Monday Moments: Tripping

Somehow we are already halfway through this year that I never quite got a handle on. It seems absurd to me that my kids have less than two weeks left of school when I’ve yet to process which grades they’re even in this year. As time seems to go ever faster, I’m even more thankful for times to really get to know these bigger kiddos that are often patient and quiet and self-entertaining on the sidelines while their younger siblings clamour for attention.

Two years ago I took Gemma to Ontario, and told the kids I hoped to do it with a different kid every two years or so. Now I’m feeling like Gemma kind of got the short end of the stick since baby Jack tagged along and put a serious damper on my inclination to do day trips or ferris wheels or chilly mist at Niagara Falls. I guess we’ll have to go again :)

But Kristopher and I did all the things, and we both loved the time together. This guy is so much like his dad…good at school, good at sports, with a heart for service and gentleness. He really is a great little person, and was such a fun, easy-going travel buddy.

It was also a great way to get him out of his comfort zone and build a little confidence in his ability to do new things.

We soaked in baby snuggles (for me) and cat snuggles (for him), and had lots of family time getting to know 5 little nephews and 1 niece that live decidedly too far away.

Meanwhile, at home, Carl dressed himself and Jack in matching outfits and sent me pictures to assure me things were going just fine without me :)

My baby looked HUGE after a few days with a legit baby. Man, I do love babies. And this fresh little one loved me right back, so that makes it even easier.

Despite having just had a baby, my sister was adamantly opposed to me cleaning her house (to be fair, it was already very clean), and instead she took me to St. Jacob’s Market, which I love, and the LEGO store, which Kristopher loved.

The patience of Lego builders never ceases to amaze me.

The aquarium in Toronto was a top priority, and didn’t disappoint.

Expressions of wonder and amazement never get old :)

The aquarium is right by the CN Tower, which is also pretty cool even if it doesn’t win any prizes for being the tallest anymore.

Carrying on touristing the next day, Niagara Falls was about as chilly as my dad looks in this picture when the wind blew the mist onto us! May in Ontario really isn’t summer yet, despite whether we from BC think it should be.

But when the mist stopped blowing it was actually quite pleasant, and there really is something special about that incredible volume of water roaring over the rocks.

From the falls Kristopher spotted a ferris wheel in the downtown area – the kind of thing you totally say yes to when you only have one child with you!

Dad and Kristopher were cool as cukes about the impending ascent.

Mom and I were a little less cool, about both the height and the enclosed space.

Then we headed to my sister Erin’s for a trip to a seriously stunning garden centre that also has amazing treats, and spent our last day and a half seeing the world’s largest puzzle, doing some window shopping, playing the organ, learning how to operate a restored 1970’s lawnmower, and walking by a local lake.

All of this led to proof of the fact that you can, in fact, tire out an 8-year-old boy if you do just enough holidaying.