tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-228993482024-03-12T19:08:15.708-04:00Virtually ThereA tour to the unknown.
Hop on board.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.comBlogger922125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-38809935472366683382015-03-08T22:19:00.001-04:002015-03-08T22:19:26.722-04:00Two days at MacSkimmingDuring my fall practicum I was placed in a Grade 5/6 congregated gifted class at Hawthorne Public School. I fell head over heels for my students and my AT. We were like one big family. I really connected with all of the students in the class and I learned so much from my AT; we became close friends.<br />
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While I was in the class, students were getting quite excited about an event coming up for them in January: they would all be spending 3 days and 2 nights at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre in Ottawa's east end. I was thrilled when my AT asked if I would be interested in joining them for the adventure. I jumped at the chance.<br />
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Due to my school and personal schedule with my kids, I was only able to stay for one of the two nights but I was there for the first full day and most of the second day, spending about 36 hours there with my class. <br />
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It was an amazing experience that I will not forget quickly. Upon arrival, we unloaded our things and had an orientation in the main lodge "The Inn". <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4kbxTROBxF8dRU3tcBaGvRtJYAcouKmutrh16oMG-zBbZvt5LjzyZw7PpPv6t8ndm0o-2yls3pKzLyA2wGpUwaOltgxpO7cfwyqDi5jyYONK5u8vjeU-AgBmnvaQXkTp9ctXuw/s1600/IMG_1734.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4kbxTROBxF8dRU3tcBaGvRtJYAcouKmutrh16oMG-zBbZvt5LjzyZw7PpPv6t8ndm0o-2yls3pKzLyA2wGpUwaOltgxpO7cfwyqDi5jyYONK5u8vjeU-AgBmnvaQXkTp9ctXuw/s1600/IMG_1734.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Inn</td></tr>
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We were situated in the pioneer village section of MacSkimming and much of our time was spent in The Inn - we ate there, had leisure time there and did our learning there. We slept in the pioneer cabins, which were heated only by wood stove. They were very cold! I literally slept with my toque, mitts, and three pairs of pants - and I threw my down jacket over top of my sleeping bag... and I was still cold! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27Oj8z_V05o57zTG_7T8lojbsSc8VstqHk5dRZLHqVVrjoaz49NwZeToVo9No5Wi8p0Py9qQOt9CnyWf2m-TO3-lux63qsUEKeGTnD04dtYIwR-Hdhxa0jRS5Gte-jqdMZNKRA/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ27Oj8z_V05o57zTG_7T8lojbsSc8VstqHk5dRZLHqVVrjoaz49NwZeToVo9No5Wi8p0Py9qQOt9CnyWf2m-TO3-lux63qsUEKeGTnD04dtYIwR-Hdhxa0jRS5Gte-jqdMZNKRA/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view we were greeted by on arrival at MacSkimming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoqeoiW6FHzlIVmypoXT0Mui7A_OtQUsbutYZFvtIOlfwmfGPp5tTuBMS5_Y70tW2oWb-EwSR0m_6tCbJYlXYWgkomYCT3tVrlOn9ZtvbR6whgEnC9d_foMY3r66N9dK08oJcsw/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDoqeoiW6FHzlIVmypoXT0Mui7A_OtQUsbutYZFvtIOlfwmfGPp5tTuBMS5_Y70tW2oWb-EwSR0m_6tCbJYlXYWgkomYCT3tVrlOn9ZtvbR6whgEnC9d_foMY3r66N9dK08oJcsw/s1600/IMG_1727.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our furry friend in "The Inn."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOogxABxAFDUNpU0weE3Rrx5JTC-xbmOQpHOWTNtdky3CTwIQqCQZx6PtzepGcsWBAh9KBZlQ3TLODSc-tJtNmdTMGTS6Blu7LLUf4ULWRwzlhhcvK9fE0AL8aY51-Pmp-CSwvg/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOogxABxAFDUNpU0weE3Rrx5JTC-xbmOQpHOWTNtdky3CTwIQqCQZx6PtzepGcsWBAh9KBZlQ3TLODSc-tJtNmdTMGTS6Blu7LLUf4ULWRwzlhhcvK9fE0AL8aY51-Pmp-CSwvg/s1600/IMG_1728.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cabin I stayed in with the girls in the class. The wood stove didn't stop running after we arrived - no insulation meant it stayed very cold in there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro6WQYtsqEr1MeKKJKUjjw5-bAKQMXAlclH0_GhQ2XY0b2x7yUvZ3FQtmNJ452OcM8gogtQ0_2GKueUR2V9dqEHHfmPHYIHFmZnBcfETYewoBoZMBwUwlDiK3RjrSTnAjHw6KCg/s1600/IMG_1729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhro6WQYtsqEr1MeKKJKUjjw5-bAKQMXAlclH0_GhQ2XY0b2x7yUvZ3FQtmNJ452OcM8gogtQ0_2GKueUR2V9dqEHHfmPHYIHFmZnBcfETYewoBoZMBwUwlDiK3RjrSTnAjHw6KCg/s1600/IMG_1729.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Icicles outside our cabin.</td></tr>
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The initial orientation gave us an overall understanding of the program we were partaking in. The <a href="http://www.westonenvironmentalleaders.ca/" target="_blank">Weston Family Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow program</a> is a 3-phase program that aims to increase the environmental literacy of Grade 6 urban students. In Phase 1, students get a visit from a Royal Botanical Gardens educator via video-conference. The students are introduced to natural science concepts and environmental issues that will be explored more during Phase 2 of the program. During Phase 2, students have an immersion experience for two nights and three days at one of <strong> </strong>Ontario's outdoor education centres<strong> </strong>to
continue lessons initiated in the classroom and develop the leadership
skills needed to support personal and community action. Student learning is reinforced by providing hands-on opportunities
and immersion in sustainable living practices, as well as an
appreciation of the natural environment. During Phase 3, students commit to both personal change and shared action by undertaking
a project or stewardship activity in their school or community.
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After the trip, a trained educator from the outdoor centre will visit the students at school to reinforce previous learning and celebrate their efforts. I joined the class for Phase 2.<br />
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Below is an introduction video to the program (not specific to MacSkimming): <br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/0LLFCrJ7P2g/0.jpg" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0LLFCrJ7P2g?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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During our orientation, David, the educator who would be with us for the three days, talked about what we would experience. One of our foci would be reducing our food waste while at MacSkimming and thinking constantly about our environmental footprint. At each meal, students weighed their food waste and kept track of it throughout the visit with the goal of trying to get it to zero. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GQ39uMqEjOD0wqPsjJvUyUKIWN9LoYzcAf6K9sOJ2EMjhIOi7bawv8hsusX2fVTntSGhCn4ZUquQ6wWMAd_J7JTPfx7Fzq57BsH-lRq9_dq5tiOpQrg3O0feLdtlZncbKD92Jg/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GQ39uMqEjOD0wqPsjJvUyUKIWN9LoYzcAf6K9sOJ2EMjhIOi7bawv8hsusX2fVTntSGhCn4ZUquQ6wWMAd_J7JTPfx7Fzq57BsH-lRq9_dq5tiOpQrg3O0feLdtlZncbKD92Jg/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tracking sheet for food waste.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirgL0gCVUaDmVwRimqAls9ykLqZy9N_JO0QcqHwxuLFYsYl4hezPBDS9ldoCki2Ezc965-LsV0OLKWTmMtYfi_0j4_67XaKQBIrmTV4twHg1w31XXE7IPJH8tOVjR7SNyOCjm4Q/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirgL0gCVUaDmVwRimqAls9ykLqZy9N_JO0QcqHwxuLFYsYl4hezPBDS9ldoCki2Ezc965-LsV0OLKWTmMtYfi_0j4_67XaKQBIrmTV4twHg1w31XXE7IPJH8tOVjR7SNyOCjm4Q/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorting bowls for food waste.</td></tr>
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The rest of our first day was spent cross-country skiing, exploring the trails around MacSkimming, finding traces of wildlife, finding a silent "sit spot" and listening to the sounds of the forest from our sit spots, and spending more time cross-country skiing before settling in for supper. We also spent time getting the fires going, hauling firewood and getting a schedule together for chores.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFn0X1VWqCsdupD7t-2Epm5_LBowAE_Z-UaEbHI9Lvx4oLevAqN8PxUJT9xXwKrLhhBr6U7Su6aONwWf0P4VX6EWjDRwaCfObNg1Uz5BRjMdo6-xA6HOXp5F7NtkSt6THsW1QsQ/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFn0X1VWqCsdupD7t-2Epm5_LBowAE_Z-UaEbHI9Lvx4oLevAqN8PxUJT9xXwKrLhhBr6U7Su6aONwWf0P4VX6EWjDRwaCfObNg1Uz5BRjMdo6-xA6HOXp5F7NtkSt6THsW1QsQ/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On
our first hike - hearing about the moose that have been leaving
evidence in this spot, and what the moose like to eat in winter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-5QT85GvBKumoqgvvl9trxLn9iZPwmIt0PvsW5jrmcv9akG9YUl8KPFXmoni_r54SMlGk7gIlRjzmmBXxfMdZrkCdJHD8DgnpV2C7-vsEc1Ff0GuU_fh8lcUa5ZbAk0h51To5Q/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-5QT85GvBKumoqgvvl9trxLn9iZPwmIt0PvsW5jrmcv9akG9YUl8KPFXmoni_r54SMlGk7gIlRjzmmBXxfMdZrkCdJHD8DgnpV2C7-vsEc1Ff0GuU_fh8lcUa5ZbAk0h51To5Q/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moose "evidence" - a pellet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgDDvFt0-Gl7t6zx0u-r14kmD4DiBw7jXkhLOQqTFLaK5b0hp3gaOEZ6IjMDQSeYMRAUPL38IXFSR7JtFSSJJc0Sf1Ljcs8dR3eyq7JBjxbJujcNCELCVUFJnG6GILvseLrIuxQ/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgDDvFt0-Gl7t6zx0u-r14kmD4DiBw7jXkhLOQqTFLaK5b0hp3gaOEZ6IjMDQSeYMRAUPL38IXFSR7JtFSSJJc0Sf1Ljcs8dR3eyq7JBjxbJujcNCELCVUFJnG6GILvseLrIuxQ/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying
on skis. For most of the students, they had never skied before but
picked it up very quickly. It was the perfect way to experience
MacSkimming on our first day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML_hyphenhyphend6odCE4yEmFI0clLckl4QmuJRk1FhMY8uvQnBQfNiQHFK3KBVT4J6Z9aY_LrZdJpo7smhHtcUhNGonSWgE7R49vi7gCYvZivaBV3RKgzp2zMLf1t4NWHru2QEZjTky9JuA/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML_hyphenhyphend6odCE4yEmFI0clLckl4QmuJRk1FhMY8uvQnBQfNiQHFK3KBVT4J6Z9aY_LrZdJpo7smhHtcUhNGonSWgE7R49vi7gCYvZivaBV3RKgzp2zMLf1t4NWHru2QEZjTky9JuA/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading down the trail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI2nQQeKJOQOtIPUHwXkbq9_Onp2OTCV9YFUfd79WVUMvah39PcTeDuNoQ7EpVvpR0XlXVgDm4mXr34ZS50M5xdkr8fnpTUOD_c9PPK6TietQYDiLBbBNlyO03HnGx2ISOH7Tzw/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOI2nQQeKJOQOtIPUHwXkbq9_Onp2OTCV9YFUfd79WVUMvah39PcTeDuNoQ7EpVvpR0XlXVgDm4mXr34ZS50M5xdkr8fnpTUOD_c9PPK6TietQYDiLBbBNlyO03HnGx2ISOH7Tzw/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out for our second ski of the day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIw8nIxvXwr13RV0YYxdJ5JPTiUKJl-a9QL9waQ-83C-EFfYXNGV4oGAk3JiB4Ki-5TCTemczSICkYpdWxlRRUck58XMWSz7FyoasAR4eLk7AM5Iy9bw8eCu7Td-W3J96dCqdoGQ/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIw8nIxvXwr13RV0YYxdJ5JPTiUKJl-a9QL9waQ-83C-EFfYXNGV4oGAk3JiB4Ki-5TCTemczSICkYpdWxlRRUck58XMWSz7FyoasAR4eLk7AM5Iy9bw8eCu7Td-W3J96dCqdoGQ/s1600/IMG_1731.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warming up after a long ski.</td></tr>
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On our first night there, an amateur astronomer took us on a night hike (without flashlights) into the bush where we star-gazed using his telescope (and saw the moons of Jupiter) and did owl and coyote calls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4QLf7xc3MKTOaFOxJEiuHQJ21Elnsol0HVA4NB2-4kI_0eJ4eyZO85UMRuFd4yzHuV1IITIXzvm1zw7KddGDjkNrOBAucYLJiftzoMSI8JTRGL674S9XBlZqFFKuEiIpXEtZgw/s1600/IMG_1733.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4QLf7xc3MKTOaFOxJEiuHQJ21Elnsol0HVA4NB2-4kI_0eJ4eyZO85UMRuFd4yzHuV1IITIXzvm1zw7KddGDjkNrOBAucYLJiftzoMSI8JTRGL674S9XBlZqFFKuEiIpXEtZgw/s1600/IMG_1733.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the buildings in the pioneer village.</td></tr>
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On our second day, we spent some time in The Inn taking part in different activities to increase knowledge about our environmental footprint, and participating in an environmental scavenger hunt game that took us
through several stations where each group learned something new about
our environmental footprints (ie water usage, energy use, etc). <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouIbmYh4Zr83nDAabSBUW8Fb02wxYArJ3RQ-kLxS2XQVvbe10XKDdj1qBOTm2KEYiynPtv8QDrEcI7j8K0tkta02CldsWgeYJviu3YPDUEDoZYPcGKSWvh3cZQPKc1h2VxZEQOQ/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouIbmYh4Zr83nDAabSBUW8Fb02wxYArJ3RQ-kLxS2XQVvbe10XKDdj1qBOTm2KEYiynPtv8QDrEcI7j8K0tkta02CldsWgeYJviu3YPDUEDoZYPcGKSWvh3cZQPKc1h2VxZEQOQ/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some indoor learning about our environmental footprint.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclzWA73ECDfxGGeznV9_L86-lDVkkz6jZfSwMRLFXf51_nmJWBNHS-8agzG646vGZ59dWpsgN_qjuOi3dZD2A0NgYh9uK5k8hVFBbOLxc9lKX2mx4w5YHtWcDflFfTjrkdIIRCg/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclzWA73ECDfxGGeznV9_L86-lDVkkz6jZfSwMRLFXf51_nmJWBNHS-8agzG646vGZ59dWpsgN_qjuOi3dZD2A0NgYh9uK5k8hVFBbOLxc9lKX2mx4w5YHtWcDflFfTjrkdIIRCg/s1600/IMG_1768.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the stops on the outdoor scavenger hunt: the water use area.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_k3EfCYSZTZsVmLXMtvAXGHDi37S4vi7H2KUtng7il0b-rqphpVusF2ZsFt8XREq1tTxAVDlhqa86EDpgP8ZCXyEBZy-U5yPgryFyoigJWhrNvqnyUGZ0nWNKXv5rU4pknNmZA/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_k3EfCYSZTZsVmLXMtvAXGHDi37S4vi7H2KUtng7il0b-rqphpVusF2ZsFt8XREq1tTxAVDlhqa86EDpgP8ZCXyEBZy-U5yPgryFyoigJWhrNvqnyUGZ0nWNKXv5rU4pknNmZA/s1600/IMG_1769.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each station on the scavenger hunt had a question that we had to answer using the materials left at that stop.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a filling lunch, we played a class-wide Wide Game called Predator and Prey. David took us out into an area of MacSkimming removed from the Pioneer Village. The game had two purposes: to give us a lot of exercise and to teach the students about the food chain in the natural world. Two students were carnivores and had no predators (except for myself and two other parents who were "disease" and could peg them off with plastic balls and take one of their lives), most students were omnivores (could be tagged by a carnivore or by "disease"), and a few were herbivores (could be tagged by everyone). The goal was for each student to collect enough food and water to survive without losing all of their lives. To do this, they had to find the punch stations on certain trees and punch their cards. It was a great work out, lots of fun and the students learned a lot about the dynamics of a forest ecosystem.<br />
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My role at MacSkimming was to assist wherever needed. I was often the teacher assisting David while my AT did other things back at The Inn. I sorted students, led cross-country skiing, created and organized a chore system and "patrols" for chores, loaded firewood, kept students happy, played some games, tried to stay warm (it was -25 both days), and visited with the parent volunteers. I participated with the students in all activities and worked to keep them focussed on David during the teaching phases, which was sometimes challenging given the students' excitement.<br />
