fresh air

It's getting cold....again. This week is shaping up to be another snowy, cold, and house bound kind of week. What is it with this year? I love winter. You all know that. But this year, at this point, I think I am quite done. I miss having tea on the deck. I miss sitting in the swing reading books with the kids. I miss just opening the back door and letting the kids run outside in their bare feet. Sigh. I know we are many months away from this, and I know that the end of winter is nowhere near. But a girl can dream right?
To make the best of the fading sunlight this afternoon, we spent the majority of it outdoors. It was a decent temperature, soon to be short lived. The little gals and Dakota went up to the park, and Aidan, Maelle, and I played a game of hockey on the rink (which at this rate I am sure we will still have in May!!)


Bree and Jenna had a go on the bobsled run....

...and judging by Bree's smiles, she is my adrenaline junkie. The faster she went, the harder she laughed!

So Mr Winter, I know I have said some rather unkind and harsh words to you this year, but please forgive me. I really do like the snow and the winter season, but I could use a break from the minus freeze-your-tush-off temperatures. I mean really. Is it that necessary?

making a mess called art!

It all started Friday morning, when Kylie and I decided to have a little "creative time". I have been wanting to try out a mixed media painting for quite some time and Friday...well, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to give it a go. We both spent a few hours with our hands covered in ModPodge (aka glue and water) sticking pretty little pieces of paper to a canvas. Then it was onto the paint. We painted with anything and everything. Brushes, paper, bubble wrap, plastic cups, and our fingers. I am sure the hubbies thought "you spent a good part of the day doing that?" as they saw the works in progress. But...."hold on" I said....."it's all about the process. Good art is not created in a day!"

I was right about the last part. Art is not created in a day. After Aidan arrived home on Friday, he witnessed all of our "supplies" and "merry mess making" and his eyes lit up. Like literally they grew twice their size. He was in. And soon we found ourselves immersed in yet another mess of a different level.

And that mess carried over into today....

He has not stopped painting. He has been working on three (yes, three) different paintings. When he got bored or stuck with one, he moved onto the next.

He continually had me busting a gut with his lines...."oh ya, that's a good choice, oh ya!" and "I don't know what I was thinking here" and "I like adding this for texture".

The best one, happened when I myself had a wee accident with some burgundy paint. In my haste to "unclog" the paint tube, I gave it a little bit of an extra squeeze....and well, I am sure you know what happened next. Thank goodness for the speed wash cycle! Aidan's most hilarious comment "well that didn't go exactly as planned did it?"

All in all, we have had some amazing art time over the past few days. I am almost done my painting and so far I must say I am quite happy with it. I think I may move on to a larger canvas as I noticed a rather large and empty spot on my living room wall. Let the dreaming begin!

stir crazies...again

Once again, for the umpteenth time this winter season, it has been cold. Very cold. The kind of open-the-door-smack-in-your-face kinda cold. Do you know what I mean? Again the kids have been a little stir crazy. So much so that today (thankfully a little bit warmer) Bree and Jenna stood at the door of the mud room crying and banging on it to go outside. They needed out. Point taken. So...out we went. We packed up the entire crew and headed out for an afternoon at the zoo!

Such a good decision. Not only was it not busy, we got to meet the 4 day old (yes, only 4 days) baby giraffe. A little boy, weighing in at 185 pounds and just a little over 7 feet tall. How cute is he?

Always eager to learn, Aidan and Maelle get a lesson on the life of a hippo. Love the zoo's interpretive programs. Love that these kids like to get involved and take part.

In love with the fish!


Despite the weather being a tad on the chilly side, it was nice to have a good wander around the zoo this afternoon. Jenna chased a peacock, Bree yelled at the elephants, and they both pounded their chests like the gorillas. They never tired, but just kept going and going, full of giggles and copious amounts of animal like energy. Perhaps we need to follow Bree and Jenna's cues more often. Seems as though they new it would be a good day to visit the zoo.

go on now.....get messy!

Some of you may be wondering "what on earth was she thinking? Why would she give a two year old - let alone two of them - a paint tray, a jar of water, and a brush? Has she really lost her mind?"

Yes, I know. I was feeling a little adventurous or perhaps even daring. Ok...let's be honest. I was completely crazy. But what can you possibly do when the two older siblings are painting to their hearts content and poor Bree and Jenna get stuck with crayons...again.

What could possibly go wrong?!

