Month: May 2013

It was a rainy day

The first in a seriessupposedly.  I know, big surprise when one is in Britain.  It provided us with the perfect excuse to spend the day indoors at two museums -Science museum and Natural History museum.  The girls had a lot of fun at both.

The Science museum had a good mixture of interactive displays and information displays.  Katrine was in heaven surrounded by all of the information.  Especially when she got to see astronaut food Nd space diapers.  (Nope, potty humor is not just for boys.). Elspeth of course preferred the hands on areas but also went wide eyed looking at early bikes and lawn “momers”.  There was even an exhibit for Glenn on code breaking.  I got to see the model I made in grade school, well I think Scott actually made it, to go with a science fair project I did on the moon. Seriously, there was the exact same model in adisplay cabinet except it had a better paint job and gold leaf (I claimed it before it was painted.)

After about three hours we were all sciencesout so we headed next door to the next museum and the dinosaur exhibit.  On the way we passed through the bird section where Katrine saw a dodo bird and broke into song “Finding a dodo bird, driving our sister insane”.  Gotta love those text to text connections.  Both girls enjoyed the dinosaurs but near the end it was clear that Elspethwas done so she and I came back for nap and the other pair spent two more hours at the museums exploring whale skeletons and minerals mostly.  Once Gain, Katrine was in heaven.

Tomorrow is a special day to me because we will be meetin my cousin Lillian (my Nana’s mother’s sister’s daughter’s son’s wife, you got that straight?). I haven’t seen her since our wedding so I am very much looking forward to it.  I can hardly wait for her to meet my girls.  So I guess it is off to bed so that I can look well rested tomorrow.

 

Good bye Paris

After a final visit to the boulangerie it was off to the train station for us.  We figured out that we were suppose to be leaving from the first floor so we walked from one end to the other….not our train.  Okay, find employee and use my French one last time to find out where the heck the train was on the first floor when we had walked the length of the station and not seen it.  Oh.  Turns out that we were on the ‘ground’ floor and needed to schlep everything up the stairs to the ‘firstfloor rot.  We did so thinking to ourselves “this is the second floor damn it.  Now we are in a rush.”. Still made the train so in the end not a big deal but frustrating.  When we take the next leg of our journey we are going to plan on arriving even earlier to help compensate for this possibility.

Going through the French countryside was beautiful.  I loved the small towns and green fields, as well as the many fields of bright yellow flowers which I believe are mustard plants.  The Chunnel portion of the ride kinda unsettled Elspeth.  She had difficulty reconciling that it was suddenly dark.  It all sorted itself once we were back outside.  Glenn and I had hoped that Elspeth would nap on the train.  No such luck,  yet another day with a tired girl.

After checking in to our hotel it was off to ride the tube and do walkbys of Buckingham Palace (“Does the queen really live there?”), Westminster Abbey (“hey, that big prince’s wedding was there.) and the Parliment Buildings.  When Katrine saw the London Eye she was so excited.  “It’s the big ferris wheel from Phineas and Ferb!”. On the was, we went through St James Park only it turned out to be Green Park which made sense as there was an awful lot of grass.  Turned the mistake into fun by showing the girls how to roll down a hill.  It was great to see a mistake  reading a map turn into a big batch go giggles and smiles.  As we continued onward, we did end up traveling through St James Park (We had turned left at Queen Victoria fountain instead of right.).  How happy were the girls to see the birds – pigeons, geese, and many varieties of ducks.  Pointing, naming them and chasing them.  I remember feeding the ducks when I came to London with my family as a kid.  I wonder if thgreater the grand kids of those ducks?

We grabbed the tube again to the Tower of London.  Not to see the tower but to see Tower Bridge.  It was scheduled to go up today.  This only happens about twice a year.  I knew it was something that both Glenn and Katrine would enjoy and I thought that Elspeth could get into it once things got started. However, the timing got moved up Nd the bridge had both raised and lowered by the time we arrived which left us with nothing to do but get dinner and head backhot the hotel.

