I found these big spools {I just like them...I don't know why. They will probably go in my scrapbooking room}...
and I am sure we will go back to this shop {I have to see what is under all the piles and piles and piles, when the snow melts}. It is just outside of Smiths Falls, so we stopped in at Tomorrow's Treasures and the quilt store across the street {where I picked up some fabric, finally, for my fabric book swap...now to get started on that project...}.
We checked out some of the snow sculptures on the lake...
and then skated on the Canal...
We convinced R to skate a bit further by promising him a BeaverTail if he skated all the way to this stand, that is located right on the ice...
{So funny, just found this link about Obama having a BeaverTail on his recent visit to Ottawa}
and watched the skaters outside! {Miss S didn't want to skate today because she was still not feeling great, so we pushed her around in the stroller, but she has been learning to skate this winter}. Such a fun day, and it was topped off being invited to a wonderful dinner at Jill's.
Miss S having a nap is a very rare occasion these days! I caught her snoozing on the couch the other day while she was watching Dora. She needs her rest, because once again, she is sick. Just the same cough and cold we keep getting over and over, but when is it going to end? The helpful doctor we went to see said "Welcome to the Ottawa Valley. This is the land of the allergy and asthma"! Thanks dude. I hope this is just us getting used to the change in climate, elevation...or something here, and not what we can expect every winter!
and made a lasagna dinner for everyone. Sarah also came over and joined us. And the contractor too! Not quite a romantic Valentine's dinner, but it was a good time!
R wanted to make a special Valentine for his teacher...
and he was thrilled to pass out Valentine's at school! He came home with a heart-shaped mailbox full of Valentines from his friends. How sweet!
Happy Valentine's Day!
and Miss S still loves cuppy-cakes...
She was a little heavy-handed with the red sprinkles when we were decorating...
And finally what you have all been waiting for {no wait...just I have been waiting for it, and waiting, and waiting}...
How nice to finally have an oven!
We went sliding on the larger-than-life snow slides...
wound our way through a huge snow maze, visited Scooby Doo in the Teletoon area {R is a huge fan of Scooby Doo lately, when the Scooby Doo mysteries are on TV he is glued to the screen!}...
admired all the snow sculptures...
and did some tubing.
Of course, it would not be an authentic Ottawa experience without indulging in another famous tradition, the BeaverTail...
and then we headed home to warm up! We had planned on seeing the ice sculptures and doing some skating on the Canal the next day, but the warm weather and melting snow put some of the Winterlude activities on hold, I think. 
Happy Winter!
June 1 at Scotiabank Place. It was just announced very recently and tickets went on sale this morning. I saw Elton in concert, back home a couple years ago, and it was a fabulous show.
I can't wait for this one...
The other great conversation I had with R recently involved him trying to decide on his career path. He was sitting at the table drinking his apple juice. And he was telling me he knew how they made apple juice. It was very technical.
So R decided he wants to be 'the guy who makes apple juice' when he grows up. I said I thought that was a wise choice.
But then R changed his mind...he said he might want to be 'some one that helps people that are in trouble'. He said 'maybe a fireman'.
I would probably worry less about him as an apple juice maker than a fire fighting tough guy, but I'm good with whatever he decides!
{we have really high ceilings all throughout this house - I think they must be 10'...maybe I should start measuring things...that would help in decorating!}
I just need to hang some art.
And chase a little monkey out of there...
And figure out what type of window covering I want on the bay window. Any suggestions...?
That is my farmhouse sink {at our walk-thru, so no furniture in yet. The backsplash and sink are more of an off-white in person but look really bright in this photo}.
And here you can see our new kitchen table {a big 7' farm table, up close it is all crackly and distressed}. Please ignore the bare light bulbs and soon-to-go builder light fixture...
I designed the little hutch area you see behind the table - it has a bead board backsplash {the rest of the kitchen has off-white subway tile}. I need to figure out what I want in the hutch - right now it just has some glassware and dishes in it - but I think I am going to move that and put more decorative things behind the glass.
I love looking at photos of people's homes, in magazines and online. I hope you liked this little peek into my kitchen. As I add and change things I will update my photos here!
I changed the door to the laundry room to a french door, to let more light through... 
The last part of the kitchen is the area where we had a custom hood fan made...but I will have to take photos after {or if} our oven ever arrives! 
from wanting to play outside. On Saturday, we went to Renee's for a little sledding in her backyard. Mark makes a big hill, and pathways that look like a bobsled track {only in Ontario can you sled in your own yard with the snow you shovelled off your driveway}! And you should see his tunnels in the front yard {the snow was piled higher than our SUV}...R wanted to sleep in one overnight {he might have been a bit chilly, it was -29 that day}!
{I know the photo would have been better taken from in front of my child...but this was the best angle I could get, through the window, considering my location inside Renee's warm kitchen}!
