boarding the ride in that Corbin put his arms inside the restraint. A castmember came over and politely told Corbin to put his arms outside. Then it was launch time. That was an amazing launch. Then loops and rolls and all sorts of crazy things. Stopped in at the photo booth and purchased the photo of Corbin and I for delivery to our hotel.

Grabbed our first Disney Dining Plan counter-service during lunch time. An ample individual pizza, salad, pop and a desert. Corbin gobbled up the pizza. Jeremy did too. The desert was good. We were all full.

Tina had had enough of Corbin's anxiety of waiting in line and walked over with Corbin to Customer Services to obtain a Guest Assistance Card. The rest of us shopped in the stores. My mom bought a beautiful jacket to keep her warm. The great thing about staying in the park is the ability to charge purchases to your room. No need to keep a lot of cash or credit cards on you.

The Guest Assistance Card made a difference. We were able to utilize the FastPass line when available. It also enabled us to wait in a more quiet area for any shows. It came in handy for the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. One of the Castmembers even gave us a tip about how to beat the crowd out (wait for Indy to shoot the gun and the explosion and then leave - where you can head over the Star Tours or Jedi Training Academy and beat the crowd). The Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular was a hit. We all loved it. Jeremy and Corbin were speechless.

Next we took a ride on Star Tours and then walked around some more going to a few more rides and attractions before calling it quits due to the high crowd levels. Those tour groups really messed up the day.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 1 - Magic Kingdom

2009-01-11T16:13:00.002-05:00

Magic Kingdom

As I drove pretending to know where everything is, I could not believe the amount of traffic. Buses. Cars. Monorails. Taxis. Busy.

I showed my parking pass at the booth and asked where the Diamond Parking (a CAA/AAA Vacation perk) area is - "follow the blue line" said the man. So I followed it. And I went too far. So I went around and followed it again. Was able to park not to far from the parking tram stop and from the sidewalk to the Ticket and Transportation Center.

We walked up to the monorail and one pulled in not too shortly. We boarded the iconic vehicles. The excitement was thick. Despite being awake for 10 or so hours, we still had some energy left. As the monorail got closer to Magic Kingdom, the boys got more vocal.

Finally, we pulled into the station. It was hot and there were people everywhere. Went through "security" then put out cards into the readers and were asked to record our finger print. The purpose of the fingerprint is to prevent someone from using your card. More on that in a later post.

We walked under the railroad and, finally, we were in Magic Kingdom. People here. People there. People everywhere. Walking up main street we stopped at Casey's Corner for a quick bite to eat. We did not use our Dining Plan (a five night stay means only five days of food). It was good to eat and drink.

People were lining up for the afternoon parade - Disney Dreams Come True Parade - so we decided to hang around and watch it. It had tons of characters in it. Both Corbin and Jeremy were glued to the parade. Check one thing off the list.

We managed to squeeze in a ride on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Tina got squirted by a camel when Corbin moved the carpet up. Fun times.

It was close to 4:00 PM, so we headed back to the hotel to unwind, relax, recover and get ready for supper.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 1 - Disney Magical Express

2009-01-11T13:12:00.001-05:00

Orlando International Airport to Boardwalk Villas

The trip from the airport to the hotel took about 30 or so minutes. The Boardwalk Inn & Villas was the first stop, which was fine by us. Did I mention that it was sunny and hot?

I checked us in. Our room was not yet ready, but we did get our passes (which are also our room keys) and a whole bunch of information. While the rest of the gang waited in the hotel lobby, I booked it over to the Dolphin Hotel to pick up the car rental. It was a Toyota Rav 4. Nice. Drove back to the hotel and parked the car. Tina checked our carry on bags with Bell Services.

Since the room wasn't ready and we were hungry, we decided to drive up to Magic Kingdom to get into the Disney spirit.

Posted by Adam

Disney World - Day 1 - Detroit Metro Airport

2009-01-11T12:11:00.001-05:00

Windsor, ON to Orlando, FL

4:00 AM

Time to wake up, have a quick shower and breakfast and load up the van for the drive to Detroit Metro Airport. Thankfully is stopped snowing. Everyone eventually woke up, had some food and got dressed.

5:15 AM

Left the house and headed toward the Ambassador Bridge. Two customs booths open. No waiting and only a few questions. I-94 was limited to one or two lanes but was drivable. The North Terminal was a bustling place at 6:00 AM. Unloaded the van and had a porter take the bags and do curbside check in while I parked the van.

6:30 AM

Made it through security with no problem - talk about organized mayhem. A few more benches to put on shoes and coats would be useful. Walked over to the gate for Spirit Airlines and waited. Tina grabbed some hot food from McDonalds. More waiting. Corbin, Jeremy and myself played games on our Nintendo, Tina read a book and Babcia watched the action on the tarmac.

8:35 AM

Boarded the plane and had to wait while a replacement crew member arrived. First time on an airplane for Corbin and Jeremy. Both were a little anxious. Jeremy just wanted to play with his Nintendo DS and Corbin just wanted to get to Disney. Jeremy has numerous washroom visits.

It was cloudy most of the way, so there wasn't much for the boys to see. Over Florida, the clouds began to break and the boys got excited. I got excited because there was no snow on the ground.

11:50 AM

We made it to Orlando. Sun. Warmth. Palm trees. Tina simply loved it.

We checked in at the Disney Magical Express line. It was long but moving at a good pace. About 15 minutes or so later we were on the bus to Disney.

Posted by Adam

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

A Happy New Year to all.

Posted by Adam

Cinqo de Jeremy

2008-12-31T11:49:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Jeremy.

This is birthday number five. Asked if he feels different, Jeremy responsed that "Yes. I am five".

Enjoy your special day JJ.

Posted by Adam

A Wet Christmas in Brantford

2008-12-28T14:09:00.002-05:00

After the boys opened their Santa presents and we (including Guinea) all emptied our stockings, we packed the van and head down the 401 and 403 to spend a few days with Babcia and Grandpa in Brantford.

The drive was uneventful. Next to no trucks but lots of cars. No police to be seen.

We had a wonderful turkey dinner and then we opened presents. Babcia naturally had presents for everyone - even Tina and myself. The boys opened their presents with eagerness and excitement.

Corbin loved the new WWE Smackdown Vs Raw DS game and Jeremy loved his Hot Wheels 10 in 1 racing track and Kung Fu Panda DS game.

Babcia was amazed with her Samsug Q1 mp3 player and Grandpa quickly stowed his Tim Hortons Gift Card.

On Friday, Tina and I headed out for some browsing and shopping (Jeremy's race track needed batteries - doh). The stores did not seem that busy. The Christmas section at Canadian Tire was full of stock - there were plenty of lights. I don't think retailers did that well this year. We maximized our time away from the boys, returning after a three hour trip.

Saturday was "Babcia and Jeremy Day". We drove over to Walmart so that Jeremy could pick out his birthday presents from Babcia. Corbin and I checked out the electronic section. We didn't spend too much time at Walmart.

Then we headed over to Future Shop to look for a DVD Jeremy wanted. While the store was busy, we were able to find everything we wanted. I suggested to my mom that she pay at the digital camera counter, thereby avoiding the long line at the front of the store. My mom appreciated that.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing watching TV, playing games or just hanging out. Jeremy chose Boston Pizza (after some campaigning on my part) for his Birthday supper. Corbin, Tina and I split a Great White North Pizza, Jeremy had the grilled cheese, Alex had the Ribber and Babcia had the Chicken Parm. After dinner, the staff came out and sang happy birthday to Jeremy and gave him a desert. He seemed to enjoy himself.

After a quick breakfast Sunday, we packed up and headed back to Windsor. The drive was okay save for the winds. The van was not driving in a straight line.

Our four Christmases went well this year. No one went to the hospital and the outbursts and breakdowns were minimal. Woo hoo.

Posted by Adam

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2008-12-24T13:55:00.001-05:00

The Szymczak Family wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Posted by Adam

A Snowy and Cold Christmas in Goderich

2008-12-19T21:58:00.003-05:00

Despite "Snowagedden", we managed to make it up Goderich with no issues.

