Guest Post: Recipe for adventure with Dada (10 steps)

Jen went to lunch with a friend on Saturday. So Margot and I (dada) thought we'd go off on a little adventure!

Step 1: Catch bus #39 at bus stop (free for under 6 year olds - woohoo!)

Step 2: Make sure you savour the journey as this is Margot's second bus ride - ever (in Ottawa). Appreciate something you do ten times a week a bit more.

Step 3: Enjoy the hustle and bustle that is the "Market", Ottawa's tourism ground zero. Take a photo of yourself but do it in a cool-I'm-a-local-sort-of-way.

Step 4: Note interesting street art with appreciative smile.

Step 5: Continue through Market until you reach big spider in front of Art Gallery. Jump.

Step 6: Spend max time in National Art Gallery that a 5-year will tolerate (30 minutes). Inwardly pat yourself on the back for buying season family pass so you don't feel guilty for leaving early.

Step 7: Walk on any ledge you see.

Step 8: Buy yummy (Ontario) grapes and local cucumbers from farmers' market.

Step 9: Return home on bus with food. Cause just enough ruckus to make any parents on the bus smile.

Step 10: Repeat as much as possible!

Moment with Margot: Impermanent Art

So easy.
So simple.

No guidance needed.
No fancy craft supplies required.
No tidying up.

4 fishes + fish food (the red circles)

This is my favourite (because it's such a strange thing to draw!): a girl playing golf. I know someone who would be proud of that drawing!

Her name written from right to left…hum… Margot had to make sure that every letter was a different colour. Now that's important!

And here she is explaining, in Franglais, each of her drawings. Enjoy!

Simple Pleasure: Camping

We went camping this weekend. Nothing too complicated, nowhere too far. We booked our campsite at the last minute because we were keeping an eye out for the weather. There's nothing worse than camping in the rain.

Us + Dave (Simon's friend who joined us)

We went to Voyageur Provincial Park, about a 90-minute drive east. The weather was perfect and there were no bugs!!!

Camping is messy and smelly. It can be uncomfortable. I sometimes dream of this tent. I'm sure it would enhance my experience ;)

Our "3-person" tent was awfully small...

Yet camping is also strangely satisfying. You're outdoors, in touch with nature. You can eat as many sticky roasted marshmallows as you wish. The pace is slower. There's really nowhere to rush to.

A summer isn't complete without a camping trip, even if it's just for 24 hours.

Margot declared a few times: "I love camping!!!"

Moment with Margot : Day Camps

These last few weeks, Margot attended three day camps (1 full day and 2 half-days).
Even though I'm off in the summer, I knew I needed i) time to work on my upcoming fall courses and ii) overall Jen time (yoga, reading, tea with friends) . Great decision!! This was Margot's first camp experiences and it is definitely to be repeated in future summers.

Those who know me, know that I like to look at all the options available, do a bit of research and create pros and cons charts. I did all of that and it was a success!
It's really easy (and economically sound) to dump your child at the local city-run day camp, but I didn't want that.  Not only did I want Margot to focus on a skill, but I also placed a lot of emphasis on the environment of where the camp was held.

1. Dance Camp. Theme of the week "Magic Fairies" at The School of Dance.
Why?
-Beautiful building with many studios, hallways art galleries, reputable teachers.
-Organized schedule of outdoor-time, art, storytelling, music appreciated (live pianist) and of course, dance.
-A performance for parents on Friday. Very impressed!
-It sells out quite fast

(Margot especially liked one of the assistants, who was really pretty because she was smiley and had long dark hair)

2. Gymnastics Camp at the Ottawa Gymnastics Centre.  Half-day.
Why?
-close to our house.
-a reputable centre and wanted to try it.
-half-day option was appealing.

A loud environment, but Margot really enjoyed it.

3. Yoga Camp at PranaShanti Yoga Centre. Half-day.
Why?
-the environment.
-no yoga is ever a waste of time. I was hoping that she would be exposed to calm music, to poses, to yogic philosophy (for kids). I was not disappointed!
The instructor was fantastic and the environment was soothing and inviting.
Margot told me this was her favourite camp (probably because it's her latest one).
She learned about chakras, did a breathing/meditation sparkling jar, and announced to me that yoga was born in India, where a lot of people live.

I have one more camp on the calendar: a Montessori Art camp at her school in late August (when I return to work).