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Students were expected to do all the indoor chores related to our visit: keeping firewood stocked, washing all the dishes, cleaning the tables and sweeping floors, weighing the food and scraping the plates. We did not have to prepare any of the food. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvu2qIFUBe7NmItj_G6mig9hLLHjsHtT9ktYjTK-kE_I43XaTFLmxDRJFfLTiVvnsPnW35QEF8pV2y0K4oudWvZS-i9GCEOX53lP_E-L7ExQUZfOELanwVL1XlsZ4TlI9-Z_83w/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvu2qIFUBe7NmItj_G6mig9hLLHjsHtT9ktYjTK-kE_I43XaTFLmxDRJFfLTiVvnsPnW35QEF8pV2y0K4oudWvZS-i9GCEOX53lP_E-L7ExQUZfOELanwVL1XlsZ4TlI9-Z_83w/s1600/IMG_1749.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dish duty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfHbcE-K-CyhXS6LLxLVqj4CjEo8Xe3ygWsRPpwZoqYrd-s90QjzkSXtIAVBxA41DgET-3jL6WSst_T4dHdr80kQlU-suFf8zu006XeeKIAFgfmvdK0sBwjTg7u_otS5ngYWDaQ/s1600/IMG_1760.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfHbcE-K-CyhXS6LLxLVqj4CjEo8Xe3ygWsRPpwZoqYrd-s90QjzkSXtIAVBxA41DgET-3jL6WSst_T4dHdr80kQlU-suFf8zu006XeeKIAFgfmvdK0sBwjTg7u_otS5ngYWDaQ/s1600/IMG_1760.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things always got silly at dish time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My wow moments are hard to narrow down as there were so many: the beauty of MacSkimming in winter, the experience of spending intense time with your students, the engagement level of every student, reigniting my own love for outdoor education. I'm not sure I had a personal "whoops" except that I would have brought an extra blanket and I would portion out the hot chocolate from the start rather than allowing a free-for-all. One student in particular has a hot chocolate addiction!<br />
<br />
This is an amazing program and opportunity for students and teachers. Weston Foundation pays for the entirety of the experience including busing, catering for every meal, the educators and materials, etc. Any
Grade 6 classroom can apply to attend. In Ottawa, it is a first-come
first-served basis and they only take one class per month for the
program at MacSkimming. I hope that I am invited to attend again next year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-88547339589306430982014-10-12T13:23:00.000-04:002014-10-12T13:23:05.705-04:00Teachers College and parenting - not the ideal marriageTeachers' College is very demanding. There is a lot of reading, even compared to when I did my Masters Degree in History. And there are many, many projects, most of which are group work. Everyone in my program is feeling the pressure and the very few of us who have kids, are feeling it especially because the pressures of home do not let up just because you are a full-time student again. And being me means that I haven't let all of my extra-curricular volunteer activities go.<br />
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I've realized that it is foolish to expect to get much of anything done on weekends because the kids want to do fun things and I don't want them to languish in front of glowing screens which is what would happen if I spent hours on school work. Also, John loves the NFL. Enough said on that front. Much as I have tried to push him to revisit his Sunday afternoon schedule, it is to no avail.<br />
<br />
So, I spend late nights in front of my computer during the week and I don't get all my readings done. That's just the way it has to be.<br />
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This coming week is Fall Reading Week at OttawaU. Unless you are doing a Bachelors of Education, in which case you have classes and professional development. On the upside, there are fewer readings. So I guess that's a concession.<br />
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The reality is that I will get this done, and I will get it done well, but not as well as I would if I didn't have kids. But having had my kids already gives me certain advantages and confidences and knowledge about kids and their brains that I didn't have before I had children of my own. And thankfully, they are, so far, pretty understanding about Mummy's schedule and demands.<br />
<br />
Also, I've figured out I can pay Emily $2.50 for looking after the other two while I work at my computer for a couple of hours. GAME-CHANGER.<br />
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Now, back to my readings. <br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-27203867452343834862014-10-09T22:04:00.001-04:002014-10-09T22:05:06.006-04:00Great changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, yeah.</div>
<br />
It's been a while....<br />
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And although it may sound like I am writing assuming someone is actually out there reading this, I am well aware that these words are blowing off my corner of the internet into the great ethos, with no other eyes taking a gander.<br />
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That didn't use to be the case. And I'm okay with that.<br />
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Blogging used to be a huge part of my life. Until life took over as the kids got older. Which meant my wee Henry didn't get his fair share of face time on here. Instead, his life, for the past two years anyway, was chronicled on Facebook, which means it hasn't been chronicled well. And for that, Henry, I am so sorry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQkWpnQJ0DaqOxNkpaLPjueKtKUQ0EBgrT1NDqG_LHuzelEwPE47fjpEuF3k6Ac81zTV7S1pdOi5wTt4oOJy8SiFRJUNHeJl6bkdB4ttz1JpBfW4DTlt287cAqnhXZAtap79Zig/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQkWpnQJ0DaqOxNkpaLPjueKtKUQ0EBgrT1NDqG_LHuzelEwPE47fjpEuF3k6Ac81zTV7S1pdOi5wTt4oOJy8SiFRJUNHeJl6bkdB4ttz1JpBfW4DTlt287cAqnhXZAtap79Zig/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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And then, when life was already getting busy, I ended my glorious existence as a stay-at-home mum (something I relished and excelled at for seven lovely years) and returned to paid employment for Her Majesty. I went back to a posting at Foreign Affairs and two months later landed a better-paid position at Citizenship and Immigration Canada.<br />
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And then quickly realized that I needed to finally do what I had wanted to do for over ten years: become a teacher. Because working for the government was not going to work for me long-term. In fact, it wasn't working for me short-term.<br />
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<a href="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080112010033/uncyclopedia/images/6/67/Senile_teacher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080112010033/uncyclopedia/images/6/67/Senile_teacher.jpg" height="524" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 40px;" width="500" /></a></div>
I applied to teachers' college ten years ago and got into to the University of Ottawa's Teacher Ed program but at the same time found out I was expecting Emily. And so that plan had to wait in lieu of my three amazing children. And now, those children are older and Henry has started JK and, oh yeah, the Government of Ontario is about to turn Teachers' College in Ontario into a two-year program so my plan morphed into "now or never." I chose "now".<br />
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In the past ten years I have never really questioned that I was meant to teach and every waking moment of my volunteer time was spent with kids (and there were many waking moments spent hiking, camping, running meetings and selling Girl Guide cookies), honing teaching skills and figuring out my goals and my philosophy of working with kids. It was extremely worthwhile.<br />
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So, here I am now, one and a half months into my Teacher Ed program at Ottawa U. And I am exactly where I should be and want to be and I am so excited to finally be here.<br />
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I've decided that in order to keep my thoughts straight and figure out my goals and intentions for my teaching career as well as chronicle this year and my imminent search for teaching work in the Ottawa area, it is time to restart this old rust-bucket and get back into blogging. Because I do miss it.<br />
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So, I go back to the beginning. The beginning was blogging just for me and for my kids. So they know what I was thinking and feeling at certain times in my life. So they can go back and read about themselves and our family. So I can go back and reflect and remember and relive these moments of knowing exactly where I wanted to be and why.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-47373788354067323692013-06-30T07:52:00.002-04:002013-06-30T07:52:43.355-04:00A great start to summerThe first two days of summer have been pretty much perfect so far. Yes, it was raining cats and dogs the first day and yesterday saw a cold wind blow in but that has had no affect on the perfection rating.<br />
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On Friday, we met lots of friends at the Museum of Science and Technology where we let our kids run wild and free and took in a great physics demonstration by one of the excellent museum demonstrators/teachers. I whispered to my friend that the kids probably learned more at that demonstration than they'd learned the entire last day of school. They were all really engaged with it and two of our group got to go up as volunteers. Anna was even brave enough to risk having her face smushed by a swinging bowling ball.<br />
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I ended up coming home from the museum with more kids than I went with (thank you, Mazda 5, for making this possible). The rest of the day was a whirlwind of playing, movie, playing, tea party, playing and then a very wet walk to the library in the rain. It was such a great day and aside from two of my own kids being a bit whiny at times, everyone got along like a house on fire.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlCo6aELfVWXX2-iet3QMgESu_98BzjJAompMlScofJGF6y_rf8VCcLcGHspUY-NbFV6DiyfGyL1KnvszLODNxk9w0Ib4EH9N2eRFmyMWOR31yoj9x94be0PYE5cLDEZpfXJ1Lg/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlCo6aELfVWXX2-iet3QMgESu_98BzjJAompMlScofJGF6y_rf8VCcLcGHspUY-NbFV6DiyfGyL1KnvszLODNxk9w0Ib4EH9N2eRFmyMWOR31yoj9x94be0PYE5cLDEZpfXJ1Lg/s320/IMG_3388.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crazies having lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5Fe1pItp_kLDy6JacijEm_1csKuS4_aWghXQfiS7W1SZuqbG-PMSO23IrHWdygNklqvZuGnbpMhVg0-5R8XwZ3OS6qPgPgVcjYJaWpFDQ991guW0K3s9yl8pasd9V0J883hR0Q/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5Fe1pItp_kLDy6JacijEm_1csKuS4_aWghXQfiS7W1SZuqbG-PMSO23IrHWdygNklqvZuGnbpMhVg0-5R8XwZ3OS6qPgPgVcjYJaWpFDQ991guW0K3s9yl8pasd9V0J883hR0Q/s320/IMG_3392.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think they need to work on the drainage system at the park.</td></tr>
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Yesterday I took the kids strawberry picking to <a href="http://www.ovensberryfarm.com/" target="_blank">Ovens Berry Farm</a> in Osgoode. We'd never been there before but we will certainly be going back. The berries were great, there were very few people picking berries (it was threatening to rain... I have to assume that it is normally busier) AND they have rows and rows of Saskatoon berries as pick-your-own as well. And no one but us was picking them! They also have pick your own rhubarb and lots of raspberries that they'll be starting to pick next week. The farm has to be the tidiest berry farm I've come across. And thankfully they have a little play structure for the kids when they give up on picking (about 15 minutes into the process). It's a small farm, just the right size for me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcqPqis45q2DQDJ_4hEzydwOLY8hlyc-zh4eTL6V_vTSuT2A82NXZSj_QhncO9KZ7hlpnmZ2yinOqasWsb37IdRryJkqzdm9CrhxCXL3bhTrpvDPanCDpLxzJPbgc3g02kR1qmA/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcqPqis45q2DQDJ_4hEzydwOLY8hlyc-zh4eTL6V_vTSuT2A82NXZSj_QhncO9KZ7hlpnmZ2yinOqasWsb37IdRryJkqzdm9CrhxCXL3bhTrpvDPanCDpLxzJPbgc3g02kR1qmA/s320/IMG_3395.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling our baskets</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0FPEYB3u895DorTj62ND7DvrgR-7m5mrZg4_XkJdA7CZg1OwVN-IyOzLJza8YbbxGVFFzEglEsaCxKWLCeuUa8llPvfy-VM5ecfLMUkV6QhOchBPJsc5cc9_NDlmHtEkQ7vwIQ/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0FPEYB3u895DorTj62ND7DvrgR-7m5mrZg4_XkJdA7CZg1OwVN-IyOzLJza8YbbxGVFFzEglEsaCxKWLCeuUa8llPvfy-VM5ecfLMUkV6QhOchBPJsc5cc9_NDlmHtEkQ7vwIQ/s320/IMG_3396.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry tried it out too but found he was better at sitting and eating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfmf5Lv90MPYpNhECi9nT_C9hFclcvM8p0t5zW5OmyHaJzd5hHr1gHZMz5PDrLKeUwrN7LnJi2UGXDYNUT9BErlar6qeHlgmVHRHSyi3wqwYhoHcBpcd2Ri5E4wRC8JOKUhSm6A/s1600/IMG_3399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfmf5Lv90MPYpNhECi9nT_C9hFclcvM8p0t5zW5OmyHaJzd5hHr1gHZMz5PDrLKeUwrN7LnJi2UGXDYNUT9BErlar6qeHlgmVHRHSyi3wqwYhoHcBpcd2Ri5E4wRC8JOKUhSm6A/s320/IMG_3399.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj8g895FbJKCCOCGmDzhsDfKXRUny3o4RYigSkaDhJMhN-8LvbWeBie6E1LD-QngvvFc9U7iecrNMzmsDr0hi4tCXoTVGSv9iUa87NQZ0ksUPtQlbLNI5nh9fDtyKQlsMO7ErOw/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkj8g895FbJKCCOCGmDzhsDfKXRUny3o4RYigSkaDhJMhN-8LvbWeBie6E1LD-QngvvFc9U7iecrNMzmsDr0hi4tCXoTVGSv9iUa87NQZ0ksUPtQlbLNI5nh9fDtyKQlsMO7ErOw/s320/IMG_3398.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxTb7yNJTJdCUU16YW_HPAr1cCEGMGiDuYucXTN5jnRqNqxOoJ616adOHVg3mHhMb1hzlhDRj35v9Y3441G3V2CCuTQddemvOA5xlRSJUl7ZUKrBNxnmE22QfodlxiPAzq1eeg/s1600/IMG_3406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxTb7yNJTJdCUU16YW_HPAr1cCEGMGiDuYucXTN5jnRqNqxOoJ616adOHVg3mHhMb1hzlhDRj35v9Y3441G3V2CCuTQddemvOA5xlRSJUl7ZUKrBNxnmE22QfodlxiPAzq1eeg/s320/IMG_3406.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three batches made and more to come.</td></tr>
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After we got home, the kids played Wii for a while and helped me make freezer jam (I am amazed how quickly Saskatoon jam sets) before we headed to our local wading pool. Unfortunately it was closed - I continue to be flummoxed by how arbitrarily our wading pool is closed. It seems to be at the discretion of the lifeguards but really? It wasn't raining, it was a bit on the cool side but there were kids there when we arrived who were equally disappointed that they couldn't swim. The sprinkler park kept Henry happy while the girls played on the playground. We ended the day with three very tired kids and more freezer jam.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_N6KxYV9IfJhs8ZiaRmUO2w50UGIFMUdiH7VhlwWuzuB2a240x5dYiKAj8-n4vs9K24ianhGeNGYu3CfCMRL7kSQEdRyWlCCADX3t6Kd7LywsXd2rrA2rWEQm_JKodFKEdj_bQ/s1600/IMG_3403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_N6KxYV9IfJhs8ZiaRmUO2w50UGIFMUdiH7VhlwWuzuB2a240x5dYiKAj8-n4vs9K24ianhGeNGYu3CfCMRL7kSQEdRyWlCCADX3t6Kd7LywsXd2rrA2rWEQm_JKodFKEdj_bQ/s320/IMG_3403.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry brings a lot of joy to the sprinkler park.</td></tr>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-5435943223696113832013-06-28T21:51:00.004-04:002013-06-28T21:51:52.286-04:00TransitionsI've been searching for a way to break the ice after such a long absence from my once-loved blog. I realized tonight that there isn't a smooth way to do this where I glide back in, segueing into a well-crafted post after a pithy sentence that somehow erases the months and months that I've been away (only proverbially... in real life my only absence was a lovely few days in Austin this spring). <br />
<br />
Rather than explaining my absence (so very, very busy with... life) or trying to play catch-up (which would never work well), I'm just going to jump right back in and see what happens. It's my blog after all and that's how I want to do it.<br />
<br />
Things are changing in my life. After seven straight years at home with my children, I am returning to work this September. I'll be back with the government, in fact, with the same department but in a much diminished role. I didn't truly expect to go back at the same level I left, given I was away for 7 years but I didn't really expect to return to an entry level position. However, things are really tough in Canada's public service right now. People are losing jobs not getting them. I'm just so thankful to have found something that will fulfill the debt that I owe the government from my maternity leave top-up. I don't owe them money... I owe them time. If I hadn't found a position, I would have had to pay that top up back. <br />