We left around 7 pm, stopping for gasoline at the Pilot in Tilbury and a food and bathroom break in Watford. The roads were, for the most part, clear. The worst part was Highway 21 between Grand Bend and Port Franks - the road was not that well cleared.

Arriving at Bev & Gerry's house, we put Jeremy on the couch to fall back asleep and unpacked the van. It was cold. Really cold.

The next morning, Tina and I went out for breakfast. After that I went out looking for a snowblower (none to be had).

As some point, Corbin had dropped his Nintendo DS and broken the case. It still worked. Tina and I told Corbin he had to be much more careful and that he will pay for his replacement. I knew that most of the stores in Windsor were out of the DS, so Corbin and I drove over to Walmart and they had one left. I purchased it but I didn't let Corbin play with it.

I patched up the 'old' DS with some electrical tape and gave it to Jeremy to play with.

Teegan and Madigan came over and the four kids played and played and played. They went outside at one point, but that did not last long.

Late afternoon, Chris and Lisa came over and we opened presents. Then we had a wonderful roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes and gravy. Yummy. We let the food digest and packed the van.

We left Goderich around 6:00 pm and arrived back in Windsor around 9:20 pm.

A nice Christmas in Goderich.

Posted by Adam

Family Time in Detroit

2008-12-14T18:11:00.002-05:00

I decided that the family needed to get out of the house. So we travelled over to the Detroit Science Center.

It took about 20 minutes to get through US Customs at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel. The drive from the tunnel to the Science Center was about 5 minutes. This was Tina's first time and she could not believe how short the drive was.

We parked in the Wayne State University parking garage and walked over to the center. It wasn't too busy - which was a good thing. We bought tickets to the IMAX movie "Santa Versus The Snowman".

We wondered around and tried every exhibit it seems. Tina liked the fact that the facility was not too large. We grabbed a bite to eat in the cafeteria and then checked out more exhibits.

The movie was at 3:00 pm, so we worked our way down to the IMAX theatre and grabbed some seats. The beginning of the movie was very intense in that your stomach started churning. The boys loved the movie and Jeremy had no motion sickness issues.

It was back to Windsor, with not much of a wait at Canadian Customs.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the time out of the house.

Posted by Adam

Happy Birthday Tina

2008-12-11T08:22:00.002-05:00

It must be December, because Tina is celebrating her birthday today.

Breakfast from Tim Horton's and the annual Dr. Zoom dance.

Oh, to be 29, again.

Posted by Adam

So This Is What 41 Feels Like

2008-11-24T20:26:00.002-05:00

Celebrated my birthday today.

Day began with pancakes and tea made and served by Tina. I do love those pancakes. Next was the Dr. Zoom dance.

Returning home, it was time to open presents. I received The Office board game from Tina, Mario Kart DS from Corbin and a Rush 2009 calendar from Jeremy (which I'll share with Jeremy by putting it in Jeremy's bedroom/our office).

An awesome dinner of schnitzel and scalloped potatoes followed by caramel crumb cake.

A great birthday all around.

Posted by Adam

Guess Who Is Really Sick

2008-11-19T20:15:00.001-05:00

After almost nine months of being relatively sick-free, Jeremy is sick. Started on the weekend with what Tina believes was a flu.

It has evolved into full blown cold that includes a wicked ear infection and a continuously runny nose. His throat hurt for a while - or in Jeremy's words: "It hurts when I gobble".

He slept with Tina in one of the chairs in the living room to relieve some of the pain in the ear. He looks pale and sick today. Hopefully the germs are losing the battle and today is the beginning of the end.

Corbin didn't look good this morning. We will see in a few days.

Posted by Adam

How Did We Survive Before Cable TV and Always-On Internet?

2008-11-19T14:03:00.002-05:00

At approximately 2:00 pm yesterday, our internet and cable TV went dead. Tina called Technical Support at Cogeco and there was a message about system wide issues in Essex and Chatham counties. Okay, she thought.

By 7:00 pm, still no joy. Tina called up tech support again. The message was gone so she was put through to internet tech support. They ran her through the usual gamut of questions. At one point I got involved. The tech person tried to reset the connection but nothing. So we scheduled an appointment for Friday morning.

Tina was none to happy at having no internet or TV until Friday morning. So she called cable TV support. She got a much better response and a service called was arranged for today.

The service person came by just before lunch and found that our connection at the street cable box had been disconnected. Seems the person who installed a new connection the other day decided that it would be a good thing to disconnect a paying customer's connection. The Cogeco service rep couldn't believe that the street box only serviced four houses.

He came in to the house to make sure everything was working. He commented on the monitor and router that we have - something about one of the best monitors and a good router. Can't complain with a seal of approval from a person who is in the know.

Posted by Adam

No Kids for Three Hours

2008-11-11T19:31:00.002-05:00

In past years, Tina and I would do the boys Christmas shopping on Remembrance Day since we both had the day off. Usually we had an idea of what to get for the boys and would head off first thing in the morning to Toys R Us.

This year was different. Jeremy spent the morning with us. We walked him to school and then headed for lunch and shopping. Lunch took longer than expected, which cut into our shopping time.

We arrived at Toys R Us with no real idea what to get the boys. Corbin is 10 and he is moving away from toys (or at least we are 'guiding' him down that path). He showing more interest in electronic gadgets like a digital camera, video games and science sets. Jeremy is still into toys - he loves playing with his dinky cars and is just getting into Playmobil.

We walked around and grabbed a few things, and got a few ideas. At the end we decided to not buy the few things we had in our cart. It was a very strange feeling, leaving Toys R Us empty handed.

Our plan is to make a list and buy things over the next few weeks, either online or do a day of brick and mortar shopping.

Posted by Adam

Windsor-Brantford Courier Service

2008-10-26T20:12:00.001-04:00

I promised my mother that I would deliver her large purchases from Bronner's in two weeks. Two weeks happened to be this weekend.

Jeremy and I left early Friday afternoon (it was a PD day at school). We arrived in Brantford around 4:00 PM. Jeremy was very excited and wanted to play with Babcia right away. However, she was preparing dinner - pork cutlets and mashed potatoes - and told Jeremy that she would play with him after dinner. Supper was excellent.

Jeremy and Babcia played all evening.

Saturday morning, Babcia, Jeremy and myself headed out to find Jeremy a winter coat. At Bonnie Togs, Jeremy picked out his coat (that came with matching snow pants). The size 5 seemed a little to tight, so we settled for a size 6. Babcia also bought Jeremy two shirts, socks, and some mitts. Did some more shopping at Shoppers and headed back home.

It was a strange weather day. Sunny. Cloudy. Rainy. Repeat. Jeremy and Babcia managed some outside time. Jeremy was looking for his friend, Ivey (next door neighbour's daughter). I watched Planet Earth on my mom's 32-inch LCD TV. I was blow away.

Sunday was more of the same. Eat. Play. Relax. Can't complain.

The drive back to Windsor was uneventful. Stopped at Wendy's in London for a quick supper and managed to miss the rain/snow showers. Got some cheaper gas at the Pilot in Tilbury before.

Jeremy and I enjoyed our weekend.

Posted by Adam

Thanksgiving in Frankenmuth & Birch Run

2008-10-13T19:44:00.005-04:00

We left Sunday morning around 9:00 AM. For the first time in a long time, there was no backup at the tunnel and it took only about 5 minutes to clear customs. Had to deal with an I-75 detour but that was no biggie.

Had breakfast at the IHOP in Pontiac at Square Lake Road and Telegraph. It was busy, but we were shown our table in about 15 minutes. Breakfast was okay. My pancakes were warm not hot, meaning that they had been sitting for a while. I thought my order came with hash browns but it only came with eggs, bacon and pancakes. Next time I'll pay more attention to the menu.

Arrived at the Birch Run Outlet mall before noon. The place was already hopping. Stopped in at Guest Services to get all the coupons and then began the shopping fest.

Four hours later, we had reached our limit. We headed into Frankenmuth and I checked into the hotel. The room was spacious - a suite room with two queen beds and a pull out couch. We freshened up and headed to Zehnder's for supper.

