A Corner Table in My World

With one thing or another I never did get around to sharing any of our Christmas shenanigans after the New Year. Well for the most part they were pretty much what we’ve come to expect and experience over the last several years – 4+ different days of Christmas dinners, family time, gift giving, game playing, catching up and having fun. As I’ve mentioned in previous years, as our extended families have grown larger and spread further afield, our Christmas celebrations have become larger, longer affairs that simply can’t be accomplished in one day. So here’s a brief breakdown of all this years celebrations’ parts… 

Summer sports and activities have always been a cinch in our family - swimming, rafting, hiking, biking, camping, etc... There's never been a shortage of things to do or new things to try during the summer.  But Winter - those long, cold months that (especially in Canada) can seem to stretch endlessly on, have consistently posed a problem. The kids enjoy tobogganing , especially at the farm, and sledding usually includes some minor fort and snowman building , but that only uses up a couple hours and while it can be fun Heli Dad and I only enjoy this type of cold day play for short bursts.  Not to mention that the kids inevitably argue over the best sleds, the best method of building a snow home, or the correct and best way to accessorize the snow people.  And those are just arguments that neither Heli Dad or I want to stick our (by then) freezing noses into. We've tried ice skating ... A couple times.  Princess liked it right off.  Gamer Boy eventually de...

Every year at Christmastime we spend a great deal of time with our families. This past Christmas was no different.  Our first celebration of the year is always with Heli Dad's side of the family.  This day is always fun and the kids especially always love it, as all the cousins that have been of an age to play with are on this side.  It was a day of fun conversation and planning get-togethers for the coming year and more!   For several days before Christmas the kids and I went through bins and bins of clothes that we've "put away" to give away at some point.  That point finally came (as it hadn't at any time in the past) and we gave tons of clothes away to charity.  Both the kids and I were amazed by how much there was to give away, and hope that everything passed on will find a new home with someone who will appreciate it.   We made/started a new tradition this year of decorating the tree (with the hanging décor) on Christmas Eve.  In the p...

So remember back in September when I mentioned that I was going to get my certification to become a gymnastics coach?   And remember when I mentioned at the beginning of October that I’d headed up to Edmonton for the first weekend of training to do that?..   Things have been going really well with that. Just in case you’re curious.   And I am now a recreational gymnastics coach at our local club. As of Oct.29 I started teaching 2 parent & tot (18-23month old) classes and on Nov.2 I took on a third class with 4-year-olds.   It’s really fun actually and even though I wasn’t sure how well I’d like teaching the little tiny tots, I’ve discovered that I actually do like it, a lot.   I also spent my Saturday afternoon this past weekend coaching birthday parties.   Which was also really, really fun. And while we’re on the topic of gymnastics… the kids are all doing really well in their own classes.   Baby is getting better at following instruct...

The Husband made a very quick trip down this weekend so that he could be here for Halloween – 90% of the fun of being a parent on Halloween, I’m told, is getting to dress up and trick or treat with your kid.   Last year he missed the occasion so this time around he used great effort to make it back down, arriving about 4:30am on Sunday and leaving again Tuesday afternoon. As with any visit home, a lot of his Sunday was spent like this. And then came Halloween! Costumes, candy, tempers, attitudes, trips to the farm and fun… Oh my! Hope you had a completely awesome Halloween and that you survived the insanity.

So skating started at the beginning of the month and while it’s been somewhat hit-and-miss so far for Baby, it’s been a huge success for the Boy, at least compared to last year.    I think he remembers that by the end of the season last year he really loved skating lessons and skating in general, so when lessons started this time around he was absolutely gung-ho to get going, get on the ice and get skating.   He’s doing great so far too.   Which when I think back to this time last year, is a huge load off my shoulders. At least until I turn my attention to Baby. She really wanted to skate this year.   After watching her big brother and sister doing all of their ‘stuff’ last season, she really just wanted to be a part of the action (resulting in her registration in both gymnastics and skating).   She was all for it when we were buying helmets and trying to find skates, trying on skates and getting ready for the season.   Then we got there ...