Angelina Ballerina

Funtastic Weekend!

Hello Everyone,

I will be volunteering at Funtastic weekend starting on Thursday or Friday. I have my Statistics final on Friday morning, and I will be done my summer course. The pictures are beautiful; I love the view of the lake.
I informed everyone that Keira was updating the blog, so I expect some great updates from everyone. I do see alot of updates on Facebook.

Anyway, until next time.
Sammi

Super, Natural...Ontario!

Here are some pictures of beautiful, beautiful Ontario and a few of the things we've been doing. The first one is a road into the city (5 mins) from our house. Oshawa is very very green and treed; even the main roads. The next two pictures are in wooded groves that start at the end of our road (a few houses down); they're full of hiking and biking trails. The next picture is in one of the waterfront parks near our house. It's on Lake Ontario and it looks exactly like being on the Stanly Park waterfront trail except that you can see the CN Tower. That's where we recently did a walk/run for allergy awareness. Then there's a picture of Angelina riding an "elephant" at the Oshawa zoo right near our house. She can ride a real elephant at one of the other zoos, 20 minutes from our house. All of this stuff is within minutes of our house and we haven't even scratched the surface. Needless to say, we are having a great time! The weather so far is perfect; it is warm and sunny but there's always a breeze so you don't feel hot and gross. Hope everyone is well and having as much fun as we are.

See you in two months!

Blogging is back!

Hello Everyone,

I love the picture of Angelina with the tie...she looks so beautiful. I can't believe she is learning biology. I'm glad to here everything is working out for the family. It's the same old same old here in Vernon. I have one more year left in my degree! I have to keep this short, but I will keep checking in.

It's great to hear from you and see pictures of the kids,
Sammi

Pictures from our last month in BC

Roman found the flour
Grandpa's tie

My little wild animal

Angry Snow White

Long Time, Long Blog

We have been in Ontario for three months now, and wow, what a great time we're having.

Living over here in the East is very, very different. I have started to stop feeling different now, so it's hard to remember all the little things that are not like BC. At first it was so noticeable that milk came in bags, for instance, and that you never have to pay for a grocery cart. As I've mentioned before, people over here are much, much friendlier. It also seems much more family-oriented, which I suppose is because there is a higher proportion of young families whereas the Okanagan was so full of retirees. It really does make a difference. People over here are also less shallow, although they all drive nice cars and live in nice houses (because everything is so much more affordable). A noticeable difference from BC is that even in the less-nice, downtown area, I never see any bums or druggies. And I still cannot believe the astounding amount of stuff to do there is here.


The kids love it here. Angelina is enjoying her gymnastics and is starting ballet at the end of the month. She's so excited and likes to dress up like a ballerina every day, what a girl! She turned three a couple weeks ago, and is just so grown up it's weird. Like, she calls me mom now, and I wasn't expecting that for years to come. Of course, she has always done everything early. She reads as well as many adults, and knows more about world geography than most people, I think. She knows more about human anatomy now than Matt (not quite me, I took physiology in college) and at the end of each day teaches him what she learned, like cells and the circulatory and nervous systems and stuff.

I never knew whether Roman was going to be a genius too, since he never had Angelina's nervous system issues (she overprocesses noise and motion and stuff, that's why she was the world's most miserable baby and is normal for geniuses). Turns out he definately is a genius too. He is one and a half as of this month, and has known his phonics for quite some time. He is almost obsessive-compulsive about letters. He finds them in odd places, like the jungle gym bars from a certain angle or shadows along the wall. He even bites his food into letters or circles letters on paper.

Quickie

That's hillarious, I thought no one was reading anymore so I stopped blogging. I have tons of things to talk about, I'll get back on here this week.

I'll Second that!

We want updates!!! How are you guy's??? We have heard no word from you in months.... you aren't in some kind of cult with no access to the outside world are you!!????? :P Hope all is great with you guys!! take care

New Baby

Hey everyone! Drew and I got a new puppy yesterday! He doesn't have a name yet, but he is adorable. He is 10 weeks old and 1.7 pounds. He is actually Lola's half brother (they share the same dad) but look totally different.
other then that news I have nothing else to talk about. LOL
KEIRA GET YOUR FANNY ON THIS BLOG!
I"m not sure that I posted my blog last time..
but check it out here

It's been so long

Hello,

Wow it has been so long since I've posted a message here and it looks like it has been awhile for everyone. Key where are all our Ontario lifestyle updates?!?! hahaha

I've been busy lately looking for a new job as I got laid off from PCL at the beginning of April after being with them for over 5 years!! The job search hasn't been going the greatest but I am working on a few leads right now so cross your fingers for me. Besides looking for work I've been busy training our new puppy Bam-Bam he is a mini-daschund smooth-haird and is 6 months old and 12 pounds. Lee and I love him so much and couldn't image life without him.

Key...how's Ontario?? How's the weather been? How are Angelina & Roman adjusting? How's Matt liking the new job? Are you going back to work any time soon?

How's everyone else doing?? Anything new & exciting to share??

OMG It works

I can't believe that blogger let me on this! I have been trying for the last month or more.
How are you settling out east? Hopefully we will only have a year left until we are out there too.
I saw your mom in Vernon yesterday, Keira. She is looking good but I didn't really talk to her.
I"m super duper busy. I am in school full time and also work 48-60 hours a week. It is getting a little crazy. But only 3.5 weeks until school is done! And then I'll just be working.
Drew is also in school full time. He is almost done is education (I think) and he is also working full time. He is the manager at Cineplex Odeon here in Kamloops.
If you want to keep track of me I have started blogging again.
I blog almost everyday! longdogyarns.blogspot.com
I hope everything is well with you guys and the kids settle down nicely.