The wait wasn't too bad at Zehnder's. About 20 minutes. Eventually we were taken downstairs and seated in the room that had the buffet. Everyone but Jeremy chose the buffet - which included roast beef and turkey in honour of Canadian Thanksgiving. Jeremy had - wait for it - mac and cheese.

Everyone enjoyed their supper. I know I was full between the chicken, roast beef and turkey. We walked and checked out a few stores on our way back to the hotel.

At the hotel we changed into our bathing suits and fun in the pool.

The next day we grabbed a bite to eat in the complimentary breakfast buffet. I had a freshly made Belgian waffle and a sausage-egg sandwich. Jeremy had cereal. It was a decent breakfast.

We packed up and roamed around Frankenmuth. Then we headed back to the Outlet mall to check out the part we skipped and headed back home.

No problems at Canadian Customs. The wait wasn't too long - about 10 minutes. My mom thanked us for the wonderful weekend. We thanked her for spending the week with us.

Posted by Adam

Kalahari 2008

2008-10-06T19:38:00.003-04:00

Tina and Jen decided that we should return to Kalahari Water Park in 2008, especially since the expansion was complete. Tina booked the trip. We got a good rate staying Sunday to Monday. Of course that meant the boys would miss a day of school, but no one seemed concerned.

We left late Sunday morning. US Customs was about a 30 minute wait. About 20 minutes later we were enjoying breakfast at Denny's in Monroe. The boys were excited.

About an hour or so later, we arrived at Kalahari in Sandusky, Ohio. It wasn't as crazy as last year. Tina went in to get our passes and check in. Our room was ready, so we unloaded the van and then parked it (finding a sweet spot near the main walkway).

Not shortly after, the Joe and Jen pulled in and they checked in.

We changed into our swimsuits and headed down to the waterpark. It was huge. The expansion doubled the size of the facility and added a wave pool, another surfing ride, and bunch of new waterslides. The new part included a deck which increased the room for lounging around.

The younger boys spent their time in the kids waterpark. Corbin and I checked out some of the new slides. He also did the 'toilet' slide, where you swirl around in a bowl and then fall through a hole into the waiting pool.

The major hit was the wave pool. At first, Tina and I tried it out, but it didn't seem all that exciting. We gave it a second look later and it was fun.

We munched on some pizza and then did some more waterparking. Then it was time to head up to the rooms to celebrate some birthdays - Corbin's and Jen's oldest boy's. We had cake and they opened presents.

Our package this year included breakfast. So the four of us went down before it got too busy. It was buffet style, but the selection was great. Tina and I filled up, as did the boys. Then it was time to pack, change into swimsuits, load the van up, and enjoy a few more hours in the water park.

It was a great time with friends. It could become an annual tradition.

Posted by Adam

Corbin is One Decade Old

2008-10-02T00:14:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday Corbin!

Our boy is 10 years old today. Wow. Double digits. Before we know it he will be in his teens.

That sure is a lot of candles to blow out.

Posted by Adam

Soccer Update

2008-09-25T19:22:00.001-04:00

St. Alexander's remains unbeaten with a record of three wins and one tie.

Corbin has played in every game as a forward. He goes to every practise and is learning different moves. Going to soccer camp paid off.

Tina has become a soccer mom. Jeremy just wants to go home.

Keep up the good work Corbin.

Posted by Adam

Bev Is Back

2008-09-20T20:15:00.001-04:00

Gerry brought Bev down for the week. They arrived while Tina and Corbin were at karate.

Jeremy was excited at seeing Nanny and Poppy and gave them big hugs . . . and then went back to watching TV or playing Playstation in the basement.

We had a great dinner in the afternoon. BBQ steak, mashed potatoes and veggies.

Posted by Adam

Bend It Like Corbin

2008-09-16T18:19:00.002-04:00

Corbin has been trying out for the soccer team. And he made it. Congratulations.

Recently he was sick and stayed at home, but all he could think about was the soccer practice. The coach said that anyone that dedicated should be on the soccer team

Corbin plays on the forward line and is enjoying is success.

Posted by Adam

Extracurricular Activities

2008-09-11T20:06:00.002-04:00

Our boys need to be kept busy otherwise they mope and ask "what is there to do?"

This fall Tina signed up Jeremy for gymnastics and swimming lessons, both in the morning on the weekend.

Corbin is even busier. He has Scouts on Mondays, therapeutic riding Tuesday mornings, gymnastics Wednesday nights and karate Saturday afternoons.

We think that this will be it for gymnastics. Therapeutic horseback riding may be on the chopping block unless they come up with a new plan for Corbin. We seem him losing interest if they don't give him a new target.

Posted by Adam

Brantford Via London . . . and Best Buy

2008-09-07T21:53:00.000-04:00

It was time to take Bev back home. Fortunately, Gerry was able to meet us in London. We let the hostage, er, Bev go and said our goodbyes.

We had dinner at Swiss Chalet. It wasn't too bad, but the waitress, who appeared to be new and overwhelmed, forgot part of Tina's meal.

Next we headed over Best Buy where I bought my mom a flat panel LCD TV for her bedroom. They had them in stock and I was in and out in about 10 minutes.

The drive to Brantford was uneventful.

While my mom played with the boys, I decided to setup the new TV. I really wanted to see what this thing was capable of.

It was well packaged in the box and was very easy to set up. I went through the setup menu and in no time had the channels automatically programmed. I drove out to Canadian Tire to pick a component cable for the combo DVD/VCR player. The DVD picture was sharp. The analog TV signal was acceptable.

The next day, I realized that only the DVD player uses the component output, so Tina and I went Wal-Mart and bought some stereo and video cables to hook up the VCR side. We stopped by the chip wagon to get some french fries and drove around Brantford. We stopped in at Lowes and Future Shop before going back to my mom's.

I hooked up the additional cables and revised the 'watching' instructions for my mom. She was in awe of the TV. She couldn't believe how big the picture was.

Jeremy and Corbin played with their Babcia all weekend.

It was a very relaxing weekend. Not a single fight or complaint.

Posted by Adam

Back To School

2008-09-02T19:25:00.001-04:00

Three words that most parents love hearing. Let me say it again. Back To School.

Today, Corbin began Grade 5 and Jeremy was starting Senior Kindergarten.

It was a big day for Corbin because not only was he in Grade 5, but he has a new teacher, a new classroom (on the other, or 'big kid', side of the school) and a new EA. He handled the day well.

He gave his teacher from last year, Ms. Mayea, a hug and then started talking to kids and saying hi. When he saw Ms. Johnston, his EA for the past 3 or so years, he didn't run up to her. He walked up and gave her a hug.

The big change for Jeremy this year was that he would be attending in the afternoon instead of the morning. A lot of the kids in the morning were sad to hear that. A few kids from last years JK class were in Jeremy's SK class, but for the most part, he will be making new friends this year.

The day went well for both boys. And that is all we can ask for.

Posted by Adam

Corbin and I

2008-08-31T18:59:00.003-04:00

Tina had to head up to Goderich to get her mom and bring her back for some more medical appointments. She was going to take both boys, but really only wanted to take one. I said, 'take Jeremy - ask Corbin if he wants to go'.

Much to our surprise, Corbin chose to stay in Windsor. That is a first.

So, Corbin spent the weekend home with me. I was not going to be much fun since my main task for the weekend was painting. I don't mind painting - it's all the prep work that I mind. I wanted to repaint the trim in the hallway, paint the patch by the front door (where a shelf used to be) and finishing painting the basement.

While I painted, Corbin watched some TV, played Playstation, spent some time on the computer and even painted a bit. I managed to squeeze in some Playstation time with Corbin.

At one point I had to do some shopping at Shoppers and get some additional paint supplies. Corbin helped with the shopping cart at Shoppers. We got a few supplies at Home Depot and then drove over to A&W to grab some burgers at home.

We watched the James Bond film Casino Royale on the Movie Network - I went back to painting after finishing my burger. After the movie was done, it was bed time for Corbin and I did some more painting in the basement.

All in all it was a good weekend with Corbin. I'm glad he didn't go up to Goderich because he didn't need to get all worked up before going to school.

Posted by Adam

Passports for the Szymczak Boys

2008-08-27T22:39:00.001-04:00

Since I was on vacation today and tomorrow, I decided this was a good time to get our passports. Last week, Corbin, Jeremy and I went to Wal-Mart to get our passports and I had my mom sign as our guarantor.

