Olympic Torch Run Sydney NS

(((this post will be both done by Matt and myself)))

Our morning started out very exciting with the Olympic Torch Relay travelling directly in front of our home. I was excited to experience the torch relay before my segment later on in the afternoon. It was a very impressive caravan and gave the kids a better idea of what was to come later. I didn't really realize at the time all the emotion and excitement that would be involved with my day.

The excitement had finally arrived! It was an early morning with the crawling and grabbing kids out of bed just after 8am to get outside to see the Torch as it was carried past the house at 8:302am. We gathered with neighbors and cheered on the runners.

Below is the runner that took over in front of our house. What an exciting thing to see for the first time! This running I believe his name is Nicholas ran the torch from just past our house past Jay Junior High School.

They had all kinds of vehicles done up for the run like the one below.....

This is the vehicle I am going own someday... in a different color.

The kids were very busy making cool posters to suppot me on the run, it was a lot of fun to watch them working on these posters.

With a busy day ahead the kids got to stay home from school to get ready for Matt's big day.Lots needed to be done...they couldn't cheer their dad on without posters! They had a blast and did a fantastic job coloring and putting them together.

Blake looking so serious....I was so proud of him....each of the circles you see in his picture had the colors written in each loop so you would know the right color for that loop, well he read the colors and finished the picture on his own!

Kohl is a little perfectionist. He took forevery to get his poster done. He had to have everything colored just right. He was very proud of his work and he did an awesome job!

Check out their posters...front and back

Matt brought them home olympic mitts Sunday when he came home from work.

So I asked the kids to show the front of their posters...which they did, then turn it around to see their coloring on the back side...which they did. I know that doesn't take much talent now does it.........

Well leave it to the honor student......

I asked Jay to show the front side of his poster...ok he got that!

Then I asked him to turn IT around.....so what does he do? He turns around and puts his back to me LOL. I guess I should have chosen my words more wisely and asked him to turn his poster around so that I could SEE the back of the poster... LOL too funny.

There we go Jay... The backside...of the poster!

Once we had the posters all finished we decided to go outside and take some pictures before we went into the community party and the relay meeting point.

Another great family moment we will remember forever and what an awesome experience for everyone especially Matt to be a part of!

Matt, ready and excited for his big moment. I love his new track suit!

oops, forgot the hat...

Matt and Trinity leading us to the event, what a crowd!

We arrived at the community party and quickly joined in with all the activity

The kids met up with "AL" my friend from Coke, he and his team were passing out flags and awesome aluminum bottles of Coke Zero.

We met up with Miga and Squatchi the Mascots for the Games, we couldn't find Sugi but these guys were very welcoming.

There were also some circus performers travelling through the crowd.

Bell had a booth set up to take pictures in a regulation size bobsled, they were also taking other fun pictures that will be emailed to us in the next few days

The Coke booth offered people the photo op to get pictures with the Torch, it was a lot of fun and allowed us all to get up close a Torch. It was getting pretty exciting for me at this point with only a few minutes left before I had to meet with my group.

more fun and excitement...Matt had to leave us for his meeting of the torch to get insturctions so I continued on with the kids with more fun and games...

The boys had their chance with the hockey stick

Jay got 5 for 5 goals....

Kohl gave it his best but for frustrated when the puck didn't go where he wanted to...at least he hit the puck!

Blake give a big high 5 to the royal bank lion...

By this time I was on the bus, it was a unique experience, I got to meet in a matter of minutes people from coast to coast. Our group coordinators are from Vancouver and the other torch relay particpants were from Ottawa, Antigonish and various parts of Cape Breton Island.

We left the excitement and headed to the check point to watch Matt run the Torch. We were a bit confused on where to stand. Do we stand at the finish or do we stand with him at the start... it wasn't far between the 2 points and I did want to get a video of him running towards us so I sent Jay and Trinity up to wait with him...they ran on the sidewalk along side of Matt! Then we all met up together at the ending point.

By now (2pm) someone is getting tired..and everyone is hungry

The boys see their dad coming with the Torch!

After I passed my flame on to Ed (see video below) I had my flame extinguished by my torch attendant. It was an absolute adrenilin rush to bring the torch through and pass it on. After a very short picture op with the kids I was picked up by another VANOC Van

Matt made it to his ending point. What an exciting 300m. It was hard to get a lot of pictures of his run because I wanted to get a video but somehow...(I know there is a way) I will get some pictures of his run by taking clips from the video...it will just take some time to figure out.

A proud moment with Dad!

Matt jumped on the shuttle van to head back to the start....

The kids were very excited to see me come off the Van, the group hug was great.

After a fairly long wait, the kids were there to welcome Matt off the shuttle van!

After all my duties were filled Carrie and the kids took me out to Swiss Chalet for supper, yummy.



Kohl had his mock torch ready to go.





Enjoy the video and experience some of what we got to experience throughout the day!

The first video below was a painting done while being spun around...it was painted to the beat of the music... this was awesome to see from the start.

Here is the Torch as it arrived from Sydney Mines/North Sydney!

Blake wanted to run the Torch.. I told him he was still too little and would have to try when he is older.... he proved to me that he could run and he he jogged through the crowd...it was funny and everyone seemed to know what he was doing!

Finally the moment you are waiting for...Here comes Matt running the Torch!