Berry Pickin'

This week my big (but not really so big) boy has been at a gymnastics half day camp. I must say, it has felt a little strange going about my afternoon without him, and knowing he isn't just spending his time with family. Comments like "I want to stay at gymnastics camp forever", lead me to believe he is having a good time... but I do have a hard time with the answers "I don't know." and "I can't remember.", when I'm asking him how his afternoon was while we are still standing in the gymnastics centre! Do the vague responses really start at 4 years old?!

Today little brother, baby sister and I filled those day-camp afternoon hours with a visit to a nearby berry farm. While little brother devoured handfuls of raspberries, he also managed to put a few in the basket that he so loved carrying about.

I rarely have an opportunity to watch him experience something on his own, and he was so very into this little experience. It was such a pleasure to watch my, usually quite boisterous, little guy taking his sweet time, gently "filling" his basket with berries, with a whole lot of sampling along the way. Those amazing little chubby fingers that still look so "baby" to me, carefully plucking each raspberry from it's stem. He's growing so fast, and always moving so fast, it's hard to get a good look at him some times.

And then there's my little lady. Our favourite spectator. Just hanging out. More alert by the day, seemingly soaking up everything around her. Sweet baby bliss :)

 XO

{This Moment}

{This moment} is inspired by Soulemama, and beautifully done by so many. It reveals a moment from our week that is special enough to stand alone, without need for expression, or explanation.

xo

Mont Tremblant, Quebec

Just over an hour and a half drive from Ottawa, Mt. Tremblant is the perfect summer day trip. 

The lower chair lift is free up to the village. Once in the village, you can take the cable car to the top,  walk around, enjoy a little picnic, and then back down to the village for a run around the splash pad. 

The hubby and I took turns cruising down the mountain on go karts with our boys. I went up with our 2 year old for the ride, and waiting in line I had MAJOR anxiety. I was watching someone try and figure out these cars, and they just could not get it. It made me panic. 

Why did I bring him all the way up here? He's too little. What an idiot! What if I crash? What if I lose control? Blah, blah, blah... It was awesome - the driving, not the anxiety. 

I had complete control over the speed, and it was very simple to manage. 

Not an inexpensive experience but, fun nonetheless.

Of course, all of this has to end with ice cream. Soft serve. Chocolate dip. Done.

Pink Lake, Gatineau Park

A gorgeous walk about a half hour's drive from our home is the Pink Lake trail in Gatineau, Quebec. A 2.5km walk, it is one of many trails in the park. I started the hike with a touch of whining (it has a lot of stairs) but, seeing as my 2 year old and not yet 4 year old were having no problems, I kind of had to buck up. I suppose I am a poor teacher of patience at times... On that note, this was pretty soon after giving birth so I do get to do some complaining, don't I?? You'll note the long sleeves - definitely not recent. Yikes, has it ever been hot and humid!

Mer Bleue

"Mer Bleue is one of the largest bogs in Southern Ontario..." and has an incredibly beautiful 1.2km long boardwalk trail which is fairly close to where we live.

There are a huge number of natural areas in and around Ottawa that we are so excited to explore! 

Nothing beats free when you're looking for something to do. 

XO

Fire Craft!

So my biggest boy has a love-hate thing going with fire. He backed into a fire ring while camping last summer, burned his leg, and has been fascinated and terrified of fire ever since, adopting the name "fireboy" pretty soon after his experience. Does this theme/story sound somewhat familiar?...

Anyway, so I've been having some fun browsing for fire-related crafts. Pinterest is so great for finding ideas for crafting with kids - it is where I originally found this little idea.

We gave it a try, and they loved it. My younger son (deemed waterboy by his big brother) was a little miffed with this crafty plan. When I told them what we were going to do he said "No fireboy, I'm wawaboy!", but in the end he decided it was okay for him to build a fire too.

Love how this turned out!

xo

4 Years!

4 years old today. Wow. How you have grown!
I love your sweetness, your seriousness, and your wonderful silliness. 

You have a very special heart. A caring disposition much older than your 4 years. 

A climber, and a jumper, with incredible energy, and agility, I love to watch you run and play though, I admit, your courage scares me sometimes.

I'm so proud of the boy you are, and can't wait to see all that you are capable of. 

My little fireboy. 

Happy 4th Birthday sweet Levi!

You changed our lives completely, and I am so incredibly thankful.

XO

The 'Comic' Timing of a 2 Year Old...

Ah yes. Comical. The further away in time the incident gets, the more comical it becomes, as tends to happen with these things...

This little man. This one here. He is cute, yes. But what he is also, is insanely quick. Something we knew, but in a moment of weakness forgot is to NOT leave our valuables sitting steps from a washroom! He hadn't done this before, but of course the possibility was there, and imminent.

