A Great Collaborator

Anders was recognized at school this week for being a great collaborator in 6th grade.

I was so proud of him and when I asked him how he felt, his humble self took a while to respond with -

"happy"

Way to go Anders!

Anders Twelfth Birthday

It's hard to believe that Anders has turned 12. 

One dozen years of such a beautiful boy.

Anders went to a sleepover the night before his birthday and was a wee bit tired on his actual birthday.  

We celebrated with Aunt Sandy, Rob, Cathy, and us...and a big beautiful cake after dinner.  

Happy Birthday Anders.  

Late Night Ski

It snowed a lot today - and we found out early in the evening that we have a snow day tomorrow, which gave us the luxury of watching a movie on a Sunday night.  Afterwards, we bundled up and set off on our cross country skis to assess the neighborhood snowfall.   Perfect conditions in the city for a late night ski.  On snowy days like this when the kids were little we would pack them up on a sled and pull them around the city.  It's quiet, deserted, and beautiful. We've never gone out this late before.  We've also never pulled them down the center of the street.  But tonight at this late hour, the streets were empty.  We arrived home at 11:20 pm.  

* The disclaimer for this story is that Anders had a slumber party last night and today he had a hangover from lack of sleep and too much computer time.  We could not get him out and about and he spent the rest of the day napping on the couch.   Ironically, he decided to join us at 10:30 pm when we ventured out for the second ski of the day. It was a bit dicey - as both kids were a wee bit tired, a wee bit whiney, but also a wee bit up for the adventure.  So the mom's ruled and out we went.   

This Humble Table

   Here we are celebrating Anna, Sandy and Anders birthday dinner.

I don't often write about a piece of furniture, but our dining room table deserves it.   I thought about that tonight as I looked at some photo's from our family dinner on Friday night, and after the center leg underneath the table broke off today.  

I am guessing that it was more than twelve years ago when we found this table on Craigslist.   I don't think we had Anders yet and he is soon to be twelve.   It was only $200 and it was quite the purchase.  Anna and I bought it from a lovely old couple on Bilodeau Court.  They shared with us stories about how much they used the table when their family was large.  They were ready to downsize and we were the lucky ones who found it and carried it piece by piece into the back of our VW Jetta Wagon.   

We agree with them.  It has been a tremendous table.  We've had so many meals around this table.  Meals with new friends, old friends, family, guests, children, and even meals with stuffed animals.  This oak table expands to include six leaves and shrinks to a mere five foot square, although we haven't had it that size in years.  We use it for meals, for craft projects, for creating cookie masterpieces, for rolling out bread dough or even playdough.  I often take it's functionality for granted.  But today, today, when that center support leg fell off, I had a moment to feel the true gift of this table.   I feel grateful for its constancy.  Every single meal and every single day.  

And now I feel grateful for Anna - who I know will be fixing the table tomorrow so we can continue meeting here, at the table.     

Ottawa Winterlude Weekend

After many years of wanting to go to Ottawa, Canada to skate on the canals, we finally succeeded. It's Anna's birthday tomorrow, so we decided to make it a weekend celebration.  Seven of us rendezvoused at the Lord Elgin Hotel in the capital city (All of us, plus Mormor, Dave and Cathy.) Here are some of the highlights of the weekend - the parts that were really fun and that made it really special.    

The Parliament Building

A second view of the parliament building from across the river in Quebec

Snowflake village was a big hit with the boys.   

Ice slides, snow mazes and breezy zip lines across the snowy village.  

  

Ice sculptures were a huge part of the weekend.  Giant sculptures were everywhere and we got to watch them being sculpted by some of the countries best artists.  

  

Skating the canal!!  An 8 kilometer skating rink filled with lots and lots of people  

and lots of pastry booths with yummy dough pastry called beaver tails.  

and Art Galleries 

with art by Alexander Janvier 

and Street parades 

and even street protests against Trump

Cookie Protests...Power Equity Freedom Cookies 

And of course - last but not least, MOUSY