Another trip to Valois Park in the Snow

It was another beautiful day with the temperature just around zero and the sun shining bright. As soon as story time was over we threw (ok, struggled) on the snow suit and headed for the park. Lindsay's friend Madeleine brought her dad and two brothers along too.

From Valois Park in the Snow

Of course the swings were a big hit, but enough snow had melted by now that sand was starting to show. That meant it was time to get dirty and they spent most of the outing underneath the play structure building sand piles!

Valois Park in the Snow

The weather was so nice and Lindsay loves the park so much we couldn't resist a walk to the park and playing on the equipment. Along the way we ran into her friends Chloe and Madeleine out for a walk with their grand parents and new baby brothers.

From Valois Park in the Snow

Of course the swings were a big hit but we did the tour of all the slides and structures several times. Lots of other families were out enjoying the blue skies and warm sun, a first taste of spring and a beautiful summer to come.

Soaking my butt at Sunnyside

What a winter weekend be like if I didn't struggle into my ski suit and head for the hills with my daughter and the toboggan?!

From Sunnyside Park Sledding

The weather was pretty warm this weekend and a lot of snow had already melted but we threw good sense to the wind, joined forces with the neighbour and her grandkids, and headed over to Sunnyside for a few runs.

Thankfully the joy of seeing kids have fun outweighs the misery of sitting in a puddle of slightly above freezing slush. Of course the princesses insisted on being pulled back up the hill by their faithful (grand)parent, but that's all part of the fun.

We finished the day off with a picnic in the basement while watching Beverly Hills Chichuahua.

Thomas meets people

Thomas is getting lots of attention these days, as the throngs of spectators drop by for an audience.

From Thomas meets people

Seriously, thanks to everyone who has come by to welcome Thomas or has stopped us on the street to say hello. We really appreciate your happy thoughts. And thanks to those who gave him gifts and brought us food.

And special thanks to those who remembered Lindsay!

He is born

Our second child is (finally) born! We had a busy day on Sunday and finally that night shortly before 9pm out he came and joined his family!

From Thomas is born

He was born on February 22nd 2009 at 20:48, weighed 3,825g (8lbs 6.7oz) and was 55cm (21.65 inches) tall

We're all really happy that Thomas decided to come out and play, especially his big sister who wants nothing more than to dote on her little brother.

Hiding under Maureen's Tree

It was still nice out when we got home from daycare so I broke out the big sled and we played around in the front yard. At one point Lindsay discovered the neighbour's pine tree. All the branches had drooped down and become frozen in the snow like a giant tent.

From Hiding Under Maureen's Tree

Of course I was instructed to follow her in and we had fun going around the tree trunk (a big stick) and going in and out.

Trying the new carrier at Cap St-Jacques

It was a beautiful and I've wanted to go cross-country skiing with Lindsay since X-mas, but there was always something that stopped me (pneumonia, cast on the arm, etc.). Finally today was the day, we set out after story time to enjoy the beautiful sunny weather and give the new carrier we got as a baby-shower gift a try.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the temperature was a comfortable minus seven degrees Celsius. In short-order we had the skis waxed and in a pile at the trailhead.

Now the fun began. Did I mention this was my first time out of the season and I had to dig my gear out from beneath all the summer stuff that got dumped there in the fall?

The carrier was also new to me and I probably should have played with it some more at home. In other words, caved in to Lindsay's demands to get into the carrier while in the comfort of my living room.

I did finally manage to get Lindsay strapped in and the carrier on my back. It's much more comfortable than the old we have. And I'm sure it's much more comfortable for Lindsay.

From Cap St-Jacques Skiing

And then JF pointed out I had throughly messed up the straps around Lindsay's arms - no wonder she was tilted to one side and couldn't turn her head to follow Chloe!!!

Other than that little strap mix-up though we had a great time. Lindsay really likes the new carrier and so do I. Thanks JF for driving. And thanks to all the quilting girls for such a wonderful gift.