Even more walking with fountains and gold

Today was a Versailles day.  We began with the gardens which weregorgeous!  Topiaries, hedges, statues, fountains. All breathtakingly beautiful.  A light snack by the Grand Canal and it was off to see the world of Marie Antoinette.  I had hoped to see the whole of her world but it was simply too much.  The girls enjoyed the gardens around the two Trianon palaces.  They coolected pebbles, chestnuts and flower petals.  Admired fountains.  Sat onbenches.  They enjoyed the smaller palace as well and I have to agree.  It was a highlight of the day for me.  It felt almost like a grand home as opposed to a palace.  No gilding just lots of windows and clean stone work.  Marie Antoinette’s bedroom was oh so pink which got rave reviews from the girls.  However, by the time we exited they were oh so ready for lunch which was to be had back at the canal so no visit to her farm or fantasy gardens this go round.  That said, our lunch picnic in the suMoore than made up for it.

After lunch?  Well, more fountains of course!  Both girls are quite fond of fountains so they were happy as clams.  Katrine also insisted on seeing the orangerie where Elspethdesperately wanted to pick an orange.

Then it was off to see the inside of the palace.  We were able to walk right in.  No extra long line up by three in the afternoon.  It was smooth sailing until about the hall of mirrors.  Stunning murals on ceilings, gilt work every where and the views from the windows -stunning.  The hall of mirrbelieved up to expectations.  As Katrine said, “Over the top!”. By the time we hit the royal bedrooms and dining rooms we seem to have caught up with multiple tour groups.  People pushing…okay it’s crowded I can deal.  Then someone started patting Elspeth on the head from behind while we were being pushed forward.  I was able to channel my anger and escape by shoving my way through (apologies to those I rudelyshifted butI pleaseI understand that it was for my child).  That was the final straw.  I mean, what type of person just reaches out to touch a child?  It is wrong on so many levels.  Thankfully Elspeththinks it was “mama touch my hair when I scared”.  We left.

Glenn asked to have galettes again for his birthday dinner.  We went to a different place this time but that is another post.  On our way back tot the hotel we walked through Les Jardins Luxembourg.  I had hoped that the playground would be open but it was closing as we arrived.  We did manage to catch the last sarosel ride of the day much to the girls delight.  I have never before seen a suspended carousel (no bottom floor, the horse simply hang from the ceiling).  The riders on the outside were each given a stick.  As the carosel turned they could try to hook metal rings off of a pole with their stick.  Katrine actually managed to hook a pair while Elspeth, well she just waved the stick about.

And so our time here is drawing to a close.  One morevisit to the boulangerie for pastries tomorrow morning, some French cartoons and then we are on the train to London.  I have enjoyed Paris but I do believe that my feet will enjoy some rest tomorrow before the next round of walking begins.

Walking, a tower and Monet

That is what we are doing.  I am hoping that it will paseason and I will suddenly look good in shorts!

We began our day riding the subway to the Eiffel Tower.  I have ridden may different subways in different countries but this was the first time that I have ever seen a double decker subway.  Thatmade it kind of interesting.

What is there to say about the Eiffel Tower?  It is tall, brown and every bit as cool as in the photos we have all seen.  Oneneat thing which we had Katrine do was mail her postcards there.  They will bear the Eiffel Tower stamp cancel.  Small but different.  We walked along the Champs de Mers a bit to get a better view and found a small playground.  The girls ran off some steam while wewere able to admire the tower from an angle where the crowds were blocked by trees.  The steelwork was not as there but it was actually prettier.

Then we crossed the Seine and headed to the Champs Elysses.  We were suppose to hit L’Arc de Triomph first but I made a slight planning error with maps and we ended up about halfway along.  We still saw the arch just not up close.  However, we found a great crepe stall and Glenn and the girls enjoyed a nice lunch.  Elspeth also enjoyed watching the sparrows searching forcrumbs while Katrine watched the crepes being made.

