384 Wardlaw now listed as one of Winnipeg's famous homes

Nerd alert....

I was successful in my request to have 384 Wardlaw added to the Manitoba Historical Society's list of famous Winnipeg homes.

In an earlier post, I wrote about our discoveries after we began to trace the genealogy of our home, specifically that two famous men - Hugh Northcote Baird and Duncan D Young - once lived here. This fact has now been added to their respective MHS bios.

Clearwater lake - visit with nana poppa

Last weekend (Fri-Tues) we rented a SUV and took a road trip up north. Despite the wall of fishflies on Easterville road (and running out of windshield wiper fluid - thank goodness for baby wipes) we arrived late late Friday evening at the lake. We could not have picked a better weekend. We enjoyed the sweltering heat, lakeside.

Ambrose loved the water (although he had a preference for being beside or on top of the water, not in it).
We enjoyed visits from the usual suspects and had some great QT with the grandparents.

Highlights included a boat ride on the ss minnow with poppa and beach time with nana.
Click here for photo gallery.

At Clearwater Lake, main beach

A look back: newborn Ambrose photo shoot

I looked back at our posts and I realized I did not create a picture gallery of Ambrose's newborn pictures. I recall being told at the time by other moms (experienced and new) that the newborn phase does not last long. Indeed, time is fleeting. Click here for picture gallery.

 

15 month professional photo shoot

Amber Bond (of Amber Bond Photography) did another amazing job capturing Ambrose's many expressions (you might recall that she had photographed Ambrose when he was a newborn).





Click here for the picture gallery.
Note to the nanas:  a set of pictures will be coming your way shortly.

my first animated gif! Ambrose kicking a soccer ball. Enjoy!

Pictures to gif

sunday - folk fest

Mike with Ambrose, Eva and Finn

As the festival progressed, Ambrose and I were getting more efficient with our morning routine and were able to get packed and the morning nap out the way so we could leave the city earlier than the day before









We did spend a fair amount of time at the children's tent today. I have to admit I enjoyed the music. We caught Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (check it out) (hip hop for kids) and Riding Mountain National Park Troubadours (two Patricks from Clear Lake!)

Mia, the happiest baby in the world

Brosey and I spent another lovely day with Sheryl and Kiri and their respective families The mamas got to enjoy a beer (and gasp, we bought two more beers and shared!). Brosey and I finally met Paula and Chris' baby Liam. Later in the day we met up Collin, Natasha and Luna as well as Renee. In the city we met up with Christy and Sheryl for an after fest gelati. I feel so blessed to have such fabulous friends. I am doubly blessed that we have kids who are close in age.

Meltdown story:
Ambrose had his first serious mega meltdown. It was a direct result of a cyclone popsicle that I gave him. It melted as soon as he clutched in with his warm toddler hands under the blazing afternoon sun (in fairness to him, the popsicle was rather large and cumbersome, particularly because there wasn't much of stick for him to clutch). He couldn't eat it fast enough and soon he was covered in popsicle juice. Half of it fell to the ground and he screamed like he was seriously injured. He dropped his popsicle at least three times and of course I had limited water and napkins so I had to clean off the mess the best I could, which meant sucking off the dirt and grass with my mouth (I know, ewwww). Once the treat was eaten, he calmed down, which was good because I thought my head was going to pop off!

saturday - folk festival

so busy

being sprayed with water

Dave left on the train early this morning so I am doing the single mom thing for the next 6 days...
Ambrose and I made our way to the festival. It was another beautiful day!


Late in the afternoon we met up with everyone (Sheryl, Kiri and Collin and their respective partners and children) at main stage. Great company, gorgeous children.

Repeat tomorrow (yay!)

Ambrose and Ember

mom and baby

look at these gorgeous big cheeks!

Friday night - folk fest

Friday was our chance to be at the festival together for the full day/night before Dave leaves on the train
It took us a while to get out the door but we made it and we had a great time. spent most of the afternoon next to the kid's tent, enjoying the performers and watching the bigger kids play. we had a nice snack of watermelon and berries










on to the next tent where we ran into Mike and Kiri et al. Finn and his friends kicking a soccer ball next to large group of older kids playing a game of soccer. ambrose got his soccer ball and kicked it around a bit. we caught up with renee and a very pregnant meaghan (and friends) for a bit










we then set up for main stage with collin, natasha and luna. Sheryl, Derek, Eva and Mia found us and we had a great night. kd lang was my favourite of the evening
Sadly, my birks went missing. we are not sure how... I am hoping they will turn up :(

Thursday night - Winnipeg Folk Festival

 Ambrose's second Folk Festival. Thursday night. Met up with Renee, Dan and Andrew. Then Collin, Natasha and Luna.
Beautiful night. Looking forward to beautiful day and evening today, Friday.

Canada Day - Osborne street festival

Nana and papa streit's Canada day hat for Ambrose was a wee bit too small for this  baby's head

Canada day, street festival, hot summer weather. We spent the long weekend close to home.

Lots of walks and visits. And we battled our house, which right now is kicking our butts; the inside and the outside are conspiring to drive us crazy. The work is never-ending! It truly is a love-hate relationship.


Skateboards and skateboarders: Ambrose was mesmerized by boarders in front of Sheryl's house in Toronto, standing still, mouth agape. Back at home, Dave's work colleague popped by with a couple of friends in tow - all three on boards. They were rockin the heat and the festival with their shirts off. Ambrose joined in on the fun. Next night, lovely evening spent at Christy, Karel and Samuel's home. Karel gave Ambrose one of his old skateboards. Click here for more pics

Toronto visit

Ambrose and I headed to Toronto on June 17 and arrived home on the 22. Dave got off the train as we were leaving. It was a long 6 days for Dave to be away from us. I kindly left him a to do list entitled "David's home alone to do list" but he explained later he was too distraught to complete much of the tasks beyond yard work (which has now been made easier by our recent acquisition of second hand electric mower and weed whacker (whipper snipper?)

The Toronto visit was fantastic as I got to visit with my girlies. Tamara is in from St Maarten and got to see her everyday. We stayed with Sheryl and family and I got to finally meet Mia, their 5 month old. It was great to catch up. I was in Toronto to also attend a conference for work. Miss T generously booked time off work to care for Ambrose while I took in the sessions! My boss Lynn was excited to spend time with Mr A so we took him to the conference banquet!




On a much sober note, the weekend I was there was to be Alicia and Emad's wedding. Unfortunately, Alicia found out that she has breast cancer 6 months before her wedding date (she has jokingly stated that she plans to start buying lottery tickets as the odds of that happening are pretty slim).  She has already gone for surgery and will be starting chemo on July 11. She is such a strong woman and I admire her ability to keep her sense of humour through this ordeal. She has such a positive outlook and knows she will kick cancer's ass. Thankfully,  it was detected early and things looks very good for a full recovery.