It's Been Awhile

Well, after starting on Facebook, haven't posted here in awhile!  Please visit 'Kev Wood' or 'Becky Read Wood' on Facebook.  In the meantime we'll try to post more here.

Road Trip '09: Day 3 (Aug 11/09)

And Day 3 also went well! After a great breakfast at the Rockford, IL Holiday Inn Express we got away at 10:30. Unless we set an alarm we're learning that to get away an earlier than that with the two kids isn't realistic.

On our way out of town while Becky fed Zeke Amaya and I walked over to an Ace Hardware store that we saw to buy some tape. When we arrived at the doors I noticed that the automatic door was locked (at 10:30am). From the entry foyer it looked like they may have gone out of business. I tried to explain this to Amaya but when we had walked about 10 feet away from the door she ran back to the exit door and said, 'This one unlocked'. I walked over and went to show her that that door would also be locked. But it wasn't! So we went inside the foyer and approached the second set of doors - and the automatic entrance door opened! So there we were staring into a huge, vacant box store! We could have gone right in and played around in there.

Later, stopping at gas station that also had a Subway outlet, I was amused at how openly the female head cashier talked to the woman who was running the Subway counter and told her some tasks she could do on shift when things weren't busy. The Subway 'sandwich maker' responded, "But then the guys will come in and they won't do anything!" The head cashier quipped, "You mean like you?"

When we drove through Kalamazoo, MI Amaya was insistent that the city's name was 'cow at the zoo'. We stand corrected.

Unfortunately the pool was closed when we arrived at the Days Inn in Imlay City, MI so we're going to go swimming after breakfast just before we head out.

Road Trip '09: Day 2 (Aug 10/09)

Day 2 went much better. (Road Trip '09 photo album on my Facebook page.) Although we still didn't get really going until almost noon, the day overall went much better. As we headed out of St. Cloud, MN a deer ran across the road. I braked hard to try to miss it and due to braking was able to just clip the extended back leg of a second deer. That was close. The deer didn't seem to be hurt as they kept running. After a day on the road, we enjoyed a good supper at Perkins and then arrived at the Holiday Inn in Rockford, IL. A very nice place - and Amaya and I had a great swim while Becky watched with Zeke. Amaya is much more fearless than when I took her swimming this time last year! At first she was reluctant to jump off the side of the pool into my arms but then when two teenage boys showed up and were jumping and diving into the deepend she had to do the same - so she then went right down to the deep end to jump into my arms. She also let me hold her and jump into the shallow end with her in my arms. When it was time to go she didn't want to stop swimming so when I tried to help her put on her sandals she ran away from her. Lesson of the day - wet feet on a wet pool deck are not a good combination. She learned her lesson - and we hugged and comforted a crying, startled little girl.

Road Trip '09: Day 1 (Aug 9/09)

(I just changed my Blogger blog 'Constructing Cathedrals' so that it's not viewable by all - so if you can't view it and want to, let me know and I'll give you permission.)

Well, it was a busy start to the day - we loaded up the car before we headed to the church since I was operating MediaShout and Becky directed and participated in a Dramatic Reading for church. Our first day on the road was a learning experience with a 2 year old and a 2 week old. After getting on the road about 90 mins. after we had hoped to, it seemed like with stops and all we'd never getting to St. Cloud, MN - our first stop. At one point Amaya was so tired she was crying and so wound up we didn't know how to console her except to get to our destination as quickly as possible. About 11pm we did and were glad to get to bed. Becky did a great job of packing food for the road so we don't have to 'eat out' as much and also had the great idea of buying a thermos so that we can fill it in the morning and have hot coffee all day - better tasting coffee than that 'truck stop' flavour. Since we filled it up at Tim Horton's I guess that means that Tim's is now served in North Dakota and Minnesota!

Amaya's 1st Day Nap & Overnight in Her 'Big Girl's Bed'!

As I type this entry, Amaya is spending her first night in her 'big girl's bed'! No more crib for her! We decided to make the change at this point since it was becoming evident that if Amaya wanted to get out of her crib, she could easily. She napped in her 'new' (used - generously given by one of Becky's teaching colleagues) bed for her afternoon nap today and that went well. Here are some pics, including Becky reading a bedtime story.

