Water play. Park play. Elspeth’s hair after going down a slide. Elspeth’s skating lesson. Katrine’s skating camp…..busy as ever.
Elspeth also had her first dentist appointment!
Katrine’s View of Marineland
For a change of pace, I thought that I would give you a look into Katrine’s world through some of her photos from Marineland:
A trip to Marineland and an anniversary
Glenn and I celebrated out 14th wedding anniversary on Wednesday (I am a few days behind so bear with me). We decided that this year we would spend it doing something as a family. What to do with an 8 and 2 year old? It needed to be a fun, family activity. Hmmm….. Well, we settled on Marineland because well “everyone loves Marineland”. Turns out that our girls are no exception and we had a wonderful day.
We started the day off early by hitting the kiddie rides. This worked out well as the line ups for the rides are much shorter first thing in the morning. In fact, we managed to do a total of six rides in about an hour. It was Elspeth’s first foray into rides and it was a hit (both in terms of her enjoying them and us enjoying her smiles). I think that the ladybug rollercoaster was her absolute favourite which was fine with Katrine and I as this was our favourite ride too. We dragged Glenn on once but that was it. Felt sorry for him, sitting in the small car with his legs jammed under the bar. It is hard being really tall and wanting to enjoy an outing with your kids fully. Poor guy.
After the rides it was off to see the animals and the show. Katrine LOVED the show. Particulary the dolphins (it was pretty cool). Elspeth’s attention was not really held at all by the show. The dolphins would jump, she would watch, then it was back to trying to climb on all of us. That was not so bad except that it was a packed house and everytime that she climbed her feet came with in inches of the heads of those in front of us. Made it difficult for the rest of us to enjoy. Her reaction at the whales was easier on all of us; meaning we all got a chance to actually look at them. In one pool there was a group of Beluga moms and babies. The babies were adorable! Elspeth now knows the meaning of the word whale!
Thefocus for both girls at times was poop. Katrine was watching the Beluga whales poop before her eyes. While Elspeth spent the whole time with the deer pointing out their poop on the ground. Guess all of the time spent reading Everybody Poops to the girls has created an increased awareness of the world of bodily waste. In Elspeth’s case it came in handy for keeping her from stepping in said poop!
After leaving the park over heated and tired, we headed to Niagara on the Lake for our anniversary dinner. As you can see in the photos, Elspeth crashed and crashed hard. The rest of us enjoyed a delicious, totally gluten free dinner at the Irish Tea Room. Did I mention that we even had dessert! It was so special to be able to eat a complete, not to mention delicious, meal like I did 14 years ago with my wonderful hubby and eldest firecracker for company. We topped dinner off with a splash in the park’s fountain/pool (not sure that we were suppose to but other kids were actually swimming in it so it couldn’t be wrong for us to relax in it’s refreshing waters) and a little playing in the nearby playground before trucking back home.
It was a wonderful anniversary spent with three of the best things in my life. I am a very lucky wife.
Elspeth’s Reunion
Can you believe that this time last year we were collecting the last of our paperwork and packing our suitcases for China? In honour of that event, we spent the past weekend with some of Elspeth’s China family bounding. We were blessed with great weather, ample food, a whole farm full of activities and wonderful company. Our family has truly been blessed. Not only has China given us two precious daughter’s but also two more branches for our family tree full of caring and warm families. It is a delight to spend time with them.
Highlights of the weekend? On Saturday morning the group went to a local zoo/playground/minature village. The kids spent a lot of time in the playground section and had an absolute blast! Along with traditional playground equipment there were also trampolines and a splash zone. Peer pressure is a wonderful thing when it encourages your nervous child to actually venture into the water at the splash park. That’s right, Elspeth actually went into the water at a splashpark!!! We have not had a chance to visit another one since then so it might just be a one time thing but still a step in the right direction. As you can see from the photos, both girls had quite a bit of fun bouncing on the trampolines. Can you believe that in April Elspeth couldn’t jump?
Once we were back at the farm the fun continued. The kids played on the swings, splashed in the wading pool and mixed up “cement” under the direction of Katrine (mud, water, stones and a toy dump truck – in case you want to make your own). The parents managed to secure a few minutes for our own refreshments and relaxation.
After a scrumptious dinner, it was time to give the kids pony rides. They were thrilled. I think that if they had not been promised dessert and loot bags we may not have been able to get them away from the ponies quite as easily.
We are already looking forward to more reunions. It is always great to see how the kids are growing and to share the successes and challenges of the previous year. Soon we will be able to wish each other a happy one year anniversary…about two more weeks.
