Lego World

All of the rain has meant lots of Lego time.  Tables were arranged, and the building began.  Its been days.  And they are expanding and growing.  There is a pub, a community centre, a garden, bridges, and more. My favorite; the stories that go with each part of the creation.

A Beautiful Owl

A few weeks ago we were thrilled to be treated to having an owl sitting on the post close to our house.   A few days later I noticed something under the big pine tree at the side of the house. Assuming it was an item of clothing left behind by the kids I asked them to get it while they were playing.  Minutes later they were all rushing in the house,  talking over each other.  It was not clothing, but a dead owl.  The bird was fully intact, it hadn't been attacked by anything as there was no marks or damage.  We were in awe of this amazing bird and the opportunity to see it up close.  We were also very sad.  To have this majestic, powerful bird laying lifeless in our hands.
We happened to be heading to the Muskoka Wildlife Centre a few days later which seemed like a perfect opportunity to talk to someone about the bird.  The naturalist at the Centre confirmed our guess that this was a Barred Owl, most likely an old one.  She showed us the breast bone and how there was very little meat on this one, indicating that it was most likely sick and undernourished.  The bird might have had poor eye sight due to age making it difficult to hunt.  It was at the bottom of the tree, making it very likely that it died and fell out.  We were shown how to take the feathers out, for keepsakes.
 The centre is an educational facility, with a component of travelling around to grounds teaching them about local animals and conservation.  After some consulting we decided to leave the bird with them, where they will bury it in their compost heap.  Here the bugs will clean off the bones of the bird, leaving them with a fabulous skeleton for teaching.  We made arrangements to head back next year to see have the bones look like.

Reading Challenge

We did it! We met and exceeded our goal.  Everyone read feverishly, soaking up every book they could.  We got together for a celebration with friends for themed snacks (ie. little itty bitty cookies for the Littles).  It was a challenge my kids loved.  Books on their shelves that hadn't been read were taken out, recommendations were being shared and new styles of books were read.  I hope this becomes a yearly event. 

Art

An Inukshuk, a family tree and a pendent. He combined lemon juice and olive oil to make his own polish, bringing out the colour in each of the pieces.  

Filing

For his birthday his friends gave him files, ranging in all sizes and shapes.  Such a fitting gift for a guy passionate about woodworking.  The files were put to use immediately but not with what I expected.  From the back of the craft cabinet Elias pulled out his collection of soap stone.  I don't think he has done anything with it or even thought about it in over a year.  The files stirred something in him about this forgotten art and dust has been flying since.  The creations are beautiful (and all meant to be gifts- and therefore can't be shown).  There is even plans to make his own polish.  

Saturdays Steal the Show

The three older kids are participating in the Jackrabbit Cross Country Skiing program at a nearby park.  It is two hours every Saturday, during which time the kids learn the skills of this activity.  The group organizes scavenger hunts, obstacle courses and fun lessons.  The leaders love the sport and the kids which totally comes across.  Each week they learn more, become more confident and enjoy it even more.  In fact most weeks they wish that it lasted longer.
Today there was a mini race, low pressure with focus on personal best.  The track was 2km long, with lots of hills and turns.  Elias came in first for his group, which was particularly nice since it was his birthday.  All three of them crossed the finish line with smiles and praises for how fun (and hot) that was.  

Reading Challenge

Around the dinner table our conversation very often is sharing what adventures we have been transported to through the books we have been reading.  There has been lots of reading happening, especially in these cold dark days.  One of our conversations led to wondering how many books our family thought we could read in two months? or a year? With some more exploring around this challenge we decided it would be fun to start off such an idea with company.  We invited our homeschooling group to join us in this challenge.
We met at our house; readers, pre readers and those who are being read to. We set goals for our families, how many books we would read over two months and then added our totals together.  With 9 families our combined goal is 1200 books in 8 weeks.  After we worked out the specifics of numbers we set to work on some books of our own.  Each person made a book of their own to record the books they read and perhaps a few words about it, or a rating of sorts.
We also made tree branches of our own, to place leaves for each of the books a family member reads.  When we come back together for our celebration we will assemble our reading tree as a visual of our accomplished challenge.
I better get reading!