<br />
The position I've taken will be for one year. I don't know what will happen after that. I'm not too concerned at this point. Right now I'm completely focused on reorienting our family from one where there is a parent home full-time who is largely responsible for most stuff at home - meals, laundry, cleaning, school work, play, lessons, etc - to having two parents working full-time and all the kids in daycare and school.<br />
<br />
I'll be tough. Particularly on me. On the plus side, there will be more money in our pockets.<br />
<br />
And that is the first transition. The others are much more interesting to talk about, but I'll save that for another night when the UK version of Life on Mars isn't calling my name.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-43099385816940939132013-02-04T09:35:00.001-05:002013-02-04T09:35:34.778-05:00Gluten-free Monday: favourite pancakesObviously I took a week off but... here I am today, nursing a cold, ignoring a nasty diaper, and generally pinning things to my Pinterest boards that I really want to sew.<br />
<br />
My love of sewing has been reignited the last few months. It began when I pulled out my long forgotten and unfinished Christmas tree skirt (still unfinished, I might add). Whenever I start to sew a project again (rather than just sew on Girl Guide badges or make minor repairs), I fall in love with sewing all over again. My next project will be a fun bag to tote my Girl Guide stuff in. After that, it is finishing some other quilts while making some summer skirts for the girls. But first, I MUST finish my Christmas tree skirt.<br />
<br />
I also have a Gluten-free goodness board on Pinterest. You can find it <a href="http://pinterest.com/karen_reyburn/gluten-free-goodness/" target="_blank">here</a>. And like most of my other pins, I haven't made a single recipe on there yet. Maybe I'll change that this week and try one out. I'm thinking the chocolate cookies. Yes..... I see a project for Henry and I today! Expect a review next week.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I'm going to share my favourite pancakes with you today (sorry no photos). This is a recipe that I got from Baking Beauties but I have fully changed around to make much better (in our opinion). We always add blueberries but plain is good too, as is any other fruit you can think of. You can also add canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spices for a really great treat.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Karen's Pancakes</h3>
1/2 cup brown rice flour<br />
1/2 cup sorghum flour<br />
3 tbsp tapioca starch/flour<br />
1/3 cup potato starch<br />
2 tbsp ground flax seed<br />
1 tbsp sugar<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
3/4 tsp xanthan gum<br />
<br />
1 egg<br />
1 cup yogurt (plain or vanilla)<br />
1 1/2-1 3/4 cups milk, depending on how thick you like your pancakes.<br />
3 tbsp oil<br />
2 tsp vanilla<br />
<br />
Whisk all dry ingredients together. Mix wet ingredients separately, whisking well. Add wet to dry and mix well. Sometime I have to add extra milk to make a thinner batter as I don't like my pancakes too puffy. Melt butter in frying pan and add large spoonfuls of batter adding blueberries or whatever fruit you like.<br />
<br />
This batter also keeps well in the fridge for a few days.<br />
<br />
I honestly don't think a wheat-eater could tell the difference eating these pancakes. There is not GF texture here at all. Yum!<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-6934084345704384352013-01-22T11:43:00.000-05:002013-01-22T11:50:39.286-05:00Gluten-free Monday: GF flour blend & Banana Chocolate Chip MuffinsI know, I know. It's Tuesday. I realize now that posting on Mondays will likely be difficult because Brownies is at 4:00 every Monday which means my Mondays is normally dominated by running around, getting craft supplies ready, doing some shopping, etc.<br />
<br />
Yesterday we had a skating party at Brownies so there was little running around and no crafting to be done but Emily was home sick so the day was strange and didn't follow routine AND I am starting to cut/limit Henry's naps so there was that added in the mix as well.<br />
<br />
And so, on this very cold Tuesday, I give to you Gluten-free Monday: the second edition!<br />
<br />
Last week, Julie asked if I would post my gluten-free flour blend. I'll happily do that today.<br />
<br />
In full disclosure, this is actually <a href="http://www.carolfenstercooks.com/index.php/2011/08/carols-sorghum-flour-blend/" target="_blank">Carol's Sorghum Blend</a> and not invented by me at all.<br />
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I love this blend. I've tried many and this one is by far the best for our tastes. No rice flour: win! Easy to mix: win! As close to wheat in texture and taste that you're gonna get: win!<br />
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I don't use blends too often, however. Normally I gravitate to recipes that have a number of different flours and starches in the recipe and do not depend on an all-purpose blend. These recipes tend to work best as the ratios have been determined for that specific recipe. This is why I like <a href="http://mennonitegirlscancookglutenfree.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">MGCC's website</a> so much. Their GF guru, Julie, doesn't use blends either.<br />
<br />
There are some instances that require a pre-made blend however. I have a couple of recipes that ask for one and I go to this blend for converting some of my square and muffin recipes. It works well. I wouldn't use it to convert a cake or cookies, though. Be forewarned, it won't work. It is great for thickening sauces, stews, or other recipes that ask for 1-2 tbsp of flour as a thickener. This will be a great replacement.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Carol's Sorghum Blend</b></h3>
1 1/2 cups sorghum flour<br />
1 1/2 cups potato starch (not potato flour)<br />
1 cup tapioca starch/flour<br />
<br />
Mix and store.<br />
<br />
I've used this recipe in the following muffin recipe to rave reviews:<br />
<br />
<h3>
<b>Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins</b></h3>
I can't even remember where I got this recipe... AllRecipes, maybe? It's a GREAT addition to kids' lunches if they survive an hour past baking. <br />
<br />
Ingredients:<br />
2 tbsp shortening<br />
2/3 cup brown sugar<br />
2 eggs<br />
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce<br />
1 1/2 cups Carol's Sorghum Blend<br />
1/2 tsp xanthan gum<br />
1 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp vanilla<br />
1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt<br />
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas<br />
1/3 cup chocolate chips<br />
<br />
Directions:<br />
Cream shortening and sugar in big bowl.<br />
Add eggs and applesauce, mix well.<br />
Mix dry ingredients, add to big bowl.<br />
Add in vanilla, yogurt and bananas.<br />
Mix well.<br />
Stir in chocolate chips.<br />
<br />
Pour into muffin cups. Bake at 350F for 24-30 minutes. Makes 20-24 muffins. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-26081726352945950632013-01-14T10:02:00.000-05:002013-01-14T10:03:04.691-05:00Gluten-free MondaysI've decided, on the spur of the moment as I devour another gluten-free cheese bun that I baked this morning, to start a new series on the blog: Gluten-free Mondays. <br />
<br />
I've been eating totally gluten-free for two years next month. I was dragged kicking and screaming into a gluten-free diet after almost two years of ongoing and sometimes serious health issues revealed that gluten-free was the only cure for my many issues. You can read about my health journey to this discovery <a href="http://krabes.blogspot.ca/2011/07/gluten-route-of-all-my-problems.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Since then I have found and developed a lot of GREAT gluten-free recipes. My mantra when I started out was that if it wasn't as good as the wheat version, I wouldn't eat it (or make it again). I've been able to stick to that and in some cases, my gluten-free version is better than the original wheat version.<br />
<br />
We now have a completely gluten-free household. Emily and Hope showed signs of gluten-intolerance about a year ago and have been GF since about then. Henry has shown signs for a while and has been GF for about two months. I'm still not convinced that this is the answer for him or that he is truly intolerant but given that gluten-intolerance is hereditary, there's a good chance that he is, even if it isn't solving his current issue.<br />
<br />
John decided to join us as the last man standing and after reading an article that scared him off modern, North American wheat for at least a while, if not a lifetime.<br />
<br />
I've only just started to convert my own recipes over to a GF version recently. More often than not, I scour the internet for an already tested recipe. I find that if I do choose to convert, my best luck happens with muffins, quick breads, pancakes. I still haven't mastered a from-scratch homemade bread recipe. Bread still eludes me. It is the toughest thing to replicate given that it is reliant on gluten to make it 'bready'. If we want bread, I buy a tolerable version at Costco or get the Bob's Red Mill everyday bread mix.<br />
<br />
Several of my friends are starting to consider going GF because they have ongoing gut issues etc. And they have asked me for recipes. Instead of putting all my links together, which would take me a LONG time. I've decided to feature one of our favourite GF recipes here each Monday. Most often it will be taken from someone else's website or a cookbook. So, kudos to all those people out there who have mastered recipe conversion. My family benefits daily from your perseverance.<br />
<br />
This morning, as I mentioned above, I baked cheese buns. These are not normal buns. They're called Chipa and they're common to South America. My sister-in-law, who is from Brazil, makes these often. Their texture takes some getting used to - they're very chewy inside. We're totally addicted over here. They need to be eaten the same day they're made so if you aren't going to eat 48 little buns in one day, put some of the batter in the fridge to use the next day. That's what I normally do and it works great.<br />
<br />
I found this recipe on <a href="http://mennonitegirlscancookglutenfree.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Mennonite Girls Can Cook's gluten-free page</a>. It's become one of my go-to GF recipe sources. I've only had one recipe not work out (bread, of course). And of course, being Mennonite, they appeal to my desire for traditional Mennonite recipes converted to GF. This week I'll be trying their wareneki recipe from their cookbook. Can't wait!<br />
<br />
<h3>
<a href="http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2011/02/chipa.html" target="_blank">Chipa</a></h3>
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3 cups tapioca starch/flour</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>1
teaspoon salt</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>1
tablespoon baking powder</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>1/2 cup olive oil</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>2
cups of strong grated cheese<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>2
eggs</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>1
cup milk</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Mix all the dry ingredients together.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Add oil, beaten eggs with the milk and stir in till the dry ingredients
are well moistened.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Put into greased mini-muffin tins.</div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Bake at 350 til golden brown, 20-25 minutes. I bake mine on 325 convection and leave them in for 15 minutes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMLj3d7MtGGC0X6Z_4K6praiwgdd-xE9AYSP0KLbpPnNYRgS1KwPNrMQMrg74lsMqGEnZcpx6cwPBKaRlnsV3spdqOMJWBO9brIelxf7I1s-ROPz2LZtP8XdX6wEy7OHhUtAPrA/s1600/IMG_2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMLj3d7MtGGC0X6Z_4K6praiwgdd-xE9AYSP0KLbpPnNYRgS1KwPNrMQMrg74lsMqGEnZcpx6cwPBKaRlnsV3spdqOMJWBO9brIelxf7I1s-ROPz2LZtP8XdX6wEy7OHhUtAPrA/s320/IMG_2453.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious cheesy little pillows.</td></tr>
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-67329093951164973152013-01-10T12:23:00.001-05:002013-01-10T18:14:52.351-05:00Toilet training Henry Day 2Friends, after only one day, I'm off the wagon. Yesterday afternoon saw one very small, perhaps accidental success. The rest of the day was a series of wet underpants and small puddles. This kid is a camel. I plied him with juice all day and it never reappeared. That makes toilet training a bit challenging. Even this morning his diaper did not reflect the amount of liquid he consumed yesterday. <br />
<br />
Baffling. <br />
<br />
I was forced to take some social time for myself this morning at Starbucks, mainly for my own sanity. There is only so many times I can sing the pee-pee song without losing my shit. <br />
<br />
After Starbucks, it was off to Costco to return two bathing suits for Emily for a bigger size. I had to do it today before they sold out because kids' Speedo suits at $11.99 won't last long. <br />
<br />
So now we're home, diaper still on, Dora on the iPad. I hope the afternoon will produce some successes. If so, you're sure to hear about it here.<br />
<br />
<i>Update</i>: Lots of pee today. All in diapers except for one prolific pee in the underpants. However... a realization! Henry seems to have been routinely dehydrated, which explains why he didn't pee much yesterday. He drank all that juice, didn't pee much, but today, had a much easier time with pooping than he has in.... months. Oh my. Feeling like a bad mother. Although, I offer him drink a lot but the guy doesn't want them unless it's juice. He'd rather drink nothing than have to suck back water during the day. Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-52339972832251340392013-01-09T13:37:00.001-05:002013-01-09T13:39:25.787-05:00Live blogging: toilet training Henry, Day 1<p>1:38 pm Henry is sleeping and I'm about to put some cookies in the oven. He hit the mark once and I suspect he's saving it all up to unleash in his diaper during his nap.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>12:35 all Spider-Man underpants heading to the washing machine. No pee has yet to hit the toilet. We may have a difficult case on our hands. Time for a lunch break. Ham with ketchup. Lunch of toilet training champions</p>
<p> </p>
<p>.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl0JkqoU4I1dd0Ma8o6ZlJ3iE7ppamvLkYQz6OuxHKK557VtW-nc-mlcJBqogGXAccguEVKeop_RxyisttdiawqIXmvolA1U-V_AqXjT4YS8jCKfYebUC0G_IQ4Hv8yu-Pc26vg/s640/blogger-image--1067990358.jpg" imageanchor="1" target="" style="text-align: center; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl0JkqoU4I1dd0Ma8o6ZlJ3iE7ppamvLkYQz6OuxHKK557VtW-nc-mlcJBqogGXAccguEVKeop_RxyisttdiawqIXmvolA1U-V_AqXjT4YS8jCKfYebUC0G_IQ4Hv8yu-Pc26vg/s640/blogger-image--1067990358.jpg" id="blogsy-1357756674435.8274" class="" alt="" width="360" height="480"></a></p>
<p>10:20 all decked out in Spider-Man underpants. </p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWKQ_r9o6BCzFtVswG_pR0Eome2A30jNCsz5YC1df7gMJ66kX5-DGgOiwq_b-0bSdAp1NEPN5yVOTI_wmkpXmtd9ETVoVqWO0keVdGAZUz1FhhIF5F2_ovIVK1uv8kE-HSSF8Gg/s640/blogger-image-718487284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWKQ_r9o6BCzFtVswG_pR0Eome2A30jNCsz5YC1df7gMJ66kX5-DGgOiwq_b-0bSdAp1NEPN5yVOTI_wmkpXmtd9ETVoVqWO0keVdGAZUz1FhhIF5F2_ovIVK1uv8kE-HSSF8Gg/s640/blogger-image-718487284.jpg" id="blogsy-1357756674478.7703" class="" alt="" width="360" height="480"></a></p>
