We have returned from the land of Sun, Sand, Surf and temperatures that were tipping the scale at 40C (104F).  We are happy to be home, but missing the ocean badly. Thankfully our two weeks away were so fabulous we have agreed to continue with at least two weeks and maybe three for next year.  I had hopes of blogging so much more, but our internet was so intermittent that I would get frustrated and we were having so much fun we just fell into bed each night.  I owe you guys about 20 posts, but I must start off with one for Lay’s Chip Trips.

Our first Lay’s Chip Trip that we took as part of the Mom Central Blog Tour in conjunction with Frito Lay, was of the restaurant kind.  In early June, I had cashed in some Lay’s points to get started on our Summer. And after a great Saturday of having fun when we asked the kids what they wanted to do for supper they both yelled, “Boston Pizza!” Hubby and I looked at the Lay’s Chip Trip’s I had printed out the day before and saw that we had two kids meals at Boston Pizza, which cost only 10 points each or one big bag of Lay’s Chips.  We packed the kids into the car and headed out.

The kids were sporting their new sunglasses we got for the beach and colouring up a storm while waiting for their food.

Hubby ordered the Jambalaya Fettucini, which was spicy and delicious.

And I got the Chipotle Chicken and Bacon Salad.  Again spicy and delicious. The kids both ordered chicken fingers and were so happy that we took their suggestion for dinner.

 Our first Lay’s Chip Trip was fun and fulfilling and we have a few more adventures waiting for us, a boat cruise, mini-putt and some fun at a Provincial Park. You can sign up for Lay’s Chip Trips too and start cashing in on some fun in your area.

Disclosure I am participating in the Lay’s Chip Trips program by Mom Central on behalf of Frito Lay and PepsiCo. I received Lay’s Chip Trip points and a gift card to offset my trip costs to facilitate this post. The opinions on this blog are my own.

We went for our traditional day at Fulton’s Sugar Bush this morning.  Hubby took the day off and we got there nice and early.

First stop, pancake, sausages and fresh maple syrup.

The kids played at the playstructure, we went on a sleigh ride (amazingly there was still enough snow on the trail). Took a little walk around and got our final treat of Taffy on Snow, I should say the kids did, I just watched them eat it.

It was a little strange to not have to freeze our fingers and toes and actually enjoy the warm sunny day, but I will take it this way over the usual any day.

On Saturday I had the opportunity to do the most girly girl thing imaginable.  I let my daughter dress up in a pretty dress, one that she will call her Princess dress and took her to see Disney’s Princesses on Ice with my girlfriend and her little girl.  I too put on a skirt and did my hair, just because I could.

Here are the little Princesses before the show. Look at them, so sweet!  I can hardly stand it myself.

Then we got to the show.  They were mesmerized for most of the first half of the performance.

They told the basics of each of the Princess stories, spending a little more time on certain ones than others.  There were a couple that I didn’t even know were Princesses, but the girls didn’t know the difference. They loved watching the colours swirl and fly across the ice.

The second half was entirely about  Cinderella which pleased both girls, who moments before were wanting to leave.  It would seem that Cinderella has the same effect on my daughter as it had on me when I first saw it in a Cinema in England as a little six year old.

It was a wonderful day, one I am sure will be repeated again in the future. Perhaps it won’t be the same show, but I will certainly be getting dressed up in our pretty dresses and having some girly girl time just the two of us.  I can’t wait.

I feel like blogging about our family and fun is so wrong at a time like this.  There are so many people in Haiti that would be happy with some clothes and food and here I am trying to think about what to write.  Trying to keep on going like nothing is going on in the world.  That is what I usually do, I keep on going.  I can do my small part by donating money and supporting charities.  But, it doesn’t help the helplessness that I feel.

Far away from our land of ice and snow there are children without parents.  Babies without their Moms and Moms without their babies. If I could bring them into my home, make them some soup and clothe them put them to bed and tell them all will be OK tomorrow, I would.  But, I can’t and it won’t all be OK tomorrow.  It will be a long time before these peoples lives are even remotely normal again.

So here we go on with our daily adventures and I hope in these adventures, I can use some of these fun times to remind J and Apple that we are truly Blessed. We have a warm house, food, clothing and quite frankly, more toys than most children should ever have.  And even more important is that we are safe here in our warm homes.