Another Reason to Love Winter

Our front door area has a new addition; three sets of cross country skiis.  This weekend Elias, Ben and Aria all begun participating in a cross country skiing program.  We finally compiled three sets at the beginning of this week, so they have been practicing every chance they get.  Two of them were up and out before I was even thinking about waking up! They have set up a track around the house, the pond, up over some hills and back.  And yes you know the dog was part of the fun!  There is talk of training for this crazy sport we went to watch last year.

Season for Singing

Aria could not have been more aptly named. Since birth she has literally been singing, talking, twirling words.  Being part of the local youth choir is something that makes her soul sing.  These songs and her own music fill the house.  Christmas season means concerts, of which she had three.  Such beautiful Christmas events.  The concerts are each quite different, one a fundraiser for the hospital with a real community feel, a formal evening accompanied by bells and one which has become tradition done in the a local church.  Each year the choir learns new songs, a blend of traditional and new.  This year Aria and a friend did a duet; Sisters.  She was so excited by the opportunity, not to mention performing in front of her friends and Grammy.

A Few of My Favorite Things

What could be better then a yard full of big trucks, heavy equipment and machinery? How about being able to get into and explore all of them, including the horns?  How about going with just Dadda? and then going out for lunch and to a big oldies car show!  It doesn't get better then that I am told!  I don't know who had more fun, Dadda or Shai!

The Stisted Fair

We love the fair.  We are completely and utterly exhausted.  We crafted, created, baked, canned, embroidered, painted, pressed, sewed, and prepared our little hearts out.  It was all worth it.  It is such fun to put your hard work and creativity into a project, have it put on display with other people who worked as equally hard.  The people who go into the display hall know all the hard work that people put in, and they go in to admire it.  That there is all we need to put our stuff in, but the chance of a ribbon is icing on the cake.

This year we didn't enter as much as we have in the past, which was ok because we made up for it in volunteering and being in the horse show. 

Shai put in a few crafts this year, a macaroni necklace he painted and dipped in glitter, his foot print was cut out, painted and covered in feathers.  He was very proud.  Aria entered lots, she loves crafting and needs no reason.  She brought home ribbons for handwriting, a treasure box made of woven ribbons, a pretty bracelet, the biggest sugar cookie(she was very clever to write 1st on it!) and pictures.  Ben was recognized for a t-shirt he painted, a beautiful farm picture, an unbaked snack, flowers pressed and mounted.  Elias choose only to enter a hen, she won first!  I entered some jam, my embroidery, some needle felting, and eggs!

The games are looked forward to each year.  This year there was a new costume contest which was fun. There was also a hay pile filled with money and lollipops to find.  Shai loved this.  There were three legged races, egg toss, sack races, wheel barrow races, running races, and more.  All with prices of $1, 50 and 25 cents.  The kids spent there winnings at the candy concession. 

This is only our second year at this fair, it is amazing to me that this is it.  We haven't lived here long enough to have attended more.  It is the kind of fair that you feel at home for.  The kids come and go as they please.  They know lots of people, their way around.  It has a way of making everyone feeling at home. 

Giddy Up

With the fair celebrating 125 years there have been lots of new additions; a few vendors, a baby pit stop, new games, a costume contest.  There were also lots of new additions for us as a family this year; I sat on the board, we volunteered in fundraising, the night before we assembled chicken cages, put up fence posts, worked in the concession stand, worked the craft hall.  The biggest and most exciting addition had to have was hands down entering the horse section.  Our friend Angee kindly accepted our request to both teach us how to ride in the fair and to show her animals. 

