A New Year

Remember my 2013 plans?
Never finished Hugo (it's still on my bedside table). Nope, didn't run a 5km in the fall. I'm not wearing a handmade knitted sweater and my walls aren't decorated by any artwork created by moi. Ask my letter-writing friends if I wrote more than two letters this year… hum….

So, what's in store for 2014?
-Continue to grow by developing my interests: yoga, knitting, reading, piano playing.
-Create seasonal manifestos for my little trio. *
-Create seasonal or monthly personal projects/goals for me. **
-Write one letter a month. I really want to do this!

I would like to learn a new skill or develop a talent. We'll see if that happens. I already have quite a bit on my plate.

* Winter Family Manifesto (this began in December)
One cultural activity per month
One winter walk per month
One toboggan or skate per month
Soup on Sundays

**January: I'm doing a 22-day Yoga Challenge on MyYogaOnline

Playing outside with Margot and Simon is fun! Let's embrace winter 'cause it's going to be a long one!

Playing in the snow. Lying in the snow feels so liberating!

Running down a hill while pulling the sleigh.

Margot makes me laugh!

First Skate on the Canal

Ready to go skating? Margot is!

Gliding!

Wanting to go further and faster

Skating on "her own"

More skating on her own

Having so much fun!

Tasty treat at the end of a skate

Happy Winter!

Happy Winter and Merry Christmas! 

Since I haven't posted anything in a long time, I decided to just highlight what we have been up to as a family these past few weeks.

The Nutcracker on December 14th:

Striking a pose during intermission. One of them is quite the rebel!

Christmas Eve:

Margot is very excited to see Simon's office.

Christmas Pageant. Who are those kids? And why aren't they wearing their masks like all the others?

Christmas Day:

Happy to receive a nightlight. Ah… little pleasures!

Simon's awesome gift: an album of his blog Tough Cookies

Yoga cards

It was a cooldddd morning! -30with windchill!

…but we had fun on the Sugarbush Trail

A visit to The Science and Tech Museum on December 27th:

Margot's favourite part? Dancing in the museum.

 A walk on the Dewberry trail and tobogganing on December 28th:

Margot had her handy binoculars to spot birds.

Up the slope

Ready? (that's Simon up there) 

At the end of our ride. It was awesome!

Dancing and Acting

This colourful, extremely twirly dress is from Aunt Nahli.
After months of having it hanging in her closet, Margot decided that today was going to be the day she wears it to dance around the living room.

Who wouldn't want to dance in a dress like that?

You can barely hear it, but The Nutcracker is playing in the background.
Note: before I took the video, she had been dancing for about half an hour!

I love how Margot is developing her dramatic/theatrical side:

White

First snowstorm of the year: Nov.27th.

It's going to be a loooooong winter, folks! So far, I'm loving it. Ask me if I feel the same way in February… 

First taste of snow

Snow Angel

Snowman with one long arm

My snow angel

I took the day off (as I usually do when there's a snowstorm). I don't see the point in driving to work, battling snow and traffic and stressing. Nope. That's not my style. I'm happy just staying put and enjoying the view from my window:

Snow days are necessary once in awhile. They teach us to slow down, put things in perspective (nothing is ever that urgent!) and enjoy the spontaneity of the moment.

Yellow

Sunshine-coloured kitchen and new grey tiles:

Even though the colour is darker and more intense than the previous one (ugly light salmon/peach colour) , it feels like the room is lighter on these dark November evenings.

I don't get excited about renovations. The floor was done in October. It took three days and the original baby blue/pastel pink octagonal-shaped tiles in the kitchen, main floor bathroom and entrance were changed to these simple, slick grey ones. A great decision! (thanks Simon).
As for the yellow walls, my idea (surprise, surprise!). Our kitchen/dining room is cheerful and warm. The colour was literally "Sunshine" by Benjamin Moore.

3.5

I was hoping to celebrate Margot's half birthday, but I didn't. The day went by and then ended and I completely forgot!
In the future, I hope to celebrate half birthdays. When you are a child, 3 and a half is a big deal!
Maybe it would have just confused Margot. She sometimes says that she's five (like her cousin Noa).

I console myself by thinking that she had a good day: she laughed, she danced, she ate hummus and breadsticks, she went swimming, she sang, she napped with her dada in the afternoon sun. A perfect day for a 3 and a half year old.