Happy National Child Day!

Today I was able to celebrate with some of the child care centres in Iqaluit... it was a GREAT celebration involving a 'short' but chilly parade (it was like -20C with the windchill!), snacks, rotations through several games run by the child care centres involved...and some singing of songs! It was a great day... I'd love to share some of the photos that I have...but can't due to confidentiality..So I'll leave you with ONE of a sign that the children carried in the parade!....

I'm not sure how many of you are aware that today was National Chid Day or really what that is?! So let me tell you what it is about..... National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations' adoption of two documents centered on children's rights: the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1959, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989.

Canada has ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, this means that Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect. This commitment includes that they, children,  be given the opportunity to have a voice, be protected from harm and be provided with their basic needs and every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Celebrating National Child Day is about celebrating children as active participants in their own lives and in communities, as active citizens who can and should meaningfully contribute to decision-making as we create a "Canada fit for children"

Todat, November 20th, 2009, marks the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) , which spells out the basic human rights to which children and youth everywhere are entitled.

So wear your 'blue' ribbon...and think about the children in your life...how can you empower them to dream big..and make those dreams become a reality!  If you have children and want to 'download' a cool 'colouring' page.... you can click HERE!

*some of this information came from The National Child Day website!!

Published....

Just a quick update!... trying to madly get things ready for my next trip...I fly out tomorrow can't wait to hit Iqaluit--and catch up with some friends.. and of course also do a lot of work...and then I head to Sanikiluaq...I'm excited it's the last trip that I have booked... and that's kind of sad but for not I need to get back to my packing and organizing stuff...before my trip!

Earlier this week someoen that works at Nunatsiaq News... (a northern paper) left a message on my blog about my photos I had taken when in Resolute during the Torch Relay.... I emailed her and then sent her one at full resolution...and now it's on their website beside an article!  It's the FIRST time I've EVER had photos that are so public....I'm pretty excited!!! 

You can check out the LINK HERE of the news story... and my photo is the one on the top!!!!

Yes, I'm still ALIVE!...

...well it was bound to happen.. all the travelling caught up with me.. and even with a 'stat holiday' last week... it wasn't enought to recharge my batteries!  I've been tryin to lay low and get enough rest...I came back from my 'high-arctic' experience with a 'nasty' cough... which I'm thinking might have something to do with my allergies that sparked and came on while in Grise Fiord...

I'm feeling better now...(the cough is gone....and no I never came even 'close' to getting a pig tail or ears!)... I'm thankful my mum's new 'fleece' pjs arrived in time for me to live in them for over 36hours... (don't worry they have been washed alreadyand not even a week old...) I've trying to catch up sleep--but also messing up my sleep schedule in the process... NEVER have a nap from 6pm to 8:30pm..but then at 11:20pm you are looking at the ceiling of your bedroom thinking.. wow.. that's awesome woodwork--BUT seriously I need to sleep....added to the fact I'm travelling for my 'last' scheduled trip... on Thursday.. so I only have 3 more nights in my comfy bed... so I really want to SLEEP on those nights!!!

Speaking of sleep.. I've been having some WEIRD dreams lately.... they started while I was up in Resolute... all to do with my long johns (which I rarely wear on a daily basis) being stolen.. and how the RCMP doesn't want to help me with this 'VERY' serious matter...(oh yes...in my dream those long johns are VERY important!) Oh and my best friend from Grade 2 and 3--well her big sister is also in this dream.. and I haven't really seen her at least 12 years.... very weird.... and not sure why I need to be so concerned with the long johns.. or WHY the RCMP aren't so helpful.. ahhhhh I hope that dream doesn't find it's way BACK into my head tonight.......

Hmmm this was a kind of long post about nothing... yes! that's the way I roll... hope everyone else doing well!! :)

I have theWORLD's BEST Mum!!!

Here's a shot from when my mum came to visit me this past summer! 

This morning I went to check my mail... after travelling there was a bit... and I had YET another package from my mum!! (she's a superstar...seriously!!) It came on the best day.. as I was trying to get through the mounds of paperwork... on my desk... I got to open it at lunch and almost started to cry.... YES it was that good!! :)

My mum is a cool lady... she actually LISTENS to what I have to say(even though at times I dont' think she really IS listening...but after all we do talk at least 2-3times a week! LOL)..... I was talking awhile ago about how all my pj bottoms are ripped... and I was down to one pair...(and she knows HOW I luv to lounge around in those guys...) so today she sent not ONE pair but TWO!! In a different conversation I had mentioned in the summer how I had friends over.. and we wanted to play a dice game.. and how I didn't have ANY dice...so she sent some really cool dice... and she always manages to make me laugh.... like this package I got a 'random' can of salmon and cream of mushroom soup...(I remember in one of our convos... talking about how she was making creamed salmon for dinner on toast... and I was upset bc I didn't have any mushroom soup...!)