So as you look at these photos of us at the Canal on Saturday taking the kids for a skate and a Beavertail, know that we truly feel Blessed in all that we have and know that we are trying in our little way to play a part in helping those in Haiti get through this tragedy.

We have been doing a lot of nothing around here this holiday season.  This is the first year that Hubby really didn’t have to work between Christmas and New Years.  He did go in for a couple of hours one day, but that was it.  I on the other hand have been filling in for my Dad and Sister with our elderly friends, so every day around noon I head over and make sure all is well at their house. They have been doing quite well and have enjoyed the company.  Today, I even brought the whole family which always lights them up when they see the kids playing in their backyard and running around their kitchen.

One thing that we have been doing is some tobogganing.  Unless it was too cold we would bundle up the kids and head over to the park across the street and zip down some hills.

This one early evening I brought my camera along.  It was late afternoon so I was able to catch some of that wonderful blue light that sets in when the sun goes down.  It was lightly snowing and not too cold.  I was no good on the hills with my bum ankle anyway, so why not grab some fun shots.

Even the big boys had a little fun rolling down the hill.

I can’t believe I am going to say this but, I am really not looking forward to school starting on Monday.  It means back to work and back to the grind.  I have really enjoyed having the family around this past couple of weeks.  Which is a huge accomplishment because normally if the whole family is home, I go a little wonky and wonder why we aren’t away somewhere on vacation instead of home. But, not this time, it has been a wonderful break in the school year and I am already looking forward to March Break when we can do it all again… without the toboggans… hopefully.

In Santa that is.  No, I don’t believe that a man comes through my non-existent chimney and leaves gifts for the children.  But, I do believe in the Spirit of Santa.  To me, Santa goes hand in hand with the true meaning of Christmas.  The reason for the Season.  The Birthday.

Jesus is the reason we are celebrating this holiday and we make sure that the children know this.  But, yes there is another reason for this holiday.  The Spirit of giving.  Saying thank you to others and doing things for others because we can and want to.  I actually wrote about this two years ago, when my nephew was first told that there was no Santa.  It breaks my heart that other children don’t get the chance to believe.  There is something special about not really knowing but knowing.  Even though I grew up knowing there was no Santa, my older Sister and I always thought my parents were wrong and secretly believed. I remember how special that was to us, wondering if Santa was out there on the rooftops making deliveries.

How could you not believe in this guy, look at that smile.  He and J were having a great chat while I was taking some shots.  Apple really wanted nothing to do with it, but J spoke for her.

 This year, for the first time I decided not to buy the shots from the photo lab at the mall, but just bring my own camera.  I have brought it before, but always bought a package anyway.  Well, not this year.  I would have never got these great shots without the few minutes we had by ourselves.

Thank you Santa, you truly are an inspiration.

Despite being super busy around here, we did manage to get out to the Santa Clause Parade on November 15th.  We haven’t missed one in a few years.  Whether or not we get to the one in Barrhaven or not is a different story.  Sometimes we go to Kanata, sometimes elsewhere, the point is we try to go.

When J was two the Barrhaven parade was small and during the day and lacking in some oomph.  The next year they moved it to an evening and to the main street (Strandherd) and it immediately drew more attendees.  Each year is seems to be getting bigger and bigger.  This year saw a record crowd of 20,000.  Not bad at all.  Thankfully it was a warm evening because with that record crowd came the most floats we have ever seen.  We even managed to get the teenager out to the event (don’t mind the beard, it’s Novembeard at school so the guys aren’t shaving… he doesn’t like it but we are supporting his school spirit).  J was right up at the gate and Apple was eager to be beside him once she realized that they were handing out candy.

Well done Barrhaven BIA, looking forward to next year already!!

 A couple of months ago when tickets for Star Wars in Concert were released, Hubby and I were disappointed we were going to be in California and might miss out on getting tickets.  Then Hubby got an email at work that indicated we could get less expensive tickets at a group rate.  We were right in there with four tickets for the family.  Apple didn’t come as it would have been too late for her, but J and A made it out and we had a wonderful time.

