Happy Trails - Limehouse Side Trail

In Halton Hills somewhere vaguely between Milton and Georgetown is this beautiful 2.3KM loop trail  called Limehouse Side trail that my kids just adored.  By getting up early and hitting the trails before 10AM we were able to guarantee that we don't run into too many people on the trails.

The parking lot is currently open for free parking and the conservation site is open to enter the paths. With current COVID-19 rulings there are no washrooms here (although I'm not certain there ever are). 

It took us about an hour to hike the loop including several stops for climbing exploring, and moving to one side to let the few others we passed on our journey pass by while we observed social distancing.

 The cool 16 degree high today meant that it was only just over 10 degrees when we hit the trail, which gave us all the more space to enjoy a nice quiet (as quiet as you can get with two eight-year-olds) hike.

We lucked out on picking our direction, but when you hit the first fork in the trail, consider going left. This will put the hole in the rock highlight of the hike near the very end, meaning if you're travelling with kids you won't hit the peak of the hike until close to the end.

Cross the boardwalk to get to the rock cliff for the best views of the hike. 

Climbing the hill to get to the hole in the rock.  This area doesn't exactly look like it leads to the climax of your hike, but it's definitely worth putting your billy goat climbing skills to the test.

Going through the crevice then up to the top. 

At the top of the big climb.

A view from below.

The kids can't wait to go on this hike again.  Right by the parking lot is open field space with a baseball diamond, perfect for a snack or picnic. The kids were really excited for their first trail jerky of the year. Located just 40 minutes outside of Toronto this is a great way to go out with kids and enjoy nature. This trail has plenty of shade and would be a nice way to keep active during the warmer weather. Stay safe and healthy. Happy Hiking Everyone!

Things My Kids Say As Posted On Twitter - The Quarantine Edition

During these times, celebrating the small moments can be especially important. Not everything my kids say or do warrants a blog post.  This is why I like to share this roundup and snippets of recent conversations I've had with M&J as shared on Twitter.  This has been especially interesting given the introduction of homeschooling (distance learning) into our lives as we enter week 10 of self-isolation.  

via Tenor

M on overhearing a news report of restaurants using blow up dolls to appear full while enforcing #SocialDistancing "why would anyone ever want to buy a doll that explodes?"

Today in #homeschooling I had to point out that If you wouldn’t yell “jinx” and punch your teacher playfully in the arm during a math lesson you shouldn’t do it to mom #parenting

via Giphy

M asked for a synopsis of Rambo. Dad provides. M: that sounds a lot like Dumbo. He just wants to be left alone and they keep pulling on his ear and make him do things he doesn’t want to do. #movietwit #Rambo #dumbo

For homeschool M is listening to an audiobook of Tales Of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume. The reader just pronounced Sheila as Shi-lah and now I’m questioning how I pronounce just about  everything #Homeschooling2020 #parenting

via Imgur

Instead of an Easter egg scavenger hunt with their cousins as per usual today my kids are scooping up dog poop in the backyard. Best possible Easter hunt from my perspective but probably not so much from theirs #parenting #selfisolation

So today in online school both kids decided it would be fun to type up “good copies” of their paragraph long grade three draft journal entries for submission because it would be easier. One hour later... #homeschooling

Overtired tears because he can't watch TV. I gave him a hug and sliced up an orange before dinner as a snack because he was hangry. J: This is nice but it doesn't appease me. Me: Good vocabulary, but you still aren't watching TV #parenting #homeschooling

Happy Mother's Day (I'm So Sorry)

 

My Mother's Day post has become an annual tradition. Each year I reflect on some of the more challenging and humorous moments with the kids.  A sort of snapshot of my experiences as a mother.  I then think about everything I put my mom through and form an apology letter. Some of these are specific to my life, but I am likely guilty of some pretty comparable crimes from when I was age eight. (or at least my siblings are) Add in the challenges of homeschooling during COVID-19 and there is a lot of material for the 2020 apology.  So here we go!

Dearest Mom,

I am so very sorry for...

• Needing to urgently use the washroom the second you are in there (even when we have more than one bathroom in the house) and you've just settled in for a bath
  
  
• Gross out potty humour at the dinner table
  
  
• Asking you for a snack when I can clearly see you cooking dinner
  
  
• Distractedly colouring after I have asked you for help with my math homework because "math is boring"
  
  
• Getting into a blow-out fight with my sibling while I know you are on an important conference call
  
  
• Leaving wet vampire teeth on antique tables
  
  
• Crying over spilled milk (and spilled root beer)
  
  
• Leaving trails of discarded clothing all over the house like they're bread crumbs
  
  
• Expressing 'eww gross' over a meal that I know you've spent the better part of an hour preparing
  
  
• Trying on an item of clothing and immediately putting it into the dirty laundry
  
  
• Using an entire bottle of shampoo to make bubble bath because I thought it would be 'funny'
  
  
• Picking dad over you, just about every time, unless I was injured or sick
  
  
• Putting an empty box of cereal, crackers etc. back in the cupboard
  
  
• Smearing toothpaste all over the ledge of the bathroom sink so you lean on it (particularly when you have a face-to-face meeting)
  
  
• Leaving half drunk/ half eaten plates and cups of food all over you to 'discover' much too late
  
  
• Freaking out when you threw out my half finished 'art' projects and 'crafts'
  
  
• Asking "Who farted?" loudly, in public places
  
  
  Love Sara
  
  
  

  

  
  

  
  
  
  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!
  
  

A Hiking We Will Go - Sixteen Mile Creek Trail

We don't get out much these days.  We're doing everything we can to properly self-isolate and social distance to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario.

When we heard the weather was going to be warm this weekend, we wanted to explore somewhere new, but also make sure we would go somewhere open given current restrictions and guidelines and without the risk of stepping into an overcrowded outdoor space.

We found a wonderful urban hike in Oakville on the way to drop off groceries to the grandparents called 16 mile creek and were excited to get exploring.  We got up earlier than we do on most weekdays to make sure it was only us around during our journey.  It was worth our early morning!

Sixteen Mile Creek Trail in Oakville runs from either side of Oakville Harbour to Dundas St. at Lions Valley Park.  It features dirt a combination of dirt and paved paths.  The total length of the trail is 8.5KM however portions of the trail are closed this spring to help keep down numbers in the park.

We explored for an hour in the early morning Saturday and had the place mostly to ourselves, seeing only a handful of other people (who were all practicing social distancing and respectfully kept their distance).

On our way into the park we saw a wild rabbit.


One of the best surprises of this hike was that locals have started hiding sweet inspirational rocks throughout the trails.  During our journey Molly found 38 rocks and this trail will forever be known as "the fairy rock trail" to our family.  Since both kids got a rock painting kit for Christmas we plan to head back and leave a few painted rocks of our own to add to the collection the next time make a supplies run to Oakville.

The path headed along the river is much more narrow and rugged than the other path, so you wouldn't want to explore right now unless you knew you were the only ones on it.

For tips on how to get outside responsibly please check out this link.

Stay healthy and safe!