Minneapolis: 10 adults and 7 kids

The kids

This past long weekend we and a group of our friends (5 families) went to Minneapolis to spend time together. Girls' night, guys' night, shared childcare, shopping, amusement rides, aquarium and more shopping....It was a blast!

At the start of their adventures at the Nickelodeon

BFFs just hangin'

Ambrose checking out a sea horse. 

David and Ambrose in front of the best. store. ever. 

David is in HEAVEN! A childhood dream come true

Ambrose was such a big boy on the trip he was awarded with an Iron Man action figure - a toy he highly coveted from Samuel. 

My girls! We were about to leave for a late dinner. Lots of great conversation, laughter, tears, red wine and fabulous food. 

summer 2013

Summer 2013 highlights: 

- I went to Montreal for a conference, rented a fabulous apartment through airbnb and had guests: Arlo, Des and Emile! I then headed to Toronto to see my girlies Tamara, Sheryl and Alicia. 

-Ambrose and I attended Breanna's grade 12 graduation!

-We (finally) got a a new (to us) car. And later we picked up a utility trailer, a long over due purchase given ongoing reno projects, crazy yard waste and our pack rat ways.

-Met the new addition to the Anderson family (my cousin Moog's new daughter)

-We tried out an oTENTik at Clear Lake (awesome!)

-Hung out with Arlo et al at folk fest. 

-Rented a cabin at Clear Lake. Our friends were there, too (Christy, Karel and Ambrose's BBF, Samuel). Karel was the artist-in-residence at Deep Bay. Ambrose got to spend some quality time with the grandmas. My parents stayed for one night and so did Christoff.

-In August we headed up to The Pas for a family gathering. We were happy to host Emile's family (parents, brother and partner).

-We headed up to Clear Lake for one last sleep over in the oTENTik

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Ambrose's first time sledding (Maplelag post continued)

Pumpkins!

A few weeks ago, Ambrose and I joined Christy and Samuel for a lovely afternoon at A Maze in Corn.
The boys had lots of fun selecting the perfect small pumpkin, greeting the animals, climbing on the hay bails and running through the corn maze. We all slept well that night.
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July 2012 - Planes, trains and automobiles

In July we boarded a plane and headed to Ottawa to start our whirlwind vacation. First stop was second cousin Claire's house (Moog and Janine).

We had a fabulous time enjoying their new home and the amenities (read: backyard pool!). We had a great time with the Andersons! Thanks for the hospitality and the yummy meal!

Next stop was Gatineau and for a quick visit at Auntie Des and Uncle Emile's new house. Nana and Papa were there waiting for us. We then got into our cars - rental or otherwise - and 'caravaned' it to Dunham in the Quebec Eastern townships. We were there to celebrate Desiree's and Emile's wedding. And celebrate we did. It was a beautiful and magical wedding made even more special with the announcement of Desiree's pregnancy (we knew ahead of time but we were now able to share the news!).

We rented a cabin close to Emile's parents. Ambrose had fun with his cousin Emma and new friend Jack. Emile's parents were generous hosts and we loved spending time at their enchanting property including their cozy home and swimming pond! The pictures of the wedding may speak for themselves: outdoor, big tent, fabulous food amazing performances (including members of the Geoffroy family). And dance party! Ambrose started us off by gallop dancing around the stage. He LOVED dancing in front of the crowd.

Post-wedding, we drove back to Gatineau and spent the night at the newlyweds home (sans the couple, it was just our small family). We left the next morning on a train headed to Toronto.

Upon our arrival,  we headed immediately to my friend Sheryl's where were stayed the night with her family. Again, wonderful hospitality and delicious food. Ambrose was well taken care of by Eva (yet another beautiful older girl in his life in addition to cousins Jessie and Emma). It was great to see my good friend Sheryl and tootle around Yorkville catching up.

We then took the train home from Toronto to Winnipeg. Ambrose loved traveling by rail and quite capably demonstrated that he has 'train legs'; no issues navigating the bumps and jumps of the train going down the track.

