Childhood Memories

Jen's parents' property backs onto a park.  It's small, but it's scenic and usually very quiet.  One of my favourite things to do while visiting has always been to walk down and make a loop around the pond there.   

Even though I grew up in the city, I've always loved being in nature.  Growing up, we'd go "up north" to cottage country twice a year.  Whether it was our summer or our fall visit, I would always pack a bathing suit so I could swim in the lake.  Aside from being in the water, my favourite thing about being up north would be going on walks through the woods with my dad.  I don't remember what we would talk about, but I remember the trees and the heavy smell of the air.  It was quiet and we were in no hurry to be anywhere.  Our walks are one of my favourite childhood memories.  

As the kids get older I think a lot about what they will remember of their childhoods.  About what I want them to remember.  

This past visit, like most others, I made sure that we went for a little walks out back to the pond.  

 

 

I hope that they remember what it's like to be in the quiet with tall trees all around.  

Thanksgiving

Forgive me, I am still playing catch-up here.  It seems like I've had to skip over blogging about things that I've had it in my mind to blog about a good bit lately, never mind not having put back all the photos that got deleted... anyway, I really want to blog about American Thanksgiving and our trip to PA, so here it goes...

Last Wednesday, after spending the morning getting the car all packed up while The Bean watched a DVD and Sprout chomped on a tambourine (her current favourite teething toy) we got on the road to visit Jen's family for Thanksgiving.  We were all really looking forward to the trip.  The Bean had been asking about it for a good month.  And since I was too pregnant to travel last year, Jen and I were looking forward to celebrating with her family after a little hiatus.

Wednesday, for those who aren't from the area, was the day of the big storms.  Except for a little stretch that is notoriously bad a few hours out from Jen's parents', we missed the worst of it.  Thanks to NO wait at the border, it didn't take us much longer to get there than it does in the summer.  That's pretty good for the busiest travel day of the year.

There were seventeen of us around the table on Thursday.  That's something I really love about the American Thanksgiving: people get together to celebrate it.  Maybe it's just that my family is really small, but we only ever have immediate family at our Canadian Thanksgiving celebrations.  Anyway, having so many people around was nice.

The Bean was over the moon because Jen's cousin's family was there, including his three girls (ages 9, 15 and 17) so he was doted on even more than he would have been otherwise.  Sprout got a good bit of attention too. ;)  It was nice for us, because we haven't see her cousin or his wife since before The Bean was born.  At one point I was talk to Jen's cousins' wife about how different our two kiddos are and speculating about whether The Bean was more like her and Sprout was more like me, and she stopped me and said, "Just look at my three girls.  The couldn't be more different. (Which is true!)  Kids are just different."  I can't fully explain why, but I really appreciated that comment.  It felt she was giving recognition to The Bean and Sprout as being fully and completely siblings, which is how I want them to be seen.  Anyway, it made me happy.

Aside from spending time with the extended family, we also managed to squeeze in a Mama/son nature walk in the "woods" out behind the house, another visit to Santa along with a train ride at the local mall, an awesome Christmas parade, and perhaps even started a new family tradition of watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the night before we left.

My other favourite part of the weekend was when we were all doing our own things in the house and suddenly The Bean called out, "Look!  Deer!"  and there they were, six deer walking through the backyard.  It was pretty amazing.  And I love that The Bean noticed it all on his own.

Maybe they'll come visit again at Christmastime.

Easter (Photo Heavy)

This is a long overdue post.  I intended on writing about our trip/holiday right after we got back, but I've started an online course and it seems nap times have been consumed by reading and writing for it.  But I miss this space so I'm trying to figure out a way to work it in too.   

Easter in PA was lovely, as I expected it to be.  The drive there was a little rough.  We left at The Bean's bedtime, hoping that he would sleep in the car, as he's done in the past.  Well, Sprout slept pretty much the whole way (with breaks so I could nurse her) but The Bean, on the other hand,  was up until after 10pm (close to three hours past his bedtime/our departure).  It was fine for the first little bit, but when he got tired and was asking me to take him out of his car seat, rock him, and eventually settling for me holding his hand, well, let's just say it was draining.  Of course, every time he did start to drop off, Sprout would begin making noise.  One of the times this happened, he said, "I know, Sprout.  I know."  I about died.  Even with that sweet moment, I'll push for a daytime departure next time.  (The drive home was MUCH easier.)  

He slept in on Friday morning and woke up excited to spend time with his Grandma and Grandpa.  Even though we live far from them we Skype with them every weekend and it makes a HUGE difference to The Bean's comfort level with them.  

