Charlotte's Cape Breton Road Trip

Last week, Charlotte had a great holiday with her Mum, Dad, and her Nanna Niccy who is visiting from New Zealand.

We did the following awesome things:
- Spent a night in Antigonish and walked around SaintFX while Nanna spoke to the students. Charlotte loved it there, but is disappointed that she has to wait twelve more years before she can have a run on their race track.
- SaintFX had rainbow pedestrian crossings, with colours in the same order as the song.
- We spent the weekend in Sydney, Cape Breton; and visited the giant fiddle. It was playing fiddle music.
- We missed Celtic Colours, but listened to friends of ours play Cape Breton music and sing old gaelic songs. We ate roast turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.
- We went to Louisburg Fortress and learned about the French families that lived there, before there were British.
- We spoke to a French 'carpenter' in wooden clogs, and met a man in period costume, walking around with five geese (who already knew the way).
- We spoke to elders and community workers on the Membertou Reservation. They had a Tim Hortons there, and the Stop Signs were in Mi'kmaq.
- We visited the beautiful heritage centre at Membertou, and climbed in the teepee. Mum bought fur moccasins. 
- We also visited Eskasoni and Pictou Landing Reservations, but missed out on Millbrook/ Indian River. We heard First Nations drummers sing.
- We saw a loon, a cormorant and two eagles; and my Dad got pooped on by a seagull. We watched for Moose on the highway at night.
- We did our word of the day on the road trip, and were happy to come back to school and meet all our friends.

Bonjour mes amis/Au revoir mes amis

What we are learning this week:

• How to print the letters and say Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, and Ff.
• Learning new songs, Including ABC's, and Bonjour mes amis/Au revoir mes amis.
• Working with the numbers 1 and 2

Parody Parrot

Almost two months after her actual birthday, Charlotte is only one sleep away from her belated birthday party. (She was hell bent on going to Titans Gym to bounce on the trampolines, but their dance card was full ~ so Tigga opted to wait).

     The line of questioning lately has been along the basic theme of, "So what are you getting me for my birthday?" 

To this, we usually scoff and laugh, because Michelle and I both know the wee brat is as fortunate and spoiled as a kid can get, (mostly because her parents are uselessly sentimental ~ especially her Dad).

     The fact is, Charlotte has already had mountains of gifts: both at Christmas time, and again in January during her actual birthday. (Having everything and asking for more, must have something to do with turning five).

     But when she asked the 'present' question again this morning, she detected the sarcasm in our voices when we promised to buy her a rocket ship. 

     I can't remember how it played out exactly, but likely, one of us said it, the other one laughed, and the end result was that Charlotte was quite upset. 

So much so, that she stormed off to her room in tears for the third time today (again, she's only five).

     But I'm her Dad, and I love her, and I always wanted a rocket ship when I was a kid, as well. Needless to say, the big softy took pity on the teary-eyed little girl.

     Man, I remember how it was to be five years old, just starting out and finding my way in the world. I remember I especially hated it when people made fun of me.to this day, I still hate smug people. Perhaps because of then.

     So fast-forward to this afternoon and we're in Costco. We are there to pick up the birthday cake, but as we so often do at Costco, we stumbled on something pretty, and I totally caved.

     It caught both of our attention at the same time, and although it wasn't a space capsule, it was the next best thing ~ it was a 3D Parrot Kite.

(I couldn't talk Tig into the 3D Spitfire kite that was there, and there was no way I was taking her out to fly a 3D Frozen Olaf, so the Mcaw was the compromise).

     We were so excited we got it out of the box as soon as we got home. In fact, kite fever was so rampant, it totally distracted one of us from the fact that it was fast approaching nap time (more tears).

     So, after a quick snack and the much needed afternoon zZz's were taken care of, we jumped into our snow suits, and we were off...

Unfortunately, the going was pretty tough on account of the snow. There is 75cm sitting over the playground, so there were no swings (because they are all totally buried), and we had to fall down a bunch more times, lose a boot or two in the ice drifts, and shed a few more frustrated tears during the 25 minute slog across to the sports field...

     

     ...but finally, we made it.

We hooked up the hand winch, released the streamers, then it happened. You guessed it... the bloody wind stopped blowing... entirely!

     Our beautiful parrot kite wouldn't fly (which if I'm honest, is our third failed attempt at kite flying, with as many different models of kite).

     Admittedly, convincing Charlotte to run into wind when she was constantly sinking up to her thighs in snow was a little too much to ask.

     There was the odd little puff that gave us hope enough to stay, but after 45 minutes, I was still standing like a dork, with my arms in the air, the lazy canvass fluttering above my head, and Charlotte 200 yards away making a snow angel, (the Spitfire would have flown. Just saying).

     Finally, just as Charlotte lost another boot, then a glove (while she was trying to fix the boot), and right as she was about to forego the will to live, the stubborn canvass parrot finally rose up and took to the air.

It was beautiful!

Charlotte grabbed the controls, forgot all about the frostbite on the end of her nose, and we just sat together for a while marvelling at our hard won achievement.

     "There, Charlotte," I said. "There's no 'I' in 'TEAM', but I think we've just proved, there is a 'Me'."

It was right about then, that it started to snow...

On the walk (or should I say, 'slog') back home, we flew the Parrot Kite with about 15 yards of twine paid out. 

     From her new vantage point, atop the sympathetic shoulder ride I was giving her, Charlotte made a stunning observation:

     "Hey Daddah, I think I know what happened, Daddah." (She always says her parents name first and last on the opening sentence).

     "What's that, Tig?"

     "Parody Parrot was just a little scardy, because she's never done this before. Until now, she's always lived in her box at Costco."

     "You're right," I agreed, amused with the purity and magic of her observation.

     "Yeah, and now that she knows she can fly, she doesn't want to stop. Just look at her, Daddah. Isn't she beautiful. I love her sooo much."

Glad you like it buddy. Happy belated birthday-eve, Tig. I'd give you the entire world if I had it to give.

     I can't wait to hang out with you and your Mum, this Summer. It's going to be so much fun.

xxooxx Dad