Toronto vs. Vancouver

A question I've been asked many times is:

How do Toronto and Vancouver
compare with each other?

Below are our thoughts. Now mind you that we did not live in downtown Vancouver but rather the Lower Mainland - meaning within the major area - and now we definitely live in downtown Toronto. So the question I'm really answering is "How does Toronto compare with the Lower Mainland of British Columbia?".

1. Vancouver felt very much like the United States. Lots of big box stores. Smoking was not seen everywhere you go and the streets/sidewalks were clean. Public transit was not very good, unless you were right downtown Vancouver and then it was only okay. New, clean, glass skyscrapers make up the city. Toronto has a very European feel to it. Almost all houses are brick. Smoking is everywhere and the city does not have an overall clean feeling. Streetcars, subways, and buses can take you almost anywhere.

2. The weather.

3. Vancouver provides an enjoyment of being outside most places you go. It's basically due to the amazing bounty of varied beauty found in the area, which is the reason why the license plates say "British Columbia - Best Place on Earth". Toronto just doesn't have that feel. No other place I've been has had that feel. Vancouver/British Columbia contains so many different physical features that a person can do practically anything there. Toronto has big city life with a lake & city parks thrown into the mix.

4. There was a much stronger emphasis of Canada and being Canadian in British Columbia than there is over here in Toronto. Our American citizenship seemed to get a lot of attention, some of it being negative. I attribute part of that to the fact that Toronto is incredibly diverse - to the point that it's supposed to be the most diverse city (with regards to population) in the world - so really, most people are not or do not see themselves as being Canadian at the core. We were watching a news show last night, actually, that said in all of Canada, British Columbians find more of their identity in being Canadian than anywhere else in Canada. So maybe that's part of it too...

5. We heard it in BC and we've heard it out here - Toronto is the place to be if you want to make money. Vancouver is the beautiful place.

6. Where we lived in British Columbia was considered the Bible Belt of Canada. We've realized how true that is now that we're on the East Coast. While new churches were being built or old churches were being renovated in Langley, there are a lot of old, beautiful, empty churches here in Toronto. Some are being renovated and made into expensive condominiums. A great idea for using the buildings but sad that these churches were empty AND another church body couldn't be found to purchase the buildings.

7. Brick is everywhere in Toronto. In the early 20th century, it was actually law that you built with brick! Thus, when you drive around and see a house that is not brick, it really catches your attention. On the other coast, brick was a rarity.

Overall, we like Toronto but really miss British Columbia.

Little Ones & Prophesies

Look at her.


She's cute. She's little. She's (almost) harmless.

Is it not absolutely amazing that Herod was terrified of a little one like her?

"But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel." Matthew 2:6

He heard this prophesy and became so scared that he eventually ordered all boys under age 2 to be killed. All because of some words!

This dumbfounds me. That a person would believe a Jewish prophesy, when he's not Jewish, so much that he resorts to murdering hundreds of meek babes. Sure, it was because he didn't want to lose his power, but these were words that made him do it, not a huge army coming towards him.

Do I believe that the prophesies of the Bible are going to come true as much as he did?

A Great Groupon

Recently we bought our first Groupon coupon for the local HomeBake Pizza. The idea was to use it on Valentine's Day but the only day the joint is closed is Monday...oops. It turned out, however, to be a great way to kick off our vacation tonight.


We ordered the Pesto Pizzaz pizza: "grain fed roasted chicken and organic baby arugula topped with tangy artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers over zesty basil pesto sauce." Awesome toppings. Best pizza we've had in a really long time and we cooked it ourselves! Plus, it would have been $24.95 but we got it for the Groupon price of $12.

We'll definitely try Groupon and HomeBake Pizza again.

Ready for Relaxation

Yay for Reading Break! Starting tonight, John is officially on vacation for one week. He is going in to the library tomorrow and some day next week, but otherwise it is time for some good old relaxation with his family.


Helena is obviously already experiencing the stress-free life! No, this is not a posed picture. In the first few weeks of her life, she would go totally limp after eating. One time she was just resting on my legs, I pulled her forward to put on my chest, and the above is how her body fell!


Helena is already taking after both of her parents' families in finding enjoyment in books. Maybe we'll all get to take some time for reading...


Or perhaps there will be more time like this in the next few days. If there is, you can expect some more blog posts to appear!

Time with Noni and Papa

To call my mom's visit of 2 weeks a blessing would be a huge understatement. The three of us had fun together while we awaited for Little Critter's arrival - doing crosswords, visiting the Bata Shoe Museum, chatting, watching Parenthood, going out for pizza and pastries, shopping, etc. Then the contractions began, and again it was so nice to have her present. Without her, John would have been one exhausted soul and I'm not sure I would have made it as long as I did.

Then Helena arrived, and again my mom was needed! She washed all the dishes, cooked all the meals, fetched the locally-baked bread, washed all the pumping machinery (seems like the appropriate word!), stayed up late with me while Helena nursed, continued to do crossword puzzles, and so much more. Plus she paid attention to Helena :)

Mom, thanks for coming.

We also had a great time with my Dad. He came for the last three days, and while he only got to leave our neighborhood once, it seemed like he enjoyed his time! For your enjoyment, here are a few pics of Helena with her Noni and Papa.

A New Family Member!

Papa and His Love for Babies' Non-Calussed Feet Continues

Helena's First Art Project

The Crossword Queen Multi-Tasking

Noni & Helena with Helena's Baby Quilt (made by Noni)

Woo-hoo for Wisconsin!

January was a sad month for Wisconsin Badger fans, as they ended up losing the Rose Bowl by a field goal. The season ended with the team ranked seventh. But things sure have changed for the Cheeseheads now, what with the results of the Super Bowl!

Alright Pack!

Our New Addition

I'm at a loss for words, as how does one even start writing about such a huge, wonderful, scary, and amazing change in life?

Helena Ann joined our family on Monday night at 11:55 p.m. - just had to be a January birthday! Her weight was 6 lb. 7 oz. and her length was 20.25 inches. She just seems so teeny tiny!


Surprisingly, during labor, I wasn't even thinking about the babe being a girl or a boy. Little Critter was just my baby. So when the doctor announced "It's a girl!", I thought "Oh yeah, forgot about that aspect of our child."


Her first name - Helena, accent on the second syllable - comes from her great grandma Helen, John's grandmother. She is a wonderful lady, and we're so proud to give that namesake to our daughter. Ann, her middle name, is my middle name, was my mom's middle name, and was my recently passed grandfather's sister's name. Another namesake I'm glad to pass on.

Three Generations of Anns

We were in the hospital until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. She was all dressed in her "going home" outfit and tucked away in her car seat when the nurse checked and said, "No, not tight enough." But the car seat wouldn't go any tighter! So, Helena actually had two "going home" outfits - one on top of the other - because we needed to give her some bulk.

We Three Plus a Tim Horton's Iced Cappuccino (My Long Desired Treat!)

We've now been home for three days and are having a splendid time being a family. My dad has joined us, and we're all having fun watching her stretch, hearing her cry, and seeing her many faces. Oh, and yes, there have already been tears (mine, of course) over not wanting Helena to grow up.