Casse-Noisette

Went to see The Nutcracker yesterday. With Margot. It was the first time she ever attended a live performance. It was a success!!! I am just so impressed by her ability to sit and watch and be attentive and applaud. Wow! Who knew the attention span of a 2.5 year old could be so long? I certainly didn't.

Here's what we did right:
-Picked the right time: 4:30pm show (not too late)
-Chose a small theatre (instead of the "oh ever so popular NAC") with good seats, next to the aisle.
-The nature and length of the ballet (2 hours with intermission)
-Willing to leave after the intermission. We really kept that option open, but didn't need to leave.
-Brought snacks.
-Invited Noa, Jason & Eve. With company, everything is more exciting! (especially when Noa exclaimed to Margot "C'est Batman!" when some guy in a bat suit danced across the stage and gets killed a few moments later by the nutcracker. There was no rat fighting scene in the version we saw.)

The magic: watching Margot's face during the ballet. Priceless.

(unfortunately, I didn't bring the camera so I didn't capture the pre-show and intermission moments)

Tree and Pomegranates

This is our tree, decorated Margot-style. Awesome!

Wrong season, Margot!

My favourite Winter fruit. I grew up eating pomegranates (patiently peeled by my dad) at least a few times a week. Back then, it was an unpopular fruit (I was the odd kid out). And now, pomegranates have achieved celebrity status.

When we went to Granada (Spain) in 2006, we actually saw pomegranate trees. How cool is that!

J'aime Gymnastique!

Margot finished her gymnastics course yesterday.

The facts:
-A 11-week course, once a week, from 3:30 to 4:10pm on Thursdays.
-Offered through the City of Gatineau and Unigym Club.
-Her group, Les fourmis (the ants), was a parent and child group (18 to 30 months).

My thoughts:
-It's a loud activity. Do kids really need that much stimulation at the end of a day? Hum...
-The instructors were excellent. High school-aged girls who were enthusiastic and great with young kids.
-Some parents are really annoying: too involved in their child following the "circuit", not butting in line,  doing things properly,etc.   Others are relaxed and laissez-faire (I fit in the latter). Surprisingly there were as many moms than dads.
-When I signed up Margot, I naively believed that she would join in right away and follow instructions. I was wrong. I learned on the first class to go with the flow and not expect her to do everything (or even half!) of what was planned.

Margot:
-Margot loved gymnastique before and after class more than the actual time there(!) She would talk about it every day leading to class and excitedly explain what she did in gymnatsics to family members.
-Margot was really reserved and passive at first. It took her about 8 weeks to warm up. She observed a lot and was a bit distracted by all the excitement around her.

Margot's favourite activities:
-The big trampoline - she excelled in fearless jumping!
-The "poutre" (high beam) - the tallest one was the best one.

Receiving her certificate

Advent

We are starting to get into the festive season.

Decoration for our door. A wreath bought at the Carp Christmas Market:

The Gingerbread House is out:

And look what's inside: (Margot-style)

Seeing Santa Clause up-close and personal at the Aylmer Parade. A cold cold evening to be standing and waving for more than an hour!

And, like the past two years on the same date, the little Advent elf dropped off a calendar (without chocolate - we know who that is for!) Thank you lil' elf! ;)

It's Starting to Feel a Lot Like Winter

As I am writing, it is snowing. Big, slow, fluffy flakes descending from the sky. Ah! Winter has arrived!
I really like winter. It's a fresh season which forces us to go inwards and reflect, drink hot beverages and stay cozy. It's also an invigorating season: the cold air, the rosey cheeks. Nothing is more deserving than coming indoors after spending time outdoors. "Wasting an afternoon" reading or watching a movie is totally acceptable after an hour on the trails.

November was gorgeous this year! As most of you know, November is my least favourite month. But this year it was sunny, mild, and friendly. No rain or the typical greyness I usually associate with that month.


Father and daughter Saturday yardwork while I drink tea and read:

Ready for a "hike" with those turbo red mitts:

How to achieve Margot's look: headband as a belt, topless, my handknitted leg warmers on legs (good spot) and shoes in the house (!)

Lil' Yogini

p.s. I swear I don't have anything to do with it ;)

This is Halloween!

Margot surprised us all by being quite the lil' trick or treat trooper!

pre-Halloween snack

Roaming the streets of Marcel-Chaput

That pumpkin is getting heavy...

Our door