Men's Olympic Gold medal game

Like most of the nation, Emmett got up earlier than usual today.

Unlike most of the nation, he did not get up early to watch the gold medal hockey final between Canada and Sweden. Inspired by the nail biting women's gold medal game, our men's team also did us proud as they defeated Sweden 3 - 0 and captured the gold medal. Whether it was in a bar, an airport, a Tim Horton's, or on an iPhone-because-you-don't-own-a-tv-or-subscribe-to-cable, the early rise for the puck drop at 5am can only be described as a truly Canadian moment.

No, our Emmett was up AND dressed at 5:30am this morning for other reasons. Fueled by the excitement only a four year old can feel, he catapulted out of bed in anticipation of seeing...the LEGO Movie, an event that has been on the StranMcCann calendar for weeks.

 

Emmet: An ordinary, rules-following, perfectly average LEGO minifigure who is mistakenly identified as the most extraordinary person and the key to saving the world. He is drafted into a fellowship of strangers on an epic quest to stop an evil tyrant, a journey for which Emmet is hopelessly and hilariously underprepared.

And really, a movie about LEGO with a main character named Emmet? No wonder he was excited.

Firsts

First hockey game - the Crowchild Classic. Other than a major upchuck all over his Dad, and some tears when the horn sounded to signal a goal, a successful outing. Emmett and Oscar's parents know they are playing with fire exposing their boys to the game of hockey. Emmett's mom lives in constant fear that she will be a hockey mom.







First flight. Other than some sore ears on the descent, it was remarkably uneventful and straightforward. Emmett was plugged into Treehouse, the parents were plugged into the Olympics, and Oscar was plugged into the inflight refreshment service, courtesy of his mom.









First visit with Gramma, full of hugs, giggles, cuddles and kisses.

Bronze is the new gold

As a tribute to Team Canada and its impressive heap of bronze medals at the London Olympics, Emmett competes in the Playground Triathlon (climbing-sliding-rockthrowing) and generates a bronze medal of his own...

News from the animal kingdom

Emmett's dad has been aching for an excuse to share a couple of his favourite news stories from New Zealand, and finally found one.

Big news in early April from Alexandra: the Great Easter Bunny Hunt, giving nightmares to chocolate-loving Kiwi children since 1991.

Then, a week later in New Plymouth, a story about a spraypainted goat. Believe it or not, this made national headlines.

And right here at home, just today, Emmettilius stranmccannii has at long last cut his first tooth. Not bad for a creature who started showing symptoms of teething, like, three months ago.

Thanks to Shawzanne for the video evidence, recorded while Emmett's parents abandoned him to watch the women's semi-final hockey game back in February.

Post-Olympics Blues, Remedy #2

Soup. Eat homemade soup. We recommend Emmett's mom's lentil vegetable soup.

Post-Olympics Blues, Remedy #1

Beer. Drink, drink some more, chuck on your shirt, eject bottle. Repeat.

Nailbiter!

Vancouver Winter Olympics. Gold medal hockey game. Canada vs. USA.

The neighbours drop by Emmett's house to watch one of the most exciting match-ups ever. The game is exciting beyond belief. Team USA ties the game with seconds left in the third period.

Emmett's mom chews her nails down to the nub.

Emmett is completely riveted.

Then, Sidney Crosby scores the winning goal in overtime, Canada wins gold, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast go completely crazy.

All of Canada, that is, except for Emmett.

If Chucking was a full medal sport...

...Emmett would own the podium.

While lunching on the patio at the Laughing Bean, Emmett partners with his dad to score high marks for artistic impression and even higher marks for technical merit. Here's how the action played out, in reverse order:

Stargazing in Vancouver

Celebrity sightings are a regular occurrence at the Olympics.

Exhibit A: Mike Reno and Loverboy, in concert at one of the victory ceremonies at BC Place (inset: Emmett's mom givin 'er at said concert)

Exhibit B: John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee. Given that Mr. Furlong's stress level was expected to continue red-lining for at least another week, Emmett's dad opted to not ask to have his photo taken with him.

Exhibit C: Emmett, strolling down Robson Street wearing his flashy yellow shades. Almost as if he won a medal in snowboard halfpipe, complete strangers asked if they could take his photo. Here he is with one of his groupies.

Introverts vs. Extroverts

The Chinese women's hockey team locked up 7th place (out of 8 teams) with a 1-4-0 record in the Olympic hockey tournament yesterday. Seeing them in action on Saturday, Kate's dad and Emmett's dad pretty much decided that winning might be more likely if they make like the Swiss and focus on their opponents rather than on themselves.

Emmett, of course, couldn't care less about the Chinese hockey team. He tends to cheer for one team and one team only.

Olympic curling rocks the casbah

Emmett's mom and Kate's dad trundled off to the Vancouver Olympic Centre yesterday to check out the curling preliminaries...

while Emmett and his dad successfully executed a hackweight takeout in the kitchen sink.

Inspired by the Olympics

With the TV on constantly during the Winter Olympics, Emmett has been forced to watch all kinds of winter sports. After observing the spins of Patrick Chan, the aerial flips of Alexandre Bilodeau, the crashes on the women's downhill, and Maelle Ricker's gold medal in snowboard cross, Emmett started practising his own twists and turns (and his podium smile for the cameras).

While Emmett's dad is away...

...Canada wins it's first gold medal on home soil in men's freestyle skiing. Oh, and Emmett's mom gets to play...with Emmett, and the blog. (volume up!)

Emmett lights a fire under his parents

Emmett decided it was time to drum up some Olympic spirit, so he packed his mom and dad into the car for the early-morning arrival of the torch at the Olympic Oval.

Emmett's parents were beside themselves with excitement about a fly-by by the Canadian speedskating team (pretty sure that's Cindy Klassen in the middle)...

...but not as excited as Emmett was to EMSalute the Olympic torch.