More news from the North....

Greetings. I am regretting my decision to just bring a couple of hoodies for myself and the kids. It's been FREEZING here. The day we landed, it was nice. And then they had word of a storm. We have been mainly staying inside and looking for activities around the house. At first I was afraid this would eliminate all hopes of fun, but we've been well taken care of. Yesterday we went to Costco...as we wanted a REAL Canadian experience. Actually, it was because Mom and Scott decided to humor me as I wanted part of a Canadian experience, and I was hungry for Poutine. Mom and Scott stuck to the normal Costco Menu. I had tried Poutine last time I was here, but Jeff makes fun of me, and says that something with a name like that can't possibly be a food item. Obviously it is, and it is delicious. You see that Styrofoam boat filled with greasy goodness? That, dear readers, is worth the trip up here. The bottom is a layer of perfectly made crispy on the outside, mealy on the inside, french fries. Then on top of those are cheese curds. What kind of cheese? Goat cheese, I guess. Yummy cheese, for sure. Then it's all topped with a brown gravy. I ate every bite....as I also documented, because I know that Jeff wouldn't believe that I really would touch it. There is something a bit different about Canada, though. They really have no personal space issues, when it comes to a place where you sit down and eat. Anyplace, really. Like, you know that if you go into a fast food place in the states and you sit down and there are like, no empty tables in the general vicinity, that usually a person isn't going to sit right next to you...I mean right next to you, like share the actual booth or bench you're sitting at. But up here, it's the normal. You'll be sitting down, and if there is any empty space at all where you are, in order to save space for all that choose to eventually sit and eat, someone will come up and ask to share your table. It's really weird for me, because I am from the school of being with me and my own when I'm eating...I don't really feel comfortable when there's a stranger like right next to me...almost touching me. But up here, it's totally normal. I think that's the hardest thing for me to understand, because it just feels very wrong. In the states, most people would stand and eat their hot dog, rather than ask to squeeze right in with the family sitting closest to them. Here, it's perfectly okay. Not that I'm saying it's wrong, I guess it's pretty nice to think that people are open enough to be comfortable with that. I don't think I'd be getting used to it any time soon, though. I'm also amazed at what a melting pot it is here. In Utah, you might hear some Spanish and occasionally, if you're next to one the the Universities some Japanese or Chinese. But here, it's everything. I even ran into some people from a Polygamist sect here in Calgary. It was odd, and yet, it had the same effect on me when it occasionally happens at the Wal-mart next to my house...I just want to follow them around and maybe observe some clue as to why they are sporting that crazy old lady braid, or the apron dress with actual pockets that will hold like, items five inches wide and three feet long. What are those for? I don't know. It's all very different, and yet, so close to home, and a lot is the same. My children, on the other hand, have decided that they aren't going to test the boundaries of our culture. No Poutine for them, they just went with an American original...the hotdog. I thought this picture said exactly what they were thinking when I asked them the question, "why won't you try some of this stuff. Look it has Fries, french fries! It's obviously delicious." Well, Riley just rolled her eyes and said, "That looks really gross." And Cole tried to be nice but totally went the wrong way, when he told me, "It smells really yuck, too, Mom." I then told them both that they both were going to have to try some because they were being so rude. Riley has some insight to my sarcasm after her eight years with me. Cole still gets really worried. So this is my step brother, Graham. I hope that's how it's spelled...I don't know, it's not like we've known each other forever. I doubt he knows how to spell my name, so I'm not going to worry about it. But he is a really nice guy, he's really great with Riley and Cole and as a mom, that always scores big points. Riley and Cole think he's pretty funny, and Cole is always the first to volunteer when it's time for dinner to go get Graham, so we can eat. I think he feels some kind of "young dude" solidarity or something. The other day he sat next to Graham for about two hours and just talked about all his new toys while he was on the computer. I was impressed that Cole wasn't sent away within the first two minutes, because he's not very sympathetic to people trying to get work done. Anyway, the rest of the time we've pretty much been inside, playing games and reading and messaging Jeff, and missing him, and checking my email, and watching movies. Riley beat Scott today on his "Are you smarter than a fifth grader?" game. Sure she had a little help, but you could tell her victory was pretty encouraging. And Cole stayed in his jammies the entire day, and played with the toys that Mom and Scott got them for their birthdays. Apparently he's reminded my mom that she got Riley three toys, when she only got him one...nevermind the fact that his toy is about five times the size of Riley's. My mom told me this today, as she was worried about it and was actually considering going to find something to buy just so Cole would be appeased. I told her to forget it. Tell him he's a spoiled rotten brat if he brings it up again, and be done with it. I love my son...but sometimes I really worry about the way my shallowness is rubbing off on him...I mean, jeez. Lastly, my momma took me out and bought us some stuff to make jewelery with. Really nice stuff; stuff I couldn't in a million years afford for myself. But she wanted us to have something to do, and so we did. I'm pretty proud of myself, actually. Tomorrow I just might make some earrings after Church, if I so feel inclined. Stormy, Snowy, Calgary is apparently my oyster, so I'm gonna live it up. Well, I had probably go. I'm tired, and I'm starting to feel the ever more prevalent pangs of all day sickness. I have to go to sleep. That usually helps. So, adios, fellow Americans. I will keep you informed should anything else exciting happen...but can it compare to this? Please don't hold your breath!