<p>9:55am Ready to go</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-28159962063095123562013-01-09T09:05:00.000-05:002013-01-09T09:05:41.649-05:00And now to resume the toilet talk...It seems that I've largely abandoned this space, my personal space on the massive landscape that is the World Wide Web. I've been thinking more and more lately about how much I miss spending time here, crafting my words, sharing our stories and connecting with people who find their way here. I've also given time to trying to figure out why I have found it so hard in the last year, and especially since July 24, the date of my last post, to make time for my blog.<br />
<br />
There has been one major addition to my life in the last year: Girl Guides of Canada.<br />
<br />
The reality is that running two Girl Guide units has dominated my free time in the evenings when I normally spend a little bit of time here. I love my work with Girl Guides and that won't change. Nor will the amount of time I devote to it.<br />
<br />
And, with my current attempts to get back into paid employment with the government, it isn't likely that more free time is going to open up any time soon.<br />
<br />
And so, while it may not be of interest to current readers (if there are any current readers left?), I'm going to change my use of this space somewhat and use it to share meeting ideas, craft ideas, issues and celebrations about my Girl Guide units. I will still use it as my personal blog. it won't entirely be Girl Guide-related but since that is a big part of my life, it only makes sense that it becomes more of a feature on the blog. And if it means that I get back to writing more often, then it's the right answer.<br />
<br />
But for now, the blog, at least for this week, is going back to its roots: poop talk! Bum talk! Toilet training talk!<br />
<br />
Both of my girls played starring roles here during their toilet training adventures. And it seems only fair that Henry's foray into all things underpants (his favourite word for underwear) and toilet is documented as well. Not just for posterity and your enjoyment, but for my own psychological health.<br />
<br />
As you may recall, I hate toilet training. I've said it before and I'll say it again: if there is one part of parenting I'd like to be able to hire out, it would be this part. I'll take barf, discipline, sleeplessness, illness over toilet training anyday. I. HATE. IT.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's why we generally suck at it over here. Although Hope's experience was way better than Emily's and maybe that means that Henry's will be even better.<br />
<br />
All I really know is that I'm likely to be washing a lot of underpants today.<br />
<br />
Today is Day 1 and currently Henry is still sitting on the couch watching Grover in his dinosaur jammies and a fully stocked diaper. My resolve is still building. I still need a shower. Although maybe it would be wise to delay that until I really need it. Right now I'm only mildly dirty. Just wait.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ_JS9Zho8pKRV52TZsSBwmZikAn7NPWhvBNatX3ce0puQx1m-UEnW_6hLPyye-5BoP49XJ0IQ5BaOnxRpYcdqPHnTL1lnWPGBdOFN-YV1S_h9szqW8fET8HUTR6cPGzuS9CjUg/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJ_JS9Zho8pKRV52TZsSBwmZikAn7NPWhvBNatX3ce0puQx1m-UEnW_6hLPyye-5BoP49XJ0IQ5BaOnxRpYcdqPHnTL1lnWPGBdOFN-YV1S_h9szqW8fET8HUTR6cPGzuS9CjUg/s320/IMG_2427.JPG" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling ready for those underpants! All positive and full of smiles. Just wait.....</td></tr>
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<br />
And so, you can expect updates today. Hopefully many positive ones. Probably many poopy ones. Although, given this guy's propensity for being backed up, it may be all pee. I think I'll be considering myself blessed that he can't produce the deuce without a lot of grunting and red-facedness.<br />
<br />
See? Already starting on the poop talk and I haven't even pulled out the Spiderman underpants yet. Oh, this day is going to be good. Aren't you glad I'm back?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-57107224036189373032012-07-24T07:55:00.002-04:002012-07-24T07:56:46.840-04:00Our last feedI can't let another moment go by without writing about something that took place this week. It seems I've breastfed my last child for the last time. Weaning Henry has been a drawn-out affair. The boy likes his booby. A lot. He got to the point of pointing at me and saying "dat milk!" (as opposed to the milk he gets out of a cup). I still enjoyed nursing Henry, for the most part, but I was also done being pawed at and having my shirt lifted up over my still clinging-on baby belly, sometimes in public. And yes, there was still milk. Our bodies produce milk as long as milk is still being taken out by a searching little mouth.<br />
<br />
My last few feeds with him weren't great - it hurt. The guy has powerful suction and a lot of teeth. But the last feed (or what I assume was the last one as it was about 72 hours ago), was lovely. Exactly what I wanted it to be. As he snuggled up and fed, I rubbed his head, caressing his soft curls, just like I've done hundreds, nay, thousands, of times before. <br />
<br />
I've spent countless hours feeding my babies. I don't feel sad that this era has come to an end in our lives. I still nourish them on a daily basis in so many different ways. I'm happy to be leaving this behind now. And I'm so glad to have taken this journey with them. It was hard. I really struggled with feeding Emily and Hope at the beginning, not because of a lack of milk supply (I had an over-abundance) but because of engorgement, cracked and bleeding nipples, blocked ducts, a baby (Emily) with a tiny mouth. It was so hard but so worth it.<br />
<br />
And it will stay with them, and me, for the rest of our lives.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaBbM67RQpV4J6-OzAd0EPBty_b-IBnhkOypPiXmziCKTth5gwOrDCaTMAJ30BDgZhgCJg1FPlEfzuDGYOQL0SLsp16YIJIoeCyv38TM7yJHBNqnM3INzEhrTiLf5iwFzGcQt1Q/s1600/019_16A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaBbM67RQpV4J6-OzAd0EPBty_b-IBnhkOypPiXmziCKTth5gwOrDCaTMAJ30BDgZhgCJg1FPlEfzuDGYOQL0SLsp16YIJIoeCyv38TM7yJHBNqnM3INzEhrTiLf5iwFzGcQt1Q/s320/019_16A.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding Emily for the first time with the help of my amazing midwife, Sarah.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dB-SRLX42Z89TSOmlzZa9qhMjHWtPmXykNYEsDEo3HrzGNB39w44eHc1ghLLRIk-Z3D2ViT5TLL5yXIQa-ask5U9IJaOUQVkvhWKQ1y069dW7RxVuFHV-Fcj-E4ow3sbmQBhiw/s1600/breastfeeding+Hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dB-SRLX42Z89TSOmlzZa9qhMjHWtPmXykNYEsDEo3HrzGNB39w44eHc1ghLLRIk-Z3D2ViT5TLL5yXIQa-ask5U9IJaOUQVkvhWKQ1y069dW7RxVuFHV-Fcj-E4ow3sbmQBhiw/s320/breastfeeding+Hope.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding Hope on Day 1 or 2. Hope was born at home and with a toddler around there were few chances for photos.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhhqrX-cxkW0honSYOeNVcO65-1PexHUbWW8xfmc_mjR8qXdwJf-qAmPnIrDAvUamDL95CoL38Cbrxob8mpvR6Lq4qItqjTqHRrUft7FmMlv7XPEe4aFHyLqm-IB21_gE7HG1_w/s1600/2010-05-19+Henry+085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRhhqrX-cxkW0honSYOeNVcO65-1PexHUbWW8xfmc_mjR8qXdwJf-qAmPnIrDAvUamDL95CoL38Cbrxob8mpvR6Lq4qItqjTqHRrUft7FmMlv7XPEe4aFHyLqm-IB21_gE7HG1_w/s320/2010-05-19+Henry+085.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breastfeeding Henry for the first time with the help of my other amazing midwife, Mina (different midwife because Henry was born in Kitchener).</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-74779569835217963022012-07-19T06:59:00.001-04:002012-07-19T06:59:25.310-04:00Spring back: photo look-back Part 1 - May 2012The last couple of months have been filled with sports, end of school events, outings, travel, baking, get-togethers, gardening, and general (good) busy-ness. Over the next few days, I'm going to take a photo tour, month-by-month, of what we've been up to this spring.<br />
<br />
My 40th birthday bling bash was totally fun and rocking (well, as much as a group of 40+ women can rock it out when we are tired from kids and work and the usual stuff at the end of the day). We met at Sassy Bead in The Glebe (one of my favourite stores of all time - and sadly, now closed) and made jewellery, ate, drank and laughed and talked until we exhausted our creativity and our store hosts. We were planning to head to a pub after that but instead, a few of us who still had energy, albeit waning, went back to mine and finished the evening over tea and raspberry cream cake. A fitting way for the 40-crowd to end an evening, dontcha think?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uLOGmPP3vSXLroCOtDh3qeQt_rU_VOvfUUR1i-jyWpK_ib_FgC50YtDPKW1uciu7zaTBfNtQpC0rtT5WF4-cJTxiwzRC2LGqErazzrPVXlQYhvriY_eeldLL0Pkz44Jf92P56A/s1600/IMG_0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_uLOGmPP3vSXLroCOtDh3qeQt_rU_VOvfUUR1i-jyWpK_ib_FgC50YtDPKW1uciu7zaTBfNtQpC0rtT5WF4-cJTxiwzRC2LGqErazzrPVXlQYhvriY_eeldLL0Pkz44Jf92P56A/s320/IMG_0663.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl... ready to par-tay!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBUd9yVtSn6sGXR0thrMyZ3qLttQoZtUYnhAHmOstzhTxv-HyiOaPGGhrMIm81cfaFsqKp251ot2Vun_bKkq5nzDtdvu88e7M9hIftBIAa7PKljNz5NLSP3dtejG03-hy2WjjGg/s1600/IMG_0658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBUd9yVtSn6sGXR0thrMyZ3qLttQoZtUYnhAHmOstzhTxv-HyiOaPGGhrMIm81cfaFsqKp251ot2Vun_bKkq5nzDtdvu88e7M9hIftBIAa7PKljNz5NLSP3dtejG03-hy2WjjGg/s320/IMG_0658.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to get our bead on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXNIDimqFNaMKJ2jy3uzT_X8xHchmr2DIAKBwChlJsQODxxxlpFIIJvPIT8qjq0U6cZrLuKIj_UWD13gDwsWEFdGgwilnefw6thGzxWkrUC8RuQcRzAIXcDMdw02yNMZI0zWQTQ/s1600/IMG_0662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXNIDimqFNaMKJ2jy3uzT_X8xHchmr2DIAKBwChlJsQODxxxlpFIIJvPIT8qjq0U6cZrLuKIj_UWD13gDwsWEFdGgwilnefw6thGzxWkrUC8RuQcRzAIXcDMdw02yNMZI0zWQTQ/s320/IMG_0662.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally a shot of the photographer (Pam, middle)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilo7No2PpPniqe9evj51y9WYngM5_zz8PZ-ImvUjbMTaZQ7u1DmkbC6TpRX1IO-88mzJF2jlILeLUYivGMGvBQG45K6kDjHHLfRod0zIMNhYhvnH9q-Tsl45xGOlLj57UpkeasbA/s1600/IMG_0674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilo7No2PpPniqe9evj51y9WYngM5_zz8PZ-ImvUjbMTaZQ7u1DmkbC6TpRX1IO-88mzJF2jlILeLUYivGMGvBQG45K6kDjHHLfRod0zIMNhYhvnH9q-Tsl45xGOlLj57UpkeasbA/s320/IMG_0674.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meredith and Julie in deep concentration</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBfN5QUGrv73szzRrCnsU6iRxegq14THSiKxlzwwLqJLvyubGy0HydGouS8nXubKT5xpCSj5Y7qo9WIbn2gO19Mm1CiBZf8nejAugEhO7Tpbx4GfUlG2vhkPVJPZlcUnGFXdj3g/s1600/IMG_0676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBfN5QUGrv73szzRrCnsU6iRxegq14THSiKxlzwwLqJLvyubGy0HydGouS8nXubKT5xpCSj5Y7qo9WIbn2gO19Mm1CiBZf8nejAugEhO7Tpbx4GfUlG2vhkPVJPZlcUnGFXdj3g/s320/IMG_0676.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea made the most complex jewellery of the evening</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2_5R8yyQvWwRsYXyxFYcKAU02MgOWmAO2bIgu4NTZwNmwsjSLzLzAEpD9Wx50dLHRzgStkffPWyBFhOGr3iL5mgD9RZ8nfXTfUHO9oz4QRYjDhOv8-1_vhMItFLM4SdvMdEnYg/s1600/IMG_0677.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2_5R8yyQvWwRsYXyxFYcKAU02MgOWmAO2bIgu4NTZwNmwsjSLzLzAEpD9Wx50dLHRzgStkffPWyBFhOGr3iL5mgD9RZ8nfXTfUHO9oz4QRYjDhOv8-1_vhMItFLM4SdvMdEnYg/s320/IMG_0677.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many choices, so little time!</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEFeg5rCn0sW9FHMWopkSE5uWcWWeeetdag6qFs8Zv4ltX9N6pICd-5Qy-4a_qRce6opx1TGeET9Edi2TX83IQElJY6M9S8NfpiED-icT3QtGBKVGxkxW9cd95slaGkT5GYQfPA/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEFeg5rCn0sW9FHMWopkSE5uWcWWeeetdag6qFs8Zv4ltX9N6pICd-5Qy-4a_qRce6opx1TGeET9Edi2TX83IQElJY6M9S8NfpiED-icT3QtGBKVGxkxW9cd95slaGkT5GYQfPA/s320/IMG_0685.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isobel and I looking fab!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WW78QqSW1zzHcRcLh3YRN5RufOWeWf0uMQPSiE-mYQDA-LySymBlMGvfgzMlFFtHLBoZPfbTx9uJ14o7_7yekFBZGyz8XqOqdQQethdJe7Ywadw1eD4B5iU6TEmWbHD8MLSELA/s1600/IMG_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WW78QqSW1zzHcRcLh3YRN5RufOWeWf0uMQPSiE-mYQDA-LySymBlMGvfgzMlFFtHLBoZPfbTx9uJ14o7_7yekFBZGyz8XqOqdQQethdJe7Ywadw1eD4B5iU6TEmWbHD8MLSELA/s320/IMG_0689.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A final group shot (minus Pam)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Spending an evening with a group of women like this, all close friends, who I've known for a long time or come to know in the last few years or even months, is the best way to welcome your forties. It was a really special night.<br />
<br />
And then only about a week later (on May 19), Henry turned two. No kidding! The tantrums, screaming fits and general grumpiness on his part leading up to this birthday gave us a clear indication of his age and warning of more fun to come. Man, this kid has a temper. Still wonderful and tons o' fun though (she says through gritted teeth).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEH0A693UIqhbLFDW8iPTPsZRuFFOp-3A2gxdgdxEKTkf00rZctcdCz4AfotuCS0yTq95EsSUX4iSViaJqlS9BCCqWnf5Pb-70BoDBUcXepdGDv0_xpJIrz2rJgUMp6pP68ZYuQ/s1600/DSCF6349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEH0A693UIqhbLFDW8iPTPsZRuFFOp-3A2gxdgdxEKTkf00rZctcdCz4AfotuCS0yTq95EsSUX4iSViaJqlS9BCCqWnf5Pb-70BoDBUcXepdGDv0_xpJIrz2rJgUMp6pP68ZYuQ/s320/DSCF6349.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to get a sandbox for his birthday (truthfully, we already owned the sandbox - it had been in the garage - we just filled it with new sand - can you say frugal and awesome!?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB-qGxeAKgMGtBJWY9V-fwHxHwNgmG2V_WaZEjph-UlAbNjUZLcZiVk101EhhRSyVLld0sEoe553hoboN4XrbdFJOvMpnzYJ2JTneeBUf3wbBd6V_oAEkYlv7h5jtsxB3VeQWow/s1600/DSCF6354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXB-qGxeAKgMGtBJWY9V-fwHxHwNgmG2V_WaZEjph-UlAbNjUZLcZiVk101EhhRSyVLld0sEoe553hoboN4XrbdFJOvMpnzYJ2JTneeBUf3wbBd6V_oAEkYlv7h5jtsxB3VeQWow/s320/DSCF6354.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Could this be the last Dora cake I every make? Please make it so.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5m1rQ02LI_neQ9kl722A5c0rQ6eWBUKXM_eSPAun1Q_7dlzqK7tHCgu2Y_V4d94gdKWq4ArWGrIBT1wlLTrdCrSw9lEVawmpwjgSjhTMm90iLo0o2zAV7j3_VkhfpFmWYrlUjg/s1600/DSCF6360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5m1rQ02LI_neQ9kl722A5c0rQ6eWBUKXM_eSPAun1Q_7dlzqK7tHCgu2Y_V4d94gdKWq4ArWGrIBT1wlLTrdCrSw9lEVawmpwjgSjhTMm90iLo0o2zAV7j3_VkhfpFmWYrlUjg/s320/DSCF6360.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filling his face with Dora at Pam and Jim's.</td></tr>
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And that, my long ignored friends, was our May (for the most part). Stay tuned for a June round-up!<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-28520746204495870262012-05-09T23:25:00.001-04:002012-05-09T23:25:31.051-04:0040 eveTomorrow I turn 40. I'll have more to say about that tomorrow, for now I just want to say: Hi! How've y'all been doin'?<br />
<br />
It's been a while. A LONG while. So sorry.<br />
<br />
I've been preoccupied with selling 105 cases of Girl Guide cookies. I was starting to dream about Girl Guide cookies although, ironically, I can't even eat the damn things since they're chalk full of gluten.<br />
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Other things have been going on in my life as well. I've done some stuff, learned some new things, made some decisions, done stuff with the kids. Such as:<br />
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I'm learning to do this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D-IVcw9LOuEyd_SHnpSJbwUqvsB5fsN-UE4JlB3Ly9j4KYqBQcNrydS2rvzvfccYRysHnxUCNb_Igt1Cayks9e-oTYc9ZhplXxQonF7x8gKGd_52HHYKdAGSpOAJx4YRI3r-tw/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1D-IVcw9LOuEyd_SHnpSJbwUqvsB5fsN-UE4JlB3Ly9j4KYqBQcNrydS2rvzvfccYRysHnxUCNb_Igt1Cayks9e-oTYc9ZhplXxQonF7x8gKGd_52HHYKdAGSpOAJx4YRI3r-tw/s320/IMG_1308.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First try. Not bad. Will get better. Homemade fondant.</td></tr>