The music was so well done (the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) you almost forgot they were playing live.  They kept up with the displays on the screen (clips from the movies) and the laser shows.  J was conducting along with the Maestro and A was amazed at the sound.  All in all a wonderful family event, oh yes, and as an added bonus we were moved down from the 300 level to the 100 level, such a treat.  The only thing that would have made me happier is if I could have brought in my good camera.  A couple of people snuck in their SLR’s but I was told not to bring it by security when I called so I just had my little pocket cam.

Here is just a few of the photos I took at the Perth Fair on Sunday.

I had been out to Perth on Saturday for a celebration of Life and saw that the Fair was on.  Sunday morning we got up, ate breakfast and headed out.  J was dressed like a surfer version of Indiana Jones, complete with whip, (I often wonder what Harrison Ford would think about all these kids wanting to be just like him?) and Apple was wearing her floppy hat.

The weather was perfect, the crowds were small (that’s what happens when you get there before noon), the food was delicious.  We checked out the old cars, trucks and snowmobiles.  Exhibits, rodeo and rides.  Then we had a little lunch, rode some rides, had a Beavertail, rode some more rides.  Grabbed some cotton candy and water for the ride home and had a splendid day.

Opa has one more day before he returns home, so we are making the most of his visit.  As much as I love him here, I am looking forward to getting back to normal around here, all this excitement is starting to get to me.

Last year before school even got out, J was bored.  So we made this jar full of wonderful things to do.  If he got bored we were to stick our hands in and pull something out.  And whatever we pulled out we had to do.  I got the idea from Kiwi Kate when she was homeschooling, she had a jar for Mystery Monday (I think it was called).

Well, we never had to use it.  J did not get bored once.  I put the jar away and kept it for this Summer, just in case.  I took it down and dusted it off today, so we could have it ready and available at the first sign of boredom.  The jar is full of fun things, like a visit to a local beach, picnics at the park, visiting museums and playdates with friends we don’t get to see all school year long.   Hopefully, we won’t need to use it, but I know either way we will be doing some of the fun stuff from the jar anyway.  It just helps if we can’t think of what to do.

Today if fun for me for a few reasons. First, and most importantly, J rode his bike to school. This is a huge accomplishment. J has never been very fond of bicycles much to Hubby and I’s dismay. He has two trikes, and three two wheelers that were handed down from his Brother, A, just waiting to be riden. So far Apple has ridden his trike more than he has/had.

Up until yesterday, his training wheels still made his bike wobble all the way down the street. I asked my girlfriend if I could try her son’s old trainers, perhaps they are stronger than the ones we had. I put them on yesterday morning and J hopped on his bike after school. As he was riding down the street without any help from me he was cheering himself on yelling, “Yippee, Yahoo!”. Then, he declared he could ride to his buddy’s house no problem. I was a happy Mom.

When J asked to ride his bike to school this morning, I was skeptical. I had visions of tears, and me walking the bike and frustrations. But, he promised to make it all the way to school. And when we were almost there I said, “J, I thought for sure you would be crying by now.” His response was, “me too.”

*edited to add: I tried to upload a video, but it messes up my whole page.  If anyone can share tips with me on uploading videos, I would much appreciate it. 

My second reason for a fun Friday is that I have my second wedding shoot tomorrow so I am gearing up and very, very excited. Last time I was a little nervous, the bride had never had photos of her turn out but, knowing how much she loved them and loved having me there, has given me that extra bit of encouragement that I needed for tomorrow. I have had this wedding booked since last August so I am been going over it in my mind again and again. I just hope it turns out as well as I have wanted it to.

While getting my gear ready, I have been wishing that I had purchased a ShootSac by Jessica Claire. I have been coveting the ShootSac for a while now, but just can’t seem to be able to justify the price tag, yet. For now I use my trusty rolling suitcase. In the suitcase are two camera bags (You must have a backup when shooting a wedding), my reflector kit, my flash kit, extra batteries, extra memory cards, chargers, just in case, shooting notes and contact numbers. I may bring along another shoulder bag and pretend it’s a real ShootSac, fill it with my lenses and flash and what not that I need to carry around and leave the bigger bag in the truck. I will decide sometime tomorrow morning, I am sure.

And my last reason Friday is fun for me this week is that for my Fit-in 15 we put on the Wii and bowled a few frames. Again, we lasted longer than 15 minutes, but we had fun and got some exercise, not something I usually do on a Friday afternoon.