Today, I took Corbin and Jeremy downtown to get our passports. We left first thing in the morning. I parked in the City Hall employee parking lot (it's free for me) and we walked down to the passport office. Apparently the walk was longer than the boys are used to, since they were asking 'how much further'.

We got to the CIBC building and took the elevator up the 5th floor. It wasn't busy. Passport Canada has a good system where they pre-screen you to make sure you have all the relevant information and then give you a ticket with your number. The boys went to sit down, but sat apart from each other. Seems they weren't liking each other's company.

A few minutes later, our number was called. The friendly gentleman took the applications one by one. He noticed I worked for the City of Windsor and asked in which department did I work in. I said Planning. He said "you must know Jeff Watson". I said, I worked with Jeff for 10 years until his recent retirement. We talked some more and I signed the form and paid the fees and we were off.

Painless and quick.

Posted by Adam

Thanks Babcia

2008-08-24T10:25:00.002-04:00

A week sure doesn't seem like a long time - it sure went by quick.

The boys, for the most part, had a good time with Babcia. She would play with them, take them outside in the backyard or the park, and just hang out with them. She helped Tina and I by making supper, doing the laundry and keeping the kitchen clean. It worked out well for everybody.

Jeremy gave her some attitude, something about Babcia being annoying. As if we let him do whatever he wants.

Yesterday we did some shopping at Devonshire Mall. My mom got a bunch of bed sheets and pillow covers for Alex's room - she even bought the sheets Tina and I picked out. We strolled around the mall. Babcia bought Corbin some Chaotic playing cards. Later we out to Boston Pizza for an early supper.

Thanks for helping out Babcia. See you soon.

Posted by Adam

Best Buy and Babcia

2008-08-21T21:30:00.002-04:00

Tina was at an all-day conference where Henry Winkler was the main speaker, so after an excellent supper, the rest of us headed to Best Buy to look at flat-panel TVs for my mom, video games for Corbin, movies for Corbin and gadgets for me.

After looking at a bunch TVs, my mom settled on Sharp Aquos 32" Flat-Panel LCD HDTV. We didn't buy just yet - not a good idea to take on the train. I will buy just before we go to Brantford some time in September.

Jeremy picked a Scooby-Doo movie. I think he has all the Scooby-Doo movies available on the shelf at Best Buy, so he is going to have to look for other movies.

Corbin picked up Hamster Life for his NintendoDS. It's a game where you take care of a Hamster or two. Don't ask.

I picked up a 250 GB HP Pocket Drive to backup the laptop computer. An added bonus is that it fits into the pocket drive slot on our desktop. That means I could backup our pictures and Tina could scrap book with the laptop and pocket drive when ever we take the laptop with us.

My mother looked at MP3 players and fell in love with the iPod Nano. She wouldn't mind getting one as a Christmas present.

Posted by Adam

Priceless Quotes

2008-08-16T16:42:00.000-04:00

"Narnia"

Jeremy's answer to Adam's question "Where would you like to go other than Chuck E. Cheese?"

"I won't melt. I'm made out of meat"

Jeremy responding to Tina's comment about him melting if we don't turn on the air conditioning

"Of course I still stink you, you big masterpiece"

Jeremy ranting when he was mad at Mom and Dad

Posted by Adam

Jeremy's "Gotcha Day"

2008-08-16T14:50:00.005-04:00

Happy "Gotcha Day" Jeremy.

It's been three years since Jeremy joined our family. Time sure is flying. From a quiet kid with big curly hair to a on-the-go non-stop chatting boy with short hair, Jeremy sure is growing up fast.

Thanks for coming along for the ride,

Mom, Dad and Corbin.

It's Hot

2008-08-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

The air conditioning has been off for about 10 days.

An unbelievable run considering that it is August and this is Windsor. It's usually hot, hazy and humid but this year it's been nice. It gets hot in the afternoon, but usually there is a breeze, so we just keep the windows open night and day.

It's hot today. The temperature inside the house shot up 2 degrees Celsius in one hour. It's mid-afternoon and with no breeze, our south-facing house was getting mighty toasty.

So it was time to turn on the AC. Hopefully, I'll be able to turn off in the evening.

Posted by Adam

Successful Soccer Camp

2008-08-08T21:47:00.002-04:00

Tina signed up Corbin for the Royal City Soccer Camp during the week after Civic holiday. It's soccer instruction in the morning, followed by lunch and swimming.

The location of the camp moved from Mic Mac Park to Lanspeary Park, a more central location for Windsor, and one that has a covered over hockey rink that can be used when it rains. The park also has an outdoor swimming pool.

Corbin did well this year. No major problems. His worker was there to assist as required. Corbin did complain a little because he had to do more work because the instructors expected more.

In the end, Corbin admitted he enjoyed the soccer camp.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 4

2008-08-02T22:45:00.003-04:00

Last day of the NACAC conference. Tina pulled off another amazing breakfast service. Again, she went to the conference and we headed to the pool.

One family in the pool today, but they eventually left. We spent a few minutes in the hot tub, which Jeremy loves. Back in the pool. It was nice and relaxing. Spent about a good hour in the pool.

Went up to the room, changed and then went down to Laurier Centre to check out the shopping mall. Jeremy knew the way from his previous visit with Tina. One smart kid.

We wandered around and killed some time. I almost bought the boys some Indiana Jones figures at a specialty toy store, but balked at the price. Surely Walmart is cheaper. Complete with our tour of the mall, we went back to our room to prepare to check out. Tina was already in the room.

So I called to get our van one last time - did I mention I LOVE valet parking? By time we were packed, the van was waiting right at the door, and Rob, our boys best friend at the Westin, helped us load the van. Corbin gave Rob a tip. Rob asked where we were heading, and we said Windsor. "Long drive" was his reply and said to say "hi" to St. Thomas, his hometown. One last goodbye to Rob and we were on our way home.

Because the 417 was closed, we took the scenic route down the Rideau Canal. We grabbed lunch at McDonalds and made our way over to the 416 in Neapean. It was around 12:30 PM.

The drive to Windsor was, for the most part uneventful. We did have to deal with some pop-up showers and thunderstorms, but they were short-lasting. We stopped at the rest centres as required. The drive through Toronto was typical. Lots of traffic but nothing major.

When we got to Cambridge, I decided it was time for supper. We pulled off at Highway 24 and had supper at the Boston Pizza. With our tummies full of food, we made the final push to Windsor. A quick stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Tilbury for gas and we arrived in Windsor shortly after 9:30 PM.

For a short vacation with over 16 hours of driving time, it was a great vacation jam packed with things to do and people to see. Tina was glad she attended the conference and I got to spend some much needed time with my boys. It was nice to see Steve, Pam, Owen and Laura and Sarah again. Ottawa is full things to do and see and we will definitely be back.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 3 - Part 2

2008-08-01T20:53:00.002-04:00

This evening we drove back over to Steve and Pam's house for some pizza, beer and good old hanging out.

I thanked Steve for his suggestion about the Canadian Aviation Museum. He was right, it was cheap and the boys liked it. I also said that I loved valet parking - it's so convenient to not have to drag your kids to the parking lot or garage, especially when the valet attendants park the van right outside the door. Now that is service.

Pam ordered pizza from a nearby pizza place, using us as guinea pigs. We were fine with that. It' can't be that bad, right.

The kids played and played and played. We sat on the patio and chatted away the night. The pizza came and the kids ate inside while the big kids - us adults - ate outside. For the record, the pizza was just fine.

All good things must come to an end and we had to leave. It was getting late and everyone needed some rest. We thanked Steve and Pam for having us over, again, and that we will definitely be back.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 3 - Part 1

2008-08-01T16:49:00.001-04:00

Tina pulled off another excellent breakfast. Who needs hot cinnamon rolls? After breakfast and showers, Tina headed off to the conference and the rest of us headed down to the pool.

The pool wasn't empty. There were a few families, which gave Corbin a chance to play with other kids. We spent about an hour before going up to the room and getting ready for the rest of the day.

