What's up with Glenn, Heather, Katrine, and Elspeth
We have been so much fun making different types of popsicles.
Here are the diced cherry with cherry yogurt ring pops.
We also made up watermelon creamsicles. Super simple because all we did was mix pureed watermelon with some greek yogurt.
The favourites so far have been caramel greek yogurt and banana fudgesicle. Literally mashed bananas and cocoa. A fun treat for breakfast.
Canada Day:
After watching the second Star Wars movie (finally convinced the girls that it wasn’t a boy movie and they both enjoyed it. Now they are asking for their very own lightsabers. Anyways, after the movie we headed out to enjoy some sunshine before coming home to make ring popsicles.
This past weekend we started to make popsicles. I was cleaning and found some molds. Our first batch was plain juice and when they were chosen over freezies we kicked it up a notch by adding cut up melon to the juice. Another hit. So, when I found these fun ring style molds at a dollar store I snapped them up and we broke them in. Our first batch was diced cherries (the ring’s jewels) topped with a mix of black cherry greek yogurt and apple juice. Another hit. The girls are asking to try banana fudgsicles next.
Weekdays:
Other than Katrine’s skating and Elspeth’s swimming lessons, we have been spending a lot of time crafting, playing in the kitchen and going to the park. It has been relaxing except for the day when Elspeth developed a stomach bug…well that was relaxing considering it brought more screen time. That said, the four or so hours we spent at various parks today were much more my speed.
Kites:
This evening there was a nice brisk breeze blowing so we broke out the kites. Unfortunately we were not able to coax the really cool dragon shaped kite into the air. The girls took it in stride and had a fabulous time flying the cheap Care Bear one.
The girls LOVE going to the Wye Marsh with their grandfather and this weekend was no exception. So off to the Marsh we went. We discovered waterlillies in bloom, birds, insects, bugs and secret steams. A great journey into the woods.
Now that is quite a combo isn’t it? That however, has been the last week or so. We finished it all off with Katrine’s final project of the year which was due today. It was the food chain and I don’t think that I have seen her so thrilled to simply be done in a while. This year she has enjoyed many more of the projects but her favourite part of this particular one was finishing it.
I was given some mehndi recently so decided to take advantage of it and decorate my children. The designs are nothing fancy. In fact, on one of Elspeth’s feet it clearly states the name of her favourite cartoon but hey, she is thrilled. Katrine of course, opted for more of a skating centered decoration while I tried for pretty. If you look closely, you can see that Elspeth was so excited about me “drawing on her” that she even wrote about it in her homework journal.
Elspeth wrote, “I have mehndi. It is cool.”
Last month I went searching for fun things to do during prep with one of the classes at my school. I came up with a number of great ideas along the way for both school and home. So far we have tried frozen banana slices (which only I enjoy), frozen yogurt dots ( a hit) and corn starch & water “chalk” paint. This weekend we tried another new idea from (http://www.housingaforest.com/rainbow-bubble-snakes). It worked!!! The girls had a blast. Not only did it actually blow long “snakes” but they kept holding toghther once they fell off the blower. I think that our next project will be to give the pop bottle sprinkler a go!
We finished up the weekend with strawberry picking. Of course this meant that there is strawberries and cream for dessert as well as strawberries and chocolate. It also meant hot fun full of giggles and smiles. Both of the girls enjoy getting out and picking the berries; not to mention taste testing as they went. I like that they get a sense of the amount of work behind harvesting the food that we eat. Unfortuanetly the raspberries were not yet ready so we may need to go back.
If you look closely, you can see the ring of red around Elspeth’s mouth.
We have been all over the place thus far this month. The wrap up of the school year tends to do that to us. So far we have had 3 school BBQs:
Katrine’s school (no photos cause I forgot the memory card 😥 )
Katrine’s After school
(Yup, Elspeth is finally big enough to get on some inflatables)
Elspeth’s Daycare BBQ
We all went down to the ROM to see the Forbidden City exhibit which was quite interesting. The highlight for me was actually getting to see imperial robes and their needlework up close (as wonderful as in pictures).
Still loves to examine the rocks and minerals
Really enjoyed the dinosaurs. Perhaps having just finished a dinosaur unit peeked her interest.
Elspeth got to play with the big band during one evening practise which was pretty exciting. She also got proper drumsticks this past weekend. Now all that is left is to find an appropriate drum.
Katrine had a great time performing in her school’s arts evening at the local theater. It was fabulous. Everyone involved put in a lot of hard work. We were really proud of her.
This past weekend Glenn and the girls enjoyed a quiet time together. They ran errands, watched cartoons, read books and took quite a few trips to the park. Quality father daughters bonding time. Where was mom? Eating on the other side of Canada.
This year’s Canadian Celiac Association Conference was in Calgary. My mom and I really enjoying going to the conferences together so as part of my 40th, they gifted me airfare to Calgary. Off I went after work on Friday. I didn’t arrive until late but there was delicious goodies awaiting me – perogies, fruit, a lemon poppy seed muffin and skor cookies. All gluten free of course and simply scrumptious. After a long flight and missing my girls it was the perfect end to the day. (Now the full bed to myself with its mound of pillows didn’t hurt either).
In the lobby waiting to go in to the seminars.
