Fun, fun, fun

It is always a good thing to go away for even just a few nights to have some good quality time with each other. It is all to easy to keep plodding on with everyday life, as busy and exciting as that might be, there is always something to do, somewhere to go, cleaning, letters to sort, groceries to do, preparing meals, cooking meals, clearing up after meals, washing and work. With James and myself juggling our shift work, roofing work and house renos, there are times when we are often passing ships and giving the run down of how the kids are doing and what is on their schedule as one comes in the door and the other is leaving. So it is quite the juggle, however we do manage and seem to be keeping all our balls in the air!!!
We find that just a few planned days away allows us to recharges our thoughts and we thrive on all being together.
One of our favorite places to retreat to is Baker Creek, just an hour up the road, near Lake Louise. No telephones, no computer, minimal cell network coverage, no television, real wood burning fires, real peace and quiet and for a bonus, our friends are there and they have kids too. And we all have alot of fun in the outdoors.

Heather and her friend Flynn enjoyed ice skating and sliding down the ice slide.

The parents took the opportunity to go for a XC ski without towing, and have 2hrs of conversation without being distracted, interrupted or running to intervene before disaster strikes. The funny thing is Shannon and I talked the whole time, and yes it was all about the kids!
James and I also had a peaceful morning towing the kids as they had a well earned nap, catching up on sleep.

Peek a boo, I see you.

We took Heather and Finlay to Lake Louise ski hill, Heather was all geared up and rented her first pair of proper down hill skis, boots and harness and off she went to the bunny hill with dad. Finlay and I found our own entertainment while waiting and watching in the sun and the snow.

Heather looking the part.

Ice carvings and Olympic mitts.

So happy to be here.

"One day soon !!!"

Olympic torch goes through canmore

Olympic fever spread throughout Canmore yesterday as the torch made its way into the Rocky Mountains on its final leg to Vancouver and Whistler.

On a busy Wednesday I was disappointed that I had to work and the kids were in daycare on the afternoon that all the excitement was happening and knowing that the chances of seeing another Olympic torch being carried through the town where I live in my lifetime are minimal. However, listening to the radio on my way to my ski lesson I learned that the torch would be ran along the main road at the top of our street at 2pm....Great....after my lesson I had a couple of chores to do then drove home, threw on my uniform grabbed James from the basement and raced to the top of the road for 2pm and saw the torch being passed along.

Here it comes.

Passing of the flame.

All good.

And there it goes.

The dragonfly daycare is also in close proximity to this location and I was glad to see that they had taken the children out in the wagons to see the procession also. Heather remembered the big blue truck with all the dancers. However I was impressed the next day when we walked to the local shop and Heather pitched in to say "Hey I saw that yesterday!" while pointing to a poster promoting the Olympics with someone carrying the torch.

The torch then continued its journey through Canmore to the recreation centre and then up to the Nordic Centre for celebrations in the early evening.

Play Dates!!!!

Now that the holiday season is over life has become very busy again now that all the kids activities have started.
Heather and Finlay are both little socialites, but in very different ways. They go to daycare once a week and as I am removing Heather's shoes, Finlay is off toddling confidently into his room. He makes a v line to the toy pit and stands and points and shouts to a little soft moving train that he has become attached to. He sits there as I sign him in and then waves and blows kisses to me.

Heather on the other hand takes a little more time. I take her into her room and as I hang her coat up she runs to hug one of her favorite carers, then turns to run back to me to give the biggest hug, then runs back to the carer this is repeated about three times and then she is ready to go and have fun.

Heather has made lots of little friends at school, and they all seem to be little boys. When she began school at the start of the first term she was a little shy and stayed close to the teacher until she felt settled to go and play with the other kids. All of the girls are 6mnth older than her and the boys seem to be around her age and height. She has bonded with many of the boys and the reports from school seem to indicate that she gives out a lot of hugs and that a few boys report at home their disappointment if they didn't get a hug.


We had Eddie for dinner and a movie one evening while his parents had a date. James and I were sitting on the side lines smiling to ourselves as they sat on the couch cuddling. I said to James that it seems we need to get that basement renovated sooner rather than later, for these dates!!!
They have also enjoyed time outdoors together.


We also looked after Cayden for the day who is the older friend of 5 yrs old, at the end of the day the pair of them were watching Bob the builder kneeling at the end of the couch. Cayden engrossed in the TV and Heather pursing her lips to try and get a kiss!!!
Oh how we laughed!!!
So we are back in the swing of things, two mornings a week of Heather's preschool, a day at daycare while mum has her skate ski class, music and movement, swimming, gymnastics and then all the fun stuff that we try to fit in ourselves. Thank goodness I only work half time.

Heather skating