Is that the least appealing headline ever? Open House at the Cement Factory. And yet, strange as it sounds, it was a huge hit with the kids. Down at Granville Island, Ocean Cement opened up their lot and let kids climb into all the cement mixers, get free balloons, and play in a giant sand pile. Wheeeee!
Posted under Christmas, Vancouver
This post was written by stevepratt on April 27, 2008
It’s been so busy the last two weeks that I’m very late in putting this up. My brother, Brian, his wife, Kerri-Lynn, and their one-year old daughter, Sydney, came out here for Christmas week with my parents, so the whole Pratt clan was together for the holidays.
As evidenced in the top picture, Cedar wrote her note to Santa by herself for the first time.
The tree was ridiculous this year, with presents for 9 people, including 3 young children. 
There were lots of gift highlights:
Cedar:
-A Snow White doll
-A Baby Alive that pees itself
-A giant play kitchen where she now regularly whips up imaginary pancakes, muffins, and ice cream
Dawson
-A wagon
-A ton of wooden train tracks
-Trains, planes and automobiles
Lisa:
-A book on cooking omelettes from Courtney (a taunt, as there is an ongoing competition for reigning omelette champion of the Pratt family)
-Sweaters, shirts, and a cape / shawl from a local designer that transforms Lisa into Super Maggot
-iPod nano
Me:
-Blue Rodeo tickets at the Orpheum
-Steve Martin’s book about his standup comedy career
-Guitar Hero III for the Wii, which I’ve been playing constantly for the last week
Other good moments:
-My mother opening up the gag-gift of a stringy thong
-Courtney getting a brain-training game and quickly determining that his mental age is 80.
-Some gorgeous weather with spectacular views of the city.
Posted under Children, Christmas, Family
This post was written by stevepratt on January 2, 2008
Posted under Children, Christmas, Family, Sandy The Dog
This post was written by stevepratt on December 27, 2006
Sandy got in on the gift action, getting a stuffed veterinarian. Very, very popular with the pooch.
Posted under Christmas, Humour, Sandy The Dog
This post was written by stevepratt on December 27, 2006
Cedar’s whoopee cushion. Loads of laughs. (Kerri-Lynn got one, too, and apparently it’s been a huge hit in Kanata as well). One dollar + on-demand fart sounds = great Christmas.
Posted under Cedar News, Children, Christmas, Family, Humour
This post was written by stevepratt on December 27, 2006
Overall, an amazing Christmas this year. Now four years old, Cedar was insane with excitement about the presents and kept asking, “Can I open another one for me?”. She got a Cabbage Patch doll and a Cinderella Vanity.
Dawson, who we thought would only enjoy ripping up wrapping paper, had a blast and played with lots of his presents in his new ‘pimp’ sweatsuit.
I got a Wii, which has been ridiculously fun to play (MAJOR family grudge matches at Wii tennis and bowling…).
Maggot got a mixmaster, clothes, and a giant slow cooker.
Alexa got clothes and fancy place settings.
And in my favourite Xmas pic, Courtney got a video ipod. Caption for this photo: “Holy S*@*! I got a video iPod!” 
Posted under Children, Christmas, Family
This post was written by stevepratt on December 27, 2006
Last year, Cedar wrote her first letter to Santa. This year, it’s Santa letter 2.0, dictated before bed on Christmas Eve. She may be blunt, but at least she knows what she wants.
Posted under Cedar News, Children, Christmas
This post was written by stevepratt on December 27, 2006
…and is taking ‘christmas decorations’ to new extremes.
Posted under Christmas
This post was written by stevepratt on December 10, 2006
The CBC Kids Christmas Party took place today and both our kids had a blast. Dawson spent most of the time mesmerized by this inflatable reindeer machine… 
…while Cedar got to meet one of her favourite TV stars, Kush from CBC Kids.
Of course, the climax was when Santa entered the room…
…and the kids got to sit on his lap. Well, Cedar got to sit on his lap. Dawson spent a nano-second with ole Saint Nick before having a complete hissy fit and needing to be carried away. (Just like his sister when she was one!) Cedar’s great takeaway from the day: “Now that Santa has given me a present, does this mean he doesn’t have to come to our house while I’m asleep?” Makes you realize how freaky the whole Santa concept is, even if he IS bringing lots of toys.
Posted under Children, Christmas
This post was written by stevepratt on December 10, 2006