Lynn is a beautiful, large 1600lb tan coloured horse, whom Ben was going to ride and I was to lead.  Ben had no problems hoping up on her and sitting so high.  I on the other hand totally admit to being nervous leading Lynn.  When we practiced I always worried we were walking to close to each other and she would step on my feet.  She could be a little pushy at times, which meant I needed to be a little pushy back.  Lynn was much better at that than I was. 

Aria was thrilled to be riding on Percy, a beautiful brown big eared donkey.  It was Aria whose love of horses (and donkeys) that convinced everyone to give entering the horse section a try.  She would love to horseback ride as a hobby, so this was an amazing opportunity.  Elias agreed to lead Percy.  When he agreed to lead Percy he also had to accept the donkeys personality and limits.  Percy is a sensitive soul, needing lots of hugs, ear rubs and reassurance to convince him to MOVE.  Since Percy often decides he isn't moving, or is easily distracted by things like chip bags, there is lots of laughter from the audience. 

I wasn't sure how the kids would handle the unpredictability, despite seeing first hand in practice.  Aria wasn't swayed at all, she sat in proper form the whole time, her smile never wavering.  Elias just worked Percy over with lots of love and when the smell of chips took Percy over to the fence he was patient.  He was great at working with him, confident and relaxed,

Elias entered the ring first. He had to lead Percy around the ring, present him in front of the judges, trot and then stand back in position in line.  There was no trot, and positioning was a little wonky, but he did it.  It was a great start.  Next he presented in his age group.  Again he did great.  He was never visibly frustrated with Percy, which I think Percy sensed. They won first place, a beautiful red ribbon.  Next Elias took Aria in and I took Ben.  I was thrilled to be leading her around the ring.  She was a dream.  Angee kept telling me that Lynn loved to show, but I kept thinking of her feet! But of course Angee was right and she knew just what to do for me.  Such a great experience.

The kids went on to play some games on horseback.  I needed to run back and forth from the animal judging so I was thankful for a new friend to lead Ben and Lynn for these.  The riders held a cup of water while riding around.  At the end the winner was the one with the most water left.  There were more ribbons handed out.

The kids loved all of it.  Grooming, dressing, riding, leading.  It was a great experience.  Thanks Angee for sharing your four legged family, your time, patience and skills- we really loved it! 

All Dressed Up

The games were a nice addition to the horse show.  The one the kids were really excited about was the costume contest.  With your horse or donkey, dress up together.  So yes, this year I can officially add to my resume or list of life's accomplishments sewing for a horse and donkey!!!

Ben knew right away what he wanted to dress up as.  He bought a beautiful embroidered two piece navy blue outfit when he was in Morocco and Dadda had a fez hat to top it off.  I made two humps to fit over the saddle and tassels for her halter.  And poof Lynn was a camel!

Aria had a harder time deciding what she wanted to be.  A knight, astronaut and rocket, princess, lots of choices.  She decided a mermaid on her....SEA HORSE! lol! I made her a tail skirt over leggings so she could still ride on Percy, shell accessories.  We glued shells on tulle and wrapped it around Percy and Aria sat on a dark blue covering. 

The other contestants included an officer on an OPP horse, a jockey on a winning horse, a girl dressed in traditional German clothes, Tonto.  The kids tied for first, which was perfect for them.  Their creativity was rewarded with pride long before the ribbons, but it was a great way to end the horse portion of the day.

GIRL 8

To celebrate the girl in us, to recognize women's unique perspectives and highlight them to the world some local artists put together an evening of performance called GIRL 8. Aria's choir were among the performers, sharing the water song among a few other favorites. It was a beautiful evening for an outdoor concert. A helicopter or two flew overhead every ten minutes reminding us of our surroundings. We were thrilled to have so many friends come out and listen.

Aria really enjoys choir. She has such a passion for singing, watching her dance away snapping her fingers while belting it out brings me such joy. She is her own person through and through and its a great thing!