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And yesterday I did this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkKlygkd5w95KCJJOJJc5Pflgx5Rx5BMqFSqay19pzrGjbfnIlhGARyJS2IQW7jNZXzncRf6_kn7maGWgj87x88ZoKryyCf6pbNJAV4biBBW3qeis6NQg3JEDUZqreV4TKYJmcg/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkKlygkd5w95KCJJOJJc5Pflgx5Rx5BMqFSqay19pzrGjbfnIlhGARyJS2IQW7jNZXzncRf6_kn7maGWgj87x88ZoKryyCf6pbNJAV4biBBW3qeis6NQg3JEDUZqreV4TKYJmcg/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Definitely good for a first go. Too sweet though.</td></tr>
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And last week I did this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick22no681gHz9fMAbtXWa-eZbGhLxlbFKjn6S_ZdAH7BJgqPMUZ1IAZ8I-0hlDYJ_TgPoPh5ZCatVxTkd9BLKJusMKKJFH8FrX9Vl-HqYz8mvZ3gydeKzzyBvV_Cb1tA5QkXRYw/s1600/Photo+583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEick22no681gHz9fMAbtXWa-eZbGhLxlbFKjn6S_ZdAH7BJgqPMUZ1IAZ8I-0hlDYJ_TgPoPh5ZCatVxTkd9BLKJusMKKJFH8FrX9Vl-HqYz8mvZ3gydeKzzyBvV_Cb1tA5QkXRYw/s320/Photo+583.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major cutbacks happening in Ottawa!</td></tr>
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After previously looking like this (it was actually a few inches longer than this even):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5FLExqV5DQQ57HeLv6L-nrPw666aR9uhV2LVZELPpgBJWr7VTrWDzNJ8FzYhiAfDgtk0Cnf91PhJ_uFPBg693ngi6VcWBOq8OSfyuvU4Z4LXaT5wBqi6HcQvDelmgjFIj3m_fQ/s1600/Photo+512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5FLExqV5DQQ57HeLv6L-nrPw666aR9uhV2LVZELPpgBJWr7VTrWDzNJ8FzYhiAfDgtk0Cnf91PhJ_uFPBg693ngi6VcWBOq8OSfyuvU4Z4LXaT5wBqi6HcQvDelmgjFIj3m_fQ/s320/Photo+512.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Major improvement. Who's the hippie?!</td></tr>
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And a few days ago I made this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY95MLZcEj8EBdpBxhIDacAiaxM4QwGs18BxdQ9BRJWj1XzLy7LXjXQNSdp1HZmbYZAX6mM4QfHs8Lzlsil874GFXQURBo11b0Mxe8h43bAt8M7sL1Ad-nJ_K4DQU5MA1xyVRaVg/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY95MLZcEj8EBdpBxhIDacAiaxM4QwGs18BxdQ9BRJWj1XzLy7LXjXQNSdp1HZmbYZAX6mM4QfHs8Lzlsil874GFXQURBo11b0Mxe8h43bAt8M7sL1Ad-nJ_K4DQU5MA1xyVRaVg/s320/IMG_1319.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's time to get fascinating. This will be my headwear at a tea in June celebrating dear Liz's long reign.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This week I also attended (and helped with) Hope's first t-ball game and Emily's first baseball game of the season. I also watched Emily rule the stage during the talent show as she showed off her made hooping skills. I'm planning my birthday shindig for Saturday. Eating too much of that darn cake above and making promises to get outside and move my jiggly butt more. I've been gardening and redesigning the garden and loving every minute of it.<br />
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And now, it's time to say goodbye to my thirties. Tomorrow I wake up 40 and fabulous!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-28235751482877641842012-04-03T21:50:00.001-04:002012-04-03T21:50:21.652-04:00No pushingI've learned a lot from my years as a parent... mostly I've learned from the many mistakes I've made over the years. Here are two important things I've learned that I wish I knew way back when:<br />
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(1) kids will figure out how to do things on their own time<br />
(2) don't apply (1) to every situation<br />
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Which further feeds into something else I've learned: you'll be faced with a lot of different situations. Even if you're dealing with the same kid, the same rules may not apply. For example, I totally pushed Emily into toilet training before she was ready. MAJOR mistake and thus ensued months of pain and torture and poop. That did not often land in the toilet.<br />
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Next example, I did push Emily to learn to tie her shoes during the summer between SK and Grade 1. I knew she could do it if she just practised. I was right and she was tying like a pro before the first day of Grade 1. Goodbye velcro <strike>loser</strike> shoes.<br />
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Next example, riding a two-wheeler. Emily is a <strike>scaredy-cat</strike> cautious kid to put it mildly. She can't watch movies. Period. Because there might be something scary. Or emotional. She has trouble with change. She doesn't like loud noises or crowds. She's generally just sensitive. So when faced with getting rid of her training wheels, she loved the idea but was scared of even trying. I knew that if pushed, this could be really bad. But I also knew that it really didn't matter when she got off her training wheels. I don't care when she rides a two-wheeler. However, she'd become embarrassed by her training wheels and was refusing to ride a bike at all last summer. So a little research by me discovered that a bike too small can yield great results by acting like a push bike and feel stable because the child doesn't pedal until she has the balance figured out. So Emily tried it a couple of days ago on a neighbour's bike. She realized that she might actually be able to do this. So, when Anna pulled her bike out again today, Emily got on and WITH NO INVOLVEMENT OR PUSHING (literally) BY ME AT ALL (in fact, I was on the phone while all this happened), this was the result:<br />
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Score one for this lazy yet seasoned parent! (Oh, and score one for Emily too.)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-31705779991479699092012-03-21T05:37:00.001-05:002012-03-21T05:44:38.616-05:00Up and At 'EmI'm not a natural morning person. If it were up to me I'd be in bed until about 8:00 and later on weekends. But, being a mother of three forces you out of bed with the roosters. Especially when one of your children is a very early riser. <br />
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Henry got up this morning at 5:15. On the plus side, he only got up once last night, at 11:30, and it was clear I hadn't dressed him well enough so a quick change and then he slept until the <strike>ungodly</strike> hour of 5:15. Up and at 'em, boys!<br />
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But it sure gives me a leisurely morning. I get a shower before the craziness starts, I get lunches made, I get breakfast ready and I can even have some tea or my own breakfast. On some mornings, the dishwasher is even unloaded. (Not today.)<br />
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Or blog! (I can't guarantee that I'll be coherent though.)<br />
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So, that's one in the plus column for this morning.<br />
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Another tick mark is that one of our Brownies, who is the age to move up to Guides for next year, is planning on doing so. That makes me very happy. I didn't know if she would but she's "super keen" I'm told and that is a huge testament to the Brownie program we've run this year. I'm really pleased for her and what this will hopefully mean for her for the coming years.<br />
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And another tick mark (Brownie-related again) is that it looks like I've found another Guider to join us next year taking the pressure off if one of us is sick, and taking some of the work off our hands. Huge tick mark!<br />
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As I said to John, everything is coming up Karen!<br />
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What's going well for you today?Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-13162810411972657202012-03-18T08:30:00.001-05:002012-03-18T08:30:22.968-05:00He's a screamerThis little guy, while super cute, lots of fun and laughs, is killing me:<br />
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He's up too many times a night for his age but the problem is that he screams bloody murder VERY LOUDLY if left to cry, thus waking up both John and Emily who are both light sleepers. Therefore, I'm in his room giving him a hug and putting him back down before I get to go back to sleep. Yes, he still screams when I leave but it's a short burst and then done. But I still have to get up and he still continues to do it nightly since his RSV rather than figuring out that he's not getting what he wants (BOOB).<br />
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I'm a bleary-eyed bag-eyed iron lady today. I'm sure teaching Children's Hour at church is going to be AWESOME. Thankfully we're doing The Prodigal Son with a theme of forgiveness which I plan to instill as any iron-lady would and force the children to forgive my lack of effort in the lesson planning. <br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-17005348217108343522012-03-17T12:26:00.000-05:002012-03-17T12:26:25.689-05:00March Break 2012: FridayWow, March Break flew by quickly! Too quickly, in my opinion. The girls and I both have wished out loud that there was another week off. That must mean that they've had a great time at home. In other words: mission accomplished... and with very little stress or distress for me!<br />
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Yesterday was a day full of adventures. We left the house by 9:30 to get to the giant Asian grocery chain near us, T&T Supermarket in order to get a few things for the pad thai I was making for dinner last night. Unfortunately, T&T has a pathetic assortment of South Asian supplies, focussing more on Chinese and Korean products. I had to get tamarind or the pad thai wasn't going to happen so I made the decision that we'd have to head to Chinatown at some point yesterday.<br />
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But first, it was time to make our way to the Museum of Science and Technology for the Franklin reading by author Paulette Bourgeois. Pulling into the museum parking lot, it looked as though every other family in Ottawa had the same idea. Turns out that most of them were there to see the usual exhibits and we were near the front of the line for Franklin and only had to wait about five minutes before they opened the doors to the auditorium. We had second row seats, a perfect view of the stage. We were all excited!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nyi5O0KQ_ju7hnEyHq9zotHQxq66jGpY7QtoV_5GVH8hfTpYq2cnRoKbT5-_h56P1hd7QifbZbm8uDsEbYvOEqDPKhLpUXyyKWfJX7jyrJERYQrKijHdjLnOHdG6AR4cr9oa_A/s1600/DSCF6155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nyi5O0KQ_ju7hnEyHq9zotHQxq66jGpY7QtoV_5GVH8hfTpYq2cnRoKbT5-_h56P1hd7QifbZbm8uDsEbYvOEqDPKhLpUXyyKWfJX7jyrJERYQrKijHdjLnOHdG6AR4cr9oa_A/s320/DSCF6155.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to tell but I did brush her hair before leaving the house!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old enough for his own seat now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSALqaD6XN2b0o-KK6CLAbqZt4tZjgHYnbhqjbPl556ILqAgbu8bnD3jYdlpCeDebbzY5s8lMMCaT9myLJpkw-P3t5P1CJnbmypWtSjGyoyTGZ1si4wHQhK8RrTNC9RFCvDAiyw/s1600/DSCF6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSALqaD6XN2b0o-KK6CLAbqZt4tZjgHYnbhqjbPl556ILqAgbu8bnD3jYdlpCeDebbzY5s8lMMCaT9myLJpkw-P3t5P1CJnbmypWtSjGyoyTGZ1si4wHQhK8RrTNC9RFCvDAiyw/s320/DSCF6157.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready for the big show.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXZTW1ZMED1y18p2-J7Tq-EowvWqAfp_3-kCLnP689wGaOLEvoz_jNxPqmSXM_Qz4_9WoBwZyI9bdpkNopXOvjgA8NfP0bBEuYwn2PGI-FlDfGzGE22kEsQH7CFv3LmjFCFFWng/s1600/DSCF6158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXZTW1ZMED1y18p2-J7Tq-EowvWqAfp_3-kCLnP689wGaOLEvoz_jNxPqmSXM_Qz4_9WoBwZyI9bdpkNopXOvjgA8NfP0bBEuYwn2PGI-FlDfGzGE22kEsQH7CFv3LmjFCFFWng/s320/DSCF6158.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paulette's reading chair. Reminds me of The Friendly Giant. As you can tell, we were up close and personal.</td></tr>
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And out came Paulette who does a great presentation about how she came up with the idea of Franklin, with an excellent slideshow to go along with it. And, unlike some authors who read their own work, she is GREAT at reading to an audience, doing different voices and adding little tidbits of information to the story. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smartly, they projected the pages of the book on a big screen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paulette laughing with big, creepy Franklin. A girl behind us was in tears.</td></tr>
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After her reading was done, she invited everyone to get in line for her to sign books (we brought a few with us) and to have photos taken with the giant Franklin guy (some guy in a Franklin suit). The line was huge so we went into our favourite exhibit: the light tunnels, which have a better name than that but I can't remember it. After a snack break, we headed back toward the line. Still too long! We decided to forgo getting the books signed and head to Chinatown for our ingredients (and maybe a fun lunch).<br />
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I parked right near the newish (okay, not that new... but new in the last five years or so) Chinatown gate which I love and reminds me of the gate in Edmonton. Kowloon Market, our destination was very close as was the dim sum restaurant and an all-you-can-eat sushi place. Everything was at our fingertips it seemed. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfgf6DkATR6pwFCJ94x6UN4VKWPJBKu7OT_Zkqtnjpe8cUrW22YrPLU4WZuxyfN0XjoUVOk_Z5N0YI1BgYNjEGnNfjrcIxZMJAFvFueqPDXnu2TOLHOfr-jk7hPObrVP1JoafjQ/s1600/DSCF6168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHfgf6DkATR6pwFCJ94x6UN4VKWPJBKu7OT_Zkqtnjpe8cUrW22YrPLU4WZuxyfN0XjoUVOk_Z5N0YI1BgYNjEGnNfjrcIxZMJAFvFueqPDXnu2TOLHOfr-jk7hPObrVP1JoafjQ/s320/DSCF6168.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posing with the lions who welcome you to Chinatown.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBc6K_5q5m17xZDrn7lTBMkOAXUmj9urR8nJD32N6xhJLD96XBf5kU6Trx92dRRipNjL9yYzT4sMV-BRP1Bjw_WSvoX12IW9FtkFMHByfEXxi6BUdWxklmb9jqsVqTZvkUCW8pQ/s1600/DSCF6169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBc6K_5q5m17xZDrn7lTBMkOAXUmj9urR8nJD32N6xhJLD96XBf5kU6Trx92dRRipNjL9yYzT4sMV-BRP1Bjw_WSvoX12IW9FtkFMHByfEXxi6BUdWxklmb9jqsVqTZvkUCW8pQ/s320/DSCF6169.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big newish gate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJyUAtTNbmZtHL3djwaAGmhpixJIW9uOaFdU4f3csNQtm5xOew0vVx4xSbSmpl03d_xuM8JxtOWwgj86Q9GEM8RO1xtpWXCRBp-T64MDU0ixLjpZm4J3Ib3jQYCq_iCOZ8ooIKA/s1600/DSCF6170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJyUAtTNbmZtHL3djwaAGmhpixJIW9uOaFdU4f3csNQtm5xOew0vVx4xSbSmpl03d_xuM8JxtOWwgj86Q9GEM8RO1xtpWXCRBp-T64MDU0ixLjpZm4J3Ib3jQYCq_iCOZ8ooIKA/s320/DSCF6170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinatown is a great mix of old standbys, like the place pictured above, and newer restaurants (none of which, thankfully, are chichi). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFicbU8dTWO4iwRYV7Od8VMUK9u40t0Axj5O1BP-iHD5Za9lzkNBz2NSFw0hyXpdKSQQ5eCU1GvWzI8gDSha7plF4YcADk_yiAajT3-Nye_ymyCUAhUmHfwaeNa6242oFyLiQWQ/s1600/DSCF6171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFicbU8dTWO4iwRYV7Od8VMUK9u40t0Axj5O1BP-iHD5Za9lzkNBz2NSFw0hyXpdKSQQ5eCU1GvWzI8gDSha7plF4YcADk_yiAajT3-Nye_ymyCUAhUmHfwaeNa6242oFyLiQWQ/s320/DSCF6171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of this in the windows.</td></tr>