Sounds wonderful

I'm so happy everything is working out for you in Ont. The little bonuses make the purchase of the house that much better. I am busy with school, so I have to keep this short. Say "Hello" to Matt and the kids for me.

Sammi

Greetings from our New Province

We arrived in Oshawa exactly one week ago, but it feels like so much longer. What a busy week!


The week has been full of surprises, mostly pleasant. I had forgotten about our walk-in closet, and we also have a garborator that we didn't know about when we bought the house, and our new couch is actually a hide-a-bed.


Ontario is very different from BC. I already knew that the people were much more friendly here, and that a "regular" coffee here comes with cream and sugar. There are other things too, like their 4-litre milk doesn't come in a big jug, but a sac of 3 little bags! It's very weird. Everything costs less in Ontario, including groceries. So we have been eating mostly organic food for the same price as regular food in BC.


I turned 27 during all this activity and had a new getting-older experience: puffy bags under my eyes in the morning. Actually, just one eye; it was weird. Anyway, as I reflect on my life so far I am very happy. I think this move was a wonderful thing and feel totally sure that life here is better and more suited to us.

Beautiful!!!

But oh.... we are going to miss you guys!!!!! It sucks that we weren't able to get together to see you before you leave.... I was looking forward to it. But with me gettin gback to work and having no control over which days I do my ride alongs and then with Bryce and his big day on Friday it just wasn't able to work this week.... I had been talking with Sammi prior to that, but nothing seemed to work out.

Well I hope you have a great trip and get all settled in quickly. You must be so excited!
So happy for you guys.

You will have to stay in touch on here and facebook....and send lots of pictures :)

well, I guess until next time......take care.

Home Movie

I don't think that I posted this link before. It's a slideshow of our new house. Four more days in BC!

http://www.realestateshows.com/show.php?id=334868&code=2d54c05a&mls=basic

Greetings from Someone Else's House!

Just about the day we got here, we got very sick (there are up to three daycare kids here at any given time) and since Roman really can't sleep here and is up all night, me and him stayed that way.

We've had to forgo our groups and visits with friends and find other stuff to do, so as not to spread the flu. The kids have really taken to mall walking. Roman loves to walk around in his squeaker shoes and wave at everybody, and they come up and talk to him. It's his own personal heaven; he's such an active and outgoing little guy.

Angelina is getting sweeter and funnier by the day, and of course smarter too. She draws people all the time, including clothes, hairstyles and eyes with irises and pupils. She can read bigger-kid books now and is starting to write! She will write "to daddy" on her pictures. The "to" is crystal clear, but I might be the only one who can read her "daddy".

We're mostly better now, and looking forward to seeing our friends for the last time before the big move... in 10 days!

Vancouver & Calgary

Hello Everyone,

I will be in Calgary as well from Thursday, Feb 26th until Saturday, Feb 28th. I am involved in the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) regional competition. We are staying at the or Westin which is downtown (320 4th Avenue SW · Calgary). My sister will be in Calgary that weekend visiting her friend Holly for her 30th birthday. We are meeting for Breakfast on Saturday morning. I don't have an itinerary yet, but I will forward on any free time I have in case the Garcia family has the same free time.

Before Calgary, I will be in Vancouver for the weekend of Friday, Feb 13th until Monday, Feb 16th. I would like to plan a pub night again to visit with friends (may a veronica samwiche...haha). I haven't thought about the details because I am competing with the weekend of LOVE.

FYI: I am not a fan of Valentines' Day and try not to celebrate the day. Valentines' Day to me is one big commercial occasion to raise the price of flowers, chocolates, jewelry cards, dinner, and probably fuel. Any who...

I have to get back to school work, so I'll keep everyone updated (blogger or facebook) on my trips.
I have to come in to Kelowna for the next two weekends, so maybe a brunch could be arranged. I'll call you, Keira.

Sammi

Pictures of Roman (with commentary of course)

Roman hates to be restrained; in the carseat, stroller, shopping cart or highchair. Since I started sitting him in a big person chair at the table, he is willing to sit for a whole meal. It's pretty funny-looking, a one-year-old at the table with no booster seat or anything.

Eating the bubbles out of his sister's bath

He's so proud of himself (see below)...

...for getting his own snacks out of the pantry. Those are raisins. And he does like to eat onions too!

He looks so fat and sweet when he's asleep.

Moving Day Part 1 is Approaching

On Wednesday, we're moving in with Matt's family for a month to avoid double mortgages. That's 3 days from now! I can't believe after this week we will never see this place again.

We'll be living out of our suitcases for a month. Unfortunately, they don't have a home phone there (everyone has their own cell phone) and I'm not sure what the internet situation is (everyone might have their own laptop). I'm going to find and activate my old cellphone that Matt got me for my 21st birthday. I'll email out the number when I have it.

It's so soon!

Dates

Ahh, puke in my face. I had forgotten that beautiful memory, so thank you, Sammi. Did you know Steph's younger sister Nichoel? She is married now and just had a baby. Say hi to Chris for us. Wow, you guys loooove to go to school!

The big move is getting close now, and we have dates for everything. We are staying with Matt's family in Kelowna starting on January 29th, and then flying away on February 27th to Calgary for 2 days, then on to Oshawa! That only leaves us a few weekends left to do brunch, or whatever!