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).

The Aloha Spirit

I came back from Maui changed. Changed because I now have experienced the "aloha" spirit. Aloha means much more than hello, goodbye, welcome. It's an attitude; a way of life.  A simple, open, generous and smiling spirit. I can't put it into words.
You walk a bit slower in Maui… (maybe it's because everyone wears flip flops ;)

It's always a bit challenging writing a post after a trip. There's so much I want to share: pictures, thoughts, observations… Where do I start?

FORMAT of TRIP:

• We only stayed on the island of Maui. Why did we choose that one? Because it seemed like it was the most varied in terms of beaches, hikes, and things to do with Margot. It's also not as touristy as Oahu (Honolulu, Waikiki Beach).
• 10 full days.
• Approximately 13-hour flight from Toronto (12-hour for the return flight).
• We rented a car. An awesome hatchback silver Nissan Versa (my next car!)
• Accommodation: 5 nights at a rented cottage (VRBO) in the North/Upcountry of the island, 3 nights at a condo on the West side of the island. (plus, our first night at a motel near the airport)

AWESOME!

The Beaches

The beaches are absolutely stunning! They look exactly like the ones you see in guidebooks and on posters. Soft sand, blue water, infinite horizon. The waves are constant and merciless. 

We went snorkelling and saw many tropical fish and corals! When exposed to this underwater world, steps from the beach, you can't help but feel this world bursting with colour and life. I have a new-found appreciation for marine life.

 

pic taken at the Maui Marine Centre
Some of the fish we saw while snorkelling at Kapula Bay

pic taken at the Maui Marine Centre (a.k.a the Aquarium)

The Vegetation

One of the things that I was looking forward to was seeing lush vegetation. Maui didn't deceive me!

We went on a few really nice hikes upcountry and saw some beautiful trees, plants and flowers.

Hidden gem on the Waihoe Spring Trail

Burst of vibrancy!
(Gingers)

Interesting shapes
(Heliconias)

Nature playing with the colour palette
(Bird of Paradise - a type of Heliconias)

Giant leaves

Fun texture

Iao Valley

Breadfruit (looks like limes)

Firecracker
(Scarlet Stamens - Bottlebrushes)

The official flower of Maui
(yellow Hibiscus)

Papaya tree in our backyard

 Banana tree in our backyard

The smell of the yellow gingers is intoxicating!
(this is a ginger too)

Delicate
Plumerias

Pink Plumerias

Maui smells fresh, with a hint of papaya in the air (and probably a bit of salt water being tossed around!)

Fun Moments

Swimming in a waterfall on the Road to Hana (a  costal, winding road with 600 curves and 54 one-lane bridges)

Eating out-of-the-oven banana bread from Auntie Sandy's Best Banana Bread Stand (on the Road to Hana)

What do you do on the afternoon of your 10:45pm flight? Why, go to the movies! (The Hawaiians groaned at a joke made about Hawaiian pizza).

Watch a free Polynesian Dance show at the mall. (we saved $300!)

Eating shaved ice. Let's get one thing straight: this isn't a snow cone with crushed ice. There's a big scoop of ice cream at the bottom, finely shaved ice drenched in three delicious flavours, with a drizzle of sweet coconut milk. Delicious!!!!

Enjoying a typical meal: 2 scoops of sticky white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and meat. I had the Aloha mixed plate, which consisted of the above + island grilled fish, shoyu chicken and teriyaki beef.
Simon had the Laulau - pork, beef and taro wrapped in luau and ti leaves (you don't eat the leaves).

Cheers! Finally: a Mai Tai (I preferred Simon's Nutty Mango)

Feeling free and small, surrounded by so much nature!

Our visit to Haleakala (The House of the Sun), Maui's dormant volcano.

It took us about an hour to drive up (the car was on low gear all the way down). Luckily, it was a clear day and we had a beautiful view of the crater (it's usually cloudy). We decided to hike a bit in the crater. Warning: it takes you twice as long to make your way back.  

this reminds me of Iceland

We're above the clouds!

Sliding Sands hiking path (you can see it really well behind us).
Margot is snacking on M&Ms - they give her energy ;)

A land of lava (which is super light!)

Simon's awesome jump!

That's high.

Eagle Pose at the summit

Me and my girl with flowers in our hair!

Me and my boy looking cool in our shades!

Aloha!