School's Out!

Mathieu finished school the other day and, to celebrate, I took him to the ice cream shop and let him choose whatever he wanted. Of course, he chose the biggesg thing on the menu which was the banana split. It was funny to see people's reactions watching this 7 year old carry a huge banana split across the street!

We spent a wonderful long weekend at the cottage where I was spoiled by my boys for my birthday.

Today we are off to Winnipeg and the boys are so excited. It's still morning and Gabriel is already sitting on the couch with his sandals and back pack on ready to go!!!

More to come...

Brotherly love

One might think that since this is my third child I would get less excited about every little change and progress that he makes as the weeks and months progress. Not true. I still find myself enthralled and excited about every new little development, expression, goo and gaga...In short, I am really trying to appreciate each moment as I know too well that time passes very quickly and soon he won't be a baby anymore. I think him being my last makes me want to take it all in all the more.

Vincent and I got another chance to have a night out this week. Again, Alex came with us and again, he did not make a peep the whole time in the restaurant. Fortunately, he is such an easy baby. A friend of mine calls him my "baby accessory" because he is with me wherever I go, looks cute but doesn't make any fuss. So far so good!!

We got a chance to go Quebec city a couple of weekends ago to finally meet out new little nephew Shun-Théo. It was funny to see the two cousins beside each other as Alex looked massive beside his new born cousin. It will be nice for Alex to have a cousin the same age to grow up with...

The weather has been amazing lately and we have been enjoying our weekend dips in the lake. Last weekend there was a special fishing day competition at our lake. Vincent and I took turns taking Gabriel and Mathieu fishing...We caught a few but none big enough to eat (Gabriel even had one on his hook but did not even know it!) Mathieu also spent the day catching tadpoles...a couple of them were enormous and already had their frog legs sproutting...

We are looking forward to heading to Winnipeg soon. Gabriel has been asking about it every single day...He is so looking forward to having a birthday party there, "Mama we gonna take a plane to see my party today?". Every day I have to tell him "another day, another day". It's a long wait for a 3 year old!

My favourite holiday...

A few years ago, I let Vincent know that Mother's Day was now my most important holiday for me. (i.e., forget it and you're in big trouble (-:

I love being a mom so I love this day that celebrates that! I love receiving their handmade presents and cards that they are so proud to give me. And, of course, the fact that included in those presents is a well-chosen gift from Vincent doesn't hurt much either.

This year, we were at our cottage for mother's day so it was already special. We did decide to go into the little town close to our cottage and have a picnic on the beach. Unfortunately, the water levels were so high that there was no beach to be found but we made do!!! Gabriel was disappointed as he had all his sand toys ready so fortunately we were able to find him a tiny patch of sand that was still untouched by the water. Also, while he was napping, Mathieu and I drove out to a natural sand pit by our place and filled a box with sand for him so he could play on the balcony...it does not take much!!!

Vincent and I have had a couple of date nights since Alex is born...So far, though, our "dates" include Alex who tags along with us. We went out last night to a restaurant and he was a prince. He did not cry one and just happily sits on one of our laps. At this point, we don't even consider him an intrusion because he doesn't talk yet...hence he can not interrupt us!!!

Happy days....

Other than the obvious detail of having children, two other big changes have occurred in my life in the past 10 years or so. One is my need to be clean and fairly organized (who would have guessed!) and the other is my love and need to be active and outdoors. For a former slob and couch potato these have been pretty major changes. One of the main things I love about the cottage is the ability to take in the nature around me. I always feel so happy and alive when I am running or biking through the trails and back roads. If you can excuse the dramatic word it feels a bit like a sanctuary to me where I connect with myself and feel rejuvenated and at peace. Also, its a wonderful chance just to be all alone to think and get a break from the demands of motherhood for a short while...I went for a run this past weekend in the beautiful sunshine and fresh air. I was thinking about every thing that is going on in my life and I had one of my many moments of just feeling pure gratitude. I was thinking about how happy I was at this moment and that I needed to somehow capture the moment so that it would not escape me. Perhaps than, if ever I am going through a tough time I could look back and remember, "oh, remember that time in the woods where you were just feeling completely happy..." Those moments are so precious.

So yes, we went to the cottage last weekend. When we arrived on Saturday morning there was still a thin layer of ice on about half the lake. Over the next hours we watched and listened to the ice being pushed up on our shore and quickly melting. By Sunday morning all was clear and the boys and I took a canoe ride for the first time this year. We also were able to eat lunch on the balconey in the sun. The boys played outside all day long and Gabriel had fun playing in his new tunnel that I bought him at the Bazaar the other day...

Only child syndrome...

Back from Winnipeg where I spent a very relaxing and enjoying week as the mother of only one child (oh...those were the days: two hands per child!!!...(-:)...Not to mention a bunch of extra hands to help with Alex and no cooking or cleaning to do!!!! Wow, what a life...

I had a good time visiting with family for Easter and seeing my "gold" old friend...I also got to a chance to get in some great bike rides with Gilbert and some runs along the Seine river (not to mention oodles of shopping!) Alex got plenty of hugs and even some stroller rides from his cousin. He was a very loved baby...

Well, its back to reality and, though much more hectic, its actually quite sweet. Tomorrow we are off to the cottage and I am looking forward to enjoying the spring weather. I am hoping the lake it completely melted as I would love to go for a canoe ride...