Ambrose and i drove out to Mitchell after dropping mom off at the airport.  the day eventually became nice.  A storm snuck up on us on the way up and i had to white knuckle a bit....Ambrose had a two hour thunder storm nap.

busy weekend

Here's a quick update

Ambrose has been quite busy. He had a fun visit with second cousin Claire. Ambrose was quite the gentleman and helped Claire with her shoes and she accepted the assistance. We are looking forward to seeing Moog, Janine and Claire in July during our trip out east.

Ambrose hung out with his buddy Samuel on Friday night. These two are very cute together; they are both very chill.

His cousin Jessie came by for the afternoon on Sunday and we walked to the Forks and back. It was fun. Pre and post walk, she looked after Ambrose so I was able to plant the garden.

Sunday night: we just got back from a quick road trip to Brandon and back to visit Grandma Johnson (along with Auntie, Beans and Jess). Whew, I need a weekend to recover from the weekend.

Clearwater Lake, end of summer road trip

Our macbook pro died on us and we have not had access to our photos in quite some time. As well, with the arrival of autumn, things just got busier.

We picked up our brand new macbook pro today and the data from our old computer was transferred to the new one: happy day. It was so much fun to go back and look at how much Ambrose has changed in the last month and half or so. It is truly remarkable.

So, regarding the road trip. We rented a mini van and the five of us piled in: Desiree, Emile, David, Ambrose and me. It was great fun. Highlights included meeting Meg and Steve's new baby, Evelyn; dinner at their house and, of course, the apres dinner sauna; hanging out with Darby and Serene's two beautiful girls, and visits with lake folk (incl Auntie Wendy, Marni and kids, Shaun and kids etc). Ambrose got to spend some QT with nana and papa at the lake, which was just fantastic.


Another highlight was the engagement of Desiree and Emile. Emile popped the question while the two were running through the trails.

 Photo gallery to follow, promise.

Weekend in Clear Lake - August

Helping Grandma to celebrate her birthday

Another (extended) weekend, another fabulous time at a lake, this time at my lake within beautiful Riding Mountain National Park. As a child and into High School, I spent all or most of my summers at Clear Lake. Dave, who also has fond memories of the resort town, is as committed as I to create our own family tradition of  spending time at the Lake each year.

Playing with papa

We rented a friend's cabin, just outside of Onanole. It was my Grandma Johnson's birthday and we had a great dinner at a new restaurant, Siesta Cafe, which is co-owned by Dave's friend Vaughn, a former Winnipeger who now calls the area home with his growing family.

My Auntie Bonnie was visiting from Prince George, BC and it was a wonderful that she finally got to meet Ambrose. Auntie Darlene and Uncle Brian were in from Brandon and it was great to hear updates on their granddaughter, Claire, Ambrose's second cousin (the one with all of the hair for all you loyal blog readers!)

With Miss Jessie

My parents, Brytt and Miss Jessie came up for Saturday and we all spent the night together at the cabin. It was great fun and I hope we can do it again next summer!

Sloan and Ambrose

Later that weekend, we met up with Dave's friends Paul, Kelly and their two children Sloan and Alice. Ambrose loved the opportunity to play with an older kid but Alice out played them both by heading face first into the sand and eating it!

Alice, post self propelled face plant into the sand

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Swinging at the playground

Dave got to spend some QT with our mutual friend Ryan Murray. Unfortunately, we heard some unbelievable news from him: our friend Brad had a heart attack two weeks ago. He's 37, a vegetarian, a non-drinker, and a non-smoker. We are still in shock. He's back a home recovering. He has a wife, toddler and a baby.

Blue Lake, Ontario - August Long weekend

We had a great time August Long camping at Blue Lake with friends Collin, Natasha and Luna (who is two months younger than Ambrose).

We traveled together in an old truck with a slide on camper pulling a small transport trailer. It was Ambrose's first time camping and sleeping in a tent.






Luna showed Ambrose how fun it is to play in the dirt and Ambrose showed Luna how to be a bit assertive while playing (read: how to shove babies out of the way when they are playing with toys you want or who are too close to mom).



The two made up a dynamic duo who charmed the fellow campers. They discovered that is a lot of fun to take chairs for a walk!

