Daycare Day at Prince of Wales Public School

Recently, I ventured into business with a great friend. We started a daycare with a vision of a "Back to Basics" approach. It is our belief that children should be children and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. We grow our own produce in season, play outside when we're not facing arctic temperatures and do yoga when we can. Our kids get dirty playing outside and we're all okay with that. In fact, we prefer it!

One of the other fun-tastic things we do, is take field-trips and get out into our local community. This past week, we took our daycare children to a special day put on by Prince of Wales Public School. Given the cold weather we have recently had- down to -22 at times, the school thought it would be a great idea to let the children have free run of the gymnasium on a PA Day. They also treated participants to snacks and the opportunity to play at their before and after-school YMCA childcare room. When we heard of this, we jumped at the chance to get the kids out and enjoy this special treat!

When we arrived, we were greeted by the Principal, Mr. Taugher and his staff of fabulous teachers and support staff. Everyone was smiling and happy to welcome us to their school. The children were very excited to play with hula hoops, bean bags, giant bouncy balls, floor hockey sticks and other fun equipment in the gym. Before we knew it, almost an hour had passed and the gang was still going strong and looking forward to a play in the YMCA program room.

After playtime,there were snacks and drinks available. The room was very colourful and warm. As a new daycare provider, it was nice to be welcomed by the area's YMCA with open arms. The visit also gave my business partner, Stephanie, and I a chance to network, ask questions and "talk shop" with these fabulous ladies.

This was the first time Prince of Wales Public School has hosted a "Daycare Day" and I hope it is something that continues annually. It gave our preschool aged children a chance to visit a school and feel like such big kids. It also gave us the opportunity to meet other local professionals who work in the same field, and overall, was a great winter outing.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated and welcomed us into the school. For more information on Little City Charm Daycare,  Prince of Wales Public School or the Before and After-School programs from the YMCA, please visit the following links:

http://www.littlecitycharm.wix.com/daycare
http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/school/pow/
http://www.brockvilley.com/

Who needs the NHL?

I'm a hockey girl. I'll admit it. Growing up in a village of roughly 1400 people, early mornings on the ice learning to figure skate, frozen marathon skating sessions on the pond and Hockey Night in Canada each Saturday night are just some of the things that make me a quintessential Canadian. My dad hailed from Toronto, so naturally we were a Leafs household. Save your remarks, once a Leafs girl, always a Leafs girl.

With my dad's passing almost four years ago, every time I watch hockey or discuss it, I am instantly brought back to great memories with him. From going to watch the AHL team - The Cornwall Aces, and waiting for an autograph from Reggie Savage to skating on Maple Leaf Gardens with my dad and touring the Hockey Hall of Fame, this Canadian sport is in my blood. The recent hockey strike and now return to salvage what is left of the season, I found myself thinking about how this really affected people and our local community.

My first thought is that professional hockey players make too much money. I'll admit, I am not up on the politics of the sport, so perhaps I am missing some information and don't realize why they get paid so much, but I stand by my thought on that topic. My second thought is that the people whose everyday jobs and businesses depend on the NHL were more likely the real casualties of this strike.

 My third and final thought was about the many people who are missing out on the simple enjoyment of the game and creating memories with their loved ones. I have three girls and a spouse who loves hockey. Admittedly, he cheers for the wrong team- I mean, the Canucks? C'mon! However, I do want our girls to have the same daddy/daughter moments with him that I was lucky enough to share with my dad. Yes, I will absolutely share my love for hockey with my girls but there is a rite of passage in our household that daddy gets Hockey Night In Canada with them too.

In the absence of the NHL, our family attended a Brockville Braves home game last Friday. This was the first time we have ever been, and to my suprise, the arena was full!  I love our city, I just had no idea how much our residents loved our hockey team! It was nice to teach my daughter about a favourite sport of mine and it was an emotional moment as I realized how it must have felt for my dad to share his hockey passion with me as a child. At just three, my daughter was more concerned with "what hockey player do you think has the best hair momma?" then the actual score, but at the end of the night, we all left with big smiles and a bit of "Braves pride" because we cleaned the ice with the opposing team.


