“I’m a little disappointed in the American turnout. If it hadn’t been for the Canadian fans (Tuesday) night at the U.S. game it would have been embarrassing.”
- Bill Shaw of Fredonia, N.Y., Team USA fan
Canadians and Hockey
$480 Worth of Toys
“Mom, my Christmas list is pretty short, isn’t it?”
Last week I asked my six year old son to help me fill out his Christmas wish list for Santa. He quickly recited 5 items that he “really, really” wanted. They were each very small things, including a $20 Nintendo DS game, and a Hot Wheels trick track. After some encouragement he came up with two more items—also fairly small gifts. When he finished writing out his seven items he commented on how his list was short, but that the items were “seven really cool things” he wanted Santa to bring him.
On Friday nights, some of the teams in my rec hockey league bet on the games. The standard ‘loser buys the 1st pitcher’ or ‘team with the most penalties buys’ is the norm. This week my son’s simple list had me thinking about toys so I posed the bet to the opposing team – loser donates $30 in unwrapped toys to the Niagara Regional Police Annual Holiday Toy Drive. After instant acceptance the taunting began and several other teams got in on the action.
After the games finished last night, both the losers AND winners donated and we collected an astounding $480 in cash. Several players also pre-purchased unwrapped toys to donate. I was shocked and incredibly happy at the showing from such a simple bet between two teams.
This afternoon I took my son shopping for the $480 worth of toys. I explained what the toys were for and he agreed that he would be very sad if he didn’t have any presents on Christmas morning so we would help other boys and girls to make sure they had something to open.
Once we hit the store he was quite distracted with the ‘cool stuff’ to check out, but he never once asked for any of the items he was helping to put in the carts, and he never commented on adding anything else to his list for Santa. In return for helping make all the purchases I allowed him to choose 1 toy that I would buy on top of all the other toys.
His choice after going through aisle after aisle of toys?
A $5 Hot Wheels semi-trailer.
We took the purchases home, took a few photos, then the entire pile of loot was delivered to the Niagara Regional Police headquarters in St. Catharines where it will be sent to Community Cares and distributed to families as needed in time for Christmas.
And as for the “seven really cool things”—well Mommy’s added a few more to the list.
I don’t think Santa will mind, do you?
Christmas Spirit
So far this season I’ve already had the first of what I’m sure will be many holiday parties of various sizes, yet no matter how much I try to move myself into the holiday season, lack of the fluffy white stuff is proving to be a bit of sticking point.
There’s something absolutely wonderful about waking up to a liberal dumping of snow for the holidays. Maybe it’s the memories of snowmen and snowangels. Epic snowball fights mounted from behind solidly built walls of snow. Sleds and toboggans. Returning to the heat of the house leaving snow caked mittens next to the heaters and being welcomed with hot chocolate topped with coloured marshmellows.
I realize there are many places round the world where snow is never an option… but to me, growing up in southwestern Ontario… Christmas has pretty much always been white.
I guess I’m jaded.
Or spoiled.
Either way I say: let it snow!”
Happy Holidays!
~Nika
