Thursday, June 25, 2009

It is hot here: screaming, smoking, feels-like-40-degrees-with-the-humidity hot. No, really, it feels like 40 FREAKING degrees out there.
Luckily, we have a wading pool to soak our feet in and a lovely beach nearby.
This beach, Petrie Island, is about a five-minute drive from our house. In the winter, neighbours told me how nice it was to live so close to the beach, and I was all, "Huh? The beach?? There's a beach? Where's the beach? Why is there a beach?" Now that I have felt the true wrath of an Ottawan summer -- I hope. It doesn't get worse does it? -- I see the value of the beach. I foresee many days laying in the soft sand and swimming in the water -- when it is clean, that is. This is the Ottawa River, so sometimes the E.coli count is too high, and things get shut down. Dylan is horrified by the thought of swimming in poo water, but I am more philosophical about it and think I may chance a bit of poo to cool off.
The heat seems especially hard on Finn. He can get sweaty and hot at the best of times. Forty degrees makes him a bit cranky. Poor kid. He needs an igloo and a dog sled and mountains of snow to feel comfortable, I think.
A bit of sand and cool water happens to cheer him up, though.
Little Rosemary deals with the heat in the best fashion I can think of aside from ice-cream treats: napping in the stroller.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

About three blocks from our house, there is a bike and walking pathway along the Ottawa River that extends from where we live, Orleans, all the way into downtown Ottawa.
Dylan and Finn haven't made it downtown yet, but it does look beautiful. Plus, there are benches just made for resting and snacking on. Is it just me or does it look like there's beer in that water bottle?
Since babies and bikes generally don't mix, I've only walked along the river, but while Finn and Dylan are out canoodling by the river, my consolation is the wee little girl I get to hang out with instead.
She just gets sweeter and more cute every week.
While I do think she looks a lot like Dylan, those are clearly my arms stretching out there. Or maybe they're Grandpa Stan's arms. Either way, they are long and lovely, of course.

Anyway, this is what Finn likes. We can keep our fun farms and children's events. Have I mentioned our trip to West Fest? There were numerous activities for young people: bouncy castles, balloons, clowns -- Dr. Kaboom! -- and Finn summarily rejected them all. Moderately disgusted by these kid-friendly events, he meets the balloons and the other children with a look of mild distaste.

Just give him the peace and serenity of the river, and he is a happy kid. Don't forget the rocks! Climbing rocks is way more fun than any old stupid bouncy castle filled with screaming children, Mama.

Sunday, June 21, 2009



Father's Day at the funny farm. Happy Father's Day, Dylan. Thank you for all the support, love, and fun -- yup, there's been a bit of fun amongst the chaos -- this past year. Finn and Rosemary are lucky to have you as their father.


Posing with the sheep. They were my favorite. The best part was when lunch was served. Man, who knew sheep would get so worked up over some dry, crusty-looking hay.