We enjoyed aleisurely walk through Tullieries Gardens with a stop at L’Orangerie to see Monet’s paintings.  Inever knew that Waterlilles could be seen in surround.  I have only ever seen a framed print.  It was WOW to walk into a room and be surrounded by his painting.  Took my breath away.  A highlight of the gardens for the girls were the carousel and playground.  All of that smiling and laughing left them in need of ice cream (did I mention that balanced diets have gone out the window?)

Then the Louvre.  There are pluses and minuses to visiting the Louvre with a stroller.  Plus, get in right away!  Minus, the stairs, and there are A LOT of them.  We saw the main highlights that we had picked before leaving but it was difficult to do the museum proper justice as  neither girl was terribly interested most of the time.  That said, Elspeth liked the mummy section while Katrenjoy referred the Mona Lisa and spyhix.  If we were redoing today I would do it in reverse order so as not to have as much disconnected for the children at the Louvre.

Right now we arerelaxing in the hotel before heading out for dinner.

We have arrived safely

Our first day in Paris was wonderful, but a touched cool.  Elspeth liked our hotel room, the houseboats on the Seine and the ice cream(even though it was waaaay to cold for it).  Katrine loved the sights as well as the food.  Her favourite food of the day had to be thchocolate croissant that shehead for breakfast.  In case, you are worrying (mom, dad) I did managed to eat today but I wil post about that when I am home and can add photos.

We toured St Chapelle and Notre Dame today.  The stain glass windows in St Chapelle toke my breath away.  Their beauty struck you upon entering the second floor.  The colors, the details became that much more beautiful when you considered that they were all done by hand.  Talented crafts men.  Notre Dame featured the same level of skill.  Carved stonework, statues, painted walls.  Standing at the back of Notre Dame looking towards the main altar you werestruck by the sheer size and beauty of this place of worship that it is easy to believe that it took three hundred years to constructed.  Oh, Katrine says I need to tel you that there was amodel showing how the cathedral was built in medical times.  Elspeth?  She was too busy falling asleep in her stroller to even look at the inside of the cathedral, but she woke up in time for ice cream so it was all good.

We got a bonus event on our way to Notre Dame …a bread festival.  As we neared the square all you could smell was fresh baking bread.  I stayed outside the tents with Elspeth whilee Glenn and Katrine went in.  They saw bakeries making baguettes’ croissants and pastries.  Katrine was thrilled to get some samples.  While those two were busy doing something educational, I was standing beside a piscine de ble.  Yup, a wheat box.  Imagine a sandbox filled with wheat grains.  Elspeth merrily climbed in and dug in the wheat.  Me? I stayed as far back as possible.  Ugh, but at least it was fun for her.

That is how our day went.  Add in a four hour afternnon nap.  A looong walk for gluten free dinner and desserts before coming home to see the sun setting over the Seine and that is it.  I guess I should draw to a close and get some sleep to be ready for tomorrow.

The girls meet some skaters

The past few weeks the girls have been very excited to be able to spend some time with the members of the chinese national figure skating team.  Granted this time has been made a bit more difficult as a result of our lack of chinese language skills (thank goodness for translation software)…I suppose this offers support for the stay in chinese class arguement but that is another post.  That said, they have said hello, watched them skate, laughed, smiled and interacted in a way which made them feel special.  Elspeth calls them her “friends” while Katrine beams when she was asked to print her name in chinese characters or when one of the coaches thanked her for the good luck card that the girls made.

My take on this?  What a wonderful opportunity for the pair of them to interact with chinese skaters.  Yes, we have chinese skaters in Canada.  Yes, they are wonderfully talented.  No, I do not mean to detract from this talent in any way shape or form.  It is so very important for our girls to have chinese role models – both Canadian born chinese, chines immigrants and mainland chinese.  We have asian friends so I can attest to the fact that they have ample interaction with smart, capable and dare I say wonderful asian women (I am a bit biased because these ladies are my friends) to draw inspiration from when they seek to define what a chinese woman should be.  With my degree in asian studies, they also have access to a sizable collection of texts on chinese history, culture, food, etc.  Then you can add to that various experiences with chineseness provided by culture camp, china town, homeland tours, reunions, kungfu, etc.

