Ottawa Bound

Well, family holidays are over.  Now you have to put up with my blog, overloaded with pictures and video...DEAL WITH IT!!

This year, we decided to head to Ottawa.  It was not our original plan, Niagara Falls was.  We asked Hayden if he wanted to go to Marineland, his response...I want to go somewhere with a pool!

My first thought was to check out Toronto, as it wasn't a real long drive and we could go to the ROM, because he also wanted to see dinosaurs.  I priced out the Delta Chelsea and it was about $150.00 a night.

Brian and I had been to Ottawa about 8 years ago and stayed at one of the Travelodge Hotels that had a great kiddie pool, wave pool and slide.  I priced it out and a room with a poolside view was only $95.00 a night!  Plus, there would be tons to do with the kids.

So, we booked it and headed out this past Tuesday.  We got to Ottawa around 1pm and were able to check into our room a bit early. (travelling mid-week really does make a difference!)  Our room had a balcony that overlooked the pool and added to the kids excitement!  Hayden was pretty much naked by the time Brian and I got in the door of the hotel.  We unpacked the swimsuits and got right to the swimming!

Our View from the room's balcony

Hayden's all ready!

Abby too!

The pool was pretty awe-inspiring to the kids.  It was a huge area and I wish my camera was better, my pictures didn't turn out great but I'm sharing them anyway!  (my blog...my rules!)

Kiddie Pool

Wave pool and slide

We used the pool for a couple hours.  Neither Hayden or Abby had any fear.  I was surprised!  Hayden is usually pretty timid around the water and I wasn't sure if we would get him down the waterslide, despite the fact that it was shallow at the landing!  Once he went down the first time, that was it....he was HOOKED!

They both also LOVED the wave pool!

The kiddie pool was great, because when Brian and I got tired of the water, we could just sit back on the lounge chairs and watch the kids still have fun.

Abby and Daddy chillin' poolside

After the pool, we surprised the kids by going to Build A Bear to let them make their own stuffies!

Hayden stuffing his turtle

Abby stuffing her cat (she was "shy")

Wash and fluff station

Abby during her "meltdown" because the shoes were not for her!
She had to try them anyway!

Hayden and "Speedy"

It was pretty fun and exciting for them.  We then had some dinner and then back to the hotel for more swimming.  The pool was open until 10 each night and we went to bed about the same time.

The next morning, the kids were up at 6 and we had plans to visit a couple of museums.  

The Museum of Nature was the first stop and where Hayden would see his dinosaurs!

Abby was more excited because she got to ride
in the stroller

Hayden all ready to go in

We found the dinosaurs

Hayden and his map

More dinosaurs

Abby checked them out too

Family swim with the whales

Watch out for the polar bear!

Abby found a kitchen to play with

We promised the kids we would hit up the gift shop after the museum and that is what we did.  Hayden got himself a dinosaur egg with a dinosaur inside you had to dig out.  Abby picked out a little "purse" that had a camera inside you could decorate.  She had a minor meltdown in the gift shop because Brian took it away from her to pay for it.  After getting out of the store with her sobbing, Brian pulled her onto his lap for a quick cuddle.  She's on his knee and he says

"Abby, are you peeing in your pull-up?"

"Yeah"

Next I hear:

"Aw F**K,....she just peed all over me!"

Yup, the pull-up leaked and Brian's shorts were SOAKED!

I was nice....I didn't laugh until after he left to take her to the bathroom!  But he was SO mad when he headed to the bathroom, but saw the humor in it afterwards!

From there, wet bums and all, we headed to the Museum of Science and Technology.  We picked this one because we were told it has trains and Hayden still loves trains!

Little did we know until we arrived that during the summer, on Wednesdays and Sundays, you can take a ride on a steam train!

Just as cheap at Peterborough....but a better train!

It was the first thing we did and was great.  It was just a short little 10 minute trip, but exciting enough.  A couple years ago we did a "Day Out With Thomas", but I liked this better.  The train ride was shorter, but the museum was WAY better!  This museum, in my opinion, was better than the Museum of Nature.  It was VERY interactive.  There were so many things the kids to could touch or sit in.

Waiting....

On the train

Checking out the inside of the engine...it was hot in there!

Our train

Telephone booth

Abby's turn

Driving the army truck

Brian's only chance to play as a Leaf

Hayden wouldn't believe this was a snowmobile

Big Bike Ride

Back at the hotel, we again went to the pool for a couple hours, dinner and the pool again.

On Thursday, we went for breakfast, avoided the pool one more time by bribing the kids with a trip to Toys R Us and headed home.

