board games

I grew up on these things. Every Sunday afternoon for as long as I can remember was designated as family bonding time via board games. Now, I know that most people dread the thought of ever playing and would rather deem them 'bored' games. But I assure you, spend and afternoon with the VandenBerg's playing Monopoly or Settlers and you will never see them in the same light (the board games).

My Dad likes to see them as a bonding tool, but I'm not sure that's the purpose they hold in my family. You see, my family is made up of half ruthless competitive and half sensative competitive members. Every game there is someone who ended up in tears while the others left miffed, except for the one who won... they would be rubbing it in every other minute (actually only if one of the ruthless competitive ones won). Unfortunately for myself I am one of the ruthless competitive ones (I know this might come as a surprise). However, I am really bad at playing board games and I hardly ever win, wow, that was hard to admit. This is my theory, no one likes to see or let me win and everyone likes to get me all riled up and the perfect way of doing this is making me lose. When we play together it seems like everyone takes the extra mile just to boycott my plan in Settlers, refuse to trade properties in Monopoly, steal my boyfriend in the Barbie Game, always attack my countries in Risk, take my triple word score in Scrabble... trust me I could go on, but I will spare you. This history with board games has almost killed them for me, but since I have such a strength of character I continue on.

I guess the true purpose of this blog was to announce that last night we payed Settlers and I won against my family for the first time! It has been long awaited, but the victory felt marvelous. Just thought I would let the world know :)

bless us one and all

I watch this movie every Christmas and I am dedicating this song to all of you!

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS!

Canada eh?

Lately, I have witnessed that our wonderful country of Canada has been taking the heat (maybe the cold shoulder would be a better term).

With Robyn just coming back from Africa and Ree, Tim, and Danielle going abroad for a semester I feel like Canada has lost its appeal. This is why I am writing this breath-taking blog. As I chew my little brother's last piece of strawberry Hubba Bubba I am going to ensure that all of you that have caught the travelling bug long to come back to me, back to your homeland, with gratefulness.

I understand that the grass is ussually greener on the other side, but in my very biased opinion the grass seems pretty green over here. Well, maybe not right now, but if you dig under the 4 feet of snow you will be able to see it. Where else in the world can you find green grass under snow? I have heard that England and France has very little grass and the grass that they do have you can't walk on. In Canada however, we have an abundance of lush green grass, grass that you can walk on whenever you want, grass so green that you have to cut it at least once a week. Canada has very nice soft green grass.

Africa may have the lions, the zebras, and the giraffes, but does it have the Beaver? It might have them cooped up in zoo's somewhere, but in Canada they roam free. The beaver is the largest rodent in the world. Although its size makes it a little slow on land, in the water it can go 0 - 7km in 3 seconds flat. Impressed yet, if not get a load of this. Not only is it really speedy, the beaver has exceptional teeth. Its long, sharp, strong teeth grow continuously. The upper and lower teeth grind against eachother so they remain chisel-sharp. With them, a beaver is able to feel very large trees. The beaver cuts down an average of 216 trees a year. Can a lion do that? I don't think so.

Now on to the topic of snow. Yes, I admit it is cold and it is unpleasant to get facewashed or get snow in your shoes. But like I always say, perspective is everything. Take sun for example. We say we all love it, but do we love it when it gives us a sunburn that turns into boils, do we love it when we are suffering from sunstroke, do we love it when we are working a 12 hour day doing labourous outdoor work, or when we are trying to get to sleep but we can't because it is too muggy to breathe properly? Probably not. Snow is wonderful. It allows hills or mountains to become slippery so that we can crack out the crazy carpets or GT Racers, our snowboard or skiis, or if you are Ree, her very slippery shoes. We can make snow angels, snowmen, forts, tunnels, snowballs, and catch snowflakes on our tongues. And you have to admit their is something pretty magical about going to sleep at night with the ground all brown and dead, but then waking up to a winter wonderland.

With snow comes the cold. This one is going to be a little harder to make into something wonderful, but here goes. Cold brings ice and ice brings skating and pond hockey. How many of us have spent endless hours on the pond either pretending we are the next Jamie Salé or Wayne Gretzkey. I know I did. And just in case you didn't know Canada has the longest skating rink in the world - the Rideau Canal. It is about 40mins from my house and while you skate you can eat the best beaver tails in the world (it's a pastery, not an actual tail). Not only does the cold give us ice, but it also gives us a pretty good excuse for our moms to make us hot choclate with the big puffy marshmellows on top.

I think if I was forced to pick ONE thing about Canada as my arguing point I would pick the mountains. I know, I know, I am from Ontario and I have no idea about mountains, but this summer I went to Alberta and I got my first taste of them. They were probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. If I could wake up every morning and see a mountain in the distance I would live a very content life. I know that there are other places in the world with mountains, but they are probably not as good as ours.

And if I haven't convinced you yet, here is my last point. Canada is where I live. If you haven't already noticed I am a very fun person, and I have been told that I am hilarious. If you leave Canada you leave me and unevidably your life will become a little less interesting.

The Hubba Bubba gum that I am chewing has lost all its flavour and its making my jaw hurt, so I am going to take that as my cue to stop.

bread and (no) butter

Mom I think you will be proud.

I felt like Laura Ingalls today and made my first homemade bread. Now finally I might win the heart of Almanzo Wilder. :)


































Maybe if I am feeling ambitious, tomorrow I will church some butter to go along with it.
That's a pretty big maybe...