The Nutcracker

We did our first family Christmas activity of the season last Friday night.  We watched the National Ballet perform The Nutcracker at the Four Seasons Performing Arts Centre.  Everyone in Josh's class got free tickets because one of the moms works at the National ballet.  We thought that we would attempt to go and see how long the boys lasted.  Since the tickets were free, it wouldn't be too much of a lose if we had to leave early. We were awestruck and amazed by the talent and aside from a 20 minute break that Mike took with Owen, we were all able to stay the entire time!

(before the show started, the boys were entranced by the orchestra rehearsing)

The best part was when during one confusing scene (I have always found The Nutcracker a bit confusing!), the mom behind me said 'I don't get it' and her 5 year old daughter replied 'oh, I can explain it to you'.  Yes, please enlighten us!
Josh was totally into it and as soon as it ended, he immediately said 'can we watch it again?'.
It was definitely a memorable way to start the Christmas season!

(Josh helping Owen find his seat)

(it was the perfect opportunity for the boys to wear their beautiful new sweaters handknit by Grandma C)

Trying to start a tradition

The great thing about it being so cold here is that there are outdoor skating rinks everywhere and we are lucky enough to have one just a few blocks from us.  I thought it would be so wonderful to start a mother-son tradition with Josh of going iceskating together.  Last Saturday, I suggested the idea to Josh and explained how it was such a great idea since we both have our own iceskates.  I even tried to sell it up by suggesting that we take the streetcar there and go to Starbucks for some hot chocolate afterwards!  Come on, who could resist that offer?  Well, apparently Josh could.  He politely told me 'no, thank you' and suggested that I take Owen instead.  A few hours later, when Josh was heading out the door with Mike (to play basketball), he casually said 'have fun with Owen iceskating, make sure to hold his hand'.
I decided to leave it for the day and maybe work on convincing him during the week.  On Tuesday, I brought up my wonderful idea again of going iceskating together.  Josh said he couldn't go because he was going to be busy on Saturday.  I asked him what he had to do and he said he had homework.  When I asked him what he had for homework, he realized that I wasn't buying it so he quickly changed his story to a more believable one that he had a project, a big colouring project that he had to work on.  Okay, fine I get the hint.
Josh did try to appease me somewhat by offering to walk to the skating rink with me and watch the other skaters.  I guess I will take what I can get.  And maybe I will start the mother-son iceskating tradition with Owen because I am sure he would be all over it!

The next Steve Nash(es)

If you ask Josh what his favourite thing about Toronto is, he’ll probably tell you it’s the basketball courts across the streets.  He’s obsessed with basketball in every way.  He loves to go over and ‘shoot hoops’ with daddy – he’s even gone at 7am in his pyjamas.  If he had the chance, he would play every single day.  He and I also have fun going together to shoot hoops (according to him, I am really good at basketball and daddy’s not very good so maybe I can teach daddy how to play!).

Even Owen is becoming obsessed with the game.  He hasn’t realized that there is actually a hoop at the top of the pole so he excitedly runs over to the hoop and throws the ball at the pole and thinks he has scored! He also likes to randomly play dead on the basketball court.

We wondered what we would do once the daylight hours shortened and the weather got colder and wetter.  We decided to take the game inside!  We have our own little indoor basketball court and the boys can play basketball rain or shine, day or night.  Owen now realizes there is a net but he knows that there’s no hope that he is going to sink the basket so he often will stand at the hoop and just line up his shot for 5 minutes.  It’s the cutest thing.

Next time these two boys challenge you to a game of 2 on 2, you better bring you’re A game – they’ve already got some pretty wicked skill!