Overall I think they did really well. They started out slow...a little unsure as to how to go about this new activity, but then....they figured it out.

And yes....it got messy. But hey....it's just paint!

And paint they did. Long after Aidan and Maelle had finished their works of art, these two little ladies were still sitting at the table 30 minutes later. Mind you I think they had more fun mixing the water around, but I'll take it!

I did however learn one thing....after going through about 3 shirts (ummm each...ahem) I need to get busy and sew these ladies some aprons. Perhaps that will be on the "to do" list this long weekend. I wonder what I could get them to try next?

be mine

Ahhh yes.....Valentine's Day. I must say that this year writing out Valentine's with the kids was a whole lot easier. Not only were they hugely motivated on doing it themselves, there also seemed to be a little extra care taken on a few of Aidan's special cards for a few special young ladies. Ahem.

If you look closely, you'll see something a little extra special on one of Aidan's Valentines. This didn't just appear on one Valentine, but on four. Is it possible for a six year old to have a girlfriend? And not just one....but four? The funny part is...I have met all of these young ladies and well, every single one of them would get my approval. They are four of the cutest young ladies and the best part is...they all play together at school and are virtually inseparable. So sweet! I even think Aidan's cheeks were a bit flushed when he put these cards aside to do them last.


Oh....the other card that had a few extra stickers, an "I love you!", and some hand drawn hearts, was none other than Aidan's teacher. Another special lady that takes a very special place in his heart.

Maelle and Aidan spent most of Sunday evening decorating sugar cookies to be packaged up and given to their teachers.

Then....let the trading begin!

After school on Monday, had these two dumping out their Valentine's mailboxes that were packed to the brim with little notes, stickers, and sweets. They traded, shared, giggled, and chatted about the cards and candy spread out before them. Sometimes I think that Valentine's Day is definitely more fun for the kids. Especially when they are little!

a busy weekend indeed

One would think that because we didn't have any hockey this weekend, we would have ended up with a few days of lovely quiet. So not the case! Although it was busy, it was also a lot of fun. We kicked off the weekend with a Home Depot Make and Take on Saturday morning. The kids made a cool heart shelf (in honour of Valentines Day of course) that are now proudly hanging up in their rooms holding all things near and dear to them....Lego dudes and fairies.

Then, it was off to cheer on Canada at the World Speedskating Championships at the Olympic Oval.

Christine Nesbitt and Cindy Klassen were on hand at these games. Awesome to see these Olympians skating on home ice...especially after Aidan skated here a few weeks ago.

And what a better way to end the day....a snooze in the car on the way home! These two were tuckered right out.

We ended the weekend off with a fun family skate with some good friends on Sunday. I have never heard these kids laugh so hard and see them all play so well. It was nice for the adults as well...to sit and have a great visit and enjoy some yummy treats and drinks.

"Bear Bread"

One of my goals for this year is to get the kids more involved in the kitchen. Not just helping out with regular old dinner prep, but really "getting into the kitchen". Finding, making, and serving, food made (almost) entirely by themselves. I have signed the kids (and myself) up for several PC Cooking Classes put on by SuperStore....and so far we have just been to one and I am so impressed. Maelle went first and this is one of the recipes that she learned how to prepare...making "Bear Bread".

It's a really basic recipe, but oh is it good! The house smelled amazing! We tweaked the recipe a little and instead of an egg wash before baking, we decided that a garlic butter would be much better suited to our spaghetti and meatball dinner. Totally a success, and Maelle has now earned the title of "bread queen"!

meet Frosty

Finally! Our first snowman of the year! That may seem hard to believe given how much snow we have had, but it was never the really wet stuff that's good for making such jolly looking fellas. Mind you....the snow that fell last weekend was the light and fluffy sort, but seeing that it was 9 degrees today and over the past few days we have had major melt....the snow has softened up...a lot. So....today, a snowman was in order. Don't you just love the duds? I picked up a snowman kit way back in October (I think) at the grocery store. So cute!


Aidan was convinced that he was the best looking "snow dude" we have ever made. You know...I think he might be right!
Happy Weekend everyone!

adventure

Hello & Happy February!

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all a happy February, and to share a little piece of winter paradise Maelle and I snowshoed through today.

So nice to be outside.

Enjoy the snow all you Ontario folk! Sounds like a doozy of a storm heading your way.

Be safe....but enjoy that winter wonderland!