I seriously could NOT have asked for a more generous awesome Mother!! I am blessed to be able to call myself her daughter....

I luv you so much Mum.... only 20 more sleeps til I see you!!

Home Sweet Home....

I went for a walk in Pang yesterday...despite the 'chilly' weather... my walking friend and I headed out about 2pm...and walked for just over an hour---by the time I was at home.. (just after 3pm..) it was dark! Glad i got to spend a bit of time outside.....it's always nice to get some fresh air!!

I'm so glad to be at home again...but have to adjust to cooking for myself again!!  It has been so good to be sleeping back in my own bed!

The Olympic Spirit came to Resolute....

Today even though the temperture was -24C (with the wind chill it was -37C) there was some warmth in the way this small community came together to celebrate the Olympic Spirit that came to town!  Some random facts about the Torch Relay.....

The Torch Relay is an Olympic symbol of peace, brotherhood and enlightenment and represents a summons to the Olympic Games.

The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay in brief:

• Over 100 days in length.
• Over 1,000 communities and places of interest where torchbearers will carry the Olympic Flame.
• Nearly 200 celebrations hosted by communities in every province and territory.
• Approximately 90 per cent of Canada’s population will be within a one-hour drive of experiencing the Olympic Flame.
• Over 45,000 kilometres will be travelled.
• Extensive tour of the North including a planned visit to Alert, Nunavut, the northernmost permanently inhabited community in the world.
• 12,000 people will have the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer and will help carry the flame to Vancouver, a majority of whom will be selected through public programs.

Now onto the photos.... sorry I just couldn't decide what ones to include and what ones not to include... (so there are a lot! hehehe I hope you enjoy them!!)

...here's one of the early exchanges... it was way too windy...so the for the torch relay they walked with the lantern--that kept the flame alive!

The sky was a pink and purple....but it was freezing COLD! (I was glad for my long johns, wind pants, and Goose Jacket.. I'm not sure how the torch carriers could do it in those 'thin' windbreaker type suits!)

The last person on the leg of the relay walked up the hill... with his torch in full flame....

It was a pretty exciting moment.... the whole community was clapping and cheering!!

All the runners of the relay had their torches lit at this moment...... it was pretty awesome!

The Cauldron was lit.......

A little piece of Athens, Greece here in Resolute Bay, Nunavut!

A shot of the five Torch Barriers from Resolute!

This is a close up look at how the flame is transported---all the way from Athens, Greece.... all the way across Canada...

I got to hold it!  Once we were inside one of the organizers said, "we should reflect on the flame... what it represents--peace, community and to remember that we each can take a piece of the flame and carry out in our lives.... to make a difference in the many different paths we take.... to take a look and see how it brought Resolute together on a cold day--to Celebrate!!"

Makes me wonder where next I'll travel to...what direction I will take...and where I will end up.... (some deep thoughts!) LOL

Standing beside the Cauldron.. just before we were ushered inside... so they could pack it up... to get ready for the next place to celebrate!!

Inside Coca-Cola, one of the sponsors of the relay, had a 'photo' booth.... and took photos that you can download from online...... I snapped on of this cute little boy....

..then of course... ended up in the cue....

(I'll have to check out the Coca-Cola photos when they upload them!)

There were many speeches, and cultural celebrations... this is a young drummer... who performed..and the children from the school did a square dance!!

This little girl couldn't stop dancing with her flag.... she's a cutie! 

All in all it was an awesome hour... that ended  with a community feast... it was pretty cool that my trip up here happened to be when the torch was coming through.... Pretty darn cool!!

(I hope you don't mind the HUGE post!!!)

Happy Birthday Baby Bro!!!

Hope you have a HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY!!!

(no matter how old you get.. you'll always be my baby brother..)

I wish you all the best this day... and every day this next year!

I luv you....and I'm so proud to call you my little brother!

P.S. BSUT...tonight? hehehe