CNE – Parkour

Okay, I thought it was just another show.  A new thing for the girls to see.  I spent the whole time being amazed and thinking “What would their mothers think?”  I apparently underestimated the appeal of parkour because Elspeth is currently smitten.  Thank goodness she is limiting the tricks to reasonably small stuff.  For instance, she would already climb all over the railings while waiting for Katrine but now she does it “parkour-style”.  Of course I had a bad mom moment capturing it in a picture before sternly telling her to get down but saints preserve me all from a show!

The demonstration set.
The demonstration set.

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CNE Fun

It was back to the CNE this year and this time Elspeth was big enough for the rides!!!

There were gorgeous topiaries this year.
There were gorgeous topiaries this year.
Beautiful flowers on display.
Beautiful flowers on display.
Butter sculptures.
Butter sculptures.
A wonderful hat display so I just had to buy a new one!
A wonderful hat display so I just had to buy a new one!
The farm building with Elspeth's favourite - the sheep.
The farm building with Elspeth’s favourite – the sheep.
They loved the Reptilia display. Apparently the snake is soft and smooth.
They loved the Reptilia display. Apparently the snake is soft and smooth.
Free tattoos at the Parks display.
Free tattoos at the Parks display.
Stars and a moon
Stars and a moon
An orca for mom.
An orca for mom.
Pheonix
Pheonix

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Katrine flying solo
Katrine flying solo

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Enjoying our traditional donuts...well, they were.  This year there was a GF chip truck so I got my own treat!
Enjoying our traditional donuts…well, they were. This year there was a GF chip truck so I got my own treat!

Five year reunion

On both of our adoption journies we have been blessed to have traveled with some amazing families.  This past weekend we got to celebrate our 5 year-iversary together.  Good company and happy kids.

Katrine decided to make a pie...
Katrine decided to make a pie…
GF strawberry rhubarb .
GF strawberry rhubarb .
Elspeth made a GF chocolate cake...
Elspeth made a GF chocolate cake…
with sprinkles of course.
with sprinkles of course.
I want these swings.
I want these swings.
So does Katrine!
So does Katrine!
One of the families brought mega-bubbles.
One of the families brought mega-bubbles.

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Look how big they are....
Look how big they are….
...all of them.
…all of them.
Elspeth spent a lot of time looking for stones.
Elspeth spent a lot of time looking for stones.
Katrine being herself.
Katrine being herself.

Ground Burger – gluten free

I friend of ours recommended that we try a restaurant in Newmarket and we were recently able to.  MMMMMMM.  The burger was delicious and I will definetely be having it again just without the GF bun.  You see, in their effort to avoid as much cross contamination as possible (yeah!) they do not toast their buns.  I really appreciate the attention to detail but as many of you know, an untoasted GF bun is just, well, mlea.  The grilled corn was beyond delicious as were the GF fries and the GF appetizer of potatoe skins.  We will certainly be going on another visit.

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RoadTrip: Day 4

On the final day, we did a little shopping at Target.  I got my GF foods and then we headed home….with one little stop enroute at Niagara on the Lake.  We enjoyed the park, had gelato, browsed in the amazing hat shop where I found the cutest $400.00 hat and had lunch at the Irish Tea Room.  It was a spur of the moment stop but I am so very glad that we did because it will likely be the last time that I get to eat at the tea room.  It will be closing at the end of September.  Knowing that we would be getting gelatto, I had no intention of buying a dessert but when I saw the notice I got their gingerbread cake for the road.  Deliciously GF with vanilla ice cream.

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Thank you for the deilicous meals Irish Tea Room.
Thank you for the deilicous meals Irish Tea Room.

RoadTrip: Day 3

After a picturesque drive through Pennsylvania dutch country we finally arrived at our destination: a covered bridge (We had also planned to see some quilts but, well, to make a long story short – didn’t happen).  After enjoying it, we climbed back in the car to head for Hershey’s Chocolate World.  Yup, girls enjoyed it so much last year that they asked to go back again.  The ride has been updated just this spring but that delicious smell of chocolate still hung in the air.

From there we had to head back to Corning to pick up our glass.  At that stop we went and had the most delicious gluten friendly dinner at a cafe called Poppleton Bakery.  The buckwheat crepe was to die for.  I highly recommend the ham, turkey and apple with apple dijon.  Their GF lemon loaf is also heavenly.

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Katrine even found a mushroom.
Katrine even found a mushroom.
Heading into the Hershey ride.
Heading into the Hershey ride.

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Heaven
Heaven
Oh, and the girls had fun using the can recycling machines.
Oh, and the girls had fun using the can recycling machines.

 

 

RoadTrip: Day 2

The next morning we headed south to Easton, PA which is home to the Crayola Experience.  This was the one that Elspeth was most excited about but both girls ended up having fun.  Heck, even I ended up creating one wax painting.  Imagine four floors of art supplies.  They made drip art, molded crayons, painted with wax, made puzzles, animated drawings….so much art.  We stayed until us grown-ups could handle the noise no more.  It was a lot of fun.

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Cool theme crosswalk set the tone.
Cool theme crosswalk set the tone.
Elspeth got a laugh from seeing the crayon bum.
Elspeth got a laugh from seeing the crayon bum.
The "naked" crayon also got a giggle.
The “naked” crayon also got a giggle.
Drip painting
Drip painting
Wax painting station
Wax painting station
Katrine drew this in the glow in the dark section and then a lady came to clean the board making the cool crystalline effect.
Katrine drew this in the glow in the dark section and then a lady came to clean the board making the cool crystalline effect.
Beside the World's Largest Crayon.
Beside the World’s Largest Crayon.
The factory tour portion where they each got a fresh, "newborn" crayon.
The factory tour portion where they each got a fresh, “newborn” crayon.
It also had a counter showing the number of crayons being made.
It also had a counter showing the number of crayons being made.
Giant crayon caddy.
Giant crayon caddy.

RoadTrip: Day 1

My mom, the girls and I just got home from a four day road trip.  It was jam packed and lots of fun.

The trip began with a stop in Corning, NY to see and work with glass.  The museum is gorgeous.  Piece after piece of glass to take your breath away.  The girls would have gladly gone back the next day but we were off for another adventure.  In addition to the glass, we also took advantage of the programs that they offered to do some work with glass.  Elspeth fused glass to create wind chimes, my mom and Katrine created pendants with flame work while I made a Christmas ornament by glass blowing.  A lot of fun and the finished products are gorgeous but it was really hot work.

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A view of inside of a furnace while they were making a pitcher.
A view of inside of a furnace while they were making a pitcher.

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Safety first
Safety first

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Ready to go!
Ready to go!

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The final Spark sash

Elspeth’s final Sark badge for selling cookies.  It is all sewed onto and the sash has been hung up in her room.  Needless to say she is rather proud of her patches.

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A quick glimpse of summer

A photo post to give you a glimpse of our exploits.

A bronze medal in her new dress.
A bronze medal in her new dress.
Rocking the swimming lessons.
Rocking the swimming lessons.
Beach time
Beach time
Caught our first pokemon
Caught our first pokemon
Sushi
Sushi
Simple science experiments involving the power of carbon dioxide.
Simple science experiments involving the power of carbon dioxide.
Crafting
Crafting