Grandpa took him out the porch to swing, but that quickly turned into a walk to the pond out back.   (I followed them with the camera.)

I tease Jen about growing up in the country, while she firmly argues that it is a suburb.  Either way, it is so different from being in the city and I'm glad The Bean and Sprout will grow up having this place to visit.  There is something special about being away from the noise and lights.  About being able to go out and walk and be in nature.  It is a special place.  When growing up we spent time up north every summer and fall.  Even though that was much more "the country," where Jen is probably closer to the truth calling where her parents live the suburbs, it has a similar feeling to me.   

The Bean loved the geese at the pond, so Grandma had to take him back to feed them.  They went for a walk through along the wooded path and across the little stream.

Of course, Sprout was not forgotten.  She got a lot of hugs and snuggles from Grandpa and Grandma.  She also got to meet a bunch of friends and extended family for the first time, including her great-grandparents.  Everyone was pretty smitten with her.  (And everyone commented on how big she is!)  

Seeing as it was Easter, we did some Easter-related stuff.  This is the first year that The Bean has really understood what is going on in terms of holidays and it was a lot of fun to see him get excited about things.  On Saturday afternoon we coloured eggs with him.  They were supposed to be tye dye, but the tye dye didn't really work so they were just coloured eggs that he drew on with a marker.

The Easter Bunny came and hid the eggs that night.  The Bean had such fun finding them in the morning and was very excited about his Easter basket.  I would have been too!  Seriously, I think the Easter bunny has stepped up his game since I was kid.  The littles were spoiled with clothes, books, and lots of chocolate for The Bean.  (Mama and Mommy got some got some chocolate from the Easter Bunny too.  Mmm.)

It was a really nice weekend away and a lovely way to spend the holiday.  I hope that we're able to continue some of the traditions we are beginning next year and in the years to come.


Speaking of traditions, both The Bean and Sprout have bunny toys that they were given by friends shortly after their births.  I've taken a photo of The Bean with his every Easter, I'm hoping to do the same for Sprout.

I know this is extremely belated, but I hope everyone also enjoyed their holidays and is looking forward to the warmer months.  After another snowfall today, I know I am.

2 moms in Pittsburgh

Back when we were first discussing a summer visit to PA to see Jen's family we talked about leaving The Bean with her parents for a night so that we could go into the city and have some time alone together.  As we expected, they were enthusiastic about the idea and we began discussing what we would like to do.  Dinner out was a given.  Going to a movie was a potential.  Getting together with friends was discussed.

Last week we finally organized ourselves enough to book a hotel.  We took a risk and made a reservation on Priceline.  We eneded up at the Sheraton in Station Square, which would have been a top choice anyway, for about 30% of the cost of a regular booking.  It got even better when we checked in and were able to get upgraded to a room with a king bed and view of The Point.  (Where the three rivers meet.) 

I think Pittsburgh is an amazing city, but unless you know where to go and how to get there you will probably be underwhelmed.  Fortunately I've always had a very knowledgeable guide.  Jen knows most of the different neighbourhoods and can navigate the bridges and tunnels without seeming to give it a second though. 

We decided we would spend Monday afternoon in Lawrenceville, a small artsy neighbourhood, and then head over to Squirrel Hill for dinner at our favourite Thai restaurant.  After dinner we met up with Jen's oldest friend for tea at an idependent coffee shop in Shadyside.  Then it was back our hotel in the South Side for the rest of the evening.  Tuesday morning we walked around the South Side and enjoyed breakfast at a little hole-in-the-wall diner before making our way over to The Strip District to pick up some lobster tails at Jen's dad's request. 

I feel guilty saying it because I feel like it makes it seem like I don't like spending time with our child, but it was so nice to spend some time just with Jen.  We've had date nights, but to have enough time to be able to walk around leisurely and not worry about when we were getting home was wonderful.  It also helps that we completely trust Jen's parents and knew that The Bean would probably be too busy and happy playing with them to even notice we were gone.  (Mostly true... he's been sick and a little out of sorts, but he was still in very loving and capable hands.) 

This is definitely something we'll have to do again. 

*Notes on the photos:* One of the things I love about Pittsburgh is the history of the city.  For many years I have wanted to spend a day taking photos around the city, and this little getaway provided the perfect opportunity.  Rather than trying to capture everything, I focused on looking for old brickads, also known as ghost signs.  I was surprised by the number we were able to find, and didn't even photograph all of them!  Some street art also snuck its way into my photos.  None of these have been edited yet, and truth be told, aside from the occassional crop I don't do much editing of my photos, but may end up trying to tweak the colour a bit or apply a filter or something because I think they'd look kind of cool in an old fashioned sepia-tone.