The boys and I drove over to the Canadian Museum of Civilization over in Gatineau, Quebec. Originally, I was considering taking the boys on a local bus, but then I thought about having to wait at the end of long and busy day. The van was easier and parking cost the same as the bus. It took about five minutes to drive from the hotel to the museum. Parking is underground - which is nice.

In the lobby, I was presented with an assortment of choices. Aye carumba. I settled on the Museum, the Wild Ocean IMAX movie and the Greeks special exhibition. It was just over $40 for the three of us. The Canadian Museum of Civilization is a group of museums and permanent and temporary exhibits.

Our first stop was the Canadian Children's Museum which includes the outdoor Adventure World. The web site suggests that you "allow three hours for a visit with children". That is an understatement. The boys could have spent the whole day just in the Children's Museum. The place is amazing.
Kids are given a passport. They find stations where they insert the proper page of their passport and stamp it. The place was filled with all kinds of hands-on exhibits from a ship to a pyramid to a market to a house to, well everything.

Located outside, the Adventure World is a wonderful bonus. Kids can go fishing, fly a plane, drive a boat or make cool crafts. When we headed outside I was faced with the dilemma of Corbin wanting to be outside and Jeremy wanting to play inside. So I left Corbin to his own devices and said we will be back in a half an hour.

Jeremy played on the ship, first cleaning the deck, then loading and unloading some cargo and finally piloting the ship. He could have spent all day on the ship. We wandered around (more like me following Jeremy) before finding Corbin outside.

Fortunately, Corbin's natural clock was working and he was heading up the walkway with a boat in his hands. Apparently, the kid who didn't like crafts, made a boat from wood, corks, straw, paper and a bottle cap, all by himself. Who is this kid?

After spending enough time in the Children's Museum, we grabbed a quick bite to eat (overpriced and poor quality). I grabbed some popcorn and we lined up for the movie. A few minutes later the doors opened and we found some seats. Wild Ocean is a story about the sardine migration off the east coast of Africa and circle of life along the KwaZulu-Natal Coast. Who knew a movie about sardines could be so exciting. It was an amazing presentation and I highly recommend it.

We headed over to the Grand Hall and the First Peoples Hall where we learnt about the history of the First Peoples (aka natives). Corbin was naturally attracted to any exhibits with weapons while Jeremy was Jeremy as in "when are we going back to the Children's Museum".

A quick run through The Greeks exhibit which contained some amazing artifacts, including jewelry that was well over 2000 years old.

Next was the Face to Face: The Canadian Personalities Hall and the Canada Hall. The boys showed some interest in the exhibits, but what caught their attention was the Justice in New France dramatic presentation. Corbin and Jeremy sat and watched the full length of the presentation, which is part theatre and part interactive. Who are these kids?

I let the boys free in the Children's Museum to let off some more energy - if that is possible. Six hours later, we were back in Ottawa, struggling to get to the Westin - traffic was at a standstill. We managed to make it to the hotel, where Rob, the valet attendant, was greeted by the boys.

We could have spent all day at the museum and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting or living in Ottawa-Gatinuea area. We didn't even get a chance to visit the Canadian Postal Museum. If you have kids, you may want to plan two days to take in the whole facility or come when it opens and leave when it closes. Parking is $10 for the day and is located underground with direct access to the museum.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 2 - Part 2

2008-07-31T23:30:00.003-04:00

The plan for tonight was for Sarah to hang out with us. Sarah is Corbin's former worker who recently moved to Ottawa (she is from Ottawa). Sarah and Corbin have a special bond - she was one of the few workers who was able to spend two hours playing Playmobil with Corbin. We were sad when Sarah left Windsor.

When Sarah moved back to Ottawa, we promised Corbin that if we were ever in Ottawa, we would call her up and get together. We just didn't expect to happen this quick.

Sarah works in Gatineau, Quebec. She didn't have too much of a problem finding the hotel. Corbin and Jeremy were excited to see her.

We went down to the Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant for dinner. Everyone seemed to like their food, and I enjoyed my pint of Guiness. After supper, Sarah took us into Byward Market to have some Beaver Tails, an Ottawa specialty. It's dough that is flattened out, deep fried and then topped with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It was very tasty.

We wondered around the market. At one point I had to take Jeremy to the washroom - I was able to find one and Jeremy was happy to have relieved himself. We walked back to the hotel, changed into our swimsuits and joined the mayhem in the pool. Tons of kids to keep Corbin occupied. Sarah helped Jeremy with his swimming. Tina relaxed in the hot tub. I just swam around.

Corbin and Jeremy liked hanging out with Sarah, and it was good to see her again. It was time to say our goodbyes to Sarah.

A nice ending to an awesome day.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 2 - Part 1

2008-07-31T17:17:00.006-04:00

Day one of the NACAC Conference. Tina prepared breakfast for the rest of us (oatmeal) plus made a coffee for herself and me.One by one the boys woke up and Tina fed them. She went down to register (changing the registration from name to her name).

Once I had a shower and the boys were fed, the three of us went to the pool while Tina went to the Conference. We spent about 45 minutes in pool - we were the only ones. The pool has a great view of the Chateau Laurier and downtown Ottawa.

We changed and chilled out in the hotel while I read the Globe & Mail and figured out what us boys are doing today. Steve had mentioned the Canadian Aviation Museum. I know the boys like planes and the admission was very reasonable and there was free parking. I called the front desk to get my van from valet parking and in about 10 minutes the van was ready - right at the front door. I think I am going to like Valet Parking.

The drive to the museum took us along Sussex Drive. We went by the embassies, 24 Sussex Drive and the Governor-General's residence. The Canadian Aviation Museum provides free parking in a surface lot. The facility is also accessible by public transit.

It wasn't too busy so we were able to walk around the museum at a leisurely pace. Corbin liked the planes, especially the bomber with the gun turrets. Jeremy like the idea but wanted to go back to the hotel and jump in the pool. Halfway through our visit, we came upon a lady standing beside an ejection seat with a helmet and g-suit. That got the boys attention. Corbin and Jeremy put on the helmet and took a turn sitting in the chair. They were pumped.

After 3 or so hours at the museum, we headed back to the hotel. Tina wasn't back from the conference, so the boys and I went for a stroll. We crossed the Rideau Canal and watched the honour guard at the War Memorial. Corbin and Jeremy seemed very interested.

We walked over to Sparks Street where busker's festival was underway. A busker was just starting his show, so we stopped and watched. He was a juggler who juggled torches. At one point, I became part of the show having to toss the third and final torch at the juggler. He thanked me for not burning him.

After the show, we walked some more and watched another show down the street. Then we headed back to the hotel walking past Parliament Hill. Tina was back and the boys were excited to tell her what we saw.

Pictures forthcoming.

Posted by Adam

Ottawa Vacation - Day 1 - Part 1

2008-07-30T16:35:00.002-04:00

Woke up at 5 AM, packed the van and left at 6:00 AM. The boys were in their pyjamas and half asleep, watching whatever was in their DVD player.

Pulled into the Pilot Travel Center in Tilbury for some gas and grub. This service centre is many times better than the Ontario service centres. They are cleaner and have people helping you out.

We arrived in Toronto around 9:45 AM - missing rush hour traffic but still having to slow down here and there. Had a quick pit stop in Pickering for a washroom break, coffee and DVD change.

The drive between Toronto and Kingston was uneventful. It rained a few times, but nothing major. We arrived in Kingston around 1:00 PM and took a break at Cataraqui Town Centre where we had a late lunch and walked around for about an hour.

It was the final stretch - 401 to 416 to 417. No problems save for typical traffic on the 417. Managed to find the Westin Hotel and pulled in just before 4:00 PM. Ten hours on the road (about eight hours of actual driving time) and we all survived.

We decided to use Valet Parking. A little more expensive but a lot more convenient. Tina registered us and up we went to our room for a much needed unwinding.

Posted by Adam

A Trip To The Toledo Zoo

2008-07-23T17:46:00.003-04:00

It was a good day to go to the zoo, sunny but not humid, with the occasional cloud provide a cool down period. We left around 8:45 AM. Took about 30 minutes to get through US Customs. The trip down I-75 to Toledo was uneventful and quick.