'Let Freedom Ring': My Newest Video

Here is a video I've just finished - with February being Black History Month and all.  It's excerpts from Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, with an intro and ending that I put on it, and a 'cameo' by Barack Obama at a very timely/meaningful point.  Boy oh boy, taking the (audio) excerpts (from two video versions) and then rearranging the video (different camera angles) from these versions (except, of course, when Dr. King is speaking) sure was time and labour intensive.  I hope you like it - and I welcome your constructive criticism.  The video is also on YouTube (title='Martin Luther King I Have a Dream with biblical references and Barack Obama 'cameo') and my Facebook page. 

The song clip at the beginning is the start of the song 'Let Freedom Ring' by Eddie Howard from the album 'Power Under Control'.  The song clip at the end of the video is from the song 'Let Freedom Ring' by All of Us from the album 'So Far So Good' - both excellent songs - especially the latter!  I encourage you to purchase them from iTunes or other.

Amaya's 1st Tobaggon Ride!

After going to Winnipeg's Festival du Voyageur last Saturday with extended family Uncle Jer, (cousin) Ceanray, Amaya and I went back this weekend.  I bought Amaya a ceinture flechee (blogspot doesn't seem to allow us to put French accents here) - a traditional red sash - which you can see here - and which she even wore to church on Sunday.

With Amaya never having gone done any degree of a hill on a sled or tobaggan, I thought, 'Why work her up to it?'  So we went down the elevated, very fast tobaggan run at Festival.  Here's the video:

At the end of the run, once we came to a stop, Amaya laughed with glee.

There were also some very excellent and interesting snow sculptures.

Amaya's thoughts may be: "Okay, so I have a sleigh now, but this is fun too!" (Jan 1/09)

We had a great start to 2009!  Becky's brother and sister-in-law, Phil and Aimee Patterson-Read, came over to visit for a quiet New Year's Eve and ending up staying over.  Amaya was very pleased to have them get her up on New Year's Day.  Uncle Phil and Aunt Aimee took Amaya for a sleigh ride in her new sleigh (that Santa brought her) before we headed over to Dad and Mom Read's so that Aimee and Phil could finish packing (to fly out today) and we could all have a nice visit over a family brunch.

Over at Mom and Dad's, Uncle Jer, with Cousin Ceanray watching (Jer's girlfriend Stacy was with us for the day too), took Amaya for some fun rides in Dad's new ergonomic scoop shovel (the same one that I recently got).

Here's some video of the fun they had!  Listen for two of Amaya's favourite expressions, "Again?!" and "Whoa!"

Amaya's Christmas Day '08 Pastime

Ah, at last, the 1st video we've uploaded to our blog - how Amaya and I spent part of Christmas Day this year.

Highlights of Christmas Morning '08: Parts 1 and 2

Here are highlights from Christmas morning.  This video is in two parts below (since Blogspots limits the size of any one video).  Although the total time for both segments is a little over 14 minutes long, it does show not only Amaya opening gifts from family but some of her present vocabulary and mannerisms.  Enjoy.  Part 1 ...

And here's Part 2:

Amaya on the '08 Bring Your Child to Work Day

With November 5 being 'Bring Your Child to Work Day', I brought Amaya along with me to teach Fine Arts to the current participants of the Salvation Army's LEEP (Life Enhancement and Employability Program), for young adults from war-affected countries.  Amaya warmed up to them quickly! (photo used with their permission)

Amaya as Project Manager

While we've been working on building our new fence this fall, Amaya has been our Project Manager - supervising us as we worked.

Halloween 2008

By coincidence, Amaya and her friend Shayan (the daughter of her daycare provider Lis) both dressed up as elephants on Halloween day.
That evening Amaya enjoyed going out 'Trick or Treating' with her cousins Nathan (left) and Milena (centre).

Milena's (Belated) 16th Birthday Party

With us being out of town on Milena's birthday on Aug. 17, we were glad to be able to have a 2nd party and 2nd cake with her, and Nathan, Laurie and Paul!