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We went to Kowloon first. I used to shop there semi-regularly when we lived on Preston St. It was close and was the best Asian market in Ottawa, in my opinion. But them we moved south and T&T opened closeby and I never go to Kowloon anymore. I think that may change. First, T&T is always so crowded and I find it so hard to find anything because there is so much product. While Chinatown parking isn't always easy, the drive to get there is about the same and I can find everything I need, including lots of tamarind! In different forms! Even different brands of the same product. Hooray! And, for added entertainment, the live fish, clams etc are all at kid's eye level. Everyone was happy! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDX3DzRAdVDACxBWF4TBc-2eIJH5sNomo4dlFXpW2hq9GQ4KhCofREFf8XuhiVRZpXh0a7sY8QvYNTTDzoIfuoHjxdnJrZAqKYDQ9iGunF5D9FnyczwUDKho-Bkf7Zzf9XvwIjA/s1600/DSCF6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDX3DzRAdVDACxBWF4TBc-2eIJH5sNomo4dlFXpW2hq9GQ4KhCofREFf8XuhiVRZpXh0a7sY8QvYNTTDzoIfuoHjxdnJrZAqKYDQ9iGunF5D9FnyczwUDKho-Bkf7Zzf9XvwIjA/s320/DSCF6174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We left Kowloon with our purchases and looked at the menu at the sushi joint and decided to try it. I'm so glad we did. The food was great, ordering easy and delivery fast, the kids all found something they loved (even Hope who decided that she loves plain old cucumber rolls while Henry ate his weight in edamame). Emily and I snarfed lots of different kinds of sushi. Ye's Sushi in Waterloo is still my favourite all-you-can-eat sushi but this is at least an Ottawa replacement.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNXM2-OO29TR24Pew13naz1KUCh0gD3opDEUnv9Uq0U_8uPIKTzi_Ufz2XiquawVtf1ybG0TyVfPwpaF8DvQ9ChX7PNTdLyzjCwsJW-btW9sf4MHOQh9XRx5yZBDfd9I3qRBCcw/s1600/DSCF6175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNXM2-OO29TR24Pew13naz1KUCh0gD3opDEUnv9Uq0U_8uPIKTzi_Ufz2XiquawVtf1ybG0TyVfPwpaF8DvQ9ChX7PNTdLyzjCwsJW-btW9sf4MHOQh9XRx5yZBDfd9I3qRBCcw/s320/DSCF6175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry trying out his chopsticks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope found spearing the sushi was the best way to do it.</td></tr>
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The afternoon consisted of cleaning and preparing dinner. We had some good friends and their kids over last night. Fun had by all. And the pad thai was spectacular!<br />
It really was a great March Break. We did a lot but didn't break the bank and the kids were really happy to stay at home this year. Hope was not interested in reliving the barfing-in-the-car-travelling-to-Papa's experience this year. And neither was I.<br />
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I think you can call it a successful break if everyone is left wishing for more.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-32767774829880806422012-03-16T07:09:00.001-05:002012-03-16T07:09:47.398-05:00March Break 2012: ThursdayYesterday was largely another at-home day. I spent the morning doing some cleaning and allowed the kiddies to lounge in front of the t.v. for a while. After I put the kibosh on that, it was craft time and play time. I continued to clean while the kids played. In fact, I did a major spring clean project: I took everything out of the front hall closet (I should have taken before and after photos), mopped the floor inside the closet, cleaned the baseboards, sorted through things and reorganized. It felt so good to have that done.<br />
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Soon after that, John came home and I packed up our swimming stuff and put Henry to bed. Turns out that he wouldn't nap at all and John had to eventually retrieve him and bring him to the basement to watch a little b-ball.<br />
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Meanwhile, the girls and I headed to Splash Wave Pool for some super-duper wave action fun.... along with every other family in Ottawa, apparently. I have never been to that pool when it was so busy. Even over Christmas holidays it wasn't as busy as it was yesterday. It was total insanity. Which meant the wave pool was a mixture of squeals of delight as we were lifted up high by the waves and annoyance as people rode on top of us with their foam surf thingies. <br />
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Our system was to rotate from wave pool to water slide (super fun!) to warm pool and back to wave pool again. My personal favourite was the water slide. I could have done that over and over again but I could only convince Emily to do it once so we had to take that out of our rotation. Boo.<br />
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The girls had a great time and felt going to Splash was the big outing of the week, making up for the decision to not go to Cosmic Adventures (a huge indoor playground). I'm so glad I opted for this instead as it saved a bundle of money - Cosmic would have cost about $60 not including snacks while Splash cost $14 plus about $8 more for a stop at Starbucks after for some warm drinks. Value for money! And who can really put a price on being swum over again and again?<br />
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I have no photos of our adventure yesterday. My camera is not waterproof and change-room photos are just creepy. So, today's post is a photo-less update but tomorrow! Stay tuned for photos of <a href="http://www.krabes.blogspot.com/2012/03/march-break-2012-wednesday.html" target="_blank">Paulette and Franklin</a>! Today's the day!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-37612163786825307262012-03-15T07:56:00.000-05:002012-03-15T07:56:02.433-05:00March Break 2012: WednesdayThere is always a day in a week like this where things don't fall into place as you planned. Wednesday was that day. It was still a good day and we had lots of fun but it didn't turn out as we expected.<br />
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Our plan was to go to the Science and Technology Museum to hear <a href="http://www.paulettebourgeois.ca/" target="_blank">Paulette Bourgeois</a> read from one of <a href="http://www.paulettebourgeois.ca/books/franklin-the-turtle/" target="_blank">her very famous books</a>, specifically Franklin's School Trip. Apparently there would be a person dressed up in a Franklin costume, too. The girls picked out a few Franklin books to have the author sign.<br />
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Just before heading out the door, I went online to confirm the time the reading would take place: 10:30. On Friday. Oops! <br />
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New plan: Little Ray's Reptile Zoo! Not far away and I had a Groupon. <br />
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I went online again to retrieve my Groupon only to find that it isn't valid during March Break (of course, should have known). Oops again! <br />
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Discussion: what should we do today? Not surprisingly Emily voted to stay home for the day but I insisted we leave the house (for my own sanity). We settled on something simple: go to The Glebe and check out the chocolate shop, <a href="http://truffletreasures.com/" target="_blank">Truffles and Treasures</a>, that I went to the other night with friends and on the way there or back we'd finally drop off all the stuff that's been crowding the car at Salvation Army.<br />
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We parked the car and started walking down Bank Street towards the chocolate shop when we found a new-to-me bike shop that seemed to focus a lot on kids and family bikes. We popped in to look at their helmet selection and left with a very cool new helmet for Hope. The shop was called <a href="http://www.joemamma.ca/home.html" target="_blank">Joe Mamma</a> and I will definitely be going there again. The staff was really friendly, knowledgeable AND there was adog in there that kept Henry so distracted that he didn't knock any bikes over. Miracle! I'm thinking we may get Henry a scoot bike for his birthday and I'll definitely be getting it there.<br />
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Henry took an immediate shine to Hope's helmet and wore it like a uniform for the rest of our time in The Glebe. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhw49bgFY46T0yazmNRjy1fjp_CEzno1LRbTItfIntBo_FdZZ7JSeGZXTeCaEJcWSh5gXs1IcBZreHORGvsWosY8pnaVKdch0g4PJfr8ljL80Ilgn2_Cn8UB6d-r40KhR3yN4ig/s1600/DSCF6123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhw49bgFY46T0yazmNRjy1fjp_CEzno1LRbTItfIntBo_FdZZ7JSeGZXTeCaEJcWSh5gXs1IcBZreHORGvsWosY8pnaVKdch0g4PJfr8ljL80Ilgn2_Cn8UB6d-r40KhR3yN4ig/s320/DSCF6123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Henry's usual pose for having a photo taken. Don't know why but it's darn cute.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0XnDP0Vt-ObYu9xdPjzWG1CdB8UxjLCzJ52wEyo6OwkY_16zV3aL_8JEOqFN2C1NBNgh11vhyvF67nl3KDSOEsNyFkD5GHcR81MfN51i_dOsEQRaFKsehlSmQfZtrQBidppZjQ/s1600/DSCF6132.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0XnDP0Vt-ObYu9xdPjzWG1CdB8UxjLCzJ52wEyo6OwkY_16zV3aL_8JEOqFN2C1NBNgh11vhyvF67nl3KDSOEsNyFkD5GHcR81MfN51i_dOsEQRaFKsehlSmQfZtrQBidppZjQ/s320/DSCF6132.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All read to try some chocolate.</td></tr>
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We finally arrived at Truffles and Treasures. The kids were mesmerized by the chocolate-making video that was playing. I was taken (yet again) with the colours, smells and displays. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODkEdGNXodM_hdXUy3HNFGvskMh_3zPGCKIeTNrQayqI7tFm990SZw3w8TcTDK67KvkElyNomD3PTEUaUVqWGqppKXB9gPMPanRPORbCUVgAp8RR6LRVC-cDSROq0NjAVoevCNg/s1600/DSCF6133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODkEdGNXodM_hdXUy3HNFGvskMh_3zPGCKIeTNrQayqI7tFm990SZw3w8TcTDK67KvkElyNomD3PTEUaUVqWGqppKXB9gPMPanRPORbCUVgAp8RR6LRVC-cDSROq0NjAVoevCNg/s320/DSCF6133.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not only does the place smell sensational but it's a feast for the eyes as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-4yegmtP0LorJjQKCvjLdsbO0GWRGqXBnqGdPlC5IZVkwEiUc8R0vOJjB-d9tSQEhhkExad20Qcqd22bBo81jE0engZRpZfzWNPye3NX6hDbJlyLpB4mv4UKKYcXwPul3dQHKA/s1600/DSCF6124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-4yegmtP0LorJjQKCvjLdsbO0GWRGqXBnqGdPlC5IZVkwEiUc8R0vOJjB-d9tSQEhhkExad20Qcqd22bBo81jE0engZRpZfzWNPye3NX6hDbJlyLpB4mv4UKKYcXwPul3dQHKA/s320/DSCF6124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the chocolate pieces they use to make hot chocolate... my neighbour comes here just to buy them to make hot chocolate at home. It's that good.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoviq-QkK4Lghwmy5VnLZ5cKu_GyvOpKjvB2Q0UtY7EiZ0mzWTmeA9bw2S4xHmKBXV2xAq7Iqq2DqB4wVh8S9_tkvTL3lrHGV_3iGRBWhP5LfvO7neqnh58yiIjTNHV1A15CG1w/s1600/DSCF6125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoviq-QkK4Lghwmy5VnLZ5cKu_GyvOpKjvB2Q0UtY7EiZ0mzWTmeA9bw2S4xHmKBXV2xAq7Iqq2DqB4wVh8S9_tkvTL3lrHGV_3iGRBWhP5LfvO7neqnh58yiIjTNHV1A15CG1w/s320/DSCF6125.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought the chocolate-dipped marshmallows last time I was in and the girls claimed they were homemade marshmallows and the best thing ever.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINapuQ-MQ1LJlRT_Rj2jjnICw1HIx0wQhqYezwibGWB8JONGMJ6huLBv9N1qqHm2vt_lQLAw4DEOztkP4H9fdkCx65h_u5YCv1K0nMKXAbVrG0j6qeLVqkzDyghtdEA9LvAt6Pw/s1600/DSCF6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINapuQ-MQ1LJlRT_Rj2jjnICw1HIx0wQhqYezwibGWB8JONGMJ6huLBv9N1qqHm2vt_lQLAw4DEOztkP4H9fdkCx65h_u5YCv1K0nMKXAbVrG0j6qeLVqkzDyghtdEA9LvAt6Pw/s320/DSCF6126.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next time, I'll be trying this...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucF8fqBdvPt2dkv5qDln7SksaLlIC6h-oZnWDnKAD0cmTv0lLGqvbFj-7ZbzZTK9w2DiMvjVq3bOV0lzJlAV_4V9l2iyeAIfFXTVLF4lnhK8nJgLCrAzmYlfiVHCgcrxIMVv3pQ/s1600/DSCF6127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucF8fqBdvPt2dkv5qDln7SksaLlIC6h-oZnWDnKAD0cmTv0lLGqvbFj-7ZbzZTK9w2DiMvjVq3bOV0lzJlAV_4V9l2iyeAIfFXTVLF4lnhK8nJgLCrAzmYlfiVHCgcrxIMVv3pQ/s320/DSCF6127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....or maybe this... if I have a team to eat it with me.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UftXpW7xcexvqvptmjww1elRPhXM6F4Mk7GWLIy-XiZ7iLMk09u2zlkGVswOlvFwhIbmuEdHQoYZcS9YDO6v3umDYwmUA1DAmFSCM7NvCr_eoS9kki5CgCCH8Gk6xKRU_dj0Yg/s1600/DSCF6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UftXpW7xcexvqvptmjww1elRPhXM6F4Mk7GWLIy-XiZ7iLMk09u2zlkGVswOlvFwhIbmuEdHQoYZcS9YDO6v3umDYwmUA1DAmFSCM7NvCr_eoS9kki5CgCCH8Gk6xKRU_dj0Yg/s320/DSCF6128.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The colours of the Turkish Delight were gorgeous and reminded me of Spring.</td></tr>
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We ordered hot chocolate from their amazing list of hot chocolate offerings, deciding to split them between us (the cups are huge). Hazelnut for Hope and Henry and peppermint for Emily and me. Emily also chose out some chocolate-covered gummie bears to share (ew). And I bought a Nutkin to share also.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFH4YRTJhLZ2RHam_FomSaeSj9zum9nMGJ49ovF-z5yl5WJo8RnI30kWT0KIUbLkvLmqtqnE21G_SVgT21SL3urlYzmNA2cNKrBVJFAJbapYh2MWv9FIAxYshx2MtgwtyOVCL1g/s1600/DSCF6131.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFH4YRTJhLZ2RHam_FomSaeSj9zum9nMGJ49ovF-z5yl5WJo8RnI30kWT0KIUbLkvLmqtqnE21G_SVgT21SL3urlYzmNA2cNKrBVJFAJbapYh2MWv9FIAxYshx2MtgwtyOVCL1g/s320/DSCF6131.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at those choices! So hard to decide.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLM5lR_TPjiJJPKbyoSCEgaZJttdaK6iiOg5x90vfE9KXJZM4OcwjpeXchPYWVjHAdcj14Wrr6NEepPLPC6NWeb6Iqv_dVgTnrWSjaaC4bO65OHXgHLNVyUYg1yPjmutHAb53bA/s1600/DSCF6129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLM5lR_TPjiJJPKbyoSCEgaZJttdaK6iiOg5x90vfE9KXJZM4OcwjpeXchPYWVjHAdcj14Wrr6NEepPLPC6NWeb6Iqv_dVgTnrWSjaaC4bO65OHXgHLNVyUYg1yPjmutHAb53bA/s320/DSCF6129.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did try one. My verdict was "weird."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tmBIfFxows5zxcFbCLGFdCHC_a8h4n_3QmPXEyqcjqSDNzwlo76vFlKWVwfj5_LdKaHyEjFjqz_UfEY5pvMyYOyirBuElm0ucqLyUigQ7gUccJwq70cju_DXl4DPiY_fgkCyQw/s1600/DSCF6130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tmBIfFxows5zxcFbCLGFdCHC_a8h4n_3QmPXEyqcjqSDNzwlo76vFlKWVwfj5_LdKaHyEjFjqz_UfEY5pvMyYOyirBuElm0ucqLyUigQ7gUccJwq70cju_DXl4DPiY_fgkCyQw/s320/DSCF6130.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The truffle case... I could spend a lot of time taste-testing.</td></tr>
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By the time we were done, Emily and I had stomach aches from the sweet richness but we were fueled! They honestly have the best hot chocolate in town... a bit rich, but a decadent treat. I highly recommend the peanut butter hot chocolate I had last time. Although the pepermint was great also. I also recommend sharing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This map by the cash shows all the place people have sent or eaten their chocolate. Wow!</td></tr>
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After that little adventure, we headed home with a quick stop at Salvation Army for our drop-off. <br />
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Soon after we got home, it was time to walk across the street for the girls' haircuts. A woman on my street has a mini-salon in her basement and does great work (and very reasonably priced). Henry was again entertained by a dog and the girls are neat and tidy for a while now.<br />
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During Henry's nap, I sat down with the girls to work on some of Emily's Brownie badges and had Hope do them too, just for fun. We made time capsules and book posters. Two more badges completed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j0aPNSlEfmkqSakWhZUUuIOOsWniIDZmm3aPnPupPLKLnW0q9FDltNmMk-7PPWXv4JJlf9yZsoLFgBj3Ct5Og6cILTk5cJigQkiPs4qR_tZLnq-T5xtKa8CW0R2Kkird7pOBTw/s1600/DSCF6147.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j0aPNSlEfmkqSakWhZUUuIOOsWniIDZmm3aPnPupPLKLnW0q9FDltNmMk-7PPWXv4JJlf9yZsoLFgBj3Ct5Og6cILTk5cJigQkiPs4qR_tZLnq-T5xtKa8CW0R2Kkird7pOBTw/s320/DSCF6147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope's time capsule. Seems fitting to use a Girl Guide Cookie box.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The contents of Emily's time capsule. She had a hard time choosing what to put in there.</td></tr>