Playing in the front yard

At daycare our daughter likes to sit in the sled and be pulled around by the older kids. So I figured when the funk hit at home I'd sit her on the "big" sled and pull her around our yard.

From Playing Outside

That did the trick. Until I tripped in the knee deep snow and kicked some up in her face. Then she wanted to go inside and see mommy!!!

Wounded little warrior

We got a call on Tuesday from the daycare saying our daughter was complaining of a pain in her arm. We brought her home but other than avoiding that arm she was in good spirits so we took the next available doctor's appointment which was on Wednesday evening. Fortunately the clinic had a cancellation and bumped us up to Wednesday after lunch because it turns out our daughter had dislocated her elbow.

The doctor wasn't able to reduce it in his office since we'd waited so long and we ended up at the Childern's Hospital. And kudos to them because they were amazing. So now our daughter's running around, happy as a clam albeit with a cast on her arm for the next ten days!

Hopefully everything turns out okay when they take the cast off and there's nothing more to worry about.

Lindsay's first Advent calendar

Lindsay got an Advent Calendar from her Oma (and Opa) filled with chocolate last weekend and today she opened the first "window" to find her surprise.



Thanks Oma!

I remember when I was a kid my mother had a big Santa pinned to the closet at the end of the hall. And every morning through December until X-mas we would rush to find the surprise in today's pocket (eventually we figured out it was the one with the bulge).

Now it's my daughter's turn.

Hike up Mt. Rigaud

 

It was Nanny's birthday party today, and like last year we hiked up Mt. Rigaud and had lunch near the cross at the summit.

First day at Valois Pool 2008

After a successful fishing trip and a delicious brunch in Rigaud for Father's Day we went to Valois Pool for the first time this summer! It was the second day the pool was open and it was packed! Lindsay loved swimming around and sitting on the edge kicking and splashing me!

First weekend on the deck 2008

With the weather getting nicer and nicer and only a little bit of snow left we decided this was the weekend to get out and enjoy the "summer" weather. This is year has been so perfect (not just the weather, getting to enjoy it with a family made all that much more perfect) since we went from massively snowy winter to beautiful summer weather without having to endure the soggy, rainy, muddy days of spring.

Mid-April and already we're kicking back on the deck after playing outside!

Full album available online.

Playing outside

So spring has arrived, the sun is high in the sky, and all the snow we got this winter (over 300cm) is thawing and re-freezing. That makes it strong enough to walk around on without sinking up to your belly-button frozen white shyte! And so out we went with Lindsay and her toys for a romp around the backyard; then hopped the fence and ran around the front yard a bit.

The full album is available online at my Picasa Web site.

Easter dinner at Amanda and Marc

This year we all gathered at Amanda and Marc's house for Easter Dinner. Lindsay really like riding their "dog" Speck around the living room!

See the full album online at Picasa Web.

Tobogganing fun

We took advantage the beautiful weather this weekend to go tobogganing at Sunnyside park. I seem to remember the hill was much bigger and steeper when I was a kid. I hope my daughter remembers it the same way I did

And yes, Lindsay did have a lot of fun!

X-C skiing at Cap St-Jacques

Saturday afternoon we had a wonderful father-daughter-friends outing cross-country skiing at Cap St-Jacques Nature Park.

We had a great time. The weather was beautiful; Lindsay never fussed about the goggles I put on her face; Stephane was crepe powered; and JF and Chloe led us all to the cool Chateau Goyer for a hot chocolate (and a peek at their Griffindor room).

The full-sized photos are available at my online album; and JF's blog about the afternoon is also available online.

Lindsay's first birthday

I can't believe it's already been one whole year!!! Our little daughter is a year old, the last 12 months have just flown by. Of course we celebrated in style, we had four parties for our little girl - just the three of us; with all "her" friends; with all our friends; and of course with the families.