Day 259: I don't talk to strangers

This is coming back to Utah with me. I love it. I especially love that it was lovingly placed in my mailbox by a company I'm assuming wants my business.

Very clever, because by knocking on the door, they'd become that door to door salesman? I can respect a bit of sly marketing ;)

Day 258: It's the most wonderful time...

Canada has the luxury of the whole month of November uncluttered with Thanksgiving to shamelessly promote Christmas.

I know in the US sometimes Thanksgiving gets glossed over and we move straight to Christmas, but Canadians can do this guilt-free.

Exhibit A: Sparkly tinsel trees on light poles

Exhibit B: These things

Exhibit C: Creepy elves

Day 257: Poppies, poppies!!

Every where we go these days, everyone has a red poppy pinned to their coat. 

Honestly. Try to find a person not wearing one of these.

There are adorable children in military-type uniforms selling them outside of everywhere we go, so of course I have one too.

You should have seen the child I bought mine from. He was dressed in a Popeye-like sailor uniform. I couldn't resist.

 (sadly, this is not my photo. borrowed from this website)

Even Angelina Jolie wears one! 

from wikipedia:

Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day or Armistice Day  or Veterans Day – is a holiday to commemorate  the sacrifices of members of the armed forces. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918

The poppy's significance is a result of Canadian military physician John McCrae's  poem In Flanders Fields. The poppy was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their red colour a symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare.

The Royal Canadian Legion suggests that poppies be worn on the left lapel, or as close to the heart as possible.

In the United States, the American Legion distributes crepe-paper poppies in exchange for contributions. "Poppy Day" is usually the same as or near Memorial Day in May. However, many Legion groups also make poppies available around November 11.

Day 256: On Guard

I've been waiting to publish this post because I don't have pictures   *cough someone deleted them cough cough*   but I will go ahead with it and post pics later.

This year, Ethan is in a 5/6 grade combined class.  He was elected class representative for the Student Council.  He also applied for and earned a spot on the school's Safety Patrol. That meant writing an essay on why he would be a good Safety Patroller. 

The Safety Patrol guards the cross walks and corners to make sure kids get to and from school safely. Because Ethan is younger than the rest of the kids in his class he partners with the adult crossing guard. 

These things are not a surprise because he is the most outgoing of our children.  He has always been able to talk to anyone or get up and speak in front of people (except for the time he was the star of his class play but freaked out and almost couldn't go on,  but we don't speak of that)

What is surprising is that our Miss Emma was also elected class representative for 7th grade.  She too has a Safety Patrol post.  A couple Fridays ago she made sure to let Christa and Deven know that while they were staying home,  she had plans with friends for the next three Friday nights.  

This from a child whose own Grandmother didn't hear her speak a full sentence until she was about 10 years old :)