Welcome to Canada! (unless you’re from the U.S.)

The Olympics are coming!

Ryan and I recently decided to order a subscription to the Vancouver Sun daily newspaper. We’ve enjoyed getting it on our doorstep every morning this past week–especially since we’re relatively slow with technology (my new iPod nano, which Ryan tentatively got me for Christmas/birthday, is probably the only one ever produced to gather dust on a dresser [though I’m excited to say I’ve downloaded over 100 songs, now, and used it while working out at the Y today!]) and prefer the feel of paper in our hands to the glare of a screen in our faces. Ryan wakes up early, makes a cup of coffee, and sits and reads the morning paper. I think it makes him feel like a man. When Gloria and I get up, we gather around him in the dining room and glance at headlines over his shoulder. With the Olympics almost here, I’ve been impressed with all the positive press I’ve seen, lately: features about Canada’s celebrated athletes, all the free public events being held around the city, how to get around on public transportation for the next month. It’s been a rather pleasant media week, thanks to the Vancouver Sun.

But today, ha! I guess the press can only handle so much positivity. Especially when it’s coming from them. So, today, we did receive more of the dedicated Olympic coverage we had been getting used to, but this time it found a way to be down on…you guessed it…The United States of America! Three out of the six sections of the paper today featured negative news about the States. I’ll display them from least to greatest, for your enjoyment:

Oops. Shouldn’t have said that? Those silly American officials, saying things.

Shafted!!!

At least this guy doesn’t mind.

My personal favorite.

Is “bug-ugly” a euphemism for “butt-ugly?” I always thought it was the latter that made the saying. But maybe I should let go of junior-high language standards.

Oh, Canada.

Love that tomboy!

When we were on a recent play date with our friend Mel and her son, Mel exclaimed to Gloria, who was clad in a pink shirt and four strands of Mardi Gras beads, “Wow! You’re a tomboy and a little girlie-girl! You like cars, balls, and jewelry.” Yep.

Here’s a little shot of our girl sporting some Tigers’ gear, all on her own.

Gloria gettin’ down!

This is what we usually do in the mornings…

Oh Sweet Christmas Dress!

But first, bath time hilarity.

Ha!

Now, sweet Christmas dress.

Well,

it’s time for our five month update!

I could go on and on about why we are such sluggish bloggers. But I won’t. Because I know what you want. Pictures. Now. So, fine.

Let’s scoot back to September, when Ryan’s Mom Connie came to town for a sweet visit. She’s Nana in full swing! She and Gloria had a great time together.

We went to the aquarium!

It was a good visit.

A Lovely Visit

Katie’s parents were in town last week for what was a leisurely, lovely, loving visit.

And we happened upon a fountain in the park. Papa was excited to introduce Gloria to the water, which she found immediately refreshing.

So refreshing was the fountain, that G decided to take a seat and stay a while (after requesting that her new Crocs [thank you, Grams & Papa!] be put back on her feet).

Whoa, fountain! Blow!

So you can see her

A little kiss

A climb into the book box to cool off on a hot day. ?

The perfect combo

Cheese!

These posts are posted in honor of Aunt Wanda and our brothers.

We love you!

(Sheepishly) How She’s Grown…

since our last post.
Here are some fun pics of Gloria and her hats. She has recently taken to them and likes to put them on and toddle around self-consciously. It’s very endearing.

Did You Know

that we played dodgeball this past year? It was intense. Super-intense. And very serious.

See how serious we all are.

And to dispel all myths, dodgeball is not fun, it is not easy, and it does not hurt when you get hit.

It is only very serious.

Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh!

It was recently Valentine’s Day, and Gloria received a great surprise in the mail from her Grams and Grandpa–Biscuit’s Valentine’s Day, a new book. Well, Gloria loves books, and she really loves this book. She often picks it up off the floor and brings it over to one of us to read it to her. Here she is enjoying it with Dada:

On Sunday I left Gloria in her room for a few minutes while I finished getting things ready for us to leave the house. When I came back in, this is what I found

With her runny little nose, Gloria had crawled over to the book, opened it up, and settled on the page where the Little Girl goes and visits her Grandparents! You can see them there in the snowy window. Oh, what a sweet girl who loves her Grandparents.