I know it is only April, and the last time I remember it being this hot in April was back in 1999.  Why do I remember because I got engaged on May 1st and I had been driving with my roof down for a couple of weeks already.

Saturday was the first really hot day and also the Pancake Breakfast at our local fire station.  J really wanted to go so we donated a hefty sum of money for some pancakes (which J and Apple LOVED), waited in line to sit in the firetrucks and chatted with some of Ottawa’s Finest.  It was great.

J was really in his element.

Apple was a little bored.

But, today~ WOW! What can I say about today?  It felt like the middle of July, minus the bugs.  J went in and out, he doesn’t like to get too hot unless the pool is set up.  I used him for a photo assignment, jumping all around the backyard.

Then Apple woke up from her nap and wanted to go outside with her brother.  They chose the swings.

Just look at J’s face.  He was gearing up to push her very, very high!

And she loved every minute of it.

I am looking forward to so many more days of swinging in the backyard, together with my kids.  And many more HOT days this Summer.

On Tuesday J, Apple and I joined my Sister and her family for a day at the National Gallery of Canada. I had not been in a long time and J had never been so we thought it was a good idea.

Thought being the operative word.

Having four kids not in strollers was like a disaster waiting to happen. Made worse by hundreds (OK, a dozen or so) very bored Security Guards.  They were ready to pounce when any of the kids got within three feet of a sculpture or wall.

J wants to go back, he said that he loved it and didn’t get to see enough.  My Sister agreed that it is much nicer without the kids. And I for once was happy that it wasn’t my kid walking on a row of bricks that was indeed a sculpture (seriously, I could have made it, in fact I did once in my backyard when we were doing the patio – nobody came to see it).   My Brother-In-Law just shook his head and rolled with it as he usually does, he isn’t an Art Gallery type of guy as it is but did it anyway.

After our escape, yes escape, we headed to the Market for some Beavertails and Buskers.  It was a glorious day  outside so we were happy to enjoy it.

 J and his cousin were cutting a rug on the sidewalk, after tipping the busker, and if you look closely you can see they both have the exact same expression on their faces.  It was a great time, people actually stopped to watch the kids dancing.  I am glad the kids didn’t understand the lyrics the busker was singing because they were a little strange.  He was a great musician but, strange lyrics for the kids to be dancing to.

After finishing my second Beavertail of the year (and it’s only April!! I am two ahead of last year I think) we headed over to Major Hills Park to let the kids burn off a little more energy.

 Here is a good shot of both my family and the Gallery.  J is partially hidden by my BIL, but they were running and running and running, it was great.

I asked them all to look at me and smile for just one picture.  This is what I got.  Two silly faces from the boys and two hairy faces from the girls.  Apple and my Baby Nephew D were locked in their strollers.  Which was good for us Mom’s. We let them loose for a while and then it was time to pack it in and head back to my Mom’s for dinner.  It was a really great day, much like the times we go to Regina to visit them, but here in Ottawa.

I wonder as they are right now arriving home in Regina to a balmy 2C (35F) after it being 15C (59F) here, if they just a teeny tiny bit wished they were back in Ottawa for good.  I just wonder.