It was great to be away and we plan to do the trip again in the near future.  Next time we will visit the Musuem of Civilation for the kids musuem.

So there you have it.  I hope I have convinced you to do your own trip to Ottawa!  I think it may just be my new favorite vacation destination!

Time For A Little Catch Up!

I realized today that it has been a few weeks since I have had a new blog post on here.

A couple reasons,

First off, I started another blog, which I am totally into right now.  Mostly because it is for the sole benefit of me.  Something that is completely selfish.  As any mother or wife knows, that doesn't happen too often!

Secondly, because not much is going on in this everyday life.  Summer holidays are a couple of weeks away and that should allow for a few more updates.

As for what has been going on....

Let's break it down by kid shall we.

Miss Abigail,

or as Hayden refers to her when he is angry:

- Abigail Margarine Lynne (It's Marjorie, btw!)

She is permanently glued to her dad's side.  There is no where he can go, except for work or golf, that she doesn't follow! She claims she doesn't love me and lets me do NOTHING for her.  Which is great by the way, in case you were feeling bad for me there for a second!  HOWEVER, her closeness to dad has also encouraged her to use certain phrases that dad is fond of.

Mainly being "Jeez"

I was on the treadmill last night and yelled upstairs to Brian.  Abby was in bed, but over the monitor I heard

"Dada is in shower Mama, Jeez!"

So, here are some pics to show just what we have been up to around here!

Abby got a new dress, handmade by Gramma!  Best part for her?

A pocket to hold her sucky!

She got her first taste of the river this year too!

Both at the beach and the cottage!  She was almost asleep in that tube and would have been happy to nap there had she not kept floating towards the dock, which freaked her out!

At home, Abby is never far from a baby doll!  That girl LOVES her babies!

Now for Hayden,

Or as Abby was calling him this morning "Hayds"

He is my sensitive boy, who spends the majority of his day crying or whining about something.  Whether is Abby picking on him or not getting to watch his new favorite show, "The Octonauts"

He harvested his first round of beans and he and I had our Green Bean Challenge.  

We all agreed that we are not a Green Bean family!

He spent some time in the water too.  Both at the beach and a cottage sleepover with Gramma and Grampa!

He happily floated and swam when he was with just Grampa, and once we arrived, whined and cried the day away!  Ah well!  That is just his personality.

And finally for Hayden,

He became a Q-Ball again!  Gramma did it last Wednesday, and it is ALWAYS a shock to my system!  Can't wait until it grows in just a little bit!

So, there you have it...a quick snip-it of our Adventures so far this summer.

We are headed to Ottawa for a few days in August.  Can't wait!

Our Very Own Graduate!

Tuesday was a pretty big day around here.

Hayden was graduating from Kindergarten.  There was a big ceremony planned for 6:30 that evening and he couldn't stop talking about it.

First off, might I say....since when did Kindergarten become a "graduating" event?  I know that no one made a big deal back in my day!  And let me tell ya!  They should have!  Given the fact that I managed to go enough days to quality for graduating was cause enough for a parade!

I digress...back to my boy!

We had a quick supper and had him at his class for 6:15 to join the rest of the graduates in getting ready.

They all walked in, Hayden looking his complete goofy stuff.  The principal said some great things and made me realize how special this event REALLY is!  No more safety of the kindergarten section of the school, no more close supervision in the little playground, no more bathrooms in the class.  From September on, he will be in the big field, lost in a mountain of children.  Makes a mom weepy!  Then his teacher got up and spoke and made me even weepier!

The kids had been practicing a song with their music teacher for quite some time. I know this for a fact, as Hayden had been singing it and trying to teach it to me for MONTHS!

In my typical, let's not plan ahead for ANYTHING, fashion.  I didn't go through the photos on the camera to ensure there would be enough room to record and photograph things on this big night.  But don't worry, I still did manage to capture some of the events.

Here is the group singing...it cuts out near the end, which is what made me realize I had to clear up some space for the ACTUAL graduating stuff.  I thought I had taped a whole bunch more, but I guess not.  Missed out on the cutest parts..but if will still give you a dose of A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!  If anyone reading this HAS a full version of it, I would love a copy PLEASE!!!

The next little video is of Hayden going up on stage to collect his diploma!  As you will see, the poor kid got so confused where to look!  He knew where we were sitting, but Grampa also moved closer to the stage to get some photos, so the teacher was pointing him in 1 direction and he was looking at us!

The rest are just some nice candid photos.

