awakening the monster!

For many years, awakening the monster was quite the family tradition. For those of you that have received 5:00AM emails from me, you will find it hard to believe that I was not always an early riser... but with kids, this all changes. Liam was the instigator, with his sister Jennifer being his second in command. In they would charge, each Saturday and Sunday, @ around 6:00AM, to awaken the aforementioned "monster" (AKA, daddy) They would jump into bed between Linda and I, Liam bracing himself with his back against "she who must be obeyed" and his feet on my back, with Jennifer jumping between a similar position and one of general taunting. Push, puush, puuuush was the cry, as they attempted to role me to my fate on the floor!! Ahhh, but the monster was strong, and did not wish to sleep on the floor, so Liam would then tickle, Jen would jump, Linda and I would laugh, and general mahem would ensue for the next 15 minutes. Quite the excercise, I can tell ya...

But eventually the monster would fall, Liam and Jen would shout and cheer @ their victory, and pancakes would be made... 

I guess Liam spent a lot of his 23 years pushing, and puuushing and puuuuushing, but against different types of monsters, and hopefuly we will all continue to push in memory of my boy.

Ian Rattray