Being skaters (Katrine certainly is and it does seem as if Elspeth is leaning in that direction), they also need atheletic role models.  All of their current coaches are fabulous.  They model creativity, passion, dedication and hard work…but they are all caucasian.  With this being such a large part of our family life, we have encouraged Katrine’s love of Patrick Chan as a model because it combines the image of chineseness with the qualities of hard work, dedication and success.  Meeting and spending time with the chinese skaters has expanded the available concept of role models.  Instead of just pointing to Patrick Chan, Katrine has asked to watch videos of other chinese skaters and wherefore goeth her sister, goeth Elspeth.

So, thank you to all of the chinese skaters who have spent time with my girls over the past few weeks.  Thank you for opening their eyes further to the possibilities available for chinese skaters.  Thank you for showing them hard work, focus and dedication.  I am not sure if either of my girls will go as far as you have with their skating but hopefully they will take the qualities you have shown and apply them not only to their skating but their lives.

Good luck to Li Zijun and Zhang Kexin

Good luck to Song Nan and Yan Han.

Good luck to Peng Cheng and her partner Hao Zhang.

We will be watching for all of you at next seasons international competitions.  Of course we want the Canadians to place first but it would be awesome if you came in second.


Elspeth and Cooking Class

When Katrine was in Preschool and Kindergarten she went with her grandmothers to the Little Hands Cooking Classes at Loblaws.  So, once Elspeth was old enough I have been taking her…well at least when the recipes are gluten free.  Just like her sister, Elspeth has been loving the classes.  Another plus, she has begun to try more new foods; like humus and black beans.  Even thought I have not been able to eat the food, I must admit that it has looked quite tasty at times.

 Hummus, spinach, turkey and whole wheat bread = our new favourite lunch.

Fruit kebobs anyone? 

How about a nice apple pie burrito with ice cream?  Doesn’t it look yummy?  I really wished that I could eat it.  Sigh.  Elspeth enjoyed the apples and ice cream but left the tortilla.

 “Really?  I get to press the button?  This is SO cool!  Watch mom.”

Both girls thought that these cupcake pizzas were delicious.  Can you believe that we sat there cutting little “pepperonis” out of fruit leather?  At least Katrine didn’t pick it off of these pizzas.

 

Elspeth’s Final Dance Class

Yesterday was Elspeth’s last Highland class.  Now, will it be her final class ever or simply of the spring?  We will revisit that  in the fall.  That said, Elspeth loves her teacher Miss Nancy and what is not to love about a teacher who gets it and knows that dance class is as much about making friends and having fun as it is about learning to dance….at least when you are starting out.  Elspeth has not yet mastered the art of hopping SOOO the actual dancing is highly amusing.  She has tried hard and looks adorable doing it; smiling the whole time.

:Stretching at the beginning of the class.

“Okay Miss Nancy.  I am ready to go.  Can you see my nice pizza feet (aka first position)?  And how about my nice meatball hands (aka first position)?  You can start the music anytime.”

This was the funniest part of the class.  All of the girls were lined up at the barre so that they would have support while standing on one foot trying to shed.  Elspeth was the only one almost hanging from the barre.

Thank you Miss Nancy for a most excellent introduction to Highland Dance.  Even if the wee one can’t actually dance yet.  She had a blast trying.

 

 

Springtime Fun in the Sun

Official countdown sits at two sleeps!!!!

Okay, now that is out of the way we can move on to this post.  We are so loving this sunny, warm weather.  It brings with it bikes, scooters, time in the backyard and time at the park.  Take a look at what our time at parks tends to look like.

Katrine also managed to teach Elspeth that a child can go down a slide on your belly face first.  Isn’t she a great big sister.