By squirrels, I mean distractions. A lot has happened in the last year. I can't believe that I haven't blogged here in so long. That being said, we have done a lot over the last year to not only promote the book but to get it ready for publication. This blog post will be a short update on what has happened in the last year. I will be following it up with a number of blog posts about some of the exciting new developments. I may even add in a few squirrels along the way. ...continue reading "Squirrels"
Throughout this blog I have been writing mainly about our Firehall visits. Today I thought I would like to tell you how it all began.
Ever since Nathan was born, we would go to the CityTV Breakfast Television FoodBank Friday in Vancouver. The first time we went, we were interviewed by host Dawn Chubai. Shortly after Nathan was born I started a company called Anything on a Clock. After that, whenever we went to FoodBank Friday, we would donate part proceeds of our November sales to the Food Bank.
On December 4th 2009, we went to the FoodBank Friday broadcast as we always had. But this time was different. Shortly after we arrived, a firetruck rolled in. Generally Nathan is a bit groggy when we go to these events. They start at 6:00 am and because we like to be there near the beginning, and then hang out for a bit, we usually leave the house around 5:00 am. But when the fire truck arrived, Nathan got really excited. Off camera, before our interview, Dawn Chubai asked Nathan why he was so excited. Nathan being 3 1/2 years old at the time pointed to the firetruck and said "Super Heroes".
During our interview Dawn asked Nathan again about the firefighters and he told Dawn that they were Super Heroes. After our spot, they cut to Riaz Meghji who did an interview about the upcoming Santa Clause Parade. Then it was the firefighter's turn. While Riaz was doling his thing, host Greg Harper asked if Nathan would like to join him at the firetruck for his segment.
That was the first time that Nathan connected his Super Heroes (firefighters) to Santa. That evening when I tucked him into bed, I asked him for ideas for his bedtime story. He asked me "What would happen if Santa got stuck in a chimney? Do you think firefighters would help them?" So I made up a story about how a firefighter helped Santa when he got stuck in a Chimney. Each evening he would ask more about our story until I put it on paper.
This fall our story that we made up 6 years ago will be made into a book for other kids to enjoy.
It was kind of like an open house, but with special guests. We set up our basement with a Christmas scene so Santa and some Super Heroes could feel right at home.
On the internet, video is very popular, and since we are trying to raise money for the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, I thought it would be a good time to call in a favor to my good friend from the North Pole and have Santa come to the house and read Santa and His Super Hero on film.
In 2009, when my son, Nathan, was 3 years old, instead of reading books to him at night, I would lay in bed with him and make up stories based around his suggestions. We would begin by Nathan giving me a topic and we would go from there.
As Christmas grew closer, he would give suggestions about how Santa got stuck in a chimney and how a firefighter came to his rescue. Each night he would begin by giving a different scenario. After a few nights I saw a pattern in our story telling so after he fell asleep each night, I would go to my computer and write down the story that we just made up. ...continue reading "We Begin Santa and His Super Hero"