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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.
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a busy February

Bird's Hill Park - après xc ski

story time with papa abby in the pas

These past few weeks have been busy as we have tried to pack a lot in before I return to work on March 1. There was a two week stretch where we had house guests and/or dinner guests every night! Nana Shirley snuck in a Winnipeg visit just before we embarked on our road trip to The Pas. We had lots of visits with my family as well as with friends.

Observation and highlights
-At the cusp of turning 10 months old, Ambrose decided that it would be nice to start walking. Since the last post, Ambrose quickly mastered taking tentative steps and is now walking. He decides whether it's worth his while to walk or to crawl but lately he is choosing to keep himself vertical.
-has 8 teeth: 4 on top and 4 on the bottom
-still loves bath time
- loves to eat, and with a few exceptions,  he is eating what we are eating. He still loves his fruit purees and puffed wheat.
-likes to push things across the floor while walking behind them.

hangin' with buddy Luna

-loves music - will dance and make noise
-continues to be very vocal and is making some crazy sounds!
-will point at things that he interested in.
-will 'share' what he is holding by handing it to you but he would like you to hand it back immediately. Unless it's food, in which case he would like to feed you.
-will play up a storm by himself (with someone in the room with him, of course) but prefers to play with other people, especially if they are willing to build towers for him to knock over.
-is absolutely crazy about having books read to him. We must read a pile of books every morning and several through out the day and early evening. He like to either sit in laps or to stand beside the person reading the book and have his hand on their shoulder. He prefers to turn the pages. The book gets extra points for having touch and feel or flip open parts. One book in particular requires me to pretend to cry. Ambrose's lips will quiver and he will reach out to give me a nice hug.
-beginning to get the idea of signing but not really...maybe in a month or two it will all come together?
-Dave is so excited that Ambrose can blow into a musical instrument to make noise (harmonica and toy recorder)

with cousin Claire

Three photo galleries:
a busy February part 1
road trip to The Pas
busy February part 2

Road trip to Grand Forks - Jan 17-19

My mom, Ambrose and I went to Grand Forks. We were there for three days and two nights and we had a fabulous time! We got nana a new bathing suit and we then hit the hotel pool! We shopped (or mostly browsed) till we dropped (great baby clothes at Target). Nana and Ambrose enjoyed waking up together!

I will have to add pictures of the trip once I transfer them from my mom's iphone.


Here are some pictures in the days leading up to the trip - Ambrose tasting grapefruit for the first time and playing with Miss Mineu.

Christmas Part 1 (updated)

On December 21 and 22 had a lovely visit with Natasha, Matt and their boys Max and Isaac. They drove from Calgary to spend the holidays with Tasha's parents. It was great to see an old friend and her family. Dave had fun wrestling with the boys and Ambrose was quite pleased to play with the boys. 

Max and Isaac

On the 22nd my mom, Breanna, Ambrose and I drove to Erickson to pick up Gramma. We spent the night and the next day we visited my Auntie Darlene and Uncle Brian in Brandon. Their kids (my cousins) were in town for Christmas. Ambrose got to meet Jeri, Scott and their boys Brady and Chase from Vancouver (Ambrose was fascinated by Brady's braces); Jody and Kevin from Calgary; Tara from Vernon, BC and of course, Claire Bear with parents Moog and Janine were in from Ottawa. It was a lovely visit but unfortunately I do not have any pictures to share and I now have pictures to share (thanks for sending them Janine!)

Christmas eve was spent at my parent's house. David's parents arrived that day from The Pas and joined us for the festive feast (my mom began preparing dinner two weeks before Christmas). It was a lovely meal followed by some serious gift opening (we open our gifts on the eve).

Ambrose in his Christmas best

Jessie

With Gramma

checking out one of his new toys from Nana and Papa

With Jordan

Breanna happy in her new one piece pjs 

Dave, Ambrose and I spent the night at nana and papa's house. We awoke to discover that Ambrose received gifts from Santa! Later that morning we enjoyed fried pault, a swedish dish that is part of our Christmas tradition. Yum!

Fried pault

Ambrose enjoying pault for the first time

Taking the car for a spin after papa put it together

Having fun with papa

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