The teacher also put together such a nice photo slide show of the year.  I must admit, it brought a tear to my eye.  The main reason being...2 years ago, I never in a million years thought he would be on that stage!  He had such a hard go of it and then it finally all came together...even less than 2 months ago, I was trying to decide if necessary, would I be willing to keep him in back in Kindergarten another year?  But, this kid is a miracle worker I tell ya...within that last month or so, somehow it once again all clicked and he surprised both myself AND the teacher by being at the appropriate reading level for the end of Kindergarten!  Wowzers I tell ya!  Such a relief to hear that!  Between his teacher last year and this year, they helped shape him to be the student he is today.  I really do give them most of the credit.  The daycare surrounding have made a big impact too I feel!

So, with no further ado...here are some more random photos...please enjoy what this proud momma posts!

by far...my FAVORITE picture...he looks so happy!

Hayden and Mrs. Fife
This poor, wonderful teacher climbed up and down
those stairs to redo this photo with multiple
kids...this was the end and the best I could get out of Hayden!

Our sad attempt at a family photo..ah..such is life!

That Was Some Scary Stuff!!

It was a peaceful evening in our house tonight...until about 6:15 pm and I think I just about crapped my pants.

We had a bat...IN-THE-HOUSE!!!!!

We were all sitting in the living room visiting before  I had to go out and suddenly, from out of the kitchen flies a bat.

I may or may not have shoved Abby off my lap onto the floor in my attempt to lay low on the sofa...AND...I may or may not have strained a muscle in my  neck at the same time.

Now, before you hear some wild stories and think my Macho Man of a husband handled the situation any better, because that is the story he will tell....he was ducking low as it swooped, you know, so it wouldn't get stuck in his HAIR and had to ask me what to do.

It eventually flew into the kitchen and I  yelled at him to close the french doors to trap it in there.

Under my expert direction, 'cause I know all about bats from my vampire novels, I told him to go and get a broom.

The bat is in the centre of the curtain

The broom just made him fly around the kitchen.  Once he swooped back to the curtain, I yelled through the glass door for Brian to go to the shed and get the fishing net.

He eventually caught it and took it outside.  All is well again in the Bickmore household.

Hayden thought it was GREAT and wanted to keep it as a pet...and poor Abby, wouldn't leave the couch because "I don't like that bird"

Check out the videos of this great event, not because they are high quality, but because they give you a sense of panic....the second one gives you a quick shot of my manly man with his big heavy work gloves and fishing net...you know, in case he needs to touch it!?!  He's a wimp, but won't admit it.  (sorry it's sideways, I don't know how to fix that!)

I just told him he was lucky it wasn't in the middle of the night, because my foot would have been shoving his ass out of bed so quickly, his head would spin!

Carnival Fun

Yesterday was the company picnic for my Dad's work, Quaker Oats.  For years, it has been the same set up, and it works great.  They rent a small midway as the main feature and essentially, you get access to the few rides for about 4 hours.  It's ideal for Hayden's age, as he was able to go on every ride.

This is the first year the kids have gone.  The kids LOVED it!

Hayden's favorite was the fun house.  Like the one at the end of Grease!

This is where I share my experience.

So, first...let's mention that the movie Grease made that ride look AWESOME and sexy.  I mean Sandy and Danny rocked it in their leather skin tight outfits!

My experience was neither sexy nor AWESOME...not even a little bit!

It was back in high school and a girlfriend and I went to the Peterborough Ex.  At some point, we decided to go through the fun house.  Probably because we were down to our last few tickets and only had enough to go on this one.

Anyway, it started out grand (from what I remember), we were having a great time.....and then we got to the end...with the spinning tunnel!

She hopped in and made it through no problem!

My turn!

I too jumped into the tunnel and this is where the trouble begins.  I suppose it's because I'm not so nimble on my feet, but I suspect the ride attendant sped up the tunnel just as I entered, otherwise there is no other explanation as to why the next event happened.

I get in and my feet go out from underneath me....I apparently CANNOT walk in a moving tunnel.  I fall down, but you can't get back up in one of these things...so I just lay there, rolling around like a wet load of laundry...tumbling around inside for what must have been HOURS!  I think I may have peed myself a bit laughing so hard at the same time. I tried crawling around even, but that didn't help either.  FINALLY, the attendant took some sympathy on me or was sore from laughing internally and shut the tunnel down so I could crawl out of it.  It was embarrassing and hysterical all at the same time.

I made the mistake of telling Brian this story and now whenever we see this moving tunnel, he just laughs at me.

Anyway, the moral of the story is...when your kids want to go in the fun house with the moving tunnel, send your husband!