Birthdays, Princesses and Pink Cookies

Elias and Ben were thrilled to be at a good friends birthday party this afternoon. They enjoyed an afternoon of playing, making pizza and a movie. While understanding why she couldn't go, she was sad not to have a special time. So, this afternoon one of her favorite playmates came over. Dressed as princesses they spent the afternoon having tea (in true fashion they asked to be served!), making pizza and pink cookies to the easy bake oven. It was truly delightful!

Plasticene Art

This morning we enjoyed exploring a gallery that is new to us, participating in one of their programs. We started off learning about HomerWatson; Canada's first landscape artist. This time was followed by some hands-on art led by the in-house artist. The kids were guided through the color wheel, blending colors with plasticene. They used there final pallet of colors to 'paint' a landscape scene. The kids really enjoyed this medium. We had discussions of using this method to create our own story book; a la Barbara Reid style.

Sweet Water

It was a very rainy day today. This however, didn't dampen any one's enthusiasm for today's field trip to a pioneer village. We participated in this program last year, which focuses on maple syrup and the kids were thrilled to have the chance to do it again. The very knowledgeable and entertaining guides take you around four different stations, each with a different focus.

First we went to the centre of town to listen how maple syrup was important to the town life and the role the community played in this season. The kids then divided into two groups to participate in a relay race. The used sticks to represent the syrup, bringing them to a person with pails and a yoke. This person would run to the person with buckets and a sled, who then ran to the last bucket and home. We ran it enough times to give everyone a chance to try the stations they wanted.

Next was the pioneer house. Here we talked about how maple syrup was used in the home and what the different types of sweeteners would have been. Outside there were large cauldrons full of sap boiling off the water. We got to sample some delicious maple sugar here.

After running through one of the down pours we gathered in a covered bridge to talk about how maple syrup was collected and used by the native communities- who were the first to discover it. The Natives didn't find the syrup of as much use as the sugar, so would boil it down much more. To boil it they used hollowed out logs, filled them with the sap and then put heated stones inside to boil it. The kids were very impressed.

The last stop was a sugaring house with modern day equipment. Here we looked at different grades and stages of syrup and had a taste.

They put on a fabulous program. Of course we ended the day with waffles and syrup for dinner!

Rise and Shine

What a wonderful to wake up!

Welcome Spring

What a glorious day! We went for an afternoon hike to a spot we haven't visited since the early fall. It felt as though we were in a magical forest, that everywhere we looked there was something very cool that caught our eyes. We used our animal tracks book to decipher raccoon, eastern cottontail and squirrel tracks. The kids swung on a tree that had fallen onto another tree which then grew around it. We found tons of fungus, one piece was so big and strong the kids took turns standing on it. High in one of the trees we spotted what we believe is an owl nest. There were so many rabbit tracks Ben joked that we must be missing a spring party somewhere! We followed a chipmunk to its hole in the ground. The number of dead trees made for great adventures, one that was hollow we drummed on, another we could stand inside of and many others to climb on. One of these trees was placed in a way that the kids bounced it up and down. This doesn't even exhaust my list. To top it off we bumped into friends on our way out and their way in, giving the kids a quick play and me a brief chat with a friend. If this is any indication, which I don't doubt it is, we are in for a great season.

Many people have commented how "lucky" we are to spot wonderful things in nature. While, we are certainly in awe of what we see, I don't think its luck. I think it is there all the time, we are just making time to be out seeing it. Its the lifestyle we choose, to make it an important part of our life, to walk in the woods being oberservant and thankful.

She's My Girl

Every rock n' roll princess has a crowd, right?

Sunshine and Wondering Hikers

The sun was gorgeous today. The wind had a little bite. We felt called to be outside enjoying it. It seemed like a great day to try out some trails we haven't explored before but have been curious about. Despite trying various different paths without tons of success we enjoyed being outdoors. We through some sticks in the very high and fast flowing river, climbed on the remains of an old stone building, wished we could get to the other side of the river to climb up the wall (that would be Elias and Ben) and helped poor Marly who injured her leg some how. Its a trail we will explore again when we can make out the paths a little more clearly.

