Walk of Life - Hiking the Elora Gorge

One of my 101 in 1001 'bucket list' goals for the next couple of years included hiking the Elora Gorge.  This past weekend we gave it a shot before the heat wave we're experiencing took full effect. In planning our summer vacation time, we wanted to see how well Chris's back would hold up before figuring out which trails to hike in the Catskill Mountains. While the hike didn't feel like much at the time, I must admit my hamstrings have been feeling it for days now, which means maybe it's time to work even more hiking into my workout schedule. 

The kids had a blast exploring, although Jack wasn't a fan of the bugs or 'getting sweaty' but that's nothing proper timing and some decent bug spray can't fix.  The paths are very well groomed and there are a lot of stairs so you don't need to worry too much about the steep inclines.  In the summer months they have a launch spot and rentals for a lazy river for anyone who wants to explore that.  I think we're going to wait until Molly and Jack have passed another swimming level or two before we give that one a go.  The cost was $20 for the four of us, which seemed like a bargain for the views.

Here are some of our best photos from our trip to help inspire some of your hiking, vitamin nature loving wanderlust.

Walking along the water edge

Looking for fossils in the rocks

Checking out the Caves

To look at photos from our 2017 Algonquin hiking click here

To check out my progress on my 101 in 1001 goals click here

Steal My Sunshine - A May 24 at Black Creek Pioneer Village

Sometimes time gets away from me.  Life fills up with other things.  Deadlines, family time, and before I know it a week (or more, oops) passes before I write here.  We've been slowly getting ready for a garage sale, and I must admit the minions have been really helpful and open to getting rid of old toys that they no longer use.  Our garage and my office currently look like the set of an episode of Hoarders, but we're getting there.

We've begun to work on our backyard and planning out our garden, one of these days we're going to dust those bikes off in the garage and start to attempt the kids to ride again.  This past weekend was the Victoria Day long weekend (it wasn't just Megan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding.

In the past, in a time before kids, we'd usually attempt a trip away for the weekend to embrace everything spring, and more often than not this would lead to rainy and cold camping trips.  In staying in the city we were able to take in other sights.

A friend recommended we check out Black Creek Pioneer Village this weekend for their annual Pirates and Princesses weekend, and it was well worth the $58 admission fee for our family of four (Kids three and under get in for free).

Highlights include the kids learning to be pirates, princesses, making their own crowns, and attending Evil School as taught by Queen Grimhilde (yeah that's her real name, I didn't know it either, but you probably know her as the Evil Queen from Snow White).  The kids had a blast and so did we, so if you plan on being in the city next year, add it to your calendar and check it out!  Pro tip - bring your own snacks, there were food trucks, but they were a little pricey and my kids weren't exactly in love with any food beyond the ice cream.

Jack Meeting Captain Hook 

Evil School is in Session with Queen Grimhilde

Molly tries on her crown

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My Apologetic Mother's Day

It's almost Mother's Day and in addition to preparing to spend a fantastic day with my family, I also love to use the day to reflect.  Each Mother's Day I think about all of the things my own mother used to face and I didn't appreciate because I was a kid myself.  At six years old the minions are feisty, spirited, and independent.  It's time for me to apologize to my mom based on all of the wacky things that motherhood has thrown my way this past year.  Some of these are pretty specific to my life, but I am likely guilty of some pretty comparable crimes from when I was six...

An Attempt at the sword and the stone

Dearest Mom,

I am sorry for...

• thinking 'cleaning my room' means shoving a pile of dirty socks and underwear into the bottom of my toy box
• interrupting a well deserved bath by barging into the room (even though we have another bathroom) and taking the stinkiest poop imaginable all while insisting 'mommy needs company'
• demanding you prepare me snacks while you run on a treadmill, 15 minutes after I've already eaten a snack
• getting toothpaste all over my clothes right before school
• having to be reminded to wash my hands after the bathroom, almost every single time
• leaving Lego all over the stairs
• leaving Lego on the floor
• dumping Lego everywhere,even immediately after cleaning it up
• threatening to 'take away your privacy'
• complaining about walking to school on a nice day
• deciding I hate former favourite foods, specifically after you've bought them in bulk
• losing so many spoons at school that you need to switch to plastic, despite the school's 'Litter-free lunch policy'
• screaming at the ground for 'tripping me'
• setting my alarm clock for random times even though I haven't quite grasped the complete concept of time-telling yet
• leaving empty yogurt containers everywhere
• when I get in trouble for leaving empty yogurt containers everywhere shoving them down the side of the couch instead (so you won't find them)
• losing my library books every single week
• thinking it's a good idea to sleep with Silly Puddy under my pillow
• begging for a play date with a friend, and then both pleading with me to let you watch TV
• demanding a snack while I see you plating my dinner
• audibly saying eww, yuck, or gross when you present me with food
• telling me you can't find something you're literally staring at
• losing 13 gloves, 3 hats, and 1 scarf this winter alone (none of this was Jack)
• insisting i'll join you in bed when dad's away for work, you know so you don't get lonely

P.S. Still not sorry for the black lipstick I wore as a teenager

P.P.S I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

To see the first ever apology note click hereTo see last year's apology note click hereTo see the 2016 apology note click hereTo see the 2015 apology note click hereTo see the 2014 apology note click hereTo see the 2013 apology note click here

Things My Kids Say As Shared on Twitter

We spend a lot of time with the minions and I'm fortunate enough to record the things that they say and do so I can look back on it and laugh.  Some of it makes the blog and other smaller moments don't.  One of the brilliant things about Twitter is how it's the ultimate parenting "elevator speech", because you have to keep it short. Below are recent Tweets, conversations, parental musings and things that the minions have done or said over the past month, for your reading pleasure that haven't made it to the blog.

Image Courtesy of Giphy

1. J: you see I can't put the same effort into my drawings at school as I do at home because they're too violent and I don't think the other kids at school could handle it. #parenting

2. Me: what's wrong with your ham J: it's too meat #foodie #parenting #MyKids

3. J: who would win in a fight between predator and Santa?  I mean Santa is supposed to be immortal but I don't think he'd be very good at fighting  #ThingsKidsSay #parenting

Image Courtesy of Reddit

4. M: I had a nightmare that a giant pizza box came to life and tried to eat me. Can I sleep here? Me: let me just move this giant pizza box out of the way. M: mommy you think you're funny but you're not #parenting

5. Talking to our kids about the war of 1812 M: So did that happen when you were a kid? C: That was over 200 years ago. M: So were you alive or not dad? #parenting #facepalm#ThingsKidsSay

6. Trying to explain #CypressHill lyrics to your kids in the car, cause the radio is on and it's #420 #420day #awkward

Image Courtesy of Giphy

7. Tonight's episode of my daughter crying is brought to you by lost tooth swallowed with pizza and apparently the ugly cry is inherited from mom #parenting

To read more blogs featuring the wacky things my kids say as featured on twitter, follow me @Sarabethbug & click here, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, & here.