Time to Reflect and to Dream

Another year is coming to an end.

I recently read a blog post about a woman (a yoga teacher in San Fran) who always retreats (renting a cottage in Hawaii) for a few weeks during the holidays. She needs to take that time for herself to reflect on her year and set her intentions for the next one. She mentions how important it is to find quiet, alone and reflective time during this socially (and commercially) busy time of year.

My wish to you: find a few quiet moments to reflect and be grateful for the past year, and to dream and plan for your future adventures!

# 1 Highlight of 2014 for the Khouri-Parham Trio

Our awesome trip to France! (Sept.2nd posting)

Overall, 2014 was a pretty good year!

This Christmas, due to an extremely busy semester, I didn't send my yearly holiday cards. I apologize for all my readers who usually get a card from me. Know that I am sending you best wishes for the holidays and the new year. Perhaps I will mail New Year's cards this year… or maybe you'll have to wait for next year… we'll see...

What are my wishes for myself for 2015?

My word of the year will be play. 

Smile more, hug more, offer little surprises along the way, say "yes" to new experiences, stand taller, walk lighter, skip more, be more graceful in my daily movements, take deeper reflective breaths, drink more water. Shine!

Happy Holidays everyone! Now go and play outside!

Le p'tit renne au nez rouge

Festive Days

It's that time of year!

The tree:

Simon and Margot are master "decorateurs"

I was good for handing the decorations to Margot.

Our festive living room. I love keeping the lights on!

Find Luna ;)

The letter to Santa:

The Nutcracker performance:

Pre-show party

Row G Orchestra

Sitting "sagement" during intermission

Cousins striking a pose

Happy December everyone!

For your listening pleasure...

Luna

The Cusp of Winter on Dewberry Trail

A crisp Sunday morning:

It feels like Autumn is lingering on its last legs and the coming of snow is on its way…

Dewberry Trail aka The Chickadee Trail

It's a 1km loop but it took us 40 minutes as we stopped to feed and chat with our newfound friends (who, I swear, were following us and taking shortcuts between the trees)

Find the Chickadees:

Colours of Leaves and Cranberries

Finally: A post!

On Thanksgiving Weekend, my mom, Simon, Margot and I went to Mont Sainte-Marie ski resort (we did that last year) to take the chairlift up the hill and walked down:

I think we were following the mountain biking path because it was really narrow and muddy. Ah well, at least it made for an adventure!

 As we were driving back, we stopped when we saw this on the side of the road:

and this...

And we discovered a Cranberry farm (it was the Cranberry festival)

A Bit of Yoga...

…in the kitchen
…almost naked
…accompanied by the radio

why not?

I had no set-up with this. Honestly. None.
Margot dragged her yoga mat in the kitchen, took the radio and placed it on the floor and grabbed her yoga book.

p.s. Deep down, I'm so proud of my little yogini for taking initiative.

Jen's Parenting Tip: Don't force your kid to do something. If you do something on a regular basis and your chid sees you, she will simply think that that's the norm and eventually come around to it… or not…

Autumn Manifesto

Autumn has officially begun! (although it's been here for the entire month of September)

Here's the Khouri-Parham Family Trio Autumn Manifesto: (sorry, but you'll have to bend your head to the right to read it, since I can't figure out how to rotate the picture)

Checked for September: all those things!
I know it might not seem like a lot, but it's realistic for us. And, if we do something extra (like two cultural activities!), then it's a bonus!


HIKE 1:
Pink Lake, Gatineau Park
Saturday Sept.6 2014
Note: We had a crazy rainstorm the previous day, which caused a lot of fallen trees on the path. Regardless, we made it around the lake and felt like jungle explorers when we encountered unrooted trees and fallen branches along our path.

HIKE 2:
Mud Lake, Ottawa
Sunday Sept.14 2014
Note: a cold morning! Showing the natural environs to our Toronto visitors (the little boy, Asher, is Margot's 2 year-old cousin)

CULTURE:
Museum of Nature
Saturday Sept.13th 2014
Note: What to do on rainy Saturday afternoon? Go to the museum!

CULTURE (bonus)
The Tempest for children by Rag and Bone Theatre Company at GCTC (studio)
Sunday Sept.21
Note: It was entertaining. I'm not a big puppet fan, but it worked and Margot chuckled at the comedic moments (especially the part she vividly remembers: the dogs).  I don't remember Trinculo and Stephano being chased by dogs… hum… I'm a bit concerned that the stuffed dogs may have warped Margot's first experience of The Tempest...

NEW EXPERIENCE:
Raspberry picking at Potager Eardley
Saturday Sept.7th.
Note: It was the second batch: the fall raspberries. A bit on the tart side.

I'm a list maker. I'm a memory recorder. I like checking things off. I like making plans. I think that it's so easy to fly though a month and not really experience anything "special". By having a Manifesto (and sticking to it), we "force ourselves" to go out and do things. It's sometimes too easy to fall into the hum drum of daily life. Sure, I think it's important to have a lazy weekend once in awhile, but I don't want to get too comfortable. It's not good for my vagabonding spirit...

Changes

It's time we hug farewell to summer:

Notice Margot's practical and hip fashion sense when we go on hikes!

Back to school:

Same school. Same classroom. Same teachers. A few of the same "amis". A year older.

Painting our walls white:

Original colour of our entrance area and hallway walls were a dull salmon-colour.  We have always hated that colour. Simon decided that enough was enough and we (he) spent a weekend painting.

Organizing (not really a change, but a funny moment)

(those are candies that Margot organized. She plays with them and Simon eats one once in awhile. Sshhh…)

A new haircut for me: shorter and curlier with versatile bangs.