You can probably guess, but I'll just fill in the blanks for you.

It was moments from heading out the door to have our baby. Yes,  just awaiting the midwife, putting all   the necessities by the door in anticipation of leaving for the hospital to have our baby.

Where is the camera? Says my hubby.
Uh, it's right there by the door. Says I.
Um, NO it isn't. Says irritated hubby.
I just put it there. Says me.
Ya. The case is here. says my man.

OH. CRAP.

Owen? Did you put the camera somewhere?
Yup. Says Owen.

Could you please show me where?
Yup. Says Owen.

He happily, with a clear skip in his step, toddles over to the washroom, as I suck in my breath and hold.
Yes he does what you think. He lifts the lid of the toilet, and there it sits floating on our one saving grace - the FULL roll of TP he chucked in the toilet just before. I'm pretty sure I screamed.

There really wasn't even time to panic. Erin, our midwife arrived seconds after. My mom ran and got her camera for us (Thank God!), I was quickly assessed, we jumped in the car, and off we went.

Oh dear, sweet Owen. Kids really do rock, but why, tell me WHY do they pick the moments they do??

A couple weeks to dry out, and it's nearly right as rain. Just a wonky, mixed up dating thing which makes uploading a little funny. I thank the TP.

Crocheted Baby Turban

I LOVE this little hat! It took a day to make, and it looks ridiculously cute.

See? Ridiculous.

The pattern is free, and easy. Just how I like 'em. :)

Sadly, this little lady has moved on from her amazing hat, and my attempt at a second seemed to produce more of a doll-sized one - it is unlikely to fit many human babies...
I am determined to upsize this, and make enough to last her until she no longer let's me dress her (Please let that be at least a couple more years!!).
XO

11 Weeks

It is hard to believe that just 11 weeks ago, our little family welcomed it's fifth member. 

Cassidy Jean joined our world at 4:06am on April 9th, weighing in at 6 pounds 10 ounces.
 It seems every time I blink another week has gone by!

Well, it has been really bothering me that this little record I've been keeping has been neglected, thereby sorely lacking in reflecting the beginnings of my baby girl - a classic third child move!

So, after only a brief glimpse several weeks back of this little lady,

Here is our beautiful, smiley babe who (so far) sleeps like a champ, has awesome chubby cheeks and is oh so tolerant of face squishing, and noise.

I love her so much.
xo

{This Moment}

{This moment} is inspired by Soulemama, and beautifully done by so many. It reveals a moment from our week that is special enough to stand alone, without need for expression, or explanation.

xo

"Special Tape"

I thought my oldest little guy would love Washi tape so I picked up 3 rolls of it for him the last time I visited The Paper Place. 

I was right. He is cuckoo for the stuff. His "special tape", he calls it. 

The only problem is he has blasted through it, while I have resisted the urge (a tough job ya know) to tell him to slow down. 

I know you gotta let them roll with those creative vibes they're feelin', but I also know, at least for the next couple years, it's time to find a cheaper stock of coloured and decorative tape!

XO

Central Experimental Farm

We visited Ottawa's Central Experimental Farm the week before last with a friend and her son, and I'm thinkin' we should probably get a pass. 

When I looked up the place, it didn't give a whole lot of info, and I was a little concerned that Levi and Owen wouldn't find much to interest them. Totally not the case. This place is awesome. 

First of all, it is massive, and secondly it is right in Ottawa. There are a lot, and a large variety, of animals. We saw many baby animals, as you would at this time of year. There are crafts and activities for kids - we enjoyed a maple taffy talk and tasting. There is a great exhibit with tractors to sit on, and which are rigged to feel like you are sitting on actual moving tractors. 

The honey exhibit is also great, with an area of toys for the little ones to play with. 

There is a playground for when there is a little less snow on the ground, and possibly slightly warmer weather - though our day was an extremely beautiful one, thankfully. 

Also, there are great puddles to be jumped in, but I can't guarantee those will be there if and when you visit! 

Settling In

We have been packing up our home gradually since November, and finally the time came to load it all, move it a few hours up the road, and settle in to our short-term rental. So here we are, and here we have been for 4 weeks, in our country's capital.

We have gradually settled into our new city with a wee bit of exploring, but mostly a whole lot of playing and hanging out at home, reveling in the fact that we are neither packing nor rushing out of our home for a showing. 

This month has flown by, and now with only 1 sleep to go until the magical moment where we have keys in hand, time has slowed down to a painful crawl, where we are not seeing it pass through hours or days, but minutes and seconds. Come on Tuesday!!! A little more space, our familiar comforts, and the beginning of unpacking, and organizing is a very welcome prospect to me with the due date of our third babe less than 3 weeks away. 

It's almost time to make our new house, our new home!!
xo