The zoo was bustling as we arrived around 10:30. I parked in the lot closest to the main entrance. The Toledo Zoo is in the middle of an expansion/rejuvenation project. The two major projects are a parking lot expansion and the construction of an indoor children's zoo. The parking lot expansion is nearing completion, while the indoor zoo is just underway.

The indoor children's zoo will be a year-round facility, unlike the current children's zoo that is open during summer months. It will be another reason to visit the zoo in the fall and winter. Good job.

It wasn't too busy or crowded. We checked out the penguins, tigers, hippos and sloth bears. Corbin seemed interested in the animals this time. The highlight of the day was watching the elephants get a wash and then watching them walk from the building to their outdoor area. Corbin and Jeremy were literally feet away from the elephants - separated by a metal gate. Both boys were very excited.

Time for lunch.Jeremy started crying hard because of the lettuce on his cheeseburger (it was easily removed). Corbin ate a double cheeseburger with fries. I had onion rings while Corbin and I shared a pop. Jeremy had a juice. Next we checked out the Amphibians and Reptile exhibit before seeing the monkeys, orangutans and gorillas.

We crossed the bridge and headed over to see what the seals and polar bears were doing. I took the boys on the train across the African Savannah. Jeremy was excited to see giraffes and zebras, while Corbin pretended he was in Africa.

A quick snack and a trip to the washroom before heading home. We spent about five hours at the zoo. No problems and everyone had a very good time.

Posted by Adam

Priceless Quotes

2008-07-21T14:18:00.007-04:00

"Forgetting things is really hard"

Jeremy to me, after I told him to close the door before he does his business in the bathroom.

Posted by Adam

I Feel Like A Bus Driver

2008-07-20T19:42:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I commented to Tina that every time we made a major stop over the past weekend, we seem to have one more body in the van.

Today was no different.

The reason we stopped over in Goderich was to bring Bev back to Windsor for some more medical appointments. So we had one more body and some more luggage. I felt like a bus driver.

I did manage to break a 'fuel record' with the van, driving for 912 kilometres on one tank of gas. We filled up at the rest stop between West Lorne and Dutton on the 401. So on one tank of gas we drove to Brantford, up to Camp Winston, then across to Goderich and back down to Tilbury. Not bad mileage.

Posted by Adam

Kid #2

2008-07-19T22:34:00.002-04:00

We left Brantford shortly before 9:00 AM. I took the 403 to the 407 (worth the toll to avoid the traffic and tourists) to the 400. Naturally, the 400 was packed all the way to Barrie. Highway 11 was marginally better.

Pick up day was well underway when we pulled into Camp Winston at 11:15 AM. Corbin saw Tina and ran up to her and gave her a big hug. I was the next recipient of a hug with Jeremy finally getting a hug.

Tina walked over to the Cabin to get his stuff. Christina, one of Corbin's Counsellor's helped us with the bag. I watched Corbin and Jeremy who ran to the Dining Hall when the heard the bell ring. The four of us grabbed a bite to eat. Corbin didn't eat, but Jeremy more than made up for that.

Corbin said his goodbyes and we left for the trip to Goderich. That drive wasn't too bad once we got off the 400 at Highway 89. Had a small detour around Harriston that threw me for a slow loop. Seems that the part of 89 between Harriston and Palmerston was renumbered to Highway 23. None of the maps, paper or electronic, I use had that change. Oh well.

It was nice to arrive in Goderich after a long day of driving. And unlike a past trip from Camp Winston, this one only took about 3 1/2 hours.

Posted by Adam

Kid #1

2008-07-18T18:31:00.002-04:00

After a quick clean of the bathtub and a quick vacuum (and a cool off period), Tina and I left Windsor around 3:00 PM to Brantford to reunite with Jeremy.

The trip up was smooth. We made good time and managed to pull into Babcia's house before 6:00 PM. Jeremy was very excited to see us - no puking this year.

We hugged and kissed him till he got tired of it. Then he went over to play with his friends. Seems that someone had a great time.

Posted by Adam

Phase One Cleaning Done

2008-07-17T23:20:00.003-04:00

I managed to finish cleaning up the office/Jeremy's room. I put up a magnet board above Jeremy's board, cleaned out the drawers in the desk and cleared out much of the closet (though a few things were put temporarily in there).

Tina put some finishing touches in Corbin's room and completed the major task of cleaning and organizing the rec room. Dusted and vacuumed, the room looks clean and spacious. We managed to put out another four bags of garbage plus Tina took some stuff to Value Village. We have tossed out a lot of stuff - and there is more to toss out in the coming weeks as we attack the Everything Room, Crawl Space, Laundry Room, Kitchen and Garage.

I need to touch up the basement walls with paint and paint those walls that are still dark panelling. I also need to paint the wall by the front entrance where the bookcase was and relocate some hooks from the front closet.

Outside needs some major attention. The weeds have to be pulled, again, and the flowers deadheaded and trimmed. I need to work on relocating the sand box to the former vegetable garden and get some quotes for some concrete work, new aluminum gate and wooden fence repairs. I think I may squeeze in a quote for new windows in the basement - the paint is peeling off and I don't feel like scraping and painting them.

I've decided that next year in the garage, I am going to rip down the 'vapour barrier' and insulation and get some foam spray insulation instead. This will require me to tear down the workbench that is there, but it's a crappy bench to begin with and is too large. Some rewiring and new lighting will make the garage more usable. I've already taken down several shelves over the past two years.

And while we are finally relaxing, the cleaning fun never really ends.

Posted by Adam

Cleaning Continues

2008-07-16T01:25:00.000-04:00

With no kids in the house, Tina and I have been concentrating on cleaning up the house . . . and watching movies and shows on TMN On Demand.

Corbin's room is done save for the relocation of some wall hooks and a non-slip mat under the rug. I'm about three-quarters of the way done cleaning up the office/Jeremy's room. Just need to go through the closet, put away all the CDs and DVDs I found, find a home for some containers, put a wall hook and magnet board, and vacuum and wash the floor. I still need to organize the manuals but that can be saved for a rainy day - or when I have access to the dining room table.

Tina has completely cleaned up the rec room. Lots of space for the boys to play in behind the couch. Everything has been dusted and vacuumed. I just need to spend some time organizing the entertainment unit. Again, could be a rainy day or hot, humid day job.

Tina already vacuumed out the crawl space - where I removed the shelves. I just need to find a decent carpet to cover the imperfections in the floor. I need to redo the lighting.

Our bedroom and the bathroom need a good cleaning - I'm hoping to get the bathroom done Thursday before we get Corbin from camp.

Haven't done much outside, I'll be able to work on that next week during my vacation. I need to get quotes for new windows in the basement, a fence between the garage and house, a concrete pad beside the garage and reconstruction of the concrete porch in the backyard, and get two posts on our wooden fence replaced.

We may clean the carpets next week. Maybe.

Posted by Adam

Phone Call #2 From Corbin

2008-07-13T20:00:00.001-04:00

Early in the evening, we got our second call from Corbin. The purpose of this call was to ask us to send him some mail. Seems that the other boys are getting mail at supper and Corbin was feeling left out.

So Tina said that we can absolutely send some mail. I sent Corbin an email that he should get during Monday's mail call and Tina prepared a card to be mailed out Monday and will hopefully be received on Thursday or Friday. I may send him another email Wednesday. Tina and I have made a mental note to send email and mail next year.

Corbin seems to be having a great time and talked about playing Star Wars with his friends. We also learnt that he changed bunks so another Cabin mate could have the top bunk. Wow, who is this kid?

Most of Corbin's answers were short as in "Yes" and quiet. At one point I told to be more excited and yell out the answer. He had tell the staff that "my dad told me to do that" and they all laughed.

We told him that Jeremy misses him and that Guinea is fine.

Posted by Adam

The Trip Back Home

2008-07-13T00:45:00.002-04:00

The train was scheduled to leave Brantford at 8:22 PM. So we left the house at 7:50 and arrived at the train station shortly after 8:00. Jeremy brought an umbrella to 'protect' him from the spitting rain that stopped. He was his usual cute self in the station, having a conversation with a gentleman waiting for someone.