I am happy that the NHL has started to straighten themselves out, but I'm pretty sure my dad would be proud that my girls are going to learn about hockey - the sport he loved - at a local and grassroots level, as that is where the true spirit of this great Canadian sport begins!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I have been a bit MIA lately. This is not because there is a lack of things to do in our great area, quite the opposite actually. We have been out frequenting the craft fairs, attending the parades, taking advantage of the local retail sales and getting ready for the upcoming Christmas holidays.

I've been lucky enough to have been asked to write a monthly contribution for SNAP Brockville, one of my favorite local publications and am also working hard on Little City Charm Daycare, a joint venture with one of my child guru mentors and close friend. In the midst of all this, our family, like many in our community, has been hit by the flu and have been recovering from that. To say it's been busy is a complete understatement, but I wouldnt trade a moment of it in, as I am truly lucky to have the family, friends and opportunities that have come my way this past year.

As I reflect on 2012, I want to thank everyone who supported my blog, new business and contributions to our wonderful community. I am thankful to have met some new colleagues and friends and for the new experiences I've had while putting my thoughts out there. I am very excited for the year ahead and a few projects Little City Charm has on the go!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As always, keep it local!

The haunts of Halloween

A lot of my posts are about our family adventures in and around our wonderful community. A few weekends ago, Nick and I decided we needed a date night. I had seen an advertisement, on BNTV, for a lantern-lit walk through Fulford Place and as it was leading up to Halloween, I figured it was the perfect venue for our date.

We dropped our wee ones off with my friend and trusted "toddler guru" and headed over a few minutes early to the mansion. I had been on a tour quite a few years ago with my mom, but never at night. After reading the historic stories about Fulford Place in the gift shop area, both Nick and I were very excited, and a bit nervous for the tour. As we waited for the others to show up, it became clear that we picked the best time for our tour, as we ended up being the only two people to attend the early time slot, and therefore, we received a private tour.

 Fulford Place is a local historic site that really is something to marvel at. Breathtaking is a word that comes to mind. When our tour guide took us through, room by room to tell us the spooky tales, part of me was distracted by the rich history but also by the home itself.

I can't do the rich and storied history - nor the many spooky tales that come along with it - justice here. I can tell you that for the cost of $12, it was one of the best date nights we have had in a while. We are both looking forward to taking part in the haunted walks that are hosted throughout the city during the summer months on Friday evenings.

Fulford Place is a National Historic Site and part of Brockville's rich heritage. Please visit and support the museum to ensure it continues to be a part of our city for generations to come!

For more information pertaining to Fulford Place and all their events.
http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca/fulfordplace

After a grown-up night to ourselves, it was time to really gear up for Halloween with the whole family. With three girls, it's an exciting time in our house. Our children are young and just starting to understand Halloween so our go-to Halloween spot is the 1000 Islands Mall, where all of the stores participate and hand out candy. It is the perfect place to stay warm and dry from the elements and also see all of the adorable costumes!

At ages 3 and 2, we decided the girls would pick out their own costumes. My fabulous in-laws were here in the spring, for the birth of our third child and had bought Baby R her very own spotted Dalmatian costume. Grampa Joe is a brave firefighter and we take every opportunity to cherish and celebrate his role fighting fires in their local BC community, so this costume was the perfect tribute!  We were hoping to sway the girls to dress up as firefighters, to go along with their baby sister, however when these girls get something in their mind, there really is no changing it.

Enjoy the pictures below of our little monkeys and thier chosen costumes. They brought many smiles to everyone this Halloween!

 

ps- Nick's costume was his Canuck's jersey and a sign that read: "How do the owners expect me to survive off of $5 million dollars a year"?

A rain day road trip

Anyone who knows me, also knows that I love my city. I don't just like where I live, but am a constant supporter and lover of all things Brockville. It has afforded my family the luxury of daily activities and a great, all-around balanced lifestyle. That said, I still think that sometimes, it's important to venture beyond our local community and explore the many nearby attractions which make our corner of the province so unique.

It was a rainy, dreary start to fall, kind of day. One recent weekend, after swim class had finished, we were puzzled as to what our next adventure would be. I had been online checking out local attractions and others close by, when I stumbled upon the Canadian Museum of Nature, in Ottawa. I lived in Ottawa for a few years and although I had passed by the stunning "Castle" , as it is affectionately called, I had never been in. With the rain pouring down, it seemed like the perfect day to explore the museum with my family.

