I watched Vincent bring the bags of little baby clothes down the stairs to be given to charity...I could not help but shed a little tear. Alex is my last baby...We're certain of our decision but I am sure I will still grieve a bit the end of having little babies in the house. Sigh... All the more reason to appreciate this time I have with Alex!

Maple syrup time!!!

As I sure many Canadians did, we immensely appreciated this beautiful, warm weekend!!! It was also sugaring off time at the cottage and the boys made a trip to see Robert, our neighbour at the cottage who has his own cabane à sucre. The boys came back with a big box full of maple syrup which will enough to last us through the year with cans to spare for family and friends. The boys also got invited to a b-day party at the cottage where the kids were treated to "la tire"...(maple syrup on snow...not sure how to translate!!!)

The boys went skiing on Sunday (probably the last day the ski centre will be open since the snow is rapidly melting!!). With their winter jackets they were too hot and they said they saw people skiing in shorts!!! We took out our bikes for the first time and Mathieu had fun biking with Vincent and I. It was also a surreal experience for me to go jogging in the hot sun with shorts and a short sleeved shirt while there was still snow all around me!! It felt so good for to feel my feet hitting gravel again versus snow and ice!!

All the snow had melted from our balcony and it was so hot on Sunday that we had lunch outside. It was pretty much the first time Alex got to walk outside since he is usually confined to his snowsuit with the big feet and the stroller...He was having quite the time!!

Anyway, it felt so good to have a warm day and to feel that winter is nearing its end...It was also the first time in a while that none of us were sick with cold, flus etc...On Sunday, my lungs even felt clear for the first time in months and I didn't need my inhaler...!

We topped off the weekend with dinner out at Boston Pizza on the way home (a favourite for the boys!!!)

Hopefully the sun stays with us some more...

winter

Well, winter continues and with it all the outdoor activities. The boys are still enjoying their ski lessons. Mathieu has gotten quite good...its amazing how fast little ones take to the slopes. The other day, he went past me on the slopes. Later he said, "Maman I saw you but I coudn't say hi because I was going to fast!". Gabriel and his group have started to ski from the top of the mountain and I have passed him a few times as they all go down the hill like little ducks in a row! In a couple of years Alexandre will be ready for lessons and then Vincent and I can go together once again.

We are still enjoying going to the cottage every weekend. There the boys have fun playing on their "snow mountain" created by the snow removal trucks that clear our driveway and playing on the ice rink on the lake. I shoveled that rink myself and it took me hours but it was worth it. Though, a snowblower might be a good idea one day as I am sure it would save me a lot of time!!!

All is well here. Alex is walking quite fast now and is in to everything. His favourite past time is finding drawers, pantries, boxes, cd holder etc. and emptying the entire contents on the floor. Unfoturnately, he has not learned to pick up after himself. He has started going to daycare one morning a week to transition him before I start work in May. That has been going well and it has been such a treat to have a few hours to myself. Alex is such a happy little guy and is usually smiling and laughing. His brothers love to play with him and even Gabriel has started to like him. more and more. I guess he's more interesting now that he is walking and can interact with him!

Mathieu has become more and more interested drawing. He past us in his abilities a long time ago so he has been asking us for art lessons in order to learn more. He has started working with my good friend Christiane who is an art teacher and who is wonderful with children (She also teaches Gabriel's music class).Mathieu seems to be enjoying this. The other day a self-portrait which we were quite impressed with. Christiane is also going to be starting to teach Mathieu some painting techniques. She brought a bunch of books with her the other day on Picasso etc. and Mathieu just loved them...

Gabriel has really turned a corner and has been talking up a storm lately. He often goes on an on telling us about some story he has invented or seen in a movie. I could not resist filming him doing it the other day.

Well, baby is awake...the day begins!

First Birthday!!!

It's hard to believe but Alex turned 1 the other day...It definitely has been a very full year. In some ways it feels like it went so fast and yet so very much has happened. We celebrated the special occasion at the cottage. His brothers kindly chose the menu : cheeseburgers, french fries and chocolate cake! (I should have taken a picture of Vincent barbecuing in his big parka at -20!!!)

Alex enjoyed eating chocolate cake for the first time. His brothers were happy to give him the toy wooden dog that they had chosen for him...And, our little guys decided to mark the occasion by officially starting to walk.

Music Concert

Gabriel had his music concert the other day...a big deal for our shy little man. He did a great job and I was quite the proud mom. His music teacher is my good friend Christiane and she is amazing with the kids...It was the best preschool concert that I have seen yet!

Winnipeg

I got to fly to Winnipeg at the end of November to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday and my dad's 65th birthday. By a stroke of luck, Vincent's work also paid for him to fly Mathieu and Gabriel in too. I think one of the best moments of the visit was seeing my dad's reaction when the boys and then Vincent ended up on his doorstep.

So I am glad I got to be there for my dad and my sisters party and the boys had fun learning to curl and then dancing the night away....(though Gabriel started falling asleep in his seat around 9 since he was already exhausted from the day's activities). But Mathieu and Alex!!!! were ready to boogey...

It was great getting to see my best friend Cori-Lee too. Just the car ride over to the party was hilarious. There are friendships like that that are priceless...

We also attended a surprise birthday party for Yuko the other weekend. It was nice to meet all her friends...

All is well over here. Winter does not want to start in Montreal. Fortunately, we got to go the cottage the other weekend where at least there is snow on the ground and it feels like a winter wonderland compared to the grey rainy streets of Montreal.

We have put up all our xmas trees and the boys are looking forward to Xmas (as am I).