it was a good friday

The kiddies and I spent this exceptionally warm Good Friday with friends, exploring the Jack Pine Trail in Stony Swamp. We met up with Christine, Monique, Jen and Jill and their families at the start of the trail in the Greenbelt. Everyone enjoyed the hike that took us just under two hours with just enough stops so that the kiddies could explore every inch of the trail...

We brought bird seed to feed the chickadees, and binoculars so that Miss S could look for "tarantulas"...she swears she saw one "on a flower" from the car window as we were driving to get to the trail.

It was at about this part of the day where I realized that Miss S had her pants on backwards. She has been very excited about getting herself dressed in the mornings lately {and today she did pretty good with the matching} so who notices details like the pants being on backwards...

The kiddies really loved the boardwalk areas...

We discovered the best tree for climbing ever. It was just like a ladder...

After our hike, we all headed over to Christine's for a picnic lunch and some play time in their back yard.

K spent the day at home installing flooring in our basement {we are developing it into a TV/play room}. He finished up in time to play street hockey outside with R before dinner, while Miss S went in the kiddie pool with some of the neighborhood girls. Can you believe swimming outside in April? I cannot get over how hot it was already today - it is going to be a long, hot summer!

one and one + two

This will make Grandma & Grandpa happy.

Rare photos.
All four of us together.

I am out from behind the camera.

{But unfortunately too dorky to remember to take it off from around my neck}

Monique captured these photos of us on Saturday, just as we were leaving Saunder's Farm and saying good-bye...

And I can't believe I am doing this. I really do not like to post photos of myself.

But I happen to have this not-so-lovely one from the weekend. Because this is what happens when I hand my camera to K, so I can take a phone call...

and Auntie M asked me to send her a picture of my new hair. So there it is.

See Auntie M?

It is darker. Straighter. Redder on the top, dark brown underneath.

And with bangs {except they are swept to the side here because they hang in my face and I am not used to them so they kind of drive me crazy}.

I also find a lot of photos like this...

on my camera after I pass it off to K. Now that is a photo I have no problem posting.

Revenge is sweet!

richmond fair

A drive in the country.
Spending a day at the fair...

{the car I am going to win so I can be like Uncle VW...keep your fingers crossed}

Good times.

summertime

The temperature is so smokin' hot here these days.

R has finished the school year {and with a great report card no less}.

It must be summer!

R, Miss S and I spent the entire afternoon and early evening yesterday, poolside with Monique and her kiddies. We had a picnic lunch and played in the sun. And then we had a picnic dinner outside too {the husbands joined us after work}, because the idea of cooking inside in this heat just seemed like too much trouble! I love how easy it can be to entertain the kiddies in the summer. Water. Sand. They can play for hours.

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Sandbanks that celebrate summer...

Have a great summer!

canada's wonderland

We made the last weekend into a special long one, and took the kiddies to Canada's Wonderland...

with Monique and her family. We had a blast, spending 2 full days at the park and some time being tourists in Toronto.

I came home with a camera full of photos, so when I can narrow them down to a reasonable amount, I will post more photos later. Here are just a few, for now...

I love Wonderland. On the way there, Miss S kept asking "are we at Disneyland yet?" Not quite Disneyland, but Wonderland is the best theme park in Canada that we have been to. It is bigger than I thought and has great rides and entertainment for all ages. We will definitely be going back! {We haven't even done the Waterpark part yet, it was a bit cloudy and kept threatening to rain when we were there}!

upper canada village

K has been wanting to go to Upper Canada Village since we moved. While his sister, Auntie K was visiting...

we took her and the kiddies to Morrisburg to check it out.

And then, since we were so close to Cornwall, I convinced K that we needed to go to Auntie Em's Scrapbooking, because I have heard such great things about it. The shop did not disappoint. I picked up some great trim, paper and a border punch, and will go back anytime I am in the area.

That night, we left the kiddies behind for some grown-up time, had dinner at The Fish Market in the Byward Market and took The Haunted Walk tour in downtown Ottawa {so not my type of thing - but K loved it}! The highlight of the tour is the former Old Carlton County Jail which has been turned into a hostel. Scary.

auntie k came to town

and we had fun doing things, like taking the kiddies to my favorite little village Merrickville. {Are you sensing a pattern here - if you are not from Ottawa and you come and visit us, we take you to Merrickville. OK?}

We introduced my sister in law to the chip truck. Or in this case it is more like a chip stand - no wheels involved. What is it with Ottawa-ians {what do you call people from Ottawa exactly} and chip trucks? Don't get me wrong...the chips are fabulous, I have discovered, but before I moved here, I would not have considered eating food that was sold from the side of a truck.

Anyway, I wanted to eat at this chip stand just because I love the name...

and the chips {ie: they were called fries in my previous life} were fabulous. Bonus.

We went in a few of the shops, but mostly we wanted to spend the day outside with the kiddies, enjoying the sun. We had fun exploring by the canal...

until we came across our first...

snake, sunning itself on the rocks {it took off into the water when Auntie K screamed}. After the second, and third, and fourth and fifth snake, Auntie K decided our adventure was over!

We watched a boat that we thought was too big, pass through the Rideau Canal locks. {I am posting these photos for Burke because I hear he likes locks {???} but I don't think he reads my blog, so pass it on Shar. Then maybe he will be more likely to let you buy your dream home in Merrickville}...

{raising the deck of the boat}

{stopping traffic}

{the road swings. wheeeee!}

{and then bon voyage cruisers}