Visiting with Friends and Family

In August it was nice to be able to visit with Becky's high school Cara (on couch) who was visiting from France, and her cousin Laura (in front of bridge), who is from Markham, Ontario and is in Winnipeg working with Canadian Mennonite University's (CMU's) Outta Town program.

Some Time with Nathan for His Feb. 5 Birthday (Sunday, Feb. 17/08)

Today I enjoyed a great afternoon with my nephew Nathan - for his birthday on February 5. We went out for lunch and then went glo-bowling. To eat, we went to the Salisbury House on the Riel Esplanade - a restaurant that is right on a bridge that crosses the Red River. We endured a cold, windy walk up the bridge to the restaurant - but Nathan was brave and laughing - bundled up warmly.
We had a great, SUNNY view over the river and I pointed out the St. Boniface Hospital (behind Nathan here) (where Amaya was born).

After lunch we had a lot of fun glo-bowling at Rossmere Lanes.
As you can see below, after Nathan fattened me at the lunch for the slaughter that would come at bowling, he toyed with me for the first 8 frames before pulling ahead in the 9th and 10th. Nathan (aka "Spiderman") is an excellent bowler! - THE CHAMP!

More of the Holidays (Dec. 28,30/07, Jan. 3/08)

Amaya is enjoying her new 3-in-1 'ladybug' car seat that will last her right until she doesn't even need a booster seat. It's a great seat!

On Jan. 3 we enjoyed a visit from Pat (centre) and Annie (right) Kemp (from North Dakota). They hadn't seen Amaya since Aug.

A Day with the 'Tuxedo' Woods (Jan. 2/08)

With the 'Tuxedo' Woods (Paul, Laurie, Nathan and Milena) having been in Ontario for Christmas, we got together with them on Jan. 2 for a belated Christmas gathering.

Their dog Tessa relaxes on the floor - when not seeking to be pet.

Becky bonds with their cat Barrington as Nathan looks on.

Having lots of photos of Milena and Nathan with Amaya, we thought it was high time we got a good one of Auntie Laurie and Amaya.

And this photo is from Uncle Paul spending some quality time with Amaya after church on Sunday, Dec. 30.

Memories from Dec/07

Here are some scattered, misc. memories from Dec/07.

Amaya contemplates the nativity scene - in this version a play version suitable for an infant - on Dec. 2.

Milena holding cousin Amaya at Faith Covenant Church's Christmas Banquet on Dec. 9.

From The Top (including Charis Chu and Jessica Gonzales) and Don Amero after we ministered at Harvest Outreach Church in Wahpeton, North Dakota on Sunday, Dec. 16.

On Dec. 20, the 2nd last day of school at the elementary school where I work, Amaya and I went and wished each class a "Good morning" as Santas. The quote of the day was a Grade 6 boy saying, "What a nice surprise on a morning like this!"
From The Top (Amanda C. [left], Becky M. and myself) performed at Milton Bible Church on Sun., Dec. 23. It was nice to be able to have a leisurely lunch with Becky and Amanda afterwards to get caught up.

After lunch we drove to Georgetown to see Andrea and Stephen Briggs (Andrea is Becky McDonald's sister) and their daughter Evangelina, and so I could see their house. Below Evangelina was getting to go out.

By Jan. 2 or so we hope to have put more photos here from our December happenings and holidays. Happy New Year!

Boxing Day/07

On Christmas Day we stayed over at Dad and Mom Read's and enjoyed spending Boxing Day there also. Dad spend part of the day working in his unheated garage on a Christmas gift for Amaya - a toy chest for Amaya.

Amaya, Grandmama Read and Ceanray.

Uncle Jer, Ceanray, Amaya and a new 'laughing' doll that Amaya got for Christmas.

Christmas Day/07

Our first Christmas with Amaya - very memorable. Christmas morning - her stocking.

Around noon we headed over to Dad and Mom Read's for a great day with family! Here is Amaya wearing a beautiful Christmas oufit that Poppa and Grandmama Read got for her (and a Santa hat I picked up). Might as well try to eat the gift - no harm in trying.
Dad and Mom Read.

Ceanray.
Jeremy.
Stacy.

Ceanray helping Amaya with her Jolly Jumper.