The next morning we were up bright and early to hit the breakfast and seminars. Each time we go to the conference I learn something new. Of course, right next door was the exhibit hall with its free samples. Oh how I ate – coconut milk ice cream, cookies, pizza, perogies…. My highlights were the coconut milk ice cream by Screamin Brothers (really intense fresh flavours can’t wait until it hits the shelves in Ontario), the cinnamon dessert pizza (Coco Brooks) and the perogies (Stella’s Perogies). I also found gluten free Goldfish Puffs. I didn’t try them until getting home but delicious! Then there was the buns provided at lunch. Heaven. Soft, untoasted yumminess. They alone have me wanting to go back to Calgary. Thank you to Care Bakery. Sandwich and bread deliciousness. Is that it? Oh no, I still have some GF meat sticks that I am hoping the girls will eat (not spicy – Grimms), new healthier takes on the traditional sesame sticks (can’t recall the company name), some GF Breton crackers awaiting sampling…mmm, food.
One of the free samples. I didn’t know that Stax were also GF.
It wasn’t all about the food and an auto immunie disease; I did manage to get outside. Heck, by lunch when I was full (only until it was time for an afternoon snack) mom and I along with a fellow conference attendee ventured out to enjoy the sunshine along the main tourist strip. It was a beautiful day and I rather enjoyed getting out and stretching my legs.
The girls would have loved splashing around in here.
Once the day’s sessions had finished, we all headed out to the nearby mall to visit the Devonian Gardens. Mall? Gardens? Doesn’t sound like something you see everyday and it is not. It is located on the top floor of the mall and offers a nice oasis situated near the food court. I quite enjoyed the tranquility.
From there we went to the Fairmount for a nice dinner (yup, even more GF goodness). Dad wanted to do something nice for mom becaue the next day was their 45th wedding anniversary. At the end of the meal, our came dessert complete with sparkler and chocolate message. Mom’s face just lit up. Oh and it was gluten free too!
Steak and roasted garlic & potatoe soup (GF) with vegge.
I was sad to leave my oasis of gluten freeness and return to reality but at the same time happy because it meant coming home to my Glenn and the girls. Overall it was a great weekend.
It has been a beautiful weekend with ample time spent outside in the sunshine. The girls spent the whole weekend with smiles plastered to their faces. Each had a date with their Baba which was the icing on the cake so to speak. They each gave him a date for his birthday. Katrine and Glenn went out for pho while Elspeth took her daddy to Tim Hortons for a muffin and iced lemonade. Glenn also had a great time on his dates. I will let the photos speak for themselves. I hope that you have all enjoyed the sunshine.
A moment of calm before she sprang back into action.
Yup, it is the perfect time to break out the ice cream cones.
Let me begin by saying that Glenn finally got to have his birthday cake! Everyone was well and in good spirits so it was time to break it out…once the girls had added their personal touch that is!
This morning was spent planting the garden. We are using seeds this year (long story but basically we could not find the seedlings that we wanted at reasoable prices). We planted turnips, beets, radishes, peas, beans, cukes and sunflowers in the main garden and then pumpkins were planted beside our strawberry plants. Fingers crossed that something grows!
After more time spent in the water park (where we reconnected with an old friend and his family all too briefly I might add). We decided to stop and get some fresh air. Our first stop was the floral clock. It was lovely. I have fond memories of stopping at the clock with my parents on our trips to Niagara.
From there we drove to Niagara on the Lake. We window shopped and enjoyed the spring flowers in bloom. Both girls were quite taken by the variety of tulip colours.
Katrine’s favourite window find. These are almost too cute to eat.
Of course, we had to make a few stops. No, not the Irish Tea Room this time (don’t worry, I am saving that one for a future trip) but the hat shop and gelatto (yup, the place with the GF cones).
Pear in a GF sugar cone….mmm, love it when Glenn decides that I need a treat.
This past weekend was the 9th reunion of Katrine’s China family. Â These weekends are always fun because they involve lots of kids, laughter and getting caught up. Â Watching all of these kids grow has been a blessng, what a great group of kids and parents.
Not too big for storytime….well, for a few minutes at least.
We came back to Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara again this year. Â It is a favourite of the kids. I was a bit worried about what Elspeth might think given how she is not a big fan of splashpads but she rather enjoyed herself. Â By the end of the day she had gone down two slides, jumped waves and actually put a foot and hand into a splashy fountan. Â She was also a big fan of the story time and Friday night dance party although she danced more for me than Baba.
Katrine spent her time divided between two activities – playing in the water and running around on quests. (Thank you again to her China sisters and brother for sharing their wands and quests so willingly) Â This year was a big deal because she really went on the waterslides. Â In years past she has spent vast quantities of time in the warm tub but this time round she was here to have fun with family and she did just that.
Aside from bonding, there was even a few special surprises for me in the form of gluten free goodness!  The restaurant beside the entrance to the waterpark carries gluten free pizza.  It was so tasty that the girls did not even notice the difference and ate my pizza instead of the regular when I wasn’t looking (which is one way to eat less).  Then for dessert there was gluten free flourless cake or cupcakes.  Decadent!  They were the cherry on my sundae! And then today for lunch it was a peameal and cheddar melt prepared in an oven not the panini press.(The counter server changed gloves, laid down new wax paper, the whole deal!) And it was DELICIOUS! Gave me enough energy to go on another tube slide and stand for half an hour in the wave pool watching Elspeth dance around.
Mmmmm, cake! It looked pretty, tasted great and was GF!
Our haul.
Elspeth ran around this little trike circle for about 16 laps. She fell asleep pretty quickly tonight.
The pedestrian strip
45 years
Mama, I like the sand.
Time for some bubbles.
My crazy pair
Just in case you think that we dared to spend time away from an arena, here she is just before hitting the ice as a demonstrator for a COS coaching seminar. 
Katrine thought that this watermelon hat was rather cute. Unfortunately they did not have it in an adult size.
Some of her moves.
I managed to catch her in the midst of a quest. Unfortunately all of the other photos of Katrine have other kids in them so you will need to be content with just this one.
