When the Cat is Away, the Mice will Play

Last weekend, I was very sick.  Myself and fifteen of my colleagues came down with a severe case of Norwalk or food poisoning.  The jury is still out on the exact culprit, but the common denominators are last Thursday and our staff room.  Suffice to say, I was out of commission for most of last weekend.  Like the Bubble Boy in Seinfeld, I spent a lot of time in solitary confinement for fear of infecting the rest of my family.  The kids were kept busy and had a lot of fun in my absence.

Here is what they got up to:

Sarah's last hip hop class and a special presentation.

Painting pots and eating gummy worms at a garden party.

Eating cupcakes with a very special birthday girl.

Blowing bubbles.

Finding the perfect piece of driftwood and throwing rocks as far as possible.

Captain Canada Writes About Daddy Day

This post is written by Captain Canada.  The opinions are his own.

Once again I am coming to the rescue of my wife’s blog with another thrilling dad post.  I wanted to post about Daddy Day.  Daddy Day is not to be mistaken for Father’s Day.  Father’s day is a celebration of dad’s and it happens once a year.  In the Schwartz house every Friday is Daddy Day.  I don’t work on Friday’s and my wife does.  I tried to explain this fact to an elderly woman at Tim Horton’s during a daddy day outing and she looked across at her elderly husband and said “My husband never did anything like that with our kids”.  My response, “That’s because I’m better than him”.  And by the way if you are reading this and wondering why your husband doesn’t do this, it’s because I’m also better than him.

So what is Daddy Day?  Well I took my camera along on a recent Daddy Day to provide a better understanding,  and I will provide narration for the images as if it is a children’s story (for dramatic effect).

On Daddy Day we spin.

On Daddy Day we slide.

On Daddy Day we jump.

On Daddy Day we run and splash.

On Daddy We stop to smell the flowers.

On Daddy Day we eat ice cream.

On Daddy Day we go to Ikea and play in the ball pit.

On Daddy Day we laugh and smile.

On Daddy Day we ask 300 times “When is Mommy getting here?”

Reminds Me # 3

 Playing music is supposed to be fun. It's about heart, it's about feelings, moving people, and something beautiful, and it's not about notes on a page. I can teach you notes on a page, I can't teach you that other stuff. -Glenn Holland from Mr.  Holland's Opus

Jack fine tuning his talent with sticks at Garry Point.

On Motivational Speakers and Tears

Last Wednesday night I attended Vancouver Mom's Top 30 Ultimate Blogger party.  It was an amazing celebration.  I was primped and pampered and spoiled with an amazing swag bag.  During the formal part of the evening, three bloggers who I read regularly, spoke about blogging.  I was inspired by their words.  Harriet,  Tracey and Amber spoke to me about lessons of blogging and about being a blogger.  From their inspiring and funny speeches, I took away these messages,

• If something is weighing on you, blog about it.   
• Accept who you are and be true to yourself.
• You are not alone.

Thank you ladies for giving me the words and courage to write.

We had a guest speaker at our school last Tuesday.  His name is Michael Brololotto.  He came to our school to speak about bullying and friendship and including everyone.  Michael has Cerebral Palsy.  He has overcome many obstacles in his life of all shapes and sizes.  I was excited to hear him speak.

His talk started by explaining to the kids about who he is and why he looks and sounds different.  He told the kids, "Even though I look different in the way that I walk and the way that my hands move and sound different, in my heart I am just like all of you.  I want to have fun and laugh, be loved and have friends."  He then went onto say that in school he did not have friends.  Kids were mean to him, called him names and even beat him up.  I connected with his words in a way that I didn't expect.  His words brought tears, lots of tears and I had to leave the room.  His words took me to a place that I try not to go to often.  It is the place where I worry about my nephew Declan and what his life will be like as he gets older and goes to school.

