A Memorable Canada Day
It’s one of my favorite weekends of the entire year. Canada Day weekend. As CanadianMomEh I have spent several weeks thinking of how best to commemorate this wonderful holiday for my readers.
At the same time, I have also spent the past ten days or so with my kids home from school on summer vacation. We’ve opted, for the time being, to avoid summer camps and rather have our children spend time going on treasure hunts, nature walks, park surfing and so on. In short, to have them home with me. This is one of the many benefits of being a work at home mom (WAHM). This is not to say that working from home with kids is without challenges. For those of you who have come to know me by now or have read this post, you know that I suffer from migraines as a result of a concussion I sustained three and a half years ago. This greatly affects how I parent.
I love for my kids to have a ton of fun; however all while not making a ton of noise. I have been so preoccupied with the kids home from school, nursing migraines on and off, that I thought perhaps my special Canada Day tribute just might not happen.
Then today happened and not only was I proven wrong but I was reminded how much I love my beautiful nation and the people that call it home.
We had some close family friends over for a lunchtime BBQ, a very Canada Day long weekend thing to do. After the BBQ we decided to head over to the local traveling fair. The Mr. and I had promised the kids that this year we would take our children on a ferris wheel. While at the fair, I couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful cross section of nationalities, skin colors, outfits and people walking around. I thought to myself, this is MY Canada.
While waiting in line for the Dragon roller coaster (a MUST for the 5-8 year old crowd), the woman in front of me turned around and told me how much she loved my peach colored scarf. She and I then spent the following 15 minutes chatting about our kids, the fair, the beautiful weather, the long weekend and everything else random.
This is MY Canada.
Our kids started playing together, they found seats near one another on the ride and we later waived as they left the fair.
The fair happened to take place right next door to the local fire station. As we walked to our car, my kids waived to the firemen who were lounging in front of their trucks. What happened next fulfilled one of my son’s dreams, and affirmed my faith in why I live in one of the best nations in the world. The firemen waived us over. They made my kids feel like the most special kids in the world. They propped them up in the firetruck, let them press the horn and even turn on the siren for a quick moment. They showed them where all the gears were and how they clean their equipment. My son could not wipe the smile off of his face. REAL FIREMEN were giving him a tour. After all, when you’re five years old, sticky from cotton candy and just left your first fair ever, getting to sit in a firetruck is like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
After a few dozen pictures (I love smartphones!), we gave our high fives, said our thank you’s and left the station. This afternoon however will not soon be forgotten.
I was reminded today why I love this beautiful country and why I am a very proud CanadianMom. Eh?
A special thank you to all the brave members of our essential services for all that you do for our country.
Happy Canada Day from our house to yours!
I love this!
Congratulations on CANADA DAY and for being Canadian. It is one of the OR the best country in the world. Just the trip to the fire station at the lovely age of five is memorable plus the personal tour of the equipment and operation. Wow! You will remember it for a while but for your son it is a memory for his lifetime.
Yes Canada is a beautiful country for its landscape, people and other resources and keeping it this way is the responsibility of every single Canadian. The guys who waived and invited your family over to the station, their simple gesture created an important mark on your son’s memory lane. This is commendable.
I feel like distributing your post to every occasion celebrating CANADA DAY and to every fire station; especially this one. Great job!
It looks like they had a lot of fun 🙂 Happy Canada Day!
Thank you! Same to you and your family.
Great photos. What an awesome thing for the firemen to do. It’s amazing how most kids are drawn to them isn’t it? Both my boys are obsessed with firetrucks!
Thank you! There is something magical about firetrucks. I was equally amazed when we were getting the tour. I’ve always wanted one.
Happy Canada Day! It’s a little cool today in Ontario, but we’re heading out for Canada Day festivities now!
Thank you! Same to you and your family 🙂 Enjoy the festivities.
Aw, what a great day! That’s awesome the firemen did that (though they probably had just as much fun with it!). Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Happy Canada Day!!! :))
Oohh , this just brings tears of joy to my eyes…. What a great thing for those guys to do, but I am not surprised as that is also a wonderful Canadian thing to do…Happy Canada Day!
Thanks Patricia! I hope you had a wonderful Canada Day as well 🙂
Sounds like the perfect day, glad your little ones had so much fun and I too am so proud to be Canadian!
Thanks Monica!
What a wonderful ending to a great day! I bet your kids will remember this day forever.
Thanks Julia! They definitely will 🙂
wonderful post cute little ones 🙂 Happy Canada Day
Thank you! Same to you 🙂
this is so great! what an amazing day for your family! “this is MY Canada” love that! we are blessed!
Thanks Jennifer! We really are 🙂
sounds like such a perfect day!!
Thanks Yashy 🙂 It really was! Every time we see a firetruck now the kids ask if it’s their friends driving it.
I love this post and makes me very happy and proud to be Canadian. 🙂 Thanks for participating in The Great Canadian Blog Bash and we are very happy to have you! #TGCBB
Thank you 🙂
What a perfect day! My girls would have been over the moon at a visit to the fire station. How awesome of those firemen to invite you over.
Thanks Deanna! They were awesome 🙂