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After that, it was outside play time. The girls scooted, I started supper and then brought Henry out after he woke up. I showed him his new-to-him bike helmet (I know, I know, you're not supposed to transfer helmets from one kid to another. Moving on....) and he went bananas for it... as you'll soon see. He was also MILDLY taken with his first ride on the tricycle, throwing a minor fit when I told him I had to go in to cook supper. Today there will most definitely be more tricycle time.<br />
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And for the rest of the day, Henry insisted on wearing his helmet.<br />
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While he watched shows on the iPad. While he ate supper. <br />
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Wednesday nights are John's night class. So, given that it's March Break, I declared it a movie-and-supper-in-the-basement-night. We watched Barbie Princess Charm School (sounds horrible, I know... but not nearly as bad as I thought... I liked the attempt to focus on character over looks, although there was still a lot of hair, dresses and shoes going on) on my computer as I couldn't figure out how to burn it to DVD, which I've done MANY TIMES so don't think I'm a total computer loser... I just couldn't get it to work last night. I think my Mac doesn't like the discs we have. Anywho....<br />
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The sweetest moment came when Henry got in trouble for trying to yank Hope's cookie out of her hand and after crying on my lap for a few moments, ran right over to Emily (who wasn't involved in the altercation as victim or disciplinarian) for comfort. It was so cute.<br />
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And that was our Wednesday. It's funny how things turn out. I was slightly concerned in the morning that it would turn out to be an "I'm bored!" kind of day... but it didn't at all. <br />
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Today we'll be home during the morning and then I have a surprise planned for the afternoon. John's coming home early to stay with Henry while I take the girls to the Splash Wave Pool. <br />
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Hopefully it will actually happen!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-75283494391467874692012-03-14T08:06:00.003-05:002012-03-14T08:07:10.086-05:00March Break 2012: TuesdayWe had another lazy morning yesterday. In fact, it took a lot of convincing to get the girls out of their pyjamas.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our gorgeous kiddies enjoying the ride together. Hope looks healthier, doesn't she?</td></tr>
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We drove over to our local O-Train station and boarded the train towards Carleton. John met us at the platform and we walked over to the food court to have lunch together. The lunch options at the Carleton food court have expanded a lot in the last year or two. I had a decent red curry chicken over rice. John had Singapore Vermicelli. Emily had sushi. Hope had an A&W hamburger and fries. Henry oscillated between hamburger, fries, pizza and chocolate milk. The kids drew a lot of smiles and laughs from the students sitting near by. I remember how odd it felt to see little kids when I was in university because you almost never see them when you are squirreled away studying and attending classes. It was always a refreshing glimpse into real life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs6IevqJ93jF-3_9HzGgQqZJIjz8NwZ0mzb20BcrHUZ-7QHNlNBBLfAVV20roPJR8bO6F3lMMgMNihEyM0XEEhcGNRwn-4MmTSzvwgXmkMhHimPFgtsdU_GU0kMlsp1gLKASaBw/s1600/IMG_1252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxs6IevqJ93jF-3_9HzGgQqZJIjz8NwZ0mzb20BcrHUZ-7QHNlNBBLfAVV20roPJR8bO6F3lMMgMNihEyM0XEEhcGNRwn-4MmTSzvwgXmkMhHimPFgtsdU_GU0kMlsp1gLKASaBw/s320/IMG_1252.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying our lunch in the Carleton Food Court. We were a spectacle, especially when Henry started doing laps around the tables.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8NvGyNUsglSwVgs7UrxGYIiNjMpx_uffdBSGqRVGVif_U-y-OeFzar51Mzsh632o_D5SokzPZtFQVNR0FRgxBPNpay8GaJ_Al0tzSshhpUfch89fFtyl7Frn6f2afXKi7ReAnw/s1600/IMG_1253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8NvGyNUsglSwVgs7UrxGYIiNjMpx_uffdBSGqRVGVif_U-y-OeFzar51Mzsh632o_D5SokzPZtFQVNR0FRgxBPNpay8GaJ_Al0tzSshhpUfch89fFtyl7Frn6f2afXKi7ReAnw/s320/IMG_1253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry's hair, back view. He has the most gorgeous curls. I could just smush my face in there all day long. Sometimes I do.</td></tr>
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We walked John back to his office, where Henry contaminated the elevator and part of the History Department's hallways, before heading back to the train. When we got back to our stop, we made a quick stop at Bulk Barn where everyone got to choose a small bags of treats to take home.<br />
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Henry went for his nap, the girls got to indulge in t.v., I lounged on the couch. After that rest time, Emily and I headed out into the beautiful sunshine to finish her bird feeder that we've been working on this week. The girls were really keen to do some woodworking this week and these kits from Rona fit the bill: no cutting required - just gluing, measuring and nailing. Hope eventually came out too and we started and finished her birdhouse in one afternoon. The birdhouse kit is definitely the quicker project of the two. I can see us doing this in Brownies next year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-lslNDm31mbpzvfJAgaRdP8PNAC2_mOMBJAy3s6QZgjEepyXo4wEXi5EI4_AbCfam0IxM5kVNHJRRRAudIT1XP8mEETjXbj7sR1GXEbx3XWEcaYGaKJQv2Syh6TIUS9F5DOyg/s1600/DSCF6122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6U-lslNDm31mbpzvfJAgaRdP8PNAC2_mOMBJAy3s6QZgjEepyXo4wEXi5EI4_AbCfam0IxM5kVNHJRRRAudIT1XP8mEETjXbj7sR1GXEbx3XWEcaYGaKJQv2Syh6TIUS9F5DOyg/s320/DSCF6122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily's bird feeder. I'm sure the squirrels will really enjoy it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw_EXeJfVVdlkcM5eoU6TWNf6eQ_VrlOcg4IYuhF0PvwPcOQE5JnFHwQKfXxWbHuE4WIf3JThnEXUoA4ME7hIASRo0HiCbOuIPGjGVY30-2VPeVOMtSEo-wh5tVbR6sIqG71Cvg/s1600/DSCF6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw_EXeJfVVdlkcM5eoU6TWNf6eQ_VrlOcg4IYuhF0PvwPcOQE5JnFHwQKfXxWbHuE4WIf3JThnEXUoA4ME7hIASRo0HiCbOuIPGjGVY30-2VPeVOMtSEo-wh5tVbR6sIqG71Cvg/s320/DSCF6121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope's almost-completed bird house. This one was really fun and easy.</td></tr>
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After that is was scooting with the neighbours as Henry came out from his nap and played in the "ball pool" and on his cars.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JjDNQIVsqWxWm3QbR04j7V0o2l6Jl8Z9X1D-owen660NlHe7BWxEaoVsYW30jrJcy0YTzFhljsrIurF0j01vkBjyPCBK7sXX-WezmlKLFoIhrY7SQyHPWdV5__Gip5E8-LC-Ww/s1600/DSCF6120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9JjDNQIVsqWxWm3QbR04j7V0o2l6Jl8Z9X1D-owen660NlHe7BWxEaoVsYW30jrJcy0YTzFhljsrIurF0j01vkBjyPCBK7sXX-WezmlKLFoIhrY7SQyHPWdV5__Gip5E8-LC-Ww/s320/DSCF6120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh... balls!</td></tr>
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It was a simple, easy and wonderful day. The girls declared it "the best day ever," further evidence that doing something simple but out of the ordinary (meeting Daddy for lunch) can be the most special event of a week.<br />
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Today: heading to the Science Museum to meet Paulette Bourgeois, the author of the Franklin books. Or calling a plumber. Hopefully the former.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-21946574360894059312012-03-13T06:50:00.000-05:002012-03-13T06:50:23.461-05:00March Break 2012: MondayI'm not surprised that the girls are more interested in hanging around home during March Break than packing our week with outings. By this point in the year, they're pretty tired of having to leave home most days in the week. And while we do have some special things planned for later this week, Monday was an at-home day, made even more important because of Hope's slow recovery from Fifth Disease.<br />
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If you're wondering what the heck Fifth Disease is, you're not alone. But you might be surprised to find out that you've probably had it. Apparently 50% of kids have it at some point. It's really common. And really contagious. It's characterized by a rash on the cheeks (which can spread elsewhere), earning it its alternative name of "slapped cheek". It's called Fifth Disease because it is the fifth of the common childhood diseases in the category of ailments that have a rash and fever (such as chicken pox, measles, etc). For some reason no one has thought to rename it on the moleclular level as they have with the other diseases. So, we're stuck with the clunky name of Fifth Disease. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEvqGVNdekAVA-gr7jW25g5bNskxMRnSmS4ei2OZaEubSdKwADn_V9e9DQORC2Am2pU3Wam-FUhFqUeFQYVrUJJ3h1RrboBaDn_2aaJ_fdRnN2A0u97Q4Bmkbigoy6eJOkFyTSg/s1600/DSCF6102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEvqGVNdekAVA-gr7jW25g5bNskxMRnSmS4ei2OZaEubSdKwADn_V9e9DQORC2Am2pU3Wam-FUhFqUeFQYVrUJJ3h1RrboBaDn_2aaJ_fdRnN2A0u97Q4Bmkbigoy6eJOkFyTSg/s320/DSCF6102.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope's red cheeks... cleared up a bit from the day before.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCUYoJ9EOXlm8o6zKmrrRY7ycPMbaJRd_uIlzGxFaRJRnYO7b2X5NuP0X0aXUWTBclBmtUNxut0C_FlqDYGbakGtFQ44cN4T2S2zAsxH1nmlTZiFu1W3kaDP3bxqvQNK6__DkkA/s1600/DSCF6104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCUYoJ9EOXlm8o6zKmrrRY7ycPMbaJRd_uIlzGxFaRJRnYO7b2X5NuP0X0aXUWTBclBmtUNxut0C_FlqDYGbakGtFQ44cN4T2S2zAsxH1nmlTZiFu1W3kaDP3bxqvQNK6__DkkA/s320/DSCF6104.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor little one.... all red and snotty.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOByDmwT1YC81OBf6JEYDZX0tyyvd_zbzNzfcwzcdYfX3T814MK5Q0BsCcTb-AuIUKrstNFnw4RJEtSmCRZDJK-LBvuWQL5uzR6s8viGLVJHCh6kuFIKuAVVPwEufYNI6ZvIVFbQ/s1600/DSCF6108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOByDmwT1YC81OBf6JEYDZX0tyyvd_zbzNzfcwzcdYfX3T814MK5Q0BsCcTb-AuIUKrstNFnw4RJEtSmCRZDJK-LBvuWQL5uzR6s8viGLVJHCh6kuFIKuAVVPwEufYNI6ZvIVFbQ/s320/DSCF6108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit hard to see here but the rash had spread to her arms a bit but looks more mottled than red there.</td></tr>
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Anyway, it sucks. Like chicken pox, it's a slow recovery. The fever hangs around for quite a while. Lethargy, fatigue and cold-symptoms ensue. Not fun for March Break.<br />
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Advil does wonders however in making sure that Hope has energy for at least a couple of hours in the day. The rest of the day is generally spent cuddled under a blanket.<br />
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So, yesterday we stayed at home. We had a breakfast of blueberry buttermilk (gluten-free) pancakes. I made a big batch of chai. We didn't get out of our pyjamas until noon, me included. I started organizing all my Sparks and Brownies binders and files that I've been allowing to languish in piles on the floor around my desk. <br />
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Finally, after Henry went for his nap, we headed outside where I started to organized the garage and the girls played in the driveway with the hula hoops and skipping ropes that have been missed through the winter. Henry joined us for a popcorn picnic in the sun.<br />
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The barbecue was lit for the first time this year and we had warm homemade corn tortillas wrapped around tequila-lime chicken, peppers and onions. <br />
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All in all, it was a great March Break Monday.<br />
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Today, we're riding the train to meet John for lunch. Stay tuned for a rundown tomorrow about March Break Tuesday.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-50767177095227823742012-03-12T10:44:00.000-05:002012-03-12T10:44:03.171-05:00The sugar bush: our annual outingYesterday we took our annual trip to the sugar camp. We've tried different ones over the years but have pretty much settled on <a href="http://www.sandroadsugarcamp.com/" target="_blank">Sand Road Sugar Camp</a> as our favourite. It satisfies a few things for me: (1) great food which must include <i>des oreilles de crisse</i> (cured smoked pig jowls) which I would describe as pretty much the best bacon you will ever taste; (2) nice setting with good walking trails; (3) sleigh ride; (4) maple syrup lines, buckets, operation close to the food building so the kids can discover; (5) not overly busy. The kids would add maple taffy to that, which of course they have. You can't be a sugar camp in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec without offering maple taffy.<br />
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As an aside, if you're not from these parts, you might wonder what the deal is with sugar camps... or what the heck it is. A sugar camp/sugar shack/<i>cabane </i><i>à</i><i> sucre</i> is pretty much a maple syrup farm. And every one of them in this part of Canada has a sugar shack where you come and have a huge brunch (Ontario) or supper (Quebec). The food is good, bountiful and there is lots and lots of maple syrup to pour on top and to buy. After stuffing yourself you can usually watch the farmers make syrup, walk trails, have a sleigh ride, etc. Each camp does it a bit differently. And there are a lot of camps in the Ottawa area.<br />
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For me, Sand Road meets all of my requirements to a tee and if you go at breakfast time instead of lunch, which we always do, you really don't even have to wait in line. <br />