We went outside where the clouds gave way to sun. Jeremy asked many questions. Imagine that. The train was a few minutes early. I was the only one getting on in Brantford. I found a row of seats to myself and waved to Jeremy - who had some problem finding me. Hmmmm.

The trip was largely uneventful to just east of Chatham. We had to wait about 10 minutes where the main freight lines cross, but the engineer seemed to make up time as we sped through Lakeshore. We crossed Banwell Road and the train came to a stop. This can't be a good thing.

Seems earlier in the day, a train jumped some tracks. VIA was told that any equipment would be cleared by the time Train 79 entered Windsor. It wasn't the case. We waited for about 15 or so minutes before slowly inching our way past Jefferson.

At 12:22 AM we pulled into Windsor Station. We were told that we are eligible for a 50% travel credit that can be used in the next 6 months. I was glad to be home. Tina had fun watching all the action at the train station.

Posted by Adam

Babcia Camp, Here We Come

2008-07-12T13:20:00.002-04:00

It was that time of year where Jeremy heads off to Babcia Camp. He has been talking about all week. I think he is excited.

Instead of driving, I decided to take the train to make Babcia Camp 2008 a memorable experience. Jeremy could not stop talking about going on a 'big train'.

Tina dropped us of at the station and we said our good byes. We didn't have to wait long to board, but it did start to rain. Fortunately, we got on the train before the downpour. A few minutes later we were moving.

Jeremy handed our tickets to the VIA staff member who handed back the other half. Jeremy held on to the stubs for at least 20 minutes.

The first hour of the trip was full of question after question. What is this button? What is this thing for? What are these? What is that bag for? What was that sound? On and on. Jeremy had a drink and a fruit snack before heading off to the washroom. He was unsure at first but got the hang of it. He liked pressing the button that opened the flap and gushed in new water.

The second hour we spent playing toys. I let him play LEGO Indiana Jones on my Nintendo DS. Unfortunately, Jeremy saved over my game. Lesson learnt. Another trip to the washroom.

The final hour was a little more touchy. He was getting fidgety. But I pulled out he fishy crackers and all was well again. We got our stuff ready and walked to the front of the car. The motion of the car did not sit well with Jeremy because he was very quiet when Babcia gave him a big hug.

When asked if he liked the train ride, Jeremy responded with a reserved "yes".

Posted by Adam

Yard Sale A Bust

2008-07-12T12:15:00.001-04:00

The title sums it up.

There was very little foot and pedestrian traffic - which is so unlike a typical Saturday on our street. And just after Tina dropped me off at the train station it began to rain, hard.

The yard sale was done. Tina and Jen dried off the big items such as the train table and table and chair set and few other things. The rest was loaded into the van and dropped off at Value Village.

We earned a whopping $25. Nothing like the over $200 we earned last year. Oh well. What can you do? Despite the dud of a yard sale, Tina was happy to get rid of the stuff one way or another. There is a lot of room in Corbin's room and in the basement.

Posted by Adam

Yard Sale 2008

2008-07-11T18:39:00.002-04:00

In an unexpected move, Tina decided to have a yard sale tomorrow. We weren't planning on having one, but Tina has joined the good side and is getting rid of things. We are selling a bunch of toys, furniture, books, kids DVDs and so forth. Jen is bringing some stuff to sell.

Whatever does not get sold will be taken over to Value Village or similar. No holding on to things for the next yard sale. Sell it or dump it.

Posted by Adam

A Taste of Things To Come

2008-07-09T11:48:00.001-04:00

Jen's youngest asked if Jeremy could sleepover. We had no problem, so tonight, Tina and I were on our own. What to do?

We drove to the west side and had some wings and beverages at Hurricanes. It was 2 for 1 Wing night so we both got an order of 22 wings and fries. I ordered a Guinness and Tina had a Coke. It was tasty and delicious.

Back home, Tina helped me take measurements of our backyard so that I could enter them into the landscape software I bought. The mosquitoes were out in full force.

Posted by Adam

Sorry I Didn't Reach For You Two Days

2008-07-08T21:53:00.003-04:00

During supper, Corbin called today and his first words were "Sorry I didn't reach you for two days". You see, we had told Corbin to call us at least once near the beginning of camp. Of course, he took this to mean that he should have called Sunday night. Oh well, at least he called.

He told us about some of the activities he had done so far - basically he has done everything. Boating. Swimming. Fishing. Ropes Course. Bike Riding. Hockey. Sports. And on and 0n and on. He sounded in very good spirits. We all said "Hi' to Corbin, even Jeremy seemed interested in talking (albeit with a mouth full of food).

Later that day, Denise, the Camp Director, called and said everything is going fine and she is most impressed with Corbin so far. Apparently, our oldest boy plays with the older boys, get involved in group activities and has become a star athlete. You are talking about Corbin, right Denise? It was good to hear positive things about Corbin and that he is having a wonderful and positive experience.

Posted by Adam

Camp Winston Via Goderich, Day 3

2008-07-06T23:09:00.005-04:00

Part 1 - Goderich to Camp Winston

Camp day had finally arrived. Naturally, today was the day the boys decided to sleep in. So much for being excited, hey Corbin?

Tina and I had our showers and quick breakfast. The boys eventually woke up and had their breakfast.

We packed and left Bev and Gerry's around 9:00 am. The weather was warm and sunny. I got some gas at the Shell station in town. Jeremy watched movies on his DVD player, while Corbin played with his Nintendo DS.

We made our way over to Wingham and followed 86 to 87 to Highway 89. Traffic was light, so I was making good time. In Mount Forest, we saw what must be one of the smallest Canadian Tire stores - the thing could not be more than 20,000 square feet. Compare that to the standard 120,000+ square foot Canadian Store. Around Shelbourne we saw a large wind farm.

Traffic began to increase after Shelbourne. We stopped for a pee break, coffees and timbits at Tim Horton's in Alliston. About 10 minutes later we were heading northbound on Highway 400. We arrived in Orillia just after 12 noon.

Popped into Wal-Mart to get some last minute things and kill some time before heading over to Boston Pizza for our 'traditional' lunch before heading up to Camp Winston - about a 20 minute drive. We made sure to spray on some bug repellent before leaving Orillia.

We take the 'back way' to Camp Winston via S Sparrow Lake Road / Canning Road. This gets everybody into the cottage mood and we get a chance to cross the single-lane swing bridge. We have only seen the bridge swing once. Every year the boys hope to see it swing open.

We arrived shortly after 2:00 pm and the place was a abuzz with activity. A counsellor met us and we headed over to the cabin. Along the way, Corbin ran to Denise, the Camp Director, yelled out her name and gave her a big hug. Denise could not believe that Corbin remembered her name and was amazed at how much he has grown.

In Cabin 5 we unpacked Corbin's stuff. Not wasting any time, Corbin asked if he could go fishing and the counsellor said "let's go". Tina reminded Corbin to say good bye before fishing, so he quickly said good bye and hugged us.

Jeremy played on the Jungle Gym under my watchful eye, while Tina waited in line to see the nurse. Then it was time for the long drive back to Windsor.

Part 2 - Camp Winston to Windsor

I put a new DVD in Jeremy's DVD player and Tina buckled him in. We headed out.

Highway 11 and 400 were packed, as usual. A few slow downs between Barrie and Vaughan, but nothing major. Originally we thought about going shopping but by the time we got to Highway 407 in Vaughan it was 4:00 PM, so we pushed through.

I took the 407 to avoid the 401/Airport area. Yes, you pay a toll, but it is well worth the stress-free drive. Back on the 401, traffic picked up. At the Milton rest stop, Tina took over driving duties, reluctantly. She does not like driving in the afternoon. After 13 years together, I learned something new about my wife.

We had leftover pizza from Boston Pizza, so I had a few slices. Jeremy had some snacks. Even Tina had a slice. Took a washroom break at the rest stop west of Woodstock. Tina got frozen treats for her and I and gum for Jeremy.

The drive was uneventful until mileage 120. Traffic came to a stand still. It was clear that the 401 was closed up ahead. I told Tina not to follow the traffic on the so-called EDR (Emergency Detour Route) and we took a different way back to the 401. The waiting and detour cost us about 45 minutes.

