March Break Fun

March 20, 2022March 20, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ 1 Comment

This past week I spent many days enjoying the company of my grandchildren in some march break fun. As many pandemic restrictions have been lifted here, it was great to get out and enjoy the adventures offered in the Ottawa area. A few years back I complained that my own kids were past the march break years. Fast forward six years to a few school-aged grandchildren to share in the fun.

Sugar Bush

One of our adventures included a short drive to Fulton’s Maple Sugar Bush. Two years ago I planned to take some of my grandkids there, but Covid shut down that idea. Fast forward to 2022 where the sugar bush is now covid compliant as most activities are outdoors. The pancake house, previously a favourite for breakfasts and lunches, was permanently closed, assumed to be a covid casualty.

For those of you not familiar with this attraction, let my pictures show you the details. Activities included a horse-drawn wagon ride around the property and plenty of play structures to keep the kids intrigued.

Taffy on snow was a highlight for my granddaughter and me too! My grandson not so much. He wasn’t tempted by the gooey, sticky, sweet treat, created as we looked on.

Educational posters around the site explained the process of making maple syrup well. From the tree to the buckets to the sugar camp, and finally to the products sold. We learned too that it takes 40 buckets of sap from the trees to make one bucket of syrup!

March Break Fun at the Experimental Farm

Our next adventure took place at the Agriculture and Food Museum within the experimental farm. Spring is the best time to visit here as the baby animals are on display. From cows, donkeys, and horses to goats, chickens, alpacas, pigs, ducks, and sheep.

Here too covid precautions were in place, with many indoor exhibits closed or modified to avoid possible contamination.

Outdoor Fun with Snow and Water

My eldest grandson loves to play in snow, ice, water, and mud. Most five-year-old boys do; I remember that well as his father enjoyed the same things as a kid. As well as walks through our neighbourhood trails, March break fun this week included a lesson on how to build a dam to block water when warm weather began the spring thaw.

After the outdoor fun, he dried off inside with a new dinosaur puzzle:

Christmas Fun: Girls Sleepover

December 11, 2021January 20, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

My two granddaughters and I had a girls’ sleepover recently, with lots of fun, giggles, and sugar, but not much sleep.

We filled the evening and morning with lots of girly activities, something I was not particularly fond of as a youngster, and did not experience raising three sons, but am enjoying immensely with these two cuties. Their smiles and enjoyment are contagious.

We began the evening by painting our fingernails, all thirty of them, in a multitude of colours and sparkles…

After enjoying cheesy pizza and candy cane ice cream for dinner washed down with iced tea, we bundled up for an outside stroll around the block to inspect the Christmas lights. These girls are loyal; they voted our light display their favourite:

Our outdoor trek was followed by hot chocolate and painting our toenails, which we figured would hold up better after donning socks and winter boots for the outside adventure. When the toenails were dried and smudge-free, we changed into our pjs, matching Christmassy ones Grandma found just for the occasion:

We were supposed to roll out and bake cookies next (the basic sugar cookie dough was premade on Grandma day last Wednesday) but as it was already past bedtime, we decided Grandma would do that part solo and have the cookies cooled and ready for decorating in the morning.

After a pancake breakfast and healthy green (cucumbers were detected, and grudgingly consumed) smoothies, the decorating began:

When the cookies were glammed up then packaged for safe transport home, the girls enjoyed a dance party while Grandma cleaned up the sticky mess. (Not so) fun fact: sprinkles are like glitter, they end up everywhere!

I’m not sure who enjoyed themselves more, the girls or their Grandma. The only glitch was the actual sleepover part. They insisted on sleeping together in the same bed, something neither of them is used to, so quality sleep time was not ideal, but to be expected at a sleepover. It did not help that at not quite four years old, the younger one wanted to stay up with the eight-year-old who is a bit more accustomed to staying up past bedtime.

I hope they make it through the rest of the day today without any meltdowns due to exhaustion and sugar consumption.

Either way, it was unanimous: we have to do it again soon! Maybe next time I will convince them to sleep separately.

Did I tell you I have a third granddaughter arriving in the new year? Not that she will be enjoying sleepovers anytime soon, but eventually we will let her join the fun.

That will make for three of each, a balanced six-pack of grandchildren.

Next up? A sleepover with the eldest of the brothers that were excluded from the fun last night. Grandma might need a nap first!

Fall Craftiness…or Not

November 2, 2021January 20, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ Leave a comment

After collecting beautifully coloured leaves outside with both my granddaughter and grandson, on two separate occasions, Grandma suggested some fall craftiness.

My three year old granddaughter was impressed with our crafty creation, my four year old grandson not so much.

This simple craft involves colourful leaves, waxed paper, and a hot iron. The leaves get sandwiched between two pieces of waxed paper, wax side inside the sandwich. The hot iron makes the wax paper pieces melt together. Kind of like a grilled cheese sandwich, an analogy my granddaughter came up with.