This is the First Day of Spring

March 22nd.  The Spring Solstice. This was officially the first day of Spring.

It didn't feel like spring.  It did a week and a half ago.  Then an arctic blast came swooping in.  Then it went away.  And then 15-20cm of snow came through to extend the ski season.








It was probably the best skiing conditions I've ever enjoyed in Ontario.  The snow was fresh and powderiffic!
It made the trails through the trees that were icy last week.  So much easier this week.

 Falling in the white stuff was okay.









 But you still have to try and avoid a tree.









And it was the first time we had been to Spring Splash event at Sir Sam's.
Next Year...Kieran may have a go.  After seeing all the kids do it.  We know what we need to bring if he does try it out. There's no way I'd do this.

Cottage Winter Olympics

Opening ceremonies.  At the ACC.  Raptors vs. Grizzlies.
This evening was full of energy.  Mostly from popcorn and sugar.
Once we entered the arena, I don't know how they spot it from their vantage point but they were asking for cotton candy, right away!  Their sense of smell is incredible.  They can smell cotton candy even if they are in the BAG!  If you had skittles in your pocket.  These kids will know.  Because they will hear the tiny clicks of the Skittles knocking each other in the bag as you walked by.
At least there was no pop.  Just water, popcorn, cotton candy, more popcorn and a $6 bag Skittles. ugh.
It was a great game, though.
Kids seemed to have fun.  It was the first time for Jaedin, Emerson and Raelen.   2 or 3 of the four realize that weekends like these cost money.
It was a fun night.
I wish the beer was cheaper.  But the lids they have on the cups are spill preventers.  It makes them like sippee cups.
After so many beers, some people need it.  When the game was close and Vasquez dropped a trey from beyond the arc, everyone cheered and Kieran jumped up and my cup went flying.
But it was nearly empty, but nothing spilled.
It was the most excited I've seen Kieran at a game.  Any game.
Usually he's restless.
I think basketball is better to watch for him than hockey.

99-86 for the Raptors.  Raelen was disappointed that we weren't going to get slice of pizza.  She was hoping for 100 pt night!

The TTC ride home was fairly light compared to previous times i've headed home from a game.
Usually it's difficult getting on at Union.  Maybe a lot of people drove.
Too bad we didn't catch one of the new trains. But it doesn't matter we got the front car so they can see down the tunnel.

The next morning we hurried to get to Sir Sams.  It was icy.  But these kids still headed for the trees trails.  I got to try out my new boots, ski poles and skis all together!  It's awesome having stuff that actually was fitted to ME!
I started going through the trails in the trees because Kieran saw kids doing it last year.  So I had to follow to make sure nothing happened to him.  Now it's a regular thing.  They find trails every where.
It's made skiing a lot of fun for me.  And made me a better skier that's for sure.

Glad Jaedin at least warned me of steep sections.  The others just tell me to come this way.  Sometimes I bypass sections I know are steep and I wait for them to squirt out of the trees.  Hoping no one does a garage sale.

We were going to go on Sunday, in the afternoon.
But never made it past the driveway.
This is what was happening.
The cottage driveway is deceptive.  It's a pretty good grade and pretty fast if you can make it down without wiping out.

At least I didn't have to bring up the sleds up and down all the time.
They were doing it themselves.  Complaining on who was doing it more.

It was -15 deg C.  But no wind so...not so bad.
My iPhone battery sucks in the cold.
My Canon camera battery is so much better, and it was easier to record them going down the driveway.  The first video is from my iPhone 5.
The others are from my Canon SD870.
They encouraged me to do it on my belly like Skeleton. So I did. And Emerson and Raelen piled on.  I now know why it's called Skeleton.  I was a little scared of doing a face plant, but I've already gone through a rear windshield of a mini van, so how bad could this be?  Glad there weren't any bumps.

But after doing it once.  It was pretty fun.  And I could control the sled with my feet.
I didn't realize Raelen was on top. But we lost her half-way down.  All of a sudden i didn't see her glove or boot any more.

The second time we did it she stayed on the whole time. Good thing I moved out of the way in that second run, cuz Jaedin was barrelling down after us and smashed into our sled where i was belly down on.  Smashed into Emerson instead.  Better her than me. I gotta drive.


This last run I turned the camera around to record what it looks like from my vantage point. I would have kept filming but Kieran pushed that wooden sled in front of our path and I turned so I wouldn't smash the camera and my face.