I have hopes and dreams for Declan just like I know his parents do.  I want people to look beyond Down Syndrome and see the little boy that we see.  The little boy who already knows more than thirty words and is always able to let us know what he wants or needs.  The little boy who loves to climb and run and watch Gabba (Yo Gabba Gabba).  The boy who is quick to hug when it is time to say goodbye and who can't get enough of his Uncle Mer (Captain Canada).  I want him to have fun and laugh.  To have friends and be loved.  To find his tribe wherever and whoever that may be.

Michael found me after school on Tuesday.  And even though I cried again.  I can't thank him enough for that.

What did I get out of all of this?

I am going to be kind.  I am going to look beyond differences and focus on those things that connect us and make us the same.  Along the way I am going to model and teach my kids to be kind.  I hope this  post reaches other people and my goal of kindness is passed on.  I want everyone, regardless of abilities or extra chromosomes to be treated with respect and kindness and be given opportunities to laugh, to be loved, to have friends and to have a good time.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. ~Lao Tzu 

Tourists in Our Own Town

Last weekend, we decided to be tourists in our own town and headed to Lonsdale Quay.  I am embarrassed to say I had never been to the Quay before.  To add to the fun, we decided to take transit to get there.  We zipped down the Canada Line to the Waterfront Station and then onto the SeaBus.  The SeaBus was another first for me.
We were able to see a helicopter take off on each leg of our SeaBus ride.

We burned off energy chasing each other on the pier.

We played a family favourite game of sack of potatoes.

We made wishes.

We enjoyed the view of the city skyline.

We played peek a boo.

We enjoyed some outdoor entertainment.

We loved how quiet it was on a Sunday morning. Plenty of room in the ball pit for kids and no long waits for food.  It was our first visit, but it will not be our last.

What are some of your favourite places for a family adventure?

Reminds Me #2

Last week we started a little tradition called "Reminds Me".  This is a Captain Canada gem.  When he sees something, often a picture that reminds him of something, he creates a split screen.  If you are an 80's child into movies like Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Sixteen Candles or Breakfast Club, I think you are going to love this one.

Happy Friday.

Everything is a Little Better with Cousins

You know the commercial where the two long lost lovers see each other for the first time?  They spot each other across a field of tall grass.  Cue the music and the slow motion music as they run to each other and embrace.  That is what happens when Jack and Sarah see their cousins, Emma and Declan. Even if they have just seen each other the day before, the intensity of their hug and level of their excitement over the opportunity to play does not lessen.  They love each other something fierce.

So with the news that our cousins are moving to the Okanagan, we are excited for their new chapter. But sad that the long, lost loving embrace will decrease in frequency, definitely not in intensity.  

Because what is not to love about those green eyes and that adorable face?

Two is better than one when taking time to stop and smell the flowers. 

Ride sharing is not only environmentally friendly, but also gives the cousins a chance to talk about their day.  A good debrief is always therapeutic.

The more the merrier when it comes to playing everyone's new favourite game, "What time is it Mr. Wolf?"

This is Emma and Declan being Mr. Wolf together.

Watching the cousins share a giggle gives me visions of their future together.  Cousin sleep overs, flashlights hidden under blankets, late night giggles and memories that will last a life time.  I can't wait.

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I was nominated as one of Vancouver Mom's Ultimate Top 30 Bloggers.

I was honoured to be nominated and look forward to meeting the other lovely and talented bloggers at Fabulous, a party next Wednesday.  I wanted to thank everyone for their votes, support and kind words.  Now if I could only figure out what to wear Wednesday.  Anyone?  Anyone?  Bueller?

Run Up for Down Syndrome By the Numbers

Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does.  ~William James

Sunday we completed the 1.5 km walk at Simon Fraser University as part of the Run Up for Down Syndrome event organized by the Down Syndrome Research Foundation.

4165        Money raised by our team, Decky's Daredevils.

15           Team members.

3           Kids being carried at any one time.

2           Wagons used to pull children and other essentials.

Working really hard here to ensure no runaway wagon.

1          Game of peek a boo played along the route.

# of smiles...... too many to count.