Upon arrival, I realized why The Canadian Museum of Nature is referred to as a "Castle". In 1905, the chief architect and designer, David Ewart, created the fanciful castle-like structure in a field in the south of Ottawa, formed out of local sandstone. In 1916, the building became the emergency headquarters for the Canadian government after the Parliament Buildings were consumed by a great fire. When former prime minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier died in 1919, his body laid in state in the auditorium.The building is visually stunning and worth the short hour-drive from Brockville.

We took the elevator to the top floor and started our afternoon of discovery. Although Nick is not a fan of birds, we agreed that the Bird Gallery was fascinating and very well laid out. It was easy to walk through the displays, read and learn about all the different types of birds, their habitat and even stop for a play at the interactive children's area, where kids can learn how to protect and take care of injured birds.

We made our way from the top floor to the bottom, taking in "Nature Unleashed", the Mammal Exhibit and finally (my favorite) The Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery. We all had our favorites: Nick's being the exhibit detailing Hurricane Katrina, which was truly humbling. Our oldest loved the mammals, which didn't surprise me, as she is a true animal lover.

All of this to say - I have a new favourite spot in Ottawa! We'll be back to visit time and time again, as the museum really does have something for kids (and parents!) of all ages. Please check out their website for more information on up and coming exhibits, hours and rates.
http://www.nature.ca

After a fun-filled day at the museum, we headed to Montana's for a family dinner. Just the perfect end to the perfect day!

Pumpkin Inferno

 

A few weeks ago, as I was reading the latest Facebook threads, I came across an advertisement for Pumpkin Inferno, an event hosted by Upper Canada Village. As a child, I often frequented this historical village with my family and on school trips. Fond memories of the schoolhouse, the bakery, sleigh rides and of course the train, are still cherished and a very important part of my childhood. When I read about this latest attraction, I knew I had to take my own children and create new memories.

 

Below are a few pictures from our Pumpkin Inferno experience- enjoy! Although I'm happy we captured this experience on film, these images simply don't do the exhibit justice.

 

 

 

A dragon made out of pumpkins.

 

Evolution

 

Sea creatures, including a giant octopus

 

 

The wait was long to gain access to the park, I believe we were on Highway #2 for about an hour and then we waited in the line to buy tickets for an hour. Note: There was an option to buy tickets online,  which yours truly missed seeing!

From the moment we stepped through the gates and saw our first display, I had completely forgotten any time spent waiting. In front of us were thousands of pumpkins, carved in many forms and lit up in the dark of night. It was truly awe-inspiring. 

 

Our good friend Katie and her super adorable (and incredibly well-behaved) children came with us, along with our three girls. The children took a moment to understand what they were seeing, but quickly got into the spirit and enjoyed the art work. It was an incredible display of local talent, as some of the designs were painstakingly intricate, making these displays even more impressive.

 

From regular spooky faces, to chinese lanterns, dragons and even a giant wordsearch, the themes were expansive. At one point we walked past a giant moose and a beaver damn and beavers, made entirely out of the pumpkins. I had never seen anything like it before.

 

Thank you Upper Canada Village for holding such a unique and inspiring celebration of Halloween! I can only hope this will become an annual event so we can continue to create memories.

 

Please visit http://www.uppercanadavillage.com for upcomming attractions.



The perfect pumpkins

Have you gotten into the Halloween spirit yet? Tis' the season to bundle up, haul on out to the pumpkin patch and pick that perfect pumpkin. Over the weekend, we did just that!

As you know, my family tries to support local whenever possible. This holds true for pumpkin shopping as well. A long-time family friend and her family own a pumpkin patch just north-east of Brockville. When it came time, it was a no-brainer that we would be headed out to the Lavigne Farm. Our girls were very excited to pick their own pumpkin. The Lavigne's had a huge selection, different sizes, price points and the perfect country setting. They are located at 9525 Branch Road and if you haven't gotten your pumkin yet, head out now or save the address for next year!

Now we are all set to carve and decorate for the Halloween season! Get out and support your local farmers, you won't be disappointed!