Winterlude 2012 - Friday night

The first weekend in February, we went up to Ottawa for Winterlude.  It was tough-and-go right up until the end because this winter has been so warm.  The canal wasn't even frozen over until a few weeks before we went and it wasn't fully open until about two days before we got there.  We were getting daily updates from one of Dad's coworkers who lives in Ottawa and pretty much decided about three days before that we were going for sure.  When the weekend was over, I think we were all VERY glad we went!!

We got there on Friday night.  This year we stayed at a different hotel than we normally do.  Normally we stay in the Byward Market, but our usual hotel was super expensive this year.  We tried something over on the other side of the canal, the Residence Inn.  It worked out SO WELL!  The hotel was great, the location worked out, and we all really liked it.

On Friday night we went out to dinner first, then headed over to Confederation Park to check out the ice sculptures.  The sculptures started on Friday afternoon so most of them were still mainly ice blocks.

Matt and Gina

Uncle Matt is so silly

 Cameron gets a ride from Poppa

From the one block, one hour sculpture contest - a sting ray

Another entry - a bird?  or a duck?

Leah checking out ice sculptures

Leah and Poppa

Ice sculpture in progress

Cameron really loved watching, he would have stayed at each sculpture for much longer if we didn't move him along. He was very interested in what they were doing, what tools they were using and how they were doing it.

Cameron sitting on an ice chair

Family photo with the Winterlude logo

Nana and Poppa with the logo

Matt and Gina warm their hands by the ice fireplace

Kiddos in the ice lazy boy chair

After looking at all of the sculptures, it was time for the most important part of the night: BeaverTails!!  Can you tell Cameron is excited?

Waiting in anticipation of the deliciousness about to come...

And now, a series of pictures of everyone chowing on their BeaverTails.  Sooooooo yummmmmy!!!

Nana enjoys hers

Uncle Matt digs in

They are so good!

Leah was very loud in order to let us know that she wanted her share!

Cameron ate lots too

Daddy going to town.

After we ate all of our yummy Beavertails, we walked over to the Parliament buildings and got a place for the opening night fireworks.  Leah was so tired out but couldn't fall asleep, so I rocked her in my arms for a while and eventually she conked out.  Luckily we had her stroller so I could tuck her in there to sleep.

The fireworks were at the Museum of Civilization across the river, but we could still see them pretty well.  They were really great and we all enjoyed them.  After the fireworks we headed back to the hotel and went to bed, ready for lots of fun the next day.

Random Winter Fun

Here is a bunch of random pictures from fun stuff we did during January and February.

Cute Leah sitting on the table.  I don't remember why she was on the table, but she is a cutie no matter what!

Cam and Tim shoveling off the rink

Cam really liked helping out!

Cameron did all of his puzzles one night.  He wanted a picture of them all.  I love how proud he looks!

Superbowl night - Nana is teaching the kiddos about the fun of Superbowl squares.  They both really enjoyed picking their squares, and then Cam wanted to stay up until the end of the game to see if he won (and he did!).

Watching the game with Poppa

More fun on the ice rink!  This is actually Leah's first time skating.  Here is Mama putting on Leah's skates for the first time.

Cam the hockey player!

I love that Leah's first time skating was our backyard rink!!

Leah did NOT like it.

Oh well, there is always next time!

Daddy tried to skate her around to show how fun it was, but she wasn't convinced.  :-P

Skating the puck down the ice

We took off Leah's skates and she watched us skate for a bit.  She wasn't very happy with that either.  About two minutes after I took this picture, Leah and I went in.  She was much happier watching Cam and Daddy from inside!

On another weekend, the ice was good enough to skate on.  Nana and Poppa came over to skate with us.

We asked Leah if she wanted to skate - she emphatically answered NO.  So we pulled her on a sled instead.  She was okay with that.

Hockey game - Nana is the goalie and Mama, Cam and Poppa are on a team.

Cam getting a pass from Poppa

Most of the ice, and the very involved hockey game

Hooray for random winter fun!

Trip to Florida - Day 6

On Tuesday, unfortunately Mama had to leave very early in the morning to fly to Washington, DC for work.  I was so unhappy to have to miss a day of vacation, but when an admiral asks for a meeting... well, you listen!  :-P

Tim and the kids still had a wonderful day on Tuesday before they had to get on the airplane in the afternoon.

First, I asked Tim to take a picture of Cameron's bedroom at the condo.  This is where he has slept for the past few years, since he was old enough to not be in the pack and play.  It is actually a porch, but perfectly fits a twin size mattress.  Cam loves closing the door and making it his very own room.

 Cam enjoying the sun

I love this picture of Cameron and Opa!

And another cute one of Opa and the kiddos

After a fun swim in the pool, the kids wanted to head down to the beach.  They had to get in both the pool and the beach on their last day!

Opa and Leah head to the beach

Cam and Leah playing in the sand.  I do not know why Leah doesn't have a bathing suit on.  Looking at these pictures, I am just hoping she has a lot of sunscreen on!!

Cute baby loving the sun and sand

Cameron felt bad for Leah and her unclothed-ness, so he offered her his swim shirt.  What a good big brother!

My sweet boy

After the sand and the sun and the pool, Tim was brave enough to take the kids on the airplane all by himself.  Lucky for him, they were very well behaved and it wasn't too difficult.  Nana and Poppa picked them all up at the airport to help bring everyone home, and Mama arrived home about an hour later.

What an amazing vacation we had!!!  Thank you to Omi and Opa for having us.  We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our annual mid-winter break and look forward to it every year.