Canadians – all four!!
Introducing our newest little Canadian girl. Doesn’t she look so happy to have her citizenship? Now we have to start working on that passport.
First weekend in July
Not a very interesting title but it has been a long and fun weekend so that is the best I can do!
My two girls chilling on our boat ride with friends around the harbour in Midland. I thought that they may not enjoy themselves but I was surprised that both had fun.
Afterwards we went fishing. Katrine caught the fish while Elspeth caught only worms and weeds. She was disappointed but she will never catch anything if she keeps reeling in her line 20 miles an hour while singing Baa baa black sheep at the top of her lungs.
Then it was off to Saint Marie among the Hurons. Here is Katrine pretending to be the doctor whipping up herbal medicine.
Don’t you just love the pure joy on this face? All because Grandma was emptying the sand from her shoes. Absolutely love this photo.
Here is a photo that Katrine took of me. Don’t usually get that many flattering photos of me so I simply had to post this exception to the rule.Happy Canada Day
It was Elspeth’s first Canada Day yesterday and we tried to make the most of it. She had some fun decorating the front garden with Katrine. I was able to get lots of little flags and they poked them into the garden randomly. I had wanted to get red and white foil garlands for the tress but the only ones I could find were horribly overpriced so none this year. That said, once Katrine is at dance camp tomorrow morning, little miss and I will be stopping to see what is on sale.
After breakfast, we headed off to the zoo to see the one section which we rarely visit – the Canada section. Now, we rarely visit this section as it is off the beaten track at the bottom of a large hill. Imagine if you will, a large hill and small child. Can you see where this is going? Yep, hill one. Elspeth’s knees zero. (We are considering getting her tiny knee pads because her knees are perpetually scrapped or in some stage of healing) Aside from that it was fun. The highlight for Elspeth was seeing a real live moose while Katrine was excited to fine a black smooth pebble (Did I ever mention that the older one likes to collect things?). After a visit to Africa so that Glenn could finally see the white lions, a zoomobile ride and picnic lunch it was off to the splashzone. This meant lots of cool water play for Katrine and standing in a luke warm puddle off to the side for Elspeth and one of us. Once everyone, aside from Katrine, was over heated it was time to head home to cool off and enjoy a delicious dinner.
As an aside, our garden is going like crazy. We harvested our first two cucumbers this weekend and they are pretty darn yummy. Anxiously waiting for the tomatoes. I feel some salsa coming on.
Okay, back to Canada Day. After dinner, we headed over to our town’s Canada Day celebrations. Good thing that we went with friends and that it was held at a place with a park because otherwise we would not have lasted until the fireworks. And what a show. Katrine has seen these before so knew what to expect, as did we, but we were blown away. It was a fabulous show. Elspeth has never seen fireworks before so she was nervous and unsure which meant that she needed her Baba. Once she was in Glenn’s arms it was all good and she enjoyed the “firetrucks” until they “went to sleep”!
Happy Canada Day everyone!
Just some photos
Looking cute after having their animals checked out at the zoo yesterday.
Ever wondered how small Elspeth is? Fits into a bankers box along with a shoe box, play food and two stuffies with room to spare. This is her “choo-choo”. I love watching little kids play in boxes.
Finally built up enough courage to let go of the railing when she jumps down. Let the games begin.
Just a cute photo.Toddler Gymnastics Time
After those last few posts about Katrine’s dance, felt that it was time to bring you up to date on some Elspeth activities. For the last two months we have been going to parent and tot gymnastics in Markham. She has really been enjoying it. Especially anything that involves hanging (but none of those pictures turned out). Today was her last day. I expect that we will be (or maybe even she will be….on her own??) back at it in the fall.
Wild Toy Animal Clinic
Before the rain began this morning, we were able to squeeze in a trip to the zoo. Today was their animal clinic day.
Katrine really enjoys it and gets into it playing the role of concerned mother hen. We were not sure how Elspeth would react to it but took a chance that she would at the very least not cry there. Luck was on our side and she seemed to enjoy it also. Especially chosing the colour of vaccine that her Aleigh (a rare flat sheep) should be given and happily selecting bandages for her “boo boo leg”. This year Katrine chose to take Chimpy. Chimpy is also a rare breed – a chimp with a tail. Think that there may have been some interbreeding there.
Just thought that I would add one photo of the zoo’s newest project. This is right beside the gorillas at the African pavillion. It is going to be a rope course and I think that I will need to give it a pass. (I have a thing about falling from heights. Don’t mind the heights themselves only the potential of falling from them.)