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The forecast for Ottawa yesterday was a little bit of gorgeous at 8 degrees and sunny. There was still a good amount of snow so the sleigh rides hadn't turned into wagon rides yet, which meant that the ride was still through the gorgeous sugar maple forest. The cold temperatures of the last few days meant they weren't boiling sap (the lines were frozen) but by the time we left the sap was running through the lines (it's pretty loud!) so the kids had lots of fun watching that and checking the few old-style buckets they have around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6FDQHBFt4RUUc4Ms0lX7FNK9cPg1G0lLB1l8gCAgylBZByBcNbI67bxRsjDL0gBGlCb48g24rZtvs6AyAEzYdlCFwYusZAdjv3ZI0Uyn-DHgeuHrRmorQqfHLH0SbTjK8psh-A/s1600/DSCF6062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6FDQHBFt4RUUc4Ms0lX7FNK9cPg1G0lLB1l8gCAgylBZByBcNbI67bxRsjDL0gBGlCb48g24rZtvs6AyAEzYdlCFwYusZAdjv3ZI0Uyn-DHgeuHrRmorQqfHLH0SbTjK8psh-A/s320/DSCF6062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Sand Road!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_UMBMBxy08xFxh8l1u6oN8-ou0NVEulEmbfhHPQL3_N_dK0IgRrgCVnJUgGOpo90_mm6OATz7wZYKNJOyudyeFaBSzWLfbDFFQnvgKfjIKGMO7F4dg0I5WsJm8yOaK7F2jDoWg/s1600/DSCF6061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5_UMBMBxy08xFxh8l1u6oN8-ou0NVEulEmbfhHPQL3_N_dK0IgRrgCVnJUgGOpo90_mm6OATz7wZYKNJOyudyeFaBSzWLfbDFFQnvgKfjIKGMO7F4dg0I5WsJm8yOaK7F2jDoWg/s320/DSCF6061.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry is primed for a sugar high!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidccuDFXrPhihoTkwfnc1qM0H7e04daHL3c4_JKntjX5p66AWwSCR1OfOAxArYBOnLY1FzZJRkH7V1PPWUvbTOJcoeE8Pac9BYXEHfhTYzdVFMKJGHO0PIUC-HZjy2kzpiIf37Q/s1600/DSCF6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidccuDFXrPhihoTkwfnc1qM0H7e04daHL3c4_JKntjX5p66AWwSCR1OfOAxArYBOnLY1FzZJRkH7V1PPWUvbTOJcoeE8Pac9BYXEHfhTYzdVFMKJGHO0PIUC-HZjy2kzpiIf37Q/s320/DSCF6064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The traditional-style buckets. The sap was frozen when we arrived.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeYUcO88KOipUVeA_JL1bPT7MwQAcWYvX9Mzpni1sqyPTtSJS1ub-0csXFp_y4Z9TAVFZCw_CoTF7KSfLqupG2bwdMPbDvc5Qk838SGHBQlEbluyaoA9kjPP1z4n9cvMqqZJZHw/s1600/DSCF6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeYUcO88KOipUVeA_JL1bPT7MwQAcWYvX9Mzpni1sqyPTtSJS1ub-0csXFp_y4Z9TAVFZCw_CoTF7KSfLqupG2bwdMPbDvc5Qk838SGHBQlEbluyaoA9kjPP1z4n9cvMqqZJZHw/s320/DSCF6066.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view looking at the food building. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGQiRB_OfI_G9Jf-LOMIj_1iD1EYtMYNde4lT4zGpibQniNmQsjYW9IpqtNv-2uiljxkdjOgGjVt7aIXZsb-bD_Sm34bZglm3PBkuz3GIlnoJRMECPV_n81Oiz5-U75OzoNAtzg/s1600/DSCF6069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGQiRB_OfI_G9Jf-LOMIj_1iD1EYtMYNde4lT4zGpibQniNmQsjYW9IpqtNv-2uiljxkdjOgGjVt7aIXZsb-bD_Sm34bZglm3PBkuz3GIlnoJRMECPV_n81Oiz5-U75OzoNAtzg/s320/DSCF6069.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well-fueled after a big breakfast, the kiddies must top it off with maple taffy on the snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTLEEzKzK9w6XukD1mJcVBipsf0b4TuP8Tw3r5ptOUspC7orbwyatAeKHf_BL3JOUHvJSi-EcZJB62IRBJXtbFNTMLH-FGCANHbGHuh5U0eFDyw6JeGTBvb-oB0_qs5smGgHTXQ/s1600/DSCF6070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTLEEzKzK9w6XukD1mJcVBipsf0b4TuP8Tw3r5ptOUspC7orbwyatAeKHf_BL3JOUHvJSi-EcZJB62IRBJXtbFNTMLH-FGCANHbGHuh5U0eFDyw6JeGTBvb-oB0_qs5smGgHTXQ/s320/DSCF6070.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for a sleigh ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbFvZHeVXxhttg9pwhLWdkB70yncwn1MzeNpd1Bmic0nTgNPIownhOZ8Ut4s5Qk2UElNAGNW2AfY1jPuqaQbC3_oUdy1UgoBo1tQOSHqhs5glOitkNTrDS99KpNPKhLNTKIGjVw/s1600/DSCF6071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbFvZHeVXxhttg9pwhLWdkB70yncwn1MzeNpd1Bmic0nTgNPIownhOZ8Ut4s5Qk2UElNAGNW2AfY1jPuqaQbC3_oUdy1UgoBo1tQOSHqhs5glOitkNTrDS99KpNPKhLNTKIGjVw/s320/DSCF6071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old friends, Nevan and Emily, cozy up for the ride.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hope, who I just diagnosed with Fifth Disease (more on that later), snuggled into the corner and didn't really move.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3DZaO5V6J19wkMCR9LsA9j3Zqd74IqrUzL9UYU3_5HQXAmPYrdq1KH-TT4Zs0nAZ6pMFsz37aQsECAm2WIlIO233iHE_vkgFyPFHRaZVb-oksUWJXpYDzGNxGZVXmRxOPYMWbyA/s1600/DSCF6077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stop halfway allowed the kiddies (and adults) to pet the horses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The two academics talk shop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why play with snow or sap lines when there is this exposed pile of dirty gravel to see about?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneaking in on my gravel, are you?</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbevzW-NE4_XXnRUI5JbQia72OPgby3nnnP011zLyW4RHs8eA3B7Gb70lMs6VoY-owpgYC0QFHh-9FnvHlS_aMcMMZ-Dz_3fDrvYotIOXVtddvZ9pS0DTsyIbdWFVNmL71SrHEQ/s1600/DSCF6099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbevzW-NE4_XXnRUI5JbQia72OPgby3nnnP011zLyW4RHs8eA3B7Gb70lMs6VoY-owpgYC0QFHh-9FnvHlS_aMcMMZ-Dz_3fDrvYotIOXVtddvZ9pS0DTsyIbdWFVNmL71SrHEQ/s320/DSCF6099.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still loving the gravel!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNblL0dlYxw82hjmRJtbmeNKoxac5Bi03hPY3VOs0sTl1i_CWRMsdoQL28gi-P3GTzNHtEOhdRc7cp7Fe4hZWwSTxot734-omPxY3lSH4lFghGMFpi7K2Xkn5Bk1JZjbN7oBFnfQ/s1600/DSCF6100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNblL0dlYxw82hjmRJtbmeNKoxac5Bi03hPY3VOs0sTl1i_CWRMsdoQL28gi-P3GTzNHtEOhdRc7cp7Fe4hZWwSTxot734-omPxY3lSH4lFghGMFpi7K2Xkn5Bk1JZjbN7oBFnfQ/s320/DSCF6100.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You do realize this is gravell?! Why am I the only one who is fascinated?</td></tr>
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<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-16030585160231105232012-03-06T09:25:00.002-05:002012-03-06T09:31:19.063-05:00Pass the LysolWhat a go these last two weeks have been. I'd love a do-over with everyone healthy and happy. But one thing two weeks like this gets you is a renewed thankfulness for health and happiness.<br />
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Almost two weeks ago, Henry came down with the runny nose and cough that the girls had had but for Henry it turned worse quickly. By Thursday I realized that this was more than your run-of-the-mill cold and took him in to the doctor who told me he had RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and the normal treatment for RSV is a trip to CHEO (our children's hospital). But she thought he was "just on the cusp" of having to go in and we should try and treat him at home with the steroids but be prepared to go to the hospital in the night if required. Thankfully we made it through that night at home, with lots of steam and steroids and Advil. The next few days were a constant stream of crying, nursing, whining, sleeping, coughing and cuddling. And Dora's Christmas Special. Know around here as "Dora Ho"... Henry's term, not mine. Honestly, if it wasn't for Dora Ho, I don't know how we would have survived those few days. It was the only thing other than nursing that stopped him from crying and the only thing that gave me a laugh during those few days.<br />
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It was more than a week until he was back to himself. In fact, yesterday was the first day that I would say he was totally back to himself. He actually ate real food - he didn't eat anything but breast milk and apple cider for an entire week (he's looking a little skinny now compared to his previously chubby self).<br />
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And now we deal with the clean-up as it were: back to night-weaning (he was fully night-weaned before the RSV), to getting him off the whiny train, and back to better eating habits.<br />
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In the midst of all this, I succumbed to a cold (my first in about two years), we started Emily on a gluten-free diet (seems she has inherited my sensitivities) and John was down with a cold. I won't use the MAN COLD term here in case he's still sensitive about it. Oops, already done. Sorry, J!<br />
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All this to say, I am so thankful now for good health, happy kids (Emily is still struggling with having to give up some of her favourite things but she's getting better... more on that in a future post) and the time to start to clean the house after all this turmoil. Having a toddler on top of you most of the time means that the house is sorely neglected... more so than usual, even. I plan to Lysol the house top to bottom.<br />
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Thank goodness March Break is coming. I really need a break from running around to activities, school projects... and the constant onslaught of germs.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22899348.post-9896434806291286642012-02-11T08:54:00.000-05:002012-02-11T08:54:30.121-05:00Winterluding a little bitYesterday was a beautiful day in Ottawa. It was a high of minus 1 or so and sunny and only a light wind. I decided it was high time for a skate on the canal since we've stuck to our local outdoor rink thus far. But when I checked the canal conditions, it looked sketchy.<br />
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I had a Plan B: the newly installed Rink of Dreams, still downtown amidst the action, still outdoors, perfectly human-made ice and right in front of City Hall.... beside the canal. So I packed the kids up - it was unfortunately 4:00 pm by the time we were organized enough to leave the house - and headed downtown.<br />
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I parked at the National Arts Centre's underground parking. It took us a looooong time to find our way to a door that would get us out of the parking garage and I was decidedly grumpy by the time we hit the outdoors. My mood vastly improved with fresh air though and with the girls' excitement about getting to walk through one of the main Winterlude sites: Confederation Park. It's the site of the best ice sculptures and other great Winterlude public art.<br />
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They (and I) and Henry were not disappointed. They ooed and awwed at the ice sculptures and even got to sit on one (these photos were all iPhone specials (and not the 4GS... so sorry for the quality).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT0O1G9WmIv4UaK3CiXGNUAKzZtUMrU56iGy7MIdVBd4DMfHPSgtOiP4S7ifUT6MPv3vkmDQf2d2fe9Y9Hi_hz669oDh9N1WULfLaU3darlyNAVIVn09OC4P2mU4Zq51wnPu7HA/s1600/IMG_1183.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizT0O1G9WmIv4UaK3CiXGNUAKzZtUMrU56iGy7MIdVBd4DMfHPSgtOiP4S7ifUT6MPv3vkmDQf2d2fe9Y9Hi_hz669oDh9N1WULfLaU3darlyNAVIVn09OC4P2mU4Zq51wnPu7HA/s320/IMG_1183.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily and Hope try out the ice chair... and keep sliding off.</td></tr>
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We loved the lost mitten sculpture (I'm sure that red and white number is mine.... I lost it earlier this winter. I loved those mitts but I'm not really willing to knit another at this point).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRj-rNmQAWiAOqidzFE8_gELNc1KRWujeVplvg2ZmgjKpP5rmsrEGSTzkTvPsckTPJ3bTK_z-wI8SqiLO96BFp-ZOTUZ8iuZFM4Bd2Mu0PLSWsoDGz_0_9FyMSy_b97uduqDpow/s1600/IMG_1184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRj-rNmQAWiAOqidzFE8_gELNc1KRWujeVplvg2ZmgjKpP5rmsrEGSTzkTvPsckTPJ3bTK_z-wI8SqiLO96BFp-ZOTUZ8iuZFM4Bd2Mu0PLSWsoDGz_0_9FyMSy_b97uduqDpow/s320/IMG_1184.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing by the lost mitten sculpture. Henry is showing that he knows what mittens are.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpSxxfeW4x6Ux1LctMb4I-h3A7aJr-hQNj8TPFJ8TeAbIvxB9oXYDtvN36wrA38bk-kSoDruVbpWa4yIS8Nb5vtWxlDweRtePJHTZjrsej82j1UXuEYyIuhiUk64F6Iz2nBMxfw/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpSxxfeW4x6Ux1LctMb4I-h3A7aJr-hQNj8TPFJ8TeAbIvxB9oXYDtvN36wrA38bk-kSoDruVbpWa4yIS8Nb5vtWxlDweRtePJHTZjrsej82j1UXuEYyIuhiUk64F6Iz2nBMxfw/s320/IMG_1186.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That red and white one... there! Mine! (maybe)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w6gYAq4ORXBluqtboyEgnN7vvWcQkeYON-LeYZkLmt_k1jmR5DYPWUUWE0ZmuvlAhteSjt00NJ-qyx50d7rHIssDG4NSPsAIlmg5iGoF3blUmSSVrbq5BGtV6MZFSDzQ5Ubb3A/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_w6gYAq4ORXBluqtboyEgnN7vvWcQkeYON-LeYZkLmt_k1jmR5DYPWUUWE0ZmuvlAhteSjt00NJ-qyx50d7rHIssDG4NSPsAIlmg5iGoF3blUmSSVrbq5BGtV6MZFSDzQ5Ubb3A/s320/IMG_1189.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More cool public art... hockey related, of course. This is Ottawa after all.</td></tr>
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We stopped for a while to look at the infared wolves. These were very cool and I think they would be even better in the dark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMweIhjmBYVRBepJLnhevbxs-w2RgznfkHRKyUjtlqm_xk5y5ZxZclipwKtsKmxXPlyUsWstYODeqRhHChdzR_MSunAqPnwCvzLqYcvx784l5KawXsocwuilbEtelD0QOkRYWng/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMweIhjmBYVRBepJLnhevbxs-w2RgznfkHRKyUjtlqm_xk5y5ZxZclipwKtsKmxXPlyUsWstYODeqRhHChdzR_MSunAqPnwCvzLqYcvx784l5KawXsocwuilbEtelD0QOkRYWng/s320/IMG_1192.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favourite public art.</td></tr>
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And finally we made it to the rink. We stayed in the middle so the kids wouldn't be run over by the speedy gonzaleses whipping around the perimeter and so Henry didn't get in the way in his stroller. There weren't may people using it (most people were on the canal) and the ice was perfect. My kids couldn't get over the condition of the ice. They'd never skated on perfect ice before. Emily was amazed at how well she was doing. Wait until I introduce them to an arena. Their minds will be blown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4X5xYtYnekG0PKPQ6tZFZYqxwD7tSJM3A6Bfcp3MteUev_KAkToNncgNEZulAbLuX2EBcJPs6gfUGuc2lrT13JfwW_S3z2lmUSOdnjqFhyphenhyphendz8eANVOC-V_iVLy2YJ-j6Zks9YQ/s1600/IMG_1195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4X5xYtYnekG0PKPQ6tZFZYqxwD7tSJM3A6Bfcp3MteUev_KAkToNncgNEZulAbLuX2EBcJPs6gfUGuc2lrT13JfwW_S3z2lmUSOdnjqFhyphenhyphendz8eANVOC-V_iVLy2YJ-j6Zks9YQ/s320/IMG_1195.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just starting out. Love Hope's laces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6_obXBV7FN8dx6QrQxL6Ev72sYfmQYemFiQlms8nHd_-n74YLMFeCMQUfEEtVE6ug6H8tXFZwUrOaOqDAKuBXYQOVpq6SVTP66GobCMxKSHJgsd6lEoHD6MTT3nDwtu0FOHPIw/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6_obXBV7FN8dx6QrQxL6Ev72sYfmQYemFiQlms8nHd_-n74YLMFeCMQUfEEtVE6ug6H8tXFZwUrOaOqDAKuBXYQOVpq6SVTP66GobCMxKSHJgsd6lEoHD6MTT3nDwtu0FOHPIw/s320/IMG_1197.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Henry was content to be pushed around by me. Didn't like it so much when we stopped.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lr5VZsK2roOavjK2kdw43gEAL8F78glfyXEUzDZt9wT8Y2_uLPMuSkRbgSok8kqJLONVL3rvfjBsm3TqZS20fkEg7CM2BgebzwInei37BJSxLgCZKwjz8npXKN7nOdc-7CGWqQ/s1600/IMG_1199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Lr5VZsK2roOavjK2kdw43gEAL8F78glfyXEUzDZt9wT8Y2_uLPMuSkRbgSok8kqJLONVL3rvfjBsm3TqZS20fkEg7CM2BgebzwInei37BJSxLgCZKwjz8npXKN7nOdc-7CGWqQ/s320/IMG_1199.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtn7autEroOoxgdZN_eN1eLp2lLzTNuyc4Tbrj72bHnhALZ7hPFHELGUCo-PcK5Bw9oOTGnWmnjtGqk1CZhJ31KJ1uKPRYS2mTJbPOuDR-r5DgihEwTuE9t9xPnzxd1q_p2dc-g/s1600/IMG_1200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtn7autEroOoxgdZN_eN1eLp2lLzTNuyc4Tbrj72bHnhALZ7hPFHELGUCo-PcK5Bw9oOTGnWmnjtGqk1CZhJ31KJ1uKPRYS2mTJbPOuDR-r5DgihEwTuE9t9xPnzxd1q_p2dc-g/s320/IMG_1200.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And with a gorgeous view of Parliament and downtown.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAWbvyo1LrgYMsKpv6VDdClz2u7ytIMsgSzalgXU1zwFUba7hw1pChjcAqwe3T5jjsDMHVjlwAbpoXFrH-Yyt_nfZ2quxEtScmpkGug4v4rsekFHJ2FUqB99_qPq3RmBbYmTU-Q/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAWbvyo1LrgYMsKpv6VDdClz2u7ytIMsgSzalgXU1zwFUba7hw1pChjcAqwe3T5jjsDMHVjlwAbpoXFrH-Yyt_nfZ2quxEtScmpkGug4v4rsekFHJ2FUqB99_qPq3RmBbYmTU-Q/s320/IMG_1202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lights on the boards change colours. Sounds tacky but actually really funky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8hvEUxybw6WvIdTp6DhpAgVdEnsUg21HouQ7aTjcUKYeLS1tVPK5rwHpMV2if69sI_ijB-s4-h4NUpSMF-Km2Hooq_6zdzxU9-g7m5OvGtLWNeGMCaeKvpG_opq8X97pgZgI5A/s1600/IMG_1203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8hvEUxybw6WvIdTp6DhpAgVdEnsUg21HouQ7aTjcUKYeLS1tVPK5rwHpMV2if69sI_ijB-s4-h4NUpSMF-Km2Hooq_6zdzxU9-g7m5OvGtLWNeGMCaeKvpG_opq8X97pgZgI5A/s320/IMG_1203.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a shot I took of the new Convention Centre, which looked amazing all lit up. Couldn't get it on the iPhone but thought this was a cool effect anyway.</td></tr>
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We headed back to the parking garage after only about 20 minutes of skating (and I realized we parked right around the corner from the door out... I just headed in the wrong direction when we left the first time). We were hungry and John was waiting for us at home. This was just a first taste. We'll certainly be back. I give a thumbs up to the Rink of Dreams. We'll definitely head there one day right after school and have a longer skate. For tomorrow however, it's back to our local outdoor rink where the ice is choppy but the parking is easy.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03716192469666793842noreply@blogger.com1