We arrived in Windsor around 9:00 PM tired but happy to be home. The van was quickly unpacked. We let Jeremy stay up a little before we all retired to bed.

Posted by Adam

Camp Winston Via Goderich, Day 2

2008-07-05T22:54:00.003-04:00

The waiting game was on. For Corbin, that meant dealing with the double whammy of waiting to get to Camp Winston and waiting to play with his cousins.

Tina and Corbin headed over to Tims to get some coffee and breakfast for Tina and I. On the way back, she dropped Corbin at Chris and Lisa´s. After eating and showering, we headed over there to check out life on East Street. The kids were playing okay, but Corbin was having some issues.

Lisa bribed Corbin with two dollars to empty and load her dishwasher. He did it with some help from Tina. It seemed to turn him around for the afternoon.

We headed over to Wal-Mart to pickup a few last minute items for camp, some sunglasses for me and some groceries for Bev.

The rest of the evening was okay. Corbin had a meltdown, but a bath calmed him down and eased some of his anxiety. At one point I gave Corbin´s Nintendo DS to Jeremy as punishment for him hitting Jeremy. Corbin was none to pleased. On the other hand, Jeremy cherished the moment.

Tina and Bev did some scrapbooking. I updated our blog. Gerry watched TV. Corbin played with his Nintendo and watched Superman on the other TV.

It´s off to bed to get some rest before a day full of travel.

Posted by Adam

Camp Winston Via Goderich, Day 1

2008-07-04T22:20:00.003-04:00

We signed up Corbin for the second session at Camp Winston. So it was time to get ready and make our way to Sparrow Lake. We had to go through Goderich this time to drop off Bev back home.

Tina spent the morning packing Corbin´s stuff for camp and our stuff for the weekend. I cut the grass and then put down some weed and feed (hopefully this will help turnaround the grass in the backyard).

We left Windsor around 3:00 PM. Tina drove and I sat in the back with the boys. Corbin and I played a game together with our Nintendo DS while Jeremy watched a Harry Potter movie. A quick stop at Parks for a bathroom and food break. The drive was uneventful.

After feeding the boys, Tina and I headed out to find somewhere to eat in Goderich. We didn´t want fast food and we didn´t want a chain restaurant. We settled on Thyme on 21, which is located a hop, skip and jump from Bev & Gerry´s house.

It was busy and we didn´t have reservations. But the owner was able to fit us in said it would be about 15 minutes. While we waited, I drove the van over to Bev & Gerry´s so we could enjoy a bottle of wine during dinner.

We were shown to our table and I ordered a bottle of Pelee Island VQA Merlot. The waitress brought over a basket of freshly baked onion bread that was to die for. What a way to begin the meal.

For appetizers, Tina had the Spinach Salad, while I enjoyed the Vegetable Spring Rolls with a Thai Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce. The salad was light and the vinaigrette hit the spot. The spring rolls were piping hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The dipping sauce was perfect.

For the entree, I ordered the Grilled Lamb Tenderloin (cooked medium) with Port Wine Sauce, Red-Skin Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Vegetables. Tina settled on the Rolled Souffle stuffed with Goat Cheese, spinach and roasted peppers in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce and fresh vegetables.

The lamb was grilled to perfection. It was soft and would melt in your mouth. The mashed potatoes were just that and were the perfect accompaniment to the lamb. The vegetables were mouth watering delicious.

The souffle exceeded Tina´s expectations. It would disappear in your mouth leaving the delightful taste of the goat cheese, spinach and roasted peppers in your mouth. The sauce was simply amazing.

For dessert, Tina ordered the Creme Brulé to share, along with coffee. It was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

We drank, ate, talked and drank some more. Being able to have a bottle of wine with an excellent meal was something we longed for.

If you are ever driving through or happen to be in Goderich and are looking for a great dining experience, we highly recommend Thyme on 21 Casual Dining.

Posted by Adam

Happy Birthday Babcia

2008-07-03T22:11:00.001-04:00

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Babcia, aka Adam´s mom. Hope you enjoyed your day - the weather was nice.

Posted by Adam

Canada Day

2008-07-01T19:13:00.000-04:00

Happy Canada Day.

We spent the day cleaning out the garage. Tina went through her stuff and cleared up a bunch of space in the garage.

I helped the boys go through their outside toys. Jeremy had no problem getting rid of stuff. Corbin had a few issues. We told them that we would be getting some new outside toys to replace the old and worn or broken toys.

I swept the garage and took down two shelves at the back of the garage (a place where I hope to hang the hockey net during the summer and the bikes during the winter). I moved some things around - bringing back some ´order' to the garage. There were eight bags of garbage by the end of the day. It was all good.

Tina barbecued some chicken and made some spinach ravioli with tomato sauce. It was an excellent meal and an excellent way to end the day.

Posted by Adam

A pancake, Swedish Furniture, Bullseye and Simple Fresh Dining

2008-06-28T17:41:00.004-04:00

Tina and I decided to take advantage of having Bev in town to head over the border to do some shopping and enjoy some good food in Detroit without the boys. Jeremy was at Lorelie's, so Bev got to spend some time with Corbin.

We headed out of the house around 8:30. The bridge was full but we didn't have to wait too long when two more booths opened. I asked the bridge personnel if I could scoot over and she said yes. So what could have been a 45 minute wait turned out to be a 15 minute wait. Welcome to America.

Fifteen minutes later were pulled into to the IHOP at Middlebelt and I-96. The parking lot had lots of vehicles so we were expecting to wait. But we were fooled - we had a table in no time. Tina ordered the carrot cake pancake, scrambled eggs, hash brown and bacon combo. I ordered the same save for blueberry pancakes. The breakfast was fresh and hot. And the coffee carafe meant that we had a good supply of hot coffee.

Back on I-96 then I-275, we arrived at the already busy IKEA Canton at Haggerty and Ford. The store opens at 10:00 AM. We arrived at 10:15 and people were already loading their vehicles with furniture. Aye carumba.

We browsed, made some mental notes for the future and noted the location of the furniture we wanted to buy. In the Marketplace, we picked up some hangars, a magnet board for Jeremy and few other odds and ends.

In the warehouse, we picked up three pieces of furniture: A MALM 4-drawer chest (medium brown, $99US vs $129CDN) for Jeremy´s room, a Stockholm coffee table (golden-brown $179US vs $279 CDN) for the living room and a bookcase, Expedit (birch effect, $89US vs $99CDN), to be used on its side, for the front door.

Tina was not sure if we should buy the furniture, but I said it is cheaper in the US and we will still be ahead after paying GST and PST. So we headed to the checkout, handed over the credit card and loaded up the van.

We drove down to the new Target in South Canton. There we bought shirts and shorts for the boys, a DVD and a few other things. At Old Navy, Tina bought a few things for the boys. We were done shopping. It was time to eat, again. Our choice was Ruby Tuesdays, just down the road from the Target. Tina and I ordered burgers. They were hot and tasty.

It was time to make our way back to Canada, but first we had to fill the van with some duty-free gasoline. Both sides of the bridge were busy. It took us about 20 minutes to get through Canadian Customs. We declared our purchases in full and, much to our surprise, we were free to go. Tina was shocked.

On our way back home, we stopped at Tim Hortons to get a coffee for Bev. It was a ´thank you´ for watching Corbin. It was a good day for all.

Posted by Adam

Last Day of School 2008

2008-06-25T15:12:00.003-04:00

Today was Corbin's and Jeremy's last day of school.

Both boys had a successful school year. Corbin made great progress in math, music, reading and french. In fact, the school year seemed 'ordinary' - save for a few episodes. Tina and I tend to agree that that is a good thing. Awesome job Corbin - who is already talking about Grade 5 (a new teacher, a new EA and in a new wing of the school - should be fun in September).

Jeremy learnt most of the alphabet, number between 1 and 10, colours, shapes, months and the days of the week. He had some rough patches, but managed to work through them. Jeremy made lots of new friends and looks forward to SK in September. Another change in September is switching from morning to afternoon.

Thanks to Ms. Mayea, Ms. Coolen, Ms. Johnston, Mr. Carter, Ms. Thompson, Mr. Bradacs, Mrs. Marshall and Ms. Ouellette.

Posted by Adam