Tavish Turns TWELVE!?

 Another covid birthday, but all things considered, we were very lucky!

Birthday Boy Breaky

SUSHI!

Twelve!

Cupcakes

Socially Distant and Safe

Cousin Celebration

Tavish is Twelve

MOMENTS: Twelve and Terrific

We are so blessed with this kid. He's kind, he's caring, he's funny, he's empathetic, and he's TWELVE! His birthday fell on a school day, so we woke him with a birthday tune, fed him some waffles (mmm, whipped cream), and sent him on his way with a birthday note tucked into his lunch bag from his adoring sister. Birthdays are a big deal around here and it almost always involves sushi yumminess and celebratory cake! There was a short window of time where things opened up just a bit before locking down again, and Tavish's birthday fell in there! We rented a fire pit at Ontario place and had a socially distanced, masked up, outdoor party. We had a great time celebrating a truly great kid!

Skating Season 2021

It was a successful season of skating! A great way to be safely social, accessibly active, and happily healthy! The back yard rink was a great recess option during school lockdown in January, Jimmie Simpson rink gave us a neighbourhood meet up spot, and lesser-known frozen ponds provided pick up hockey and social skating safely. We hit the skating jackpot this year!

MOMENTS: Skating on Thin Ice

You don't need much ice, or much space, to have a great skate!

Watermelon Tree

Left over pie on offer and Keva opts for watermelon! Then, she rejected the idea of whipped cream on the watermelon (it was being offered to pie eaters, after all). Impressive. Then Keva explained...

Keva: Grandpa said it's okay to eat watermelon seeds

Wise parents: Yes you can, but it won't grow a plant without sunlight, soil, and water with the seeds.

Keva: I can get sunlight in my belly! (cheeky)

Wise parents: Perfect! So you can grow a watermelon tree then!

Keva: Yup. And also a gum tree... 

Wise parents are now monitoring gum disposal practices.

Role Model

So...we spend a lot of time together. No, correction, we spend all the time together. And in all this close time, one of my lesser valued habits has been picked up by a certain 8 year old apparently.

SETTING: Tavish and Keva outside together

Tavish: shoot!

Keva: did you mean crap?

Tavish: no, I meant shoot 

Keva: did you mean shit?

Tavish: Keva, where do you hear those words?

Keva: Mommy says them all the time.

Oh crap.

Whoopsie.

There I go again.

Also, why follow that lead so precisely but still don't turn lights off when you leave a room like I do or hang my coat up on the hook? Sheesh. I need to up my home-together game and be a better role model. So, I've addressed it with Keva.

A FEW DAYS LATER:

Keva: Darn it! (pause) Is that word okay?

Snow Fun 2021!

Few things are better than exploring in the snow together...

MOMENTS: 

Winter weather is short, but the fun is endless when there is a little snow! Keva fit the nordic skis and ski she did! Keva and Mommy hit the trails together and even managed one full family outing on our cross-country skis in the city! The kids hit the slopes on sleds and there was a snowshoe outing for Mommy and Keva. Oh, and we snapped a photo of Fred before he melted away!

Valentine's 2021

 Well, we may be in lockdown (again...? still...?), but you can't stop the celebration of family love!

Whole family loves to get in on cupcake making!

Special decorations for each friend we deliver to

Fondue Feast!

With a side of silly

YUM!

MOMENTS: Sugar, Silliness, and Good Grub

We do love a good meal together around the table. We started love-day with a delicious brunch together, baked and decorated cupcakes to share the love with our friends, and enjoyed everything about our family fondue dinner. We had some games and challenges to play between courses where the winner scored hugs! Happy Valentine's Day from our family of love to yours!

What Valentine's Day would be complete without sending love to Grandma too?!

NYE - Bring on 2021!

2020 was quite the year! It started for us in the southern hemisphere while on our epic family trip, was altered in March with the arrival of covid, and ended with the new normal of masks and 'social distancing' which left just the 4 of us celebrating NYE together at home. It seems that everyone is ready to see the end of 2020 to see what 2021 brings. What better way to start it off with who matters most - our fierce foursome! 

MOMENT: Don't let the door get you on the way out, 2020! 

We showed 2020 the door with hospitality with an evening of fun and games. The kids were given 24 photos, two for each month of the past year that they worked to put into two timelines so we could take a trip down "memory lane". At the table, we played some games with the appetizer and dinner. We made a shopping list where we took turns adding something to it (alphabetical order and needed to remember each item in order!). We made as many words as we could from the letters in 'new years eve' and shared some ideas about what we'd like to work on for 2021. We moved out to the porch and nestled in for the rest of our evening where we enjoyed some treats after guessing what they were and a fun game of 5 Second Rule. My birthday was also brought in with a bang of great food, an outing, and some one-of-a-kind art work. Bring on 2021!