Quick Stop on the Way Home.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Emma and Toby. On the way back from the farm, we stopped at Howe Island and were lucky to catch Jessica, Alan and the crew just before they left.
The kids burned off some energy before we went the rest of the way home.

The kids loved this tractor ride.

Gregory at the point.

Flying Kites at the Farm

At the end of March break, we spent a few days at the farm. The kids go to know the horses and collected the eggs, but the highlight was seeing all of the Ontario cousins. It has been a long time since we got together with the Ontario side, and we had a wonderful time flying kites, collecting pussywillows and chatting.

Maple Syrup

Over March break we went to visit my parents to take part in making Maple Syrup. The kids loved being involved in the process and Ethan was able to explain the process in detail to visitors. As it turns out, my dad had so much sap this year that we wasn't able to keep up with it all.

Dad worked hard on his Maple Syrup stove and I'm sure that with a little tweeking it will improve each year.

Spring is in the Air

Although it is very much below zero and there is new snow on the ground, I can't help feeling that spring is on it's way. It's a good clean feeling. The days are getting longer and brighter. It is just a little bit easier to wake up in the morning and I don't feel like hybernating infront of a rolling fire with a hotchocolate.

What do I feel like doing? Renovating!

I feel like renovating almost the entire house! I can't think of any room that doesn't need improvements. I have been going through books and magazines. I have a million and one ideas buzzing through my head all day long. I can't wait to get started.

First we will begin with Ethan's room. Since we moved here we have let it remain a very dull colour, crowded with too many pieces of ugly furniture (IKEA desk) and very little personality. I plan to get started with painting the walls this week.

Next we need to do something about our narrow hallway that leads to the garage. The kids need a bigger space to put on their snowsuits. We might have to rip down some walls for this endevor.

Last on my major to do list is the kitchen. Something needs to be done to make it more appealing. I think the cabinets need to be painted, counters changed, island reduced in size and backsplash replaced. The only problem is that Ian doesn't see any problems with the kitchen. I will have to fight this battle perhaps later in the spring, or early summer...

Now that we have lived in the house for five months, I can see where various problems lie. I can't wait to get started. Spring cleaning might be a little messy this year, but it will be worth it!

The Wave Obama has Created

Yesterday's inauguration of Barack Obama was certainly something I will not forget. His words were so powerful and his said them with such confidence and grace it is hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment. He will be a good leader, positive role model and a teacher for all those watching him. With him he brings an "era of responsibility" and for me, a great deal of hope for the future.

The Toboggan Run

When I was young, my dad used to make a toboggan run. We lived on a treed hill in the country just north of Toronto. My dad's first vision of the run began from the front of the house where the hill was cleared. Each year he would have us toboggan down the front hill in front of the house and he would add a jump or a little curb. That was when we were young.

As we got older, the toboggan run got bigger, faster, and more technical. My dad would begin working on it in summer. He would create new corners by plowing the dirt through the treed part of the hill with his tractor. He would reinforce the corners with pieces of plywood and two by fours and once the snow arrived, he would ice the run using a spraying technique that he rigged up himself. The toboggan run, which was once a nice children's hill, became a competitive field for anyone who dared take it on. My dad was more than happy to time anyone, guard people from flying over various corners and teach those who didn't know how to "lean into the corner". My dad became so well know for his toboggan run, that he was once asked if her would like to tryout for the Canadian bobsledding team!

This year, we visited my parents at their cottage for the Christmas holidays. Before we had even arrived, my dad had made a mini toboggan run behind their house. He had iced the sides so that my six, three and two year olds would be safe within the confines of the run. The kids were more than happy to spend hours outside in the snow. My dad was more than happy to watch, comfort and cheer on his grandchildren. What a gift he has given us!

The Fun of Cold Winters.

There is a certain attitude that people have out west about the warmer climate. I have to say, it is convenient to not have to pack the kids up in snowsuits every time we leave the house, however there is a certain nostalgia that comes with the cold winters that we have here in Ottawa. Sometimes it is challenging to embrace the cold, but with it comes so many different opportunities for fun.

Today we skated along the Rideau Canal for the first time. It was a beautiful, clear, cold, sunny day and we skated the full two kilometers from end to end with the kids. My only regret was that we forgot our camera. What a wonderful way to make the most of the freezing temperatures. I hope our boys will have fond memories of their cold winters in Ottawa. We just have to keep making the most of it.