Small Treats

"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats"

                                                                              -Iris Murdoch

Have you ever walked into a bakery in the morning? (Bex, you don't need to answer that question!). After dropping off Margot at school, I decided to treat myself to a pain au chocolat. (I could live off pains au chocolat!) As I stepped into the bakery, the smell of freshly baked bread enveloped me and I left with a baguette, 2 croissants and 2 pains au chocolat. My Friday treat. Yum… and yep, I shared with Simon (who is working from home today).

Can you find Margot's snow cake? (hint: bottom shelf)

A Long Winter

We received a spring tease this weekend with chirping birds, melting snow and warming sunshine. Oh come on Spring! Bring it on! We're ready for you!

Going for a walk is an extreme sport for Margot: 

 p.s The helmet is her choice.

What a typical walk looks like: Simon pulling Margot while she makes snow cakes in her sleigh. 

Can you spot the Chickadee picking seeds from Simon's hand? His expression is priceless.

Margot trying to feed the chickadees. Not a success.

Wishing you all a sunny month!

Just Playing

Despite Margot having a mild cold, her spirits are up:

Can you guess the tune? I think it's the flower song from Disney's Alice in Wonderland.

This is the best way to spend a Sunday morning when it's a bit too chilly to go for a walk (for a little girl under the weather).

Un coeur qui bat

J'ai un petit coeur
qui bat
qui bat
toute la journée
juste pour toi
juste pour te dire
que je t'aime comme ça

(translation:
I have a heart
that beats
that beats
the entire day
just for you
just to tell you
that I love you like that [arms wide open])

My February Plans + Margot's Story

Well, January was cold! Let's see what February has in store for us. If today is any indication, it will be a snowy month. Welcome Snow!

Trees and snow….

 … and children wearing colourful clothes

are great photo shots!

Are you curious about my January plans/manifestos? Did they manifest?

• yes, I did complete my Yoga Challenge. I actually did 22 days-in-a-row of practice, then took a one day break, and then picked it up again. Awesome! The beauty of yoga is that there's a practice for any type of mood that you are in (and any length for that matter).
• I wrote my January letter. You know who you are ;)
• I read my book of the month: The Imposter Bride by Nancy Richler.
• Soup on Sundays: most Sundays we had soup.
• Winter Family Manifesto: 



• Skate on the canal and on a local rink. Check!
• Winter Walk. Check! (our trusty Sugarbush Trail)
• Cultural Event. Check! We have a subscription to Kinderconcerts (3-8 years old) at the NAC [National Art Centre]. This month, the show was about Mozart. Margot's favourite instrument was the violin.

(this video was taken in October)

A fresh month. The shortest month. Here's what I have planned:

• Family Manifesto: stays the same.
• 28 days Meditation Challenge: 10-15 minutes every night before I go to bed. Doable. 
• Continue my daily yoga practice.
• A new book to be read.
• A new letter to be written.

Here's a funny video of Margot. She was "reading" a theatre season brochure. "Casse Noisette" is The Nutcracker. "J'ai pas fini" = I am not finished.  Her reference to MNM is her nickname for her and Noa. Yes, she wears her bathing suit around the house. And yes, those knives behind her are sharp (didn't even realize that while I was filming her). Good luck trying to understand her story! enjoy!

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