A March Break Tradition

It has become a tradition for us to attend the local University's open house the last weekend of March Break. There were the old favorites of visiting the animals in New MacDonald's Farm, the teddy bear surgery centre (that Aria took very seriously, and has been rescuing animals since), face painting and milkshakes. There were some nice additions this year including a physics show and science experiments. There were some wonderful moments; Aria with her Vet's gear on holding her teddy's hand, Ben laughing has the piglets try to sit on his knee, Elias gathering information about toxic plants for cats and dogs in preparation for gardening, that weren't captured because the battery was dead. Ah.

Grampy's Our Guy

We celebrated Grampy's Birthday Tonight! We enjoyed a fabuolous dinner with even more fabulous Family. I couldn't resist a few shots to share, some of which the kids took. We love you Grampy!!!

Pi Day and Birthday Wishes

We celebrated Pi day today in all it's circular glory. We explored circumference, diameter and radius measuring different lids with string to demonstrate Pi. The kids were amazed that regardless of the lid size the same (well close to, our mesuring was close) number resulted. Ben was in disbelief and did a double check! We played with compasses, our circles and the geometry shapes. This lead to talking about how both types of compasses are used on a ship, the maps coming out, a ship out of blankets being built and a route being followed while I made lunch.
After lunch we pulled out the spirograph for creating circle masterpieces. The kids really love using it, as much as I did as a kid. The pie plates came out for a craft. We put paper circles inside the pie plate and rolled marbles dipped in different color paint over the paper. There were only two runaway marbles which I thought was pretty good :)
While the paint dried we looked at some websites about the birthday boy himself; Albert Einstein and re-read The Magic School Bus and The Science Fair Expedition by Joanna Cole . It does a great job explaining how scientists work builds on each other. We didn't get a chance to make pie but a good friend brought over some heavenly chocolate mousse which we were more than okay to substitute!

The Fun of Knowing Computers

I am not a computer savy person, nor do I have the desire to become one. Therefore, my very limited computer knowledge leaves me without the ability to change my screensaver (which again, doesn't bother me). My family however, love to torment me by changing it on a regular basis, sometimes mmore than once a day. The recent favorites have been a hairless cat (which I actually found disturbing), the competitors for the world's ugliest dog, strange art work, geographic locations. It is currently sporting Jabba (sp?) the Hut who is a giant slug like creature from Star Wars.
At least my kids are more computer savy then I!!!

Dams and Dolls

We are there, winter is melting away and spring is coming (with the contents of the garage)!

The kids spent hours digging to create rivers with the melting snow and building dams to re-route. They came in very satisfied and literally soaked to the bone!

With the exploring of the garage the hockey nets came out to play a little ball and they soon became the new garage for a doll carriage. I love when the outdoors become an extension of the house and the kids smell like sunshine. (not a minute too soon I might add; goodbye winter)

Exploring the World of Shakespeare

With the birthday of Shakespeare approaching in April we have been reading books about the playwright, listening to his sonnets on CD and touring the Globe theatre on line. Our local Gallery has a portrait of Shakespeare on display that is believed to be the only authentic one. In conjunction with this they have put together a wonderful collection of costumes, art work and photographs of Shakespeares plays. The boys both attended an afternoon workshop that took them through the displays, but I wanted to have a look together especially now that we have a little more context and knowledge with which to look at it. The gallery had tours on for march break so we went yesterday to take advantage of it. There was a scavenger hunt which took you through each of the rooms, costumes to try on (such lucious rich dresses) , a claymation video to watch and then plasticene to experiment with, masks to make and games to play. It was a visit worth making.

Sharing the Treasures

After a busy morning at the library for some chess lessons, grocery shopping and errands, we decided to take Dad to see the swan we saw yesterday. It really is a beautiful bird. We got out our birding books to see what type of swan it might be; its orange beak was the biggest clue leading us to believe it is a Mute Swan. They were introduced to Ontario in the late 1950's and are now very common in area's surrounding Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. They have short migratory routes and are fierce competetors for food. It will be interesting to see if it stays for the summer. It appears to be alone, Swans mate for life so we are hoping that it has yet to find one.